US2358108A

US2358108A - Apparatus for heating projectiles

Info

Publication number: US2358108A
Application number: US452511A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold W Shonnard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1942-07-27
Filing date: 1942-07-27
Publication date: 1944-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 1961-09-12

Description

Sept. 12, 1944. +1. w. SHONNARD 5 APPARATUS HEATING PROJECTILES Filed July 27, 1942- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 12, 1944. H. w. SHONNARD APPARATUS FOR HEATING PROJECTILES Filed Jul 27, 1942 2 SheetS-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 12, 1944 r 1 lg,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FORK HEATING PROJECTILES Harold W. Shonnard, Washington, D. 0..

Application July 27, 1942, Serial No. 452,511 V (01. 263-7) 12 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for heating projectiles.

Heretofore it has been proposed to revolve the projectile within a gear-driven open ended cylindrical member which is carried by the furnace and which is supported on rollers in'a port of the furnace. It'also has been proposed in this type of apparatus to provide a tapered passage surrounding the projectile within the furnace wall with the narrow portion of the tapered passage being located within the furnace.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for heating an end of a projectile in a circular rotatable furnace preparatory to closing in the said end of the projectile to form the ogive portion thereof, with means for revolving and for simultaneously feeding the inner end of the projectile radially and progressively into the heating zone of the furnace while the furnace is being continuously rotated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus in which a stationary friction means is in direct contact with the projectile to cause the projectile to revolve in line with its own axis when a furnace is rotated, with means for progressively feeding the projectile radially into the heating zone for the purpose of progressively heating the inner end of the projectile along a predetermined distance rearwardly from the inner end of the projectile, the inner end of the projectile being uniformly heated entirely around the said end in a simple and inexpensive manner.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus for heating the end of the projectile which extends into theheating zone of the furnace with a portion of the projectile being disposed within a passage of the Wall of the furnace with the passage having an expanded end leading into the furnace and with the passage progressively decreasing in width from its inner end towards the outer wall of the furnace, stationary friction means being employed for causing rotation of the projectile when the furnace is rotated.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus for heating the end of the projectile which is extended into the heating zone of a rotatable furnace with means for progressively moving the projectile inwardly for approximately 360 degrees of the rotation of the furnace, cooperating means being employed for causing rotation of the projectile during its progressive inward movement with means for caus-- ing one of the cooperating members to be moved to an inoperative position atthe discharge end of the circular travel of the projectile and at the feeding portion of'the' circuit of the projectile. p

This invention will behest understood from a consideration .of the following detailed description, in View of the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification; nevertheless, it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes and'modifications as define no material departure from the salientfeatures of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings; g I g Figure 1 is a plan view of a furnace partly in' section showing the construction of my improved apparatus for heating projectiles.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section taken alongthe line 2.2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3.is a side view partly in section of the furnace. r

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front view showing in detail the feeding and discharge ports for the projectiles. n I

Referring more particularly to the drawings, l0 designates a circular outer-Wall which is formed of a ring ofmetal and an inner wall I l formed of fire resistant material which extends down-5 wardly and merges into a horizontal base mem ber l2. This base member which forms the bottom of the furnace. is supported in any approved manner by means of reinforcements such as angle irons l3 The top of the furnace as shown at I4 is also formed of fire resistant materials and is dome-shaped as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

A circular member 15 formed of metal has an annular-side wall l6 and a bottom portion I1.

The annular side wall is provided with a flange l8 which is secured to the member ID.

The bottoml'l of'the member'lE is provided with an annular ring20 adapted to rest upon a plurality of rollers 2| which are mounted in bearings 22 supported in turn upon the floor or foundation 23 of a building. These rollers are spaced a predetermined distance apart for prop erlyv supporting the furnace when it is revolved.

A ear 25 is mounted in bearings 26 also supported by the foundation and this gear is re volved by a shaft 21 that'in turn is rotated by a gear 28 meshing with a gear 29 that is driven by a shaft 30. The shaft is revolved by any well k own form of motor at a predetermined speed. An annular'r'ack or ring gear 3| is secured to the bottom' ll'of the furnace and meshes with the gear so that when said gears are revolved the furnace will likewise be revolved.

