CA1293949C - Vibratory spiral elevator - Google Patents
Vibratory spiral elevatorInfo
- Publication number
- CA1293949C CA1293949C CA000557399A CA557399A CA1293949C CA 1293949 C CA1293949 C CA 1293949C CA 000557399 A CA000557399 A CA 000557399A CA 557399 A CA557399 A CA 557399A CA 1293949 C CA1293949 C CA 1293949C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- base
- exciter
- spiral elevator
- shaft
- spiral
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G27/00—Jigging conveyors
- B65G27/10—Applications of devices for generating or transmitting jigging movements
- B65G27/32—Applications of devices for generating or transmitting jigging movements with means for controlling direction, frequency or amplitude of vibration or shaking movement
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B06—GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS IN GENERAL
- B06B—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, e.g. FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL
- B06B1/00—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency
- B06B1/10—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency making use of mechanical energy
- B06B1/16—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency making use of mechanical energy operating with systems involving rotary unbalanced masses
- B06B1/161—Adjustable systems, i.e. where amplitude or direction of frequency of vibration can be varied
- B06B1/162—Making use of masses with adjustable amount of eccentricity
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Jigging Conveyors (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A spiral elevator is described for conveying prod-uct from one level to another level up a spiral track. The elevator is powered by a two-mass system having an exciter resiliently supported on the vertical tube. The exciter has a pair of parallel shafts with a vibration generating member mounted on each shaft. A motor is provided for driving each shaft independent of the other shaft. Controls are provided for controlling the vibratory forces generated by the vibra-tion generating members to vary the vibratory forces from substantially zero unbalance to a desired level of unbalance to convey product from the inlet to the outlet of the spiral track.
A spiral elevator is described for conveying prod-uct from one level to another level up a spiral track. The elevator is powered by a two-mass system having an exciter resiliently supported on the vertical tube. The exciter has a pair of parallel shafts with a vibration generating member mounted on each shaft. A motor is provided for driving each shaft independent of the other shaft. Controls are provided for controlling the vibratory forces generated by the vibra-tion generating members to vary the vibratory forces from substantially zero unbalance to a desired level of unbalance to convey product from the inlet to the outlet of the spiral track.
Description
VIBRATORY SPIRAL ELE~ATOR
Field Of_The Invention This invention relates to a spiral ramp vertical elevator utilizing a two mass vibratory conveyor drive sys-tem.
Backqxound Of The Invention Vertical ~piral elevators have been known and used for some time. The spiral elevators are driven by vibratory apparatus connected at the top, at the bottom and/or in between. Most such systems utilize brute ~orce connections directly from the vibratory apparatus to the vertical spi-ral. A typical system is shown in the Carrier U.S. Patent No. 2,927,683 wherein two parallel shafts mounted directly on the base of a spiral elevator with differently phased eccentric weights on the sha~ts. ~he shafts are simultane-ously driven in opposite directions of rotation by a common motor, Other systems are shown in the Roder et al U.S.
Patent No. 2,934,202, the Schrader U~S. Patent No. 4,267,919 and the Spurlin U.S. Patent No. 3,053,380. All of these ~ystems require large motors to handle ~tart-up and ~hutdown of the elevator and, due to the loads on the system, often experience broken drive shaft~, worn bearings and the like.
In addition, the current and prior systems gener-ally use constant speed motor6 and have the eccentric weights in a fixed position on the sha~ts ~o that the tran-sient response at start-up and shutdown is very high result-ing in ~requent burnout o~ the motors.
Current units are mostly of the brute ~orce type and employ coupling~ and/or gear boxes to positively drive the two sha~ts, upon which the eccentrics are mounted, in opposite directions and in a synchronized relationship.
~3~ ~
These systems re~uire tha~ each unit be preset relative to the other uni-t so as to get the synchronization desired.
Summar~ of The Invention Accordingly the invention in one claimed aspect pertains to a drive for a spiral elevator having a base, isolation means for resiliently supporting the base on a surface, exciter means, and means for resiliently supportin~ the exciter means on the base.
