US3380724A

US3380724A - Crankshaft induction hardening machine

Info

Publication number: US3380724A
Application number: US453745A
Authority: US
Inventors: Philip E Cary
Original assignee: International Harverster Corp
Current assignee: Navistar Inc
Priority date: 1965-05-06
Filing date: 1965-05-06
Publication date: 1968-04-30
Anticipated expiration: 1985-04-30
Also published as: JPS496967B1; GB1130726A; SE332436B

Description

April 30, 1968 Filed May 6, 1965 P. E. CARY CRANKSHAFT INDUCTION HARDENING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 30, 1968 P. E. CARY 3,380,724

CRANKSHAFT INDUCTION HARDENING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 30, 1968 P. CARY I 3,380,724

CRANKSHAFT INDUCTION HARDENING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 AIIIIIIIEIIIIEIIX" United States Patent 3,380,724 CRANKSHAFT INDUCTION HARDENlN-G MACHINE Philip E. Cary, Juliet, 13]., assignor to International Harvester ompany, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 6, 1965, Ser. No. 453,745 9 Claims. (Cl. 2664) AESTRACT OF THE DISLGSURE A machine for the heat treating of the pin bearings of a plurality of crankshafts including an intermittently moving conveyor located in a quench tank which is capable of moving the crankshafts in a step-by-step manner to and from an operative station and including arm means for operatively engaging each crankshaft when disposed at the operative station for removing the crankshaft from the quench tank, supporting the crankshaft while a pin bearing thereof is heated by electrical induction, and returning the crankshaft to the quench tank upon comple t on of the pin bearing heatin step. The machine includes first drive means effective to continually rotate the crankshaft as it is being lifted from and returned to the quench tank and during the heating operation as well as second drive means associated with the conveyor for continuously rotating the crankshaft after it is returned to the quench tank subsequent to the heating operation and until it is discharged from the quench tank by the conveyor independently of the first mentioned drive means.

This invention relates to induction hardening machines for crankshafts and the like, and has more particular reference to an improved machine for heat treating the pins of a crankshaft which will be automatic in operation for performing the steps of removing the crankshaft from the quench tank, heat treating the same electrically by induction and returning the crankshaft to the quench tank.

in the automatic machine of the invention the operator first delivers the crankshaft to an intermittent moving conveyor located in the quench tank and which moves the crankshaft step-by-step to an operative station from which the crankshaft is lifted by pivoted arms which have associated relation with a pivctally supported inductor. The inductor is so positioned lengthwise of the crankshaft as to have alignment with one of the crank pins thereof and when the crankshaft is lifted above the level of the liquid in the quench tank, the inductor is energized for heating the crank pin uniformly and to the required temperature for the desired hardening of this part of the workpiece. During this operation the crankshaft is rotated to obtain a uniform induction heating of the crank pin and rotation is continued while the crankshaft is being returned to the quench tank and is maintained until the crankshaft is discharged from the tank.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine having automatic cycling operation for the induction hardening the crank pins of crankshafts and wherein means are provided for rotating the crankshaft continuously from the time the workpiece is lifted from the quench tank for the induction heating step until it is discharged from the quench tank following the said step.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic induction hardening machine which will incorporate pivoted arms for supporting and rotating a crankshaft combination with a pivotally supported inductor, the arms having cyclic movement to and from the quench tank for removing a crankshaft as the first step in the induction heating operation and for returning the crankshaft to the quench tank following the said heating operation.

"ice

Another object is to provide a quench tank for the purposes described wh ch will incorporate novel and improved conveyor means for moving the crankshaft to and from an operative station in an intermittent step-bystep manner.

Another object is to provide a quench tank as described wherein means are provided in associated relation with the conveyor for rotating the crankshafts continuously during quenching, that is, from the time that they are returned to the operative station following the induction eating step until the crankshafts are discharged.

with these and various other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended thereto.

In the drawin s which illustrate an embodiment of the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, with parts being shown in section, of an induction hardening machine enibodying the improvements of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view, with parts being shown in section, of the machine as illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a detail View showing in elevation a part of the conveyor means and the chain and sprocket struc ture associated therewith for continuously rotating the crankshaft during quenching;

FEGURE 4 is a sectional view on a slightly enlarged scale taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG- URE 3'.

