U.S. patent number 3,689,186 [Application Number 05/044,092] was granted by the patent office on 1972-09-05 for apparatus for manufacturing blocks or the like.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Von Roll AG, Gerlafingen, CH. Invention is credited to Ernst Jakob Winter, Franz Stelzmuller.
United States Patent |
3,689,186 |
|
September 5, 1972 |
APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING BLOCKS OR THE LIKE
Abstract
An apparatus for the fabrication of blocks, especially the block
anodes of furnaces, formed of compacted granular material or the
like, wherein a compartment is charged with a dosed quantity of
material, a vacuum is generated in such compartment and the
material is subjected to compaction by vibration.
Inventors: |
Ernst Jakob Winter (Birsfelden,
CH), Franz Stelzmuller (Oensingen, CH) |
Assignee: |
Von Roll AG, Gerlafingen, CH
(N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
4349180 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/044,092 |
Filed: |
June 8, 1970 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 16, 1969 [CH] |
|
|
9179/69 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
425/352;
425/405.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B30B
11/02 (20130101); B30B 11/022 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B30B
11/02 (20060101); B28b 007/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;25/41J,41E,41B,119,45
;18/DIG60,DIG.62 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Robert L. Spicer, Jr.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Werner W. Kleeman
Claims
We claim:
1. An apparatus for fabricating blocks, especially block anodes,
from compacted granular material or the like, comprising means
providing an air-tight enclosed compaction compartment equipped
with a removable cover having sealing means therein, a charging
mechanism for introducing material to be compacted into said
compaction compartment, said compaction compartment defining an
internal space for receiving the material, at least one material
compacting mechanism mounted within said internal space of said
compaction compartment, said material compacting mechanism
comprising at least one vibration mechanism located within said
internal space of said compaction compartment, vacuum means
communicating with said internal space of said compaction
compartment for creating vacuum conditions therein in order to
remove any gases while reducing the pressure in the material
compaction compartment during the material compacting
operation.
2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means defining
said material compaction compartment further includes a bottom
member, said material compacting mechanism within said compaction
compartment comprising at least one additional vibration mechanism,
one of said vibration mechanisms being supported at said bottom
member whereas the other of said vibration mechanisms being mounted
at said cover.
3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including a
cylinder-piston drive operably coupled with said material
compacting mechanism for selectively subjecting the material
introduced into said compaction compartment to pressure.
4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means defining
said compaction compartment includes a bottom member having
inclined portions, said bottom member serving to seal off said
compaction compartment at its lower end, and means for selectively
raising and lowering said bottom member.
5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said means for
selectively raising and lowering said bottom member comprises a
cylinder-piston drive.
6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including a machine
frame, drive means supported at said machine frame for raising and
lowering said removable cover.
7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said drive means
comprises a cylinder-piston drive arrangement.
8. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, further including a rigid
support member for said machine frame, and resilient means for
supporting said machine frame at said rigid support member and for
dampening the transmission of vibrations between said machine frame
and rigid support member.
9. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, further including resilient
means cooperating with each of said vibration mechanisms for
dampening the transmission of vibrations to said means providing
said compaction compartment.
Description
The present invention relates to an improved method of fabricating
blocks, especially block anodes by compacting granulate material or
the like, and furthermore, also relates to a new and improved
apparatus for the performance of the aforementioned method.
There are already known to the art different techniques and
apparatus structures for the production of blocks, especially
so-called block anodes as such are used, in particular, in the
electric melting installations of aluminum plants, these blocks
being formed from pourable materials and granulates which are
admixed with a binder.
According to a first technique of the prior art, the granulate is
compressed and compacted under high pressure with the aid of a mold
and two press punches, wherein depending upon the construction of
the equipment the mold and/or the press punch are movable. In order
to intensify the process, it is furthermore known to provide
vibration means at least one of the press punches and/or the mold
which bring about compaction of the material prior to the terminal
compaction operation which occurs under high pressure.
Furthermore, a technique is known to the art in which blocks formed
of granulate material are fabricated in two operations, a
pre-compacting operation and a final or terminal compacting
operation.
Accordingly, it is a primary objective of the present invention to
provide an improved method for the fabrication of blocks of the
aforementioned type or similar articles which improves upon the
existing techniques and specifically accelerates the fabrication of
such blocks, produces a more uniform compaction, and reduces the
quota of rejects of such blocks by preventing or reducing the
amount of gas- and air inclusions within the material of the
block.
Another, more specific object of the present invention relates to
an improved method of, and apparatus for, the fabrication of blocks
from granular material or the like which effectively overcomes the
aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art techniques and
structures, and specifically, wherein the blocks can be produced
under improved economy, with a lower number of rejects, and at an
increased production capacity.
