US2200652A - Cupola charger - Google Patents

Description

May 14 1940 J. N. RICHARDSON `2,200,652

CUPOLA CHARGER Filed July l0, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

May 14, 1940. J. N. RICHARDSON cUPoLA CHARGER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 10, 1936 INVENTOR: Zzc/Zazsorz ATTORNEY.

Patented May 14, 1940 STATES andere PATENT OFFECE 12 Claims.

This invention relates in general to a charger for a furnace, kiln, and the like, and has more particular reference to a skip-hoist type of charger with a vertical cone discharging bucket which is operated by a single motor.

In the skip-hoist type of charger it has heretofore been the practice to invert or tip the charging bucket at the upper end of the runway and in the cone discharge type of bucket a vertical hoist has been combined with a horizontal runway requiring two separate operating motors.

The present invention provides a novel means of charging a cupola furnace with a cone discharge bucket operating on an inclined runway from a depressed loading position the front side of the runway to a fixed central discharge position within or above the cupola at the other side of the runway, at a suitable height.

An important object of the invention is therefore in the provision of a more efficient and a more economical ymechanism than now known in the art for charging cupolas.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of a single motor for operating a hoist for raising the charging bucket on the inclined runway for moving the bucket into the furnace and for vertically discharging its contents from the bottom, of the bucket.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of means for reversing the motor to raise and lower the discharge cone at the bottom of the bucket without vmoving the bucket for freeing jambed particles and discharging them from the bucket.

A still further object of the invention is in the provision of a charging bucket having a bottom cone discharge in which the size of the bucket is increased toward the bottom. thereof to prevent jambing the loaded particles thereinA when opening the discharge cone at the bottom of the bucket.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention in which Fig. l is a side view partly in section illustrat ing the invention as applied for charging a cupola furnace;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View of the mechanism at the top of the hoist for operating the bucket; and

Fig. 3 is a top view of the structure shown in Fig. 2.

In carrying out the present invention a single motor is used for raising and lowering the hoist from its loading to discharge position, in moV- ing the charging bucket inwardly of the furnace, in discharging the contents of the bucket from the bottom thereof, and for freeing jambed particles by raising and lowering the discharge cone at the bottom of the bucket.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a furnace 5 of the vertical type commonly known as a cupola furnace has a suitable supporting and surrounding framework d rising fromv a base or floor 1 in which is a depressed charging pit 8.

In the upper side of the furnace is a charging opening 9 adapted to receive a charging bucket I which is mounted upon a carrier H having wheels I2 and i3 for moving it upon an inclined runway I4 extending from the bottoni of the pit 8 up to the edge of the opening Qin the side of the furnace. The track or runway I6 has guard rails l throughout a portion or all of its path and the upper end of each guard rail has an upwardly rounded portion i5 near its upper end extending outwardly from a less inclined portion I'I of the runway adjacent the top thereof. The upper extremity of each guard rail has a curved portion i8 rounded about an axis substantially the length of the carrier H for dumping the bucket l0.

For mounting the bucket l0 in the carrier there is an angle lever 20 at each side of the carrier substantially in the shape of a bell crank mounted at its apex upon a bearing pin of the wheel i2. One extremity of each bell crank has a slot 22 adapted to engage a pivoting pin 23 projecting outwardly from the bucket, and the other ends of the bell cranks are adapted to engage a cross piece or abutment 24 at the upper limit of travel of the runway I4 in such a position that the bucket is then located centrally in the furnace or other opening which it is to charge.

In the bottom of the bucket is a discharge cone 25 supported at the bottom. of the bucket by a vertical rod extending through the cone and through the bucket and having a short link 21 pivoted to the upper end of the bar 26 and to the central portion of a yoke 28 which preferably forms an extension of the carrier Il inclined from the plane of the wheels l2 and I3.

At the end of the carrier i I opposite the bucket is a counter-weight 3i! and connected to the carrier intermediate the wheels is a yoke 3i to which an operating cable 32 is attached. This cable extends over pulleys 33 at the top of the framework 6 and to a winding drum 34 operated by an electric motor 35. This motor is operated in both directions for raising and lowering the charging bucket and its carrier as by means of a reversing switch (not shown).

At the upper end oi the track or runway I4 is a projection or stop and at theI upper end of the guard rails I5 is a projection or stop 31. Both the bucket and the counter-weight are of a width to t between the supporting and guard rails and the hoisting cable being centrally located does not come in contact with the rails in any position.

