US601409A - Elevator foe geain - Google Patents

Description

(No llo-del.) 3 Sheets-Sheetl.. J T.. BUDD.

BLEVATR POR GRAIN, ne. l

.1-I0 .6o1-;4o9.y Y Patented Mar. 29, 1898.'

/WITNESSES jf Unirse ',Srnfrns JTALMAN BUDD, OF BUFFALQNEXV YORK.'

ELEVATOR FOR GRAIN, soo.

, SPCIEICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 601,409, dated March 29, 1898.

Application filed August 20, 1897. Serial No. 6148,8/76. (No model.)

To 'all whom t mag/concern: f

Be it known that I, J TALMAN BUDD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo,

in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement n in Elevators for Grain, the., of which the folyimproved mouthpiece or intake-nozzle `for .pneumatic conveyers.

The transferring apparatus in common use consists of an elevator-leg whereby the grain or other material is lifted from the hold of a vessel or from a car to the storage-bin of the elevator and steamv shovels or scoops which traverse the hold and gather the grain from different parts of the same and deliver it to the foot of the elevator-leg. These steam- -shovels'are cumbersome and require considerable power and a comparatively large force of men to operate them, andk they do not deliver the grain uniformly, the delivery varying according to the distance the gra-in is carried. Grain, dsc., has also been elevated by the pneumatic system; but the direct lifting of material by that system requires considerable power and is correspondingly expenmany cases the system is im practicable.

The object ofmy invention is the provision of au elevating apparatus which can be eporated at less cost than the pneumatic system and with less power and fewer men than the .ordinary elevator-leg and steam-shovels and which will effect a'uniforni maximum delivery of the gathered material at the place at Y which it vis elevated, irrespective of the disenlarged sectional side elevation ofthe m'outh- A tance the material is carried, thus increasing the elevating capacity of the apparatus.

.In the accompanyingdrawings, consisting of three sheets, Figure l is a transverse vcr- -tical section of Aan elevator embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the elevator-leg in line 2'2, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an piece. yFigV-t is a top plan vicwof the mouthieee. Fimo is a front .view of the same. Fi. p c, o

6 is a longitudinal central section of the mouth- 5 5 piece. Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section inline 7 7, Figqfi. Fig. 8 is a sectional side elevation of the mouthpiece viewed from the, side' opposite that shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is a transversevertical section of a modified con- 6o struction of the mouthpiece and the intakemotor. Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A is an elevator or warehouse, which may be of any ordinary construction, and B is a vessel lying at the dock of the elevator.

C is an upper receiver or receptacle ofthe elevator, D the customary scale or weighing hopper, and E the lower receiver, which re- 7o ceivesthe grain from the weighing-hopper previous to its elevation to the storagebins orto delivery-scales. e

F is an elevator-leg whereby the grain is elevated from the car or the hold of the ves- Asel, and G the spout which delivers the grain from the head of the elevator-leg into the upper receiver C; This elevator-leg consists,

preferably, of a case and a series of buckets carried by an endless belt running around 8o the usual Vpulleys at the head aud foot of the leg, the leg being constructed practically like those in common use, except that its case is normally closed at its lower end. 'lhc leg is vertically movable in the lusual manner, so

that it can be lowered into the hold of a vessel and withdrawn therefrom. As the means for guiding the vertically-movablc leg on the elevator structure and the hoisting machineryfor raising and lowering it are 9o common and well known to those skilled in the art, thc same are not shown in the drawings.

II 4represents a number of flexible pneumatic gathering or delivery tubes which vare connected with the closed foot or lower por,- `tion of the ,elevator-leg and whereby the g 'aiu is conveyed from different portions of the vessel-hold to the elevator-leg, these gatheringand conveying tubes taking the place of roo the usual steam-shovels, while the leg elevates the material into the upper receiver or storage-bins inthe usual manner. 'lhc gathering and-delivery of the material through the pneumatic tubes to the elevator-leg is preferably effected by suction` and a blast of compressed air, in conjunction with an intake or feed device, preferably propelled by-an airblast and arranged at'the mouth of each pneumatic tube. In the construction shown in the drawings each conveying-tube is provided at its front end with a vtransverse cylindrical .casing or enlargement I, provided inv its lower front side with a comparatively large openingj, forming the month or inlet ofthe tube, The casing is' as shown in Figs'. 4, 5, and 6.

closed at its ends by air-tightheads 7c, and is tcrmediate annular chamber K',

divided by intermediate partitions or diaphragms k 702 into three chambers K K K2. The end chambers K K2 are connected by a horizontal tube formedV by Sleeves L L', arranged` axially in the casing I, while the inn l formed by the space between said tube'and thesnrronndin gcas'ing, is isolated from saideidehambers by the partitions la" 7a2.

