US3059788A - Billet feeding device - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 23, 1962 A. J. TRUE BILLET FEEDING DEVICE Y 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 20, 1959 v INVENTOR.

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Oct 23, 1962 v A. J. TRUE BILLET FEEDING DEVICE INVENTOR.

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BILLET FEEDING DEVICE Filed July 20, 1959 5 h w- WNW/MIL W limited States Patent .52

3,059,783 Patented Oct. 23, 1962 3,059,788 BILLET FEEDING DEVICE Arthur J. True, Lisle, 11]., assignor to Union Tank Car Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New Jersey Filed July 20, 1959, Ser. No. 828,132 3 Claims. (Cl. 214-18) The invention relates to a billet feeding device having particular utility as a feeding arrangement for a furnace which is associated with a repeater or bar mill or the like.

Those skilled in the art of steel mill operation, and particularly that type of mill known as a bar mill, will understand that it is necessary to heat the to-be-formed billet to a semi-plastic state prior to reforming the billet into an elongated bar or the like by operation thereon in a series of roller dies. In order that the billet be brought to the desired heated temperature to accommodate the subsequent reforming, it is necessary that the billet spend an appropriate amount of time in a furnace depending upon billet size and furnace temperature level. Additionally, modern methods of mill design and production control have dictated an increased use of automation to reduce production costs and improve mill efficiency.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the invention to provide a billet feeding device arranged to efficiently and automatically feed billets to a furnace prior to passage of the billet or billets through a mill.

The invention particularly comprehends a billet source, means to select the billets from the source and automatically carry same to a supply rail, means to select a determined number of billets from the supply rail and deposit same in a determined physical order relative to each other on a furnace line, and additional means to periodically feed the selected billets to and through the furnace.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following description, and from an examination of the associated drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the device,

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the device illustrated in FIGURE 1 in retracted, loading position,

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view similar to FIG- URE 2, showing the device in forward feeding position,

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary plan view taken approximately along line 4--4 of FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary end elevational view of a typical power drive associated with the arrangement.

Describing the invention in detail, attention is first directed to FIGURE 1 wherein a billet source, indicated generally at 2, is provided. The source 2 comprises a plurality of angularly arranged rails 6 which define a trough 8 wherein the billets shown at 10 are deposited. A conveyor belt, indicated generally at 14, is sprocketed at its upper end as at 16 to a rotatable shaft 18 and at its lower end, as at 20, to a second rotatable shaft 22. The conveyor belt is provided with a plurality of equally spaced pick-up lugs 24, said lugs being arranged to engage and carry the billets 10 in the trough 8 and carry same upwardly. Directing attention briefly to FIGURE 5, it will be seen that the shaft 18 is journally mounted in bearings as at 28, and is provided with a driving mechanical connection 30 to a conventional power source and speed reducer, indicated generally at 32. Thus, the conveyor 14 under the action of the power source 32 is urged to provide the motion described.

Consideration now will be given to the fragmentary view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 4, and as more completely disclosed in the elevational view of FIGURE 1. It will first be noted that a pair of spaced supply rails 31, 31 are mounted at the upper end adjacent the rotatable shaft 18, and extend angularly downwardly whereat they are secured to the frame. The supply rails 31 are obviously in operative relation with the conveyor 14 as it goes around its upper sprocket 16. It will thus be apparent that billets carried by the lugs 24 will be deposited on the supply rails 31 in longitudinal abutting relationship With each other. In view of the fact that the supply rails 31 angle downwardly, it will be apparent that billets placed thereon will tend to slide by the action of gravity downwardly and therealong. Accordingly, each supply rail 31 is provided with an abutment or stop 33 to prevent further movement of the billets placed thereon.

A direct current motor 34 is mounted below the device, and is operatively connected via a conventional driving arrangement (not shown) to a shaft 36 which is provided with a crank 38. The crank 38 is pivotally connected to a link 40 which, in turn, is pivotally connected at its other end to the lower end of a rocker arm 42. The rocker arm 42 is, of course, journalled as at 44 to the basic frame of the device. It will thus be understood that under the action of the direct current motor 34, the crank 38 rotates which in turn induces a rocking action of the arm 42 by virtue of the link connection 40. It will be understood that a direct current motor is here employed in order to offer the speed control desired, whereby the time of billet feed through the associated furnace may be easily controlled. This action will hereinafter be described in detail. The upper end of the rocker arm 42 is pivotally connected, as at 46, to one end of a central member 48. The member 48 is provided with a transverse pin 50 at the end thereof opposite the mentioned end. Opposed ends of the pin 50 are pin-and-slot mounted to a pair of spaced rams 52, 52 (as at 54, 54). The rams 52 are guidably mounted for linear reciprocating motion in the respective channels 56, 56. It will also be noted that the member 48 has at the upper side thereof an angular elevating cam 58 as will be apparent in FIG- URES 1 and 4. The elevating cam 58 is, of course, fixedly mounted to the member 48.

A billet-separating device is indicated generally at 60, and is positioned operatively intermediate the supply rails 31. The separator device 6% comprises a pair of spaced plates 62, 62 pivotally journalled to the frame, as at '64, 64. The plates 62 are fixedly interconnected by transverse plates 68 and 70. It will be noted that the plates 68 and 70 are at variable elevations whereby the separator at is provided with a step or abutment '72. It will also be noted that the terminating edge of the plate 7% is arranged to protrude beyond the abutment 33 (FEGURE l), and the step 72 defines with the plate 76 a billet-holding pocket 76-the purpose of which will be hereinafter described in detail. A pair of spaced members 73, 78 is secured to the underside of the separator 60, and is arranged to straddle the member A roller is pivotally mounted to the outer extremities of the elements 78 and in operative cam relation with the cam member 53 earlier described.

