US2596135A

US2596135A - Filling apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2596135A
Application number: US639392A
Authority: US
Inventors: Andrew J Dowling; Urbanski Edward
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-01-05
Filing date: 1946-01-05
Publication date: 1952-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 1969-05-13

Description

y 1952 A. J. DOWLING ET AL 2,596,135

FILLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS AHO/ILOW J. Dow/mg y Edward Urbanski ATTORNEY y 13, 1952 A. J. DOWLING ET AL 2,596,135

FILLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2:

I N V EN TOR. H 2 Ana raw J Dow/l n By [c/Wa/z/ flra/yj/r y 3, 1952 A. J. DOWLING ET AL 2,596,135

FILLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Andrew J flow/#79 May '13, 1952 Filed Jan. 5, 1946 A. J. DOWLING ET AL FILLING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 13, 1952 FILLING APPARATUS Andrew 3. Dowling and Edward Urbanski, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application January 5, 1946, Serial No. 639,392

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for filling containers in general and life preservers, life-saving equipment and other flotation gear with kapok in particular.

In the past, life preservers and other lifesaving equipment was filled customarily with kapok by hand methods. This procedure caused a good deal of kapok and dust to be present in the room, creating a fire and explosion hazard. Hand methods also failed to fill the life-saving gear uniformly and compactly besides being slow, taking up a large amount of floor space and in general creating undesirable working conditions. The device herein disclosed is a me chanical apparatus for filling life-saving equipment that not only eliminates the disadvantages mentioned above but also eliminates the use of respirators for employees and reduces sewing costs becauseof the small insert openings required.

An object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for filling receptacles such as lifesaving equipment with kapok or other material, which apparatus is simple to operate, involves an enclosed system for the material and is efficient in general.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for filling life-saving equipment that is pedal operated and eliminates the disadvantage of kapok being dispersed throughout the atmosphere of the room.

Further objects and advantages of this invention, as well as its construction, arrangement and operation, will be apparent from the following description and claims in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a top plan view of the filling apparatus, portions being shown in section for clarity of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a front view in elevation of the filling apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a side view in elevation of the filling apparatus, portions being shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a partial view in section showing the intake funnel;

Fig. 5 is a partial view showing a portion of the fiap valve operating mechanism; and

Fig. 6 is a partial view showing the assembly of chain, rod, and sleeve.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts through the several views. A platform I0 is raised above the fioor ll of the room in which the apparatus is installed. Steps |2 provide easy access for the operator to mount the platform l0. Above the platform I0 is a table top or work amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 2 support l3 supported suitably from the platform ID as by supports l4. Adjacent to the platform l0 and work support I3 is an entirely enclosed tank l5 for containing the fiuffed kapok to be dispensed. A transparent plate l6 held by a frame ll is provided to enable the operator to note the condition of the contents of the tank I5.

Mounted upon the work support I3 is a blower 20 having an intake pipe 2| leading into the tank l5. A funnel 22 is located within the tank I5 and is received slidably by the intake tube 2 i. Beneath the funnel 22 on a suitably mounted bracket 23 is a shelf 24 upon the inner end of which is located an upstanding bracket 25 for a purpose hereinafter disclosed.

Located at the mid horizontal plane of the funnel 22 is a hinge 30 (see Figs. 1 and 4') attached to the funnel 22, as by Welding, the hinge 34] carrying rotatably an irregularly-shaped lever 3| between its ends. One end bf the lever 3| has a disc 32, which in turn mounts a wooden disc 33, the wooden disc 33 acting as a valve or stopper for the funnel 22 and intake tube 2|. The stopper 33 is held normally in closed position by means of a coil spring 34, whichis fixed to the upper end of bracket 25 and the outer end of the lever 3|.

The exhaust port of the blower 20 has a square exhaust tube 4| attached thereto by means of the flanges 42. Fitted slidably into the exhaust tube 4| is a round filling tube 43. Integral with the exhaust tube 4| is a short projecting tube 44, also of square cross section. Attached to the projecting tube 44, as by the flanges 45, is a square return tube 46 which leads back into the tank l5. At the outer intersection of the square tube 4| and the square extending tube 44 is a spindle 41, which is held in place by means of a cotter pin 48. Integral with the spindle 41 and located outside the exhaust tube 4| is a crank or arm 49 having an eye 50 for a purpose hereinafter disclosed. Rolled around the spindle 41 and located within the exhaust tube 4| is a rectangular flap valve 5| adapted to close and open either the exhaust tube 4| or the

tubes

44 and 46.

