US2261936A - Control and operating mechanism for centrifugal machines - Google Patents

Description

Nov. H, 1941. O o. w. JOHNSON O 2,261,936

CONTROL AND OPERATING MECHANISM FOR GENTRIFUGAL MACHINES Filed July 12, 1937 4 Shee ts-Sheet l INVENTOR OSCAR w. JOHNSON ATTO Nov. 11, 1941. w JOHNSON $2,261,936

CONTROL AND OPERATING MECHANISM FOR CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES Filed July 12, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-2 l4 INVENTOR OSCAR W. JOHNSON BY ATI' Nov. 11, 1941. o. w. JOHNSON CONTROL AND OPERATING MECHANISM FOR CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES Filed July 12, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR BQSCAR W. JOHNSON A?TOR NE% Nov. 11, 1941. o. w. JOHNSON 2,261,935

CONTROL AND OPERATING MECHANISM FOR CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES Filed July 12, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 9 OSCAR W. JOHNSON Patented Nov. 11, 1941 CONTROL AND OPERATING MECHANISM FOR CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES Oscar W. Johnson, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Norwood, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 12, 1937, Serial No. 153,131

16 Claims.

This invention relates to control and operating mechanism for rotating bodies, such as extractors, including means for automatically unlatching and opening a safety cover for the extractor.

An object of the invention is to provide improved mechanism for controlling the operation of rotating bodies, such as extractors, by means of which energy is stored during the setting of a braking means which is operative to unlatch a safety cover for the rotating body when it comes to rest.

Another object of my invention is to provide improved mechanism for controlling the oper-' ation of a rotating body, such as an extractor provided with a safety cover, so that when a timer mechanism is set for a predetermined extraction period and the safety cover is moved to closed position, power means are initiated to operate theextractor, and at the end of the extraction period means become effective to disconnect the power means and set the brake, whereupon, when the rotating body comes to rest, energy stored during the setting of the brake releases the safety cover.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved cover for rotating bodies, such as extractors, including means for maintaining the cover in latched position during the rotation of the body, and means for automatically unlatching th cover and moving it to open position when the rotating body comes to rest.

Further objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail as the description proceeds.

In the drawings, which represent one suitable embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a rear elevational view of an extractor with parts broken away to show the brake operating mechanism, the cover of the extractor being shown in open position and the controlling mechanism in the position it occupies when the extractor is idle.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the cover in closed position and the operating mechanism in the position it occupies when the ex- Fig. 5 is a detail elevation on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view of a portion of the operating mechanism, showing its position at the end of the extracting cycle.

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the upper portion of the extractor, showing the position of the cover and associated mechanism when the cover is closed, a portion of the casing being broken away to show the latching arrangement.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. '7 showing the position of the cover and associated mechanism during the first stage of the openingmovement.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the position of the cover and associated mechanism when the cover is open. 7

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit for the control and operating mechanism.

While the invention is capable of application to any form of apparatus provided with a rotatable member brought to rest by a braking operation, it has more particular application to those machines in which the rotatable member is in the form of a container provided with a movable cover, such as a centrifugal extractor or other machine in which work is enclosed in a rotatable member. Thedrawings illustrate a centrifugal extractor of the general form shown in Letters .Patent No. 1,949,278, granted February 27, 1934,

to George W. Johnson for Combined pressure and centrifugal extractors, to which reference may be had if desirable ornecessary.

So far as description is necessary for the purpose of this application the extractor illustrated comprises a stationary frame I including a plurality, three being shown, of hollow posts or pedestals 2, from the upper ends of which is suspended by rods, cables or the like (not shown), a hollow nonrotatable curb or casing 3 provided with a hinged cover 4, and in which casing rotates the usual foraminous basket 5 driven in any suitable manner, such as by an electric motor 6 mounted on a lateral extension I from th curb. As is usual the motor pulley is connected by a belt 8 to a wide pulley 9 on the basket shaft, a portion of pulley 9 being utilized for mechanical braking purposes, as will appear.

