1. A suspension system (12, 112, 212, 312, 412) comprising:
a first structural member (30, 130, 230, 330, 430);
a second structural member (32, 132, 232, 332, 432) pivotable relative to the first structural member, one of the first and second structural members including a socket (42, 142, 242, 342);
a rigid member (55, 150, 155, 255, 350, 355) mounted in the socket, the rigid member being connected with the other of the first and second structural members so as to resist movement relative thereto; and
a resilient member (60, 160, 260, 360) mounted in the socket, the resilient member defining a bore which receives the rigid member therein, the resilient member developing a resistance force as the second structural member pivots relative to the first structural member, the resistance force resisting further pivoting of the second structural member relative to the first structural member.
2. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the resilient member isolates the first structural member from the second structural member such that there are no non-resilient vibration transfer paths between the first and second structural members.
3. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the second structural member is angled to the first structural member.
4. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the second structural member carries a wheel (20, 120, 220, 320, 420), the wheel being spaced from the resilient member.
5. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the second structural member comprises first and second arms (36, 38, 136, 138, 236, 238, 336, 338).
6. The suspension system of claim 5, wherein the second structural member (32) further includes a connecting member (58), the support member connecting the first and second arms.
7. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the first structural member (30, 130, 230, 330, 430) includes a connector (22) for pivotally connecting the suspension system to an associated frame member.
8. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the second structural member (332, 432) includes the socket (342).
9. The suspension system of claim 8, wherein the resilient member (360) is aligned generally vertically.
10. The suspension system of claim 8, wherein a projection (364, 365) extends from one of the socket and the resilient member and is received in a recess (366, 367) of the other of the socket and the resilient member.
11. The suspension system of claim 8, wherein the rigid member comprises an insert (355) and the first structural member (330, 430) comprises a shaft (326, 426) which is threadably connected with the insert (355).
12. The suspension system of claim 8, wherein the first structural member (330, 430) comprises a shaft (336, 426) and the rigid member (350, 355) and resilient member (360) are axially aligned with the shaft.
13. The suspension system (412) of claim 8, further comprising an elastomeric member (413) of a lower durometer than the resilient member, the elastomeric member contacting the resilient member and absorbing generally vertical impacts on the wheel.
14. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the first structural member comprises a shaft (326, 426) and the rigid member comprises an extension (350) of the shaft.
15. The suspension system of claim 14, wherein the rigid member further comprises an insert (355), the insert being received on the shaft extension (350).
16. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the rigid member (150, 155, 250, 255, 350, 355) comprises a shaft (150, 250, 350) and an insert (155, 255, 355) mounted on the shaft, the insert being constrained by the shaft against movement relative to the other of the first and second structural members.
17. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the socket (42, 142, 242, 342) defines at least one projection (64, 364, 365) which extends into the resilient member, the projection being spaced from the insert by the resilient member.
18. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the resilient member comprises an elastomer.
19. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the socket (42, 142, 242, 342) is generally cylindrical.
20. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the insert is shaped to constrain the second structural member against rotational movement relative to the insert.
21. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the rigid member includes an insert (55, 155), the insert defining a generally annular inner portion and at least one spoke (80, 180) which extends from the inner portion into the resilient member.
22. The suspension system of claim 21, wherein the socket defines at least one projection (64, 164) radially spaced from the at least one spoke (80, 180) which extends into the resilient member (60, 160), the spoke and the projection being spaced by the resilient member.
23. The suspension system of claim 22, wherein the at least one spoke (80, 180) includes at least three spokes and the at least one projection (64, 164) includes at least three projections.
24. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the force is a radial force.
25. A wheelchair (10) comprising the suspension system of claim 1.
26. A suspension system (12, 112, 212, 312, 412) comprising:
a first structural member (30, 130, 230, 330, 430);
a second structural member (32, 132, 232, 332, 432) which carries a wheel (20, 120, 220, 320, 420), the second structural member being pivotable relative to the first structural member;
a resilient member (60, 160, 260, 360) which isolates the second structural member from the first structural member such all vibration transfer paths between the first and second members pass through the resilient member.
27. The suspension system of claim 26, further comprising:
an insert intermediate the resilient member and the first structural member.
28. A transportation system comprising:
a frame (16);
a wheel (20, 120, 220, 320, 420) for conveying the transportation system across a surface;
a suspension system (12, 112, 212, 312, 412) comprising:
a first structural member (30, 130, 230, 330, 430) which is pivotally connected to the frame,
a second structural member (32, 132, 232, 332, 432) which carries the wheel,
a rigid member (55, 150, 155, 250, 255, 350, 355) operably connected with the other of the first and second structural members, and
a resilient member (60, 160, 260, 360) mounted in a socket (42, 142, 242, 342) defined by one of the first and second members, the resilient member defining a bore (62, 162, 262, 362) which receives the rigid member therein, the resilient member isolating the second structural member from the first structural member.
