US2738814A

US2738814A - Hydraulic slab debarker

Info

Publication number: US2738814A
Application number: US463422A
Authority: US
Inventors: James T Latimer
Original assignee: JACKSON IND Inc
Current assignee: JACKSON IND Inc
Priority date: 1954-10-20
Filing date: 1954-10-20
Publication date: 1956-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 1973-03-20

Description

J. T. LATIMER HYDRAULIC SLAB DEBARKER March 2o, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 20, 1954 INVENToR. .Mw/5s 7.' nr/,11m

A rraR/vfyj nvm.

March 20, 1956 J, T, LATlMER 2,738,814

HYDRAULIC SLAB DEBARKER Filed OCt. 20, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

March 20, 1956 1. T. LATIMER HYDRAULIC SLAB DEBARKER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 20, 1954 INVENTOR.

milfs r nr/415A M $502.,

HYDRAULIC SLAB DEBARKER James T. Latimer, Birmingham, Ala.,` assignor to Jackson Industries, Inc., a corporation of Alabama Application October 20, 1954, Serial No. 463,422

4 Claims. (Cl. 144z0s) My invention relates to an apparatus for removingbark from sawmill slabs and the like.;

An object of my invention is` to provide an apparatus for removing the bark from slabs and the like by providing a positive means for holding the slab on the con-l veyor and for withdrawing it from the low-pressure area surrounding the hi gh-velocity water streams.

Another object is to provide an apparatus embodying the foregoing features` and in which the water nozzle is mounted for Vertical movement in accordance with the thickness of the slab being debarked, thus maintaining the nozzle at the optimum distance from the slab, and increasing the debarking efficiency of the stream.

A further object is to provide a vertically movable water nozzle of the character designated which shall be adjustably mounted and in which the reaction of the high-pressure water issuing from the nozzle is counter- 2,738,814 Patented Mar; 20, 1956 ice i beneath the water iet whereby the same is positively pulled acted by suitable means such as a Weight operatively connected to the nozzle-supply pipe.

Briefly, my invention contemplates ardebarking apparatus in which the slabs are placed on a horizontal conveyor such as sets of laterally spaced chains with suitable attachments thereon. vThe slabs pass into a `substantially closed housingy and come first under a series of vertically and independentlymovable positively driven chain hold-down units. The hold-down units are mounted for pivotal movement about the shaft that carries the from the surface of the slabto be operated upon. Thus,.

the nozzle automatically is fixed at the optimum distance in accordance with the thickness of the-slab .being operated upon. I further provide means for adjusting the distance of the nozzle from the slab and provide a counterweight for holding the nozzle down against the tendency to rise as a high-speed water is discharged therefrom. As will be understood, after the end of a slab is ready to pass from beneath Vthewater streams, there is a tendency for the same to be held back due to the low pressure immediately surrounding the high-velocity streams of water. My improved 'apparatusl thus contemplates that the slab will be engaged 'betweenl the holdthe slab from the apparatus. v

. Apparatus illustrating the features of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in' which:

Fig. l is a side elevation ofgmy improved apparatus from the lower pressure area, thus assuring discharge of` with certain parts broken away and in section and show v ing the hold-down umts raised for the accommodation of y relatively thick slabs;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken generally' along line 2-2 of Fig.' l and with certain parts omitted for the sake of clarity-and showing the apparatus operating upon a slab;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental side elevation looking at the opposite side of the apparatus from that shown in Fig.- l;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, detail fragmental view showing the vertically movable water nozzle and an end of the hold-down unit which controls the vertical movement of 'Y the same;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken generally alongline 5`5 of Fig. l, and,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional erally along line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention I show the same as embodying a sheet metal housing having an infeed section indicated generally at 10 and a debarking section indicated generally at 11. The section 11 is closed along its sides by

plates

12 and 13 and also has a top plate 14. The bottom of the housing may be inclined and hopper-like as shown at 16 and there may be a water and bark outlet 17 therein. The slabs or the like to be debarked are fed into the section 10 onto the upper flights of a plurality of horizontal chains 18 which together form a conveyorp The chains may have suitable attachments 18a thereon for engaging the slabs. The chains are supported on front view. taken gensprockets 19 and rear sprockets v21 which are mounted horizontal members 27 secured to the inside of the Aside `

walls

12 and 13. The shaft 23 is driven as will be later explained. Disposed over the lower flight of the conveyor 18 is a bark-deecting shield 25 of substantially inverted,

V-shape, as shown in Fig. 2.

