US673740A - Automatic weigher. - Google Patents

Description

No. 673,740. Patenten may 7,1901.

- F. c. sTucKEL.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHER.

(Appumion 'sled Dee. 2s. 1900.)

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un. 673,740. n Patented may 7, 190|.

F. C. STUCKEL. AUTDMATC WEIGHER.

(Application led Dec. 26, 1900.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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Patented May 7,l ISUL AUTUMATIC WEIGHER.

4(Applelniiuu lsd Dec. 26, 1900.)

3 shuts-Sheet 3.

UNITEDr STATES .PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK C. STOUCKEL, OFV RACINE, WVISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TOA JAMES R. Y HARRISOVIWAND FI." LEE NORTON, OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 673,740, dated May 7, 1901.

App1imionieanecember 26,1900. semina. 41,073. (Nomad.)

Veighers, of which the following is hereby.

declared to be a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to apparatus especially suited for weighing grain or other gran ular material, and is designed as an improvement upon my prior construction set forth in Letters Patent No. 634,375, granted October open bucket or receiver is hung beneath the spout of an elevator. Successive charges freely dow from the spout into the `open bucket7 and when-the load attains a given weight the bucket overbalances and slightly shifts, releasing thereby the intermediate mechanism, which promptly shuts olf any further in'low and opens the bucket-bottom to letthe load fall. As the bucket rises again under the influence of the counterpoise the weighted load has dropped out, the bucketbot-tom closes, and the shut-od gate no longer obstructs the entry of the next succeeding charge.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of the intermediate mechanism coacting with the counterpoised bucket for automatically admitting, weigh-` ing, and discharging separate portions of material.

The exact nature of the invention will ap pear in detail from the description following and be pointed out by the claims at its conclusion. v

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view showing the weigher-bucket at normal position suspended in counterpoise beneath the outlet-spout'of a threshing-machineelevator. Fig. 2 is a similar View of the opposite side of the construction. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a verticall sectionalview taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. n

The elevator-tubes A fasten to a head 10, having a removable crown 11 for ready access and side outlet-spout 12, through which the grain escapes.

In that construction a countcrpoised,

lsupporting-frame H.

The upper sprocket for the` ele'vatorchain is supported, .as usual, on cross-axle D, which journals in slotted bear- A ing-plates 13, adjustably secured by bolts at opposite sides of head 10. Cross-axle D is constantly driven Ythrough the medium of a chain-Wheel at its outer terminal or by other suitable means and carries on its inner end the chain-pinion E, which revolves with the axle.

' Beneath the head 10 and between the ele- Vator-tubes A A extends the horizontal counter-shaft G in parallel relation with the crossa'xle D. The counter-shaft G is mounted in suitable bearing-blocks 14 and l5, bolted to the plate H, which in turn is bolted to the This frame H is supportedr upon the elevator-tubes A A by the splitrings 16. A hub 17 is loosely mounted upon one end ofthe counter-shaft D and is interposed between the counter-shaft G and the bearing-block 15. This hub 17 is revolubly held in place and against longitudinal motion by shoulders engaging eitherI side of the bearing-block 15, as clearly shown in Fig.

'4. Preferably cast integral with the hub 17 is a sprocket-wheel F on its outer end and a ratchet-wheel J upon its inner end, which ratcheawheel forms one of the members of a suitable clutch mechanism. The hubV 17, together with the ratchet-wheel J and sprocket,v F, is continuously rotated by a drive-chair;l l8,passing over the sprocket F and the chainpinion E. (See Fig. 2.) The other member ofthe clutch mechanism comprises a sleeve K, keyed to the counter-shaft G, so as to be longitudinally moved thereon, and provided with a dog 19 for engaging the teeth of ratchetwheel J, adjustably bolted to the sleeve to compensate for wear. l The sleeve K is also provided with a cam-shoulder 20, which engages a friction stop-roller 21,mounted on a stud horizontally projecting from plate H. The cam-shoulderQO is provided with a camlug 22. The sleeve K is held with its camshoulder 2O against the roller 21 and moved to bring dog 19 into engagement with ratchet J by acushion-spring 23, interposed between the sleeve and a collar 24, pinned to the shaft. The end of the cam-lug 22 is normally in engagement with the roller 21 to hold the dog 19 out of engagement with the ratchet J, so

