US2416763A - Conveying means - Google Patents

Description

c. B. LYNCH 2,416,763

CONVEYING MEANS Filed July 1 2, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 L'V v A March 4 1947.

a VEN TOR.

March 4 1947.

c. B. LYNCH CONVEYING MEANS Filed July 12, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

March 4 1947. B. LYNCH 2,416,763

7 CONVEYING MEANS Filed July 2, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORL March 4 1947. c. B. LYNCH I CONVEYING MEANS Fil d Jul 12, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

A TTOENEYS March 4 1947. CB. LYNCH 2,416,763

CONVEYING MEANS Filed July 9 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 4, 1947 CONVEYING MEANS Charles B. Lynch, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to The FoundryEquipment Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 12, 1944, Serial No. 544,597

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to conveying means and is particularly adapted to use in furnaces and similar locations where articles of considerable weight must be moved mechanically at varying rates of speed.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved conveying mechanism in which the.

speed of motion of the articles carried may be accurately controlled.

Another object is to provide an improved conveying mechanism which will be simple in construction.

Another object is to provide an improved conveying mechanism which will be capable of withstanding long and hard usage.

Another object is to provide an improved conveying mechanism in which parts will be protected against heat.

Another object is to provide an improved conveying mechanism which will require relatively little power in its operation.

Another object is to provide an improved conveying mechanism which may be simply and automatically controlled.

Other objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention will be better understood from the description of one practical embodiment thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a portion of a heat treating furnace provided with a conveying mechanism embodying my invention;

Figure 2is a plan sectional view of the parts shown in Figure 1, parts having been omitted for the sake of clarity;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the line III-III of Figure 2, and showing only the stationary supporting portion of the structure; I

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view, to an enlarged scale, similar to Figure 3, but showing both the stationary and movable supporting parts of the conveyor;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the end of the conveyor mechanism remote from that shown in Figure 1, to an enlarged scale; and,

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the line VIVI of Figure 5. V

The furnace illustrated is defined by side walls i and 2 and ends 3, and, it will be understood, is provided with a top and suitable heating means, which, however, constitute no part of the present invention and are, therefore, omitted for the sake of clarity.

The furnace comprises a generally elongated rectangular chamber having openings at opposite ends, into one of which the work or articles to be heat treated may be introduced and through the other of which such articles may be discharged and delivered.

The conveyor mechanism moves these articles in a step-by-step manner, and spaced apart as desired, through the furnace within which they are, of course, exposed to the heat required for the process to which they are being subjected.

The conveyor illustrated is made in three identical sections indicated at A, B, and C in Figure 2 which may be operated independently or jointly, so that if the furnace is being used for =n'th6 treatment of small articles each section may handle an independent series of such articles, while if the articles are larger, two, or even all three, of the conveyor sections may be operated together, the articles extending across each of these sections and being partly supported by each of them.

Inasmuch as the sections are identical, the description of the operating mechanism of one section will suffice for the others.

Each conveyor section consists of two sets of longitudinally extending rail-like supports, the members of the two sets being alternately arranged, and one set being permanently fixed, while the otheris moveable relative thereto, both vertically and longitudinally.

of rail-like metal members including I beams 4, while the movable rails consist of a similar series of longitudinally extending members comprising I b eamsi. V

The stationary rails 4 are carried by a plurality of stationary transversely extending beams 6, which extend horizontally across a pit l which passes beneath the furnace proper and extends for a slight distance at each end thereof to receive mechanisms for receiving and discharging articles and for operating the conveyor.

To raise the stationary rails 4 to the proper heights within the furnace, there are interposed between them and stationary beams 6, vertical struts 8 carrying at their upper ends short transverse beams 9, 0n the topsof which are a plurality of stools ID on which the rails. 4 rest.

'The struts 8, beams 9 and stools l0 are all conveniently formed of rolled metal sections, such as channel shaped sections, and secured together The stationary supports are shown as a series as by welding or riveting, being reinforced and stiffened by gussets II and angles I2.

The upper flanges of rails 4 and 5 are each provided with small transverse spacers l3, such as short pieces of half rounded bar stock welded upon the upper surfaces of these flanges to prevent articles carried thereby from rolling into contact with each other.

The ends of the transverse beams 6 are supported upon ledges of recesses l4, formed in the lining of the pit I, which lining is preferably composed of masonry, concrete, or other suitable material and which is also formed with upwardly extending pillar-like supports for the mechanisms which carry the movable rails.

