US2906555A

US2906555A - Tong apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2906555A
Application number: US563938A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Samuel B Heppenstall
Original assignee: AMERICAN FORGE AND Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: AMERICAN FORGE AND Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1956-02-07
Filing date: 1956-02-07
Publication date: 1959-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 1976-09-29

Description

SPL 29, 1959 s. is. HEPPENSTALL, JR 2,906,555

TONG APPARATUS Filed Feb. 7, 1956 l 4 Sheets-Sheet 1vv IN VEN TOR. Samuel B. Heppensla/l, Jn

HIS` ATTORNEYS Sept. 29, 1959- s. B. HEPPENSTALL., JR 2,906,555

ToNG APPARATUS Filed Feb. 7, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR Samuel B. Heppensfa/l, Jn

Bm/Wmw HIS A T TOR/VEYS Sept. 29,A 1959 s. B. HEPPENSTALL, .n

ToNG APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 7. 195e o., m. r L. m 3 m @m a.. Tm i r n IN VEN TOR.

4, amas/B. Happensfa/l, .In

mi fam/1f HIS ATTORNEYS s. B. HEPPENSTALL, JR 906,555

sept. 29, 1959 I TONG APPARATUSy Filed Feb. 7, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig] INVEN TOR. Samuel B. Heppensfa/l, Jl.

m, n@ 4M -5 M HAS` ATTORNEYS TONG APPARATUS Samuel B. Heppenstall, Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa., assigner to American Forge and Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 7, 1956, Serial No. 563,938

6 Claims. (Cl. 294-88) This invention relates to a tong device and particularly, to tong apparatus for engaging, lifting and transporting coils of strip material.

One phase of the invention pertains to means for manipulating and controlling the utilization of such tongs.

An object of the invention is to produce to-ng apparatus of the kind indicated, provided with means for engaging and lifting a coil of strip material independently of whether the coil occupies an upright position or is on its side at the time of being engaged by tongs of the apparatus.

Another object is to provide coil-lifting tong apparatus with means for engaging a coil of strip material and lifting the same independently of the position of the coil at the time of such engagement, and which provides means that may be angled as unit with respect to the tongs. f

A further obiect is to provide such tong apparatus with means for turning the coil through a quarter of a revolutionfwhile the same is supported `by tongs so-as to enable the coil to be set down in either an upright or a ho-rizontal position andA independently of the position of the coil at the time it was initially engaged by the tongs.

A still further object of the invention is to produce crane-handling tong apparatus of the kind designated, eg., apparatus capable of being manipulated from the cab of an overhead crane, and to provide such apparatus with means adjustable from the cab of the crane for changing the angular position of the work-engaging elements of the apparatus prior to and also during engagement of such elements with a coil of strip material.

These and other objects which will be made more apparent throughout the further description of the invention, are attained by means of apparatus such as is ill-ustrated in the accompanying drawings. y l

:In the drawings Figure l is a side elevation of tong apparatus embodying my invention, the linkage forming a part thereof is shown in the collapsed position and the tong apparatus is shown in the fully open position and in association with a coil of strip material which is shown in dotted lines and so positioned relatively to the tong apparatus that it will be grasped thereby by a closing movement of that apparatus.

Figure 1A is a view similar to Figure l, but showing the opposite side of the apparatus from that shown in Figure l; y Y

Figure 2 is an end elevation of a portion of the tong apparatus illustrated in Figure l, theyiew being taken from a position indicated by the line II--II associated with Figure l;

Figure 3 is an end section taken along the line III-III lof Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure l, butvrshowing the relationship of parts of the apparatusfwhen .they have been moved to a tong-closing position; in this figure, the linkage lis in an expanded position; Figure 5 is a side elevation of a portion of the apparams-shown in Figure. l and illustrating a manipulating United States Patent C) ice and control feature of the invention by means of which the Work-engaging elements of the tong apparatus may be turned to different angular positions, either before or after its tongs are in engagement with work to be lifted and transported. The apparatus is shown in association with a diagrammatic representation of a coil of strip material engaged by the tongs andheld in a position by the work-engaging elements, such that the axis of the coil extends horizontally;

Figure 6 is an end view taken along the line VI-VI of Figure l and illustrating relative positions of parts of the apparatus while the work-engagingelements of the apparatus are in lifting engagement with a coil located in a vertical or upright position;

Figure 7 is a View corresponding to .Figure 6, but taken o-n the line VII-VII of Figure 5; it discloses relative positions of partsV of apparatus embodying the invention when the work-engaging elements are in gripping engagement with a coil of strip material that is located in a horizontal position, i.e., a position such as indicated in Figure 5.

