US1157947A - Collecting apparatus for finely-divided solids. - Google Patents

Description

L. s. MERRELL..

COLLECTING APPARATUS FOR FINELY DIVIDED SOLIDS.

' APPLICATION FLLE'D Alu-1.27. 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Patented 00L. 26, 1915.`

, I. S. MERRELL. COIQLECTING APPARATUS FOR FINELY DIVID'E SOLIDS.

` APPLlcATIoN FILED AuG.21, |913.

Patented '00h 26, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l. S. MERRELL. COLLECTING APPARATUS FOR FINELY DLVIDED SOLIDS.

ATloN FILED Aus.21,1913.

Patented Oct.. 26, 1915.

5 EEEEEEEEEEEE 3.

Y NRV m, 'I mln A WU I. S. MERRELL. COLLECTING APPARATUS FOR HNELY mvmEo soLms.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.27. 1913.

memd @01h26, 1915 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

l. S. MERRELL.

COLLECTING APPARATUS FOR FINELY DIVIDED SOLIDS.

APPLICATION FILED AIIG.27. 1913.

" @ya A Patented 0st. 26, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

' the State of y of one specic gravity or size,

RVING S. MERRELL, 0F SYBACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 MERRELL-SOULE COMPANY, 0F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A- CORPORATIQN OF NEW YORK.

COLLECTJING APPARATUS FOR FINELY-DIVIIDED SOLIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented et. 28, 1915.

Serial No. 624,202. Divided and this application led August 27,

1913. Serial No. 786,870. a

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that l, IRVING S. Muurkrant, of Syracuse, in the county of 0nondago, in New York, have invented new and useful'lmprovements in Collecting Alpparatus for Finely-Divided Solids, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

rlhis invention relates to improvements in collectors for the finely divided solids and 1s a division of my application Serial No. 624,202, filed April 29, 1'911, and while'capable of general employment, is particularly designed for use in connection with apparatus for separating in powdered form the constituent solids from the moisture, of complex organic substances, such as milk, eggs, etc., a type of such apparatus being illustrated in United States Patent No. 800,929, granted July 23, 1907, to L. C. Merrell, W. B. Gere, and myself.

1n the separation of solids as contemplated by the patent abovereferred to,. especially in the case of milk powder, it is important that the elements of the resultant powder shall be thoroughly mixed to insure uniformity throughout the mass recovered; in other words, particles of di'erent specific gravity and of di'erent volume should be distributed uniformly throughout the lmass so as'to preclude one portion of the mass being made upl almost wholly of particles while other portions of the mass are constituted almost entirely by particles either lighter or heavier or of different size. For example, in the treatment of eggs, the powder recovered should be such as to retain the solid elements of both the yolks and whites in proper proportion, and not distributed separately or variably through the mass, thus insuring uniformity to the product, and enabling the same tobe packaged without liability of variation in the contents of the packages. Likewise, in the case of milk, the butter fat and the heavy-,solids should be uniformly distributed in substantially the proportions which theybear in the milk as it comes from the cow.

lt iSLtherefore, the main and primary object of the present invention to provide a collector which in connection with the desiccating chamber will recover edectually the andconstituent solids of liquids, the solids being distributed inuniform relation, and insuring proper mixture in the mass.

Furthermore, the invention aims to provide a construction of collector which is small, simple and easy to operate, and which will permit the powder, properly mixed with that falling in the desiccating chamber, tb be readily collected at a single place through the agency of but a single instrumentality.

Having these general objects in view', and others which will appear as the nature of the improvements is better understood, the invention consists substantially in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of 'parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

ln the drawingsFigure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a dust collector constructed in accordance with and embodying theprinciples of the present invention, the plane of section being on the line 11, Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view thereof on the line 2 2, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a top plan view, the desiccating chamber being partially broken-away. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view on the line 4--'4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line 5-5, Fig. 2. Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are detail elevations of the jogging mechanism for the bolting sleeves. Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 are diagrammatic views illustrating a cycle of operations of the air valves through a predetermined period.

