US1909906A - Conveyance of goods through furnaces and the like - Google Patents

Description

May 16, 1933.

A. sMALLwooD ET AL CONVEYANCE OF GOODS THROUGH FURNACES AND THE LIKE Il um Filed Dec. 24, 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet l May 16, 1933. A. sMALLwOOD ET AI. 1,909,906

CONVEYANCE OF GOODS THROUGH FURNACES AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 24, 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I n n IuII. hIIIIIIIIIIIIII. H H HMH IWIIIII IIIVIIH H H IIIVNIIH II. H HIIII. /W ,I I I I II I III.I.FIII..III II IM If, IATMII. IdmIIIm.,

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A. SMALLWOOD ET AL CONVEYANCE OF GOODS THROUGH FURNACES AND THE LIKE e sheets-sheet 3 Filed Dec. 24, 1930 May 16, 1933- A. sMALLwooD ET A1.

CONVEYANCE OF GOODS THROUGH FURNCES AND THE4 LIKE 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 l. I l I I I t I Il. QW u l llll l HUHIH- 999A HNA www l 9% n@ A s x. w A .A UVUUUUQ WHINNHI x. .,.ll Illlmmmldlldn HHHH.. n u L. 11. m N A.. A .m p A A. A A TA l/A A f A HHIHUNMHILHH Sx w May 16, 1933- A. sMALLwooD ET A1.

- coNvEYANcE oF GooDs THROUGH FURNACES AND THE LIKE Filed Deo. 24, 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 16, 41933. A. SMALLWOOD Er AL CONVEYANCE OF GOODS THROUGH FURNACES AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. l24., 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 May 16, 1933. A. sMALLwooD ET A1.

CONVEYANCE OF' GOODS THROUGH FURNACES AND THE LIKE Filed DSC. 24, 1930 8 Sheets-Shee't 7 May 16, 1933.` A. sMALLwoOD ET A1.

CONVEYANCE OF GOODS THROUGH FURNAGES AND THE LIKE Filed Deo. 24, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented May 16, 1933 ALFRED Y sMALLWooD AND JOHN l i ENGLAND PATENT OFFICEV rALLoN,A or sME'rHwIcK, NEAR BIRMINGHAM,

. ooNvEYANcE orf GooDs rrrnoUGrrrUnNAcEs AND THE LIKEy Application filed December 24, 1930, SierialgNo.

.This inventionl has reference to certain improvements' in connection with the conveyance ofr goods through furnaces and the like.4 j l In the various methods hithertoapplied for this purpose, including the use of endless conveyors which carry the work, rotary discs which form a series of live rollers, and also what is known as the reciprocating bar or Svalkiiig beam by which the goods progress step by step through the furnace but remain stationary during the return stroke of the bars, various inconveniences and disadvantages have been experienced. The endless conveyor method for instance has necessitated the heating of the conveyor parts in addition te the goods treated; the roller disc method has necessitated high` poweigand also boxes or carrier sheets for the goods; whilst the Walking beam arrangement involves the use of stationary members' for supporting the load during the return stroke of the reciprocating bars and has therefore necessitated consta-nt picking up and putting down of the load.. L The present invention is designed toi avoid these and other inconveniences and disadf vantages, and to provide an improved methlod and means of conveyance which shall beparticularly reliable and efficient and which shall therefore tend Yto a higherdegree of efficiency in the operation of the furnace or the like. Y v The invention consists in a method means of conveying goods on a reciprocating bar conveyor, characterized in that the bars are a ranged in alternated series which are each adapted for movement both at'normal level and at a lower level, and further charicterized in that each series vof lbars is lifted to and lowered from its load-carrying klevel only when movingat thesame synchronized forward speed as the alternated series fof bars5 whereby the loadvis transported uniformly and uninterruptedly bythe conveyor without anyL relative or 4differential movenient between therlaady and theV carrier bars in the direction of load traverse,l f 'A further feature of the invention isfthat the alternated series of carrier-bars:4v areV 504,562, and iii, Great Britain OctoberA 8;, 1930.

mounted uponfseparate supports the rising and falling movements of whichv are controlled by timing mechanismy geared to the mechanism which reciprocatesthe bars, these Y supports preferablyiconsisting of crossgirders disposed in ybalanced pairs fon rocker arms which are vconnected inseries to the timing mechanism.v f Y In order that the invention may be clearly 'n understood and readil carried into practice, reference may be haof7 to they accompanying explanatory sheets of drawings, in which Figures l, la, and l?) together constitute a side elevation of the invention as applied by way of yexample to'a'furnace employed for 65 continuous heating or heat treatment llof metal sheets,A bars, axles, and the like, the view Ibeing partly iny section vand being brought within reduced longitudinal limits .A K by the omission of 'n certain intermediate 70 parts.