The present invention contemplates coil-lifting tong apparatus equipped with work-engaging elements which are capable of being turned to diierent positions, so that a coil of strip material may be eifectively engaged and lifted independently of the position of the coil. example, the coil` may be engaged and lifted whether it is in an upright position, i.e., with the coil axis extending vertically, or is in some other position, for example, on its side with the axis of the coil extending horizontally. The illustrated embodiment of the invention discloses a well known type of coil handling tongs which is provided with manipulating .or control means or apparatus such that the coil-engaging elements may be simultaneously turnedto diierent angular positions for the purpose of effectively engaging a coil of strip material, independently of the positio-n of the coil prior to such engagement. In addition, the manipulating or control apparatus illustrated is such that the turning movement of the coilengaging elements may be controlled from a position remote from the apparatus, yas for example, the cab of the overhead crane which is handling the device.

It should be noted that the unit may be portable with its own standard or frame instead of being suspended from a hoist or crane and may be operated or manipulated from the door or from a crane.

In addition, the manipulator or control apparatus illus- ,trated is such thata coil of strip material may be turned to diierent angular positions after it is engaged and lifted by the tong apparatus. kFor the purpose of structural simplicity, the apparatus illustrated limits the turning movement of the coil-.engaging elements, to an angular movement through a quarter of a revolution. Consequently, these elements may be positioned to engage and pick up a coil lying von its side or standing in' an upright position and, after the coil is engaged and lifted by the tongs, the work-engaging elements may be turned to set the coil down in either an upright position or in a horizontal position. That is to'say, the coil-engaging elements can be adjusted as to position both prior to engagement with a coil and also after the coil has been engaged and lifted by the to-ng apparatus, and this position adjustment may be controlled from a point remote from the tongs, i.e., from the cab of a crane to which apparatus or unit is temporarily attached.

The device is designed particularly from the standpoint of the largest coil to be. handled, so that the tilting takes place about the center of gravity of such a coil to minimize strain on the coil. When smaller size coils are handled, the strain is less, even although the tilting may not be entirely about the center of gravity. AThat is,

the Vdevice will manipulate the widest coil substantially on For or about its center of gravity. Another important feature is that each coil is gripped through its wall thickness.

While the tongs illustrated in Figure l are shown as equipped with manipulator apparatus, the linkage per se is of an old type. The tongs include two opposed

grappling members

8 and 9. The member 8 is shown as operatively secured to one of the coil-engaging elements which is shown in the drawings as a gripper plate 10, so formed that it is adapted to engage a peripheral portion of a coil such as A. The grappling member 9 is shown as a substantially L-shaped member and it is operatively connected to another coil-engaging element 11 by means of the apparatus hereafter described. The element 11 is shown in the form of a nose mounted on a rigid bar 35 and so located that it is capable of entering the central cavity of a coil A of strip material, preliminary to the gripping and lifting of the coil.

A reference to Figures l, lA, and 4 will disclose that the device illustrated includes what may be termed a tension bar 12 to which each of the

members

8 and 9 is pivotally connected, as later described. The tongs also include usual linkage shown in the drawings as including

links

13 and 14 which are pivotally connected together at one end by a pin 16 which also forms a pivotal support for a clevis which is adapted to be engaged by a crane hook (not shown). is pivotally connected to a link 17 which is pivotally connected by pin 20 to the grappling member 8. Also, the link 14 is pivotally connected to a link 18 which is pivotally connected by pin 22 to the grappling member 9. The

links

17 and 18 are pivotally connected to the tension bar 12 by

pins

19 and 21, respectively. The grappling member 9 is also connected to the tension bar 12 by a link 23 and pin 24. The link 23 is connected to the bar 12 by the pin 19. The grappling member S is pivotally connected to the bar 12 by one of two equalizing plates 25 and by

pins

28 and 29.

