US3662990A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mechanical break horse
Assignee: EXPORT LEAF TOBACCO CO
•
Filing: 1970-12-21
•
Granted: 1972-05-16
•
Expires: 1990-12-21
Abstract
Abstract Three vertically arranged pairs of inwardly directed probe assemblies are mounted on movable opposed vertical track members. The probes on each track member are linked to one another by a lifting rod so as to sequentially rise when air is supplied to pneumatic cylinders. In use, the probes are first directed into a hogshead of tobacco from opposite sides and then the probes are sequentially lifted, thereby completely separating the hogshead between each point of penetration to allow efficient inspection of the interior.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Barnett
- 👤 John D Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 11:47
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24B; A24B3/00; A24B3/06; B; B66; B66F; B66F3/00; B66F3/24; B66F3/247; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T225/00; Y10T225/30; Y10T225/329
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
An apparatus for separating compressed material into a plurality of pieces, comprising a pair of opposed track members spaced apart to receive the compressed material therebetween; a plurality of gripping means for gripping the compressed material at a plurality of positions along the material, said gripping means being mounted for movement along the track members; means for activating the gripping means; means for moving the gripping means along the track members and for increasing the distance between adjacent gripping means, whereby the material is separated into a plurality of pieces; and means for de-activating the gripping means so that the material is released.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
103 words
An apparatus for separating compressed material into a plurality of pieces, comprising a pair of opposed track members spaced apart to receive the compressed material therebetween; a plurality of gripping means for gripping the compressed material at a plurality of positions along the material, said gripping means being mounted for movement along the track members; means for activating the gripping means; means for moving the gripping means along the track members and for increasing the distance between adjacent gripping means, whereby the material is separated into a plurality of pieces; and means for de-activating the gripping means so that the material is released.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus, as described in claim 1, wherein each gripping means includes: a probe assembly having probes directed toward the compressed material; means for driving the probes into the compressed material in response to the activating means; and means for retracting the probes from the material in response to the de-activating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus, as described in claim 2, wherein each track member has an equal number of probe assemblies mounted thereon, each probe assembly being arranged to operate in cooperation with a probe assembly mounted on the opposed track member so that the probes are opposed and are driven into opposite sides of the material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus, as described in claim 3, wherein each probe assembly has two probes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
An apparatus, as described in claim 3, wherein the driving and retracting means include: first and second tracks; first and second dolly assemblies associated with the first and second tracks, respectively, and having mounted thereon and perpendicular thereto the opposed track members; and means for moving the dolly assemblies along the tracks so that the opposed probes are either driven into the compressed material or retracted therefrom.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus, as described in claim 5, wherein the means for moving the dolly assemblies comprises a pair of pneumatic cylinders and the activating and de-activating means includes a control valve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus, as described in claim 1, wherein the means for activating and for de-activating the gripping means comprises a control valve and pneumatic cylinders connected and responsive thereto for operating the gripping means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus, as described in claim 3, wherein the driving and retracting means include a control valve and pneumatic cylinders connected and responsive thereto for driving the probes into the compressed material and for retracting the same.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus, as described in claim 1, wherein the means for moving the gripping means includes: a control valve; and a pneumatic cylinder connected to and responsive to the control valve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus, as described in claim 3, wherein the means for moving the assemblies along the track members includes a pair of pneumatic cylinders operatively connected to a control valve and responsive thereto.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus, as described in claim 1, wherein the means for moving the gripping means includes means for sequentially moving the gripping means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
72 words
An apparatus, as described in claim 11, wherein the means for sequentially moving the gripping means comprises: a lifting rod slidably disposed through the gripping means; and means for moving the lift rod along the track members, said lifting rod having stop members formed and arranged to sequentially engage the gripping means as the lifting rod is moved along the track members, whereby the distance between adjacent gripping means is sequentiaLly increased.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus, as described in claim 12, wherein the means for moving the lifting rod along the track members comprises a pneumatic cylinder operatively connected to a control valve.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus, as described in claim 3, wherein the means for moving the probe assemblies includes means for sequentially moving pairs of opposed probe assemblies.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus, as described in claim 14, wherein the means for sequentially moving the pairs of probe assemblies includes: a lifting rod associated with the probe assemblies mounted on each opposed track member; and means for moving the lifting rods along the track members, said lifting rods having stops formed and arranged to sequentially engage the probe assemblies.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus, as described in claim 15, wherein the means for moving the lifting rods include a control valve and a pair of pneumatic cylinders operatively connected thereto.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
140 words
An apparatus, as described in claim 16, having three probe assemblies mounted on each of the opposed track members, the uppermost probe assembly on each track member being connected to the pneumatic cylinder associated with the track member on which the probe assembly is mounted, the lifting rods being fixedly attached to the middle probe assembly of each track member and slidably disposed through the upper and lowermost probe assemblies of each track member, the lifting rods having stop means positioned so that when the pneumatic cylinders lift the uppermost probe assemblies a specified distance, the probe assembly contacts the stop means to lift the lifting rods causing the middle probe assemblies to begin to lift and after a pre-determined distance, the stop means engage the lowermost probe assemblies, causing them to lift under the force of the pneumatic cylinders.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
163 words
An apparatus for separating compressed material into a plurality of pieces, comprising: first and second tracks; first and second dolly assemblies mounted to ride on the first and second tracks, respectively; first and second opposed track members mounted on said dolly assemblies and perpendicular thereto; a plurality of probe assemblies slidably mounted on each opposed track member, each probe assembly being arranged to operate in cooperation with a probe assembly mounted on the opposed track member; a plurality of probes mounted to said probe assemblies and directed toward the opposed probe assembly, the opposed track members being spaced sufficiently apart to receive the compressed material between the opposed probes; means for driving said dolly assemblies and the opposed track members along the tracks so that the probes are driven into and retracted from the compressed material; and means for sequentially lifting the probe assemblies and for increasing the distance between adjacent probe assemblies, whereby the material is separated into a plurality of pieces.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
163 words
An apparatus for separating compressed material into a plurality of pieces, comprising: first and second tracks; first and second dolly assemblies mounted to ride on the first and second tracks, respectively; first and second opposed track members mounted on said dolly assemblies and perpendicular thereto; a plurality of probe assemblies slidably mounted on each opposed track member, each probe assembly being arranged to operate in cooperation with a probe assembly mounted on the opposed track member; a plurality of probes mounted to said probe assemblies and directed toward the opposed probe assembly, the opposed track members being spaced sufficiently apart to receive the compressed material between the opposed probes; means for driving said dolly assemblies and the opposed track members along the tracks so that the probes are driven into and retracted from the compressed material; and means for sequentially lifting the probe assemblies and for increasing the distance between adjacent probe assemblies, whereby the material is separated into a plurality of pieces.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3187917A
Cited
US3204904A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-16 | 1975-11-15 | 1976-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-16 | 1979-11-15 | 1980-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-16 | 1983-11-15 | 1984-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |