U.S. patent application number 16/241139 was filed with the patent office on 2020-07-09 for saw cylinder assembly for a gin stand.
This patent application is currently assigned to Lummus Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Lummus Corporation. Invention is credited to Mark David Cory.
Application Number | 20200216978 16/241139 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 71403840 |
Filed Date | 2020-07-09 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200216978 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cory; Mark David |
July 9, 2020 |
SAW CYLINDER ASSEMBLY FOR A GIN STAND
Abstract
An asymmetrical tab or key defining the central aperture of the
saw blades, wherein the key complements an asymmetrical keyway
defined by the curved outer surface of the driven shaft. The driven
shaft can be a symmetrical driven shaft wherein both ends of the
shaft are similarly configured, such that it does not matter which
end of the shaft is orientated, in which direction, within the saw
cylinder assembly, and it does not matter which side of the shaft
the saw blades are attached to, or in which direction the saw
blades are flipped when attached.
Inventors: |
Cory; Mark David; (Bluffton,
SC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lummus Corporation |
Savannah |
GA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Lummus Corporation
Savannah
GA
|
Family ID: |
71403840 |
Appl. No.: |
16/241139 |
Filed: |
January 7, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D01B 1/08 20130101 |
International
Class: |
D01B 1/08 20060101
D01B001/08 |
Claims
1. A saw cylinder assembly for a gin stand comprising: a) a driven
shaft comprising (i) a shaft comprising a means for engaging with a
driving source, on one end of the shaft, and (ii) at least two
directional saw blade keyways, wherein each of the at least two
directional saw blade keyways is an asymmetrical
longitudinally-extending superficial groove on a central length of
the shaft; and b) a plurality of directional saw blades each
comprising (i) a central aperture comprising at least two
directional keys and (ii) a plurality of saw teeth along an
outer-periphery of each of the saw blades, wherein the at least two
directional keys are complementary in number, shape, and position,
to the at least two directional saw blade keyways of the driven
shaft, for mating, and wherein the plurality of saw teeth have a
preferred direction for function, wherein, when assembled, the
plurality of directional saw blades are mated with the driven shaft
in only one orientation, and the plurality of saw teeth rotate
about a common axis defined by the driven shaft, and wherein the
complementary number, shape, and position of the at least two
directional keys with the at least two directional saw blade
keyways preclude the saw cylinder assembly from being assembled
with any of the plurality of saw teeth being orientated against the
preferred direction for function.
2. The saw cylinder assembly of claim 1, wherein the saw cylinder
assembly is a saw-type gin stand.
3. The saw cylinder assembly of claim 1, wherein: the driven shaft
comprises two directional saw blade keyways; each of the plurality
of directional saw blades comprises two directional keys; the
driven shaft has the two directional saw blade keyways positioned
antipodal about the shaft; and each of the two directional saw
blades has the two directional keys positioned antipodal about the
central aperture to complement the position of the two directional
saw blade keyways of the driven shaft.
4. The saw cylinder assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the
plurality of directional saw blades has a circular
configuration.
5. The saw cylinder assembly of claim 1, further comprising: c) a
fixed center-spacer ring, on the shaft of the driven shaft, looped
around the central length of the shaft whereon the plurality of
directional saw blades mate.
6. A saw cylinder assembly for a saw-type gin stand comprising: a)
an asymmetrical driven shaft comprising (i) a shaft comprising a
means for engaging with a driving source, on one end of the shaft,
and (ii) two directional saw blade keyways, wherein each of the two
directional saw blade keyways is an asymmetrical
longitudinally-extending superficial groove on a central length of
the shaft, the two superficial grooves positioned antipodal about
the shaft; and b) a plurality of directional circular saw blades
each comprising (i) a central aperture comprising two directional
keys and (ii) a plurality of saw teeth along an outer-periphery of
each of the saw blades, wherein the two directional keys are
complementary in shape and position to the two superficial grooves
of the driven shaft, for mating, and wherein the plurality of saw
teeth have a preferred direction for function, wherein, when
assembled, the plurality of directional saw blades are mated with
the driven shaft in only one orientation, and the plurality of saw
teeth rotate about a common axis defined by the driven shaft, and
wherein the complementary shape and position of the two directional
keys with the two superficial grooves preclude the saw cylinder
assembly from being assembled with any of the plurality of saw
teeth being orientated against the preferred direction for
function.
7. The saw cylinder assembly of claim 6, further comprising: c) a
fixed center-spacer ring, on the shaft of the driven shaft, looped
around the central length of the shaft whereon the plurality of
directional circular saw blades mate.
8. The saw cylinder assembly of claim 6, wherein the means for
engaging with the driving source, on one end of the shaft of the
asymmetrical driven shaft, is at least one drive keyway configured
as a longitudinally-extending superficial groove on the one end of
the shaft.
9. A saw cylinder assembly for a saw-type gin stand comprising: a)
a symmetrical driven shaft comprising (i) a shaft comprising two
means for engaging a driving source, one on an end of the shaft and
another on another end of the shaft, and (ii) two directional saw
blade keyways, wherein each of the two directional saw blade
keyways is an asymmetrical longitudinally-extending superficial
groove on a central length of the shaft, between the two ends, the
two superficial grooves positioned antipodal about the shaft; and
b) a plurality of directional circular saw blades each comprising
(i) a central aperture comprising two directional keys and (ii) a
plurality of saw teeth along an outer-periphery of each blade,
wherein the two directional keys are complementary in shape and
position to the two superficial grooves of the driven shaft, for
mating, and wherein the plurality of saw teeth have a preferred
direction for function, wherein, when assembled, the plurality of
directional saw blades are mated with the driven shaft in only one
orientation, and the plurality of saw teeth rotate about a common
axis defined by the driven shaft, and wherein the complementary
shape and position of the two directional keys with the two
superficial grooves preclude the saw cylinder assembly from being
assembled with any of the plurality of saw teeth being orientated
against the preferred direction for function.
