US2841301A - Coil handling device - Google Patents

Description

July 1, 1958 Filed March 6, 1956 F. SHERRIFF COIL HANDLING DEVICE FIG. I

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

FRED SHERRIFF ATTYS.

y 1953 F. SHERRIFF COIL HANDLING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 6, 1956 INVENTOR.

FRED SHERRIF'F BY Wm ATTYS.

July 1, 1958 F. SHERRIFF ,COIL HANDLING DEVICE Filed March 6, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

FRED SHERRIF'F ATTYS.

FIG. 3

F. SHERRIFF COIL HANDLING DEVICE;

July 1, 1958 Filed March 6, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

FRED SHERRIFF ATTY S.

Patented July 1, 1958 con. HAYDLING DEVICE Fred Sherrilf, Hickory Corners, Mich assignor to Clark Equipment Company, -Buchanan, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application March 6, 1956," Serial No. 569,843

8 Claims. (Cl. 214-620) The present invention relates to a coil handling device, and is more particularly concerned with a pivoted expandable ram adapted for attachment to the lift carriage of a conventional fork lift truck to transport a group of wire coils fromplace to place.

Briefly, the prong or ram of the present invention is hinged to the lift carriage of a fork lift truck. The prong or ram is provided with means to lock it in a lower horizontal position, and preferably with its axis axially aligned with the open centers of a group of wire coils. Upon forward movement of the truck, the prong or ram may be inserted into the open centers of the coils. Mechanism at the outer or free end of the ram is then extended to prevent the series of coils from passing ofi the outer end of the ram. By then releasing the lock means holding the ram in its horizontal position and elevating the lift carriage of the lift truck, the stack of coils may ultimately be disposed with the axis thereof substantially vertically or perpendicular. The load of coils in such vertical position may then be transported by movement of the truck to a point, for example, over the annealing stern of an annealing furnace, which latter may typically be located in a. pit below the floorsupporting the truck. The annealing furnace has a vertically movable loading platform, and with the lift truck and vertical stack of coils positioned as described, by retracting or releasing United States Patent OllFlCfi the mechanism at the outer end of the ram, the load of coils may be disposed on the loading platform, whereby upon lowering of the platform the coils will be shipped from the prong or ram and positioned about the annealing steml It will be obvious that by carrying out the above operations in reverse order that a stack of coils may be transferred from the annealing stem to the ram and transported to a place of storage. I v

The present invention is concerned with the mechanism or coil retaining means at the free end of the ram for preventing the series of coils from passing off the end of the ram, and particularly with the means for operating such mechanism.

Broadly, the present invention contemplates the provision of a prong or ram having coil retaining means expandable from an effective diameter less than, to an effective diameter greater than, the diameter of the opening in a wire coil or the like.

Specifically, one of the features of the present invention resides in a coil or ram characterizedby the provision of hydraulically actuated mechanism for actuating the coil retaining means.

Another feature of the present invention resides in the particular means employed between the hydraulic mechanism and the coil retaining means for operation of the latter.

Other features and advantages of the. invention will in part be obvious and in part will hereinafter appear, and they consist, generally, in the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which be exemplified in the construction to be described and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown the preferred illustrative embodiment of the present invention:

Figure l is a perspective view of a fork lift truck with the prong or ram of the present invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a lift truck employing the prong or ram of the present invention, this view showing one stage of the transposition of a series of coils from a horizontal position to a vertical position;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a lift truck and the ram of the present invention, showing the series of coils disposed in a vertical position with the nose of the ram in engagement with the annealing stem of an annealing furnace;

Figure 4 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section of the ram of the present invention, it being noted that the ram is in what would normally be in its vertical position with respect to the brackets attaching it to the lift truck;

Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the prong or ram of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a plan view of certain linkage mechanism of the ram of the present invention, this view being taken, substantially along the line 66 of Figure 4; and

Figure 7 is a plan view of the hydraulic cylinder assembly and certain other linkage mechanism of the ram of the present invention, this view being taken substantially along the line -77 of Figure 4.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is there shown a known type of commercial lift truck 1, having the usual uprights 2 at the forward end thereof in which vertically operates the usual lift carriage 3.