Actuation of the flap valve 5| is effected by means of a vertical rod attached to the eye 5|] of crank 49 by means of a bolt 6|. The rod 60 at its lower end passes through an inverted U-shaped bracket 63 fixed in any suitable manner to the platform l0. Mounted slidably on the lower end of the rod 60 is a pedal 64, which is held on the rod 60 by means of a nut and a Washer 66, the outer end of the pedal 64 being secured rotatably to the platform I 0 by means of a hinge 61 fixed to the platform H) by screws 68. The lower end of rod 60 is threaded from its lower end to an intermediate point as at 69. Mounted slidably on said threaded portion 69 is a sleeve (see Fig. 6) having an arm II, which 'in turn has an upturned end 12, the sleeve 10 I3 and also on the outer side of tank are pulleys 80, which guide a chain 8|.

Said chain BI is attached at its ends to the upturned end I2 of the arm H and the outer end of the lever 3|.

'I'heblower is driven by means of a motor 90. mounted on an adjustable support 9| on one of thevertical supports [4, the driving connection between the motor 90 and the blower 20 being a belt 92.

In theoperation of the apparatus, the operator,

by stepping on the pedal 64, opens the stopper 33 of the funnel 22 and also moves the flap valve 5| to a position opening the exhaust tube 41 and

closing tubes

44 and 46. Kapok is then delivered through the filling tube 43 into the life jacket or other equipment to be filled. By removing his foot from the pedal 64, the operator causes the stopper 33 to be moved into closed position and also causes the flap valve 5| to close the exhaust tube M and open the passage through the extending tube 44 and return tube 46, thereby enabling the excess kapok that remains in the blower 28 to be returned to the tank I5. e

Various modifications and changes can be made in the subject device without departing from the scope of the invention.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the Unitedstates of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

We claim:

1. A filling apparatus comprising a work support, an enclosed tank adjacent said work support, a blower on said work support, an intake port extending from said blower into said tank, a valve in said intake port, an exhaust port on said blower, a tube connecting said exhaust port with said tank, a valve in said exhaust port arranged to open or close said exhaust port or said tube, and means to operate said valves simultaneously.

2. A filling apparatus comprising a work support, an enclosed tank adjacent said work support, a blower onsaid work support, an intake tube on said blower extending into said tank, a funnel in said tank on said intake tube, a lever pivoted to said funnel, one end of said lever having a stopper for said funnel, the other end of said lever extending beyond said funnel, an exhaust tubeon said blower, said blower being rectangular in cross sectionQa tube connecting said exhaust tube to said tank, said tube being of rectangular cross section, a ilap valve pivoted at the outer meeting point of said connecting tube and exhaust tube whereby said flap valve may'close said exhaust tube or said connecting tube, said flap valve being pivoted on a spindle,

and means to rotate said spindle and said lever on said funnel simultaneously.

3. A filling apparatus comprising a work support, a tank adjacent said work support, a blower on said work support, an intake tube leading from said blower into said tank, a funnel on the end of said intake tube, a lever pivoted between its ends on said funnel, a stopper for said funnel one one end of said lever, a shelf in said tank below said funnel, a bracket on said shelf, a spring fixed to said bracket and to the other end of said lever, an exhaust tube on said blower, a connecting tube between said tank and an intermediate point of said exhaust tube, a flap valve within said exhaust tube so constructed and arranged as to close either said exhaust tube or said connecting tube, said flap valve being mounted on a spindle, a crank on said spindle outside said exhaust tube, a rod pivoted to said crank, pulleys on said work support, a chain attached to said rod and said other end of said lever and passing oversaid pulleys, and pedal. means to move said rod linearly.

