US2573660A

US2573660A - Galvanizing machine

Info

Publication number: US2573660A
Application number: US25655A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clifford E Brownell
Original assignee: LISK SAVORY CORP
Current assignee: LISK SAVORY CORP
Priority date: 1948-05-07
Filing date: 1948-05-07
Publication date: 1951-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 1968-10-30

Description

Oct. 30, 1951 c. E. BROWNELL 2,573,669

' GALVANIZING MACHINE Filed May 7, 1948 11 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

CLIFFORD-E. BROWNELL Oct. 30, 1951 c. E. BROWNELL GALVANIZING MACHINE l1 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 7, 1948 INVENTOR. CLIFFORD E. BROWN ELL Oct. 30, 1951 C. E. BROWNELL Filed May 7, 1948 GALVANIZING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

CUFFORD 5. BROWN ELL agm, M,$u #Qm om e ys 1951 c. E. BROWNELL GALVANIZING MACHINE ll Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 7, 1948 L .L 0 00m mw mm v B 2 D f, R 0 w w I a w NFN Oct. 30, 1951 -c EQBRQWNELL; 2,573,660

' GALVAN IZING MACHINE I I ll Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 7, 1948 I INVENTOR. CL! FFQRD E. BROWNELL c. E. BROWNELL GALVANIZING MACHINE' Oct. 30, 1951 I 11 SheetS -Sheet 6 Filed May 7, 1948 INVENTOR. CLIFFORD E. BROWN ELL di i w% 11 Sheets-Sheet l0 L INVENTORI. CLIFFORD LBROWNELL BY flu lw m g h fliio'rneya Oct. 30, 1951 Filed May 7, 1948 Patented Oct. 30, 1951 GALVANIZING MACHINE -Clifiord E. Brownell, Buffalo, N. Y., assignor to Lisk-Savory Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application May '7, 1948, Serial No. 25,655

bath and the removal thereof from the bath is a process which requires considerable skill onthe part'of the workman due to the great weight of the zinc and its constant resistance to displacement and also because the object must be withdrawn from the bath and moved and rotated 24 Claims. (01. 91-125) in various waysduring itsemergence and immediately thereafter to insure a uniform zinc coating. This handling and manipulation immediately after extraction from the bath also controls the-- surface appearance of the galvanized object; what is known in the art as spangle.

- 4 Galvanizing steel receptacles is today practiced universally by hand, the workman depositing, manipulating and withdrawing the receptacles from the zinc bath by'means of tongs. Several vworkmen usually handle'each article in succession, one workman depositing the article in the bath, another moving it from the zone of the floating flux layer, and still another withdrawing it from the bath and manipulating it immediately thereafter. It is also necessary for one of these workmen or an additional one to skim the surface of the zinc bath immediately before the article is withdrawn to remove anoxide scum which 1 continuously: forms thereon and mars the work -ifthe article is drawn therethrough in the withthe molten zinc itself and of the sal ammoniac fluxfloating thereon contribute to the bad conditions. Besides all this, the physical strain of handling the receptacles in the bath and in removing them from the bath is great and with- ,all requires considerable skill and training.

Despite all this, and notwithstanding the extreme difficulty of keeping a galvanizing plant properly manned, no successful machinery for car o th i galra zi el-oiwsh fis s e l: are 1 2 I ceptacles has evolved prior to the present-invention. I

The present invention provides a machine which automatically effects all of the receptacle handling operations from a time prior to immersion of the receptacle toa point where the receptacle is completely drained and has cooled sufficiently to prevent damage to the zinc coating by further handling. According to the present invention'this automatic handling .is carriedon in a continuous manner so that a number of receptacles are in the process of beinggalvanized and handled automatically by the machine concurrently. That is, while the machine is in'the actual process of immersing one receptacle one or more other receptacles will be passing through the molten zinc bath and a further receptacle will be being drained and deposited on a conveyor belt or the like at the delivery end of the machine.

The automatic galvanizing machine of the present invention is characterized bylthe fact that the handling of the receptacles-is divided between three distinct sub-combinations of mechanical elements. The first of-such'sub-combinations, hereinafter generally referredto as the inserting mechanism, presents 'a receptacle to the zinc bath and deposits it partly therein without any of the machine parts of the sub-combination contacting the molten zinc. v

The second of the sub-combinations handles the receptacles entirely beneath the surface of the zinc bath so that the zinc with which the receptacle handling means is constantly in contact is in a molten condition and has no opportunity to harden thereon and. impede proper operation. This second sub-combination, hereinafter generally referred to as the rotating arm assembly, grasps the particularv submerged; re-

ceptacle beneath the surface of th zinc bath,.

moves it therethrough, and moves it upwardly out of the bath without itself moving above thesurface of the bath. A third sub-combination of elements, hereinafter generally referred to as the extracting mechanism, grasps a partially withdrawn receptacle 'atits upper sideso that the eX- tracting mechanism, like the inserting mechanism, never comes in contact with the molten zinc .bath.

,. .nvrmal v. submer e clampssh -a th .t .129i;wasfor han l n .n ssriael s ta l1 re -59m size. The complete severability of the automatic handling means also makes it convenient to use the bath for hand galvanizing, if desirable.

The foregoing is merely a general outline of the broad principles of operation of the machine which forms :the subject of the'present invention. For a full understanding of'its mode of operation, a complete embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described' iir detail in the following specification; It is-tobe understood that such embodiment is by way ofv example and merely to illustrate thevunderly ing principles of the present invention:

The scope of the invention is not limited: to

the form shown by way of example nor otherwise than as defined in the appended claims? The machine shown in the drawings and described iirtlie following specificatiorr i'srproporticnedand designed for accomplishing the galvanizing? of ordinary water buckets orpails, such as' arecommonl yuse'din domestic: housework, but'thes'ame pni'nciple's may be applied: to receptacles of other proportions' andstyles and? to' other objects which *requir'eesiinilar handling in: galvanizing? Inthe drawings: Fig: 1 is ageneralperspective view of 'one'fo'r-m of i'the -arti'cla'handlingmechanism. Off th'eipres- 'enfi inventi'onr viewed: generally fromzithe front and sh'own dissociated from the:galvanizing;bath

- propem Fig.2 is'ta view. similar. :to-Figl; likewise" viewed generally. frorm the front of the mechanism but" I fromthe right-hand' or' delivery: side? :thereof';

Fig. 3"is a:view similar to Fig. 1, but with the buckets showrr-in-Fig; 1' removed;'

