Mounting arrangement for loop distributor in a reforming chamber

Abstract: In an apparatus for receiving a series of loops (L) descending along a vertical path from the delivery end of a conveyor (12) and for accumulating the thus received loops (L) into an annular coil, a device for horizontally distributing the descending loops (L). The device includes a ring (18) surrounding the vertical path. The ring (18) has a cylindrical vertical wall (18a) and a radially outwardly extending horizontal ledge (18b). A curved guide member (32) extends around a segment of the ring (18) and has leading and trailing ends (32a,32b). The guide member (32) protrudes inwardly from the ring (18) into the vertical path, with the extent of the inward protrusion being greater at the trailing end (32b) than at the leading end (32a). The guide member (32) is in mechanical interengagement with the horizontal ledge (18b) and in horizontal abutting engagement with the vertical wall (18a) to thereby accommodate vertical placement and removal of the guide member (32) onto and off of the ring (18) without attendant radial displacement of the guide member (32) with respect to the ring (18).

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to reforming chambers in wire rod mills, and is concerned in particular with an improvement in the mounting of the rotating curved guide members employed to distribute wire rod loops as they descend from the delivery end of a controlled cooling conveyor into the reforming chamber for accumulation into annular coils. 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART A known reforming chamber with a rotating curved guide member according to the preamble of claim 1 is depicted in U.S. Patent No. 5,273,231 granted on December 28, 1993. Experience has indicated that from time to time, the guide member must be removed, either when interchanging it for another differently shaped guide member to accommodate a change in the type or size of product being coiled, or to clear the way for removal of a jammed coil from the reforming chamber. In the latter case, vertical removal of the guide member is preferable, without any attendant radial or lateral displacement which might be blocked by the jammed coil. In all cases, rapid removal and interchangeability is highly desirable, preferably without the need to employ tools or to disassemble components. There is also a need for field adjustment of the guide member to properly locate it with respect to its support structure. Conventional guide member mounting arrangements are incapable of satisfying these objectives. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a horizontal rotatably driven ring surrounds the vertical path of loop descent into the reforming chamber. The curved guide member is connected to the ring by a bidirectionally engageable mounting arrangement which is adapted to accommodate vertical movement of the guide member onto and off the ring without attendant lateral or radial displacement of the guide member. The guide member can thus be cleared vertically without interference from an abutting jammed coil. The mounting arrangement allows for precise fitting of the guide member by simple adjustment of integrally associated threaded elements. The mounting arrangement also makes it possible to rapidly interchange one guide member for another, without employing tools and without dissembling either the guide member or adjacent associated components. These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through the upper portion of a reforming chamber with a rotatable guide member mounted in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a partial plan view showing the ring member and curved guide member; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the ring member and curved guide member; and Figure 4 is an enlargement of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS Referring initially to Figure 1, a coil reforming chamber is generally indicated at 10. The coil reforming chamber is positioned to receive a series of loops "L" descending along a vertical path "P" from the delivery end of a processing conveyor 12. Typically, the loops will be of steel rod which has been hot rolled and then deposited on the conveyor 12 for controlled cooling in an overlapping non-concentric pattern. The reforming chamber 10 has an outer cylindrical wall 14 which cooperates with a centrally disposed mandrel 16 to gather the descending loops L into an annular coil. A horizontally disposed ring 18 surrounds the vertical path P. As can best be seen by further reference to Figures 2 and 4, the ring 18 includes a cylindrical vertical wall 18a and a radially outwardly extending annular ledge 18b. The ledge 18b is secured as at 20 to the outer race 22a of a circular bearing 22. The inner race 22b of the bearing 22 is fixed to a shelf 24 extending outwardly from the chamber wall 14. The outer bearing race 22a has gear teeth 26 which mesh with a pinion 28 driven by a motor 30. Thus, the motor serves as a means for rotatably driving the ring 18. A curved guide member 32 extends around a segment of the ring 18. The guide member has leading and trailing ends 32a, 32b, and protrudes inwardly from the ring 18 into the vertical path of loop descent into the reforming chamber. As can best be seen in Figure 2, the extent of inward protrusion of the guide member 32 is greater at the trailing end 32b as compared to the leading end 32a. The guide member 32 is provided with a plurality of outwardly protruding brackets 34 which are received in notches 36 in the cylindrical ring wall 18a, and which overlap the outer annular ledge 18b. Pins 38 are secured as by spot welding as at 40 to the brackets 34. The pins 38 protrude vertically downwardly into holes in the annular ledge 18b. As can best be seen in Figure 4, the guide member 32 extends inwardly at an angle α with respect to the cylindrical ring wall 18a to thus define a wedge-shaped cavity therebetween. The guide member includes wedge-shaped filler pieces 44 arranged in the wedge-shaped cavity beneath the brackets 34. Set screws 46 are threaded through the guide member to bear against the cylindrical ring wall 18a. It thus will be seen that the pins 38 and set screws 46 constitute a mounting means for the guide member 32 which is engageable bidirectionally with the ring 18. That is to say, the pins 38 are received in the annular ledge 18b in vertical directions parallel to the path P of loop descent, and the set screws 46 engage the ring wall 18a radially with respect to the path P. As shown by the broken lines in Figure 3, this mounting arrangement allows the guide member to be lifted vertically out of the reforming chamber, without the need to employ tools, and without having to dismantle either the guide member or any of its associated components. Thus, one guide member can be quickly exchanged for another to accommodate different product types and sizes. Also, in the event that a coil becomes jammed in the reforming chamber, the guide member can be slid past abutting loop segments as it is vertically extracted from the chamber. The angular disposition of the guide member 32 can be varied by field adjustments to the set screws 46, thereby making it possible to achieve a precise positioning of the guide member with respect to its support structure. Optionally, additional threaded fasteners 48 may be employed to detachably secure the guide member 32 to the cylindrical ring wall 18a.

