US3135440A - Discharge door operating mechanism for rubber mixers and the like - Google Patents

Description

7 June 2, 1964 P. J. BARAN DISCHARGE DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM FOR RUBBER MIXERS AND THE LIKE '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 20, 1962 INVENTOR pev er J. 5 1mm f %EYS June 2, 1964 P. J. BARAN 3,135,440

DISCHARGE DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM FOR RUBBER MIXERS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 20, 1962 INVENTOR Pe+er J. Baron ATTORNEYS 1 United States Patent 3,135,440 DISCHARGE DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM FOR RUBBER MIXERS AND THE LIKE Peter J. Baran, Seymour, Conn., assignor to Farrel- Birmingham Company, Incorporated, Ansonia, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed July 20, 1962, Ser. No. 211,349 Claims. (Cl. 222-504) This invention relates to rubber mixers and like devices and more particularly relates to a door and actuating mechanism therefor to allow discharge of material from a mixing chamber.

Mixers of a type to which this invention pertains generally comprise a chamber into which material to be mixed is placed, with bladed rotors rotatably mounted within the chamber to mix and knead the material. The mixing chamber is usually provided with a lower discharge opening through which material is discharged after it has been mixed, and this opening is closed by a discharge door movably mounted on the frame of the mixing machine so that it may be moved to and from a closed position.

In most instances the material to be mixed in the mixing chamber is worked under considerable pressure and often consists of powders or finely divided materials which may have a tendency to escape from the chamber if there is opportunity. It is therefore, quite important that the discharge door positively fit closely and tightly against the edges of the discharge opening so as to prevent the escape of materials from the chamber. Mixing devices and discharge doors therefor of a type to which this invention pertains are disclosed in US. Patents 2,939,616 and 2,962,186 assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved mixing device having a discharge closure door and mechanism therefor which insures that the closure door is positively and firmly seated in the door opening to prevent any escape of materials therefrom.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved discharge door operating mechanism for a mixer of the type described.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved discharge door operating mechanism for a mixer of the type described wherein the operating mech-- anism exerts a high seating force on the discharge door as it closes to positively seal the discharge opening.

The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are defined with particularity in the claims appended to and forming part of this specification. However, the invention, both as to its organization and operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be appreciated by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is anelevation of a mixing device embodying the invention, and

FIG. 2 is a view seen along a line 2-2' of FIG. 1.

The drawings illustrate a mixer 8 of the Banbury-type having walls 9 defining a mixing chamber 10 in the form of overlapped cylinders in which a pair of shafts with mixing blades thereon, not shown, are rotatably mounted in shaft supports 11 and 12 on the mixer frame. Below and between the mixing shaft mountings, a longitudinally extending discharge opening 13 is defined by parallel edge portions 14 and 15 of wall 9 extending into inwardly inclined discharge-opening closure surfaces 16 and 17, respectively. The discharge opening 13 is arranged to be closed by a discharge door which comprises a closure door member 18 of generally inverted V-shape, in section. Door member 18 has inclined surfaces 18a and 18b 3,135,440 Patented June 2 1964 thereon arranged to mate with closure surfaces 16 and 17 and to allow door 18 to be tightly fitted within opening 13 as hereinafter explained. The discharge door further comprises door support members 19 which are mounted on a shaft 20 which is journaled in the frame of the machine so that door member 18 is arranged to be rotated between open and closed positions.

It may be noted in FIG. 1 that the door member 18 is carried on two door support members 19, however, the number of door supporting members, together with the operating mechanism therefor is optional. The door member 18 may be mounted and supported on door support members 19 in any suitable manner, however, door member 18 is preferably mounted on door support members 19 in accordance with the teaching of Patent 2,939,- 616.

Shaft 20 with door support member 19 thereon is rotatable between a closed position as shown in solid line and open position as shown in broken line (FIG. 2). The mixing chamber 10 is supported on a base plate 22 provided by a base member 23 into which the mixed substance is discharged when the door member 18 is moved to an open position.

In accordance with the invention a new and improved door operating mechanism is provided which, in the preferred form illustrated, comprises first lever members 24 pivotally connected about a pin or shaft 25 carried between spaced jaws 26 of each of support members 19. Second lever members 27 are mounted at one end thereof about a pin or shaft 28 journaled in adjustable bearing mounts 29 which are carried on support member 30 provided by the base member 23. The bearing mounts 29 are secured to the support member 30 by means of bolts 31 extending therethrough and threadably received in support member 30. The bolts 31 are received in a slot 32 defined in each bearing mount 29, to allow positional adjustment of the bearing mounts 29 on support member 30 for reasons hereinafter explained. A stopping plate 33 is secured to support member 30 by means of bolts 34 and adjusting bolts 35 extend therethrough to adjust the position ofbearing mounts on support member 30.

