US2040157A - Mechanism for delivering material - Google Patents

Description

May 12, 1936. E. 5. STORY ET AL MECHANISM FOR DELIVERING MATERIAL Filed Aug. 10, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet l y 12, 1936- E. B. STORY ET AL MECHANISM FOR DELIVERING MATERIAL Filed Aug. 10, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO iii-gm y 1936- E. B. STORY ET AL MECHANISM FOR DELIVERING MATERIAL Filed Aug. 10, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 12, 1936.

E. B STORY ET'AL MECHANISM FOR DELIVERING MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 10, 1932 58 jg 5 l4 3 Patented May 12, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DIECHANISM FOR DEIJVEBING Application August 10,

18 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to mechanism for delivering material, and more particularly to mechanism for enabling controlled delivery of material in a more or less continuous stream.

' The invention relates still more particularly to mechanism for delivering material from a receptacle in a stream of substantially constant crosssection so that the rate of delivery is substantially constant.

In certain of its more specific aspects the invention relates to pouring material, such as liquid or semi-liquid material, from a receptacle, as by tilting the receptacle, and controlling the rate of pour. The rate of pour is preferably controlled by the weight of the material being poured.

It is often desirable to deliver material in a more or less continuous stream at a controlled rate. For certain purposes it is particularly desirable to deliver material in a continuous stream of substantially constant cross-section so that the rate of delivery of the material remains substantially constant. For example, in the manufacture of wrought iron by the Aston. process in which, in one method of procedure, a stream of molten ferrous material is introduced into a bath of molten slag, it is desirable to introduce the ferrous material at a constant rate. This has been found difficult due to the great weight and bulk of the materials and the heavy and cumbersome machinery necessary. In the manufacture of wrought iron by the Aston process it has heretofore been the practice to manually control the rate of pour, as, for example, by controlling by a hand rheostat a motor connected with a tilting receptacle, so as to pour the ferrous material from such receptacle in as nearly uniform a stream as possible by hand control.

We have devised mechanism for delivering material which is particularly well adapted for use in introducing molten ferrous material into a slag bath in the manufacture of wrought iron by the Aston process, but which is also suitable for many other purposes. We provide for automatic control of the rate of delivery of the material so that such rate remains substantially constant without the need of manual control.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings we have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of mechanism for delivering material;

1932, Serial No. 628,125

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an end view of the mechanism shown in Figures 2 and 3; and

Figure 51s a diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of a portion of the mechanism.

Referring more particularly to the drawings. there is provided a base 2 upon which is mounted for longitudinal reciprocatory motion a platform 3 which in turn carries a horizontally rotatable ladle support 4. Carried on the ladle support 4 are trunnion supports 5 which carry a ladle 6 for tilting movement about trunnions I. The tilting of the ladle is eflected by a motor 8 operating through reduction gearing 9. The ladle carries a worm wheel 5| with which meshes a worm 52 carried on a shaft 53 which is connected through a coupling 54 with a shaft 55 leading from the reduction gearing 9. The reduction gearing 9 is connected with the motor 8 by shafts 56 and 51 joined by a coupling 58.

The mechanism just described may be of the type described and claimed in the copending application of Fredrik H. Wille, Serial No. 423,979, filed January 28, 1930. The reciprocation of the platform 3 and the rotation of the ladle support 4 are effected by mechanism not shown in the drawings of this application but fully disclosed in said Wille application. Such mechanism forms no part of the present invention, which is directed more particularly to the rate of delivery of material from the ladle. Therefore, for present purposes the ladle support may be regarded as stationary.

There is provided a standard Ill carrying an upright l I on which is fulcrumed at I2 (Figure 4) a balance beam lit. The longer arm of the beam is toward the right, viewing Figure 2, and such arm carries a poise l4 adapted to travel along the beam, as will presently be described. The shorter arm of the beam is toward the left, viewing Figure 2, and a connection, diagrammatically indicated at l5 (Figure 1), extends from such arm in such manner that the weight of the base 2 and everything carried by it tends to pull down the shorter arm of the beam l3. Such connection may be formed in accordance with usual practice in the scale art. Weights l6 are provided at the end of the right-hand arm of the beam l3 and may be used to counterbalance the weight of the base 2 and the mechanism carried thereby when the ladle 6 is empty so that the beam may be balanced with the poise ll at the zero mark, which is near the right hand end of the beam ll, viewing Figures l and 2. A balancing weight I! is also provided.

.lournallcd in the beam i8 is a screw 'II with which a detent I! carried by the poise II is adapted to cooperate so that upon rotation of the screw the poise will be moved longitudinally of the beam. The screw shaft carries a bevel near which meshes with a bevel gear 2i carried by a cross shaft 22 mounted in the upright ii. The shaft 22 carries gears 23, one at either end, which respectively mesh with gears 24 carried by oppositely disposed shafts 28. One of the shafts 15 carries a hand wheel I and the other carries a sprocket 21. The sprocket 21 is mounted loosely on its shaft and may rotate without rotating the shaft. Splined to such shaft is a clutch member 28 which is operable axially of the shaft by a solenoid 29 and a coil spring 30. The coil spring 30 normally urges the clutch member 28 toward the right, viewing Figure 4. and cnergization of the solenoid draws the clutch member toward the left. In Figure 4 the clutch member is shown in disengaged position, that is, in its left-hand position, where it is held by energization of the solenoid against compression of the spring 30. When the solenoid is dccnergized the spring pushes the clutch member toward the right where it engages the hub 3| oi the sprocket 21, causing the shaft to which the clutch member is splined to rotate with the sprocket.

There is provided a motor 32 which drives,

through suitable reduction gearing, a gear 33.

Meshing with the gear 33 is another gear ll keyed to a shaft 35, which shaft also carries a sprocket 36 connected with the sprocket 21 by a sprocket chain 31. The motor 32 may be a variable speed motor, or provision may be made for changing the gears 33 and 3| so that difierent speeds of rotation may be imparted to the sprocket 36, and consequently to the sprocket chain 81, and the mechanism driven thereby.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 5, the armature oi the motor 8 for tilting the ladle 6 is designated diagrammatically at 3|, the series field at 39, the shunt held at Ill and a resistance in series with the shunt field at Ii. Current is supplied to the motor through power lines l2. Leads 43 lead to a relay 44 so that when the circuit through the leads I3 is closed by the relay a circuit of low resistance in parallel with the relatively high resistance I will be formed, such circuit having the effect of cutting out the resistance H as the current will flow through the leads .3 instead. The relay 44 is connected by leads 5 with a light-sensitive device 46 which may be an ordinary photoelectric cell, or what is commonly known as an "electric eye". A source of light 41 is provided for cooperation with the light-sensitive device and the end 01' the beam is carries a diaphragm 48 which, in the lower position of the beam, interrupts the light rays between the source 01' light and the light-sensitive device.

When the light rays are thus interrupted the light-sensitive device is effective through the relay for closing the circuit through the leads I; which cuts out the resistance ll and causes the motor l to operate at a slower speed. When the beam is in its upper position the circuit through the leads 43 is broken so that the resistance ll becomes eflective, causing the motor 8 to operate at a faster speed.

A typical operation of the mechanism will DOW be described. With the ladle I empty the poise i4 is placed at the zero mark on the scale-beam and the beam is balanced by the addition of a suitable number of weights II and by manipulation of the balancing weightii. A- desired amount of material is then introduced into the ladle I and the beam is balanced after the ladle has thus been filled, such balancing being effected by moving the poise H along the beam until the point of balance is reached. By suitable graduations on the beam the weight of material in the ladle can thus be ascertained.