A further object of the invention relates to an improved apparatus
fro the fabrication of such blocks from granular material or the
like which is relatively simple in construction, economical to
manufacture, operates relatively simply and reliably, is not
readily subjected to breakdown, and produces an improved quality of
finished compressed article of the mentioned type.
Now, in order to implement these and still further objects of the
invention, which will become more readily apparent as the
description proceeds, the inventive method for the fabrication of
blocks is manifested by the features that a compartment is charged
with a dosed quantity of material, a vacuum is created in the
compartment, and the material is subjected to the action of
vibrations.
As far as the apparatus structure of the invention is concerned,
such comprises a compacting compartment for receiving the material
introduced from a charging mechanism, this compacting compartment
being equipped with a removable cover member. At least one
compaction mechanism is installed within the internal region of the
compaction compartment and a vacuum producing device communicates
with this internal region of the compaction compartment for the
purpose of reducing the pressure prevailing in such compartment
during compaction or compressing of the material.
The invention will be better understood and objects other than
those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is
given to the following detailed description thereof. Such
description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of inventive
apparatus, partly in section, and employed for the fabrication of
blocks and equipped with a suitable charging mechanism; and
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the apparatus for the compaction of
blocks depicted in FIG. 1, shown in a section similar to FIG. 1,
but in a sectional view displaced through 90.degree. from the
illustration of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Describing now the drawings, in FIG. 1 there is illustrated a
charging device 1 which cooperates with an apparatus 1a for the
fabrication of blocks formed of compacted pourable materials or
granulate. The charging device 1 will be seen to comprise a
container 2 which is equipped with a trap door type or
flapped-bottom or floor 3 which, for instance, is pivotally mounted
at the journals or pins 4 and 5. The flap portions 3a of the trap
door type bottom or floor 3 are actuated by means of a suitable
displacement piston-cylinder arrangement 6 secured to the wall of
the housing of the container 2. An additional thrust or
displaceable piston-cylinder drive mechanism 7 serves to displace
the container 2. An impact buffer 8 or equivalent mechanism is
arranged at the side of the container 2 opposite the displacement
piston-cylinder drive mechanism 7. The impact buffer 8 serves to
displace the block which has been raised out of the production
apparatus 1a onto a suitable transport or conveyor mechanism 9 from
which it can be removed. The material to be compressed, generally
indicated by reference character 10, is introduced in a dosed
quantity to the container 2 by means of any suitable and therefore
non-illustrated dosing mechanism.
Now the apparatus 1a which is used for the compaction of the
material and for the fabrication of the blocks heretofore
discussed, will be seen to essentially consist of a mold
compartment 11 formed of three main components, namely a cover
member 12, a compartment housing 13 and a bottom or base portion
14. Suitable seals 15 and 16 for achieving an air-tight connection
are arranged at the parting surfaces of these three main components
12, 13 and 14. Additional seals 17, 18, 19 and 20 serve to seal
openings appearing at the compartment 11 through which extend into
the interior of such compartment 11 certain members which will be
described in greater detail hereinafter.
By referring to FIG. 2 it will be seen that an arm member 21 is
arranged at the cover member 12, this arm member having a suitable
bore at its free end, as shown, and through which extends a shaft
22 which, in turn, is supported in two brackets 23 of the machine
frame or housing 24. A lever 25 is secured to the shaft 22, the
lever having a free end which is articulated by means of a pin 26
with the piston rod 27 of a suitable displaceable piston-cylinder
drive 28. The components 21, 22 and 25 form a rigid lever system
rotatable about the shaft 22, by means of which the cover unit 12
can be raised into its open position. In so doing, the face of the
piston 29 confronting the piston rod 27 of the cylinder-piston
drive arrangement 28 can be impacted by a suitable pressurized
fluid medium, so that the piston 29 will be lowered within its
cylinder 30 and therefore lifts the cover unit 12. Of course,
instead of the described and herein illustrated cylinder-piston
drive arrangement 28, it is also possible to use any other suitable
drive mechanism, such as a rotary piston drive or a spindle drive
for instance.
Now the compartment housing 13 will be seen to comprise a
supporting flange 31 by means of which it can bear upon the base
plate 32 of the housing or frame 24. Base plate 32 and the side
walls 33 of the frame or housing 24 of the machine are reinforced
by appropriate ribs 34. The displaceable piston-cylinder drive unit
28 is hingedly connected by means of its cylinder 30 to an arm 35
of the sidewall 33 of the machine frame or housing 24. This machine
frame 24 is supported as a unit upon a rigid support member 38
through the agency of the schematically illustrated resilient of
spring elements 36.
Continuing, it will be observed that a suitable thrust or
displacement piston-cylinder drive mechanism 39 is arranged at the
cover member 12 of the compartment 11, the cylinder unit 40 of
which is secured to the cover member 12 and the piston 41 and
piston rod 42 of which carry a support plate 43. Support plate 43
is guided at the wall of the cover member 12 by guide rods 44. This
support plate 43 carries suitable oscillating elements 45, springs
for instance, to which there is secured the upper press plate 46.
