US006827075B1

( 12) United States Patent ( 10) Patent N 0. : US 6, 827, 075 B1

Bel l o sp ir ito ( 4 5) D ate o f Patent: D ec . 7, 2004
( 54 ) APPARATUS FOR BURN IN G STON E 3, 717, 332 A * 2/1973 Luker et a1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266/23
5, 091, 625 A * 2/1992 Ko hda et a1. . . . . . . . . . . 219/121. 4 4
( 76) Inv ento r : Ro ber t Bel l o sp ir ito , 502 AtWel l H il l 6, 218, 639 B1 * 4 /2001 Bul l e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219/121. 39
Rd, Windso r , N Y ( US) 13865 6, 320, 153 B1 * 11/2001 H ul ing s et a1. . . . . . . . . 219/121. 39
( * ) N o tic e: Subj ec t to any disc l aim er , the ter m o f this * C ited by ex am iner
p atent is ex tended o r adj usted under 35
U. S. C . 154 ( b) by 0 day s.
Pr im ar y Ex am iner J o sep h J . H ail , III
( 21) Ap p l ~ N ( ) _ j 10/299, 615 Assistant Ex am iner Shantese Mc D o nal d
( 22) Fil ed: N o v . 20, 2002 ( 57) ABSTRAC T
( 51) Int. C l . 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B28D 1/32 An auto m ated sto ne bur ning ap p ar atus, Whic h p r ec isel y
( 52) US. C l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125/25; 125/1; 125/2302; adj usts the bur ning o p er atio n and im p r o v es the thr o ug hp ut.
125/27; 125 /3( ) _ ( ) 1; 125/35 The ap p ar atus c o nsists o f a to r c h assem bl y that is m o unted
( 58) Fiel d o f Sear c h . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125/1, 23. 02, 25, in PIOXim ity to a Sto ne sl ab l y ing up o n a r o l l er bed- The
125/27, 3001, 35 to r c h assem bl y is m o v abl e bo th tr ansv er sel y and l ater al l y
( i. e. , in o r tho g o nal dir ec tio ns With r esp ec t to the sto ne sl ab) .
( 56) Ref er enc es C ited An el ec tr ic al c o ntr o l sy stem adj usts the sp eed and l o c atio n
o f the to r c h dur ing the bur n p r o c ess.
U. S. PATEN T D OC UMEN TS
2, 655, 909 A * 10/1953 Aitc hiso n et a1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125/1 7 C l aim s, 4 D r awing Sheets
U. S. Patent D ec . 7 2004 Sheet 1 o f 4
U. S. Patent D ec . 7, 2004 Sheet 2 o f 4 US 6, 827, 075 B1
FIG. 2
U. S. Patent D ec . 7, 2004 Sheet 3 o f 4 US 6, 827, 075 B1
24 I 22
FIG. 3
U. S. Patent D ec . 7, 2004 Sheet 4 o f 4 US 6, 827, 075 B1
FIG. 5
4 0
FIGS
US 6, 827, 075 B1
1
APPARATUS FOR BURN IN G STON E
FIELD OF TH E IN VEN TION
The p r esent inv entio n r el ates to ap p ar atuses f o r tr eating
and Wo r king sto ne and, m o r e p ar tic ul ar l y , to an im p r o v ed
sto ne bur ning ap p ar atus that tr av el s al o ng the f ac e o f a sto ne
sl ab at an adj ustabl e r ate, Whil e the sto ne sl ab is sup p o r ted
up o n a bed.
BAC KGROUN D OF TH E IN VEN TION
The Wo r king o f sto ne is as o l d as antiq uity itsel f . Sto ne
m aso ns hav e been p r ac tic ing their c r af t sinc e the tim e o f the
p har ao hs in anc ient Eg y p t. Sto ne bur ning is a kno Wn p ar t o f
this ar t, and o ne that tr eats a sto ne sl ab o r m o no l ith af ter it
has been q uar r ied and shap ed. Sto nes ar e g ener al l y bur ned
to tr ansf o r m the c har ac ter istic s o f their o uter sur f ac es,
inc r easing their no n- skid p r o p er ties and p r o duc ing a unif o r m
tex tur e. Fl am e ? nishing a sto ne Wil l usual l y im p r o v e its
tex tur e, and im p ar t a g r eater f r ic tio nal c o ef ? c ient to its
sur f ac e.
In the p ast, the bur ning o f sto ne sur f ac es Was l ar g el y
ac c o m p l ished by hand, by p assing a to r c h o v er the sto ne
sur f ac e. In r ec ent tim es, attem p ts hav e been m ade to p r o v ide
to r c hing to o l s that ar e adj ustabl e and p r essur iZ ed. These
to o l s c o ntr o l the ? am e c o nc entr atio n. Al so , stenc il ing
dev ic es hav e been dev el o p ed to tr eat sp ec i? c sec tio ns o f the
sur f ac e o f the sto ne.
One sto ne bur ning p r o duc t is p r o duc ed by Par k Industr ies,
Inc . o f St. C l o ud, Minn. That sy stem m o v es the sto ne Wo r k
p iec e r el ativ e to a statio nar y to r c h, by m eans o f an index ing
c o nv ey o r . D ep ending up o n the siZ e o f the sto ne, o f c o ur se,
the ener g y r eq uir ed to m aneuv er the Wo r k p iec e c an be
sig ni? c ant.
The p r esent inv entio n seeks to auto m ate the bur ning o f a
sto ne sl ab, o r m o no l ith, in o r der to im p r o v e the thr o ug hp ut
o f the bur ning o p er atio n.
The c ur r ent inv entio n p r o v ides an ap p ar atus f o r bur ning a
bedded sto ne sl ab With a to r c h that is p r ec isel y m o v ed, and
p o sitio ned With r esp ec t to the sto ne sur f ac e. The p r ec isio n o f
the bur n p r o v ides a unif o r m l y tex tur ed sur f ac e. Adj usting
the sp eed o f the bur n al l o Ws f o r the use o f dif f er ent g as
m ix tur es and o p tim iZ es the tim e r eq uir ed to ac c o m p l ish the
task.
SUMMARY OF TH E IN VEN TION
In ac c o r danc e With the p r esent inv entio n, ther e is p r o
v ided an auto m ated sto ne bur ning ap p ar atus. The ap p ar atus
c o m p r ises a bed o f c o nv ey ing r o l l er s f o r sup p o r ting and
m o v ing a sto ne sl ab o r m o no l ith adj ac ent a sto ne bur ning
to r c h. The to r c h is sup p o r ted up o n a m o v abl e c ar r iag e that
tr av er ses the l eng th o f the sto ne sur f ac e to be bur ned. The
to r c h is al so p ar t o f a bur n c o ntr o l assem bl y , Whic h m o v es
tr ansv er sel y o f the c ar r iag e dir ec tio n. The assem bl y c o nsists
o f a tel esc o p ing Wand, Whic h is m o unted o n the c ar r iag e, and
Whic h is inter nal l y dr iv en by a r o tating Wo r m . The assem bl y
al l o Ws the to r c h to be p l ac ed at a p r ec ise distanc e f r o m the
sur f ac e o f the sto ne, thus ensur ing an ac c ur ate and c o ntr o l l ed
bur n.
An el ec tr ic al m o to r dr iv es the r o tating Wo r m o f the
assem bl y . The m o to r sp eed is adj ustabl e by an el ec tr ic al
sig nal f r o m a c o ntr o l unit. A g ear tr ansm issio n bo x c o ntr o l s
the sp eed o f a p inio n g ear m o unted up o n the assem bl y . The
p inio n g ear eng ag es a statio nar y r ac k m o unted to the sto ne
bed and dr iv es the assem bl y al o ng the l eng th o f the sto ne.
1O
25
35
4 0
4 5
55
65
2
The el ec tr ic al m o to r al so dr iv es the g ear tr ansm issio n bo x .
Adj usting the sp eed o f the bur ning p r o c ess al l o Ws f o r the use
o f dif f er ent g as m ix tur es, and o p tim iZ es the thr o ug hp ut
r eq uir ed to ac c o m p l ish the task.
It is an o bj ec t o f this inv entio n to p r o v ide an auto m ated
sto ne bur ning ap p ar atus that p r o v ides a p r ec ise bur n and
im p r o v es the thr o ug hp ut o f the sto ne bur ning p r o c ess.
