US4206573A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tumbling apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-01-02
•
Granted: 1980-06-10
•
Expires: 1999-01-02
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for tumbling rocks or the like has a generally-cylindrical canister with a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis that intersects that longitudinal axis at a right angle thereto. The canister is mounted so as to revolve around its longitudinal axis, and the canister is driven in revolution around the axis. The orientation of the longitudinal axis is adjustable between a first position wherein that axis remains in a horizontal plane as the canister revolves about the longitudinal axis and a second position wherein the longitudinal axis wobbles relative to the horizontal plane as the canister so revolves. In one form, the canister is seated within a yoke so as to revolve around its longitudinal axis, with that yoke being driven to effect its rotation about the aforementioned transverse axis. In another form, the canister is mounted within a gimbal ring within which the canister is pivotally mounted so as to rotate about its transverse axis.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter W. Hayward
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 03:58
CPC Classifications
B; B24; B24B; B24B31/00; B24B31/02; B24B31/027
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
Tumbling apparatus comprising: a generally-cylindrical canister having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis intersecting said longitudinal axis at a right angle thereto; means for mounting said canister to revolve around said longitudinal axis; means for adjusting the orientation of said longitudinal axis between a first position wherein said longitudinal axis remains in a horizontal plane as said canister revolves about said longitudinal axis and a second position wherein said longitudinal axis wobbles relative to said plane as said canister so revolves; and means for driving said canister in revolution around said longitudinal axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
Tumbling apparatus comprising: a generally-cylindrical canister having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis intersecting said longitudinal axis at a right angle thereto; means for mounting said canister to revolve around said longitudinal axis; means for adjusting the orientation of said longitudinal axis between a first position wherein said longitudinal axis remains in a horizontal plane as said canister revolves about said longitudinal axis and a second position wherein said longitudinal axis wobbles relative to said plane as said canister so revolves; and means for driving said canister in revolution around said longitudinal axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 which further includes means for prohibiting egress from said canister of liquids contained therein while permitting the egress of gases from within said canister.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said mounting means includes a yoke within which said canister is seated to revolve around said longitudinal axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which said driving means also effects rotation of said yoke around said transverse axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting and adjusting means enable either both revolving and rocking of said canister or selective only revolving of said canister.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said mounting means includes a gimbal ring within which said canister is pivotally mounted to rotate around said transverse axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which said adjusting means effects a selective degree of rotation of said longitudinal axis around said transverse axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which said driving means effects rotation of said gimbal ring around its own axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which said gimbal ring carries a peripheral succession of external teeth, and in which said driving means includes a worm matable with said teeth.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9 in which each of said teeth is formed to define a pair of back-to-back outwardly-facing facets each outwardly inclined inwardly of the ring and each having radially-extending sidewalls that, beneath each facet, converge in a direction laterally-outward of the ring.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which said mounting means further includes a plurality of rollers spaced around the lower portion of the periphery of said gimbal ring and upon which said gimbal ring is removably seated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said canister includes a pair of mutually-facing cup-shaped halfshells of at least approximately equal depth.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 12 which further includes releasable means for resiliently clamping the lip portions of said half shells toward one another.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which the resilient force exerted by said clamping means is of an amount sufficient to preclude the egress of liquid from said canister while permitting the egress of gas therefrom.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which said mounting means further includes a yoke ring pivotally mounted within a gimbal ring to rotate around said transverse axis, and in which said releasable means clamps said lip portions against respectively opposite faces of said yoke ring.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
78 words
Tumbling apparatus comprising: a generally-cylindrical canister having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis intersecting said longitudinal axis at a right angle thereto; means for mounting said canister to revolve around said longitudinal axis; means for driving said canister is revolution around said longitudinal axis; and means for enabling orientation of said canister in a position wherein said longitudinal axis wobbles relative to a horizontal plane, and about the intersection of said axes, as said canister so revolves.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
78 words
Tumbling apparatus comprising: a generally-cylindrical canister having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis intersecting said longitudinal axis at a right angle thereto; means for mounting said canister to revolve around said longitudinal axis; means for driving said canister is revolution around said longitudinal axis; and means for enabling orientation of said canister in a position wherein said longitudinal axis wobbles relative to a horizontal plane, and about the intersection of said axes, as said canister so revolves.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
Tumbling apparatus as defined in claim 16 in which said enabling means alternatively permits orientation of said canister in a position wherein said longitudinal axis remains in said plane as said canister so revolves.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
