Patent Application
20190160397
The present invention relates to an automated system for manufacturing a fin structure which is suitable for treatment of liquid waste, and more particularly for treatment of wastewater and septic effluent.
Wherefore, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the above mentioned shortcomings and drawbacks associated with the prior art.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a semi automated apparatus which facilitates manufacture of a fin member which forms part of a fin structure.
A further object of the present invention is to simplify the insertion of one or more perforated pipes and fiber, woodchips, styrofoam, etc., into a fin opening formed in an overlapped fabric product to assist with manufacture of a fin member.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a semi automated apparatus which facilitates manufacture of a series of fin members, e.g., two to eight fins for example, in order to form an integrated fin structure.
A still further object of the present invention is typically to insert a perforated pipe alongside a uniform amount of evenly distributed fiber, woodchips, styrofoam, etc., into a fin opening formed in an overlapped fabric product to assist with manufacture of a fin member in order to allow air to flow lengthwise into the fibers, woodchips, styrofoam, etc., which, in turn, filter more suspended solids, protect outer geotextile bacterial treatment surfaces and create relatively massive bacteria treatment areas when compared to prior art designs.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate various embodiments of the invention and together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and that the disclosed embodiments are sometimes illustrated diagrammatical and in partial views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of this disclosure or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that this disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.
The present invention will be understood by reference to the following detailed description, which should be read in conjunction with the appended drawings. It is to be appreciated that the following detailed description of various embodiments is by way of example only and is not meant to limit, in any way, the scope of the present invention.
Turning now to
As shown in
The first cylindrical rod or roll 28 is support by a brake (air or hydraulic) cylinder 30 (see
A vertically uppermost section of a first one of the second pair of apart vertical supports 24′ supports a rotatable dispensing roller 34 onto which a desired roll 32 of the fabric product to be dispensed is supported. A leading end of the fabric product 20 extends from the roll 32 of the fabric product 20 and partially wraps around each of the first, the second, the third and the fourth spaced apart cylindrical rods or rolls 28, 28′, 28″, 28′″, in a general serpentine fashion, and is then “clamped” to the product dispensing stand 4, as discussed below, in order to temporarily secure the leading end of the fabric product 20 to the product dispensing stand 4 during manufacture of the fin structure 14. The roll 32 of the fabric product 20 has a desired width, but it is to be appreciated that the fabric product width can vary depending upon the particular application. The product dispensing stand 4 typically has a width which is slightly wider than the width of the fabric product, but it is to be appreciated that the width of the product dispensing stand 4 can vary depending upon the particular application.
As also shown in
A height H of the generally planar table 40 from the floor 42 is such that a temporary storage area A is formed between the bottom surface of the generally planar table 40 and the floor 42, between the vertically lower portions of each of the opposed legs of the fin sandwiching apparatus 6 and between the product dispensing stand 4 and a first drive 44. This temporary storage area A is sufficiently sized so as to readily accommodate and temporarily store typically a plurality of manufactured fin members 46, as discussed below in further detail.
A leading surface of the fin sandwiching apparatus 6 supports a horizontal transverse clamping arm 48 which is arranged to engage with the adjacent surface of the transverse arm 26 of the product dispensing stand 4 to temporarily clamp and secure the leading end of the fabric product 20 to the product dispensing stand 4 during manufacture of the fin structure 14. Either one or both mating surfaces of the transverse arms 26, 48 can accommodate an elastic or a friction member (not shown) which prevents relative sliding movement of the fabric product 20 with respect to the two mating transverse arms 26, 48.
A vertically inverted U-shaped movable clamping device 50 is supported by the legs of the framework of the fin sandwiching apparatus 6 vertically above the planar table 40. The movable clamping device 50 has a width which is typically slightly less than the width of the fabric product 20. The vertically movable clamping device 50 has a vertically retracted position (as shown in
A plurality of spaced apart apertures 56, typically each aperture 56 is equally spaced from each adjacent aperture 56 but such equal spacing is not required, are formed in the top surface of the vertically movable clamping device 50 and spaced from one another. Each of the spaced apart apertures 56, typically is equally spaced from one another, extends completely through the top surface of the vertically movable clamping device 50 and is formed generally centrally along the top surface of the vertically movable clamping device 50 between the opposed lateral edges thereof. A plurality of industrial hang tag guns, barb or wicket dispensing or fastening guns or devices 58 (only diagrammatically shown), one respectively associated with each one of the spaced apart apertures 56, are supported by the vertically movable clamping device 50 of the fin sandwiching apparatus 6 and provided for stitching opposed surfaces of the overlapped fabric product 20 with one another, in a conventional manner, during manufacture of a respective fin member 46.
