US1999319A - Means for filling receptacles or the like with plastic, granular, or pulverulent materials - Google Patents

Description

April SW, 1935.

J. J. DOWLING RECEPTACLES OR THE LIKE WIT Filed May 11, 1933 MEANS FOR FILLING PLASTIC, GRANULAR, OR PULVERULENT MATERIALS um T 33 contain a constant volume of the material.

Patented Apr. 30, 1935 UNITED T'i'ES PATENT OFFEQ John Joseph Bowling, Rathgar, Irish Free State Application May 11, 1933, Serial No. 670,568 In Great Britain February 3, 1933 17 Claims.

This invention relates to means for filling receptacles or the like with plastic, granular,- or pulverulent material in those cases where it is essential that each filling of the "receptacle shall To ensure this it is necessary that the material be packed in the receptacle or the like in a uniform manner so as to ensure intimate contact between the sides of the receptacle and the material and between the particles of the 'material themselves.

In employing electrical methods for testing materials, it is necessary to place such material between two metal plates which are incorporated in the electrical circuit. Since the space between such plates is generally small compared. with their diameter, it is found in practice very difiicult to pack the material into this narrow space in a uniform manner and. at the same time ensure intimate contact between it and the plates.

Oneof the objects of the invention is to devise a new means for filling receptaclesin which the material will be evenly and compactly distributed in said. receptacle.

Another object of the invention is to devise a new means for filling receptacles in which a constant volume of the material is always evenly and compactly placed in the receptacle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a receptacle which can be quickly and easily filled.

A further object of the invention is to devise means whereby the receptacle can be quickly and easily emptied after being filled.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the receptacle can be quickly and easily connected in an electric circuit.

One form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompa ying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a semi-schematic side View of one form of the invention. 7

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View of the receptacle in its preferred form.

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the top surface of the preferred receptacle.

Figure l is a vertical section taken througha modified form of receptacle.

Figure 5- shows a plan View of a spacing memher, and

Figures 6 and 7 show vertical sections through two other forms of receptacles.

V In carrying the invention into efiect according to one form as given by way of example as applied to the testing of materials by the electrical capacity or resistance method a metal disc l is provided with a spindle 2 which is mounted in suitable vertical bearings 3 (preferably ball) so that the disc rotates in a horizontal plane. Between the bearings a worm wheel it may be provided and secured to the shaft 2. A worm l i engages with the worm wheel and drives the vertical shaftthrough the agency of an electric motor or other prime mover l2. The assembly can conveniently be mounted on a base is. Vertically above the disc I is mounted a second metal disc 4 which is separated from the first by a peripheral ring 5 of suitable insulating material such as ebonite or the like. A receptacle is thus formed having a constant volume chamber 6. The upper disc is provided with a central aperture which is surrounded by an upstanding collar forming a funnel shaped opening I the diameter of which increases towards the interior of the receptacle. Into this opening a fixed funnel projects, the small end or which co-acts with the opening in the upper disc and into this funnel is placed the material which is required to be packed uniformly in the constant volume chamber.

In the preferred form shown in Figure 2 the insulating ring 5 has an annular portion removed from its upper surface to form a seat for the top disc 4 as shown.v The lower disc 5 is provided withan upstanding flange 8 which closely fits the outer periphery of the ring. The ring is secured to the flange against rotation by one or more screws 9. Although only a low speed of rotation, for example from 350 to 500 revolutions per minute, may be employed for the discs, it has been found that, in the case of an 8 inch diameter disc, when the material to be tested is fed into the receptacle, the pressure of the material due to. the centrifugal force, is sufficient to lift off the upper disc 4 unless the same be secured in position. Accordingly a number of spring fasteners M are provided which. are secured to the upturned flange 8, preferably by means of screws or pins. The end of the clip which is secured by the pin it is preferably pivotally mounted to the pin so that when it is desired to remove the upper disc t, it is only necessary-to swing the clips l4 about their pivots 55- clear of the disc 4 when the latter can be readily removed and the contents of the chamher 6 emptied. The free ends of the clips are provided with pads Ma of insulating material in order to prevent a short circuit between the two discs.

