US2423242A - Automatic sampling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

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v. c. LORENZ f 2,423,242 AUTOMATIC SAMPLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 2.2,.1945 3 sheets-sheet s 39 vntor Vmcen' C. Lorenz Patented July 1, 1947 AUTOMATIC SAMPLING APPARATUS VincentC. Lorenz, Anaconda,.Mont., assignor ofiv one-fourth to Charles W. MorseL Anaconda,

Mont.

Application November 22, E43-,Serial No. 511,334;

(Cl. YSL-423) 12 Claims. V1

The present invention relates to improvements inautomaticY sampling apparatus, and more particularly to therdriving mechanism of the same.

An objectof: theinvention'is to provide a type of driving mechanism which is adapted to intermittent` operation and is susceptible to adjustmenty in. order tooperate at the desired intervals.`

Another object of' the invention is to provide aY driving" mechanism of a simple and reliable form, not'. dependent on electrical timing` or actua-ting devices, and requiring a. minimum of servicev or maintenance to keep it in satisfactory operating condition'.

A further objectof the invention is to provide an improved: driving mechanism incorporating a device; that will require the mechanism to make a completeV revolution.

A= further object of the invention is to provide an impro-ved driving mechanism so constructed andv arranged' as to cause the sampling device to cutxrapidly through theentire stream, in fact so rapidly that theobjectionable riie cutter usually employed infthe launder to reduce the volume of the stream to be sampled may be done away with.

A. still further object of the invention is to provide-2a stop mechanism for the driving'mechanisnfrJ which'` Will damp the oscillations of the mechanism after the same has completed a full stroke, and which will bring the driving mechanism; rapidly torest in a position of unstable equilibrium in readiness` for the next successive sample taking.

With the foregoing and other objects in View the invention* willi be more fully describedA hereinafter and=willbe more fully pointed out in the appended claims.`

In the drawings in which like or'corresponding referencey characters denote the same or similar partsthroughout 'the several views,

Figure l is a side elevation, with parts broken away; showing an improvedl automaticsampling equipment and driving mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figurerz is an end View of the same, with parts broken away` and parts shown in section.

Figure 3A is a perspective view of the improved bucket employed.

Figure i is a fragmentary side View of the imu proved stop or check device showing the same in full and dotted line positions.

Figure 5is a vertical section taken on the line 5---5A in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a* fragmentary perspective view 2 showing the arcuate base support and hook and trigger device.

Figure '1 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on anenlargedlscale throughthe bas-e or trough support and through the hook and trigger and associated devices.

Figure 8` is a fragmentary side view with parts broken away.` and parts shown in section of the sample'receiver and its support, and

Figure 9 is avertical section taken on the line 9- 9in Figure 8.

Referring` more particularly to the drawings IB Ydesignates a bucket, partially covered by a hood'y H andmountedrigidly on an arm lf2; Such arm formsa part of, or is rigidlyattached to, a shaft. I3 journaled in bearings I carried upon an appropriate support or portion or the framework or" the sampling equipment.

The bucket is continuously fed with water from a nozzle l5 supplied, under constant head, from a' supply tank (not shown) or other suitable source.

Aiixed to the shaft I3 is a rod I6 Carrying a weight I1 fixed on the rod. The rod I6 or the weight L1 carries a foot or shoe I8 which is preferably irusto-conicalin form. The rod I6 or shoe t8 is adapted to rest against the free end of a flexible liat spring I9- carried by a suitable part of the apparatus and biased'to an upwardly curled position (Figure 1- and Figure 4) which invades the circle of movement traversedby the shoe I8, for which see the dotted position of Figure 4.

Asbest seen in Figure 7, a stop 20 is pivoted at 2| in a supporting block 22-and is equipped with a hook 23 at one enol and a trigger 2li at its other end. The block 22 has lugs 25. embracing the sides of the head 26 orA a rod` 21. The head and lugs are pivoted together on the pivot pin 28. rBhe rod 21 carries a collar 29 normally abutting against a` stop Wall 3@ which also serves as a bearing `through which the rod 21 may reciprocate. The stop wall 3l) also subserves a third function as an abutment wall against which one end of. a coil spring 3l engages. The other end of this coil spring (Figure l) abuts against a flange 32 of an adjusting nut 33 Which may be threaded upon the right end of the rod 21. The coilspring 3| is wound in a suitable number of convolutions or helices about the rod 21 between the stop wall 311 and the nut 33. The axialthrust of the spring 3l against nut 33 biases rod 21 to a right hand position in which the stop collar 29 abuts-the wa1l'3.

Wall 3ilmay be a part of a housing 34 which enclosesa portion of the. spring 3 l, which supports the at flexible spring I9 and which provides an extension or base support 35 (Figures 6 and '1) of a trough shape in cross section and of arcuate form in which to slidably and adjustably support the supporting block 22. In the base of this arcuate trough 35 is a slit 36 through which projects the shank 31 of a screw threaded in a threaded socket 38 of the base of the supporting block 22. The head 39 of the screw is wider than the slot 36 and slides along the bottom surface of the trough or base 35 to hold the block 22 in the trough.