IOO

to the yoke-like gate38.

that the Vlatterisfree to Arevolve without 'af fecting the counterfshaft G. vThis shaft remains at a standstill `unless it is first slightly shifted to disengage the cam-lug 22 lfrom the stop-roller 21, so that the dog 19 may be brought into'engagement with vratchet-J lby the spring 23. l v

Weigher-bucket B is hung beneath the ontlet-spout 12 by means of a part 25,-'fulcrumedyl as usual, to the outlet-spout' and furnished@ on one side with a graduating scalefoeamY 26, adjustably secured thereto and normally resting againstastop-lug 27. Side bails 428,'. fastened to the bucket, afford-,fulcrum-seats- 29 for pivotally suspending thel bucket from Ithe part 25. A valve 30curved to'conform to the bucket sides, -is sustained by hangers 31 at pivots Y32 and serves, toclose the open' -bottom of the bucket. This Valve is slightly overhung with reference tov pivots`32, so that it tends always to swing shut inthe contact vwith stop'33, thusikeeping thev bucketbottom closed even against the weight of the accumu` lating load.

A pitman 34 is pivotally Joined at oneend `-.j/foone of the hangers'Sl and at its other endv isprovided witha slot engaging the pin of a' crankfarm 35, which is secured to one end of:

the counter-shaft G. When this shaft beginsto revolve, crank-arm L35 shifts pitman 34;

but owing'to the slot therein valve 30 remains unaffected until the lost motion is'taken up.Iv

Thereupon the pitmanroperates to move the crank-arm 35 proceeds a slight distance far therand then comes temporarily at rest tof await the discharge of thenext'load. At the opposite end of the horizontal counter-shaft G, outside of the sprocket F,-is mounted a crank-arm 36, the pin of which crank-arm engages theslotted lower end of a pitman-37, which is pivotally connected at its upper endv `The gateSS is pivoted, as at 39, on the outside of the elevatorvhead 10 and serves at intervals to close the' vexitspout12for the grain. vthe gate 38 is not only sufficient to hold the The weight of slotted end of pitman 37 against the pin of'y crank-arm 36, but is also sufficient to movel the gate to aolosed fposition as'soon as the Ashaft-Gand crank-arm 36v have Inovedthrough a partial revolutionybut, as shown inlFig. 2,y when the gate is in its normal open position.y

vthe crankarm 36is adjacent itsdead-centerf and in vorder that the weight of the gate may b e' brought in to operation to close it the shaft G must receive an initial partial rotation.

ter-shaft.

Between the hub ofgicrank-arm and hub` 1-7 on the counter-shaft'G'is afriction-washer 40, which is preferably of leather or similar yielding material.k This'friction-washer is' firmlypressedjagainstthe collar 17 (which is .isheld against stop-roller 21) and the collarrv 24, which, as shown, is located 'slightly apart :held .againstLlongitudinal movementfbyfthefV y if bearing-block 1-5) by the'h ub of crank-arm 36,"

from the bearing-block 14 in order that such vpressure upon:thefrictionfwasher 40 may be effective. ,(See Fig.`4.) By this means cony siderable friction is developed between Vthe continuously-rotating hub 17 and the hub of y f crankv-arm 36 and'is sufficient to impart'to the counter-shaft G an initial partal'rotation if the latter isr free to move.-

of the counter-shaft G, which stop is normally jected, as shown, from bucketB, and-thereby retains the shaft G at a standstill.

l Adog or stop-arm. `41'is mounted on a hub 42, vsecured to the endr The stoparm 41 is so located with referencevto the camf.

