US1680893A

US1680893A - Vacuum-control mechanism for pulp-molding machines and the like

Info

Publication number: US1680893A
Authority: US
Inventors: Low James Fleming
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1927-10-31
Filing date: 1927-10-31
Publication date: 1928-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 1945-08-14

Description

Aug. 14,1928. 1,680,893

I J. F. Low

VACUUM CONTROL MECHANISM FOR PULP MOLDING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed 0013. 3L, 1927 INVENTOR:

Patented Aug. 14, 1928.

UNITED STATES JAMES FLEMING I JOW, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

VACUUM-CONTROL MECHANISM FOR PULP-MOLDING- MAGHINES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed October 31, 1927. Serial No. 230,021.

This invention relates to a vacuum control mechanism for pulp molding machines and the like, as described in .the present specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form part of same.

The invention consists essentially of the novel features pointed out broadly and specifically in the claims for novelty following a description containing an explanation in detail of an acceptable form of the invention.

The objects of the invention are to provide a Very efiicient control mechanism controlling the flow or displacement of a fluid from one part of a machine to another, where one of such parts is fixed and theother is movable; to especially adapt such a control chamber to machines requiring the' maintaining of a partial vacuum in one or more of its functional parts; to reduce wear and leakage to aminimum; to easily replace the parts subjected to wearing and to reduce the number of such wearing and rubbing parts to a minimum; and generally, to improve upon known control chambers.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view of a chamber built in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is an end view of a shaftshown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the shaft.

Figure 4 is a perspective 'view of the casting or casing shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the wax washer.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

Referring to the drawings, 10 is a rotatable member of a machine (not shown), this member taking the form of a hollow shaft 11 having rigid therewith a plug-like portion 12 extending into the reduced portion 13 which turns in suitable bearings (not shown). The form of the invention as herein disclosed is taken from a pulp molding machine, an application for a patent of which machine was filed on the 16th day of December, 1926, as serial No. 155.306, and reference to the specification forming part of that application is invited as illustrating a specific practical application of this present invention.

A number of pipes 14 are led from a functional part of the machine (not shown)--say suction dies such as disclosed in the said application, Serial No. 155,306,

which require the application of a vacuum to cause a layer of p'ul substance to be deposited upon their mo ding faceto the outer end face 15 of the plug-like portion 12.

The pipes 14am passed through the holes 15A in the portion 12 and have their ends threaded as at 17 to receive suitable nuts 18 which fit into depressions 19 counterbored into the end face 15. The depressions are made deep enough to allow a clearance between the face 15 and the nuts. It will be manifest that the function of these nuts is to rigidly secure the pipes in position.

20 is a flat disc of wax or other suitable material made to a diameter approximately equal to that of the portion 12 and fitting over the reduced portion 13, and having ports 21A therethrough spaced to be in alignment with all of the pipes 14 when any one of-said pipes is in alignment with any one of said ports. 7

20A is a metal disc perforated in the centre and fitting over the reduced portion 13; the disc carries the pipes 21 on the outer ends of which are fastened the flexible tubes 22; the flexible tubes are connected to pipes leading to suitable vacuum producing means or to the atmosphere. The pipes 21 are thread ed into the disc 20A and are spaced to be in alignment with the pipes 14 when any one of the latter pipes is in alignment with any one of the former pipes; suitable nuts 23 are screwed onto the threaded ends of the pipes 21, fitting into depressions 24 counterbored into said disc. The depressions 24 are made deep enough to allow a clearance between the face of the metal disc and the nuts 23. k

25 is a metal casing or cap sized at the open end to slidably engage the outer end of the hollow shaft 11 and having the end wall 26 perforated at 27 to form a clearance or a passage for the reduced portion 13 of the shaft 10. The casing 25 is locked against rotation and lateral and longitudinal movement by any suitable means, as with projections 28 bearing in or,,engaging corresponding depressions in a detachable bracket (not shown) secured to a fixed or rigid part of the machine mounting the rotatable shaft 10. or as more particularly described in the said application filed as Serial No. 155,306. The end wall 26 of the casting 25 is also perforated at 27A to form a clearance for the passage of the pipes 21.

30 are springs encircling the pipes 21 and compressed between the wall 26 of the "casting 25 and the slidable disc 20A, so'that the springs normall ur e the disc toward the face 15 of the p ug-li e portion 12. As the wax washer 20 is to be secured against rotation and also secured in a predetermined position relative to said disc 20A, namely, so positioned that its ports 21A are in alignment at all times with the pipes 21, suitable means are provided, such' as dowel pins 31 rigidly secured to the disc and projecting into the wax washer 20. As the shaft 10 rotates and the wax washer gradually wears down, the compressed springs 30 gradually shift the disc 20A toward the wax washer.

In order to prevent dust from penetrating into the chamber and to make a tighter joint between the casting 25 and the hollow shaft 11-, the shaft is provided with a shoulder 33 cut into. its edge; a wax washer or ring 34: is sized to fill in the space formed by the shoulder, as best shown in Figure 1.

35 are depressions or chambers made into the face of the wax washer running from a number of ports 21A and extending partly or completely between a number of these ports, according. to the co-operation desired between and the' functions required of each or all the ports or more particularly the pipes 21.

As there is a partial vacuum within some of the chambers 35 and the depressed holes while the empty space'within the casing 25 is opened to the atmosphere, a pressure is created which exerts a force on the disc 20A independent of that exerted by the compressed springs 30.

