Patent US3680186A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3680186A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for throwing hardened steel balls
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-06-18
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Granted: 1972-08-01
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Expires: 1990-06-18
Abstract
Abstract For use as a stone cutter or for other high energy surface treatment of a workpiece, such as peening or pulverizing, a series of hardened steel balls are discharged individually by centrifugal force from a high speed rotating structure. Release of each ball is controlled by a slider or other release mechanism in the rotating structure, such mechanism being operated at a predetermined circumferential location by a cam or gearing. This location can be adjusted manually, or it may be oscillated mechanically to cause the stream of discharged balls to pan back and forth across the workpiece.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald Fraser Symington
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 16:06
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B7/00; E21B7/16; B; B02; B02C; B02C19/00; B24; B24C; B24C5/00; B24C5/06; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/47; Y10T29/477
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A device fOr throwing hardened metal balls at high speed and individually in one or more predetermined radial directions towards a workpiece, comprising a. a structure mounted for high speed rotation about an axis, b. means for supplying said balls to a reservoir chamber within said structure, c. at least one discharge passageway formed in said structure for outward travel of a released ball, d. a ball release mechanism comprising a member movable in a direction substantially normal to a radius from said axis extending through said member between a loading position and a release position, said member defining a cavity for receiving a ball from said reservoir chamber when in said loading position, and being aligned for releasing said ball to said discharge passageway when in said release position, e. and means for moving said member from its loading to its release position at a predetermined circumferential location to actuate the release mechanism to discharge said ball each time said release mechanism passes said location.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
166 words
A device fOr throwing hardened metal balls at high speed and individually in one or more predetermined radial directions towards a workpiece, comprising a. a structure mounted for high speed rotation about an axis, b. means for supplying said balls to a reservoir chamber within said structure, c. at least one discharge passageway formed in said structure for outward travel of a released ball, d. a ball release mechanism comprising a member movable in a direction substantially normal to a radius from said axis extending through said member between a loading position and a release position, said member defining a cavity for receiving a ball from said reservoir chamber when in said loading position, and being aligned for releasing said ball to said discharge passageway when in said release position, e. and means for moving said member from its loading to its release position at a predetermined circumferential location to actuate the release mechanism to discharge said ball each time said release mechanism passes said location.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
261 words
A device for throwing hardened metal balls at high speed and individually in one or more predetermined radial directions towards a workpiece, comprising a. a structure mounted for high speed rotation about an axis, b. means for supplying said balls to a reservoir chamber within said structure, c. at least one discharge passageway formed in said structure for outward travel of a released ball, d. a ball release mechanism communicating with each said discharge passageway for receiving balls from the reservoir chamber and for feeding said balls individually to said discharge passageway, e. means for actuating the release mechanism at a predetermined circumferential location to discharge a single ball each time said release means passes said location, f. said release mechanism comprising a member movable between a loading position and a release position, said member defining a cavity aligned to receive a single ball from said reservoir chamber when in said loading position, and aligned to release said ball to said discharge passageway when in said release position, g. said actuating means being arranged to move said member from its loading to its release position at said predetermined circumferential location, h. said device including return means for moving said member from its release to its loading position at another circumferential location, and i. wherein said actuating means comprises a first cam surface extending in an arc concentric with said axis and inclined to a plane normal to said axis for moving said movable member from its loading to its release position upon rotation of said structure relative to such cam surface.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
261 words
A device for throwing hardened metal balls at high speed and individually in one or more predetermined radial directions towards a workpiece, comprising a. a structure mounted for high speed rotation about an axis, b. means for supplying said balls to a reservoir chamber within said structure, c. at least one discharge passageway formed in said structure for outward travel of a released ball, d. a ball release mechanism communicating with each said discharge passageway for receiving balls from the reservoir chamber and for feeding said balls individually to said discharge passageway, e. means for actuating the release mechanism at a predetermined circumferential location to discharge a single ball each time said release means passes said location, f. said release mechanism comprising a member movable between a loading position and a release position, said member defining a cavity aligned to receive a single ball from said reservoir chamber when in said loading position, and aligned to release said ball to said discharge passageway when in said release position, g. said actuating means being arranged to move said member from its loading to its release position at said predetermined circumferential location, h. said device including return means for moving said member from its release to its loading position at another circumferential location, and i. wherein said actuating means comprises a first cam surface extending in an arc concentric with said axis and inclined to a plane normal to said axis for moving said movable member from its loading to its release position upon rotation of said structure relative to such cam surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 1, including means for adjusting said predetermined circumferential location of said actuating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device according to claim 1, including means for oscillating said actuating means circumferentially at a frequency low in relation to the speed of rotation of said structure whereby to cause a stream of discharged balls to pan back and forth across the workpiece.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
A device according to claim 2, wherein said return means comprises a second cam surface extending in an arc concentric with the axis of rotation of said structure and located generally opposite said first cam surface in relation to said axis, said second cam surface being inclined to a plane normal to said axis for moving said movable member from its release to its loading position upon rotation of said structure relative to such second cam surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device according to claim 2, wherein said return means is a return spring mounted on said structure for moving said movable member from its release to its loading position whenever said movable member is not actuated by said first cam surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device according to claim 2, including means for oscillating said first cam surface around said axis at a frequency low in relation to the speed of rotation of said stRucture whereby to cause a stream of discharged balls to pan back and forth across the workpiece.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein f. said release mechanism comprises a screw mechanism for conveying and releasing said balls individually, and g. said actuating means comprising gear means for rotating said screw mechanism synchronously with rotation of the structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein f. said release mechanism comprises a rotatably mounted member having a plurality of cavities therein each adapted to receive an individual ball, and g. said actuating means comprises means for rotating said rotatable member to cause each cavity therein first to align to receive a single ball from said reservoir chamber and subsequently to align to release said ball to said discharge passageway.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-01 | 1976-01-31 | 1976-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-01 | 1980-01-31 | 1980-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-01 | 1984-01-31 | 1984-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |