Abstract: The invention discloses a vibratory conveyor arranged so that the vibrations have a substantially greater horizontal than vertical movement. More particularly, the vertical acceleration of material carried by the material-carrying member is less than the acceleration of gravity and therefore the material conveyed does not physically leave the surface of the material-carrying member. The result is a smooth flow of material from one end of the material-carrying member to the other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control system for a vibratory apparatus such as vibratory feeders and vibratory conveyors. An accelerometer is provided for sensing the acceleration of vibratory movement of the vibratory apparatus. The signal generated by the sensing system is transmitted to a control which is capable of modifying the amplitude or the frequency of the vibratory movement imparted to the apparatus and thereby to regulate the operation of the vibratory conveyor or feeder.

Abstract: A spiral elevator is described for conveying product from one level to another level up a spiral track. The elevator is powered by a two-mass system having an exciter resiliently supported on the vertical tube. The exciter has a pair of parallel shafts with a vibration generating member mounted on each shaft. A motor is provided for driving each shaft independent of the other shaft. Controls are provided for controlling the vibratory forces generated by the vibration generating members to vary the vibratory forces from substantially zero unbalance to a desired level of unbalance to convey product from the inlet to the outlet of the spiral track.

Abstract: A vibratory material handling apparatus is provided for mixing of materials, cleaning, blending and/or shake-out of castings or the like. The apparatus comprises a container having a curved or arcuate material supporting surface disposed about a generally horizontal longitudinal axis wherein the material supporting surface has a plurality of generally circumferential, parallel troughs disposed about and extending along the longitudinal axis. The container, which is carried by a frame, is resiliently mounted to a mounting surface. The apparatus further comprises a vibration generator mounted on the container for producing vibratory forces directed along a linear path displaced not only from the longitudinal axis but also from the center of gravity of the container. With this arrangement, the troughs are arranged to direct materials upwardly and forwardly to establish a path of tumbling movement in a direction from a material input end toward a material discharge end of the container.

Abstract: A continuous preheat charging method including the steps of transferring scrap from a receiving point to a discharge point, preheating scrap adjacent the discharge point prior to delivery of preheated scrap to one of a pair of melting furnaces, and alternately feeding preheated scrap to the pair of melting furnaces. A continuous preheat charging system is also disclosed which includes a scrap charge transfer conveyor having a scrap receiving end and a scrap discharge end together with a weigh feeder station at the scrap receiving end and a preheating station at the scrap discharge end. After scrap is weighed at the weigh feeder station and fed to the transfer conveyor, the scrap is preheated at the preheating station and delivered to a furnace feeder station to be fed on an alternating basis to one of a pair of melting furnaces.

Abstract: A material classifying apparatus for separating material into at least overs and fines. The apparatus includes a material receiving housing supporting one or more vertically spaced separator screens. When more than one separator screen is used, the lowermost one of the screens has a finer mesh than the uppermost one of the screens. The apparatus will then further include a discharge opening associated with the periphery of the uppermost one of the screens for discharging overs from the material receiving housing, a discharge opening associated with the periphery of the lowermost one of the screens for discharging product from the material receiving housing, and a discharge opening disposed below the lowermost one of the screens for discharging fines from the material receiving housing.

Abstract: A vibratory material conveying apparatus has a tower with a spiral flight to be vibrated for conveying material vertically, a platform through which the tower extends, structure for resiliently supporting the platform above a support surface for the apparatus, structure for resiliently attaching the spiral flight to the platform, and structure for imparting vibration to the platform. The invention comprehends a two mass system with the platform and vibration imparting structure, a force member mass and a work member mass. The system permits large amplitude vibrations to be imparted to the work member with minimal dynamic reaction to the support surface from the force member vibration.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing particulates comprises a vibratory bed including a motor with a vertically disposed shaft, separate remotely adjustable vibratory generating apparatus mounted on each end portion of the shaft and at least three contact structures between the vibratory bed and a flask or vessel containing the particulates. The uppermost vibratory generating apparatus being remotely adjustable to vary the horizontal vibratory force component and the lowermost vibratory generating apparatus being remotely adjustable to vary the vertical conical force component. The contact structures have conically shaped mating surfaces on pins and in recesses in sockets such that when at least one of the conically shaped surfaces are in contact the vessel is restrained to the same horizontal movement as the bed plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a structure for controllably discharging articles that are being continuously transported by a primary conveying structure. A discharge assembly is provided having a chute with an inlet and an outlet. Articles are diverted away from the primary conveying structure and delivered to the chute inlet. The discharge chute is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and a tandem-type cylinder is provided for reciprocatively moving the chute outlet back and forth over an infeed portion of a secondary conveying structure to distribute material back and forth across the width of the infeed portion of the secondary conveying structure as said secondary conveying structure moves the material continuously away from the chute outlet. The cylinder has separately extensible sections. One of the cylinder sections is extended and retracted by a control to reciprocatively move the chute about its rotational axis with a predetermined range.

