US938594A - Hog-scraper. - Google Patents

Description

J. P. LAWSON.

HOG SGRAPBR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7, 1907.

Patentedv Nov. 2, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

u. F. LAWSON. HOG SCRAPER. APPLICATION FILED s EPT. 7, 1907. @88,59% Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

` J. P. LAWSON.

HUG SGRAPER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7., 1907.

' Patented Nov. 2, 1909, SSHBETS-SHEET 3.

ulvwyn UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEErcE.

JAMES F. LAWSON, `OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 CINCINNATI BUTCHEBS SUPPLY COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

Hoescimmia Specification of Letters ilatent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

Application led September 7, 1907. Serial No. 891,783.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES F. LAWSON, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Cincinnati, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hog-Scrapers; and I odo declare the following to be a clear, full, and exact description of the invention, attention being called to the accompanying two sheets of drawings, with the reference characters marked thereon, which form also a partof this specilication.

This invention relates to certain improvements in hog-Scrapers, meaning thereby devices whereby in slaughter-houses the hair is removed from the carcasses of killed hogs. The hogs are usually scalded first toA facilitate this operation.

One of the features of the invention is the` provision of auxiliary scraping devices, by which the hair is removed from such parts of the hog which ordinarily are not readily accessible to the general scraping-device ofl the apparatus.

Another feature is the combination andarrangement of all these scraping devices in a general frame so as to produce a compact apparatus of which all parts properly co-act.

Other features relate to the particular construction of certain parts which is such as to obtain efficiency and durability.

. In the following specification and particularly pointed out in the claims at the end thereof, will be found a full description of my invention, together with its operation, parts and construction, which latter is also illustrated in the accompanying two sheets of drawings, in which Figure l, is a side-elevation of the hegscraper, parts being broken away or shown in section to facilitate illustration. Fig. 2, is a top-view of the device,- it being shown completely lengthwise, but transversely only somewhat beyond the longitudinal centerline. Fig. 3, shows a portion of Fig. l, in longitudinal section, it being more particularly the finishing-scraper. Fig. 4, is an end-view of the scraper, it being more particularly the front or receiving end. Fig. 5, is a vertical cross-section between the ends of the apparatus, it being taken more particuvby means of a hook,

larly between the rear-end of the general scraping-device and of the auxiliary scraper thereat. Fig. 6, shows the rear-end of the apparatus complete. Fig. 7,.shows a portion of Fig. 2, but complete transversely, it being top-views of the auxiliary scraping-dcvices and a horizontal section of the main 'scraping-device between them. F igs.- 8 and 9, are enlarged side-views and Fig. 10, is an edge-view of a portion of one of the scraperarms of the main scraping-device, showing inv detail the construction of their pivotal supports, also the means whereby they are yieldingly held in their normal position, the means shown in Fig. 9, being modified as against those shown in Fig. 8. Fig. l1, is a cross-section of a scraper-arm near its free end, showing the scraper-blade thereat. Fig. l2, is an enlarged sectional detail-view of parts of the preliminary scraper. 13, shows in perspective view a part of the finishing-scraper.

The usual procedure in slaughter-houses where such Scrapers are used is substantially as follows: The hogs after being stuck and bled are dropped into a vat containing hotwater in which they are immersed and scalded. Next the carcasses are lifted out and dumped upon a receiving platform, where, they are attached to a carrier, which is usually a chain, and where-- by they are bodily pulled through the scraping-device. During this movement they come in contact with the scraping means which remove .the hair. After this, the carcasses arrive upon a rear or discharge platform where they are detached and removed.

During this procedure I provide for a preliminary scraping which the carcasses receive before going through the main scraping-device and I further add a nishingscraping which is applied afterthe carcasses have been subjected to the'action of the main sera ing-device. The means whereby these auxi iary .actions are applied are located on lthe receiving and discharge-platforms respectively, with the main scraping-device located4 between them.

In the drawing, A is the receiving platform upon whichthe carcasses are delivered from the scalding-vat., which latter, aswell f as the means for delivering them thereon, are omitted. A carcass as soon as it arrives, is at once attached by means of a customary hook 15, to one of the links of an endless carrier-chain B, supported on chain-wheels b-b. The upper branch of this chain travels'in a slotted channel 16, whereby it is supplorted and guided. The lower branch of t e chain is supported on ide-pulleys 17. The carcass while moving into position, see dotted lines in Fig. 7, is at once subjected to the action of the preliminary scrapingdevice C. From here it is drawn, head-foremost, through the main scrapliln device lD, and thereafter through the is ing-device E, after which it arrives upon the rear or discharge latform F, where it is detached from the c ain, usually automatically, and removed.