FigzA ageneral perspective view of the articl'c handling:mechanism-taken from :the rear;

Fig; '5 is a fragmentary side elevational view ofthe mechanism fcr' intrOducingbucketsto the machine;- that" is; "the inserting me'ch'anism;

Figi 6 is a detailed "perspectiveview 'of the outer end-"of'the inserting mechanism of Fig? viewedgenerally'in plan;

Fig: 7 is a fragmentary'elevational view showing' a rocker armwhich cont'rolsthe operation of the inserting mechanism; I

Fig. 8" is-' a fragmentary side elevational view showing the'mechanismand' the control" means which are operative to-move the buckets through the galvanizing-bath to the removal zone. called herein the rotatingarm assembly;

Fig.- 9* is a fragmentary view' of" the '-mecha-- nism--of Fig: 3 'vi'ewed as' indicated by the line Fi fll a'fragmentary end View of-one of the clampinggdevices for grasping 'th'e' buckets withirrthe-molten zi'nc bath;

Fig. 12" i's 'a'fragmentary side elevational view showing the bucket extractor mechanism;

4 the bucket extractor mechanism viewed generally as in Figs. 12 through 14 but on a larger scale;

Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view on the line |8|3 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary end elevational view,

partly inhcross-section;showingmeans for elevatthe rotating; armi-assembly indicated schematically;

Fig. 23- is arschemati'c view of the clamp controlling air cylinder of the inserter. mechanism showing the valve control: means therefo r-;- ..and Fig.. 24 isan elevational-view; partly-in:crcsssectiomofthemaster valve for the air cylinder: of

Fig. 23; y

Throughtout the-several figures-z ofe-the *drawings, like: characters of: reference: denote-like partsand the following descriptionewill deal,. in

order; with the three main components-411120 which the machine-naturally divides;v namely, the mechanismfor.,-br inging thebuckets to the oat h thermechanism for. handling the. buckets; in the bath;- and themechanism for. removing the bucl-zets'wfrom the-bath and properly draining themz.

Bucket inserting mechanism 1 The bucket inserting. mechanism is; indicated generally at 30 in Figs. 11 through 4 and: is;shown indetailli'n Figs. 5 through. 73 The bucketbinserting"meclianismis adapted to pick buckets from: an elevated platform. 3 I and move: themito the galvanizing: bath where they are pickedf-iup "by submergedbucket'handling means, designated generally 32 in Fig. 5and in Figs; lithrough and described" in: detail under a succeeding: heading. The buckets may-:be. placed in proper." introductory position on platform: 3 'I' by'hand ormay'ibe 1 fed automatically thereto by any suitable. conve ea means Fig.1? is a view similar to Fig. 12 but with portionspmitted for added clearness and with the mechanism in another position of operation;

Fig. 14' is a view similar to Fig. 12' with the partsin still another position of operation;

Fig; 15" is a fragmentary top plan view of the mechanism of Figs. 12 through 14, viewed as indieat'ed by the line l5l5"of Fig. 12;

Fig? 16' is-a longitudinal cross-sectional View through the main' operating shaft ofthe extractormechanismof-Figs: 12 through 15;

Fig.1? is'a fragmentary partial cross-sectional view' -of the outertendbucket' gripping-portion of The buciiet introducing mechanism 30 i's :supported by a table 34, which will be discussed further "later herein; by means of a 'bearin'g bracket 35. Referring'toFigs; "1 and 5",- an:arm 31 has opposed trunnions 38 which bear' at"opp'ositessides in bracket for-rotative movement-about a horizontal axis. A shaft 39'is j'ournaled. at its inner end in arm 3T'for rotative' movement-about its own longitudinal axis and has a b'evelvpinion 40 fixedthereto'adjacent to arnr3l";

At its outerend' shaft-39has fixed thereto an offset arm which rigidly supports afiiied clamp barns; A movabl'e clamp has an: operating rod slidable i'narm 42 and an-operatingpiston 4B movable in an air cylinder 41 secured toarm 42;" A-ir connections- 48' and 49 to the: opposite 'end's of cylinder fl cont'rol clamping andunclamping movements of'clamp 44."

Considering the full line position 'of' the parts in Fig. 5,- the back end of arm 31 is pivotally engaged by-ayoke=53 which is in turn pivotally secured,through the medium of a turnbuckle adjustment Ed -toe crank 55' fixe'd" to a supporting ported by table 34, 'all as clearly shown inplan-in Figg20. a

Referring to Fig. "-20, the numeral 65 denotes the main-drive motor of the machine which connects with a conventional speed reducing gear box 66 by means of a belt drive '61, both the motor and the gear box being disposed upon the table 34. The output shaft 68 of gear box 66 has a supporting bearing 69 and a sprocket 10 which is connected by means of a chain H to a sprocket I2 fixed to shaft 56. I i

For each rotation of shaft 56, crank 55 reciprocates yoke 53 and thus moves shaft 39 downfrom the upper to the lower full-line position of Fig. and as it does so, bevel pinion 40 rotates 'in'planetary fashion about a fixed bevel gear I5 which rotates shaft 39 on its own axis, it being journaled in arm 31 as heretofore described. Shaft 39 rotates through an angle of 180 in its movement from the upper limit position to the lower limit position, at which position the clamping mechanism faces downwardly and thus properly presents bucket A to the mechanism which handles the buckets in the galvanizing bath.

Referring to Fig. '7, a rocker arm 11 is fixed toone of the trunnions 38 ofarm 31 and is shown in the position it occupies when shaft 39 is in its upper position. In this position, an adjusting screw I8 carried by one of the arms of rocker arm 11 is in engagement with the operating element of a pilot valve I9 which operates a master valve (to be described later herein) which connects the

ports

48 and 49 of cylinder 41 in such manner as to move clamp element 44 to clamping position. 1

After shaft 39 has swung downwardly to the full-line position of Fig. 5, a second adjustable screw 82 carried by the other arm of rocker arm 11 operates a second pilot valve 80 which acts upon the master valve to reverse the application r of air pressure to cylinder 41 and thus release clamp 44 immediately after the engagement of bucket A by the submerged bucket-handling mechanism 32.

Mechanism for handling buckets in the bath (rotating arm assembly) The mechanism for receiving the buckets from the inserting mechanism and for passing them through the bath to the position where they are extracted therefrom is illustrated primarily in Figs. 8 through 11, in addition to the general views, Figs. 1 through 4.

