US2531578A

US2531578A - Material cooling device

Info

Publication number: US2531578A
Application number: US714784A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert L Mcilvaine
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-12-07
Filing date: 1946-12-07
Publication date: 1950-11-28
Anticipated expiration: 1967-11-28

Description

R. L. MGILVAINE 2,531,578

MATERIAL COOLING DEVICE Nov. 28, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 7, 194a INVENTOR. Poe; RT L. MILVAINE ATTY'.

Nov. 28, 1950 R. MCILVAINE MATERIAL COOLING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledDec. 7, 1946 IN VEN TOR.

ROBERT L. M ILVAI'NE Patentecl Nov. 28, 1950 MATERIAL COOLING DEVICE Robert L. 'Mcllvaine, Glencoe, 111., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Herbert S. Si pson,

Evanston, Ill.,'as trustee Application December 7, 1946,.Serial No. 714,784

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in a material cooling device and more particularly to a method of and apparatus for cooling granular material, such as sand, by drawing a current of air over or across it.

In foundry work it has been found advantageous to reclaim molding sand by variou methods employing heat and cooling operations. Heretofo-re, it has been the practice in the cooling operation to tumble the 'hot sand around inside a revolving drum, at the same time forcing air through the drum. Efficient cooling of sand by this method is difficult due to the fact that sand packs up along the walls of the drum, tumbling therefrom in clumps. Furthermore, the mounting and driving of a rotating drum loaded with sand requires large, and relatively expensive machinery.

It'is to be understood that, while the device of this invention is particularly adapted for cooling heated foundry sand and will hereinafter be best described for such use, it is not to be limited to this type of application since it may be efliciently employed in any operation in which a current of air is drawn over or through granular material. In this manner granular material may be heated, cooled, moistened, dried, etc.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a cooling device for granular material in which the main container portion is mounted in fixed position while the material is moved around inside the container by a plurality of rotating vanes.

It is a further object of this invention to provide method of and apparatus for cooling a granular material in which the material is conveyed to the top of the container and allowed to drop in a curtain-like manner thus presenting a maximum amount of surface to the cooling air which is being drawn through the container.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a method of and apparatus for cooling material which is capable of drawing relatively large quantities of cooling air'through a curtain of granular material.

It is another object ofthis. invention to. provide a cooling device that is simple. in construction and economical in operation. 3

According to the general features of my invention I have provided a cooling .device for sand or like granular materials comprising a stationary container, series of rotating shelves for lifting the sand to the top of the container and allowing it to-slide off in a curtain-likefashion, and means of drawing a volume of air through the curtain of falling sand.

A feature of this invention is the provision of a stationary container thereby doing away with the necessity of providing a mounting and a driving means for rotating the container.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of rotating shelves which take the sand-up from the lower part of the container, move it along upwardly relative to the side walls of the container, and allow it to drop in a curtain of sand across the projected length of the container. The relative movement of the sand and the stationary walls of the container acts to prevent packing up of the sand on the shelves.

A still further feature of this invention is the provision of a suction means positioned at the center of the container for drawing air across the sand from both ends of thecontainer. This construction permits the maximum optimum volume of sand to be drawn across the sand without using velocities which are too high for efficient coo-ling contact with the sand.

.Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art from the detailed .descrip tion of the annexed sheet-of drawings.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a cooling device embodying the features of my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary end sectional view taken substantially on line 11-11 of Figure 1, showing the rotating shelves of this invention; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side sectional view takenon'line III-III of Figure 2, looking in'the direction indicated bythe arrows.

It isbelievedthat the novel method will be'best understood from the following description of an apparatus for practicing same.

The embodiment'of this invention, illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, includes a cylindricalcontainer I EI mounted on a foundation comprising longitudinal members! I and i2 and lateral members [3. There is a member H and a member [2 :extending along each side of the cylindrical container and a plurality of structural members I3 disposed between the members i I, as best seen in Fig.3." These structural members are preferably I-beamsor channels. Aseries of reinforcing band assemblies I'd is disposed around the container iii, being positioned in spaced relation to each other'along the con-tainers length.

'Theweight of the container IQ is transmitted to'the structural members by means of these reinforcing band assemblies it each of which, as

'bestiseen in Figures 2 and 3, comprises two cir- 'cular angle members I and I6 suitably secured, as by welding, to the container. A spacer plate I1 is secured around the container between the members I5 and I6. The upper portion of the plate I1 conforms tothe shape of the outwardly projecting flange portion of the angle members "I 5 and I6, while the lower portion of plate I! projects downwardly from the periphery of the container If) to form a support flange I'M. A flange I'Ia fits behind and is suitably secured to each channel member I3. To brace the flange I'la an angle member I3 is positioned immediately behind the flange having one leg of the angle suitably secured to the flange Ila and the other to the structural members II and I2. There is an angle member I3 behind each flange portion I'Ia on either side of the cylindrical container. The number of reinforcing band assemblies I4 that is used will depend upon the length and diameter of the container I0.

At each end of the container II) there is attached, as by welding flush with the end of the container, a rim member I9 which serves as a baffle plate over which the sand must pass as it leaves the cylinder Iii.

At one end, the container II) and the structural members to which it is secured are adapted to be raised or lowered as a, body in relation to the ground or to the supportin platform. This is accomplished by means of a plurality of jack screws 20 each of which is positioned between a structural member I I and a support member such as an I-beam 2 I.

At the opposite end, the container assembly is pivotally supported on a cross bar 22 which is journaled in

suitable support bearings

23 and 24, and also in openings in the structural members I I at either side. It is to be noted that a portion of the lower end of the member II adjacent the

bearings

23 and 24 has been cut away to permit the bearing members to be positioned close up against the web of the members II. This space afforded by cutting off the lower end of the member II also permits the container assembly to pivot on the bar 22 without interference with the support platform. Thus the container may be raised or lowered as desired to increase or decrease the speed at which the sand progresses through the container from the upper to the lower end. 7

In the cooling device of this invention the heated sand is introduced into the container from a chute 25 extending into the upper open end of the container. This chute may be conveniently connected to a traveling conveyor.

For efficient cooling of sand or other granular material it is desirable that the bulk of the sand be broken up so that the cooling air can contact, as far as poss;ble, each grain of sand as it passes through the cooling container. To accomplish this dispersal of sand there is provided a series of

shelves

28 and 28a which are secured, as by rivets 21, to

arms

30 and 30a fastened respectively to hub members 3| and 3 la. The hub members are attached, as by keys, on a shaft 34 for rotation therewith.

Any convenient number of shelves may be used depending upon operation factors such as the quantity of sand being processed and the diameter and length of the cylinder II]. In Figure 2 there is illustrated a mechanism including four shelves 28 secured on a hub assembly 29 which comprises four arms 30 rigidly attached to a pivot member 3 I, and four additional shelves 28a spaced substantially half way between the shelves 28 and secured to an adjacent hub assembly 32 including arms 30a. As best seen in Figure 3, these eight shelves are suitably supported by additional hub assemblies 29a, 29b, 32a and 32b disposed in spaced relation along the shaft 34. Hub assemblies 29, 29a and 29b carry the four shelves 28 and

hub assemblies

32, 32a and 32b carry the shelves 28a. As many hub assemblies may be used as are necessary to support the shelves throughout the length of the container.

Each shelf, as for example shelf 28, has a scoop portion 28b, substantially at right angles to the supporting arm, which is adapted to pick up sand from the bottom of the container and carry it upwardly along the wall as the shaft 34 is rotated counterclockwise as viewed in Figure 2. The scoop 28b will begin to discharge sand as each arm 30 or 33a approaches a vertical position and will continue to discharge the sand as it progresses further along the inner Wall of the container. Thus a curtain of sand will be allowed to drop downwardly from each shelf in turn as it approaches a vertical position affording a plurality of curtains of sand throughout the length of the cylindrical container through which the cooling air may be efficiently drawn. A wear plate 33 is suitably secured over that portion of the inner wall of the container I 0 which is subjected to the abrasive action of the moving sand.

The shaft 34 which is mounted coaxially with the cylinder I0 is journaled at its ends in antifriction bearings 35 and 36, each of which is supported on a pedestal-like assembly 31 comprising a bearing saddle 38 suitably secured to an I-beam 39 which is attached to a member 40. The member 40 at the discharge end of the container III is disposed laterally across foundation members I2, while the member 43 at the opposite end is supported by members I I.

