BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a support apparatus according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a further perspective view of the support apparatus viewed on the line 3-3 shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to that shown in FIG. 3 but shows a further embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of yet another embodiment of the present invention.
Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the various views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a support apparatus generally designated 10 according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the support apparatus 10 is provided for supporting a syphon 12 within a rotating cylinder 14. The apparatus 10 includes a hub generally designated 16 which is disposed within the rotating cylinder 14. The hub 16 has a first and a second end 18 and 20 respectively.
FIG. 2 is sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the hub 16 defines a bore 22 which extends between the ends 18 and 20 of the hub 16 for rotatably supporting the syphon 12.
As shown in FIG. 1, a first, second and third arm 24, 25 and 26 respectively extend from the hub 16, each of the arms 24-26 extending radially outwardly from the hub 16. Each of the arms 24-26 has an inner and an outer extremity 28 and 30 respectively. The inner extremities 28 of the arms 24-26 are disposed adjacent to the hub 16. Also, the outer extremities 30 of the arms 24-26 are disposed adjacent to an internal surface 32 of the rotating cylinder 14 such that the arms 24-26 and the hub 16 support the syphon 12 within the rotating cylinder 14 while permitting rotation as indicated by the arrow 31 of the rotating cylinder 14 relative to the stationary syphon 12.
As shown in FIG. 2, in a more specific embodiment of the present invention, the hub 16 is of cylindrical configuration. The hub 16 has a first face 34 which is disposed adjacent to the first end 18 of the hub 16. A second face 36 is disposed adjacent to the second end 20 of the hub 16. Also, an external cylindrical surface 38 of the hub 16 extends from the first face 34 to the second face 36.
Moreover, the first and the second face 34 and 36 respectively are disposed normal to an axis of rotation 40 of the hub 16.
Furthermore, the bore 22 extends from the first face 34 to the second face 36 and the bore 22 is disposed coaxially within the hub 16 relative to the axis of rotation 40.
Also, the apparatus 10 further includes a bearing 42 which is disposed coaxially within the bore 22 for bearingly supporting the hub 16 relative to the syphon 12.
Each of the arms 24-26 such as arm 25 includes a first portion 44 which has an inner end 46 and an outer end 48. The inner ends 46 of the first portions 44 of the arms 24-26 are secured to the hub 16. Also, each arm is preferably circumferentially equidistantly spaced from an adjacent arm.
Each of the arms 24-26 also include a second portion generally designated 50. The second portion 50 has an inner termination 52 and an outer termination 54. The inner termination 52 of the second portion 50 of the arm 25 is secured to the outer end 48 of the first portion 44 of the arm 25. Also, the outer termination 54 of the second portion 50 of the arm 25 is secured to the internal surface 32 of the rotating cylinder 14.
The outer end 48 of the first portion 44 of the arm 25 defines a flange 56 and the inner termination 52 of the second portion 50 of the arm 25 defines a further flange 58. The arrangement is such that the further flange 58 and the flange 56 of each arm 24-26 cooperate with each other for permitting the releasable fastening of the first portion 44 and second portions 50 to each other.
Moreover, the second portion 50 includes a first tube 60 which has a first and a second side 62 and 64 respectively. A second tube 66 has an inner and an outer side 68 and 70 respectively, the second tube 66 slidably cooperating with the first tube 60.
A threaded device 72 is provided for selectively adjusting an axial disposition of the tubes 60 and 66 respectively of the second portion 50 relative to each other such that the arms 24-26 and the hub 16 disposed therebetween support the syphon 12 relative to the internal surface 32 of the rotating cylinder 14 during rotation of the rotating cylinder around the syphon 12.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 2, the first tube 60 slides telescopically within the second tube 66.
As shown in FIG. 1, the second side 64 of the first tube 60 defines an external thread 74 which cooperates with the threaded device 72. The arrangement is such that when the threaded device 72 threadably engages the external thread 74 of the first tube 60, the threaded device 72 urges the inner side 68 of the second tube 66 axially relative to the first tube 60 and radially relative to the hub 16 as indicated by the arrow 67 for urging the outer side 70 of the second tube 66 against the internal surface 32 of the rotating cylinder 14.
Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each arm of the arms 24-26 such as arm 25 includes a foot 76 which is disposed between the outer side 70 of the second tube 66 and the internal surface 32 of the rotating cylinder 14. The components are arranged such that the arms 24-26 are firmly supported within the rotating cylinder 14 for supporting the hub 16 so that the syphon 12 is held stationary relative to the rotating cylinder 14.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus 10 further includes a biasing device generally designated 78 which extends between the threaded device 72 of the arm 24 and the foot 76 for evenly urging the foot 76 into engagement with the internal surface 32 of the rotating cylinder 14.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the biasing device 78 is a compression spring 80 which has an inner and an outer termination 82 and 84 respectively. The inner termination 82 of the spring 80 is biased against the threaded device 72 and the outer termination 84 of the spring 80 is biased against the foot 76.