10. The saw cylinder assembly of claim 9, wherein the shaft of the
driven shaft has an asymmetrical cross-section along the central
length of the shaft, and wherein each of the plurality of
directional circular saw blades is asymmetrical and has the two
directional keys positioned antipodal about the central aperture to
complement the position of the two superficial grooves of the
driven shaft.
11. The saw cylinder assembly of claim 10, further comprising: c) a
fixed center-spacer ring, on the shaft of the driven shaft, looped
around the central length of the shaft whereon the plurality of
directional circular saw blades mate.
12. The saw cylinder assembly of claim 11, wherein each of the two
means for engaging with the driving source is at least one drive
keyway configured as a longitudinally-extending superficial groove
on each respective end of the shaft.
13. The saw cylinder assembly of claim 12, wherein the saw cylinder
assembly has from about 150 directional circular saw blades to
about 300 directional circular saw blades.
14. The saw cylinder assembly of claim 12, wherein the
complementary shape and position of the two directional keys with
the two superficial grooves precludes the saw cylinder assembly
from being assembled with a rotational imbalance.
15. A saw cylinder assembly for a gin stand comprising: a) a driven
shaft comprising (i) a shaft comprising a means for engaging with a
driving source, on one end of the shaft, and (ii) at least two
directional saw blade keyways, wherein each of the at least two
directional saw blade keyways is an asymmetrical
longitudinally-extending superficial groove on a central length of
the shaft; and b) a plurality of directional saw blades each
comprising (i) a central aperture comprising at least one
directional key and (ii) a plurality of saw teeth defined along an
outer-periphery of each blade, wherein the at least one directional
key is complementary in number, shape, and position, to at least
one of the at least two directional saw blade keyways of the driven
shaft, for mating, and wherein the plurality of saw teeth have a
preferred direction for function, wherein, when assembled, the
plurality of directional saw blades are mated with the driven shaft
in only one orientation, and the plurality of saw teeth rotate
about a common axis defined by the driven shaft, and wherein the
complementary number, shape, and position of the at least one
directional key with the at least one of the at least two
directional saw blade keyways preclude the saw cylinder assembly
from being assembled with any of the plurality of saw teeth being
orientated against the preferred direction for function.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention is generally directed to a gin stand
and more specifically to an improved saw cylinder assembly for a
gin stand. The present invention also is directed to a saw-type gin
stand for processing single-locked seed cotton, or other
partially-processed intermediate-fiber materials, such as (1)
separated-state seed cotton, (2) seed roll, (3) partially-ginned
seeds, etc. The present invention additionally is directed to an
improved saw blade for a gin stand, the saw blade configured such
that it precludes the possibility of an improperly
assembly/reassembled final product, and/or the possibility of a
rotationally-imbalanced final product.
[0002] The present invention also is generally directed to the
construction of the unique features to achieve these objectives,
but also directed to achieve a specific "directionality" associated
to the connection geometry of a saw cylinder assembly. In this same
vein, the present invention also is generally directed to a method
of assembling a saw cylinder and, in particular, to a novel method
of fixing the saw blade relative to any other components of a saw
cylinder assembly.
[0003] The present invention further is generally directed to a
cotton ginning system for separating cotton fiber from cotton seed.
Thus, the present invention is directed to a cotton ginning system
incorporating the disclosed gin saw cylinder assembly, gin saw
stand, method for assembling a gin saw cylinder, method for fixing
a gin saw blade, and method for operating the saw cylinder assembly
for ginning cotton.
Prior Art
[0004] The present invention is applicable to the seed cotton
processing industry. After seed cotton is harvested, the seed
cotton is transported from the field to a cotton ginning facility.
This type of facility typically has apparatuses for (1) receiving
the seed cotton, (2) drying and cleaning the seed cotton, (3)
removing the seeds from the cotton fiber or lint, (4) cleaning the
lint, and (5) pressing the lint into bales for transport to
warehousing, and later (6) processing the bales of lint into yarn,
thread, and fabric.
[0005] Central to the cotton ginning process is a device that
separates the seed from the cotton fiber. This separation usually
is achieved with a saw-type ginning stand, or simply, a gin
stand.
[0006] A gin stand in current commercial-use usually comprises an
inlet chute wherein seed cotton enters the overall system in a
single-locked or separated state, and wherein seed cotton enters
the system at a controlled rate. Further, the seed cotton usually
is thrown by a picker roller onto a gin saw cylinder assembly
comprising circular saw blades. The seed cotton is carried upward
on the periphery of each saw blade through the seed discharge shaft
into the lower portion of the roll box directly below the
oscillator cylinder.
[0007] At the most basic level, the gin stand serves the purpose of
at least beginning to strip a portion of the cotton fiber from each
seed. While the number and type of components in a gin stand vary
from one facility to the next, some common prior art system
components comprise a driven shaft including a shaft, a drive
keyway, blade keyways, threaded sections, and a center spacer ring
attached to the shaft. Saw blades generally comprise saw teeth, a
center hole, and a tab or key. Altogether, a saw cylinder assembly
generally comprises the driven shaft, the saw blades, the fixed
center spacer ring, slip-on spacer rings, bell washers, and
nuts.
[0008] In certain illustrative examples in the field, in an effort
to minimize the amount of cotton fiber not processed and/or
improperly processed from the seed cotton, and to maximize the
efficiency, efficacy, and useful-life of the overall system, a
repairable saw cylinder assembly is commonly employed. The
repairable saw cylinder assembly allows for disassembly and
reassembly, for example, to replace worn down parts without having
to waste parts comparatively less worn. It is important to note,
however, that by virtue of their design, and by virtue of inherent
machining limitations, prior art systems lend themselves to
assembly error and/or rotational imbalances that undermine the
efficiency and efficacy of the intended system.
[0009] Further, as a gin stand often operates significantly better
when properly balanced and honed, an accurately set-up and
accurately calibrated gin stand is always desirable. Current
systems used in the art, however, can be tedious to build and
calibrate during set-up, thereby causing unnecessary delay and cost
during set-up, and resulting in a less than optimum calibration
which makes ginning difficult. Therefore, there is a need in the
art for a gin stand that provides for efficient set-up, proper
balance, and accurate calibration.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In summary, an illustrative embodiment of the present
invention is an improved saw cylinder assembly for a gin stand for
use in processing single-locked seed cotton, or other
partially-processed intermediate-fiber materials. The improved saw
blade is configured such that it can be assembled into a saw
cylinder assembly and installed onto the gin stand so as to
preclude the possibility of an improperly assembled or reassembled
final assembly, and/or the possibility of a rotationally-imbalanced
final assembly.
[0011] The configuration of present invention achieves a specific
directionality associated to the connection geometry of a saw
cylinder assembly by incorporating an asymmetrical tab or key
defining the central aperture of each saw blade of a gin stand. The
tab or key complements an asymmetrical keyway defined by the curved
outer surface of a driven shaft of the gin stand. Other exemplary
embodiments of the present invention incorporate a symmetrical
driven shaft embodiment, wherein both ends of the shaft are
similarly configured.
[0012] A first exemplary embodiment of the present invention
comprises a driven shaft, a plurality of saw blades, a fixed
center-spacer ring, slip-on spacer rings, bell washers, and nuts.
An exemplary embodiment of an improved driven shaft of the first
exemplary embodiment defines a shaft, a drive keyway, two
directional saw blade keyways, two threaded sections, and a
center-spacer. An exemplary embodiment of an improved gin saw blade
of the first exemplary embodiment defines a plurality of
directional saw teeth, a center hole, and directional tabs or keys,
which are asymmetrical.
[0013] A second exemplary embodiment of the present invention is
directed to an improved saw cylinder assembly wherein the driven
shaft is more symmetrical. Like the first exemplary embodiment, the
second exemplary embodiment comprises a driven shaft, a plurality
of saw blades, a center-spacer ring, slip-on spacer rings, bell
washers, and nuts. For this particular second embodiment, however,
the driven shaft defines a shaft, a drive keyway on either side of
the driven shaft (to provide means for driving the shaft from
either side), directional saw blade keyways, threaded sections, and
a center-spacer ring.
[0014] A third exemplary embodiment of the present invention is
directed to a saw cylinder assembly for a gin stand comprising (a)
a driven shaft and (b) a plurality of directional saw blades. The
drive shaft comprises (1) a shaft defining a means for engaging
with a driving source, on one end of the shaft, and (2) at least
two directional saw blade keyways. In this third embodiment, each
of the at least two directional saw blade keyways is an
asymmetrical longitudinally-extending superficial groove on a
central length of the shaft. Further, each of the plurality of
directional saw blades defines (1) a central aperture comprising at
least two directional keys and (2) a plurality of saw teeth defined
along the outer-periphery of each blade. The plurality of saw teeth
rotate about a common axis defined by the driven shaft.
[0015] Also in this third embodiment, the at least two directional
keys are complementary in number, shape, and position, to the at
least two directional saw blade keyways of the driven shaft, and
are, therefore, for mating the plurality of directional saw blades
to the driven shaft. Although the plurality of saw teeth have a
preferred direction for function, the cylinder assembly of the
present invention, when assembled, provides a plurality of
directional saw blades that may mate in only one orientation, so as
to preclude the saw cylinder assembly from being assembled with any
of the plurality of saw teeth being orientated against the
preferred direction for function.
[0016] A fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention is
directed to a saw cylinder assembly for a saw-type gin stand
comprising (a) an asymmetrical driven shaft and (b) a plurality of
directional circular saw blades. The drive shaft comprises (1) a
shaft defining a means for engaging with a driving source, on one
end of the shaft, and (2) two directional saw blade keyways. In
this embodiment, each of the two directional saw blade keyways is
an asymmetrical longitudinally-extending superficial groove on a
central length of the shaft with the two superficial grooves
positioned antipodal about the shaft. Further, each of the
plurality of directional saw blades defines (1) a central aperture
comprising two directional keys and (2) a plurality of saw teeth
defined along the outer-periphery of each blade. The plurality of
saw teeth rotating about a common axis defined by the driven
shaft.
[0017] In this fourth embodiment, the two directional keys are
complementary in shape and position to the two superficial grooves
of the driven shaft and are, therefore, for mating the plurality of
directional saw blades to the driven shaft. Although the plurality
of saw teeth have a preferred direction for function, the cylinder
assembly of the present invention, when assembled, provides a
plurality of directional saw blades that may mate in only one
orientation, so as to preclude the saw cylinder assembly from being
assembled with any of the plurality of saw teeth being orientated
against the preferred direction for function.
[0018] A fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention is
directed to a saw cylinder assembly for a saw-type gin stand
comprising (a) a symmetrical driven shaft and (b) a plurality of
directional circular saw blades. The symmetrical driven shaft
comprises (1) a shaft defining two means for engaging with a
driving source, one on one end of the shaft and another on the
other end of the shaft, and (2) two directional saw blade keyways,
wherein each of the two directional saw blade keyways is an
asymmetrical longitudinally-extending superficial groove on a
central length of the shaft, between the two ends.
[0019] In this fifth exemplary embodiment, the two superficial
grooves are positioned antipodal about the shaft. Further, each of
the plurality of directional saw blades defines (1) a central
aperture comprising two directional keys and (2) a plurality of saw
teeth defined along the outer-periphery of each blade, wherein the
two directional keys are complementary in shape and position to the
two superficial grooves of the driven shaft.