During operation of the fin sandwiching apparatus 6, the vertically movable clamping device 50 is normally located vertically above and spaced away from the planar table 40 (as shown in
As also shown in
The generally planar tongue member 64 has a width which is typically less than the width of the planar table 40 and the width of the vertically movable clamping device 50. Preferably, the leading edge 61 of the generally planar tongue member 64 is provided with either a roller, an anti-friction layer or coating, e.g., Teflon®, or some other smooth low friction surface. This leading edge 61 facilitates sliding of the fabric product 20 over the generally planar tongue member 64 during assembly of the fin structure 14, as discussed below in further detail.
In addition, a slidable tray 66 is supported by the framework 60 of the fin insertion apparatus 8 and slidable along a vertical upper surface of the generally planar tongue member 64. The slidable tray 66 is normally supported by the fin insertion apparatus 8 in a retracted position, located closely adjacent to a trailing end of the fin insertion apparatus 8 and remote from a leading end of the generally planar tongue member 64. The slidable tray 66 is equipped with at least one hinge member 68, and preferably a plurality of hinge members 68. The bases of each of the hinge members 68 are permanently attached sequentially along a first vertical side wall of the slidable tray 66. The hinge members 68 extend outwardly from the first vertical side wall and only partially across the width of the slidable tray 66, so as to leave a gap between a leading edge of the extended hinge members 68 and a second vertical side wall of the slidable tray 66. The gap being sufficiently sized to accommodate at least one perforated plastic pipe 92. It is to appreciated that two or more perforated plastic pipes 92 can be simultaneously inserted by the slidable tray 66 or, alternatively, the slidable tray 66 can only insert fiber, woodchips, styrofoam, etc., without inserting any perforated plastic pipe 92.
Each of the plurality of spaced apart hinge members 68 is only permitted to pivot about 90 degrees relative to the vertical side wall of the slidable tray 66, from a first position, in which the hinge members 68 extend normal to the first vertical side wall, toward a second position, in which the hinge members 68 extend parallel to the first vertical side wall. That is, the hinge members 68 can pivot into a pivoted position toward the leading end of the slidable tray 66 in which the hinge members 68 generally abut against, and are arranged parallel to, the vertical side wall to assist with removal of the slidable tray 66 following loading of the fiber, woodchips, styrofoam, etc., 90 into the cavity C. Initially, when the plurality of spaced apart hinge members 68 extend normally to the side wall, they facilitate uniform loading of the fiber, woodchips, styrofoam, etc., 90 into the cavity C. Then, when the plurality of spaced apart hinge members 68 extend generally parallel to the side wall, the hinge members 68 facilitate withdrawal of the slidable tray 66 from the cavity C without pulling, compacting, disrupting and/or withdrawing the loaded fiber, woodchips, styrofoam, etc., 90. Thus, typically in operation, as shown in
During assembly, when the slidable tray 66 is actuated by the control panel 12, the slidable tray 66 is maneuvered from its retracted position into its extended position. The slidable tray 66 slides along the top surface of the generally planar tongue member 64, from the trailing end toward the leading end of the generally planar tongue member 64. Extending in this manner, the slidable tray 66 facilitates insertion and loading of both the carried pipe 92 and uniformly deposited fiber, woodchips, styrofoam, etc., 90 into the fin opening P formed by the overlapped fabric product 20.
As briefly discussed above, and shown in
The first (chain) drive 44 is coupled to the fin sandwiching apparatus 6 for conveying the fin sandwiching apparatus 6 along the pair of spaced apart guide tracks 10 into either its extended position, located closely adjacent to the product dispensing stand 4, or its retracted position, located remote from the product dispensing stand 4, and vice versa. A trailing end of the fin sandwiching apparatus 6 is coupled to a section of the endless chain of the first drive 44 in a conventional manner. When the endless chain of the first drive 44 is driven by a first motor (not shown), controlled by the control panel 12, in a first direction, the first drive 44 moves the fin sandwiching apparatus 6 toward its extended position located closely adjacent the product dispensing stand 4. Similarly, when the endless chain of the first drive 44 is driven in an opposite second direction, the first drive 44 moves the fin sandwiching apparatus 6 toward its retracted position spaced furthest away from the product dispensing stand 4.
