US1768851A - Centrifugal extractor and mechanism for balancing and operating rotative containers for the same or similar devices - Google Patents

Description

July 1, 1930. c c, LAMB 1,768,851

CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTOR AND MECHANISM FOR BALANCING AND OPERATING ROTATIVE CONTAINERS FOR THE SAME DR SIMILAR DEVICES Filed March 5, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet l July 1. 1930. c., c. LAMB 1,768,851

CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTOR AND MECHANISM FOR BALANCING AND OPERATING ROTATIVE CONTAINERS FOR THE. SAME 0R SIMILAR DEVICES 1 Filed March 5, 1926 .5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 1, 1930. c. c. LAMB 1,768,851

CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTOR AND MECHANISM FOR BALANCING AND OPERATING ROTATIVE CONTAINERS FOR THE SAME} OR SIMILAR DEVICES Filed March 3, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 immaa-am atented July 1, 1930 CHARLES C. LAMB, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTOR AND MECHANISM FOR BALANCING AND OPERATING ROTATIVE CONTAINERS FOR THE SAME OR SIMILAR DEVICES Application filed March 3, 1926. Serial No. 92,034.

This invention relates to centrifugal inachines, and more particularly to centrifugal extractors having a rotative container adapted to contain clothes to be rinsed or otherwise operated upon or from which water and soap or other substances are to be removed, and mechanism for balancing and operating such containers or similar devices.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple, economical and efiicient centrifugal extractor having a rotative container adapted to contain clothes or other articles to be rinsed or operated upon or from which water and soap or other substances are to be removed, with an improved mechanism for balancing and operating such extractor or container. A further object is to provide an improved stationary tub or casing adapted to contain such a rotative container or rotative extractor and comprising a plurality of superposed annular sections having telescoping or tapered margins in overlapping tightly fitting engagement, each section being adapted to form a support for the next adjacent section directly above it, and all being adapted to be assembled and secured in. position with facility so as to form an efiicient stationary container and support for the mechanism mounted therein.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear from the followin description and claims, and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof.

The invention consists in the features, combinations, details of construction, and arrangement of. parts herein described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in elevation, partly in central vertical section, and with parts broken away, of a centrifugal extractor having a rotative container mounted and adapted to rotate upon a vertical axis, and provided with means for balancing and operating the rotative container in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, with the cover removed, and

showing'the balancing mechanism provided with adjustable counter-weights removably mounted on the upper extremity or rim of the rotative centri ugal extractor or container;

Fig. 3 is a view in horizontal section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1, looking downward, as indicated by the arrows, and showing the means for connecting the rotative container with the vertical shaft or spindle on which it is supportedthe driving gear mechanism being shown in broken lines;

Fig. 4 is a detail view in central transverse vertical section taken on line 44 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and showing the mechanism for connecting the rotative container with the vertical shaft or spindle on which it is supported, said connecting mechanism being adapted to permit the rotative container to be tilted with respect to the upright shaft or spindle, and properly balanced;

Fig. 5 is a deail plan view of the bottom plate member of-the connecting mechanism for flexibly connecting the rotative container with the upright spindle on which it is supported;

Fig. 6 is a similar detail plan view of a central annular member of the universal joint or connecting mechanism for connecting the rotative centrifugal container with the upright spindle on which it is supported;

Fig, 7 is a similar detail plan view of the top plate of the universal joint or connecting mechanism for connecting the rotative centrifugal container with the spindle on which it is supported; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view in detail of the central portion of the counter weight supporting or balancing frame or device for balancing the rotative container, and shows on liquid or spirit levels mounted on sa d balancing device for use in leveling the same.

In constructing an improved centrifugal extractor, provided with balancing mechanism for balancing and operating the ro- 95 tative container in accordance with my 1nvention, I provide asupporting frame or casing 1 which, by preference, comprises in its construction a plurality or serles of superposed annular sections 2, 3, 4 and 5, 100

