US2437831A

US2437831A - Apparatus for applying insulation

Info

Publication number: US2437831A
Application number: US334296A
Authority: US
Inventors: John C Moore
Original assignee: REX Manufacturing Co Inc
Current assignee: REX Manufacturing Co Inc; REX MANUFACTURING COMPANY Inc
Priority date: 1940-05-09
Filing date: 1940-05-09
Publication date: 1948-03-16
Anticipated expiration: 1965-03-16

Description

March 16, 1948. J. c. MOORE APPARATS FOR APPLYING INSULATION Filed May 9, 1940 5 Sheetsv-Sheet l March 16, 1948. J, c, MQQRE 2,437,83l`

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING INSULATION Filed May 9, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 o CL /o March l, 1948. J. c. MOORE 2,437,831

' APPARATUS FOR APPLYING INSULATION l Filed lay 9, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 16, 194s. J. c. MOORE 2,437,831

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING INSULATION Filed May 9, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 oooooooooo oooooooooo oooooooooo oooooooo oooooooo o Oooooooooo ooooocoooo oooooooooo oooooooooo Mardl 16 1948. J. c. MOORE 2,437,831

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING INSULATION Filed May 9, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar.,V 16, 1948 APPARATUS FOR APPLYING INSULATION John C. Moore, Connersvillc, Ind., assigner to Rex Manufacturing Company, Inc., Connorsvllle, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application May 9, 1940, serial No. 334,296

(o1. 2li-101) 8 Claims.

l This invention relates to an apparatus tor applying insulation material between spaced walls or like compartments, particularly between the outer and inner walls of refrigerator cabinets.

Loose insulation material has certain advantages over insulation vof the packaged type, provided it is properly applied, that is, evenly and of constant density throughout the compartment to be insulated. Heretofore, as far as known, the stuing of loose insulation material between the outer and inner walls of refrigerator cabinets has been dene manually. Outside of the labor and time involved and consequent increased cost of the cabinet, there was the added objection that the insulation was oittimes improperly applied, the fault generally being that the material would pack or stu unevenly, leaving loose spaces or pockets and areas varyingin density, and the bres would not felt together or interengage properly, with the result that certain cabinets might be well insulated while others would have an inferior insulating job.

The usual practice in manually insulating the space between the outer and inner walls of a refrigerator cabinet is to stuif the insulation in from the back of the cabinet before mounting the back plate. The cabinet is laid on its face and the depth of the space to be insulated is therefore substantially equal to the width of the cabinet. Since the opening at the back between the food compartment liner and outer wall is relatively small, it is practically impossible for a workman to gain access with his hands to the full depth of the compartment to be insulated. This handicap also tends to an ineillcient insulation job.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a method of and apparatus for automatically applying or stuffing insulation material between spaced walls or like compartments, more especially between the outer and inner walls of refrigerator cabinets, in a manner such as to obtain even and eiilcient insulation throughout the space or compartment to be insulated.

Other objects include features of novelty and advantage incident to a machine for carrying out the method. and which objects and advantages will become apparent in view of the followingr description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a machine for insulating refrigerator cabinets constructed in accordance with the features of the present invention, the view being taken from the side of the conveyor on which the cabinets are carried to the machine;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation taken opposite that of Fig. 1, the conveyor and supporting frame structure being shown in transverse section;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken through the lower end of the feed hopper and induction feed tubes and adjacent parts Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3:

Fig. 5 is a substantially central longitudinal section taken through the air distributor which controls the application of-air under pressure to the induction feed tubes; and

Fig. 6 is a view in end elevation of Fig. 5.

Generally stated, the method consists in conducting loose insulation material to the compartment or compartments to be insulated through one or more feed or induction conduits and applying air under pressure intermittently or in a series of pulsations to the material passing through said conduits to obtain a more even and dense packing of the material and intermesh of libres and to also draw or induct the material into the conduits, and relieving air from the -compartment during the insulating operation in a manner such as to avoid back pressure and formation of pockets or spaces of uneven density and to ensure complete filling of the compartment.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and rst to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a hopper 5, preferably of cone shape, is suspended from suitable overhead supporting structure by means of depending hanger brackets or rods 6, the insulation material being delivered to the hopper direct from the conveyor oi a shredding machine, not herein shown and forming no part of the present invention.