FIGURE 5 is an end view of the housing for the fluid power cylinder for releasably supporting the crankshaft for rotation and for rotating the same;

FIGURE 6 is a detail sectional View illustrating the gear drive for rotating the crankshaft while it is suspended by pivoted supporting arms during the induction heating step; and

FIGURE 7 is a plan View illustrating the center pin device which is actuated for engaging an end of the crankshaft to support the same for rotation.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings the numeral 10 indicates the quench tank having side walls 11, 12 and end walls 13 and 14. The quench tank contains conveyor mechanism 15 which is located almost entirely below the level of the quench bath and to which the crankshafts 1e are delivered by the operator. The conveyor mechanism has a mode of operation such that the crankshafts 16 are moved intermittently in a step-bystep manner to bring each crankshaft to an operative station. Following the induction heating step the crankshafts are again moved and discharged from the tank. The details of the conveyor mechanism 15 will be explained as the description proceeds, it being sufficient at the present to understand that the quench tank 19 provides the supporting means for the platform 17 on w .ich the inductor assembly 18 is supported. The platform 17 rests on the side walls 11 and 12. The carriage TS is movable on the platform in a longitudinal direction by means of wheels and axle assemblies 24 The wheels 21 of said assemblies engage track elements not shown which are located on the top surface of the platform 17. Accordingly it is possible to accurately align the inductor assembly 18 with each and every one of the crank pins and other bearing surfaces, respectively, on the crankshaft.

The housing of the inductor assembly 18 provides the pivot pins 22 for the counterbalanced arms 23 which are disposed on respective sides of the housing and which are pivotally supported so as to move freely in a vertical plane. One end of each arm is counterbalanced by a weight 24 and the opposite ends of the arms carry the inductor generally indicated by the numeral 25. The inductor is suspended from the transformer housing 26 which has suitably fixed thereto on each side the angular supports 27. At the upper connected ends of said supports on each side of the transformer housing the same are pivotally joined at 28 to one of the arms 23. The electric power leads are indicated by the numeral 34 and the same extends from the housing 18 of the inductor assembly as shown in FIGURE 1 to the transformer housing 26. The arms 23 are so balanced that the inductor maintains a position approximately horizontal with a tendency to move downwardly so as to follow or track the crank pin 30 of the rotating crankshaft with which the inductor is aligned for this particular heating step. As the crankshaft rotates, the crank pins which have an angular displacement with respect to each other, rotate bodily in a circular path. Since the inductor is pivotally supported by the arms at 22 and is pivotally Suspended at 28, the said inductor will track its particular crank pin during bodily movement of the same during the induction heating step. Thus the entire bearing surface of the crank pin will be acted on by the inductor in a uniform manner so as to be heated thereby.

The crankshafts 16 are individually lifted from the operative station of the conveyor mechanism 15 and presented to the inductor 25 for the heating step. Following the heating operation the crankshaft is returned to the operative station of the conveyor mechanism which is then moved one step to locate another crankshaft at the same operative station whereupon the cycle is repeated. The means for lifting and subsequently returning each crankshaft to the conveyor mechanism includes lifting arms 31 and 32 which are suitably fixed at their pivot ends to the longitudinal actuating shaft 33 which is journalled for oscillating movement by the members 34 which are located at respective ends of the shaft 33, being fixed to the side walls 11 and 12 of the quench tank. The shaft 33 is oscillated to impart oscillating movement to the arms 31 and 32 by means of the power cylinder 35, the cylinder being pivoted at 36 to the support 37 extending upwardly from the quench tank. The piston 38 of the power cylinder is pivotally connected at 40 to the lever 41 which is suitably fixed to the shaft 33 so that any movement imparted to the lever 41 is transmitted to the said shaft. The lifting arms 31 and 32 are fixed to the shaft 33 by means of the spools 42 which are equipped with the headed screws 43. The screws can be released to permit adjustment of the spools and thus adjustment of the arms longitudinally of the shaft 33. This longitudinal adjustment as permitted by the spools takes care of various lengths of crankshafts.

