US1697538A - Turntable crane for electrolytic refineries - Google Patents

Description

G. E. MOORE Filed June 30, 1924 TURNTABLE CRANE FOR ELECTROLYTIC REFINERIES .fuHlIN QIIIIIU n.. /ll IIN Jan. l, 1929.

INVENTOR ATToRNE Geo Jan. l, 1929.

G. E. MOORE TURNTABLE CRANE FOR ELECTROLYTIC REFINERIES Filed June 30, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllllll l IP,

lNvENToR 6&0!" ft/700w@ v El 6l/ZUM ./V.

ATTORNEY e sheets-Smet s G. E. MOQRE TURNTABLE CRANE FOR ELECTROLYTIC REFINERIES Filed June 3o. 1924 l Jan. l, 1929.

INVENTOR re ff/Voor@ B c/ l ATTORNEY (5&0 @we Jam, 1'929.

G. E. MOORE TURNTABLE CRANE FOR ELECTROLYTIC REFINERIES Filed June 5o. 1924 6 Sheets-$heet 4 mvENToR Gea/059916.77001@ ATTORNEY Jam l, 1929. 1,697,538

G. E. MOORE TURNTABLE CRANE FoR ELEcT'RoLYTIc REEINERIES Filed June 30. 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Alm Jan. l, 1929. 1,697,538

v G. E. MOORE TURNTABLE CRANE FOR ELECTROLYTIG REFINERIES Filed June so, 1924 6 sheets-Sheet e INVENTOR 'eor' /Voore ATTORNEY Patented Jan. l, 1929.

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GEORGE EDWARD MOORE, OF MUSKEGQN, MICHGAN, ASSGNOAR, BY MSNE ASSGN- IVENTS, TO SHAW CRANE-PUTNAYI- MACHINE CO. NC., 0F

A CORPORATION OF DELAVABE.

IVUSKEGON, MICHIGAQT,

'manifests @Rens Fee @werner-rifle i i Application filed 5211.16 39,

This invention relates to a turn-table trolley designed to be used in connection with traveling cranes and having particular utility when said cranes are use-d in electrolyl-tic refining plants. In plants of this character batches .o'f anodes or 4cathodes carried `on racks have to be handled between electrolytic rack cars and arranged longitudinally inside the building, where the electrolytic plant is housed.` The tracks on which these rack cars run vare transverse ,of the tank house, whereas the tanks in which the anodes or cathodes are placed or arranged longitudinally of the building, and it is thereiiore necessary when a racl; .carrying anodes or cathodes Vis transl'erred from the tanks to Atliecars to turn them a qua-rter turn. lt has been practice heretofore to have turn-tables on the floor where the cars can be given a quarter 'tirrn before the reT mova-l .oi the racls'by cranes for transportation to the tanks.

The present invention eliminates the use of the floor turn-table for the cars by importing a turn-table into the trolley construction. At the same time by this addition ot vturntable construction to the trolley, the problem of head room to take care of the mechanism is encountered 5 and a feature of the present invention resides in the. design and construction oi' the trolley whereby it may 'be eemipped with the necessary turn-,table and the vdimensions kep-t within the limits of' space permitted in the buildings in whichitis to b e installed, wherein snc-h space for head room is limited. This minimizing of sizes has a further distinct advantage in that construction costs are materially loweredJ since compactness necessarily involves a. 'conservation of materials used 'and lessening of machine work required in working the materials into thev finished machine.

The general object ,of the invention is Ato, produce ,an improved c rane structure wvl-rich compact, light'and strong with a conservation of the materials used in its manufacture and occupying a minimum of head room. further object of the invention is to produce an improved turntable construction for crane trolleys with hoisting mechanism thereon which is capable of especially near approach to the sides of the building in which it is installed so'that it is possible to lift loads vertilS- .Serial-N0- 723,163.

@ally from points .close lo thesad .Sides 0i' the building and one which is especially adapted for installation in buildingsf7 such 21s electnolytic refineries already built. A s lurther object off the invention is to p rovic e in :a trolley for turntable cra-nes, an improved arrangement oif the turning and hoisting mech'- anisni which is particularly'compact, light, Strong and durable and ellcent in Operation. Further objects of the invention are lto provide hoisting mechanism f or'cranes of 'this Character with an improved transmission gear and hoisting drinn construction whereby anions' .other advantages, beading tQrSiQna'l stresses are reduced and conipactness and llslltns are Obtained., together with i111- proved assembly and association of the `oper.- atills and driving elements `SO that assembly 0r disassembly for .repair ,Or replacement 0l Pells are facilitated; l@ Prende an mplfvd construction for the mauntins @if electric sairl'ent-.Carryn rings 01' the electric meters ,and one especial y adapted' for turn-table Crpes; and l0 provide in .a turntable Crans, 'i111- ireved Structural arrangements and Cambiadfion @l parte ler Supporting-d1@ timing Parts of :the @10.111.651 .and .the Same time .facilitating the accomplislililent 0l ille hoisting' enelations of the mechanisni.

Various other Objects ,dnd purposes 'than' sov ' 3 is n n-end nelevation ,of the structure Shawn in Fis s2.. l

Fig. 4 is aplanrof the npper rotating meinber of A.the turn-table, ille, winding drum and mechanism for driving thesazne .and the ins used for rotating ,the lured-able member oilthe trolley being .shown horizontal ,Section.

Fig. is a central vertical section taken substantially on t-he plane of line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a like section substantially at right angles thereto on the plane of line 6-6 of Fig. 4, and also on the plane of line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a sec-tion through the lower part of the apparatus, it being a lower continuation of that shown in Fig. 5, the section being on the same plane therewith, and

Fig. 8 is a like view of the lower lpart of the mechanism on the same plane as the section shown in Fig. 6, or at right angles'to the plane of the section shown in Fig. 7.

Like reference characters refer to like parts iu the different figures of the drawings.

`The bridge members 10 of the crane are of conventional construction and design,rcarry ing parallel track rails 11 at their upper sides.

kAt the ends of the bridge members, rollers 12 are rotatably mounted to ride on tracks 13 supported at the upper side of built-up I- beam girders 14 mounted at opposite sides of the building in which the crane is to be installed on suitable brackets or supports shown at 15, this being conventional con- Y struction for the mounting of crane bridge cssv Vits lower side for strength.

members to travel lengthwise of a building. The shafts of the rollers 12 of one of* the bridge members carry gears 16 which lare simultaneously driven by suitable gearing connections with a shaft 17, as shown in Fig. 1, which may be driven from an electric motor through the interposed gearing connections The trolley comprises upper and lower members, the upper member being mounted to turn about a vertical axis with respect to the lower member. er member comprises two spaced apart longitudinal members or beams 18 of I-beam cross sectionwhich are connectedv together by transverse member or bea-m 19 which is ribbed on Suitable sockets are madein the webs of the members 18 to receive bosses at the ends of the beam 19 and vertical pins 20 passl downwardly through' alined holes in said members 18 and the bosses on the transverse beam 19, this making a very strong construction and one which is simple andeconomi'cal to produce, all machine work for the connection of the members being done in the factory.

lIt will be noted that the centers of the bosses when in place are coincident with the lonoitudinal center lines of the members 18 whereby reactions from the loaded transverse beam 19 are central on said members 18 vwithout any tipping tendency.

The ends of the members or beams 18 are hollowed out leaving recesses covered by the parts 21 wherein the truck rollers 22 may be rotatably mounted on shafts 23 so as to run on the rails 11. A. supporting bracket 24 is In construction the lowgv securely attached to the transverse beam 19 at one side serving as support for an electric motor 25 on the shaft of which is gear 26 meshing with and driving a larger gear 27 secured to shaft 28. The shaft 28 is mounted in suitable bearings carried by the beams 18 and by the bracket 24 and adjacent each end carries a gear 29 which meshes with and drives the gear 3() lined on shaft 23. It is evident that the two shafts 23 at one end of the trolley are driven in unison and when the motor 25 is running the trolley may be moved )ack and forth to different positions on the bridge.

The trzinsverse beam 19 midway between its ends is formed with an enlarged cylindrical. bore 31 suitably flanged at its ends for strength through which a large sleeve 32 passes. trolley member and is formed with an annular flange 33 which rests upon roller bearings in turn bearing against a gear ring 35 located around and directly above the bore 31 and bearing against a plate in turn bearing on the lower member of the trolley. At the upper end of the sleeve 32 a circular platform 36 is mounted and permanently secured, its central portion resting on the flange 33l as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. A horizontal web 38 extends inwardly from the upper end of sleeve 32 for a short-distance depending from the inner edges of which is a vertical cylinder 37, the saine extending downwardly through the sleeve 32 at al distance below the lower end thereof. Radial ribs 38Ll integrally connect the sleeve 32 and cylinder'37, the ribs extending downwardly below the lower end of sleeve 32 to add to the; rigidity of said cylinder 37. In the web 38, as shown in Fig. 4, oppositely positioned openings 39 are cut, the purpose of which will later appear. At the lower end of the cylinder 37 and on opposite sides thereof, laterally projecting enlargements 40 havin@ spaced apart sides are cast integral with the cylinder and at the upper ends thereof, openings 41 are made for the passage of hoisting cables as will later appear.