' sleeves L L are provided in their rear sides opposite the pneumatic tube with openings Z,

through which the air delivered into the end lchambers K Kiescapes into' the pneumatic- Mrepresents@.rotary scoop or feeder arranged inthe central chamber K oi the cas. ing and consisting of a'series of radial bladesl rigidly connected by arms fm anda hub mflto a horizontal shaft m2, which is jonrnaled at its ends in bearings formed inthe heads of the casing, as shown in Figsf, 6, and 7;

The arms oflthcsef'blades pass through an j,andxiinmersing the frontof the casing in the material to be gathered'thc material is scooped into thecasing and projected rearwardly into thc pneumatic tube.

'N -isa fan, propeller, or motor which is arranged in the left-hand chambei-K. of the casing ar'idri'gidlyl mouniedvon the shaft m2 and which is rotated .by the air-blast, s0 as to turn th-c shaft and the scoopM mounted thereon.

'lhisgpropcllcr mayconsist of `ordinary fanblades',-asshown in Figs. 3 and 7.

"U is a main air-supplypipc whereby compressed air is delivered to the apparatus and which is connected with an air compressor or fblowcr of any suitable or well-known conshown.)

struction or with :r supply 'tanlc. (Not (,lomprcssed airis supplied tothe propeller or motor chamber. K by a branch pipep, which enters the periphery of said rhaliiber taugen tially through openings p', so

The connecting? y E v I 601,409

as to deliver a blast ot air against several of the blades of the propeller for rotating the same, the exhaust-air passing through the sleeves L L "and the openings Zint'o the pneu;

matic tube. The opposite chamber K2 forms an air-supply chamber whereby the 4requisite amount of air, in addition to the exhaust-air from the motor N,is delivered into the casing .for carrying the material and preventing choking of the casing and the pneumatic tube with which itis connected; Air is supplied to thechamber K2 by a branchv pipe p, conl. nected with the'main supply-pipe O.' "lhei branch pipe p is provided with a valve p3 for controlli-ng thevforce of the air-blast delivered against the propeller, so that the speed of the motor can'be regulated, and the other branch pipe p2 is provided with a similar valve-p4 for regulating the amount of ad- .ditional air commingled with the material.. The valve ot' the branch pipe p2 is regulated to maintain the material. The main air-supply pipe O is provided proper proportion of air and'y with a valve q, whereby the supply of com-y I pressed air to both 'branch pipesp p2 may be, controlled This valve may be of any suitable construction, but is preferably of the type having a vertically-sliding valve-stem.

This stem is operated by a lever q and cord q2, connected with the lever and terminating within convenient reach of the attendants who guide land manipulate the nozzle or mouthpieceof the pneumatic tube. 'ln order to facilitate the shifting of the nozzle, the Same is mounted upon trucks or rollers fr, shown in Figs. 1, 3, 45, and 6, audit is provided on opposite sides with handles fr' for manipulating it.

loo

Upon the shaft'oii the scoop M is preferably mounted a fly-Wheel S to insure a regular and continuous rotary motion of the scoop. In order to permit the speed of the scoop to be controlled, a brake S is provided which op crates againstthe face of the fly-wheel, the brake rod extendingthrough an opening formed in the'rear side ot the mouthpiece, as shown in Figs. 4t and S, and being connected with a lever s, pivotcd 'to the side of the mouthpiece and operated by a cord s',

extending within reach of the attendant. \Vhen the mouthpiece lis Withdrawn from the material, the motion of thescoop M can be retarded or stopped by 'the brake, as may be necessary to prevent an excessive quantity of air from being drawn into the pneumatic tube and impairing the suction or vacuum.

