GB2133368A - A gate for a pneumatic conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

The gate comprises a body (1) hermetically connected to inlet (2) and outlet (3) pipe sections that are arranged coaxially relative to each other and are connected in a pipe-line of a pneumatic conveyor. The body (1) accommodates an intermediate pipe section (4) having a cross-section corresponding to the cross-sections of the inlet (2) and outlet (3) pipe sections and kinematically connected to a drive (5) for turning it. Rigidly with an outer well of the intermediate pipe section (4) disposed in the body (1) is a damper (6) used to overlap one pipe section (2) connected to the body (1). The damper (6) mounts a ring-like resilient sealing member (7) whose shape corresponds to the cross-section of the pipe section (2) to be overlapped. The intermediate pipe section (4) is mounted in the body (1) so that it can swing to a certain extent in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the damper (6) and relative to an axis (8) offset from the longitudinal axis (9) of the inlet (2) and outlet (3) pipe sections. Provision is made for a catch (14) of the position of the intermediate pipe section (4), the catch (14) being actuated by the drive (5) for turning the pipe section (4). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A gate for a pneumatic conveyor The present invention relates to pneumatic conveyors of containers and, more particularly, to gates of the pipe-lines of such conveyors.

Gates in accordance with the present invention are particularly useful in pipe-lines which are of a relatively small diameter and are used for transporting, for example, books within big libraries. The gates can be also used in other pneumatic conveyors used as means of transportation within plants.

The present invention provides a gate for the pipe-line of a pneumatic conveyor of containers, comprising a body hermetically connected to inlet and outlet branch pipes which are arranged coaxially and are connected to the pipe-line of the pneumatic conveyor, which accommodates a branch pipe of a cross-section corresponding to those of the inlet and outlet branch pipes, said branch pipe being kinematically connected to a turning drive to be connected to the inlet and outlet branch pipes and carrying a damper for overlapping one of the branch pipes connected to the body, in which the damper for overlapping one of the branch pipes is rigidly secured to the outer wall of the branch pipe disposed in the body and has a sealing member which is made from a resilient material whose whose shape corresponds to the cross-section of the branch pipe being overlapped, the branch pipe being disposed in the body so that the damper can swing to a certain extent relative to an axis disposed in a plane parallel to the plane of the damper and passing below the longitudinal axis of the inlet and outlet branch pipes, and being provided with a catch of the position of the branch pipe when one of the branch pipes is overlapped, said catch being actuated by the turning drive.

If the intermediate pipe section is of rectangular cross-section, it is expedient to make one of its walls serve as the damper.

While being relatively simple in its design, a gate built in accordance with the present invention provides for reliable hermetic sealing of one of the inlet and outlet pipe sections and for a decrease in the wear of the ring-like sealing member when the damper is being brought away from the pipe section due to the fact that the intermediate pipe section is so mounted in the body that it can swing therein.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a gate for a pipe-line of a pneumatic conveyor of containers, in partsectioned side view; Figure 2 is a part-sectioned enlarged view taken along the arrow A in Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows detail I in Figure 1 in the case of aligned disposition of all the pipe sections (an enlarged view).

The gate illustrated comprises a body 1 (Figure 1) having an inlet pipe section 2 and an outlet pipe section 3 which are arranged in axial alignment and are connected to upstream and downstream sections of a pipe-line (not shown) of a pneumatic conveyor. The body 1 accommodates an intermediate pipe section 4 which is identical in cross-sectional size and shape to the pipe sections 2 and 3, to provide a transit passage for containers through the gate when it is positioned in axial alignment with the pipe sections 2 and 3.

