US3500590A

US3500590A - Particular polishing apparatus having a vertical working vessel

Info

Publication number: US3500590A
Application number: US655147A
Authority: US
Inventors: Claude Le Guen De Kergolan
Original assignee: GEN PRODUITS IND ETDE SYNTHESE
Current assignee: GEN PRODUITS IND ETDE SYNTHESE; Generale Des Produits Ind Etde Synthese Cogepris cie
Priority date: 1966-07-28
Filing date: 1967-07-21
Publication date: 1970-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 1987-03-17
Also published as: ES343528A1; FR1494308A; DE1652012A1; NL6710222A; GB1137998A; BE701730A

Description

March 1970 c. LE GUEN DE KERGOLAN 3,

PARTICULAR POLISHING APPARATUS HAVING A VERTICAL WORKING VESSEL Filed July 21, 1967 1 l l 22 11 23 x I 25 27 I 24 1 i as 16 s 12 1.4 l i5 15 4 9 Int. ci.1 i24b 31/02 Us. (131-164 Claims ABSTRACT or THE-DISCLOSURE Apparatus for working and in particular polishing articles in a vesselhaving a vertical axis about which it rotates .while thevertical axis .rotates about another vertical axis spaced from the axis of the vessel, the bottom of the vessel being at least partially inclined so that the articles in the vessel undergo an alternating motion which is both vertical, and horizontal.

The present invention relates to improvements in article working, and in particular polishing, apparatuses having a vertical working vessel.

Apparatuses of this type are known which comprise a platform rotating about a first vertical axis on which the working vessel, in which the articles to be treated are disposed, is mounted for rotation about a second vertical axiswhich is .eccentric relative to the first axis. A transmission system having a chain and sprocket wheels of appropriate transmission ratio connects a first fixed sprocket wheel centered onv the first axis to a second sprocket wheel which is centered on the second axis and integral with the working vessel. The absolute movement of the latter therefore results from the composition of the two elementary movements, namely a rotation of the vesselabout the first axis and a rotation of the vessel about itself, namely about the second axis.

The apparatuses of this type impart to the articles and other bodies placed in the-working tank, such as polishing agents/or abrasives in powdered form or in pieces, a centrifugal force which intensifies the alternating stirring or agitating action inside the vessel due to the rotation, for the working, and in particular polishing, of the articles therein.

In all the known apparatuses of :this type having a vertical working vessel, the bottom face of the vessel is horizontal so that the relative movement of each article or individual body in the vessel is also horizontal.

The object of the present invention is to improve this type of apparatus so that it can effect an alternating stirring in two directions, namely in horizontal and vertical directions.

The invention provides an apparatus for working, and in particular polishing articles, said apparatus comprising a platform rotatable about a first vertical axis and at least one vertical working vessel mounted on said platform to rotate about a second vertical axis spaced from the first axis, a transmission system connecting a first fixed toothed wheel centered on the first axis and a second movable toothed wheel centered on the second axis and integral with the vessel so as to impart a movement of rotation of the vessel about the second axis when the platform rotates about the first axis, the bottom of the vessel being at least partially inclined relative to the horizontal, so as to produce an alternating movement of the articles and bodies placed in the working vessel, which is both vertical and horizontal.

The advantage of the apparatus according to the in- Tnited States Patent 0 3,500,590 Patented Mar. 17, 1970 vention is that it produces a more complete stirring or agitation of the bodies in the Working vessel.

Moreover, the emptying of the liquid in the vessel can be elfected very easily while operating by means of a pipe extending from the lowermost point of the bottom of the vessel.

The apparatus according to the invention has the additional advantage over similar apparatuses which have a horizontal axis of rotation and vessels having a lateral opening. Thus, owing to the fact that the vessel is closed at the upper part thereof by an easily removable lid, the filling thereof is very easy, as opposed to vessels having a lateral opening which result in a limitation of the dimensions of the articles introduced, in particular when it concerns assemblies provided with parts.

The vertical vessel can have any desiredcross-section,

this section being, however, preferably hexagonal or octogonal.

' Further features and advantages of the in ntion will be apparent from the ensuing description with reference to the accompanying single drawing which is a vertical sectional view.

The apparatus according to the invention comprises a fixed stand 1 through which extends a vertical column 2 carrying a fixed toothed wheel 3 at the upper end thereof. The vertical axis x-y of the column 2 constitutes the axis of rotation of a horizontal plate 4 which bears on rollers 5 having horizontal spindles carried by the stand 1 and evenly spaced apart about the axis x-y.

The plate 4 is extended downwardly by a sleeve 6 at the lower end of which is secured an annular runway 7, having a slightly frustoconical face on which rollers 8 roll. The rollers 8 are mounted on the stand 1 to rotate about axes which are slightly inclined relative to the vertical. The runway 7 is integral with a toothed wheel 9 which is driven in rotation by a suitable motor (not shown) through a chain or a gear train.

Mounted on the platform 4 is a work vessel 11 having a vertical axis x y which is spaced from the axis of rotation x-y of the platform 4. This vessel can have any horizontal cross-sectional shape and in particular an octogonal shape, as illustrated. The vessel 11 has in the lower part thereof an inner skirt portion 12 having a generally frustoconical shape in which rollers 13 are mounted to rotate about horizontal axes, these rollers rolling along the upper face of the platform 4. The rollers 13 are evenly spaced apart around the axis x -y of the vessel 11. Rollable along the outer face of the skirt 12 are rollers 14 having axes of rotation which are inclined relative to the vertical and are evenly spaced 7 apart around the axis x y and mounted on supports 15 fixed to the platform 4. An outer cylindrical skirt 16, integral with the vessel 11, covers all the support rollers 14.