The shank of the screw passes freely through the slot 36 and is preferably unthreaded at this portion so as to slide smoothly back and forth in the slot. The screw shank and head constitute guides for the block 22 and also a holding or detent means to restrain the block in the trough but permit the block to have free reciprocating movement.

By reference to Figure 1, attention is called to the fact that the flat exible spring I9 and the stop device 2 are so relatively arranged with respect to rod I6 and its shoe or foot I8 that the arm I6 and weight I1, when at rest, will assume a position which is angularly offset from the vertical in a clockwise direction, which is the direction of rotation of the combined bucket I and counterbalancing weight I1 about shaft I3.

A waste water trough 49, drained by outlet 4I, is placed to receive water dumped by the bucket I0 during its rotary` travel. The shaft I3 has affixed thereon a bevel pinion 42 (Figure 2) disposed in mesh with a companion bevel pinion 43 on a vertical shaft 44. The vertical shaft is supported by bearings 45 and 46. Near its lower end this shaft 44 carries a wedge-shaped cutter 41 (Figures 8 and 9) having a narrow open slot 48 in its upper edge, the walls of the cutter 41 diverging downwardly from such narrow slot 48, as seen in Figure 9. As seen in Figure 8, the base wall of the cutter 41 is diagonally disposed downwardly to an opening 49 by which the lowermost portion of the cutter 41 communicates with the interior of a hollow section 44a of the shaft 44. This hollow section 44a extends down into a covered bucket 53. The hollow shaft section 44a eX- tends down at one side of launder I (Figure 1). The bucket 5! is disposed at one side and below the launder 5I as indicated by the broken away portions of the parts in Figures 1 and 2.

Launder 52 (Figure 2) spills its pulp into the launder 5I. The shaft 44 and cutter are so located that the cutter may be rotated into the pulp stream.

The operation is as follows:

Water from the nozzle I5, regulated to give the desired frequency of operation, Slowly lls bucket I0 until the combined weight of the bucket I0 and its contents is sufficient to overcome the inertia of the offset weight I1 and its rod or supporting arm IS. The bucket I0 thereupon swings down in a clockwise direction, as Viewed in Figure 1, lifting the weight I1. The shaft I3 is consequently rotated, bringing bucket I0 to a bottom position where it dumps its water into the trough 4E). The hood II prevents the water in the bucket from being spilled in the early part of the revolution. When the bucket Ill is in its lowest position the diametrically offset weight I1 has passed the vertical center line and its mass continues the revolution bringing the empty bucket I9 back to its original upper position of Figure 1. If no checks were provided, the shaft I3 would make several revolutions and oscillations before it finally carne to rest. thus essential.

As weight I1 is traveling its circular path of movement and when it approaches from the right its initial position (Figure 1), the foot or shoe I8, traveling along the lower arc of the circle, wipes across the upper face of the curved flat spring I9, depressing the free end of this spring, which is followed by the pressing down of the trigger 24 and the elevation of the hook 23 into the path of circular movement of the foot I8. When the foot I 8 strikes the hook 23 the momentum of the weight I1 and entrained parts carries the hook 23 and the supporting block 22 to the left for a distance dependent upon the strength of the coil spring 3|. The length of screw shaft 31 relative to the depth of screw socket 38 is such that the shank will strike the bottom of the socket before the screw head 39 binds upon the wall 3'5. Thus the screw head forms a guide at the lower surface of the wall 35 enabling the block 22 to slide freely in the trough-like support.

As the rod 21 is coupled by pivot 28 to the block 22, the rod 21 will be pulled to the left with the hook 23 and will therefore cause compression of the spring 3|. The spring 3I therefore determines the amount of the angular movement by which the foot I8 will carry the hook 23 in the support 35. The spring 3| also cushions the impact. When the foot I8 has moved so far around to the left as to slip off the end of the flat spring I9, such spring I9 will snap back upwardly to its original position (Figure 1). The weight I1 will return the rod I5 back against the free end of the spring I9. The hook 23, being heavier than trigger 24, is now free to fall back to its original position where it is out of the path of the foot I8 and will not interfere with the next actuation of the' device. The sampler is now set for the next cycle.

The launder 52 is constantly spilling its pulp in the launder 5I. The operation of the drive, through the shaft I3, bevel pinions 42, 43 and shaft 44, causes the wedge-shaped cutter to revolve swiftly through the entire stream. After each revolution the cutter comes back to the position shown by solid lines in Figure 1. The sample cut out of the stream runs into the hollow shaft section 44a and then into the sample bucket 50. The principal advantage of the improved sampler is that the cutter cuts the stream so rapidly that a small amount of sample is taken at each revolution, which in most cases will make it unnecessary to use riile cutters in the launder to cut out a portion of the stream to be sampled.

The rilile cutters are objectionable, as, ordinarily installed, since they only cut out vertical slices of the pump in the launder and the slots choke with wood pulp or material thrown into A reliable stop is the launder, and they do not cut out a representative sample.

The drive can operate other types of samplers or machines requiring one quick revolution of shaft I3 either directly or by means of various transmission parts, such as worm or spur gearing.

It will be noted from Figure 1 that the centers of mass and gravity of the bucket I 0 are to the lead side of bracket arm I2 referred to the direction of Clockwise rotation; and the bucket arm I2 .is normally in a vertical position. Also the weight arm I6 is not on the same diameter with bucket arm I2 but is offset from the diametric position by an angle which places the weight past its upper vertical position to the right when the bucket is at its lowest point, thus insuringr the continued rapid rotation of the drive mechanism.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention Without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modiiications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a movable sample cutter, a shaft coupled to drive said sample cutter, rigid arms fixed to said shaft at greater than 90 but less than 180 apart, a correlative Water bucket and weight couple mounted for revolution in unstable equilibrium, said water bucket aiixed to one arm, said Weight affixed to the other arm, means to supply the bucket with liquid, a deformable resilient member against which the weight is adapted to rest in normal position, a foot carried around with the weight in a path intersecting the normal position of said member for depressing the member out of the path of the revolving weight, a weight check normally biased to inoperative position and movable into the path of said foot, and means for so moving said check and constructed and arranged for cooperating with said member to be operated by the member when deformed.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which said weight check device comprises a stop normally biased to a position out of the path of movement of said foot, said means being positioned to be actuated by said resilient member to overcome such bias and shift the stop into said path, and resilient means for cushioning the movement of said stop.

3. The combination of claim 1 in which said weight `check comprises a movable stop normally biased to a position out of the path of movement of said foot and said means comprising a trigger arranged to be moved by said deformable resilient member to shift the stop into the path of the foot.

4. The combination of claim 1 in which said check comprises a rocker having a hook and said means comprising a trigger connected to the hook and positioned to be moved by the deformable resilient member to shift the hook into the path of the foot.

5. The combination of claim 1 in which said check comprises a pivoted stop member and said means comprising a tail-piece, with the stop member weighted to seek a normal position out of the path of movement of the foot, said deformable resilient member being normally in the path of movement of the foot and moved thereby out of such path, and positioned to shift the tail-r piece and thereby the stop member into the path of movement of the foot.

6. The combination of'claim 1, further characterized by the fact that the weight check is carried by a support capable of movement in the direction of movement of the weight and foot, and resilient restraining means coupled to said support.

7. The combination of claim 1 in which said Weight check device comprises a movable support, resilient restraining means coupled to said movable support, stop means on the support biased to an inoperative position out of the path of movement of said foot and said first-named means comprising a tail-piece positioned to be engaged by said deformable resilient member whereby to shift said stop means into said path of movement.

8. The combination of claim 1 further comprising means to initially hold the arms with the bucket positioned beneath the liquid supply means.

9. The combination of claim 1 in which the bucket is eccentrically carried by the bucket carrying arm with the center of mass of the bucket offset to the leading side of the bucket referred toits direction of rotation.

10. In combination with one launder spilling its contents into another launder, a sample cutter, a rotary shaft carrying the sample cutter, a drive shaft geared to said first shaft, rigid arms connected to said drive shaft at greater than but less than apart, a correlative water bucket and weight couple mounted for revolution in unstable equilibrium, said bucket carried by one arm with its center of gravity offset to the lead side of the direction of bucket revolution, said weight carried by the other arm, means to support the Weight in a position oifset from the vertical line to the bucket toward the lead side of the direction of weight revolution, and means to arrest the revolution after one turn.

11. In combination with one launder spilling its contents into another launder, a movable sample cutter, a shaft coupled to drive said sample cutter, rigid arms fixed to said shaft at greater than 90 but less than 180 apart, a correlative water bucket and weight couple mounted for revolution in unstable equilibrium, said bucket carried by one arm, said weight carried by the other arm means to supply the bucket with liquid, a deformable resilient member against which the weight is adapted to rest in normal position, a foot carried around with the weight in a path intersecting the normal position of said member for depressing the member out of the path of the revolving weight, and a check device comprising a stop normally biased to a position out of the path of movement of the foot, and means for moving the stop into such path of movement.

12. The combination of claim 11, wherein the bucket is open-topped with a hood over the leading side of the top to avoid premature dumping in the revolution of the bucket.

VINCENT C. LORENZ.

REFERENCES CTED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,151,009 Haskell Aug. 24, 1915 1,466,861 Tuttle et al. Sept. 4, 1923 1,688,782 Brugger Oct. 23, 1928 1,788,110 Junghans Jan. 6, 1931 1,641,748 Dresser et al. Sept. 6, 1927 2,270,511 Crain Jan. 20, 1942

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