[0020] In certain exemplary embodiments, the shaft of the driven
shaft has an asymmetrical cross-section along the central length of
the shaft whereon the plurality of directional circular saw blades
mate, and each of the plurality of directional circular saw blades
is asymmetrical and has the two directional keys positioned
antipodal about the central aperture to complement the position of
the two superficial grooves of the driven shaft.
[0021] In certain exemplary embodiments, the saw cylinder assembly
additionally comprises a fixed center-spacer ring, on the shaft of
the driven shaft, and looped around the central length of the shaft
whereon the plurality of directional circular saw blades mate.
[0022] In certain exemplary embodiments, the means for engaging the
saw cylinder assembly with the driving source is at least one drive
keyway configured as a longitudinally-extending superficial groove
on one end of the shaft of the asymmetrical driven shaft.
[0023] In certain exemplary embodiments, the two means for engaging
with the driving source is each, respectively, at least one drive
keyway for engaging with belt-and-pulley driving source.
[0024] For a further understanding of the nature, function, and
objects of the present invention, reference should now be made to
the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings. While detailed descriptions of the preferred
embodiments are provided herein, as well as the best mode of
carrying out and employing the present invention, it is to be
understood that the present invention may be embodied in various
forms.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] In the figures, like reference numerals refer to like parts
throughout the various views unless otherwise indicated. For
reference numerals with letter character designations such as
"102a" or "102b", the letter character designations may
differentiate two like parts or elements present in the same
figure. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and
include exemplary embodiments of the present invention, which may
be embodied in various forms.
[0026] FIG. 1 is a side cross-section view of an exemplary prior
art gin stand that can be modified to incorporate the present
invention.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a side perspective view showing an exemplary prior
art embodiment of a gin stand saw cylinder assembly.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a cross section view of the exemplary prior art
embodiment of the gin stand saw cylinder assembly about the plane
defined by line A-A of FIG. 2.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a perspective elevation view of a prior art driven
shaft from the gin stand saw cylinder of FIGS. 1-3.
[0030] FIG. 5 is an end view of the prior art driven shaft from the
gin stand saw cylinder of FIG. 4.
[0031] FIG. 6 is a front view of a prior art saw blade from the gin
stand saw cylinder of FIGS. 1-3.
[0032] FIG. 7 is a perspective elevation view showing a first
exemplary embodiment of an improved gin stand saw cylinder assembly
of the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 8 is a side perspective view showing the first
exemplary embodiment of the improved gin stand saw cylinder
assembly of FIG. 7.
[0034] FIG. 9 is a cross section view of the first exemplary
embodiment of the improved gin stand saw cylinder assembly about
the plane defined by line A-A of FIG. 8.
[0035] FIG. 10 is a perspective elevation view of an improved
driven shaft from the improved gin stand saw cylinder assembly of
FIGS. 7-9.
[0036] FIG. 11 is an end view of the improved driven shaft from the
improved gin stand saw cylinder of FIG. 10.
[0037] FIG. 12 is a front view of an exemplary saw blade of the
present invention shown separated from the gin stand saw cylinder
of FIGS. 7-9.
[0038] FIG. 13 is a bottom view or right-side view of the saw blade
of FIG. 12.
[0039] FIG. 14 is a perspective elevation view showing a second
exemplary embodiment of an improved gin stand saw cylinder assembly
of the present invention.
[0040] FIG. 15 is a perspective elevation view of an exemplary
improved driven shaft of the present invention separated from the
improved gin stand saw cylinder assembly of FIG. 14.
[0041] FIG. 16 is an end view of the improved driven shaft from the
improved gin stand saw cylinder of FIG. 14.
[0042] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an exemplary saw blade of
the present invention shown separated from a gin stand saw
cylinder.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0043] For a further understanding of the nature, function, and
objects of the present invention, reference should now be made to
the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings. While detailed descriptions of the preferred
embodiments are provided herein, as well as the best mode of
carrying out and employing the present invention, it is to be
understood that the present invention may be embodied in various
forms.
[0044] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide
devices, systems, and methods for satisfying at least one of the
following non-limiting objectives: [0045] to provide a practical
and novel method by which to fix the inner diameter of a ginning
saw blade relative to a driven saw shaft of a saw cylinder
assembly, the saw cylinder assembly incorporated into a saw-type
gin stand, the gin stand for separating cotton fiber from cotton
seed, wherein the method prevents assembly errors and improves the
consistency of the rotational balance of the final assembled
product; [0046] to offer a saw cylinder assembly wherein a shape of
a center hole of a saw blade and the complementary shape of a
driven shaft preclude the possibility of the saw cylinder assembly
from being assembled with some, or all, of the saw teeth orientated
in the wrong direction; [0047] to present a saw-cylinder-assembly
construction means for connecting a driven shaft to a saw blade,
such that there is a directionality between the connection geometry
of the saw blade and the driven shaft; and [0048] to disclose a
symmetrical driven shaft, as compared to the prior art, such that
the final saw cylinder assembly also is symmetrical, and not
limited by a functional orientation (which requires a specific and
limited directionality between the saw teeth of the final saw
cylinder assembly and an end where a driving means for the shaft
will be installed).
[0049] In order to optimize a saw gin stand's efficiency and
effectiveness at separating cotton fiber from cotton seed, it may
be beneficial for a gin stand to have aspects for better,
more-consistent, and longer operations under prime mechanical
conditions. It also may be beneficial for a saw cylinder assembly
to have a user-interface that simplifies set-up, and that reduces
the number and complexity of user-decisions/choices throughout the
ginning process. Therefore, certain embodiments and aspects of the
present invention provide a saw cylinder assembly comprising saw
blades and a driven shaft, wherein the saw blades each,
respectively, define a central aperture, and wherein the shape of
the center aperture of the saw blade, and the complimentary shape
of the shaft, preclude the possibility of a saw cylinder being
assembled with some or all the saw teeth orientated in the wrong
direction.
