US2393695A - Ladle tilting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 29, 1946. F E KLlNG LADLE TIL TING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 2, 1944 INVENTOR. F950 E. KL/NG yQuw i/s 41mg I Jan. 29, 1 946. F. E. KLING LADLE TILT ING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 2, 1944 2 Shets-Sheet 2 I I I I I I I I I f I I I I! M m w N 3 Q ,K- B...

H n .W H w w 5 6 W 5- 5 Patented Jan. 29, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFice v Fred E. Kling, Youngstown, Ohio, as'signor to Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corporation, a corporation. of New Jersey Application November 2, 1944, Serial N f.'561,e24

6 Claims. (01. 214-64) This invention relates to a ladle tilting apparatus, and particularly to an improved automatic hook connecting mechanism therefor. 7

In the casting of hot metal, it is disposed usually in a large ladle which is supported on a car or truck for transporting the same to a point where it'ispoured into the molds of a pig-casting machine or into smaller transfer ladies. The car or truck is properly positioned with regard to a pouring stand and the ladle is tilted on the truck to effect a pour. This tiltingis usually performed by means of a hookwhich is suspended Referring more particularly to the drawings; there is shown an upwardly and forwardly arcuated mast 2 consisting preferably of a pair of spaced apart structural members 3 which are fromfan overhead lifting device. It is to an im mechanism for apparatus of this class which will automatically engage with and disengage from the ladles to be tilted.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved hook mechanism for ladle tilting apparatus which will be moved automatically to r a retracted position out of the way of the operator and workmen when not in use so as to eliminate any obstruction or hazard to the workmen in the vicinity of the pouring operation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved automatic hook mechanism for ladle tilting apparatus which is simple and inexpensive in its construction, and, at the same time, efficient and effective in its use.

Various other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent in the course of the following specification and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown, for the purpose of illustration, anembodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a ladle tilting apparatus showing the improved automatic hook mechanism of my invention incorporated therewith;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side view of my improved hook mechanism;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 111-111 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line IV--IV of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line V-V of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line VIVI of Figure 5.

suitably arranged on a base 4 preferably posi tioned below the floor level, as shown in Figure 1.

On the inner side of each of the structural mem bers 3, there is arranged an inwardly extending flange portion 5 which is adapted to act as a track. At: the upper end of the mast 2, there is arranged between the structural members 3, a transversely extending shaft 6 on which there is mounted a plurality of sheaves 1;, Intermediate the height of themast2, on the outer side there-V,

of, there is arranged a'bracket member 8 which carries a shaft 9 and upon which, in' turn, there is mounted a pair ofsheaves Ill. Adjacentthe bottom of the mast 2, on the outer side thereof, thereis positioned preferably another bracket member l2, on which there is mounted a ishaftl3" carrying preferably a grooved drum it. The shaft 13 is connected preferably by means of a coupling l5 to a gear reduction unit It, and the gear reduction unit, in turn, is connected to preferab y a reversible electric motor II. N

According to the present invention thereis arranged within the mast 2 between the structural members 3, a trolley! 8 consisting preferably of a transversely extending shaft l9 having a wheel or roller '20 arranged on each end thereof which are adapted to cooperate with and ride along the flange or track portions 5 of the structural members 3. Between the rcllers 20, there is mounted on the shaft IS, a pluralityof rotatable sheaves 2| and a downwardly extending hook 22 having a hook portion 23 arranged on the extreme lower end thereof which is adapted to cooperate with the ladle to be tilted in a manner hereinafter to be described. Within the mast 2 adjacent the bottom thereof and at a point directly opposite the drum [4, there is arranged a cam member 24 which is positioned centrally between the structural members 3 with the upper and lower cam surfaces 25 and 26, re-

spectively, of the cam member disposed substantially at right angles'to eachother. The lower end of each of the flanges or tracks 5 preferably is curved inwardly toward the center of the mast as at 5*- and terminate at a point directly opposite the upper cam surface 25 of the cam member 24. I

Intermediate the length of the hook 22, there is integrally arranged therewith, a rearwardly extending hollow armportion-21 having archer-2Q rotatably arranged in the outer end thereof which is adapted to act as a cam follower and cooperates with the cam surfaces 25 and 26 of the cam 24, in

a manner to be described. As more clearly shown in Figures 3, 5, and 6 of the drawings, the roller 28 is preferably mounted on a stud shaft 29 preferably carried by a U-shaped member 30 movably mounted within the arm-like portion 21' The member 30 is guided in its movement within the arm portion preferabl b meansof horizon tally disposed top and bottom gui'de: portions= 3 I carried by the arm portion, and is prevented from movement out through the end of the arm purer.

tion preferablyby means of vertically extending side stop portions 32. Within the arm portion" 21, there is arranged also preferably a, compres- ,5,

