US3103424A

US3103424A - Liquid degassing means and method

Info

Publication number: US3103424A
Authority: US
Priority date: 1962-10-09
Publication date: 1963-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 1980-09-10
Also published as: FR1336532A

Description

Sept. 10, 1963 M. B. HOSKING 3 LIQUID DEGASSING MEANS AND METHOD Filed Oct. 9, 1961 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGZ MICHAEL- B. HOSKING his attorneys.

Sept. 10, 1963 M. B. HOSKING 3,103,424

LIQUID DEGASSING MEANS AND METHOD Filed 001;. 9, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MICHAEL B. HOSKING Qm-M his attorneys.

Sept. 10, 1963 HOSKING 3,103,424

- LIQUID DEGASSING MEANS AND METHOD Filed Oct. 9, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGB v ,INVENTOR.

- MICHAEL B. HOSKING his attorneys United States Patent 3,103,424 LIQUID DEGASSING MEANS AND METHOD Michael B. Hosking, East Rochester, N.Y., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Electronic Assistance Corporation, Red Bank, Nil a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 143,726 13 Claims. (Cl. 5515) This invention relates to devices for degassing liquids such, for example, as beer and the like, by the application of vibrations to agitate the liquid and thereby cause the gas to bubble out. It has been proposed to mechanically tap the liquid container for that purpose, but such a method has been found limited in its usefulness or actually de-fective because of variations in the size and shape of containers and the force of the impacts, and the breakage of glass containers. Liquid in a large stationary container or vat has been subjected to vibrations, produced by transducer means, but such a method requires the application of excessive power for containers of substantial size and is not adapted for use with containers for retail distribution to consumers, such as bottles or cans. Liquid in bottles has been degassed or foamed, while moving on a conveyor, by pressing a contact part on a magnetostrictive transducer core directly against the bottles, but this method is subject to variable results in operation due to variations in the size and shape of the containers, the irregularities of size and shape, the position of the containers on the conveyor, the limited area of contact with the bottles, the damping effect on the transducer of contact with the bottles, the wearing away of the transducer contact part and like results of such contact.

One object of the invention is to provide a device for degassing liquids in bottles, cans and the like, while moving on a conveyor, in a more uniform and efiicient manner.

Another object is the provision of an ultrasonic transducer device, for vibrating and degassing liquids, in which the transducer operates with improved coupling and transmission of vibrations to the containers and their liquids, but without contact of transducer parts with the containers.

Another object is to supply such a device by which the ultrasonic vibrations produced by the transducer are effectively applied over a greater area of each liquid container.

Another object is to provide a transducer vibrating means in which the vibration transmitting element of the transducer is free from contact with the moving containers and free from Wearing away of such element by such contact.

Another object is the provision of a transducer having its vibration transmitting element supported wholly by its inherent core means and free from interference or damping by contact with other transducer parts.

Another object is to produce such a means in which the vibration transmitting element of the transducer means is free from damping and interference with the resonance of its vibrations by contact with the containers.

A further object is a transducer degassing device adapted to operate at lower temperatures of its energizing coils.

Still a further object is a device having the above advantages and a practical and relatively simple construction.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

The present embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a transducer embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation as seen from the left in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view;

'ice

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the transducer, its stack assembly and vibrating element;

FIG. 5 is a section on the line 55 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the transducer and its windings; I

FIG. 7 is a section on the line 99 of FIG. 4 showing the means for movably supporting the transducer and its vibrating element;

FIG. 8 is a section on the line 88 of FIG. 3 showing the top positioning element and means for supplying a water curtain;

FIG. 9 is a detailed section through a vibration dampening connection; and

FIG. 10 is a diagram of the energizing circuit.

The invention is embodied in the present instance in a device adapted for use with a machine by which bottles or other containers of beverages, such as beer, are filled and then capped, for the purpose of foaming the beer in the open-topped containers to drive outthe :air while they are being conveyed to the capping machine. The bottles are commonly clamped in position on the rotary conveyor or table 20 (FIG. 2) of the filling machine by any known and suitable means and foamed by the present device while being conveyed in a circular path, but the foaming may be accomplished with the bottles movingin a linear path.

