Patent GB-342722-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to processing plant
IPC: A23L3/02
Filed: 1929-11-04
Abstract: Apparatus for degreasing articles, e.g. small castings by means of trichlorethylene or other suitable vapour comprises a closed cylindrical chamber and revolving member in the chamber carrying a plurality of channels, parallel with the axis thereof, between the drum and the chamber, and a plurality of spaced ribs carried by the chamber and intersecting the channels so as to form a series of cages for the articles treated along the revolving member.  One portion of the ribs is cut away to leave one channel running through the chamber in alignment with the inlet and outlet for the articles treated. Means are provided for rotating the revolving member step by step corresponding to the spacing of the cages around the revolving member, which is, at each step, brought to rest and an article fed into the chamber, the articles in the cages in the channel being each displaced into the cage in the next series and the article in the cage in the last series discharged.  In the construction described, the articles are treated with the vapour in a chamber 1, Figs. 1, 3, which they enter and leave through locks 15, 21 to prevent escape of the vapour.  Wheels 5 are keyed within the chamber on a shaft 4 intermittently rotated through Geneva-stop mechanism 10, 11 and gear wheels 7, 6 from a continuously rotating shaft M.  The wheels 5 have rims 12 on which are mounted brackets 13, Figs. 3, 6, between which the articles C are disposed.  The articles are spaced apart by ribs 3 integral with the body 2 of the chamber, shorter ribs 3a being provided to retain the articles in the pockets formed by ribs 3 and brackets 13.  The pockets and hence the articles are arranged on the wheels in transverse alignment. Means are provided whereby, on feeding an article to the apparatus, the line of articles then in alignment between the inlet and outlet locks 15, 21, each of which articles has made a complete revolution with the wheel on which it rests, is moved along one step, the end article of the line being transferred to the outlet lock 21.  During this operation, rotation of the wheels is arrested by the Geneva-stop mechanism.  The articles enter lock 15, through a gate 16, Figs. 1, 4, which is opened and closed at <PICT:0342722/III/1> <PICT:0342722/III/2> <PICT:0342722/III/3> <PICT:0342722/III/4> <PICT:0342722/III/5> <PICT:0342722/III/6> intervals by lever mechanism 43, 45, 46 operated by a cam 47 on shaft M.  The article is then pushed by a piston 17 from the lock 15 past a gate 14, which is opened automatically on the closing of gate 16, on to the first of the wheels 5.  Gate 16 is hinged to arms 49 secured to a shaft 50 which is rocked, to open and close the gate, by levers 51, 52, 54 actuated by a cam 48 on shaft M. The outlet lock 21 is similarly provided with inlet and outlet gates 22, 23, Fig. 5, operated by lever mechanism actuated by cams on a shaft M<2> which is driven from shaft M through bevel gears 63, 63a, a shaft M<1>, and bevel gears 64, 65.  The operation is timed so that the gate 22 is opened simultaneously with gate 14 and an article C is discharged into the lock 21, falling on the gate 23.  The gate 22 is then closed and gate 23 opened on which the article leaves the lock and is removed.  The means by which the line of articles is moved through the chamber on insertion of an untreated article therein consists of a series of prongs 24 carried by bars 25 attached by arms 26 to a sleeve 27 slidable but keyed on a shaft 36.  The prongs are reciprocated to push the line of articles one step along the chamber by a pivoted lever 31, Fig. 1, one end of which has a pin 33 engaging a cam groove 34 on a drum 35 mounted on the rotating shaft M<1>, and causing oscillation of the lever.  The other end of the lever has a toothed segment 30 engaging with teeth 29 on a bushing 28 on sleeve 27 to cause reciprocation of the sleeve and of the prongs 24.  In order to permit of the return of the prongs 24 to the operative position, means are provided to rock them out of alignment with the articles C on the return movement.  This comprises cams 81, one mounted on each end of shaft M<1>, each cam actuating a lever mechanism 82, 84, 38, Figs. 6, 7, to cause rocking of shaft 36 and hence of sleeve 36 and the prongs 24.  The operation of the prongs 24 is synchronized with that of the wheels 5 and the locks 15, 21.  In a modification (Figs. 9, 10 not shown) the spacing ribs 3 are in the form of rings separate from the body 2 of the chamber 1 and held is spaced apart position by rib members engaging tongues on their peripheries.  These rings may be introduced with the axis 4 of the wheels into the chamber.  The liquid from which the vapour is obtained may be disposed in a well formed in the bottom of the chamber and heated, e.g. by a heating jacket.  To prevent loss of solvent, the inlet and outlet locks may have cooling jackets through which water &c. is circulated.