US2513352A - Desedimentizer - Google Patents

Description

July 4, 1950 Q'MEARA 2,513,352

DESEDIMENTIZER Filed Feb. 5, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

I ARTHUR A O'MEARA FlG.4-. -4//M W A. A. O'MEARA DESEDIMENTIZER July 4, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 5,- 1946 a B F INVENTOR.

ARTHUR A.O'MEARA FIG.3.

Patented July 4, 1950 2,513,352- I DESEDIMENTIZER.

Arthur A. OMeara, Harrisburg, Pa.

Application February 5, 1946, Serial No. 645 :674

(Granted under the act of' March-S, 1883; as amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) 4 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governnrentai purposes; without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This" invention refers to machines and more particularly to. those adapted for the mixing or de'sediinentation of the contents of vessels.

Numerous liquid or fluid materials storable in containers: are subject to sedimentation if stored so as to be relatively still and allowed to settle for"a= considerable length of time. During this processwhich is relatively slow, other mechanical andp-hysica'l processes are apt to occur which dete'riorate the contents and make them wholly'or partiailyunsuitable for their intended use. After the primaryperiod of settling hasoccurred, the initial sedimentationv is augmented by more sedimentatioirand thesediment becomesmore compact. It isapt to; stratify into a cake or layer, thatis: relatively dry and solidified, while the liquid-vehicle proper becomes thin and. Watery. Astime proceeds, the cake becomes harder and more stratified, while the" liquid becomes more thin. However it-has been found desirable to interriuittheprocess of precipitation periodically bysuitableagitation. A critical-settling time being-- determined, and the liquid mixture regularly agitated energetically within such time, to produceanv intimate mixture again of liquid and-ingradients; the. mixture will. remain in a suitable normal condition of admixture and diffusion'for a further suspension period, during which it will be suitable for its.- designat-ed purpose. Ithas been ioundthat a most effective way of accomplishing this periodical precipitation, is derived by the single simple inversion ofthe container within the critical period and preferably facilitated by a sharp. jolt.

The-inversion of, the package starts the process of desedimentation theoreticallvbut actually the moleculesgothrough a type of. Brownian movementor molecular diffusion. The solid ingredient molecules generally follow indefinite and erratic lines. oftravel. as they bump, attract, repel and otherwise motivate around in vehicular space. The only definite practical idea of its eventual efiect itsobtained from the proximate established critical period of settlement, empirically derived, and'the basis given by a recently proposed physical formula of the kinetic theory of molecules. This variably dependsto-a certain extent on the quantity of. .rnaterial. involved. temperature,- its depth and some other mechanical values of its volume. For milk,.the period is just about 30 days, so inversion after 2.0 days is at present, considered satisfactory. Theperiods are usually determined empirically according to the conditions involved", and the particularmaterials in the:containers. given the inversion or turn-over action .to

suit'.- The results sought'by such turn-over are;

a desedimentation, reduced deterioration, a more harmoniously mixed product, expeditious manipulationand avoidance of wastage and mechanical injury. Inrprevious methods, thiswas not obtain.- able in apractical Way and enormous financial losses were incurred.

In a particular method'employed for desedimentation of liqui'd paints, inverting milk,and creating other mechanical liquid disturbances of the contents ofvessels, it has heretofore beencustomary to physically lift the containers individually and then upset or shake them so that'the sediment or colloidal deposit will detach and leave theibottcm to mix through the liquid itself again, a-ndagain go into suspension, which it can deter a definite period of time, critical for each'mate rial. ln 'the'case of' milk, as already stated, the contents. should be'invertedionce every 20 days. Paints and other: sedim'entising liquids may re:-

quire longer or shorter periodsdependingon their individual physical characteristics.

The prior method, performed by hand, is laborious, tedious, andtime-taking. It has; the disadvantage that it does not do such a good jobof redifi-usionas the materialsrequire.

It is an objectof the invention to provideanew and improved desedimentizing machine foricontainersholding liquids that will'avoi'done or more of the disadvantages'and limitations of the prior art.- I

An additional obj ectof this invention is to pro+ vide a: new and improved desedimentizing machine that will: becapable of effectively handling simultaneously-a large number of containers or cases containing the containers and holding them securely while they are being turned.

Another object of the present invention isto provide. a new and improved mixing machine that will. be suitable for use with pallets and pallet trucks; Which-will do thework expeditiously an require a minimum amount of handling.

For a better understanding of this invention and-for other objects thereof, reference is made to the-- appended drawings andwthe-follcwing description, in. which an example of this invention is illustrated, while the scope of the invention is particularly pointed out in the, claims:

In the. drawings:

Figure 1-. representsa side elevation'ofa, mixing machine employing this invention,

Figure 2 is an end viewof Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a, detail. of the mechanism used for holding and disconnecting the palletsfrom the 1 mixing machine.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of one possible conventional switch circuit.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

In the particular form of construction shown in the drawings, a rotating frame Ill consists of an open spider structure, having peripheral circular,

coaxial rims II spaced horizontally apart and carrying a truss-work I2 by which a rectangular box I3 is fixed symmetrically within the rims.

