US1221878A - Briqueting-machine. - Google Patents

Description

1. F. nLovmv. BRIQUETING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9. I9I3 7n 1 9. 1l 0,". 1M WH Am Mw. t5 m nw D1 WLF/meeuw.) Q. i@ Q Q.

J. F. LOVEJOY. BRIQUETING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man APR. 9,1913. Lmllm, Patented Apr. 10,1917.

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J. F. LOVEJOY.

BRIQUETING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. s. 1913.

Patented Apr. 10,1917.

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- J. F. LOVEJOY.

Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

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J. F. LOVEJOY.

BRIQUETING MACHINE.

APPL|CAT|0N FILED APR.9, 1913.

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JOHN E. LOVEJOY, OE NEW ROCHELLE, NEW Yoan, .assrGNO-.a or ONE-HALE 'ro ABE STEIN, or NEW `Yoan, N. Y.

BRIQUETING-MACHINE.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 10, T1917.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, JOI-1N F. LOVEJOY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at New Rochelle, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful mprovements in Briqueting-Machines,of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to briqueting machines, or apparatus for forming finely divided material into compact and solid bodies or briquets of substantial size and durability. f

More particularly the invention relates to machines for treating coal dust, culm or the like, so as to' consolidate the material, with the aid of a binder, such as pitch, into small uniformly shaped combustible briquets. Bituminous coal, or anthracite or coke breeze, for example may be handled by the present apparatus, also any flue dust, or concentrates of ores.

rJlhe general objects hereof are to afford a superior construction and mode of operation of apparatus and a more compact and better product. Other objects will appear in the following description, or will be obvious to those skilled in the briqueting of materials. 1

l will first describe an apparatus affording an example or embodiment of the present improvements, and illustrating the principles thereof, and will thereafter point out, in the claims, the novel features.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof,

Figure 1 shows in different views two briquets of suitable shape, which may be produced on the present apparatus, and of dimensions for example of two inches each way.

Fig. 2 shows a left side elevation of an apparatus embodying the present invention, feeding means beingomitted since any lmode of feed may be employed.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 2, indicating its form but omitting details.

Fig. 4l is a left elevation similar to Fig. 1 but with the side frame removed, and shown partly in longitudinal vertical section on the plane -l of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a front view of the apparatus of shown in elevation to give the details omitted from Fig. 3,andthe remainder being shown in vertical 4cross section central' to the front axis of the two.

Fig. G is an enlargement of the middle sectional portion of-Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 shows the construction of the plungers and block.

Fig. 8 is a left-hand elevation similar to Fig.` 1, partly in section.

Fig. 9 shows a'dii'lerent form of plunger block construction that may be employed in place of that of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the devices shown in Fig. 9.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

The briquet 10 of Fig. 1 is shown as having crowned or rounded ends, preferably separated by a cylindrical section of any desired length and diameter.

The apparatus hereof contains a pair of rotary members, which may for convenience be termed barrels, and Which are preferably in rolling Contact with. each other, the nal compressing of each briquet being effected at the tangential contact position of the barrels. One feature is the mounting of the barrels to withstand the very great strains involved, this being done by fitting them on large hollow stationary drums, whose relative position is positively determined by connection to a single stout frame. Other features relate to the use of plungers contained in one or both barrels, andv their construction,. fittings and mode of action. Other features are interrelated to thosementioned.

Since rotation ofthebarrels about horizontal parallel axes is preferred, the side frames 11, 12 may take any form to secure that arrangement.

The rotating members, which carry the plunger-s, and cooperate in the compressing of the raw material, may consist of a front rotating barrel 13, and a similar rear one 14.

The driving may be done in any suitable way. For convenience, each barrel is twosided with central gear sections 15, and these gears intermesh with each other, and a rear driving pinion 16.

Each barrel, onV each side of the gear secvtion 15, has a plunger section 17, and the plungers of barrel 13 cooperate with those of barrel 14 at the place of tangency or contact of the two barrels.

According to thisl invention, instead of mounting` the rotary barrels on shafts with pedestal bearings, a machine is afforded which will stand the enormous strain imposed'on it, by constitutin each barrel as a hollow c lindrical mem er co aeratino'.

Y a as with a hollow cylindrical stationary drum, located preferably inside of the barrel, and which affords an efficient bearing. Y

The front stationary drum 18 and the rear one 19 are shown permanently riveted or bolted to the side frames 11 and 12, and the entire center may be open as shown without right and a similar one lat the left.

