US2354996A - Ladle bail bearing and protector - Google Patents

Description

Aug. l, 1944. A. JADACH V LADLE BAIL BEARING AND PROTECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 26,- 1943 Patented Aug. 1, 1944 LADLE BAIL BEARING AND PROTECTOR Andrew Jadach, Cicero,-Ill., assignor'to Crane'Co., Chicago, Ill., a-corporation of Illinois Application March .26, 194s, serial No. 480,702

(c1. lsos-'14) 12 Claims.

Broadly, this invention vrelates to a foundry device and more particularly .applies to a novel ladle bail bearing and protector.'

' It Ahas long been a problem in the foundry in connection with the pouring and handling of'.

metal in the usual bail-suspended ladle to safeguard the supporting bearing between the ladle and the bail against the entry of foreign matter, such as the usual foundry dust and sand, and also against the spattering or spilling of molten metal from the ladle onto such shank bearing to interfere with the satisfactory trouble-free performance ofthe latter assembly. It has been recognized that in this manner substantial interference with the free and convenient `pouring .of molten metal from the ladle occurred, and further affected the bearing itself detrimentally so that frequent, expensive shut-downs and metal losses have resulted, with the obvious danger, too, of causing personal injury Ytothe ladle operator when filling molds. Also the amount of lphysical effort required in tilting the ladle when pouring metal therefrom 'into a mold has been unduly heavy due to the increased frictional resistance in the ladle bail bearing. `Accordingly the resultant fatigue of the operator has increased during the course of a days workand foundry output has been reduced substantially.

In striking contrast tothe objectionable performance as just described, I have found that by the use of the novel device hereinafter described the protection furnished will increase the life of the Wearing surfaces of the ladle bail bearing many fold, in addition to increasing the ease and the accuracy of the metal pouringv operation from the ladle into the molds.

A more specific object of this invention 'is to provide a convenient means for applying lubrication to the bearing surface between the'ladle holder shank andk the ladle bail, thereby not only facilitating ease of operation in tilting the ,-ladle from time to time as the metal is poured into the mold but also by reason of .such lubrication serving as a vmeans for excluding from such bearing surfaces the Vusual deposits of foreign matter `as above referred to. v Another ,object `of my invention is to provide a device of this character which can be conveniently and quickly assembled to regular equipment and fromA the standpoint of replacement and repair doing so withoutnecessitating objectionable and frequently expensive delays.

Another general and importantobjectis to pro- Vide ,a device Whiohby its construction lends it- A self to aordingogreater .securing and safety to the foundry .operator orladle man.

. A further important Objectis -to ,provide adevice in which by the suitableselection of mateo rials for :meeting normal .WearJ greater economies in performance `andin uninterrupted `service are furnished.

Other important .objects andadvantages of the article `willtbecome,more eadily'apparent upon proceeding `with the owing-'specification read in iight ofthe drawings., in which Fig. 1 is an exterior general assembly -view of a ladle .and bailembodying my invention.

Fig. -2 .is ,a side exterior view of `the assembly referred vto in Eig. 1.

Fig. 3 is :a combined sectional `view in spacedapart relation of v.the respective upper and lower members embodying .my invention.

' Fig. 4 is -a ysectional view .taken on the line 4-14 of:F.'ig.-.3.

Fig. 5 .is ,a .perspective exteriorview of -the novel shank collar =or upper member :embodying my invention. y

Fig. .6 lis a .perspective exteriorview of the shank bearing or .lower member embodying .my invention.

Fig. V'l is a perspective exterior view of a spring preferably employed "for holding the rassembly in position.

Similarreference numerals-refer tosimilar parts throughout jthe several Niews. v

Referri11g-,-noiivv` to fFig. *1, the conventional ladle I;for carrying molten metal ,to the molds is shown vmounted Lin the usual banded circular holder 2 ,55 andthe shank bearing :I 0

encircling the4 `tapered outer surface of the ladle. The said fholdcr is provided-with the transversely extending, oppositely disposed lShanks `:or rod extensions 3, each vof which latter `members projects through :or may be an integral part ',of Ythe .-shoulder ed bearing -members 4. The latter members are preferablyjournally supported within the respective assembled split members hereinafter described. The latterconsist of the upper orshank collar member 5 and the lower or shank bearing member vl 0 assembledpreferably insuperposedgrelation in the order named within the curved iooled portions "6 of the :inverted U bail :mem-

er s Y In order rto assist in obtaining the v'proper positioningof the shankrcollar-5 and the shank `bear. ing IU Aupon the hook 6, it :is preferable :to Sprovide each of v.the latter members with .the .transversely extending `anges 18 and p9, respectively. Thus :it will :be .apparent :that theshank collar 'i by useof th`eir.res1; ec-` The upper member or shank collar 5 is not necessarily required to closely encircle or to bear snugly upon the outer peripheral surface vportion of the member 4 as is true offthelower, member,

but instead the upper member 5 ispreferably asf H sembled so that the respective surfaces I2 and I3 will contact or bear in abutting relation upon the surfaces I4 and I5 respectively of theshank bearing I0. It is apparent that while 'I have shown-the' oppositely disposedrelieved relation, :the latter arrangement' isV merely usedf as: a preferred form which permitsof a single for'm of casting being. employed for 'either the' right orthe left'side of the ladle bail and which also tendsto align theshank collar 5 with the shank bearingIO. Obviously,` surfaces vin the-same plane and'in abutting-contact relation may beused'without departing from the spirit of this invention. Thus referring now to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, the upper member 5 may be simply lowered in superposed relation lupon the lower bearing I subsequent ,to actual assembly of the Ylatter member upon the bail hooks 6 to receive the bearingfmembers 4 and the shanks or rod extensions 3 of the ladle holder. Mention should be made at: this point that, as shown in! the upperhalvesrof Figs. 3v

and 4,-the upper member or'shank collar 5 is provided with a chamber I6 and thatthe lower memberv or shank bearing Ill is provided with the annularly extending groove I1, the latter groove substantially located so as to divide the bearing surface II with an enlargedv connecting groove 25 between the groove I1 and the-upper` chamber I6. The primary purpose of the latter arrangement is to permit-applying a'suitable lubricant, such as afrela'tively heavy bodied grease to theY chamber I6, the connecting groove 25, the bearing surface II and the lower groove' I1 thereby facilitating the uniform-distribution of the-lubricant around the rod extensionsA 3 of thel bail holder v2 within the-itransverseilimits of the upper and lower kmembers 5 and I0. It will-be apparent thatfunder. thef influence-'of the temperatures normally encountered-during the metal pouring operation "the-'lubricant is spread upon theibearing surface II t'othus reduce-substantially theusual frictional resistance 'encountered and. concurrently enabling the grease to act as a meansfor preventing 'the entry offoreignmatter from sources exterior of .the described assembly. Y

iwf-Inl the latter connection, it' will further be noted upon referring to the upper'portions of Figs. 3 and 4. relative vto the shank collar construction,l that thelatten member is=preferab1y provided with an extended roof or top portion I8 which extends' substantially perimetrically over the `respective angedpo'rtions 8 and 9 'and-the grooves formedtherebyfin both the upper and lower members and Ill when the latter are positioned in assembled relation uponthebail hooks .6. The roof portion I8 serves two purposes: vrst, it serves. to blockxforvprevent theobjectionable respectivesurfacesIZ,13. I4 and I5-in..

deposit of the usual molten metal upon the flanges 8 and 9 and particularly between the hook portions 6 and the members 5 and I0 which would obviously interfere seriously with the operation of the journaled members 3 and 4; and second, the roof portion I8 is preferably made rounded slightly in its cross-section, as indicated at I9 in Fig. 4, so that when assembled upon the hook 6, as more clearly shown in Fig. 2,V the rounded surface I9 is engaged by a similarly curved portion 2| between thev upstanding arms 22 of the spring `.26, the latter being pivotally mounted upon the `bail 1 by means of the lugs 23 and the pins 24 extending through the spring aperture 20 to hold the assembly securely in position upon the hook 6.V Thus it will be clear that by the simple pivotal movement of the spring 26 outwardly and away from the bail 1, the assembled upper and lower portions may be taken apart for replacement, repair or inspection and upon re-assembly thereafter held in locked position upon the bail hooks E by simply moving the spring 26 inwardly toward the bail 1. ,This arrangement obviously prevents thejournaled members 3 and 4 from being displaced accidentally during the course of the metalpouring operation which might easily be dangerous as well as wasteful.

The shanks or rod extensions 3 at either side or both may of course be provided with the usual forked type of handle (not shown) for use in tilting the ladle inv a desiredv direction when pouring the metal into the mold from the ladle. Also the spring 26 while shown in a sheet metal form may be of a coiled type or other form if desired. It will also be apparent that while in the foregoing description, specific mention has been made of the bearing member 4 about which the shank collar and shank bearing are mounted, it is obvious that under certain conditions it may be desirable to dispense with the use of such member .and simplyl mount the shank bearing I6 and the collar 5 directly around the shank 3, since the member 4 merely serves as a strengthening or reinforcing means for the shank 3 in supporting the relatively heavy weight of the ladle when iilled `with molten metal.

