GB2211579A - Vibrator device - Google Patents

Abstract

A vibrator device for use in a casting process comprising a housing (6) and a generally flat base plate (8) of permanently magnetised steel. Extending from the base plate (8) within the housing (6) is a pillar (10), in which an eccentric member (12) is mounted for rotation on a spindle (14). Mounted on an interior support plate (16) within the housing (6) is an electric motor (18) which is connected by a flexible hose coupling (20) to the spindle (14). In use, the device is carried to a casting mould, e.g. for cement tiles or slabs and will be attached to a surface of the mould by means of the magnetised base plate. The motor (18) will then be powered for a required amount of time by connection to a convenient supply of electricity, to cause the eccentric member (12) to rotate within the support pillar (10) rotation of the member (12) causing vibrations to be transmitted through the support pillar (10) to the base plate (8) and hence to the mould, producing settlement of the casting materials within the mould. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "Vibrator Device" Description of Invention This invention is concerned with improvements relating to vibrator devices, particularly for use in processes of manufacturing articles from a mixture of materials by casting, particularly processes in which the mixture, when placed in a mould, is required to be subjected to vibrations. Such a process is (e.g.) the manufacture of tiles, slabs, etc., from cementitious material. In this process sand, cement and water, together with aggregate which may be small stones or fibre, are mixed together and placed in a mould. The mould is vibrated, causing the mixture to settle in the mould and air to rise.

Difficulty is encountered in vibrating moulds in a convenient and efficient manner, and conventionally a vibration means is used comprising a table, a support mounted in spaced relation to the table by a means which permits limited movement of the support relative to the table, an eccentric mounted for rotation relative to the support, and guide means to cause rotation of eccentric.

Conventionally the table is bulky, and relatively expensive, and requires moulds to be taken to the table for the casting operation to be carried out.

According to this invention there is provided a vibrator device for use in a casting process, the device comprising a housing, magnetic means to enable the housing to be attached to a casting mould, an eccentric member mounted for rotation in the housing, and drive means to produce rotation of the eccentric member.

The term "casting mould" is used herein generically to include not only small moulds for the production of transportable items but also large "formwork" moulds used to cast large items (such as floors and beams) in situ.

The drive means may be afforded by a gear mechanism, comprising (e.g.) a crank by which the eccentric may be caused to rotate at a desired high speed by manual operation. Alternatively mechanical means may be utilised to cause the eccentric member to rotate, such as by the use of a weight which is attached by a rope to a pulley system, and which causes to eccentric member to rotate as the weight falls under gravity.

Preferably however the drive means comprises a motor, such as an electrically driven motor, whereby the drive means may be caused to operate from a convenient supply of electricity.

Preferably the motor is connected to the eccentric member by the use of a flexible drive coupling.

Preferably the magnetic means comprises a base plate of steel or similar magnetic material which is permanently magnetised whereby the device may be attached to a mould by placing on (e.g.) a flat magnetically susceptible surface thereof.

In this manner the vibrator device may be attached temporarily to a mould and operated in a convenient manner, and after use for the required amount of time may be detached and applied to another mould, to produce the required degree of settlement of the cementitious material within the mould.

There will now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawing, of a vibrator device which is a preferred embodiment of this invention, having been selected for the purpose of illustrating the invention by way of example.

The accompanying drawing is a schematic perspective view of the preferred embodiment, part of a housing being broken away.

The vibrator device which is the preferred embodiment of this invention comprises a housing 6 and a generally flat base plate, the base plate being of permanently-magnetised steel. Extending from the base plate 8 within the housing 6 is a pillar 10, in which an eccentric member 12 is mounted for rotation on a spindle 14.

Mounted on an interior support plate 16 within the housing 6, preferably using resilient-mounting elements, is an electric motor 18, which is connected by a flexible hose coupling 20 to the spindle 14. Electric cable 22 for the motor 18 extends rearwardly from the housing.

At an opposite end of the housing, a handle 24 is provided, whereby the device may conveniently be carried around.

In the use of the device which is the preferred embodiment of this invention, it will be transported to a place where its use is desired, i.e. a casting mould, and will be attached to a surface of the mould by means of the magnetised base plate 8. The motor 18 will then be powered for a required amount of time by connection of the wiring 22 to a convenient supply of electricity, which may be an AC supply, or a DC supply such as a car battery to cause the eccentric 12 to rotate within the support pillar 10. Rotation of the member 12 causes vibrations to be transmitted through the support pillar 10 to the base plate 8, and hence to the mould to which the device is attached, producing settlement of the casting materials within the mould.

On completion of use, the electric motor will be switched off, and the device removed from the said mould, for application to another mould.

Alternatively the vibrator device may be attached to a table or similar support surface upon which casting moulds may be placed, and operated to produce vibration of the support table, and settlement of the cementitious material, through the intermediary of the support table. Such a method of use of the vibrator device would be particularly useful in a production line comprising a number of support tables, on which moulds are placed and into which casting material is introduced, in as much as it would provide for a higher utilisation rate of the vibrating equipment, as distinct from vibrating equipment which is permanently affixed to a specific support table.

In the use of the invention in relation to form-work moulds, the formwork will be filled with castable material and the device attached by the magnetic means to metal shuttering of the form-work to cause the castable material to settle within the form-work and the air herein to rise.

It will be of course be appreciated that the principles of magnetic attachment may be utilised in a vibrator device, rotation of the eccentric of which is produced by drive means other than an electric motor, in particular (but not exclusively) by the use of a hand powered crank, or by the use of a falling weight drive mechanism.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS:

1. A vibrator device for use in a casting process, the device comprising a housing, magnetic means to enable the housing to be attached to a casting mould, an eccentric member mounted for rotation in the housing, and drive means to produce rotation of the eccentric member.

2. A device according to Claim I wherein the drive meons may be afforded by a gear mechanism, comprising a crank by which the eccentric may be caused to rotate at a desired high speed by manual operation.

3. A device according to Claim I wherein mechanical means is utilised to cause the eccentric member to rotate.

4. A device according to Claim 3 wherein the mechanical means comprises a weight which is attached by a rope to a pulley system, and which causes to eccentric member to rotate as the weight falls under gravity.

5. A device according to Claim I wherein the drive means comprises a motor operative from a convenient supply of electricity.

6. A device according to Claim 5 wherein the motor is connected to the eccentric member by the use of a flexible drive coupling.

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the magnetic means comprises a base plate of magnetic material which is permanently magnetised whereby the device may be attached to a mould.

8. A vibrator device constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. Any novel feature or novel combination of features hereinbefore described and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.