BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a detailed cross-sectional side view of an abrasive throwing wheel assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a front view of a throwing wheel runnerhead of the abrasive throwing wheel assembly of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the throwing wheel runnerhead of FIG. 2 along section 3A-3A;
FIG. 3B is a detailed perspective view of a channel in the throwing wheel runnerhead of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4A is a side view of a throwing blade of the abrasive throwing wheel assembly of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 4B and 4C are top and rear views, respectively, of the throwing blade shown in FIG. 4A;
FIG. 5A is a front view of a lock pin of the abrasive throwing wheel assembly of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 5B and 5C are side and top views, respectively, of the lock pin shown in FIG. 5A;
FIG. 6A is a detailed cross-sectional side view of the abrasive throwing wheel assembly of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6B is a detailed cross-sectional side view of the abrasive throwing wheel assembly of FIG. 1 during removal of a throwing blade;
FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the abrasive throwing wheel assembly of FIG. 1 during attachment of a throwing blade to the runnerhead;
FIG. 8A is a front view of a throwing wheel runnerhead of an abrasive throwing wheel assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of the throwing wheel runnerhead of FIG. 8A along section 8B-8B;
FIG. 8C is a partial bottom view of the throwing wheel runnerhead of FIG. 8A;
FIG. 8D is a partial cross-sectional view of the throwing wheel runnerhead of FIG. 8A along section 8D-8D;
FIG. 9A is a side view of a throwing blade for attachment to the throwing wheel runner head of FIG. 8A according to the second embodiment of the invention;
FIGS. 9B and 9C are back and top views, respectively, of the throwing blade of FIG. 9A;
FIG. 10A is a side view of an L-shaped lock pin for use with the throwing wheel runner head and the throwing blade of FIGS. 8A and 9A, respectively, according to the second embodiment of the invention; and
FIGS. 10B and 10C are front and top views of the L-shaped lock pin of FIG. 10A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Several embodiments of the invention are discussed in detail below. While specific example embodiments are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. In describing and illustrating the embodiments, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations may be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. Each reference cited herein is incorporated by reference. The examples and embodiments described herein are non-limiting examples.
The invention is related to an improved throwing blade connection assembly for abrasive throwing wheels. Exemplary embodiments of the throwing blade connection assembly secure a throwing blade to the throwing wheel without bolts or other threaded fasteners and allow removal and replacement of throwing blades from the throwing wheel runnerhead without removing the feedparts.
FIGS. 1, 2, 3A-B, 4A-C, 5A-C, 6A-B, and 7 depict an abrasive throwing wheel assembly or blasting machine 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention. More particularly, the figures show a first embodiment of an improved throwing blade connection assembly for such a blasting machine 10. FIG. 1, for example, depicts a detailed cross-sectional side view of the blasting machine 10. The blasting machine 10 includes a housing 11 having a hinged access door D which can be opened or closed as desired for purposes of maintenance and the like. The blasting machine 10 includes a runnerhead 12 rotatably supported within the housing 11 by a shaft 14. The shaft 14 is arranged to be driven by a motor M. The runnerhead 12 is connected to the shaft 14 by a hub 16 and bolted fasteners 18. An impeller case 20 is concentrically aligned with the shaft 14. The impeller case 20 is supported by a portion of the housing 11 in a stationary position relative to the runnerhead 12 and includes a radial opening 19. An impeller 13 is coupled to the shaft 14 for rotation within the impeller case 20. A feed spout 21 is coupled to the housing 11 such that abrasive material can be fed through the feed spout 21 and into the housing 11 to the impeller 13.
FIG. 1 shows a plurality of throwing blades 30 (vanes) removably coupled to the runnerhead 12. Each throwing blade 30 includes an abrasive throwing portion 31 and a base portion 32. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1-7, the base portion 32 has a dovetail shaped cross-section which is configured to be removably received in a dovetail shaped radial channel 24 in a face 23 of the runnerhead 12 (see FIG. 2). Each throwing blade 30 is held within the channel 24 by a locking pin 40 which engages the base portion 32 of the respective throwing blade 30. A spring 42 is also disposed within each channel 24 to bias the throwing blade 30 in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the runnerhead 12 such that the throwing blade 30 is held more securely within the channel 24 during operation.
FIGS. 2, 3A, and 3B depict several views of the runnerhead 12 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. In the front view of the runnerhead 12 shown in FIG. 2, runnerhead 12 includes a face 23 which includes a plurality of radially extending channels 24. Each radially extending channel 24 has a dovetail shaped cross-section which is configured to receive the base portion 32 of one of the throwing blades 30. Although the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 includes eight channels 24, one of skill in the art will recognize that the runnerhead 12 may include any number of channels 24 equally spaced about the central axis so that the runnerhead 12 is balanced. Each channel 24 includes a back surface 25 which is offset from face 23. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3A, each channel 24 includes a slot or recess 26 in back surface 25 which is configured to receive the locking pin 40. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, each channel 24 may also include a cutaway portion 27 (e.g., a peripheral recess) at a radially outermost portion of the runnerhead 12 to facilitate acceptance of the base portion 32 of a respective throwing blade 30 during assembly. As can be seen in FIG. 3A, the slot 26 extends at an angle to the face 23, wherein the angle is some angle between zero and 90 degrees such as, for example, 60 degrees, although one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other angles may be sufficient.