When considering the operation of the arrangement, attention is directed, for purposes of clarity, to the simplified illustrations of FIGURES 2 and 3. It will be understood that the face or edge of the furnace (not shown) is illustrated by the line 90. The furnace line over which the billets move during the heating process is indicated by the line 92. The billets It) in the supply trough 2 are engaged by the lugs 24 of the conveyor 14 and are carried upwardly. Each lug will usually carry two billets, though more or less may be carried depending on lug design. As the conveyor moves, the billets are carried upwardly as noted, and deposited in longitudinal abutting relationship on the supply rail 31. The billets move downwardly along the supply rail 31 until the lowermost billet abuts the stop 33 provided in said supply rail. If desired, a limit switch (not shown) or any equivalent device may be electrically interlocked in any conventional manner with the conveyor power source 32, whereby the conveyor may be shut off when a determined number of billets have been deposited on the supply rail 31.

Considering specifically FIGURE 2, it will be noted that the arrangement is in retracted loading position. A plurality of billets are on the furnace line 92 undergoing the heating process. The rocker arm 42 is at its extreme right position, as seen in side elevational view, and the roller 80 associated with the separator 60 is at the bottom of the cam 58. It will also be noted that the shelf 70 is immediately below the lowermost billet 10 on the supply rail 31.

Upon forward feeding motionthat is, to the leftof the rocker arm 42, the member 48 is urged leftwardly together with the rams 52. Leftward movement of the rams 52 causes same to engage a billet 10 on the furnace line 92, and to incrementally urge same therethrough.

As a result of the leftward movement of the member 48, the cam 53 engages roller 80 causing same to ride upwardly therealong. Upward motion of the roller 80 induces an arcuate upward pivoting action of the separator 60, whereby the plates 70 raises the lowermost billet 10 and deposits same in the pocket 76. This action is illustrated at fill in FIGURE 3. It will also be understood that the separator action is concurrent with the pushing action described above.

Upon reaching its maximum stroke, the rocker arm reverses its direction and proceeds to the retracted position of FIGURE 2. The roller 80 will be carried down the cam 58 as a result of the eccentric weighted relation of the separator 64 with its pivot 64. Downward movement of the separator 60 deposits the billet 10 formerly in the pocket 76 on a higher rail 96 of the pair of rails 31. As soon as the pocket 76 disappears below the surfaces 96, the deposited billet is free to fall by gravity along the surface 96 and into position on the furnace line 92. The sequence of action described, of course, is continuously repetitive.

Thus, it will be seen that l have provided a billet feeding device which automatically and selectably deposits the billets in proper relation to be fed into a billet heating furnace, and additionally controls the passage of the billets through such furnace. By using the device as illustrated in the preferred embodiment, or any mechanical equivalent thereof, the arrangement is readily adaptable to the modern efficient, semi-automated production of an up-to-date steel mill.

The invention as shown is by way of illustration and not limitation, and may be subject to various modifications without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the .appcnded claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a furnace feeding arrangement of the type described, a billet source, a supply rail, means associated with the source to select billets therefrom, said means being operative to carry said billets to said supply rail and deposit same thereon in parallel abutting relation to each other, a furnace feed line in spaced relation to the supply rail, a movable billet selector device embodying at least one actuator having an integral stop portion for elevating a selected billet and for holding the remaining billets on said supply rail and, further, pocket means for holding the selected billet above said supply rail, said selected billet being movable by gravity into a position to be engaged by a billet pusher when said actuator has completed its operative cycle, and a movable billet pusher arranged to intermittently engage the billets on said line and to urge them therealong in a furnace feed direction.

2. In a furnace feeding arrangement of the type including conveyor means for transporting billets from a billet source, rail means for receiving said billets from said conveyor means, said rail means being inclined downwardly to permit downward gravity movement of said billets, abutment means on said rail means for restraining the downward movement of. said billets, said abutment means including a first portion extending generally transversely of said rail means and including a second portion spaced from and extending parallel above said rail means for supporting said billets, and actuating means including a first portion for elevating a selected billet above said rail means and for restraining the downward movement of the remaining billets on the rail means and further including pocket means integral with said first portion for restraining said selected billet elevated from said rail means, said pocket means when above said abutment means acting independently of said first portion to hold said selected billet and when below said abutment means permitting gravity movement of said selected billet along said abutment means.

3. In a furnace feeding arrangement of the type including conveyor means for transporting billets from a billet source, rail means for receiving said billets from said conveyor means and including a pair of spaced apart rails inclined downwardly to permit gravity movement of said billets, abutment means on said rail means for restraining the downward movement of said billets and including a pair of stop members secured to the upper portion of the lower sections of said rails, and actuating means including pivotally mounted actuators located between the lower sections of said rails and having engaging portions movable between positions beneath the rails and positions above said rails, each of said engaging portions having a stop portion for holding the billets on the rails and a cut-away portion for elevating and holding a selected billet above said rails on top of said stop members, said selected billet being movable by gravity downwardly over said stop members when said actuators move from positions above to positions below the rails.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,209,340 Landry July 30, 1940 2,231,087 Protin Feb. 11, 1941 2,249,529 Knights July 15, 1941 2,800,216 Muller July 23, 1957

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