Operation: As the shaft 10 rotates while the wax washer, the metal disc and the casing remain fixed and each of the pipes 14 is successively brought into alignment with the several pipes 21, each pipe line 14 thus being subjected to varying prearran ed vacuum conditions. When the wax was er or wearing or rubbing part 20 is worn down, the casing is removed-and a fresh washer put in. The use of wax reduces 'the wear.- upon the rubbing parts, tends to lubricate, and is a substance very well suited for such machines as those to which this present invention is applicable.

What I claim is:

1. In a vacuum control mechanism for pulp molding machines and the like, a r0- tatable shaft formed with a shoulder to provide a reduced end for journalling in a bearing, a non-rotatable casing mounted adjacent the reduced end of said shaft and forming therewith a cylinder-like compartment, passages in said shaft for connection with a functional part of the machine mounting said shaft and opening into said compartment, a non-rotatable washer slidable in said compartment. a disc of soft material removably secured to one face of said washer and en aging said shoulder, said disc having ports t erethrough spaced for registering with said passa' and depressed to connect a number of em ports, pipes carried by said washer in alignment with said ports and projecting'through the casing for operative connection with apparatus, and compressed springs urging said disc towards said shoulder.

2. In a vacuum control mechanism for pulp molding'machines and the like, a rotatable shaft formed with a shoulder to provide a reduced end for journaling in a hearing, a non-rotatable casing mounted adjacent the reduced end of said shaft and forming therewith a cylinder-like compartment, ipes in said shaft for connection wit a functional part of the machine mountinnsaid shaft and opening through sai shoulder, a non-rotatable washer slidable in said compartment, a disc of soft material removably secured to one face of said washer and engagin said shoulder, said disc having ports theret rough s aced for registering with said pipes and epressed to connect a number of said ports, pipes carried by said washer in alignment with said ports and projecting through the casing for operative connection with apparatus, and compressed springs encircling said last-mentioned pipes and urging said disc towards said shoulder. 3. In a vacuum control mechanism for pulp molding machines and the like, a rotatable shaft formed with a shoulder to rovidc a reduced end 'for journalling in a caring and having said shoulder counterbored to form nut recesses, a non-rotatable casing mounted adjacent the reduced end of said shaft and forming therewith a cylinder-like compartment, horizontally-arranged pipes carried by said shaft for connection at one end with a functional art of the machine mountin said shaft an terminatin at the other en in said nut recesses, nuts t readed onto said pipes, a non-rotatable washer slidable in sald compartment, a disc of soft material removably secured to one face of said washer and en aging said shoulder, said disc having ports t erethrough spaced for registering with said pipes and depressed to connect a number of said ports, ipes carried by said washer in alignment with said ports and projecting through the casing for operatlve COIIIIBCtlOD- with apparatus, and compressed s rirgs urging said disc towards said sho der.

4. In a vacuum control mechanism for pulp molding machines and the like, a rotatable tubular shaft having a plug-like reduced portion rigidly secured thereto at one end thereof forming a journal, a non-rotatable casing mounted adjacent the reduced end of said shaft and forming therewith a cylinder-like compartment, passages through said plug-like portion for connection with a functional part of the machine mounting said shaft and opening into said compartment, a non-rotatable washer slidable in said compartment, a disc of soft material removably secured to one face of said washer and engaging said shoulder, said disc having ports therethrough spaced for registering with said passages and depressed to connect a number of said ports, pipes carried, by said Washer in alignment with said ports and pro- 'ectin throu h the casin for o )era-tive connection with apparatus, and compressed springs urging said disc towards said shoulder.

5. In a vacuum control mechanism for pulp molding machines and the like, a rotatable shaft formed with a shoulder to provide a reduced end for journalling in a hearing, a non-rotatable casing mounted ad jacent the reduced end of said shaft and forming therewith a cylinder-like compartment, passages in said shaft for connection with a functional part of the machine mounting said shaft and opening into saidjcompartment, a non-rotatable Washer slidable -in said compartment, a disc of wax removably secured to one face of said washer and engaging said shoulder, said disc having ports therethrough spaced for registering with said passages and depressed to connect a number of said ports, pipes carried by said washer in alignment with said ports and projecting through the casing for operative connection with apparatus, and compressed springs urging said disc towards said shoulder.

6. In a vacuum control mechanism for pulp molding machines and the like, a rotatable shaft formed with a shoulder to provide a reduced end for journalling in a bearing, a non-rotatable casing mounted adjacent the reduced end of said shaft and forming therewith a cylinder-like compartment, passages in said shaft for connection with a functional part of the machine 7. In a Vacuum control mechanism for pulp molding machines and the like, a rotatable tubular shaft recessed to form an and peripheral shoulder, a plug-like portion secured in one end of saidshaft and having a reduced end extending out through said shaft for journalling in a bearing, a nonrotatable casing mounted adjacent the reduced-end of said shaft and forming there with a cylinder-like compartment, passages in said shaft for connection with a functional part of the machine mounting said shaft and opening into said compartment, a non-rotatable washer slidable in said compartment, a disc of soft material removably secured to one face of said Washer and engaging said shoulder, said disc having ports thcrethrough spaced for registering with said passages and depressed to connect a number of said ports, pipes carried by saidwasher in alignment with said ports and proj ecting through the casing for operative connection with apparatus, a ring of soft material fitting in the recess in said shaft and sized to engage said casing, and compressed springs for urging said disc towards said plug-like portion.

Signed at the city of Toronto, this 15th day of September, 1927.

JAMES FLEMING LOW.