A second (chain) drive 70 is coupled to the fin insertion apparatus 8 for conveying the fin insertion apparatus 8 along the pair of spaced apart guide tracks 10 into either its extended position, located closely adjacent to the product dispensing stand 4, or its retracted position, located remote from the product dispensing stand 4, or vice versa. A trailing end of the fin insertion apparatus 8 is coupled to a section of the endless chain of the second drive 70 in a conventional manner. When the endless chain of the second drive 70 is driven by a second motor (not shown), controlled by the control panel 12, in a first direction, the second drive 70 moves fin insertion apparatus 8 toward its extended position located closely adjacent the product dispensing stand 4. Then, when the endless chain of the second drive 70 is driven in an opposite second direction, the second drive 70 moves the fin insertion apparatus 8 toward its retracted position spaced furthest away from the product dispensing stand 4.
A third (chain) drive 72 is supported by an upper portion of the framework of the fin insertion apparatus 8 for conveying the slidable tray 66 along the upper top surface of the generally planar tongue member 64. This third drive 72 facilitates conveying the slidable tray 66 from its retracted position, located adjacent the trailing end of the fin insertion apparatus 8, into its extended position, located adjacent the leading end of and generally overlying the generally planar tongue member 64, for inserting both the pipe 92 and/or loose fiber, woodchips, styrofoam, etc., 90 into the partially formed fin member 46. A trailing end of the slidable tray 66 is coupled to a section of the endless chain of the third drive 72 in a conventional manner. When the endless chain of the third drive 72 is driven by a third motor (not shown), controlled by the control panel 12, in a first direction, the third drive 72 moves the slidable tray 66 toward its extended position in which the slidable tray 66 overlies the generally planar tongue member 64. Then, when contrary instructions are received from the control panel 12, the endless chain of the third drive 72 is driven in an opposite second direction, and the third drive 72 moves the slidable tray 66 toward its retracted position adjacent the trailing end of the fin insertion apparatus 8.
It is to be appreciated that each one of the first, the second and the third drives 44, 70, 72 are typically operated independently of one another. Moreover, while chain drives are contemplated and disclosed herein, it is to be appreciated that a variety of other conventional drive mechanisms can be utilized, instead of the chain drives, for driving the associated assemblies into their extended and retracted positions, and vice versa, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Now that a brief discussion of the major components has been provided, a detailed description concerning operation of the fin assembly apparatus 2, for manufacture of the fin structure 14, will now be provided. As generally shown in
As shown in
Next, as shown in
The control panel 12 then actuates the fin insertion apparatus 8 which, as shown in
As the fabric product 20 is forced by the generally planar tongue member 64 into the cavity C, a first layer of the fabric product 20 is located between the top surface of the generally planar table 40 and the bottom surface of the generally planar tongue member 64, while a second overlapped layer of the fabric product 20 is located between the top surface of the generally planar tongue member 64 and the bottom surface of the vertically movable clamping device 50 of the fin sandwiching apparatus 6. As the fin insertion apparatus 8 continues to move from its retracted position to its extended position, the generally planar tongue member 64 continues facilitating unrolling of the fabric product 20 and further inserting of the fabric product 20 into the cavity and toward the opposite trailing end of the fin sandwiching apparatus 6.
Once the generally planar tongue member 64 of the fin insertion apparatus 8 reaches its fully extended position, the fabric product 20 extends substantially along the top surface of the generally planar table 40 of the fin sandwiching apparatus 6. The fabric product 20 wraps around the leading end 61 of the generally planar tongue member 64 and then returns back along the top surface of the generally planar tongue member 64 back toward the fourth cylindrical rod or roll 28′″ of the product dispensing stand 4. As a result of such arrangement, the fabric product 20 thereby wraps around the generally planar tongue member 64 and doubles back toward the product dispensing stand 4.
Due to the vertical spacing of the fourth cylindrical rod or roll 28′″ of the product dispensing stand 4 from the generally planar table 40 of the fin sandwiching apparatus 6, the overlapped second layer of the fabric product 20 is spaced from the top surface of the generally planar tongue member 64. This spacing thereby forms and defines a “fin opening” P between the overlapped second layer of the fabric product 20 and the top surface of the generally planar tongue member 64. This fin opening P is sufficiently large enough to permit insertion of the slidable tray 66, between the overlapped second layer of the fabric product 20 and the generally planar tongue member 64.
After the fin opening P is formed, the control panel 12 then actuates the seal cylinder 52 to move the vertically movable clamping device 50 from its spaced apart retracted position into its extended position in which the vertically movable clamping device 50 is vertically lowered so as to engage with the generally planar table 40 of the fin sandwiching apparatus 6. As the vertically movable clamping device 50 is lowered, the perimeter edges of the vertically movable clamping device 50 eventually engage with the lateral edges of the overlapped fabric product 20 and firmly sandwiches the lateral edges of the overlapped fabric product 20 between a perimeter edge of the vertically movable clamping device 50 and the planar table 40 of the fin sandwiching apparatus 6.
