US2651549A - Air jet for air film tables - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 8, 1953 R. E. ROSS 6 4 AIR JET FOR AIR FILM TABLES Filed July 9, 1947 27 26 26 27 22 I "I r '20 l -28 60 if g /z 23 LK A 4 I I 42 \63 44 4/ l6 "35 INVENTOR.

WZMi/Qw ATTORNEYS l atented Sept. 8, i953 2,651,5le I Royal E. Ross, Dayton, hio,.assignor to Harris- Seybold Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of 7 Delaware Application July s, 1947, Serial No. 759,778

This invention relates to work tables for handling piles of. sheetmaterials such as paper, and more particularly to air jet assemblies for installation insuch work tablesfor releasing air under pressure between the pile and the table surface to reducefriction therebetweenfor more ready handling and moving of the pile.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide an air jet assembly which is adapted foreasy installation in a worktable such as the table of a paper cutting machine without special tools and without requiring dismantling or extensive modification of the table or its associated mechanism, andwhich also can readily and easily be installed in a work table already in use in the field without removing the table from its associated machine;

Another object is to provide such an air jet assembly which can readily be removed from the top of the table for cleaning, adjustment, repair or replacement without disturbing or dismantling the other mechanism of the table or its associated machine and without disconnecting the air line thereto.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an air jet assembly for use in the table of apaper cutting machine which is. self-meteringv and 1 claim. (01. 302-17) which can be readily adjusted in accordance with predetermined service conditions to pass a desired maximum volume of air whenfully open.

Other objects and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following description,

the accompanying drawing and the appended claim. 7

In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a view in vertical section showing an air jet assembly in accordance with the invention mounted in the table of a paper cutting machine, the valve controlling the jet being shown in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of a fragment of the table with the air jet assembly in place therein;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section through the air jet assembly showing the valve in open position; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a different form of mounting sleeve for the air. jet

assembly.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates preferred embodiments of the present invention, Fig. 1 shows a fragment ill of the table of a paper cutting machine including .one of the usual bracing or stiffening ribs ll. Thetable I0 is bored out to form a smooth cylindrical hole 2 12 for receiving the mounting sleeve [5 of the air jet assembly. This sleeve H: has a portion I6 at its upper end formed of a proper diameter for a press fit within the hole l2 in the table, and. its lower portion I1 is of slightly reduced diameter to facilitate initial insertion from above in the hole l2. The lower end of sleeve I5 is shown as provided with an internally tapered tapped portion I8 to receive a tapered pipe thread fitting l9 leading to a suitable source of air under pressure An annular adapter 20 is threadedly mounted in the upper end of sleeve I5. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the adapter 20 includes an externally threaded and internally tapped lower portion 2| and an upper or shoulder portion 22 of larger diameter than the lower portion 2|. The threaded adapter portion 2| is adapted for threaded engagement with the tapped upper end 23 of sleeve l5, and the shoulder portion 22 is of slightly lesser outer diameter than the outer diameter of sleeve portion It to provide for ready rotation of the adapter in the hole i2 of the table wherein the sleeve portion I6 is press fitted. For example, satisfactory results have been obtained with a difierence of the order of .0045 to .0090 inch between the outer diameter of the sleeve portion -l6 and the outer'diameter of the shoulderpor tion 22 ofv the adapter. a

The central bore 2.4 of the adapter 20 i of sufiicient diameterfto receive a ball 25 freely therein with an average clearance of the order of approximately .0075 inch, but the upper end of bore 24 is of reduced diameter at 26 to retain the ball 25 within the bore with a predetermined limitedarcuate portion thereof protruding above the adapter as shown in Fig. 1, for example a total protrusion of the order of .050 inch, with a ball .25 inch in diameter. The upper surface of the shoulder portion 22 of the adapter is provided with apair of holes 21 to receive the lugs of a suitable wrench for screwing the adapter into the upper end of sleeve I5. Also the inner surface of sleeve I5 is enlarged at its upper end to receive an annular gasket 28 of rubher or other suitable material to assure an airtight seal between the sleeve and the adapter.

An annular jet body member 30 is threadedly mounted within the tapped portion 21 of the adapter 20, the body member having flattened side portions 3| adjacent the lower end thereof for ready manipulation with a wrench or, pliers. A look nut 32 isprovided for locking the body member 30 and adapter 20 in fixed axial relation, this look nut having similarly flattened side 3 portions 33 as shown. The body member 30 and lock nut 32 are each of appreciably smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of sleeve l5, for example approximately 1 inch and 4 inch smaller, respectively, so that they are readily insertable the upper end of the sleeve and are supportdtherein by the adapter 20. The inner surface of body member includes a tapped upper portion 34, an intermediate portion tapering inwardly iii the direction of the lower end dri cal lower portion 36.

