US306299A

US306299A - Method of and apparatus for sheathing sugar filter bags

Info

Publication number: US306299A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1884-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 1901-10-07

Description

J. H. WEBSTER. 2 Sheets--Sheet 1.

Patented' 001:. 7, 1884,

(No Model.)

METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FOR 'SHEATHING SUGAR FILTER BAGS. No. 306,299. v

2 Sneets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. E. WEBSTER. METHOD OP AND APPARATUS POR SHEATHING SUGA N0.'306,299.

R FILTER BAGS.

Patented Oct. 7, 1884.

WTNEESEEI ww Wwf@ www' linirrnn bl'rnrns Farrar Urraca.

JOHN H. VEBSTER, 0F BOSTON, llIASSAGHUSETTS.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SHEATI-HNG SUGAR FILTER BAGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NQSOQZEBQ, dated October 7, 1884.

Application filed April 111, 1834.

.To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jon-N H. Wnns'rnn, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk aud State of Massachusetts, have invented certain lmprovements in Method of and Apparat-us for Sheathing Sugar Filter Bags, of which'ihe following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide an improved method of inserting the canvas bags used in sugar-refineries for filtering the sugar or liquor into the canvas sheaths or casings which contain said bags during the iiltering operation.

The filter-bags are usually several feet in length, and when in use are suspended from nozzles in the bottom of a reservoir or tank containing the sugar-liquor, and receive the liquor which percolates through the meshes ofthe bags, leaving its impurities therein. After several hours7 use the bags become so clogged or choked by the accumulated impurities that they have to be removed and washed. Then the bags are in use,each is contained in a stout woven sheath oi' smaller diameter than the bag, the sheath preventing the pressure of the column of liquor from distending the bag and thus choking its meshes er pores. Then the are washed,they have to be withdrawn from their sheaths and reA placed therein after Washing. r

The operation of replacing the iilter-bags in their sheaths is one of considerable magnitude in consideration ofthe large number employed and of the fact that the bags are larger than the sheaths and therefore have to be reduced to a compact form before they can enter the sheaths. In many refineries the bags are inserted in their sheaths by a workman who gathers the bag intolongitudinal folds to make it compact, throws it over his shoulder, and then holding the sheath and manipulating the sheath and bag gradually work thelatter into the former.

Other :methods equally primitive and slow prevail at other refineries, but invariably, so i'ar as I am aware, the method prior to my invention has been so slow and laborious that the need of a more rapid and effective method has long been felt.

My improved method consists in drawing the bag into a tubular receptacle, which gives 'the bag the desired eompactncss, and then (No model.)

ejectiug the` compacted bag into the sheath, the end of the latter beingheld over the mouth of the tube.

The invention also consists in the provision of means for alternately drawing the bag into and ejecting it from the tube by alternately exhausting the air from and admitting it to the interior of the tube, the latter being arranged vertically with its receiving end at 'the bottom, so that when the air is exhausted it will elevate a piston provided with clamps which grasp the upper end of the bag, and when the air is admitted the piston and bag will fall by gravitation, the bag being thus inserted in the sheath.

The invention also consists in certain details of construction, all of which l will now proceed to describe.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l represents a side elevation of an apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 representsavertical section of a portion ofthe apparatus,show ing the bag at the commencement of its upward movement. Fig. Ll represents a vertical section showing the sh rath applied to the lower end of the tube and the bag in its downward movement into the sheath. l represent modifications.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In carrying out my invention I provide a tube, c, of suitable length to contain a lterbag. Said tube is supported by any suitable meansin asubstantially vertical position, with an unobstructed-vel'tical space below yits lower end equal to the length of the filter-bag.