BRIEF D ESC RIPTION OF TH E D RAWIN GS
Ac o m p l ete under standing o f the p r esent inv entio n m ay be
o btained by r ef er enc e to the ac c o m p any ing dr aWing s, When
c o nsider ed in c o nj unc tio n With the subseq uent detail ed
desc r ip tio n, in Whic h:
FIG. 1 il l ustr ates a f r o nt, enl ar g ed, p er sp ec tiv e v ieW o f the
ap p ar atus o f this inv entio n;
FIG. 2 dep ic ts a side, p er sp ec tiv e v ieW o f the ap p ar atus o f
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 sho Ws a side v ieW o f the ap p ar atus o f FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 il l ustr ates a bac k v ieW o f the ap p ar atus o f FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 dep ic ts a to p v ieW o f the ap p ar atus o f FIG. 1; and
FIG. 6 sho Ws an inter nal c utaWay v ieW, in p ar tial
sc hem atic , o f the Wo r m assem bl y and c o ntr o l l er o f the
ap p ar atus il l ustr ated in FIG. 1.
Fo r p ur p o ses o f br ev ity and c l ar ity , l ike c o m p o nents and
el em ents o f the ap p ar atus o f this inv entio n Wil l bear the
sam e desig natio ns o r num ber ing thr o ug ho ut the ? g ur es.
D ESC RIPTION OF TH E PREFERRED
EMBOD IMEN T
Gener al l y sp eaking , the inv entio n f eatur es an auto m ated
sto ne bur ning ap p ar atus, Whic h p r ec isel y adj usts the bur ning
o p er atio n and im p r o v es the thr o ug hp ut. The ap p ar atus c o n
sists o f a to r c h assem bl y that is m o unted in p r o x im ity to a
sto ne sl ab l y ing up o n a r o l l er bed. The to r c h assem bl y is
m o v abl e bo th tr ansv er sel y and l ater al l y ( i. e. , in o r tho g o nal
dir ec tio ns With r esp ec t to the sto ne sl ab) . An el ec tr ic al
c o ntr o l sy stem adj usts the sp eed and l o c atio n o f the to r c h
dur ing the bur n p r o c ess.
N o W r ef er r ing to FIGS. 1 and 2, the sto ne bur ning
ap p ar atus 10 o f this inv entio n is il l ustr ated. A sl ab o r
m o no l ith o f sto ne ( no t sho Wn) is p l ac ed up o n a bed 12
c o nsisting o f a num ber o f r o l l er s 14 . The bed 12 al so
c o m p r ises a tabl e 16 sup p o r ted up o n l eg s 18. The r o l l er s 18
o f the bed 12 al l o W a heav y p iec e o f m ater ial to be easil y
p o sitio ned up o n the tabl e 16. A g ear r ac k 15 is m o unted up o n
o ne side o f tabl e 16. The g ear r ac k 15 tr av er ses the entir e
l eng th o f the tabl e 16.
A to r c h assem bl y 17 is m o unted o n to p o f the g ear r ac k
15. The to r c h assem bl y 17 c o m p r ises a p l atf o r m 19, up o n
Whic h a tr ansm issio n g ear bo x 20 r ests. An el ec tr ic al dr iv e
m o to r 22 is seated abo v e the g ear bo x 20. Al so r esting up o n
p l atf o r m 19 is a tel esc o p ing Wand 21. The f r o nt end 24 o f the
tel esc o p ing Wand 21 is p er p endic ul ar l y m o v abl e ( ar r o W 25)
With r esp ec t to the to r c h assem bl y 17 and the p l atf o r m 19
up o n Whic h it r ests ( ar r o Ws 27) .
Pr o j ec ting f r o m the tr ansm issio n g ear bo x 20 is a p inio n
g ear 28, Whic h dr iv es the p l atf o r m 19 and to r c h assem bl y 17
al o ng the tabl e 16, by r easo n o f its eng ag ing g ear r ac k 15.
The p inio n g ear 28 is c aused to r o tate ( ar r o Ws 33) , Whic h
f o r c es the to r c h assem bl y 17 to m o v e r el ativ e to the tabl e 16.
The el ec tr ic al dr iv e m o to r 22 c auses the g ear s ( no t sho Wn)
in the g ear bo x 20 to dr iv e the p inio n g ear 28, v ia shaf t 32.
A to r c h 30 is m o unted to the m o v abl e, f r o nt end 24 o f the
tel esc o p ing Wand 21, as sho Wn. Al so m o unted to the f r o nt
end o f the tel esc o p ing Wand 21 is a ? am e shiel d 31.
US 6, 827, 075 B1
3
Ref er r ing to FIGS. 3 thr o ug h 5, side, bac k, and to p v iews
o f the ap p ar atus 10 ar e r esp ec tiv el y il l ustr ated.