A supporting or mounting base 22, of generally plate shape, is provided with bolts 24 for securing it to the frame of the filling machine or other stationary structure, adjacent the path of movement of the bottles 26. Base 22 has spaced flanges 28 fixed thereon and extending therefromfor movably supporting therebetweeen a frame indicated generally at 34 and comprising spaced rectangular top and bottom plates 31 (FIGS. 2-4) connected at opposite ends by flanged plates 32 bolted thereto (FIG.

2). Plates 32 have flanges34- turned at right angles to parallel the frame plates 31 and secured thereto by bolts 36, to produce a rigid frame enclosing and supporting a pair of spaced ultrasonic magnetostrictive transducer means or units 38' (FIGS. 1, 2, 4-6)'.

Each transducer unit has a stack or core 39 of laminations of nickel, steel, or other magnetostrictive material which extend horizontally and are divided centrally into two portions for convenience in winding each divided portion with an energizing coil 41. The two coils of each unit are connected in series with each other and the coils of the two units are connected in parallel, as shown in FIG. 6. Each unit is supported at one end by bolting on opposite sides to bars 40 the other ends of which are securedby vibration-free connections to frame plates 31 as indicated generally at 42 (FIGS. 35, 9). Bars 40 are preferably secured to the stacks or cores 39 by through bolts 44 with an interposed spacer bar and a layer of relatively soft material, such as fiberoid, covering the corners of the laminations to protect the winding insulation.

The'spacing of, the transducer units. from each other, of which units there may be two or more, ispreferably determined empirically, depending upon the energy applied, the materials, dimensions and the like employed, for the purpose of promoting resonant coincidence of the vibrational waves produced along the vibrating element or diaphragm '54. In the present instance the stacks are 1% inches apart from center to center.

Each vibration-free connection 42 between bars 40 and the plates 31 of the frame preferably comprises a big or spur 48 (FIG. 9) on bar 40) carrying a substantially cylindrical ring 50 fitted in a bearing 52 formed on the adjacent frame plate 31, so that any vibrations of the unit or supporting bars 40 arecompletely damped out against transmission to the frame.

The cores 39 of the transducer units are brazed at their other ends to an elongated, relatively thin, rec- 3 tangular steel plate or diaphragm 54 (FIGS. 4-6), for transmitting their ultrasonic magnetostrictive vibrations to a fluid curtain interposed between it and fluid containers, as hereafter further described. Energy is supplied through leads 76 from a circuit such as shown in FIG.

Each plate 31 of the frame 31 has lugs 56 bolted to its opposite ends (FIGS. 1 and 2) and such lugs 56 of each frame plate are brazed or otherwise secured, respectively, to the opposite ends of one of a pair of spaced, substantially linear and

parallel positioning members

58 and 60. These members have their ends curved for smooth engagement with containers conveyed therepast and the container engaging surfaces of the members are preferably faced with hard, polished, Stellite surfaces 59 (FIGS. 1 and 3) to absorb wear and reduce friction. These menrbers extend on opposite sides and are spaced from and parallel with diaphragm plate 54, as shown. Their supporting lugs '56 are connected by bolt and slot means 61 (FIGS. 3 and 4) with the adjacent frame plate 31, for adjusting members '58 and 60' to positions slightly in advance of diaphragm 54, for engagement of the members with the containers, while restraining the movement of the frame and holding the diaphragm 54 slightly spaced from the containers.