The means for supporting the exciter means comprises a plurality of springs each extending angularly between and connected to the base and exciter means and leg means extending angularly between and pivotally connected to the base and to the exciter means. The exciter means has associated therewith a pair of parallel shafts journaled thereon, the exciter means also having associated therewith vibration generating means mounted on each shaft. The exciter means further has associated therewith a pair of motors mounted thereon with one motor driving one shaft independent of the other motor driving the other shaft in resiliently associated relation to the base of the spiral elevator whereby in operation the shafts and vibration generating means reach an inertially synchronized state, whereby vibratory forces from the exciter means are transmitted through the springs to the base and to the spiral elevator and isolated from the support surface.
Another aspect of the invention pertains to a spiral elevator for conveying product from one level to another level, the spiral elevator comprising a base, means for resiliently supporting the base on a surface, with a spiral track mounted on the base and having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end. Means are provided for resiliently supporting exciter means on the base, the means for supporting the exciter means comprising a plurality of springs each extending angularly between and connected to the base and exciter ,.~
33~
means and rocker leg means ex-tending angularly betw~en and pivotally conn~cted to the base and ko the exciter means. The exciter means has associated therewith a pair o~ parallel shafts journaled -thereon, the exciter means also having associated therewi-th unbalanced means mounted on each shaft. The exciter means Eurther has associated therewith means for driving one shaft and associated unbalanced means independent of the other shaft and unbalanced means in resiliently associated relation to the base of the spiral elevator, whereby vibratory forces from the exciter means are transmitted through the springs to the base and to the spiral elevator More particularly the present invention provides a new and improved vertical spiral elevator that overcomes the above enumerated problems of the prior art. Specifically, the ~piral eleva-tor is driven by a two mass system with the vibratory ~orce generating apparatus being mounted on an exciter assembly resiliently supported on the spiral elevator main frame.
The ~ibratory force generating apparatus has two parallel shafts with a variable ~orce eccentric member mounted on each end of each shaft. The shafts are ~eparately driven in opposite directions so as to be non-mechanically synchro-nized. The variable force members are initially set forsubstantially no unbalanced force ~o that upon ~tart-up minimum or very small transient response is producedO As the variable ~orce members are loaded to produce an unbal-anced or eccentric force on the shaft, a vibratory ~orce will be generated. The non-mechanically connected ~hafts and eccentrics will be subject to the inertial synchroniza-tion phenomenon to obtain proper synchronization o~ the two drive shafts and eccentric weights. Due to the low or no load start-up of the sy6tem and gradual eccentric loadin~ of the variable force vibration generating members, ~maller motors can be used and the life cycls of the drive apparatus is substantially extended.
The two-mass ~ystem with the particular vibratory force generator resiliently connected to the ~piral elevator frame can be adjusted so as to keep material ~lowing up the ~piral ramp and out the discharge at the top. ~he apparatus is ~uch that the ~aterial could be con~eyed downward ~imply ~y the appropriate ~etting o~ the variable ~orce ~e~erators.
''~
~939-'~9 ~ Case 72 Controls are provided for the variable ~orce gen-erator so as to adjust the stroke of the eccentric to vary the product conveying 6peed and residence time.
Other aspects, ~eatures and advantage6 o~ the invention will be apparent from the ~ollowing detailed de-scription taken in connection with the accompanying draw-ings.
Brief Description Of The Drawinqs The features of this invention which are believ~d to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with its objects and the advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements in the figures ~nd in which:
FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of an improved spiral elevator showing one preferred form of a two-mass vibration generating apparatus;
FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the spiral elevator of Figure 1 showing an infeed conveyor and a discharge con-veyor;
FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of an exciter assembly upon which is mounted the two motor, two shaft vibratory generating apparatus;
FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the exciter assembly and vibratory generating apparatus of Figure 3;
FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of one variable force vibration generating member:
FIGURE 6 is a bull'6-eye view o~ a ection of the spiral elevator ~howing an air flow structure.
~L2~
-5- Ca~e 72 FIGURE 7 i~ a ~chematic view of ~he foraes gener-ated by the variable force vibration generator~ to produce the lift-twist motion.
Referring to the drawings in greater detail and initially to ~igures 1 and ~, a vertical elevator or tower 10 is shown and includes a base 12, a central tube 14 ~bout which is mounted a spiral track 16, an exciter 18 and a vibration generating apparatus 20. The base 12 i~ resil-iently supported by means of isolation springs or i~olatlon blocks 22 on a floor or other mounting ~urface. The tube 14 is centrally located on and i5 affixed to the ~ase and has the spiral track 16 mounted to the outer ~ur~ace ther~o~.
