GB1237426A - Improved apparatus for stripping moulds from ingots - Google Patents

Abstract

1,237,426. Ingot strippers. WELLMANCRANES Ltd. 13 Jan., 1970 [1 Nov., 1968], No. 51831/68. Heading B3F. An ingot stripper has two assemblies of elements movable vertically relatively to each other, the first said assembly being adapted for engagement with an ingot and the second said assembly being adapted for engagement with the mould 65, means interconnecting the assemblies for effecting said relative movement, and two bell-crank levers 35 pivotally mounted at 36 on the said second assembly, the end of one arm of each bell-crank lever being pivotally connected at 42 to the lower end of a link 41 which has its end pivotally connected the first assembly of elements, and the end of the other arm of each bell-crank lever being pivotally connected at 38 to a pulley block 37. The said second assembly of elements includes a hollow frame 25 having a pair of tongs 27 pivotally connected at 32 to its lower end. The said first assembly of elements includes a crosshead 14 carrying a bearing 8, a screw 12, a hollow rod 10 carrying a plunger 11 at its lower end, and a hollow rod 13 which is non-rotatable but axially movable within the frame 25. The rod 10 is provided with two cams 15 which project into vertical slots 14 in the rod 13. These cams, and also cams 17 on the rod 13, act on rollers 16 which, when urged outwards, cause the rams of dashpots 34 to move and open the tongs 27 against the action of counterweights 29. To raise the mould off the ingot, the motor 1 is operated which rotates the screw 12 and causes the rod 10 and plunger 11 to move downwards to engage the ingot, the tongs 27 having closed around the mould 65 as soon as the cams 15 leave the rollers 16. If the pressure exerted by the plunger 11 is insufficient to release the ingot, continued rotation of the screw 12 causes the crosshead 44 and thus the whole device together with the mould and ingot to move upwards. This causes a pad 50 on the lever 35 to move away from a spring buffer 51 and operates a limit switch which starts a hoist motor which lowers the whole device by means of cables 61 until protrusions 52 on bellcranks 35 engage stop blocks 53 at top of the rod 13. The device is now in position for an intensified stripping action which is done by operating the drums 60 to hoist the device. This results in the whole weight of the device operating to press the ingot down and raise the mould. The device may also be used to "up strip" the ingot and for this reason is provided with a pair of tongs 20 pivotally carried by a crosshead 22 suspended below the mast 25 by straps (23). The tongs 20 grip the ingot and heels 54 on the tongs 27 abut the top of the mould. An intensified stripping action is also available in this mode of operation.