Any suitable type of loose insulation material may be used, such as balsam wool libre, and the like.

The hopper 5 serves as a support for other parts of the machine. as will be noted. In the lower extremity of the hopper is mounted an agitator l which at its opposite ends terminates in shaft portions supported in bearings 8. At one end, the agitator shaft is provided with a coupling 9 which connects the agitator with a suitable driving means, such as the motor I0, the latter being provided with switch I0, This agitator serves to prevent packing or bridging-over of the insulation material while the machine is in operation.

Connected to the lower end of the hopper 5 by means of-brackets i2 iswhat is herein termed an induction head il which is also preferably cone-shaped and in effect forms a continuation of the hopper. The lower extremity of the induction head is provided with a plurality of holes or openings i4, there being four in the present instance. to which are connected induction tubes II. i3". I3 and i3d, which lead downwardly and project into a master plate to be described. The lower end of the induction head is closed by an inverted cone i4 which projects upwardly into the head and serves to properly direct or guide the material and also provides an anchor for a plurality of air tubes i5". ilib, ll and Il, there heling one foreach of the induction tubes i4*- II The tubes IB--Illd connect at one end with what is herein termed an air distributor, generally indicated at I 8. note Figs. 5 and 6. This distributor comprises a housing formed with an air chamber I1 which hasY in communication tion from the pipes i3, il. i3. and |44 and likewise there are openings corresponding to the openings 31'. 31", 31. 314 and 31 and the plates 8l respectively. The same master plate is used in nlling cabinets of varying sizes with an adapter plate corresponding to the size of the cabinet,4 the master plate being secured to the adapter plate with the openings of each in registration. the screws 3l through the brackets 3l* therewith a series of ports il. each of which is controlled by a valve I8 adapted to engage a seat 20. each valve being normally urged to seated position by air pressure and also by spring 2|. The valves are each provided with a stem I8* which has movement in a guide 22.

The valves I9 are intermittently or periodically opened or lifted by means of a cam 23 ilxed on a shaft 24, which has a driving connection with armature shaft 25 of motor 28 through nexible coupling 21.

It will be seen that as cam 23 is rotated, it successively contacts or wipes the lower ends of the stems i9, successively raising the valves I 8 from their seats 20 and admitting air into the ports i8. l

Air under pressure may be generated by any suitable means, such as a conventional pressure unit, and passed through conduit 23 and thence through regulator 29 into pressure tank 30. The regulator may be adjusted to maintain the pressure constant while' the reserve or equalizing tank functions to prevent surging in a manner well understood in the art. From the tank 30 the air passes through conduit or pipe 3i into the chamber or space i1 of the distributor I6, note Fig. 2 in conjunction with Fig. 5. Tank 30 may be provided with a safety valve 32;

Each of the tubes Iil--Ilid communicates with one of the conduits or tubes I3-I3d through nozzle 33, the latter being reversely bent or turned to direct pulsating blasts of air downwardly through its coacting induction tube or conduit.

At the lower ends of the induction conduits or tubes I3a-i3d is a master plate 34 provided with

holes

4, 34h, 34c and 34d into which the lower open ends of the conduits project, the plate and conduits being connected as by Welding. This master plate is adapted to flt over the space to be insulated at the back of the refrigerator cabinet,

generally indicated at C, the cabinet being elevated against the plate in a manner to be described.

Coacting with the master plate is an adaptor plate 35 provided with guides 35 arranged to slide on the marginal edges of the master plate 34 and be adjustably clamped thereto by means of screw clamps 36. The function of this adaptor plate is to adapt the master plate 34 to varying sizes of cabinets, this being the only change necessary when a line of cabinets of a different size is being insulated. The adapter plate 35 is of course provided with openings corresponding to and in alignment with the openings in the master plate. 1n other words, there are four openings corresponding to the openings 84", 34",

clamping the master plate to the adapter as stated.

