US2294841A

US2294841A - Slab turning device

Info

Publication number: US2294841A
Application number: US402969A
Authority: US
Inventors: William A Ezell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1941-07-18
Filing date: 1941-07-18
Publication date: 1942-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 1959-09-01

Description

P 1942- w. A. EZELL 2,294,841

SLAB TURNING DEVICE Filed July 18, 1941 ttorncg Patented Sept. 1, 1942 UNITED STATES T OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to a slab turning device and more particularly to a device adapted for use in a steel mill capable of turning billets or slabs primarily for effecting the removal of scale from the surfaces thereof.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a slab or billet turning device wherein portions thereof comprise table-like rolls capable of movement so that a slab or billet may be moved onto or ofi of the slab turning device.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device making possible the utilization of the scale removing actions of conveyer table rolls.

It is well known that in reducing a billet one of the first stages comprises a reduction of the billet to a slab which slab is eventually reduced by successive stands of rolling mills to desirable thicknesses of material comprising plate, skelp and other primary steel products.

It is also well known that the slab ready for reduction upon leaving the heating furnace usually carries a considerable amount of scale upon the surfaces thereof which scale is a direct result of oxidation of the metal and which scale is objectionable and, therefore, it is desirable that the scale be removed as completely as possible prior to the principal reduction of the steel slab.

It has been determined that in passing the slab over the conventional conveyer tables which comprise a plurality of revolving rolls, the action of the rolls against the surface of the slab tends to break up and remove the scale. In order that the scale can thus be removed from both of the large surfaces of the slab it is, therefore, desirable that means be employed to turn the slab after it has traveled a reasonable distance so that the scale removing action takes place upon both the lower and uppermost surfaces of the slab as in progressing toward the stands of the rolling mill. The device comprising this invention provides for the turning of the slab and it is, therefore, placed in the conveyer table route preferably midway between the heating furnace and the first stands of the rolling mill.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the slab turning device showing the elevating arms thereof in flat horizontal position. Dotted lines illustrate the position of a slab on the device prior to the turning operation.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the slab turning device showing the elevating arms thereof in elevated position. Dotted lines thereon illustrate the position of a slab about to be turned by the elevating arms.

By referring to the drawing and Figure l in particular it will be seen that a slab turning device comprising a rectangular frame having side sections l0 and end sections II, the side sections It carrying between them in transverse position a plurality of rotatably positioned table rolls l2 the neck portions of which are carried in suitable bearings in the side section II) of the frame and shaft-like extensions I3 are adapted to be connected by any suitable means to a power source (not shown).

By referring to Figure 2'of the drawing it will be noted that the uppermost surfaces of the table rolls l2 form a plane somewhat above the level of the rectangular frame of the device. It will thus be obvious that the slab turning device, when positioned with the end sections H of the frame adjacent other suitable conveyer tables, will be in a position to receive slabs thereon and capable of delivering slabs thereto.

By referring again to Figure 1 it will be seen that positioned between and below the end sections ll of the frame and the rolls l2 there are channel-like structures or tracks M in each of which is positioned a pair of elevating arms. Each of the pairs of elevating arms comprise a bifurcated member I5 and an elevating member I5A attached thereto. Each of the bifurcated members I5 is provided at its free end with a roller I6 and with a pair of upturned projections I! which are adapted to engage the edges of a slab positioned upon the turning device. In order that the elevating arms may be operated, as illustrated in Figure 2, so that a slabmay be efiiciently turned thereby, a motivating shaft [8A is positioned lengthwise of the device at one side thereof and the outermost ends of the elevating arms I5A are securely afiixed thereto as indicated at points 18; thus a partial rotating motion imparted to the motivating shaft |8A by any desirable means such as for example, through the arm l9 aflixed thereto, will result in the rotation of the shaft and the upward movement of the elevating arms I5A and bifurcated members l5 and any slab that may be positioned on the slab turning device. Pivots 29 establish movable connection between the elevating arms ISA and the bifurcated members [5. In order that slabs rolling onto the turning device from adjacent conveyer tables will be guided into desirable positon thereon, lengthwise guide members 2| are positioned at each side of the device adjacent the side members ll] of the frame and their outermost ends are suitably shaped to efiectively guide a slab into position for the turning operation.

By referring now to Figure 2 of the drawing it will be observed that at such time as the elevating mechanism comprising the elevating arms |5A and the bifurcated members [5 have reached the position therein illustrated, a slab carried upon the bifurcated members l5 will be brought into engagement with a pair of movably positioned blocking members 22 the outermost ends of which are preferably formed with a radius so that they will not damage the surface of the slab and which blocking members 22 are preferably of inverted L-shape design and movably positioned on pivots 23 between structural supporting assemblies 24 which in turn are preferably afiixed to and form a structural part'of the rectangular frame and particularly the side section Hi thereof, against which they are positioned.