The lifting arms 31, located on the right side of the quench tank as shown in FIGURE 2, carry at their free end opposite shaft 33 a power cylinder 45 having conduits 46 by means of which a fluid under pressure can be admitted to and exhausted from the cylinder. The cylinder contains the conventional piston, not shown, and the piston rod 47 of the power cylinder extends to the left of the same and carries the centering pin 48. The lifting arms 32 located at the left end of the quench tank support the drive housing 56 at their end opposite the shaft 33. The drive housing provides means for engaging and rotating the crankshaft and which includes a power cylinder 51 having a piston 52 and a piston rod 53. The power cylinder is supplied with a fluid under pressure by means of the conduits 54. The piston rod 53 engages the left end of a drive shaft 55 suitably journalled by the drive housing 50, and which is provided with the splines 56 and a return spring 57. The return spring is held by means of the washer 58 against a shoulder provided by the housing 50. The shoulder provides a stop limiting movement of the washer 58 in a direction towards the right and thus the tension of the return spring 57 is exerted against a fixed collar 60 on the shaft 55 to yieldably urge the shaft in a release direction towards the left.

The projecting end of shaft 55 is provided with a fixed disc 62 and with a centering pin 63. By means of the connecting pin 64 the shaft 55 can be operatively connected for rotating the crankshaft 16 when the said crankshaft is held for rotation by the centering pins 48 and 63. Thus the shaft 55 provides the driving means for rotating the crankshaft after the same has been operatively connected thereto. However, for effecting engagement of the lifting arms with the crankshaft and for subsequently releasing said engagement, the drive shaft 55 must be capable of axial movement, and this is provided for by the splines 56. The driving gear 65 is fixed to shaft 55 by means of the splines which permit said axial movement of the shaft with respect to the driving gear. As shown in FIGURE 6, the worm gear 66 has meshing relation with the drive gear 65, the said worm gear 66 being driven from an external source by means of the rod 67 which extends from the housing 50 carried by the outer end of the lifting arms 32 to the housing 68 carried at the pivot end of the lifting arms. Power can be supplied to the housing 68 by any form of flexible drive means, not shown, to in turn cause rotation of the rod 67. The drive from the rod 67 is transmitted to the gear 65 and to the drive shaft 55 to in turn cause rotation of the crankshaft 16 centered and carried for rotary movement by the centering pins 48 and 63 while suspended by the said lifting arms 31 and 32.

The conveyor mechanism 15 includes a pair of spaced guide rails 70 each guide rail being suitably supported at respective ends by the standards 71 and 72. The guide rails 70 slope downwardly from the standards 71 to standards 72 beyond which the guide rails are so formed as to provide semi-circular portions 73. At the entrance end as regards the conveyor mechanism 15 the same includes a. drive shaft 74 which extends from side wall 11 to side wall 12 of the quench tank, being suitably journalled at the walls and having operative connection to a source of power, not shown, whereby the drive shaft 74 can be rotated. Intermediate the length of the shaft the sheaves 75 are suitably fixed thereto and from FIGURE 1, it will be observed that the sheaves form driving elements for the conveyor mechanism. The sheaves are provided with six flat sides, being hexagonal in shape for fiat contact, respectively, with the carrying elements of the conveyor mechanism which carry the crankshafts. A similar shaft 76 is journalled by the side frames 11 and 12 of the tank, the shaft being located at the end adjacent the arcuate portions 73 of the guide rails and having suitably fixed thereto the hexagonal shaped sheaves 77. The shaft 76 is located on the center of the arcuate portion 73 and thus as the crankshafts are caused to move downwardly, by movement of the conveyor, they are supported throughout their movement by the guide rails 70 and by the arcuate portions 73 which are provided for this purpose.

The carrying elements for the crankshafts include side frame members 80, FIGURE 3, which are formed with a central recess 81, the carrying members 80 being spaced so that their central recesses 81 are approximately aligned with the end journals for receiving the end journals of the crankshafts. Each of the spaced carrying members 80 are provided with stud shafts 82 and thus each carrying member 80 having stud shafts 82 forms an independent unit. Adjacent units are articulatedly connected by means of the links 83, the said links at one end being connected to a shaft 82 of one unit and at their opposite end being connected to a shaft 82 of the adjacent unit.

The crankshafts 16 are delivered to the conveyor mechanism at station A. The U-shaped recesses 81 of the spaced carrying members 80 receive the journalling portion at respective ends of the crankshafts and the step-bystep movement of the conveyor will move the crankshafts in a clockwise direction whereby the end journal portions thereof are caused to contact and are supported on the guide rails 79. For effecting this step-by-step movement of the crankshaft carrying units, the shafts 74 and 76 together with the hat sided sheaves 75 and 77 are rotated in a clockwise direction. Rotation is intermittent so that the crankshafts are moved and then caused to rest and during this rest period the crankshaft delivered to station E is picked up by the lifting arms 31 and 32 and lifted into operative associated relation with the inductor for the induction heating step. The intermittent movement of the conveyor mechanism for producing the step-by-step movement of the crankshafts and the duration of the period of rest take place in a cyclic manner and in synchronism with the oscillating movements of the lifting arms and the electric energization of the inductor so that all operations are timed and they accordingly take place automatically and in the desired sequence.

It has been previously described that the crankshafts when lifted by the lifting arms 31 and 32 are caused to rotate, being driven by the shaft 55. In accordance with the invention this rotation of the crankshaft is continued with the return of the crankshaft to the quench tank following the induction heating operation. At the upper end of the conveyor mechanism adjacent shaft 74, a second drive shaft 35 is provided, being journalled by the side frames or walls 11 and 12 of the quench tank and thus extending longitudinally of the tank in parallel relation to shaft 74. The shaft 85 is suitably driven continuously during operation of the apparatus by a source of power, not shown, and intermediate the length of shaft 85, the same is provided with a pair of spaced sprocket wheels 85, see FIGURE 3. A pair of similarly spaced sprocket wheels 37 are fixed to shaft 76 and each pair of aligned sprocket wheels is operatively connected by an endless chain 88. Idler rollers such as 90 are located between the upper and lower runs of the endless chains 33 and the idler rollers maintain the upper run of the chains separated from the lower run of the said chains. The continuously moving endless chains 38 are adapted to have meshing relation with sprocket wheels 91 rotatable on the shafts 82, respectively. Each shaft 82 also journals a supporting roller 92, the sprocket wheel and roller being preferably integral. The rollers function to rotatably support the crankshafts, the said rollers having supporting contact with the journals at the respective ends of a crankshaft. Accordingly as the sprocket wheels 91 are rotated by the meshing relation which the sprocket wheels have with the endless chains 88, the rollers 2 are likewise rotated and this rotation of the rollers is transmitted to each crankshaft during movement of the crankshaft from station B to almost station A. it will be observed that the weight of the crankshaft is such as to cause the journal ends of the crankshaft to rest on and contact the rollers 92. At station B the sprocket wheels 91 of the units at this station has such meshing relation with the endless chains 88 as to cause rotation of the crankshaft when supported on the rollers 92. Rotation of the crankshaft will continue until the station before station A is reached. At this station the s rocket wheeis 91 pass out of engagement with the endless chains 88 due to the relative position of the shaft 85.

The operator places the crankshafts to be induction hardened on the conveyor mechanism at station A and eventually a crankshaft will reach station B. The pivot shaft 33 is thereupon actuated to lower the lifting arms 31 and 32, and simultaneously therewith a pressure medium is admitted to the cylinder and cylinder 51 for retracting the centering pins 43 and 63. When the centering pins are properly aligned with the journal ends of the crankshaft the centering pins are moved inwardly towards each other by actuation of the power cylinders 45 and 51. When the lifting arms have an engaged relation with the crankshaft, said arms are lifted by actuation of pivot shaft 33 to bring the supported crankshaft into operative relation with the inductor 25.

With the operative engagement of the crankshaft by the lifting arms it will be understood that shaft 55 is thereupon rotated to effect rotation of the crankshaft and thus rotation is taking place when the crankshaft is associated with the inductor. Previous to the above described operations it will be understood that the inductor assembly 18 is located at a predetermined position on the platform 17 for aligning the inductor with the desired crank pin 30 on the crankshaft which is to be induction hardened. The induction operation continues while the crankshaft rotates and although the particular crank pin 30 will move in an orbital path, the inductor 25 will be able to follow or track the same since it is pivotally supported for free swinging movement.

At the end of the induction heating step the crankshaft is returned to station B and another crankshaft is delivered to said station by the step-by-step movement of the conveyor mechanism 15. With the return of the crankshaft to station B, rotation of the same is continued due to the rotary movement imparted to the supporting rollers 92. Thus during the quenching time of the crankshaft, as the same is moved upwardly towards station A, rotation of the crankshaft continues in order to assure proper quenching action.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for the induction hardening of crankshafts, the combination with a quenching tank having conveyor mechanism for moving a crankshaft to and from a designated station, of an inductor located above the quenching tank, means pivotally supporting the inductor for free swinging fovement, a pair of spaced lifting arms pivotally supported for movement between the inductor and the said designated station of the conveyor mechanism, means carried by the free ends of the arms, respectively, for engaging a crankshaft at said station, and for rotating the crankshaft while the same is engaged by the said arms, means for oscillating the lifting arms for lifting the engaged crankshaft for presentation to the inductor and for then returning the crankshaft to the designated station of the conveyor mechanism, and means associated with the conveyor mechanism for rotating the crankshaft following its return to said station.

2. In apparatus for the induction hardening of crankshafts, the combination with a quenching tank having conveyor mechanism for moving a crankshaft to and from a designated station, of an inductor located above the quenching tank, means pivotally supporting the inductor for free swinging movement, a pair of spaced lifting arms fixed at one end to a pivot shaft, said pivot shaft being rockable to cause said arms to move between the inductor and the conveyor mechanism at said desig nated station, reciprocable means respectively carried by said lifting arms at their other ends, said means being operable to effect operative engagement thereof with the crankshaft, a drive for one of the reciprocable means for rotating the said means, said one of the reciprocable means being effective to rotate the crankshaft when in operative engagement therewith and when the same is rotated by said drive, means for actuating the pivot shaft, whereby the lifting arms can be lowered to said designated station to align the reciprocable means with the respective ends of the crankshaft at said station, and then by actuation of the reciprocable means to effect operative engagement of the said means with the crankshaft, and whereby the supported crankshaft can then be lifted from the conveyor mechanism for coaction with the inductor and subsequently returned to the conveyor mechanism at said designated station while the crankshaft is rotated by operation of said drive, and means associated with said conveyor mechanism for rotating the crankshaft following its return to said conveyor mechanism at said designated station and actuation of said reciprocable means to effect operative disengagement of said reciprocable means and said drive.

3. In apparatus for the induction hardening of the crankshafts, the combination with a quenching tank having conveyor mechanism for moving a crankshaft to and from a designated station, of an inductor located above the quenching tank, means pivotally supporting the inductor for up and down movement and for laterally oscillating movement, a pair of spaced lifting arms fixed at one end to a pivot shaft, said arms being swingable about the longitudinal axis of said pivot shaft to cause the opposite ends of said arms to move between the induction and said designated station at the conveyor mechanism, said lifting arms at their opposite ends each carrying a centering pin capable of being reciprocated in an axial direction to releasably engage a respective end of the crankshaft, a drive pin associated with and radially spaced from the longitudinal axis of one of said centering pins and reciprocal therewith, said drive pin being reciprocal into and out of driving engagement with the crankshaft and being revolvable about the longitudinal axes of said centering pins, a drive for said drive pin for effecting revolution of the same, means for actuating the pivot shaft, whereby the lifting arms can be swung to cause said opposite ends to be disposed at said designated station to align the centering pins with respective ends of the crankshaft at said designated station and then by actuation of the reciprocable means to effect engagement of the centering pins with the crankshaft and driving engagement of said drive pin with said crankshaft, and whereby the supported crankshaft can then be lifted for coaction with the inductor while the crankshaft is being rotated by the operation of the said drive, said means being effective to actuate the pivot shaft to cause said opposite ends of said arms tov return the crankshaft to the designated station of the conveyor mechanism, and means associated with the conveyor mechanism for rotating the crankshaft following its return to said station and disengagement of said centering pins and drive with the crankshaft.

4. In apparatus for the induction hardening of the crank pins of crankshafts, in combination, a supporting platform, an inductor assembly supported by said platform and adjustable longitudinally for alignment with the crank pin to be induction hardened, an inductor, counterbalanced arms pivotally mounted by the inductor assembly for supporting the inductor for free swinging movement, a pair of oscillatable lifting arms, a quenching tank, and means for oscillating said lifting arms for lifting a crankshaft from said quenching tank for presentation to the inductor and for returning the crankshaft to the quenching tank following the induction heating operation,

first drive means for rotating the crankshaft while being presented to said inductor and during movement thereof from and to said quenching tank, and second drive means for rotating the crankshaft after being returned to said quenching tank and independently of said first means.