In order to fill or stuff the cabinet with insulation material evenly and of constant density throughout the compartment, it is important that all back pressure be relieved during the insulating operation, and it has also been found important that this release take place as near as possible to the source of induction. With this in view, the master plate 34 is provided with groups of air release holes or vents 31, 31, 31s, 314 and 31. These groups are arranged in a particular manner with respect to the sides and ends of the cabinet with the central group 31e functioning as a buffer to prevent the material from blowing across from one side to the other. Since the induction period is relatively short. it is necessary to have a longer period of release, this period being governed by the size and number or exhaust capacity of the holes in the master plate 34. Y In order to regulate the air release to obtain the most efficient operation of the machine. each group of holes 311-31' may be provided with an adiustor plate 33. which may, if desired, be adjusted while the machine is in operation.

In order to ensure complete filling of the com'- partment to be insulated with insulation material. means are provided for releasing air pressure from the tubes when the cabinet has been substantially completely insulated, such means being in the form of sleeves or collars 39 which are telescoped over and rotatably mounted around the lower end of each of the induction tubes i3*- l3d, each sleeve 39 being provided with a series of holes 39* adapted to register with like holes 40 formed in the side walls of the induction tubes, note particularly Fig. 3. These sleeves are .provided with arms 4i connected in pairs by

links

42 and 42, the said links in turn being pivotally connected to an operating lever 43 pivotally mounted or fulcrumed on a stud 43l projecting upwardly from the master plate 34. By adjusting the lever 43, the time and degree of air re. lease may be accurately regulated to obtain complete insulation of each cabinet.

To maintain the insulation material as well as the surrounding atmosphere free of dust at all times and to also ensure complete evacuation of air from the space being insulated, a shield or hood 44 is applied over the induction head I I and connects through conduit 45 with suction fan 46 driven by motor 41 mounted on pedestal 48. the dust laden air being discharged through conduit 49.

The cabinets to be insulated are brought to and taken from the machine on a conveyor 5U provided with rollers 50, note Figs. 1 and 2, and adjacent the machine a platform 5i is provided to accommodate an operator or operators land to support the hoist and elevating mechanism for the cabinets. This mechanism as herein shown comprises a carriage, generally indicated at 52, made up of a pair of` channel bars 52 and B2b of substantially inverted U shape arranged parallel 84, and 34d to permit the discharge 0f insula- 75 with the conveyor rolls 50. Secured as by welding adjacent the ends of said channel bars are steel tubes 53 arranged for vertical sliding movement through guides 54, the sliding tubes 53 at their lower ends being bolted to lifting plate 55 provided with truss members 55 to form a rigid structure. The central portion of the plate 55 has connected thereto the lower end of a connecting rod 56, the upper end of the latter being pivotally connected to lever l which is secured f on rock shaft 58 rotatably mounted in bearings 59 suspended from channel frame members 50. The outer end of the shaft 58 has secured thereon arm 6i which connects through link 62 with arm 63 mounted on stub shaft 54 which projects into gear box 65 in which is` mounted worm drive gearing of conventional construction. An operating shaft B6 projects vertically from the gear box 64 through platform 5l and pedestal bearing 61 and is provided on its upper end with a handwheel 58.

It will be seen that when the hand wheel 68 is rotated, rotation is transmitted to rock shaft 58 which pulls upwardly on the trussed plate 55 and elevates the carriage 52. If desired, a power drive may be substituted for the handwheel 68.

The lifting or hoisting mechanism is preferably counterweighted, the counterweight (not shown) being connected to the end of a cable 69 which is passed over a pulley 'l and connects at its one end with a lever 1i secured on the rock shaft 58. This lever is secured on the shaft 58 in a manner such that the outer end of the lever to which the cable is attached is slightly below the center line of the shaft when lowered to prevent the pull of the cable from exerting a lifting force on the carriage when the cabinet is removed.

