US2184610A

US2184610A - Coating apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2184610A
Application number: US133518A
Authority: US
Inventors: George T Church
Original assignee: FRETZ MOON TUBE Co Inc
Current assignee: FRETZ MOON TUBE Co Inc; FRETZ-MOON TUBE COMPANY Inc
Priority date: 1937-03-29
Filing date: 1937-03-29
Publication date: 1939-12-26
Anticipated expiration: 1956-12-26

Description

Dec. 26, 1939. e. 'r. CHURCH COATING APPARATUS Filed March 29; 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 an IN VENT OR. 6507265 7-" CHURCH ATTORNEYS Dec. 26, 1939. CHURCH 2,184,610

COATING APPARATUS Filed March 29, 1937 INVENTOR. GEOE'GF 7- cHwE'cH ATTORNEYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES COATING APPARATUS George T. Church, Butler, Pa., assignor to The Fretz-Moon Tube Company, Inc., Butler, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 29,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of applying coating material to pipes, bars and the likepand more particularly to new and improved apparatus for handling articles during the coating operation.

This invention is particularly adapted to a process of coating pipes and the like wherein the pipes are coated by immersion in a bath of molten metal, for example, galvanizing material.

length of pipe should remain in the bath of coating material for a period of time, determined by the thickness of the coating desired and the type of material used, and that each length of pipe be subjected to the coating bath for the same length of time. Where such practice is not followed the coated articles may have non-uniform coatings, or brittle coatings which readily flake or peel oif, or the articles may become warped or distorted due to being subjected to the coating bath for too great a length of time.

Where apparatus made in accordance with the present invention is employed in coating pipe with molten metal a pipe having a uniform, closely adherent ,coating is produced. Brittle coatings which do not adhere to, or are not alloyed with, the surface of the pipe are avoided, and furthermore the pipes are substantially straight when discharged from the coating bath.

In the drawings-accompanying and forming a part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of apparatus-constructed in accordance with the present inven-,

tion,

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, I

Figure 4 is an enlarged front view illustrating the timing mechanism for operating the switch of the reversible motor circuit, and

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the ep paratus shownin Figure 4. i

In the drawings, Figures 1 to 3,.inclusive, there is illustrated apparatus made in accordance with the present invention including an elongated tank or pot 2 of .suificient size capable of holding a plurality of pipes A and containing the molten metal for coating the pipes. The pipes suitable table 4 positioned along one side of the tank. In moving through the tank 2 the pipes which slope downwardlyfrom the entry side of In such a process, it is highly desirable that each are introduced laterally into the tank 2 from a' 1937, Serial No. 133,518

the tank to a point below the discharge side of the tank. Each of the supporting members 6, 6a and 6b is formed with a substantially horizontal portion 8 upon which the pipes rest prior to their removal from the tank. The horizontal portion 8 of the supporting member 6 is preferably disposed at a lower level than the horizontal portions of the supporting members Ba and 6b to facilitate the up ending of the pipes as they are being withdrawn from the tank. Vertically disposed above each of the supporting members 6, 6a and 6b is arranged a guiding device [0, Ilia and Nb, respectively, which cooperates with the inclined surface of the supporting members to form a passageway along which the pipes may travel in the tank. This passageway assures that the pipes will move in the proper sequence in the tank, and further, that the pipes will be maintained completely submerged below the surface of the molten metal while so disposed in the tank.

. The guiding devices l0, Illa and Illb include a platel2 having a lower edge surface inclined at an angle complemental with the upper inclined surface of its associated supporting member. To make the device adaptable for coating pipes of different diameters the plate I2 is preferably mounted for vertical movement so that the passageway may be changed accordingly.

The guiding devices are supported above the tank 2 on a super-structure, at spaced points therealong. This super-structure consists of spaced longitudinally extending vertically disposed plates l4 and I6, which are preferably connected together at their upper ends by a- U- shaped beam l8. The guiding devices are mounted on the upper edge surface of the plates I4 and l6 and each device includes a pair of transversely extending spaced I-beams 20 which support therebetween a pair of spaced bearing or guiding blocks 22. The bearing blocks 22 are adapted to slidably receive the upper ends of hangers 24, and 24a which are secured to the guide plate l2 as at 26. Forraising and lowering the plate ii! the hangers 24 and 24a have formed 5 thereon racks .28 and 2811, respectively, which -en'- gage with :pinions 3!) and 30d" mounted on 'the' blocks 22. The pinions 30 of the spaced guiding devices l0, -l0a and lb are operatively connected together by shafts 32, and the pinions 30a are connected by the shafts 32a. Intermediate the

pinions

30 and 30a of the guiding device III are a pair of spurgears 34, one of which is mounted on one end'of the shaft 36. The other end of the shaft 3615 provided with a hand wheel 38. Rotation of the hand wheel 38 mounted on the end of the shaft 36 rotates the spur gears 34 which in turn

rotate pinions

30 and 30a, whereby raising or lowering of all the plates I2 may be accomplished, resulting in the passageways between each of the supporting members 6, 6a and 6b and their complemental guide plates l2 being substantially equal. The plate I2 is guided in its vertical movement between spaced guides 40 secured to one surface of the plate l4 and between spaced guides 42 depending from the lower surface of beam [8.

