US1944824A - Trunnion structure for ladles - Google Patents

Description

JamZB, 1934. w. DE FRIES TRUNNION STRUCTURE FOR LADLES Filed Nov. 12, 1931 INVENTOR Patented Jan. 23, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRUNNION STRUCTURE FOR LADLES Application November 12, 1931 Serial No. 574,506

12 Claims.

The present invention relates broadly to structures eifective for the handling of material, and more particularly to an improved trunnion mounting for use in ladles and similar articles provided for the conveying, handling or transporting of molten metal. The term ladle is hereinafter used generically as a word of definition including different containers for the contemplated purpose, irrespective of the particular shape, size, construction or method of transporting the same.

Ladles as ordinarily constructed for the purpose herein contemplated are either of the type adapted to be transported by means of a car, ;or carried about from place to place by means of a crane. In either case trunnions must be provided to afford the means of supporting the ladle, whether such trunnions cooperate with trunnion bearings or with ladle hooks.

The present invention has for one of its objects the provision of an improved trunnion mounting and structure whereby greater rigidity and strength are obtained with a considerable saving of weight.

It is customary in the art to provide ladles with so-called spacers or spacer bars. These are usually of cast metal adapted to surround the central portion of the ladle structure and serve both in the capacity of reinforcing means for the body and to provide-sufficient body for the formation of trunnions. Not infrequently the trunnions are cast integrally with the so-called spacers.

In accordance with the present invention the necessity for such spacers is entirely eliminated, thus effecting an elimination in the weight incident thereto and necesssarily producing a ladle of given capacity which will represent a less dead load either on the trunnion bearings or ladle hooks. In actual practice it has been found that this saving in weight alone may amount to as much as 30% as compared with previously recognized structures.

In the accompanying drawing there are shown for purposes of illustration only, certain preferred embodiments of the present invention. In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through a portion of a ladle having a trunnion in accordance with 'one embodiment of my invention secured in position therein;

Figure 2 is a partial elevational view of the construction illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 1 illustrating another embodiment of the invention with a laminated shell structure;

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the inner end of the trunnion of Figures 3 and 4.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, there is illustrated a portion of a ladle shell 2 having an outwardly pressed perforated portion 3 directly formed therein and adapted to constitute a trunnion seat. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a similar seat will be provided on the diametrically opposite side, not shown, of the ladle body. Adapted to be inserted in the seat by a longitudinal or axial movement, is a trunnion 4 having a flange 5 adapted to limit the inward movement of the trunnion and bear against the outer end 6 of the portion 3. This end portion 6 is preferably machined to provide a substantially plane vertically extending seating surface, thus constituting a rigid abutment to which the flange 5 may be welded as indicated at 7.

The trunnion having been thus positioned, interlocking wedges or keys 8 are inter-engaged therewith. These keys are of such shape as to provide an extension 9 adapted to cooperate with a suitably shaped depression in the trunnion, and an outer curved surface 10 adapted to bear against the portion 3 of the ladle shell. They also have inwardly projecting portions 11 adapted to engage in suitable recesses in a cover plate 12. This cover plate having been applied, it may be welded around its entire periphery as indicated at 14 to further reinforce and stiffen the structure.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the inner plate in combination with the keys 8 forms an inner bearing for the inner end of the trunnion, while the outwardly pressed seat portion 3 forms an outer bearing. While the two bearings are not necessarily continuous, they do constitute in effect an elongated bearing support for the inner end of the trunnion resisting any tendency of the trunnion to yield in any direction. This yielding tendency is further resisted by the provision of the flange 5. The keys or wedges 8 not only interlock the trunnion with the ladle shell so as to eifectively resist any rotational tendency thereof, but they are so shaped as to actually preclude any outward movement of the trunnion in a direction axially thereof.

Outside of the flange 5, the trunnion body may be shaped to receive a bushing 15 mounted exteriorly of, and rotatable on which, is a sleeve 16.

The sleeve is herein illustrated as formed with in enlarged outer end 17 for the purpose of preventing a ladle hook from slipping outwardly from supporting relationship with the sleeve.

For retaining the sleeve and bushing in position, the outer end 18 of the trunnion may be threaded to receive an internally threaded. collar 19. The collar having been applied, it may be locked against rotation by a suitable key or keys 2%.

As is customary in the art, the trunnion may also be formed on its outer end with lugs 21 providing a key way adapted to cooperate with a suitable locking bar on the ladle hook to prevent undesirable rotation between the ladle and hook.

In Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the drawing there is illustrated a slightly modified embodiment of the invention as applicable more particularly to a ladle car of the type having a trunnion cooperating with a rack or gear by means of which the ladle is rotated. The structure shown in these figures further differs from the showing of Figures 1 and 2 in that the ladle itself is shown as being of laminated construction comprising an inner shell 22 and an outer shell 23. The outer shell is illustrated as being pressed outwardly to provide a bearing portion 24 similar to the portion 3 before described.