The pivoted expandable ram 4 is supported on the lift carriage 3 by brackets 5, that may be secured to the carriage in any suitable or preferred manner. The rain 4 is pivoted adjacent one end between the brackets 5 on a pivot pin or shaft 6 for pivotal movement from a horizontal to a vertical position. To provide for holding the ram 4 in a horizontal position when picking up coils of wire from the storage area, the rearward extension 4a of the ram is provided with the recess 7 for receiving a locking pin 8, which operates in a slot 9 formed in the brackets 5. Locking pin 8 may be manually operated for unlocking ram 4 from brackets 5, or it may be hydraulically actuated from the truck operators seat for that purpose. Preferably, the pin and recess are so designed that the pin 8 will automatically engage in recess 7 upon movement of the ram from its vertical to its horizontal position.

Ram 4 comprises, essentially, a hollow metal tube, within which, and adjacent the pin 6, is disposed a hydraulic cylinder 1% A pin 11 anchored in the walls of the tube passes through a bracket 12 suitably secured to the rear end of the cylinder to support the latter in the tube. The piston rod 13 of the cylinder has a piston or block assembly 14 clamped thereto at 15 for actuation thereby. Piston or block assembly 14 is guided in the tube 4 by three shoes 16, each of which is positioned in a recess in the piston and is normally biased to the inner surface of the wall of the tube by springs 17 confined between the piston 14 and shoe 16.

At its forward face, piston 14 has one end of a pair of links 18-19 suitably secured thereto, while the opposite end of links 18-19 receive therebetween one end of a link 20, a pin 21 pivotally connecting the three links together. The opposite end of link 21 is pivotally connected by a pin 22 to a shoe 23.

Shoe 23 constitutes the coil retaining means at the scribed.

outerend of the ram for preventing passageof the coils thereof] This shoe is in the general form of an obtuseangled triangle and in its. inoperative position nestles within aslot 24 formed in tube 4. Inthispconnection, it

will be noted'that link 20, 'for the jgreaterportion of its length is also positioned in slot 24; Theforward end of the shoe is curved slightly "outwardlygasj indicated at i 23a; for'engagement under the lowermost or' outermost coil positioned on the ram. The apex of the shoe pro- 'jects outwardly of slotg24 and is'pivotally' connected at 25rd an'extension 26 formed on a rib27. ,Rib 27 extends along the outer surface of the tube {for themajor portion thereof and is pivoted on a pin outwardly directed stop member 30 is formed on'the end vof rib 27 to prevent the coils from sliding onto brackets '5 when the ram isin a horizontal position.

' Externally of tube 4, and positioned within the channel portion oi rib 27' adjacent the links 18 19, is a link 31' having one end pivoted on a pin 32 carried by a bracket 7 r f 2,841,30k r and 2 and thereafter pivotal movement of shoes 23 is effected by ribs 27 and its 'associated operating-linkage.

' ing furnace, it is to be observed that it is not contemplated 33 suitably secured to the outer surface of tube 4. One 7 end of link 31'is received between the ends of a pair of links 3435, to which it is suitably secured, as by welding. The other. ends of links 34-35 have, a roller 36 journaled therein at.37. V I V v V 'It will be noted that link'31 carries a triangularly shaped portion defining a cam 38 This cam extends through a slot 39 in tube 4 andis positioned between the links 1819 in the path of a roller or cam follower 40, which is pivotally journaled'at 41in the links 18-19. Upon actuation of hydraulic cylinder 10, cam follower 40 cooperates with ltwill be understood that there are three'each of the abovez sh'oes 23, ribs 27 and the interconnecting linkage mechanisms above described, on the tube 4, all adapted to operatesimultaneously upon actuation of hydraulic cylinder 10.