110 words
Tumbling apparatus comprising: a generally-cylindrical canister having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis intersecting said longitudinal axis at a right angle thereto; means for mounting said canister to revolve around said longitudinal axis; means for adjusting the orientation of said longitudinal axis between a first position wherein said longitudinal axis remains in said horizontal plane as said canister revolves about said longitudinal axis and a second position wherein said longitudinal axis exhibits a compound movement relative to said plane as said canister so revolves; and means for driving said canister in revolution about said longitudinal axis when adjusted to said orientation in either of said first or second positions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
110 words
Tumbling apparatus comprising: a generally-cylindrical canister having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis intersecting said longitudinal axis at a right angle thereto; means for mounting said canister to revolve around said longitudinal axis; means for adjusting the orientation of said longitudinal axis between a first position wherein said longitudinal axis remains in said horizontal plane as said canister revolves about said longitudinal axis and a second position wherein said longitudinal axis exhibits a compound movement relative to said plane as said canister so revolves; and means for driving said canister in revolution about said longitudinal axis when adjusted to said orientation in either of said first or second positions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 18 which further includes means for prohibiting egress from said canister of liquids contained therein while permitting the egress of gases from within said canister.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 18 in which said mounting means includes a yoke within which said canister is seated to revolve around said longitudinal axis.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 20 in which said driving means also effects rotation of said yoke around said transverse axis.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 21 in which said adjusting means changes the orientation of said transverse axis between a vertical position and a position canted with respect to vertical.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 22 in which said mounting means further includes a base assembly upon which said yoke is carried, and in which said adjusting means effects a tilting of said base assembly relative to said horizontal plane.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 21 in which said mounting means further includes a base assembly upon which said yoke is carried, in which said driving means includes a motive element directly connected to said yoke for driving the same in said rotation around said transverse axis, and in which said driving means further includes means mechanically coupling said canister to said base assembly for effecting revolution of said canister around said longitudinal axis in response to said rotation around said transverse axis.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 24 in which said coupling means includes a first spur gear carried on the periphery of one end of said canister and matable with a second spur gear fixed on said base assembly in a position concentric with said transverse axis.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 24 in which said motive element includes a worm and in which an externally-toothed ring gear, fixedly carried by said yoke, mates with said worm.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 18 in which said mounting means includes a bearing supporting said canister for revolution about said longitudinal axis and enabling said canister to rock about a transverse axis that extends through said bearing, said driving means simultaneously revolving and rocking said canister about respective axes.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein said mounting and adjusting means enable either both revolving and rocking of said canister or selective only revolving of said canister.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 18 in which said canister includes a pair of mutually-facing cup-shaped halfshells of at least approximately equal depth.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 29 which further includes releasable means for resiliently clamping the lip portions of said half shells toward one another.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 30 in which the resilient force exerted by said clamping means is of an amount sufficient to preclude the egress of liquid from said canister while permitting the egress of gas therefrom.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 18 in which said driving means effects both said revolution of said canister around said longitudinal axis and revolution of said canister around said transverse axis.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
81 words
Tumbling apparatus comprising: a generally-cylindrical canister having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis intersecting said longitudinal axis at a right angle thereto; means for mounting said canister to revolve around said longitudinal axis; means for driving said canister in revolution around said longitudinal axis; and means for enabling orientation of said canister in a position wherein said longitudinal axis exhibits a compound movement relative to a horizontal plane, and about the intersection of said axes, as said canister so revolves.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
81 words
Tumbling apparatus comprising: a generally-cylindrical canister having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis intersecting said longitudinal axis at a right angle thereto; means for mounting said canister to revolve around said longitudinal axis; means for driving said canister in revolution around said longitudinal axis; and means for enabling orientation of said canister in a position wherein said longitudinal axis exhibits a compound movement relative to a horizontal plane, and about the intersection of said axes, as said canister so revolves.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
34 words
Tumbling apparatus as defined in claim 33 in which said enabling means alternately permits orientation of said canister in a position wherein said longitudinal axis remains in said plane as said canister so revolves.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 33 in which said driving means also effects revolution of said canister around said transverse axis.
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) | 1983-06-10 | 1983-12-10 | 1984-06-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-06-10 | 1987-12-10 | 1988-06-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-06-10 | 1991-12-10 | 1992-06-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |