US3001634A

US3001634A - Locking swivel hanger

Info

Publication number: US3001634A
Application number: US859287A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl J Bauder
Original assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Current assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Priority date: 1959-12-14
Filing date: 1959-12-14
Publication date: 1961-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 1978-09-26

Description

Sept. 26, 1961 c. J. BAUDER 3,001,634

LOCKING SWIVEL HANGER Filed. Dec. 14, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l i INVENTOR.

L 04m J- anuoez A 43 '42 Byl w A TTORNE Y Sept. 26, 1961 c. J. BAUDER 3,001,634

LOCKING SWIVEL HANGER Filed Dec. 14, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

(Jaw A TTORNEY United States Patent 3,001,634 LOCKING SWIVEL HANGER Carl J. Bauder, Syracuse, N.Y., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 14, 1959, Ser. No. 859,287 6 Claims. (Cl. 198177) This invention relates generally to transporting devices and more particularly to a selectively rotated monorail conveyor hanger.

Formerly, monorail conveyors carried racks which held parts on opposite sides, requiring an equal number of men acting as loaders and unloaders on both sides of the conveyor. It is desirable to have the articles rotated on their vertical axes as their movement along the conveyor takes place. This rotation helps eliminate the requirement of men along both sides of the conveyor line. Furthermore, such rotation should take place automatically at predetermined intervals in accordance with the type of operation being conducted. A positive method of locking the monorail carried swivel hanger in one position is desired so as not to turn the article carried constantly as. it moves along the conveyor.

Efiicient high speed plant operation requires a minimum number of operators between each manufacturing operation. It is old in the art to accomplish a rotation of monorail hook hangers controlled by the engagement or horizontal arms against fixed projections along the direction of travel. However, known apparatus associated with a monorail system and formerly used does not insure that the hangers are locked in the proper position automatically before entering a machine or an area requiring a particular position of the article being processed.

The objects of this invention are to provide a swivel hanger rotated remotely and positively locked in a predetermined position to selectively latch and nnlatch a rotating hanger in position as it is moved and rotated along a conveyor system; to provide a system of hangers mounted on a carrier to cooperate with trip mechanisms for changing the position of the hangers at intervals While the hangers are latched toa predetermined position in the interim between these intervals; and to provide an improvel swivel hanger which is substantially automatic, foolproof, smooth and efiicient in use and design and which permits increased production with a minimum number of manual operations.

Still other objects and attendant advantages of the invention will become apparent to persons familiar with the art to which this invention relates from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying,

drawings in which I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention and in which:

FIG. 1 shows, in perspective, a view of the parts of the structure of the present invention in disassembled, separated relation;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation illustrating the application of my invention with a monorail conveyor;

FIG. 3 is a, fragmentary front elevation of the structure embodying the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of an operating means associated witha swivel hanger of the present invention.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in different figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, a substantially rectangular adapter has a plurality of holes 11 in its upper portion thereof. The monorail conveyor 12, shown in phantom lines in FIG. 2, has the adapter 19 bolted thereto and is in turn bolted between trolley wheel plates (not- Fatente-i Sept. 25, 1961 ECG shown). A down-pending threaded shaft 13 is fixedly attached to the lower portion of adapter 10.

. Locking latch 14 is substantially oblong in shape and is pivotally attached to the adapter 10 by the bolt 16 and the nut 17 through the adapted hole 18. A latch handle 15 is provided on the latch 14 extending at right angles thereto. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the locking latch 14 may be pivoted to an upper position, as shown 1n phantom lines. The adapter-locking latch portion forms an upper sub-assembly which does not change position relative to the monorail conveyor 12.

