US3010563A

US3010563A - Ladle feeder assembly

Info

Publication number: US3010563A
Application number: US648170A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas F Keegan
Original assignee: JAMES H REIGHART
Current assignee: JAMES H REIGHART
Priority date: 1957-03-25
Filing date: 1957-03-25
Publication date: 1961-11-28
Anticipated expiration: 1978-11-28

Description

Nov. 28, 1961 T. F. KEEGAN LADLE FEEDER ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 25, 1957 lNVENTOR 72/00 4: fiA eea/m/ ATTO R N EY Nov. 28, 1961 'r. F. KEEGA 3,010,563

LADLE FEEDER ASSEMBLY Filed March 25, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 77/0/1145 F KfE'G/IN ATTORNEY Nov. 28, 1961 T. F. KEEGAN 3,010,563

LADLE FEEDER ASSEMBLY Filed March 25, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,010,563 7 LADLE FEEDER ASSEMBLY Thomas F. Keegan, Lansing, Mich., assignor to i James H. Reighart, Cleveland, Ohio Filed Mar. 25, 1957, Ser. No. 648,170 2 Claims. (Cl. 198-53) This invention relates to a feeder mechanism for making controlled additions of bulk material to subsequent unit operations. More particularly, the invention relates to a ladle feeder assembly for making additions of ferromanganese, for example, as in the making of steel. The ladle feeder assembly provides ease of loading, rateof-ilow control, and emergency dumping.

- The economy and progress of the United States has often been measured in the amount and quality of steel and other alloy metals produced in our steel mills and metallurgical plants. Various types of processes and plants have been designed and built to increase the quality and amount of metals production. A critical factor in the making of steel and other alloys is the addition of relatively small amounts of metal flux material and the like to the melt being produced to give the desired qualities to the final metal or alloy product. Not only must the correct quantity of these additive materials be introduced into the mass, but it must be introduced at the proper time and temperature. found that a superior quality product results if the additive material is introduced at a controlled rate of flow so as to insure even mixing and uniform distribution in the mass resulting in an homogeneous product. Previous mechanical means for making ladle additions have not provided an emergency dump feature in the event of mechanical failure of the ladle feeders. An entire heat of steel or other'alloy can be ruined by a failure to introduce the additive material at the proper moment and in the correct amount.

' It can therefore be seenthat failure of the ladle feeder assembly while additive material is being introduced into a heat results in only partial introduction of the desired amount of additive material to the heat, giving rise to losses amounting to thousands of dollars due to the resultant poor quality product or complete spoilage of the entire heat. I Loading of the additive ladle feeding device constitutes anotherproblern encountered. Complicated hoist and conveyor systems have been necessary to raise the additive material so that it could be dropped into a heat either manually or by some mechanical means not having the positive control and versatility found in the present invention. On the whole, automation at the point of ladle or'furnace loading has not been successful and, where attempted, has been discarded in favor of hand charging.

The extreme heat generated in the area in which ladle additions are made make hand operations extremely diflicult. In addition, thesuccessful use of complicated fine tolerance mechanical or electrical feeder devices is prevented due to the violent heat fluctuations in the Working area.

i It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a ladle feeder assembly capable of making controlled rateof-flow additions.

A further object of this invention is to provide a ladle feeder assembly capable of emergency dumping in the event of ladle feeder assembly failure.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a ladle feeder assembly capable of being easily and simply loaded so as to eliminate the need for expensive auxiliary loading equipment.

Another object of this invention is to provide a ladle feeder assembly capable of continuous operation not In addition, it has been ice afiected by extremely high temperatures and wide temperature fluctuations.

Another object is to provide a rugged, simple troublefree structure capable of high production and economical maintenance.

Other objects and advantages found in the construction of my invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification in connection with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the ladle feeder showing in phantom lines the feeder bed connector bracket which is connected to the drive unit suspended below the hopper and transmits the vibratory movement created by the drive unit directly to the feeder bed.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the support base showing the open-end trunnion supports.

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the ladle feeder in the loading position pivoted'on the rear open-end trunnion supports.

