US2669364A

US2669364A - Rotatable support for cylinders

Info

Publication number: US2669364A
Application number: US167232A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles N Aronson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-06-09
Filing date: 1950-06-09
Publication date: 1954-02-16
Anticipated expiration: 1971-02-16
Also published as: NL178210B; NL91148C

Description

6, 1954 c. N. ARONSON ROTATABLE SUPPORT FOR CYLINDERS Filed June 9, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l Ina/"en %07' Char/es Al Ara/15012 1954 c. N. ARONSON ROTATABLE SUPPORT FOR CYLINDERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 9, 1950 g l m z m x L a nm n W 0 R MW w M J Feb. 16, 1954 c. N. ARONSON ROTATABLE SUPPORT FOR CYLINDERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 9, 1950 In we 71 20 1' Char/e: N Ara/75012 c. N. ARONSON 2,669,364 ROTATABLE SUPPORT FOR CYLINDERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 16, 1954 Filed June 9, 1950 Q Q w mm Q w In 121: n in r Char/e5 /V. Ara/2500 ,5 ,QQM

Feb. 16, 1954 Filed June 9, 1950 C. N. ARONSON ROTATABLE SUPPORT FOR CYLINDERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Char/e5 /V. Ara/25m Patented Feb. 16, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to work supporting and rotating apparatus and particularly to means for supporting a cylindrical or partially cylindrical drum or tank or the like for rotation generally about its axis.

A fairly common problem in the fabrication of large sheet metal cylinders, drums or tanks is encountered in supporting them during various fabricating steps as, for instance, when welding about or along the periphery of such a drum or cylinder. It is essential that the support provide for rotation of the drum or cylinder to bring various portions thereof to desired working zones.

The walls of cylindrical workpieces of this general nature are frequently so thin in relation to their size and general bulk as to be readily dented by any localized pressure and accordingly the provision of suitable and proper supporting means must take this factor into account. A common method of supporting such cylinders or drums is to provide a pair of spaced parallel horizontal shafts or rotatable rolls and cradle the periphery of the drum upon and between such shafts or rolls. In many cases this expedient is inadequate and denting, cavitation or buckling of the workpiece results.

In fact it is conventional practice in many instances to provide an extra supporting or reinforcing ring secured to the tank or c linder for the sole purpose of providing extra strength to avoid denting. After the cylinder or tank has been operated upon in the conventional parallel roll apparatus referred to above, this supporting or reinforcing ring is removed. The waste of time, effort, and material involved in this procedure is obvious.

The present invention provides a support for a cylinder or drum wherein the weight of the workpiece is proportionately distributed across a large supporting area and wherein, despite this distribution, the rotary workpiece is so supported that it is constrained against rocking or swaying or any movement other than mere rotation about its own or a predetermined axis.

According to the present invention a pair of rolls in the nature of sprocket wheels are provided with special roller chains which provide a link belt or chain belt with the axes of the sprocket wheels parallel and in horizontal alignment but adjustable to permit ready variation in their spacing. In this way a support is provided whereby a drum or other cylindrical workpiece of considerable size is supported along a considerable portion of the lower part of its periphery while at the same time it is positively cradled between the portions of the link belt or chain belt where the drum or cylinder is substantially in tangential contact with the sprocket wheels. The arrangement is such that by accurately adjusting the spacing of the pairs of sprocket wheels the forces exerted against the peripheral wall of the workpiece may be substantially the same at the sprocket wheels as at the intermediate portions where only the armate chain belt loop itself is engaging against the drum periphery in supporting relationship.

Further, the apparatus of the present invention provides a support of the foregoing general description wherein the cooperating driving sprocket wheels may be selectively rotated or locked against rotation and, in either case, the drive is imparted to the chain belt or link belt through its lower, generally straight side, so that the driving impulse has no tendency to lift the workpiece by reason of a tightening of the upper portion of the chain belt or link belt when driving force is applied.