The machine operates as follows:

Refrigerator cabinets are insulated between the spaced outer and inner walls thereof, the inner wall being defined by the food compartment liner, the back wall of which is exposed at the back of the cabinet when the cabinet is ready for the insulating operation with a space between the marginal edges of the outer wall and liner, as is Well understood by those having a knowledge of this particular art.

The cabinets. having been assembled to this point, are brought to a position adjacent to carria-ge 52 on the conveyor 5D, face down, and then placed on the carriage and elevated against the master plate 3d. This master plate constitutes in effect a temporary back plate or closure in spaced relation to the back wall of the food compartment liner. The position of the cabinet with respect to the master plate is such that there will be one of the holes 34a- 34d communicatingr with the compartment to be insulated adjacent each corner thereof.

The machine is preferably provided with one control for turning on the air and starting the motors I0, 26 and 4l. Thus when the air is turned on, cam 23 of the air distributor I6 is caused to rotate to successively lift the valves I9 and permit air under pressure to'pass into and through the tubes I5--i5d and thence through nozzles 33 into the induction tubes ISB-i3d. The air blast through each induction tube is intermittent or pulsating, causing the material to be forcefully ejected in batches from the discharge ends of the induction tubes l3ii-I3cl through the holes 34a- 34d in the master plate 3E. This action has proved to be highly eicient in causing the loose insulation to pack to a constant density and the fibres thereof to felt" together or intermesh; it might be compared to a careful manual Job of detaching or picking oi small batches of substantially constant or uniform size and tamping the batches as they are laid in place.

The'air blast not only forces the insulation through the tubes ile-Wi and into the compartment'to be insulated but also draws or inducts the material from the hopper and induction head intothe tubes. s

The capacity of the air release holes 31E-31d in the master plate 3l should be such as to prevent any tendency toward back pressure, permitting the insulation fibres to pass freely into the compartment to be insulated.

The lever 43 is maintained in a position such that the holes in the lower extremities of the induction tubes I3-l3d will be closed until the i insulating operation is substantially completed. at which time the lever is moved to uncover said openings or holes 40 and permit the air to be released as the insulation banks up close to the master plate.

The machine is then stopped, the carriage 52 lowered and the cabinet removed.' Should there be any unfilled spaces or areas at the back of the cabinet, these may be readily insulated manually. since they would be completely exposed and accessible. The back plate is then applied and the joint around the latter sealed, completing this phase of the fabricating and assembling operation.

Actual experience has demonstrated thatcabinets may be insulated more rapidly and more emciently than can be done manually.

It will be understood that the invention contemplates changes in structure and design' to adapt the machine to different types of insulation jobs and to conform to conditions at-the place of installation and use without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventive concept as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. I n a. machine for insulating the space between outer and inner walls of a refrigerator cabinet. a conduit communicating with a source 5of loose insulation material and said space, a

cover plate overlying said space and adapted to substantially close the latter around the conduit, means for delivering air under pressure to material in the conduit to forcefully eject the material therefrom into said space, the discharge extremity of the conduit being provided with one or more air release ports or openings, and means for selectively closing and opening said ports and whereby when the space has been substantially completely lled to a point within the discharge area of the conduit air may be-vented from said ports to permit complete illling of the space.

2. In a machine for thermally insulating the `space between inner and outer Walls of refrigerator cabinets, a hopper. a series of conduits communicating with said hopper to said space. said conduits at their discharge ends being disposed to deliver material at different points over theV space, a master plate adapted to substantially close oil' the space around said conduits, an adapter mounting said master plate for accommodating different sizes of cabinets, a source of air under pressure, means for conducting air from said source to said conduits and causing the air to be discharged into the conduits towards said space, means for interrupting the ow of air to thereby cause the material to be intermittently discharged from said conduits and in batches, and means for venting air from said space to assassi and an air distributor operating to interrupt the flow oi' air periodically and successively with respect to the respective conduits to thereby cause the material to be forcefully delivered from said conduits in batches distributed over the spa/ce.