In operation, when the carrier is at the bottom of the runway in the charging pit it is held in upright position in front of the runway by the, yoke 28 so that it may be filled from the front side of the runway, and at this time the supporting pins 23 are at the bottom of the slots 22. .v

The yoke 3! extends on the outsideof the carrier II and substantially in alignment with the plane of the wheels I2 and I3 until the carrier is nearly at the upper end of the runway. In this position the angular deviation between the carrier and the lifting cable 32 causes thc weighted end oi" the carrier to be raised in contact with the curved portions I6 of the guard rails until the wheels I2 contact with the projections 32 a the end of the runway. At this time the bucket is moved outwardly by the yoke 28 with the carrying pins 23 riding in the slots 22 until the vertical ends of the bell cranks 20 engage their limiting abutment 24. Continued movement of the lifting cable 32 in this position causes the weighted end of the carrier to be rotated about the wheels I2 as an axis through the arc of the curved section I8 of the guard rail until the wheels I3 or the counter-weight 30 engages a limiting stop 3T. This movement of the carrier causes its yoke 28 to be depressed, swings the bucket through the carrier to the underside of the runway, and allows the weight of the discharge cone 25 and the material within the bucket to move the discharge cone downwardly away from the bottom of the bucket I0 which discharges the material within the bucket from all sides of the cone, thus charging the furnace equally all around the bucket and preventing the charge from being dumped in one place as it is when the bucket is inverted as in the ordinary type of charger.

If any of the material within the bucket should happen to stick, a short raising and lowering operation of the motor 35 causes the material to be dislodged from the bucket and discharged between it and the cone. For the purpose of pre venting the material from packing in the bucket it is made somewhat frusto-conical with a larger opening at the bottom so that there is no danger of the materials wedging or packing in place and thus preventing their discharge when the cone bottom is opened.

To return the bucket to the charging position the above operations are reversed; the lowering of the yoke 3| rotates the carrier downwardly, raising the yoke 28 and returning the cone 25 to close the bottom of the bucket I0. A continued movement of the carrier downwardly to the more steeply inclined portion of the runway I4 swings the bucket inwardly until its pivots 23 are at the inner ends of the slots of the levers 20 and the abutting portions of these levers are substantially parallel with the base of the carrier. In all positions the charging bucket is held vertically and there is no tipping of the bucket or accidental dislodgment of the material from it. The bucket is opened at the bottom and the contents are discharged equally at all sides, thus preventing uneven charging. The discharging and dislodgment of the contents of the bucket is effected entirely automatically and by the operation of the hoisting motor. The movement of the bucket is substantially continuous and only one motor is required for moving it in both directions and to the charging position and to effect the discharging action thereof.

Although described in connection with a vertical type of furnace this charger may be operated wherever applicable.

I claim:

l. A furnace charger comprising a runway, a carriage movable on the runway open at the center and a charging bucket with means pivotingr it to swing at one end of the carriage and through the carriage, a drop bottom for the bucket and means on the carriage to support it at the bottom of the bucket, means to engage the bucket pivoting means in its discharge location, and

means to move the carriage relative to the bucket in the discharge position swinging the bucket through the carriage and lowering the bottom to discharge the contents of the bucket.

2. In a furnace charger, an inclined runway comprising spaced tracks, a carriage movable on the runway, a discharge bucket having a movable bottom discharge, means pivoting the bucket in the carriage for holding it normally in upright position between the tracks and to swing it f gaging the bucket pivoting means, a connection 2 between the carriage and the discharge bottom oi the bucket, and means for rotating the carriage with respect to the bucket pivoting means for dropping the bottom with respect to the bucket.

3. In a furnace charger, an inclined runway, a carriage movable on the runway, a bucket of a size to move through the carriage and also through the runway, means for pivoting the bucket at one end of the carriage to swing into and through the carriage and track, depending upon the inclination of the track and the inclination of the carriage. means to tilt the carriage at the upper discharging end of the run way, a xed stop for engaging the bucket supporting means to hold the bucket in xed discharge position while the carriage is tilted relatively thereto, and adischarge bottom for the bucket having means connecting it to the car riage for lowering the bottom with respect to thc bucket in the discharge position.

4. In a furnace charger, an inclined runway, a carriage movable on the runway, a discharge bucket with a movable discharge bottom, means for pivoting the bucket at one end of the carriage to swing independently of the carriage, a iixcd stop at the top of the runway to engage the bucket pivoting means, a connection from the carriage to the discharge bottom for lowering the bottom with respect to the bucket, and a single hoist means for moving the carriage and bucket together on the runway until the bucket pivoting means engages the stop and for continuing the movement of the carriage with respect to the bucket supporting means after the stop is engaged to lower the bottom of the bucket to open position,

5. In a furnace charger, an inclined runway, a carriage movable thereon having an extending yoke at one end, a bottom discharge bucket and means for pivotally mounting the bucket to swing within the carriage at the yoke end thereof, a jointed connection for supporting the bottom against the lower end of the bucket, the bucket supporting means and the bottom supporting means suspending the bucket to swing at one end of the carriage and through the carriage and runway, depending upon the inclination of the runway and the inclination of the carriage in the runway, and a single hoisting means to raise the bucket and carriage together to move the bucket to a dischargingvposition and to rotate the rear end of the carriage relatively to the bucket supporting means and said mounting means comprising arms pivoted to the carriage to guide and limit the downward movement of the bucket for dropping the bottom with respect to the bucket for discharging the contents thereof.

