US1703966A - Agitator for molten babbitt and the like - Google Patents

Description

Mar. 5, 1929. s. SMITH 1,703,966

AGITATOR FOR MOLTEN BABBITT AND THE LIKE I Filed Dec. 30, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 "IIIII 4m MM Mar, 5, R929. 5. SMITH 1,703,966

AGITATOR FOR MOL'IEN BABBITT AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 50, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet Mar.

8. SMITH AGITATOR FOR MOLTEN BABBITT AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 30, 192'? 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR MW a ATT RNEYs f Patented Mar. 5, 1929.

.UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

sALHM SMITH, or mrrnorr, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB 520 FEDERAL MOGUL CORPORA- TION, or nnrnorr, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION or MICHIGAN.

AGITA' IOR FOR MOLTEN BABBITT AND. THE LIKE.

Application filed December'30, 1927. Serial No. 243,554.

This invention relates to apparatus for effecting the mechanical agitation of molten Babbitt metal or similar material, in order to insure the greatest-possible degree of unis formity in the mixture asremoved by ladlin'g or similar steps in themanufacturing opera.- tion, and has for its obiectan improved 01 ganization of parts by means of which the molten mass, composed of variant metal components of diverse relative weight, may be kept substantially uniform from top to hottom and so that the heavier components, such as copper, will not tend to settle near the bot- -tom of the melting vat, leaving "'an unduly light and not thoroughly commingled mixture near the top from which naturally the successive ladles full are manually removed by dipping. My invention also involves the provision of convenient means for lifting or swinging the agitating member out of the vat,

when for any reason more unobstructed ac-.

cessthereto is desired, without involving the complete and time-wasting disassemblage of the parts,'- as well as the provision of means for protecting this agitating member from injury, due to the careless throwing into the vat of additional ingots of the various metals of which the molten mixture is composed.

In the drawings: A

Figure 1 is a front elevational viewof my improved mechanism shown in relation to the melting vat and to the preferred form of connection to a source of power.

Figure'2 is a side elevational view partly in section, and showing in dotted lines the raised or swung-up position of the agitating mechanism relatively to the Vat.

. Figure 3 is a plan view from above.

Figure 4 is a sectional detail, taken along the line 4:-4: of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows there shown.

Figure 5 is a perspective of the preferred form of guard member, between whose parts the agitating member is held in suitable position. we

12 represents a vat or melting pot, positioned subjacently of a supporting frame 13,

the upwardly extending portion of which is otherwise' actuating engagement over the active pulley 15, when for any reason it is desired to temporarily halt the activity of the mechanism here described. Of course any desired or equivalent means. for effecting the rotative movement of the shaft 14' could be substituted for this belt-driven means.

The right-hand end of the shaft 14, viewed from the position shown in Figure 1, is sur-.

- rounded bythesleeve projection 16' of a fixed housing, in which is positioned, to rotate- "with the shaft 14, the bevel gear 17, whose teeth mesh with those of' the companion gear 18 which is mounted upon the vertical shaft- 19, which latter is rotatably held in positionzv by the lower projection or sleeve 20 of the housing 16, This shaft 19 also engages rotatably in a box-or housing; 21, the rearend,

of which is pivoted, as at 22, in the frame or,

base 23, ofwhich the already mentioned supporting bracket 13' is structurally a part.

The shaft '19'continues below this housing to, a

point near the bottom of the vat or melting pot 12, and carries on its lower end the propeller or agitating blades 24, whose induced rotative movement in the mass of molten metal contained within the vat acts to keep in a state of agitation the fluid components of this mass and constantly disturb for remingling with the lighter components whose tendency is to rise to the top of the molten mass, such heavier component as copper, which would otherwisesink to the bottom of the vat. Access to the molten contents of the -vat when the agitating mechanism is in the full-line position shown in Figure 2 may be had by ladling or any'other desired method of removal.

When for any reason it is desirable to clear the vat of this agitating mechanism; this may be easily effected without disassemblage of the parts by swinging the whole vertical structure, of which the shaft 19 is the centralfeature, upwardly about the pivotf22 as a center, bringing it to the dotted line position shown in Figure 2, though I do not desire to be considered to restricting myself to the constructionhere shown, since, at the expenseof the convenience thus afforded, this pivotal arrangement could be omitted in favor of a solid or permanent supporting means for the pivot 19. If such swinging construction is indulged in, it will of course be obvious that rovision mustbe made for the release of the shaft 14 and its associated parts from its normal support in the top of the bracket 13.

.It is also desirable to effect the secure holding down of the hinged support for the shaft 14 so that it will be in permanently reliable vertical position by some such means as the pin 25, extending through the supporting arm or shell 21 and into asuit-able portion of the framework 23, this being withdrawn from its interlocking position when the described upward swing of the parts appurtenant the shaft 19 is'desired. 7

While notindispensable to the operation of the mechanism thus far described, the pro- 1 tive engagement through it of the bladecarrying shaft 19 and the depending skirting 32 on either side of the line of this indentation is similarly apertured lengthwise, in order to permit the swing through this space of the shaft 19 when it is moved to the dotted line position shown in Figure 2'. That portion of the skirting diametrically opposite from this lengthwise apertured part which, if present, would be shown in the left foreground of perspective Figure 5 is largely cut away, however, in order to give as free access as possible of the molten metal about the agitator blades. The depending skirtings 32 being located facing the front of the device and of the vat or pot 12 from which direction the added metal ingotsare usually deposited in the vat, their protective function proves in practice to be ample.

lVhat I claim is: I

1:.Means for agitating molten babbitt and the like, having, in combination with a supporting frame adapted to be positioned over the open top of a container, a pivotally connected bracket supported: therefrom, said bracket having its end formed as a bearing of vertical axiality when the bracket is in lowered position, a shaft rotatably supported intermediate its ends "by said bearing portion of said bracket, an agitating blade carried on the lower end of the shaft, and means carried on *he'upper end ofthe shaft whereby it have rotative actuation transmitted to it from an external power source.

2. In combination with a supporting frame, avertically. movable bracketmember pivotally supported thereby, a rotatable shaft normally supported in vertical position intermediate its ends by said bracket member, and adapted to be swung with it to a position of axial obliquity thereover, an. agitating blade carried by the lower end of said rotatable shaft in position to act upon a fluid mass into which the shaft end is lowered, and means operatively engaging the upper end of said shaft for transmitting rotative actuation thereto from an external power source.

3. In combination with a supporting frame, a vertically movable bracket hingedly supported thereby, a shaft provided with an agitating projection on its lower end, rotatably journaled therein intermediate its ends in normally vertical position, a guard member for the agitating lower end portion of the shaft supported from said movable bracket, and means for imparting actuation to said shaft when in operative vertical position relatively to a subjacent fluid mass into which the lower end of said. shaft normally extends.

4. The combination, with a bracket member pivotally supported in position for swinging in a vertical plane, of a shaft rotatably journaled in said bracket and extending appreciably on either side thereof, said shaft being adapted to swing with said bracket out of its normally vertical position, an agitating member carried on the lower end of said shaft, and means operatively engageable with the top end of said shaft whereby it may be rotatively actuated from an external power source.

5. In combination with a fixed baseportion and a vertically swinging bracket member supported thereby, a shaft provided with an agitating blade. on its'lower end and'having its intermediate portion,'rotatably journaled in said bracket member, means supported upon said bracket whereby said shaft is rotatively actuated from an external power source, and means for shielding the blade on the lower end of said shaft against the impact of foreign articles, though out of interfering position as regards the operative movement thereof.

tion.

SALEM SMITH.

In testimony whereof sign this specifica-

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