Ref er r ing to FIG. 6 an inter nal c utaWay v ieW in p ar tial
sc hem atic is sho wn o f the Wo r m assem bl y and c o ntr o l l er o f
the ap p ar atus 10 o f this inv entio n. A c o ntr o l l er 4 0 sends
el ec tr ic al sig nal s to m o to r 22, thus adj usting its sp eed and
dir ec tio n. The m o to r 22 is o p er ativ el y c o nnec ted to Wo r m
38, Whic h is c aused to tur n by m o to r 22, thus ex tending , o r
c o ntr ac ting , the f r o nt end 24 o f Wand 21, as il l ustr ated by
ar r o Ws 25. Thus, to r c h 30 is c aused to m o v e in p r o x im ity to
the sto ne sl ab ( no t sho Wn) , r esting up o n tabl e 16. The
c o ntr o l l er 4 0 al so sends a sig nal to m o to r 22 to r o tate the
p inio n g ear 28, v ia g ear bo x 20, and shaf t 32. This c o ntr o l s
the l ater al m o v em ent o f the assem bl y 17 With r esp ec t to the
tabl e 16 and the sto ne sl ab, as dep ic ted by ar r o Ws 27.
The g as f o r bur ning the sto ne is intr o duc ed into the to r c h
30 under p r essur e. The g as used to bur n the sto ne is
g ener al l y a hy dr o c ar bo n suc h as p r o p ane, natur al g as
( m ethane) o r c ar bo n m o no x ide, in m ix tur e With o x y g en. By
v ar y ing the r atio o f the p r o p ane and o x y g en m ix tur e in a
r ang e o f betWeen 80: 20 and 50: 50, dif f er ent bur n tem p er a
tur es c an be ac hiev ed. The bur n tem p er atur e in? uenc es the
sp eed by Whic h the assem bl y 17 is c aused to m o v e r el ativ e
to the tabl e 16.
In o p er atio n, a sto ne is l o aded o nto an auto c o nv ey o r , no t
sho Wn. The c o nv ey o r beg ins to m ake the sto ne tr av el o nto
p l atf o r m 19. As the sto ne tr ip s a ? r st l im it sWitc h 4 2, the
c o ntr o l l er 4 0 beg ins to c o unt f r o m an anal o g enc o der . When
the sto ne tr ip s a sec o nd l im it sWitc h 4 4 , the sto ne sto p s in its
p r edeter m ined p o sitio n and c o ntr o l l er 4 0 sav es the m easur e
m ent g iv en f r o m enc o der .
The bur n butto n is then p ushed. The to r c h assem bl y 17
beg ins to m o v e al o ng its tr av el ax is and the to r c h beg ins to
bur n the sto ne. When to r c h assem bl y 17 g ets to the end o f
the sto ne, p ur suant to the m easur em ent sav ed by c o ntr o l l er
4 0, tel esc o p ing Wand 21 index es o ut Whatev er distanc e is
needed and set by the sp eed o f m o to r 22.
On the l ast p ass o f the to r c h assem bl y 17, the o p er ato r
p ushes a p ar k butto n. The to r c h assem bl y 17 ? nishes the
p ass and r etur ns to a p ar k p o sitio n. Whil e the sto ne is being
bur ned, ano ther sto ne c an be l o aded o n the c o nv ey o r .
Sinc e o ther m o di? c atio ns and c hang es v ar ied to ? t p ar
tic ul ar o p er ating r eq uir em ents and env ir o nm ents Wil l be
ap p ar ent to tho se skil l ed in the ar t, the inv entio n is no t
c o nsider ed l im ited to the ex am p l e c ho sen f o r p ur p o ses o f
disc l o sur e and c o v er s al l c hang es and m o di? c atio ns Whic h
do no t c o nstitute dep ar tur es f r o m the tr ue sp ir it and sc o p e o f
this inv entio n.
H av ing thus desc r ibed the inv entio n, What is desir ed to be
p r o tec ted by Letter s Patent is p r esented in the subseq uentl y
ap p ended c l aim s.