With the clutch 28 open the motor 32 is then started, such motor being effective through the gears 33 and 34 and the sprocket 36 and sprocket chain 31 for rotating the sprocket 11. The sprocket 21 being loosely carried on its shaft, such shaft does not rotate when the clutch is open. The speed of the motor 32 or the size and relation of the gears 34 and are adjusted to drive the sprocket 21 at a desired speed which will determine, as will presently be described, the rate of unloading of the beam I! when the clutch 28 is engaged, and consequently also, through the other mechanism provided, the rate 01' pouring of material from the ladle 6.

The motor 8 is then started which will commence the tilting operation of the ladle. Unless the ladle has been filled up to its lip, some degree of tilting will be required before the material be- I gins to issue from the lip of the ladle. The operator watches the ladle and as soon as material begins to issue from its lip he deenergizes the solenoid 29, which permits the spring 30 to move the clutch member 28 into engagement with the hub 31 of the sprocket 21. This causes rotation of the shaft upon which the sprocket 21 is mounted, which, in turn, through the corresponding gears 2i and 23, the shaft}! and the bevel gears 2| and 20, causes rotation of the screw I! carried by the beam i3. Rotation of the screw l8 causes movement of the poise I along the beam toward the left, viewing Figure 2. This causes progressive unloading of the beam at the rate at which it is desired to pour material from the ladle 8.

The motor 8 and its cooperative mechanism are so constructed and arranged that the speed of tilting oi the ladle 6 when the resistance 4| is efiective, and consequently at the higher speed of the motor, is slightly greater than the maximum tilting speed required at any time during the pour to deliver material from the ladle at the desired rate, that is to say, at the rate corre sponding to the rate of unloading of the beam l3 by movement of the poise ll therealong, as above described. Likewise, at the lower speed of the motor, that is, when the resistance II is not eil'ective, the speed of tilting of the ladle 6 is slightly less than the minimum tilting speed required at any time during the pour to deliver material from the ladle at the desired rate.

As soon as the material begins to issue from the lip 01 the ladle 6 and the clutch member II has been engaged the ladle will be delivering material at a rate roughly approximating the desired rate of delivery and the poise I will be moving along the beam l3 at precisely the desired rate of delivery. If the rate of pour exceeds the desired rate, that is to say, if the rate of unloading of the ladle exceeds the rate of unloading of the beam, the right-hand arm of the beam, viewing Figure 2, will assume its lower position, which, as above explained, is eil'ective Ior interposing the diaphragm 38 in the path of light passing from the light rays 41 to the light-sensitive device 46,

which, in turn, is effective, through the relay 44, for closing the circuit through the leads It, thus effectively cutting out the resistance ll and reducing the speed of the tilting motor This reduces the rate of issuance of material from the lip of the ladle 8 to a point slightly below the desired pouring rate so that the rate of unloading of the ladle will thereafter be somewhat less than the rate of unloading of the beam. This condition will continue until the weight of the metal in the ladle overbalances the beam, when the right-hand arm of the beam, viewing Figure 2, will assume its upper position, permitting light from the light source 41 to impinge upon the light-sensitive device 40, which is effective, through the relay 4, for opening the circuit through the leads #3, thus effectively throwing in the resistance 4! and speeding up the tilting motor 8. Thus upon each movement of the beam the rate of pour is slightly increased or decreased so that the average rate very closely approaches the desired rate of pour.

Thus the contents of the ladle can be, automatically delivered at substantially a predetermined uniform rate, eliminating manual control. This has the advantages not only of doing away with the human element but also of reducing labor costs. As above mentioned, the mechanism is of particular advantage and utility for use in introducing molten ferrous material into a bath of molten slag in the manufacture of wrought iron by the Aston process in which the rate of introduction of the ferrous material should be as nearly uniform as possible.

The mechanism is equally well adapted for delivery of material at a desired predetermined nonuniform rate. To this end the speed of the motor 32 can be altered during the pour, either manually or automatically.

Instead of manually controlling the solenoid 29 to throw in the clutch 2., operation of such solenoid may be controlled automatically. This would eliminate the need of any manual operation during the pour.