Appropriate vibrators 47 or equivalent vibrating devices are
arranged at the press plate 46, which for instance can be
constructed as rotating imbalances or unequal weights.
Now at the floor or bottom 14 there is secured a thrust
piston-cylinder drive mechanism 50, the piston 51 and piston rod 52
of which carry a lower support plate 53. Lower support plate 53 is
guided at the bottom member 14 by suitable guide rods 54 which
extend through such bottom member 14, as shown. The lower support
plate 53 also carries oscillating elements, such as the springs 55,
upon which bears a lower press plate 56. At the underside of the
press plate 56 there are attached, just as with the upper press
plate 46, vibrators 57 or equivalent vibrating mechanisms. The
space between the lower support plate 53 and the press plate 56 is
covered in appropriate fashion by wall members 58 and 59, in order
to present the penetration of granular material or the like which
may drop down between the press plate 56 and the compartment
wall.
Additionally, it will be observed that two further thrust
piston-cylinder drives 60 and 61 are connected to the outside wall
of the compartment housing 13, the piston rods 62 and 63 of which
are connected with the bottom or floor portion 14.
Instead of undertaking the compaction of the material by vibrators,
such compaction can also be undertaken by a pressure force exerted
by the thrust piston-cylinder drives 39 and 50. That compaction of
the material can also be brought about through combined use of the
pressure force and the effect of the vibrators. Which type of
compaction is employed depends upon the equipment construction
which is available. For instance, it is possible to use an existing
press having a mold, which has been modified for producing a vacuum
in the compaction compartment, so that the material is compacted by
the pressure forces exerted by the press punches of the press
apparatus. The compacting mechanism, in such case, then consists of
the pressure or press plates of the press punches.
The heretofore described apparatus structure functions as follows:
Initially, with the aid of the thrust piston-cylinder drive
mechanism 7 the container 2 which has been filled with a dosed
quantity of granular material or the like is displaced over and
into alignment with the housing of the compartment 11, the cover
member 12 of which has been positioned so as to be in its open
location. Thereafter, the flaps 3a of the trap door-type bottom 3
of the container 2 are opened by means of the piston-cylinder drive
mechanism 6, so that the material will drop as uniformly as
possible into the compartment housing 13. When this occurs, the
piston-cylinder drive mechanism 50 is located in the lowered
position depicted in FIG. 1.
Now the cover member 12 is closed and the compartment 11 is
evacuated by means of a suitable vacuum pump 70 which communicates
therewith via the conduits 72, 73 and 74, vacuum pump 70 being
driven by a suitable drive motor 71. In the evacuated condition of
the compartment 11 the vibrators 47 and 57 are placed into
operation, so that the introduced material is compacted. Depending
upon requirements, the displaceable piston-cylinder drive
mechanisms 39 and 50 are also subjected to pressure in order to
additionally subject the material, apart from the action of the
vibrational forces, to a pressure. Due to evacuation of the
compartment 11 there are practically no air-and gas inclusions in
the compacted block which is formed, and because of the uniformly
distributed poured material during the charging operation there is
achieved a uniform compaction of the block.
Upon completion of compaction, air is admitted into the compartment
11, the cover member 12 is again raised by means of the
piston-cylinder drive 28, and with the aid of the piston-cylinder
drive 50 of the compacted block is raised upwardly.
In the meantime the container 2 of the charging apparatus is again
filled with a dosed quantity of material to be processed. Through
the action of the piston-cylinder drive 7 the container 2 is again
placed over the compartment housing 13 while, at the same time,
displacing the finished fabricated block via the impact or pressure
buffer 8, onto the transport device 9.
By means of the piston-cylinder drives 60 and 61 the bottom or base
member 14 is lowered, so that any material which may have dropped
between the lower press plate 56 and the chamber wall can be
removed from below.
After the piston-cylinder drive 50 has again been lowered and the
base member 14 pressed against the compartment housing 13 through
the action of the piston-cylinder drive 60 and 61, the container 2
is emptied into the compartment 11, the compaction operation
beginning again from anew. With the aid of the schematically
indicated compressed air nozzles 77 and 78 it is possible to clean
the sealing surfaces from any residual granulate material.
Furthermore, by referring to FIG. 2, it will be understood that the
roof-shaped construction of the bottom or base member 14
facilitates emptying of any residual granulate material. It would
be possible to similarly construct in roof-like or arched fashion
the sealing surfaces of the cover member 12 and the compartment
housing 13.
While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of
the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention
is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and
practiced within the scope of the following claims.
ACCORDINGLY,
* * * * *