The apparatus of the present invention is such that the lightest gauge tanks may be supported and worked upon without damage thereto and the capacity of the apparatus is atthe same time ample to support heavy wall tanks. The available tractive force for both driving and braking is such that the unbalanced loads due to heavy overhanging or eccentric parts on the workpiece, which are frequently met with, are handled without difiiculty. The combined sprocket wheel and chain belt support afford up to of continuous peripheral contact with the workpiece. Once the apparatus is adjusted for a workpiece of a particular size any number of duplicate workpieces may be handled without further adjustment. The roller chain arrangement of the support is subject to no appreciable stretch which would, of course, upset the adjustment.

Various mechanical modifications and departures may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is to be understood that the specific form illustrated in the drawings is described in detail in the following specification and is by way of example only, and that the invention is limited only as defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a general perspective view of one form of the apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken generally on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken generally on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a schematic electrical diagram of the control circuits of the apparatus.

Throughout the several figures of the drawings like characters of reference denote like parts, and, referring to the general perspective view, Fig. 1, the numeral I designates a cylindrical workpiece or drum supported near its opposite ends in a pair of supports designated generally by the numerals H and 12, the supports being spaced in the direction of the axis of tank ill. The support H is a driving support, and the support [2 is merely an idler support. In the form shown, support I l includes drive and brake means which cooperate to impart controlled rotative movement to tank lllor hold the latter against rotation in any desired angular position. The support [2 is identical with the support I I, excepting for the omission of the means for driving the sprockets, and, accordingly, a detailed description of the support I i will suflice for both. There is. no reason why more than one idler support may not be used with one driving support in the case of long tanks and, under special circumstances, the use of two driving supports may be desirable.

The driving support designated generally H is shown in detail in Figs. 2 through and includes a pair of sprocket wheel elements it and M. The sprocket l3 andits general supporting means is shown in detail in Fig. 4, while the sprocket M and its general supporting and driving arrangement is shown in detail in Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the driving and control arrangement for sprocket H but exemplifies thedriving arrangement for both of the sprockets l3 and I4, excepting that the sprocket I l of Figs. 2 and 3 and its driving means are mounted for adjustment toward and away from, sprocket [3 while the latter need not be adjustably supported.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, sprocket M has a drive shaft 18 whichis journaled in a pair of bearings 19' and 2 0 which are supported, respectively, on a pair of I -beam members 2! and 22, which rest upon a pair of

base channels

23 and 24. I-beams 2i and 22 are held in fixed parallel spaced relation by means of tie rods 25, and

channels

23 and 24 are held in fixed, spaced, parallel relation with respect to each other by end channels 2! and 28, which may be welded thereto.

A transmission casing 30 is fixed to I-beam 2 I, and an extension of sprocket shaft It extends into casing 30, where it has fixed thereto a driving gear 3 l. Gear 3| meshes with a drive pinion 32, which is fixed to a stub shaft 33. A worm wheel 35; has anti-friction bearing in one wall of casing 30 as at 36 and is fixed to a sleeve 3'! in which stub shaft 33 is free to rotate. The right hand end of stub shaft 33 as viewed in Fig. 2 has anti-friction bearing in the opposite wall of easing at, as at 38.

' In Fig. 2 the numeral 46 designates a clutch which may be a conventional single plate dry \dis clutch of the kind commonly used in automotive-wahicles and haft 33 and sleeve 3'! extend into the clutch czfiihg for driving engagement with the driving and driven elements, respectively, of the clutch. It is believed that the design and construction of such clutches is well-. known to those skilled in the mechanical arts shaft 64 carrying a sprocket 65.

and requires no further illustration. In Fig. 2 the numeral 4| designates the usual clutch shifting yoke, and a control lever 42 for the yoke M has anti-friction bearing in an extension of transmission casing as at 43.

A driving worm 50 for worm wheel is fixed to a drive shaft element 5: which has

bearings

52 and 53 fixed within casing 30 and which extends outwardly of casing 30 as shown in Fig. 3, where it connects with one end of a universal joint 55, the other end of which is connected to one end of a tube 56. Tube 56 contains an internally splined collar or sleeve 51, and an externally splined shaft 58 is axially slidable therein. Shaft 58 extends to the left as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4 where it terminates in a universal joint 59, by means of which it is connected to a worm shaft 60.

