US2245425A

US2245425A - Galvanizing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2245425A
Application number: US323170A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ralph E Aungst
Original assignee: REEVES STEEL AND Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: REEVES STEEL AND Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1940-03-09
Filing date: 1940-03-09
Publication date: 1941-06-10
Anticipated expiration: 1958-06-10

Description

June 10, 1941. R. E. AUNGST GALVANIZING APPARATUS Filed March 9, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 10, 1941. R. E. AUNGST I GALVANIZING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 111,0 2 lull/gs Filed March 9, 1940 June 10, 1941.

R. & AUNGST gGALVAl II ZING APBARATUS Filed March 9, 1940 June 10, 1941.

R. E. AUNGST GALVANIZING APPARATUS s Shets-Sheet 5 Filed Marqh 9, 1940 June 10, 1941. R. E. AUNGST GALVANIZING APPARATUS Filed March 9, 1940 v e Sheets-Sheet 6 c u In @49 Patented June 10, 1941 Ralph E.

Reeves Aungst, Avondale, Ohio, asslgnor to Steel and Manufacturing Company,

Dover, Qhio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 9, 1940, Serial No. 323,110 14 Claims. (oi. 91-125) The invention relates to machines for coating pails, buckets and other pre-fabricated articles with zink, tin or other coating material.

It is known that machines have been constructed and are being satisfactorily operated for galvanizing pails, buckets and other pre-fabricated articles.

The present invention, therefore, contemplates certain improvements in the construction and operation of machines for galvanizing or otherwise coating pails and similar articles, and has for its objects the provision of a machine which will be simple and inexpensive in construction, and which will occupy a minimum amount of floor space and which will quickly, eificiently and uniformly coat the pails or other articles with spelter or other coating metal.

An object of the invention is to provide a galvanizing machine in which a rotating annulus is associated with the tank or not containing the molten coating metal, said annulus carrying a plurality of radially disposed arms which support the pails or other articles to be coated, means being provided for axially rotatingthe arms at predetermined points so as to move each pail through a number oi predetermined positions in order to properly coat the pail with metal and drain the surplus coating metal therefrom.

Another object is to provide such a machine in which the rotating annulus dips slightly below the surface of the coating metal at a point intermediate the ends of the tank or pot, a flux box being provided at one end portion of the tank so that the flux floats upon the molten metal, friction means being provided for engaging the sides of the rotating annulus so as to prevent the flux from passing to the other end portion of the tank.

A further object is to provide a novel means for supporting the pails or other articles to be coated.

A still further object of the improvement is to provide an improved scraper or skimmer for removing scale, oxide and other matter from the surface of the molten coating metal just prior to the time each ail emerges therefrom.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from the drawings and following description or which may be later referred to may be attained by constructing the improved galvanizing machine in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved galvanizing machine, parts being broken in section for the purpose of illustration;

,line 't-l, Fig. 5;

Fig. 2, a top plan view of the machine with the rotating annulus removed, parts of the mechanism being shown in section:

Fig. 3, a detail sectional view through the improved scraper or skimmer mechanism taken as on the line $-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4, a detail section of a part of the scraper or skimmer mechanism taken as on the line 6-6, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5, a fragmentary elevation of a portion of the rotating annulus with one of the radial arms supporting a pail in the position it assumes as it leaves the flux box and. enters the coating metal, the radial arm at this point being operated by one of the cam means and the axis of said radial arm being approximately on the line 5-5 shown in Figure 1:

Fig. 6, a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line M, Fig. 5;

Fig. '7, a detail sectional view taken as on the Fig. 8, a section taken as on the line 88, Fig. 1;

Fig. 9, a section taken as on. the line, 9@, Fig. 1;

Fig. 10, a side elevation of a modified form of the improved galvanizing machine with parts broken in section for thepurpose of illustration;

Fig. 11, a plan view of the form of the machine shown in Fig. 10 with the rotating annulus removed and parts broken in section;

Fig. 12, a detail sectional view of the scraper or skimmer mechanism taken as on the line l2--l2, Fig. 11;

Fig. 13, a fragmentary sectional view of the scraper mechanism taken as on the line lt-It, Fig. 11;

Fig. 14, a fragmentary elevation partly in section showing the reverse side of the rotating annulus from that shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 15, a fragmentary detail plan oi a portion of the rotating annulus with one radial arm showing a pail carried thereby; and

Fig. 16, a section taken as on the line l6-l6, Fig. 15.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts I throughout the several views.

the top of the molten coating metal at this point, the level of the fiux being indicated by the broken line F in Figure 1.