of which there may be any desired number, all of said sections having their adjacent margins in tightly fitting telescoping or over apping engagement with each other. The casing sections which form the easing or stationary container 1 are each, by preference, annular and symmetrical in form and provided with slightly flaring or tapered annular side walls which extend upward and outward at an incline. The bottom section 2, which is provided with a closed bot tom or base 6, and forms the base of the stationary container or frame, has a slightly tapered upper annular margin 7 which encircles and overlaps and is secured in tightly fitting engagement with the adjacent bottom annular similarly tapered margin 8 of the next adjacent annular casing section 3. The upper annular slightly tapered margin 9 of the section 3 encircles and overlaps the adjacent similarly tapered annular bottom margin 10 of the next adjacent casing section 4. And the upper tapered annular margin 11 of the casing section 1 encircles and overlaps, and is secured in tightly fitting engagement with the adjacent bottom margin 12 of the next adjacent or top casing section, for example, the top section 5, which is provided with a removable cover 13 which may be of any ordinary and well known or suitable form.

The casing or stationary container 1 thus comprises a series of annular somewhat tapered or conical sections which may be formed of cast metal or other suitable material, and each of which sections comprises an annular slightly tapered or conical wall which flares upward and outward, or is of slightly larger diameter at its upper margin than at its lower margin, the adjacent margins of all of said sections being adapted to be secured in tightly fitting overlapping engagement with each other, and all of said sections being adapted to be assembled and secured in operative position with facility and economically. Each of the superposed casing sections is thus adapted to support the next adjacent section immediately above it; and no other or additional supporting means for supporting the connected sections respectively is required.

The bottom section 2 is provided with transverse frame portions 14, 15, which are, by preference, cast in one integral piece with the annular flange or rim 16, which is, by preference, angular in cross-section and adapted to project outward beyond the periphery of the annular conical or upright side wall of said section- 2. Suitable supporting members 17, which may be in the form of castors or glass balls mounted in suitable sockets or supports, or other or equivalent supporting means, are mounted in the annular flanged portion or outer rim 16 on the bottom section 2 or base 6.

The base 6 with its transverse frame portions 14 and 15, is thus adapted to form a suitable support for a motor 18 mounted on said base, and for a gear box 19 or other suitable support in which the upright spindle or shaft 20 and the driving and connectin mechanism for operating said upright sha t and thereby operating the rotative centrifugal extractor or container 21, and for operatively connecting said upright shaft with the motor or source of power, are mounted. One of the casing sections-for example, the intermediate section 3 located directly over and secured to the adjacent bottom section 2is provided with or adapted to form a bottom 22 which is located above the bottom or base 6 already described, and over the motor 18 and gear box 19, and is adapted to form the closed bottom of a stationary tub, chamber or receptacle 23 the side walls of which are formed b the casing sections 4 and 5 already describe in which chamber the rotative centrifugal extractor or container 21 is located and rotatively supported on said upright spindle or shaft 20. The chamber or receptacle 23 is provided with an outlet 24 which is controlled by a cock 25, for draining away the contents of the chamb'er. Andthe bottom 22 is inclined upward toward the center and by preference, provided with a central upwardly projecting flange 26 which surrounds an opening 27 in said bottom through which the upright spindle 'or shaft 20 projects from the lower gear-containing compartment 28 in which the motor and gear box are located, into the upper tub or stationary receptacle 23 in which the rotative extractor or container 21 is located. (See Fig. 1.)

The upright spindle 20 is operatively connected with suitable driving mechanism and with the motor 18 or source of power which may be of any ordinary and well known or 7 suitable form by preference, as follows:

A helical gear wheel 29 loosely encircles the upright spindle or shaft 20, and has a depending hub 30 which normally rests upon and in frictional engagement with an upper rotative plate or ball-bearing member 31 of a bottom end-thrust ball bearing 32 which has a bottom bearing plate 33 resting on the bot tom of the gear-containing chamber 34 formed by the gear box 19, a series of hardened steel balls 35 being interposed between the upper bearing plate 31 and the lower hearing plate 33 and adapted to travel in an annular race-way formed by grooves in said upper and lower bearing plates. The upper ball-bearing member 31 and the bottom bear.- ing 32 of which said member forms a part, thus supports both the upright spindle or shaft 20, which has a bottom annular shoulder 35 resting upon the upper bearing member 31, and the helical gear 29, the hub 30 of which rests upon the said bearing member 31.

The helical gear wheel 29 is in toothed engagement with a mating helical gear wheel 36 which is fixed to a horizontal rotative drivtill weasel rnature shaft 38 of the motor by means of suitable transversely shouldered coupling members 39, 39 having transverse shoulders 40 by means of which said coupling members are secured in shouldered engagement with each other, thus forming a connection between said shafts 37 and 38.