Referring in detail to the accompanying drawings, 1 is a reservoir for receiving the liquid to be treated. This liquid may be taken either from a concentrating chamber (not shown) in which event the liquid would be drawn through a pipe 2 connected to the concentrator, and forced into the reservoir 1 by means of a pump 3, or said liquid may be taken from a dialyzing-vat 4, which vat is connected by a pipe 5 to the reservoir 1, and elevated at such a point as to feed the contents to the reservoir by gravity.

rl`he reservoir 1 is connected by a valved pipe 6 to a spray device 7, and said device discharges through an opening 8 Jformed in one wall of a desiccating chamber 9. A pump 10 is connected to the spray device 7 for supplying the latter with air under pressure, thereby breaking up the liquid into a fine spray as it discharges into the desiccating chamber 9, and said pump 1s also connected to a heatingchamber 11 which is designed to raisethe temperature of the air after it passes the pump. The flue 12, which is in communication with a heating chamber 13, the latter also being connected to a pressure device 14, such as a fan blower, discharges into the opening 8 of the desiccating chamber 9, and conveys in large. volume to the latter the desiccating agent, which may be atmosphere, air or other gaseous moisture absorbing medium included hereinafter by the term air.

The foregoing construction is generally similar to the apparatus shown in United States Patent No. 860,929, previously mentioned, but this construction forms no part of the novelty of the present invention, which resides in a novel form of collector for recovering the powder resulting from the, desiccation of the liquid being treated, and in the relation which said collector bears to the desiccating chamber. As a convenient l9, Asuch communication is embodiment of the present invention, the desiccating chamber 9 is divided at one of its ends into a pair` of bolting chambers 15 and 16, (Fig. 5) which chambers have openings at their lower ends, as illustrated in Figs. `1, and 2, and thereby communicates with the interior of the desiccating chamber 9. Spaced vertical lwalls 17, between which is arranged a horizontal diaphragm orseptum 18, (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) provide laterally-disposed air chambers 19 and 20 beneath the diaphragm or septum 18, said chambers communicating, respectively, with the bolting chambers 15 and 16. Above the diaphragm or septum 18 an air outlet Chaniber 21 is provided, and said chamber communicates, through a pipe 22, with an eX- hauster 23, such as a suction fan.

The diaphragm 18 is provided with a pair of openings 24 and 25, (Figs. 4 and 9) the former being arranged over the air chamber 19, and the latter over the chamber 20, and these openings are closed by air valves 26 and 27 respectively, said valves seating upon the diaphragm, and cutting off communication periodically between the air chambers `19 and 20 and the outlet chamber 21.

While the bolting chambers communicate with the interior of the desiccating chamber afforded only through a plurality of openings 28- arranged in' the bottoms of said chambers, and surrounding each of said openings 28, and extending throughout the height of the bolting chamber, is a shaking screening or bolting sleeve 29, formed of bolting cloth or other material adapted for this purpose.

The upper end of each sleeve 29 is supported and closed, and the function of these sleeves is to ei'ect separation of the powder 'fromthe air, as will appear more fully hereinthese rings is provided chambers, each of said shafts being provided with a radially-arranged series o agitating or shaking rings 31, and said rings are suitably connected to the shafts 30 and respond to the oscillatory movement thereof, as indicated at the right in Fig. 5. One of for each of the bolting sleeves 29 and, eXteriorly surrounds the same, and hence, as the rings 31 vibrate under the movement of the shafts 30, the bolting sleeves will be shaken, and any powder adhering thereto will be freed from the sleeves and will gravitate to the bottom of the chamber 9.

The air valves 26 and 27 are rovided with elongated stems 32 and 33, Figs. 1, 2 and 9) said stems projecting through the top of the outlet chamber 21, and being surrounded at their upper ends by coiled springs 34 which .act to lift the valves 26 and 27. These springs, therefore, tend to' unseat the valves 26 and 27. The upper end of each of the stems 32 and 33`is also provided with a contact roller 35, each roller through intermediate gearingl 37, with a' master gear 38 carried by a driving shaft 39. Mounted upon the shaft 39 are two cams 40 and 41, (Figs. 1 and 9) the cam 40 engaging the contact roller 35 of the valve 27, and the cam 41 'engaging the corresponding roller of the valve 26. These cams project from the shaft 39 in diametrically opposite directions, and in the operation of the driving shaft 39 said cams will actuate their respective valves at diierent periods. Consequently, the time of closing the valve 26 is different from the time of closing the valve 27 and the flow of air from the two bolting chambers 15 and 16, therefore, will be interrupted at different times.

