GB959849A - Improvements in vibrator apparatus for the surface treatment of workpieces - Google Patents

Abstract

959,849. Vibratory surface treatment. ROTO-FINISH Ltd. Nov. 26, 1962 [Dec. 14, 1961], No. 44894/61. Heading B3D. [Also in Division B8] Vibrator apparatus for the surface treatment of workpieces comprises a resiliently mounted, axially elongated trough for containing the workpieces in a particular solid medium, means for imparting vibrations to the trough to cause abrasion of the workpieces by the particulate medium, said vibrations having components normal to the trough axis vertically and transversely thereof, and movable baffle means which extend within the trough and are adapted to effect movement of workpieces along the trough at a constant or substantially constant rate. A trough 1 having part spherical ends 3 is mounted by springs 13 on a base frame 5 and vibrated by a motor 15 mounted on the underside of the trough. Above the trough and disposed longitudinally thereof is mounted an endless conveyer comprising spaced parallel chains 19 passing round idler sprockets on a transverse shaft 26 and round drive sprockets on a transverse shaft 22 driven, through chains 49, by a motor 39. The chains 19 are interconnected by transverse, heavy duty stay bars 29 rigidly supporting transverse vanes 31 longitudinally spaced along the length of the conveyer and extending normal to the chains 19. Each vane is shaped in the form of the cross-section of that part of the trough intermediate the part spherical ends thereof. The vanes are arranged in successive pairs with the vanes of each pair rigidly interconnected at 33. Between the vanes of each pair is freely rotatably mounted on a shaft 34 a blade 35 extending normal to the vanes. The vanes and trough are lined with abrasion resistant material, e.g. rubber, neoprene &c., and appropriate clearance is allowed between the vanes and trough to minimize wear. Each vane 31 is formed with apertures 37 allowing the passage therethrough of medium but preventing the passage of workpieces. At the end of the trough 1 where the vanes enter the trough is a cowling 51 having an opening 53 through which medium is supplied to the trough. At the other end of the trough is formed a discharge lip 55 over which workpieces and medium discharged from the trough pass to a separator 63 of vibrated screen or magnetic type and including a spray washer and cold air blower. The separated out medium is fed by a bucket elevator 65 to a hopper having a discharge shoot 67 which returns it through the opening 53 to the trough. Spray lines 57 located above the trough on opposite sides of the conveyer supply liquid compound which passes through drainage holes in the bottom of the trough to a tank 59 having a recirculating pump 61. For treating comparatively large workpieces, e.g. the hollow body portion of a diesel fuel injection pump measuring some 8 inches in length and 3¢ inches in diameter, the medium comprises ceramic chips of prismatic shape having a # inch approximately triangular crosssection and a length of about # inch, and the liquid compound comprises water together with a soluble compound having an alkaline and a soap content serving to keep the medium clean and to break down oils on the surface of the workpieces. Workpieces are inserted near the edge of cowling 51 between interconnected vanes 31, one workpiece being inserted on each side of the blade 35. The rotary cascade motion imparted to the medium and workpieces effects rotation of the blades 35 which ensures that the two workpieces between each pair of vanes are kept apart. The longitudinal spacing of the vanes is 6 inches. In a modification, Fig. 5, for treating comparatively small workpieces, the vanes 31 are not interconnected in pairs. Two troughs are provided, the flow of their contents being in opposite directions. At the ends of the troughs, between the outlet of one and the inlet of the other, are mounted return conveyers each in the form of a vibratory table provided intermediate its ends with a transverse screen permitting passage therethrough of medium but -preventing passage of workpieces. Workpieces are supplied to the inlet end of each trough and with the medium pass along the length of the trough and thence to the cross-conveyer where they are separated from the medium at the transverse screen. The medium flows continuously through one trough, the crossconveyer at the outlet end of the trough, the other trough and the other cross-conveyer. The apparatus is fitted with a liquid compound recirculation system similar to that already described. In either embodiment, instead of the conveyer, there may be used screw feed means comprising a shaft on which extends a helical blade of diameter about # that of the trough width. The pitch of the blade may vary between 2 inches and 20 inches.