Several vertical support bars 24 are ~ounted on the base and are affixed to the outer circumference of the spiral flights so as to support the flights uniformly throughout the height of the spiral track 16, an inlet trough 26 leads tangentially into the lowermost flight of the spiral track and an outlet trough 28 leads tangentially away from the topmost flight of the spiral track. A conveyor 30, 6uch as a vibratory con-veyor, is positioned to move product (i.e. bulk, granular or the like) onto the inlet trough 26. A second conveyor 32 or chute is aligned below the outlet trough 28 to receive and to convey product from the elevator to an appropriate loca-tion. It is contemplated that the inlet 26 and outlet 28 could be reversed for conveying material from the higher level to the lower level.
The cent~al tube 14 has a closed end 33 with a stabilizer 34 connected to an overhead support (not shown) so as to hold the axis of the tower vertical without re-straining the vibratory conveying motion of the elevator. A
flexible air duct 36 connects a source 38 of air, which may be heating air or cooling air, to an inlet 40 ~n the top portion of the tube. Nozzles 42 communicate from the inside .' .,-'~ ' ' .
{33~
o~ -the tube 14 onto the deck 44 o-f each Eliyht oE the spiral track 16 (Figure 6) to direct air onto the product on the Elight. The nozzles can be spaced every so many degxees (i.e. 90) around the tube so as to provide a sufficient flow of air to cool or to heat the product as the product traverses the spiral track.
A two-mass system is used to provide the vertical conveying motion to the elevator 10. Specifically, as is shown in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5 an exciter member 18 is resiliently supported by plural reactor coil springs 46 on the base 12.
The central axis of each coil spring 46 angles with respect to the exciter and with respect to the under surface of the base 12. Rocker leg 48 is connected at 50 on the exciter and at 52 on the base and extends at an angle of approximately 45~ to the plane of the exciter.
The exciter 18 includes parallel plates 54 supported apart by spacers 56 (Fig. 4). A pair of shafts 58, 59 are mounted in parallel relationship in bearings in the spacers. A
variable force vibration generating device 60 is mounted on each end of each shaft 58, 59. Two separate motors 62, 64 are mounted on the top plate. A belt 66 from a pulley 68 on one motor 62 engages with a pulley 70 on one shaft 58 with a belt 72 from a pulley 74 on the other motor 64 engages with a pulley 76 on the other shaft 59. The motors 62, 64 are individually controlle~.
The variable force vibration generating devices 60 may by any one of several commercially available types, but the preferred device is shown and described in my *U.S. patent 4,495,826 issued January 19, 1985 and entitled Vibratory Apparatus. The p~tent for the Vibratory Apparatus may be referred to for greater detail but the device is described herein. The fixed weight 78 of the two devices 60 on the same shaft, for instance shaft 59, will be in the * corresponding Canadian patent No. 1,180,205 granted January 2, 1985 ~3~
7_ Case 72 same relative orien~ation. Thus the center of gravity of the fixadweights will be vertically below the axis o~ the shaft 59 in Figures 3 and 5. ~he position o~ $he ~ovable weight will b~ c~ntrolled by fluid through the conduit 80 in the shaft 59. At rest, which will ba at ~tart up, the mov-able weight will ~e positioned to of~set the unbalance of the fixed weight 78 o that ~he motors will 6tart with sub-stantially no unbalanced load. Once the motors are at speed, the ~ovable weight i6 shifted through use o~ the controls to admit fluid into the cylinder of the movable weight. ~he degree of imbalance can be precisely controlled so that the vibratory motion transmitted to the exciter and ~coil springs 46 will vibrate the base 12 and tower in a vertical and inclined path thereby advancing product up the spiral track 16. The two-mass system is operated at subresonant natural frequency by adjusting the adjustable or variable rate centrifugal force drive. The two parallel drive shafts are not mechanically synchronized 60 that the inertial synchronization phenomenon is used to obtain pxoper synchronization of the two shafts. The controls are such that adjustable set points on the instrument permit adjust-ment of the stroke and, hence, product con~eying speed and residence time. The control system compensates for product sticking and regulates the flu$d pressure to the movable weights in the variable force generator to hold the preset point stroke.
The controls automatically reduce the unbalances of the vibration generator to minimum values during shutdown and during start up permitting the use o~ smaller motors with less horsepower and reducing downtime to repair or replace burned out motors.
