Patent GB-872746-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to rumbling apparatus
IPC: B24B31/02
Filed: 1958-10-07
Abstract: 872,746. Rumbling. FITCH, C. K. Jan. 4, 1960 [Oct. 7, 1958], No. 32003/58. Class 60. Rumbling apparatus, particularly for cleaning, burnishing and deburring comparatively small articles, of the kind comprising a rotatably mounted hollow body into which the articles are introduced and means for rotating the body is characterised in that the rotatably mounted hollow body is so shaped that the space within it is bounded by outer and inner peripheral faces joined by laterally spaced side faces, the inner peripheral face being interrupted by a circumferential gap through which the articles to be rumbled may be introduced and withdrawn. Articles to be rumbled-are loaded into each of four resilient toroidal shaped hollow bodies similar to the outer cover of a pneumatic tyre, each having outer and inner peripheral faces 10, 11, Fig. 1, merging in smooth curves with laterally spaced side faces 12; the inner face has a gap 13 through which the articles are introduced into the toroidal space. The tyres are of resilient material such as natural or synthetic rubber which may be reinforced with fabric. The outer peripheral faces 10 are supported by two rollers 14 which are rotated through chain and sprocket drive from a spindle 26 belt-driven by an electric motor 35. Two brackets 19 each have two upright pegs 20 spaced apart across the diameter of the tyre and carrying wooden pads 21 to maintain the tyres upright. At the completion of rumbling each tyre is removed from the rollers 14 and placed on two other rollers 36, Figs. 3 and 4, mounted on bearings on a base 38. A part cylindrical scoop 39 open at the top 40 is introduced through the centre of the tyre and helps to retain it in an upright position.. One end of the scoop is closed by a plate 41 to which is secured an inverted U-shaped tubular structure 42 bent at its upper end away from the plate 41 to form a manipulating handle 43, castor wheels 45 being provided at the lower ends of the limbs of the U. At the other end of the scoop the upper edges 46 are inclined and the lower part has bosses 47 drilled to receive the internal ends 48 of supporting legs 49. There is introduced into the interior of the tyre a half-circular blade 53 having an internally threaded hollow boss 54 engaged by the threaded end of a spindle 55 the upper end of which extends through a block 56 and is secured thereto by a pin. The block has a cross-piece 58 bored to receive a rod 5 passing through holes in the side faces of the tyre. On rotation of the tyre the blade carries the articles upwardly over the scoop into which they then drop. In a modification, Figs. 5 and 6, three tyres are rolled simultaneously round a track. Each tyre is secured against a plate 59 by a disc 60, bolts 61 and nuts 62. A ring 99 secured to the plate is secured to an annulus 100 engaged by bolts 101 extending through the disc 60. A disc 63 is held against the other side of the tyre by a nut 67 on a rod 64 having a hooked end engaging an eye 66 fixed to the disc 60. The annulus 100 is secured to a hub 68 mounted by ball bearings 70 on a spindle 72. The inner end of the spindle is secured to the underside of a disc 76 and is formed with or has attached to each side thereof segmented blocks 75. Disposed between the blocks are rectangular blocks 77 fixed to a disc 78. A keep plate 79 secured by a stud 103 and nut 80 to a block 77 straddles that block 77 at the adjacent parts of two blocks 75. A rubber pad 81 is disposed between each arm of the keep plate and theadjacent block 75. The disc 78 is driven, through a gear box 85 and belt 88, by an electric motor 91 mounted on an elevated base 92 encircled by a conical track 93 on which the tyres run. The outer face of the tyre preferably has a discharge hole 105 with a closure 106, 107, 108. In the case when the tyre is not provided with a discharge hole the disc 63 is removed, and a blade 53 introduced into the interior of the tyre as described in the first embodiment. There is then introduced into the centre of the tyre a scoop 39, Fig. 7, similar to that previously described, but having its end wall 41 recessed at 92 to accommodate the eye 66. The scoop has bosses 47 engaged by the inturned upper ends of uprights 49 having wheels 97 at their lower ends. Another part of the scoop is supported by a cradle 95 between the upper ends of uprights 96 secured to the uprights 49 and also provided with wheels 97. The scoop has a manipulating handle 98.