Power for driving the shaft 34 is provided by an electric motor 4|. This motor lI is attached by a plurality of bolts 42 to a base plate 43 secured between the foundation members I2. The motor 4! may be connected in any suitable fashion for driving the shaft 36, as for example,

by a pinion gear 43 keyed to the shaft of the m0- tor in mesh with a driven gear 44 secured to the shaft 34.

In this type of cooling device the amount of moisture removed from the sand depends upon the volume of air pulled through the sand. With the conventional type of rotating drum, air is usually drawn in at one end and taken out at the other. The stationary container of this invention permits the suction blower 45 to be suitably connected to the container on its upper surface at a point substantially midway between the ends of the container. By mounting the blower near the center of the container and taking suction from both ends simultaneously, the effective flow area is substantially doubled and the volume of processing air passing across the sand may be greatly increased for the same velocity of air. It is therefore possible for any predetermined optimum velocity of air across the sand, to pull substantially twice the volume of air across the sand by taking suction from both ends as by using only one end of the container as an inlet.

From the foregoing it is apparent that there is provided in this invention a device capable of cooling sand or other granular material by pulling a large quantity of air through the sand and thus effecting cooling by evaporation of moisture from the sand or by direct heat transfer from the sand to the cooling air.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A material cooling device comprising an elongated, stationary drum having open ends, an air circulating member supported in said drum substantially at the center thereof for drawing air into said drum from both ends and discharging it adjacent the center of the drum, a shaft centrally and longitudinally disposed in said drum, a plurality of arm members secured to said shaft for rotation therewith, and shelf members secured to the outer ends of said arm members and extending substantially the entire length of the drum, each of said shelves including a substantially L-shaped member with one leg of the L forming a continuation of the associated arm member and extending to the inner wall of the drum and effective to scoop material from the lower portion of the drum and to scrape it from the inner wall thereof, the other leg of the L-shaped shelf being disposed to receive the material from said one leg as the arms are rotated and to discharge the material when the arm reaches a substantially vertical position.

2. A material cooling device comprising an elongated, stationary drum having open ends, an air circulating member supported in said drum substantially at the center thereof for drawing air into said drum from both ends and discharging it adjacent the center of the drum, a shaft centrally and longitudinally disposed in said drum, a plurality of hub members secured in spaced relation along said shaft, four arm members projecting outwardly from each of said hubs angularly spaced equidistant from each other and secured to said hubs for rotation therewith, and shelves secured to the outer ends of said arm members and extending substantially the entire length of said drum, the arms of each hub being staggered angularly with relation to the arms on the adjacent hub and each shelf being supported by the arms on every second hub, whereby a plurality of shelves extending the entire length of the drum are mounted for rotation in the drum and spaced at substantially 45 from each other.

3. A material cooling device comprising an elongated drum, means for moving air through said drum, a shaft centrally and longitudinally disposed in said drum, a plurality of hub members secured in spaced relation along said shaft, four arm members projecting outwardly from each of said hubs angularly spaced equidistant from each other and secured to said hubs for rotation therewith, and shelves secured to the outer ends of said arm members extending substantially the entire length of said drum, the arms of each hub being staggered angularly with relation to the arms on the adjacent hub and each shelf being supported by the arms on every second hub, whereby a plurality of shelves extending the entire length of the drum are mounted for rotation in the drum and spaced at substantially 45 from each other.

ROBERT L. MCILVAINE.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 47,596 Chichester May 2, 1865 87,613 Abbott Mar. 9, 1869 426,361 Buttner et a1 Apr. 22, 1890 501,048 Bassett July 11, 1893 586,278 Weinrich July 13, 1897 702,127 Churchill June 10, 1902 856,770 Cummer June 11, 1907 1,126,587 Suzuki Jan. 26, 1915 1,641,337 Komarek Sept. 6, 1927 2,026,922 Vincent Jan. 7, 1936 2,067,506 Silva Jan. 1 1937 2,096,049 Lissauer Oct. 19, 1937 2,174,896 Sackett Oct. 3, 1939 2,174,897 Sackett Oct. 3, 1939 2,189,120 Ahlmann Feb. 6, 1940 2,424,228

Erisman July 22, 1947