The uppermost positioning member, as 60 is preferably formed with a longitudinally extending, internal bore 62 provided at its edge adjacent diaphragm 54 with a series of spaced discharge openings 64 (FIGS. 1, 8), for discharging Water or other suitable fluid in a thin film or curtain downwardly between diaphragm 54 and the containers. Water is supplied through flexible tubes 55 to both ends of bore 62. This construction is such that only the positioning

members

58 and 60 contact the containers, while diaphragm 54 engages only the water curtain 66 which covers it and transmits and couples its vibrations to the containers. The positioning members are resiliently biased or pressed into the path of and in contact with the containers by means which will be described. But with the provision of means for producing the fluid curtain and precise positioning of the diaphragm, the positioning members 58 land 60 may be made unnecessary.

Flanges 28 of supporting base '22 are connected to the frame 30 by resilient torsional and flexible biasing means which support the frame and its positioning members and diaphragm and move them yielda'bly for engaging the positioning members with the containers. This biasing means supports these parts for resilient yielding also in planes parallel with and transverse to the longitudinal extent of the positioning members and in planes therebetween, so as to afford complete tilting flexibility of such members for conforming engagement with the containers, notwithstanding variations in the size, shape or diameter of the containers and tilted positions thereof on the conveying means.

For this purpose, each base plate flange 28 is connected on opposite sides with brackets 68 (FIG. 2) fixed on the adjacent frame plates 31. Each such connecting means comprises a plate or bar 70 fixed at its ends to the flange and bracket, respectively, by a connecting means such as shown in FIG. 7, comprising a resilient and torsionally deformalblecylindrical body 72, having threaded studs 74 fixedly anchored in its ends. The studs 74 are passed through openings in the ends of each bar and through the flange and bracket, respectively, as shown, and the studs are fixedly secured to the bar and flange and bracket as by nuts and lock washers. Such connections with each flange are located at a greater distance from the container path than such connections with the frame brackets so that, by biasing such connections in assembly, the positioning members are pressed toward the container path and resiliently resist opposite movement by torsional deformation of the bodies 72. In assembly, such connections are set to locate the positioning members in overlapping relation with the container path by, say, of an thereby.

inch, so as to lightly engage each container as it is moved It is apparent from the above described connections between the base plate flanges and frame that the frame and its positioning members are also tiltable resiliently in a horizontal plane and also in a vertical plane, and in any intermediate plane, by shearing deformation of the bodies 72, so that the frame and its positioning members are universally tiltable for conformation to irregularities in contact with the containers.

The transducer is energized by any known and suitable electrical circuit typical of those commonly employed for such transducer means and well understood by those skilled in the art, the present parts being shown in the drawing (FIG. 10) and described by identifying labels.

In operation, with the filled and open top containers in motion on the conveyor, the transducer energized, the water curtain flowing, and the

positioning members

58 and 60 adjusted as described, the later engage the containers successively and maintain the transducer vibrating diaphragm 54 in closely spaced but non-contacting relation to the containers. The water curtain 66 between the containers and the vibrating diaphragm 54, covers the latter and couples it with the containers for transmitting its vibrations to the substantial area of each container wetted by the Water curtain in turn, so as to effectively vibrate each container wall and its contents and foam or otherwise degas the contents.

It is evident from the above description, taken in connection with the drawings, that the invention effectively accomplishes its objects. The interposed water curtain transmits the vibrations of the transducer diaphragm to the substantial area of the container wetted by the curtain, independently of variations in the size and shape of the containers, the irregularities of size and shape and surface and the varying positions of the containers on the conveyor. The vibrating element or diaphragm of the transducer is in contact solely with the water curtain and the source of vibrations in the transducer stack or core, so that the vibrations of the diaphragm are not subject to dampening or distortion by contact with the containers or any other part of the transducer. There is no wearing away of the transducer diaphragm by contact with the containers and no breaking of bottles or other containers. The transducer frame and its positioning members are so mounted as to afford effective biasing relative to the container path, as Well as universal tilting movement for maintaining the vibrating diaphragm accurately in position relative to the containers and for eflicient coupling therewith by the water curtain at any usual conveyor speed.

