US2507522A - Mixer - Google Patents

Description

F. H. HEINE May 16, 1950 MIXER 6 ShQtS-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 31, 1944 gwue/wfon May 16, 1950 F. H. HEINE MIXER 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 31, 1944 May 16, 1 950 & HEM 2,507,522

MIXER Filed Aug. 31, 1944 6 Sheets-sheaf 3 May 16, 1950 F. H. HEINE 2,507,522

MIXER Filed Aug. 31, 1944 I 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 24, w M U 20 %L\ kL 7 E1 i Z 24 May 16, 1950 HEINE 2,507,522

MIXER Filed Aug. 31, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 5- F. H. HElNE May 16, 1950 MIXER Filed Aug. 31, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented May 16, 1950 FerdinandHJHeine, Milwaukee, Wis, assignorito ,Koehringflompany, Milwaukee, Wis, acorporation Application "August 31, 1944, Serial No. 552,101

1 Claim ,1

The primary object-of :my invention has been to'design a novel construction of r'mixer particularly adapted for themixingof concreteaggregate -but also especially usefuhbecause of the increased efliciency of -the;mixing act-ion 'produced by the machine, for mixing of materials in ,glass, chemical, fertilizer, and other plants :where dust conditions :mayprevail.

-A- broad phase-ofthe noveltyof my invention lies in theemployment of: a mixer comprisinga mixing drum which is ,operated in-rsuch a manner as to move the-,massofuzaggregates 'or materials therein in aqplurality jofplanes whereby to accelerate the :mixing operation to reduce the period of time: requiredas-compared :with mixers in which the mixing drum -is "moved in i one "direction only for the agitationofthe contentsof the drum.

In the-carrying out "of my'invention I :have adapted my improved mixing functions to the type of mixer .of the known tilting, class wherein .the drum is subjected to rotation during the'mixingoperation and is: capable-of beingitilted-to assume a position for charging, and reversely -or downward-1y :tilted to assume i-its discharging position.

My invention is especially ,adapted for v use with. the last mentioned type of mixer in that; avail of the customary rotationof the-tilting drum aboutitslongitudinalaxis .'for moving the mass. of materials thereinin one. direction, and I operate the said drum whileso-rotating by .a continuous back andforthtilti'ng movement in a plane of oscillation 'or partial rotation at substantially right angles to thefirst mentioned routilized in this art. Thev result of the combination mixing actions referred to is to speed up ,the .completionof thecmixingaoperation, a .desideratum obviouslyimportant.

A further improvementfin my invention,,re- ,lated to the l'foregoing. lies aid the provision, by

type, especially since the partial! rotative tilting operation during'mixingrcannot under the con-- ditions of use-of a;closed mixing compartment, throw the materials, from the drum as it would do if thedrumwerenot-entirely closed. .Because of the-foregoing mode, of .operation utilizing thecloseddoorprinciple it will be possible to reduce the size-of the mixing drum fora given vvolume of concrete'to the extent that. approximately iour cubic-yards of material maybe mixed ina size of drum heretofore capable of handling approximately three cubic yards, with accelerated mixing operation additionally obtained.

v With the above in mind, I note that I utilize special: improved mechanism, for controlling. the

opening and closing of the door with which the mixing drum utilized byme is equipped.

v.It, has benproposedjheretofore,in the art of tilting mixers to utilize power means to tiltthe ,mixerwith partial rotary movement to its chargingand. discharging positions, as for instancev is disclosed by mypreviousjPatent No. 2,271,518; in the construction, of the mixing device, however,.thel'tilting action is not employed for purposes of mixing as indicated above.

.One embodimentof my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and fully describedin thefollowing specification, and in said drawings:

Figure 1 is a general topplan View of a mixing machine embodying the improvements of this invention.

Figure -2 is van end-,view of the. mixer.

Figure 3'isasideelevation, dotted lines show- ;ingthe range of movement of the door to open position and generalran e of downward tilting movementof themixer to its discharge posi- .tion.

' Eigure i is a fragmentary sectional-view taken :about on the, line 4-4 of Figure 1 andshowing imoreparticularly,in,-section the drive gearing .ioreffecting the rotation-ofthemixer about its longitudinal axis.

Figure 5 isa fragmentary sectional view bring- .ing'. ,out more, clearly the driving, mechanism for causing .the continuous'back and forth tilting showing more clearly features of the door operating means of Figures 6 and 7.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional and plan view of certain door operating parts seen in Figure 8.

Figure is a detail view of a connecting pivot member of the door mechanism.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the cradle member alone.

General construction of mixer The general construction of my mixer is not unlike that used today and presented in my previously referred to patent, in relation to the mounting of the tilting mixing drum and certain operating mechanism therefor.