Y secure the sections together, and at 22 the outerV sections Vare bolted to the frames 11 and 12. n

Similar removable end pieces or-rings 23 may serve several functions. They constitute bearing Yraces betweenwhich and the ends-of barrel'13 are rollers or balls 24.

They are also conformed at their interior faces to act as races or cams for the operation of plungers. As the'barrel has two plunger sections each pieceV 23 is opposed by Y a coacting piece 25 likewise secured to the stationary drumand likewise conformed to operate or guide plungers. The sectional drum construction facilitates the assemblage of these and associated parts.V

The barrel .'13, rotating about drumY 18 has bearing thereonnot only by rollers 24 and races 23 but at 'other suitable points. The

drum has an annular flange 26 at its center.

Between this and each piece 25 isa series of friction rollers 27, running between a tire or race-28 'outside the drum and an opposed one 29 inside the barrel.

The barrel 13 may be cast in two symmetrically similar pieces 30, 30 at right and left, and these are conveniently permanently connected by bolting the gear section 15 to both, as shown.VV tates assemblage. Y Y i `Each plungerY section 17 o f barrel 13 is radially lbored overvits whole area forming This construction facilipockets-for reception of the plunger 31. The rarrangement should be orderly, and the barrel may be of such diameter as to acconnnodate approximately 4G rows of 12 plungers in each section, making 1000 total. This involves the manufacture of that many briquets at each rotation, and the speed may be for example 6:1- revolutions per minute, more or less resulting in a number of tons of briquets per hour from each machine.

The plungers require to be accurately governed in their out and in movements. entire row of 24 may operate in unison, succeeding rows operating similarly in succession. This is efficiently secured by attaching or forming the 12 plungers at each side upon a common block or head By then actuating the block the plungers are properly operated.

The control of each plunger block 32 .is by coperationavith properly shaped parts on the fixed drum 18. y

Thus each block at each end has a cam follower. 33, Fig. 7 and these pass respectively in guide or cam groove 34 in piece 23 and similar guide 35 in piece 25. See upper left of Fig. 5.

.The compressing movement of the plungers is outward, and this is aided by a series of rolling elements 36, between the series of blocks 32 and a fixed cam, raceor ring 37 on the drum.

The race 37 and rollers 3G do the effective out-moving of the plunger blocks. and at the proper times the cam surfaces in pieces 23 and 25 draw the same back.

Each plunger in Fig. 7 is shown cupshaped at its extremity, to secure the briquet form of Fig. 1.

The plunger block 32 may be provided at its bottom with separate base piece 32n contacting with the block 32 along a curved surface. T prefer this to the integral construction of Fig. 7. This renders the plunger block practically adjustable as it passes over the rollers 30. The relative movement which is possible between the block and the base piece precludes any tendency of the plungers to jam while moving in their passages.

le pass now to the particular action of the plungers, which is an important feature hereof, and this takes us to Figs. 4 and `6 more particularly.

The plunger-retracting cams need not he further referred to as it will he understood lthat they are substantially complementary to the plunger-advancing cams or races 37. The same is true not only of barrel 13 but also barrel 14, but as in the latter the advancing cams or race ring 38 differs from the ring 37 in barrel 13, it is given a differ- VVent reference character.

Figs. 4 and 5 at the top show the plungers of barrel 13 there retracted leaving a pocket of predetermined cylindrical volume, which will be suitably filled up flush with raw material in powdered or other form. According to the preferred embodiment theA barrel 14: is not fed with material, and its action is one of coperation with barrel 13 to compress thematerial into briquets inthe latter.

The compressing is done at the tangential or contacting'portions of the barrels. The barrels may actually contact along cylindrical tire or rim portions 39, and there may be interlocking ribs and recess at 410 and 41 to insure exact registry. See Figs. 5 and 2. There will also be mutual contact throughout the plunger sections except where the powdered material lies in the bored plunger passages.

As a row of plungers in barrel 13 approaches the pressing position (horizontal), the barrels rotating as indicated by the arrows, an eccentric, but not abrupt portion 42 of cam 3T causes them to move radially outward with tremendous power. The large, substantial. and fixed nature of the drums, carrying the cams 37 and 38 precludes any yielding, so that the compressing action is positive and more powerful than an inferior construction would permit.