The main scraper consists of a cylindrical shell, in ,two sections d d, and suitably supported. They may be hinged at one of their edges, preferably their lower ones 18, 18. In the normal position as shown in Fig. 5, the upper edges of these sections come toether, forming then substantially a cyliner. `From this shell project inwardly toward thev center, a number of scraper-arms G, arranged in longitudinal as well as in circumferential rows. At its free end each arm carries a scraper-blade g, and the arms are alternatingly arranged as to location and terminate so that the edges of their blades occupy positions around an imaginary tubular space as best shown in Figs. 5 and 7, so that a carcass, when forced length-wise through this space, is practically surrounded by the edges of scraper-blades. `At the same time the size of this space, diametrically considered, is smaller than the smallest carcass, so that this latter, while being pulled through this s ace has to overcome the resistance of the yieldingly supported scraper-arms with the scraper-blades, which latter are thus caused to bear close against the carcass and, adjusting themselves to the size and contour of this atter, remain in scraping contact with it until the same has passed through the device (see Fig. 7 Excepted from this` contact vis the under-side of the carcass next to the carrier-chain, where, by reasonof the presence of this latter, and its guidechannel, it is impossible to provide scraperblades. This under side however, it being usually the belly of the hog, is taken care of by blades -c, ofthe preliminary scraper C, whichdo their work before the carcass is in sition to move through the scraper D, as st shown in Fig. 7. These blades c,

are attached to cross-'bars 19, see Fig. 12,V

carried by endless chains 21, supported on chain-wheels 22, and move in a direction4 oppositeto the one in which the carcass trave These blades are ls,- see also Figi. 1. carried on alternate inks of the chains and stam between them are bars 23, preferably of wood, attached to intermediate links of the chains, which prevent a carcass from sinking in too deep between the scra .r-blades, while passing over them. The e ges of these latter project above these bars sufficiently for the purpose, and they are arranged alternate y` transversely, so that all parts of the belly are subject to their action.

Scraper-arms G, of the main scraping device A, are shaped as best `shown in Fig. 7,

see also Figs. 8, and 9, they vbeing curved rearwardly from their bearings H, in which they are pivotally supported vnear their outer en s.

The scraper-blades g, have square notches whereby they straddle these arms at their free, inner ends, the arms being lformed thereat with opposite fiat surfaces to fit these notches, there y holding the blades, against wabbling. Shoulders are formed at these ends, and a ainst which the blades rest, as shown in Fig. 11, bolts being used to hold them in position.

Bearings H, which sup ort these arms are secured to the outside of) the scraper shell,

, the arms extending inwardl through closely fitting slots 24, in thel she l. Thefsides of these slots form thus guideways which, in connection with bearings H, which straddle these slots, as best shown in Fig. 10, hold the arms during their operation to a Vtrue motion, -so that each scra er-blade is held to swing in its intended ra ial path without interference with any of the others, maintaining also at all times the correct position of its scraping edge with reference to the carcass, so that only the strai ht part of this edge comes in contact wit the same, and to the exclusion of the corners of the blade which would dig into and tear the skin. Observe these positions in Fig. 5. Helical springs 25, are used, sleevednl upon rods 26, -to maintain these arms in their normal position as shown in Fi 5, see also Fi 7. Nuts 27, are provide on these ro s against which one end of the springs bear, and by which their resistance may be vadjusted. The other ends of the springs, in the form shownfin Fig. 8, rest against bearing H, rod 26 passing through an opening in said bearin and with its end is connecte to the free'en of the scraper-arm.

In the form shown in Fig. v9, rod 26 passes through an opening in the end of the scraperarm, the spring bearing directly against the arm. In this latter case rod 26 must be held in a fixed position for which purpose va bearing 28, is provided. Since springs change in condition, regulating means are require whereby any such variations may be comensated for, so that each arm returns with its blade always to its ropernormal position with reference to t e other blades, (see Fig. 5).

In Fig. 8, a regulating screw-29, is used for this purpose, thesame being seated in bearing H, and limits with its end, against which the end of the scraper-arm bears, the action of thespring.