FIG. 3 is a further perspective view of the apparatus 10 viewed on the line 3-3 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the first arm 24 is the only arm that includes a compression spring 80.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to that shown in FIG. 3 but shows a further embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the method includes supporting a syphon 12a within a rotating cylinder 14a. The method includes the steps of supporting a hub 16a which defines a bore 22a within the rotating cylinder 14a. The hub 16a is supported by a plurality of arms 24a, 25a and 26a which extend radially outwardly between the hub 16a and the rotating cylinder 14a.
The method also includes the steps of supporting the syphon 12a such that the syphon 12a extends through the bore 22a for permitting rotation of the hub 16a relative to the syphon 12a and directing a laser beam 100 through a journal 103 of the rotating cylinder 14a, the beam 100 being directed along an axis of rotation 40a of the cylinder 14a and along the bore 22a.
The method steps include adjusting a relative length L1, L2 and L3 of the arms 24a-26a respectively for positioning the hub 16a within the cylinder 14a and using the laser beam 100 to guide the positioning of the hub 16a so that the hub 16a is positioned coaxially relative the rotational axis 40a of the rotating cylinder 14a.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of yet another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the method of supporting a syphon 12 (partially shown) within a rotating cylinder 14b includes the steps of supporting a hub 16b which defines a bore 22b within the rotating cylinder 14b, the hub 16b being supported by a plurality of arms 24b, 25b and 26b of which 25b and 26b are shown in FIG. 5. The arms extend radially outwardly between the hub 16b and the rotating cylinder 14b.
The method also includes supporting the syphon such that the syphon extends through the bore 22b for permitting rotation of the hub 16b relative to the syphon 12b and piloting a centering gauge 101 disposed on the inside end of syphon 12 as shown, or on the bore 22b of the hub 16b, not shown. The centering gauge 101 has a measurement arm 102 that extends radially towards an internal surface 32b of the rotating cylinder 14b.
Additionally, the method includes adjusting a relative length of the arms 24b-26b respectively for positioning the hub 16b within the cylinder 14b and using the measurement arm 102 to guide the positioning of the hub 16b so that the hub 16b is positioned coaxially relative a rotational axis 40b of the rotating cylinder 14b so that the stationary syphon is supported by the hub 16b which is disposed coaxially within the rotating cylinder 14b.
The arms 24b, 25b and 26b are attached to the hub 16b and will rotate with the cylinder 14b. Inside the bore of the hub 16b, there are 1, 2 or 3 cylindrical carbon graphite bushings (sleeve bearings). Two of these bushings 104 and 105 are shown in FIG. 5. The syphon 12 (not shown in its entirety in FIG. 5) extends from the inside surface of the rotating cylinder, through the hub 16b, through the supporting bushings, and out through the cylinder journal 103. The syphon 12 remains stationary while the hub 16b rotates around it, with the bushings 104 and 105 providing the bearing support.
A cylindrical recess in the centering gauge 101 matches the cylindrical extension of the flanged end of the horizontal portion of the syphon 12. Centering gauge 101 can be slipped over the cylindrical extension of syphon 12 so that the two cylindrical portions are coaxial. The centering gauge 101 can then be rotated around the cylindrical extension of syphon 12 while all the time maintaining a common axis of rotation. The arms 24b-26b are then adjusted so that the gap between the end of the measurement arm 102 and the internal surface 32b remains uniform. This results in the axis of the horizontal portion of the syphon being coaxial with the rotational axis 40b of the rotating cylinder 14b (which is also the rotational axis of the internal surface 32b. As an alternative, the centering gauge could be piloted in the bore 22b of the hub 16b.
In operation of the apparatus 10 according to the present invention, the support apparatus is positioned within the rotating cylinder 14. The compression spring 80 urges the foot 76 of the arm 24 against the internal surface 32 of the rotating cylinder 14 as shown in FIG. 3. Additionally, the spring 80 by reaction with the threaded device 72 and the hub 16 will roughly center the hub 16 and attached syphon 12 within the rotating cylinder 14. The threading devices 72 on each of the arms 24-26 are then adjusted by rotation thereof so that the hub and syphon extending therethrough are accurately centered within the rotating cylinder. Such accurate adjustment is achieved by virtue of the present invention even if the internal surface 32 of the rotating cylinder has not been machined. In the case of older type rotating cylinders, sometimes the internal surface 32 has not been machined and the internal surface 32 thereof may be slightly eccentric or offset relative to the rotational axis 40 of the rotating cylinder 14. Nevertheless, according to the present invention, by the relative selective adjustment of the threaded devices 72 of the arms 24-26, the hub 16 is able to be accurately centered on the rotational axis of the rotating cylinder so that the stationary syphon 12 can be accurately spaced relative to the internal surface 32 of the rotating cylinder 14 for the removal therefrom of the condensate.
The present invention provides a unique arrangement for supporting a stationary syphon within a dryer shell even when the inside surface of the dryer head or journal has not been machined and where the inside diameter of the support journal of the dryer may be relatively small.
Patent Application
20080052946