Referring to Fig. 8 a main drive and supporting shaft for the bath mechanism is designated 90 and is J'ournaled in bearings 9| and 92 fixed to an oblique plate 83 which is part of a bracket 94 fixed to table 34. The bearing means 9| include thrust means for retaining shaft 90 against displacement in an axial direction. Shaft 90 is continuously rotated during operation of the machine by means which will now be described. Since the rotating arm assembly operated by and with shaft 90, and of which shaft 90 is a principal component, includes four bucket clamping stations, the speed .ofrotation of shaft'90 will be one-fourth'that of shaft 56 of the drive mechanism, so that one of the four sets of clamping mechanisms associated with shaft 90 is presented in the bucket receiving position, as shown in Fig. 8, each time the shaft 39 of the inserting mechanism introduces a bucket thereto.

A countershaft 06 is journaled in bracket 94 for rotation parallel to shaft90 and carries .a helical gear 91 which is driven by a mating helical gear 90 fixed to drive shaft 56 ofFigs. 8 and 20. Countershaft 96 and shaft 90 .have sprockets 99'and I00, respectively, connected by a driving chain IOI.

-Fixed tothe lower end of shaft 99 are four radiating pairs of spaced plates I93 which are notched as at I04 in Fig. 8 to provide relatively stationary clamp jaws. Between each pair of spaced plates I03 there is disposed a rod I05, theupper endof each rod I I05 having longitudinal slide bearing in a sleeve I06 fixed to shaft 90 for rotation therewith.- f I. I x

The lower ends of the several rods I05 are divergent as shown and have plates I08 welded or otherwise fixed thereto. Plates I08v have screw and slot connection with clamping jaws I99, whereby the latter may be adjusted to suit buckets of various heights. 'Rods" I05 are normally held in their'upper clamping position by means of compression coil springs II2 which encircle the upper portion of each rod and bear at one end against sleeve I06 and at their other .of rods I05.

ends against outwardly projecting blocks I I3 which are retained on rods I05 by means of nuts I I4. Shaft has bearing in bearing 92 through the medium of sleeve-I06 which is primarily journaled in bearing 92. 1 1

Reference will now be had to the means for controlling the clamping and unclamping' action By way of explanation, the presence of a bucket in Fig. 8 is for illustrative purposes only and may be confusing as, in fact, buckets are not present in the clamping mechanism at top dead center. The machine,"in the present illustrative embodiment, is timed so that arm 39 introduces a bucket to a clamping station of the rotating armassembly 90, I05, etc. whenya particularpair of; clamps I04, I09 are about 10 to 15 past top dead center. It therefore, at this point thatclamp I09 should move to a clamping position. Likewise, the extractormechanism to be described later. engages a bucket to remove. it at a point about 10 to 15 before the clamps; 0f the rotating arm assembly which are holding the bucket have reachedtop dead center. It is accordingly. at this point that a particular rod I05 much operate to unclamp the bucket from the submerged rotating arm assembly.

Referring to Fig. 8, the numerals I20 and I2| designate a bracket assembly supported rigidly by bracket 94 and in turn supporting an air cylinder I22 having air connections I23 and I24 at its opposite ends. A slide bracket I26 is guided for longitudinal movement relative to the bracket portion I2! and includes a lug I2'I' for engagement successively against the several .ofiset blocksIH-lof rods I05; Blocks II3 comprise 90 sectors so that lug I2'I will remain in engagement with a block II3 for a considerable angular extent if it moved to the position forengaging such block. Air cylinder I2 includes a piston I39 whose piston rod"|3| is fixed to a part of slide bracket I26 to controlitsmovements.

ream-3 :66.6

A pairrof cams I31 and I35 are mounted upon shaft- 96 and are angularly adjustable. thereon by means of screws- I38 which pass through v a'rcuate slots in the cams and engage a block I39 fixed to shaft BB'. Cam lt lengages a pilot valve I'M-which acts upon a master valve to connect the'passages I23'and; I24 of air cylinder I22 so as to move lug I21 of slide bracket: I26 against whichever of the-blocks I13 is in a: generally upper position; This;releases=clamp I09? at the proper moment for the bucket secured thereby to:1be engaged by the extractor. mechanism, now from 10m before top dead center.

the arm assembly-90, I05,.etc. continues to reception by'cla'mps'IB I'and I093 It will be noted that the-single air cylinder I22 and cam and pilot valve'assernblytherefor serves successively to actupon each-of the four clamping. assemblies of the rotating arm assembly;

Bucket extracting, mechanism Reference will now be had to the means for removing the buckets from the arm assembly which rotates in the bath. In this connection it is to be noted'thatth'e problem involves more than merely grasping the bucket and transferring it to a final delivery position.

From" the time when thebucket begins to emerge from themoltenzinc bath until it is deposited as acomplete'product it must be manipulated bodily and rotatively in a somewhat complex manner to properly drain the molten zinc from all parts of the bucket and to control the flow of zinc over the surface of the bucket, both inside and out, to produce not only a uniform thickness of coating but also what is known in the art as uniformandproper spangle, the characteristic mottled appearance of galvanized ware.

* In manual galvanizing, as now" universally practiced, this operationis performed by a skilled workman." The quality of the galvanized productdepends upon his skill in manipulating and timing the-manipulation of the. bucket while-the molten zinc is draining therefrom and. the remaining zinc coating" is hardening thereon- The construction of the extracting mechanism will now be described, reference being had particularly to Figs. 12 through 18. Figs.'l2 and-15, the n'umerallISfl designates a bearing bracket fixed? to table 34' and-comprising a-pa-ir of parallel'upstanding walls between'which the extractor mechanism generally is pivotally supported.

A'sshown in 'Figs;.12,15,:and.l6, a sleeve I5I has trunnions I52 'whichaextend rotatably through the walls of bracket I50 and arearwardly extendli'nk' I55 pivotally-.-engages theibacki end: of arm.

the outer end; of a -crank-l58 fixed to shaft .56

in .sleever I511. aszratl: I Gland. I 62. andhha'sfixed.

