US3268177A

US3268177A - Vibro-energy mill

Info

Publication number: US3268177A
Application number: US304832A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard K Mckibben
Original assignee: Southwestern Engineering Co
Current assignee: Southwestern Engineering Co
Priority date: 1963-08-27
Filing date: 1963-08-27
Publication date: 1966-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 1983-08-23
Also published as: GB1004583A

Description

A1181 23, 1966 Y R. K. M KIBBEN 3,268,177

VIBRO-ENERGY MILL Filed Aug. 27. 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l .216 1 INVENTOR.

Aug. 23, 1966 R. M KIBBEN 3,258,177

VIBRO-ENERGY MILL Filed Aug. 27. 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 P 3,263,177 [Ce Patented August 23, 1966 3,268,177 VEBRO-ENERGY MILL Richard K. McKihben, La Canada, Califi, assignor to Southwestern Engineering Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Aug. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 304,832 6 Qlaims. (Cl. 241-475) This invention relates to vibro-energy mills, that is, to mills which are vibrated at high frequency to perform grinding, deburring, polishing, and similar operations.

Included in the objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a vibro-energy mill in which the mill chamber is annular in form and incorporates a rotary vibrator rigidly connected therewith; the mill chamber being supported by a set of springs located within the annulus formed by the mill chamber, and in proximity to the vibration null point established when the mill is vibrated.

Second, to provide a vibro-energy mill which, by reason of the fact that the mill chamber is spring-supported in proximity to the vibration. null point, operates essentiallyas if it were freely suspended, and transmits a minimum of vibration through the springs to the supporting structure.

Third, to provide a vibro-energy mill wherein the motor drive is independent of the mill and free from the vibrations produced thereby, and which is connected to the mill by a drive means passing through the vibration Illllil point so that the drive means is not adversely afiected by vibration of the mill.

Fourth, to provide an annular vibro-energy mill which is spring-supported near its upper end from a central, tubular pylon, and which incorporates a novelly arranged rotary vibrator rigidly connected to its lower end and iocated within but clearing the walls of the pylon, so that the vibrator is in coaxial relation to the pylon -for drive connection to a motor supported directly on the pylon.

With the above and other objects in view, as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal, sectional view of the vibroenergy mill;

FIG. 2 is a transverse, sectional view taken through 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse, sectional view taken through 33 of FIG. 1.

The vibro-energy mifll includes a pylon structure 1 having a circular base plate 2 and an upstanding base tube 3. The base tube is reinforced by radiating gussets 4. The upper portion of the base tube 3 is provided between the gusse-ts 4 with axially extending slits 5, the margins of which are reinforced.

Mounted on the base tube 3 in coaxial relation therewith is an extension tube 6 having axial slits 7 in alignment with the axial slits 5, and forming therewith a plurality of accommodation or clearance slots. The confronting ends of the base tube 3 and extension tube 6 are provided with mating flanges S which receive bolts, not shown, for securing the tubes 3 and 6 in rigid, axial relation.

The upper end of the extension tube 6 is provided with an internal flange 9 which supports a cylindrical motor mount 10 on which is secured a motor 11.

The pylon structure 1 is surrounded by an annular mill structure 12 defining an annular chamber 13 open at its upper end. The annular chamber 13 is formed by a radially outer Wall 14 and a radially inner wall 15 which are connected by a semi-toroidal bottom wall 16. The upper extremity of the inner wall 15 is provided with a flange 17 Fitted within the upper end of the mill structure 12 is a supporting sleeve 18 having an external upper flange 19 overlying and secured to the flange 17. The lower extremity of the supporting sleeve 18 is provided with an internal flange 20 confronting the internal flange 9 of the pylon structure 1. Interposed in the

flanges

9 and 20 is a ring of springs 21. The springs 21 provide a yieldable support for the mill structure 12.

The bottom end of the mill structure 12 is provided with an annular bottom plate 22 having depending and laterally inwardly extending gussets 23, which project through the accommodation slots formed by the slits 5 and 7 and are joined to a cylindrical vibrator case 24 disposed within the lower portion of the pylon structure 1.

The vibrator case 24 is provided with end covers 25 having bearings 26 therein. The bearings 26 journal a vibrator shaft 27 which carries an upper eccentric weight 28 and a lower eccentric weight 29. The upper eccentric weight 28 is located within the case 24 adjacent the upper bearing. The lower eccentric weight 29 is disposed below the case adjacent the lower hearing. The eccentric weights may be secure-d in various angular relations with each other.

The vibrator shaft 27 and the shaft of the motor 11 are in coaxial relation and are joined by a drive shaft 30 having

universal joints

31 and 32.

Substantial clearance is provided between the pylon structure 1 and the inner wall 15 of the mill structure 12. At a suitable location near the lower end of the mill structure 12, bumper pads 33- are provided to absorb impacts occasioned by the mill structure 12 striking the pylon structure 1. The upper end of the mill structure 12 is provided with a cover 34 held in place by a suitable clamp band 35.

If the mill structure 12 is to be used for grinding purposes, grinding media (usually in the form of ceramic cylinders) is placed within the annular chamber 13 and an appropriate quantity of the material to be ground is added. Water or other liquid also may be added, if the mill is to function as a wet grinding mill. If the mill is to be used in deburring or polishing, or similar operations, deburring or polishing media and the workpieces to be treated are placed in the chamber 13.