lug 22 that whe'nfit is retainedstationary by the trip-off 43ftheend of the cam-lug engages the stop-roller 21,-,thus holding thefdog19 out of engagementlwith the ratchet J. rvOncegthe jbucketis loaded it prom ptly overbalances the vscale-heartland turns vdown far venoughfor i f Counter-shaft "G thus stands released and experiences a mithe trip-off 43 to clear stop 41.

nor impulse forward dueto rthefriction'between ythecontinuouslyfrotating Jhub 1,7 and thehub of crank-arm k'36. This `impulse is sufficientv to disengage :the cam-lug 22h-om.

the stop-roller 21and-the dog119 is immediately-thrownfinto the path of the teeth of the revolving ratchet-wheel J, and the shaft G -thereupon proceeds'toy describe-a ysingle revolution. The cam-lug on the spring-pressed clutch member K'm'ay also, ifdesiredybe arranged to coperate with the roller 2l Ato assist' in giving this minorimpulse; to thercoun- With the movement of theshaft thespout-gate 38 commences to close Vby', its

own weight, and the parts are so related that a slight Eforward motio'n'ofthe crank-shaft is sufficient to` enable the gate to completely close the opening of the 'spout A12. The pin of the crank-arm 36J then [moves for about a onehalf revolution inactive'inthe slot ofthe pitman 37 until it finally engages ntl1e-upper end of the slot andrestores thegate through the medium of vpitman 37 .to its'inormal open position. 'Mea'nwhile the pitman 35 has 4opened and closed t-he 'buck'et-'bottoun The movements .ofthe spout-gate and the'bucket- 'bottom valve are readily timedandybesides, are very rapid', so that practicallythebucket receives no late excessl and @loses no premature surplus grain. -When thel'bottom-,Valve 30 'begins toI open,the bucket-weight is at once lessened and-the counterpoise proceeds to lift-the bucketto normal position. This movement restoresthe-trip-o -43-to the path IIS I ZOW/ counters at the end of the single revolution of the crank-shaft Gr.A Simultaneouslythe f organization are thus assured.

,- the bucket-valve.

cam-lug 22 engages the stop-roller 21 and withdraws the dog 19 from the teeth of the ratchet J, while the encounter of stops 41 and` 43 at once brings shaft G to a standstill. A link 44, pivoted at its ends to bucket B and elevator-tube A, prevents the bucket from swaying as it moves up and down.

A tally-box L is mounted upon one of lthe elevator-tubes A and is operated by a shaft 45, journaled in a bearing on the end of a lug 46, which lug projects from the frame H'. Shaft 45 is provided with a worm-gear 47, which engages a Worm 4S upon the hub 42. By this means the shaft 45 isv intermittently rotated by the Weigher-operating mechanism.

The location of the counter-shaft beneath the head and between the elevator-tubes enables said shaft to easily control by its terminal connections both the spout-gate and The stop-block is carried by the shaft `torencounter the trip projected from the bucket?, `while the tally is inimmediate connection with the actuating-worm on the shaft. Compactness and simplicity of The chaindrive for the counter-shaft allows for ready readjustment of the elevator-chain, the shift of cross-axle D for such purpose being eifected by means of the bracket-,plates 13.

Obviously the details of structure can be followed according to the mechanics skill without departure from the essentials of the improvement.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

, valvedV bottom, of mechanism for operating said spout-gate and said bucket-bottom valve comprising a rotatable shaft, clutch members, one keyed to and the other loose on said shaft, for throwing the latter into operation intermittently, a fixed, rigid stop for holding one of said clutch members out of engagement With the other, suitable means for imparting a slight initial movement to said mechanism for disengaging said clutch member from said stop, a trip-off operated by the bucket and a stop on said mechanism governed thereby.

2. 4In automatic Weighers, the combination with an outlet-spout having a control-gate and a counterbalanced Weigher-bucket having a valved bottom, of mechanism for operating said spout-gate and said bucket-bottom valve comprisinga rotatable shaft, clutch members, one keyed to and the other loose on said shaft, for throwing the latter into operation int-ermittently, one of said clutch members being spring-pressed, a camming-surface on said spring-pressed clutch member cooperating with a fixed, rigid stop, a trip-off operated by the bucket and a stop on said mechanism governed thereby.