An upper male conical clutch member 41 is mounted on and adapted to rotate with the spindle 20 with which it is connectedby means of a spline 42 which enters an elongated slot in said upper clutch member. Said clutch member 21 is thus adapted to move longitudinally or" the spindle and into and out oi clutching "frictionalenghgement with a mating female clutch member 43 on said gear wheel 29.

Suitable means is provided for throwing the clutch member l1 into and out of engagement with the clutch member l3 on the gear wheel 29, For example, a yoke l i having forked arms in engagement with an annular peripheral slot in the upper clutch member l1 is roclsingly mounted in suitable bearings in the walls of the gear box 19, on a stub shaft 45 which is rockingly mounted and provided with a crank arm or lever it fixed to said stub shaft and having an elongated slot therein through which extends a clutch oper= sting or listing screw at? which i mounted in a threaded opening in a socket 48 on the gear box. The screw at? has a collar 49 there on which projects through said opening in the crank arro 4.6, and is provided with an operating crank arm 50 which ahords a con-= venient means for operating the clutch.

The threads on the helical gear wheels 29 and so so'disposed that the rotation oi the shaft 3'? and helical gear wheel 38 thereon tendsto press the gear wheel 29 downward against and in frictional engagement with the top bearing member 31 of the bottom bearing 82 on which the gear wheel 29 with its hub 30 is supported, and on which the upright spindle 20 is also supported in frictional engagement with said bearing member 31. The bearing member 31 thus serves to operatively connect the gear wheel 29 and driving shaft 37 with the upright spindle 2d and extractor bowl or container on said spindle, and to operatively connect said spindle with the motor or source of power, not only when the clutch members 41 and 43 are in clutching engagement, but also when said clutch members are out of clutch ing engagement.

The clutch members 41 and 43 thus serve to operatively connect the upright spindle 20 and extractor bowl with the driving mecha" right spindle and bowl or rotative container are operatively connected with the driving mechanism by a frictional engagement or the bearing member 31 with the helical gear wheel 29 and saidspindle, for rotating the spindle and extractor bowl at a relatively slow speed. in order to enable the speed of rotation of the spindle with the container thereon to be changedautomatically without the use'of gears between the spindle 1-20 and shaft 37 other than the helical gears already described, and without any clutch mechanism other than that already described, I provide a weight 51 which is adjustably mounted on an extension 52 oi the clutch operating lever 16 already described. The weight or weighted lever thus tends to hold the upper movable clutch member 41 in engagement with the clutch member 43 on the gear wheel 29, and is adapted to permit but yieldingly resist the raising of the clutch member 41 out of engagement with said clutch member 43 when the machine is in operation.

The clutch member l1 and weighted clutch operating lever arm are thus adapted to be automatically raised and lowered intermittently in rapidly alternating reciprocatory movement. Each upward movement acts to automatically release the clutch; and each downward movement acts to cause the clutch to engage, to be again released, and so on indefinitely. A rapidly al ernating reciprocatory speed changing and driving and connecting and releasing mechanism is thus provided which is very efficient in operation.

The upright spindle and the extractor bowl are thus permitted to start slowly and adually increase their speed. The load is picked up gradually; and the clutch is adapted to be connected and disconnected either automatically or otherwise, without causing any undue shocks or abrupt changes of speed, and with out overloading or burning out the motor or electric connections, or otherwise injurthe machine or endangering the safety of the machine or the operator.

The extractor bowl or rotative container 21 has the usual perforated upright cylindrical walls which are provided with a multiplicity of peripheral openings 53 therein, for permitting the escape of liquid or soap and water from the interior of the bowl, as such liquid is forced out, by the action oil centrifugal force when the bowl is rotated at high speed, The extractor bowl or container 21 has a bottom Si l: which is provided with depending central annular dance or socket 55 having a tapered opening 56 tl erein into which extends a similarly tapered'or conical upwardly projectile central bowl supporting member or boss 57 which is supported on or attached to and ads ted to rotate with the upper extremity or" t e upright spindle or shaft 20 already described, and forms a part of the connecting means by which the rotative extractor bowl or container 21 is, by preference, operatively connected with said spindle,

. preference, constructed and adapted to operate as follows:

A bottom connecting member or plate 58, which is by preference in the form of a flanged plate or disk having an upwardly projecting peripheral annular flange 59, and provided with a plurality of recesses or pockets each adapted to contain a. stop or boss 61 or 62, each of said steps or bosses being,

by preference, in the form of a sphere of compressible material, such for example as rubber, is mounted upon and fixed to the upper extremity of the shaft 20, by means of a depending annular flange 63 on the central portion of said plate, and forming a tapered socket 64 into which a similarly tapered upper end portion 65 of said shaft 20 extends.

