US2660429A

US2660429A - Apparatus for automatically centering moving objects

Info

Publication number: US2660429A
Application number: US229723A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edwin T Lorig
Original assignee: United States Steel Corp
Current assignee: United States Steel Corp
Priority date: 1951-06-04
Filing date: 1951-06-04
Publication date: 1953-11-24
Anticipated expiration: 1970-11-24

Description

Nov. 24, 1953 T. 1.0m@ 2,660,429

APPARATUS F' OR AUTOx ATICALLY CENTERING MOVING OBJECTS Filed Juhe 4, 1951 Patented Nov. 24, 195.3

, APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CENTERING MOVING OBJECTS Edwin T. Lorig, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application June 4, 1951, Serial No. 229,723

9 Claims. (C1. 271-26) This invention relates to apparatus for automatically centering la moving object such as a strip and is a continuation-impart of my copending application, Serial No. 145,648, led February 23, 1950, now Patent No. 2,593,158, The apparatus disclosed in said patent has proved to be entirely satisfactory for most purposes, but there are certain applications where centering action faster than that obtained by that apparatus is required.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide apparatus for automatically and rapidly centering a moving object.

This and other objects will be more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of one embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view, similar to Figure 1, but showing a load being applied to the device;

Figures 3 and 4 are fragmentary views showing slight modifications of my device; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view, similar to Figure 1 showing a further embodiment of my invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the reference numeral 2 indicates a rotatable 'shaft mounted in bearings 4. The shaft 2 may be either idle or driven, in which latter case an extension 6 is provided at one end for connection to a driving mechanism (not-shown). A pair of opposed frusto-conical rolls 8 are mounted on the shaft with their large diameter ends adjacent each other. Each of the rolls 8 consists of a tube IIJ surrounding the shaft 2 and fastened thereto adjacent the bearing 4 by means of an end ring I2. The internal diameter of the tube I8 is greater than the outside diameter of the shaft 2 so that its unsupported end is free to deflect under load. A thin end web I4 is fastened to the tube I0 adjacent its outer or supported end and a similar web I6 fastened to the tube I0 adjacent its inner or free end. A frusto-conical rim portion I8 is fastened to the spaced apart Webs I4 and I6. The web I6 may be positioned on the tube Ill at any point between the position shown and the web I4. While both webs are shown fastened to both the tube I0 and rim portion I8, part of these connections may be omitted, it only being necessary that the rim portion I8 be Vcentered on the tube I0 and rotate therewith. When pressure is applied to the surface of the rolls 8 by means of a strip S the rotating rims I8 and tubes I0 move inwardly toward the shaft 2 at the line or surface of contact and outwardly at a point diametrically opposite as shown in Figure 2. The

strip S may have either line contact with the rims I8 or be wrapped around an arc thereof. As long as the strip S is centered on the rolls 8 and the bearing pressure of the strip on the rolls is uniform over its full width, no lateral movement of the strip will occur as it passes over the roll. If the strip is off-center or the strip contact is nonuniform from side to side, the forces exerted by the roll having the greatest contact with the strip S will cause the strip to move rapidly into a centered position on the rolls.

A slight modification of my device is shown in Figure 3 in which a tongue and groove construction 2li is provided at the center of the rims I8 in order to cause both rims to deiiect in unison.

Figure 4 shows another slight embodiment of my invention in which a rubber or neoprene gasket 22 is provided between the centerfwebs I5 to seal the assembly and prevent infiltration of injurious materials into the interior thereof.

Figure 5 shows another embodiment of my invention in which the frusto-conical rim portion I8 is omitted. In this embodiment a plurality of spaced apart webs 2E are fastened to each of the tubes I0 with the frusto-conical rims of each of the rolls being provided by the outer surface of the webs. The operation of this embodiment is the same as that of Figure l.

While several embodiments of my invention have been shown and described it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for automatically centering a moving object comprising a rotatable shaft, a pair of axially opposed rolls mounted on said shaft substantially coaxial therewith, each of said rolls including a tube surrounding ysaid shaft, theinternal diameter of said tube being substantially greater than the outside diameter of said shaft, the outer end of `said tube being fastened to said shaft coaxially therewith and its inner end being unsupported and the tube being free to deiect under load in a direction transverse to its axis about its shaft attached end as a pivot, a plurality of spaced apart webs surrounding said tube for rotation therewith, a rim portion carried by said Webs substantially coaxial with said shaft, the first of said 4webs being adjacent the outer end of said rim portion and the second of said webs being between the first web and the inner end of the rim portions.

2. Apparatus for automatically centering a moving object comprising a rotatable shaft, a