Upon the supports I5 under each conveyor section is a series of supporting rollers I1, each carried by a shaft l8 journaled in a supporting bracket shown as consisting of two angles l9 secured as by Welding to a plate 29,, which rests upon the pp r sur a Of u po t '5,

Upon these rollers are supported two horizontal parallel channels 2 extending lengthwise of the furnace which constitute, with their connecting parts (to be hereinafter described), a longitudinally reciprocable frame carrying the movable rails 5.

Engaging the upper flanges of these channels are rollers 22, similar to rollers H, which hold the channels against undesired upward movement, these rollers being mounted on shafts 23, carried by brackets consisting of angles 24, se-

cured to plates 25, which in turn are secured to side plates 29 to which are secured, as by angles 30, horizontal top and bottom transversely extending short channel sections 3| and 32 respectively, these parts also being connected together and to the channels 2| most conveniently by welding I The top and bottom channel sections 3| and 32 ofeach' box frame are provided with hearings or bushings 33 in vertical alignment, through which may reciprocate vertically a supporting post or rod 3:2. This post has secured to it a collar 35, held against longitudinal movement relative the post by a pin or rivet 35, and is provided with sidewise'extending trunnions 37.

Upon these trunnions are pivoted the upper ends of two links 38, the lower ends of which are pivoted upon a pin 39 fixed in a yoke'flfl,

Also pivoted on the pin "39 are two depending links 4|, the lower ends of which are pivoted by,

pins 42 to the box frame, the pins extending through angle 30 and side plates '29 and also through blocks 43 secured to the upper surface of the channel 32.

Upon the upper end of rod 34 is a supporting beam or arm 44-, having on its upper surface short channel shaped stools 45, which, in turn support the movable rails.

These rails have can spacerslfi, similar to the] caps l3 of the stationary rails. I Y

The links 40 span the Supporting posts 34, so-

pivot pins 39 toward and awayfrom the posts so 4 that the links 38 and 4! constitute a toggle action, raising or lowering the post depending upon the motion of the yokes 40.

The yokes 40 of successive box frame stations are connected by rods 46, threaded into the ends of these yokes.

At the station of the pest at one end of the conveyor, shown in Figure 5, the yoke has been made in two parts, each being bifurcated and the furcations of each overlapping and being pivoted upon the same pin 39.

One of these parts 47 is connected to the end of the last bar it, as are the various yokes 40 of the series, while the other part 48 is threaded to the end of a piston rod 49 carrying in its other end a piston lEa reciprocable in a cylinder 50. The cylinder is mounted upon trunnions 5| journaled in the side channels 2|.

It will be apparent that hydraulic pressure may be admitted to either end of cylinder 50, and will reciprocate the piston therein, which reciprocation is transmitted through piston rod 49 to the Various rods it, causing the yokes 40 and 41 to move in unison and, through-the toggle action of the links 38 and il, raise and lower the posts 34 also in unison.

A bracket 52 is secured to the outer side ofyoke 21, and to this is pivoted a fitting 53 carried by the end of a piston rod 54. This, in turn, is connected to a piston 55, reciprocable in a cylinder 55 stationarily mounted upon the concrete foundation of the pit. Hydraulic pressure on eitherside of the piston 55 reciprocates the frames consisting of the'channels 2| and associated parts horizontally,

The bottom of the furnace 57E closely embraces the stationary struts 3, while through it are formed slots 58 in which the post as may move both vertically and horizontally to permit the full movement of the parts as the frames 2| are reciprocated.

Surrounding each post 34 and resting upon, the

topv of the floor 5? is a cover plate 59 having a perforation which closely fits the periphery of its post, but which is just loose enough to permit the post to move. up and down through the perforation without lifting the plate above the floor; These plates 59 overlie the slots 58 and are of sufiicientextent to effectively cover and close these at all positions of the post 34, so that all the parts below the floor 5? are effectively protected from radiant heat passing downwardly from the furnace, and also from heated currents of air.

If desired, Z-shaped guides may be secured to the top of the floor 57 to keep the plates 59 from tw st ng on the posts and to prevent their upward movement.

Thus the space within the pit l is maintained very much cooler than is that within the furnace. Ordinarily, its temperature is'not much above that of the atmospheric outside so that the roll ';other deleterious effects; to which conveyor-s within a furnace proper have heretofore been sulee jected. a f i i i The. continuous. open space within the pitfroln end to end of the furnace if the. furnace h installed where extreme cond ons exist, be further cooled by blowing cool air therethrough, but ordinarily this will not be found necessary,-

The outer ends of the stationary beams 4 are supported by transverse arms or beams 60 carried by stationary posts 6| which, in turn, are supported upon transverse beams 62.