The counter-rotating sha~ts with the variable force vibration generating devices 60 on each shaft produces 1~3~
-8- Case 72 the inertial synchronization illustrated 6chematically in Figure 7 wi~h an angle ~ of impressed forae re~uired to produce the t'Lift-Twist" motion necessary to conv~y product up the ~piral track 16. In Figure 7 the two circles 90, 92 illustrate the opposite directions of rotation o~ the ~hafts .
58, 59 relative to the centerline 93 of the tower, with the centrifugal forces 94, 96 on the near 6ide forming the angle needed to prod,uce the lift-twi~t motion de6ired. The dashed lines 94', 96' show the centri~ugal ~orce on the far side which also forms the needle angle ~.
It will be understood that the invention may be embodied ~n other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details g~ven herein.
;~
Field Of_The Invention This invention relates to a spiral ramp vertical elevator utilizing a two mass vibratory conveyor drive sys-tem.
Backqxound Of The Invention Vertical ~piral elevators have been known and used for some time. The spiral elevators are driven by vibratory apparatus connected at the top, at the bottom and/or in between. Most such systems utilize brute ~orce connections directly from the vibratory apparatus to the vertical spi-ral. A typical system is shown in the Carrier U.S. Patent No. 2,927,683 wherein two parallel shafts mounted directly on the base of a spiral elevator with differently phased eccentric weights on the sha~ts. ~he shafts are simultane-ously driven in opposite directions of rotation by a common motor, Other systems are shown in the Roder et al U.S.
Patent No. 2,934,202, the Schrader U~S. Patent No. 4,267,919 and the Spurlin U.S. Patent No. 3,053,380. All of these ~ystems require large motors to handle ~tart-up and ~hutdown of the elevator and, due to the loads on the system, often experience broken drive shaft~, worn bearings and the like.
In addition, the current and prior systems gener-ally use constant speed motor6 and have the eccentric weights in a fixed position on the sha~ts ~o that the tran-sient response at start-up and shutdown is very high result-ing in ~requent burnout o~ the motors.
Current units are mostly of the brute ~orce type and employ coupling~ and/or gear boxes to positively drive the two sha~ts, upon which the eccentrics are mounted, in opposite directions and in a synchronized relationship.
~3~ ~
These systems re~uire tha~ each unit be preset relative to the other uni-t so as to get the synchronization desired.
Summar~ of The Invention Accordingly the invention in one claimed aspect pertains to a drive for a spiral elevator having a base, isolation means for resiliently supporting the base on a surface, exciter means, and means for resiliently supportin~ the exciter means on the base.
The means for supporting the exciter means comprises a plurality of springs each extending angularly between and connected to the base and exciter means and leg means extending angularly between and pivotally connected to the base and to the exciter means. The exciter means has associated therewith a pair of parallel shafts journaled thereon, the exciter means also having associated therewith vibration generating means mounted on each shaft. The exciter means further has associated therewith a pair of motors mounted thereon with one motor driving one shaft independent of the other motor driving the other shaft in resiliently associated relation to the base of the spiral elevator whereby in operation the shafts and vibration generating means reach an inertially synchronized state, whereby vibratory forces from the exciter means are transmitted through the springs to the base and to the spiral elevator and isolated from the support surface.
Another aspect of the invention pertains to a spiral elevator for conveying product from one level to another level, the spiral elevator comprising a base, means for resiliently supporting the base on a surface, with a spiral track mounted on the base and having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end. Means are provided for resiliently supporting exciter means on the base, the means for supporting the exciter means comprising a plurality of springs each extending angularly between and connected to the base and exciter ,.~
33~
means and rocker leg means ex-tending angularly betw~en and pivotally conn~cted to the base and ko the exciter means. The exciter means has associated therewith a pair o~ parallel shafts journaled -thereon, the exciter means also having associated therewi-th unbalanced means mounted on each shaft. The exciter means Eurther has associated therewith means for driving one shaft and associated unbalanced means independent of the other shaft and unbalanced means in resiliently associated relation to the base of the spiral elevator, whereby vibratory forces from the exciter means are transmitted through the springs to the base and to the spiral elevator More particularly the present invention provides a new and improved vertical spiral elevator that overcomes the above enumerated problems of the prior art. Specifically, the ~piral eleva-tor is driven by a two mass system with the vibratory ~orce generating apparatus being mounted on an exciter assembly resiliently supported on the spiral elevator main frame.