An intermediate annular member or ring 66 is tiltably or flexably mounted over the bottom plate 58 and inside of the peripheral annular flange 59 and pivotally connected with said bottom plate 58 by means of hori-- zontal supporting and connecting pivots or pins 67 which are located on diametrically opposite sides of the axial center of said ring and plate. The intermediate annular member or ring 66 is thus adapted to tilt or swing upon the horizontal axis formed by said pivot pins 67, and with respect to the vertical axis of the upright spindle or shaft 20 and the bottom plate 58 on said spindle. And the stops or balls 62 which are supported upon the bottom plate 58 on opposite sides of the horizontal axis formed by said pivot pins 67 are adapted to engage a central transverse horizontal bar 68 which extends across the center of the ring 66 at right angles to said horizontal axis formed by said pivot pins 67, and may be formed in one integral piece with said ring 66. The stops or balls 62 are thus adapted to permit and limit the tilting of the intermediate annular member or ring 66 upon its horizontal axis and with respect to said bottom plate 58. An upper pivoted or tiltable central connecting member, disk or plate 69, of which the upwardly projecting central boss 57 already described forms, by preference, an integral part or upwardly proecting hub, is mounted inside of and pivot ally connected with the intermediate annular member or tiltable ring 66, by means of horizontal pivot pins 70 which are anchored in said ring 66 and extend into suitable peripheral openings 71 in the periphery of said upper disk or plate 69. The pivot pins 70 are located on diametrically opposite sides of the axial center of the plate 69 and form a horizontal axis for said plate which axis is thus be caused to tilt downward.

at right angles to the axis formed. by the pivot pins 67 which pivotally connect the rin 66 with bottom plate 58.

he upper container-supporting tiltable connecting plate or member 69, which is fixed to and adapted to rotate with the centrifugal extractor bowl or rotative container 21, is thus permitted to tilt upon its normally horizontal axisformed by the pivots 70, which axis is at right angles to the axis formed by the pivot pins 67. And the tilting of said upper plate or container-supporting member 69 on the axis formed by said pivot pins 7 Owhich axis, although normal- 1y horizontal, is itself tiltable with the intermediate annular supporting and connecting member or ring 66, which is pivotally supported on and tiltable with respect to the lower supporting and connecting member or plate 58, as already described-is permitted and limited by the stops 61, 61, already described.

The upper rotative tiltable container-supporting member or plate 69 being fixed to, and by preference rotative with, the rotative extractor bowl or container 21, and the bottom supporting and connecting member or plate 58, being, by preference, fixed to the upperextremity of the upright shaft or spindle 20, and the intermediate annular tiltablc supporting and connecting member or ring 66 being pivot-ally supported upon said lower or bottom member 58 by the pivot pins 67, and pivotally connected with and adapted to support the upper container-supporting member 69 and the container 21 on said member 69, by means of the pivot pins 70, and the axis formed by the pins 67 being at right angles to the normally horizontal axis formed by the pivot pins 70, it will be readily understood that the rotative container or centrifugal extractor bowl 21 is adapted to tilt in any direction with respect to the axis of the upright spindle or shaft 20. The bowl is thus adapted to rotateupon a normally vertical axis even though the axis of the'upri zht shaft 20 may be inclined, on account of uneveness of the floor or foundation, or any inclination of the stationary support upon which the upright shaft and the supporting and connecting plate 58 are supported, or for any other cause.

