US3777770A

US3777770A - Apparatus for the treatment of parts

Info

Publication number: US3777770A
Application number: US00158747A
Authority: US
Inventors: Smith D Cunningham
Original assignee: William Boulton Ltd
Current assignee: William Boulton Ltd
Priority date: 1970-07-02
Filing date: 1971-07-01
Publication date: 1973-12-11
Anticipated expiration: 1990-12-11
Also published as: IT951580B; ATA563171A; BE769466A; AT332809B; FR2100098A5; GB1354117A; DE2132746B2; NL7109167A; DE2132746C3; DE2132746A1; CH547130A; ES392849A1

Abstract

Apparatus for drying, cleaning or degreasing parts in which the parts are introduced into a body of drying, cleaning or degreasing medium in a chamber, the chamber being resiliently mounted and arranged to be subjected to a vibratory movement causing the charge of parts and a proportion of the medium to move outwards to the periphery of the chamber and from thence to climb up and around a spiral channel to a level above the body of medium, the parts and any medium carried up the spiral then being separated above the centre of the spiral so that the medium falls back into the chamber and the parts are discharged from the machine.

Description

United States Patet [1 1 Cunningham-Smith PARTS [75] Inventor:

Harpenden, England [73] Assignee:

David Cunningham-Smith,

William Boulton Limited,

APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England Filed:

July 2, 1970 July 1, 1971 Appl. No.: 158,747

References Cited Foreign Application Priority Data Great Britain 32,121/70 UNITED STATES PATENTS Desmond et al 134/117 Keys 134/132 X Primary Examiner-Robert L. Bleutge Attorney-Alan H. Levine [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for drying, cleaning or degreasing parts in which the parts are introduced into a body of drying, cleaning or degreasing medium in a chamber, the chamber being resiliently mounted and arranged to be subjected to a vibratory movement causing the charge of parts and a proportion of the medium to move outwards to the periphery of the chamber and from thence to climb up and around a spiral channel to a level above the body of medium, the parts and any medium carried up the spiral then being separated above the centre of the spiral so that the medium falls back into the chamber and the parts are discharged from the machine.

13 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PmmEuuam 1 1913 7 31777770 SHEET 30F 4 Inventor:

13 Cunmueunn- SMITH Attorneys PATENTED DEC 1 1 ms SHEET '4 BF 4 HHH4 Inventor: PAW Cuuu/Mae/mn- 5mm y @;L W Attorneys APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF PARTS The invention relates to the treatment of parts or components and is applicable, for example, to the drying, cleaning or degreasing of such items.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for the treatment of parts comprising a chamber adapted to receive a body of treating medium and parts to be treated, a vertically orientated spiral path having its lower end communicating with the chamber and capable of accommodating the parts, and means for applying to the chamber and the spiral path a vibratory movement effective to cause the parts to travel from the chamber up and around the path and out of the body of treating medium while undergoing orbital movement in substantially vertical planes.

The path is preferably located within the chamber but may extend around the outside of the chamber.

The treating medium may comprise a cleaning or degreasing fluid or a drying medium such as a dewatering liquid or maize or sawdust. in some cases the apparatus may include means for applying heat to the medium. This may be effected by means of a heating chamber located beneath the main chamber and accommodating a heating coil. Alternatively hot air from an outside source could be introduced into a similar heating chamber or direct into the main chamber.

Preferably the vibratory movement is applied by means of a vertically-orientated motor whose shaft is fitted with eccentric weights, the motor being attached to said chamber and the latter being resiliently supported on a fixed base. The eccentricity of one or both of the weights is preferably adjustable to enable the vibratory movement to be controlled.