The hand wheel 26 may be used for moving the poise ll along the beam II when the clutch 28 is disengaged. Rotation of the hand wheel causes rotation of its shaft and of the corresponding gear 24 which, through the gear 23 meshing therewith, rotates the shaft 22, the bevel gears 2i and Ill, and consequently the screw it which propels the poise along the beam. When the ladle is being filled with material prior to the pour, the hand wheel 18 may be used to keep the beam in balance and may thus serve to assist in determining the amount of material supplied to the ladle. If the beam is kept in balance, or approximately so, during supply of material to the ladle, this has the advantage that the operator will have advance warning when the amount of material supplied to the ladle nears the desired amount. Such advance warning is of particular advantage when the mechanism is used for the manufacture of wrought iron by the Aston process, as the molten ferrous material may be supplied to the ladle by a tilting ladle carried by an overhead crane, control of which is v relatively dimcult.

Instead of utilizing the light-sensitive device 48 for controlling the tilting motor, suitable electric contacts or other devices may be used which may be directly engaged by the beam l8 upon movement to its upper and lower positions.

While we have shown and described certain present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the same is not limited thereto, but may b== otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. Mechanism for delivering material, comprising delivery means, movable control means, means for exerting on the control means a variable force the rate of change in the effectiveness of which on the control means bears a predetermined relationship to the desired rate of delivery, connections through which a second variable force opposed to the first is exerted on the control means,- the rate of change in the effectiveness of said second force on the control means bearing a predetermined relationship to the actual rate of delivery, and means operable upon movement of the control means in response to said forces when the actual rate of delivery is less than that desired for increasing such actual rate of delivery of material from the delivery means and op erable upon movement of the control means in response to said forces when the actual rate of delivery is greater than that desired for decreasing such actual rate of delivery of material from the delivery means.

2. Mechanism for delivering material, comprising delivery means, control means movable in response to the resultant of two opposed variable forces the rates of change in the effectiveness of which on the control means bear predetermined relationships respectively to the desired and actual rates of delivery, and means operable upon movement of the control means in response to said resultant when the actual rate of delivery is less than that desired for increasing such actual rate of delivery of material from the delivery means and operable upon movement of the control means in response to said resultant when the actual rate of delivery is greater than that desired for decreasing such actual rate of delivery of material from the delivery means.

3. Mechanism for delivering material, comprising a delivery receptacle, movable control means, a. source of energy, means operable by said source of energy to exert on the control means a variable force the rate of change in the effectiveness of which on the control means is proportional to the desired rate of delivery from said receptacle, connections sensitive to the change in the amount of material in said receptacle on delivery of material therefrom to exert on the control means a second variable force opposed to the first the rate of change in the effectiveness of which on the control means is proportional to the actual rate of delivery from said receptacle, and means operable upon movement of the control means in response to said forces when the actual rate of delivery is less than that desired for increasing such actual rate of delivery of material from said receptacle and operable upon movement of the control means in response to said forces when the actual rate of delivery is greater than that desired for decreasing such actual rate of delivery of material from said receptacle.

4. Mechanism for delivering material, comprising a delivery receptacle, movable control means,

a source of energy. means operable by said source of energy to exert on the control means a variable force the rate or change in the effectiveness of which on the control means bears a predetermined relationship to the desired rate of delivery from said receptacle, connections sensitive to the weight 01 material delivered from said receptacle to exert on the control means a second variable force opposed to the first the rate of change in the effectiveness of which on the control means bears a predetermined relationship to the actual rate of delivery from said receptacle, and means operable upon movement of the control means in response to said forces when the actual rate of delivery is less than that desired for increasing such actual rate of delivery 01' material from said receptacle and operable upon movement of the control means in response to said forces when the actual rate of delivery is greater than that desired for decreasing such actual rate of delivery of material from said receptacle. I

5. Mechanism for delivering material, comprising a tiltable delivery receptacle, movable control means, a source of energy, means operable by said source of energy to exert on the control means a variable force the rate of change in the effectiveness of which on the control means bears a predetermined relationship to the desired rate of delivery from said receptacle, connections sensitive to delivery of material from said receptacle to exert on the control means a second variable force opposed to the first the rate of change in the effectiveness of which on, the control means bears a predetermined relationship to the actual rate of delivery from said receptacle, and means operable upon movement of the control means in response to said forces when the actual rate ofdelivery is less than that desired for increasing the rate of tilting of the receptacle and operable upon movement of the control means in response to said forces when the actual rate of delivery is greater than that desired for decreasing the rate of tilting of the receptacle.