'l is a dust cham ber or receptacle arranged IIO above or near the upper receiver C and designed to receive the dust-laden air from the head of the elevator-leg. The dust setti sin this chamber and may be collected therein and removed from time to time, or it maybe discharged through a trapped spout (not shown) into the upper receiver, while the air escapes into the atmosphere through an open-` ing z'-, located at or near tho top of the dust` chamber. The dust, chaff,and other light 1 matter contained in cargoes of grain are 1neluded in the gross Weight of the cargo; l By 1 employingthe dust-chamber T in connection v mingle witi the grain.

may be connected directly with the leg-head with the upper receiver C the impurities may be separated from the grain and discharged separately, in which case allowance is made for theweight of the impurities in delivering the elevated cargo, or if it is desired to deliver the elevated cargo with theA impurities the lat ermay be allowed to again com- The dust-chamber or delivery-,spout'of the elevator-legby a pipe or tube;` but I' prefer to interpose a suction' fan or vacuum-'pump T' in this` connecting! tube, which -fancreates a vacuum in the ele- Vater-leg, `producinga suction in the pneumatic tubes vwhich conveys the material through the tubes-.to the footof the leg. I

also prefer to employ a vacu-umor separating i chamber T2 in connection with the deliveryspout ot the elevating-leg'. For this purpose this spout is enlarged toform such a'cha1n ber asshowninFig. 15e-nd the suction pipe or tube t' of the' exhaust-fan T is connectedA .with the topof said chamber, while the discharge-spout t2 'of the fan leads to the dust- 'chamber T. Thepipe t; is iiexible to permit 4the elevator-leg to move vertically. To ex- -f`clude the air from thevacuum-chamber-Tia f each 4tube being guided and controlled by two attendants standing on opposite sides of the same. In the drawings twoof such tubes arevshow-n, but a greater orless number 'may be e1nployed,if desired. After properly plac:

ing the leg and the tubes and setting the ex- .haust-fan and the elevator-buckets in mo-l tioncompressed air is delivered to the mouth or nozzle of each tube ,by opening the valve `@of the 'main air-supply pipe O and the valves of the branclijpipes p p2. The air-blast impinging against the blades of the propellerN rapidly rotates the same, thus turning ythe shaft mz'and the rotary scoop or feeder M, mounted thereon. The lintake or* feeder scoops thegrain into the easing, asr hereinbefore described, and the air-blast, after acting upon the propeller-blades,

escapes into the sleeves L L and yfrom the latter into and through the pneumatic tube to' the foot of the closed elevator-leg.

VM form pockets or compartments in which Theblades of the scoop l the material isconned d'urin g the interval Ihatthe sameis carried from the inletl of the V,meuthpiece to a point.- opposite the air-discharge openings Z. of the sleeves L L@ and as s oon as these loaded pockets arrive opposite said openings the air-current passing through the same carries the material into and through' the pneumatic tube to the footof the elevator-leg. The air-current thuspasses from the' middle or axis of the mouthpiece toward casing of the mouthpiece the air-currentl exerts its force directly behindl the material, thus utilizing the air-current in the most el"- fecti'vemannr and insuring the carriage of the material through the pneumatic tube. The force u of 'the compressed air passing through the pneumatic tube assists the sucits periphery, and as the material passes be-j tween the sleeves L L andA the surrounding` tion power in conveying the material through 4 the tube. The material conveyed to the legv is elevated by the buckets in a well-known 'manner and the dust-laden air drawn upward through the leg passes through the fan-case T/ into the dust-chamber T, while the grain freed from dust flows through the deliveryspout of the' elevator-leg and the valve U into the upper receiver C. A

` It will be observed that the casing .of the elevator-leg, which ."s practically air-tight, forms a part of the pneumatic conveyer.

In starting to unload a vessel it is unnecessary to employ thepneumatic gathering-tubes,

as the elevator-leg isfor a time surrounded by the materiahand in order topermit the leg to be used' during this period in the ordinary manner Without the use of the pneumatic tubes the foot of the leg is provided in its front side with an opening or inlet to' which' Ais applied a slide Ff, as shown in Figs. l and 2, which slide is opened in starting to unload the vessel and closed when-it becomes necessary to use the gathering-tubes.

In my improved apparatus the lifting ot the grain is etectedby theelevator-leg, which can IOO .be operated with less power than a pneumatic.