In operation of the device, the fork truck operatorjwill 'fir st lock the ram 4 in its horizontal position through the-medium of the recess 7 andlocking pin 8. The ram 'may then be raised or lowered relative to the uprights 2 cam 38 in a manner hereinafter demay be carried out in reverse order,'that is, the'truck and I 'to .axiallyalign it with the bore of the plurality of wire coils 42 that 'are to 'be transported and placed in the annealing furnace 43. The lift truck lfis then'driven forward to position the ram 4 in the'bore of the coils. By then actuating hydraulic cylinder 10, links 18-3-19 and 20 are moved longitudinally'of tube 4'to initially start swinging the three shoes from the slots 24 about their pivots 25. At such time as links 20 are completely positioned in slots '24, cam followers or rollers 40contact earns 38 on links 31. At such time, continued advancement of links 18 19 and 20 will cause the shoes 23 to continue to pivot about their pivots 25, and at the same time the cam followers 40 rolling along-the inclined surfaces 38a of'cams 38 will cause the links 31 to swing outwardly about their pivots 32; Such outward swinging of links 31 transmitted to ribs 27 by the roller or I cam 36, which rollsalong a rib 44 on the rib 27, 'thus causing the rib 27 to swing about its pivot 28. Such outwardswinging movement of shoes 23,'links '31 and ribs 27; continues un'tilroller 36 contacts: the curved portion 44a of rib 44, which acts as a stop to limit outward swinging of rib 27. Upon contact'o'f roller 36 with the curved portion 44a of rib 44, the ribs'27 will be fully expanded, with the curved portion 23a of shoe 23 engaged beneath what will be the lowermost coil of wirewhen the ram iseIeVated to a vertical position. I V

It will be observed from the foregoing that initial pivotal movement of shoes 23 is effected by links 18, 19

v p l and downwardly moyable' lift carriage,of ram means comprising ini combin'ation a tube pivoted at one end to p damage to the truck supporting structure. 7 trary, in moving the'ram from its horizontal position to In elevating the ram from its horizontal position,',in

position for transportation of the wire coils to the annealthat the change from thehorizontal to the vertical position would be. accomplished by simply elevating the. ram in its horizontal position and 'thereafter'releasing the lock pin 8, thus .allowingijthe ram 4 to pivot to its vertical position. Such a sequence ,ofoperations wouldallowihe ram to swing downwardly very rapidly 'with possible On the cona vertical position,1it iscontemplated that after the coils are positioned on the ram in its horizontal position, the truck operator will then release locking pin Sand will then gradually raise the lift carriage and supporting brackets, thus allowing the nose 4a of the ram to slide along thefloor until the ramassumes 'its verticalposition; In lieu of sliding the nose 4a of the ram along the floor, the truck operator m flyfif he so desires,inch' the truck forwardly consistent with therise ofthe lift carriage'in'the uprights '2; 'j. Q

ltwill'be observed that the placing of the coilsjof wire in an'annealing furnace is, in efiect,f a two'story operation; The annealing furnace 43 is positioned onthe ground level, with the lift truck carrying .the'wiref coils on the floor next above. Upon arrival of the lift truck at the furnace with the superposed coilsfthe nose of the ramis inserted into an openingjor recess in the annealing stem 45 of the furnace. The'nose 4a of the ram'is especially designed to'centertheram in'the'top of the annealing stem so that the coilsof wire may-be accurately-aligned 'with the'annealing stem: jjj Asshown, the annealing furnace 43 has a yertically movable loading platform 46, which is raised to its upper limits at or previous to the time of placing 'theframino'se 4a idthe annealingstem; The lowermostcoil' .of the superposed coils'will thus be substantially disposed on 'saidplatformfi flhe truck operator by then retractingthe pistonrodl 13'of the hydraulic cylinder'causesretraction of ribs 27 andIshoes 23 of'the ram to free 'it1fromthe 'wirecoils'. Upon lowering the platform 45 the, coils be transferred theram to the annealing'sten145. 'It'will be obvious that "the operations described above ram (the latter freeof wirefcoils and with the jcoil'retaining' means retracted) may be positioned as shown from the annealing stem to the depending ram. "I'he'fcoil retaining-means may'thenbe actuated to hold the coils fastto the ram. The truck may then be driven 05 to a storage point where, by resting theilowermost 'coil on the'ramonthe floor'or storage rack, the truck may be backed away and the lift carriage simultaneouslylowered to dispose the coils with their axes in horizontal position. By 'fthenlocking the ram in its horizontal; position and releasing the coil retaining means, the truck, may further. be backed to remove the ram from the centers of the coils.