6. Mechanism for delivering material, comprising a delivery receptacle, control means movable by the resultant of a predeterminedly eifective independently applied variable force and an independently variable iorce opposed to said first mentioned force and bearing a predetermined relationship to the rate of delivery of material from said receptacle, and means operable upon movement of the control means in response to said resultant when the actual rate of delivery is less than that desired for increasing such actual rate 01 delivery of material from said receptacle and operable upon movement oi the control means in response to said resultant when the actual rate oi delivery is greater than that desired for decreasing such actual rate of delivery of material from said receptacle.

7. Mechanism for delivering material, comprising a delivery receptacle, connections operable in predetermined relationship to the rate of delivery of material from said receptacle, control means movable by the resultant of a predeterminedly eii'ective independently applied variable force and an independently variable force opposed to said first mentioned force and controlled by said connections, and means operable upon movement 01' the control means in response to said resultant when the actual rate of delivery is less than that desired for increasing such actual rate of delivery of material from said receptacle and operable upon movement of the control means in response to said resultant when the actual rate of delivery is greater than that desired for decreasing such actual rate of delivery of material from said receptacle.

8. Mechanism for delivering material, comprising a delivery receptacle, movable control means, a source of energy, means operable by said source of energy to exert on the control means a variable force the rate of change in the effectiveness of which on the control means bears a predetermined relationship to the desired rate of delivery from said receptacle, connections exerting on the control means a second variable force opposed to the first the rate of change in the effectiveness of which on the control means bears a predetermined relationship to the actual rate of delivery from said receptacle, and means operable upo movement of the control means in response to said forces when the actual rate of delivery is less than that desired for increasing such actual rate of delivery of material from said receptacle and operable upon movement of the control means in response to said resultant when the actual rate of delivery is greater than that desired for decreasing such actual rate of delivery of material from said receptacle.

9. Mechanism for delivering material, comprising a delivery receptacle, control means movable by the resultant of a predeterminedly effective independently applied variable force and an independently variable force opposed to said first mentioned force and controlled by the change in the amount of material in said receptacle on delivery of material therefrom, and means operable upon movement of the control means in response to said resultant when the actual rate of delivery is less than that desired for increasing such actual rate of delivery of material from said receptacle and operable upon movement of the control means in response to said resultant when the actual rate of delivery is greater than that desired for decreasing such actual rate of delivery of material from said receptacle.

l0. Mechanism for delivering material, com-- prising a delivery receptacle, control means including a tiltable beam movable by the resultant of a predeterminedly effective independently applied variable force and an independently variable force opposed to said first mentioned force and controlled by delivery of material from said receptacle, and means operable upon movement of the control means in response to said resultant when the actual rate of delivery is less than that desired for increasing such actual rate of delivery of material from said receptacle and operable upon movement of the control means in response to said resultant when the actual rate of delivery is greater than that desired for decreasing such actual rate of delivery of material from said receptacle.

l1. Mechanism for delivering material, comprising a delivery receptacle, control means movable by the resultant of a predeterminedly effective independently applied variable force and an independently variable force opposed to said first mentioned force and controlled by delivery of material from said receptacle, and means including light-sensitive means operable upon movement of the control means in response to said resultant when the actual rate of delivery is less than that desired for increasing such actual rate of delivery of material from said receptacle and operable upon movement of the control means in response to said resultant when the actual rate of delivery is greater than that desired for decreasing such actual rate of delivery of material am said receptacle.