1 The box is open on both sides of the frame and of i such size as to receive horizontal pallets l4 and I5,

shown respectively at bottom and top. The palj lets, open at two sides, fit easily in the box and can be set in or removed" by the tongues of a familiar pallet elevation truck in a; conventional manner. A claw mechanism at top and bottom 'of the box I3 on each side includes a shaft I6 having radial operating crank arms I6 at its extremity to operate L-shaped claws I'I fixed and spaced appropriately on the shaft. The claws engage within open sides of the two pallets at one position of the shafts and prevent pallet move- I ment in the box as the pallets move through the upper parts of their travel with the box.

At the lower horizontal or loading position only,

.the pallet is disengaged automatically by the claws-I1 so it can be readily removed by the jack itonguesof a conventional elevation truck. A

itorsion spring IB engaged with the shaft I5 and anchored to the box (Fig. 3), tends to keep the claws in the engaging position when not mechanic'ally moved by an operating arm I9, of which thereis one for each of two shafts I6 at each end -.of the machine and two like arms. This arm I9 is installed on a standard I9 erected on a truck base 20 having elevated side strings 20' forming the general support for the frame Ill. Each arm 19 is in the line of downward travel of a respectivecrank I6 fixed on the shaft I6, and so en- 'gages an'd rotates the latter in a direction counter to the action of the spring I8, swinging'the claws clearof the pallet. The spider moves in half- "revolutions and automatically reverses likewise after each half turn by manual switching. This is arranged for by a wiper or presser 22 acting against a plunger of a switch 23 (both formally illustrated) that throws power off the driving motor 24, and by two pairs of buffers or chocks 25 on the rims I I.

One pair of buffers come against the peripheries of respective driving rollers 26 of two pairs that support and drive the rims II. Since the contact of the rollers 26 with the rails is frictional, no considerable mechanical stresses are involved when the buffers or chocks 25 engage,

I even if motor is running. The result would be simply a slipping one. It does however make the stopping places in definite and uniform locations.

"The rollers 26 are mounted on transverse shafts arm I9, is shown in contact with its respective "handle, that is a part of the mechanism I6 and 1 claws I'I.

Normally, it is torsionallytensioned to bind against the pallet, within the box-like structure I3. When at the bottom position of the travel of the spider, the stationary arm I9, on the rigid supporting frame of the machine, is brought into contact with the handle and arcuately moves it. The shaft I6 and claws II will be rotated thereby in a direction away from binding the pallet, and leaves it loosely resting onthe bottom side of the box I3. The pallet may then be removed, or replaced with another.

As may be seen in Fig. 2, the cranks I6 have two principal positions, in both of which they are inclined inwardly of the planes of the rims II, and the lengths of the shafts I6 are such that the cranks are spaced considerably outward of the rims of the spider. The springs I8 operate normally to hold the cranks extending at an angle of approximately 45 degrees across the plane of the adjacent rim and away from the respective presser 22 as in full lines at the top of Figs. 2 and 3. The operating-arms I9 may be simple bars fixed on the standards I9 inwardly of the planes of respectiverims II. As these cranks approach respective rollers 26, they are pointed downwardly, and extend inwardly of the operating arms I9. The latter being rigid and stationary, wipingly engage and cam the cranks inwardly and upwardly as the spider moves, until the cranks reach a claw-opening position somewhat more than ninety degrees from their initial position with respect to the axis of the shaft I6, as shown in full lines at the lower part of Fig. 2 and dotted at the upper part of Fig. 2, and in Fig. 3. When operation of the machine is there- 'after reversed and as the cranks consequently withdraw from the arms I9, the spring I8 becomes effective to engage the claws, as before explained.

There are two of the switches 23, one at each end of the machine, each operable both manually and by two pressers 22 mounted on the spider frame, spaced apart and inverted with respect to each other intermediately of the peripherally spaced pairs of buffers 25. The pressers are so arranged that they will, in advancing downward, open a respective switch just as the adjacent pair of buffers 25 engages the adjacent rollers 26. The switches '23 are preferably of a pushbutton type and may be double pole reversing type switches thrown from a first position to the other on one ,operation, and then, on a successive operation I In starting the machine with the box I3 empty,

one of the shafts It at the front, and another at the back of the machine, will be at the lower side of the spider, and the other two shafts I6 at the top. The cranks I6 of the lower shafts will be engaged and the claws II held open by the operating arms IS. A pallet I5 is now laid in the bottom of the box, flush at both front and back with the ends of the box. Assuming that the cranks I6 are at the left end of the machine, the