As illustrated in Figure 2 the bifurcated members l5 when moved sidewardly along the channels M on the rollers IE will bring a slab positioned thereon, as illustrated in dotted lines, into engagement with the outermost ends of the blocking members 22 and thus cause the slab to be tilted outwardly therefrom and thus turned over and dropped back upon the table rolls E2 of the turning device from whence, upon the movement of the rolls l2, the slab may be delivered onto an adjacent conveyer table. It will thus be seen that as the slab approaches the turning device the action of the conventional table rolls will cause a loosening of the scale on the bottom of the slab and its removal therefrom and that by turning the slab as through the operation of the device herein described and illustrated the other side of the slab may be then subjected to the same scale removing action of successive conveyer tables as the slab travels on toward the rolling mill.

Again referring to Figure 2 of the drawing it will be noted that the channel I4 is formed with a slight elevation MA at one end thereof which is adapted to cause the bifurcated members l5 to move upwardly at the approximate moment that the slab is tilted outwardly therefrom by reason of the action of the blocking members 22 thereagainst. This action facilitates the rapid tilting or tipping of the slab and insures its accurate positioning upon the table rolls I2 after it has fallen thereon thus completing the turning operation satisfactorily.

In summary it will be observed that a slab moves upon the turning device from an adjacent conveyer table. The table rolls E2 of the device are stopped and suitable motion imparted the elevating mechanism which in turn picks up the slab, moves it sideways and tips it over thus effectively turning it. With the elevating arms and bifurcated members still in elevated position and in extreme side position the table rolls [2 of the device are caused to move and the slab is moved off the turning device onto an adjacent conveyer table. The elevating mechanism comprising the elevating arms I5A and the bifurcated members I5 are then lowered into position and the device is ready for repeated operation.

It will be obvious that any suitable power source such as a hydraulic piston mechanism, a power driven excentric or any other practical device may be employed to impart the partial motion necessary to the elevating mechanism. It will also be obvious that automatic limit controls of a conventional form and design may be employed so that a slab rolling onto the turning device will automatically activate the turning device and upon its being turned will in turn activate other controls of a conventional type to cause the slab to move off the turning device. It will thus be seen that the slab turning device permits the full utilization of the scale removing action of the conveyer rolls and results in a slab delivered to the mill in relatively clean condition. It will be further observed that the device when provided with automatic controls is completely automatic in operation and does not necessarily need the attention of an operator,

What I claim is:

1. In a slab turning device including a roller table having transversely positioned tracks, elevating mechanism adapted to lift and turn a slab thereon, said mechanism comprising a plurality of hinged arms positioned transversely of the said table on said tracks, said arms arranged in pairs and pivoted together at adjacent ends, one of each pair of the said hinged arms pivoted to the said table at one side thereof, and means for imparting upward movement to the said hinged arms so as to lift and tip a slab thereon.

2. In a slab turning device including a roller table having transversely positioned tracks, elevating mechanism adapted to lift and turn a slab thereon, said mechanism comprising a plurality of hinged arms positioned transversely of the said table on said tracks, said arms arranged in pairs and pivoted together at adjacent ends, one of each pair of the said hinged arms pivoted to the said table at one side thereof, and means for imparting upward movement to the said hinged arms so as to lift and tip a slab thereon, said means comprising a rotatable shaft forming the said pivot between the said arms and the said table.

3. In a slab turning device including a roller table having transversely positioned tracks, elevating mechanism adapted to lift and turn a slab thereon, said mechanism comprising a plurality of hinged arms positioned transversely of the said table on said tracks, said arms arranged in pairs and pivoted together at adjacent ends, one of each pair of the said hinged arms pivoted to the said table at one side thereof, and means for imparting upward movement to the said hinged arms so as to lift and tip a slab thereon, rollers positioned on the free ends of each pair of the said hinged arms together with means formed on the free ends of each of the said arms adapted to engage the edge of a slab thereon.

4. In a slab turning device including a roller table having transversely positioned tracks, elevating mechanism adapted to lift and turn a slab thereon, said mechanism comprising a plurality of hinged arms positioned transversely of the said table on said tracks, said arms arranged in pairs and pivoted together at adjacent ends, one of each pair of the said hinged arms pivoted to the said table at one side thereof, and means for imparting upward movement to the said hinged arms so as to lift and tip a slab thereon, said means comprising a rotatable shaft forming the said table on said tracks, said arms arranged in said pivot between the said arms and the said table, rollers positioned on the free ends of each pair of the said hinged arms together with means formed on the free ends of each of the said arms adapted to engage the edge of a slab thereon.

5. The combination of a roller table having transversely positioned tracks and mechanism for lifting and tipping over a slab thereon, said mechanism comprising a plurality of hinged elevating members positioned transversely of the pairs and pivoted together at adjacent ends, and

normally below the uppermost surfaces of the said rollertable, means for elevating the said hinged elevating members, each of the said elevating members pivoted to the roller table side at one side thereof, and blocking members sup-v ported above the roller table in position to be engaged by a slab being elevated, whereby the slab is caused to assume an inverted position on the roller table.

WILLIAM A. EZELL.