While a transducer of the magnetostrictive type is employed in the present embodiment, a piezo electric transducer of known and suitable type may be substituted to perform the same functions in the same way and with the same results, as well understood in the art.

Itwill thus be seen that the invention accomplishes its objects and While it has been herein disclosed by reference to the details of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure is intended in an illustrative, rather than a limiting sense, as it is contemplated that various modifications in the construction and arrangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art, within the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 7

1. A device for degassing liquids comprising means for conveying open liquid containers in a path, means mounting said device adjacent said path, ultrasonic transducer means having a vibration-absorbing connection with said mounting means and supported thereby, a resonator diaphragm on said transducer means for vibration thereby, said diaphragm being spaced from the path of said containers, and means for discharging a fluid curtain between said diaphragm and containers for v V coupling said diaphragm and Containers to vibrate said containers and degas the liquid therein.

2. A device for degassing liquids comprising means for conveying open liquidcontainers continuously in a path, means for mounting said device adjacent said path, a positioning member for engagement with containers moving in said path, means for discharging a fluid curtain agm'nst said containers, a frame on said mounting means supporting said member, ultrasonic transducer means having a vibration-absorbing connection with said frame and supported thereby, a resonator diaphragm on said transducer means for vibration thereby, said diaphragm being spaced inwardly from said member and said path for engaging and vibrating said fluid curtain to thereby vibrate said containers, and resilient means connecting said mounting means and frame for maintaining said positioning member in contact with said containers with said fluid curtain in coupling relation between said containers and diaphragm.

3. A device as specified in claim 2 comprising means for adjustably limiting the movement of said frame ,toward said container path.

. toward and from saidcontainer path.

5. A device for degassing liquidscomprising means for conveying open liquid containers continuously in a path, means for mounting said device adjacent said path, a positioning member for engagement with containers moving in said path, means for discharging a fluid curtain against said containers, a frame supporting said member, ultrasonic transducer means having a vibrationabsorbingconnection with said frame and supported thereby, a resonator diaphragm on said transducer means for vibration thereby, said diaphragm being spaced inwardly from said member and said path for engaging and vibrating said fluid curtain to thereby vibrate said containers, and resilient means on said mounting means supporting said frame and positioning member for movement toward and from said containers and for universal tilting movement for maintaining said positioning member in contact with said containers with said fluid curtain in coupling relation between said containers and diaphragm.

6. A device for degassing liquids comprising means for conveying open liquid containers in a path, means for mounting said device adjacent said path, a pair of spaced elongated members for engaging spaced portions of a container, one of said members having a bore therein formed with spaced outlets for discharging a fluid curtain against said containers, means for supplying said fluid to said member, a frame supporting said members, ultrasonic transducer means having a vibration-absorbing connection with said frame and supported thereby,

a diaphragm on said transducer means for vibration thereby, said diaphragm'being spaced inwardly. from said members and from said path for engaging and vibrating said fluid curtain to thereby vibrate said containers, and resilient means connecting said mounting means and frame for maintaining said members in contact with saidcontainers with said fluid curtain in coupling relation between said containers and diaphragm.

7. A device for degassing liquids comprising means for conveying openliquid containers continuously in a path, means for mounting said device adjacent said path, a positioning member for engagement with containers moving in said path, means for discharging a fluid curtain against said containers, a frame supporting said member, an elongated, plate shaped resonator diaphragm extending parallel with and spaced inwardly from said member and from said path for engaging and vibrating saidfluid curtain to thereby vibrate said containers, a plurality of ultrasonic transducer units having vibrationabsorbing connections with said frame and supported thereby, said units being fixed to and supporting said diaphragm in spaced relation longitudinally thereof at points affording cumulative resonance, and resilient means connecting said mounting means and frame for maintaining said positioning member in contact with said containers with said fluid curtain in coupling relation between said containers and diaphragm.