The ~ibratory force generating apparatus has two parallel shafts with a variable ~orce eccentric member mounted on each end of each shaft. The shafts are ~eparately driven in opposite directions so as to be non-mechanically synchro-nized. The variable force members are initially set forsubstantially no unbalanced force ~o that upon ~tart-up minimum or very small transient response is producedO As the variable ~orce members are loaded to produce an unbal-anced or eccentric force on the shaft, a vibratory ~orce will be generated. The non-mechanically connected ~hafts and eccentrics will be subject to the inertial synchroniza-tion phenomenon to obtain proper synchronization o~ the two drive shafts and eccentric weights. Due to the low or no load start-up of the sy6tem and gradual eccentric loadin~ of the variable force vibration generating members, ~maller motors can be used and the life cycls of the drive apparatus is substantially extended.
The two-mass ~ystem with the particular vibratory force generator resiliently connected to the ~piral elevator frame can be adjusted so as to keep material ~lowing up the ~piral ramp and out the discharge at the top. ~he apparatus is ~uch that the ~aterial could be con~eyed downward ~imply ~y the appropriate ~etting o~ the variable ~orce ~e~erators.
''~
~939-'~9 ~ Case 72 Controls are provided for the variable ~orce gen-erator so as to adjust the stroke of the eccentric to vary the product conveying 6peed and residence time.
Other aspects, ~eatures and advantage6 o~ the invention will be apparent from the ~ollowing detailed de-scription taken in connection with the accompanying draw-ings.
Brief Description Of The Drawinqs The features of this invention which are believ~d to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with its objects and the advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements in the figures ~nd in which:
FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of an improved spiral elevator showing one preferred form of a two-mass vibration generating apparatus;
FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the spiral elevator of Figure 1 showing an infeed conveyor and a discharge con-veyor;
FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of an exciter assembly upon which is mounted the two motor, two shaft vibratory generating apparatus;
FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the exciter assembly and vibratory generating apparatus of Figure 3;
FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of one variable force vibration generating member:
FIGURE 6 is a bull'6-eye view o~ a ection of the spiral elevator ~howing an air flow structure.
~L2~
-5- Ca~e 72 FIGURE 7 i~ a ~chematic view of ~he foraes gener-ated by the variable force vibration generator~ to produce the lift-twist motion.
Referring to the drawings in greater detail and initially to ~igures 1 and ~, a vertical elevator or tower 10 is shown and includes a base 12, a central tube 14 ~bout which is mounted a spiral track 16, an exciter 18 and a vibration generating apparatus 20. The base 12 i~ resil-iently supported by means of isolation springs or i~olatlon blocks 22 on a floor or other mounting ~urface. The tube 14 is centrally located on and i5 affixed to the ~ase and has the spiral track 16 mounted to the outer ~ur~ace ther~o~.
Several vertical support bars 24 are ~ounted on the base and are affixed to the outer circumference of the spiral flights so as to support the flights uniformly throughout the height of the spiral track 16, an inlet trough 26 leads tangentially into the lowermost flight of the spiral track and an outlet trough 28 leads tangentially away from the topmost flight of the spiral track. A conveyor 30, 6uch as a vibratory con-veyor, is positioned to move product (i.e. bulk, granular or the like) onto the inlet trough 26. A second conveyor 32 or chute is aligned below the outlet trough 28 to receive and to convey product from the elevator to an appropriate loca-tion. It is contemplated that the inlet 26 and outlet 28 could be reversed for conveying material from the higher level to the lower level.
The cent~al tube 14 has a closed end 33 with a stabilizer 34 connected to an overhead support (not shown) so as to hold the axis of the tower vertical without re-straining the vibratory conveying motion of the elevator. A
flexible air duct 36 connects a source 38 of air, which may be heating air or cooling air, to an inlet 40 ~n the top portion of the tube. Nozzles 42 communicate from the inside .' .,-'~ ' ' .
{33~
o~ -the tube 14 onto the deck 44 o-f each Eliyht oE the spiral track 16 (Figure 6) to direct air onto the product on the Elight. The nozzles can be spaced every so many degxees (i.e. 90) around the tube so as to provide a sufficient flow of air to cool or to heat the product as the product traverses the spiral track.
A two-mass system is used to provide the vertical conveying motion to the elevator 10. Specifically, as is shown in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5 an exciter member 18 is resiliently supported by plural reactor coil springs 46 on the base 12.