FIGURE 4 is a sideview of the ladle feeder in the horizontal feeding position with a break-away portion showing the feeder bed connector bracket and the drive unit.

FIGURE 5 is a side view of the ladle feeder in the emergency dump position pivoted on the front open-end trunnions.

FIGURE 6 is a side view of the ladle feeder pivoted on the rear open-end trunnions, thereby inclining the feeder bed and providing additional rate of flow control.

FIGURE 7 is a partial perspective view of the rear hopper supports showing the fork-type construction and the axles which engage the rear open-end trunnion supports.

FIGURE 8 is a partial perspective view of the front hopper supports and the axle therethrough which engages the front open-end trunnion supports.

FIGURE 9 is a partial perspective view of the feeder bed or chute nestled within the hopper showing by arrow the direction of vibratory reciprocating movement of the feeder bed or chute.

General description In general, a support base is provided having two pairs of open-end trunnion supports, a front pair and a rear pair, extending upwardly therefrom. Each pair of trunnion supports is positioned near each end of the support base. An elongate horizontally oriented hopper or chute having axle type supports extending downwardly is positioned above the support base. The axle type supports are in register with and freely engage the open-end trunnions thereby supporting or cradling the hopper above the support base. The hopper is comprised of a normally horizontal table portion and a normally upwardly and outwardly extending loading portion. A vibratory feeder chute or bed is provided within and above the table portion of the hopper. The vibratory feeder chute or bed extends outwardly beyond the hopper table portion and is actuated by a motor and drive unit provided beneath the hopper table portion. A vibratory feeder chute or bed extension is attached to the vibratory feeder bed or chute, thereby enabling the ladle feeder assembly to deliver material directly into a furnace or over the center of a ladle. Means are attached to the loading portion of the hopper so that the hopper may be raised and pivoted about the front pair of the open-end trunnion supports to an emergency dump position. The loading portion of the hopper may be moved downwardly, thus pivoting the hopper about the rear pair of open-end trunnion supports and thereby bringing the loading portion adjacent to the floor level. In this manner loading is greatly facilitated.

3 By actuating the means attached to the loading portion of the hopper, the hopper and attached feeder chute may be pivoted upon the rear pair of open-end trunnion supports, thereby changing the angle of the vibratory feeder chute or bed and thus controlling the rate of flow' of material passing from the hopper and over the vibratory feeder chute or bed and its extension. The resulting uniform distribution of the additive material in the heat creates a superior end product of steel, for example, or other alloy being manufactured.

Specific description The support base 12, as shown in FIGURE 2, is rectangular in shape and is preferably constructed of cold rolled steel, although other metals can be used that provide the necessary ruggedness, strength and stability. The support base 12 must be installed in such a manner that the ladle feeder bed or chute 13 is horizontal during the normal feeding operation, as shown in FIGURE 4. A

front pair of open-end trunnion supports 14 are provided at the delivery end of the support base 12. A rear pair of open-end trunnion supports 15 are provided at the opposite or receiving end of the support base 12.

The trunnion supports 14 and 15 are constructed preferably of steel and are welded in an upright position to the-support base 12 as shown in FIGURE 2. The open portion 16 of the open-end pairs of trunnion supports 14 and 15 are formed so as to permit free in and out movement of axle-type supports 17 and 18 provided on the table portion 20 of the hopper 19. a

The preferred embodiment of the hopper 19 has a normally horizontal table portion 20 and an inclined loading portion or chute 21. The loading portion 21 of the hopper 19 is provided with upwardly and outwardly extending sidewalls 22. The table portion 20 of the hopper 19 is also provided with sidewalls 30-that merge with sidewalls 22. The sidewalls 22 are of maximum height at the beginning of the loading portion or chute 21 of the hopper 19 and gradually taper in height toward the table portion 20 of the hopper 19, Where they merge with sidewalls 30. The sidewalls 30 taper in height toward the delivery end of the table portion 20. The table portion 20 of the hopper 19 is provided with downwardly extending front leg mounts 23 and rear leg mounts 24, as shown in FIGURES 1, 7 and 8. Axles 17 and 18 are mounted through

mounts

23 and 24 in register with the open-end trunnion supports 14 and 15. As' shown in FIGURES 3, 4, and 6, the axles 17 and 18 can rest within both pairs of trunnion supports 14 and 15 simultaneously, or pivot on either the front pair of trunnion supports 14 or the rear pair of trunnion supports 15 as desired. The

'shape of the hopper 19, particularly the loading portion 21 can be modified to meet the requirements of any desired industrial application.