In Fig. 9,nuts 31-31, regulate the position of rod 26, on its bearing 2,8. In this figure there is also shown a short spring 32, held on extended rod 26,-by a nut 33, Ywhich however `has no operative function and merely serves to cushion arm G, when the same, suddenly released, darts back to its normal position. Such.l a cushion-,spring may also be applied in the form shown in Fig. 8. Either one of these two forms of spring-support shown in Figs. Sand 9, may be used, but since both forms extend considerably beyond the bearings of arms G, an exception must be made in the case of the arms supported near the endsof the shell, where at one end the other form must be used to prevent the projection of the springs beyond the end of the shell, which is not desirable. A glance at Fig. 7, will render this clear, the form shown in Fig.-8, being used, with the exception of the arms near the rear end ofthe shell, where the other` form is used because in it the springs extend inwardly. l

As' before stated, the sections of the shell are hingedly attached and may be swung apart as shown in Fig. 4, to permit free access tof the interior in case of an accident, to permit removal of a carcass, if necessary, also for repair. Winding-drums 34, connected by chains 35, to each section and mounted on a winding shaft 36, serve to draw the sections together after being opened. A crank 37 is used for this manipulation and a ratchet wheel 38, in connection with a pawl 39, serves to hold the chains wound up. These latter have swivel joints for proper adjustment. The shell may be thrown open instantly by disengaging the pawl and releasing the crank-handle. A locking-pin 41, is used in addition, to hold the sections together. It occupies openings in two tongues 42, projecting from the edge of one section and also an opening in the edge of the other section, which opening registers with the openings in the ktongues when said edge is in proper position between them. There are in addition braces 43, connected with one of their ends to the shell-sections and with the other to available parts of the surrounding frame-structure. They have knuckle-joints between their ends and when the shell is to be opened, they are collapsed as shownin Fig. 4. I They drop slightly beyond a straight line when the shell is closed and become then rigid braces Vresisting lateral stress of the shell, as best shown in Fig. 5. There is also an end-brace 44, attached to the frame-structure and against which the larger part of the' 53, is the shaft of the rear-edge of the shell bears, thus counteracting the strain resulting from the pull of carrier-chain B.

While operation in the scraper proceeds, water is constantly discharged into it and over the scraping-blades and onto the passing carcasses, to keep them clear of hair which, together with thefwater, passes out through the opening in the lower part of the shell and between the hinged edgesof the sections thereof. This water discharges from nozzles 45, which extend into the shell through openings at the edges of the sections thereof and The discharge from the shell-drops rst into an inclined trough J, the perforated bottom of which forms a strainer j, which retains the hair, while the waterruns into a tank K, from whence, by a pump c, it is lifted again and supplied to the discharge-nozzles.

v The shell sections presenting extensive. practically solid surfaces, are very useful inasmuch as they serve to confine and concentrate the force of the water so that the interior is subjected to-an effective flushing which is particularly desirable to the scraper-blades and prevents accumulation of hair. To keep the any water which might possibly splash through slots 24, in the shell, I provide an outer casing L, on each side.

The hair left on-strainer j, is constantly issupplied from a ipe 46.

surroundings clear from removed as soon as deposited by a traveling rake M, consisting of a chain 47, to which the rake-arms 48, are attached in a manner to extend transversely across the strainer.

As soon as a carcass emerges from the shell of main-'scraper D, it is immediately subjected to the action of another auxiliary scraper E, which removes hair not previously removed. This device consists of revolving scraper heads supported in any suitable number on both sides of chain B. I show two heads e e, which are supported below the carrier-chain and one head e', supported above the chain. They consist. substantially of flaps 49, which are studded with scraperbits 51, (see Fig. 13). Flaps 49, are constructed of a suitable material and connected in a manner by bolts, hinges or otherwise to have an elastic yielding action. The heads are arranged in pairs, each pair mounted on a shaft with a head on each side of the chain. 52, 52, are the shafts of the lower heads and upper head.

The iiaps of the lower heads extend radially from their connected ends and their bits operate from below upwardly against the lower part of the sides of the carcass and catch also the end of the same asbest shown in Fig. The flaps of the upper heads ex- 'tend laterally'inwardly from the arms of circular frames 54,y mounted on upper shaft 53, and their scraper-bits act principally against the sides of the carcass as best shown in Fig. 7. There are however additional [laps between these upper heads whlch act also against the upper side ofthe carcass.

`This upper set of scraper-heads is yieldingly supported to accommodate carcasses of various sizes for which purpose the bearings of its shaft 58, are formed in the free ends of links 55, which are hingedly connected to an upper-shaft 57, on whlch they swing. The set is supported in a normally lowest position, suitable for the smallest carcasses b posts 58, upon which the ends of its sha rest.

