US2305350A - Metering and feeding mechanism for dry materials - Google Patents

Description

7 2 snet s-sheek 1 E. E. HARPER Filed April 13, 1940 METERING AND FEEDING MECHANISM FOR DRY'MATERIALS Dec. 15, 1942.

II as INVENPI'OR: LE Harper,- BY

TIL-3* ATTORNEY ll llllll ll||.|.l lllllll ll-Illllllllkll-Hlllll Illll Ill-lull -l Dec. 15, 1942. HARPER 2,305,350

METERING AND FEEDING MECHANISM FORDRY MATERIALS Filed AprillS, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a "He p U. A wn m k Kmw wim Pull. i J {-1 l 5 my u 1 h 1mm M i -m -v llll II //l\ mm 0% m mm N N.

a w mm m m E Y Y B *5 m Qmakj Q Patented Dec. 1 5, 1942 UNITED STATE s- PATENT OFFICE METERING AND FEEDING MECHANISM FOR DRY MATERIALS Elmer E. Harper, Kansas City, Mo.

Application April 13, 1940, Serial No. 329,469

' 11 Claims.

effectively feeding materials of the character stated and including materials having fluffy characteristics, such as kiesel'guhr and the like.

Accordingly, I have devised improved apparatus comprising astorage or supply compartment for the dry material and having an outlet passage with which is associated the improved metering and feeding appliance into which the material settles by gravity, and in which the operation of the feeding appliance imparts a feeding motion adapted to effect proper settling of the material into a mass of uniform density, as well as an even and uniform rate of delivery or discharge of the material from the appliance.

One method of accomplishing this result, as

tially equal amounts or discharge increments of a uniform, homogeneous character. r The method of mounting and operating th feeding appliance is furthermore designed not only to effect proper agitation of the material within the appliance itself, but also to cooperate with appropriate agitating means within the supply compartment in maintaining an ,agitated state of the material throughout the discharge views of the feeding unit or assembly, represent- .ing sections, taken on the lines 33 and 4-4,

respectively, of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a detail' sectional view of said feeding unit or assembly, representing a section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

. Figure 6 'is an enlarged sectional detail view,

showing the fulcrum arrangement of one of the oscillatory plates of the feed mechanism;

Figure 7 is an enlarged plan view of the adjusting means for the drive connection to the feeding mechanisms;

Figure 8 is a side view thereof, with a portion of the main oscillating driv member partly broken away; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional detail view of a portion of the feeding device, representing the path or flow of material in the feeding action. Among the materials which are required to be fed in a measured even flow, in material feeding operations for which the present improvements are designed, are such materialsas carbon, hy-

drated lime, kieselguhr, etc., which possess more or less fiuffy characteristics, and hence have clinging properties that render it difilcult to produce anything like a flowing consistency of the material. Accordingly, it proves necessary not only to maintain an effective stirring or agitating action throughout the discharge zone of the material, but also a dividing or separating treatment of the mass at the discharge points, to the fiow thereof from points well within the said compartment and on down to the final points of discharge.

Other features of improvement and advantage will be found to characterize the improved machine, as referred to hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation showin a complete apparatus embodying feeding means constructed in accordance-with the invention, a portion of the cabinet being broken away to disclose the interior mechanism Figure 2 is an end elevation Figures 3 and 4 are enlarged detail sectional of the apparatus,

also having a part of the cabinet broken away; 5

end of producing discharge increments at a uniform and even rate, for effecting as nearly as possible a uniform rate of discharg for thepurpose in view. Having these objects in mind I have devised apparatus especially well adapted for eificient operation in the feeding of materials presenting these difiiculties, as well as other more freely-flowing granular materials.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and more particularly to Figures 1 and 2,.these' illustrate the apparatus as adapted to be enclosed within a suitable cabinet structure l2, including a door it affording access to a compartment I5 enclosing the improved feeding mechanism, and also a door ii to a smaller compartment l8 for the drive assembly and adjusting means therefor.

In the base of the compartment l5 are located the usual mixing chamber 20 and its connections,

such as the outlet 2| and water feed pipe 22 for the mixing jets or sprays.