Operation of the vibro-energy mill is as follows:

The proportions of the pylon structure 1 and the mill structure 12, as well as the location and masses of the

eccentric weights

28 and 29, are so related that on rotation of the eccentric weights the mill structure 12 tends to vibrate about a null point located centrally in the region occupied by the springs 21. As a consequence, the deflection of the springs 21 in response to the vibration of the mill structure 12 is reduced to a minimum. Under operating conditions, the vibration imparted is in the order of a small fraction of an inch, much less than the space between the bumper pads 33. When the mill is started or stopped, a transient gyration occurs which at times causes engagement of the bumper pads 33.

It will be noted that the motor 11 is supported entirely from the pylon structure 1, and therefore is free of vibration. Also, it will be noted that the upper universal joint 31 is located approximately at the vibration null point so that vibration of the mill structure 12 has no effect on the drive.

While a particular embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the exact details of the construction set forth, and it embraces such changes, modifications, and equivalents of the parts and their formation and arrangement as come Within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A vibro-energy mill, comprising:

(a) a tubular pylon structure having clearance slots in the lower portions of its side walls;

(b) a ring of supporting springs at the upper end of said pylon structure;

() an annular mill chamber structure surrounding the upper portion of said pylon structure and supported by said ring of springs;

(d) a vibrator unit disposed in the lower portion of said pylon structure;

(e) gussets extending from said vibrator unit to said mill chamber structure through said clearance slots, for rigidly connecting said mill chamber structure and said vibrator unit;

(f) and a motor for driving said vibrator unit mounted on said pylon.

2. A vibro-energy mill, comprising:

(a) a tubular pylon structure including a base tube and an extension tube separably connected in endto-end relation and defining there'between longitudinal clearance slots;

(b) a ring of supporting springs at the upper end of said pylon structure;

(0) an annular mill chamber structure surrounding the upper portion of said pylon structure and supported by said ring of springs;

(d) a vibrator unit disposed in the lower portion of said pylon structure; (e) gussets extending from said vibrator unit to said mill chamber structure through said clearance slots, for rigidly connecting said mill chamber structure and said vibrator unit;

(if) and a motor for driving said vibrator unit mounted on said pylon.

3. A vibro-energy mill, comprising:

(a) an annular mill chamber structure defining a central tubular column;

(b) a vibrator unit in the lower portion of said column, for vibrating said mill chamber structure about a null point located centrally in said column near its upper end;

(0) and yieldable means within said column for supporting said mill structure in proximity to said null point.

4. A vibro-energy mill, comprising:

(a) a vertically disposed annular mill chamber structure defining a central tubular column;

(b) a coaxial rotary vibrator unit including a case rigidly connected to said mill chamber structure coaxially with said column, and axially displaced rotary eccentric masses for vibrating said mill chamher structure about a null point located centrally in said mill structure near the upper end of said column;

(0) and yieldable means within said column supporting said will structure in proximity to said null point.

5. A vibro-energy mill, comprising:

(b) a coaxial rotary vibrator unit including a case rigidly connected to said mill chamber structure, and axially displaced rotary eccentric masses for vibrating said mill chamber structure about a null point located centrally in said column near its upper end;

(c) a fixed supporting structure extending into said column to a region near said null point;

(d) and a ring of springs interposed between said supporting structure and said mill chamber structure adjacent said null point to permit vibration of said mill chamber structure about said null point.

6. A vibro-energy mill, comprising:

(-b) a coaxial rotary vibrator unit including a case rigidly connected to said mill chamber structure, and axially displaced rotary eccentric masses for vibrating said mill chamber structure about a null point located centrally in said column near its upper end;

(0) a fixed supporting structure extending into said column to a region near said null point;

(d) a ring of springs within said column interposed between said supporting structure and said mill chamber structure adjacent said null point to permit vibration of said mill chamber structure about said null point;

(e) a motor carried by said supporting structure and disposed above said null point;

(f) and a drive means interconnecting said motor and vibrator and passing through said null point.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,018,789 10/1935 Jorgenson 25972 2,693,320 11/1954 Smith 241l75 2,882,024 4/1959 Behrens 25972 X 3,100,088 8/1963 Podmore 241 X 3,177,554 4/1965 Larkfeldt 25972 X ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner.

H. F. PEPPER, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A VIBRO-ENERGY MILL, COMPRISING: (A) A TUBULAR PYLON STRUCTURE HAVING CLEARANCE SLOTS IN THE LOWER PORTIONS OF ITS SIDE WALLS; (B) A RING OF SUPPORTING SPRINGS AT THE UPPER END OF SAID PYLON STRUCTURE; (C) AN ANNULAR MILL CHAMBER STRUCTURE SURROUNDING THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID PYLON STRUCTURE AND SUPPORTED BY SAID RING OF SPRINGS; (D) A VIBRATOR UNIT DISPOSED IN THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID PYLON STRUCTURE; (E) GUSSETS EXTENDING FROM SAID VIBRATOR UNIT TO SAID MILL CHAMBER STRUCTURE THROUGH SAID CLEARANCE SLOTS, FOR RIGIDLY CONNECTING SAID MILL CHAMBER STRUCTURE AND SAID VIBRATOR UNIT; (F) AND A MOTOR FOR DRIVING SAID VIBRATOR UNIT MOUNTED ON SAID PYLON.