Figure 2' isa plan of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is asectional end elevation `of the furnace, the section being'tak'en on a plane indicated by the line III- III of-Figure la.k

l Figure 4 is a perspective view showing details Vof the rocker and balanced girder mechanism for elevating and depressing the two alternated series-of lreciprocating bars constituting the moving'hearth of the fur- 80 nace, the view being in section likewise taken on a plane indicated by the line III-III of Figure la, with parts of thel furnace setting omitted for facility of' illustration. Y

Figure 5 is a partly sectional side elevationof themechanism for controlling the reciprocation of the two alternated series of bars and for controlling and timing their balanced rising and falling movements.

Figure v6 is a plan ofthe mechanism shown'inFigure 55 but with the casing cover removed. Y Y Y i Y In one method ofcarrying the invention into effect, as applied in connection with a furnace of the kind illustrated and hereinbefore referred to, the hearth fof the furl nace is constituted overthe whole-or thegreater p'artof its width by longitudinallyr reciprocating bars arranged sideby side in 10Q two alternated series 1 and 2 extending throughout the preheating chamber 3., the main heating chamber 4, the cooling chamber 5, and the loading and unloading ext-ensions 6 and 7 at opposite ends, the one series of bars being movable in a forward direction whilst the other series of intermediately alternated hars are completing the return stroke at a slightly lower level. The mechanism is so arranged that whilst the metal sheets or goods are making forward progress on the one alternated series of bars at thc higher' level, the intermediately alternated bars complete their backward stroke and also reverse and assume a forward velocity equal to that of the hars which for the time being are carrying' the load, and after assuming such equal velocity these intermediate bars rise and take the load from the first-mentioned series of bars, which are then approaching the end of their forward stroke in readiness for the same return cycle at the lower level as the intermediate bars which have just assumed the carrying of the load and which contin ue to move forward at the higher level until they in turn reach the end of their stroke. By this means the goods under treatment move constantly, uniformly, and uninterruptedly through the entire length of the furnace and its associated cooling chamber. The speed of movement-of the bars 1 and 2 in a load-carrying direction need never exceed the normal rate of travel of the goods through the furnace,

whereas in the case of the intermittent walking beam type of conveyor it has been necessary for the bars to assume a speed greatly in excess of the average speed of the goods through the furnace.

The alternated series of reciprocating bars 1 and 2 are furnished, on the parts located within the heating chamber 4 and preheating` chamber 3, with interlocking refractory heat-resisting blocks 8 having dovetailed attachments to the bars, lor the bars may be provided alternatively with heat-resisting metallic facings. By means of these blocks a refractory high-temperature hearth is provided which allows for the propulsion of either heavy or light loads, whichprovides an insulated bed and avoids abrasion or damage to the materials conveyed, and which at the same time eliminates heating of the mechanism as the load is heated, thus giving much higher efficiency and ensuring effective protection for the goods under treatment. The arrangement moreover is such that subject to very slight clearance the bars facilitate the provision of virtually a solid hearth.

The mechanism employed for reciproca-ting the two alternated series of bars 1 and 2 is connected by a timing to the mechanism which elevates and depreses one or other series of the hars at such times as the two series of bars are synchronous in their forward velocity, either shortly after the beginning or shortly before the end of the forward stroke. For this purpose the drive is taken from a variable-speed motor 9, through a speed-reducing gear 1() and a reciprocating gear box 11, from which the drive is transferred to the respective series of bars 1 and 2 by means of a cam roller V12 mounted on the main shaft and having a cam groove 13 into which a pair of ballbearing rollers 14 and 15 are engageable on diametrically opposite sides'of the cam roller, these rollers 14 and 15 being carried by an opposite pair of crossheads 16 and 17 having link connections 18 and 19 to a pair of cross girders 20 and 21 to which the forward ends of the two series of bars 1 and 2 are respectively attached, the form of the cam groove 13 determining the stroke of the bars and being such that the driving cam roller 12 imparts a precise forward movement at absolutely uniform speed when the bars are in load-carrying position, with a necessarily faster return movement, and as the same cam groove 13 controls both series of bars, it follows that there can be no variation in speed as between the two series of bars 1 and 2.