FIGS. 4A-C depict side, rear, and top views, respectively, of the throwing blade 30 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The throwing blade 30 includes an abrasive material throwing portion 31 and a base portion 32. In the embodiment shown, the throwing portion 31 is substantially planar such that the throwing blade 30, when mounted to the runnerhead 12, is essentially bidirectional. That is, the runnerhead 12 can rotate clockwise or counterclockwise during operation and the throwing blade 30 will be effective in throwing the abrasive material. The throwing blade 30 includes a top 36 and bottom 37. The top 36 is positioned radially outward from the bottom 37 when the throwing blade 30 is coupled to the runnerhead 12. The dotted lines at the top 36 of the throwing blade 30 depicted in FIGS. 4A-B (see also FIG. 1) are intended to show that the throwing portion 31 of the throwing blade 30 may be of various sizes. For example, the throwing portions may be sized so that the rotational diameter of the throwing blade 30 on the runnerhead 12 is any one of 14″, 15″, 16″, or 17″. Other sizes are also possible. The base portion 32 of the throwing blade 30 may be dovetail shaped such that it can be received in the channel 24. The base portion 32 includes a surface 33 having a recess 34. The base portion 32 also includes a slanted surface 35.
FIGS. 5A-C depict various views of the locking pin 40. As shown in the depicted embodiment, the locking pin 40 is substantially U-shaped. This U-shaped profile helps during removal and insertion of the pin 40 into the slot 26 of the runnerhead 12 to effect removal or securement of the throwing blade 30. The locking pin 40 may have a hole or some other feature (not shown) provided at one end thereof to assist with removal by a tool.
FIG. 6A depicts a side cross-sectional view of the blasting machine 10 before, during, or after operation. As can be seen in FIG. 6A, the throwing blades 30 are secured within the channels 24 of the runnerhead 12 and cannot move radially outward due to the position of the locking pin 40 in slot 26. The spring 42 is disposed in recess 34 to stabilize the throwing blade 30 within the channel 24. During operation of the machine 10, the centrifugal force resulting from the rotation of the runnerhead 12 pulls the blades 30 radially outward such that the slanted surface 35 of the base portion 32 of throwing blade 30 contacts the locking pin 40. The bottom 37 of the throwing blade 30 is radially spaced from the impeller case 20.
When it becomes time to remove and/or replace one or more of the throwing blades 30, the access door D (see FIG. 1) is opened, and a blade 30 is removed as shown in FIG. 6B. First, the blade 30 is moved radially inward until the bottom 37 contacts the impeller case 20. Next, the locking pin 40, which is oriented within the slot 26 such that the open side of the U-shaped body faces outward, is removed. Lastly, the throwing blade 30 is pulled radially outwardly until the base portion 32 is freed from the channel 24 of the runnerhead 12. In order to insert a new throwing blade 30 into the vacated channel 24 of the runnerhead 12, the foregoing steps are performed in reverse order as depicted in FIG. 7. None of the elements in FIGS. 1-7 should be magnetized or otherwise configured to include any magnetic elements because the abrasive material and the blade 30 are generally made of metal materials which would be attracted to a magnetic element. This could potentially prevent any one of the elements from seating properly in the runnerhead 12 and thereby cause a failure. If, for example, the blade 30 and/or the pin 40 do not seat properly in the runnerhead 12 then the blade 30 can shift out of the runnerhead 12 and cause the wheel to fail.
Another embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIGS. 8A-D, 9A-C, and 10A-C. According to this embodiment, the blasting machine may be the same as that depicted in FIG. 1, except that the runnerhead, throwing blades, and locking pins have a different construction for added security in preventing the locking pin from falling out inadvertently. More particularly, in FIG. 8A, a front view of a runnerhead 112 is shown. The runnerhead 112 includes a face 123 which includes a plurality of radially extending channels 124. Each radially extending channel 124 has a dovetail shaped cross-section which is configured to receive the base portion 132 of one of the throwing blades 130 (see FIGS. 9A-C). Although the embodiment shown in FIG. 8A includes eight channels 124, one of skill in the art will recognize that the runnerhead 112 may include any number of channels 124. Each channel 124 includes a back surface 125 which is offset from face 123. As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, each channel 124 includes a slot or recess 126 in back surface 125 which is configured to receive a locking pin 140. The slot 126 is substantially L-shaped and includes a first radially extending portion 126a extending inwardly from an outer peripheral surface of the runnerhead 112. The slot 126 further includes a second tranverse portion 126b which extends substantially perpendicular to the first radially extending portion 126a. The first radially extending portion 126a extends parallel to a central longitudinal axis (not shown) defined by channel 124 but is offset from such radially extending central axis.