The mixer comprises the base I from which upwardly extend spaced pedestals 2 disposed at opposite sides of the mixing drum 3. The drum 3 is, generally speaking, of the usual oppositely tapered form and is supported for revolution about its longitudinal axis by means of a cradle or carriage 4, said cradle 4 being equipped with trunnions 5 projecting from opposite sides thereof and carried in bearings 6 at the upper ends of the pedestals 2. At its middle portion the cradle 4 is equipped with a suitable bearing 1 to receive a trunnion on the back or permanently closed end of the drum 3, the bearing 1 being equipped with suitable anti-friction bearings to take care of the thrust of the drum 3 with the contained materials therein as the drum rotates about its longitudinal axis.

The drum 3 is likewise equipped with the gear ring 8, see Figure 4, and roller track 9 welded or otherwise secured to the drum and surrounding itsmiddle portion. Suitable rollers Ill, see Figure 2, shown in dotted lines, are interposed between the curved body of the cradle 4 to support the central portion of the drum in connection with the cradle so that the drum may rotate freely with its ring gear 8 and roller track 9 upon the cradle 4. The foregoing generally describes the construction of my mixing drum and the cradle supporting means therefor substantially as heretofore known in the art, broadly speaking.

Drive for the rotation of drum Figures 1, 2 and 4 illustrate the use of a motor H supported on a bracket I2 carried by one of the pedestals 2 of the machine, which motor causes the rotation of the drum 3 about its longitudinal axis. As seen clearly in Figure 4, the shaft 13 of the motor H carries a pinion [4 engaging a spur gear IS in the housing member Hi.

The gear 15 is provided with suitable bored holes I! in which are located rubber covered bronze bushings l8 and said bushings receive pins is on the flange 2B of a hub 21 keyed or otherwise attached to the pinion shaft 22 which passes through the trunnion 5 of the cradle 4 adjacent to one of the pedestal bearings 6. The shaft 22 4 carried the bevel pinion 23 meshing with a bevel gear 24 keyed on the short drum driving shaft 25, said shaft 25 having keyed thereto a drive pinion 26 engaging the teeth of the ring gear 8 surrounding the drum 3.

In the operation of my machine the drum 3 is driven continuously, ordinarily, after starting the machine, by means of the motor H; in other words, the rotation of the drum 3 about its longitudinal axis is continuous during the mixing operation as well as charging and discharging operations of the drum.

Tilting drive means for the drum As previously indicated, it is proposed in my mixer construction to utilize a continuous back and forth tilting movement for the drum, or in other words, to impart to the drum and the mass of materials therein a continuous agitating movement incident to drum movement in a direction different from the movement which is imparted incident to the rotation of the drum about its longitudinal axis and by means of the blading therein. Figures 1, 2, 3, and 5 best show the tilting rotative operating mechanism now to be set forth.

In Figures 1 and 3 it will be noted that supported upon and adjacent to the base I of my machine is a motor 27 which may be an electric motor similar to the motor ll. Either of these motors may be self-contained power units, how'- ever, such as an explosive engine.

As seen in Figure 1, the shaft 28 of the motor 21 connected by reducing gearing diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 5, affording driving connection between the motor and the driving pinion 29. The pinion 29 meshes with a combined gear andcrank wheel 38 adjacent to one of the pedestals 2 and supported in keyed relation to a driving shaft 3! which carries at its opposite ends two of the crank wheels 39, one of which is engaged by the pinion 29. Connecting or pitman rods 32 connect the crank wheels 30 with suitable offstanding trunnion members 33 projecting from the opposite sides of the cradle 4, and the turning of the crank Wheels so obviously imparts oscillating movement to the connecting rods 32, and the latter communicate such movement to the cradle 4 and thereby to the bodily carried drum 3 for effecting continuous oscillating or partial rotating movements back and forth to said drum 3.

For temporarily stopping the tilting movement of the drum 3 in the position of the Figure 3 illustration, at whichrtime the closing door 34 of the drum may be opened to the dotted line position indicated in said figure, and for stopping the drum 3 at its tilted discharged position as indicated by lower dotted lines in Figure 3, there will be provided any suitable type of electric pneumatic or hydraulic brake such as designated 35 in Figure l, the specific kind of brake not being material to the invention. In either of such stopped positions the door 34 may be opened as will be later described.