The other ends of both levers 24 and 27 are pivotally mounted about a pivot pin or shaft 36 which is also pivotally connected to a force transmitting means which, as illustrated, comprises fluid pressure actuated cylinders 37 each having a reciprocating piston 38 therein on a piston shaft 39 which is connected to shaft 36 by means of yoke 40. .Cylinders 37 are arranged for bidirectional operation to move door-support member 19 to a closed position as shown in full line in FIG. 2 or to an open position as shown in broken line, and are pivotally mounted on pins 41 at one end thereof carried by spaced brackets 42 (only one shown) secured to base member 23. Cylinders 37 are of the type which are actuated by introduction of fluid into the cylinder on either side of piston 38.

As will be noted in FIG. 2 lever member 24 has an arm or finger 43 extending therefrom providing a surface 43a. Lever member 27 provides a portion 44 having a surface 44a adjacent but spaced from surface 43a. The purpose of surfaces 43a and 44a is hereinafter explained.

Considering now the operation of the mechanism disclosed, if a fluid under pressure is introduced into duct or fitting 45 of cylinder 37 to exert a force on piston 38, piston shaft 39 through yoke 40 carried thereon transmits a force to shaft 36 moving shaft 36 towards the position shown in broken line. This movement of shaft 36 rotates door support member 19 and moves door 18 from opening 13, allowing material which has been mixed in mixing chamber 10 to discharge through opening 13 into base member 23. As fluid continues to be introduced through fitting 45 into cylinder 37 and moves piston 38 so that piston shaft 39 moves outwardly of cylinder 37 the door 18 and door support member 19 will rotate to the full open position shown in broken line. When it is desired to close discharge opening 13 fluid may be introduced into cylinder 37 through fitting 46 and exert a force on piston 38 causing piston 38 to move towards a left hand position (as shown in FIG. 2), retracting piston shaft 39 into cylinder 37.

This causes yoke 40 to pull shaft 36 towards the position shown in full line in FIG. 2 and rotate support members 19 clockwise, moving door 18 towards a closed position.

In accordance with the invention, the levers 24 and 27 are so selected and arranged that the door 18 reaches a closed position with surfaces 18a and 18b thereof contacting closure surfaces 16 and 17, respectively, without the axis 47 of shaft 36 becoming aligned with the axes 48 and 49 of shafts 25 and 28, respectively. Then, as piston 38 continues to pull shaft 36 towards the full line position shown in FIG. 2 the door surfaces 18a and 18b are forceably wedged against the inclined closure surfaces 16 and 17 and upwardly into opening 13 to provide a tight and positive fit of door 18 into opening 13 and thus seal opening 13 against possible escape of material from mixing chamber 10. It may be seen that the lever members 24 and 27 are not permitted to reach their total effective length (the sum of the lengths of lever members 24 and 27) in closing door member 18, but in attempting to reach their total effective length under the force exerted on shaft 36 by piston shaft 39, wedge door surfaces 18a and 18b along closure surfaces 16 and 17.

With door 18 tightly wedged into and sealing opening 13, if it should now be desired to allow discharge of material from mixing chamber 10, fluid may be introduced into fitting 45 to exert a force on shaft 36 through piston 38 and yoke 40 to positively and rapidly move door support members 19 and levers 24 and 27 to the broken line position illustrated in FIG. 2. Piston 38 exerts a high force on support member 19 through lever 24 which quickly dislodges the door 18 from its wedged position between surfaces 16 and 17 and permits door 18 to quickly open and allow discharge of material from mixing chamber 10.

While the cylinder 37 has been illustrated as a preferred force transmitting means, it is apparent that other force transmitting or mechanism operating means could be utilized as for example, a rotary cylinder adapted to rotate shaft 23 in a manner illustrated in Patent 2,939,- 616.

As previously mentioned, the bearing mounts 29 are made adjustable on support member 30 so that the desired adjustment of the axes 47, 48 and 49 on shafts 36, 25 and 28, respectively, can be initially obtained to place door 18 in a tightly closed and locked position, and also so that adjustments can be made to obtain this condition from time to time as the various parts of the operating mechanism may wear slightly and alter the desired alignment.