A rotatable wheel or annulus indicated generally at 22 is located above and extends into the metal pot to a point slightly below the surface of the molten metal and through the slot 23 at the inner end of the fiux box.

The annulus or rim 22 of the wheel may be connected by spokes 24 with a central hub 25 which is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 26 which may be stationary and supported at its ends by the upright brackets or pedestals 21 mounted upon opposite side walls of the tank or pct 28.

For the purpose of supporting pails, buckets or other ware to be coated, a plurality of preferably radially disposed arms indicated generally at 21 are carried by the wheel or annulus 22 each arm terminating at its outer end in the angled end portion 28 which may be located at substantially a right angle to the body portion of the arm 21.

For the purpose of accommodating pails or other articles of varying sizes the angular end 28 of each arm may be adjustable in length by providing a separate outer end portion 28a adapted to be detachably connected to the portion 28 as by a sleeve 29 and pins 30.

The detachable portions 28a may be made in varying lengths to accommodate the articles of different sizes.

Cradles are formed upon the angular portion of each arm by welding or otherwise fixing thereon a spaced pair of arcuate fingers 3| upon the ends of which the side of the pail or other article as indicated at 32 may rest as illustrated throughout the drawings, and as best shown in Figs. and 6.

For preventing any considerable endwise movement of the pail or other article upon the cradle supports, a stop finger 33 may be formed at the end of the angled portion of each arm 21 in position to substantially contact the bottom end of the pail or the like as shown quite clearly in Fig. 6.

Each radial arm 21 is longitudinally slidably mounted within a sleeve 34 rotatably mounted within a radial bore 35 in the annulus 22, the arm 21 being held against rotation relative to the sleeve by means of the pin 36 in the arm slidable within the slot 31 in the sleeve which permits longitudinal movement of the arm relative to the sleeve.

Each of the sleeves 34 preferably extends outward beyond the periphery of the annulus as shown in the drawings and has a collar or shoulder 38 fixed or formed thereon at a point spaced from its outer end for contact with the periphery of the annulus to prevent inward movement of the sleeve.

A finger 39 is fixed or formed upon the outer end of each sleeve 34 extending in the same general direction as the corresponding angled portion 28 of the radial arm 21 and being preferably slightly inclined toward the same and terminating in the outturned rounded end 40 as best shown in Fig. 6, for the purpose of cooperating with the cradle arms 3| to prevent displacement of the pail or other article carried thereby as the annulus is rotated.

A lever arm 4| is fixed to the inner end of each sleeve 34 forming a shoulder 42 at this end of the sleeve butting against the inner side of the annulus 22 and cooperating with the shoulder 38 to prevent longitudinal movement of the sleeve 34 relative to the annulus while at the same time permitting rotation of the sleeve within the annulus.

A spring 43 is positioned around the inner end of the sleeve between the arm 4| and the annulus, one end of the spring being engaged around the stop pin 44 on the corresponding lever arm 4|, as indicated at 45, the other end of the spring being hooked and engaged over the oppositeside of the annulus as shown at 46, the spring acting to normally hold the radial arm 21 and pail 32 in the position shown in Fig. 8. the stop pin 44 contacting the side of the annulus 22 as shown in said figure.

A cam 41 is fixed upon the stationary shaft 26 as by the key 48 and may contact the inner ends of the radial arms 21, or preferably, the rounded ends 49 of the sleeves 50 which are adjustabiy mounted upon the inner ends of the arms 21 as by the set screws 5|.

A coil spring 52 is located around each radial arm 21 between the shouldered lever arm 4| and the collar 53 which may be fastened upon the arm 21 as by a pin 54.

The annulus may be rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. l, by means of a drive chain 55 leading from any suitable source of power and located over the sprocket wheel 56 upon the hub portion of the annulus.

In order to confine the flux to the flux box and prevent it from passing over the surface of the molten metal at the opposite end of the tank or pot, a pair of L-shaped plates 51 is provided for frictional contact with opposite sides of the rotating annulus 22 for cooperating with the rotating annulus to effectively close the slot 8 23 in the inner end wall of the flux box.

These L-shaped plates may be mounted upon the extension 58 of one side wall of the flux box and the bracket 59 by means of pins or rods 68 fixed to the L-shaped plates 51 and slidably mounted within the tubular guides 6| carried by the extension 58 and bracket 59, coil springs 62 being located around said tubular guides and interposed between the L-shaped plates 51 and their supporting structures.