.10. thereof to form a. tapered seat 35, and a cy1in- A valve unit is mounted within the body member 30 for controlling the passage of air'therethrough. Referring particularly to Fig. 3, the valve unit is of the general type used in automobile tires and includes an annular valve body 40 having a tapered portion 4| complementary to the tapered seat 35 within the bodyme'mber 30. A threaded collar 42 of the usual type engages in the tapped portion 34 within body member 30 to press the valve body downwardly to a position of sealing relation between its tapered portion 4| and the tapered seat 35, and this tapered portion of the valve body is shown as provided with a rubber or fiber jacket 43 to assure an air-tight seal against the tapered seat 35, this jacket 43 being held in position on the valve body by a peripheral shoulder 44 at the upper end of the tapered valve body portion 4|. The collar 42 is shown as having its lower end flanged at 45 over the flared upper end of valve body 40 to provide a relatively rotatable connection between the collar and valve body. The upper end of collar 42 is cut away to provide a fiat sided portion 46 for engagement with the usual type of tire valve wrench.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, the lower end of the valve body 40 forms an annular valve seat 49, and a vertically reciprocable valve is provided for cooperating with valve seat 49 to control the passage of air through the valve body. The valve 50 is secured to a valve stem 5| which extends upwardly through the valve body and is of substantially smaller diameter than the interior of the valve body. The valve '50 includes a cylindrical outer portion 52 which is freely-reciprocable within the cylindrical portion 36 of the body member 30, providing an annular orifice 55 through which air under pressure 'isadmitted from the lower end of sleeve l5, and the body member to the valve seat 49 and the interior of the valve body. At its upper'end, the valve '50 is provided with a ring 56 of rubber or fiber adapted to seat against the annular valve seat 49, and the valve stem 5| is provided with a tapered shoulder 51 adjacent the ring 56 to guide the valve 50 to centered position with respect to the valve seat.

This arrangement of the valve unit and body member 30 provides for self-metering of the air transmitted by the valve. Since the annular orifice 55 determines the volume of air transmitted to the interior of the valve body, the cross-sectional area of this orifice may be readily controlled to allow only a predetermined volume of air to be released at the fully opened position of the valve, thus assuring equal volume distribution when more than one jet in the table is opened, providing that the air feed lines have greater total volume than the total number of jets in operation at any given time. "Thus the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 36 of body member 30 may readily be changed to vary the cross-sectional area of the orifice 55 in acon or otherwise secured to the valve stem 5|.

4 cordance with desired operating conditions without otherwise affecting the construction or operation of any of the other parts.

The valve stem 5| extends upwardly through the collar 42 into the central bore 24 of adapter 20 and is provided with an enlarged head 60 adapted to engage the ball 25., A coil spring 6| is provided within the valve body for urging the valve stem upwardly to a position of sealing relation between the valve 5|] and valve seat 49. This spring is seated between an internal shoulder or seat 62 in valve body 40 adjacent the valve seat 48 and a shoulder or collar 63 formed As shown in Fig. 3, the spring 6| is of larger diameter at its lower end than at its upper end so that it willproperly engage seat 62 and collar 63 respectively.

'This valve assembly is adapted for ready oneman installation in a cutter table from the top surface of the table and without specialtools or dismantling of the table itself or any of its associated apparatus. The hole l2 is first bored in the table to a proper diameter for a press fit connection with the larger portion l6 of sleeve 15. In installing the assembly, the sleeve is first pressed into this hole i2 until its upper end is below the upper surface of the table by an amount slightly less, for example inch, than the axial length of the shoulder portion 22 of the adapter 20.

The other parts are assembled before insertion in the sleeve |5. The valve body 40 is first mounted in the body member 30, and the collar 42 tightened until the tapered portion 4| of the valve body and its jacket 43 are in tight sealing relation with the tapered seat 35 within body member 30. The ball 25 is placed in the central bore 24 of adapter 20, and the body member 30 is then screwed into the adapter until the pressure of spring 61 on the valve stem 5| is just surficient to hold the ball protruding from the adapter to its maximum permissible extent when the assembly is held with the adapter uppermost. The body member and adapter are then looked in this axial relation by means of the lock nut 32,.

