Patent Application
20110117824
The present invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in a rotatable abrading device of the type commonly referred to as centrifugal blasting machines, and more particularly to the throwing wheels and blade assemblies that are used in such machines.
Abrasive blasting machines having a wheel or rotor assembly provided with a plurality of abrasive throwing blades or vanes arranged radially about the face of the rotor are well known. In use, a stream of abrasive particulate material is fed into the path of the rotating wheel from an impeller secured to the rotor. The blades are adapted to receive and throw the abrasive from the periphery of the rotor at an appropriate discharge point in the machine casing at a blasting velocity to strip or clean metal castings or the like.
The throwing vanes due to the nature of their use are subject to excessive wear and are, therefore, removably mounted on a runnerhead portion of the wheel assembly for replacement as needed. There are two basic styles of runnerhead assemblies, a single-sided runnerhead and double-sided runnerhead. The use of a single-sided runnerhead is advantageous to reduce the “overhung load” on the shaft of the motor or spindle. On the other hand, the double-sided runnerhead may protect the internal liners on the front of the wheel housing. Many different methods of fixing the blades to a runnerhead assembly have been employed.
One inherent problem with either the single-sided or the double-sided runnerhead is the possibility of a blade “shot-locking” in the runnerhead. Shot-locking occurs when abrasive and dust wedge in between the blade and the runnerhead. Maintenance is required to hammer the vanes out of the runnerhead. This maintenance results in a loss of valuable operating time. Furthermore, while the blades must be removable, they must also be held securely so that they resist the tremendous centrifugal forces exerted on them when the wheel is operating.
In short, there exists a need in the art for an improved blade and runnerhead locking assembly for securing the blades to the wheel of a centrifugal blasting machine. The improved blades should be easily removed and replaced without the need for special tools or extensive disassembly of the device. The blades should not be susceptible to shot locking or jamming in position due to fine particulate fouling the mounting mechanism.
In an embodiment, a vane of a throwing wheel apparatus, includes a first end, a second end, and a particle throwing portion extending between the first and second ends. The particle throwing portion includes a first throwing face, a second throwing face, and two side edges. Each of the side edges may extend substantially parallel to one another and include a locking member adapted to be detachably coupled to a mounting element of the throwing wheel apparatus. Each locking member may include a first taper in a first plane and a second taper in a second plane. The first plane may be substantially perpendicular to each side edge of the vane and the second plane may be substantially parallel to the first taper. The side edges may define a width smaller than a predetermined distance between first and second mounting elements of the throwing wheel apparatus so that when the vane is coupled to the mounting elements a gap is present on both sides of the vane.
According to one exemplary embodiment, a mounting assembly of a throwing wheel apparatus includes a first mounting element and a second mounting element. The first and second mounting elements may be substantially parallel to one another and spaced apart from one another along a central axis of rotation. Each of the first and second mounting elements may define a mounting face having a central bore and a plurality of radially extending mounting recesses. Each mounting recess may detachably receive a locking member of a vane and is tapered in two planes.
According to a further exemplary embodiment, a throwing wheel apparatus includes a vane having a first end, a second end, and a particle throwing portion extending between the first and second ends. The particle throwing portion includes a first throwing face, a second throwing face, and two side edges. Each of the side edges may extend substantially parallel to one another and may include a locking member adapted to be detachably coupled to a mounting element of the throwing wheel apparatus. Each locking member may include a first taper in a first plane and a second taper in a second plane. The first plane may be substantially perpendicular to each side edge of the vane and the second plane may be substantially parallel to the first taper. The throwing wheel apparatus further may include a mounting assembly having a first mounting element and a second mounting element. The first and second mounting elements may be arranged substantially parallel to one another and may be spaced apart from one another along a central axis of rotation. Each of the first and second mounting elements may define a mounting face having a central bore and a plurality of radially extending mounting recesses. Each mounting recess may be adapted to detachably receive a locking member of the vane. Each mounting recess may be tapered in two mounting planes corresponding to the first and second planes of the locking portion of the vane. The side edges of the vane may define a width smaller than a predetermined distance between the first and second mounting elements of the mounting assembly so that when the vane is coupled to the mounting elements a gap may be present on both sides of the vane.
This summary is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not to identify any key or essential features of the claimed subject matter. Further features and advantages of the invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular description of embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements. Unless otherwise indicated, the accompanying drawing figures are not to scale.
Various embodiments of the invention are discussed herein. While specific embodiments are discussed, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations can be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the invention. Each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.
Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in
This description is of the preferred embodiment of a throwing wheel assembly. It is to be understood that the structure thus far described refers to conventional structure as found in known blasting wheel devices and that embodiments of the present invention, which are to be hereinafter described in further detail, is not limited to the particular device shown. The invention may work equally well in any throwing wheel. The drawings have been simplified to show only such conventional parts of wheel assembly 100 as are necessary for a clear understanding of the present invention.
In one embodiment, a throwing blade 14 of novel configuration may be provided for quick and easy removal from the runnerhead assembly 130 in the most efficient way possible with a minimum of complex removable parts. Referring to
Each locking member 40 may be tapered at an angle 41 in a first plane 80. The first plane 80 may be substantially parallel to each side edge of the vane 29, 30 and/or the central axis 81 of the throwing blade 14. Stated differently, the front surface 43 may be tapered from the bottom end 47 to the top end 46 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the connection 48 between the locking member 40 and the side edges 29, 30 of the throwing blade 14. In one embodiment, the front surface 43 may be tapered along the entire length of the locking member 40. According to another embodiment, the front surface 43 may be tapered at an angle between approximately three- to seven-degrees. Further, the locking member 40 may either be made from the same or different material as the vane 14.
In an exemplary embodiment, each mounting recess 50 may be tapered at a first angle in a first plane and at a second angle 55 in a second plane 92 that is perpendicular to the first plane. The first plane may correspond to the first plane 80 of the locking member 40 coupled to the throwing blade 14. Specifically, the bottom recessed portion 53 may be tapered at an angle from the second end 57 to the first end 56 along the axis of rotation 31 (see
It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations, and that the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.