Since it is objectionable to bend the fiaps too close to their connected ends, which would occur in case of their contact with a larger carcass, curved fender-bars 59, are provided and connected so as to lift head e', before the bending strain on the flaps becomesexcessive. They are encountered by the carcass and lift head e', corresponding to the size of the former. A preferable construction is to also hin e them to shaft. 57, and connect them to lins 55, by a cross-bar 56, so that a connected frame is formed, all parts of which move together (including also shaft 53). There are also guards G0,

alongside and parallel to chain B, which' limit the contact of thel carcass with the flaps of the lower heads for the same purpose. After passed through these scraperheads the operation is finished and the carcass arrives upon the rear platform F, where it is disengaged from chain B, usuall automatically and removed. This plat orm is convex, dropping off toward its edges where curbs f, f, are provided which form gutters -on each s1de to catch any water which may still drain from the carcasses.

The operative parts of the apparatus may be actuated by suitable machine elements in various ways, the details not being important. I drive by means of amain pulley N, sec Figs. l, and 6, mounted on a main drive shaft a. This latter operates a shaft O, by means of a chain o. Shaft O, drives a shaft l), by means of a gear-train p, interposed to obtain proper speed relations.

Shaft P, operates the carrier-chain B, one of the chain pulleys Z) of the same being mounted on this shaft below the outer end of rear platform F. The otherchai'n-,pulley b, is mounted on a shaft Q, under the front end of receiving platform A. This shaft by means of a gear-train q, operates a shaft R, which b`y means of' a chain 1',l actuates auX- iliary scraper C. Pump k, is operated by a chain-connection S, driven direct from shaft n. Traveling rake M, is driven by a chain connection T, from shaft O.

The finishing scraper is actuated from main shaft a, by means of a crossed chain V, which drives shaft 52, of the nearest of the scraperblades in -lower scraper-heads, shaft near one of its ends. Another chain W, near the opposite end drives shaft 52, of the other one of the lowerheads. From here chain X, drives shaft 57, which latter by means of the upper scraper-head.

All parts of the apparatus are supported on a frame suitably constructed to suit the purpose.

Having described my invention, I claim as new:

1. In a hog-scraping a bination of a horlzontal open at both ends, platforms, one opposite paratus, the conieach of these ends, a general frame-structure whereby all these parts are combined and supported, a carrier-chain adapted to continuously move over these latforms and through the shell, yielding y supported scra er-blades arranged to travel in a plane in a inement with one of the platforms and moving in a direction opposite to the carrier-chain.

2.' In a hog-scraping apparatus', the com- 90 bination of a horizontal y supported shellv open at both ends, platforms, one opposite` each of these ends, a general frame-structure whereby all these parts are combined and supported, a carrier-chain adapted to 95 continuously move over these latforms and through the shell, yielding y supported scraper-blades in this latter and revolving scraper-heads at one end of the shell su ported respectively below and above t e 1( platform.

3..-In a hog-scraping a paratus, the combination of a horizontal y supported shell open at both ends, platforms, one opposite each of these ends, a general frame-struc- 1l ture whereby` al1 these parts are combined and supported, a carrier-chain adapted to continuously move over vthese latforms and through the shell, yielding y supported scraper-blades in this latter and revolving '1 scraper-devices at one end of the shell su ported respectively below and above t e platform. the upper devices being yieldingly` supported.

'4. In a hog-scraping a paratus, the com- 1 bination of a horizontal y esupported shell open at both ends, platforms, one opposite each of these ends, a general frame-struct-ure whereby all these' parts are combined and supported, a carrier-chain adapted to 1 move over these platforms and through the shell, yieldingly supported scraper-blades in this latter, a set of scraper-blades at one end of the shell arran ed to travel in av plane in alinement with t e platform thereat and 1 moving in a direction opposite to the carrier-chan, and revolving scraper-heads at the other end of the shel supported respecconnecting to said '66 a chain Y, drives shaft 53, of 70 y supported shell this latter and a set of .tively below and above theplatform. all

these devices being adapted to act upon a carcass while the same is cont-inuously moving from one` to the other.

5. In a hog-scrapmg apparatus, the combination of a horizontally supported shell provided with scraping means and arranged in two vertically divided sections which have their lower, opposite edges spaced apart and each hingedly connected, means to manipulate them for opening and closing and means to hold them in closed position.