The end portions of the intermediate pipe section 4 are made rounded along a radius, a concave recess 2a is made in the end portion of the pipe section 2 facing the pipe section 4, the shape of the recess 2a corresponding to the shape of the rounded end portion of the pipe section 4, and the end portion of the pipe section 3 is similarly of a shape that mates with the shape of the end portion of the pipe section 4. The pipe section 4 is kinematically coupled with a turning drive 5, which in the embodiment illustrated substantially consists of a power cylinder 5 and mounted on the pipe section 2. As is shown in Figure 2, in the present embodiment the pipe section 4 is of a rectangular cross-section corresponding to the shape of the cross-sections of the pipe sections 2 and 3.One of the walls of the intermediate pipe section 4, namely the wall 6, serves as a damper overlapping the inlet pipe section 2.

To provide for a more hermetic sealing of the pipe section 2, the damper 6 has a ring-like sealing member 7 which is secured thereto and is made from a resilient material. The shape of the member 7 corresponds to the shape of the crosssection of the pipe section 2 being overlapped.

In order to decrease during operation the wear of the member 7, the intermediate pipe section 4 is mounted in the body 1 so that it can swing in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the damper 6 relative to coaxial axles 8 arranged below the geometrical longitudinal axis 9 of the pipe sections 2 and 3. The axles 8 are secured on brackets 10 fixed in the body 1 symmetrically to the longitudinal geometrical axis 9. Axles 11 that are hingedly coupled with the axles 8 by means of intermediate links 12 and are arranged coaxially relative to one another are secured to the walls of the pipe section 4 that are adjacent to its wall (damper) 6 (Figure 2).

In order to limit the angle of swinging of the pipe section 4 when the gate is brought into the position allowing passage of containers (not shown) in the direction from the inlet pipe section 2 (to the right in the drawing), the brackets 10 have stops 13 secured thereon.

Each bracket 10 mounts a catch 14 of the position of the pipe section 4 when the inlet pipe section 2 is overlapped. The catch 14 comprises a lever 1 5 mounted on an axle 16 secured on the bracket 10. One arm of the lever 1 5 has a hook 1 7 which engages a hook 1 8 provided on the corresponding intermediate link 12. The other arm of the lever 1 5 is spring-loaded relative to the body 1 with the aid of a spring 1 9 (Figure 3) mounted on a rod 20 secured to the bracket 10.

Each bracket 10 mounts a stop 21 carrying a roller 22, and the pipe section 4 has a plate 23 secured thereon and having the shape of a segment, the cylindrical and flat surfaces of the segment interacting with the roller 22.

The kinematic connection of the pipe section 4 with the drive 5 comprises an axle 24 secured on the pipe section 4 and having a tie 25 which is mounted thereon and can adjust the length by means of a "screw 26-nut 27" couple. The tie 25 is connected by means of a joint 28 with a tie 29 which by its other end portion is rigidly coupled with a shaft 30 mounted in bearings 31 (Figure 2) on brackets 32 mounted on the body 1.

The shaft 30 is rigidly connected with a crank 33 (Figure 3) which is hingedly connected to a rod 34 (Figure 2) of the power cylinder 5.

Secured to the wall 6 of the pipe section 4, serving as a damper, and inside the member 7 is a profiled plate 35 (Figure 3) which, with the pipe section 2 overlapped, enters the latter and serves as a bumper for the containers coming to the gate.

Secured on the opposite wall of the pipe section 4 is a profiled plate 36 also serving as a bumper.

Secured to the wall 6 to limit deformation of the member 7 is a ring-like stop 37 which is of a shape corresponding to that of the member 7.

With the gate closed, the end portion of the tie 29 interacts with the spring-loaded arm of the lever 15, for which purpose mating bevels 38 and 39 are made at its end portion and the end portion of the tie 29.

The gate described above functions as follows.

With the gate in the closed position, as is shown in Figures 1 and 2, the damper 6 adjoins the end portion of the pipe section 2, whereby reliable hermetic sealing of the pipe section 2 is provided owing to deformation of the member 7, the links 12 occupy the extreme left (according to the drawing) position fixed by the catches 14, and the hook 1 7 of the lever 1 5 of each catch 14 is engaged with the hook 1 8 of each intermediate link 12.