Vlifting system, and the material at a distance from the leg is-gathered auddelivered to` the IIO saine by the pneumatic tubes, which simplyv move or carry the material practically horizontally and are not required to lift it to any considerable degree. This method of gathering requires much 'less power than is required by the use of the ordinary steam-shovels, thus eiiectinga corresponding saving in the` cost of elevating and gathering the material. 'Bythe use ofA these pneumatic gathering-tubesthe material can also bey gathered and delivered to the elevator-leg with greater uniformity and elevated at themaximum capacity of the leg,-regardless?of the distance the material .is carried, by regulating the sup,-

ply of Aair delivered to the tubes, the quantity' beingincreased'for carrying the material a greater distance and diminished for carrying it a4 shorter distance- The elevator-'leg can `thus always be worked at its fullest capacity,4 whereby the power is. utilized in the most economical ranneigand the vessel is unloaded g ina shorter time, while with steam-shovels I in Fig.v 9.

.- 5o derived from the rapidly-moving air.

' v terial is near the leg.'

NVhile I have herein shown and described `5 rotaryscoopsfor feedingthe material into,

the mouth-1 of the pneumatic tubes, any other suitable feeding or, injecting device may be employed forthat purpose, and I do not, there- 4 fore, Wish to' limit myself to the use of the 1o speci al means shown, `nor do I wish to be limi ited` to theuse of compressed air as the motive force for operating. the fee'd device, as

'f any other suitablemotor, such as an electric motor, maybe used for this purpose, as shown In this case the necessary supply of air for the pneumatic tubes can be taken directl'y'fr'om the atmosphere.

A As a simplified modilication of the mout-hp iece the end c hamber K K2 may beomitted 2o yand the scoops driven.l from the motor by a belt fu, passing around pulleys ne? on the motor-shaft and the scoop-shaft.` In. thisv con- `struction air may-be supplied to the mouthpiece'by a pipe fw, entering the-side of the same and having a valve w', as shown in Fig. 9.

I f desired, a compressed-air motor may be placed on top of theA mouthpiece of the pneumatic tube and the rotary scoop operated by means offa belt in the same mannerias the 43o electric motor shown in Fig. 9.

i In the use of the rotary blades for the de- "livery of material into the pneumatic tube I Ido not Wish to con-fine myself to the admission of the air behind the material, as before 1de- 3S scribed, as the air could be admitted on either' side of the mouthpiece in front of the blades and the-suction would draw the material into the tube but this arrangement would not be so effective.

' 4c The rapidly-revolvin g buckets of the closed elevator-leg produce a certain amount of suction-power, and this power may be usedv in connection with that furnished by the compressed air for conveying the material through 4 5 the tbes without the use of an additional fan or exhaust device, although I preferito use the additional fan.

-In the use of the pneumatic tube the force y directly conveying the material or grain is This force may beobtained by the use of suction from-a fan or vacuum-pump and by ,utilizing l the suction' from the revolving buckets in the leg-casing, and may also be produced by de- Y livering compressed air from a tank, blower,

or air-pump into the` mouth of the pneumatic tube. i

.- As a further modification of my invention the dust-chamber T may be omitted and the 6o material spouted from the head of the eleva-I tor-leg directly into the upper receiver C, in

which case this receiver is'closed as tightly as vpossible and is provided near its top with an opening to the atmosphere for the escape of the air.

I claim as my invention-,-

1. The combination with abucket elevatoA of aninclosing leg o r casing forming an airpassage7 a gathering-tube which receives the material to be elevated and opens into the lower portion 'of said leg or casing, and means whereby a current of air is caused to flow through said gathering-tube and from the latter into said leg or casing, such eurrentcarryiug saidmaterial into said leg or casing,' substantially-as `set forthr,

2. The combination with a bucket elevator,

of an inelosiug leger casing forming an airpassage, a gathering-tube ope-ning into thc klovverportion of said leg or casing, and an ex- '8c haust device connected with said leg or casingand causing an air-current to flow through said gathering-tube and from the latter into said leg or casing, substantially` as set forth.

3. The combination with a bucket elevator, of an inclosing leg or casing forming an airpassage, a gathering-tube opening into the lower portion of said leg or casing, and a conduit whereby compressed air is delivered to the inlet end of said gatheringtube for conveying the" material to be elevated through the same and into the elevator legor casing, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a biiclget elevator', of an inclosing leg or casing forming an airpassage, a gathering-tube opening into the lower portion of said leg or casing, a conduit whereby compressedV air is delivered to the inlet end of said gathering-tube for conveying the material to be elevated through the' roo saine and into the elevator leg or casin g, and an exhaust device connectedwith said leg or casing and drawing the air therefrom, substantially as set forth.