As shown` the grappling member 8 is specially formed, is substantially L-shaped, and carries a housing at the lower end of its depending leg (see Figures l and 4). The grappling member 9 may be of the usual bar-like form, but as shown (see also Figures 1A and 5),'is of substantially L-shape. The depending leg of the member 9 constitutes a housing 31 that extends downwardly to a point opposite the lower end of the grappling member 8 and the housing 30 that is secured to that member. The housing 30 provides a support for a fulcrum pin 32. One end of the pin 32 is shown as supported by the The link 13 grappling member 8 and the other end overhangs a support carried by the housing 30 to provide a support for gripper plate 10. In order that side gripper plate or work-engaging element 10 will be capable of readily adjusting itself to the peripheral surface of a coil engaged by it, the fulcrum pin 32 is provided with a rounded head 33 (see Figures 1 and 4) which ts an appropriately formed socket in the rear portion of the gripper plate 10.

The housing 31 carries at its lower end a fulcrum pin 34 which, as shown, is spaced from, but axially aligned with the pin 32. Both spaced-apart and opposed fulcrum pins 32 and 34 extend horizontally. Work-engaging element or nose 11 is secured to a rigid U-shaped carrier bar 35. Therbar 35 is provided at its ends with

legs

36 and 37 which extend at right angles thereto and are respectively pivotally supported on the fulcrum pins 34 and 32. That is to say, the leg 36 is provided adjacent its lower end with a bearing which engages the pin 34 and which is preferably formed in two parts so as to surround that pin. Likewise, the leg 37 is provided with a bearing adjacent its lower end which engages and surrounds the fulcrum pin 32. With this arrangement it will be apparent that the bar 35 is capable of being swung to different positions around the aligned fulcrum pins 32 and 34 and that, therefore, nose or work-engaging element 11 is capable of being turned to different angular positions by reason of the swinging movement of the bar 35.

Suitable means are employed for shifting the angular position of the gripper plate 10 so that it corresponds to the angular position of the nose 11. One convenient way of doing this is to groove the upper end of the plate 10 (as it is shown in Figure 1), so that the groove formed therein slidably engages an intermediate portion of the bar 35, under conditions such that the plate 10 is readily movable along the bar. In addition, the plate 10 is so mounted that it is capable of turning to different positions around the fulcrum pin 32. With such an arrangement of structural parts, the plate 10 will turn with the bar 35 as the bar swings to different positions about the fulcrum pins, but at the same time, will be capable of relative motion longitudinally of the bar in response to the movement of the grappling

members

8 and 9.

In the apparatus illustrated (see Figures 1, 4 and 5 to 7), the bar 35 is turned to different positions around the fulcrum pins 32 and 34 by means of an electric motor 38a which actuates or drives a speed reducer 38 that is mounted on the grappling member 9. The speed reducer 38 moves with the grappling member 9 and is operatively coupled to a crank shaft 39 which includes as a part thereof a crank pin 39a. The pin 39a is connected to an actuating pin 40 by a connecting rod 41. The pin 40 is carried by a lug 42 formed on a bearing rotatively mounted on pin 34 and secured to the leg 36 of the bar 35. The radius of revolution of the crank pin 39a is so proportioned to the distance of the axis of the pin 40 from the axis of the fulcrum pin 34 that as the crank shaft 39 turns through half a revolution the connecting rod 41 moves the carrier bar 35 through a quarter turn around the axes of the fulcrum pins 32 and 34 and thus the movement of the bar 35 is a quarter turn in one direction and then a quarter turn back in the other direction during each complete revolution of the crank shaft 39.

Figure 6 illustrates the position of the crank pin 39a when the bar 35 is in the position there illustrated, i.e., the position shown in Figure l. Figure 7 shows the crank pin 39a in a position 180 from the position of Figure 6 and discloses the bar 35 swung to a position 90 from that illustrated in Figure 6 and such that the nose 11 projects in a horizontal direction (see Figure 5).

Figure 6 also diagrammatically illustrates a coil of strip material A in an upright position, i.e., with the axis of the coil vertical. whereas Figure 7 shows the coil located in a horizontal position. From the views of Figures 6 and 7 it will also be apparent that the continued rotation of the crank shaft 39 will shift the bar 35 from one position to the other, i.e., will move it back and forth through an arc-shaped path of in length as the crank pin 39a moves through the dead center position (shown in both Figures 6 and 7). The bar 35 cornes to rest on one of the dead center positions at the will of the operator, as controlled by a limit switch 46 and a magnetic brake 47 that are hooked up to the motor and reducer (see Figures 1 and 4). It is in a gripping position at either location.