Referring to I thereto a bevel" gear L63 having. an: extended-hub or sleeve portion I64, all as clearly shownr-in Fig. 16.' Shaft ltlliis retained in-sleeve IEIagains t axial displacement by means ofv a-washer I55 and a nut- I66. Atits forward-end sleeve I64 of bevel gear lt3 ha'sifixed therein a shaft I'm which has-fixed to its'outerend-a transverse generally vertical pin I'll. Note'that shaftIfilLbevel gear I63; shaft I'm-and transverse pin I-II. comprise a fixedrunitary'extra'ctor arm structure rotatable in sleeve I5I. j

Thelower end of pin II-I givespivotal support toabucket'olampblock I14; a trunnion IIifixed to=block Il t being journaled' in pin- I I I as-shown in Fig:. 12; The bucket clamp; means proper of the extractor mechanism is-shown in detail in Fig 1'7: Block-z I-Ht comprises a relatively fixed clamp block engageableat the outside of a bucket andza-movable clamp plate I'I-I is engageableat thev inside of the bucketasshown in the full-line positionof Fig. 17-;

A pair of parallel links I18 and I19 connect pivotally between clamp block H2 and clamp plate' I-Ti-to-guide the latter from thefull-line clamping positionullustratedin.Fig. l'i-tothe dotand-dash line position where'it is not only unclamped but is Withdrawn from the interior'of the bucket;

An operating lever I32'for the clamping-mechanismis'pivotedas at I83 to-a' bracket I84'which forms a part of clamp block I"I4- and lover I82 is. pivotally connected atits lower end.-to. a link liliwhich connects'pivotally with'one of. the link pivots of the'movable clamp plate Ill. Also sup-- ported by clamp blockI'M is an air cylinderISB having air pressure connections-I89 and 92 at its "opposite ends andan -operating piston and piston rod I9I and- I92; respectively,- the latter having; pin and-slot? connection at its outer end withp'perat-ing lever I82-ras-indicated at I9 1. It is:believed that-the manner in'which the applicationof fluid pressure-'tothe opposite-ends of cylind'er'rltii'moves'clamp plate I-I-l toand: from clamping: position is obvious from the foregoing.

It has been noted that the entire bucket clamping. mechanism of the -extractor is=pivoted to the extractor arm generallyby means of trunnion [15 "of damp block: IHbeing journaled in the lower end of the transverse pins HI of the extractorarm. The mechanism' which controlspivotal' movement of-- the clampingmechanism relativeto" the extractor arm will now be described.

Referringto Fi'g'. 14, a bell crank 2th is pivoted to the upper end. of transverse pin= Ill of the'extractor arm as at 28! and one arm thereof is pivoted'to a link 262 as at 203. The other'end of link 202 is pivoted to clamp block I'M as at 234. The other armof. bell. crank 2% is pivoted toone end ofanadjustable link 206 as at 201 and the otherend. of link 2% is pivoted to acollar 208 as at 299. Collar.v Eiiil-is slidable axiallyrelative to the extractor arm, being fixed to an annular end flange 2 of a sleeve 212 which ismounted forfree sliding movement on sleeve I54 of bevel gear I83, see Fig. 16.

From theforegoing it will be seen that outwardor forwardmovement of collar zilflwvill rock bell cranklfifl in a. counterclockwise direction and, through link connection 2%32, rock the clamping mechanism in a counterclockwise direction about trunnion. H5- Inward or rearward movement of collar 208 will rockthe clamping mechanism in .a clcckwisedirection. The means for producing axial movementof collar 208 will now be described.

coact only when the extractor arm assembly is in the raised position illustrated in Fig. 14.

A compression coil spring 2H3 disposed about sleeve I64 of bevel gear I63 acts between collar 208 and a collar 220 fixed to sleeve I64 to urge the assembly comprising collar 208, sleeve 2I2 and disc 2 I 5 rearwardly, that is, to the right as viewed in Fig. 16, until the right hand or rear end of sleeve 2I2 abuts bevel gear I63, as there shown. Incidentally, the assembly including collar 206 is restrained against rotative movement relative to sleeve I 65 by means of a screw 22I, see Fig. 18, which engages a keyway 222 in sleeve I64.

' Referring to Fig. 14, a slide 225 is supported for guided sliding movement between the upper portions of the walls of bracket I50 and carries a pair of

rollers

226 and 221. When the extractor arm is in the raised position illustrated in Fig. 14, roller 226 is in position to be engaged by cam formation 2II of bevel gear I63 and roller 221, in turn, acts against disc 2 I5 to impart counterclockwise movement to the extractor clamp assembly against the bias of spring 2I8.

A bevel gear 230 meshing with bevel gear I63 is mounted for free rotation on one of the trunnions I52 of sleeve I5I. When bevel gear 230 is held against rotationand the extractor arm is raised or lowered by pivotal movement on trunnions I52 bevel gear I63 derives rotative movement by planetary rotation about bevel gear 230. Bevel gear I63 is desired to have further rotative movement by direct drive from bevel gear 230 and the means for rotating bevel gear 230 to produce such driving and for other purposes to be explained later will now be described.

Referring to Figs. 14 and 15, a line 234 is pivoted at its forward end to bevel gear 230 as at 235 and is provided with a cam follower 236 at its rear end. The rear portion of link 234 is constrained to a predetermined path of movement by a link 237 which is pivoted thereto at 238 and to table 34 as at 239. Link 234 is normally urged rearwardly by an extension spring 240, one end of which is secured to a bracket 24I on link 234 and the other end of which is secured to a bracket 243 which is fixed to and extends rearwardly from bearing 53.

Movement of link 234 is controlled by a cam 245 fixed to driveshaft 56. The contour of cam 245 includes a low gradually falling portion of considerable extent during which link 234 moves rearwardly from the position illustrated in Fig. 12, and during this part of the operation bevel gear 230 is rotated in a clockwise direction. Following this on the cam 245 there is a relatively abrupt rise and fall which reciprocates link 234 forwardly and then rearwardly through a much greater distance than the initial movement referred to.

As shown in Fig. 12, one of the trunnions I52 of sleeve I5I has an arm 248 fixed thereto which, upon lowering movement of the extractor arm assembly to the position of Fig. 12, automatically engages a pilot valve 249 which actuates a master valve to connect cylinder I83 for moving the clamp plate ITI to clamping position. A second pilot valve for reversing the connections to cylinderI88 to unclamp is associated with the inserting mechanism and operates simultaneously with the inserted unclamping pilot valve 80. Referring to Fig. 7, a pilot valve indicated by the 10 numeral 250 is located directly behind pilot valv is viewed in Fig. 7 and a' second adjustable contact screw 25I is carried'by a lateral extension 252 of rocker arm 11, screw 25I being directly behind screw 82 as viewed in Fig. 7. Pilot'valve 250 and contact screw 25I therefor'appear in bucket within a brief period after it has been engaged above the bath by the extractor clamp mechanism.