The positively driven hold-down units will now be explained and in View of the fact that they are substantially identical, a description of one set of the hold-down units will sumce for both. The units are pivoted on shafts 2S and 29 which are mounted for rotation 'in suitable bearings carried on the side of the housing. Each hold-down unit comprises side plates 31 and 32'pivoted near their upper ends about the

shafts

28 and 29. Be-

tween each set of side plates, fast on the

shaft

28 or 29 as the case may be are sprockets 33. `Chains 34 are trained over the sprockets 33 and over sprockets V36 mountedfor rotation on pins 37 passing between the pairs of

plates

31 and 32 near the free or lower ends thereof. The plates are provided at their lower ends with upwardly extending portions 31a and 32a vwhich may be cross braced by members 38. The chains may have suitable attachments 34a ,thereon for engaging the slab as indicated by the letter S.

Spanning the upper end of the extensions 31a and 32a is a pin 39. Pivotally mounted on the pin 39 is the lower end of an elongated rod 41 which projectsgthrough the top plate 14 and which is threaded as indicated at 41a near its upper end. A compression spring 40 surrounds the rod 41 and a nut 41b serves-to adjust the initial gap between the lower end of the hold-down yunit and the horizontal ilight of the chain 18. The spring 40 thus serves to cushion the downward movement of the unit when the slab runs out from under the same.

From what has been said it will be apparent that each of the hold-down units comprising a set of the

plates

31 and 32 and the chain 34, is capable of independent upward movement as illustrated7 in Eig. 2 ofthe drawings, whereby attachments 34a engage the slab at severaly places across its width as shown.

High-pressure water may be supplied to the apparatus through aA exible hose 42 under a` pressure of around 800 pounds per square inch. The hose 42 connects to the upper end of a vertically disposed supply pipe 43. The supply pipe 43v is mounted; for. vertical reciprocation in a bearing 44 carried by the top plate 14: of the housing. As shown in the drawing, atleast two nozzles 46 are mounted on a transversely extendingmanifoldawhich cornrnunicates with the lower end on the supply pipe 43 whereby thin, cone-shaped streams of waterl under the high pressure mentioned strike the slabA and remove the bark therefrom in the manner understoodfor such nozzles.

In order to obtain adjustment of the nozzles and to cause the same to move up and down. and thereby remain substantially at a fixed distance frorn'the surface of slabs of different thicknesses, I may provide on the supply pipe 43 an upper collar 47 and a lower collar 48. The

collars

47 and 48 may be adjusted longitudinally of the pipe 43 and heldin adiusted position by means of set screws 47a and 48a, respectively.

Projecting outwardly from the side of the Collar 47 is a pin 49. Thepin49 lits in an elongated slot 51 formed in an arm 52. The arm 52 is pivoted at 53 to a bracket on the plate 14 and carries a slidable weight 54 on its opposite end. The weight. may beheld in-adjusted position on the arm 52 by means of a set screw 56. Also, the downward limit of the freeendof the arm may be limited by means of an adjustable stop 57y which is slidable on a member 58. mounted on` top-of the apparatus.

The lower collar 48 carries apin S9; Pin 59 fits slidably in an elongated slot 61, formed in the outer end of a. bracket 62. The bracket 62 may be welded to the upstanding portion 32a of the side plate 32 of one of the intermediate `hold-down units.

I may provide baffle plates 60-and a swing batiie plate 63 at the places indicated.

Theapparatus is driven through a gear reduction unit 64 having its output shaft directly attached-to the shaft 23. Power is supplied to the unit 64v from any suitable prime mover, not shown, througha beltr65 to a pulley 67. A turnbuckle belt tightening arrangement 68 may be provided.

As shown in Fig. 3 shaft 2,3 carries a gear 69on'the end opposite the gear-reduction unit. Gear 69 meshes with gear 71 mounted on a jack shaft 72 which for the purpose of strength and rigidity spans the width of the apparatus. Shaft 72 carries suitable sprockets over which are trained chains 73 and 74. Chain 73 passes over a sprocket 76 fast on the shaft 2 8, while chain 7'4 passes over a sprocket 77 fast on the shaft 29.

From the foregoing the method of constructing and using my improved apparatus will no w be readily understood. By adjustment of the nuts 41h on the several rods 41, and by adjusting the position of the

collars

47, 48 and the stop 57, the initial gaps between the lower ends of the nozzles and hold-down units and the top of chain 18V may be obtained. Likewise, the amount of force required to hold the nozzle supply pipe 43 down may be determined by the positioning of weight 54 on the arm 52. With the apparatus adjusted so that the chains 34, at their lower ends beneath the` sprockets 36,

contact they upper surfaceof the thinnest slabsto be debarked, the slabs are fed onto the infeed sectionl, on top ofthe chain 18. As soon as thev slab comes beneath the sprocket 36 the several hold-down units position themselves vertically to thel thickness` of the slab accordingly and as shown in Fig. 2: The slab thus is adequately held down while the high-pressure water from the nozzles 46 strikes the bark and. removes it.v The nozzles. 4.6. are maintained at the optimum distance from the bark being engaged by the movement of the hold-down unit carrying the bracket 62, whereby the most eicient debarking is obtained.

