US2404602A - Ingot hook - Google Patents

Description

July 23,1946. F STOFFLET 2,404,602

Filed May 29, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l July 23, 1946. H STOFFLET 2,404,602

I'NG'OT HOOK Filed May 29, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 23, 1946. H. F. STOFFLEQIT v INGOT HOOK Filed May 29, 1944- 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ea 9. mm;

Patented July 23, 1946 INGOT HOOK Harry F. Stofflet, Allentown, Pa'., assignor to Bethlehem Steel Company vania ,acorporationof'Pennsyl- Application May29, 1044, snjarnassmsu 2 Claimsf (01. 294- 7) My invention relates. in general to apparatus Y for manipulating large cylindrical-bodies, and

more particularly/co a device for quickly lifting and conveying tremendously heavy metal ingots which have been heated to very high temperatures.

The production of modern heavy ordnance,

such as big naval guns and the like, necessitates the handling and forging of steel ingots heated to 2000 F. or more of dimensions which might be considered extraordinary in peacetime. Some of these ingots may be as large as 87 inches in diameter, and may weigh as much as 300,000 pounds.

Such ingots are customarily heated inlarge carbottom furnaces to proper forging temperature, then while hot chains are attached and the ingot removed by an overhead bridge crane or the like to a hydraulic press for forging.

During the heating operation, the ingot is supported at both ends by brick blocking on the car platform. To attach the crane chains the ingot must be swung around to enable the chains to pass the first block on the car, inevitably dam aging the brick work and eventually the car itself, and requiring the setting up of outside supports for the swung-out end. This takes a good deal of the time of the floor gang and delays the movement of ingots from the furnace to the press, with much loss of heat resulting.

Tongs with conventional scissors action when tried in place of chains have been found to be of dangerously uncertain grip and to wear out their pins and catch devices too quickly under the strenuous conditions of ordinary operation.

One object of my invention, therefore, is a device for handling quickly and safely any very large object of generally cylindrical shape.

Another object is a device which will lessen the wear and tear on furnace cars in manipulating heavy ingots.

Still another object is a simple sturdy tong with a minimum of parts exposed to breakage or shear under severe operating conditions.

Other objects and purposes of my invention will appear hereinafter in the specification and in the appended claims.

Having thus described the'purposes and advantages of my invention, I shall now in order to make the same more clear refer to the annexed three sheets of drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention in operative position lifting a fluted round ingot;

' Fig.1 is a side elevation of my invention in liftin positionv as'employed with a turning rig;

. Fig. 3] is a side elevation showing the approach positiono'f myinvention;

Fig. 4 is an end elevationof my inventionin lifting position;

Fig. 5,is a vertical section taken along the line 5i' Fi -16; j

Fig. 6 is' a top plan view 'of the, invention, f Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken along thelin'e 11 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 5. Referring further to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the numeral l indicates the hot ingot, which may be corrugated or fluted as in Fig. 1, or having a smooth cylindrical surface as in Figs. 2 to 4, resting on the brick work 2 on the car platform 3.

Suspended from the crane turning rig or turnover mechanism 4 of Fig. 2 by the chain or cable 5, pivotally attached by the pins 6 to the spaced slotted lug blocks 1 and 8, is my hook tong 9. As shownin more detail in Figs. 5 to 9, inclusive, the said hook tong 9 is fabricated of very heavy J-shaped welded steel plates, the pair of spaced parallel side plates l0 and II comprising a substantially straight horizontal balance arm portion l2, with a counterweight box l3 at the free end thereof and a dependent curved hook portion l4 terminating in an upturned relatively narrow tapered nose tip l5 which may be covered with Stellite or the like to increase its resistance to extremes of weight and temperature. The side plates I0 and H are held in properly spaced welded relation by the lug blocks 1 and 8, by the diaphragm plates l6, 11, I8, I9, 20, 2|, 22 and 23,

the plates I6, 20, 2| and 23 being perforated for cooling, and by the plates 24, 25 and 26 forming the counterweight box l3.

In operation, the counterweight box 13 of the unloaded hook tong 9 is first filled with steel scrap or the like to about the level of the waved line of Fig. 5, or until thebalance arm portion 1 2 stays horizontal without load. On account of the restricted height of the brick blocking 2, the hook tong 0 has to approach the ingot I in this horizontal position, which it takes automatically through its dead weight. The tapered nose [5 can then easily be moved in from the side, as shown in Fig. 3. As soon as lifting with the crane starts and the live load of the ingot l is taken on, the hook tong 9 will turn automatically into the position shown in Fig. 2, due to the combination of the 'claims.--.. -l o Having" thus described my invention what I: claim as new and useful and desireto secure by The hook tong 9 thus handles'ingots quickly and efiicientlyi Itis wide enough'to permit the balance point to be easily and quickly established, and'use on the job has shown that there is no; difiiculty in catching the ingot under its point of gravity-and balancing it lengthwise.

By this means the time required for handling a the ingot has been reduced toaboutone sixth the time formerly taken, the brick blocking on the car has been preserved for reuse, andthe expense of chains of reat size has been eliminated. s V.

frequently replacing worn and broken Although I have hereinabove described my vention in considerable; detail, I do not wish to be limited to the'exact and specific details which,

I have shown.and'described, but Imayuse also such substitutions, modifications-or equivalents as. are embraced within the scope and spirit of the invention or pointed out in. the appended 1 '4 1. A lifting device for handling heavy cylindrical bodies such as large ingots or the like,

comprising a hook fabricated of a pair of J-shaped plates held in spaced relation by diaphragm plates welded therebetween, one end of the shank of the hook carrying a counterbalance and'the other end curved downward and inward for the load-supportingportion, lugv blocks slotted on their upper faces and welded between the side plates in the shank of the hook, an overhead conveying and turning rig having a sheave, a flexible link chain over the sheave, and pivot-pins attaching the link chain to the lug blocks.

7 2 A hook for carrying heavy ingots or the like, comprising a pair of J-shaped side plate members of substantial width and thickness, a plurality of diaphragm plates welded between said side members and maintaining said side members in parallel spaced relation, the curved end of the book being. turneddownwardly and inwardlyto form the load-engaging portion, "counterweight means on the shank end of the hook, a pair of lug blocks welded between the ,side members. in longitudinallyjspaced relation intermediate the ends of the hook, and overhead conveying and turning means pivotally attached to said lug blocks. i ,7

' HARRY F. s'roFmQET.

Images