(5. In a hog-scraping apparatus, the combination of a horizontally supportedshell provided with scraping means and arranged in two sections, hinged at their lowery edges with a space between them, means to supply water from above to flush the interior of the shell and its contents, a strainer below the space between the hinged edges of the shellsections which receives the wash-out from the shell directed into it by this latter, a

traveling rake to remove the deposit from the strainer and a tank below this latter.

7. In a hog-scraping apparatus, the combination of a horizontally supported shell provided with openings in its wall, a slotted channel passing length-wise through the shell, a carrier-chain arranged to move through this channel, scraper-arms all of equal length occupying the openings in the shell and extending' outwardly and inwardly therefrom and terminating with their inner ends near the channel in the shell, bearings on the outsideof the shell in which these arms are pivotally supported, scraper-blades at their inner ends and springs connected to their outer ends to hold the scraper-blades in a certain normal position.

4. ln a hog-scraping apparat-us, the combination of movable scraping-means adapted to travel in a linear scraping-bath, stationary scraping-means yieldlngly supported, revolving scraping-means moving in a rotary scraping-path, a frame-structure on which all these devices are supported means to continuously move a carcass Soas to cause the same to be subjected to the action of all these scraping-means.

9. In a hog-scraping apparatus, the'combination of a horizontally arranged shell open at both ends. yieldingly supported scraper-blades therein, revolving scraping means at one end of the shell, a frame-structure on which both these devices are supported and means to continuously move a carcass so as to cause the same to be subjected tothe action of the scraping-blades and of the revolving scraping means.

10. In a hog-scraping apparat-us, the combination of a horizontally supported shell open at both ends and in its lower part, scraping devices arranged therein in spaced longitudinal rows, means to move a carcass through between these rows, a water-supplyl pipe parallel to the opening in the lower part of the shell and above the same, discharge nozzles extending therefrom to lushthe interior of the shell and meansl below the o cn- 4ing of this latter to receive the washout thererom. l

`11. 1n ahog-scraping apparatus, the combination of yieldingly supported scraperarms made of rectangular rods and shaped to ha ve shoulders extending at an angle from theiry free ends, scraper-blades seated against4 the shoulders and notched to straddle the arms, said notches being rectangular and fitted close to two opposite, parallel surfaces of the arm to prevent-the'blades from turning thereon and means to hold the blades against this shoulder.

12. In a hog-scraping apparatus, the combination of a scraper-blade having a straight scraping edge with rounded corners, a rectangular notch in the opposite edge, a scraper-arm being shaped to have opposite, parallel surfaces blade is mounted on the arm, there being also a shoulder on the end of this arm against which the latter lies so as to occupy an angular position with reference to the arm, means to hold the blade to this shoulder, and means supporting the arm in a manner to hold it to a yielding movement in a fixed plane at right angles to the scraping-edge so that scraping contact is limited to the straight part of the edge only.

13. In a hog-scraping apparatus, the combination of a carrier-chain ada ted to move carcasses, a rotaryscraping device supported above the same and yieldingly connected fender-bars also supported above the carrierchain and extending into the path of a moving carcass, t-hese bars being also operatively when acted upon by a automatically adjust scraping device.

14. In a hog-'scraping appara-tus, the combination of scraping devices, an inclined platform extending from one end .of the apparatus, it being convex between its lon itudinal edges and provided with a slot in its highest part between these edges and parallel to them, a carrier-chain adapted to move past the scraping devices and through the slot mentioned and curbson each of the longitudinal edges of the plat-form.

15. In a hog-scraping apparatus, the compassmg carcass, they the yposition ofthe bination of a horizontally supported shell composed of two substantially semitubular sect-ions, each hingedly connected at one of its longitudinal edges, flexible means to draw these sections together when t-he shell is open and means to hold them in closed position.

' 16. In a hog-scraping apparatus, the combination of a shell composed of two, substantially semitubular sections, each hingedly connected at one of its longitudinal edges, a

fitted to this notch when the connected to the scraping device so thatv I ioposite portions of the general frame and Witnesses:

gener-l frame upon which the shell is hori- In testimony whereof hereunto aix my v zontal-ly supported fand joilsted braces,fea:ll signature in the presence of two witnesses. connecte at one o vits en to one o t sections of the shell and at its other end to JAMES F LAWSON pted, when extend to hold the shell- C. Summa,

sectlons in closed position. T. L BEAN. l

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