In the present embodiment, the loading portion 21 of the hopper 19 is the heaviest portion of the hopper 19, thereby placing the center of gravity behind the rear leg mounts 15. The axles 18 resting in the rear trunnion supports 15 provide a fulcrum about which the entire structure pivots. The loading portion 21 of the hopper 19 thus will finally rest on the floor, as shown in FIGURE 3, pivoting on the rear support trunnions 18. By varying the shape and size of loading portion 21 of the hopper 19 and the location of the drive unit 25 and motor 26 beneath the hopper 19 so that they are between the front a and rear pairs of trunnion supports 14 and 15, the center of gravity is changed so that the hopper will normally rest on both pairs of

trunnions

14 and 15. In addition, it is contemplated that the size and shape of loading portion 21 and table portions 20 of the ladle feeding device can I be modified to make it suitable for limited space'utiliza- 'Other metals may be utilized provided that sufficient strength and stability be obtained. V

A hooking-plate 27 having an opening therein is welded to the loading chute portion 21 of the hopper 19. As shown in FIGURE 1 the chain or cable 28 of a chain hoist or jib crane may be secured to the hooking plate 27. Actuation of such hoist means raises or lowers the hopper 19 and pivots itabout the front or rear pair of

trunnions

14 and 15, as desired. Although not. shown in drawings, it is' within the scope of the invention to actuate the hopper 19 by use of hydraulic piston-type means or any other means of pivoting it about the trunnions. I

A vibratory feeder chute or bed 13 is seated within the table portion 20 of the hopper 19, and is provided with a vibratory feeder chute or bed extension 29 extending outwardly and forwardly from said hopper-table portion 20. The vibratory feeder chute or bed.13 is provided with sidewalls which matingly fit beneath a guide member 32 provided on the sidewalls 30 of the table portion 20 of the hopper 19 as shown in FIGURE 9. The vibratory feeder chute or bed 13 reciprocates freely in the table portion 20 of hopper 19 and is actuated by a motor 26 and vibratory drive unit 25 suspended beneath the table portion 20 of the hopper 19. A connector bracket 31 s provided on the feeder chute or bed 13. and extends downwardly through an opening provided in the table portion 20 of the hopper 19. The vibratory drive unit 25 is connected to the connecting bracket 31 and is designed to transmit reciprocating movement to the feeder chute or bed 13, thus imparting forward travel to material placed thereon. Although the vibratory feeder chute or bed unit 13 can be constructed of steel or other heat-resistant metal, the feeder extension 29 is preferably constructed of an alloy particularlysuited for use in abrasive and corrosive high temperature settings because the extension 29 is normally positioned directly over a ladle containing the steel or alloy heat, for example. In the preferred embodiment, the extension 29 is constructed from a heat-resistant nickel-chromium alloy.

Operation In operation, the ladle feeder assembly 11 is installed adjacent to and above a ladle, furnace or other installation to which controlled additions of material are to be made. The support base 12 is installed to maintain the vibratory ladle feeder chute or bed 13 in a horizontal position during normal ladle addition operations, as shown in FIGURE 4. The hopper 19 is placed in position above the support base 12, resting on the pairs of trunnion supports '14 and 15. In the. embodiment of the invention as shown in the drawings, the center of gravity of the hopper 19 is located so as to cause the loading chute portion 21, in its free position, to rest onvthe floor, pivoted about the rear pair of trunnion supports 15. In this position, the loading portion 21 of the hopper 19 iseasily loaded with. additive material directly from lift trucks, conveyors, wheel barrows, or other simple mechanical loading devices. However, the center of gravity may be changed by variations in shape and design of the hopper 19 so that the hopper 19 normally rests on both pairs of

supports

14 and 15, simultaneously. Thus, the loading portion 21 of the hopper 19 can be decreased in size for use in limited-space situations.v It is within the scope of this invention that the ladle feeder assembly 11 be designed to tie in with any type of conveyor system provid-. ing for completely automatic handling of the additive materials.