By positively driving the hold-down units through the

shafts

28 and 29, I provide anA apparatus in which the slabs not only are held down while the streams of water are removing the bark but in which the slab may be withdrawn from the low-pressure area. surrounding-the water iets. As is known, when water is moving aty the high velocity necessary toremove bark, there4 exists aroundrthe stream or streams an area of very low pressure. I have found that slabs, being relatively light, tendto slide on the conveying chains 18 due to being held back after the rear ends of the slabs pass immediately from beneath the water jet. In my improved apparatus the chains 34 all are driven, and since the chains of the hold-down units accommodate themselves to the thickness of the slab at the particular point of engagement, I Withdraw the slabs without such slipping. I

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have devised an improved apparatus for dcbarking slabs. It will be understood that thc chains 34'v all are driven at substantially the same rate as thc conveyor chains 1S, Further, it will be seen that the pivotally mounted holddown units are held down by gravity so that the slabs are subjected to the dcbarking water streams while being held down-by either the front or forward group of holddown units. Also, the lower ends of the hold-down units preferably are close enough to each otherso that the rearmost units will engage the normal length slab before such slab runs from beneath the for-wardrnost units. actual practice my apparatus has provedsatisfactory in every way.

While l have shown my inventiorrin but one form, it

will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is noty so limited, but is susceptible ofvarious changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only Such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. In apparatus for debarking slabs and thev like, a horizontal conveyor on which slabs are placed bark side up, a plurality of downwardlyv sloping driven hold-down chains disposed for the lower ends thereof to contact the upper surface of a slab as it moves along on the conveyor, frame and sprocket means supporting the chains for independent vertical movement, a debarking nozzle near the lower ends of the chains, and a second group of similar hold-down chains mounted in frames with the lower ends thereof locatedv on the side of the nozzle opposite the rst named chains, said second-named chains being close enough to the nozzle to engage a slab while the same is under the nozzle.

2. In apparatus for debarking slabs and the like, a

horizontal conveyor on whichslabs are placed bark side up, a driven shaft spaced above the conveyor and extending across the same, a plurality of sprockets fast on the shaft and spaced from each other, pairs of elongated frames pivotally supported on the shaft and with one of said sprockets therebetween, a sprocket journalcd between each pair of said frames near, the free ends thereof, chains trained over the sprockets between each pair of frames, attachments on said chains disposed to engage a slab on the conveyor, means limitingthe, movement of the free lower ends of said'pairs of frames toward the conveyor, a high-velocity-watcr discharge nozzle near the free ends of said pairs of frames disposed to direct a debarking stream onto a slab, and means operatively connecting thenozzle to one of said pairs of frames whereby the nozzle raises and`lowers withlthe pair of frames to which it is connected.

Inv

3. In apparatus for debarking slabs and the like, a horizontal conveyor on which the slabs are fed, a first group of slab hold-down units each comprising a pair of laterally spaced elongated frames, a sprocket journaled between the frames near one end thereof, a drive shaft above the horizontal conveyor, a sprocket fast on the shaft, means pivotally mounting the opposite end of the elongated frames on the shaft and on either side of the sprocket, a chain passing over the sprockets and engageable with a slab that moves along on the conveyor, a second group of hold-down units substantially duplicating the structure of the first group, a second driven shaft on which the second hold-down units are pivotally supported, means associated with the ends of said units remote from the driven sprockets limiting movement of said remote ends toward the conveyor, a debarking nozzle between the groups of hold-down units, and means to deliver a stream of debarking fluid to the nozzle.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which the means limiting the movement of the remote ends of the units toward the conveyor comprises a cover plate over said units and forming part of a housing for the apparatus, a rod on the free end of each unit projecting upwardly through said plate, threaded upper ends on said rods, springs surrounding the rods, lower ends of said springs resting on top of said plate, and nuts on the upper threaded ends of said rods engaging upper ends of said springs.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,397,490 Kenney Apr. 2, 1946 2,473,461 White June 14, 1949 2,568,554 McClay Sept. 18, 1951 2,578,804 Holveck et al. Dec. 18, 1951 2,587,473 Holveck et al. Feb. 26, 1952 2,664,929 Simons Jan. 5, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 35,574 Sweden Oct. 1, 1913