Mounted in position within the bearing portion 24.- is a trunnion 25 herein illustrated as having a squared or angular cross section at its inner end 26 to cooperate with a similarly shaped opening in the inner shell 22. In this manner an interlock is provided directly between the inner shell and the trunnion in such manner as to tend -to resist tortional or turning movements of the trunnion relatively to the ladle.

For further interlocking the trunnion with the ladle shell proper, I have shown keys or wedges .27 similar in construction and function to the wedges 8. Due to the fact that these keys also provide an abutment against the portion 24, they tend to directly resist endwise movement of the trunnion. Furthermore, since they are interlocked both with the trunnion and with the inner shell 22, they further cooperate with the inner end of the trunnion in preventing any rotational movement of the trunnion relatively to the shell.

g The trunnion is herein shown as carrying a gear segment 28 having teeth cooperating with a rack 29, and also having a smooth wheel-like portion 30 cooperating with a track 31 adjacent the rack. From this construction, the necessity of actually interlocking the trunnion and ladle so as to prevent relative rotational movement therebetween will be more fully appreciated.

With all forms of the invention there is provided a trunnion mounting characterized by the I, provision of an elongated seat, herein illustrated 6G- as composed of spaced bearing portions. The total effectiveness of the seat is distributed, however, over a substantial portion of the length of the trunnion, thus tending most effectively to prevent any bending tendency in a direction sub stantially normal to the trunnion axis. Each structure is further characterized by the provision of an inner plate serving in the dual capacity of providing an inner seat, and preventing rotational tendency of the trunnion by reason of the It interlocked cooperative engagement therewith. as an incidental feature, it is to be observed that such plates also tend to present a smoother inner Wall structure, thus facilitating, to some extent,

h the application of the refractory lining which is usually provided.

In both forms or my invention there are also provided keys or wedges which assist in interlocking the trunnion with the ladle itself and which assist in preventing both axial movement of the trunnion, particularly in an outward direction, and rotational movement of the trunnion relatively to the ladle to which it is secured.

The advantages of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing description, which description also shows that the utility or" the invention is not limited to the particular form and arrangement of the parts shown, changes being permissible therein without departing from the spirit of the present invention or the scope of my broader claims.

I claim:

1. A ladle shell having an integral outwardly projecting perforated portion providing a recess, a trunnion seated therein, and a plate cooperating with the inner end of the trunnion.

2. A ladle shell having an integral projecting portion with an opening therein providing a recess, a trunnion seated therein, and a plate providing a seat for the inner end of the trunnion, said plate and trunnion being interlocked against 190 relative rotational movement.

3. In a ladle, a shell having an outwardly pressed seat forming portion with an opening inits outer end, said opening also being shaped to form an end seat, a trunnion positioned therein and having a flange bearing against said end seat, and a plate secured to said shell and constituting a seat for the inner end of said trunmen.

4. In a ladle, a ladle shell having a portion of the ladle shell displaced outwardly and perforated to provide a recess, said recess constituting a seat forming portion, a trunnion seated therein, a flange on said trunnion bearing against the outer endof said seat forming portion,'a.nd a 115 plate interlocked with the inner end of said trunnion. Y

5. In a ladle, a'ladle shell having an integral outwardly projecting perforated portion provid-' ing a recess, a trunnion positioned therein, a flange on said trunnion bearing against the outer end of said portion, and a plate embracing the inner end of said trunnionsubstantially in the plane of the ladle shell.

6. In a ladle, a shell having an integral outwardly projecting portion with an opening there: in providing a recess, a trunnion welded in position therein, and a plate providing a seat for the inner end of said trunnion and secured to said shell.

7. In a ladle, a ladle shell having an integral outwardly projecting perforated portion providing a recess, a trunnion positioned therein and provided with an inner end of angular cross section, and a plate secured to said ladle shell and cooperating with such portion of angular cross section to prevent rotational tendency of the trunnion.

8. In a ladle, a ladle shell having an integral outwardly projecting perforated portion constituting an intermediate seat for a trunnion, a trunnion in said seat, and a plate secured to the inner wall of the ladle shell and constituting a second seat for said trunnion spaced from said first mentioned seat.

9. In a ladle, a ladle shell having an integral outwardly projecting portion with an opening constituting an intermediate seat for a trunnion, a trunnion in said seat, a plate secured to the inner wall of the ladle shell and constituting a 150 and interlocking means between the trunnion and said structure, said means comprising a series of keys disposed around said trunnion and bearing against said outwardly projecting portion.-

12. A laminated ladle shell having inner and outer plates, the outer plate having an integral outwardly projecting perforated portion, a trunnion seated in said portion, and interlocking means between the trunnion and said inner plate of the laminated ladle shell.

WALTER DE FRIES.

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