The spiral path may be a closed tube but is preferably an open channel. Where maize or a similar drying medium is utilized the bottom of the channel or tube is preferably perforated adjacent its upper, delivery end,

whereby the maize falls back into the chamber and the parts progress to a delivery outlet. Where a closed tube is used the upper end may be open-topped to allow inspection of the product or to enable air, washing liquid or other medium to be directed on to parts which have, for example, been degreased, prior to their delivery from the machine. The chamber may be enclosed by a removeable top or lid which may be provided with an inspection window.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional elevation of a vibratory drier;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the drier of FIG. 1 with the top cover removed;

FIG. 3 shows an alternative form of top cover;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 showing a vibratory degreaser; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the liquid circulation system used with the machine of FIGS. 4 and 5.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2,.the drier consists of a housing unit 3 mounted on a vibrator assembly 4. The housing unit comprises a cylindrical chamber 5 in which a spiral, open-topped channel 6 is located. The channel rises from the floor of the chamber through three quarters of a turn to a high level outlet opening 7. The portion 8 of the channel adjacent the outlet opening is perforated for a reason which will appear hereafter, and the chamber walls are provided with a synthetic rubber or other suitable lining (not shown). The chamber has a conical floor 9 below which is a heating compartment 10 containing a heating coil 11. The chamber is closed by a top cover 12 having an inlet chute 13 shown in FIG. 1 and in broken lines in FIG. 2. This requires that the machine be loaded from one location and may be replaced by a funnel-shaped top cover such as that shown at 12a in FIG. 3 is required to enable loading right round the machine.

The vibratory assembly 4 comprises a cylindrical base 15 on which is supported, by an annular series of compression springs 16, an annular support or platform 17 carrying a depending cylindrical sleeve 18 which is rigidified by braces 19 connected to the platform. A vibrator motor 20 is supported within the sleeve 18 by upper and lower

annular support rings

21 and 22. The motor shaft 23 projects above and below the motor casing and is fitted with relatively angularly adjustable ec-'

centric weights

24, 25. Due to the provision of these weights and to the resilient mounting of the motor assembly, rotation of the motor imparts to the platform 17 (and hence to the housing supported thereon) a vibro-gyratory action in the form of a high frequency rotary oscillation about the central axis of the motor and the housing with an upward and downward component in the movement. The compartment 26 formed between the base of the housing unit and the platform 17 serves to insulate the vibrator assembly from the heater 11.

The machine is provided with a series of transport wheels 30 supported by bracket assemblies 31 secured to the inner perimeter of the base 15 of the vibrator assembly. A corresponding series of manually operable hydraulic jocks 32 are provided on the outer perimeter of the base 15 and these may be extended to lift and support the machine and its wheels clear of the ground during operation. This is an optional feature which may be omitted entirely if desired leaving a fixed machine standing on the base 15.

In use of the equipment a quantity of drying media such as maize is placed in the bottom of the chamber 5. The maize is inserted from above by means of the chute 13 in the top cover 12 and falls into the chamber through the centre of the spiral. While the quantity of maize or other drying medium used may vary, a typical level to which the chamber may be filled is indicated by the broken line L in FIG. 1. The heating coil 11 is then turned on to raize the temperature of the maize and the motor started. After a sufficient period of time to allow the maize to attain the desired predetermined temperature which is thereafter maintained steady by thermostatic control, parts to be treated are dropped into the heated maize through the chute 13. The vibrations transmitted to the mixture of maize and parts together with the conical form of the floor of the chamber causes the mixture to travel outwards and then up and around the spiral channel 6 while at the same time undergoing orbital movement in substantially vertical planes. An extremely rapid and effective drying action is thereby produced and on reaching the upper end of the spiral the maize falls back into the chamber through the perforated portion 8 of the channel floor, and the parts continue their travel under the influence of the vibration and are delivered from the machine through the outlet opening 7 which terminates in a discharge chute.