The assembly is then ready for installing in the sleeve |5, and it is inserted therein and. the adapter 20 screwed down into the sleeve until the lower surface of its shoulder portion '22 is tight against the upper end of the sleeve. With the sleeve having been initially inserted within the table to the extent stated, this will leave the upper surface of the adapter protruding approximately .010 to .015 inch above the table surface, and the entire'assembly and sleeve may then be simply pressed further down into the table until the upper surface of the adapter is flush with the upper surface of the table as shown in Figs. 1 to 3. Since with this construction of the sleeve 1'5, there are no shoulders to be considered in obtaining the desired smooth fit with the table surface, there are no close machining tolerances on details. The pipe fitting H! from a source of pressure air :may be readily connected to sleeve |5 either before or after the valve assembly is mounted therein.

In addition to the above noted advantages from the standpoint of easy initial installation, this air jet assembly can be readily removed from a table .for repair, cleaning, adjustment or replacement without disturbing any .of the other mechanism of the table and without even having to disconect the air lines. It is necessary merely to unscrew the adapter 20 from within the sleeve,

after which the entire jet assembly may be lifted out of the table, leaving the mounting sleeve [5 in place.

It is sometimes found in installing air jet assemblies in pre-existing machines, particularly machines in use in the field, that insufficient space is available below the table to receive standard pipe fittings of the type indicated at 98 in Fig. 1 or to allow access for connecting such fittings. Fig. 4 shows a modified construction of mounting sleeve suitable for such installations. In Fig. 4, the parts other than the sleeve 59 and feed tube H are identical with the similar parts in Figs. 1 to 3 and are correspondingly numbered, the body member 38 and lock nut 37. being shown in elevation. The lower end of sleeve 70 is shown as of substantially reduced inner diameter at 72, and the upper end. of this reduced portion is countersunk at I3. This construction of the sleeve is particularly adapted for soldered connection to an air tube ll of copper tubing, which is shown as having its upper end 75 flared to conform with the countersunk portion l3 of the sleeve, and this end of the tube is soldered within the sleeve as indicated at 17.

Iihe advantage of this construction in field installations is that the copper tubing may be soldered to the sleeve before the latter is inserted in the table. The tubing may then be threaded through the hole in the table from above and worked out from under the table and past the base of the machine before it is provided with the proper fittings for connection to a air line. The sleeve 70 is press fitted in the table and the other parts mounted therein in the same manner as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 3. Thus with the construction shown in Fig. 4, the assembly can be mounted in the table without removing the table from the machine even when the space under the table is insufficient for receiving or connecting ordinary pipe fittings of the type shown in Fig. 1 and described in connection therewith.

In the operation of this air jet assembly, the normal position of the parts is as shown in Fig. 1, with the spring 6| holding the valve closed and holding the ball 25 in its uppermost position protruding above the surface of the table. When a pile of paper is placed on the table in a position in which it is over one or more of the jets therein, its weight will depress the ball 25, which will in turn depress the valve stem 5| and open the valve, thus releasing pressure air through the valve body and past the ball 25 to the space between the pile of paper and the surface of the table. As is well known, this air forms in effect a film between the table surface and the pile, thus substantially reducing friction and providing for movement of the pile along the table surface with comparatively little effort.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

In a work table having a horizontal work supporting surface provided with a plurality of openings therethrough, the combination of a plurality of sleeves each press fitted Within one if said openings, a plurality of annular adapters each having a through passage, means for supporting each said adapter in the upper end of one of said sleeves with the upper end of said adapter substantially flush with said work table surface, each said adapter passage being of reduced diameter at the upper end thereof, a ball freely rotatable and reciprocable in each said adapter passage and of such diameter as to be capable of only partial protrusion beyond said reduced upper end of said passage, a plurality of valve units each including a valve and a verti cally reciprocable control member, means in each said valve unit for guiding the reciprocating movement of said control member, a plurality of separate pressure air lines each connected with the lower end of one of said sleeves, means for securing one of said valve units to each said adapter at a position intermediate the ends of the associated said sleeve with said valve in position to control the flow of air from said air line through said adapter passage and with said control member extending upwardly within said passage, and means in each said valve unit for biasing said control member thereof upwardly to close said valve and to support the associated said ball in said position of partial protrusion above the upper end of said adapter for free rotation within said passage and for downward movement therein against said biasing means causing opening of said valve.

ROYAL E. ROSS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 629,140 Vollkommer July 18, 1899 1,053,623 McMillion Feb. 18, 1913 1,269,694 Faires June 18, 1918 1,458,438 Reynolds June 12 1923 1,812,610 Royer June 30, 1931 1,973,799 Crowley Sept. 18, 1934 2,128,623 Stuck Aug. 30, 1938 2,176,307 Lamb Oct. 17, 1939 2,272,634 Bronson Feb. 10, 1942 2,293,132 Gora Aug. 18, 1942 2,307,220 Hewitt Jan. 5, 1943

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