US2085503A

US2085503A - Closure for centrifugal machines

Info

Publication number: US2085503A
Application number: US80633A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lothian James
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-05-19
Filing date: 1936-05-19
Publication date: 1937-06-29
Anticipated expiration: 1954-06-29

Description

June 29, 1937. J. LOTHIAN CLOSURE FOR CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES Filed May 19, 1936 2 SheetsSheet l June 29, 1937.

J. LOTHIAN 2,085,503

CLOSURE FOR CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES Filed May 19, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 31mm when A) SWN Patented June 29, 1937 CLOSURE FOR OENTRIFUGAL MACHINES V James Lothiam Ewa, Territory of Hawaii Application May 19, 1936, Serial No. 80,633

g Claims.

My invention relatesto centrifugal machines and more particularly to closures or covers for such machines as are employed in the manufacture of sugar to separate the molasses iromthe sugar crystals.

. The principal object of vide a closure which will the centrifugal molasses.

A primary feature of the invention consists in providing the closure with a plurality of hingedly mounted sections which have meeting edges, one of the sections being slidable at an angle to the line of meeting of the .sectionsto cause the the invention is to protightly seal the top of machine against the escape of meeting edges tohave' wedging engagement.

Another feature of the invention resides in forming the meeting edges of the sections of the closure with recesses adapted to define an opening of greater diameter than the spindle or shaft of the centrifugal machine which extends through the closure, means being mounted on one of the sections for closing the portion of the opening unoccupied by the shaft. 1

Other and more specific features of the invention, residing in advantageous forms, combina tions and relations of parts, will hereinafter appear and be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan View of the centrifugal machine, the closure being shown in closed position and the spindle or shaft of the machine being in section.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the machine, the positions occupied by the sections of the closure when open being shown in dotted lines and the operating mechanism of the machine being diagrammatically illustrated in dot and dash lines.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the closure partially open.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the rotatable plate which is adapted to close the portion of the opening in the closure unoccupied by the spindle or shaft of the machine which extends through the closure.

While, for purposes of illustration, the cover has been shown as applied to a centrifugal machine in which the driving mechanism is disposed above the basket, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that with but slight changes, it is equally applicable to machines in which the driving mechanism is otherwise disposed.

Referringmore particularly to the drawings, I indicates the fixed outer shell of the centrifugal machine which, as is customary, is formed at its upper end with an inwardly extending flange or, curbing 2 defining an opening 3. Extending through the opening is a rotatable spindle or shaft 4 onto the lower end of which is fixedly mounted the basket (not shown) for receiving the material, inithe present case massecuite, to be operated upon by the machine.

The closure or cover forclosing the opening 3 is advantageously formed in two sections 5 and 6, respectively, of substantiallythe same size and they are provided with edges which are adapted to meet in abutting relation on opposite sides of the shaft 4. Eachsection of the closure is rigidly provided with a rod 1 for movably connecting the section to the curbing 2. While the rods may be connected to the sections in any suitable manner',.it is preferred to provide each of them with spaced portions 9 having aligned apertures for receiving the cooperating rod which may be conveniently secured to the portions by means, such, for example, as machine screws l0...

The'rods 'l are rotatably and slidably mounted in aligned apertured portions ll formed on brackets or the like [2 rigidly secured in any suit able way to the curbing 2. Thus it will be observed that each section of the closure is hingedly as well as slidably mounted but, as will hereinafter be apparent, it is only necessary in so far as effecting a tight engagement of the abutting edges of the sections is concerned that section 5 be slidably mounted.

To enable the meeting edges of the sections to tightly engage and thus prevent liquid, in the present case molasses, from escaping from the machinethe; longitudinal axis of rod l of section 5 is disposed at an angle to the axis of the rod of section 6 and also at an angle to the line of meeting of the sections. Accordingly, section 5 is slidable at an angle to the direction of sliding movement of section 6 and the meeting edges of the sections are thus caused to have wedging engagement. It will be apparent that, even though section 6 is not slidable, the meeting edges of the sections will have Wedging engagement so long as the direction in which section 5 is sli-dable is at an angle to the line of meeting of the sections.

The sections of the closure may advantageously be provide with a handle or the like [3 whereby they may be conveniently manipulated in the desired manner and the meeting edge of each section is formed With a recess l4 so that, when iii the sections are closed, an opening will be defined through which the spindle or shaft 4 may extend. To enable relative sliding movement of the sections, the opening defined. by the recesses I4 is of larger area than the shaft 4 and the portion of this opening which is unoccupied by the shaft may be conveniently closed by a plate I5 which is pivotally mounted on the outer face of section 6 by any suitable means, such, for example, as a bolt or the like. I6. This plate is formed with a semi-circular recess I! so that, when it is swung into operative position beneath an overhanging lip or flange 18 of a bracket l9 rigid with section 5, it will embrace substantially one-half of the shaft. It, like sections 5 and 6, may also be provided with an operating handle 20.

To prevent liquid from leaking around the shaft, the portions of sections 5 and 6, as well as of plate I5 which adjoin the shaft may be suitably provided with packing material, not shown. It will be apparent that the apertured portions l I of brackets l2 afford stops limiting sliding movement of the sections but, to insure that the meeting edges of the sections will have wedging engagement, the portions H of one bracket or the cooperating portions 9 of the associated section are so arranged that, when the meeting edges are in engagement, there will be a slight clearance, as indicated at 2!, between portions 9 and I l.

While sections 5 and 6 of the closure are each illustrated in the drawings as being formed of sheet material mounted upon a semi-circular frame 22, which construction is desirable when material such as masonite pressed wood is used, it will be readily appreciated that the sections may be made of steel plates and the frames 22 thus dispensed with. I

From the foregoing, itwill be apparent that a simple and effective closure has been devised; one which because the sections thereof are pivotally mounted is capable of being swung into a position leaving the opening of the shell unobstructed and because the sections are relatively slidable will tightly seal the opening against the escape of liquids. It is, of course, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction which have been illustrated and described, as it is obvious that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A closure for an opening through which a shaft or spindle is adapted to extend, said closure comprising two sections having edges adapted to meet on opposite sides of the shaft and also hav ing cut away portions defining an elongated shaft receiving opening of greater area than the cross sectional area of the shaft, and means movably mounted on one of said sections for closing a portion of the opening unoccupied by the shaft.

2. A closure for an opening through which a shaft or spindle is adapted to extend, said closure comprising a plurality of movable sections having edges adapted to meet on opposite sides of the shaft, said sections being relatively slidable to cause the meeting edges thereof to have wedging engagement and being provided with cut away portions defining an opening for receiving said shaft, the shaft receiving opening being of greater area than the cross sectional area of the shaft to enable relative sliding movement of the sections, and means pivotally mounted on one of said sections for closing the portion of the shaft receiving opening unoccupied by the shaft.

3. A closure for an opening through which a shaft or spindle is adapted to extend, said closure comprising two hingedly mounted sections having edges adapted to meet on opposite sides of the shaft, one of said sections being slidable in a direction at an angle to the line of meeting of the sections to enable the meeting edges to have wedging engagement and each section having a cut away portion adapted when the sections are in closed position to define a shaft receiving opening of greater area than the cross sectional area of the shaft, and a plate-like member pivotally mounted on one of said sections for closing the portion of the shaft receiving opening unoccupied by the shaft.

JAMES LOTHIAN.