The cover 4 is mounted to turn upon a shaft ll to the opposite ends of which are fixed links H, which in turn are fixed to short shafts l2 journalled in bracket supports I! on the curb. This construction not only permits the cover 4 to be swung back and forth, by hinging motion, about the axis of shaft I0, but in addition, the

cover also has a horizontal motion by the swinging movement 01 the'shait I. about the axis of the short shatts l2, the two motions being taken advantage of for control of the cover as will later p ar- The cover is biased toward open position by any suitablemeans, the drawings showing for the purpose an ordinary door closer I4, such as the standard Norton, Yates or other door closer which in the present instance operates in the reverse direction to open the cover and is therefore hereinafter called a door opener. The casing of the door opener includes an operating mechanism (not shown), always tending to turn the door opener shaft IS in the counterclockwise direction, Fig. 7, said shaft having attached theretoanarm l6 connectedbyalink tothe cover 4.

The door opener shaft l5 also has fixed to turn therewith a short arm |6 connected by a link I! to ab. rod 26 slidable vertically in guides 2| on the cur Shaft I6 also has fixed to turn therewith a member 22 (Fig. 7) of generally L-shaped form, having an upper arm .23 adapted to form a stop for the cover when'it is in open position, a depending projection 24 adapted to engage a seat on the curb, and a second arm 25 connected by a link 26 to a member 21 slidable in a guide 28 on the curb and provided with a hook-shaped latching end 23 adapted for cooperation with a hook shaped latch 36 on a latch lever 3| pivoted on the curb. The cover also carries on its under surface, where it is inaccessible, and on its edge opposite to its hinge, a pivoted latch 32 normally biased outwardly or to latching position by a compression spring 33, said latch being adapted to engage beneath the curb wall for latching the cover down, as will more fully appear.

While any suitable devices may be used for stopping the rotating member or basket, I show ior the purpose an ordinary hand brake adapted to engage the braking portion of pulley 9, as before stated. The band brake includes the usual flexible metal braking member 34 provided with suitable brake lining material, one of the ends of said band being connected to a controlling device and the other end being associated with a device to be controlled now to be described. It will be amumed that the rotating member or basket, when operating rotates in the direction of the arrow A, Fig. 3. One end of the brake band is connected by a link 35 to one arm of a pivoted bellcrank lever 36, the other arm of which is slotted for connectio o the pin of a clevis 31 on one end of a rod 36 passing through an opening in a stationary guide 33, beyond which it is provided with a collar 46 forming a seat for one end of a spring 4|, the other end of which engages the guide 39. The free end of rod 36 is connected by a pivoted bellcrank lever 42 to a rod 43 sliding vertically in guides on the curb and' provided with an abutment collar 44 having a beveled under portion 45 and adapted to cooperate with the hooked latching arm of a lever 46.

The opposite end of the brake band is connected to a rod 41 sliding in an opening in a fixed guide 48 beyond which is a compression spring 49 and a collar 56 fixed to the rod. The rod also carries a beveled abutment collar 5| adapted for by-pass cooperation with a spring pressed catch lever 52 on one arm of a bellcrank lever 53, the other arm of which is connected to a rod 54 slidable in a stationary guide 55 and provided'with a fixed collar 66 and compression spring 51, beyond which said rod is connected by a pivoted bellcrank lever 66 to a rod 66 slidable through an opening in an arm oi lever 3|, below which it is provided with a fixed collar 60.

Control of and by the cover and brake mechanism in the particular form shown for illustration, involves the use of an electromagnet or solenoid 6|, the 'core 62 of which is connected to a rod 63 slidable vertically in guides on the curb and'provided with three fixed collars 64, 65, 66. Above collar 64 and below a stationary guide onthe curb is a compression spring 61. Collar 65 cooperates with a compression spring 66 below an arm of lever 3|. erates with a compression spring 66 below an arm of lever 46.-

The electric control system is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 10. The motor is con-' nected through a switch 16 to the lead wires Li, La and In. In a circuit H with two of said leads are included the coil of the solenoid 6| and also timing mechanism conventionally illustrated at 12. This timing mechanism may be of any suitable form, including a switch 13 in the circuit 1| adapted to be closed by operation of a manually operated setting device -l4, which may be turned to set the timer for any desired period as well as to close switch I3 and energize the timer motor 15, which through mechanical connections l6 restores the setting mechanism to original position after the period for which the timer is set and automatically opens switch 13.