29. The transportation system of claim 28, wherein the transportation system is a wheelchair and wherein the frame supports a seat (18).
30. The transportation system of claim 28, wherein the first member (330, 430) comprises a shaft (326, 426) and wherein the rigid member (350) comprises an extension of the shaft.
31. A method of absorbing shocks in a suspension system comprising:
pivoting a second structural member (32, 132, 232, 332, 432) relative to a first structural member (30, 130, 230, 330, 430), the first and second members being spaced by a resilient member (60, 160, 260, 360) which isolates the first member from the second member, the resilient member developing a resistance force as the second member pivots relative to the first member the resistance force resisting further pivoting of the second member relative to the first member.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
We claim:
1. A process for the thermal treatment of powdered or granular solid substances with gas flows (7, 16, 22, 23, 24) by means of a body (2) moved about an axis of rotation (1), with the following process steps to be successively carried out:
heating the bulk material held in segments (3) of the body (2) by subjecting it to steam (22),
exposing the heated bulk material to a feed of air (23) andor inert gas (24), taking place in one or more subsequent steps,
removal (17) of the dried or inerted bulk material from the moved body (2).
2. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the segments (3) of a moved body of rotation (2) operated in vertical arrangement (28) are chargedemptied via the outer circumference of said body.
3. A process as claimed in claim 2, wherein bulk material is fed to the segments (3) at the outer ring of the moved body (2) and said segments are emptied at the outer ring of the movable body (2).
4. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein inert gases (24) andor steam (16, 22) laterally enter the segments (3) of the body (2) moved about its axis of rotation (1).
5. A process as claimed in claim 2, wherein the entry of steam and air (7) takes place at the outer circumference of the movable body (3).
6. A process as claimed in claim 5, wherein steam, air and inert gas leave at the hub (8) of the moved body (2) in the radial direction after flowing through the segments (3).
7. A process as claimed in claim 2, wherein the segments (3) are subjected to gas in the radial direction (9) from the inside outward.
8. A process as claimed in claim 2, wherein a bulk material feed (10, 11, 12) is assigned to the outer circumference of the body (2) for supplying the segments (3) of the body (2).
9. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the segments (3) of a moved body (2), operated in horizontal arrangement (29), are subjected to gas flows (4, 16, 22, 23 and 24) parallel to the axis of rotation (1) of the moved body (2).
10. A process as claimed in claim 9, wherein the moved body (2) is provided on the cover side (19) with surfaces (25) covering the segments (3) in alternating succession.
11. A process as claimed in claim 9, wherein the moved body (2) is provided on the base side (20) with segments (3, 17) with an outlet for the treated bulk material and segmentally arranged covering surfaces (25) and also with segment surfaces (27) permitting gas outlet.
12. A process as claimed in claim 9, wherein, in horizontal arrangement (29) of the moved body (2), the driving out of moisture in the direction parallel to the axis of rotation (1) is assisted.
13. A process as claimed in claim 9, wherein the bulk material held in the segments (3) undergoes drying by air (7, 23) with a permissible residual oxygen content of the bulk material.
14. A process as claimed in claim 9, wherein the bulk material to be freed of oxygen is inerted by direct introduction of steam (22) and feeding in of inert gas (24).
15. An apparatus for the thermal treatment of powdered or granular solid substances with gas flows (7, 16, 22, 23, 24) by means of a cellular wheel (2) which is moved about its axis of rotation (1) and has individual segments (3), wherein coverings (21, 25, 27) which allow bulk material or gas flows (22, 23, 24) to enter or leave are provided segmentally in the cover (19) and base (20) of the moved cellular wheel (2).
16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the moved body (2) is designed as a cellular wheel which is movable about its axis of rotation (1) and discharge lines (8) for steam condensate and air and supply lines for inert gas to assist the emptying of the segments (3) are provided in the hub of the cellular wheel.
17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein a cover (19) allowing stationary gas access and the access of bulk material is mounted above the cellular wheel (2) rotating about its axis of rotation (1), and a stationary cover (20) with bulk material removal (17) and segments (27) allowing gas passage is mounted below the cellular wheel (2) rotating about its axis of rotation (1).
18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the segments (3) of the moved body (2) are flowed through in the vertical direction.
19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the segments (3) of the moved body (2) are flowed through by steam, air, inert or drying gas from the outside inward or from the inside outward.