Beginning with Fig. 12, during the first 180 of movement of drive shaft 56, the extractor arm assembly, including sleeve I5I, shafts I60 and H0 and their associated parts, move upward by reason of the operation of crank I56 and link I55 on arm I53 of sleeve I5I. During the first of this movement, there is a falling off of the profile of cam 245 so that link 234 moves to the right, as viewed in Fig. 12, and rotates gear 230 about 15 in a clockwise direction which, by reason of the gear ratio, tends to rotate bevel gear I63 in a clockwise direction as viewed from the front of the machine.

This movement of bevel gear 230 is provided merely to neutralize the tendency which gear I63 would otherwise have to rotate in a counterclockwise direction along bevel gear 230 by planetary action if bevel gear 230 were stationary.- In other words, during this 150 of movement bevel gear I63 has no rotation about its own axis. The mechanism is arranged to operate in this manner because it is desired to lift thebucket out of the bath with no lateral or rotative movement. Lateral movement during this period of continued emergence of the bucket from the bath would pick up scum from the surface of the bath and affect the quality of the work by marring the surface thereof.

During the last 30 of this first half revolution of drive shaft 56, cam 245 has a dwell and gear 230 is therefore held stationary. During this period bevel gear I63 rotates by planetary'action against bevel gear 230 and this causes cam formation 2 I! to act against cam follower 226 to move the clamping mechanism quickly downwardly about trunnion I15, through cam follower 221, the intervening disc 2I5, collar 208, link 206, bell crank 200, and link 202, all in the manner previously described. This movement drains molten zinc from the recess at the outside of the bottom of the bucket, as shown in Fig. 14 and shakes drops from the edge thereof by reason of the abruptness of the movement.

During this same 30 period, the planetary rotation of bevel gear I63 rotates the clamping mechanism about the axis of bevel gear I63 in a counterclockwise direction to begin rotation of the bucket, the bucket then being again held with its bottom slightly higher than its top, approximately as indicated in Fig. 13, the cam formation 2I'I having by this time left follower'226, and the clamp mechanism having been restored to its initial position of inclination relative to trunnion I15 by operation of spring 2I8 against collar 208.

At the conclusion of the first of rotation I1 I of drive shaft 56, the relatively large lobe formation of cam 245 has already begun to act uponfollower 236 to rotate gear 236 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed 'in'Figs. 12 through '14 through the operation of link 234. This augments the counterclockwise rotation of beveli'gear I63 and'the bucket is thus relatively rapidly revolved about the general axis of the extractor arm, and this rotation continues during approximately the first 90 of the second half of the rotation of drive shaft 56, or until the high "point of the lobe of cam 245 .isin contact with follower As shown in Figs.,12 through 14, the extractor clamp mechanism is offset rearwardly from the axis .of the extractor arm as viewed inthose figures. Referring to Fig. 1, the clamping mechanism is offset'to theleft of the axis of the extractor arm when the parts are in the beginning-posh tion illustrated in'Fig. 12, as viewed from the front of the machine.

Rotation of the extractor arm beginning at about150 through .the cycle and continuing 'to about 270 through the cycle revolves "the extractor clamping .mechanism through approximately 180 about the axis of the extractor'arm, so that at this point .in 'the .cycle the extractor .clamp mechanism would be forwardly of "the axis of theextractor arm assembly as viewed in Figs. 12 to 14 or to the right .of that axis as viewed from the front of the machine. Also thlS revolution moves the parts so that the bucket isdirectlyabove the stationary clamp "block H4, rather than-below asih Figs.'12 through 14.

The'bucket is thus in a position more to the right, as viewed from the front of the machine, than whenlit was-.engaged bythe clamping mechanism. At this point the extractor clamp plate I11 releases by operation of air cylinder I88 and the bottom of the bucket drops downwardly, the outside wall thereof near the top ofthe bucket pivoting about the point on the clamp block marked 2.55 in Fig. 17; the clamping mechanism then being, of course, in an up-side-down pos tion from that shown in Fig. 17, and the bucket thus drops to a vertical upright position upon a suitably located conveyor belt for ultimate delivery.

During the next'75 of operation of 'driveshaft 56, that is from about 270 to,345, cam 245 returns toward initial position and the extractor arm is .again lowered and rotated to approximately theinitial position, spring 246 serving to draw the link 234 rearwardly and rotate gear 236 in' a clockwise directiontocooperate with andaugment the planetary action of gear 163 and thus revolve the clamping mechanism reversely through 180 to initial position. The profile'ofcam 245 during the last of the cycle is such that it again neutralizes planetary action ofgear I63 and'the 'extractorarm drops straight down to pick up a succeedingbucketand repeat ='the extracting, process.

General arrangement The descriptionathus far has referred to the galvanizing bath'only, ingeneral terms. As illustratedin Figs. 1 through 4 the entire inserting, rotating and extracting mechanism is portably mounted upon a frame 266, see Fig. 3, having casters 26!, so that the article handling mechanism can be brought to a point adjacent "thegalvanizing bath and thenmoved into proper position relativethereto. Referring to Fig. 19, table .34 is hinged at its rear edge fto a base plat-e262 as at 263 and base plate 263 is provide-d with grooved wheels 264 which engage an inverted V-shaped track 265 at the rear edge of an upper frame portion 266 of the frame 260. Near its forward edge base plate 262 has plain wheels 268 for operation on the'upper frame portion 266 offrame 266.

Air cylinders 216 are pivoted at their lower ends to the forward portion of table 34 at opposite ends thereof, andthe piston rods 2' of air cylinders 216 are pivoted at their outer or lower ends to base plate 262 as at 212. Cylinder 216 has

air connections

215 and 216 at its upper and lower ends, respectively, and these passages connectwith a conventional three-way manual valve designated 278 in Fig. 4. Valve 214 may be moved from its illustrated neutral position to connect air pressure to either the upper or lower end of cylinder 216-and thus move its piston (not shown) in either direction therein. 7

It is believed that the operation of air cylinder 216 in raising table 34, and accordingly the entire article handling machine, from the full-line position of Fig. 19 to'the dot-anddash line'position is obvious from the foregoing. When table 34 is raised to the dot-and-dash line position of Fig. 19 by operation of air cylinder 2'10, it may be held safely and securely therein by means of arms 286 pivoted at oneend to table 34 and adapted to depend therefrom into supporting engagement upon base plate 262 as shown in Fig. 19.

