US3269397A

US3269397A - Gas operated vertically reciprocating cleaning agitator

Info

Publication number: US3269397A
Application number: US363142A
Authority: US
Inventors: Raymond J Woods
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-04-28
Filing date: 1964-04-28
Publication date: 1966-08-30
Anticipated expiration: 1983-08-30

Description

mg, 3Q, W66 R. J. woam Q E GAS OPERATED VERTICALLY RECIPROCA'I'ING CLEANING AGITATOR Filed April 28, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 1" INVENTOR MRMMQND J. womm 39% J. Wcmms 3,2693%? GAS OPERATED VERTICBLLY RECIPROCATING CLEANING AGITATOR Filed 'April 28, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 8 E 15?"; 7 Ag Lim Q )I'WMQMD J. was

A 3 INVENTOR AW ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,269,397 GAS OPERATED VERTICALLY RECIPRO- CATING CLEANING AGITATQR Raymond J. Woods, Compton, Calif. (5343 Hackett Ave., Lakewood, Calif. 90713) Filed Apr. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 363,142 3 Claims. (Cl. 134-14l) This invention relates in general to a cleaning device and, more particularly a cleaning agitator designed to immerse articles to be cleaned into a tank containing a cleaning liquid or fluid. The principle of this invention is to insure complete cleaning of irregularly shaped art-icles such as carburetors and the like by placing the same in a basket or other article supporting means and reciprocating the same vertically in a cleaning fluid. Another object in this invention is in providing a simple cleaning device that will automatically isolate an article supporting means in a cleaning fluid.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple cleaning device wherein the driving means is attached directly to the cover of the tank thereby providing greater efliciency.

Another object of this invention is providing a simple cleaning device wherein a reciprocatory motion of the article supporting means is provided by an actuator having a simple but automatic means for reciprocating the articles to be cleaned in the cleaning fluid. It is a further object of this invention to provide a simple automatic means for controlling the flow of fluid to the actuator means. Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the cleaning device;

FIGURE 2 is a partial side view showing the exterior of the actuator means and the top of the liquid containing tank;

FIGURE 3 is a full cross-sectional side view of the cleaning agitator driving means;

FIGURE 4 is a side view in partial cross-section showing the connection of the actuating means and the article supporting means to be described in more detail hereinafter;

FIGURE 5 is a top view of the cleaning agitator in partial cross-section;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the valve rod with adjustable flanges.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a tank to which a cover 11 is fastened by means of flexible tabs 12. A fluid motor 13 for actuating and raising and lowering an article supporting means such as a basket in the tank 10 is fastened to the cover 11 by screws 14. The fluid motor comprises a block 15 made of a suitable metal such as aluminum, the block has therein a first cylinder 16 having a piston 17 and piston rod 18 situated therein, the piston rod being connected by screw fastenings 19 to a load carrying means such as a cross-bar 20. Piston rod 18 has a connecting means such as a collar 21 rigidly fastened thereto such as by welding for the purpose of operatively connecting the piston rod and a valve means. The collar 21 has a bifurcated extension generally indicated at for sliding engagement with the valve means which in the preferred embodiment is a cylindrical rod 22. The cylindrical rod 22 is equipped with a flange or stop 24 at its upper end and a second lower flange or stop 26 intermediate its ends. The sleeve section or bifurcated extension .25 of the collar 21 reciprocates between

flange

24 and 26 slidably engaging the rod 22. Collar 21 and flange 26 are shown in FIGURE 3 as being supported by cylinder head 23. The cylindrical rod 22, which may be referred to as a trip rod, reciprocates in cylinder 27 in a fluid tight relationship with the said cylinder so as to control the flow of fluid through

ports

29 and 30 into fluid chamber 31 and .to control the exhaust of fluid through port 32. An article supporting means is in the preferred embodiment the hooks indicated by reference numeral 33 which are a part of rod members 64 that are connected to a load supporting crossbar 20. In FIGURE 4 the crossbar 20 is shown as being threadedly connected to the piston rod at 19 and to the basket supporting rods at 36. Annular groove 38 in the piston head may contain an O-ring to assure a fluid tight fit of the piston head against the cylinder Walls. Basket supporting rods 34 that are attached to crossbar 20 pass through openings 39 in the cover for the said tank, the rods terminating in a curve ends indicated by 33. The Walls of the tank are indicated by numeral 10. In FIGURE 5 the relative positions of the piston 17 and the trip rod 22 are illustrated.

In the further description of the cleaning agitator the relationship of the collar 21, the section of rod 22 that is mounted in sleeve 25, said sleeve being bounded by upper flange section 24 of rod 22 and lower flange section 26 of rod 22 that is mounted in sleeve 25, may be described as a lost motion connector. The lost motion connector section of the valve

rod comprising members

22, 24, 25 and 26 are in the preferred embodiment an integral part of the cylindrical rod 22 the lower sect-ion of which blocks exhaust port 32 when the rod is in the lower position.

In the operation of this agitator the fluid motor is shown in FIGURE 3 with the piston in an inactive or lowest position. To start the cycle, by activating the piston, a suitable source of air or other fluid under pressure is attached at port 29 by means of a hose or other suitable connection. Fluid under pressure enters through groove 28 and port 30 filling chamber 31 and forcing piston 17 to rise, piston rod 18 rises through the aperture in the cylinder head 23. As the piston rod rises, connector 21 with sleeve or bifurcated extension 25 which is rigidly attached to the piston rod 18 rise, causing the sleeve extension 25 to strike flange member 24, which lifts valve rod 22. The lift-ing of rod 22 causes groove 28 to be raised and therefore out of alignment with

ports

29 and 30 cutting off the supply of fluid through

ports

29 and 30. At essentially the same time port 32 is opened by the raising of valve rod 22 exhausting the pressurized fluid from the fluid chamber 31, e.g. the lower section of rod 22 blocks port 32 when rod 22- is in the lowest position. As the driving fluid is exhausted the Weight of the articles to be cleaned, and the article supporting means forces the piston rod down by gravity, the sleeve member 25 of the connector striking lower flange member 26 which forces the cylindrical valve rod to seat. As the valve is seated the annular groove 28 is again aligned with

ports

29 and 30 so as to permit the [flow of fluid under pressure therethrough and start another cycle.

In one of the most preferred embodiments the cleaning agitator driving means or motor generally indicated by 13 may be mounted on the lid of a five gallon bucket by means of screws 14, in such a case, the supporting rods 34 fit through aperture 39 in said lid. Any bucket and lid which fastens thereon may be substituted or used instead of the five gallon bucket, for example, a six and one-half gallon bucket.

The

flanges

24 and 26 located on the upper end of triprod or valve rod 22 may be securely connected to said rod by means such as welding or any other suitable means. On the other hand said flanges may constitute nuts that are attached to rod 22 through screw threads so that

flanges

24 and 26 may be separated and spaced apart at any desired operative distance.

It most particularly is desirable that flange 24 be capable of adjustment to a certain position along rod 22 so as to vary the distance as desired between flange 24 and flange 26. When these flanges are closer together the vibrational stroke or distance of vertical movement of the piston rod is shortened as is the vertical movement of the lead supporting means. At the same time, of course, the rate of vibration is increased. That is to say the number of cycles per minute is increased. On the other hand when flange 24 is adjusted to the maximum height along rod 22 the vibrational stroke or vertical movement is a maximum and the number of cycles per minute would be in such a case reduced to a minimum. FIGURE 6 best illustrates screw threads that may run the entire upper portion of valve rod 27 thereby allowing adjustment of

flanges

24 and 26 that may be nuts.

It is through the lost motion connection made up of adjustable upper flange 24, adjustable lower flange 26, the section or rod 22 on which the flanges are mounted and the sleeve 25 which slides up and down between the said flanges along rod 22 that allow applicants to adjust the cyclic rate of vibration and/or the distance of movement of the load supporting means.