7 In Fig. 4 the numeral 62 designates a transmission casing for the driving and braking mechanism of sprocket l3, which is the same as transmission casing 30 of Figs. 2 and 3, excepting that it includes in addition an antifriction bearing $3, in which is journaled a drive A mating sprocket E6 is fixed to worm shaft 60, and a driving chain 6'1 connects the sprockets. In Fig. 4

v the drive, including worm 5t and the other transmission parts leading to sprocket 13 are identical with those described in connection with Fig. 2, and, accordingly, like characters of reference have been applied thereto.

A supporting plate 10 is welded or otherwise preferably also to one or both of the side channels 23 and 2% for supporting driving means, including an electric driving motor 1! and an infinitely variable speed reducing gear box '12. The latter may comprise an infinitel variable transmission well-known in the art as a Graham transmission. In Fig. i the drive shaft fi l comprises the output shaft of the Graham transmission. It will be seen from the foregoing that either or both of the sprocket wheels i3 and I4 may be driven from motor M if its associate clutch fill is engaged.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, an extension coil spring 15 acting between the lower end of clutch operating lever 42 and a fixed part of transmission casing 38 urges lever '32 in a counterclockwise directicn as viewed in Fig. 2, or to a position of clutch disengagement. In Fig. 2 the lever 42 is shown in a position in which clutch 36 is engaged, and this is brought about by means of an electroinagnet, designated l! in Fig. 3, whose armature 78 may engage the lower end of a flexible transmission chain 59 which passes over an idler sprocket 8| supported by casing 38, the other end of chain 39 being connected to the upper end of lever 52. Energization of electromagnet l! pulls the upper end of clutch operating lever 42 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, to engage the clutch and establish. driving connection between assembly from

channels

23 and 24 and guide the former for movement along the channels.

aeeaace Such adjusting movement is attained by means illustrated in Fig. 3, which includes a bearing bracket which may be welded to the under sides of inner guide bars 84 and 85. A screw element 9| has anti-friction bearing at its opposite ends in bearing lugs 93 and 94 fixed to bracket 90, the anti-friction bearings being recessed as illustrated to prevent axial movement of screw 9| relative to bracket 90. An internally threaded lug 95 is fixed to a bracket 06, which, in turn, is fixed to end channel 2'1 of the lower supporting structure.

The screw 3| has a head portion 31 for engagement by means of a wrench or crank, and it will be clear from the foregoing that rotation of screw I 9| by manipulation of head portion 91 will cause the screw 9| to move longitudinally relative to fixed lug 95 and, accordingly, adjust the I-beam members 2I and 22 along the tops of

channels

23 and 24. This longitudinal adjusting movement does not interfere with the drive to both of the worm wheels of the sprockets I3 and I4 by reason of the telescoping spline connection between shaft 58 and tube 56, as previously described. Only about four inches of lineal adjustment are found necessary to accommodate a range of cylindrical tanks varying in diameter from five to ten feet.

The chain belt or link belt proper which directly supports the tank is shown in transverse section in Fig. 5 and is further illustrated in Fig. 3. The chain comprises conventional links I03 and side plates IOI pivoted in end-to-end relation. Between the side plates Iill and the links I00 are pivoted angle brackets I02 which are generally co-extensive with links I00 in a direction longitudinally of the chain. The upper portions of brackets I02 diverge to provide a pair of co-planar seats for a rubber block or pad I03 which may be riveted thereto, as shown in Fig. 5. The rubber blocks I 03 are of sufiicient resilience to avoid denting or otherwise marring the work and to provide a high degree of frictional tractive driving and braking engagement therewith.

As shown in Fig. 2 a plate I I0 is welded between

channels

23 and 24 and extends along for substantially the distance between the centers of sprocket wheels I3 and I4 to support the lower portion of the link belt or chain belt,-the opposite ends of the plate H0 being flared downwardly to permit the pads I03 of the link belt or chain belt to smoothly engage the top surface of plate H0. The upper surface of plate III! preferably has secured thereto a layer of canvas coated with graphite to reduce friction.