While a preferred form of the invention has been illustrated and describedhlereinbyflway of example, it will be'obvious that changes may be made therein within the. spirit and scope of "the invention, and, therefore, the invention is not to be limited to the preciseiorm herein disclosed, except'tinsofar. as' it may so be limited by the 'a'ppendedclaims -Iclaim: i V, 1. For use with an industrialtruck haying an upwardly said lift'carria'ge, means operative 'to normally maintain s'aid ram means in a horizontal position toien gageja plurality of coils arranged in side by side'relationship with their axes in a horizontal plane, said means being operable to permit said ram means to assume a vertical dependent position with respect to said lift carriage upon upward movement of the latter, a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs pivoted at one end to said tube adjacent the pivotal connection of said tube with said lift carriage, a shoe pivoted to the opposite end of each of said ribs, and means operative to swing said ribs and said shoes outwardly about their pivots relative to the tube.

2. For use with an industrial truck having a vertically movable lift carriage, of ram means comprising in combination a tube pivoted at one end to said carriage means operative to normally maintain said rarn means in a horizontal position to engage a plurality of coils arranged in side by side relationship with their axes in a horizontal plane, said means being operable to permit said ram means to assume a vertical dependent position with respect to said lift carriage upon upward movement of the latter, a plurality'of circumferentially spaced ribs pivoted at one end to said tube adjacent the pivotal connection of said tube with said carriage, a shoe pivoted to the opposite end of each of said ribs, a hydraulic cylinder positioned in said tube, and linkage means operatively connecting said hydraulic cylinder with said ribs and said shoes to swing the ribs and shoes outwardly about their pivots relative to the tube upon actuation of said hydraulic cylinder.

3. For use with an industrial truck having a vertically movable lift carriage, of ram means comprising in combination a tube pivoted at one end to said carriage, said ram means being normally maintained in a horizontal position to engage a plurality of coils of wire arranged in side-by-side relationship with their axes in a horizontal plane, and being operable to assume a vertical dependent position with respect to said lift carriage upon upward movement of the latter, a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs pivoted at one end to said tube adjacent the pivotal connection of said tube with said carriage, a shoe pivoted to the opposite end of each of said ribs, a hydraulic cylinder positioned in said tube, linkage means operatively connected to said hydraulic cylinder and to said shoes to initially swing the latter outwardly about their pivots relative to the tube upon actuation of said hydraulic cylinder, and means cooperating between said last named means and said ribs after initial swinging movement of said shoes to thereafter simultaneously swing both said shoes and ribs outwardly about their pivots relative to said tube.

4. For use with an industrial truck having a vertically movable lift carriage, of ram means comprising in combination a tube pivoted at one end to said carriage, said ram means being normally maintained in a horizontal position to engage a plurality of coils or wire arranged in side-by-side relationship with their axes in a horzontal plane, and being operable to assume a vertical dependent position with respect to said lift carriage upon upward movement of the latter, a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs pivoted at one end to said tube adjacent the pivotal connection of said tube with said carriage, a shoe pivoted to the opposite end of each of said ribs, a hydraulic cylinder positioned in said tube, linkage means operatively connected to said hydraulic cylinder and to said shoes to initially swing the latter outwardly about their pivots relative to the tube upon actuation of said hydraulic cylinder, cam follower carried by said last named means, and cam means associated with said ribs, said cam followers and said cam means cooperating after initial swinging movement of said shoes to thereafter simultaneously swing both said shoes and said ribs outwardly about their pivots relative to said tube.

5. For use with an industrial truck having a vertically movable lift carriage, a ram means comprising in combination a tube pivoted at one end to said carriage and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings therein adjacent its other end, a plurality of circumferentially spaced links pivoted to the outer surface of said tube, each of said links having a cam surface for projection through one of the openings in said tube, a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs pivoted to said tube adjacent the pivotalconnection of said tube with said lift carriage, each of said ribs enclosing one of said links and having engagement therewith, a shoe pivoted to the opposite end of each of said ribs, a hydraulic cylinder positioned in said tube, linkage means connected to said hydraulic cylinder and to said shoes to initially swing the latter outwardly about their pivots relative to the tube upon actuation of said hydraulic cylinder, and cam followers carried by said last named means for cooperation with the cam surfaces on said links after initial swinging movement of said shoes to thereafter simultaneously swing both said shoes and said ribs outwardly about their pivots relative to said tube.

6. For use with an industrial truck having a vertically movable lift carriage, a ram means comprising in combination a tube pivoted at one end to said carriage and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings therein adjacent its other end, a plurality of circumferentially spaced links pivoted to the outer surface of said tube, each of said links having a cam surface for projection through one of the openings in said tube, a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs pivoted to said tube adjacent the pivotal connection of said tube with said lift carriage, each of said ribs enclosing one of said links and having engagement therewith, a shoe pivoted to the opposite end of each of said ribs, a hydraulic cylinder positioned in said tube, a piston block assembly connected to said hydraulic cylinder, spring pressed means carried by said block assembly for guiding the latter in said tube, linkage means connected to said block assembly and to said shoes to initially swing the latter outabout their pivots relative to the tube upon actuation of said hydraulic cylinder, and rollers carried by said last named means for cooperation with the cam surfaces on said links after initial swinging movement of said shoes to thereafter simultaneously swing both said shoes and said ribs outwardly about their pivots relative to the tube.

7. For use with an industrial truck having a vertically movable lift carriage, a ram means comprising in combination a tube pivoted at one end to said carriage and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings therein adjacent its other end, a plurality of circumferen tially spaced links pivoted to the outer surface of said tube, each of said links having a cam surface for projection through one of the openings in said tube, a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs pivoted to said tube adjacent the pivotal connection of said tube with said lift carriage, each of said ribs enclosing one of said links and having engagement therewith, a shoe pivoted to the opposite end of each of said ribs, a hydraulic cylinder positioned in said tube, a piston block assembly having a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses connected to said hydraulic cylinder, shoes positioned in said recesses in said block assembly, spring means normally biasing said shoes outwardly of said recesses into contact with the inner surface of the tube to guide the block assembly in said tube, linkage means connected to said block assembly and to said shoes to initially swing the latter outwardly about their pivots relative to the tube upon actuation of said hydraulic cylinder, and rollers carried by said last named means for cooperation with the cam surfaces on said links after initial swinging movement of said shoes to thereafter simultaneously swing both said shoes and said ribs outwardly about their pivots relative to the tube.

8. A ram of the character described comprising a tube, a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs pivoted at one end to said tube, a shoe pivoted to the opposite end of "each of said ribs, a" hydraulic cylinderpositioned in r V; 7 7 References Cited in the file of this patent said tube, linkage rn'eans operativelyconneeted to said i V UNITED STATES PATENTS e hydrauliticylinder and tosaid shoes to initially-swing the Norton- L 211 7 latter outwardly about their pivots relative to the tube 5 Chubb et 1 July 2 1932 'upon'actuation of said hydraulic'cylimier; and means 5 5 90 -N '1938 cooperating between said last named means and said ribs 7 r 2,206,121 I Pierce; J ly 19 after initial swinging movement of said shoes to there- 2,687,226; Ga tt Aug. 24, 1954 after simultaneously swing both said shoes and ribs out- 2,696,920 Anjesky .Dec. 14, 1954 wardly'about their pivots relativeto said tube. 10 2,711,832 Cigliano June 28; 1955

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