Claims: Apparatus for receiving a series of loops (L) descending along a vertical path (P) from the delivery end of a conveyor (12) and for accumulating the thus received loops into an annular coil, wherein said apparatus includes a device for horizontally distributing the loops as they descend into the apparatus, said device comprising: (a) a ring (18) surrounding said vertical path, said ring (18) having a cylindrical vertical wall (18a) and a radially outwardly extending horizontal ledge (18b); (b) a curved guide member (32) extending around a segment of said ring and having leading and trading ends, said guide member (32) protruding inwardly from said ring (18) into said vertical path, with the extent of said inward protrusion being greater at said trailing end (32b) than at said leading end (32a); (c) mounting means for connecting said guide member (32) to said ring (18), said mounting means being in mechanical interengagement vertically with said horizontal ledge (18b); and (d) means (30) for rotatably driving said ring (18); characterised in that said mechanical interengagement of said mounting means with said horizontal ledge (18b) accommodates vertical placement and removal of said guide member (32) onto and off of said ring (18) without attendant radial displacement of said guide member (32) with respect to said ring (18); said mounting means is in abutting engagement horizontally with said vertical wall (18a); said guide member (32) depends from said ring (18), and said mounting means includes adjustment means engageable with said vertical wall (18a) for adjusting the position of said guide member (32) relative to said ring (18). Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guide member (32) includes a plurality of brackets (34) spaced along said ring and configured to overlap said annular ledge, said brackets being removably connected to said annular ledge by pin members (38) extending vertically therebetween. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pin members (38) are permanently joined to said brackets and are removably received in apertures in said ledge. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adjustment means comprises set screws (46) threaded through said guide member (32) to bear against said cylindrical wall (18a). Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mounting means further comprises screws (48) releasably joining said guide member (32) to said cylindrical wall (18a). Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said guide member (32) protrudes angularly inwardly from said cylindrical wall (18a) to define a wedge shaped cavity therebetween, and wherein wedge shaped inserts are interposed between said cylindrical wall (18a) and said guide member (32) at locations underlying said brackets.

Inventors: FERRAZZA FREDERICK, STARVASKI RAYMOND R, FERRAZZA, FREDERICK, STARVASKI, RAYMOND R.
Applicants: MORGAN CONSTRUCTION CO, MORGAN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B21C47
IPC codes: B21C47, B65H54