The central axis of each coil spring 46 angles with respect to the exciter and with respect to the under surface of the base 12. Rocker leg 48 is connected at 50 on the exciter and at 52 on the base and extends at an angle of approximately 45~ to the plane of the exciter.
The exciter 18 includes parallel plates 54 supported apart by spacers 56 (Fig. 4). A pair of shafts 58, 59 are mounted in parallel relationship in bearings in the spacers. A
variable force vibration generating device 60 is mounted on each end of each shaft 58, 59. Two separate motors 62, 64 are mounted on the top plate. A belt 66 from a pulley 68 on one motor 62 engages with a pulley 70 on one shaft 58 with a belt 72 from a pulley 74 on the other motor 64 engages with a pulley 76 on the other shaft 59. The motors 62, 64 are individually controlle~.
The variable force vibration generating devices 60 may by any one of several commercially available types, but the preferred device is shown and described in my *U.S. patent 4,495,826 issued January 19, 1985 and entitled Vibratory Apparatus. The p~tent for the Vibratory Apparatus may be referred to for greater detail but the device is described herein. The fixed weight 78 of the two devices 60 on the same shaft, for instance shaft 59, will be in the * corresponding Canadian patent No. 1,180,205 granted January 2, 1985 ~3~
7_ Case 72 same relative orien~ation. Thus the center of gravity of the fixadweights will be vertically below the axis o~ the shaft 59 in Figures 3 and 5. ~he position o~ $he ~ovable weight will b~ c~ntrolled by fluid through the conduit 80 in the shaft 59. At rest, which will ba at ~tart up, the mov-able weight will ~e positioned to of~set the unbalance of the fixed weight 78 o that ~he motors will 6tart with sub-stantially no unbalanced load. Once the motors are at speed, the ~ovable weight i6 shifted through use o~ the controls to admit fluid into the cylinder of the movable weight. ~he degree of imbalance can be precisely controlled so that the vibratory motion transmitted to the exciter and ~coil springs 46 will vibrate the base 12 and tower in a vertical and inclined path thereby advancing product up the spiral track 16. The two-mass system is operated at subresonant natural frequency by adjusting the adjustable or variable rate centrifugal force drive. The two parallel drive shafts are not mechanically synchronized 60 that the inertial synchronization phenomenon is used to obtain pxoper synchronization of the two shafts. The controls are such that adjustable set points on the instrument permit adjust-ment of the stroke and, hence, product con~eying speed and residence time. The control system compensates for product sticking and regulates the flu$d pressure to the movable weights in the variable force generator to hold the preset point stroke.
The controls automatically reduce the unbalances of the vibration generator to minimum values during shutdown and during start up permitting the use o~ smaller motors with less horsepower and reducing downtime to repair or replace burned out motors.
The counter-rotating sha~ts with the variable force vibration generating devices 60 on each shaft produces 1~3~
-8- Case 72 the inertial synchronization illustrated 6chematically in Figure 7 wi~h an angle ~ of impressed forae re~uired to produce the t'Lift-Twist" motion necessary to conv~y product up the ~piral track 16. In Figure 7 the two circles 90, 92 illustrate the opposite directions of rotation o~ the ~hafts .
58, 59 relative to the centerline 93 of the tower, with the centrifugal forces 94, 96 on the near 6ide forming the angle needed to prod,uce the lift-twi~t motion de6ired. The dashed lines 94', 96' show the centri~ugal ~orce on the far side which also forms the needle angle ~.
It will be understood that the invention may be embodied ~n other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details g~ven herein.
;~
Claims (9)
1. In a drive for a spiral elevator having a base, isolation means for resiliently supporting the base on a surface, exciter means, means for resiliently supporting the exciter means on the base, said means for supporting the exciter means comprising a plurality of springs each extending angularly between and connected to the base and exciter means and leg means extending angularly between and pivotally connected to the base and to the exciter means, said exciter means having associated therewith a pair of parallel shafts journalled thereon, said exciter means also having associated therewith vibration generating means mounted on each shaft and said exciter means further having associated therewith a pair of motors mounted thereon with one motor driving one shaft independent of the other motor driving the other shaft in resiliently associated relation to said base of said spiral elevator whereby in operation the shafts and vibration generating means reach an inertially synchronized state, whereby vibratory forces from said exciter means are transmitted through the springs to the base and to the spiral elevator and isolated from the support surface.