While Figures 1 and 5 indicate the grappling member 9 as specially formed so as to provide a support for the bar- 35 (see also Figures 6 and 7), the motor 38a, the reducer 38 and the fulcrum pin 34, it will be apparent that the bar-shaped member 9 may be equipped with a separately-formed L-shaped housing to support the fulcrum pin 34 and provide a support for the motor 38a and reducer 38.

It will be noted that Figure 4, when considered in connection with Figures l and 1A, makes it apparent that as the tongs move from the fully open position of Figure l to the closed position of Figure 4, that the -grappling member 9 moves forwardly-endwise of the tension bar-12V (to the left in Figure 4). Likewise the ,grappling member 8 moves backwardly-endwise relative to the'bar 12, or toward the right in Figure 4, The two grappling

members

8 and 9 thus move relatively in these movements toward and along each other and with respect to tension bar 12.

It will be noted that the member 9 (of L-shape) has a longitudinal upper arm portion that is bifurcated or of trough shape (see Figures 2 and 3) and open upwardly and at its ends to guidably receive an upper longitudinal arm portion of the member 8 (also of L-shape). Side strips 9a along opposed inner side walls of the upper portion of the member 9 slidably receive and guide the upper portion of the member 8 therealong. Thus, the fulcrum pins 32 and 34l are retained in axial alignment throughout all the movements of the

members

8 and 9 with respect to each other. Also as a result, the

members

8 and 9 are moved endwise of each other (back yand forth) by linkage means, such as the

links

13, 14, 17 and 18 that form a part of the illustrated tong apparatus.

In Figure l we have shown a latching mechanism 45 carried by the link 17 and cooperating witha socket member 45a that is carried by the equalizing bar 12. The latching member 45 is employed to automatically hold the tongs in either an open or a closed position and is fully described in the expired patents to Gellert 1,506,827and Heppenstall 1,839,389.

It will be apparent that the device or apparatus of my invention in effect provides a separate manipulator or control unit for gripping, picking up and tilting coils. Such unit is operated by the linkage to grip and liftV a coil A and by its own mechanism, to tilt its coil gripping parts in an angular relationship with respect to their supporting means, and to thus tilt the coil.

What I claim is:

1. Lifting tong apparatus for engagement and transportation of coils of strip material, including oppositelydisposed coil-engaging elements; two juxtapositioned grappling members; a pair of spaced-apart and axially aligned fulcrum pins, each rigidly mounted on a separate one of said members; one of said coil-engaging elements being pivotally mounted on one of said pins; a rigid carrier bar bridging the space between and pivotally mounted on said pins, and movable longitudinally along the one of said pins and longitudinally of itself with the other of said pins; said one coil-engaging element slidably engaging said carrier bar, the other of said elements being mounted on said carrier bar; means including linkage operatively connected to said members for actuating said members and said carrier bar to move said elements toward and away from each other; means operatively connected to said carrier bar for turning it and both said elements to different positions around said fulcrum pins, comprising a motor carried by one of said grappling members, a crank pin rotated by said motor through a complete revolution, an actuating pin spaced from said crank pin and operatively secured to said carrier bar at a point adjacent one of said fulcrum pins; a connecting rod operatively connected to said crank pin and said actuating pin and actuated by said crank pin, the radius of revolution of said crank pin being so proportioned to the radial distance of the axis of said actuating pin from the common axis of said fulcrum pins, that as the crank pin moves through half a revolution, the connecting rod moves said actuating pin and said carrier bar through a quarter turn around the common axis of said fulcrum pins.

2. A lifting tong apparatus for engagingand transporting coils of strip material, including two juxtapositioned and relatively movable grappling members; two fulcrum pins located in spaced, axial alignment, one rigidly mounted on one of said members and the other rigidly mounted on the other such member; a rigid bar bridging the space between said pins and rotatively mounted on both said pins for longitudinal movement of itself with one of said pins and relative to and along the other of said pins; a pair of oppositely disposed coil-engaging elements; one such element rigidly secured to and movable with said bar, the other such element operatively connected, t0 one of said grappling members and engaging -said bar, said other element being movable with said one member and along said bar toward and away from the one of said elements; linkage means operatively connected to said members for moving said elements toward and away from each other; means operatively connected to said bar for turning it and both said elements to different angular positions around the common axis of said fulcrum pins, vsaid means comprising a motor Amounted on one of said grappling members, a crank shaft driven by said motor, a crank pin of said shaft and movable therewith throughout a complete revolution; an actuating` pin operatively secured to said bar at a point adjacent to but spaced from one of said fulcrurn pins, and a connecting yrod Oper.- atively connected to said crank pin and said actuating pin, the radius of revolution of said crank pin being so proportioned to the radial distance of the axis of said actuating pin from the common axis of said fulcrum pins, that as the crank pin is moved by said motor through half a revolution, the connecting rod moves said actuating pin and said rigid bar through a quarter turn around the common axis of said fulcrum pins.