In order to facilitate still further the discharging of the contents, the lower disc I is made quickly separable from the driving shaft 2. This is most conveniently arranged by providing a boss on the disc asshown and having .a conical re- 55 cess i! therein. The upper end of the shaft 2 also has a conically formed male portion E8 to fit the recess. No other securing means has been found necessary between the driving and driven parts.

In order to secure the disc 4 and insulating ring 5 against relative rotation a pin l9 having a threaded upper part, ,is secured in the disc 4 while a plain lower portion of the pin fits into a hole formed in the insulating ring. Thus after the disc l has been removed it can readily be replaced by depositing it on its seat on the insulating ring 4, it only being necessary to see that the end of pin i9 registers correctly with hole 29 in the ring. The disc is then further secured in position by swinging the ends of the spring clips I into position over and in contact with disc 4.

Suitable electrical connectionsmay be made to the discs so as to incorporate them in the appropriate electrical circuit employed. A most convenient method of doing this has been illustrated in Figure 1 in which a verticalrod 2| of any suitable material is secured at one end to the base plate 13. The upper end is secured in a recess in a block of fibre or other insulating material 22. To upper and lower surfaces of this block are secured spring contact members or brush arms 23, one of which projects over the top disc 4 and the lower one projecting under the lower disc I. Both of these projecting members contact with their respective discs as near to the centres of the discs as possible in order to avoid the securing clips !4 and fastening pins l9 as they travel round with the receptacle. Circuit connections are made at 24 and 24a as shown. It is to be understood that the tests can be carried out whether the receptacle is rotating or stationary, although more satisfactory results are obtained with the receptacle stationary. In order that the disc 4 can still be readily removed, the upper spring contact 23 may be pivotally mounted as at 2 3 on the block 22, so that it 'can readily be swung horizontally clear of the disc 4. Alternatively the block 22 may be pivotally mounted on the upper end of the rod 2!, or again the rod 2i may be pivotally mounted in the base 13, so that both contact members 23 can be swung out of the way. 7

In operation the receptacle is spun round at a uniform speed and the material is slowly poured into the fixed funnel which delivers to the opening 1' in the disc. The particles of material are immediately fiung outwardly by the centrifugal force and are thus packed tightly and uniformly into the constant volume chamber 6 until it is completely filled.

According to another form of the invention the top and bottom plates 25 of the receptacle are made conical instead of disc like with their apices pointing upwards so that the constant volume chamber 25a has a conical shape. The

material when fed thereto through funnel shaped opening 1 falls downwards by gravity and at the same time is flung outwards by the centrifugal force. The two conical members 25 are very conveniently held apart by three or more symmetrically arranged insulating members 26 secured by suitable means, such as screws 27a, at the lower extremities of the two cones respectively, and serving to hold the conical members in fixed relationship. The lower cone is provided with a vertical spindle 27 threaded at its upper end therein and mounted in suitable anti-friction bearings or as previously shown in Figure 1, and a disc like member 28 is slidably mounted about the spindle 27 below the cones so that it can be moved vertically up or down to close or open the annular space or chamber 25 between the two cones. The disc like member 28 may be pressed upwards against the two cones to keep the chamber closed by a spring (not shown) or other means and a forked lever or the like may be provided to co-act with a groove or channel 29 cut in a boss 30 provided upon the lower face of the disc like member so that it may be lowered to empty the chamber of its contents. The boss 30 is drilled so as to fit closely round the shaft 27 and act as a guide for the disc 28. The disc 28 is made of insulating material so as not to provide a short circuit between the conical members 24. Where the outer periphery of the disc meets the outer edge of the upper cone 24, smooth surfaces are provided so that a good seal will result and in the case of pulverulent material there will be no leakage of the material at this point.