right hand switch 22 is then operated manually to start the motor. This results in the spider and box (empty except for the single pallet) being rotated half a turn clockwise until the right hand switch 23 is engaged by the advanced descending presser 22, stopping the machine with the newly placed pallet at the topof the box. In the first part of this movement the cranks I6 at the lower left side of the machine, become freed and the spring I8 is permitted to operate the shaft l6 and claws 11 so as to engage and hold the pallet firmly against the underlying side of the box. As the spider nears completion of this clockwise half turn, the other pair of cranks l6 which were at the left upper side of the spider are advancing downwardly and they engage the right hand arms 19 and are operated to move and clear the respece tive claws. An elevating truck with a load-of containers stacked on another pallet 14 is now driven to the front open end of the box 13, and the load deposited therein with its supporting pallet flush with the edges of the box as before. The top of the stack of containers will then be spaced several inches from the top pallet, as indicated in Fig. 1. After withdrawal of the truck, the left hand switch 23 is next manually operated by its hand button, closing the reversing circuit to the motor. As rotation counterclockwise occurs the load-carrying pallet I4 is gripped as before described, as soon as the spider has been rotated a few degrees, and as the load nears inverted position it slips abruptly downward onto the pallet 15 which was at the top at the time of loading. This communicates a slight shock to the load of containers which, together with the inversion which has occurred, initiates desedimentation, as indicated. The inverted load is then removed preferably from the opposite or rear side of the machine by an elevator truck brought into position to engage the pallet 15 which is at the moment on the bottom carrying the load of containers. This leaves the pallet M at the top held against the top of the box, and no pallet at the bottom. By reloading as before, and repetition of the switch operations, unloading and loading on each half turn of the spider, there is thus always a ready pallet held at the top of the opening through the box l3, and unloading and loading may occur on each half turn of the spider.

The removed load and its supporting pallet are stored away on its pallet until shipped, or until expiration of the assigned period for its desedimentation again, when it is again loaded in the desedimentizer, inverted, and restored. The whole machine may be moved on its wheels to the most convenient location for receiving the goods to be desedimentized, and to reduce the amount of travel required by the loading and unloading trucks.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be a new and improved embodiment of this invention, it will be noted that various changes and modifications may be made thereon without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, as sought to be defined in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A desedimentizer comprising a skeleton circular spider frame having a rectangular box-like axial opening therethrough formed with two parallel load-carrying walls and constructed to receive slidably through at least one side of the frame on to a lower one of said walls and to hold thereon a stack comprising a pallet and plurality of containers thereon together conforming generally to said opening, the said walls including respective releasable means to hold a pallet thereagainst in the opening to define the effective clearance between said walls and the upper one spaced over such stack, a supporting roller mechanism under said spider for frictionally operating it rotatively, motor means for driving said mechanism, a second mechanism operated by the said spider in limited parts of its rotation to automatically control the motor means when operating so as to limit travel of the spider to a position in is travel inverted from its starting position and means to energize said motor means at will.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein manual means is included operable at will to initiate operation of said motor means, and said second mechanism includes a strike member fixed on and projecting from the spider, and a stationary mount having thereon a directional control device beside the path of rotation of the spider including a shift member in the path of the strike member and movable thereby when the spider is moving and closely approaching said inverted position from a loading position, effective on the motor means in one direction to a starting position for the succeeding operation of the motor means and effective in an opposite direction to cause rotation of the spider frame in a direction opposite that of said approach.

3. The structure of claim 2 including a machine stop for the motor means, op-eratively connected to said shift member and simultaneously operable with said directional control device, said strike member being constructed and arranged in relation to said shift device to hold the latter against return while said spider is at the respective limit of its travel.

4. A desedimentizer comprising a base, a circular drum-like frame supported peripherally for rotation in a vertical plane on the base, said drum-like frame having a transverse opening axially therethrough open to receive therein through the side of the frame a pallet and stacked packages thereon, said desedimentizer having means to grip pallets in said frame when moved from 'a loading position at the lower side of the frame and to automatically release the same when at the leading position, and reversible motive means on said base including supporting driving rollers transversely arranged under and frictionally engaged with the periphery of the frame, to rotate the same, manual control means to apply power to saidmotive means at will; the improvement comprising means on said base to automatically stop the motive means responsive to movement of the frame in either direction over an angle of degrees from either of two opposite alternative loading positions of the frame, and means to control the direction of operation of said motive means independently of said manual control means comprising a movable shift device on the base at each side of the said frame adjacent its periphery and wiper means on the frame positioned to alternately engage and move the shift devices under movement of the frame in respective directions, to reverse its directional control, whereby on successive operations of said manual control means the frame willbe rotated alternately in opposite directions and automatically stopped in respective loading positions.

ARTHUR A. OMEARA.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,486,609 Schwab Mar. 11, 1924 1,731,129 Fowler Oct. 8, 1929 1,967,683 Ostrander July 24, 1934 1,983,052 Spiegel Dec. 4, 1934 2,202,564 Parker May 28, 1940 2,277,310 Engelhart Mar. 24, 1942

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