As shown in Figure 1, a step may be secured to the ends of these beams consisting of upwardly extending posts 63 fastened to the beams and also to angles 64, and carrying transversely extending channel sections 65 which will prevent articles from being shoved off the end of the stationary supporting frame by the action of the movable rails,

It will be understood that the valve mechanisms which control the flow of fluid to the cylinders 56 and 56 may be automatically actuated, and that the actuation of these valves may be such as to vary the length of stroke of the pistons 49a and 55 as desired, and to interpose any desired time intervals in any part of the cycle of operation.

When the device is put into operation, a valve is opened to admit fluid to the left hand end of the cylinder 50 (with the parts in the positions they occupy in Figure 5).

This moves the piston to the right and pulls yokes 40 also to the right, moving the links 38 and ti to substantially vertical position, and raising the movable rails 5 so that they project above stationary rails 4 as shown in dot-and-dash lines in Figure 4.

This motion, of course, picks up the objects upon the carrier, without translating them.

The mechanical advantage of the toggle mechanism increases as the articles are raised, and their weight, when fully elevated, is transmitted through compression of the links, so that little power is required to hold them up.

At the upper end of this lifting step a valve mechanism is actuated for admitting fluid to the left hand end of cylinder 56. The motion produced by this fluid, moving piston 55 to the right, pulls the entire carriage including the supported articles to the right, while the articles are still elevated by the projecting movable rails 5.

When the carriage has reached any desired position, a valve mechanism may reverse the flow of fluid into cylinder 59, and introduce the pressure into its right hand end. 7

This will return piston tea to the left, breaking the toggles and lowering the posts 34 to retract the movable rails below the level of the tops of the stationary rails, or into the positions Where they are shown by the solid lines of Figure 4.

As the movable rails pass below the level of the stationary rails, the articles are deposited upon the tops of stationary rails and left there until the movable rails are again elevated.

Upon the lowering of posts 34, the valve controlling the admission of fluid to cylinder 56 may be reversed, so that pressure is now supplied to the right hand of this cylinder, which moves the entire carriage to the left to its starting position.

Valve mechanisms are illustrated rather diagrammatically in Figure 5.

This figure shows'a valve 56 mounted upon cylinder 50 and having an actuating arm 61. This arm lies in the path of two adjustable dogs 58 carried by an extended arm 63 fixed to a stationary plate ll) which connects brackets l9 and 24. The lugs may be adjusted along the arm as by set screws H, to adjust the length of stroke per mitted before actuation of the valve 66.

6 It will be apparent that as the arm 6'! encounters one or the other of the lugs 68, this arm is swung to reverse the flow of fluid to cylinder 59, and thus to move the rods or posts 34 in a direction opposite that in which they have last moved.

Secured to one head of the cylinder 56 is a long spring arm ll, having an elongated slot or eye 12 adjacent its end remote from the cylinder.

In this slot slides one end of link 13 secured to an actuating arm 14 of a valve mechanism 15 associated with cylinders 56.

This arm 14 may be provided with a dash pot mechanism 16 with an adjustable port H to serve as a time controlling factor.

Thus, it will be seen that when posts 34 are lowered by piston 49a moving to the left (as seen in Figure 5) cylinder 58 i rocked in a counterclockwise direction and the end of lever 1| is raised. This raises the end of arm 14, which actuates valve 15 to admit fluid into the right hand end of cylinder 56, and so moves the channels 2| and their associated parts to the left.

When cylinder 56 swings in a clockwise direction, in raising or extending posts Ed, the right hand end of lever H is urged downwardly, to move arm 14 downwardly and thus reverse the supply of fluid and direct it into the left hand end of cylinder 55.

The speed with which arm M and the end of spring H can move down is, however, controlled by the dash pot it which may be set to provide any desired amount of delay in the opening of valve 15. Flexure of spring H maintains the downward pressure on arm l4 and the dash pot during this delay period.

Thus, the adjustment of dogs 58 limits the length of the horizontal stroke of the conveyor apparatus, while the adjustment of dash pot 16 by means of its adjustable outlet ll controls the time consumed per cycle of the apparatus.

Of course, the time taken by an object in passing along the conveyor from end to end will be a function of a number of cycles of operation performed by the movable rails for any given period of time, and also of the distance travelled per cycle, and so may be easily predetermined by two simple adjustments.