Above the mixing chamber, or in the upper portion of the compartment I5, i located a trough-shaped hopper 24 for receiving a supply 'of the'material to be fed into the mixing chama stant agitation of the material within the hopper and also to urge said material from both ends and toward the middle of the hopper (see Figure 1) where an opening 32 (Figure 4) is provided in the bottom of the hopper for passage of the material into the improved feeding device, now to be described.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 3, 4 and 5, the; feeding mechanism comprises what may be termed a spout assembly operating in conjunction with a horizontally fixed, but adjustable plate or tray 33, in position for intercepting and temporarily supporting the material after passing through said spout assembly.

This assembly is made up of a plate 34 suitably secured, as by bolts 35, to the base of the hopper 24, and having an opening 32' registering with the hopper outlet 32 (Figures 4 and The bottom face of this plate 34 is formed with sets of lugs 36 for mounting pins 31 for pivotally suspending a set of parallel-motion links 38, the lower ends of which are pivotally connected with the ends of rods 48 (Figure 5) extending through lugs 42 upon the outer faces of a pair of oscillating plates 43 and also through a pair of vertical plates 44 engaging the side edges of the plates 43, and forming therewith a spout or feed passage 45 between the opening 32 and the plate 33. Spacing collars 46 and coil springs 41 are interposed between the links 38 and plates 44 for maintaining the latter in continuous engagement with the sides of the plates 43 (see Figure 5).

The upper edges of the plates 43 are beveled, as indicated at 48, to provide knife-edge bearings within suitable grooves 48' (see Figure 6) at opposite sides of the opening 32'; and coil springs 43 may also be provided, connecting the pins 31 and the ends of the rods 40, with suilicient play allowed between the latter and the links 38 to maintain continuous fulcruming engagement of the upper edges of the plates 43. within the grooves 48. I

The plates 43 are shaped to produce a throat Obviously by adjustment of the lever 52 the plate or tray member 33 may be set at different elevations with relation to the lower end of the spout assembly, for varying the outlet space beneath the lower edges of the plates 43 and thus varying the rate of feed of the material. In order, however, to maintain the sides of the spout passage closed, an automatically adjustable shoe is provided, comprising side plates 81 supported on the upper face of the plate 33 and connected by'a cross-bar 68 fitting in vertical slots 10 in the lower edges of the plates 44; in addition,the plates 61 are also provided with pins 12. which slidingly engage the front and rear edges of said plates 44, whereby the plates 61 are slidingly actuated by the movement of the spout assembly While resting upon the upper face of the plate 33.

Oscillating motion is imparted to the spout assembly by means of a connecting rod I5 pivoted to a lug 16 on the outer face of one of the plates 43 (Figure 4) and also pivotally connected with one end of a crank arm ll which is attached to a transverse shaft I8 (Figures 1 and 2). This shaft is journalled in bearings 80 and carries another crank arm 82 (in the compartment l8) to which arm 82 is connected a link 84 adapted to make adjustable operating connection with a rocker frame 85 which is axially mounted on one end of the agitator shaft 21.

The rocker frame 85 is oscillated by a drive consisting of a connecting rod 81 actuated from a speed changer unit 88, which in turn is driven from a suitable motor 89 from which a belt 88 is trained over a pulley 92 to drive the unit 88.

The rocker member 85 carries a pawl 84 for engaging a ratchet wheel 95 secured to the shaft 21, whereby the latter is intermittently actuated for operating said shaft and the agitating means within the hopper chamber 24. This rocker member is also provided with an arcuate slot 88 which is suitably graduated, as indicated in Figures 2 and 8, as a guide for the adjustment of or spout passage having a constricted portion" about midway of said passage, as clearly represented in Figure 4, although these plates may be of any design for varying the contour of the feed passage according to the particular conditions as to material or operation.

' The plate33 is mounted within a yoke the ends 'of which are pivotally connected, at 5|, to

the arms ofa U-shaped lever 52, the sides of which are pivoted, at 53, to a pair of upright; frame pieces 54 rigidly secured at 55 to a pair of arms 58 formed as projections from the plate 34 (see Figure 4) One arm of the lever frame 52 is'extended to provide an operating handle portion 58 which is fitted with a bolt 80 having a sliding connectionwith a rod orlink 62 pivotally suspended from 9. lug 83 onthe under face of the plate 34, said boltjll also having a clamp nut 84 to secure the lever 52 in any adjusted position. To retain the\plate 33 in continuously horizontal position, a parallel-motion link 65 is provided, connecting the yoke 50 with one of the upright pieces 54. r

the link connection 84, the upper end of which is provided with a pin or bolt 98 and clamping handle element I00 for securing said connection at any desired point along said slot 96, thereby correspondingly adjusting the reciprocating drive action to the spout assembly and hence the extent of movement imparted thereto.