The vessel 11 is integral with a toothed wheel 17 which is fixed to its chassis and centered on the axis x y of the vessel. This toothed wheel 17 is coupled to the fixed toothed wheel 5 by a transmission system 18 (of the chain or gear type).

The vessel 11 comprises a vertical lateral wall 19 having a prismatic octogonal cross-sectional shape and is closed in the lower part thereof by a bottom .wall 21, the upper face of which is inclined to the horizontal in accordance with the invention. A coating or layer 22 of plastics material, rubber or any other material which sufiiciently resists to erosion, is advantageously adherized to the inner faces of the lateral Wall 18 and the bottom wall 21.

When the apparatus is in operation, the vessel '11 is closed by an upper lid (not shown). The vessel also has an emptying aperture 23 which opens onto an outer spout 24 and is closed by a door 25.

, When the apparatus is operating, that is, with the vessel L1 closed by the upper lid and filled for a polishing operaion with articles to be polished and a powdered abrasive material, the wheel 9, isdriven in rotation at a suitable peed by the motor (not shown). The rotary platform 4 bus rotates about the axis xy, it being supported by ollers 5 and maintained in position by rollers 8. The 'ertic'al axis x -y of the vessel therefore rotates about he axis x-y and at the same time rotates about the axis 1,-y owing to the connection, afiorded by the transmision system 18, between the fixed toothed wheel 3 and the novable toothed wheel 17.

The transmission ratio is chosen to suit the treatment it s desired to carry out.

It will therefore be understood that. the materials conained in the vessel 11 are subjected to a relative stirring nr agitating movement which alternates both in the hori- .ontal. plane and,-ow ing to the inclined face of the bot- I L vertical tube 28 which extends through, and is coaxial r vith, the toothed wheel 17. The tube 28 extends through .n opening 29 in the rotary plate 4 and opens into a fixed ylindrical collector 31 carried by the column 2. This ollector 31 has a centre aperture 32 for discharging the iquid received when draining.

In the course of the rotation of the vessel 11 about tself, the passageway 26 and the tube 28 rotate, at the ame time as the toothed wheel "17, about the axis x -y The apparatus just described allows a very easy r nsng while in operation. In this case, it sufficies to provide water inlet connection in the centre of the upper lid and :onnect this inlet connection to a water supply by way of tfiexible pipe.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has leen described, many modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the nvention as defined in the appended claims.

Thus, in order to balance the apparatus, a plurality of 'essels can be rotatably mounted on the platform 4 in :ven manner about the axis x-y.

The bottom wall 21 of the vessel is not necessarily llane. Depending on the desired applications, it can be given any suitable shape; for example it can be corrugated 1r conical.

The vessel 11 can be mounted on the platform 4 and he latter on the fixed stand 1 by means of intermediate olling elements (for example balls, rollers, needles'or runcated cones) for example of synthetic material, rubber r metal capable of supporting the weight of the moving arts and withstanding the lateral reactions during the movement of the latter. These moving parts could be ad- 'antageously freely mounted, that is, without embodied 1X68, between two runways or races with, if necessary, 1 cage for maintaining the spacing therebetween.

Having now described my invention what I claim as 4 r system connecting va first fixed ..toothed wheel centered on the first axis and a second movable toothed wheel centered on the second axis and integral with the vessel so as to impart a movement of rotation of the vessel about the second axis when the platform rotates about the first axis; the vessel'ha v ing a substantially vertical lateral wall and a bottom 'inner face which is at least partially inclined relative to the horizontal, so as to produce an alternating movement of the material in the working vessel, which is both vertical and horizontal.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising a passageway fordraining the vessel, said passageway communicating at one end with the lowermost point of the bottom face of the vessel and at the other end with a vertical discharge tube which extends through said movable toothed wheel and into a cylindrical collector located under the rotary platform and has an axis coinciding with the axis of rotation of the platform.

3. An apparatus'as claimed in claim 1, wherein'said lateral wall of the vessel is provided with an aperture at the lower point of said bottom wall, a door being provided for closing said aperture when the apparatus is in use and for opening said aperture and discharge the material from the vessel when the polishing step is over.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said toothed wheels are identical where-by the rotation speeds about said axes are equal.

5. An apparatus for polishing articles, said apparatus comprising a platform rotatable about a first vertical axis and a working vessel mounted on said platform to rotate about a second vertical axis spaced from the first axis, said toothed wheels being identical so that the rotation speeds about said axes are equal, the vessel having a substantially vertical lateral wall, a detachable cover and a transmission system connecting a first fixed toothed wheel centered on the first axis and a second movable toothed wheel centered on the second axis and integral with the vessel so as to impart a movement of rotation of the vessel about the second axis when the platform rotates about the first axis the vessel having a substantially vertical lateral Wall and a bottom inner face which is at least partially inclined relative to the horizontal, so as to produce an alternating movement of the material in the working vessel, which is both vertical and horizontal, said lateral wall of the vessel being provided with an aperture at the lower point of said bottom wall, a door being provided for closing said aperture when the apparatus is in use and for opening said aperture and discharge the material from the vessel when the polishing step is over, and a passageway being provided for draining the vessel, said passageway communicating at one end with the lowermost point of the bottom face of the vessel and at the other end with a vertical discharge tube which extends through said movable toothed wheel and into a cylindrical collector located under the rotary platform and has an axis coinciding with the axis of rotation of the platform.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,566,770 12/1925 Packer 233-25X 1,945,035 1/1934 Green 51-164X 3,013,365 12/1961 Harper 51-164 HAROLD D. WHITEHEAD, Primary Examiner Us. 01. X.R. 2339-25