In the coating of pipes where it is desired to obtain a uniform product having a closely adherent coating it is highly important that the pipes be subjected to the coating material for a. predetermined length of time. To obtain these desired results the pieces of pipe should be introduced into the tank of molten metal one at a time, should remain immersed-in the coating material a predetermined period of time and should be withdrawn from the tank in the same manner in which they were introduced. For this purpose, as well as to obtain maximum production from the device, a plurality of reciprocating

pusher rods

44, 44a and 441) are employed to introduce into and move the pipes through the molten metal in the tank.

The

pusher rods

44, 44a and 44b are preferably flanged on their lower surface and when operatively positioned, straddle and ride upon the' supporting members 6, 6a and 6b, respectively. The pusher rods are made of different lengths, for example the rod 44a is longer than the rod 44 and rod 44b longer than rod 44a so that the pipes will be moved along the passageway in an angular position. This permits the molten metal to run freely upwardly through the pipes causing their inner surfaces to be thoroughly coated.

For reciprocating the pusher rods there is secured to the end of each rod arack 46. which slidably engages in spaced guiding or supporting

blocks

48 and 58 integrally formed with a bearing bracket 54 which is mounted on the outwardly extending end of the transverse beams 20. A pinion 55 mounted in bearings 56 and splined to the longitudinally extending shaft 58 is positioned between each set of

guide blocks

48 and 58 in engagement with the racks 46. The end of the driving shaft 58 is connected to a speed reducing unit 601which is operatively connected to a reversible motor 62 through a variable speed changing device 64 which controls the rate of speed of the pusher rods.

The length of the stroke of the pusher arms is controlled by the mechanism illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings. This mechanism comprises a gear wheel 66 driven by means of a pinion 68 carried on an extension of the shaft 10 of the speed reducing unit 68. On one face of the gear wheel 66 are positioned outwardly extending pins 12 and I4 engageable with the end of a rocker arm 16 pivotally mounted on a shaft 18 extending outwardly from the panel which carries the reversing switch 82 controlling the circuit to the motor 62. The pins 12 and 14 may be positioned at various positions on the face of type of pipe being coated.

. 64 which controls the rate of travel of the pusher rods and the mechanism which determines the length of stroke of the rods, it is possible to fix a definite time period during which each pipe is disposed within the tank. This period can be readily adjusted to suit the particular size and In the operation of the device a plurality of pipes are positioned on the table 4 and an operator rolls them one at a time onto the supporting members 6, 6a and 6b between each stroke of the

pusher rods

44, 44a and 44b, the pusher rods being at the end of its return stroke as each pipe is placed on the ends of the supporting members. When the pipe is positioned on the upper end of the supporting members it is engaged by the end of the

pusher rods

44, 44a and 44b and forced under the surface of the molten metal in the tank 2. In view of the fact that the pusher rods are of different lengths the pipe is forced into the bath on an angle which permits the molten metal to flow upwardly through the pipe thereby completely coating the inner surface thereof.

The pipes are moved along the passageway formed between the supporting members and the plates I! by the pusher rods and come to rest on the horizontal portions 8 of the supporting members. By the time the pipes have reached this position the inner and outer surfaces thereof have been completely coated, they are then picked up by an operator and one end brought into engagement with the magnetic roller 92 which draws the pipe from the tank and passes it on to subsequent manufacturing operations.

Having thus described the invention what is desired to obtain by Letters Patent is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for coating pipes comprising a tank for molten metal, means defining a passage-way along which pipes may travel broadside in sequence into the tank, means including reciprocating pusher rods for moving pipes along said passageway, means for positively reciproeating said pusher rods at the same speed in op-.

posite directions, and means for varying the length of travel of said rods.

2. Apparatus for coating pipes comprising a tank for molten metal, means defining a passage-way along which pipes may travel broadside in sequence into the tank, means including reciprocating pusher rods for moving pipes along 'said passageway, means for positively reciprocating said pusher rods at the same speed in 0p posite directions, and separate means for varying the speed and length of travel of said rods.

GEORGE T. CHURCH.