12. Mechanism for delivering material, comprising a delivery receptacle, control means including a tiltable beam movable by the resultant of a predeterminedly effective independently applied variable force and an independently variable force opposed to said first mentioned force and controlled by delivery of material from said receptacle, and means operable upon tilting of said beam in response to said resultant when the actual rate of delivery is less than that desired for increasing such actual rate of delivery of material from said receptacle and operable upon tilting of said beam in response to said resultant when the actual rate of delivery is greater than that desired for decreasing such actual rate of delivery of material from said receptacle.

13. Mechanism for delivering material, comprising a delivery receptacle, control means including a tiltable beam movable by the resultant of a predeterminedly effective independently applied variable force and an independently variable force opposed to said first mentioned force and controlled by delivery of material from said receptacle, and light-sensitive means operable upon tilting of said beam in response to said resultant when the actual rate or delivery is less than that desired for increasing such actual rate of delivery of material irorn said receptacle and operable upon tilting of said beam in response to said resultant when the actual rate of delivery is greater than that desired for decreasing such actual rate of delivery of material from said receptacle.

l4. Mechanism for delivering material, comprising a delivery receptacle, control means including a tiltable beam, a poise predetermine lly movable along said beam, said beam being tiltable by the resultant of the variable force applied by movement of said poise therealong and an independently variable force opposed to said first mentioned force and controlled by delivery of material from said receptacle, and means operable upon tilting of said beam in response to said 7 resultant when the actual rate of delivery is less than that desired for increasing such actual rate oi delivery 01. material from said receptacle and operable upon tilting of said beam in response to said resultant when the actual rate of delivery is greater than that desired for decreasing such actual rate oi. delivery of material from said receptacle.

15. Mechanism for delivering material, comprising a tiltable delivery receptacle, control means movable by the resultant of a predeterminedly eflectlve independently applied variable iorce and an independently variable force opposed to said first mentioned force and controlled by delivery of material from said receptacle, and means operable upon movement of the control means in response to said resultant when the actual rate or delivery isless than that desired for increasing the rate oi. tilting of said receptacle and operable upon movement of the control means in response to said resultant when the actual rate of delivery is greater than that desired for decreasing the rate of tilting of said receptacle.

16. Mechanism for delivering material, comprising a delivery receptacle, control means including a fulcrumed member, means for applying to said fulcrumed member a predeterminedly effective variable force, means for applying to said fulcrumed member an independently variable force opposed to said first mentioned force and controlled by delivery of material irom said receptacle, and means operable upon movement of said fulcrumed member under the action of said forces when the actual rate of delivery is less than that desired for increasing such actual rate of delivery of material from said receptacle and operable upon movement of said Iulcrumed member under the action of said forces when the actual rate of delivery is greater than that desired for decreasing such actual rate of delivery of material from said receptacle.

17. Mechanism for delivering material, comprising a delivery receptacle, means controlling delivery of material from said receptacle, means movable by the resultant of a predeterminedly effective independently applied variable force and an independently variable force opposed to said first mentioned force and controlled by delivery of material from said receptacle, and means operable upon movement of said last mentioned means in response to said resultant when the actual rate of delivery is less than that desired for actuating said first mentioned means to increase such actual rate of delivery of material from said receptacle and operable upon movement of said last mentioned means in response to said resultant when the actual rate oi delivery is greater than that desired for actuating said first mentioned means to decrease such actual rate of delivery of material from said receptacle.

18. Mechanism for delivering material, comprising a delivery receptacle, electrically actuated means controlling delivery of material from said receptacle, and means movable by the resultant of a predeterminedly effective independently applied variable force and an independently variable force opposed to said first mentioned force and controlled by delivery of material from said receptacle, said last mentioned means being operable in response to said resultant when the actual rate of delivery is less than that desired for controlling said electrically actuated means to increase such actual rate of delivery of material from said receptacle and being operable in response to said resultant when the actual rate or delivery is greater than that desired for controlling said electrically actuated means to decrease such actual rate or delivery of material from said receptacle.

EDWARD B. STORY.

WM. '1. CASE.

Images