It is preferable that the spacing members 26, be of somewhat elliptical formation as shown in the plan view of Figure 5 and that the longest axis of this elliptical member be arranged in line with the apices of the cones so that a minimum of surface area will be facing the direction of flow of the material and will provide the least possible surface for material to become lodged on. It will be appreciated that any uneven distribution of material on these spacing members might lead to uneven distribution of the material generally in the chamber 25.

Brushes may be provided as shown for passing electric current from the top through the material to be tested to the lower cone and the shaft 21. V

In operation the material to be tested is placed in the annular chamber 25 while the two cones are rotating at a moderately high speed. The electrical test is then conducted either while the receptacle is rotating or when it has become stationary. In order to empty the chamber the disc like member 28 is lowered while the receptacle is rotating and the contents are expelled by centrifugal force.

In another form, shown in Figure 6, fiat discs 32, as used in the first method described, may be used in conjunction with a peripheral'sealing ring 33 and driving shaft 27, the ring having an inwardly turned flange 34 resting and supporting the ring on the periphery of the top disc 32. The ring may be manually lifted while the receptacle is rotating so as to discharge the contents by centrifugal force. Alternatively the ring 33, which should be made of insulating material, may be pressed upwardly by spring means so that its flange 34 rests on the periphery of-the lower disc 32. A boss if desired may be provided to slide on the shaft 21 as in the arrangement shown in Figure 4, so that the flange can be moved to and from its sealing position by a forked lever working in a groove.

Insulating and spacing blocks 25 are provided and shaped as shown in Figure 5 and arranged so that there will be the least possibility of the moving material becoming lodged on the inner surfaces of the blocks. In this modification, since the receptacle becomes substantially self discharging, the shaft 2l' may be permanently sesured to the lower disc 32 as it will be unnecessary to remove the receptacle from the shaft for the purpose of discharging it. The usual filling orifice 1 is shown as before. Brushes or spring contact members can be arranged in the'same manner as was done in either of the arrangements shown in Figures 2 or 4 for making connections to an electric testing circuit, depending upon the type of sealing member used.

In a somewhat simpler form the device could be arranged as shown in Figure 7, in which the receptacle consists entirely of the two discs 38, separated by an insulating, sealing and spacing ring 39. The lower disc 38 may be arranged to be supported on the upper conical end of a driving shaft asshown in Figure 2, a boss l6 being provided having a conical recess l1 therein. In this modification it would be necessary to make the top disc 38 suiiiciently heavy to withstand the pressure of the material within the receptacle so that it will not be lifted from its position on the sealing ring. If desired set-pins 4! may be provided and'secured permanently in the lower disc 38. Apertures would then be provided in the sealing and spacing ring 39 and the top disc 38, so that the ends of the set-pins 4| would project into the apertures in the periphery of the disc 38. In this way relative rotation between the'three members would be prevented upon the commencement of rotation of the receptacle. In this arrangement the receptacle would be lifted off the driving shaft and the three members, i. e., the two discs and the sealing, spacing, and insulating members, separated for removing the contents of ;he receptacle. Electrical connections would pref erably be made as in the arrangement shown in Figure 2.

Doubtless many other forms and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A receptacle rotatable about a vertical axis comprising in combination two super-posed members suitably spaced apart and composed of conducting material; a filling aperture centrally disposed on the upper of said super-posed members; sealing means composed of insulating material arranged at the peripheries of said super-posed members; and means for rotating said receptacle.

2. A receptacle rotatable about a vertical axis comprising in combination two super-posed members; spacing means holding apart said superposed members; a filling aperture centrally disposed upon the upper of said super-posed members; means at the peripheries of said super-posed members for sealing said members; means for readily discharging the contents from said receptacle; and means for rotating said receptacle.

3. A receptacle rotatable about a vertical axis as claimed in claim 2 in which the super-posed members are composed of conducting material and the spacing and sealing means are composed of insulating material.