In the present embodiment, after the additive material I has been loaded on the loading portion 21 of the hopper 19, a chain hoist 28 is connected to the hopper 19 by use of the hook plate 27.v The hopper 19 is then raised to its normal horizontal feeding position, as shown in FIG-' URE 4. In this position, the hopper 19 rests on both the rear and front pair of open-

end trunnions

14 and 15. Actuated by the motor 26 and drive unit 25, the vibratory feeder chute or bed 13 gradually delivers the additive material over the end of the extension 29 at any desired uniform rate into a ladle or furnace. The loading portion 21 of the hopper 19 may be lowered to any position, pivoting the hopper 19 about the rear pair of open-end trunnion supports 15. The angle of the vibratory feeder chute or bed 13 is thus changed, as shown in FIGURE 6, to give further control with respect to the rate and amounts of additive material being delivered.

In the event of failure of the motor 26, drive unit 25, or jamming of the vibratory feeder chute or bed 13 during the critical period in which additive material must be added to a heat, the hopper 19 can be pivoted on the front open-end trunnion supports 14, as shown in FIG- URE 5, to the emergency dump position, completing delivery of the additive material to the heat at the required time, thus preventing spoilage of an expensive heat.

A guide member 32 is provided on the sidewall 30 to form a guideway in which the feeder chute or bed 13 reciprocates, as shown in the partial break-away view of FIGURE 9.

Although the hopper 19 has been pivoted about the pairs of trunnion supports 14 and 15 by use of a chain hoist, it is contemplated that a jib crane or hydraulictype piston can be used to actuate the hopper 19 as desired.

It is thus seen that this invention brings about easier loading of additive material, superior controlled delivery of the material at any desired rate and amount, and emergency dump delivery hitherto unknown in the prior art, while employing a simple trouble-free unit.

Various modifications of the invention may be made without departing from the principle thereof. Each of these modifications is to be considered as included in the hereinafter appended claims unless these claims by their language expressly provide otherwise.

I claim:

1. A ladle feeder assembly comprising: a base; a pair of open-end trunnions provided on said base; a hopper provided with downwardly depending supports that freely rest upon said open-end trunnions, said hopper having a horizontal table portion and an inclined loading portion; a vibratory feeder bed seated within said table portion of said hopper and extending outwardly therefrom; means provided under said hopper to actuate said vibratory feeder bed; means provided on said hopper for selectively controlling the pivoting of said hopper first about one of said pair of open-end trunnions and then about the other of said open-end trunnions so as to facilitate loading of said hopper, controlling rate of flow over said vibratory feeder bed, and emergency dumping of said ladle feeder assembly.

2. A ladle feeder assembly comprising: a base; a pair of supports provided on said base; a hopper freely resting upon said supponts, said hopper having a table portion and a loading portion; a vibratory feeder bed seated within said table portion of said hopper and extending outwardly therefrom; means provided under said hopper to actuate said vibratory feeder bed; means provided on said hopper for selectively controlling the pivoting of said hopper first about one of said pair of supports and then about the other of said supports so as to facilitate loading of said hopper, controlling rate of flow over said vibratory feeder bed, and emergency dumping of said ladle feeder assembly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 833,761 Stevens Oct. 23, 1906 1,236,165 Hansen Aug. 7, 1917 1,542,951 Perkins June 23, 1925 1,546,435 Chase July 21, 1925 2,100,878 Shallock Nov. 30, 1937 2,109,939 Benjamin Mar. 1, 1938 2,311,373 Durning Feb. 16, 1943 2,774,493 Winter Dec. 18, 1956