The control also includes a switch 'Il in a parallel circuit 16 through a coil 13 adapted to operate the switch I0. Switch l'l may be of any suitable form, but it is biased to move in the switch closing direction, and is shown as provided with a pivoted angle shaped .operating arm Ila provided, with rolls 11b and He, and which arm controls switch operation, as will appear.

The operation is as follows:

Let us assume that the extractor is idle, with the cover open and with the basket filled with -a load ready to be extracted. The cover rests against the stop arm 23, as shown in Fig. 9,

and is held in that position by the biasing tendency of the door opener l4. The motor circuit is open at switch '16. The brake is released. Coil 6| is deenergized. Member 21 is in its lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 1, but the latch lever 3| is not in engagement therewith. Rod 43 is in its lowermost position as also shown in Fig. 1, but the latch lever 46 is not in engagement with the abutment collar 44. Spring 4| is compressed by the effect of collar 40. The braking parts, including band 34 .have been moved in the counterclockwise direction (Fig. 3) around the basket shaft so far as they will go under the influence of the compression spring shown in Fig. 3.

Collar 66 coopof rod 63. First, spring 81 is compressed, storing power for later downward movement or said rod. Second; latch lever 3| is moved clockwise in Fig. 1 so that the hooks 30, 29 are engaged and member 21 is latched down, thereby holding member 23 in the position shown in Figs. '7 and 9, with the links H depending directly beneath the axis of the shaft l2. Third, lever 46 is moved into latching engagement with the abutment collar 44, preventing expansion of spring ll such as might produce brake application, and thereby holding the brake released. Collar 60 lies just beneath an arm of lever 31 but the spring 51 is ,fully expanded.

The next operation is to manually close the cover, the operator pulling it down with simple swinging movement about the axis of shaft l until the biased latch 32 engages beneath the curb rim. This motion, of course, further energizes the door opener l4, storing power for later cover opening movement. Also, the link I9 is pulled up, elevating rod 20, which moves past roll l'lc from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, permitting switch 11 to close, thereby energizing coil 19 which in turn closes switch 10 to the electric motor, and the rotatable member or basket begins to turn. Switch Tl does not close until the rod 20 passes roll "c at which time the cover is in closed position.

The extracting operation proceeds, with the parts in the positions just described, until ultimately, after the expiration of the selected period, the timer 12 automatically opens switch 13, thereby deenergizing coil 6|. The results are as follows:

Rod 63 suddenly moves downward under the influence of compression spring 61. Latch lever 3| remains in its then position. Latch lever 46 is tilted to unlatched position, out of latching relation with abutment 44. Thereupon brake actuating spring 4| expands, and through lever 36 applies tension to the brake and causes brake application. At the same time, the upper end of rod 43 engages roll 11b and opens switch T1, thereby deenergizing coil 19 so that the motor switch 10, which is biased toward open position, opens, cutting off current to the motor.

Application of the brake, by the effect of spring 4| not only applies the brake but moves the brake band clockwise in Fig. 3 around the axis of rotation of the basket to such extent as is permitted by the necessity for compression of spring 49, the clockwise motion of the brake band being amplified by the pull or drag of the pulley 9 upon the brake band. This motion is sufficient to allow the abutment collar 51 to move past the latch lever 52, from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4. Now there is power stored in spring 49 tending to return the brake parts to their original position. The braking operation proceeds with application of braking friction to the pulley 9 until finally the rotating member or basket comes to rest.

.Thereupon the tendency of the rotating 'pulley 9 to move the brake band clockwise ceases, and the brake band naturally reacts against that tendency, in addition to which the spring 49 has an opportunity to expand and more positively turn the brake band in the counterclockwise direction, Fig. 3. During this motion abutment 5| engages the trip lever 52 and turns the bellcrank lever 53, pulling on rod 55, compressing spring 51 and also elevating rod 59, Fig. 1, the collar 60 of which raises the arm of latch lever 3| and turns it to unlatched position, releasing the member 21.