Each plunger in barrel 13 reaches its final compressing position when in the plane of the axes of the two barrels.

@pposite each plunger in barrel 13 is ,a plunger in barrel 14. The latter is caused to gradually advance as it approaches compressing point. The cam 33 is shown as less abrupt than cam 37'. The plunger actually enters the bore in barrel 13 before reaching compressing position. The bore entrance being slightly beveled, permits this. The plunger' is caused to project substantially beyond barrel 14 and reaches its outermost position at the compressing point.

iin excessive plunger movement near the compressing point is not necessary, as will be made to appear', but a slight positive and powerful compressing movement of them is of very great importance, giving a briquet of an extreme degree of compression, solidity and durability.

Tt will be seen that the compressing movements of the opposed plungers is supplemented by the rolling movement of the barrels, which are held in position to resist many tons pressure. The plunger sections of the respective barrels advance toward each other with that extreme power which is in the nature of a toggle, and the opposed plungers are thus carried bodily together with this tremendous pressure.

The final compressing action is not oneof one plunger forcing material toward a fixed abutment, but the material at its two opposite ends is acted on andcompressed, so that the material itself is substantially not displaced but only compressed at both ends toward its middle. This I find to overcome with satisfaction the difiiculty, well recognized in the past, that the briquets have not been made sufficiently or uniformly hard at their surface portions.

As the plungers pass below the compressing point, the cam 33 permits those in barrel 14C to abruptly recede, their work being done, while the cam 37 is shaped to continue the gradual-advance of the plungers, thereby forcing out the finished briquets, which drop at or before reaching the bottom position seen in Fig. 4i. The plungers in barrel 111 remain idle until their next compressing action. Those in barrel 13 recede to their completely withdrawn position in passing from the lower to the upper side.

To facilitate the filling of the pockets above the topmost plungers, and to secure uniformity, a hopper' 50 may be employed. This is shown in Fig. et. Tt can be located so close to the barrel that its lower edges brush the barrel. The pockets thereby are evenly filled, flush with the exterior surface of the plunger section. `Where it is desirable, in using such a binding material as pitch, to keep soft the mass of material by heat, the hopper may have a steam jacket 51. Y,

I nd it advantageous to somewhat compact the material in advance of the final compressing. This is more especially true where a long briquet, and therefore a deep pocket, is desired. The preliminary reduction of volume obviates the need of a long plunger movement, and an abrupt cam eccentric at the high compression position. The less abrupt the cam the more workable and durable the mechanism, and the more effective the compressing action. A slight preliminary compacting may be effected in the hopper 50 by means of fixed inclined slats 52 which, on scraping the moving barrel surface, tend to force downward the material into the pockets. The'partial compacting obviates spilling of material as the plunger pockets approach horizontal.

I prefer to employ a more efficient means of temporarily compacting the material. It

.acts between the feed position, and that of final compression. It comprises a resisting means as a block 54 resting on the barrel, supported by side plates 55, together with means forI forcing the plungers'outward a moderate distance as they slide under the block. Thus the fixed cam or race is intended to be shown with a slightly eccentric portion at 56. securing such result.

Thus when the partly compacted material arrives at the point of tangency of the barrels it is ready` to be completed by a comparatively short movement. tion is almost in the nature of a double ended blow. The fairly compact material, while conned in its cylindrical pocket, is at the same time forced, at the rear by the out moving plunger, and at the opposite side The final aca 25. actual movement is Vpractically or actually by the plunger inthe other barrel, which latter is carried into the pocket by the barrels rotation, and by its controlling cam.

Ther simultaneous compression at both ends, attained by the described apparatus, is of great utility. A one ended pressure toward an abutment is not found to secure a satisfactory product, perhaps because of the substantial shifting of the briquets center of gravity during the action, and the consequent sliding of thebriquet in its pocket, the frietional resistance to` which 'sliding may preclude the impressed end from receiving the necessary surface hardening.

A briquet of uniform shape without corner or edge lins is'desirable. VThe actual entering of the one plunger into the pocket in the other barrel secures thisv advantage.

The described machine is of long durability since wear is negligible. The wear of shaft and shaft bearing is dispensed with. The bari'els roll on their drums, and coperate With each other without wear. The

'briquet causes minimum wear on its pocket since at the time of highest compression its nothing. Y

' TheV several features cooperate in enabling a comparatively much higher speed of production than heretofore known machines were capable of, and the actual power required perton of output is found to be eX- tremely low, because of the functional and structuralV advantages pointed out.