In Figs. 21 and 22 the numeral 262 designates a steel tank adapted to contain molten zinc as at 283. A refractory jacket for the tank 282 is designated 284 and has openings 285 to expose portions of tank 262 for heating by means of gas jets 286. At the upper rear portion of the bath there is a plate 296 disposed at the same level as the upper frame portion 266 of frame 266 and provided with an inverted V-shaped rail 29L Frame 266 is brought to the bath with tracks 265 and 29l in alignment and the article handling mechanism is rolledfrom frame 266 onto the plate 296. In Figs. 21 and 22 the numeral 293 designates a flux box which is open at its upper'and lower sides and extends a short distance into the bath 2832. Flux box 2-93 contains-a layer of sal ammoniac flux which floats'on the surface of the molten zinc within the flux box as at 294, and the inserter mechanism is positioned to dispose buckets into the bath through this flux blanket.

In Figs. 21 and 22 the approximate location of shaft 96 of the rotating arm assembly during galvanizing operation is indicated schematicallyi However, in order to avoid interference of-parts in bringing the article handling mechanism into proper assembly with the galvanizing bath, the handling mechanism is initially movedto a position more to the right, as viewed in Fig. 22, than its final position. The table 34 is then lowered to project the clamps I64, 169, etc. into the "bath as indicated in Fig. 8, and the article handling means is then moved somewhat to the left to bringshaft 96 into the-approximate position-indicated in Fig. 22.

Ingalvanizing generally, it is necessarytofrequently skim the surface of the bath at the point where the article emerges therefrom, usually each time an article is tobe extracted from the tank. In using the aparatus of the present invention, this skimming 'may be effected-manually between the emergence of successive articles. However, if desired, automatic skimming means may be incorporated without departing from the principles of the present invention.

atmosphere at 32 I.

13 Clamp control air cylinders In describing the clamp control air cylinders of the 'inserter, the rotating arm assembly, and the extractor, those cylinders being designated 41,- 122, and 188, respectively, reference was had to a pair of pilot valves, in each instance, foreffecting clamping and unclamping operation of the air cylinders through the medium of a master control valve. The three master control valves are identical and may be located about the machine wherever convenient, the connections being the master control valves and the air cylinders being by means of flexible conduits.

In the present example air controlled master valves and pilot valves of the Ross Operating Valve Co. are used and these devices are familiar to those skilled in theautomatic machine art. However, to render the present disclosure complete, the air control system of the inserter clamp mechanism will be set forth schematically. Since the pilot and master valve systems of the rotating arm assembly clamp mechanism and the extractor clampmechanism are identical with that of the inserter, no further reference to those systems is necessary.

, Referring to Fig. 24, a Ross pressure controlled master valve comprises a casing 300, the details of the interior passages thereof being shown only schematically in Fig. 23. The casing contains a pair of aligned normally closed poppet valves 301 and 302 and a pair of normally

open poppet valves

303 and 304. A rocker arm 306 is normally biased to the counterclockwise position of Fig. 24 by the springs of valves 301 and 302.

' A plunger 308 operating in a cylinder 309 in casing 300 is moved upwardly by pressure from the'pilot valve system and when so moved an abutment'310 thereon engages the rocker arm 306 and rocks it in a clockwise direction whereupon the latter opens valves 301 and 302 and permits the lighter springs of 'valves303 and 304 to move them to closed position. When pilot valve pressure against piston 308 ceases, the valves again'assume the position illustrated in Figs. 23 and 24.

Referring to the general schematic view, Fig. 23, pressure from a compressed air supply designated 312 goes by way of conduit 313 to valves 302 and 303 and by way of conduit 314 to a lower chamber 315 (as viewed in Fig. 23) of pilot valve '19 of the inserter. This chamber is normally closed off from an upper chamber 311' of pilot valve 318 held closed by a relatively light spring An outlet conduit 320 from upper chamber 311 of pilot valve '19 connects withthe lower chamber of pilot valve 80 of the inserter. The interior construction of pilot valve 80 is identical with the interior of pilot valve '19. Outletconduit 320 also connects with cylinder 309. The upper chamber of pilot valve 80 exhausts freely to the ilot valve 19 has a plunger 323' biased outwardly by a spring 324 for unseating valve 318 by inward movement of the plunger occasioned by engagement of screw '18 of rocker arm '11 therewith. Pilot valve 80' has a similar operating plunger 326 for unseating its valve (not shown). In Fig. 23 the clamp operating cylinder of the inserteris indicated at 41 and its left-hand air conection 48, as viewed in Figs. and 23, is connected, by means of conduit 328, to a passage of 'the master valve designated 32! and extending between valve 301 andthe side'of valve 303 opposite to the" air pressure connection 313. The

other connection 49 of cylinder 41 is connected to valvev 302, at the side opposite to the compressed air supply passage 313, by a pasage 329. This same opposite side of valve 302 is connected to one side of valve 304 by a passage 330,, and the other side of valve 304 is connected to the side of valve 301 opposite to passage 321 by a passage 331.. The side of valve 301 opposite passage 32'! is vented to the atmosphere as at 334.

. With the valves in the position shown in Fig. 23 compressed air is applied to the left end of cylinder 41 by way of conduit 313, open valve 303, and passages 32! and 328, and piston 46 is accordingly in its right-hand unclamping position. At the same time the right end of cylinder 4'1 is vented to the atmosphere by way of conduit 329, passage 330, open valve 304, passage 331 and exhaust outlet 334. The movable clamp element 44 is thus held in its unclamped position.

Upon engagement of screws '18 of rocker arm Tl, Fig. 7, against plunger 323 of pilot valve '19 in the upper position of shaft 39, valve 318 of pilot valve '19 is opened and spring 319 is inadequate to itself raise valve 318, in the absence of differential pressure thereagainst, to closed position when plunger 323 is released. Therefore, compressed air is connected through pilot valve 15 and conduit 320 to the master valve operating cylinder 309, and piston 308 thereof operates to reverse the valves 301 through 304.

Under these conditions compressed air flows through conduit 313, past open valve 302 (valve 303 being now closed), and through conduit 329 to the right-hand connection 49 of cylinder 41. At the same time left-hand connection 48 thereof is vented through conduit 328, past valve 301 which is now open, and through exhaust passage 334. Piston 43 is accordingly moved to the left to clamp a bucket.