Consistency meter operating means The employment of my drum 3 for bodily tilting continuous agitating, movement of the volume of aggregates or material therein advantageously makes for readily obtained indication of the range of variation of consistency of the materials that are being mixed in the drum 3. In other words, the resistance to the tilting driv- 7] ing torque for effecting the tilting action of the a des-3522 drum 3 maybe communicatedtdthe bearing tube 36 in which the drive shaft "3 l "issupport'ed upon the base or the machine-byequipping the tube36 with; suitable spaced 31,-seemgures 2, 3 and 5 particularly. Two-pairsof these-arms are provided 'and'ea-ch pair isco'nnected by a pivot pin connection 38 with a'bracket33 andone-of the arms '31extendsdownwardly at 311) to' fit between travel limiting-blockslt. "This permits a limited amount of travel er the last 'inenti'on'ed arm 31?), which amountoftravel can be'regist'ered on suitable scale mechanism'not-shown, of a consistency irrdicator, riot' shown, but to the-said arm 3Tb*may beconnected b'ya rod d-I. A spring 42, see Figure "'3, "connects with said downwardly extending arm-'31 to absorb shock and hold the rocker bearing tube 36 111 a normal position. O-bviouSlyjdefietion of the spring 42 ma be used to measure the Y consistency oi the materials which are being mixed in the drum The rod 4-! is directly connected with a rearward extension of arm 311;,Which extension is "designated 3101. 33y these means, including the pins 38, whichare located slightly off the center line of direct thrust between the connections of the tilting arms 32 and -main tilt frame, the application of the thrust of driving torque of shaft 3! to the torque tube 35, is enabled, for the purpose set forth. As'the mixing continues the concrete materialslpile up less and less in' drum 3 and the variation in driving forces to eiiect mixing will be registeredlby any suitable indicator, or graphic recorder, operated by the rod 45.

Door and door operating mechanism The closing door 34,- previously mentioned, *and operating means therefor ar'e illustrated particularly in- Figures-l, 3,- '6 1509- of th'e'drawings. The

endof the mixer closed bythe dor 34 is'equipped with'a suitable rubber or similar resilient gasket "against which the door -c1oses to provide a water-tight connection andfrom which the door is moved when opened. -When so engaged -'with suchgasket the door 34 rotates-with the mixing drum 3. Thed'oor is directly carried in arc- 'tatable manner by' means of a cross-head or yoke 43 provided witlrasuita-b'le bearing 44, see Figure 6, receiving a'centraltrunnion 45 projecting from the door and affording the rotative mounting of the door on the cross member 43. door 34 is operated to and from its closed positions by means of an air or hydraulic ram 46 carried by the cradle 4, see Figure l, and the piston rod of which ram is connected by a member 41 with a bell crank lever 43. The bell crank lever 43 is connected by a cross rod 49 to a similar bell crank lever 50, the two levers 48 and 50 being pivoted to opposite sides of the cradle 4 at opposite sides of the mixer. The two bell cranks 48 and 50 are furthermore connected by rods 5iv and 52, respectively, with the crosshead or yoke 43 by linkage and actuating parts now to be described in reference to Figure 3 and Figures 6 to 9, particularly.

The crossbar or yoke 43 is preferably curved so that if a battery of mixers of the type of my invention are arranged with their charging ends in a central charging zone closer setting of the mixers is permitted than would otherwise be the case.

The rods 5| and 52 are connected to door supporting and actuating rods 53 by linkage arm and lever parts which are the same for the both rods 5| and 52, and seen best in Figures 6 to 9, so that the mechanism for the rod 5| alone will be de- The l scribed. 'The rdd t'l- I "the rdd 52, asthe'irase may be, is attached l the =pivdtpin 54 to one end of arocker lever 55' having hollow supporting bearing-member 55a, the oppcsiteend of which lever-is connected by a pi-h 56=-to a' y'o'ke 51; the yoke 51 in turn at the end opposite the-pin'55 is connected to the tr-dnnion' or pin portions 58 of samen ss which "is-attached m 'the rod53 by the spaced clampingnuts B0. The acticnof the parts incident to 'a rightwarli -movement-of the rod-5l "in'Fi'gure l is "to-rock the lever 55 to the dotted line :positionin said figure, 'therby carrying the "yoke 51' in a leftward direction and shifting "the rod -'53 "lcngitud'inally *a very short distance su'ificientlyto cause s'aid rod '53 to slightly open door34 bymoiring it 'fromthe open end 'o'f drum 's. "In this part o'fthedooropening operation rods 53 of course act on the door 34 simultaneously. Eac-h rod 53' moves-over slides on a guide, rest, and stop member 6-1. he 'said door opening'movement til-each rod -53is limited by the action ofa'ndt E'on its freeendeng-aging an end-of a rocker 'slee've tilt and' guide member C which is integral' with bearing 'shaft orpin 33, the parts that passthrough the ineiriber 55d 6f lever the parts "a -=a'nd 551) being supported ina sleeve bearing-A ont he'cradle4. I

'Thus the-initial movements-6f ro'ds 53by pull on rods "'5! "and 52 *slid'es ro'ds :53 'slifiiciently to shift yoke 45$ and-slightly*open the door "3 3 as stated. Then further 'pull on "rdds 5i and iii! rocks the levers 55 to the'iiotted 'line positions of Figure latter nuts E abut thetilting members C; 'thereuponthe levels-55, yokeskil, rods 53, rock as units a bout= the *axes 'of the shafts or pins B,'- and'the rods- 33 are compelle'd' to rise irom their supported positions on the members "5!. This will carry the cross hea '43 and-door 34, the latter no'w sl-ightiy -'spaced from the open end of drum -3,'to exposition 'fully at one side of said open end as per-upper do'ttedlinesof Figure 3.

