US3765131A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rock tumbler
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-02-18
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Granted: 1973-10-16
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Expires: 1992-02-18
Abstract
Abstract A rock tumbler for rotating a tumbling barrel containing rocks and a grinding and polishing medium. The rock tumbler includes a chassis having a pair of spaced walls that define a tumbling compartment and a pair of spaced shafts extending across the compartment that are rotatably mounted in bearings. The bearings are fitted in slots in the walls in such a manner that the bearings may be removed from the walls by raising them in slots. A cover fitted on the chassis has an opening that receives a tumbling barrel when it is supported on the shafts and flanges bounding the opening that extend to locations above the bearings to restrain upward movement of the bearings. One of the shafts is drivingly connected to a motor that can rotate this shaft and thus rotate the tumbling barrel. A tab projecting upwardly of one of the walls between the shafts extends through a slot in the cover and is received in annular groove on a guide nut secured to the tumbling barrel to restrain the tumbling barrel against movement longitudinally of the shafts.
Inventors
- 👤 G Christensen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:02
CPC Classifications
B; B24; B24B; B24B31/00; B24B31/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A rock tumbler comprising: a tumbling barrel; a chassis having a pair of spaced walls that define a tumbling barrel compartment; shaft means including at least one shaft extending across said compartment between said walls adapted to support said tumbling barrel; a bearing at each end of said one shaft; mounting means so mounting each bearing to a wall as to retain the bearing in the wall when the bearing is in a lower position in the wall and to enable the bearing to be released from the wall when the bearing is moved upwardly of said lower position; a cover fitted on said chassis the cover having an opening, adapted to accommodate the tumbler barrel, extended over said compartment so as to expose said tumbler barrel; flanges on said cover bounding said opening and extending downwardly of said opening above said bearings to thereby restrain upward movement of the bearings; and drive means for rotating said shaft to thereby rotate the barrel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
A rock tumbler comprising: a tumbling barrel; a chassis having a pair of spaced walls that define a tumbling barrel compartment; shaft means including at least one shaft extending across said compartment between said walls adapted to support said tumbling barrel; a bearing at each end of said one shaft; mounting means so mounting each bearing to a wall as to retain the bearing in the wall when the bearing is in a lower position in the wall and to enable the bearing to be released from the wall when the bearing is moved upwardly of said lower position; a cover fitted on said chassis the cover having an opening, adapted to accommodate the tumbler barrel, extended over said compartment so as to expose said tumbler barrel; flanges on said cover bounding said opening and extending downwardly of said opening above said bearings to thereby restrain upward movement of the bearings; and drive means for rotating said shaft to thereby rotate the barrel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
The rock tumbler of claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises: slots in the walls associated with each bearing, each slot being relatively narrow at its base and wider at its top; a groove in the periphery of each bearing that is received in the base of its associated slot; and the tops of the slots defining openings that are greater in diameter than the diameters of the bearings.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The rock tumbler of claim 1 wherein a selected end of said shaft extends through its associated wall and bearing into a motor compartment; and wherein said drive means comprises: a drive member removably mounted to said shaft end in said motor compartment; and a motor drivingly connected to said drive member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The rock tumbler of claim 1 wherein said at least one shaft comprises a pair of spaced shafts; wherein said bearings and mounting means are associated with the ends of both shafts; wherein said flanges extend above the bearings at the ends of both shafts; and wherein said drive means is so constructed as to drive a first of the shafts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
The rock tumbler of claim 4 wherein said mounting means comprises: slots in the walls associated with each bearing, each slot being relatively narrow at its base and wider at its top; a groove in the periphery of each bearing that is received in the base of its associated slot; and the tops of the slots defining openings that are greater in diameter than the diameters of the bearings.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The rock tumblers of claim 4 wherein an end of said first shaft extends through its associated wall and bearing into a motor compartment; and wherein said drive means comprises: a drive member removably mounted to said shaft end in said motor compartment; and a motor drivingly connected to said drive member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
120 words
A rock tumbler for rotating a tumbling barrel having a guide member tHereon comprising: a chassis having a tumbling barrel compartment; support means in the tumbling barrel compartment for supporting the tumbling barrel for rotation while permitting it to move longitudinally of the support means; a cover fitted on said chassis having an opening, adapted to accommodate the tumbling barrel, extended over said compartment so as to expose said compartment; a slot in said cover; a tab on the chassis projecting upwardly through the slot adapted to be inserted into a groove in the guide member to thereby restrain the barrel against longitudinal movement on the support means; and drive means for causing the support means to rotate the barrel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
120 words
A rock tumbler for rotating a tumbling barrel having a guide member tHereon comprising: a chassis having a tumbling barrel compartment; support means in the tumbling barrel compartment for supporting the tumbling barrel for rotation while permitting it to move longitudinally of the support means; a cover fitted on said chassis having an opening, adapted to accommodate the tumbling barrel, extended over said compartment so as to expose said compartment; a slot in said cover; a tab on the chassis projecting upwardly through the slot adapted to be inserted into a groove in the guide member to thereby restrain the barrel against longitudinal movement on the support means; and drive means for causing the support means to rotate the barrel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The rock tumbler of claim 7 wherein said chassis has a heightwise extending wall; wherein said support means comprises at least one shaft rotatably mounted to said wall and extending across said compartment; wherein said tab projects upwardly of said wall; and wherein said drive means comprises means for rotating said shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
The rock tumbler of claim 7 wherein said chassis has a heightwise extending wall; wherein said support means comprises a pair of spaced shafts rotatably mounted to said wall and extending across said compartment; wherein said tab projects upwardly of said wall between said shafts; and wherein said drive means comprises means for rotating at least one of said shafts.
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) | 1976-10-15 | 1977-04-16 | 1977-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-15 | 1981-04-16 | 1981-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-15 | 1985-04-16 | 1985-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |