GB695299A - Improved method of and means for cleaning the interiors of barrels or drums - Google Patents

Abstract

695,299. Barrel cleansing machines. ALBON & SONS, Ltd., R. J. Oct, 5, 1951 [Nov. 10, 1950; July 3, 1951], Nos. 27509/50 and 15797/51. Class 21 [Also in Group XXV] Apparatus for removing paints and like deposits from the interior of drums by displacing therein a freely movable articulated scraping member, comprises a plurality of pairs of relatively movable abutments clamping the ends of corresponding drums, a common driving mechanism simultaneously rotating each of the several clamping assemblies and the drums held therein end over end about axes at right angles to the longitudinal axis of each drum, and an additional driving mechanism imparting a simultaneous rotary movement to each of the several clamping assemblies and the contained drums, about the longitudinal axis of each drum. In Figs. 1, 3, parallel shafts 4, 5 journaled in a rectangular frame 1, 2 have plural flanged rollers 6 carrying a rotary frame or skeleton cylinder comprising coaxial rings 7 connected by longitudinal members 8 supporting transverse members 16, 17. Plural handwheel operated screws 22 threaded through bushes 23 in members 16 carry coned spiders 21, and correspondingly opposed spiders 20 are carried by shafts 19 journaled in members 16 for rotation through worm gearing by a longitudinal shaft 28 driven through bevels 30, 31 and a radial shaft 32, journaled to the header plate 9 of the end ring 7 of the skeleton cylinder, by planetary motion derived from a bevel 33 engaging a sun wheel 34 mounted on the shaft 12 of a motor 13; which also drives the skeleton cylinder through a universal coupling and a flanged head fixed to the header plate. Drums to be cleansed are clamped between the opposed spiders, and a length of chain Fig. 4 (not shown) comprising angular case hardened steel links of square cross-section is placed in each, together with a liquid detergent, e.g., weak caustic soda solution. When set in motion the machine rotates the drums axially and simultaneously tumbles them end over end so that the scraping action of the chain removes deposits from their interiors. In a modification (Figs. 5, 6) two sprocket wheels 51 connected by an endless chain 52 are mounted on vertical shafts 45, rotatable in journal bearings 44, 46 carried by the machine framework by a motor 54 through worm gearing 53. Vertical bars 56 secured equidistantly to the chain are supported by rollers 57, 58 engaging top and bottom guide rails 59. 60, and each bar has a central bushed sleeve 64 in which a shaft 65 is rotatable by a sprocket 66 at the inner end. At its other end the shaft carries a tubular yoke terminating in collars 71, 72 through which, respectively, a handwheel screw 74 is threaded and a stub axle 79 is journaled. The latter members carry inwardly directed dished spiders 76, 77, and the stub axle is rotatable by a coaxial bevel gear 78, engaged by a bevel pinion 80 on a spindle journaled in the yoke, whose other end carries an offset weighted arm 83 so that the barrel is automatically rotated about its axis when tumbled by rotation of shaft 65. The yokes are loaded with drums containing detergent liquid and lengths of scraping chain as above, and are carried round the periphery of the machine by movement of the chain 51 at e.g., 3 ft. per minute. Sprockets 66 then engage endless chains 85, 86 one on each side of the machine, driven in opposite directions over guide rails 90 by pairs of sprocket wheels which are belt connected to a motor 87 at e.g., 20 ft. per minute, so that, as the drums are slowly translated round the machine they are tumbled and simultaneously rotated axially. Chain 86 may have a shorter track than chain 85 to leave an idle space 88 in which the drums are not tumbled, to facilitate loading and unloading.