A plurality of supports generally designated by the numeral is located around the furnace and these supports rest upon the foundation or floor 23 for a purpose which will be presently explained.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 it will be seen that a plurality of ports or passages 36 is formed in the wall II and there .are approximately sixteen of these ports. Since each port is similarly constructed a description of one will be sufficient. The inner end of each port which opens into the furnace chamber generally designated by the numeral 31 is "expanded and the I port progressively tapers inwardly to a point indicated by the numeral 38. Thus it will "be seen that when a shell 39 is inserted through a port with the inner end of the shell extended partially into the furnace, the expanded portion of the port will permit progressive heatin of the shell from its inner :end toward an intermediate portion; A cup-shaped member "which is formed of metal is set inwardly of the circular outer wall I0 and also inwardlyof the member I5 so that the member 40 will form the outer face of the sectionof the furnace and will embrace the outer end of the port 36. This member is rectangular in shape and is provided with flanges 4|; 42 and 43 at its edges and these flanges are secured to the contacting flanges 44 on the member ID and the flange 1-8 of the member -I 5.

In "each port adjacent the bottom and supported by the flanges 43 are a pair of rollers "45 mounted in bearings carried by brackets 46. Thesebracketsare-supported by the flange 43 of the member 40. an

A thrust roller 41 is also located within-the confines of the flanges on the member-40 and is'supported by a shaft 48 which is secured -to the housing or member 40. The object of the thrust rolleris to maintain the shell -39 inradial alinement with the axis of the furnace while-the shell i being revolved in the port 36 in a mannerwhich will be presently .explained. 1

"Ihestationaryringfll is secured to the tops 35a of the supports 35 in spaced relation around th furnace, and this ring is concentric withthe vertical axis of the furnace. The shells 39 are supported intermediate their ends on thi ring. and have frictional.contacttherewith so that as the furnace is revolved the shells will likewise be revolved by the frictional actionof the ring 50. Ashas been previously explained, th shells are also partly sup orted by the rollers 45. V

A second ring 51 also surrounds the furnace, but this ring is eccentric with respect to the vertical axis so that one end "52 of this 'ringis closer to the furnace than the opposite endf53. The end 52 terminates adjacent an unloading station 54 through which the shellsare withdrawn from the furnace, after which they ar carried by the rollers 55 to apoint where the inner ends of the'shells are finished in the usual manner.

The rollers 55an'd theside bars 55a form a discharge conveyor generally designated by the numeral 56. The conveyor 56 is supported by standards lio'lo'cated outwardly of the furnace and the; standards'aredispose'd beneath the conveyor and rest upon the floor 23. This conveyor generally'is located along a radial line of the furnace.-- i r The feeding conveyor 51 is also provided with a plurality ofrollersfl upon which the 0001 shells 39 are moved-into the adjacent port 36 by the operator of the furnace at the feeding station 51a.

The shells 39 have a reduced portion 62 at their outer ends and a boss or reduced cylindrical portion 63. At the outer end of'the cylindrical portion is provided a flange 64 in the form of a disk. The boss is adapted to be engaged by tongs when the operator inserts the shells into the ports 36 successively alining with the feeding station 51a and removes the shells from said ports as they reach th unloading station 54.

When the furnace is revolved the shells at the feeding station 51a are located with their base ends or shoulders 39a in contact with the inner surface of the vertically disposed flange 65, as shown at the right in Fig. 1. revolves and carries the shell from th feeding station 51a around to the dischargeconveyor 56, the shells will be moved radially inwardly of their ports in a progressive manner so that when the shell reaches the unloading station 54 which is in line with the conveyor 56 the shell will'have reached its innermost position. Thus it will be seenthat the shells are not only moved progressively inwardly into the furnace, but they. are progressively heated from-their inner ends to ward their intermediate portions.

In order to maintain the shells in frictional contact with the concentric ring 50 a pivoted weighted member generally designated by the numeral 10 exerts a constant pressure on the shells during the rotation except when the shells reach the unloading station when they are moved from their operativepositions with the shells.