The angular ends 63 of the L-shaped plates are pressed tightly against the inner end wall of the fiux box at each side of the slot 23 by means of bolts 64 carried by the end wall of the flux .box and located through slots 65 in the angular ends 63, springs 66 being inter- 'D0sed between the heads of the bolts and the angular ends of the L-shaped plates to hold the same tightly against the inner end wall of the flux box while at the same time permitting the springs 6| to hold the main portions of the L- shaped plates 51 tightly pressed against the opposite sides of the rotating annulus from a point above the flux level to a point below the level of the molten metal.

Thus, the flux is prevented from passing through the slot 23 and along the sides of the rotating annulus to the other end of the tank or pot.

A slightly inclined stop or cam 61 is supported upon the flux box or other stationary portion of the machine in the path ofthe roller 68 upon the end of the arm 4| in position to be engaged by said roller as the pail or other article to be coated is leaving the flux box and entering the molten metal.

A cam plate 69 is supported upon the flux box extension 58 or other stationary portion of the machine in the path of the roller 8|, in position to be engaged by the roller as the pail is about to emerge'from the molten metal.

At the forward end of thecam plate 69 is a slightly inclined edge 10 leading to a recess H, the working edge of the cam then being substantially flat as at I2 terminating in the inclined edge ll.

For the purpose of removing scale, oxide, and other matter which usually floats upon the surface of the molten zink or other coating metal in order that none of this matter is deposited upon the surfaces of the pails or other articles as they emerge from; the coating metal a mechanism is included in the machine for scraping this scale and other matter from the surface of the molten metal at the point where the pails emerge therefrom.

This scraping and skimming mechanism is arranged to be operated continuously during the rotation of the annulus 22 and for this purpose a chain or other flexible endless member, as indicated at M, may be located around a sprocket wheel l5 fixed upon the hub of the annulus and around a sprocket wheel 16 upon the drive shaft ll of the scraper mechanism, said shaft being journaled in abearing 18 supported upon the extension 58 or other stationary portion of the machine.

A beveled pinion I9 may be fixed upon the shaft 7'! and meshes with a bevel pinion 80 upon the vertical shaft 8i journaled in a bearing 82 mounted upon said extension 58.

A hub 83 is fixed upon the lower end of the shaft ti and provided. with a pair of diametrically opposed tubular arms 84 upon each of which is hingedly mounted a scraper blade 85 provided with spring means 86 for normally holding the blade in vertical position. I

Two concentric arcuate guide rails M are supported within the tank slightly above the level of the molten metal, as by the radial bars 88 and tangential bars 89 connected to the top of the tank and are located in the path of the scraper blades t5, the blades being rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 2 and the forward ends of the rails ti being tapered as at 9@ so as to cause each scraper blade to be swung to a inclined position upon its axis as it moves over the guide rails, the oxide, scale, and other foreign matter being wiped from the blades as they pass over the radial bars $8, each blade dipping down below the surface of the metal to scrape the foreign matter therefrom, as it ridesofi of the curved guide rails.

In the operation of the machine as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, the annulus 22 is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1.

As each radial arm reaches the position shown at A in said figure the sleeve 59 thereon rides onto the high point or the cam 51 compressing the spring 52 and moving the arm 2? radially outward.

This is the unloading and loading station, .the coated pail being easily removed while the cradle arms 30 are separated from the finger 3t and an uncoated pail being immediately placed in position between the cradle arms and finger 3%.

Further rotation of the annulus permits the sleeve 50 to ride off of the high point of the cam 41, the spring 52 moving the radial arm 21 radially inward to hold the pail against displacement.

The pail is then carried downward and enters the flux box with its uppermost side element approximately horizontal as indicated at B, to allow free entry of the flux to the interior of the pail.

As the pail is about to leave enter the molten metal, the roller I. upon the lever arm ll engages the cam stop 81 swinging the lever arm H to the position shown in Fig. 7 and rotating the sleeve 44 and arm 21 within the annulus 22 swinging the pail to the position shown in Fig. 5, so as to permit the molten metal to flush any remaining flux from the pail.

Further rotation of the annulus causes the roller 68 to pass out of engagement with the stop cam I! and allows the spring 43 to return the lever arm ll, sleeve 34 and radial arm 21, with the pail carried thereby, to normal position, the return being gradual due to the resistance or retarding action of the molten metal.