FIGS. 9A-C depict various views of the throwing blade 130 according to the second embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 9A, the throwing blade 130 includes an abrasive material throwing portion 131 and a base portion 132. In the embodiment shown, the throwing portion 131 is substantially planar such that the throwing blade 130, when mounted to the runnerhead 112, is essentially bidirectional. That is, the runnerhead 112 can rotate clockwise or counterclockwise during operation and the throwing blade 130 will be effective in throwing the abrasive material. The throwing blade 130 includes a top 136 and bottom 137. The top 136 is positioned radially outward from the bottom 137 when the throwing blade 130 is coupled to the runnerhead 112. The dotted lines at the top 136 of the throwing blade 130 depicted in FIGS. 9A-B are intended to show that the throwing portion 131 of the throwing blade 130 may be of various sizes. For example, the throwing portions may be sized so that the rotational diameter of the throwing blade 130 on the runnerhead 112 is any one of 14″, 15″, 16″, or 17″. Other sizes are possible. The base portion 132 of the throwing blade 130 is dovetail shaped such that it can be received in the channel 124 of the runnerhead 112. The base portion 132 includes a surface 133 having a recess 134 for receiving a spring (not shown). The base portion 132 also includes a slanted surface 135 bordered on one side by a locking face 138. The locking face 138 lies in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the slanted surface 135 and which is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the throwing blade 130 extending between in the bottom 137 and top 136 of the throwing blade 130 (see FIGS. 9B and 9C).
FIGS. 10A-C depict various views of a locking pin 140. As shown in the depicted embodiment, the locking pin 140 is substantially L-shaped and includes a first portion 141 and a second portion 142. This L-shaped profile helps to secure the throwing blade 130 within the channel 124 by ensuring that the pin 140 will not inadvertently fall out of position in the slot 126. As shown in FIG. 10A, the locking pin 140 includes several peripheral surfaces including surfaces 143, 144, and 145. Surfaces 143 and 145 are disposed at a right angle with respect to one another and define part of the first portion 141 of the locking pin 140. Surface 144, however, is shown as being at an angle of approximately 30 degrees with respect to surface 143. Other angles may be possible so long as the angle between surfaces 144 and 143 is substantially the same as the angle between surfaces 133 and 135 on the throwing blade 130. The locking pin 140 may also include a through hole 146 on the second portion 142 to help with removal and insertion of the pin 140 into the slot 126 in the runnerhead 112.
In order to secure the throwing blade 130 to the runnerhead 112, the dovetail shaped base portion 132 of the throwing blade 130 is inserted into the radially extending channel 124 and moved radially inward until the bottom 137 of the throwing blade 130 contacts the impeller case (see FIG. 1). The locking pin 140 is then inserted into the first radially extending portion 126a of the slot 126 in channel 124. The orientation of the locking pin 140 is such that surface 143 faces the back surface 125 of the channel 124, and the surface 144 faces away from the back surface 125. The surface 145 of the locking pin faces radially outward from the center rotational axis of the runnerhead 112. The locking pin 140 is pushed radially inward along first slot portion 126a and then transversely so that the first portion 141 of the locking pin 140 is disposed within transverse portion 126b of the slot 126. The throwing blade 130 is then moved radially outward until slanted surface 135 contacts surface 144 of the locking pin 140. Surface 145 of the locking pin 140 opposes surface 152 (see FIG. 8A) of the transverse portion 126b of the slot 126 and, consequently, the locking pin 140 and throwing blade 130 are prevented from further radially outward movement. Additionally, the locking face 138 of the throwing blade 130 is positioned such that it prevents any transverse movement of the locking pin 140 to a position within first portion 126a of the slot 126 where removal of the locking pin 140 from the slot 126 would otherwise be possible. In this way, the throwing blade 130 is effectively secured to the runnerhead 112 within the channel 124. Removal of the throwing blade 130 can be achieved by repeating the foregoing steps in reverse order beginning with moving the throwing blade 130 radially inward.
In the above-described embodiments, the throwing blades may be bi-directional and may have a width of between approximately 2-4 inches as defined in a direction extending parallel to the rotational axis of the runnerhead when mounted thereon. Other widths may also be possible depending on the dimensions of the housing. The housing may be configured such that throwing wheels having blades of various sizes can be housed therein. For example, the housing may be configured to accommodate runnerheads having blades with widths of between 2 to 4 inches attached thereto. The housing may also be configured to accommodate runnerheads having blades mounted thereon that define rotational diameters of between approximately 14 to 17 inches. One of skill in the art will recognize that blades having other dimensions and/or which are not bidirectional may also be possible.
While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described embodiments, but should instead be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
Patent Application
20080076333