[0050] Certain embodiments of the present invention incorporate an
asymmetrical tab or key defining the central aperture of the saw
blades, wherein the key complements an asymmetrical keyway defined
by the curved outer surface of the driven shaft. Similarly, other
embodiments incorporate a symmetrical driven shaft, as compared to
the prior art, wherein both ends of the shaft are similarly
configured, such that it does not matter which end of the shaft is
orientated in which direction within the saw cylinder assembly, and
it does not matter which side of the shaft the saw blades are
attached to, or in which direction the saw blades are flipped when
attached.
[0051] The fundamental architecture of certain gin stands is shown
in FIGS. 1-6. FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a gin stand
10 comprises an inlet chute 11 wherein seed cotton enters the
overall system in a single-locked or separated state, and at a
controlled rate. The seed cotton is thrown by a picker roller 12
onto a gin saw cylinder 13, wherein an exemplary embodiment of a
gin saw cylinder 13 is comprised of many spaced-apart circular saw
blades 14 having teeth along their periphery and rotating about a
common axis 15. The exemplary embodiment of the saw cylinder
assembly 13 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 comprises a driven shaft 30, a
plurality of saw blades 14, a fixed center-spacer ring 35, slip-on
spacer rings 41, bell washers 42, and nuts 43a and 43b.
[0052] FIG. 1 shows generally the manner in which each saw blade 14
pulls cotton fiber between the closely-spaced stationary ginning
ribs 19, and pulls the fibers from the seed; the goal being to keep
the fibers as long as possible. In practice, the teeth of each saw
blade 14 are not sharpened in the same was as, for example, the
leading edge of a blade, as the teeth are not meant to cut the
fibers, but only to pull them from the seed. More specifically, the
seed cotton is carried upward on the periphery of each saw blade 14
through the seed discharge shaft 16 into the lower portion of the
roll box 17 directly below the oscillator cylinder 18. The
plurality of saw blades 14 of the gin saw cylinder 13 rotate
between the closely-spaced stationary ginning ribs 19, which serve
to strip a portion of the cotton fibers from each seed as the saw
teeth, and attached fibers, pass between the closely spaced ribs
19.
[0053] The partially ginned seeds are larger than the gap between
the ginning ribs 19, and the processed material becomes part of a
seed roll rotating around the axis of the oscillator cylinder 18.
The fibers remaining on the partially ginned seed tend to keep the
seeds loosely attached to the seed roll, which is a large mass made
up of seeds with varying amounts of fiber remaining. Each seed will
rotate around the roll box 17 a number of times until the seed no
longer has enough fiber length attached to it to keep the seed
adhered to the seed roll, at which time the seed falls out through
the seed discharge shaft 16 and out of the bottom of the gin stand
10.
[0054] As the cotton fiber passes between the ginning ribs 19, the
cotton fibers remain attached on the periphery of the saw blades 14
until the fibers are doffed-off of the saw teeth by a
counter-rotating brush cylinder 20. As the surface speed of the
brush cylinder 20 is greater than the tip-speed of the saw cylinder
13, the processed cotton fibers are lifted off of the teeth of each
saw blade 14 and passed out of the machine through the lint outlet
21.
[0055] FIGS. 2 and 3 show a side perspective view of an exemplary
prior art embodiment of a gin stand saw cylinder 13 assembly and a
cross section view of an exemplary prior art embodiment of the gin
stand saw cylinder 13 assembly about the plane defined by line A-A
of FIG. 2, respectively. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the saw blades
are spaced apart so as to rotate between the closely-spaced
stationary ginning ribs 19, which serve to strip a portion of the
cotton fibers from each seed as the saw teeth, and attached fibers,
pass between the closely spaced ribs 19, as disclosed above.
[0056] FIGS. 4 and 5 show an exemplary embodiment of the driven
shaft 30 comprising a shaft 31, a drive keyway 32 (to provide means
for driving the shaft 31 with a belt-and-pulley, or similar means,
for example), two saw blade keyways 33a and 33b, two threaded
sections 34a and 34b, and a fixed center-spacer ring 35 that is
permanently attached to the shaft 31. FIG. 6 shows an exemplary
embodiment of a gin saw blade 14 having a plurality of directional
saw teeth 37, a center hole 38, and a single tab or key 39, which
is symmetrical about centerline y-y.
[0057] When the components shown in FIGS. 4-6 are assembled
together, along with the other necessary components, for example,
as is shown in FIG. 2, it becomes apparent to a person having
ordinary skill in the art that the location of the fixed
center-spacer ring 35 on the driven shaft 30 is critical to the
alignment of the saw blades 14 for this particular embodiment, so
each saw blade 14 will fall safely within the gaps between ribs 19,
for example. It is for this reason that the center-spacer ring 35
usually is permanently and precisely attached to the shaft 31, as
it serves as a point of reference for all the saw blades 14 and
spacer rings 35 stacked on each end of the driven shaft 30, in
certain embodiments. It is envisioned that the center spacer ring
35 may not be permanently attached.
[0058] It should be noted that, in certain exemplary embodiments,
the driven shaft 30 has two saw blade keyways 33a, 33b situated 180
degrees apart, or antipodal, relative to one another, to help
maintain rotational balance (for example, as is shown in FIG. 5).
In contrast, the saw blade 14 only has a single tab or key 39.