6. In a furnace charger, a movable inclined carriage, a bucket having a movable discharge bottom, lever means for pivotally mounting the bucket at the upper end of the carriage to swing in and through the carriage, a connection between the upper end of the carriage and the discharge bottom which holds the bottom and bucket together when the carriage is raised, stop means for engaging the supporting lever for holding the bucket in discharge position and means for raising the lower end of the carriage with respect to the bucket supporting means for limiting the downward movement of the bucket and operating the bottom to lower it with respect to the bucket for discharging the contents thereof.

7. In a furnace` charger, an inclined runway, a carriage movable along the runway, a charging bucket having bell cranks pivotally mounted in the carriage with slotted pivotal connections for the bucket at each side thereof, a discharge bottom for the bucket, a supporting yoke extending from the carriage and having a connection through the bucketl with the bottom by means of which the bucket and bottom are suspended to swing in and through the carriage and track in their movement on the runway, a'stop at the upper end of the runway for engaging the bell crank supporting means and thus holding the bucket xed in discharge position, and means for raising the lower end of the carriage to drop the bottom at the lowerI end of the bucket for discharging the contents thereof, the relative movement of the carriage and bucket supporting means causing the bucket to slide in the slots of the supporting bell cranks.

8. In a furnace charger, an inclined runway having a stop at its upper end, a wheeled carriage movable on the runway including an upper guard rail for the wheels spaced from the lower rails adjacent the top of the runway, a bucket having a movable discharge bottom and means for pivoting the bucket to `swing at the upper end of the carriage, a stop to engage the bucket pivoting means when the carriage engages the stop at the upper end of the runway, a support integral with the carriage for holding the bottom against the lower end of the bucket, and the guard rail having an arcuate section at its upper end so that the lower end of the carriage can be swung upwardly with respect to the front end of the carriage in stop position, the bucket pivoting means when stopped allowing inward movement of the bucket as the rear of the carriage is swung upwardly, the bottom being then moved downwardly by its support to open or discharge position.

9. In a furnace charger, an inclined runway having a top portion of lessy inclination and a fixed stop at the upper end, a wheeled carrier on the runway and engageable with the stop, a discharge bucket having a movable bottom and lever means for pivoting the bucket at the upper end of the carriage to swing through the carriage and runway depending upon the inclination of the runway and of the carriage thereon, an abutment engaged by the levers when the carriage engages the stop at the upper end of the runway, a projection of the carriage having a connection with the discharge bottom of the bucket, a guard rail for the carriage wheels spaced from the runway at the upper end thereof, the bucket supporting means and the runway being so disposed that the bucket is suspended in front of the track at the lower end in loading position, and motive means comprising a cable attached t0 the lower portion of the carriage and operative to raise the bucket on the runway in the loaded position until the portion of less inclination is reached, to move the front of the carriage against the upper stop, to move the bucket supporting levers against the said abutment, and to raise the lower end of the carriage about the said stop as an axis, thereby swinging the bottom supporting projection of the carriage downwardly with respect to the bucket, and thereby swinging the bucket from a loading position at the front or upper side of the track to a discharging position at the back or lower side of the track.

10. In a furnace charger, an inclined track, a carriage movable on the track having a supporting yoke at the top and a discharge bucket mounted to swing on levers pivotedin the yoke end of the carriage, a discharge bottom for the bucket suspended from the yoke and held in vertical position with the bucket, and means to incline thecarriage on the track so the bucket and bottom are swung from a loading position on one side to a discharging position on the opposite side of the track.

11. In a furnace charger, an inclined runway, a carriage movable on ythe runway, la charging bucket having a movable bottom, means pivoted in the carriage for supporting the bucket to swing therein, a yoke projecting from the carriage for suspending the bottom and for holding it and the bucket in a vertical position, the bucket and bottom being mounted to swing through the carriage about the levers and the yoke at the upper end of the carriage so that the bucket may be charged at the front side of the runway, swung through the carriage to discharge from the bucket at the lower or under side of the runway.

12. In a furnace charger, an inclined runway,

a carriage movable thereon, a bucket having a bottom discharge, supporting means at one end of the carriage for pivotally mounting the bucket and the discharge to swing from a lower loading position atv one side of the runway, through the runway and carriage to a discharging position at the other end of the runway, and means for moving the carriage and tilting it on the runway, the said supporting means being movable by the carriage at the upper end of the runway to hold the bucket in fixed position and the discharge supporting means thereupon being actuated as the carriage is tilted to drop the bottom thereof for discharging the contents of the bucket.

JOI-IN N. RICHARDSON.

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