'Within the tube c is a piston, I), which fits the interior of the tube somewhat closely, and l is adapted to slide therein. The piston is provided with deviccs, hereinafter described, for grasping the upper end of a Iilter-bag, c, and is connected by a chain or other flexible device, d, with a support, c, at the upper end of Figs. l and the tube, the chain supporting the piston when it drops to the lower portion of the tube, as shown in Fig. 2. From the upper portion of the tube extends a pipe, f, through which the air may be exhausted from the tube. Said tube may communi cate with any suitable eXhausti ng apparatusmsuch as a steam ejector or injector,

e 'l y 306,299

or, if desired, an air-pump. Ihave employed a Korting exhauster with good results, the air being set in motion and exhausted from the tube by the motion of thc steam through the exhauster, in a manner well known and understood. The pipe f is provided with a selfclosing valve, g, which automatically shuts off the tube a from the air-exhausting apparatus, and is controlled by an operating -rod, lz., adapted to be easily reached by the operator at the lower end of the tube.

In the operation of the apparatus the upper end of a filter-bag is grasped by the grasping devices of the piston, and the valve g is opened by the operator. The valve may be secured in an open position as long as the operator desires by the engagement of the handle h of the operating-rod It with a slotted ear, z', on the side of the tube a, as shown in Fig. 3. The air is at once exhausted from the tube by the exhauster, which operates continuously. The partial vacuum thus produced raises the pistonto the upper portion of the tube and holds it there as long as the valve g remains open. 5 The bagc is thus drawn into the tube, and is compressed or folded into the desired compact form by the inner surface of the tube. Vhilc the bag is thus raised and held, the operator places a sheath, j, over the lower end of the o tube a, as shown in Fig. et, and then releases the operating-rod 71 thus allowing the valve g --fto close. Air being then admitted into t-he tube above the piston, as hereinafter described, the piston is released and falls with the bag 5 c until arrested by the chain d, the bag being thus inserted neatly and smoothly into the sheath.

, The grasping devices with which the piston is provided are a series of fin-gers, 7c, pivoted n at Z to an extension of the piston b, and providedwith short arms 7c at their upper ends, against which bears a bolt or plunger, m, which is adapted to slide in a cavit f, o, in the piston, and is pressed downwardly by a spring, n, in saidcavity. The pressure of the plunger m on the arms 7c throws the fingers 7a outwardly when they are below the lower end of the'tube, as shown in Fig. 2. The lingers are thus in an open condition when the end of the i bag is placed between them before it is drawn into the tube, and said fingers are forced inwardly and caused to grasp the bag by the inner surface of the tube when the piston commences its upward movement. Vhen the piston drops, the lingers emerge from the lower end of the tube, and are caused by the spring n to release the bag when the latter is fully inserted in its sheath. The action of the fingers in grasping and releasing the bag is therefore automatic. The piston is provided with'a shell or receptacle, p, at its upper end, which receives the chain d as the piston rises, and thus prevents the chain from rubbing against the inner surface of the tube. The support e, to which the upper end of the chain is attached, is a screwthreaded rod passing through a smooth-sur-` faced aperture or guidein the upper end or head a of the tube a, and provided above said head with a nut, g, resting on a spring, r, which is interposed between the nut q and head a. Said spring cushions the rod or support e, and prevents a shock or jar when the piston is arrested in its downward movement by the chain. The threaded rod e and its nut enable the chain to be adjustedso as to support the piston at any desired height when it is at rest. The head a is provided with airholes s, which are covered by the spring r, the latter being a block or ring of rubber. A spiral spring, z, located in a casing, a, presses downwardly on the nut q, and presses the spring r downwardly on the head a, the spring r serving as a valve covering the orifices t. The piston in its upward movement strikes an enlargement or spider, e', on the rod c, and raises said rod with the valve or spring fr, thereby uncovering the air-holes s s. Air is thus admitted, which breaks the vacuum and partially checks the upward movement of the piston. Said movement is additionally checked by the spiral spring t, which resists the upward movement of the rod e. These two instrumentalities cause the piston to stop quickly without any violent concussion. The spring t presses the valve or spring ragainst its seat when the upward movement that the piston cannot drop until the air is admitted to -the tube.

x represents a pipe adapted to admit air to the tube for the purpose of releasing the piston. Said pipe has a, self-closing valve, g', having operating devices similar to those provided for the valve g, the operator being thus enabled to open the valve and admit air to the upper portion of t-he tube when he is ready for of the piston is arrested, and thus closes the air-holes s s, so

IOO

the piston and compressed bag to ,drop into l the sheath.

The rapidity of the downward movement of the piston may be regulated by means of an adjustable cap or nut. o, adapted to cover to any desired extent air-holes w in the outer portion of the tube the rapidity of the downward movement of the piston increasing in proportion to the extent to which said holes arc uncovered. A binding screw or check y positively holds the cap o in any position to which it may be adjusted.

The described apparatus performs the operation of sheathing lter-bags much more rapidly than any means used heretofore.

I do not limit myself to the details of construction above described, nor to the employment of air-exhausting apparatus as a means for drawing the bag into the tube, as a mechanical device or plunger may be employed for the same purpose without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Figs. 1L and l" show a lever, 7L', pivoted to the ltube a and engaged at opposite sides of the rods h 7L, by which the valves g and g are opened. The operator, by

depressing either IIO end ot' the lever h, causes that end to pull down the rod h engaged therewith, and thus open the valve to which said rod pertains. The lever 71, has a weighted offset, h3, which acts to hold the lever when it is inclined, and thus prevents the spring of the opened valve from acting to close the valve. -When the lever is in a horizontal position, its weight has no effect. i p

rlhe valve g is not essential, and may be omitted. rlhe apparatus will operate it' air is admitted continuously through the holes lw into the tube while the piston is being raised.

l claim* l. The improved method of sheathing or incasing filter-bags, consist-ing in drawing the bag into a tube and therebyT compressing it, and then ejecting the compressed bag from said tube into a sheath, as set forth.

2. Atube adapted to receive and compress a filter-bag, combined with means for inserting such bag into the tube and means for ejecting or discharging it therefrom into the sheath, as set forth.

3. A tube adapted to receive and compress a filter-bag, combined with a piston adapted to move in said tube, and provided with means for holding the bag and means for exhausting the air from the tube above the piston, as set forth.

l. The combination of a tube adapted to receive and compress a lter-bag and provided at its upper end with a pipe con1munieating with an air-exhausting apparatus, a valve whereby the tube may be put in communication with or shut oft' from the exhausting apparatus, and apiston adapted to slide in the tube and provided with bag-holding devices, as set forth.

5. The combination of a tube adapted to receive and compress a filterAbag and pro vided at its upper end with a pipe communieating with an airexhausting apparatus, a self-closing valve for said pipe, an operating rod or device, whereby said valve may be opened, means ywhereby said valve may bc heldin an open position, and apiston adapted to move in said tube and provided with bagholding devices, as set forth.

6. The tube and means for exhausting air therefrom, combined with the piston provided with bag holding devices, and a chain or equivalent flexible device connecting the piston with a support at the upper portion of the tube, as set forth.

7. The tube and means for exhausting air therefrom, combined with the piston provided vwith bag-hohling devices, a chain or equivalent flexible device connected to the piston,

' and a support for the upper end of said chain bearing on a spring or cushion, whereby the jar attending the fall of the piston relieved, as set forth.

S. The combination of the tube, the supporting-chain, and the piston having a rccep tacle for said chain, as set forth.

9. The combination of the tube with the piston having the pivoted grasping-fingers normally thrown outwardly or separated by sliiring-pressure and adapted to be moved inwardly by contact with the tube when the piston is raised, as set forth.

l0. The combination of the tube, the bagraising piston, air-exhausting apparatus communicating with the tube, air-inlets at the upper portion of the tube, a valve adapted to normally cover the air-inlets and provided with a rod or stem adapted to be raised by the upward movement of the piston and thereby admit air to check said movement, and a spring, whereby the upward movement of the piston is additionally checked, as set forth.

1l. The tube having the bag-raisi1ig piston, combined with air exhausting apparatus, whereby the piston may be raised in the tube, and an adjustable air-inlet, whereby the rate of downward movement ofthe piston may be regulated, as set forth.

l2. The combination of the tube, an air-exhausting apparatus therefor, the bag-raising piston,` and an air-inlet pipe having a valve, whereby air may be admitted to the tube to release the raised piston, as set forth.

'ln testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 10th day of April, 1884.

JOHN H. WEBSTER.

Witnesses:

C. F. BRowN, A. L. Wi-rrrii.