2. In the drive for a spiral elevator as claimed in claim 1 wherein each vibration generating means has means for varying the forces generated by said vibration generating means.
3. A spiral elevator for conveying product from one level to another level, said spiral elevator comprising a base, means for resiliently supporting said base on a surface, a spiral track mounted on said base and having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end, exciter means, means for resiliently supporting the exciter means on the base, said means for supporting the exciter means comprising a plurality of springs each extending angularly between and connected to the base and exciter means and rocker leg means extending angularly between and pivotally connected to the base and to the exciter means, said exciter means having associated therewith a pair of parallel shafts journalled thereon, said exciter means also having associated therewith unbalanced means mounted on each shaft, and said exciter means further having associated therewith means for driving one shaft and associated unbalanced means independent of the other shaft and unbalanced means in resiliently associated relation to said base of said spiral elevator, whereby vibratory forces from said exciter means are transmitted through the springs to the base and to the spiral elevator and isolated from the support surface.
4. A spiral elevator as claimed in claim 3 wherein said unbalanced means includes means for varying the vibratory forces generated by said independently driven drive shafts.
5. A spiral elevator as claimed in claim 3 wherein said unbalanced means comprises a variable force vibration generating means and wherein pressure is applied to said vibration generating means to vary the vibratory forces.
6. A spiral elevator as claimed in claim 5 wherein separate variable force vibration generating means are mounted on each end of each shaft.
7. A spiral elevator as claimed in claim 3 wherein a central tube is fixed on said base, said spiral track encircles said tube with said inlet at the lower end of the tube and said outlet at the upper end of the tube, said tube having a central axis extending vertically relative to said base.
8. A spiral elevator as claimed in claim 3 wherein each unbalanced means has a movable weight controlled by pressure from a remote source for varying the stroke of the unbalanced means to increase or decrease the conveying speed of the product.
9. A spiral elevator as claimed in claim 7 wherein means are provided for forcing air into the central tube and nozzle means are provided on the tube for directing said air onto product on the spiral track.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US4777887A | 1987-05-08 | 1987-05-08 | |
| US047,778 | 1987-05-08 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1293949C true CA1293949C (en) | 1992-01-07 |
Family
ID=21950916
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000557399A Expired - Lifetime CA1293949C (en) | 1987-05-08 | 1988-01-26 | Vibratory spiral elevator |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1293949C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3803754C2 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2204561B (en) |
| MX (1) | MX169524B (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA2861964A1 (en) | 2012-01-20 | 2013-07-25 | Mayfran International, Inc. | Vertical spiral conveyor |
Family Cites Families (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE972488C (en) * | 1951-04-29 | 1959-11-12 | Schenck Gmbh Carl | Vibrating conveyor or screen |
| GB828219A (en) * | 1955-05-05 | 1960-02-17 | Joest G M B H | Improvements in or relating to conveyors |
| GB857250A (en) * | 1957-05-08 | 1960-12-29 | Schenck Gmbh Carl | Oscillating machine |
| GB1144332A (en) * | 1965-03-22 | 1969-03-05 | Venanzetti Vibrazioni | Vibrating eccentric mass device for the production of a compound vibrating motion |
| DE1506913A1 (en) * | 1967-05-02 | 1969-07-10 | Honert W | Spiral vibrating conveyor |
| CA1049742A (en) * | 1975-06-18 | 1979-03-06 | Albert Musschoot | Vibratory sand reclaiming apparatus |
| GB2017863A (en) * | 1978-03-07 | 1979-10-10 | Venanzetti Vibrazioni | Adjusting amplitude of vibrations of eccentric mass vibrator |
| US4495826A (en) * | 1981-04-02 | 1985-01-29 | General Kinematics Corporation | Vibratory apparatus |
-
1988
- 1988-01-26 CA CA000557399A patent/CA1293949C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-02-08 DE DE19883803754 patent/DE3803754C2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-02-09 GB GB8802892A patent/GB2204561B/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-03-04 MX MX1065488A patent/MX169524B/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| MX169524B (en) | 1993-07-09 |
| DE3803754C2 (en) | 1998-07-16 |
| GB2204561A (en) | 1988-11-16 |
| GB8802892D0 (en) | 1988-03-09 |
| GB2204561B (en) | 1991-04-24 |
| DE3803754A1 (en) | 1988-11-24 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |