US2483864A - Impregnating machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct, 4, 1949. c. w. ZIES IMPREGNATING MACHINE 4 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 19, 1945 INVENTOR. C1981. M 2/58 Oct. 4, 1949. c. w. Z lES 2,483,864

IMPREGNATING MACHINE Filed Jan. 19, 1945 4 sheets-sheet z I N V EN TOR. CARL W. 2/55 Arr vs. 7

Oct. 4, 1949. c. w. ZIES IMPREGNATING MACHINE -4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 19, 1945 INVENTOR.

CHIQL w. Z/ES /V/ a w W Qua/7774 Arr'Ys.

Oct. 4, 1949.

Filed Jan. 19, 1945 C. W. ZIES IMPREGNATING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. CARL m Z155 BY v hyde and Patented Dot. 4, 1949 IMPREGNATING MACHINE Carl W. Zies, Lakewood, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to The V. D. Anderson Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 19, 1945, Serial No. 573,494 Claims. (01. 127-1) This invention relates to continuous screw presses, and more particularly to presses specially designed or adapted for use in impregnating certain cellulosic materials with acid for the purpose of hydrolysis in processes for the production of sugar or alcohol, or for analogous uses. In such processes suitable cellulosic material, such as corn cobs, is sprayed or otherwise Wetted with dilute acid, and is then subjected to pressure at an appropriate temperature for the desired period; The process requires means for applying pressure to the material and for either heating or cooling it, all preferably continuously with constant progression of the raw material through the apparatus, and with the ability to control temperature The present invention has for its object to provide simple and convenient apparatus, of screw press form, suitable for the purpose, such apparatus including a pressure screw rotating on a vertical axis and provided with improved means for driving it, for supporting the weight of the parts, for taking care of the endwise thrust, for supplying the raw material and removing the finished product, for controlling the temperature by supplying either a heating or a cooling effect, and for compelling advance of the material through the machine.

Still another'object is to provide improved apparatus of the character described which is of simple form involving relatively few parts, all of which are durable and not likely to get out of order in service, the entire machine being quite compact and requiring minimum floor space.

Further objects of the invention in part are obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings, which represent one suitable embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation through the upper half of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a similar section through the lower half of the machine;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are sectional plan views taken respectively on the lines 33, 4-4, and 55, Fig.

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional plan views on the lines 6-5, and 'I'I, Fig. 1; and

Fig. 8 is a detail elevation of a portion of the machine, viewed from the bottom of Fig. 7.

The apparatus selected for illustration in the drawings, comprises a frame including a base I adapted to rest upon the floor or other support and provided with several, three being shown, channel form columns or posts 2 on which are mounted an upper head or platform 3 to support the driving motor ii and other parts, and several plate like horizontal shelves 5, 6, I, the latter carrying a sloping discharge plate 8 lying between two parallel side plates 9 and adapted to receive the solid residue and discharge it forwardly, or to the left in Fig. 2. Plate I also supports a heavy metal guide or bearing sleeve I0.

Posts 2 may bottom on the base I, as shown, so that the entire machine is above the floor level, or, if desired the base I may be attached to posts 2 at any point intermediate their upper and lower ends, with the central portion of the base cut away to receive the other parts of the machine, thus permitting the machine to be supported from the floor above and to extend downwardly through a floor opening into the room beneath.

Rigidly secured, as by welding, in openings in the several shelves, and extending along a vertical axis centered between the several posts 2 are inner and outer concentric imperforate tubes or barrel members II, I2, spaced apart to provide an annular cavity or space I3 between them.

The inner tube is fairly thick and strong, to withstand pressure, but the outer tube may be of thinner metal since it serves only as a jacket.

Barrel member II extends above the head or platform 3 and supports a disc IIa on which is rigidly mounted suitable transmission mechanism shown conventionally at I4. This may include bevel or other gearing and change speed devices, if desired (not shown), for transmitting power at any desired speed ratio from the horizontal input shaft I5 to the vertical output shaft I6. Input shaft I5 is driven by motor 4, the shaft I! of which is provided with a sprocket I8 connected by chain I 8a to a sprocket I9 on shaft I5.

If desired, the transmission mechanism may be of simpler form, omitting change speed gears, and speed changes may be secured by changes in the sizes of the two sprockets I8, I9, or by using a change speed motor, all as will readily occur to one skilled in the art.

The lower end of output shaft I6 enters and bottoms in a recess or socket in a solid plug 20 welded into the upper end of a tubular feeder shaft 2I and is suitably connected to drive said shaft, as by a key or the cross pin 22 shown. This feeder shaft is located concentrically with an within barrel member II, but is smaller, leaving an annular space 23 closed at its upper end by plate Ila and in which are located a series of spiral vane flights 24 welded to shaft 2| and spaced length wise thereof. Each vane flight makes one or more turns around the shaft axis and the trailing edge of each is spaced, longitudinally of the shaft, from the leading end of the next, leaving a gap between each two vane flights to receive an abutment member, such as a stationary knife or pin 25. As shown the first flight 24a extends about 2 turns about the axis and has a relatively quick pitch. It lies opposite the feedopening and ismore effective uponv the loose material as fed to the machine. The pitch of the remaining vane flights decreases until those at the lower or discharge end, where the material becomes most dense, me quiteslow, compared to the early flight 24a. The peripheral edge portions of all fiightsof course .closel-yzhug the inner surface of the barrelll. g

Abutment pins or members 25 -are'scr(-$wed through threaded openings initwopppositely dia posed bars 26 welded in place between the inner and the outer barrel tubes ii, I2, dividing the cavity it into two semicyclindrical halves and enabling the pins to he adjustedor replacedafrom theputside of the barrel, by .direct application of a;to ol, notwithstanding its jacket.construction.. H The material to be compressed is fed to the machine. by intrcducingit into a hopper 2'! welded to and at one side of the barreland com municating with ..the working space below plate lilaeby waymof :the.-feeding opening .28. Both. tubes. H, I2 'of the barrel terminate at their lower ends at shelf -6, -so thattheapreesing space opens or discharges above the slopin dis-' charge plate 8 which directs the finished or treated material outwardly from the machine.

Screw shaft 2!, however, extends-through plate 8' and shelf 1- and is journalled'in the tube I a bearing. Its entire weight is supported from above by the plate Ho and the press frame on which said'plate is mounted. a

Each of the-semicylindrical halves of the chamber-l3 between tubes H,-I 2 is provided atits upper and lower ends with a pipeZS-by means of which either steam for heating; or wateror other fluid 'agent for cooling maybe circulated through said cavity, usually from bottom to top. Thus a heating or cooling effect may be applied gdirectlyto the external surface 'of'theinner barrel inelnber l I and close to the tube like mass of material being treated under pressure. I

Preferably the machineis designed so thata similar effect maybe applied; to the tub ular mass of material from the inside, through the tubular wall of the screw shaft. For. this'purpcse apart of thefra'me, suchas shelf 1, whasri dly secured thereto 9. depending bracket 38 haylnglabottom plate ti on which is mounted atube 32 con-.- centrically disposed within shaft 2| but smaller, to. provide anvannular cavity.33, and somewhat shorter, stoppingshort ofplug 2 0 at,its .upper end. The lower end of tube 32 is closed by aplug 34 having a threaded openingdS-to receiveapipe 3,6, and plate 3| supports asleeve 3]. having pack ing' 38 and a side opening to; receive pipe. .39. Fluid. may be suppliedthrough pipe 3.9,.fillingthe cavity. andlexerting a .cooling.effect,,and be 65 discharged through tube 32 and by way of pipe 36. Heating steam may be similarly circulated.

' Usually sleeve 3711s mountedmponasupplemental disk .40 rotatably adjustable 1on.-di s k, -3l by loosening the clamping bolts ll passing thronghshort circumferential slots in plate 3|- This enables the water supply 1: ipe; as to be brought in from anydirection.

. -i a erpa g dklis c p bl -b s 'iie eiii leseli p s sand the nv nii n nqti ieited 4 to any particular use. One manner of use may be referred to as illustrative and in no sense of limitation.

In the treatment of corn cobs or other cellulosic material for conversion into sugar or alcohol, the

cellulosic material, usually finely divided or com- ;ninuted, is sprayed or otherwise mixed with dilute acid. The material so wetted isfed to the hopper 21' while the machine is in operation with the screw shaft rotating in the proper direction -to move the material downwardly. It enters the an lularecayity 23, is engaged by the vane flights 24a, 24, and is caused to move downwardly, ex-

- -perieneing'increasedcompression, while so movl5 ins 23? gt e decrease in pitch of the successive flights. Pins'25 prevent the material from rotatpi ,in with. the ,scremgand compel it to move forward. By properly proportioning the machine as to-length and diameter of screw shaft, rate of rotation, etc., the material is held under co m pression in-the-maohine for adesired period, withinreasonable limits. 'While under compression it may be subjected to any desired tempera ture effect by the use of either or both of the jacketeavitiesone-within and the outside ofthe moving tubular column of materialwBarrel H is imper for-ate. Therefore no liquid'is-expressed from the masabut the entire mass'isdischarged along the sloping shelf 8 and delivered to any suitable container or chute or "in a-pile on ,the

floor.

In one particularmachine used in the manner described, maximum pressuremay be securedup to 4500 pounds per square inch. The worm shaft turns at R; P. M. with a capacity of 500 pounds, perhel r u in 2%. 0.2% es ure va 29? m yb s u e br dif er ntwo m ha ts wit various. itc ofworm fligntsc by ya yin th m isture co t n o imm a entering the m s l r xamp th s mat rial, .e. corn cobs, containing-. 75%,..moisture, developed. on 20-30 pounds. per square inch, whereas reduction of the moisture coritent,to.-.5,0% increasedthe possible pressure to 300 pounds .per squar inch. Bressure maybe also controlled by utilizing ;an ordinary adjustable choke;-;mechanism at the outlet, such as shown, fo ,6. 3 2 .9 ml t nhNQ@ 78i an ed N vember; c.19 Et- TwAn e f o Pr ss i .;The apparatus described isof relatively simple form deyelops high pressures, applies heat or a cooling effect to the material both internally and externally, has vhigh capacity and. is:durable1:in serfvice, The-:weight of .all heavy partslis supported 'from..the upper platform and'the several shelves. Upward thrust is transmitted-to-the transmission -.-rne'chanism directly: through shaft l6 where it bottoms'in its=recessand notthrough pin 12 2. The screw shaftis of -'relatively light weight, because tubular, and yet-isstrong enough for its purpose. Repairs and adjustments, as, of pins 25, are simple and may be, made-by simple operations. -Radial thrust. on ,the bearings is practically eliminated by vertical disposition of the. sc w.. h it c a ran m t-a s ut li ing gravity to assist in, feeding the materialand forcing it downward" along the shaft through the compressionshamber. ,It also enables the proper lubricating oil level readilYiWhe maint n d n he r n mi Bu .und ce ta n senditic s. th .a o th sh f mar-Ja horiaontaLas willbe readily understood.-, V Qther; advantages of the invention vill be ap rares .tqs hqseslsihedr. n:the.art 91 e What I claim is:

1. An impregnating machine, comprising an upright frame supporting an imperforate. jacketed cylindrical vertical barrel open at its lower end and having a material feed opening on one side near its upper end, a hollow imperforate worm shaft coaxial with the barrel and provided within it with worm flights decreasing in pitch downwardly, the upper end of said shaft being closed and having a, member extending through the upper end of the barrel and from which it depends and by means of which it is driven and its lower end having a plain cylindrical portion free of worm flights extending below the barrel, and a radial sleeve bearing mounted on the frame at a level below the lower end of the barrel and through and beyond which the plain cylindrical portion of said shaft extends.

2. An impregnating machine, comprising an upright frame supporting an imperforate jacketed cylindrical vertical barrel open at its lower end and having a, material feed opening on one side near its upper end, a hollow imperforate worm shaft coaxial with the barrel and provided within it with worm flights decreasing in pitch downwardly, the upper end of said shaft being closed and having a member extending through the upper end of the barrel and from which it depends and by means of which it is driven and its lower end having a plain cylindrical portion free of worm flights extending below the barrel, a radial sleeve bearing mounted on the frame at a level below the lower end of the barrel and through and beyond which the plain cylindrical portion of said shaft extends, and an inclined :i;

delivery shelf also mounted on the frame between the lower end of the barrel and the lower end of said bearin by means of which the material discharged from the barrel is deflected laterally.

3. An impregnating machine, comprising an upright frame supporting an imperforate jacketed cylindrical vertical barrel open at its lower end and having a material feed opening on one side near its upper end, a hollow imperforate worm shaft coaxial with the barrel and provided within it with worm flights decreasing in pitch downwardly, the upper end of said shaft bein closed and having a member extending through the upper end of the barrel and from which it depends and by means of which it is driven and its lower end having a plain cylindrical portion free of worm flights extending below the barrel, a radial sleeve bearing mounted on the frame at a level below the lower end of the barrel and through and beyond which the plain cylindrical portion of said shaft extends, a packing sleeve surroundin the worm shaft below said radial bearing and supported on the frame, and a fluid circulation tube of smaller external diameter than the internal diameter of the shaft, said tube having its upper end open and being supported on said sleeve in position coaxial with said shaft to provide inner and outer channels within the shaft through which fluid may be circulated.

4. An impregnating machine, comprising an upright frame supporting an imperforate jacketed cylindrical vertical barrel open at its lower end and having a material feed opening on one side near its upper end, a hollow imperforate worm shaft coaxial with the barrel and provided within it with worm flights decreasing in pitch downwardly, the upper end of said shaft being closed and having a member extending through the upper end of the barrel from which it depends and by means of which it is driven and its lower end having a plain cylindrical portion free of worm flights extending below the barrel, a radial sleeve bearing mounted on the frame at a level below the lower end of the barrel and through and beyond which the plain cylindrical portion of said shaft extends, an inclined delivery shelf also mounted on the frame between the lower end of the barrel and the lower end of said bearing by means of which the material discharged from the barrel is deflected laterally, a packing sleeve surrounding the worm shaft below said radial bearing and supported on the frame, and a fluid circulation tube of smaller external diameter than the internal diameter of the shaft, said tube having its upper end open and being supported on said sleeve in position coaxial with said shaft to provide inner and outer channels within the shaft through which fluid may be circulated.

5. An impregnating machine, comprisin a frame supporting a cylindrical vertical barrel, a worm shaft coaxial with said barrel and having longitudinally spaced separate worm flights located and rotatable within the barrel, said barrel consisting of two tubular wall members spaced apart radially to provide an annular jacket space between them through which fluid may be circulated, a filler member extendin across the jacket space from one wall member to the other and having a sealed connection to each wall member, said filler member and the two walls which it connects being provided with a through opening, and a knife member mounted in said opening with its inner end extending into the space between two adjacent worm flights for preventing rotation of the material with the worm shaft, the outer end of said knife member being accessible from the outside of the outer wall member of the barrel for removing or otherwise manipulating the same.

CARL W. ZIES.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 287,360 Bell Oct. 23, 1883 1,758,272 Anderson May 13, 1930 1,834,577 Cline Dec. 1, 1931 1,848,236 Anderson Mar. 8, 1932 1,971,632 Anderson Aug. 28, 1934 2,086,701 Dreyfus July 13, 1937 2,119,162 Hartner May 31, 1938 2,426,677 Fulmer et a1. Sept. 2, 1947

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