What is c l aim ed is:
1. A sto ne bur ning ap p ar atus that c o ntr o l s a m o v em ent o f
a bur ning to r c h to p r ec isel y bur n a sto ne, c o m p r ising :
a) sup p o r t m eans f o r sup p o r ting a sto ne to be bur ned; and
b) a to r c h assem bl y c o m p r ising a dr iv e m o to r , a tel esc o p
ing Wand ex p anding and c o ntr ac ting in a p er p endic ul ar
10
15
20
25
30
35
4 0
4 5
55
4
dir ec tio n to War d and aWay f r o m said sto ne and sup
p o r ting a to r c h, and a Wo r m dr iv e c o nnec ted to said
tel esc o p ing Wand and said dr iv e m o to r , said to r c h
assem bl y being disp o sed p r o x im ate said sup p o r t m eans
f o r m o v em ent r el ativ e to said sup p o r t m eans and said
sto ne, in tWo o r tho g o nal dir ec tio ns r el ativ e to the
sup p o r t m eans and said sto ne.
2. The sto ne bur ning ap p ar atus in ac c o r danc e With c l aim
1, Wher ein said o r tho g o nal dir ec tio ns inc l ude p er p endic ul ar
dir ec tio n m o v em ent to War d and aWay f r o m said sto ne, and
dir ec tio nal m o v em ent tr ansv er sel y l ater al With r esp ec t to
said sto ne.
3. The sto ne bur ning ap p ar atus in ac c o r danc e With c l aim
1, Wher ein said to r c h assem bl y f ur ther c o m p r ises a p inio n
g ear o p er ativ el y c o nnec ted to , and dr iv en by said dr iv e
m o to r , said p inio n g ear being in o p er ativ e eng ag em ent With
a g ear r ac k disp o sed up o n said sup p o r t m eans, said p inio n
g ear dr iv ing said to r c h assem bl y in a l ater al , tr ansv er se
dir ec tio n With r esp ec t to said sup p o r t m eans, and said sto ne.
4 . An auto m ated sto ne bur ning ap p ar atus, c o m p r ising a
sto ne sup p o r t f o r c ar r y ing a sto ne to be bur ned, a c o ntr o l unit
f o r sending el ec tr ic al sig nal s to a dr iv e m o to r f o r c hang ing
sp eed and dir ec tio n o f said m o to r , said dr iv e m o to r being
p ar t o f a to r c h assem bl y p r o x im ate o f said sto ne sup p o r t,
said to r c h assem bl y f ur ther c o m p r ising a tel esc o p ing Wand
ex p anding and c o ntr ac ting in the p er p endic ul ar dir ec tio n and
sup p o r ting a to r c h, and a Wo r m dr iv e c o nnec ted to said
tel esc o p ing Wand and said dr iv e m o to r , said m o to r dr iv ing
said to r c h assem bl y f o r m o v em ent r el ativ e to said sto ne
sup p o r t, in tWo o r tho g o nal dir ec tio ns r el ativ e to the sto ne
sup p o r t.
5. The sto ne bur ning ap p ar atus in ac c o r danc e With c l aim
4 , Wher ein said o r tho g o nal dir ec tio ns inc l uded p er p endic ul ar
dir ec tio n m o v em ent to War d and aWay f r o m said sto ne, and
dir ec tio nal m o v em ent tr ansv er sel y l ater al With r esp ec t to
said sto ne.
6. The sto ne bur ning ap p ar atus in ac c o r danc e With c l aim
4 , Wher ein said to r c h assem bl y f ur ther c o m p r ises a p inio n
g ear o p er ativ el y c o nnec ted to , and dr iv en by said dr iv e
m o to r , said p inio n g ear being in o p er ativ e eng ag em ent With
a g ear r ac k disp o sed up o n said sup p o r t m eans, said p inio n
g ear dr iv ing said to r c h assem bl y in a l ater al , tr ansv er se
dir ec tio n With r esp ec t to said sup p o r t m eans, and said sto ne.
7. Asto ne bur ning ap p ar atus c o m p r ising a to r c h assem bl y
and a dr iv e m o to r , a tel esc o p ing Wand ex p anding and
c o ntr ac ting in a p er p endic ul ar dir ec tio n With r esp ec t to a
sto ne and sto ne sup p o r t m eans, said to r c h assem bl y sup
p o r ting a to r c h, and a Wo r m dr iv e c o nnec ted to said tel e
sc o p ing Wand and said dr iv e m o to r , said to r c h assem bl y
f ur ther c o m p r ising a p inio n g ear o p er ativ el y c o nnec ted to ,
and dr iv en by said dr iv e m o to r , said p inio n g ear being in
o p er ativ e eng ag em ent With a g ear r ac k disp o sed up o n said
sup p o r t m eans, said p inio n g ear dr iv ing said to r c h assem bl y
in a l ater al , tr ansv er se dir ec tio n With r esp ec t to said sup p o r t
m eans, and said sto ne.