US1184356A - Feeder and strike-off device for cement blocks. - Google Patents

Description

G. W. KRAMER. 7 FEEDER AND STRIKE-OFF DEVI'CEFO'R CEMENT BLOCKS.

, APPLICATION FILED JAN.13, I913. i

1,184,356. v Patented May 23,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

e. w. KRAMER. FEEDER AND STRIKE-OFF DEVICE FOR CEMENT' BLOCK S.

APPLICATION men JAN.13, i913.

I PatentedMay23,1916.

Mai /1mm UNITED STAEg PATENT- @FFIQE.

GEORGE W. KRA'MnR, or PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

Application filed January 13, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WV. KRAMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feeder and Strike- Off Devices for Cement Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to a selffeeding and troweling or strike-off device for use in concrete block manufa ture. The. present invention has for its object, to provide a device, for use inconnection with concretev block tamping machines, which is adapted to receive material from a mixer; deliver the material to the block machine or mold, and when. the block is I finished, strike-off and trowel the block in one operation, accumulating the surplus material struck off, for a subsequent block.

The invention has for a further ob]ect, a 'troweling or strike-oif device for concrete block making machines including a revolving member, such as a roller, geared to rotate at considerable speed and preferably, arranged to rotate in a direction opposite to its travel overa block, and capable of strik ing off a block and leaving. a smooth finish,

even though the material is very coarse.

\ My invention is adapted for use in connection with various block machines or molds, and particularly in connection with tamping machines such as shown in the patents granted to me on January 17th,

1911, numbered 981,928 and 981,929. 7

That the invention may be more fully understood reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevationof my selffeeding and troweling or strike-off device, certain gearing and other instrumentalities for operating the same being omitted and showing a part of a continuous mixer for supplying material tothe device, a part of a block machine or mold and the tampers, the parts. shown in the forward position of their movement; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device, as the same would appear, if taken on the line 22 of Fig. 5, the parts in the same position shown in Fig. 1 and showing the block machine or mold in section with a concrete block at the completion 'of the tamping operation; Fig.

8 is a view similar to Fig. 2, except that the i tampers have been raised out of position and the device is shown moving backward Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1916.

Serial No. 741,831.

and the roller .striking off and troweling the concrete block and accumulating the surplus material for a subsequent block; Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the device, as the same would appear, if taken on the line H of Fig. 5; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the device, shown in Fig. 1, with the gearing and other lnstrumentalities for operating and controlling the same, parts being broken away, and other parts in section; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the, gearing and other instrumentalities for operating and controlling the movement of the device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through the gearing, as the same would appear, if taken on the line 77 of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a cross-section, as the same would appear. if taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a cross-section, as the same would appear if taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 6; Fig. 10 is a rear end view looking at the right hand end of Fig. 6, and Fig. 11 is a plan view of certain clutch operating means.

Like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the figures.

In Fig. 1 the device is shown moved to a forward position delivering material into the block machine or mold and stopped preparatory to the operation of the tampers.

The block machine or mold which is only partly shown, is designated A, and may be of any preferred construction, the tampers as B, and may be of any preferred construction, and a continuous mixer. as C, and may be of any preferred construction. This continuous-mixer G is so placed that it will deliver mixed material direct into the hopper of my troweling or "strike-off device, which in turn delivers the material into the block machine or mold, and when the block is finished or has been tamped, strikes ofl' the block and returns the surplus material tothe hopper, thus preventing the surplus material falling from the machine onto the floor or platform.

.The self-feeding and troweling or strikeoff device proper, includes the stationary hopper part 12 and the movable or traveling feeder portion 13, adapted to be mounted or supported in any suitable manner, in connection with a tamping machine, such for instance as'illustrated in Patent No. 981,928 and any suitable block machine or mold.

The hopper part 12, comprises the side walls 14, the front wall 15 and the sloping rear wall 16 and these walls at their meet g nsects ing cornersare braced and reinforced bythe angle bars 17. The bottom or supporting plate for the front, side and rear walls of the hopper is designated as 18 and when in operative relation with the block machine or mold A is secured thereto as at 19. The

I the length of the hopper 12; said plates 21 lie between the hopper and adjacent to the inside faces of the side walls 14 of the hopper, see Fig. 4 and movable through the hopper. The front wall 15 of the hopper stops short of the upper edges of the plates 21, see Fig. 2 and the rear sloping wall 16 of the hopper is cut away, as at 22, see Fig.

. 4 to allow the plates 21 to travelback and forth The side walls 14 of the hopper serve as guiding means for the plates 21 in conjunction with the angle bars or brace members 23, extending the length of the plates 21, see Figs. 1 and 4. Said angle bars or,

brace members 23 are preferably spaced from and secured at their opposite ends to the plates 21 through interposed members 24, see Figs. 1 and 5, so as to provide space between the angle bars 23 and the plates 21' to allow for the travel of the plates 21 and to guide the same, the side walls 14 of the hopper fitting in said spaces. The plates 21 are connected at their forward ends byfthe cross-heador front wall25, braced and reinforced at the corners by the angle bars 26.

The hopper 12 has a false bottom, consisting of the plate 26 removed a suitable distance above the bottom or supporting plate 18 and extending between and secured to the side plates 21 of the movable feeder 13,-through the medium of the longitudinal angle bars or reinforcing plates 27. The bottom 26 is movable with the feeder 13 for the bottomof thehopper 12 when the feeder is advanced and when the feeder is retracted moves to a position to allow the material deposited in the hopper proper, to fall down onto thestationary bottom or supporting plate 18. The false bottom 26 has a front wall 28, see Figs. 2 and 3, and the space in the feeder 13 between the front wall 28 and the front end of the feeder, or

' strike-off or troweling device, to be described, provides an opening through the feeder, through which the material is discharged from the feeder into the block machine or mold A, therebeneath, when the feeder has moved with [such opening therein into coincidence with said block machine or mold A. The front wall 28 at the corners is braced or reinforced by the angle bars 29.

The position of the front wall 28 from the front end ofthe feeder, or. strike-off or troweling device,to be described, determines to a certain'extent, the quantity of material to be discharged from the feeder into the "block machine or mold, and .said frontzwall' 28 and false bottom 26 may be adjustableor substitutes provided therefor, as may be desirable.

The strike-0H or troweling device, includes the roller '30, located at the forward end of the feeder 12 and extending transafter a block forming operatiomthe roller- 30 will strike off the block and leave a smooth surface, see Fig.3. A shield '32 covers the upper surface of the roller 30, and is attached or secured to the front wall 25 of the feeder. Shields 33 are also provided to cover the upper edges of the plates 21, these shields being secured to the in-' 'side faces of the side walls 14 of the hopper,

see Figs. 2, 4' and. 5.

The feeder 13 is held from lateral niotion by the side Walls 14 of the hopper and-the bars 23 cooperating therewith, as described,

and to uide and prevent any lifting motion of the eeder, during its travel, except at a predetermined movement-of said feeder,I I

provide rollers 34 journaled to the outside faces of the side walls 14 ofthe hopper, see

Figs. 1 and 5, engaging the upper faces of.

the angles 23, and the rollers 35 journaled .to the outside faces of the side walls 14 of the hopper, see Fig.1, engaging the lower faces of the angles 23.

In the present structure where the bottom or supporting plate 18 is secured to the block machine or mold A, said plate 18 has a sloping surface 36, see Figs. 2 and 3. As and is of sufficient length to'form a closure the feeder recedes and as it reaches the end of its backward movement, the roller 30 travels up over the sloping surface 36, raising the front end of the feeder and the side :plates 21, and to allow for this movement,

ating the feeder 1'3 and the strike-off or .troweling device 30.