A clevis 20, including an enlarged body portion 21, has a substantially rectangular opening 22 extending transversely therethrough. An upstanding post 23 extends vertically from the upper portion of the clevis body 21 and terminates in a square head 24. The axial bore 25 extends from the square head 24 and terminates at the clevis body opening 22. A plurality of down-pending bifurcated ears 26 extend from the lower portion of the clevis body 21 and are provided to receive a hook 27 which is schematically shown in FIG. 2. A plurality of cam plates or bars 28 are fixedly secured to the clevis post 23 at the points 39 and 31. These cam plates or bars 28 are set at to each other; however, this position may be varied according to the amount of rotation desired for the rotating clevis 20 with a corresponding change in the shape of the head 24. The fact that the camming plates or bars 28 are at different elevations assures that the clevis may be positioned and locked with the camming plates last contacting a line parallel with the conveyor.

The camming plate assembly, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, includes an upper and lower cam plate in spaced relation, having fiat surfaces 29 which aid in insuring rotation of the clevis only through a desired arc.

The clevis 20 and camming plates or bars 28 form a 28 and the clevis 20 by passing through the post bore 25 and terminating in the clevis opening 22. When the locking latch 14 is in the lower position, it engages the square head 24 to lock the clevis 28. A thrust washer is rotatably positioned on the adapter shaft 13 and is retained by a castellated nut 33 and a cotter pin 34 extending transversely through the nut 33 and adapter shaft 13. The thrust washer 32 reduces the effort required to turn the hanger and also reduces Wear.

In the assembled position and with the locking latch in the upper position shown in FIG. 2, the lower subassembly can be rotated relative to the upper sub-assembly by means of the cam plates 28.

Operation The operation of the rotating swivel hanger is best illustrated by the diagrammatic plan view shown in FIG. 4. Reference character 40 designates the center line of the monorail conveyor 12 with the direction of travel being from left to right. The hanger is locked in a predetermined position, and in this case the upper and lower camming plates 28 are located parallel and perpendicular to the conveyor movement direction, respectively. Reference character A indicates the movement of a point onthe swivel hanger in the clockwise direction as it is being selectively rotated As the hanger moves along the conveyor, the latch handle 15, which extends beyond the camming plates 28, is pivoted upwardly by an actuator 41, and locking latch 14 is then kept in the upper position as shown in FIG. 2. This action unlocks the clevis, whereupon the lower sub-assembly is rotatable relative to the upper sub-assembly. A lower projection 43' adjusted to the height of the lower cam plate is contaeted and the clevis is rotated 90". It can rotate only 90 due to the flat surfaces 44 on the projection. faces and surfaces 29 on the camming plates. The. rate of rotation is controlled by the rate at which the projection face approaches the monorail. After rotating 90, the lower cam plate is parallel to. the direction of the con veyor and the upper cam plate is perpendicular. An upper projection 42, identical to the lower projection 43 ,v is. positioned at the height of the upper cam plate and again the clevis rotates 90. The engagement of the flat surfaces 29 and corresponding flat surfaces 44 on the upper and

lower projections

42 and 43, respectively, prevent iurther rotation by the inertia of the rotating clevis. The actuator 41, controlling the position of the latch 14, then allows the latch to drop over the square head 24 on the top of the clevis 29 to lock'it in its new position.

It is apparent to one familiar in the art that the angle of the camming plates 28 relative to each other may be i changed to any desired degree in order to perform a -r -o-- tation consistent with the type of operation to be con ducted at the succeeding machine or process area. The shape of the head 24 must also be changed in accordance with the angle change of the camming plates 28. Also, the location of the lower and upper projections 42 and 43- and the number of the projections may be varied. along the monorail conveyor 12 to selectively determine the time for rotation of the lower sub-assembly.

The invention as defined in the appended claims is; to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope;

I claim:

1. In a monorail apparatus including the combination of a monorail mounted adapter, a clevis rotativelysecured to said adapter, cam plates carried by said clevis,. and cam actuators in spaced relation to said cam plates engageable with and selectively rotating said camplates, the. improvement comprising a latching means pivotally attached to said adapter and engaging said clevis means to positively lock the same against rotation relative to said adapter, a'handle means on said latching. means and operating said latching means out of engagement with said clevis means whereby said latching means may be disengaged from said clevis means rendering said clevis means rotatable relative to said adapter, and: cam;

- ming means comprising a cam located adjacent said monm rail apparatus for raising said handle means to thereby disengage said latching means.