As each pail reaches the point indicated at C, where it is about to emerge from the molten metal, the roller 68 upon the lever arm 4i rides up the inclined surface 10 of thescam 89 and into the recess II of said cam, causing the lever arm H to swing to the position shown in Fig. 9 as the annulus continues to rotate and the roller 88 rides up onto the-flat edge 72 of the cam, rotating the sleeve 34 and radial arm 21 in the annulus and swinging the pail to the position shown in Fig. 9, the pail reaching this position just as the last portion thereof leaves the molten metal and remaining in this position until it reaches the position D in Fig. 1, so as to quickly drain the surplus metal therefrom.

As the roller 68 rides down the inclined edge It of the cam, the pail is returned to the normal position, a rapid return with an abrupt stop causing the surplus metal to drain from the chime of the pail.

It should be understood that the operation of the scraper mechanism above described is so coordinated with the movement of the rotating annulus that one scraper blade 85 passes across the surface of the molten metal just prior to the time each pail emerges therefrom so that the surface of the metal is clean and no scale, oxide or other foreign matter is deposited upon the pail as it emerges from the metal.

The coated pail remains in the position shown at E until it reaches the unloading and loading station at A at which time the coating is sufficiently dried to permit the pail to be removed and a new pail placed in position upon the arm 2? in the manner above described.

In Figs. 10 to 16, inclusive, is shown a slightly modified form of the machine in which the rotating annulus 22a is mounted upon a plurality of rollers B00, carried by a bracket 416i and received within the internal annular groove M32 in the annulus.

The bracket itt may be rigidly mounted upon a stationary shaft 26a carried by the uprights Z'ia rarounted upon the" side walls of the tank or pot The flux box Eta may be of the form best shown in Fig. 11 and provided with an inward extension I03 which is located within the rotating annulus 22a as best shown in Fig. 10.

With this construction it will be seen that no slot is necessary in the side of the flux box to permit the rotating annulus to pass therethrough, and therefore, no gate or other closure.

means is necessary, the rotating annulus passing down through the flux and into the molten metal on one side of the extension or'end wall I03 of the flux box, then passing through the the flux box and p of said end wall.

Ashaft I! is iournaled through a suitable bearing I05 in the bracket llll and may be driven from any suitable source of power.

A bevel gear I06 is fixed upon said shaft and meshes with a beveled gear 101 fixed on a shaft I08 journaled in a vertical bearing I09 and having a gear H0 at its other end meshing with the ring gear ill formed or fixed upon the side 'of the rotating annulus 220;.

With this drive mechanism operating, the rotating annulus 22a may be continuously rotated at any desired speed in the direction of the arrows shown in Figs. 10 and 14. I

Radially disposed arms 21a are slidably mounted for radial movement within the rotating annulus 220, each arm 21a having an angular outer end 28 upon which is mounted a pair of curved cradle arms 3| a, a stop finger 33c being fixed to the end of said angular portion of the arm.

Sleeves 34a are rotatably mounted in bores 35a radially located in the annulus 22a, each of these sleeves having an annular flange 3% at its outer end bearing against the periphery of the annulus.

each sleeve, said arm having a disk 66b formed thereon and connected to the inner end of the sleeve 34a as by the screws M2.

A coil spring 43a is located around the reduced central portion of the sleeve 38a within the bore 350., one of the springs being connected to the annulus 22a as shown at MD and the other end of. the spring being connected to the sleeve 34a as shown at 30 whereby the arm did is normally held in the position shown at G in broken lines in Fig. 15, the stop pin Ma upon the arm a contacting the adjacent side of the annulus 22a.

An inclined finger 39a is welded or otherwise fixed upon the outer end of each sleeve 34a and cooperates with the cradle arms 3hr for retaining a pail 32a or other article thereby coated in proper position upon each arm 27a.

Each of the arms Tia-is slidably located within the corresponding sleeve 3621, a spring 52a surrounding the arm 21a and being interposed between the shoulder H3 in the sleeve, and the collar 53a upon the arm Zlafnormally holding said collar against the disk portion lib of the arm lia. Diametrically opposed slots Ill may be formed in the sleeve 34a to slidably receive opposite ends of the pin 5 carried by the arm 21a, whereby the arm may be slidably moved longitudinally relative to the sleeve, but is held against rotation relative tothe sleeve.

A cam plate 41a may be fixed upon the bracket 50! in position to engage the rounded inner ends 690 of the radial arms 21a for the purpose of slidably moving the radial arms 21a radially outward as they reach the loading and unloading station A as indicated in Fig. 10.