Historically, it has been difficult to machine the blade keyways
33a, 33b precisely and consistently 180 degrees apart, or
antipodal, relative to one another. Even if the saw blade holes
were manufactured with two tabs or keys 39, a person having
ordinary skill in the art understands that there is a risk that the
keyways 33a, 33b may not line-up with both tabs or keys 39, thus
making assembly significantly difficult to impossible.
[0059] As a practical matter, the saw blades 14 have been
manufactured with only one tab or key 39 to assure assembly will be
possible. To help assure rotational balance of the driven shaft 30
will be preserved, each successive saw blade 14 is installed
alternating with the tab or key 39 in either keyway 33a, 33b. As
the saw blades 14 must be carefully stacked and lined up with
gauges (for example, as is shown in FIG. 2), and as paper-thin
shims sometimes must be inserted along the way in this process (for
example, in between any pairing of a group consisting of the
plurality of saw blades 14, the fixed center-spacer ring 35, the
slip-on spacer rings 41, the bell washers 42, and the nuts 43a,
43b), and as the plurality of saw blades 14 must be individually
tuned or straightened after the nuts 43a, 43b are installed, and as
most modern gin stands commonly have from about 150 to 300 saw
blades 14 on each driven shaft 30, the entire process of completing
a finished saw cylinder assembly 13 can take many hours of skilled
patient labor. One of ordinary skill in the art understands that
correcting misalignments via shims is tedious, inexact, difficult,
and time-consuming; and often times determining the number of shims
needed may necessitate the saw cylinder assembly 13 being
repeatedly removed, reassembled, replaced, and/or measured relative
to the alignment reference point(s).
[0060] Currently, it is not unusual for an assembler of a saw
cylinder assembly 13 to accidentally forget to rotate and/or
alternate the saw blades 14 every time a saw blade 14 is stacked
during the assembly process, which creates an imbalance that may
not be discovered until the full gin stand 10 is assembled and run
(for example, as is shown in FIG. 1). More specifically, as there
is a directionality associated with the directional saw teeth 37,
and as there is a center-spacer ring 35 defined along the shaft 31
of the driven shaft 30, and as one half of the saw cylinder 13 is
stacked from a first end (relative to the fixed center-spacer ring
35) opposite, or distal to, a second end (the second end defining
the drive keyway 32, for example), sometimes half the saw blades 14
are installed with the saw teeth 37 orientated in the opposite
direction from the others. If this is not discovered until after
final assembly of the gin stand 10, many hours will have been
wasted, as the saw cylinder assembly 13 will need to be
reworked.
[0061] Again, correcting these errors is tedious, difficult, and
time-consuming. As such, embodiments and aspects of the present
invention provide for (1) a novel saw cylinder assembly wherein the
shape of the center hole of the saw and the complimentary shape of
the shaft preclude the possibility of a saw cylinder assembly being
assembled with some or all the saw teeth orientated in the wrong
direction (2) whereby there is no possibility a saw cylinder can be
assembled in such a way as to create a rotational imbalance.
[0062] Currently, it also is not unusual for an assembler of a saw
cylinder assembly 13 to accidentally forget the functional
direction of the driven shaft 30 when stacking the saw cylinder
assembly 13, whether or not all of the individual saw blades 14 and
their saw teeth 37 are consistently orientated correctly, or
whether one or more is/are in the wrong orientation. In any event,
this results in a completed saw cylinder assembly 13 that is
substantially backwards to the functional-direction of a means for
driving the driven shaft 30 (a belt-and-pulley, or similar means,
for example).
[0063] More specifically, as the driven shaft 30 is commonly
asymmetrical from one end to the other, and as the saw blades 14
usually must rotate in one direction in order for the ginning
process to work, then by necessity there is a functional
orientation required between the directionality of the saw teeth 37
and the end of the driven shaft 30 where the means for driving the
shaft 30 is engaged. If this is not discovered until after final
assembly of the gin stand 10, many hours will have been wasted, as
the saw cylinder assembly 13 will need to be reworked.
[0064] Again, correcting these errors is tedious, difficult, and
time-consuming; as such, embodiments and aspects of the present
invention provide for a novel saw cylinder assembly construction
with a means for connection to the driven shaft, such that there is
a directionality associated with connection geometry between the
saw blade and driven shaft. Said another way, embodiments and
aspects of the present invention provide for a saw for use in a
saw-type cotton gin stand constructed with a directional means for
mounting the saw blades to the driven shaft, and provide a novel
method for fixing the inner diameter of each saw blade relative to
the shaft.
[0065] With this background in mind, exemplary embodiments of an
improved gin stand and, in particular, an improved saw cylinder
assembly will next be disclosed that achieve the above disclosed
objectives and address the above disclosed difficulties of the
prior art. While the newly disclosed embodiments share certain
structural features with the exemplary gin saw of FIGS. 1-6, the
distinctions and alterations will become apparent to one of
ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following additional
disclosure. The objects of the present invention may be achieved,
at least in part, by providing a system for a saw cylinder assembly
60, at least two exemplary embodiments of which are shown in FIGS.
7-13.
[0066] FIGS. 7-9 show a first exemplary embodiment of an improved
saw cylinder assembly 60. The first exemplary embodiment comprises
a driven shaft 50, a plurality of saw blades 56, a fixed
center-spacer ring 55, slip-on spacer rings 61, bell washers 62,
and nuts 63a, 63b.
[0067] FIGS. 10-11 show an exemplary embodiment of an improved
driven shaft 50 comprising a shaft 51, a drive keyway 52 (to
provide means for driving the shaft 51 with a belt-and-pulley, or
similar means, for example), two directional saw blade keyways 53a,
53b, two threaded sections 54a, 54b, and a fixed center-spacer ring
55 that is permanently attached to the shaft 51.
[0068] FIG. 12 shows an exemplary embodiment of the gin saw blade
56 comprising a plurality of directional saw teeth 57, a center
hole 58, and two directional tabs or keys 59a and 59b, which are
asymmetrical about centerline y'-y'.