4. A receptacle mounted so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis and comprising in combination two super-posed members; a filling aperture provided in the centre of the upper member; spacing means for holding apart and securing together said super-posed members; sealing means at the peripheries of the super-posed members; said sealing means being removable from the sealing position for readily discharging the contents of the receptacle.

5. A receptacle as claimed in claim 4 in which the super-posed members are composed of conducting material and the spacing and sealing means are composed of electrical insulating material.

6. A receptacle mounted so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis comprising the combination of two super-posed disc-like members suitably spaced apart; a filling aperture provided in the centre of the upper disc-like member; sealing means at the peripheries of the disc-like members, said disc-like members being separable for readily discharging the contents of the receptacle.

'7. A receptacle as claimed in claim 6 in which the super-posed members are composed of conducting material and said sealing means is com posed of insulating material.

8. A receptacle rotatable about a vertical axis as claimed in claim 6 in which the sealing means also acts as spacing means holding apart said super-posed members.

9. A receptacle rotatable about a vertical axis comprising in combination means for rotating the receptacle; two super-posed members suitably spaced apart and composed of conducting material; a filling aperture centrally disposed on the upper super-posed member; sealing means composed of insulating material arranged at the peripheries of said super-posed members; means for making electrical contact with said upper super-posed member; means for making electrical contact with said lower super-posed member, said super-posed members forming the conducting elements of a condenser and the contents of the receptacle forming the dielectric.

10. A receptacle as claimed in claim 6 in which the sealing means comprises a ring secured to a laterally extending flange of one of the superposed members.

11. A receptacle mounted so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis and comprising in combination two super-posed disc-like members; a ring holding said disc-like members suitably spaced apart; driving means for rotating said receptacle; sealing means at the peripheries of the superposed members; means secured to one of the disclike members for preventing relative rotation between the said disc-like members; a centrally disposed filling opening on said upper disc-like member; a centrally disposed boss on the lower surface of the lower disc-like member having a conical recess and a vertical supporting and driving shaft adapted to fit into said recess in the boss.

12. A receptacle as claimed in claim 11 in which is provided a vertically extending flange on one of the disc-like members and spring clips pivotally mounted upon an edge of the laterally extending flange, said clips being adapted to be swung into and out of contact with the other disc-like member and to secure and release the separable disc-like members.

13. A receptacle as claimed in claim 11 in which the clips are provided with means for electrically insulating them from the disc-like members.

14. In a system for filling and testing constant volumes of material in a receptacle comprising super-posed discs spaced apart by electrical insulating means and rotatable about a vertical axis, means for inserting the receptacle in an electrical circuit comprising in combination an insulating member adjacent to the periphery of the receptacle; spring contact blades secured to upper and lower surfaces of said insulating member in such manner that one blade projects over the upper disc and contacts therewith and the other blade projects under the lower disc and contacts therewith; terminals on the ends of the contact blades which are secured to the insulating member so that connections can be made with the electric circuit and changes in said circuit observed with reference to a standard; said discs having sealing means composed of electrical insulating material at their peripheries, a filling orifice at the centre of the upper disc and driving means for rotating the receptacle.

15. A receptacle mounted so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis and comprising in combination two super-posed disc-like members suitably spaced apart; insulating means holding said disclike members apart and a filling aperture provided in the centre of the upper disc-like member; driving means for rotating said receptacle; a ring encircling and slidingly engaging the pe ripheries of the disc-like members to form sealing means and a laterally extending flange upon which said ring adapted to engage with one of said disc-like members to hold the ring in place when in its sealing position.

16. A receptacle mounted so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis comprising in combination two super-posed conical members; members suitably spacing apart said conical members; a filling aperture centrally disposed in said upper superposed member; means for rotating said receptacle; a disc-like member adapted to slide vertically below said conical members and adapted to contact with their peripheries to form sealing means; and means for moving said sealing means relative to said conical members. 7 r

17. A receptacle mounted so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis as claimed in claim 16 in which the conical members are composed of conducting material and the spacing means and the sealing means are composed of insulating material.

JOHN JOSEPH DOWLING. 20

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