US1787289A - Reagent feeder - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 30,, 1930. THOMAS 1,787,289

REAGENT FEEDER Filed No v. 28, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR GEQKGE Gv Tuomes ATTORNE-IY Dec. 30, 1930. s. G. THOMAS 1,787,239

REAGENT FEEDER Filed Nov. 28, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I j BY- ATTORNEY Patentecl Dec. 30, 19,30

. ,STTES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE-G. THOMAS, or iLLsIn-E, ARIZONA, Assrenoa T AMERICAN CYANAMID COM- PANY, on NEW YORK, n. Y., A coarona'rron 0E MAINE REAGENT FEEDER I Applicationi filed.November 28', 1928. Serial No. 322,341.

My present invention relates to a device and method for feeding solid material in regulated amounts, or feeding solutions by meas uring the solid in the dry state. 7

v The invention is particularly adapted-for the feeding of dry materials which are to be dissolved in a solvent and the solution used for various purposes, rather than to dissolve the substance and then feed quantities of the solution. f

"It has been very common practice in the art of floating-ores to use this'latter process of feeding reagents, but it'has been found in number of instances, particularly where the c to reagent or apart thereof is either difhcultly soluble or contains some insoluble matter, that if the liquid material is attempted to be measured and-fed to the apparatus, frequently the feeding mechanism becomes clogged by the insol-uble s'ubstance contained in the solution. The principal object of the invention, therefore, is to "overcomethis difficulty.

To this end the invention contemplates the provision of a hopperadapted to contain the solid material to be fed, in the lower part of which is located a feed worm of any desired type which will cause movement of the solid material in the hopper to a discharge pipe where itwill enter-the dissolving tank or other mechanism. Means are provided for intermittently driving the feed worm at various intervals capable of ad]ustment,andby "this means the amount of feed is positively controlled.

The invention further consists in the novel arrangement, combination and construction of parts and combination of steps more (fully hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying my invention. I

2 is an enlarged perspective view of the drive and worm detail.

Referring now with particularity to the stantially of inverted pyramidal shape which terminates in a throat 4. A slide 5 is pro vided for closing on the throat when it is The throat t connects with a worm housing (Ein wl ich islocated a feed worm 7 of the usual helicalform having one end of its shaft journaled in housing 6. Near the other end is a flange member 8 secured to the shaft by set screws 84. To the flange 8 a ratchet member 9 is secured as by means of shear pins 9a,. The worm housing 6 is provided with an orificeat the bottom thereof, which orifice is covered by a discharge pipe 10 through which the material fed by the feed screw is dis charged for use as will be more fully-described hereinafter.

The feed worm is intermittently rotated."

through the ratchet 9 which receives its impulse through a connection to the drive shaft 11. This shaft is connected to a suitable source of energy as by means ofbelt 12. The shaft 11 is provided at one end with a worm 13 meshing with a gear 14 which latter element through shaft 15 rotates a crank plate 16. This plate 16 is provided with a series of apertures 17 for adpisting the stroke of the connecting rod which in turn determines cated'as at 20 to receivc one end of the pawl arm 21. The other end of the pawl arm is pivoted to the shaft of the feed worm. Pivoted to the pawl arm 21 is'the pawl 22 which is caused. to bear against and engage the series of teeth 23 on the ratchet 9. Non-reverse pawls 24 mounted upon an extension 25 of the gear box 26 are likewise pressed against the ratchet 9 by means of springs 2?, and prevent a reverse movement of the ratchet.

Also geared to the element 13 and driven from shaft 11 is an agitator shaft 28 carrying agitators or impellers 29. Surrounding these agitators is a basketor screen 30 contained within a receiving or dissolving tank 31Ybut spaced therefrom. The discharge pipe is so located as to dump material therefrom dir ctly into the basket or screen 30. i

Water or other solvent or menstruum. is

supplied to the receiving or dissolvin tank 31 by any desired means, not shoivn, preferably in a regulated stream, and this solvent or menstruum With the rea ent dissolved or suspended therein overflows from a'lip of m the tank, to the apparatus for using thesame. The operation or the device-1s as follows: lt having been determined which of the apertures 17 should belused, the connectingrodi is secured to'the plate 16 atrthat point, the

slide 6 opened and the motor started. .jThrough the gear train the'plate 16 Will be .rotated Whichea-uses a reciprocation or the r connecting rod 18, and througl'l it and the pawl arni21 an intermittent up and down motionof the driving pawl- 22.

This causes ise rotation an intermittent counter-sleek of the ratchet 9. As this lattereleinent is attached to the shaft of the feed ivoru'i, this Wormlikevvise rotates intermittently and shaftll. This assists in anifonnl f c causes-the solid material within the hopper to jinove toward the dlscharge p1 pe where t entersthe dissolving or receiving tank.

It vill be noted that means are provided for agitating the'mat-erlal With n the'oissolvingor-receiving :tank, also. driven ireni the ingthereagent in the solvent or mens'u uum r qm which it flows to the device or mocha; Y nism for utilizing the same.

Tole invention conten'lplates, therefore, the

feedingof a solid reagent intermittently to a'tank also supplied with a constant stream of liquid menstruum, the feeding of both the solid reagent and the liquid to the tank is so regulated that a substantially constant quantity of the reagent either dissolved in the menstruum or suspended therein, overflows from the tan'k and finds its vvay to the liota-f tion or other apparatus designed to use the material. The agitation provided in recei ing tank is or" materialbenelit in that it serves to make a more uniform distribution of the reagent eventhough the reagent is only in termittently fed-to the recei ingtank.

The screen serves the purpose of retaining any large lumps Which may find their Way. through the discharge pipe until they have had sufficient time to be acted upon by the regulated menstruum In the operation of. the device a CGItHlH'ELIDOLHlt oi solid matecra nk disc s vers tofore experienced with delivering a solution or suspension or the reagent. Obviously Jthe seri es of apertures 1'? in the plate 16. are

so arranged that any desired movement of the reagent may take place Within the Worm housing (land this degree of movement is regulated only by the movement of teeth on "the ratchet 9.

. Ztj vill be observed that the shear pin connection between the ratchetmember 9 and Worm shaft serve toprevent breakage in other vital parts of the apparatus if the'feed Worm should fail for any reason. These pins 9a may be made ofany desired-material designed to Withstand a given amount of tendency to shear.@

tor shaft bythe same orm that drives the wit very. compact mechanism results." f

ltis to be noted that the non return paWls are oil?- different length and this serves to ac ourat'elv operate the feed change device.

By providing a flexible discharge pipe it may be swung. out from the dissolvingFtank tor effecting the calibration of the device,

l'th s 1s animportant feature ofthe apcomprises I intermittently delivering a I quant thereofito a IGCQIVIHJ' tank constantl supplying aquantity of liquidmenstruum uid menstruum to the-receiving tank, and an agitator Within the basket. f I I I 'In'testnnony whereofll have hereunto subscrlbed my name this second day or; Novem ber,1928. I 1

' GEORGE THOMAS.

I'lllWlll be thrown' against the screen by the impellers under the action of centrifugal force and held bythe screen until the liuid stream set up bythe agitator has had time to dissolve this solid matter.

' From" the above itis seenthat I have provided botha method and apparatus for feeding a solid reagent ina manner which will definitely prevent clogging of the feeding apparatus,which overcomes the detect-shore It is to be noted that by driving the agita- Ainethod oil teedin'g areagent which

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