The cover is now latched only by the latch 32, which prevents its front .edge from rising. Nevertheless it is under the biasing influence of the door opener l4 through arm l6 and link I], and the efiect of said door opener is to horizontally move the door from the position shown in Fig. '7 to that shown in Fig. 8, by producing swinging motion of the links H. Finally, when the latch 32 moves beyond the edge of the curb the cover is entirely released and the door opener moves it to open position, shown in Fig. 6. Opening movement of the door causes downward motion of rod l9, which moves to the position shown in Fig. l, passing down alongside of the switch 11 and engaging the upper end of rod 43, depressing said rod and moving the brake band fully to released position, at the same time compressing spring 4|. This brings all of the parts back to their original positions at the beginning of the cycle, and the operations may then be repeated.

Of course. operation of the brake band by expansion of spring 49 moves the abutment 5| sufiiciently and said abutment swings bellcrank lever 53 far enough so that abutment 5| passes the latch lever 52, finally reaching the position shown in Fig. 3. Also, as the door opens it engages the upper stop arm of member 23, restoring that member and links II to their original position as shown in Fig. 9.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a rotatable member, a cover for said member, means for starting rotation of said member and for simultaneously locking said cover in closed position so that it remains locked during the rotation of said member, means for applying a braking action to said rotatable mem ber, and power means energized by the rotation of said member during brake application and operatively connected to the cover locking means for positively releasing the same when the rotatable member comes to rest.

2. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a rotatable member, a cover for said member, means for starting rotation of said member and for simultaneously locking said cover in closed position so that it remains locked during the rotation of said member, power operated means for rotating said member, means for applying a braking action to said rotatable member and for disconnecting the power operated means, means actuated by the rotation of said member during brake application and operatively connected to the. cover locking means for positively releasing the same when the rotatable member comes to rest, and automatic means for opening said cover when the locking' means is released.

3. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a rotatable member, braking means for said rotatable member, a cover for said member come to rest.

4. An apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatable member,,a cover for said member movable to open an "closed position, an electric circuit including a timer-mechanism capable of being set to operative position to close said circuit, means responsive to the closing of said circuit for locking said cover when it is moved to closed position, said timer mechanism being provided with means for opening said circuit after a predetermined period of time, and means responsive to the opening of said circuit for releasing the cover locking means.

5. An apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatable member, a cover for said member movable to open and closed position, a timer mechanism capable of beingset to remain in operative position for a predetermined period of time, means responsive to the setting of the timer mechanism for locking the cover when it is moved to closed position, power operated means for rotating said member, braking means for said member, means responsive to the closing of said cover for initiating the power operated means, and means for actuating said braking means after the predetermined period for which the timer mechanism is set, and thereafter releasing said locking means after the rotating member has come to rest.

6. An apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatable member, a cover for said member movable to open and closed position, a timer mechanism capable of being set to remain in operative position for a predetermined period of time, means responsive to the setting of the timer mechanism for locking said cover when it is moved to closed position, power operated means for rotating said member, means responsive to the closing of said cover for initiating the power operated means, braking means for the movable member, means responsive at the termination of the period for which the timer mechanism is set for applying the brake to the movable member, and means actuated by the rotation of said member duringbrake application for releasing the cover locking means when the rotatable member comes to rest.

7. An apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatable member, a cover for said member movable to open and closed position, a timer mechanism capable of being set to remain in operative position for a predetermined period of time, means responsive to the setting of the timer mechanism for locking said cover when it is moved to closed position, power operated means for rotating said member, means responsive to the closing of said cover for initiating the power operated means, braking means for the movable member, means responsive at the termination of the period for which the timer mechanism is set for applying the brake to the movable member and disconnecting the power operated means, means actuated by the rotation of said member during brake application for causing release of the cover locking means, and means for automatically opening said cover when the rotatable means comes to rest.

8. An apparatus of the class described com-- prising a rotatable basket, a cover for said basket, motor means for rotating said basket, braking means for said basket, an electrical circuit including a source of electrical energy, a timer mechanism provided with means for closing said circuit for a predetermined period of time, said timer mechanism being operative after a predemorass means responsive to the closing of the circuit for maintaining the brake in when the cover is closed. means responsive to the closmined interval for simultaneously diseonnectirg the supply of electrical energy to said motor means and applying said braking means. 1

9. An apparatus of the class described comprising a casing, lower for said casing movable to open and closed position, a rotatable basket arranged in said casing, motor means for rotating said basket, an electric circuit, a timer mechanism adapted to be set to close said circuit and being operable to open said circuit after a predetermined period of, time, braking means, means responsive to the closing of said circuit for maintaining the cover in closed position, means responsive to the closing of said cover for supplying electrical energy to the motor means, means responsive to the opening of the circuit after the predetermined period for simultaneously applying the braking means and disconnecting the supply of electrical energy to the motor means, and means actuated, by the rotation of said member during brake application to release the cover locking means when the rotatable basket comes to rest.

10. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a rotatable member having an opening, a cover for said opening mounted for swinging movement about a shaft, depending hinge link means supporting said shaft to permit substantially horizontal advance movement of said cover, means for locking said cover closed in an advanced position, cover opening means associated with said cover and normally tending both to retract and also to swing. the same about said shaft to open position when said locking means is released, said locking means serving to hold said cover in its advance position against the action of said opening means when-said member is rotating, means for applying a braking effect to said member, andmeans energized by the rotation of said member during brake application for engaging and positively releasing the cover locking means when the rotatable member comes to rest. i

11. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a rotatable member having an opening, a cover for said opening, locking means for said cover, braking mechanism including a flexible member. associated with "said rotatable member, means for operating said mechanism to apply the flexible member to said rotatable memberto pro duce a braking effect thereon, means whereby the application of said brake mechanism to. said rotating body is effective to. store energy in said flexible member, control means associated with said braking mechanism, means actuated by the energy stored in said flexible member' for operating said control means when the rotatable member comes to rest, and means responsive to the operation of said control means for releasing said locking means, retracting said cover, and swinging it to open position.

12. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a rotatable member having a door, locking means therefor, braking mechanism for said member including a flexible brake band, operating means connected to one end of said band for applying it to said rotatable member, and an energy storing-device connected to the other termined period of'time to break said circuit, end of said band and in which energy is stored during brake application, control means for said braking mechanism, and means actuated by said stored energy for releasing said locking means when the rotatable member comes to rest.

13. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a rotatable member having an opening, a cover for said opening, locking means for said cover, braking mechanism including a flexible band associated with said rotatable member, operating means connected to one end of said band for applying said braking mechanism to said rotatable member, an energy storing device connected to the other. end of said band and in which energy is stored during brake application, control means associated with said braking mechanism, means actuated by said stored energy for operating said control means when the rotatable member comes to rest, and means responsive to the operation of said control means for releasing said locking means.

14. Apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatable member, a cover for said member movable to open and closed position, locking means for the cover, a brake for said member, means for app ying and releasing said brake, a

' timer mechanism for determining operative cycles, means operatively associated with said cover locking means and with said timer means to position said cover locking means in cover locking position upon setting of the timer, an electrical circuit, a solenoid in said electrical circuit, a switch in said electrical circuit operatively associated with said timer, said brake application means being operatively linked to said solenoid, whereby, on termination of a cycle by said timer,

said solenoid actuates said brake application means so as to apply said brake.

15. Apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatable member, a cover for said member movable to open and closed position, locking means for the cover, a brake for said member,

means for applying and releasing said brake,

a timer mechanism for determining operative cycles, means operatively associated with said cover locking means and with said timer to position said cover locking means in cover locking position upon setting of the timer, an electrical circuit, a solenoid in said electrical circuit, a switch in said electrical circuit operatively associated with said timer, saidbrake application means being operatively linked to said solenoid, whereby, on termination of a cycle by said timer, said solenoid actuiates said brake application means so as to apply said brake to said rotating member, and means operatively associated with said brake and said cover release means for delaying operation of said cover release means until after the rotatable member has come to rest.

16. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a rotatable member, power supply means for rotating said member, a cover for said member movable to open and closed position, latch means for holding said cover in closed position, a brake for said rotatable member, means for applying said brake, means operatively attached to said brake and abutting said latch, and actuated by the rotation of said rotatable member during brake application for releasing said cover latch and permitting said cover to swing to open position, a timer mechanism capable of being set to remain in operative position for a predetermined period of time, means operatively associated with said cover to prevent energization of said power operated means until said timer is set and said cover is closed, and means operatively associated with said timer, said brake applying means, and with said power supply means, to simultaneously disconnect the power supply and permit application of the braking means when said timer. reacts to the termination of said predetermined period.

' OSCAR W. JOHNSON.

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