A cam stop 61:; is mounted upon any suitable stationary portion of the machine, such as the side wall 58a of the flux box, in the path of the arms Ila at the point where the pails leave the flux and enter the molten metal, for the purpose of swinging the arms a, and with them the sleeves 34a and radial arms 21a to the full line position shown in Figs. and 16 so that the pails assume this position as they enter the molten metal in order to flush any remaining flux therefrom.

A cam plate "d is mounted ,upon a stationary An arm a is connected to the inner end of 5 portion of the machine in the path of the arms a as the pails emerge from the molten metal in order to swing each arm Ila to the broken line position indicated at H in Fig. 15, swinging the corresponding arm 21a. and the pail 32a carried thereby to the position shown at H in Fig. 10 draining the surplus coating metal from the pail, after which the pail is quickly snapped back to the normal position to drain the chime.

A scraper mechanism for scraping or skimming oxides, scale, and other foreign matter from the surface of the molten metal just before each pail emerges therefrom is preferably provided in this form of the machine also, and the scraper mechanism shown is the same as that shown and described in detail in connection with the first form of the invention and for this reason no further description of the scraper mechanism is thought necessary and the same reference numerals are applied thereto as used in the above description in Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive.

This scraper mechanism may be operated in unison with the rotating annulus 22a by operatively connecting the chain H, thereof, to the drive shaft I04.

From the description it is believed that the I operation of the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 10 to 16, inclusive, will be obvious and it should be understood in the operation of this form of the machine the pails or other articles to be coated pass through the machine in the same manner as above described.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for coating metal articles, including a tank of molten metal, a flux box at one end of the tank for supporting fiux upon the surface of the metal, a rotating annulus supported upon a horizontal axis above the tank with its lower portion dipping below the level of the molten metal, means for rotating the annulus, radial arms carried by the annulus, means upon the radial arms for supporting articles and conducting them through the flux and molten metal when the annulus is rotated, and means for turning the radial arms upon their axes as the annulus rotates.

2. Apparatus for coating metal articles, including a tank of molten metal, a flux box at one end of the tank for supporting flux upon the surface of the metal, a rotating annulus supported upon a horizontal axis above the tank with its lower portion dipping below the level of the molten metal, means for rotating the annulus, radial arms carried by the annulus 'for supporting articles and conducting them through the flux and molten metal, and cam means in the path of the radial arms and cooperating therewith for turning the radial arms upon their axes as they enter the molten metal.

3. Apparatus for coating metal articles, including a tank of molten metal, a flux box at one end of the tank for supporting flux upon the surface of the metal, a rotating annulus supported upon a horizontal axis above the tank with its lower portion dipping below the level of the molten metal, means for rotating the annulus, radial arms carried by the annulus for supporting articles and conducting them through the flux and molten metal, and cam means in the path of the radial arms as they emerge from the molten metal for turning the radial arms upon their axes as they leave the molten metal.

4. Apparatus for coating metal articles, including a. tank of molten metal, a flux box at one end of the tank for supporting flux upon the surface of the metal, a rotating annulus supported upon a horizontal axis above the tank with its lower portion dipping below the level of the molten metal, means for rotating the annulus radial arms carried by the annulus for supporting articles and conducting them through the flux and molten metal, and two spaced cam means located on opposite sides of the annulus for turning the radial arms upon their axes as they enter and leave the molten metal.

5. Apparatus for coating metal articles, including a tank of molten metal, a flux box at one end of the tank for supporting flux upon the surface of the metal, a rotating annulus supported upon a horizontal axis above the tank with its lower portion dipping below the level of the molten metal, means for rotating the annulus, means upon the annulus for supporting articles and conducting them through the flux and molten metal,

- there being a slot in the inner end of the flux box through which the annulus rotates, and plates frictionally engaging opposite sides of the annulus adjacent to said slot for preventing the flux from passing through the slot.

- 6. Apparatus for coating metal articles, including a tank of molten metal, a fiux box at one end of the tank for supporting flux uponthe surface of the metal, a rotating annulus supported upon a horizontal axis above the tank with its lower portion dipping below thelevel of the molten metal, means for rotating the annulus, means upon the annulus for supporting articles and conducting them through the flux and molten metal, there being a slot in the inner end of the flux box through which theannulus rotates, and L-shape plates frictionally engaging opposite sides of the annulus and the inner end of the flux box adjacent to said slot for preventing the flux from passing through the slot.