A weighted member -'|0 is locatedadjacent each port 36. "The weighted-member consists of a rod H which has a T-shaped-arm l2 mounted'at its ends in bearings 13 which are formed on the side walls of the housing which embraces the outer end of-each port. A roller l4 is mounted -for rotation at theinner "end of the rodll V and bears upon the outer periphery of theshell 39 when the rod is in its lower position as shown in'Fig. 3 or in dotted lineposition in Fig. 2.

A second roller 15 isrevolubly mounted on the outer end of the rod 15 and maintained in place by means'of collars l6 and 11. The roller 15 together with the arm Hand the associated parts acts"as a weight to maintain the roller 14 in frictional contact with the cylindrical surface of the shell 39.

A cam track generally designated by the numeral is carried by the supports 35 and is 10-- cated adjacent-thedischarge and feeding stations of the furnace. The member '80 is formed of an angle iron which is :bent at-8l to provide' an inclined portion 82 of the track. The member 80 is also bent at 83 to provide a second inclined track 84. The member 80 is so positioned with respect to the outer roller 15 that the inner edge-- of the roller as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 will rideupon the horizontal flange of the angle iron.

However, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3 the roller 14' will be' in contact with the shelluntil the roller 15 reaches the inclined portion 82 whencersaid roller will ride upwardly and then ride upon the horizontal portion 85 of the member 80 whence said weighted'member 19, will be of frictional contact with the shell so that the' shell may "be readily inserted or removed as has been explained.

As the furnace "Thle operation o of my device is as follows: The furnace, after having been brought to the required temperature, is then set in motion and it will revolve clockwiseas indicated by the arrow'in- Fig. 1 by the rotation of the gear 25 which meshes with the ring gear 3|. During: rotation of the furnace each of the weighted levers 10 is raised in succession upon contact of their respective rollers 15 with the inclined portion 82 of the member 80 and the roller will continue upwardly until it reaches the horizontal portion 85 whence it will remove the roller 14 out of contact with the heated shells 39 as they pass the discharge station 54.

.As the shells are carried toward the furnace by the conveyor 51in succession they are pushed manually through the alined ports'36 so that the shell will partially rest upon the rollers 45 and also upon the concentric track 50 with the inner end of the shell just "projecting slightly into the furnace. The baseend of the shell at the feeding station is maintained outwardly against the positioning member 86 so that the said base end of the shell will be engaged by theinner surface of the flange 65 at'theend 53 of the eccentric member 1 As the port which has been alined with the feeding station 51 moves away as the furnace rotates, the shell will be gradually forced inwardly toward the center until it reaches its maximum inward position at the unloading or discharge station 56. However, as the furnace moves the port which has been alined withthe feeding station away therefrom the roller 75 will move downwardly on the inclined portion 84 of the cam track 80 until the roller M rests in frictional contact with the shell. At this time the roller 15 acts as a weight and moves freely through space with the rotating furnace, while at the same time exerting pressure through the roller M on the shell. The weight of the lever or arm and the roller on the shell maintains the shell in frictional contact with the concentric track or ring 55 whereby the shell will be revolved constantly while being moved progressively inwardly by the eccentric track 5!. As each shell completes,the cycle of substantially one revolution of the furnace an operator at the unloading station 56 withdraws the projectile and passes it from the unloading station platform or chute 54 to the roller conveyor 51 whence it is transferred to the final operation of nosing by means of any of the well known methods.

I claim:

1. In a rotary furnace for heating a shell of a projectile and having a port through which one end of the shell is extended into the furnace, a stationary means supporting the other end of the shell for causing rotation of said shell when the furnace is rotated, and means for retaining the shell in frictional contact with the stationary means.

