GB696666A - Improvements in or relating to furnace charging apparatus, manipulators for use in forging and other like apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

696,666. Forging. WELLMAN SMITH OWEN ENGINEERING CORPORATION, Ltd. Nov. 28, 1951 (Nov. 30, 1950], No. 29406/50. Class 83 (iv). [Also in Group XII] A manipulator for use in forging comprises a work-carrying member, a carrier for said member, and a carrier support on which the carrier is mounted by means of one or more pivoted arms or levers, fluid pressure means being operative between the carrier and said arms or levers to raise and lower the carrier on Its support, the pressure means comprises a cylinder and piston combination which houses resilient means operative to exert control on the work carrying member. In the forging manipulator shown the peel 3 is supported by a carrier 4 which is mounted on a wheeled support 1 by two parallel linkages, one on each side of the carrier. Each linkage comprises a pair of bell-crank levers 5, 6, with arms 7, 8, the arms 7 being connected by a rod 9. The carrier 4 is pivotally mounted at 10, 11 on the angles of the levers 5, 6 and arm 8 of lever 5 is pivotally connected to one arm of a lever 12 mounted at 13 on the support 1, whilst arm 8 of lever 6 is pivotally connected to link 14 pivotally connected to one arm of a bell-crank lever 15 pivoted at 16 on the support. The other arm of the lever 15 is connected to a fluid-pressure apparatus 17 which is fixed on the side of the support 1 and which operates to tilt the carrier about pivot point 38 when necessary. The other arm of lever 12 is connected to a part 19, slidable in a cylinder 20 against the action of a spring which takes up any shock in a backward axial direction on the carrier. Vertical movement of the carrier is effected by means of a fluid pressure operated cylinder and piston combination 22, 23, the cylinder 22 of which is pivotally connected by trunnions 21 to the vertical bell-lever arms 7 whilst the piston 23 is pivotally connected by trunnions 24 to the carrier 4. The cylinder 22 of this combination, Fig. 2, is connected at 25 via a valve to a pressure fluid source and the piston 23 is made hollow to carry slidable springs and spacer 28, 30, 29 disposed between pistons 26, 31. The space between the piston 31 and an end plate 33 is connected at 34 to fluid-pressure means 36 which actuate the peel gripping jaws 37. In operation the carrier 4 is raised by admitting fluid to the cylinder 22, via the valve and connection 25, which through relative movement of the cylinder and piston actuates levers 5, 6. Should the carrier be subjected to vertical shock as might be caused in forging them it would move downwards and as a result (the valve being closed) the piston 23 would move, relatively, into the cylinder 22. Movement of the piston 26 inwards against the springs 28, 30 is thus caused, the latter absorbing the shock whilst moving the piston 31 to further compress the fluid in the space between it and the plate 33. This increase in fluid pressure increases the pressure acting via 36 on the jaws 37 which thereby increases their grip upon the work held. On removal of the shock forces the springs 28, 30 cause a return of the cylinder and piston combination 22, 23, and its associated pistons 26, 31 to their positions as shown in Fig. 2, so lifting the carrier and peel to their original position. In a modified cylinder and piston combination where vertical shock conditions on the peel are not met with or are dealt with in other ways the spring and piston 26, 28 are omitted the inner end of the piston 23 being sealed the spring 30 simply maintaining via piston 31, cylinder 36 and jaws 37, an appropriate grip on the work. Again in a construction designed to suit cases where it is desired to take up vertical shock on the peel but not to increase gripping pressure on the work the spring and piston 30, 31 are dispensed with. Specification 596,860 is referred to in the Provisional Specification.