Reference will now be had to Fig. 6, which shows schematically the electrical control circuits for driving motor I! and the solenoids for operating the clutches. In the present example a reversible three-phase alternating current motor is employed. The solenoid for operating clutch 40 of sprocket wheel I4 is designated 11, as previously noted, and in Fig. 6 the solenoid for operating the clutch for sprocket wheel I3 is designated H2.

The numerals II3, H4, and I I5 in Fig. 6 designate the three leads of a conventional three-wire alternating current power source, and the application of power to the controls and to electric motor II is generally by means of what is known in the art as a rotary drum switch, which has forward and reverse positions and an intermediate oif position. For convenience of illustration and understanding, this rotary drum switch is shown schematically in Fig. 6 as comprising a switch bar I20 for controlling two groups of four 6 switches each. The switches of one group are designated I2I, I22, I23, and I24 in Fig. 6, and the switches of the second group are designated I25, I26, I21, and I28.

When switch operating bar I20 is in the intermediate off position illustrated in Fig. 6, all of the aforesaid eight switches are open. When it is moved to the left, as shown in Fig. 6, the switches I2I through I24 are closed, and when it is moved to the right as shown in Fig. 6, the switches I25 through I28 are closed. The three motor leads are designated I30, I3I, and I32 in Fig. 6. When switch bar I20 is moved to the left, it is in the forward driving position. wherein, with the clutch for sprocket wheel I3 engaged, sprocket wheel I3 will be driven in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, to rotate drum I0 in a counterclockwise direction.

In this position of the switch bar I20, conductor I I3 of the power supply is connected to motor lead I32 through switch I 2!; conductor I I4 of the power supply is connected to the motor lead I3I through switch I23; and conductor H5 of the power supply is connected to motor lead I30 by Way of switch I22. At the same time supply conductor H4 is connected to one side of electromagnet II2 through switch I24, and the other side of the electromagnet is permanently connected directly to supply conductor H5 so that the clutch for sprocket wheel I I3 will be engaged. In normal use the clutch for sprocket wheel l4 will be disengaged under these conditions.

If the position of switch control bar I20 be reversed and the switches I25 through I23 be closed, then conductor I I3 will be connected to motor lead I30 through switch I 26; conductor I I4 will be connected to motor lead I3I by means of switch I21; and conductor II5 will be connected to motor lead I 32 by way of switch I25. At the same time the electromagnet l! for engaging clutch 40 of sprocket wheel I4 will be energized by way of conductor H4 and switch I28, the other side of electromagnet I'l being likewise permanently connected directly to supply conductor H5.

In Fig. 6 the electromagnets ll and H2 have alternative energizing circuits whereby both are simultaneously energized regardless of the direction of operation of motor II and even if the latter be at rest with the switch bar I23 in the position illustrated in Fig. 6. Motor lead II 4, in addition to connecting with switches I23, I24, I21 and I28, has a branch conductor I35 which divides into conductors I 36 and I37 which lead to the terminals at one side of a double pole knife switch I38.

The terminals at the other side of this switch have conductors I39 and I40 which lead to one side of the electromagnets TI and H2, respectively, the other side of each of the electromagnets, as previously stated, being permanently connected to power supply conductor I I5 by a conductor I4I which serves the electromagnets I1 and H2 regardless of whether they are energized through the switches I24 manual switch I38.

From the foregoing it will be seen that, with knife switch I38 open, the energization of motor II to drive sprocket wheel I3 in a clockwise direction automatically engages its clutch by energization of electromagnet H2, the clutch 40 of sprocket wheel I4 being disengaged. Energization of motor II in the opposite direction to rotate sprocket wheel I4 in a counterclockwise and 1 2 01? through direction. automatically "engages its clutch 40 through electromagnet 11, the clutch of'sprocket wheel I3 remaining disengaged.

