US2906384A

US2906384A - Rotatable sucker pipe suspension

Info

Publication number: US2906384A
Application number: US712516A
Authority: US
Inventors: Beebe Harvey Kemp
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-01-31
Filing date: 1958-01-31
Publication date: 1959-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 1976-09-29

Description

Sept. 29, 1959 H. K. BEEBE 2,905,384

RQTATABLE SUCKER PIPE SUSPENSION Filed Jan. 51, 1958 INVENTOR.

Hmzvv K. BEEBE BY :E

A'rrczN EYS United States Patent 1 2,906,384 7 ROTATABLE SUCKER PIPE SUSPENSION Harvey Kemp Beebe, Higley, Application January 31, 1958, Serial N0. 712,516

3 Claims. l. 193-30 manipulated as required, and avoiding interference between any of the parts associated with the supporting structure for the suction conduit.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved rotatable and vertically adjustable supporting means-for a suction pipe employed in conveying material, the supporting means involving inexpensive components, being durable in construction, and being easy to adjust, as required.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a suction pipe for conveying cotton or similarr fibrous, relatively light material, provided with supporting means constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, partly in cross section, of the bearing structure for rotatably supporting the suction conduit of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing a portion of the circular cage member employed to maintain the bearing balls of the assembly of Figures 1 to 4 in spaced relationship.

Referring to the drawings, 11 designates a material handling conduit which is employed to convey relatively light material, such as cotton, or the like by suction from a vehicle upwardly to a fixed intake conduit shown at 12. Thus, the conduit 12 is telescopically received in the suction conduit 11, the suction conduit 11 being slidable and rotatable relative to the fixed suction conduit 12, so that material entering the bottom end of the suction conduit 11 will be guided to the fixed intake conduit 12. Therefore, means must be provided to rotatably and slidably support the suction conduit 11 relative to the fixed conduit 12. As will be well understood, the suction conduit 11 must be vertically adjustable, in accordance with different levels of material in the vehicle to be emptied.

In accordance with the present invention, suspension means is provided for the conduit 11, said suspension means comprising a first circular ring member 13 which is horizontally disposed and which surrounds the top portion of the suction conduit 11. The horizontal ring 13 is formed at diametrically opposite locations thereon with respective pairs of outwardly extending

lugs

14, 14 and 15, 15 to which are secured the end portions of respeci 2,906,384 Patented Sept." 29, w 959 tive loops 16 and 17, which may comprise U-shaped rod members. Connected to the respective loops 16 and 17 are respective

flexible cables

18 and 19. Cable 18 extends over a first pulley 20 secured in any suitable manner to the ceiling 21 adjacent the flaring top end portion of the conduit 12, as shown in Figure l, and extends over a second pulley 23 mounted on the wall of the build ing. A counter-weight 24 is connected to the end. of the cable 18. Similarly, the cable 19 extends over a first pulley 25 fastened to the ceiling 21 diametrically opposite the pulley 20 relative to the top end of conduit '12, and extends over a second pulley 26 fastened to the wall adjacent to the pulley 23, as shown. A second counterweight 27 is connected to the end of the cable 19. Y

Secured to the top end of the conduit member 11 is a band 28 and secured between said band 28 and the conduit 11 is a sleeve member 29. Designated, at 30 isa flange which is fastened to the sleeve member 29 by a plurality of upstanding lug members 31 rigidly secured to the inner periphery of the flange 30 and in turn secured to the sleeve 29 by rivets 32, as shown in Figure 2. Thus, the flange 30 is secured to the top portion of the conduit member 11 in overlying relationship to the ring 13. Ring 13 is formed with the circular guide groove 33 which faces upwardly, and flange 30 is formed with the circular guide groove 34 which faces downwardly and which overlies and opposes the guide groove 33.

Designated at 35 is a circular cage member comprising circular guide rings 36 connected by arcuate rod element 37, the guide rings 36 containing bearing balls 38. The cage member 35 is disposed between the

grooves

33 and 34 with the bearing balls 38 received in the opposing grooves and thus acting as anti-friction bearing means between the flange 30 and the circular ring member 13.

As will be readily apparent, the lower conduit member 11 is thus rotatably supported on the horizontal ring member 13, and is vertically movable relative to the fixed suction conduit 12 in an axial direction. The weight of the conduit member 11 is substantially counterbalanced by the

counter-weights

24 and 27, whereby the conduit member 11 may be easily raised or lowered, as well as rotated, as required, in accordance with the level of the material to be emptied upwardly into the fixed C0n duit 12.

Since the conduit 11 is freely rotatable with respect to the supporting ring 13, no interference between the various members of the suspension assembly can occur, and the conduit 11 may be easily manipulated by a single operator.

While a specific embodiment of an improved suspension means for a suction conduit for handling material has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a material handling system including a vertical material handling conduit, means supporting said conduit for vertical movement and for rotation around a vertical axis comprising a first horizontal circular ring member surrounding said conduit, said ring member being formed with a guide groove concentric therewith, vertically yieldable means connected to said ring member and supporting same in a horizontal position, outwardly projecting horizontal flange means on said conduit overlying said ring member, a circular cage member disposed between said flange means and said ring member and overlying said guide groove, said circular cage member comprising a plurality of spaced circular guide rings and arcuate rod elements connecting said guide rings, and

respective bearing balls rotatably mounted in said guide rings and engaging in said guide groove.

2. In a material handling system including a vertical material handling conduit, means supporting said conduit for vertical movement and for rotation around a vertical axis comprising a first horizontal circular ring member surrounding said conduit, vertically yieldable means connected to said ring member and supporting same in a horizontal position, an outwardly projecting horizontal flange on said conduit overlying said ring member, a circular cage member disposed between said flange and said ring member, said circular cage member comprising a plurality of spaced circular guide rings and arcuate rod elements connecting said guide rings, said flange and ring member being formed with opposing circular guide grooves, and respective bearing balls rotatably mounted in said guide rings and engaging in said guide grooves.

3. In a material handling-system including a vertical material handling conduit, means supporting said conduit for vertical movement and for rotation around a vertical axis comprising a first circular horizontal ring member surrounding said conduit, a pair of supporting cables, pulley means supporting said cables, respective counterweights secured to said cables, means connecting said cables to diametrically opposite portions of said ring member, whereby to yieldably support said ring member substantially in a horizontal position, an outwardly projecting horizontal flange on said conduit overlying said ring member, a circular cage member disposed between said flange and said ring member, said circular cage member comprising a plurality of spaced circular guide rings and arcuate rod elements connecting said guide rings, said flange and ring member being formed with opposing circular guide grooves, and respective bearing balls rotatably mounted in said guide rings and engaging in said guide grooves.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 502,194 Johnston July 25, 1893 512,394 Robinson Jan. 9, 1894 2,566,421 Lapointe .t Sept. 4, 1951