. Attached to the inside faces of the plates 2l,below the false bottom 26 and extendinglongitudinally thereof for a suitable distance, are rack bars 38 made integral with or attached to angle bars 39. Meshing with these rack b ars 38 are gear wheels 40 carried on a drive shaft 41, and operating through gear 52 or the gear 53 is a clutch member 55' ried thereby in similar directions.

openings 42 in the bottom or supporting plate 18, see Fig. 4. The shaft 41 is journaled in boxings 43, secured to the underside of the bottom or supporting plate 18. It is obvious that if the shaft 41 be rotated in reverse directions it will move the rack bars 38 through the medium of the gears 40 in a forwardly and then in a rearwardly direction and move the feeder 13 and plates car- The shafts 41 and 31, the latter carrying the strike-off or troweling roller 30, are driven from reversible gearing which is controlled by certain instrumentalities for intermittently placing such gearing in a neutral position.

Reference being had to Fig. 5 it will be observed that the shaft 31 is coupled up with a driving shaft 44, and the shaft 41 is coupled up in a similar manner with a drive shaft 45. Said drive shafts 44 and 45 are journaled in a suitable frame-work supporting the gearing for operating the feeder 13, and such framework may be an independent structure 'or a part of the frame carrying the ,tamping mechanism or the frame of the block machine or mold. The coupling between the shafts 31 and 44 includes the interposed shaft 46 and the knuckle joints 27 to produce a flexible connection and in a like manner the coupling =ried the bifurcated end 59 of an operating member 60. The member 60 is attached to a 'shiftable rod 61 having abearing in the framework of the machine and connected.

with said operating member 60 is the forward end 62 of an operators lever 63. It is therefore obvious, that if the shiftable rod 61 is moved either to the right or. left, it will inturn move the operating member 60 in the direction of movement of said rod 61 and place the clutch 55 in driving relation with e ther of the gears 52 or 53. The

lever 63 is fulcrumed at 64 to a suitable part' of the frame to facilitate in the operation of said lever for moving the shiftable rod 61 in the manner specified.

The gears 52 and 53 are in constant meshing relation with a beveled gear wheel 65 carried by a short shaft 66, on the outer end .of which is a bevel gear wheel 67 meshing with a bevel gear wheel 68 on the driving shaft 44. This connection from the gear wheels and 53 to the drive shaft 54 will operate said shaft 54 in reverse directions, depending of course on the connection of the clutch 55 with either of said gears 52 or 53. Said gears 52 and 53 are also in constant meshing relation with a bevel gear wheel 69 carried by a short shaft 70, journaled in a suitable part of the frame, and said shaft 70 carries a worm 71 in meshing relation with a worm wheel 72 on the drive shaft 45. It is obvious that the drive shaft 45 will revolve inopposite directions, depending of course on the connection of the clutch 55 with either of the beveled The driving connection between the main shaft 50 and the shaft 44 is such that said shaft 44 may be rotated at a considerably greater speed than the shaft 45 through its driving connection with said main driving shaft 50. This is for the purpose, as will be understood, of rotating the strike-off or troweling roller 30 very rapidly, while at the same time moving the feeder 13 at a very slow speed.