a 2.. -In a rotative hanger device, the combination of a monorail carried adapter, a hook receiving clevis member rotatively secured to said adapter, said clevis member including an upstanding post having an axial passageway terminating in a keeper portion, means for rotating said clevis-memberfixedly secured to. said clevis post, a. latch. ing means pivotally attached to said adapter and engaging said keeper portion to positively lock the same in a predetermined position, said latching means having a cam engaging extension, and operating means to disengage said latching means from said keeper portion whereby said clevis member may be rotated relative to said adapter, said operating means comprising a cam located adjacent said hanger device and adapted to contact said cam engaging extension to pivot said latching meansinto the unlatched position.

3. A swivel hanger comprising the combination of an said clevis having an upstanding post terminating in alatch engaging square head and having a first axially extending opening therethrough and a second substantially rectangular transverse opening intercepting said axial opening, said axial opening receiving said adapter shaft, a thrust washer and locking device received at the lower extremity of said adapter shaft; within said transverse opening, operating means secured to said latch for pivoting the same whereby said latch may be pivoted upwardly out of engagement with said clevis square head to allow said lower sub-assembly to be rotated relative to said upper sub-assembly, and a cam located adjacent said swivel hanger to thereby contact said latch operating means to pivot said latch into the unlatched position.

4. A swivel hanger comprising a clevis. having a body portion with hook receiving ears extending downwardly from either side thereof and a post extending upwardly. therefrom and terminating in a square portion, said, post including an axial opening therethrough, said clevis formed 'with an opening extending transversely throughv said body portion and. intercepting said axial opening, camming plates arranged at to each other and secured to the extremities of said clevis post, a locking latch located above said camming plates and engaging said square portion of said clevis post, an adapter having a threaded shaft extending downwardly from one end thereof and through said axial opening in said clevis post, said adapter shaft interlocking said locking latch, camming plates and clevis and terminating in said clevis body portion opening, a thrust washer and. locking nut within said transverse opening and received at the lower end of said adapter shaft to secure said shaft to. said clevis, means pivotally mounting said locking latch to. said adapter, and an operating handle for said locking latch extending transversely of said hanger whereby said locking latch may be pivoted out of engagementwith said square portion of said clevis post to permit rotation of said camming plates and said clevis.

5. A swivel hanger comprising a clevis for supporting [parts to be conveyed, an adapter having an. extending shaft for rotatably securing said clevis toa monorail, said clevis having an extending post that mounts an upper and a lower cam plate, and a latching means. for selectively locking the clevis with respect, to the-adapter, said latch means comprising a latch pivotally attached to saidprevent rotation of the clevis with respect tome-adapter,-

camming means for pivoting said latch means into an unlatched position to allow rotation of the clevis with re-. spect to the adapter, said upper and lower cam plates being adapted to contact an upper and alower cam actuator mounted adjacent the swivel hanger torotate the clevis with respect to said adapter when the latch means is in an unlatched position, said actuators. having an initial portion that rotates the cam plates, and a subsequent flat horizontal portion that positions. the cam plates horizontally to thereby align the. latch and the head. to assure positive engagement of said latch over said head.

6. In a monorail apparatus including the combination of a monorail mounted adapter, a clevis rotatably secured to said adapter, camplates carried by said clevis, and cam actuators in spaced relationship to said cam plates engageable with and selectively rotating said cam plates, the improvement comprising a latching means pivotally attached to said adapter, said latching means having a portion engageable with said clevis means to positively lock the same against rotation when said latching means is in the downward position and av cam engagingextension adapted to. pivot said latching means upwardly to unlatch said latching means from said clevis thereby rendering said; clevis means rotatable relative to said adapter, saidextension. adapted to be raised by camming. means comprising a cam track located adjacent said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Rayburn May 24, 1949 6 Whitcroft Jan. 23, 1951 Conner May 15, 1951 Rainier Dec. 2, 1952 Juyinall Nov. 6, 1956 Juvinall Aug. 13, 1957 Peters June 16, 1959