3. In automatic Weighers, the combination with an outlet-spout havinga control-gate and with a counterbalanced Weigher-bucket having a valved bottom, of a rotatable shaft having operative connections with said spoutgat-e and said bucket-bottom valve, a continuously-rotating clutch member loose on said a valved bottom, of a counter-shaft provided with operating connections joined to theh spout-gate and to the bucket-bottom valve, respectively, a continuously-driven clutch member loose on said shaft, a second, longitudinally movable clutch member keyed thereto and provided with a cam-lug normally engaging a iixed stop, suitable means for giving an initial'partial revolution to the counter-shaft, a trip-off operated by the bucket and a stop on said shaft governed thereby, substantially as described.

5. In automatic Weighers, the combination With the outlet-spout having a control-gate and the counterpoised Weigher-bucket having a valved bottom, of a counter-shaft provided with operating connections joined to the spout-gate and to the bucket-bottom valve, respectively, a continuously-driven ratchetwheel loose on said shaft, a longitudinallymovable, spring-pressed sleeve keyed on said shaft, provided with a dog for engaging said ratchet-wheel and with a cam-lug coperating with a fixed stop for holding the dog out of engagement with said Wheel,suitable means for giving an initial partial revolution to the lcounter-shaft for disengaging the cam-lug from said stop, a trip-off operated by the `bucket and a stop on said shaft governed thereby, substantially as described.

6. In automatic Weighers, the combination with the elevator-tubes, the elevator-head connecting said tubes and provided with a cross-axle for the endless belt, the outletspout having a control-gate and With the counterpoised Weigher-bucket provided With IOO engaging a Xed. rig'id stop for'holding the clutch members apart, suitable means for imparting an initial partial revolution to the counter-shaft, a trip-ofE-operated by the Y`bucket and a stop on, said shaft governed thereby, substantially as described.

7. In lautomatic Weighers, the combination with an outlet-spout having a control-gate and with acounter'poised Weigher-buckethaving a valved bottom, of a rotatable shaft operatively connected to said spout-gate and to-said bucket-bottom valve, a clutch member carried by said shaft and rotatable therewith, a

stop for holding said clutch member in its disengaged position, means for imparting an ini-l tial partial revolution `to said shaft for disengagin g said clutch member from said stop, said means comprising a continuously-rotating part loose on saidshaft and a friction-surface carried by said shaft and engaging said continuously-rotatin g part, atri-p-o operated bythe bucket and a stopcarried by said shaft governed thereby: l

8. In automatic weighers, the combination with the outlet-spout having a control-gate and with the counter-poised Weigher-bucket having a valved bottom, of a counter-shaft having operating connections joined to the ,p spout-gateand to the bucket-bottom valve, a'

y clutch member vmoll'ln'te'd' on'saidfv shaft and normally held in its disengaged position bya -cam-lug/coperating with a fixed stop,suitable means forimpartin g an initial partial revolnf tion to the counter-shaft comprising av con-A tin noiiSly-rotatin g part loose on said shaft and a friction-surface spring-pressed againstsaidr continuously-rotatin g part,a trip-olf operated by the bucket and a stop on said shaft governed thereby, substantially as described.

9. In automatic Weighers, the combination .with the outlet-spout having a control-gate and with the counterpoised weigher-bucket provided with a'valved bottom, of a countershaft having operating connections join'edto the spoutgate andfto the bucket-'bottom valve, a contin uously-rotating part loose upon the counter-shaft, a longitudinally-'movable `clutch member keyed to said shaft and kprovided With a cam-lug normally engaging a fixed stop, a friction-washer interposed between said continuously-rotating part and a collar ixed to said shaft, a trip-off operated-, .by the bucket and a-stop en said shaft gov erned thereby,y substantially as described.

Y FBNK C. STUGKEL. Witnesses: l/ 1 EDWIN ERUSSELL', WYNN W. SCOTT.

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