The two alternated series of carrier bars 1 and 2 are supported at suitable spacings on heavy cross girders 22 and 23 arranged in pairs, each girder supporting alternate lines of bars. These girders 22 and 23 are slidably supported by means of small rail tracks 24 upon adjustable ball-bearing wheels 25 mounted on the opposite ends of rocker arms 26 arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the furnace, by which means each pair of girders 22 and 23 is automatically self-balancing. The pairs of rocker arms 26 are interconnected in series by means of levers 27 and links 28, 29, and 30 having intermediate double-armed connecting levers 31, the link 28 being jointed at 32 to an oscillating frame 33 the movement of which is controlled hy a cam 34 mounted on a countershaft 35 which is driven by bevelled gear 36 from the shaft 37 carrying the main driving` cam roller 12. j

It will be seen that by thus arranging the reciprocating mechanism in timing association with the balancing mechanism, it follows that if the timing gear is brought into operation only at the critical points in the Y strokes of the bars, where both series of bars are moving forward at uniform and absolutely synchronized speed, the movement' of the rocker arm 26 by the timing gear automatically transfers the load from Vone seriesof bars to the intermediately alternated series of hars in precisely the same way as if there were no reciprocatingV motionY at all and the bars were merely alternately up and down with a maximum there can be no differential action, friction,

or abrasionas between the load and therespective carrier bars, as transference ofthe load can only and does only take placeat Asuchtimes as the 'whole of the bars are moving forward at the critical and constant speed of the load,`these conditions beiiigfdue to absolute interlocking of the reciprocating mechanism with the timing or liftinglmechanism. Y Y

Y The `reciprocating and timing mechanism is also so disposed as to permit of reversal ofl the direction of tra-vel of the vgoods through the furnace, this arrangement being of4 particular service kin the application of the invention to ai single-ended chamber, where theload requires .to be admitted. in one direction and, after necessary treatment, to bel discharged from the chamber in the opposite direction.. Moreover the bars instead ofbeing straight may befappropriately curved so that the system may be adapted for the conveyance of goods through circular chambers. c c

The furnace hereinbefore described has the following Yimportant advantages i (a) The metalgsheets or goodsare heated without the introduction of dead load (hitherto usually of higlily'expensive heat-resisting metal), this arrangement with proper combustion conditions, giving the maximum thermal efliciency attainable. l

(Z9) `VAll mechanism is eliminated from the heat Zone, so that ordinary means of lubrication are'practicable without water-cooling or other means which extract heat from thc furnace proper.; Y i y s v(c) The Ytransference of the goods i effected. in such a manner-as to reliminate the possibility -of scratching vor` surface marking, thereby avoiding the use of carrier sheets, carrier bars, or trays. j Y V n (d) The means of transportation oi conveyaiice is of such a character as t-o enable sheets or other goods of eitherthe lightest ror the heaviest-gauge to be handled with equal facilityfand eiiiciency.

(c) `There isno restriction in the length of theA goods to beliandled, and where a wide yhearth area is. used thev saine'is adapted to` accommodate for Y instance two narrow sheets, thus utilizing the whole of the hearth area- Y (f) The conveying mechanism is of such a form that, when sheets are being handled, the maximum degree of flatness is ensured even in the case of light gauges, so that no y sagging or consequent buckling of the sheets Call OCCHI'.

(g) The speed of conveyance is readily K adjustable tosuit .the requirements andA characteristics of the load.

(It) By reason of the form anddisposition of the conveying mechanism, thelabor and cost of maintenance is reduced to a minimum, being due only to ordinary mechanicalV wear of-the bearings operating under cool conditions.

' The through put capacity of the fur-"i nace isvery substantially increased without any'corresponding increase either in fuel consumption or in the effective hearth area.

It will be understood that the constructional features of the conveyor may be appropriately varied,l particularly as regards the balancing orinounting of the reciprocating Vbars and the ltiming of their movements, without departing from the scope of l. Ak conveyor of .the'reciprocating bai"VV type, comprising alternated series of carrier bars each adapted for movement'atnormal level and at a lower level,vin combination withmechanism whereby each series ofl bars is liftedinto and lowered from its load-carrying level only when movingv at'the'same synchronized forward speed as .the other alternated series of bars,-thus enabling the load'to vbe transported uniformly` and uninterruptedly by the conveyor without 'any' relative or differential movement betweenv the load andthe carrier bars in lthe direction of load traverse.