It will be noted that while large and heavy objects may easil be supported on the conveyor bars, the points of support are spaced apart at all times, and that ample space for the circulation of heated gases and other heating media underneath as well as at the sides and top of the articles is provided.

I- claim:

1. Conveyor mechanism comprising a series of stationary rails, a series of movable rails, stationary supports for said series of stationary rails,

. tionary supports for said series of stationary rails,

within the framework, a generally horizontal baille between the framework and the rails hav ing openings through which the supports may reciprocate vertically and in which they may move horizontally, and closures for said openings have openings closely fitting the supports and permitting vertical movement of the supports without movement of the closures, the closures moving with the supports upon horizontal movement of the framework. 7

3. Conveyor mechanism comprising a series of stationary rails, a series of movable rails, sta

tionary supports for said series of stationary rails, a horizontall translatable framework, vertical guideways carried thereby, a plurality of vertically movable supports carried in said guideways and by them guided to be translatable only in a vertical direction relative the framework, elevating means carried by the framework and connected to said supports, and bafile means including parts closely surrounding said supports through which the supports may move freely when moved by said elevating means and which move with the supports upon motion of the framework.

4. Conveyor mechanism comprising a series of stationary rails, a series of movable rails, stationary supports for said series of stationary rails, horizontally translatable framework, vertical guideways carried thereby, a plurality of supports carried in said guideways and supporting said series of movable rails, links pivoted to said guideways, links pivoted to the vertical movable supports and to the first mentioned links, a connector pivoted to the pivotal joint between the ends of the pairs of links, and moving means connected to said connector.

'5. Conveyor mechanism comprising a series of stationary railsa series of movable rails, stationarysupports for said series of stationary rails, horizontally translatable framework, vertical guideways carried thereby, a plurality of sup- 'ports carried in said guideways and'supporting said series of movable rails, links pivoted to. said guideways, links pivoted to the vertical-movable supports and to the first mentioned links, a connector pivoted to the pivotal joint between the ends of the pairs of links, and moving means connected to said connector carried by said framework, and moving means connected to the framework.

6. Conveyor mechanism comprising a series of.

rails supported at a fixed elevation, a series, of vertically movabie rails, vertically movable. supports carrying the second mentioned series of horizontally arranged vertically movable rails, vertically movable supports carrying the second mentioned series of rails,guides for said supports, links pivoted to said supports, links pivoted to said guides, piv- ;otal connections between the ends of said links,

a connector pivotally connected to'the connections between the pairs of links, and moving means connected to said connector, stop means limiting motion of thelinks in one direction to a point where the pivotal connections of each series are in substantially vertical alignment.

8. Conveyor mechanism comprising a series of stationary rails, a series of movable rails, fixed supports for the said first mentioned rails, a carriage, horizontally aligned bearings upon which said carriage may reciprocate, means for reciprocating said carriage, a plurality of vertical guides carried by the said carriage, upwardly extending supporting posts substantially vertical reciprocable in said guides, a connector extending lengthwise of the carriage and including a plurality of yokes surrounding said supporting posts, a connector moving means carried by the carriage, each sup porting yoke having pivotally connected to it the ends of two links, the opposite ends of one of said links being pivotally connected to the carriage, the opposite end of the other link being pivotally connected with the supporting post, the supporting posts carrying the movable series of rails.

9. Conveyor mechanism comprising a series of stationary rails, a series of movable rails, fixed supports for the said first mentioned rails, a horizontally arranged carriage, horizontally aligned bearings upon which said carriage may reciprocate, hydraulic means for reciprocating said carriage, a plurality of vertical guides carried by the said carriage, upwardly extending supporting posts substantially vertical reciprocable in said guides, a connector extending lengthwise of the carriage and including a plurality of yokes surrounding said supporting posts, a connector moving means carried by the carriage, each support ing yoke having pivotally connected to it the ends of two links, the opposite ends of one of said links being pivotally connected to the carriage, the opposite end of the other link being pivotally connected with the supporting post, the supporting posts carrying the movable series of rails,

valve means controlling said hydraulic means, and adjustable means controlling said valve.

': C. B. LYNCH.

REFERENCES CITED 7 The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,897,911 McCann et al. Feb. 14, 1933 1,883,763 Cochran Oct. 18, 1932 1,941,829 D'orman et al Jan. 2, 1934 V FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 638,642 German Nov. 20, 1936

Images