Subsequently, when plunger 326 of pilot valve is depressed by engagement of screw 82 thereagainst, after shaft 39 has swung down to deliver the-bucket to the rotating arm assembly of the tank handling mechanism, line 320 is vented through pilot valve 80 and exhaust passage 321, valve M8 is closed by the differential pressure thereon assisted by spring 319, the absence of pressure in cylinder 309 causes piston 308 to lower and valves 301 and 302 again are closed and

valves

303 and 304 are reopened. This repeats the condition illustrated in Fig. 23 and the'exhauster clamp is again released.

What is claimed is:

1. In a galvanizing machine, a molten zinc bath and article holding means submerged therein,.a

flux box on a portion of the surface thereof, article inserting means including an article gripping device movable between a withdrawn position and an inserting position above the bath to bring an article to and partly immerse it in the bath through said flux box with the inserting means out of contact with the bath, article extracting means movable from a discharge point to a position above the bath at a point spaced laterally from the flux box to receive an article'partly projected from the bath by the submergedholding means with the extracting means out of contact with the bath to remove articles from the bath to said discharge point, said submerged holding means being movable in said bath to fully submerge articles received from the inserting means and subsequently project such articles partly out of the bath to present them to the extracting means.

2'. In a galvanizing machine, a molten zinc bath 1-5 and-article .zholding rm'e'ans submerged therein, article-inserting means including a'n article gripping device iIIlOVELblE' between a withdrawn position and an inserting-position above the bath to bring-ran article itoand partly. immerse it in the bath with the inserting -;means out of contact with -ith'e Ubath, article extracting means movable fromraidischarge,pomt to a positionv above .the bath to receiveanarticle partly projected :from the'i-balth by the submerged holding ;means' with the iextracting means but of contact with the bath iztoi remove aarticlesfr-om the bath to said discharge; point, said submerged holding 11188113 being ztmova'ble' in said bathato .fully submerge articlesreceived from the insertingmeans and subsequentlysproje-ctisuch articles partly out of the bath tof-present them to the extracting means;

andzmeans for elevating said submerged holding means .clearof'the bathfor removal therefrom.

'3. ln 'argalvanizing machine, a molten zinc batmand article holding means submerged therein, :article inserting' means including an article gripping device lmovable between a' withdrawn position-and an inserting position above the bath tO-ibllng an article to and .partly immerse'it'in the-bath'with the inserting means out of contact wit'h the-ibath, article extracting means movable fromaa-"dischargepoint to a position above the bath to receive an article partly projected from the bath by the submerged holding means with the iextrac'ting means out of contact with the bath to remove articles .from' the bath to said discharge :point, said submerged holding means being fm'ovable in said bath to fully submerge articles received from the inserting means and subsequently project such articles partly out of the' bathto present them to the extracting means, common means mounting the submerged holding means and the inserting and extracting means .to'elev'ate the submerged means from the bath for iointiremoval of the normally submerged means and'the: inserting and extracting means;

4.. a'galvanizing machine, a molten'zinc bath and :article 'holding means submerged therein, article inserting means including an article gripping :device movable between a withdrawn position-andJan-inserting position above the bath-to bring-an article'to and partly immerse it in the bath i'withthe inserting means out of contact with the-bathfarticle extracting means movable from a discharge-po'int to a-position 'above the 'bath to receive an article partly-projected from the bath by the submerged holdingtmeans with the exlti 'actingmeans out of contact with the bath to remove :a'rticles from the bath to said discharge ,pointeisaid submerged"holding'means being movable; in tsaid bath'lto ffully submerge articles rec'eivedirom theinsertingmea'ns and subsequent- 3y project such articles partly out of-the bath-to epfeseht them tothe'extracting means, and transnzissi-onfmeans connecting the inserting'means,

the subr'nergedarticle holding and moving means, and theextracting means =for operation in timed relationr j r 15. 121 a=coating+izachina a molten metallic bath and iarticle holding means submerged therein,

article inserting means including an article gripoingdevice movable between a withdrawnpositiontand aninserting position above the bath to bring an articletoand partly immerse it in the v hath-with the inserting means out of contact :With-thetbath, article-extracting means movable froma discharge .poi-nt to position :abovethe bath to receive an article partly projectedirom thebath rby the lsubnierge d holding means with the extractingmeans 'out-cofscontact with the bath to remove articles from the bath to said dischargepoint, said subm'ergedlroldingmeansbeing'movable'in said bathto fully submerge-articles received fromthe"inserting"means and siibe sequently project such articles "partly out -o'f the bath to present them to" the extractingmeans,

"'6. In a'galvanizing'machine; a galvanizing-bath, a flux box on a portion of the surface'thereof, and an"article handling reel submerged therein and partly beneath said flux-box, means for mounting and rotating 'said' reel on-a non-vertical axis, said reeldncluding a plurality of circumferentialy spaced article holding "means; article inserting means-including" an article holding *device movable to and'from a position spaced'from the 'suriace of the bath to partly immersean-article in the bath through said flux box andpre-v sent it to one of the submerged article holding means, said articles being moved downwardly through-said iiux box-and into and through'the bath and upwardly :to a position partly out or the bath and spaced laterally from the flux 'box upon rotation of sai'dreel on sai'd'n'on-vertical axis, andarticle extra'cting'means' movabletoand from such laterally spaced position for engaging an article at a point 'outsidethe -bath"to're1 nove the same from the submerged-holdingmeans.

'7. In a galvanizing 'macl'iine, a jwgalv'anizing bath "and an article .han'dling "reel submerged therein, means for mountingan'd rotating said reel on a non-vertical axis, said reelinchidinga plurality of circumferentially spacedarticlemol'd ing means, article inserting means includingan article holding device movable to and from a position spacecl'fromlthe surface of the"bathito par'tly immerse an article in'the bath and present itito one of the submerged article "holding means; said articles 'being moved downwardly into "and through'the'bath and upwardly to a position partly out of the bath uponrotation of saidreel on said non-"vertical axis, and articleextracting means movable to and "fromia positionadjacent the'surface of the bath forjehgaging'anarticle at apoin't outside the "bath and to' remove-the same from the submerged holding means, and means for elevating'said reel to remove thesame from the galvanizingbath.