[0069] For this particular first embodiment, the location of the
fixed center-spacer ring 55 on the driven shaft 50 is critical to
the alignment of the saw blades 56 so each will fall safely within
the gaps between ribs 19. It is for this reason the center-spacer
ring 55 is permanently and precisely attached to the shaft 51, as
it serves as a point of reference for all the saws blades 56 and
spacer rings 61 stacked on each end of the shaft 50.
[0070] It should be noted that the driven shaft 50 has, as a
non-limiting example, two saw blade keyways 53a, 53b situated by
about 180 degrees apart, or antipodal, relative to one another, to
help maintain rotational balance. Each saw blade 56 has, as a
non-limiting example, two directional tabs 59a, 59b which are
complementary to the shape of the keyways 53a, 53b.
[0071] In this way, the first exemplary embodiment of the improved
saw cylinder assembly provides a directionality associated with the
saw teeth 57 and the asymmetrical tabs 59a, 59b, and provides a
fixed relationship between the orientation of the saw teeth 57 and
the tabs 59a, 59b. As a practical matter, each saw blade 56 need
not be installed in alternate (e.g., with the tab 39, in either
keyway 33a or 33b, as in the earlier described embodiment). As
such, the present invention provides for a more accurate,
efficient, and effective setup of the saw cylinder assembly 60,
thereby reducing the possibility of user-errors during the aligning
and positioning of the plurality of saw blades 56.
[0072] More specifically, for this first exemplary embodiment, as
asymmetrical keyways 53a, 53b are complementary in shape to the
tabs 59a, 59b defined by each saw blade 56, and as the saw blades
56 may be rotated in only one direction in order for the ginning
process to work, then the possibility for assembling some or all of
the saw blades 56 with the saw teeth 57 oriented in a direction
antithetical to the rotation-direction of the shaft 51, when
driven, has been significantly mitigated or eliminated. In
addition, the possibility for assembling the saw blades 56 in such
a way as to create a rotational imbalance has been significantly
mitigated or eliminated.
[0073] FIGS. 14-16 show a second exemplary embodiment of an
improved saw cylinder assembly 160 wherein the driven shaft 150 is
symmetrical from one end to the other end. The second exemplary
embodiment is similarly structured and composed as the first
exemplary embodiment, except for the symmetry and the differences
presented herein.
[0074] Like the first exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 7-13, the
second exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 14 comprises a driven
shaft 150, a plurality of saw blades 156, a fixed center-spacer
ring 155, slip-on spacer rings 161, bell washers 162, and nuts
163a, 163b. An exemplary embodiment of the improved driven shaft
150 is shown in FIGS. 15-16.
[0075] For this particular second embodiment, the driven shaft 150
defines a shaft 151, a drive keyway 152a, 152b on either side of
the driven shaft 150 (to provide means for driving the shaft 151
with a belt-and-pulley, or similar means, for example, for either
side), two directional saw blade keyways 153a, 153b, two threaded
sections 154a, 154b, and a fixed center-spacer ring 155 that is
permanently attached to the shaft 151. An exemplary embodiment of
the gin saw blade 156 is shown as in FIG. 12 and presented as gin
saw blade 56.
[0076] In this way, the second exemplary embodiment of the improved
saw cylinder assembly still provides a directionality associated
with the saw teeth 57 and the asymmetrical tabs 59a, 59b, and
provides a fixed relationship between the orientation of the saw
teeth 57 and the tabs 59a, 59b (like the first exemplary embodiment
above), but regardless of which end of the driven shaft 150 the saw
blades 156 are stacked on to. Again, as a practical matter, each
saw blade 156 need not be installed in alternate.
[0077] Returning once more to the practical matters, it is not
unusual for an assembler of a saw cylinder assembly 13 to
accidentally forget the functional direction of a standard driven
shaft 30, when stacking the saw cylinder assembly 13. As such, the
second exemplary embodiment provides for a more accurate,
efficient, and effective setup of the saw cylinder assembly 160,
via a driven shaft 160 that is symmetrical from one end to the
other. Regardless of the saw blades 14 having to rotate in one
direction, in order for the ginning process to work, and regardless
of the necessitated functional-orientation required between the
directionality of the saw teeth 37, the saw cylinder assembly 160
is not limited to having only one end of the driven shaft 150 where
the means for driving the shaft 151 must be engaged.
[0078] It is envisioned that, in certain exemplary embodiments of
the improved driven shaft 150, the shaft 150 is driven from both
ends via the drive keyways 152a, 152b using any means for driving
known to a person having ordinary skill in the art, including
mechanical means and electro/magnetic means.
[0079] Thus, an embodiment of the present invention disclosed above
is a saw cylinder assembly similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS.
7 and 8. Specifically, an embodiment of the present invention
disclosed above is a saw cylinder assembly 60 for a gin stand 10,
as shown in FIG. 1, comprising a driven shaft 50 and a plurality of
directional saw blades 56. The drive shaft 50 comprises a shaft 51
defining a means for engaging with a driving source 52, on one end
of the shaft 51, and at least two directional saw blade keyways
53a, 53b, as shown in FIGS. 9-11, wherein each of the at least two
directional saw blade keyways 53a, 53b is an asymmetrical
longitudinally-extending superficial groove on a central length of
the shaft 51. The directional saw blades 56, as shown in FIGS. 12
and 13, each comprise a central aperture 58 comprising at least two
directional keys 59a, 59b and a plurality of teeth 57 defined along
the outer-periphery of each saw blade 56. The at least two
directional keys 59a, 59b are complementary in number, shape, and
position, to the at least two directional saw blade keyways 53a,
53b of the driven shaft 50, for mating. The plurality of teeth 57
have a preferred direction for function.