Mounted on the upper sides of the platform 34 is a housing 42 equipped with suitable bearings for mounting two shafts 43 and 44 in parallel relation to each other. An electric motor 45 through gears 46 is adapted to drive the shaft 43, and shaft 43 through' gears 47 in turn drives theshaft 44 on which a beveled gear 48 is secured meshing with and driving a larger beveled gear 49 fiXed to an upper end of a vertical shaft 50 which passesy downwardly through an elongated and enlarged cylindricaly mounting 51 therefor the lower end of the shaft being` equipped with a pinion 52 which engages with the teeth of the ring gear h retofore described. lVhen the motor'45 is operated shaft 50 is driven at a reduced speed.. Pinion 52 engag- This sleeve extends above the lower v1ro = 53 substantially thefull length thereof.

ing with the ring gear 35, said ring gear being relatively stationary throu'h frictional resistance to turning the platrorin 36 and mechanism mounted on and carried thereby turns about a vertical axis, as is obvious.

A hoisting rain 53 in the forni of an elongated vert-ical cylinder is slidabl'y mounted and extends through the cylinder 37. Kevways 5Ll 'are made in opposite sides of the ram Ar the lower end of the cylinder 37 two oppositeiy disposed keys 55 are secured set-ting' in the keyways and maintaining the rain and the upper turn-table portion of the trolley in the same angular relation to each other, but permitting the ram to be moved up and dov-.1n vertically.

A housing 56 is mounted on and above the platform 36 being equipped with suitable bearings for the mountingT of a drum shaft 57. On the shaft -57 'an enlarged central core 58 is secured from which ribs project to the outer ends of which the winding drum 59 is connected, the core, ribs and drum being formed as an integral casting. rllwo counter shafts 60 and y6l are mounted parallel to the shaft 57 in bearings carried by the housing 56 and are spaced from each other and from said shaft 57. Suitable reduction gears and pinions 62 mounted on the shafts 57, 60 and 6l and driven by a gear 63 on the shaft of motor 64, serve to drive the drum 59 at a reduced speed. The motor being reversible, the drum may be driven in either direction. lt will be noted that the drum gear 6:2 is fixed to the projecting end of the enlarged central core 58" and that intermediate gears are fixed to projecting portions or bosses on the pinions in the reduction gearing described whereby torsional strains such as are due to frictional resistance are entirely eliminated. Accordingly the diameter of the shaft 57is determined by bearing pressure alone and kept to a minimum size. Also the diameter of the pinions can be reduced to a minimum, and a maximum gear reduction can be obtained with Va minimum diameter of gears andthe whole gear train be made-'as small and compact as possible. Moreover the gears being keyed to projections on the pinions or drums on a larger diameter than would be the case if both were keyed separately to a shaft. it Vfollows that strains on the keys are greatly minimized and the keys will not easily work loose. The whole of the `gearing is enclosed in one cast iron casing, only the motor and the drum being uncovered. ln

connection with the motor l5 any suitableV form of magnetic brake mechanism, indicated at dotted lines at 45 in Ll, may

be used and, similarly, magnetic brakes may 4be used in lconnection with the mechaN nism operated by the motor 6a in stopping and holding the Amechanism in any position` to 'which it maybe moved.

the ends of the cables are secured to thed-rum. The `cable extends ldownwardly through one of the openings 39 heretofore described to kand around a suitably grooved pulley or sheave 66 which is rotatably `mounted'on a shaft 67 carried 0n bosses cast integral with opposite sides of the ram 53 near the .lower end thereof. rlhe pulley is located between two vertical cross reinforcing plates 66'C1 cast integral with the ram, as shown in Fig. 6', and the ram is slotted at opposite sides to afford space for 'the size of the pulley or sheave re quired, the hoisting cable 65 passing downwardly on the outside of the cylinder 37 and through the openings il previously described in order to pass around the sheave. A guard 69 shown in Figs. 7 and 8 covers the lower portion of the sheave 66 and maintains the cable in engagement with the sheave 66 and the laterally projecting portions 40 make room for the sheave 66 as shown when the ram is in upper position.

From the sheave 66 the cable 'passes upwardly and around an upper sheave 70 mounted on a short shaft 7l which `passes through the upper end of the sleeve 32 and adjacent portion of the platform 36 las shown in Fig. 5. lt then passes downwardly `to and under the sheave 66, thence upwardly to theopposite side of the drum. Rotation of the drum in one direction serves to elevate the ram 53. In the opposite direction the ram is lowered and it may be lowered until the project-ing ends of a cross pin 7 2 loc-ated in the upper end of the ram, as shown in Fig. 6, comes against the upper ends of the keys 55. The pin 72 'is mounted and suitably supported by the spider 7 3 at the upper end of the drum 53 and its ends extend into the keyways 54 as best shown in Fig.` 6.