Next, the two lateral perimeter edges of the fabric product 20 are either sewn or stitched to one another by conventional sewing equipment (not shown). Alternatively the two lateral perimeter edges of the fabric product 20 are sufficiently heated, via a heated perimeter edge of the vertically movable clamping device 50, which causes the overlapped lateral edges of the fabric product 20 to fuse and be bonded with one another. Alternatively, it is to be appreciated that the two lateral perimeter edges of the fabric product 20 may be stapled, glued, taped or otherwise fastened to one another by conventional stapling, gluing, taping or fastening equipment (not shown), activated by the control device 12, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In each embodiment, the stitching, bonding, sewing, stapling, gluing, taping, fastening, etc., are provided along the two lateral perimeter edges of the fabric product 20 to permanently secure those overlapped edges to one another.
After the two lateral perimeter edges of the fabric product 20 are secured or fastened to one another, the control panel 12 then actuates the third drive 72 to commence movement of the slidable tray 66 from its retracted position, located closely adjacent the trailing end of the fin insertion apparatus 8 to its extended position, overlapping the generally planar tongue member 64 with the leading end of the slidable tray 66. As the slidable tray 66 moves toward its extended position, located closely adjacent to the leading end of the generally planar tongue member 64, the slidable tray 66 transports and loads the carried pipe 92 and/or the fiber, woodchips, styrofoam, etc., 90 into the fin opening P formed between the overlapped second layer of the fabric product 20 and the generally planar tongue member 64.
Once the slidable tray 66 reaches its fully extended position, the pipe 92 and/or the fiber, woodchips, styrofoam, etc., 90 are each fully loaded and accommodated within the fin opening P formed between the overlapped second layer of the fabric product 20 and the generally planar tongue member 64. After this occurs, the control panel 12 then actuates pivotable stop arms 67a, 67b, supported by the product dispensing stand 4, to move the stop arms 67a, 67b from their normally retracted positions (see
After the stop arms 67a, 67b are located in their extended position in abutting engagement with a trailing end of the pipe 92 and/or the fiber, woodchips, styrofoam, etc., 90, the control panel 12 then actuates the third drive 72 to move the slidable tray 66 back toward its retracted position before withdrawal of the generally planar tongue member 64 from the fin opening P formed between the overlapped second layer of the fabric product 20 and the generally planar tongue member 64. It is to be appreciated, however, that the second drive 70 may be either sequentially actuated, after partial or completed movement of the slidable tray 66 into its retracted position or may be simultaneously actuated, during actuation of the third drive 72, to simultaneously withdraw the fin insertion apparatus 8 from the cavity C, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Alternatively, it is to be appreciated that the second drive 70 may be actuated before the third drive 72 is actuated to move the fin insertion apparatus 8 toward its retracted position before movement of the slidable tray 66 into its retracted position, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. As soon as the slidable tray 66 reaches its retracted position, an operator is then able to load another section of pipe 92 and/or additional fiber, woodchips, styrofoam, etc., 90 onto the slidable tray 66 for insertion into the next fin opening P to be formed by the fabric product 20, as described below in further detail. It is to appreciated that the slidable tray 66 may possibly be inserted into the fin opening P before the two opposed lateral perimeter edges of the fabric product 20 are either sewn, stitched, glued, taped, stapled, secured or otherwise fastened to one another, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Once both the lateral edges of the overlapped fabric product 20 are either sewn, stitched, glued, stapled, taped, fastened or permanently fused and bonded with one another, e.g., which typically occurs within a matter of a few seconds or so, and the pipe 92 and/or the fiber, woodchips, styrofoam, etc., 90 are inserted by the slidable tray 66 into the fin opening P, the control panel 12 then actuates the first drive 44 to move the fin sandwiching apparatus 6 a small distance away from the product dispensing stand 4. The control panel 12 then actuates the industrial hang tag guns, barb or wicket dispensing or fastening guns or devices 58, supported by the fin sandwiching apparatus 6, in order to stitch the opposed overlapped surfaces of the fabric product 20 to one another, in a conventional manner. Each one of the dispensed stitches, barbs, wickets, respectively provided by the four industrial hang tag guns, barb or wicket dispensing or fastening gun or devices 58, is typically formed at the interface or joint between the pipe 92 and/or the fiber, woodchips, styrofoam, etc., 90 loaded within the fin opening P and generally forms a boundary between the fiber, woodchips, styrofoam, etc., 90 and the pipe 92 as well as providing structural integrity.