The surfaces 43a and 44a provide gaging surfaces to aid in proper adjustment of the lever members 24 and 27. It is important that in making such adjustment, a clearance be left between surfaces 43a and 44a so that as the surfaces 16, 17, 18a and 18b wear, the lever mem' bers 24 and 27 may extend their effective length (the distance between axes 48 and 49 when door 18 is in a closed position) to insure that door member 18 may be tightly inserted into opening 13. Surfaces 43a and 44a may further act as a stopping means, upon wear of surfaces 16, 17, 18a and 18b, to insure that upon closing of opening 13 by door member 18 the axis 47 of shaft 36 4 will not move through a plane defined by axes 48 and 49 and therefore tend to withdraw door 18 from opening 13. In FIG. 2, it may be noted that axis 47 about which lever members 24 and 27 are commonly pivotal lies without the plane defined by axes 48 and 49 in the closed position, which is identified by numeral 50, and therefore as piston shaft 39 draws shaft 36 to the left (as seen in FIG. 2), the effective distance between axes 48 and 49 increases, wedging door surfaces 18a and 18b inwardly toward chamber 10 along surfaces 16 and 17.

While the invention for purposes of disclosure has been illustrated in a preferred form thereof, modifications to the disclosed embodiment of the invention and other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended in the appended claims to cover all modifications of the disclosed embodiment of the invention, together with other embodiments thereof which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. e

What is claimed is:

1. A door operating mechanism for a mixing device comprising a frame member defining a mixing chamber having walls defining a lower discharge opening therein; a door arranged to close said opening, said door being pivotally mounted on said frame for movement toward and from said opening, said operating mechanism comprising: a first lever pivotally connected at one end thereof about a first axis to said door; a second lever pivotally mounted adjacent one end thereof about a second axis parallel to and spaced from said first axis; the other ends of said lever members being pivotally connected about a third axis; means for exerting a force on one of said levers to produce rotation thereof about its respective axis and thereby cause rotation of said door member about its pivotal axis; said levers being of such length that the distance between said first and second axes is less than the sum of the lengths of said levers when said door closes said opening, whereby upon urging of said lever members toward a position in which said first, second and third axes reside in a common plane said door is urged into said opening.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein cooperative means are provided on said levers to prevent said levers from rotating about said first and second axes to decrease the distance between said axis when said door member is moved into a closed position.

3. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said second axis is provided by a shaft mounted in a bearing mount and said mount is adjustable to determine the distance between said first and said second axes when said door is in a closed position.

4. The mechanism of claim 3 wherein said levers provide portions having facing surfaces when said door is in a closed position, said surfaces providing gaging surfaces to aid in determining the desired position of said bearing mount.

5. The arrangement of claim 3 wherein said other ends of said levers are connected to a shaft and said means for exerting a force acts on said shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,542,341 Deckert June 16, 1925 3,052,384 Clark Sept. 4, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 515,433 Belgium Nov. 29, 1952 583,170 Italy Oct. 7, 1958 738,316 Germany Aug. 11, 1943

Claims (1)

1. A DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM FOR A MIXING DEVICE COMPRISING A FRAME MEMBER DEFINING A MIXING CHAMBER HAVING WALLS DEFINING A LOWER DISCHARGE OPENING THEREIN; A DOOR ARRANGED TO CLOSE SAID OPENING, SAID DOOR BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND FROM SAID OPENING, SAID OPERATING MECHANISM COMPRISING: A FIRST LEVER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ONE END THEREOF ABOUT A FIRST AXIS TO SAID DOOR; A SECOND LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF ABOUT A SECOND AXIS PARALLEL TO AND SPACED FROM SAID FIRST AXIS; THE OTHER ENDS OF SAID LEVER MEMBERS BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED ABOUT A THIRD AXIS; MEANS FOR EXERTING A FORCE ON ONE OF SAID LEVERS TO PRODUCE ROTATION THEREOF ABOUT ITS RESPECTIVE AXIS AND THEREBY CAUSE ROTATION OF SAID DOOR MEMBER ABOUT IS PIVOTAL AXIS; SAID LEVERS BEING OF SUCH LENGTH THAT THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND AXES IS LESS THAN THE SUM OF THE LENGTHS OF SAID LEVERS WHEN SAID DOOR CLOSES SAID OPENING, WHEREBY UPON URGING OF SAID LEVER MEMBERS TOWARD A POSITION IN WHICH SAID FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD AXES RESIDE IN A COMMON PLANE SAID DOOR IS URGED INTO SAID OPENING.

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