3. A coil handling tong apparatus including in its make-up two juxtapositioned, relatively movable grappling members, each having a dependingl portion located at one end thereof so arranged that said portions` are located in spaced alignment with relation to each other; a pivotally mounted carrier bar extending between the depending portions of both said members, said bar being slidably mounted on one of said members for relative movement therewith; a coil-engaging element adapted to engage a peripheral surface of a coil, pivotally mounted on the depending portion of said one member and slidably engaging said carrier bar; a second coil-engaging element located between said depending portions and rigidly secured to said carrier bar and adapted to be inserted in the central cavity of a coil to be transported; a pair of links forming a part of said tong apparatus each operatively connected to a separate one of said members; means including linkage forming a part of said tong apparatus for actuating said linksto move said members back and forth relatively to each other; a motor mounted on one of said members; and means actuated by said motor for turning said carrier bar and both the coil-engaging elements to different positions relatively to said grappling members.

4. A lifting tong apparatus for engaging and transporting coils of strip material, including in its make-up two juxtapositioned relatively movable grappling members, each having a depending portion located at one end thereof and so positioned that said portions are located in substantially aligned spaced relationship; a work-engaging element pivotally mounted on the depending portion of one ofsaid grappling members; an elongated carrier bar operatively engaged by said work-engaging element and extending between and pivotally mounted on the depending portions of both said grappling members and movable relatively to said one of such members on which said work-engaging element is mounted, and longitudinally of itself with the other of said members; a second work-engaging element mounted on said bar at a point intermediate the ends thereof and movable with said bar toward and away from said first-mentioned coil-engaging element; means for relatively moving said members longitudinally of each other; and means including a motor operatively connected to said bar for simultaneously turning said bar and both said coil-engaging elements to different positions relatively to the depending portions of said grappling members.

5. A lifting tong apparatus for engaging and trans-` porting coils of strip material, including in its make-up two juxtapositioned, Yrelatively movable grappling members; a separate fulcrum pin mounted on each of said grappling members with such pins located in aligned spaced relationship; an elongated bar bridging the space between said fulcxum pins and pivotally mounted on both of said pins and movable longitudinally of itself with one of said members and relatively to the other of said members; a work-engaging element rigidly secured to said bar; a second work-engaging element pivotally mounted on one of said fulcrum pins and operatively connected to said bar; means for relatively moving said work-engaging elements toward and away from each other; a motor mounted on one of said members; a crank shaft operatively coupled to said motor; a crank pin forming a part of said crank shaft; a separate bearing secured to said bar at each end thereof, with each such bearing rotatably mounted on a separate one of said pins; an actuating pin secured to one of said bearings and movable around but 'spaced from the adjacent fulcrum pin; and a connecting 'rod operatively connected to said crank pin and said actuating pin for swinging said bar and said work-engaging elements back and forth about the common axis of said fulcrum pins.

6. A lifting tong apparatus for engaging and transporting coils of strip material, and including in'its make-up two, 4juxtapositioned and relatively movable grappling members; a rigid carrier bar extending from one to the other of said grappling members, pivotally mounted on both said members and movable longitudinally of itself with one-such member and relatively to the other such member; a work-engaging element rigidly mounted on said bar intermediate the ends thereof; a second work-engaging element pivotally mounted on one of said members and slidably engaging said bar; linkage means forming a part of said tong apparatus and operatively connected to said members for occasioning relative movement of said members to move said elements into and out of gripping engagement with a coil of strip material; an electric motor mounted on and movable with one of said members; and means driven by said motor and operatively coupled to said bar for tilting said bar and both said work-engaging elements to different angular positions relative to said members. v

References Cited in the file of this patent OTHER REFERENCES Publication by Clark Equipment Co., Industrial Truck Division, Battle Creek, Mich. entitled Upender Clamp Attachment (4 pages) received in U.S. Patent Oice December 19, 1949.

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