US2222941A

US2222941A - Work handling device

Info

Publication number: US2222941A
Application number: US297906A
Authority: US
Inventors: Malcolm H Frceman
Original assignee: Aluminum Company of America
Current assignee: Howmet Aerospace Inc
Priority date: 1939-10-04
Filing date: 1939-10-04
Publication date: 1940-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 1957-11-26

Description

Nov. 25, 1940- M. H. FREEMAN WORK HANDLING DEVICE Filed Oct. 4. 1939 INVENTOR.

Mmom H. FREEMAN,- H

ATTORNEIY. V

' Patented'Nov. 26, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,222,941 WORK HANDLING nnvrcn Malcolm B. Freeman, Maryville, Tenn.,assignor to Aluminum Company of America, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application mm 4, 1999, Serial No. 297,906

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improved work handling devices. More particularly it relates to work handling tongs adapted to grasp and carry articles such as coils, slabs, ingots, building materials, packages, and the like, especially in a form adapted for use with a.-crane,

hoist, or other type of lift.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved workhandling device adapted to be 0 associated with a lift and ,adapteii to clamp, raise, convey, and, deposit articles'of varying size and shape, particularly articles which are relatively heavy. A further object is to provide such a work handling device as may be quickly and conveniently moved to and from working posi tion and which may be conveniently caused to engage and disengage the work. j

Another object of the invention is the provision in a work handling device of means whereby an article maybe engaged with its principal axis lying in a given plane, for instance a horizontal plane, and thereafter lifted, conveyed if desirable, and deposited in .the same or different location with its principal axis in a plane difierent from its first given plane, for instance in a vertical plane. i Other objects, which may be obtained with advantage eithersingly or in combination, are to provide in a work handling device means for 0 pivotally supporting the work engaging elements at or above the center of gravity thereof,'m'eans for limitingthe angle of relative rotation be:-

tween the work engaging portion of the device and the lifting handle or bail therefor, means 05 carried by the device for actuating the gripping jaws, and meahsfor conveniently adiusting the working ppsition of the jaws relative to each other to accommodate work pieces'of varying size and shape. Further objects and advantages The invention is particularly designed, in the preferred embodiment here shown and described, for association with metal coiling apparatus and for use in intermediate coiled strip handling operations. In this form it may be referred to as a coil handling tongs and may be used to pick up a coil of metalstrip resting on a coiler, conveyor, or the like, to convey the coil to a desired destination, and to deposit the coil' on at truck, 50 conveyor, or other apparatus. For lifting a coil from a coiler to a truck, it is often desirable to turn the coil through an angle of 90,from a position on the coiler in which its principal axis is horizontal to a position on-the truck in which 55 its principal axis is vertical. The desirability 6Q stacked and have'less tendency ta'be injured of so handling and arranging the coil will occur for many reasons in strip processing operations, one reason often being ,that *it, is desirable .to transport coils on end since they are more easily will appear 'as the description proceeds.

of turning a coil through 90 it has. heretofore been necessary to employ special equipment or to maneuver the coil manually while it is held by a crane. i

The present invention is here described in its preferred embodiment as a coil handling tongs adapted to automatically perform the 90 turnover,- function, and comprises briefly a work handling tongs pivotally supported from a bail adapted to be carried by a crane or other type I of lift, the tongs including oppositely disposed jaws normally resting with their work engaging axis in a given plane and adapted when lifting a coil ,to automatically rotate with the coil into the desired plane. mounted on a main frame to which the bail is pivoted and are adapted to be opened or closed The clamping jaws are on one radial layer of coil thicknesses, and the main frame .carries means for opening and closing the jaws, means for adjusting the relative open position of the jaws independently of the opening and closing means-and suitable stops for limiting the angle of rotation between'the frame and the bail. It has been found that by pivotally connecting the bail to the main frame at or above its center of gravity, especially in connection with suitable stops on the mainframe for limiting the positions of the bail with.re-

spect thereto, the tongs maybe conveniently moved about with their unloaded jaws open and. in balance. In this condition they are conveniently arranged for engagement with a coil, and

yet they may be clamped to a coil and lifted, the coil unbalancing the apparatus and automatically assuming a position approximating 90 from its former position.

With reference now to the drawing, the preferred, embodiment of the invention may be more particularly described.

In the drawing; I I

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a coil handling tongs; I

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation, partlyin section,

of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Tig. 3 is an enlarged section through the cross arm and rotary gland, corresponding to a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section through one hinge member and the packing joint associated therewith, corresponding to a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2.