Abstract: A vertical mass flow conveyor includes a vertical tube which has an inner surface fixed to the outer surface of a spiral ramp. The spiral ramp extends radially inward of the tube only a portion of the radius of the tube to leave the center section of the tube free and forming a vertical open space. The tube has an inlet to the spiral ramp and an outlet. A hopper or trough substantially surrounds the inlet of the tube for receiving material to be conveyed up the inside of the tube. One or more guide vanes or blades, face generally in the direction of the upward spiral of the spiral ramp, and disposed about the tube for directing the material radially inwardly toward the spiral ramp. The tube with a vibratory motion transmitting device, the trough and the vanes or blades are secured to a common base such that when a helical reciprocating movement is produced in the tube, bulk material either is vertically conveyed in a mass flow relationship or is blended and mixed in the tube.

Abstract: A vibratory apparatus is provided to dislodge and separate foreign matter from castings. A curved, bottom, supporting surface for the castings is inclined downwardly towards an outlet. Vibration imparting apparatus cause individual castings to travel up the curved portion and tumble over themselves as they simultaneously advance towards the outlet. Foreign matter, separated from the castings, is diverted away from the hopper as the castings progress continuously between the inlet and the outlet in a helical path.

Abstract: A vibratory stress relief apparatus is provided and has a resiliently supported base and an adjustable rate vibratory member on the base. A housing having a support plate and spaced side walls is resiliently supported on the base. A casting rests in the housing with a closure secured to the support plate in spaced relation to the casting. Shims are provided for positioning the closure a predetermined distance from the casting whereby the vibratory member will vibrate the housing and the casting and will hammer and rattle the casting between the closure and the support plate to relieve stresses in the casting and to clean sand and other impurities from the internal and external surfaces of the casting.

Abstract: A vibratory material handling apparatus is provided for mixing of materials, cleaning, blending and/or shake-out of castings or the like. The machine comprises a horizontal container carried by a frame resiliently mounted on a foundation. A vibration generator is carried by the contaienr and produces a line of force along an axis which passes exteriorly of the container. The vibration generator is adjustable on the container so that the direction of the line of vibratory force can be changed for changing the tumbling, mixing, cleaning, blending or shake-out characterics of the machine. The relative movement between the inside of the container and the material in the container describes angles of attack with the container surface which movements are rotational about a center of rotation. A line from the center of rotation through the center or gravity of the container intersects the line of force from the vibration generator at a substantially right angle.

Abstract: An apparatus usable for cleaning foreign material from the internal and external surfaces of a part, including a container of particulate media, a vibration generator for the container which creates an amplitude and frequency which will fluidize the media, and means for suspending the part in the fluidized media. The suspending means is vibrated at an amplitude and frequency different from the amplitude and frequency of the container whereby the fluidized media will clean the foreign material from the internal and external surfaces of the part.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus to be used in the reclamation of foundry sand. Mold flasks containing foundry sand shaped by a pattern to form a cavity into which molten metal has been poured are, after the metal has set, subjected to greatly reduced atmospheric pressure whereby to cause the moisture in the foundry sand to evaporate into water vapor, thereby removing moisture and heat from the sand so that the particles can be reused free of lumps or clumping of sand.

Abstract: A vibratory apparatus is provided with an improved structure for varying the lead angle and the amount of the vibratory force by angularly and radially positioning a movable weight relative to a fixed eccentric weight. The apparatus comprises a plate supporting the fixed eccentric weight on the shaft in one of several positions with a line through the center of gravity of the fixed weight and the axis of the shaft forming a base line. The movable weight is carried by a cylinder attached to the plate so that the longitudinal axis of the cylinder passes through the axis of the shaft at an angle to the base line. The movable weight in the cylinder is movable from a position on one side of the axis of rotation to a second position on the opposite side of the axis of rotation, the movement being linear and radially across the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A vibratory conveyor arranged so that the vibrations have a substantially greater horizontal than vertical movement. More particularly, the vertical acceleration of material carried by the conveyor is less than the acceleration of gravity and therefore the material conveyed does not physically leave the surface of the conveyor. The result is a smooth flow of material from one end of the trough to the other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating moist pulverulent material and is particularly useful for removing the moisture from such material. In one aspect of the invention, the material is hot foundry sand, where the sand is first moistened by the addition of water and then the moist sand is treated in a vibrating container under vacuum.

Abstract: A container shakeout apparatus is provided and has a rigid frame upon which a pair of motors supporting eccentric weights are mounted. Spring reactor members are suspended from the frame and said springs in turn suspend a pair of hammers which are adopted to engage the top edge of the spaced sides of a loaded container such as a hopper car. The motors and eccentric weights form a single mass system having a natural frequency close to the operating speed of said motors when said hammers are in contact with the container; and said frame, springs and hammers form a two mass system having a natural frequency above the operating speed of the motors when said hammers break contact with the container whereby the combined alternating single mass system and two mass system produce rapid high energy vertical impacts on the container for loosening material in the container.

Abstract: A vibratory material handling apparatus is provided for mixing of materials, cleaning, blending and/or shake-out of castings or the like. The machine comprises a horizontal container carried by a frame resiliently mounted on a foundation. A vibration generator is carried by the container and produces a line of force along an axis which passes exteriorly of the container. The vibration generator is adjustable on the container so that the direction of the line of vibratory force can be changed for changing the tumbling, mixing, cleaning, blending or shake-out characteristics of the machine. The relative movement between the inside of the container and the material in the container describes angles of attack with the container surface which movements are rotational about a center of rotation. A line from the center of rotation through the center or gravity of the container intersects the line of force from the vibration generator at a substantially right angle.