gear wheels 52 gear ng described, instrumentalities for antomat cally moving the clutch 55 to a new I have provided in connection with he L tral position at predetermined intervals, in i the movement of the feeder 13; said instrumentalities operating preferably at the moment when the feeder 13 reaches the limit of its forward movement, being substantially that position shown in Fig. 2; and at the limit of its rearward movement, being that position when the roller 30 has struck off or troweled a block, or is in a position with the front wall of the false bottom 26 far enough back to where the material will pass from the hopper 16, on to the bottom of the supporting plate 18, to be carried forwardby said front wall 28 during the forward movement of the feeder 13 and discharged in the block machine or mold A. The mechanism referred to comprises a pair of disks 73 and 74 secured to the driving shaft 45 and placed on opposite sides of the worm wheel 72. To these'two disks 73 and 74 are attached corresponding lugs or fingers 75, which are preferably adjustably connected with the disks and spaced on the disks 7 3 and 74 to operate alternately upon means to be described for automaticallv throwing the opcrating or clutch arm 59 at predetermined disks the lugs or fingers 75 thereon will come into engaging relation. with the lugs or fin gers 79 and move the plates 76 and 77. The plate 76 is integral with or has attached thereto a barSO which extends forward-and has a pivotal connection at 81'with a member 82 connected with the lever 63; and the plate 77 is integral with or has attached thereto'a bar 83 which extends forward and has a pivotal connection at 84c with the said member 82. Thus it will be seen that if the lever 63 has been moved to place the clutch 55 into'operative relation with-either of the gears or 53, that the movement of the plate 76, or-the plate 77, by the means de scribed, will automatically throw the lever 63 and the clutch 55 to the neutral position shown in Fig. 8, placing the gears 52 and 53 in an inoperative relation with the main drive shaft 50. The lugs or fingers 75 on the respective disks 73 and 74 are presumed to be adjusted on said disks so that when thefeeder 13 reaches the limit ofits forward movement, one of said disks will operate to place the clutch 55 into a neutral position, and in like manner when the feeder 13 has been retracted a suitable distance, one of said disks will operate to move the clutch 55 into a neutral position to stop the movement of the feeder 13. It is intended, that the operator, by means of the lever 63 shall have control of and place the clutch 55 into operative engagement with either of the gears 52 or 53 and that the disks 73 and 74 00-- operating with the plates 76 and 77 will alternately move the clutch 55 to a neutral position. In the present arrangement, with the clutch 55 in operative engagement with the gear 52, the feeder 13 is moved forwardly, and when the clutch 55 is in operative engagement with the gear 53 the feeder 13 will be moved rearwardly. \Vhen the feeder 13 is moved forwardly, the strike-off oiftroweling roller 30 will be positively rotated in a clockwise direction and when the feeder 13 is being moved rearwardly said strike-off or trow'eling roller 30 will be positively driven in an anti-clockwise direction.

, Reference being had to Figs. 2 and 3, 85 is a swinging valve plate pivoted at'86 t0 ad justable hangers 87 suitably secured to the inside of the front wall 15 of the hopper 12.. This valve plate is suspended in a manner to swing inward and upward with; its lower edge normally spaced a short distance above the upper face of the false. bottom 26? in the feeder 13. This valve plate, to a certain extent limits the quantity of material which passes with the feeder forwardly to the block machine or mold A, and'when the feeder is moving rearwardly and the roller 30 is striking off the block it'will swing suffi ciently to allow the surplus material to back up into the hopper 12.

I am aware of manually operated strike devices for concrete block-machines but with the use ofsuch machines there is considerable loss of material, or if not actual loss, the material struck off from the block falls on the floor or platform supporting the machine and the material must be rehandled, making the operation slow and tedious. WVith the use of my device such inconveniences and delays are entirely obviated. Then again, with the use of strike 01f devices heretofore made,'it has been very difiicult to leave a smooth surface on the block should the mixture or material contain any large pebbles or stones, without retroweling the surface of the block. Using a revoluble strike-elf, such as I do, and rotating the Same in a direction reversely to the travel of the feeder, when the roller comes into con-v tact with the stone or pebble, it will either forceit down into the mold or throw it up tatable strike-off member connected to said feeder to move therewith, operating means to reciprocate said feeder and to positively rotate said strike-off member, clutch mechanism for controlling said operatingmeans and means for automatically disengaging said clutch mechanism when the feeder reaches the limit ofits forward movement and whenthe feeder reaches the limit of-its rearward movement. g

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

. GEORGE W. KRAMER. Witnesses: FRANK A. HAL

ESTHER KRAMER.

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