US3879019A — Apparatus for rotatably driving large cylindrical…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 215 words

Apparatus for effecting rotational drive of a large circular body carrying a semi-fluid load therein, which load upon rotation of said body about its principal axis becomes eccentric with respect to the vertical, comprising in combination: means for supporting said body, said means including at least a pair of first and second rollers, spaced from one another with the rotational axes of said rollers being substantially parallel to but respectively offset to opposite sides of the said axis of said body, said first and second rollers being adapted to frictionally engage said body at points spaced about the circumference of said body, said points being at respectively the upwardly advancing and downwardly advancing side of body when said body is rotated; first and second torque means to provide driving torque to said first and second rollers respectively, to unidirectionally rotate said rollers thereby causing a corresponding unidirectional rotation of said body; and said first torque means being adapted to provide driving torque at said first roller which at all times while said semi-fluid load is eccentric substantially exceeds the torque provided at said second roller; power means for energizing said torque means; and differential means connecting said power means to said torque means, whereby said first and second torque means may rotate at different speeds.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 215 words

Apparatus for effecting rotational drive of a large circular body carrying a semi-fluid load therein, which load upon rotation of said body about its principal axis becomes eccentric with respect to the vertical, comprising in combination: means for supporting said body, said means including at least a pair of first and second rollers, spaced from one another with the rotational axes of said rollers being substantially parallel to but respectively offset to opposite sides of the said axis of said body, said first and second rollers being adapted to frictionally engage said body at points spaced about the circumference of said body, said points being at respectively the upwardly advancing and downwardly advancing side of body when said body is rotated; first and second torque means to provide driving torque to said first and second rollers respectively, to unidirectionally rotate said rollers thereby causing a corresponding unidirectional rotation of said body; and said first torque means being adapted to provide driving torque at said first roller which at all times while said semi-fluid load is eccentric substantially exceeds the torque provided at said second roller; power means for energizing said torque means; and differential means connecting said power means to said torque means, whereby said first and second torque means may rotate at different speeds.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 215 words

Apparatus for effecting rotational drive of a large circular body carrying a semi-fluid load therein, which load upon rotation of said body about its principal axis becomes eccentric with respect to the vertical, comprising in combination: means for supporting said body, said means including at least a pair of first and second rollers, spaced from one another with the rotational axes of said rollers being substantially parallel to but respectively offset to opposite sides of the said axis of said body, said first and second rollers being adapted to frictionally engage said body at points spaced about the circumference of said body, said points being at respectively the upwardly advancing and downwardly advancing side of body when said body is rotated; first and second torque means to provide driving torque to said first and second rollers respectively, to unidirectionally rotate said rollers thereby causing a corresponding unidirectional rotation of said body; and said first torque means being adapted to provide driving torque at said first roller which at all times while said semi-fluid load is eccentric substantially exceeds the torque provided at said second roller; power means for energizing said torque means; and differential means connecting said power means to said torque means, whereby said first and second torque means may rotate at different speeds.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 215 words

Apparatus for effecting rotational drive of a large circular body carrying a semi-fluid load therein, which load upon rotation of said body about its principal axis becomes eccentric with respect to the vertical, comprising in combination: means for supporting said body, said means including at least a pair of first and second rollers, spaced from one another with the rotational axes of said rollers being substantially parallel to but respectively offset to opposite sides of the said axis of said body, said first and second rollers being adapted to frictionally engage said body at points spaced about the circumference of said body, said points being at respectively the upwardly advancing and downwardly advancing side of body when said body is rotated; first and second torque means to provide driving torque to said first and second rollers respectively, to unidirectionally rotate said rollers thereby causing a corresponding unidirectional rotation of said body; and said first torque means being adapted to provide driving torque at said first roller which at all times while said semi-fluid load is eccentric substantially exceeds the torque provided at said second roller; power means for energizing said torque means; and differential means connecting said power means to said torque means, whereby said first and second torque means may rotate at different speeds.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 39 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said torque means have a fixed ratio of available torque for driving said respective rollers, the division of the torque available being predetermined in accordance with the anticipated eccentricity of said load.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 25 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said torque means comprise hydraulically driven motors and said power means is a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 49 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein differing numbers of said hydraulic motors in tandem drive each of said rollers, the ratio of the number of said motors respectively driving said first and second rollers, being in accordance with the desired torque ratios to be provided between said rollers.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein a plurality of said roller pairs are provided in underlying relationship to said body.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 71 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further including load sensing means at each of said rollers to provide a signal output indicative of the normal force present at each said roller, means receiving said load sensing signals and providing a control signal, and a torque divider means positioned to receive said control signal and divide the power supplied from said power means between said rollers in accordance with said control signal.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 61 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein said torque means includes hydraulically driven motors, and said power means includes a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid for supplying pressurized fluid to said torque means to effect a rotation of said rollers; and said torque divider means comprises means for adjusting the delivered pressure of hydraulic fluid at each of said torque means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 140 words

Apparatus for effecting rotational drive of a circular body carrying a load therein which is eccentric with respect to the vertical, comprising in combination: at least first and second rollers, contacting the periphery of said body toward alternate sides of the vertical plane of symmetry thereof and at least partially supporting the weight of said body; powering means providing driviNg torque to said rollers for in turn effecting rotation of said body contacting said rollers; and said powering means adapted to proportion driving torque as between said first and second rollers, in relation to the respective normal force between each said roller and the contacting cylindrical body, thereby adjusting the provided torque in accordance with the difference in said respective normal forces due to said eccentricity of said load, thereby enabling non-slipping tangential driving forces at each of said rollers.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 140 words

Apparatus for effecting rotational drive of a circular body carrying a load therein which is eccentric with respect to the vertical, comprising in combination: at least first and second rollers, contacting the periphery of said body toward alternate sides of the vertical plane of symmetry thereof and at least partially supporting the weight of said body; powering means providing driviNg torque to said rollers for in turn effecting rotation of said body contacting said rollers; and said powering means adapted to proportion driving torque as between said first and second rollers, in relation to the respective normal force between each said roller and the contacting cylindrical body, thereby adjusting the provided torque in accordance with the difference in said respective normal forces due to said eccentricity of said load, thereby enabling non-slipping tangential driving forces at each of said rollers.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 69 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 8, further including load sensing means at each of said rollers providing a signal output indicative of the respective normal force present at each said roller; means receiving said load sensing signals to provide a control signal; and a torque divider means positioned to receive said control signal and divide the torque provided at each of said rollers in accordance with said control signal.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 57 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein said powering means includes a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid and hydraulical motors for receiving said pressurized fluid and effecting rotation of said rollers; and said torque divider means comprises means for adjusting the delivered pressure of hydraulic fluid at each of said motors in accordance with said control signal.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 138 words

A method for effecting rotational drive of a large circular body constituting an eccentric load, comprising providing at least a pair of driveable support rollers at the periphery of said body frictionally contacting said body toward alternate sides of the vertical plane of symmetry thereof, whereby the normal forces present at each said roller and the contacting surface of the said body differ in accordance with the eccentricity of said load; and providing driving torque to each of said rollers to effect rotation of said cylindrical body; the torque provided to said rollers subjected to said greater normal force being at all times while said load is eccentric greater than the torque provided to said other roller, and both of said torque levels being lower than that at which slippage between said roller and said body will occur.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 138 words

A method for effecting rotational drive of a large circular body constituting an eccentric load, comprising providing at least a pair of driveable support rollers at the periphery of said body frictionally contacting said body toward alternate sides of the vertical plane of symmetry thereof, whereby the normal forces present at each said roller and the contacting surface of the said body differ in accordance with the eccentricity of said load; and providing driving torque to each of said rollers to effect rotation of said cylindrical body; the torque provided to said rollers subjected to said greater normal force being at all times while said load is eccentric greater than the torque provided to said other roller, and both of said torque levels being lower than that at which slippage between said roller and said body will occur.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 28 words

A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the torque provided to said rollers is divided in accordance with the said respective normal forces at each said roller.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 141 words

Apparatus for effecting rotational drive of a large circular body carrying an eccentric load therein, comprising: at least a pair of driveable support rollers at the periphery of said body, said rollers positioned on alternate sides of the vertical plane of symmetry of said body, whereby the normal force present at the point of contact between each said roller and the surface of the body differs in accordance with the eccentricity of said load; and means for providing driving torque to each of said rollers to effect rotation of said body; the torque provided to said roller subjected to said greater normal force being at all times while said load is eccentric greater than the torque provided to said other roller, and both of said torque levels being lower than that at which slippage between said roller and body will occur.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 141 words

Apparatus for effecting rotational drive of a large circular body carrying an eccentric load therein, comprising: at least a pair of driveable support rollers at the periphery of said body, said rollers positioned on alternate sides of the vertical plane of symmetry of said body, whereby the normal force present at the point of contact between each said roller and the surface of the body differs in accordance with the eccentricity of said load; and means for providing driving torque to each of said rollers to effect rotation of said body; the torque provided to said roller subjected to said greater normal force being at all times while said load is eccentric greater than the torque provided to said other roller, and both of said torque levels being lower than that at which slippage between said roller and body will occur.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-04-21	1978-10-21	1979-04-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-04-21	1982-10-21	1983-04-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-04-21	1986-10-21	1987-04-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for rotatably driving large cylindrical bodies

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