8. A device for degassing liquids comprising means for conveying open liquid containers continuously in a path, a base for mounting said device adjacent said path, a positioning member for engagement with containers moving in said path, means for discharging a fluid curtain against said containers, a frame supporting said member, ultrasonic transducer means having a vibration-absorbing connection with said frame and supported thereby, a resonator diaphragm on 'said means for vibration thereby, said diaphragm being spaced inwardly from said member and said path forengaging and vibrating said fluid curtain to thereby vibrate said containers, a plurality of bodies of resilient material connecting said base and frame, means for torsionally biasing said bodies 7 to move said frame, member and diaphragm toward said container path, and means for adjusting saidrnemher on said frame toward and from said path.

9. A device for degassing liquids comprising means for conveying open liquid containers continuously in a path, a base for mounting said device adjacent said path, a pair of spaced linear positioning members for engaging spaced portions of containers moving in said path, means for discharging a fluid curtain against said containens, a frame supporting said members, ultrasonic transducer means Ihaving 1a vibration-absorbing connection with said frame and supported thereby, a resonator diaphragm on said transducer means for vibration thereby, said diaphragm being spaced inwardly from said members and said path for engaging and vibrating said fluid curtain to thereby vibrate said containers, flanges on said base eX- tending on opposite sidesof said frame, a plurality of studs on said flanges and'lframe, bodies of resilient material on said studs and connected between said flanges and said frame, means rfior torsionally biasing said bodies to v move said frame, members and diaphragm toward said path, and means for adjusting the positions of said members on said frame.

10. A device'zfor degassing liquids as specified in claim 9 comprising a plurality of studs on said flanges and frame, bodies of resilient material on said studs and connected between said flanges and frame to support said frame for universal tilting movement by shearing deformation of said bodies, and means for torsonally biasing said bodies to move said frame, members and diaphragm toward said path.

11. The method of degassing liquids in open containers comprising the steps Olf conveying said containers along a path, placing an ultrasonic transducer with its vibrating element in closely spaced relation to the containers in said path, supplying a curtain of fluid between and in contact with said containers and element, and energizing said transducer to vibrate said element and curtain and thereby vibrate and degas the liquids in said containers.

12. The method of degassing liquids in open containers comprising the steps of conveying said containers continuously in a path, placing an ultrasonic transducer.

adjacent said path, pressing said transducer resiliently toward said path with a nouvibrating member thereof in yielding contact with said containers and with the vibrating element of said transducer in closely spaced relation to said containers, supplying a thin curtain of fluid between and in contact with said containers and element with said curtain covering said element and coupling the same with said containers, and energizing said transducer to vibrate said element and curtain and thereby vibrate and degais the liquids insaid containers.

13. The method of degassing liquids in iopen contain ers comprising the steps er conveying said containers continuously in la path, placing an ultrasonic transducer v 8, adjacent said path, supporting said transducer for movcsaid transducer to vibrate said element and curtain and ment toward and from said containers and for universal thereby vibrate and de gas the liquids in said containers. tilting movement relative to said containers with a nonvibrating member of said transducer in yielding contact References Cited in the tile of this patent With said containers and with the vibrating element of 5 said transducer in closely spaced relation to said 0011- UNITED STATES PATENTS tainers, supplying a thin curtain of fluid between and in 2,91 ,2 6 Pray 8, 1959 contact with said containers and element, and energizing

Claims

11. THE METHOD OF DEGASSING LIQUIDS IN OPEN CONTAINERS COMPRISING THE STEPS OF CONVEYING SAID CONTAINERS ALONG A PATH, PLACING AN ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER WITH ITS VIBRATING ELEMENT IN CLOSELY SPACED RELATION TO THE CONTAINERS IN SAID PATH, SUPPLYING A CURTAIN OF FLUID BETWEEN AND IN CONTACT WITH SAID CONTAINERS AND ELEMENT, AND ENERGIZING SAID TRANSDUCER TO VIBRATE SAID ELEMENT AND CURTAIN AND THEREBY VIBRATE AND DEGAS THE LIQUIDS IN SAID CONTAINERS.