5.' The combination With a bucket elevator of an inclosing leg or casing forming an airpassage, a gathering-tube opening into the lower portion of said leg or casing, a movable intake device or feeder arranged at the inlet end of said gathering-tube, means whereby such intake device or feeder 'is operated, and means whereby a currentof air isv caused to ilow through said gathering-tube and from the latter into the lowerportion of said leg or casing, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with a bucket elevator, of an inclosin'g leg or casing forming an airpassage, a gathering-tube which receives the material to be elevated and opens into the lowerport'ion of said leg or casing, a separat- 12o ing-chamber connected with the upper end of said leg or casing, and having an air-exit and an exit for the separated solid material, and an exhaust device connected with said air-exit,' whereby an air-current laden with solid -material is drawn through said gathering-tube into the lower portion of said leg and from the' upper portion of the latter into said separatingfchambeiywhere the heavy solid material, such as grain, drops out of the air-cur- 13o rent and escapes through the exit for heavy material, while the air-current laden `With IIO light material, such asdust, passes on tothe exhaustf device, substantially as set forth.V

- 7. In an elevator for grain, &c., the combination with an elevator-leg having a closed.

bottom, of a pneumatic gathering-tube connected with the closed bottom of the 'leg audprovided with a-mouthpiece, a rotaryT scoop or feeder arranged in said mouthpiece, means `for operating said scoop,a separating-chamber connected with the upper portion of the leg,

` and means for exhausting the air from said chamber, substantially as described;

- 8. In an elevator for grain, dac., the combination withan elevator-leg having a closed bottom, of oneor more pneumatic gathering- 2 tubes'connected with the closed bottom of the nation withan elevator-leg havinga closed i bottom, of a gathering-tube connected'with` leg; a separatingchamber connected with the upper 'port-ioni `of the leg and provided with an air-outlet and a discharge-spout for the elevated material, a Valve. applied to said spout andallowing the material to escape Whileintercepting the entrance vot' air, and means for exhausting the air from said separating-chamber, substantially as set forth.

9.v In an elevator for grain, &c.,the combithe closed bottom of the legand having a mouthpiece or inlet-casing, a feed device for delivering the material into the mouthpiece, and a' conipressed-air'motor for operating the feed device, substantially as set forth.

In an elevatoror conveyer for grain, &c.,

thecombination with apneumatic tube, of a mouthpiece or inlet-casing connected with said tube and having an inlet for thematierial to be conveyed and also -anair-inlet, fa

f rotary scoop or feeder for delivering the material into the mouthpiece, and means for operating the scoop, substantially as set forth. g 11. In an elevator or conveyer for grain,-&c.

the combinationwith a pneumatic tube, of a mouthpiece or inlet-casing connected with said tube and having an inlet for the mateair motor for operating the scoop, said mouthl 'rial to Vbe .conveyed and also an air-inlet, a

`rotary scoop Orr-feeder for delivering thematerial into the mouthpiece, and a compressedpiece having arranged thereon a compressedair pipe leading to the motorfrom a suitable source, substantially as set forth.

12. In an elevator or conveyor for grain, &c

the combination with a pneumatic tuba-ot a mouthpiece or inlet casing connected with said tube and having an inlet tor the material -tolbe conveyed, a rotary scoop or feeder for delivering the material into Athe mouthpiece, means for operating the.seoop,and,a brakeuor controlling saidscoop, substantially assetforth. k Inan elevatororconveyertorgran, dre., thecombination with apneumatic conveyingtube, of a casing or mouthpiece connected to v the end of said tube, communicating there-. with' and` provided with an inlet for the material to beconveyed', an air-tube arranged centrally in the casing and provided opposite the end of said tube,'.communcating ,there-l with and divided by partitions'l into a central d chamber and two end chambers, an air-tube connecting said end chambers, and provided with a discharge-opening and separated from the surroundingwall of thecasm'g by'an annular space forming the central chamber, a shaft passing through said connecting-tube and chambers, a propeller mounted on said shaft in one of said end chambers, and rotary i l blades or .scoops arranged inl said .annular space andA mounted on the shaft, the opposite end chamber being provided with an air-inlet,

substantially as set forth.

SWitness my hand this 11th day of August, 197. y.I TALMAN Bunn.- 4 Witnesses:

CARL F. GEYER,

- KATHRYN ELMoRE.

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