5. In apparatus for the induction hardening of the crank pins of crankshafts, in combination, a supporting platform, an inductor assembly supported by said platform and adjustable longitudinally for alignment with the crank pin to be induction hardened, an inductor, counterbalanced arms pivotally mounted by the inductor assembly for supporting the inductor for free swinging movement in an orbital path, a quenching tank below said platform, a pair of spaced lifting arms fixed at one end to a pivot shaft, said arms being swingable upon rocking of said pivot shaft to cause the ends of said arms opposite said pivot shaft to move between a raised position adjacent said inductor and a lowered position in said quenching tank, said lifting arms at their opposite ends each carrying a centering pin capable of being reciprocated in an axial direction to releasably engage a respective end of the crankshaft, a power cylinder carried by each lifting arm for effecting reciprocating movement of the centering pin of its arm, a rotating drive means carried by one of said arms, said drive means being movable into and out of driving engagement with the crankshaft and being operable to rotate the crankshaft about the longitudinal axes of said centering pins, power means for rocking said pivot shaft for in turn swinging the lifting arms, said means for rotating the crankshaft in the quenching tank independently of said drive means and when said drive means and centering pins are out of engagement therewith.

6. In apparatus for the induction hardening of the crank pins of crankshafts, as set forth in claim 5 wherein said rotating drive means includes a rotatable drive shaft journallecl by one of said arms and interposed between the power cylinder and the centering pin of said arm, said drive shaft being conditionable to establish and discstablish a drive connection with the crankshaft, a driving gear mounted on the drive shaft by means of splines and, means for rotating the driving gear.

7. In apparatus for the induction hardening of crankshafts, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said conveyor mechanism includes an endless conveyor located within the quenching tank, said endless conveyor including carrying members located at respective sides of the conveyor for carrying and moving crankshafts through an orbital path within the quenching tank, said designated station being in said orbital path, the carrying members at each side of the conveyor being articulatedly connected by means of links, each link pivotally connecting adjacent carrying members, and a drive for effecting intermittent movement of the articulatedly connected carrying members to move the crankshafts in a step-by-step manner through said orbital path.

8. In apparatus for the induction hardening of crankshafts as set forth in claim 11, wherein each of said carrying members has a generally fiat edge, and said drive for effecting intermittent movement of the articulately connected carrying members includes a rotatable shaft at each end of the conveyor, spaced sheaves fixed to each shaft and presenting flat surfaces for contact respectively with the flat edges of the articulated carrying members, means for rotating one of said shafts intermittently, and said means associated with said conveyor mechanism for rotating the crankshaft following its return to said conveyor mechanism at said designated station includes an endless chain driving means associated with the conveyor and having a top run disposed parallel to and relatively close to the top run of the conveyor mechanism, sprocket means carried by said carrying members and meshing with the endless chain driving means to be continuously rotated thereby, and roller means rotatable with said sprocket means operatively engaging the crankshafts for a portion of their travel in the orbital path and While being carried by the carrying members to rotate the same.

9. In apparatus for the induction hardening of crankshafts, the combination with an inductor, of a. quenching tank located below the inductor, an endless conveyor located within the quenching tank, said endless conveyor including carrying members located at respective opposite sides of the conveyor for carrying and moving crankshafts through an orbital path within the quenching tank, each of said carrying members having a generally flat edge, the carrying members at each side of the conveyor being articulately connected by means of links, each link pivotally connecting adjacent carrying members, a rotatable shaft' at each end of the conveyor, spaced sheaves fixed at each shaft and presenting flat surfaces for contact respectively with the fiat edges of the articulated carrying members, means for rotating one of said shafts intermittently, endless chain driving means associated with the conveyor and having a top run disposed parallel and close to the top run of the conveyor, and sprocket means operatively connected to the endless chain driving means so as to be rotated thereby including at least one sprocket wheel rotatably carried by each carrying member, and a roller carried by each carrying member and journalled for rotation on the same axis as the sprocket wheel, said sprocket wheel when rotated by the endless chain driving means effecting rotation of the roller, and said roller being 2,298,386 so disposed as to have rolling and supporting contact with 2,314,605 an end of a crankshaft during the travel of the crankshaft 2,483,477 along the top run of the conveyor. 2,634,121 5 2,665,126 References Cited 3,170,975 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,305,409

9/1964 Gogan 266-4 XR 3/1903 Frink et a1. 198183 Jennings 198--189 Arnold 198-183 X Shorter 148152 Peters et a1. 266--4 Roehm 148146 X Bauer et a1. 266-4 Cary 148--146 J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

Meneray et a1. 10 R. S. ANNEAR, Assistant Examiner.