Thereafter, the control panel 12 then actuates the first drive 44 to move the fin sandwiching apparatus 6 a very small distance away from the product dispensing stand 4. Such movement of the fin sandwiching apparatus 6 repositions each of the four industrial hang tag guns, barb or wicket dispensing or fastening guns or devices 58, supported by the fin sandwiching apparatus 6, at different locations relative to the fin member 46 prior to dispensing additional stitches, barbs, wickets for interconnecting the opposed overlapped surfaces of the fabric product 20 to one another, in a conventional manner. Again, each one of the stitches, barbs, wickets for interconnecting the opposed overlapped surfaces of the fabric product 20 to one another respectively provided by the industrial hang tag guns, barb or wicket dispensing or fastening guns or devices 58, is formed at the interface or joint between the pipe 92 and the fiber, woodchips, styrofoam, etc., 90 loaded within the fin opening P. The spaced apart stitches, barbs, wickets, etc. provide additional integrity to the fin member 46 which assists with subsequent handling and installation thereof. While the present embodiment illustrates two to four industrial hang tag guns, barb or wicket dispensing or fastening guns or devices 58, it is to be appreciated that the fin sandwiching and stitching apparatus 6 may employ more than four (or less than two) industrial hang tag guns, barb or wicket dispensing or fastening guns or devices 58, so long as a sufficient amount of stitches, barbs, wickets, etc. are formed for interconnecting the opposed surfaces of the overlapped fabric product 20 to one another, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Next, the control panel 12 actuates the seal cylinder 52 to raise the vertically movable clamping device 50 away from and out of engagement with the generally planar table 40 of the fin sandwiching apparatus 6 and thereby permit removal of the formed section of the fin member 46. To assist with removal of the manufactured fin member 46, the control panel 12 then again actuates the first drive 44 to move the fin sandwiching apparatus 6 from its current position, located adjacent the product dispensing stand 4, into its retracted position spaced from the product dispensing stand 4. Since a trailing end of the fabric product 20 is still braked by the brake cylinder 30 biasing the first and the second cylindrical rods or rolls 28, 28′ of the product dispensing stand 4 into engagement with one another, as the fin sandwiching apparatus 6 is moved toward its retracted position spaced from the product dispensing stand 4 (see
Generally before the fin sandwiching apparatus 6 reaches its fully retracted position, the manufactured fin member 46 of the fin structure 14 is pulled and eventually slides and falls off of the generally planar table 40 toward the floor 42. However, since the trailing end of the fabric product 20 is still connected to the roll 32 of the fabric product 20, the formed fin member 46 of the fin structure 14 is typically maintained in a generally vertical orientation and, as shown in
Thereafter, the above process shown in
After assembly of the second manufactured fin member 46 of the fin structure 14 is completed, the above process is again repeated to complete assembly of a third manufactured fin member 46 of the fin structure 14 which will be integrally formed and connected, via a second portion 73 of the same fabric product 20, with both the first and the second manufactured fin members 46 of the fin structure 14. Once again, after manufacture of the third manufacture fin member 46 of the fin structure 14 is completed, the above process is again repeated to complete assembly of a fourth manufactured fin member 46 of the fin structure 14 which will be integrally formed and connected, via a third portion 73 of the same fabric product 20, with the first, the second and the third manufactured fin members 46 of the fin structure 14. Once the fourth fin member 46 of the fin structure 14 is completed, this generally completes formation of fin member 46 (shown in
The entire above process is then repeated to complete manufacture of the remaining portion of an ENVIROFIN® assembly 16, e.g., at least one other fin structure 14, as generally shown and disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/716,572 filed May 19, 2015 the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference into this application in its entirety. The two fin structures 14, during installation, are wrapped around a centrally located fin distribution unit 76, as generally shown in
While the above process describes the manufacture of a fin structure 14 which typically includes four separate manufactured fin members 46, it is to be appreciated that the overall number of manufactured fin members 46, which form part of the fin structure 14 and ENVIROFIN® assembly 16, can vary from application to application without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. That is, the fin structure 14 generally comprises between two integrally manufactured fin members 46 and eight integrally manufactured fin members 46, but it is to be appreciated that the overall number of integrally manufactured fin members 46, which comprises part or all of the fin structure 14, can vary from application to application. Similarly, while the ENVIROFIN® assembly 16 generally comprises between one separately manufactured fin structure 14 and four separately manufactured fin structures 14, e.g.,
While various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it is apparent that various modifications and alterations of those embodiments will occur to and be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention, as set forth in the appended claims. Further, the invention(s) described herein is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various other related ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having,” and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items while only the terms “consisting of” and “consisting only of” are to be construed in a limitative sense.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2017/018109 | 2/16/2017 | WO | 00 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62295821 | Feb 2016 | US |