In the lower end of the ram,.:a cross bar 7sl is castintegral with the ram and located between. the reinforcing plates 66u. An lbolt 75 mounted on this bar (see Figs. 7 and 8). The lower end of the ram 53 isalso formed with integral oppositely projecting head parts '7 6 paralleling the sides of which are channel bars 77, one located at each side of the lower end of the ram in parallel rela tion to each other. VThese bars 77 are Connected by cross members '78 in turn secured to the head 76. 'lwo rods 79 are located parallel to the channel bars 77 between the same and thev lower end of the ramv and carrie-d by cross members 76. The frame structure provided by the 'side bars 77 andthe cross bars 78 is preferably covered by a steel plate 80. From the rods 79 supporting straps 8l depend inwardly toward each other to serve as a support for the rack v62 formed with a plurality of hook members 83 on which the anodes or cathodes which-are to ion vhoisting ram mounted for up and down movement with respect to the trolley is also mounted so t-hat it must turn with the upper turntable member of the trolley. Accordingly the rack carrying the anodes or cathodes may be turned about a vertical axis to any desired position and the saine handled readily between electrolyt-ic tanks and rack cars despite the longitudinal location ot the tanks and transverse location of the tracks in the electrolytic refinery building. Moreover the construction is such that a very close approach to t-he sides of the building may be had as where the tanks are located substantially directly against the sides ot the building. rlhe design and arrangement of the parts is such that the head room of the trolley carrying all of the mechanism for running the trolley back and iorth., rotating thel upper member of the trolley and raising or lowering the ram, is kept within the smallest possible limits and at the sa ne time strength necessary for the service to which the crane will be put is maintained and the weight and size of the materials used conserved with a very material saving in manufacturing costs. All of which is very necessary from a practical standpoint in meeting the competition of others in the same business.

It will be noted, referring to Fig. G, that the diameter ot' the member 5l in which shalt 50 is mounted is substantially the same or slightly larger than the diameter of the gear 52, whereby shaft 50 with the attached parts and they member 5l may be removed as a unit. The v1ing gear 35 bears directly on a. hardcned steel plate as shown in 6 but is not otherwise attached and so long as the weight pressing this ring gear against the plate holds the gear stationary, the turntable part ol' the trolley may be rotated 5 but if an undue obstruction should be met, as iii' the head construction at the lower end of the ram should strike against a supporting column in a building, the ring gear would then move and prevent breakage, which might otherwise occur.` The construction at the lower end of the ram consisting of the reinforcing cross plates GGa is for the purpose ot strengthening and reinforcing the lower end of the ram against undue strains such as might occur if one side only of the rack should be loaded with anode-s or cathodes and to compensate in part for the material cut away where the lower end ot the ram is slotted for sheave 66.

Around the cylinder 37 and below 'the lower end of the sleeve 32 are positioned a plurality of vertical blocks 84 ot impregnated wood which are bolted or otherwise secured to the cylinder and grooved to provide a plurality el: projecting tongues 'to which rings 86 ot metal are secured. These rings contact with suitable brushes 87 carried on a ver. tical bar 8S in turn attache-d to a second bar S9 which is secured at its upper end to and depends from the transverse beam 19 of the lower trolley member. It is evident that the electrical contact of the brushes 87 against the rings 86 is maintained at all times irrespective of the rotatable movement of the turn-table member oi the trolley. Tie rings 86 are electrically connected with the hoisting mechanism and trolley and bridge motors and the brushes with the respective controllers and the line. The horizontal grooves formed in the wood blocks Se are tor the purpose o't increasing insulating surface on account et the relatively close spacingof the rings which is required due toY space limitations. Y

' lt will be evident from .the foregoing that a practical and operative construction of turn-table cranes especially adapted for use in electrolytic refineries has been produced and one wiich completely serves all of the objects and purposes for which it is designed, as explained in the initial statement of the invention. lMlany changes in details of con struction maybe resorted to without departing from the invention and it is to be considered that all forms oiE structure which come within the scope. ot' the appended claims defining the invent-ion are comprehended byV said invention.

I claim:

l. In a crane, a travelling trolley for said crane, a tubular column supported by said trolley, a lift-ing ram guided for rotary and bodily movement by said column, and a hoisting sheavc mounted on said ram, said column being In'ovided with oli-set pockets to receive said sheave when the ram is in elevated position.

2. ln a crane, a travelling trolley tor the crane having tubular bore therein, a tubular column supported by said trolley and including inner and outer tubular members, webs joining said tubular members and extending below the outer tubular member to provide external ribs for reinforcing said inner tubu lar member, said outer tubular member extending into saidbore and being Arotatably supported therein, and a lifting ram guided for rotary and bodily longitudinal more. ment by said column. y

3. A trolley for overhead cranes including, longitudinal side trame members comprising Castinos of substantially I-section and having the we s thereof offset to provide pockets, a transverse beam comprising a casting provided with bosses adapted to be received in said pockets, and securing means extending through said bosses for securing said transverse beam in position upon said longitudinal side frame members.v

l. In a crane, a traveling trolley, a hoisting ram guided for vertical movement by said trolley, a transverse head at vthe lower extremity of said ram, a load supporting frame adapted to be connected to said head, parallel shafts carried by said frame, and supporting means carried by said shaft for attachment of loads thereto.

5. In a crane, a combination, a traveling trolley, a hoisting ram guided for vertical movement by said trolley and having opposed slots in the lower extremity thereof, reinforcing walls extending between said slots and a hoisting` sheave disposed between and mounted on said walls and extending` through said slots.

6. In a crane, a traveling trolley, a hoisting ram guided for vertical movement by said trolley and having opposed slots in the lower extremity thereof, reinforcing walls extending between said slots, a hoisting sheave disposed between and mountedl on said walls and extending into said slots, a flexible hoisting member on said sheave, and a box-like guard for said sheave disposed within said walls and adapted to support said flexible member in position on said sheave.

.7. In a crane, a trolley, hoisting mechanism carried by said trolley, a hoisting ram mounted on said trolley, a hoisting sheave 'arried by saidram, a flexible hoisting member issuing from said hoisting mechanism extending between said ram and trolley and being reeved over said hoisting sheave, and an equalizing sheave disposed between said ram and trolley over which said flexible member is reeved.

8. In a. crane trolley, a tubular column mounted in said trolley and having inner and outer tubular members, hoisting mechanism carried by said trolley, a hoisting ram mounted on said trolley, a hoisting sheave carried by said ram, and a flexible hoisting member issuing from said hoisting mechanism extending between said tubular members and being reeved over said hoisting sheave.

9. In a crane in combination, a trolley, a tubular column mounted in said trolley and having inner and outer tubular members, hoisting mechanism carried by said trolley, a hoisting ram mounted on said trolley, a hoisting sheave carried by said ram, a ilexible hoisting member issuing from said hoisting mechanism extending between said tubular members and being reeved over said hoisting sheave and an equalizing sheave disposedbetween said tubular members over which said flexible hoisting member passes.

l0. In a crane, a trolley, a tubular column mounted in said trolley and having inner and outer tubular members, hoisting mechanism carried by said trolley, a hoisting ram mounted on said trolley, a hoisting sheave carried by said rain, a flexible hoisting member issuing from said hoisting mechanism extending between said tubular members and being reeved over said hoisting sheave, said inner tubular member extending beyond the outer tubular member and telescopically receiving the ram and guiding it in up and down movements.

ll. In a crane, a trolley, a tubular column mounted in said trolley and having inner and outer tubular members, hoisting mechanism carried by said trolley, a hoisting ram mounted on said trolley, a hoisting sheave carried by said ram, a flexible hoisting member issuing from said hoisting mechanism extending between said tubular members and being reeved over said hoisting sheave, said inner tubular member extending beyond the out-er tubular member and telescopically receiving the ram and guiding it in an up and down movement, and an equalizing sheave disposed between said inner and outer tubular members and receiving said flexible hoisting member.

l2. In a crane, a lifting ram including atubular member slotted adjacent one extremity for receiving a hoisting sheave, transverse walls adjacent said slotsV and spaced from the walls of said tubular member and .bosses lying between adjacent walls and providing supports for said sheave.

13. In a. crane, a lifting ram including a tubular member slotted adjacent one extremity for receiving a hoistingsheave, transverse walls adjacent saidslots and spaced from the walls of said tubular member, bosses lying between adjacent walls and providing supports for thev sheave, and a gua-rd member lying between said transverse walls and 'enclosing said'sheave.

let. In a crane, a trolley, a rotary tubular member support-ed by the trolley, a hoisting ram telescopically guided by said tubular member for relative longitudinal movement, but restrained against relative rotary movement, a hoisting sheave mounted adjacent the lower end of said ram in slots provided therein and a guard plate disposed in said slots and enclosing said sheave'.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE EDl/VARD MOORE.

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