The door -3-4-'-wil 1 usually'beopened when the open end of drum 3 is-at or nealrly'at its highest position and cleared of -concrete materials being mixed, thus'requiring little operating energy for actuation.

In closing, the operation of the reuse: and 52 is that of pushing on connectedendsof levers 55, lowering rods 53 first to points of resting on stops 6!. The door 34 is thereby centered at the drum opening. Further reverse rocking of levers 55 slides rods 53 through tilt members C and nuts E- move away from members C as parts 58 go below dead center positions and exert a pull on rods 53 pressing the door 34 into tight closing position at the drum opening.

Since the two rods 53 move together incident to the operation of the described unit at each side of the cradle, the door 34 will be carried upwardly by the two rods 53 because of their connection with the ends of the crosspiece or yoke member 43, and when so carried upwardly with the drum stopped from tilting in the position somewhat as shown in Figure 3 the drum 3 may be charged. In other words, the operation of the actuating units of Figures 6 and '7 as described is to impart movement in an upward direction relatively to the drum, to the door 34, and this relative movement may be performed when the drum 3 is to be charged in about the position shown in Figure 3.

General operation of machine It is notable that by reason of the provision of the rubber covered bronze bushings l8, see

Figure 4, the gear is flexibly connected with the hub l1 and shaft 22, and this method of driving the shaft 22 and thereby the drum for its axial rotation absorbs the pulsating shocks out of the motor drive unit H and its associated gearing.

As seen in Figure 3, the mixing drum is illustrated as when it is turning about its longitudinal axis and at such time the drum will be continuously tilted up and down through an arc of about ninety degrees so as to create the two-directional mass shifting of the materials being mixed including movements of the materials from end to end of its drum. Of course, in the rotation of the drum around its longitudinal axis, the materials are likewise broken up, and agitating and pouring actions produced by the blading in the drum comprising one or more blades carried by the drum internally thereof and shown by dotted lines in Figure 1.

At such time as the mixing period is completed, under the control of any well known construction of batchrneter timing mechanism, the drum may be stopped in a position in which its discharge opening is downwardly opened by movement of the door 34 and the drum thus discharged. The batchmeter may operate, furthermore, to bring the drum 3 to its discharge position and effect opening of the door 34 automatically. After the mixing drum is stopped in its discharge position sufiiciently long, the timing mechanism may control the movement of the drum to a charging position while the door 35 is opened for re-charging of the drum. As stated before, the brake 35 will be availed of for controlling the stopping and starting of the tilting action of the mixer as a part of the mixing function of the machine.

Effectively speaking, my machine and method hereof utilize means whereby to produce multidirectional continuous mass movements of the materials being mixed and during such movements the blading of the drum breaks up the mass of materials as such movements are imparted thereto. In this manner the mixing of the material is accelerated afiording the time reduction factor previously referred to, and other advantages stated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

In a concrete mixing machine, in combination, a support, a concrete mixing receptacle adjacent to said support and formed with tapering ends, mounting means between said receptacle and said support comprising a cradle pivotally carried by the support and having a bearing therein, said concrete mixing receptacle being closed at one end and equipped at such end with a bearing memberoperating in the bearing on said cradle, means for rotating the receptacle on the cradle about said bearing member as an axis, and automatic means for rocking the cradle to continuously oscillate the receptacle in a direction endwise through an arc of approximately ninety degrees and at substantially right angles to its axis of rotation, said receptacle being provided with a charging and discharging opening at its end opposite the bearing member end of the receptacle, together with means for maintaining closed the said opening during the continuous oscillation of the receptacle, whereby to prevent material in the receptacle from being precipitated therefrom through said opening.

FERDINAND H. I-IEINE.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 849,732 Flora Apr. 9, 1907 1,292,127 Stevens Jan. 21, 1919 1,386,037 Weiss Aug. 2, 1921 1,414,648 J aeger May 2, 1922 1,603,620 McDermott Oct. 19, 1926 1,812,823 Eggert June 30, 1931 2,054,469 Rybeck Sept. 15, 1936 2,133,170 Johnson Oct. 11, 1938 2,252,220 Trost Aug. 12, 1941 2,255,028 Long Sept. 2, 1941 2,271,518 Heine Feb. 3, 1942 2,273,750 Clagett Feb. 17, 1942 2,295,136 Stiers Sept. 8, 1942 2,365,897 Morgan Dec. 26, 1944

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