From the foregoing it will be readily understood that any inequalities in the distribution of the load in the rotative container 21, will cause the container and the upper containersupporting and connecting member 69 fixed thereto, to tilt with respect to the lower supporting member 58 and upright shaft 20 or other support upon which said lower supporting member 58 may be supported. The side of the container which is overloaded, or which contains the heavier part of the load, will And such tilting will be limited by the stops on the lower supporting member 58. The operator will thus be enabled to readily determine the location of the overweighted portion of the load. And the direction of the tilting of the container due to such inequality in the distribution of the load will indicate at what point or points it will be necessary to place the counterweight or counterweights, or in what position to place or adjust the balancing means, which, by preference, comprises a plurality of adjustable counterweights mounted on and rotative with and adapted to be adjusted with respect to the container, for balancing the same.

In order to provide a simple, economical and efiicientmeaifs for balanclng the rotative container or centrifugal extractor bowl 21, adapted to co-act with the supporting and connecting means, comprising the pivotally connected upper, lower, and intermediate supporting and connecting members 69, 58, and 66 already described, I provide, by preference, a removable frame 72 having radial arms 7 3, 74, 75 and 76, which converge at the axial center, and, by fpreference, at or near the upper extremity o the rotative extractor bowl or container, to the upper rim of which the outer extremities of said radial arms are, by preference, detachably secured.

Each of said radial arms is, by preference,

provided with a notched outer end portion which is adapted to detachably engage the inner side of the top rim or perimeter of the extractor bowl or container. The notched end portions 7 7 of a pair of said arms, for exextractor bowl or container. Each of the ad;

justing screws 78 has a screw-threaded portion 81 which extends into and in threaded engagement with a horizontal threaded axial opening in the corresponding radial arm 74, or 75, of said frame 72. And each of said arms 74: and 75 has a non-threaded axial opening or central recessed portion 82 of smaller diameter than said threaded portion of such opening, and adapted to admit and slidably engage a corresponding non-threaded inwardly projecting portion 83 o the screw 78 which is mounted in such ope ing.

Adjustably mounted on each of said radial arms 74 and 75 respectively, is a counterweight 84:. Each of said counterweights is provided with an opening through or into which the corresponding arm 74, or 75 extends. And each of said counterweights is provided with a set screw 85 or other equivalent or suitable means for securing such counterweight in adjustable relation to the radial arm or support upon which it is mounted.

Suitable meansis provided, such, for example, as liquid or spirit levels 86, 86, on'the balancing device or weighted frame 72, for indicating the position of the axis of the centrifugal extractor bowl or rotative container 21 with respect to its normally vertical or upright balanced position.

In order to provide means for enabling the extractor bowl to be removed from its support, and for enabling the connecting mechanism for connecting the extractor bowl with the upright shaft, to be removed from said shaft and from the extractor bowl with facility, I provide a key or dismantling tool 87 "which has a screw-threaded portion 88 adapted to be inserted in screw-threaded engagement with a central screw-threaded opening in the bottom socket member 55 on the bottom 54 of the extractor bowl or container, and having a non-threaded reduced extension 89 which is adapted to be loosely and removably inserted through central openings in the parts 57, 69, 66, 68, and 58 into abutting engagement with the upper end surface of the upright shaft 20. An annular end shoulder 90 on the bottom extremity ofthe screw-' threaded portion 88 is adapted to engage the top of the upwardly projecting hub 57 on the upper connecting member or plate 69, so as to separate the bowl or container from said hub. And the bottom end of the key or tool 87 engages the top of the upright shaft, so that by turning the key or dismantling tool in the required direction the bottom connecting member or plate 58 will, be detached and lifted out of engagement with the upright shaft 20. The key or tool 87 may be removed from the container and connected parts or left in'the position shown in the drawings, when the device is in operation. But it should be removed while the adjustment of the counterweights for balancing the container is taking place; and it is not required when the device is in operation. In case it is desired that the connected parts should be held in rigid engagement with each other after the balancing of the container has been accomplished by adjusting the counterweights the key or dismantling tool 87 may be left in the position in which it is shown in the drawings. Otherwise it may be removed. I