As :previously pointed out, my invention is capable of other modifications which will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore the particular form of the various elements described is, not primarily essential as it is obvious that numerous variations may be used without departing from the spiritfof the invention.

vIt is intended therefore to be limited only to the extent ,defined by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: I v

1. In a ladle bail bearing or the like, the combination including -a bail, a carrier for a ladle, the said bail having hooked portions for engagement by the carrier;V the said carrier having shank means for support by the bail, divided means assembled with the hooked portions of the bail comprising a shank collar and a shank bushing and substantially surrounding a portion of the shank means, the said shank collar and bushing being assembled in matched relation whereby the shank means of the-said carrier is journaled within an aperture'formed bythe assembly of the said shank collar and shank bushing upon the-said bail hooked portions.

- 2. In a ladle bail bearing and protector of the character described.i the combination including a bail having lower. depending hooked portions, a

vladle carrier with extended rod portions, means engaging said hooked portions comprising shank collars and shank bushings assembled in complementary relation within said hooked portions, the said shank collars and said shank bushings having means for engaging the said hooked portions, the said shank collars and shank bushings having hollow portions forming complementary apertures therebetween when assembled whereby the extended rod portions of the said ladle carrier are journaled within the aperture thus formed.

3. In a ladle bail bearing or the like, the combination including a bail, a holder for a ladle, the said bail having hooked portions cooperating with the said holder, shank means on the holder for engagement by the bail, split journaling means mounted upon the hooked portions of the bail comprising a shank collar and a shank bushing, the said shank collar and bushing being assembled in separable relation upon the hooked portions of the said bail whereby the shank means of the said holder is journally supported within the said bushing.

4. In a ladle bail bearing and protector of the character described, the combination including a bail having lower depending hooked portions, ladle holding means with rod-like extensions, means engaging said hooked portions comprising a shank collar and a shank bushing assembled in aligned relation within said hooked portions to form apertures therebetween, the said shank collar and said shank bushing having anged means for engaging a side of the said hooked portions, whereby portions of the rod-like extensions of the said ladle holding means are contained within the assembly of the said shank collar and shank bushing.

5. In a ladle bail bearing or the like, the combination including a bail, a holder for a ladle, the said bail having hooked portions for engagement by the holder, shank means on the holder for support of the ladle, divided means engaging the hooked portions of the bail and providing journaling means for the shank means of the holder, the said divided means comprising a shank collar and a shank bushing, the said shank collar and bushing being assembled in superposed relation upon the hooked portions of the said bail.

6. In a ladle bail bearing and protector of the character described, the combination including a ladle holder, a bail having loweridepending hooked portions for support of the ladle holder, means for journaling the said ladle holder and engaging the hooked portions of the bail comprising a shank collar and a shank bushing assembled in superposed relation within said hooked portions, the said shank collar and shank bushing having means for mounting upon the said hooked portions, the said shank collar and shank bushing having hollow portions therewithin forming chamber and distributing means for a lubricant applied therebetween.

'7. In a ladle bail bearing and protector of the character described, the combination including a ladle holder, a bail having substantially semicircular hooked portions, means interlockably engaging the said hooked portions of the bail including upper and lower hollow members assembled in vertical aligned relation to engage journaled portions of the said ladle holder.

8. In a ladle bail bearing and protector, the combination including a bail having lower depending rounded portions for support of the ladle, a ladle holder, means adapted to be supported within the said rounded portions of the bail, the said latter means including upper and lower members in superposed relation and providing a bearing therebetween for the journaled support of the said ladle holder.

9. In a ladle bail bearing and protector, the combination including a bail having lower depending rounded portions for support of the ladle, a ladle holder with journaling means, means adapted to be supported within said rounded portions of the bail, the said latter means including upper and lower members in superposed relation enclosing aportion of the said ladle holder journaling means, the upper member having an overhanging portion to shield the area adjacent the ladle holder journaling means against accidental deposits of foreign matter and molten metal.

l0. In a ladle bail bearing and protector oi the character described, the combination including a ladle holder, a bail having depending supporting means for the ladle holder, means interlockably engaging the said depending supporting means of the bail including upper and lower hollow members in superposed relation, the lower member having a portion of a substantially harder material than the upper member for the journaled support of the ladle holder.

l1. In a ladle bail bearing and protector of the character described, the combination including a ladle holder, a bail having substantially rounded portions for support of the ladle holder, superposed means mounted upon the said rounded portions of the bail including upper and lower hollow members providing a bearing therebetween for engagement by a journaling portion of the said ladle holder, means cooperating with the bail for maintaining said upper and lower hollow members in substantially locked relation upon the rounded portions of the said bail.

l2. In a ladle bail bearing and protector, the combination including a bail having lower depending portions for support of the ladle, a ladle holder with rod extensions, means adapted to be mounted within said depending portions of the bail, the said latter means including divided upper and lower members in aligned relation and having means whereby grease may be packed therewithin to provide for lubrication of the rod extensions of the said ladle holder projecting within the assembly of the said upper and lower members.

ANDREW JADACH.

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