8. In a ,galvanizingmachine, a'galvanizing'bath and an article'ha'n'dl'ing reel spbmerg'edtherein, means for mounting rand' rotating said reelgon a non-vertical axis, said reel including algplurality of circumferentially spaced article "lh o'lding means, article inserting means including an are ticle holding device movable to and from a pos'i tion spaced from the surface of the bath (to partly immerse an article in the bath and present it to one of the submerged article holding means; said articles'being moveddownwardlyinto andthroughthe bath and upwardly to aipo'sition partly out oi" the bath uponirotationpf said reel on said non-vertical axis,arid ar ticle extracting means movableto and from apos'ition adjacent thesurface of thebath 'foraengaging" an article at awpoinut outsidethebath'to' remove the samerram the submerged holding means, common means mounting'the submerged reel and the inserting and extracting Ineans,and means'for moving said mounting means tolelevate the submerged .xeel Tfrom'the' bath for ointremov al of. thereeliand 'the inserting-and extracting means. v

9. In: a. galvanizing, machine, a, galvanizing. bafth .andian article handling re'eLsubmerged therein. means for mounting-'andi rotating asid reel onja non-vertical axis, said reelincluding alplurality of circumferentially spaced article holding means, article inserting means including an article holding device movable to and from a position spaced from the surface of the bath to partly immerse an article in the bath and present it to one of the submerged article holding means, said articles being moved downwardly into and through the bath and upwardly to a position partly out of the bath upon rotation of said reel on said nonvertical axis, and article extracting means movable to and from a position adjacent the sur face of the bath for engaging an article at a point outside the bath to remove the same from the submerged holding means, said reel being connected with the inserting means and the extracting means for timed relative movement whereby the reel rotates once each time the inserting and extracting means execute a number of cycles equal to the number of article holding means on said reel.

10. Galvanizing apparatus for buckets and analogous objects comprising a galvanizing bath and a bucket clamp reel for supporting a circular series of buckets, said bucket clamp reel being mounted for rotation in an oblique path Wholly Within said bath, a shaft for supporting and rotating said reel and extending axially obliquely upwardly therefrom to a point outside of said bath, and means outside of said bath for supporting and driving said shaft, said reel including a circumferential series of submerged clamps for gripping radially inward portions of said buckets, said reel being so positioned in said bath that the buckets are partially out of said bath as they traverse the upper portion of their orbit during rotation of the reel and buckets may be inserted and extracted from the submerged clamp means by means out of contact with the bath.

l1. Galvanizing apparatus for buckets and analogous objects comprising a galvanizing bath and a bucket clamp reel for supporting a circular series of buckets, said bucket clamp reel being mounted for rotation in an oblique path wholly within said bath, a shaft for supporting and rotating said reel and extending axially obliquely upwardly therefrom to a point outside of said bath, means outside of said bath for supporting and driving said shaft, said reel including a circumferential series of submerged clamps for gripping radially inward portions of said buckets, said reel being so positioned in said bath that the buckets are partially out of said bath as they traverse the upper portion of their orbit during rotation of the reel and buckets may be inserted and extracted from the submerged clamp means by means out of contact with the bath, and an operating rod extending into the bath to each of said clamps, said rods being spaced from and generally parallel to said shaft and each other.

12. Galvanizing apparatus comprising a galvanizing bath and an article clamp reel for supporting a circular series of articles, said article clamp reel being mounted for rotation in an oblique path Wholly within said bath, a shaft for supporting and rotating said reel and extending axially obliquely upwardly therefrom to a point outside of said bath, means outside of said bath for supporting and driving said shaft, said reel including a circumferential series of submerged clamps for gripping radially inward portions of said articles, said reel being so positioned in said bath that the articles are partially out of said bath as they traverse the upper portion of their orbit during rotation of the reel and articles may 18 be inserted and extracted from the submerged clamp means by means out of contact with the bath.

l3. Galvanizing apparatus for buckets and analogous objects comprising a galvanizing bath and a bucket clamp for supporting a bucket, said bucket clamp being mounted for rotation in an oblique path wholly within said bath, a shaft for supporting and rotating said clamp and extending axially obliquely upwardly therefrom to a point outside of said bath, and means outside of said bath for supporting and driving said shaft, said submerged clamp gripping a radially inward portion of said bucket and being so positioned in the bath that the bucket is partially out of said bath as it traverses the upper portion of its orbit during rotation of the clamp and buckets may be inserted and extracted from the submerged clamp by means out of contact with the bath.

14. Galvanizing apparatus for buckets and analogous objects comprising a galvanizing bath and a bucket clamp for supporting a bucket, said bucket clamp being mounted for rotation in an oblique path wholly within said bath, a shaft for supporting and rotating said clamp and extending axially obliquely upwardly therefrom to a point outside of said bath, means outside of said bath for supporting and driving said shaft, said submerged clamp gripping a radially inward portion of said bucket and being so positioned in the bath that the bucket is partially out of said bath as it traverses the upper portion of its orbit during rotation of the clamp and buckets may be inserted and extracted from the submerged clamp by means out of contact with the bath, and an axially movable rod spaced from and parallel to said shaft and having its lower submerged end in engagement with said clamp to operate the same.

15. Galvanizing apparatus for buckets and analogous objects comprising a galvanizing bath and a bucket clamp for supporting a bucket, said bucket clamp being mounted for rotation in an oblique path wholly Within said bath, a shaft for supporting and rotating said clamp and extending axially obliquely upwardly therefrom to a point outside of said bath, means outside of said bath for supporting and driving said shaft, said;

submerged clamp gripping a radially inward portion of said bucket and being so positioned in the bath that the bucket is partially out of said bath as it traverses the upper portion of its orbit during rotation of the clamp and buckets may be inserted and extracted from the submerged clamp by means out of contact with the bath, and a rod spaced from and parallel to said shaft and operable to engage and release said clamp.

16. Galvanizing apparatus comprising a galvanizing bath and an article clamp for supporting an article, said article clamp being mounted for rotation in an oblique path wholly within said bath, a shaft for supporting and rotating said clamp and extending axially obliquely upwardly therefrom to a point outside of said bath, and means outside of said bath for supporting and driving said shaft, said submerged clamp gripping a radially inward portion of said article and being so positioned in the bath that the article is partially out of said bath as it traverses the upper portion of its orbit during rotation of the clamp and articles may be successively inserted and extracted from the submerged clamp by means out of contact with the bath.

17. Galvanizing apparatus comprising a galvanizing bath and an article clamp for supporting an article, said article clamp being mounted