* the track 5:

sion coil spring 33 with one end; thereof bearing; against the bottom of the U-shaped member 30 member 34. There is arranged also within the arm portion 21, an adjusting screw 35 which is carrie'cl by a plate memberwsuitably attachedto spring 33in a well known manner. It is thepurpose'of the coil springs33to maintain the rolleri 28 in it'sout'ermo'st position in-the arm'portio'n- 21' for a purposejwhich will" hereinafter becomeap parent. I i v I There is arranged around the sheaves 2"I or the trolley I 81, the sheaves 'I'arranged at"theto p' '-of= the and at the opposite end of the coil spring 33,. there is arranged a movable" plate-like seating" tion- 23'di'spofsed below the floor'lev'el. "When the erably a pair of cables or'ropes3'8 for manipu1atlimit switch 4 I withwllich' the hooli 'fi cooperates for d'eenergizing the motor I! when the hook is moved to its lowermost position, and'therear ranged at theftop ofthe mast 2-"preferably another limit switch 42 with which the hook cooperates to deenergize the motor I I whenthe hook has been moved to its uppermost position on themast';

Inoperation, the-motor I 'Fis energized, and the drum" I4 towhich tl"1'e' cabl'es 38 are attached isthenrotated throughtheactionof the gear reduc- Upon further movement of the trolley I8 upwardly along the inclined track 5 to the top of the mast, it will be seen that the ladle 44 is tilted about the fulcrum or pivot 41 so that the contents thereof are poured therefrom, as shown in the broken lines of Figure 1 of the drawings. the trolley l8, together with the hook 22 carried thereby, reaches its uppermost position on the mast,,it1will be seen that the trolley" strikes the l irnit swi-tchJizL thereby de'ene'rgizing thetmotor I1.

After the pouring of the hot metal from the ladle 44' has been completed, the motor I1 is energized so as to travel in a reverse direction and the cables 38 are unwound from the drum I4 thereby permitting the: trolley I8 to pass downwardly along As; the trolley I8 approaches the curvezrl portion of. the track, it will be seen that the roller 28 carried by the arm portion 21 of the hook 22 will again contact the upper cam surface 25-01.- the: cam member 24. As the trolley I8 continues to move downwardly, it will be seen that it move'sinwardl'y of themast over thecurvedlower ends 5 ofth'e'track 5 a'ndthat' the" roller 28 passes from the camsurface-25 and down over'thei lower cam surface 26 thereby disengaging the hook portion- 23 from thepin 43 of the ladle 44' and returning the ladle, to its" normal position on" the truck45i- When the-hook Zirca'ches'its lowermost position, as shown; in the full lines ofl i'gure 1 01 the drawings, it will be seen that theho'ok is'dis-' posed'wholly within the mast'Z with the hook porho'ok ZZ reachesthis lowermost position, it will beseen-tha't the roller 28 strikes the'limit'switeh' 41 thereby d'eenergizingthem-otor I'Ii U Itwill be understoodthat thepin Marthe ladle with which the book '22 cooperates to tilt-Eth'e same is not always dis-posed in the same position on varibusla'd'l'es. 'I'h'i's 'co'nditioni's' primarilyd'ue to the fact that the ladle is not alway's'placed in the same position on the caror truck; {To correct this condition so as to insure that the" hook portion 23 of th'e l'iookwill always properly engage the pin 43 of the particular ladle tobe tilte'd positioned oppositethe mast 2". the roller 28' intheendof the arm DOItl'OH'ZT Of 111611091? is mountedj yieldably' therein" due to ,thefactiori of" the coil spring 33; The" roller 28* is" always" maintained in its outermost position in the end or the" arm portion 2]" due to the compressive tion unit I 6 and the coupling I 5. Uponrotationof the drum f4, thecables38 will be woundthere around, and the trolley I8 will be moved' upwardl'y along the track 5 due" to the action thereof. As the trolley I 8 is moved upwardly-over'the inward 1y curved lower ends 5?- of the track-5} it willbe seen that thehook 22 arranged therewithwill'also be moved an'dthatthe'roller'28 -carried'by*the' arm portion 2 1 willmove along the lower cam surface has passed along the cam-surface'zli tp the-outer sideof the cam, it will b'eseen that the hookipor"- tion" 2i3fwillbe forcedoutwardly andupwar dl'y'intjo" ladle'ifsmo sitioned too far to th ri'ghtQag shown in Figures l*-an'd;2'- of the drawings; it willibe seen that the=c uter side-oi the hook'zz at'a point immediately abovetheh'o'ok portion 23 ti1ereof, willist-rike the pin 43 oft'he' l'adle' when the roller 28 passesonto the uppercamsurface '25 of the cam member 24'; thereby forcing the" hook back wardly. It will be seen that when the hook 22 is forced, backwardly, that the roller 2;8 whi'ch is in contact withthe" cam surface1'25'; will be moved inwardly into the arm" portion 21 against the action of the coil spring 33" thereby permitting' the hookportion 23 to'properlyajnd secure ly engage the pin 430f the'lad1e'. Afterthe-trol ley I8 has moved upwardly a short distance'along thetra'ck 5, it will be seen=t1' lat the'r l'ierRFmoves out, of contact with theup'per cam surfafc'el25 and that the-rollerzfl againwill'bemovedto its outermost position in the endofthe arrn portion- 21 due to' the action of'the'" coil spring 331 By providing such a constructiomit willbe seentl'iat the hook 22 isassured of' properly engaging; the pin 43 of the ladle, even though-thepin sgnot inthe-sameposition-inallcases... v i

When

A a result of my invention, it will be seen that there is provided a hook mechanism for a ladle tilting apparatus which automatically engages with the pin of the ladle so as to tilt the same when the trolley is moved upwardlyv along the mast, and automatically disengages from the pin of the ladle when the trolleyis moved downwardly along the mast, and the ladle is returned to its normal position on the truck. It will also be seen that the hook in its normal position, is maintained in a retracted position within the mast with the hook portion thereof disposed below the floor level so as to eliminate any obstruction in front of the mast between the same and the car or rails.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that this embodiment is merely for the purpose of illustration and description and that various other forms may be devised within the scope of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a ladle tilting apparatus, the combination with an upwardly and forwardly inclined track, a trolley arranged on said track, and means for moving said trolley along said track, of a downwardly extending hook carried by said trolley, a rearwardly extending adjustable cam follower on said hook, and camming means arranged adjacent the lower end of said track for automatically causing said hook to move into engagement with the ladle to be tilted when said trolley is moved upwardly, and for automatically disengaging said book from the ladle after said trolley has been lowered to return the ladle to its normal position.

2. In a ladle tilting apparatus, the combination with an upwardly and forwardly inclined track, a trolley arranged on said track, and means for moving said trolley along said track, of a downwardly extending hook carried by said trolley, a cam member arranged adjacent the lower end of said track, a rearwardly extending arm portion carried by said hook, and a roller arranged on the outer end of said arm portion which cooperates with said cam, said cam adapt-- ed to automatically move said hook into engagement with the ladle to be tilted when said trolley is moved upwardly, and to automatically disengage ,said hook from the ladle after said trolley has been lowered to return the ladle to its normal position.

3. In a ladle tilting apparatus, the combination with an upwardly and forwardly arcuated mast having an inclined track carried thereby, a trolley arranged on said track, and means for moving said trolley along said track, of a downwardly extending hook carried by said trolley, a rearwardly extending cam follower on said hook and a cam member arranged within said mast adjacent the lower end of said track, said cam bein constructed and arranged so as to cause said hook to move automatically outwardly from said mast into engagement with the ladle to be tilted when said trolley is moved upwardly, and to automatically disengage said hook from the ladle when said trolley is lowered to return the ladle to its normal position and to till move said hook inwardly to a retracted position within said mast.

4. In a ladle tilting apparatus, the combination with an upwardly and forwardly arcuated mast having an inclined track carried thereby, a trolley arranged on said track, and means for moving said trolley along said track, of a downwardly extending hook carried by' said trolley, a cam member arranged within said mast adjacent the lower end of said track, the lower end of said track being curved inwardly toward the center oi said mast and terminating adjacent said cam member, a rearwardly extending arm portion carried by said hook, and a roller arranged on the outer end of said arm portion which cooperates with said cam, said cam memher being constructed and arranged so as to cause said hook to move automatically into engagement with the ladle to be tilted when said trolley is moved upwardly and to automatically disengage said hook from the ladle after said trolley has been lowered to return the ladle to its normal position so that said hook is moved inwardly to a retracted position within said mast.

5. In a ladle tilting apparatus, the combination with an upwardly and forwardly inclined track, a trolley arranged on said track, and means for moving said trolley along said track, of a downwardly extending hook carried by said trolley, a cam member arranged adjacent the lower end of said track, a rearwardly extending arm portion carried by said hook, a roller arranged in the outer end of said arm portion which cooperates with said cam member, said roller mounted for limited movement longitudinally of said arm portion, and a compression coil spring carried by said arm portion for maintaining said roller normally in its outermost position on said arm portion, said cam member adapted to automatically move said hook into engagement with the ladle to be tilted when said trolley is moved upwardly, and to automatically disengage said hook from the ladle after said trolley has been lowered to return the ladle to its normal position.

6. In a ladle tilting apparatus, the combina tion with an upwardly and forwardly inclined track, a trolley arranged on said track, and means for moving said trolley along said track, of a downwardly extending hook carried by said trolley, a cam member arranged adjacent the lower end of said track, a rearwardly extending arm portion carried by said hook, airoller ar ranged in the outer end of said arm portion which cooperates with said cam member, said roller mounted for limited movement longitudinally of said arm portion a compression coil spring carried by said arm portion for maintaining said roller normally in its outermost position on said arm, and means for adjusting the compressive force of said spring, said cam mem-.

ber adapted to automatically move said hook into engagement with the ladle to be tilted when said trolley is moved upwardly, and to automatically disengage said hook from the ladle after said trolley has been lowered to return the ladle to its normal position. FRED E. KLING,

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