Y The plungers and pockets are shown of cylindrical shape, circular'in cross section, but the cross section could be varied indefinitely in form, and by cylindrical I include any'eylinders or prisms. By the term barrel I include any member adapted to support the rotating groups of plungers.

In Fig. 8 a form of construction is shown, embodying m'y invention, and in some cases lfv prefer this tothe construction shown in Fig. 4. Y f l The chief feature of difference in' the modification of Fig. 8 'is in the construction and arrangement of the cam 37 which oper- Y ates Ythroughthe rolling elements 36, to drive the plungers. c Y

g In Fig. 4 the cani member 37 is partly eccentric on'its outer surface, andpartly concentric, the Vcam being secured upon a concentric portionV of the stationary drum.

VIn' Fig. 8 on the other hand, the cam 37a is shown intheform of a'true circular ring.V VThe operative action of the ring is obtained Ybyxits eccentric location, it being shown as so fixed inthe machine that Vits center is slightly below ,theV center of rotation of the barrel. This simplifies the construction, and

Y gives great efiiciency'of action.

My'preferred VWay of mounting the cam ring 37a of Fig.- 8, is to secure it concentricallyin the usual way tothe left-hand orV the right-hand drum casting 21, 21, of Fig. 5, and to so secure those drum castings to the central drum casting 20, as to attain the desired ecceiitricity.

In other words, suppose the total plunger throw is to be two inches, then the drum casting 21 will be so shaped or located that its outer circular surface will have a center one inch below the center of the casting 20. The true cam ring 37a being then secured 75 on the outside of casting 21 is properly eccentrically displaced to give the desired plunger throw. All the difliculties of machining a cam ring as in F ig. 4 are dispensed with, and the manufacture of a niachine embodying my invention is very materially simplified and cheapened.

The above remarks apply to the righthand barrel 13 shown in Fig. S. The action of each plunger is to withdraw to its lowest position at the upper part of its travel, and to gradually and uniformly move out` wardly as it passes to the tangential or final compression position, and continue its outward movement until at the lowest point of travel where the briquet is ejected, following which the plunger rctracts, until at the original position ready for refilling.

The arrangement is substantially7 similar for the barrel 14, and we have the true circular ring 37b, but in the case of barrel 14 this is eccentrically displaced, not downwardly, but toward the center of barrel 13.

In this way, each plunger in barrel 14 reaches the outer extent of its predetermined throw when at the tangential position at which the final compression takes place.

In its principle of operation, the construction in Fig. 8 will be seen to embody the same invention as the other gures, and the additional features in Fig. S are rather of construction and detail of operation. It will be understood that details omitted from Fig. S are supposed to be the same as in the other figures; for example the hopper 50 110 and the block 54 are supposed to be present in Fig. 8.

The invention hereof consists of the various novel modes of action, combinations, arrangements, devices, a-nd other features, described and illustrated. It will be seen that the described. apparatus attains the objects and advantages recited, and other advantages will appear to those conversant with the manufacture of such articles. Since various features maybe indefinitely modified without affecting the principles involved,

*and likewise features might be omitted, I

pair of rotary barrels :mounted on said bearings, constructed and arranged with their peripheries mutually substantially tangent,

C, bers carried around with the second barrel,

each arranged and shaped to enter a pocket in the first barrel as the point of tangency is approached and to apply a compressing force on the material in the pocket simultaneously with the compressing movement of the aforesaid plunger in such pocket.

2.' A machine for briqueting powdered coal or the like including, in combination: a

frame, a pair of stationary spaced apartbearings mounted rigidly in said frame, a pair of rotary barrels mounted on said bearings, constructed and arranged Vwith their peripheries mutually substantially tangent, means for simultaneously yrotating said barrels in opposite directions, the first of said barrels being provided with substantially radial pockets, a plunger movable radially in each pocket, an interior device in the first barrel for controlling each plunger movement, the same constructed and timed to give the plunger a forcible movement against the material in the pocket as the pocket approaches the point of tangency with the second barrel, a series of compressing members carried around with the second barrel, each arranged and shaped to enter a pocket in the first barrel as the point of tangency is approached and to apply a compressing force on the material in the pocket simultaneously with the compressing movement of the aforesaid plunger in such pocket, means for filling each pocket as it revolves, and means'for temporarily covering and uncovering the outer end of each pocket between filling position and place of tangency, said plunger controlling device constructed to move the plunger outward while the pocket is so covered to preliminarily pack the material before the final compressing between said plunger and compressing member.