2. In a rotary furnace for heating a shell of a projectile and having a port through which 7 one end of the shell is extended into the furfurnace for approximately 360 degrees, and

means for moving the retaining means'to an inoperative position when the shell is being fed into the port and when said shell is being discharged;

' 3. In a rotary furnace. for heating a shellof a projectile and having a port through which one end of the shell is extended into the furnace, a stationary means engageable with the shell for causing rotation of said shell when the furnace is rotated, means for retaining the shell in frictional contact with the stationary means, means feeding the shell into the port, a discharging means for the shell adjacent the feeding means, and means for rendering the retaining. means inoperative when the port passes the feeding and discharging means during the rotation of the furnace. r

4. In a rotary furnace for heating a shell of a projectile and having a port through which one end of the'shell is..extended into the furnace, a stationary means iengageable: with the shell for causing rotation of said shell when the furnace is rotated, means for retaining the shell in frictional contact with. the stationary means, a. feeding means and a discharging means in close association, said retaining means including an arm pivoted at one end and a weight at the free end thereof for pressing'the arm against the shell and a cam means at the feeding and discharging meansfor raising the arm out of contact with the shell when the rotary furnace carries' said shell to the discharging means.

5. In a rotary furnace for heating a shell of a projectile and having a port through which one end of the shell is extended into the furnace, means for moving the shell through the port during a single rotation of the furnace while progressively extending the innerend' of said shell into the furnace a predetermined distance, a stationary means for causing rotation of the shell around its longitudinal axis and pivotally mountedmeans for retaining the shell in frictional contact with the stationary means.

6. In a rotary furnace for heating a shellof a projectile and having a port through which one end of, the shell is extended into the furnace, means for moving the shell through the port during a single rotation of the furnace while progressively extending the inner end of said shell into the furnace a predetermined distance, a stationary means for causing rotation of the shell around its longitudinal axis and a weighted arm pivoted at one'end on the furnace adjacent the port and resting on the shell for retaining said shell in frictional contact with the stationary means.

7. In a rotary furnace for heating a shell of a projectile and having a port through which one end of the shell is extended into the furnace,

shells, a weighted arm pivoted at one end on the furnace adjacent the port and resting on the shell for retaining said shell in frictional contact with the stationary means, and means for causing the arm to be moved to an inoperative position when the port passes the feeding and discharging means as the furnace is rotated.

8. In a rotary furnace for heating a shell of a projectile and having a port through which one end of the shell is extended into the furnace, a

stationary supportfor the furnace, a circular track'arranged concentric with the axis of rotae tion of the furnace and secured to the support for partially supporting the shell for causing rotation of said shell when the furnace is rotated, means cooperating withthe circular track for supporting a shell out of contact with the walls of the port and means for causing rotation of the furnace.

9. In a rotary furnace for heating a shell of a projectile and having a port through which one end of the shell is extended into the furnace,

said port being progressively expanded from an intermediate portion to the inner end thereof so that the inner end of the shell and that portion of the shell within the expanded portion of the port will be subjected to the heat of the furnace and means for causing rotation of the shell when the furnace is rotated.

10. In a rotary furnace for heating. a shell of a projectile and having a port through which one end of the shell is extended into the furnace,a stationary support for the furnace, a stationary circular track arranged substantially concentric with the vertical axis of the furnace and secured to the support for partially supporting the shell and for causing said shell to revolve when the furnace is rotated and a stationary guide member arranged eccentric to the axis of the furnace and aifixed to the furnace supportfor progressively moving the shell on the longitudinal axis thereof substantially in a horizontal plane, and radially of the furnace toward the axis-of the furnace when the furnace is being rotated.

11. In a rotary furnace for heating a shell of a projectile and having a port through which one end of the shell is extended into the furnace, stationary means in frictional contact with said shell for partially supporting the said shell in said port and for causing the said shell to revolve when the furnace is being rotated and means for increasing the degree of frictional contact between said shell and the said supporting means.

12. In a rotary furnace for heating a shell of a projectile and having a port through which one end of the shell is extended into the furnace, stationary means in frictional contact with said shell for partially supporting the said shell in said port and for causing the said shell to revolve when the furnace is being rotated, means for increasing the degree of frictional contact between said shell and the said supporting means and means for automatically causing the means for increasing the degree of frictional contact between the said shell and the said supporting means to cease functioningat a predetermined location in the cycle of rotation of the furnace.

HAROLD W. SHONNARD.