7. Apparatus for coating metal articles including a tank of molten metal, a flux box at one end of the tank for supporting flux upon the surface of the metal, a rotating annulus supported upon a horizontal axis above the tank with its lower portion dipping into the molten metal below the inner end of the flux box, means for rotating the annulus, means upon the annulus for supporting articles and conducting them through the flux and molten metal, and means associated with the tank for turning said article supporting means to tilt the articles as the annulus rotates.

' 8. Apparatus forcoating metal articles, including a tank of coating material, a rotating annulus supported upon a horizontal axis above the tank with its lower portion dipping below the .level of the coating material, means for rotating the annulus, radial arms slidably mounted upon the annulus and having article engaging means thereon, cooperating article engaging means carried by the annulus, and means for slidably moving each radial arm at one point to permit unloading and loading of articles.

9. Apparatus for coating metal articles, including a tank of coating material, a mating annulug supported upon a horizontal axis above the tank, means for rotating the annulus, radially disposed sleeves carried by the annulus and rotatable relative to the annulus, radial arms located through the sleeves and slidable relative to the sleeves, cooperating, article engaging means upon the sleeves and radial arms for supporting articles and conducting them through the coating material, means for slidably moving each radial arm in its sleeve at one point to permit unloadingand loading of articles, and means for rotating. the sleeves upon their axes to tilt the articles as they pass through the coating material.

10. Apparatus for coating metal articles, including a tank of molten metal, a rotating annulus supported upon a'horizontal axis above the tank, means for rotating the annulus, means upon the annulus for supporting articles and conducting them through the molten metal, a rotating scraper blade supported upon a vertical axis above the tank at the point where the articles emerge fromthe molten metal for scraping oxide and. the like from the surface of the molten metal at the point where the articles emerge therefrom, means for rotating the scraper blade, and means for coordinating the rotation of the annulus and of the scraper blade.

11. Apparatus for coating metal articles, including a tank of molten metal, a rotataing annulus supported upon a horizontal axis above the tank, means for rotating the annulus, means upon the annulus for supporting articles and conducting them through the molten metal, a rotating scraper blade supported upon a vertical axis above the tank at the point where the articles emerge from the molten metal for scraping oxide and the like from the surface of the molten metal at the point where the articles emerge therefrom, means for rotating the scraper blade, means for coordinating the rotation of the annulus and of the scraper blade, and means for raising the scraper blade from the moltenmetal and wiping the surface of the blade during one portion of each rotation of the blade.

12. Apparatus for coating metal articles, including a tank of coating material, a rotating annulus supported upon a horizontal axis above the tank, means for rotating the annulus, radially disposed sleeves carried by the annulus and therefrom, means for rotating the scraper blade, Y

rotatable relative to the annulus, radial arms located through the sleeves and slidable relative to the sleeves, cooperating, article engaging means upon the sleeves and radial arms for supporting articles and conducting them through the coating material, cam means for slidably moving each radial arm in its sleeve at one point to permit unloading and loading of articles, and cam means for rotating the sleeves upon their axes to tilt the articles as they pass through the coating material.

13. Apparatus for coating metal articles, including a tank of molten metal, a rotating annulus supported upon a horizontal axis above the tank, means for rotating the annulus,wmeans upon the annulus for supporting articles and conducting them through the molten metal, a rotating scraper blade supported upon a vertical axis above the tank at the point where the articles emerge from the molten metal for scraping oxide and the like from the surface of the molten metal at the point where the articles emerge means for coordinating the rotation of the annulus and of the scraper blade, arcuate guide rails for raising the scraper blade from. the molten metal during one portion of each rotation of the blade, and a substantially radial bar associated with the guide rails for wiping the surface of the scraper blade.

14. Apparatus for coating metal articles, including a tank of coating material, a rotating annulus supported upon a horizontal axis above the tank, means for rotating the annulus, radially disposed sleeves carried by the annulus and rotatable relative to the annulus, radial arms 10- cated through the sleeves and slidable relative in its sleeve at one point to permit unloading and to the sleeves, cooperating, article engaging loading of articles, a lever arm upon each sleeve, means upon the sleeves and radial arms for supand cam means in the path of said lever arms for porting articles and conducting thein through the rotating the sleeves upon their axes to tilt the arcoating material. a cam engaging the inner ends 5 ticles as they pass through the coating material. of the radial arms for slidably moving each arm RALPH E. AUNGST.