[0080] When assembled, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the plurality of
directional saw blades 56 are mated with the driven shaft 50 in
only one orientation, and the plurality of teeth 57 rotate about a
common axis defined by the driven shaft 50. The complementary
number, shape, and position of the at least two directional keys
59a, 59b with the at least two directional saw blade keyways 53a,
53b preclude the saw cylinder assembly 60 from being assembled with
any of the plurality of teeth 57 being orientated against the
preferred direction for function.
[0081] Another embodiment of the present invention is a saw
cylinder assembly similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.
Specifically, an embodiment of the present invention disclosed
above is a saw cylinder assembly 60 for a saw-type gin stand 10, as
shown in FIG. 1, comprising an asymmetrical driven shaft 50 and a
plurality of directional saw blades 56. The asymmetrical driven
shaft 50 comprises a shaft 51 comprising a means for engaging with
a driving source 52, on one end of the shaft 51, and two
directional saw blade keyways 53a, 53b, as shown in FIGS. 9-11,
wherein each of the two directional saw blade keyways 53a, 53b is
an asymmetrical longitudinally-extending superficial groove on a
central length of the shaft 51, the two superficial grooves
positioned antipodal about the shaft 50, as shown in FIGS. 9 and
11. The plurality of directional saw blades 56 are circular and
each comprises a central aperture 58, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13,
comprising two directional keys 59a, 59b and a plurality of teeth
57 defined along the outer-periphery of each blade 56. The two
directional keys 59a, 59b are complementary in shape and position
to the two directional saw blade keyways 53a, 53b of the driven
shaft 50, for mating, and the plurality of teeth 57 have a
preferred direction for function. When assembled, as shown in FIGS.
7 and 8, the plurality of directional saw blades 56 are mated with
the driven shaft 50 in only one orientation, and the plurality of
teeth 57 rotate about a common axis defined by the driven shaft 50.
The complementary shape and position of the two directional keys
59a, 59b with the two directional saw blade keyways 53a, 53b
preclude the saw cylinder assembly 60 from being assembled with any
of the plurality of teeth 57 being orientated against the preferred
direction for function.
[0082] Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a saw
cylinder assembly similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 14.
Specifically, an embodiment of the present invention disclosed
above is a saw cylinder assembly 160 for a gin stand 10, as shown
in FIG. 1, comprising a symmetrical driven shaft 150 and a
plurality of directional saw blades 156. The symmetrical driven
shaft 150 comprises a shaft 151 defining two means for each,
respectively, engaging with a driving source 152a, 152b, as shown
in FIG. 16, one on one end of the shaft and another on the other
end of the shaft, and two directional saw blade keyways 53a, 53b,
as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. Each of the two directional saw blade
keyways 53a, 53b is an asymmetrical longitudinally-extending
superficial groove on a central length of the shaft 151, between
the two ends, the two superficial grooves positioned antipodal
about the shaft 151, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. The plurality of
directional saw blades 156, as shown in FIG. 17, are circular and
each comprises a central aperture 158 comprising two directional
keys 159a, 159b and a plurality of teeth 157 defined along the
outer-periphery of each blade 156. The two directional keys 159a,
159b are complementary in shape and position to the two directional
saw blade keyways 153a, 153b of the driven shaft 150, for mating,
and the plurality of teeth 157 have a preferred direction for
function. When assembled, as shown in FIG. 14, the plurality of
directional saw blades 156 are mated with the driven shaft 150 in
only one orientation, and the plurality of teeth 157 rotate about a
common axis defined by the driven shaft 150. The complementary
shape and position of the two directional keys 159a, 159b the two
directional saw blade keyways 153a, 153b preclude the saw cylinder
assembly 160 from being assembled with any of the plurality of
teeth 157 being orientated against the preferred direction for
function
[0083] It is envisioned that the number of directional asymmetrical
tabs in each saw blade disclosed herein, and the number of
corresponding directional asymmetrical keyways, is not limited to a
quantity of two to adhere to the spirit of the current invention.
It also is envisioned that the exact shape and geometry as
presented herein and in the figures does not constitute the only
shape of a saw blade tab(s) or key(s) and of the concomitant shape
of the shaft keyway(s) required to adhere to the spirit of the
current invention.
[0084] For the sake of clarity, it should be noted that many of the
figures herein show shorter shafts and fewer saw blades than are
typically used in current commercial gin stands. It should also be
noted the saw tooth profiles in the figures have been enlarged and
the shape simplified and adjusted, as has the ratio of the blade
diameter to the material thickness. In particular, it is envisioned
that embodiments of the present invention, in particular, the saw
cylinder assembly, may come in various widths, including but not
limited to about 8.0 feet, 10.0 feet, and 12.0 feet width
embodiments (referred, more specifically, as the distance from the
outside saw blade on one far end of a saw cylinder assembly to the
outside saw blade on the other end).
[0085] It also is envisioned that embodiments of the individual saw
blades may come in various diameters, including but not limited to
about 8.0 inches, 9.0 inches, 12.0 inches, 16.0 inches, or 18.0
inches in diameter embodiments, and embodiments having a thickness
of about 0.036 inches or 0.045 inches.
[0086] The various embodiments are provided by way of example and
are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. The
described embodiments comprise different features, not all of which
are required in all embodiments of the disclosure. Some embodiments
of the present disclosure utilize only some of the features or
possible combinations of the features. Variations of embodiments of
the present disclosure that are described, and embodiments of the
present disclosure comprising different combinations of features as
noted in the described embodiments, will occur to persons with
ordinary skill in the art. It will be appreciated by persons with
ordinary skill in the art that the present disclosure is not
limited by what has been particularly shown and described herein
above. Rather the scope of the invention is defined by the appended
claims.
* * * * *