For any given size of hopper and rate of drive from the motor, the feeding action may also be varied by adjustment of the plate or tray member 33 by means of the handle extension 58 to secure the proper elevation of this tray member with reference to the lower edges of the plates 43, i. e., to obtain the desired size of feed apertures .between said plates and the tray 33, and this adjustment is secured by tightening of the nut 84 to clamp the lever frame 52 to the rod or link 62.

The design of hopper 24 is that best adapted to provide a maximum capacity in a minimum of space, and having'vertical ends to prevent clinging of the material thereto, and sides of sufficiently steep slope to direct the material to the operating zone of the agitating device. The type of agitating means shown effects movement from both ends of the hopper toward the middle, so that the material is continuously fed into the space over the feed spout, and the thrusts thus produced by the agitating means upon the material are thereby balanced. Any form or shape of. hopper, as well as specific type of agitating devices, may of coursebe used insofaras the improved action of the metering and feeding means is concerned. Naturally, also the provision for 45 within the feed hopper is filled, the material therein being supported by the ,tray 33. The

vspout movement produces a wiping action of the material within the spout (at the level of the lower edges of the plates 43) upon the material supported by the tray 33, resulting in some material being discharged from the spout beneath the edge of one of the plates 43 at the end of each stroke of the spout. At the same time each stroke of the spout produces some agitation of the material therein, and hence the combined action of the spiral agitating means and the motion of the spout results in complete agitation of the material from points well up within the hopper and continuously on down to the discharge points of the spout.

Referring to Figure 9, it will be noted that the height, but also for providing a multiple feed outlet arrangement to afford increased delivery capacity for a given installation, and this also provides a desirablesafety factor under some conditions'of operation.

Many minor changes are, of course, possible and desirable for adapting the improved construction to meet varying conditions of operation,

and while I have herein shown and described one practical and efflcient form of apparatus forembodying the various features ofv improvement, I desire to be'understood as reserving the right to make all the changes and modifications falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Apparatus for feeding dry materials comprising a container for holding a supply of the material passing through the spout is supported by the tray 33, and the reciprocation of the spout, moving its lower edges through the paths indicated by the arrows, gradually discharges material at the points 43, thereby loading the ends of crowding the material off the ends of the tray as the feeding action of the spout continues. As the feeding operation thus becomes established, the action of the material within the spout as it is swept over the material ,on the tray maybe likened to the action taking place between a multiple-layer-structure, such as the leaves of a book lying fiat upon a table, when given a sidewise thrust, thereby producing a gliding action of the leaves upon each other; 'i. e., in a somewhat similar fashion the layers of material below the lower edges of the feed plates l3 are pushed alternately to and fro with gradually diminishing effect from top to bottom of the layers, and the material thereby smoothed out into a uniform state or consistency while it is at the same time crowded in the' direction of the ends of the tray and finally off the end edges in substantially equal increments as efiected by the uniform feeding movement of the spout, which is continuously producing a stream or ribbon of the material of substantially uniform consistency or density.

By this method of continuous agitation of the material, as well as continuous smoothing of the the tray 33 as shown, and resulting in gradually material and having a discharge passage, fixed supporting means, a material supporting mem-. ber carried by said fixed supporting means below said passage in the path of the material flow, feeding means operative to produce horizontal reciprocating movement of said flow with reference to the material lodged on said supporting member and thereby effecting intermittent discharge of the material off the edges thereof, and means including parallel motion linkage connected wtih said fixed supporting means and also operatively connected with said material supporting member for varying the elevation of said supporting member while maintaining the same in continuously horizontal position and thereby varying the discharge rate of the material.

2. Apparatus-for feeding dry materials com prising a container for holding a supply of the material and having a discharge passage, a material supportingmember below said passage in the path of the material flow, feeding means operative to produce a horizontal reciprocating movement of said flow with reference to the material lodged on said supporting member and apparent that soft, tenacious or fluffy materials may be efiiciently handled in such a manner as to produce an even, regular, and uniform discharge flow whichis not possible with the usual methods of feeding materials having the clinging properties of carbon, hydrated lime, etc.

- It is, of course, obvious that any desired change iii'the feed rate, for any given installation, may

' be readily made by either adjusting the elevation of the tray 33, or by re-setting the adjustment of the link 83 along the graduated slot 96 by means joints, a substantially constant knife-edge relation being maintained by the spring, supporting means as shown.

It may. also be noted thatthe illustrated assembly, including the type of hopper shown, is adapted not only for ample storage capacity at low thereby effecting intermittent discharge of the material off the opposite edges of said member. and an automatically adjustable shoe device confining the discharge of the material from the feeding means to movements in the direction of said opposite edges of the supporting member.

3. In apparatus for feeding dry materials, a feeding device comprising a pair of oscillatory plates provided with means for pivotally supporting the plates in spaced relation for passage of the material between them, a material supporting member below said plates, knife-edge bearing structures for the upper edges of said plates, yielding supporting means for maintaining said plate edges in engaged relation to said structures, and means for oscillating said plates sliding engagement with the side edges'of said first plates and reciprocated in unison therewith for confining said material to the passage between said plates.

motion linkage connected with said fixed sup-,

porting means and also operatively connected with said adjustable supporting member for varying the elevation of said supporting member while maintaining the same in continuously horizontal position and thereby also varying the discharge rate of the material, and means reciprocated in unison with said oscillating motion for confining said material to the passage between said plates. I

'6. Apparatus for feeding dry materials, comprising a container for holding a supply of the material and having a bottom discharge outlet, a pair of oscillatory plates having their upper edges, pivotally engaged with opposite sides of said outlet, plate members maintained in yielding engagement with the side edges of said first plates, means for imparting oscillating movement to said first plates for producing a feeding movement of the material through the passage between said plates and material receiving and supporting means beneath said passage.

7. Apparatus for feeding dry materials, comprising a container for holding a supply of the material and having a bottom discharge outlet, a pair of oscillatory plates having their upper edges in pivotal engagement with opposite sides of said outlet, plate members engaging the side edges of said first plates, means connecting said oscillatory plates in pivotal relation to said plate members and also maintaining the latter in yielding sliding engagement with said oscillatory plates, means for oscillating said first plates for producing a feeding movement of the material through the passage between said plates and material receiving and supporting means beneath said passage.

8. Apparatus for feeding dry materials, comprising a container for holding a supply of the material and having a bottom discharge outlet, a pair of oscillatory plates having their upper edges in pivotal engagement with opposite sides of said outlet, plate members engaging the side edges of said first plates, suspension means pivotally connecting said plate members and said oscillatory plates and supporting the latter in pivotal relation to said outlet, and also having means for maintaining said plate members in yielding sliding engagement with said oscillatory plates, means for imparting oscillating movement to said first plates for effecting a feeding movement of the material through the passage between said plates and material receiving and supporting means beneath said passage.

. 9. Apparatus for feeding dry materials, comprising a container for holding a supply of the material and having a bottom discharge outlet, a material-supporting member below said outlet in the path of the material flow, feeding means operative to produce a horizontal reciprocating movement of the material flow with reference to the material lodged on said supporting member and thereby effecting intermittent discharge of the material off the opposite ends of said member, and a shoe device slidingly supported by said supporting member in automatically telescoping relation to said feeding means for confining the discharge of the material therefrom to movements in the direction of the opposite ends of the supporting member.

10. Apparatus for feeding dry materials, comprising a container for holding a supply of the material and having a bottom discharge outlet, a vertically adjustable material-supporting member below said outlet in the path of the material flow, feeding means operative to produce a horizontal reciprocating movement of the material fiow with reference to the material lodged' on said supporting member and thereby producing intermittent discharge of the material off the opposite ends of said member, and a shoe device carried by said supporting member and acting to confine the discharge of the material therefrom to movements in the direction of the opposite ends of said supporting member.

11. Apparatus for feeding dry materials, comprising a container for holding a supply of the material and having a bottom discharge outlet, means comprising a pair of spaced oscillatory plates having side plates in sliding engagement with the side edges ofsaid first plates and forming a spout structure in discharge relation to said outlet, means for oscillating said spout structure to effect feeding movement of the material therethrough, a horizontal plate for intercepting the material below said spout structure, and a shoe device carried by said horizontal plate in telescoping relation to said. spout structure for confining the material on said horizontal plate to dischargemovements in the direction of the opposite ends of the horizontal plate, said shoe device having a transverse bar in sliding engagement with said side plates and forminga partition across the lower end of said spout structure.

ELMER E. HARPlilR.

Images