4. A filling apparatus comprising a platform, a work support above said platform, a vertically extending tank adjacent said work support and platform, a blower onsaid work support, an intake tubeon said blower extending into said tank, a funnel on the end of said intake tube, a shelf adjacent and below said funnel, a Vertically extending bracket on said shelf, a hinge on said funnel, a lever pivoted between its ends on said hinge, a stopper for, said funnel on one end of said lever, a spring fixed to the other end of said lever and to said bracket and urging said stopper into closed position, an exhaust tube on said.

blower, said exhaust tube being square in cross section, a connecting tube extending between said tank and an intermediate point in said exhaust tube, said connecting tube being of square cross section, a flap valve of rectangular configuration at the intersection of said exhaust tube and connecting tube, said flap valve being mounted on a spindle extending through said exhaust tube, a crank on said spindle outside said exhaust tube, a vertical rod pivoted to said crank, a bracket of inverted U-shape on said platform, a bore in the top of said bracket, said rod passing through said bore, a nut on the lower end of said rod larger in size than said bore, an arm on said rod at-an intermediate point thereof, a coil spring on said rod between said arm and said inverted U- shaped bracket, pulleys on the lower side of said work, support and on said tank, a chain fixed to said arm and the said other end of said lever and in running engagement with said pulleys,

' and a foot pedal resting on said platform and atopen said intake and exhaust ports and closesaid;

passage when said means is in one position, and

to close said, intake and. exhaust ports andopen.

said passage when said means is in another position.

6. A filling apparatus comprising a work' support, a tank adjacent said work .support, a blower on said work support, an intake tube on said,

blower extending into said tank, a funnel in said tank on'saidintake tube, a lever pivoted to said funnel, one end of said lever having a stopper forsaid funnel, the other end of said lever extending beyond said funnel, an exhaust tube on said blower, a tube connecting said exhaust tube to said tank, a flap valve pivoted at the outer meeting point of said connecting tube and exhaust tube whereby said flap valve closes said exhaust tube or said connecting tube, said flap valve being pivoted on a spindle, and means to rotate said spindle and said lever on said funnel simultaneously.

7. A filling apparatus comprising an enclosed tank, a blower, an intake tube communicating between said tank and said blower, valve means to close said intake tube when in one position and to open said intake tube when in another position, an exhaust tube on said blower, a connecting tube communicating between said tank and said exhaust tube, valve means to close said exhaust tube when in one position and to close said connecting tube when in another position, and means to operate said valve means simultaneously.

8. A filling apparatus comprising an enclosed tank, a blower, an intake tube communicating between said tank and said blower, valve means to close said intake tube when in one position and to open said intake tube when in another posi tion, an exhaust tube on said blower, a connecting tube communicating between said tank and said exhaust tube, valve means to close said exhaust tube when in one position and to close said connecting tube when in another position, and means to close and to open said intake and exhaust tube valve means simultaneously.

9. A filling apparatus comprising an enclosed tank, a blower, an intake tube communicating between said tank and said blower, valve means to close said intake tube when in one position and to open said intake tube when in another position, means to retain said valve means in normally closed position, an exhaust tube on said blower, a connecting tube communicating between said tank and said exhaust tube, valve means to close said exhaust tube when in one position and to close said connecting tube when in another position, means to retain said valve means in normally closed position, and means to operate said valve means simultaneously.

10. A filling apparatus comprising an enclosed tank, a blower, an intake tube on said blower extending into said tank, a valve means to open and close said intake tube, an exhaust tube on said blower, a connecting tube extending between said tank and said exhaust tube, a flap valve at the intersection of said exhaust tube and. said connecting tube adapted to close said exhaust tube or said connecting tube selectively, and means to operate said flap valve and said intake tube valve means simultaneously.

11. A filling apparatus comprising an enclosed tank, a blower, an intake tube on said blower extending into said tank, valve means to open and close said intake tube, an exhaust tube on said blower, a connecting tube extending between said tank and said exhaust tube, a flap valve at the intersection of said exhaust tube and said connecting tube adapted to close said exhaust tube or said connecting tube selectively, means to retain said valve means in closed position, means to retain said flap valve in position closing said exhaust tube, and means to operate said flap valve and said intake tube valve means simultaneously.

12. A filling apparatus comprising a tank, a blower, an intake tube on said blower extending into said tank, valve means to open and. close said intake tube, an exhaust tube on said blower, a connecting tube extending between said tank and said exhaust tube, a flap valve at the intersection of said exhaust tube and said connecting tube adapted to close said exhaust tube or said connecting tube selectively, spring means to retain said valve means in closed position, spring means to retain said flap valve in position closing said exhaust tube, and means to operate said valve means simultaneously.

ANDREW J. BOWLING. EDWARD URBANSKI.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 224,847 Ruble Feb. 24, 1880 1,027,570 Sheldon May 28, 1912 2,359,029 Goldberg Sept. 26, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 4,746 Australia Nov. 17, 1926 329,380 Great Britain May 19, 1930