The apparatus comprises a bail or handle,

identified generally by the reference numeral Ill, and'having a tongued lifting portion through which an eyelet has been formed for engage: ment by a crane hook or clevis pin, the bail-sup: porting a main frame i2 through its component cross arm or hearing carrier l3, legs l4 and i5,

hinge pins 16, and hinge members IS, the hinge tegrally formed work engaging jaw 2|, a frame portion to which the reference numeral I2 is directed, and an integrally formed cylinder 22. A suitably bolted cylinder head 23 covers the outer end of cylinder 22, and a piston identified generally by the reference numeral 25 is movable within the cylinder 22, being secured to a piston rod 26 by a suitable nut 21 andcomprising a disc 26, a cup leather 29, and a cup leather clamping ring 36 secured to the disc 28 by suitable cap screws.

The piston rod 26 is axially located at the piston end by the sliding engagement of the piston 25 within the cylinder 22 and at its opposite end by the sliding engagement of a bearing portion 32 within a bushing 33 secured within the main frame l2 adjacent the fixed jaw 2|. The piston 25 and piston rod 26 may be considered as a crosshead slidable in ways composed of the cylinder 22 and bearing portion 32, and other crosshead and way construction could be employed.

The piston rod 26 is externally threaded over.

a major portion of its length between the piston 25 and the bearing portion 32, and carries thereon an internally threaded movable jaw 35 reciprocable toward and away from the fixed jaw 2| through reciprocation of piston rod 26. The threaded portion of piston rod 26 may also have sliding movement in bushing 33. The movable.

jaw 35 may be positioned axially along the threaded portion of piston rod 26 by rotation of the piston rod, conveniently effectuated through It will appear then that rotation of the piston rod 26 will adjust the position of movable jaw 35, but the operating motion of jaw 35 is preferably obtained by means of the cylinder 22 and a return spring 38 of the compression type located within the hollow bore of piston rod 26 between a seat 39 therein and a retainer plate 40 secured as by cap screws to the main frame l2.

The jaw members 2| and 35' preferably extend at right angles to the axis of the piston rod 26, outwardly away from the main frame |2, where they may more conveniently be caused to engage a coil or other'article. For use in picking up coiled strip material the jaw members'2l and. 35 are formed with work engaging surfaces suitably concave and convex, respectively, and carry suitable composition shoes 43. and 44, respectively, likewise formed to accommodate the curvedinner and outer surfaces of coils of variable radial thickness. Thus, in the form of the invention here described, the jaw members 2| and 35 are adapted to engage a horizontal coilcylinder 22 it has been found desirable'to employ a conduit for the pressure medium through a pipe line 45 connecting to a stuffing box 46 (Fig. 3) at the top of the bail l6, and passing from the 'stufiing box through a rotary gland,

identified generally by the reference numeral 41,

into a pipe line 48 connecting to the leg I and passing therethrough into a pacln'ng joint, identified generally by the reference numeral 50, and from the packing joint 56 through a pipe line 5| to the cylinder head 23.

Reference is now particularly made to Fig. 3 wherein the connection of the pipe line 45'to the stuffing box 46 is shown, as is the construction of the rotary gland 41. The rotary gland comprises the stuffing box 46 rotatably secured to the bearing carrier l3 through the medium of a pair of ball bearings 53, the inner races of which.

are retained between a flange on the lower extremity of stuffing box 46 and a retainer ring 54 threadedly secured to the stufling box 46. Thus it will appear that the bail l0 and apparatus generally are rotatable about a vertical axis with reference to the stuffing box 46 by means of this rotary gland 41.

The rotatable pressure conduit connection through the rotary gland 41 comprises a hollow packing stem 55 rotatably supported within stuffing box 46 through the medium of packing rings 56 and packing gland sleeve 51 adjustably secured to the stufiing box 46 by suitable can screws. The aforementioned-pipe line 48 connects through a suitable coupling from the hollow packingstem 55 to the leg |5 which is also hollow for the passage of a pressure medium.

The leg |5 includes, approximately midway in its length, a three-way spring loaded pressure valve 60, having a suitable exhaust port 62, which valve is adapted to control the flow of a pressure medium to and from cylinder 22 and to be operated by a removable square head wrench 6|. The hollow leg l5 connects to a hinge stuffing box 64 carrying the hinge pin 6. The stuffing box 64 provides a rotatable gland for the passage of the pressure medium from the bail ID to the cylinder 22 and is comprised of a hollow packing stem 65, a packing ring 66, a packing member 61, and a packing gland nut 68 adapted to rotatably retain the packing stem 65 within the stufling box 64., Suitable radial ports and an internal conduit are provided within the packing stem 65 for connecting to a passage within stuffing box 64 connecting to the leg |5 (Fig. 4). The aforementioned pipe line 5| is connected to the packing stem 65 at one end, and through a suitable coupling'is connected tothe cylinder head 23, the cylinder head 23 having a suitable port therethrough for the pa sage of the pressure medium into the chambe behind the piston 25.