If the two clutches be simultaneously engaged through closure of switch I38 with switch bar 120 ina neutral position andzmotor ll de energized, then the clutches serve as an efiective locking brake, by reason of the irreversible worm drives leading to the clutches. If both clutches be closed simultaneously with the motor 1! operating in either direction, then both sprocket wheels will be synchronously driven to impart extra driving force. Both the braking and the double driving function are important in properly supporting and controlling tanks having heavy overhang or other-substantial and considerable eccentric masses or forces tending to produce undesiredrotation or to resist desired rotation.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for supporting and rotating'cylindrical workpieces comprising a pair of aligned, horizontally spaced driving wheels, a belt-like element looped about the driving wheels with sufficient slack to provide. an arcuate upper extent between the driving wheels, means for adjustingone of the driving wheels toward and away from the other whereby said upper extent of the belt-like element forms an arc conforming to the radius of the'workpiece and substantially tangent to the driving wheels, and power means for selectively driving either of the driving wheels, said means including an electric motor and transmission means extending therefrom to both of said driving wheels, and a clutch in said transmission means for each of said driving wheels.

2. Apparatus for supporting and rotating cylindrical workpieces comprising a pair ofaligned, horizontally spaced driving wheels, a belt-like element looped about the driving wheels with suincient slack to provide an arcuate upper extent between the driving wheels, means for adjusting one of the driving wheels toward and away from the other whereby said upper extent of the beltlike element forms an arc conforming to the radius of the workpiece and substantially tangent to the driving wheels, and power means for selectively driving either of the driving wheels, said means including a reversible electric motor and transmission means extending therefrom to both of said driving wheels, a normally disengaged clutch in said transmission means for each of said driving wheels, and'means operable automatically upon operation of the motor in one direction for engaging one of said clutches and upon operation of the motor in the opposite direction for engaging the other of said clutches.

3. Apparatus for supporting and rotating cylindrical workpieces comprisinga pair of aligned, horizontally spaced driving wheels, a belt-like element looped about the driving wheels with sufficient slack to provide an arcuate upper extent between the driving wheels, means for adjusting one of the driving wheelstoward and away fromv the other whereby said upperextentof the belt-like element forms an arc conforming to the radius of theworkpiece and substantially tangent to the iii driving wheels; and power means-torv selectively driving either of the driving wheels, said means including an electric motor and transmission means extending therefrom to both of said driving wheels, clutch-brake means in said transmission means for each of said driving wheels, control means for said clutch-brake means for engaging the same during motor operation for r0- tating the workpiece and for selectively engaging the same when the motor is inoperative to act as a brake on the driving wheels.

4. Apparatus for supporting and rotating cylindrical workpieces comprising a pair of aligned, horizontally spaced driving wheels, a belt-like element looped about the driving wheels with sufficient slack to provide an arcuate upper extent between the driving wheels, means for adjusting one of the driving wheels toward and away from the other whereb said upper extent of the beltlike element forms an arc conforming to the radius of the workpiece and substantially tangent to the driving wheels, and power means for selectively driving either of the driving wheels, said means including a reversible electric motor and transmission means extending therefrom to both of said driving wheels, a clutch in said transmission means for each of said driving wheels, and clutch operating means operable automatically upon operation of the motor in either direction for engaging the clutch of the driving wheel which will rotate with its upper portion moving toward the arc portion of the belt-like element.

5. Apparatus for supporting and rotating cylindrical workpieces comprising a pair of supports spaced in the direction of the axis of the workpieces and each comprising a pair of aligned, horizontally spaced driving wheels, a belt-like element looped about the driving wheels of each support with sufficient slack to provide an arcuate upper extent between the driving wheels, means for adjusting corresponding driving wheels of each support toward and away from its related driving wheel whereby said upper extents of the belt-like elements form arcs conforming to the radius of the workpiece and substantially tangent to the driving wheels, and power means associated with one of said supports for selectively driving either of the driving wheels of said support, said power means including an electric motor and transmission means extending therefrom to both of said driving wheels, and a clutch in said transmission means for each of the driving wheels of said one support.

CHARLES N. ARONSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,766,963 Strupe June 24, 1930 1,777,089 Jansen Sept. 30, 1930 1,802,917 Kennedy Apr. 28, 1931 1,871,430 Snow Aug. 9, 1932 1,905,387 Kirkwood Apr. 25, 1933 2,463,383 Hokanson Mar. 1, 1949 2,514,293 Rumsey, Jr. July 4, 1950