Each group of bolting sleeves is shaken during the time when the corresponding valve 26 or 27 is closed, and to the accomplishment of this end mechanism is provided to cause the appropriate shaft 30 to oscillate at such tlme. The illustrated mechanism comprises a mutilated gear, 42 (Fig. 3) carried by the shaft 39, approximately only one-quarter of the circumference of this gear being provided with teeth, (Fig. 9) and said gear 42 meshes with a pinion 43 carried by a jack shaft 44, said shaft having a spur gear 45 which meshes with a pinion .Y ried by the shaft 39, approximately only oneit 'g quarter of the circumference ofy this gear being provided with teeth, (Fig. 9) and this ear meshes with a pinion 54 carried by va jack shaft. 55, said shaft having a spur. gear a jogging shaft 58. lllhis shaft 58 also carries a jogging wheel 59 having aA sinuous cam groove 60, (Fig. 8) a bell-crank 61 being operatively connected to the cove 60 of the wheel 59, and said bell-cran 61 is connected to a link 62, the latter being also connected to a crank 63 carried by the oscillatory shaft 30 of the other bolting chamber 15. lt is to be observed (Fig. 9) that the teeth of the mutilated'gears 42 and 53 are arranged in diametrically opposite relation, so that when one of these gears is actuating its jogging wheel, the 'ogging wheel of thev other gear is at rest. ence it will be seen that this construction causes the shaking of the group of bolting sleeves of one of the bolting chambers at a time when the bolting sleeves of the other chamber are at rest, and this shaking of the bolting sleeves of each chamber is timed to occur when its valve 26 or 27 is invits closed position, and hence when there is no flow of air through the shaken sleeves.

Arranged within the lower end of the desici eating chamber 9, and extending throughout the length thereof, is an endless chain conveyer 64, the same 4'being provided with scraper bars 65, and said bars travel along the bottom of the chamber 9, forcing the precipitated powdered product in advance of the same, and depositing said product in the trough 66 of a screw conveyer 67, throughthe medium of which latter the powder is discharged from the chamber 9, through the discharge outlet 68, which is throttled by a leather flap 69, which stops outflow of air. The conveyer 64 may be operated in any suitable manner.

ln the operationof the herein-described collector, the liquid is sprayed into the desiccating chamber `9, where separation ofthe constituent solids from the moisture takes place, and a portion of said solids, in the form of powder, gravitates to the bottom of said chamber. the power shaft 36, the driving shaft 39-is given continuous rotation, thereby causing rotation of the cams 40 and 41, and also of Motion being imparted to 4 ,.gthe mutilated gears 42 and 53. The engage- ,ment of the cam 40 lwith the stem of them vvalve 27 depresses said valve against the the openings 24 and 25, when the respective valves 26 and 27 are open, and through the pipe 22, the powder, however, being caught by the sleeves 29. 1- When, however, one of the valves, say the valve 27, has become seated, the flow of the air from the' corre- 56 which meshes with a pinion 57 carried by spending bolting chamber 16 is immediately interrupted. Pressure conditions on the eX- terior of the bolting sleeves 29 of the chamber 16 now become equalized with the pressure conditions within said sleeves, and the latter hang limp. llmmediately upon closing the. valve 27, the mutilated gear 42 actuates, through the intermediate gear connections, the jogging wheel 48, and this imparts to the shaft 30 within the chamber 16 a series of quick oscillations or vibrations, whereupon the rings 31 act upon their respective sleeves/29 to shake the latter, and thereby free the sleeves of the powder deposited upon the interior thereof. The powcam 40 from the stem of the valve 27, the

teeth of the gear 42 become disengaged from the teeth of the pinion 43, and as the valve 27 opens the shaking of the bolting sleeves 29 of the. chamber 16 ceases.

The operation of the valve 26 and the bolting sleeves 29 of the other bolting chamber 15 is similar to the operation just described, but, by reason of the timing of the movement of the cam 41, the mutilated gear 53, and the gear connections between the latter and the jogging wheel 59, the sleeves 29 of the chamber 15 are shaken at a different period from the shaking ofthe sleeves 29 of the chamber 16. Hence, the shaking of the sleeves of the respective chambers occurs in alternate succession, and likewise the closing of the valves 26 and 27.

ln Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 is illustrated a cycle of `operations of the valves 26 and 27, the latter, the cams controlling the same, and the mutilated gears which operate the jogging mechanism of the bolting sleeves being shown diagrammatically. The cycle illustrated in the ligures in question covers a vperiod of one minute', and each of the views` (illustrates the position of the valves during a period of fifteen seconds. In Fig. 9, therev fore, which covers thefirst quarter of the 130 minute, the valves 26 and 27 are-both open. The` air is discharging through these valves from the air chambers 19 and 20 into the outlet chamber 21, and the powder which passes up into the sleeves 29 with the air is being caught by both groups of boltinsleeves. In Fig. 10 the valve 26 is still open, l ut the valve 27 is closed, the position of the valves in Fig. 10 being that assumed by them during the second quarter of the minute. With the valve, 27 closed, the ow of air through the bolting chamber 16 is interrupted, and the sleeves 29 of that chamber are being shaken, but the air is still passing from the chamber- 15 into the outlet chamber 21, and separation of the powder from the air is being eiected by the sleeves 29 of the chamber 15.