During the time the sleeve or bifurcated extension is moving between the flanges or stops 24 and 26 it need not make contact with rod 22, and, consequently, does not raise rod 22 until the bifurcated extension contacts flange 24, nor lower rod 22 until it engages flange 26.

In the operation of this vibrator cleaning agitator the lifting stroke is, of course, provided by the driving fluid under pressure that causes the piston and piston rod to lift the basket. At the termination of the lifting stroke, when port 32 is open to the atmosphere, the Weight of the article supporting means, the cross-bar and the loadacting by force of gravity-force the piston rod with the attached connector downward. In this downward movement the sleeve 25 on this downward stroke engages the lower flange member 26 which in turn forces the valve rod to seat. In this

seating action ports

29 and 30 are realigned and again allow fluid under pressure to flow therethrough into chamber 31. As fluid under pressure rushes into chamber 31 the cycle is commenced again.

Groove 40 in valve rod 22 may be provided with an O-ring or other sealing means.

The piston 17 may be provided with a groove which may be fitted with a fluid sealing means such as a piston ring or O-ring.

Piston 17 may be provided with an extension 41 that reduces the volume of fluid chamber 31.

I claim:

1. A cleaning agitator comprising a tank, a cover for said tank, means for supporting articles, an actuator designed to impart vertical reciprocation to said means, said actuator comprising a block, a first cylinder in said block equipped with a piston and piston rod designed to reciprocate in said first cylinder, said article supporting means connected to said piston rod, a second cylinder equipped with a cylindrical valve rod to control the flow of gas to said first cylinder, an inlet gas port in said block communicating said first cylinder with a gas supply, an outlet gas port in said block communicating said first cylinder with the atmosphere, said second cylinder communicating with said inlet and outlet ports, said cylindrical valve rod slidably mounted in a sleeve, said sleeve being rigidly connected to said piston rod, said valve rod equipped with an inlet port, said inlet port in said rod communicating with said inlet port in said block.

2. The cleaning (agitator of claim 1 wherein a lost motion connector controls the valve means,

3. The apparatus of claim wherein a lost motion connector controls the valve means and the connector is adjustable.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 11,307 7/1854 Snow 91-279 X 484,664 10/1892 Mesta l34-l41 X 2,741,253 4/1956 Bernier et al 134141 3,064,629 11/1962 Story 134141 X CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT L. BLEUTGE, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A CLEANING AGITATOR COMPRISING A TANK, A COVER FOR SAID TANK, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING ARTICLS, AN ACTUATOR DESIGNED TO IMPART VERTICAL RECIPROCATION TO SAID MEANS, SAID ACTUATOR COMPRISING A BLOCK, A FIRST CYLINDER IN SAID BLOCK EQUIPPED WITH A PISTON AND PISTON ROD DESIGNED TO RECIPROCATE IN SAID FIRST CYLINDER, SAID ARTICLE SUPPORTING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID PISTON ROD, A SECOND CYLINDER EQUIPPED WITH A CYLINDRICAL VALVE ROD TO CONTROL THE FLOW OF GAS TO SAID FIRST CYLINDER, AN INLET GAS PORT IN SAID BLOCK COMMUNICATING SAID FIRST CYLINDER WITH A GAS SUPPLY, AN OUTLET GAS PORT IN SAID BLOCK COMMUNICATING SAID FIRST CYLINDER WITH THE ATMOSPHERE, SAID SECOND CYLINDER COMMUNICATING WITH SAID INLET AND OUTLET PORTS, SAID CYLINDRICAL VALVE ROD SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID SLEEVE, SAID SLEEVE BEING RIGIDLY CONNECTED TO SAID PISTON ROD, SAID VALVE ROD EQUIPPED WITH AN INLET PORT, SAID INLET PORT IN SAID ROD COMMUNICATING WITH SAID INLET PORT IN SAID BLOCK.