From the above description it will appear that the work gripping jaws 2| and 35 are supported by a main frame I 2 which is pivotally supported, through the medium of the aforementioned hinge pins-l6, to the bail or handle III for rotation about a horizontal axis. It is to be also noted that the bail I0 is pivoted for rotation about a vertical axis to a tongued lifting portion of stuffing box 46. Thus the-apparatus may be readily the vertical axis and the degree of freedom of motion and balancing of the parts around the horizontal axis, other means couldbe employed for supplying the pressure medium to cylinder has been provided on the upper portion of the cylinder 22 and also adapted to abut against the leg I. These lugs 10 and stop" are desirable,

along with the location of the hinge pins I6 approximately at or above the center of gravity of the apparatus carried by the main frame I2, so that a balanced condition of the tongs will obtain when in either of its extreme positions, suchas in to an apparatus adapted to lift coils from the Fig. 1; but arrangements could be'employed eliminating lugs and stop I l, or eliminating the approximate center of gravity swinging of main frame l2.

Viewing the tongs as shown in-Fig. 1, it is contemplated that acoil having its axis running from left to right through the area near the cylinder 22 could be engaged at its upper outer surface by the jaw member 2| and at its upper inner surface by the jaw member 35. With the tongs so engaged lifting of the bail l0 would so unbalance the apparatus as to cause the main frame I 2 and the lifted coil to turn as'viewed in Fig. 1 in a counterclockwise direction until balanced or until stopped, at an angle approximating 90", by the stop H. The tongs and its load could then be transported to a desired position and the coil deposited on end.

- The invention has been described with respect horizontal position and deposit them in the vertical position. It will be apparent that a moderate rearrangement of the embodiment of the invention here shown could be employed for performing the reverse operation or for performing like operations on the same or other articles. It is intended that the appended claims be read with the understanding that various modifications and changes in the relationship of the parts of the invention maybe made without departing from their nature or scope.

What is claimed is:

1. A work handling device comprising-a bail, a main frame pivotally swung from said bail about a single axis, work gripping jaws supported in said main frame, and power means supported by said main frame for positively actuating at leastone of said jaws to grip the work.

2. A work handling devic comprising a ball, a main frame pivotally swung from said bail about a single axis, work gripping jaws supported in said mainframe, power 'means supported by said main frame for positively actuating at least one of said jaws to grip the work, and stop means on said main frame for limiting extreme positions of relative rotary movement between said ball and said main frame.

3. A work handling device comprising a ball, a main frame pivotally swung above its center of gravity from said bail, work gripping j'aws supported in said main frame, pressure means supported by said main frame for actuating at least one of said jaws to grip the work, and external means for directing pressure to said pressure means through said ball and said main frame.

4. A work handling device-comprising a bail, a main frame pivotally swung from said bail about a single axis, work gripping jaws supported in said main frame, means for adjusting the maximum opening between said jaws, and separate power means supported by said main frame for positively actuating at least one of said jaws to grip the work.

'5. A work handling device comprising a bail, a

main frame pivotally swung above its center of gravity from said bail, work gripping jaws supported in said main frame and located substantially above and to one side of its center. of gravity, said jaws being adapted to grip work and positively hold the same dependingly therefrom, and a pressure cylinder mounted on said main frame for actuating at least one of said jaws to grip the work, whereby said main frame will be rotatably unbalanced when lifting the work depending from said jaws and will automatically rotate with respect to said bail toassume a new position of balance at an angle approaching a right angle with respect to its unloaded position.

6. A work handling device comprising a fixed jaw, an oppositely disposed movable jaw, means carried by said device for actuating said movable jaw, and a handle for lifting said device pivotally connected thereto near the'center of gravity thereof, whereby said device will be in rotational balance when not carrying work.

. '7. A work handling device comprising a fixed jaw, an oppositely disposed movable jaw, reciprocable power means carried by said device adapted to positively actuate said movable jaw relative to said fixed jaw for gripping the work, separate means for varying the maximum opening betweensaid jaws, and a handle for lifting said device pivotally connected thereto about a single axis.

8. A work handling device comprising a main frame, bearing portions within said main frame, a fixed jaw carried by said main frame, a reciprocable support slidable in said bearing portions, a movable jaw carried by said reciprocable support, and means on said main frame for actuating said support for gripping the work.

9. A work handling device comprising a frame,

a fixed jaw attached to said frame, ways disposedthe amplitude of reciprocation of the crosshead. 10. A device for use in associatio'n'with a lift and adapted to handle coils of material comprising a frame, a pair of oppositely disposed jaws, a reciprocable piston longitudinally disposed within said frameand adapted to open and close said jaws, adjusting means associated with at least one of said Jaws adapted to vary the maximum jaw opening, and a lifting bail pivotally connected to said frame substantially at thece'nter of gravity thereof, whereby upon lifting a coil with its axis lying in.a given position the coiland frame will automatically rotate with respect to the bail for depositing the coil with its axis at a substantial angle to its former given position.

MALCOLM H. FREEMAN