Patent GB-499996-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for sampling bulk material such as sugar cane
IPC: G01N1/20
Filed: 1937-12-06
Abstract: 499,996. Sampling sugar cane juice. SIVYER, L. W. Dec. 6, 1937, No. 33750. [Class 106 (v)] An apparatus for obtaining samples for the estimation of the sugar content of batches of cane derived from various sources on delivery to a crushing mill, comprises a rotary distributing vessel 50 which, as each new batch is supplied, is operated automatically to deliver into a fresh sampling cup 66. The cane is supplied in trucks A<1> which, after passing a weigh-bridge shed B, are tipped by a rocking table 27 so as to deliver their contents on to a conveyer belt D leading to crushing rolls E. The main portion of the juice from the rolls E is received in a launder G and conveyed to the place of treatment, but part is caught in a trough 48 and conveyed to a sump H from which it is pumped to the distributing vessel 50 mounted on a spindle 47. The spindle 47 is rotated in steps through pawl or ratchet mechanism by a solenoid 44, one step moving the spout 52 of the vessel 50 over one of a number of receptacles 55 and the next step moving the spout between two receptacles 55 so that its discharge is caught by a tank 53 having a central discharge pipe 54 connected to the launder G. The juice caught in each receptacle 55 is delivered into a small receptacle 62 having a drain outlet 65 and suspended by a spring-pressed lever 63 in a tank 58. As the receptacle 62 fills, it descends and allows a valve 61 to close the tank outlet 60 so that the tank fills to the level of an overflow 59. When the flow stops, the receptacle 62 drains and lifts to open the valve 61. The contents of the tank 58 then drain into the sampling cup 66. The operation of the distributing vessel is controlled by a device shown in Fig. 2 comprising two drums 2, 3, each formed with two parallel circumferential rows of radial holes equal in number to the teeth of ratchet wheels secured thereto. If the batch to be sampled consists of a plurality of trucks, say four, pins 6 are inserted in the first and fourth of one row of holes in the drum 2 as the truck passes the weigh-bridge. The drum 2 and ratchet wheel 9 are operated one tooth each time a truck is tipped by the truck tripping a lever 33 and thereby withdrawing a stop-bar 34 to allow a spring-pressed lever 35 to open the circuit of a solenoid 10, a spring 11 then operating a pawl engaging the ratchet wheel. A cam 32 on a crank disc 29 operating the table 27 subsequently restores the lever 35. The drum 2 is adjusted so that as the first truck is tipped the first pin 6 falls into a shoot 16 and on release of a spring catch 18 by pins 20 on the drum 3, it falls into a hole in the drum 3. The drum 3 is turned by the engagement of its ratchet wheel 12 with a pawl operated by a solenoid 13, the circuit to which is opened and closed periodically by a roller cam 42 engaging the belt D and the pin 6 operates a contact 21 to break the circuit to the solenoid 44 and move the vessel 50 one step so that it delivers into a receptacle 55. When the fourth receptacle is tipped, the second pin is similarly deposited in a hole in the drum 3 and operates the contact 21 to cause movement on the vessel 50 another step to deliver into the tank 53. If a sample is to be obtained from a single truck, a pin 6 is inserted in the second row of holes in the drum 2 and this pin, when delivered into the second row of holes in the drum 3, operates a corrugated spring 22 to break and make the circuit to the solenoid 44 twice. In a modification, the drums' 2, 3 are replaced by two superposed horizontal ratchet discs formed with inner and outer rings of holes to receive balls operating similarly to the pins 6. The upper disc is rotated by a pawl operated by solenoids energized by a truck approaching a tipping table and, on reaching a position above depending tubes, the balls pass to holes in the lower disc which is rotated by a solenoid having its circuit controlled by the conveyer belt D. The balls on the lower disc close the circuit to the solenoid 44 before discharge.