4. In a machine for transferring loose material to a space to be insulated, a plurality of conduits communicating with a source, of material and' said space, a source of air under pressure, means for directing air from said source on the material in said conduits, an air distributor interposed in saidv last named means and having a series of valves to control the admission of air into said conduits and a valve actuating member operative to move said valves to air-release position successively and intermittently to thereby cause the material to be ejected from said conduits into said space in batches and in successive order with respect to said conduits.

5. In a machine for transferring loose insulation material to a space to be insulated, a hopper containing a mass of material, one or moreconduits communicating said hopper with said space, a source of air. under pressure. a pipe or tube communicating with said source and disposed to discharge air into said conduit towards said space to thereby cause the material to be discharged from the conduit and to also induct material into the conduit from the hopper, a master plate adapted to overlie said plate and substantially close off the space around the conduit, a series of air relief vents in said master plate to prevent back pressure from building up within the space, the lower extremity of said Vconduit being also provided with air-release means, and means for selectively controlling said latter air-release means to avoid back pressure when the space has been illled with insulation material to a point within the discharge area of the conduit.

6. In a machine for transferring loose insulation material to a space to be insulated, a hopper, a series of conduits communicating with said hopper and said space, said conduits having their discharge ends disposed to deliver material into said space at different points over the latter, a master plate overlying said space and substantially closing olf the latter around said conduits. an adapter mounting said master plate to accommodate said plate to different sizes and shapes of articles to be insulated, a source of air under pressure, means for conducting air from said source and. applying it to the material in said conduits towards the discharge end of the latter, means for periodically interrupting the flow of air into said conduits successively with respect to the conduits to thereby cause the material to be discharged from said conduits in batchesdistributed over the space, and means for relieving air from the space to be insulated to avoid back pressure during the insulating operation.

7. In a machine for transferring loose material to a space to be insulated a plurality of conduits communicating with a source of material in said space, a source of air under pressure, pipes communicating with said air source and each of said conduits, means attached to said pipes and disposed in said conduits, said means comprising tubular extensions extending longitudinally of said conduits and serving to direct air from said pipes on the material in said conduits and in the direction of movement thereof, an air distributor disposed in said pipes and having a series of valves to control the admission of air into said conduits and, a valve actuating member operative to move said valves to air release position successively and intermittently to thereby cause the material to be ejected from said conduits into said space in batches and in successive order with respect to said conduits.

8. In a machine for transferring loose insulation material to a space to be insulated, a hopper, a series of conduits arranged to direct material from said hopper to said space, said conduits having their discharge ends arranged to deliver material into said space at different points over the latter, a master plate overlying said space and substantially closing off the latter around said conduits, an adapter mounting said master plate to accommodate said plate to different sizes and shapes of articles to be insulated, a source of air under pressure, means for conducting air from said source and applying it to the material in said conduits towards the discharge end of the latter and means for periodically interrupting the flow of air into saidconduits to thereby cause the material to be discharged from said conduits in batches distributed over the space.

. JOHN C. MOORE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in thc file oi this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 19,929 Slayter Apr. 14, 1936 1,029,364 Hartwig June 11, 1912 1,349,290 Murdock Aug.'10, 1920 1,353,613 Renton Sept. 21, 1920 1,485,360 Bartels et al. Mar. 4, 1924 1,547,335 Lightfoot et al. July 28, 1925 1,548,441 Branovich Aug. 4, 1925 1,550,726- Larsen Aug. 25, 1925 1,718,507 Wenzel et al. June 25, 1929 1,756,468 Moller Apr. 29, 1930 1,827,858 Tannery Oct. 20, 1931 1,898,759 Burt Feb. 2l, 1933 1,923,195 Finck Aug. 22, 1933 1,940,277 Stresau Dec. 19, 1933 1,971,123 Tappen Aug. 21, 1934 2,047,215 McJoynt July 14, 1936 2,054,323 Holbrook Sept. l5, 1936 2,128,336 Torstensson Aug. 30,- 1938 2,170,469 Carter Aug. 22, 1939 2,200,713 Ericson et al. May 14, 1940 2,235,542 Wenzel Mar. 18, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 412,675 Germany Apr. 25, 1925 447,717 Germany Aug. 2, 1927