US999833A - Electromagnetic grappling-tool. - Google Patents

Description

C. G. MILLER.

ELEGTROMAGNETIG GRAPPLING TOOL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY12, 1910.

999,833, Patenpea Aug. 8,1911.

CONSTANTINE G. MILLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TQ THE MEAKER COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

ELECTROMAGNETIC GRAPPLING-TOOL.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Application led May 12, 1910. Serial No. 560,909.

` many other devices wherein articles of magnetic materials are to be treated or operated upon, as, for instance, plated, it frequently occurs that some of such articles or devices become dislodged from the normal support therefor and fall to the bottom of the receptacle or tank and it sometimes becomes a matter of considerable difficulty to engage and remove thexsame therefrom. This is particularly true inl machines for plating iron and steel articles, and incon- Avenience, delay and annoyance are frequently occasioned by the ditliculty eX- perienced in emptying the tank after the completion of the run upon any one article. Owing to the fact that such articles may be of almost any shape, it becomes frequently very ditiicult for ordinary grappling devices to engage the same and heretofore it has frequently been practically impossible to re move all such devices and articles from the tank until the completionof the days run.

The object of this inventionis to provide an electro-magnetic grappling tool, by the use of which any article of a magnetic nature may be quickly and readily engaged and lifted from the tank.

It is also an object of the invention to utilize a part of a plating current for the purpose, and also to aord a grappling tool of the class described, which may be quickly attached to, or detached from, the leads, thus permitting the Widest possible. range of use of the tool at any desired point in the tank, permitting quick detachment to enable the device to be used for one or more tanks.

The invention consists in the matters here-v with the coil shown somewhat diagrammatically. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view with the `Shank or handle broken away and in longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the upper or outer portion of the handle.l Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of Patented Aug. 8, 191.1.

one of the grips for engaging the lead wire.

As shown in the drawings: a bar of soft steel or iron 1, (which may be of any cross sectional form, but is shownl as cylindric) is threaded into the larger end of the reducing coupling 2, inthe smaller end of which is threaded a metal pipe 3, of the length desired for the body and ony the upper end of which is provided a wooden or other suitable hand grip 4, for conveniently actuating the same.

Extending ldownwardly through the tubular body 3 is a conducting wire 5, which eX- Y tends outwardly through apertures in the coupling at the inner end of the bar or rod 1, as shown in Fig. 2, and is wound about said Vrod o r bar of soft metal or steel to afford a coil of any desired number of turns and the return end thereof is passed inwardly through an oppositely disposed aperture in said coupling and thence led upwardly through the body 3-and handle 4. Insulating paint such as P. B. paint, melted wax, or any suitable vmaterial is then poured into the tubular body 3 to fill-the same for a desired distance and to entirely seal the wires in said coupling and body from injury from the electrolyte. Such filling material, indicated by 6, is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Each lend of said wire conductor 5, is provided with a metallic gripping device for engaging the leads whereby the current is supplied to the anodes andcathodes in the tank to complete the circuit through the coil. For this purpose, as shown, a metallic snap is permanently secured on each end of ably shaped jaw and a spring 9, is engaged,

on-the pintle affording a connection between said members and acting to hold the jaws firmly closed so that when once engaged in place upon the conductor a positive contact 1s assured.

The operation islas follows: When it is desired to clear the tank of such objects or articles as may have fallen to the bottom therein, the ends of the conductor Wire are connected by meansl of the snap secured to eachto the leads or conductors for the tank and in consequence the comparatively Weak current flows through the coil, converting the bar of soft metal l, into a .temporary magnet, which, of course, is of suhcient power to engage and lift the objects to be removed from the tank. rIhey grappling tool is, of course, manipulated by its handle, and having cleared one portion of the tank, one or both of the snaps may be released and connected elsewhere on the conductors to an anode and cathode element of the tank at lating Wax or paint illing said body, it followsV they are protected from all injury rendering the grappling tool exceedingly durable as Well as edective.

0f course, I have shown but one (and that the preferred) forni of my invention. l am ceases i aware that the particular shape of the magnetic head of said tool may be varied and various features o construction may 'be modified Without departing from the pr1nciplesl of this invention. I therefore do not purpose limiting myself otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

l claim as my invention:

An electro-magnetic grappling tool, embodying a soft metal bar, a tubularv body, a reducing coupling connecting the tvvo and into which each is threaded, a handle on the outer end of said body, an insulated Wire Wound about said bar to form a coil and having the ends thereof led through apertures in said coupling andinto and through said body and handle, an insulating filling in said body, and means on each projecting extremity of said Wire coil to permit attachment to and release from the lead conductors for energizing saidcoil.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CONSTANTlNE G- MILLER.

Witnesses:

CHARLES "W. HILLS, J r., LAWRENCE Rnrs'rEIN.

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