The machine shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 is similar in its basic construction to the drier of FIGS. 1 to 3 but is designed to degrease components. It consists of a housing unit mounted on a vibrator assembly, the latter being identical in construction to the vibrator assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2 but without the transport wheels. The housing unit is also similar to that of FIGS. 1 to 3 and comprises a cylindrical chamber 35 incorporating a spiral, open-topped channel 36 rising from the floor through three-quarters of a turn to a high level outlet opening 37. The upper end 38 of the channel is perforated and the chamber has a conical floor 39 beneath which is a heating compartment 40 containing a heating coil 41.

A weir 45 is mounted within the chamber 35 and is spaced slightly from the chamber wall to form an arcuate clearance 46. An outlet pipe 47 communicates with this clearance and with a recirculation tank or reservoir 48 (FIG. 6). The arrangement is such that degreasing liquid in the chamber is maintained at a constant level by overflow over the weir 45 and is recirculated from the tank 48, to a spray pipe 49 disposed above the channel 36 and which directs degreasing liquid on to the components moving up the channel as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 6, liquid collected in the clearance 46 passes along pipe 47 and enters a sludge trap 50 in the recirculation tank. The sludge trap incorporates a removable container 51 for ease of cleaning, and liquid passes out of the trap over a partition wall 52 and through a second compartment 53 which it leaves via a perforated grill 54 at the foot of the wall 55 at the opposite side of the compartment from wall 52. This bottom exit leaves any floating impurities on the surface of the liquid in compartment 53 in the form of a scum. The sludge-and scum-free liquid then enters a further compartment 56 containing a heater 57, if required, and a pump 58 driven by a motor 59 through a shaft 60. The pump draws the liquid through a filter 61 into a pipe 62 from whence it is delivered to the spray pipe 49 and the spiral channel 36. A drain pipe 63 also leads into the recirculation tank from the foot of the chamber 35 to enable emptying of the chamber when required. The drain pipe incorporates a stop cock 64.

The apparatus may be used for alkaline or solvent degreasing. In the former case the liquid is heated by the heating coil 41 and the tank heater 57 and the emulsified grease removed from the components is gathered as a scum in compartment 53. Where a solvent solution is used it may or may not be heated depending on the circumstances. In both cases, and especially where heated solutions are required, fumes will be given off and a condenser coil 70 is provided beneath the top cover 12 to condense these. Fume extraction apparatus indicated at 71 is also provided above the chute 13 to remove any fumes not condensed.

Though not illustrated the chamber and channel walls will be suitably lined, the lining depending on the degreasing solution used and the nature and size of the components. The lining of both chamber and channel must be resistant to the solution used and it may also be desired to afford a measure of resilience to prevent damage to components by contact with the channel walls. Synthetic rubber and plastics materials are possible liners and in some cases the channel may be made entirely from plastics material.

In operation the chamber is filled to the level of the top of the weir with the degreasing liquid which is heated if appropriate and circulated through the tank 48 by means of the pump 58. The parts to be degreased are inserted through the chute 13 along with a carrier medium of a generally discrete granular nature and of a material resistant to the degreasing solution and not liable to damage the parts. Substantially spherical particles of zircon have been found to be particularly suitable as a carrier medium. The vibratory motion imparted to the chamber by the vibratory assembly together with the conical shape of the chamber floor then constrains the charge of carrier media and parts to move outwards across the floor and to rise up and around the spiral through the degreasing liquid while a of the liquid but are then subjected to the action of recirculated liquid from the spray pipe 49. This liquid drains down the channel into the chamber and excess liquid flows over the weir 45 and is recirculated as previously described. When the charge of carrier media and parts reaches the upper perforated section 38 of the channel the media fall through the perforations and back into the chamber for re-use while the degreased parts are moved along the section 38 under the vibratory action and are discharged from the machine through the outlet opening 37.