3. A machine for briqueting powdered coal or the like including, in combination: a frame, a pair of stationary spaced apart bea-rines mounted rigidly in said frame, a pair of? rotary barrels mounted on said bearings, constructed and arranged with their peripheries mutually substantially tangent, means for simultaneously rotating said barrels in opposite directions, the first. of said barrels being provided with substantially radial pockets, a plunger movable radially in each pocket, a stationary cam track in the first 'barrel for controlling each plunger movement, the same constructed and timed to give the plunger a forcible movement against the material in the pocket as the pocket approaches the point of tangency with the second barrel, a series of loose rollers between the plungers and cam, and a series of compressing members carried around with the second barrel, each arranged and shaped to enter a pocket in the first barrel as the point of tangency is approached and to apply a compressing force on the material in the pocket simultaneously with the compressing movement of the aforesaid plunger in such pocket.

4. A' machine for briqueting powdered coal or the likeincluding, in combination: a frame, Ya pair of stationary spaced apart bearings mounted rigidly in said frame, a pair of rotary barrels mounted on said bearings, constructed and arranged with their peripheries mutually substantially tangent, means for simultaneously rotating said barrels in opposite directions, the first of said barrels being provided with substantially radial pockets, a plunger' movable radially in each pocket, an interior device in the first barrel for controlling each plunger movement, the same constructed and timed to give the plunger a forcible movement against the material in the pocket as the pocketr approaches the point of tangency with the second barrel, and a series of compressing members carried around with the second barrel, each arranged andL shaped to enter a pocket in the first barrel as the point of tangency is approached and to apply a compressing force on the material in the pocket simultaneously with the compressing movement of the aforesaid plunger in such pocket, said plunger controlling device further constructed .and timed to move each plunger outward after the pocket has pressed the tangency point for ejecting the briquet, and to retract the plunger to its full extent to permit filling the pocket before the compressing movement of the plunger.

5. A machine for briqueting 4powdered coal or the like including, in combination: a frame, a pair of stationary spaced apart bearings mounted rigidly in said frame, a pair of rotary barrels mounted on said bearings, constructed and arranged with their peripheries mutually substantially tangent, means for simultaneously rotating said barrels in opposite directions, the first of said barrels being provided with substantially radial pockets, a plunger movable radially in each pocket, an interior device in the first' barrel for controlling each plunger movement, the same constructed and timed to give the plunger a forcible movement against the material in the pocket as the pocket approaches l. the point of tangency with the second barrel, a series of compressing members carried around with the sec-V ond barrel, each arranged and shaped to enter a pocket in the lirst barrel as the point of tangency is approached and to apply `a compressing force on the material in the pocket simultaneously with the compressing movement of the aforesaid plunger in such pocket, said compressing members being substantially-radially movable in the second barrel, and a stationary device or cam in the secondrbarrel for controlling such members constructed and timed to advance each full diameter of the barrels supported byV them, a pair of rotary barrels surrounding and supported by the peripheries of said drums, said two barrelsconstructed and arranged With their pe'ripheries mutually substantially tangent, means for simultaneously vrotating said barrels atrthe same speed vin opposite directions, the iirst of said barrels being provided with suitably vshaped pockets in Which the material may be received and compressed, and said second barrel provided With movable plungers for giving a forcible compressing movement against the material in each pocket as the point of tangency is approached.

A machine for briqueting powdered coal lor the like including in combination, a frame having rigid opposite side pieces, a pair of stationary spaced-apart hollow drums extending rigidly from one side piece to the other, said drums being of substantially'the same diameter and of nearly the fullgdiameter of the barrels supported by them, a pair of rotary barrels surrounding and supported by the peripheries of said drums, said two barrels constructed and arranged vvith their peripheries mutually substantially tangent, means for simultaneously rotating said barrels at the same speed in opposite directions, the first of said barrels being provi-ded with suitably shaped. pockets in which the material may be received and compressed, and movable plungers automatically operable during the rotation of the barrels adapted to give a forcible compressing movement against the material in each pocket as the point of tangency is approached.

In testimony whereof I have aiiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN F. LOVEJ OY. vWitnesses:

WM. J. DOLAN, DONALD CAMPBELL.

Copies 'of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C.

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