In Fig. 11, which coversthe third quarter of the minute, the valve 27 again has become opened, so that there is no interruption to the passage of the air fromthe desiccating chamber through both of the bolting chambers, and separation of the powder 1s being effected in both of these chambers. In Fig. 12, however, which covers ,thev last quarter of the minute, the valve 26 has become closed, and the bolting sleeves of the chamber 15 are being agitated to free the same of the powder which has accumulated thereon. rIhe valve 27 being open, air is passing from the chamber 16 to the outlet boX 21, and separation of the powder from the air is continuing to be eected by the bolting sleeves of the chamber 1.6.1

- off by said valves.

From the foregoing it will be seen that during each minute of the operation of the machine each of the valves 26 and 27 is open for a period of forty-five seconds and closed the remaining period of fifteen seconds; that said valves are closed in alternation with each other, and never simultaneously closed, but that during the rst and third -quarters of the c cle the valves are both open, permitting ee passage of the air from the respective bolting chambers through the air outlet box, and effecting simultaneous separation ofthe powder in both chambers from the air as the latter.. passes on to the fan 23. The air from the desiccating chamber 9 may always find an exit through one or the other of the bolting chambers, and during a portion of each cycle of movement of the valves the air may pass through both of the bolting chambers simultaneously.

Certain of the described characteristics .are of especial value and importance.,

At no time are all of the outlet valves closed, so that the flow of air through the desiccating chamber is never completely out Consequently there is no interruption in the continuity of the spraying anddrying.

Thedry powder partly falls directly and initially to the bottom o' the desiccating 'and closing said valves,

chamber; while the remainder is caughtby the screening or bolting devices. The portion of the powder caught by the screens is shaken back into the desiccating chamber falling onto its bottom and is intermingled with that which is deposited directly in the desiccating chamber. The endless conveyer 64, travels across the desiccating chamber beneath the falling shower of powder which does not enter the collector thus insuring complete intermixture. 'Ihe powder deposited onto the floor of the desiccating chamber is drawn along the Hoor to the trough 66, which is at the coolest part of the desiccating chamber, so that there is no burning of the powder at the place where itl longest remains before final discharge. All of the powder is removed from the desiccating chamber through a single discharge koutlet 68, in a thoroughly intermiXed mass in which all of the ingredients are uniformly distributed.

The collecting chambers are stationary so that the powder shaken from their contained screens or bolts falls directly back into the desiccating chamber. No current of vair is flowing through a collecting chamber when the powder falls therethrough.

Since the collecting Achambers are stationary, the operating mechanism is simple and all parts requiring lubrication are accessible and outside of the powder laden air current.

What I claim is:

l. In 'a collecting device, a pair .of bolting chambers, a bolting device associated with each chamber, an upper and a lower intermediate chamber, the lower intermediate chamber having a partition dividing the same into a pair of air chambers communicating respectively with the bolting chambers, separate means of communication between each of the air chambers and the upper intermediate chamber, separate valves controlling such respective means of communication, means for alternately opening and means for agitating the bolting device of each chamber only when the communication of its respective chamber is cut oi' from the upper intermediate chamber.

2. In a collecting device, a pair of bolting chambers, a bolting device associated with each chamber, an upper and a lower intermediate chamber, the lower intermediate chamber, having a partition dividing the same into a pair of air chambers communicating respectively with the bolting chambers, separate means of communication between each of the air chambers and the 'upper intermediate chamber, separate valves ilo l 3. ln a collecting device, a pair of bolting chambers, a bolting device associated With each chamber, an upper and a lower intermediate chamber, the lower intermediate chamber having a partition dividing the same into a pair of air chambers communieating respectively with the bolting chambers', separate means Of communication between each of the air chambers and the it upper intermediate chamber, separate valves controlling such respective lmeans of communication, means for alternately opening and closing sa1d valves, and an air outlet from the upper mtermedate chamber.

ln witness whereof-I have hereunto set my 15 hand this 31st day Of July 1913.

ravine MERRELL.

Witnesses: v

E. A. THOMPSON, VIOLA HOWLAND.

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