It will be noted that in both the machines described the channel is of arcuate cross-section and extends round a substantial part of 360. This configuration assists in retaining the drying media, or the carrier media in the case of degreasing, and at the same time allows workpieces to project out of the open top of the channel during their travel. This occurs with some workpieces and an open-topped channel is essential in such. cases. In some circumstances a completely closed tube could be used but an open channel is generally preferred. The channel preferably has an arcuate bottom and either extends round an are greater than 180 as described or has parallel vertical sides upstanding from an arcuate base. The shape must be such that the desired orbital movement of the charge is achieved without workpieces, media or liquid being thrown out of the channel.

The above embodiments are described and illustrated by way of example only, and many variations and modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the spiral channel could have any convenient number of turns and may include transverse slats or dams to assist upward travel of the mixture. Moreover various different drying media, such as dewatering liquid could be used, and in some cases the heater compartment may be unnecessary. Where heating is provided it may be by electric element, steam or hot water coil, hot air or other convenient means. In a further modification the chamber may have a convex part-spherical rather than a conical floor to assist outward movement of the parts and treatment medium towards the lower end of the spiral. The spiral could extend round the outside of the chamber instead of being located within it as illustrated. The period of time for which the parts are immersed in the treating medium may be varied by adjustment of the

eccentric weights

24 and 25 to alter the vibratory motion. The modification of FIG. 3 could be applied to the apparatus of FIGS. 4 to 6.

It will be appreciated that the machines described are of compact and relatively simple construction and may be used as part of a continuous production line, untreated parts being continuously dropped into the chamber from a conveyor or other suitable delivery mechanism and treated parts being continuously collected from the discharge chute in containers, conveyors or other suitable receptacles. The length of the perforated upper end of the spiral channel may be varied depending on the nature of the components being treated and the vibratory movement could be achieved by means other than a motor fitted with eccentric weights, for example by electro-magnetic means. Moreover it has been found that the motion imparted in vibratory machines according to the invention causes little or no damage to the parts being treated.

I claim: I

1. Apparatus for the drying or degreasing of parts comprising a chamber defining a vertically orientated spiral path in the form of a channel having a bottom of arcuate cross-section subtending an angle of at least 180 and adapted to receive a body of drying or degreasing medium and parts to be treated, and means for applying to the chamber a vibratory movement in the form of a high frequency rotary oscillation about a substantially vertical axis with an upward and downward component in the movement to cause the parts to travel up and around said path while undergoing orbital movement in substantially vertical planes.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said spiral path is located within a surrounding chamber.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein an upper portion of said spiral path extends across the chamber and is perforated whereby treating medium carried up the path with the parts may fall back into the chamber through the perforations.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said chamber has a floor which is raised in the centre and slopes downwards and outwards from the centre.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 including means for applying heat to the chamber.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the means for applying heat is a heating coil located beneath the floor of the chamber.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said channel has an arcuate bottom and parallel vertical side walls.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 applicable to the cleaning or degreasing of parts and including means for maintaining a constant level of cleaning or degreasing fluid in said chamber and means for filtering and recirculating excess fluid drawn from the chamber.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 including means for condensing fumes given off by said fluid and for extracting fumes not condensed.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said vibratory movement is applied by means of a vertically orientated motor whose shaft is fitted with eccentric weights, the motor being attached to said chamber and the latter being resiliently supported on a fixed base.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the eccentricity of one or both of said weights is adjustable.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1 provided with ground engaging wheels for transport purposes and means for raising the wheels clear of the ground during operation.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said channel has an arcuate cross-section subtending an angle in excess of

Claims

1. Apparatus for the drying or degreasing of parts comprising a chamber defining a vertically orientated spiral path in the form of a channel having a bottom of arcuate cross-section subtending an angle of at least 180* and adapted to receive a body of drying or degreasing medium and parts to be treated, and means for applying to the chamber a vibratory movement in the form of a high frequency rotary oscillation about a substantially vertical axis with an upward and downward component in the movement to cause the parts to travel up and around said path while undergoing orbital movement in substantially vertical planes.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said channel has an arcuate cross-section subtending an angle in excess of 180*.