Gas-liquid auxiliary supporter for a dry granulator

The present invention relates to a gas-liquid auxiliary supporter and more particularly, to a gas-liquid auxiliary supporter for dry granulators.

For the preparation process of a dry granulator, an auxiliary supporter is typically used beneath the body of the dry granulator to support it. When the dry granulator runs, the auxiliary supporter holds up the granulator body and, when the dry granulator stops the auxiliary supporter has to be removed. The prior supports for dry granulators used around the world are mainly elastic auxiliary supporters with spring structures. An auxiliary supporter is only required during the use of a dry granulator and it has to be removed when the dry granulator stops. When using an elastic auxiliary supporter with a spring structure it may complicate the preparation process, and in the operation the elastic auxiliary supporter will develop an elastic adjustment with the increasing body gravity, which makes it unable to keep the supporting force against the granulator body at a constant value. Over time the dry granulator cannot work in stably while it is being operated.

Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a gas-liquid auxiliary supporter for dry granulators; the gas-liquid auxiliary supporter can provide support as the dry granulator runs and the supporting force can be withdrawn when the dry granulator stops. In addition, the supporting force provided can be maintained at a constant value.

To realize the object described herein, the present invention provides a gas-liquid auxiliary supporter for dry granulator, which includes a hydraulic cylinder housing, a lower air piston, a plunger, an upper cover and an upper air plug; the hydraulic cylinder housing is arranged with a hydraulic oil inlet and the lower air piston is arranged with an oil channel for hydraulic oil to flow through; an opening arranged at one end of the oil channel is connected to the hydraulic oil inlet of the hydraulic cylinder housing: an opening at the other end of the oil channel is arranged on a lower end face of the lower air piston and the plunger is arranged in the opening; the upper cover is securely connected to the upper end face of the hydraulic cylinder housing; the upper air piston is fitted into the upper cover with sliding fit; and a containing chamber is defined by the lower end face of the upper air piston, the upper end face of the lower air piston and the hydraulic cylinder housing.

The benefits of the present invention are as described: by adopting the structure as described above, when the dry granulator runs the gas-liquid auxiliary supporter is required to provide support. Hydraulic oil is led into the hydraulic oil inlet of the hydraulic cylinder housing through which the hydraulic oil flows into the oil channel of the lower air piston. While the hydraulic oil accumulates due to the disposal of the plunger at the opening at the other end of the oil channel, the lower air piston is thereby pushed in an upward movement and compresses the gas in the containing chamber. This then pushes the upper air piston upwards until the upper end face of the air piston is pushed outwards and applies a constant supporting force to the granulator body. When the dry granulator stops the pressure from the hydraulic oil is withdrawn and the upper air piston and the lower air piston both automatically drop back to their original position. Thus, a gas-liquid auxiliary supporter can provide support when the dry granulator runs and can withdraw the supporting force when the dry granulator stops. In addition, the supporting force can be maintained at a constant value to ensure the dry granulator works stably.

The present invention can also be arranged so that that the upper air piston has an outer circumferential surface with a step. A shoulder mating the step surface is arranged on the inner circumferential surface of the upper cover. A cushioning air chamber between the upper air piston and the upper cover is defined by the shoulder of the upper cover, the step surface of the upper air piston, the inner circumferential surface of the upper cover and the outer circumferential surface of the upper air piston.

By adopting such a structure, a cushioning air chamber can be additionally arranged between the upper air piston and the upper cover and as such the upper air piston can have a cushion when pressed by the gas in the containing chamber.

The present invention can also arranged as such that a concave cavity is placed at the lower end face of the upper air piston and bores are arranged at the upper end face of the lower air piston.

By adopting such a structure the space for containing gas in the containing chamber can be enlarged.

The present invention can also be arranged so that a plate is fixed on the upper end face of the upper air piston.

By adopting such a structure the stressed area of the supporting force from the upper air piston applied to the granulator body can be enlarged and spread out.

The present invention can also be arranged so that the sealing rings are arranged between the upper air piston and the upper cover, between the upper cover and the hydraulic cylinder housing, between the plunger and the lower air piston, and, between the lower air piston and the hydraulic cylinder housing, respectively.

FIG. 1 is a structural view of the sections of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram of an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a structural diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

Referencing to FIG. 1-4 which illustrate a gas-liquid auxiliary supporter including a hydraulic cylinder housing 1 , a lower air piston 2 , a plunger 3 , an upper cover 4 , an upper air piston 5 and a plate 6 , the hydraulic oil inlet 11 is arranged on the hydraulic cylinder housing 1 and the lower piston 2 is arranged with an oil channel 21 for hydraulic oil to flow through; an opening 211 arranged at one end of the oil channel 21 is connected with the hydraulic oil inlet 11 of the hydraulic cylinder housing 1 , an opening 212 at the other end of the oil channel 21 is arranged on the lower end face of the lower air piston 2 and the plunger 3 is arranged therein; the upper cover 4 is fixed to the upper end face of the hydraulic cylinder housing 1 ; the upper air piston 5 is fitted into the upper cover 4 with sliding fit; the plate 6 is fixed on the upper end face of upper air piston 5 ; the lower end face of the upper air piston 5 , the upper end face of the lower air piston 2 and the hydraulic cylinder housing 1 create a containing chamber 7 in between. The upper air piston 5 has an outer circumferential surface with a step and a shoulder 41 mating the step surface 51 is arranged on the inner circumferential surface of the upper cover 4 , and a cushioning air chamber 8 between the upper air piston 5 and the upper cover 4 is defined by the shoulder 41 of the upper cover 4 , the step surface 51 of the upper air piston 5 , the inner circumferential surface of the upper cover 4 and the outer circumferential surface of the upper air piston 5 . The lower end face of upper air piston 5 is arranged with a concave cavity 52 , and the upper end face of lower air piston 2 is arranged with bores 22 . Sealing rings 9 are arranged between upper air piston 5 and upper cover 4 , between upper cover 4 and hydraulic cylinder housing 1 , between plunger 3 and lower air piston 2 , between lower air piston 2 and hydraulic cylinder housing 1 , respectively. In order to realize smoother sliding between upper air piston 5 and upper cover 4 , and between lower air piston 2 and hydraulic cylinder housing 1 , the sealing rings 9 between upper air piston 5 and upper cover 4 , and between lower air piston 2 and hydraulic cylinder housing 1 , are preferably chosen to be special sealing rings for a pneumatic air piston.

By adopting such a structure, when the dry granulator runs, the gas-liquid auxiliary supporter is required to provide support where the hydraulic oil is fed into the hydraulic oil inlet 11 of the hydraulic cylinder housing 1 through which the hydraulic oil flows into the oil channel 21 of the lower air piston 2 . While the hydraulic oil accumulates due to the disposal of the plunger 3 at the other end 212 of the oil channel 21 the lower air piston 2 is thereby pushed in an upward movement and compresses the gas in the containing chamber 7 which then pushes the upper air piston 5 to move upwards until the upper end face of the upper air piston 5 is directed outwards with respect to the upper cover 4 . This then applies a constant supporting force to the granulator body 10 . When the dry granulator stops the pressure from the hydraulic oil is withdrawn and the upper air piston 5 and the lower air piston 2 both automatically drop back to their original position. Thus, a gas-liquid auxiliary supporter can provide support to the granulator body 10 when the dry granulator runs and can withdraw the supporting force to the granulator body 10 when the dry granulator stops. In addition, the provided supporting force to the granulator body 10 can be maintained at a constant value to ensure the dry granulator works stably while it is being operated.