2. A 'conveyor ofthe reciprocating-bar type, comprising two alternated series of 5 carrier bars, mechanism for vcontrolling the reciprocation of saidrbars, balanced pairs of 'Across girders supporting the respective series ofbars so as to adapty eachseries for niove-V` ment at normal .level and ata lowerv level, and timing mechanism geared direct to said reciprocation-controlling mechanismv so as tov control the lifting and loweringmovement-s of s aidgirders, whereby eachfseries vof carrier bars is lifted into and lowered from its load-carrying ,levelf only when moving at the same synchronized forward speedas the other alternated series of bars, thus enabling the load to be transported `uniformly anduniiiterruptedly by the conveyor without any relative or differential movement between the load and the carrier bars in the -direction of Vload traverse.

Y 3. A conveyor lofjthe reciprocating lbai' type, comprising two alternated series of care rier bars, cross girders supporting v,the respective series of bars, rocker, arms supporting saidgirders inbalanced pairs so asto adapt each series ofbars for movement atwnornial level and aty a'llowe-r level, a-f" driving cam roller, axcam groove in said V45. tion of load traverse.

i the said carrier bars, to thereby provide an in alternating relationship to the other mi gitudinal movement to the starting position,

: same longitudinal speed as the other strucroller, mechanism actuated from the same cam groove for separately reciprocating the two series of bars without any relative variation in speed, and timing cam mechanism geared to said driving cam 'roller so as to actuate said rocker arms for control of the lifting and lowering movements of said balanced girders, whereby each series of carrier bars is lifted into and lowered from its loadcarrying level only when moving at the same synchronized forward speed as the other alternated series of bars, thus enabling the load to be transported. uniformly and uninterruptcdly by the conveyor without any relative or differential movement between the load and the carrier bars in the direction of load traverse.

4:. A furnace or the like of the continuous conveyor type, comprising carrier bars arranged. in alternated series extending throughout the entire length both of the furnace and of any extensions thereof so as to constitute a continuous hearth, in combination with mechanism for separately reciprocating said alternated series of bars, cross girders supporting the respective' series of bars, rocker arms supporting said girders in bala-need pairs so as to adapt each series of bars for movement at normal hearth level and at a lower level, and timing mechanism geared to said reciprocationcontrolling mechanism so as to actuate said rocker arms for control of the lifting and lowering movements of said balanced girders, whereby each series of reciprocating carrier bars is lifted to and lowered from its load-carrying hearth level only when moving at the same synchronized forward speed as the other series of bars, thus enabling the load to be transported uniformly and uninterruptedly from one end to the other of the hearth without any relative or differential movement between the load and the respective series of carrier bars in the direc- 5. A furnace or the like of the continuous conveyor type in accordance with claim 1, including interlocking facing blocks of refra-ctoryheat-resisting material attached to insulated high-temperature moving hearth.

6. A conveyor mechanism comprising a pair of cooperating load carrying structures, and means for imparting to each structure structure upward movement to a predetermined level, longitudinal movement in one direction at"y said level, subsequent downward movement, and thereafter return lonsaid means being effective to raise each of the structures to the predetermined level prior to lowering of the other structure, to impart to the structure being raised the ture by the time the structure being raised has reached the level of the other structure, and to move both structures longitudinally in the same direction and at the same rate'of speed during the time that the structures are disposed at the predetermined upper level.

7. A conveyor mechanism comprising a pair of cooperating load carrying structures, means for alternately raising said structures to a common level and lowering them below said level, and means for imparting Vlongitudinal movement to each structure in one direction when it is at its upper level and for imparting return longitudinal movement thereto when itis at a lower level, said first mentioned means being effective to raise each supporting structure to the upper level prior to lowering of the other supporting structure to the lower level., and said second mentioned means being eective to impart to each supporting structure as it is raised the same longitudinal speed as the other structure by the time the structure being raised has reached the level of the other structure and to move both supporting structures longitudinally in the same direction and at the same rate of speed when both of said structures are disposed at the upper level.

8. A conveyor mechanism as set forth in claim 6 in which the means for imparting longitudinal movement in both directions to both of the load carrying structures comprises a single cam. l

9. The method ofv operating a conveyor mechanism of the type comprising separate load carrying structures, which consists in alternately raising and lowering said structures to cause them to alternately support the load, imparting longitudinal load advancing movement to each structure when the same is in a raised position, imparting return longitudinal movement to each structure when the samey is in its lowered-position, bringing each load carrying structure during its raising movement up to the same longitudinal speed as the other load carryin structure, and moving both structures longitudinally at the same load advancing speed when said structures are in their upper or load transfer and transporting posi-

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