At the same time, the bevel 38 of the tie 29 contacts the bevel 39 of the spring-loaded arm of the lever 1 5, the stop 40 (Figure 3) of the pipe section 4 contacts the stop 21 on the bracket 10, and the plate 23 of the branch pipe 4 contacts by its surface the roller 22 on the stop 21.

In the afore-described closed position of the gate the rod 34 of the cylinder 5 is extended to the right (according to the drawing), and the crank 33 is also turned into the extreme right (according to the drawing) position.

When it is necessary to unseal the gate and to bring it to the position providing for transit passage of containers therethrough, the rod 34 of the cylinder 5 is moved to the left (according to the drawing), whereby the crank 33 and, consequently, the shaft 30 rigidly connected therewith turn in the bearing counter-clockwise (according to the drawing).

Thereby, the ties 29 rigidly connected with the shaft 30 also turn counter-clockwise and with their bevels 38 press the bevels 39 of the springloaded arms of the levers 1 5, whereby the springs 1 9 are compressed, the levers 1 5 turn on the axles 16, and their hooks 1 7 disengage the hooks 1 8 of the intermediate link 12. The gate is unlocked, with the axles of the joints 28 sliding in the guide slots 41 in the ties 25 during the unlocking.From the moment the hooks 17 and 1 8 are mutually disengaged the pipe section 4 and the axles 11 on the intermediate links 1 2 swing relative to the axles 8 on the brackets 10 under the action of the force transmitted from the cylinder 5 via the ties 25 and 29 to the axles 24 secured on the pipe section 4 to the right up to the stops 13. Thereby, the pipe section 4 is locked relative to the links 1 2 due to the fact that, on one hand, the stops 40 of the pipe section 4 slide along the stationary stops 21 on the brackets 10 and, on the other hand, the plates 23 roll with their flat surfaces over the rollers 22.As a result, the pipe section 4 and, consequently, the damper 5 with the sealing member 7 are brought away from the pipe section 2 and move practically translationally in a direction perpendicular to the hermetic sealing plate.

This movement of the damper 5 during unsealing provides for a minimal wear of the sealing member 7.

On having reached the stops 13, the links 12 discontinue their movement, and the plates 23 come out from under the rollers 22, thereby releasing the axles 11 and, consequently, the pipe section 4. The next moment the released pipe section 4 starts turning clockwise relative to the links 12 under the action of the force of the drive 5. The ties 25 get aligned with the ties 29, the pipe section 4 turns through 900 and occupies the position in which containers can go freely through the gate.

To bring the gate into the position in which the pipe section 2 is overlapped, the same operations are to be performed in the reverse order.

Claims (4)

1. A gate for a pipe-line of a pneumatic conveyor of containers, comprising a body hermetically connected to an inlet pipe section and an outlet pipe section which are axially aligned relative to each other, the body accommodating an intermediate pipe section having a cross-section corresponding to the crosssections of the inlet and outlet pipe sections, the intermediate pipe section carrying a flat damper and being kinematically connected to a drive for turning it for connection with the inlet and outlet pipe sections and for overlapping one of the inlet and outlet pipe sections by means of the damper, the damper being rigid with an outer wall of the intermediate pipe section and having a ring-like resilient sealing member whose shape corresponds to the cross-section of the pipe section to be overlapped, the intermediate pipe section being mounted in the body so that it can swing in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the damper and relative to an axis offset from and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the inlet and outlet pipe sections and being provided with a catch of its position when the said one of the pipe sections is overlapped, the catch being actuated from the drive for turning the intermediate pipe section.

2. A gate as claimed in claim 1, in which the intermediate pipe section is of rectangular crosssection and one of its walls serves as the damper.

3. A gate for a pipe-line of a pneumatic conveyor of containers, substantially as described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

4. A pneumatic conveyor having a pipe-!ine including a gate according to any preceding claim.