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of a rotative container, a rotaannular tiltable supportin adapted to rotate with said rotative container, and an intermediate annular connecting member pivotally supported on and adapted to tilt upon a horizontal axis with respect to said lower connecting member, said intermediate annular connecting member be ing pivotally connected with said upper conweights mounted in adjustable relation to and rotative with said rotative container, for halancingthe same.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rotative container adapted to rotate upon a normally vertical axis, an upper supporting member adapted to support and permit the rotation of said container, a lower supporting member located below said upper supporting member, an intermediate annular supporting and connecting member pivotally supported on and adapted to tilt upon a horizontal axis with respect to said lower supporting member, said intermediate annular supporting and con necting member being pivotaily connected in supporting engagement with said upper supporting member and adapted to permit the tilting of the latter upon a normally horizontal axis which is disposed at an angle with respect to said horizontal axis of said intermediate annular tiltable supporting member, and balancing means mounted in adjustable relation to and adapted to rotate with said container, for-balancing the same.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rotative container adapted to rotate. upon a normally vertical axis, an upper rotative supporting member upon which said container is supported, a lower supporting member located below said upper rotative supporting member, an intermedlate and connecting member supported on and adapted to tilt upon a horizontal axis with respect to said lower supporting member, said intermediate annular supporting and connecting member being pivotally connected in supporting engagement with and adapted to permit the tiltmg of said upper rotative supporting member upon a normall horizontal axis which is disto rotate upon a normally vertical axis, an upper rotative supporting member upon which said container is en ported, a lower supporting member located below said upper rotative'supporting member, an intermediate annular tiltable supporting and connecting member supported on and adapted to tilt upon a horizontal axis with respect to said lower supporting member, said intermediate annular tiltable member being pivot-ally connectedin supporting engagement with and adapted to permit the tilting of said upper rotative supporting member upon a normally horizontal tiltable axis which is disposed at an angle with respect to said horizontal axis of said intermediate tiltable supporting and connecting member, stops on said lower supporting member adapted to engage and limit the tilting of said intermediate annular tiltable member and said upper rotative supporting member respectively, and balancing means rotative with the container, for balancing the same.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rotative container adapted to rotate upon a normally vertical axis, an upper rotative supporting member upon which said container is supported, a lower supporting member located below said u per rotative supporting member, an interme iate annular tiltable supporting and connecting member supported on and adapted to tilt upon a horizontal axis with respect to said lower supporting member, said intermediate annular tiltable member being pivotall connected in supporting engagement wit and adapted to permit the tilting of said upper rotative supporting member upon a normally horizontal axis which is disposed at an angle with respect to said horizontal axis of said intermediate tiltable supporting and connectmg member, a pair of stops on said lower supporting member adapted to engage and limit the tilting of said intermediate annular tiltable member, a pair of stops on said lower supporting member adapted to engage and limit the tilting of said upper rotative supporting member with respect to the intermediate annular member and said lower supporting member, and balanci means rotative a with the container, for alancing the same.

6. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of a rotative container, an up er rotative supporting and connecting mem er connected and adapted to rotate with said container a rotative upright shaft mounted on a suitable support, a lower supporting and connecting member on and adapted to rotate with said upright shaft and below said upper rotative supporting and connecting member, an intermediate annular tiltable supporting and connecting member supported on and adapted to tilt upon a horizontal axis with respect said lower supporting member and said shaft, said intermediate annular tiltable member being pivotally connected in supporting engagement with and adapted to permit the tilting of said rotative upper supporting and connecting member upon a normally horizontal tiltable axis which is disposed at an angle with respect to said horizontal axis of said intermediate tiltable supporting and connecting member, stopping means on said lower supporting and connecting member adapted to engage and limit the tilting of said intermediate annular tiltable member and said upper rotative supporting member respectively, and means for rotating said upright shaft.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rotative container, a rotative upright shaft, for supporting and rotating said container upon a normally Vertical axis, an upper rotative supporting and connecting member fixed to and adapted to rotate with said container, a lower supporting and connecting member on and adapted to rotate with said upright shaft and below said upper rotative supporting and connecting member, an intermediate annular tiltable supporting and connecting member pivotally supported on and adapted to tilt upon a horizontal axis with respect to said lower supporting member on said shaft, said intermediate annular tiltable member being pivotally connected in supporting engagement with and adapted to permit the tilting of said rotative upper supporting and connecting member upon a normally horizontal axis which is disposed at an angle with respect to said horizontal axis of said intermediate, annular tiltable member, means for limiting the tilting of said intermediate annular tiltable member and said upper rotative' supporting member, and balancing means in adjustable relation to and rotative with the container, for balancing thetsame.

Signed at ()hicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 25th day of- February, 1926.

CHARLES C. LAME.

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