Patent GB-357025-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for taking samples of metal ingots slabs or the like
IPC: G01N1/04
Filed: 1930-12-03
Abstract: 357,025. Making test-pieces from ingots &c. UNITED STATES METALS REFINING CO., Carteret, New Jersey, U.S.A.-(Assignees of Summey, D. L. ; 168, Buckingham Street, Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S.A.) Dec. 3, 1930, No. 36448. -Convention date, Dec. 18, 1929. [Classes 83 (ii), 83 (iii), and 83 (iv).] Drilling-machines; forging-machines; punching; physical or molecular structure, altering by mechanical treatment.-In a machine for taking samples of metal slabs or ingots, particularly of blister copper, for subsequent analysis, the ingots are supplied in succession to a rotary work turret by which they are carried past a press for consolidating the metal and then past a drill or punch which removes the sample, the work-carriers being unequally spaced on the turret so that each successive ingot will have a sample removed from a different portion thereof. Each sample may be taken in one piece, as by a tubular drill or a punch, or in chips or shavings as by a solid drill. The holes in the successive ingots are arranged according to the chart shown in Fig. 1, the horizontal rows A, B,.. containing fourteen holes each and the vertical columns a, b, .. twelve holes each. The first fourteen ingots are preferably perforated along the outer row A, beginning with the point Aa and successive batches of fourteen along the rows B, C, ... The turret 60, Fig. 34, which is rotated intermittently in an anticlockwise direction carries fourteen work-holders 70 for the ingots which are loaded at the station 1, consolidated by a punch 400 at the station 13, drilled in four stages by vertical drills 426 arranged at the stations 9 .. 6 and removed at the station 4, a track such as 450 being provided for cars which carry the ingots to and from the machine and cranes, derricks, &c. being provided for transporting the ingots to and from the cars. The unequal arrangement of the work-holders on the turret provides for the punch and drills acting on ingots according to the spacing in the rows A, B, .. , and the spacing of the rows along the columns a, b, .. is obtained by moving the holders radially at each complete revolution of the turret. The machine may be controlled by hand or automatically through hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders whose valves are operated by electric relays which are interlocked to prevent any incorrect movements from taking place. Jigs.-The work-holders 70, which are slidable on rails 64 arranged parallel to a radius of the turret so that one of the columns a, b, .. is radial, are positioned laterally by set screws rotatable in brackets 77 on the turret and are located radially at the station 1 by two hydraulically-operated slides 80, 200, Figs. 4 and 34, the latter pushing the holder outwards and the former, which is more powerful, pushing it inwards to a point determined by an adjustable stop. The slide 200 is attached to the piston rod 206 of a hydraulic cylinder 205 secured to a bracket 201 on the central pillar 52, and normally moved outwards against a stop on the bracket by a constant supply of fluid to the smaller area of the piston. The slide 80, Fig. 8, is attached at 94 to the piston rod 91 of a hydraulic cylinder 90 which is secured by lugs 96 to a fixed frame 81 and carries at its forward end a bar 84 of sufficient length to engage the longer arm 71 of each holder, whatever the spacing. A bar pivoted to the end of the bar 84 serves to protect the machine operator from injury and also directs the holders into approxi. mate position. A gauge 85 contacts with the billet 50 to position it in the exact radial position and is adjustable on the slide 80 by means of a screw 86. The slide 80 is retracted by a pneumatic cylinder 100 secured thereto, whose piston rod 107 has a shoulder 108 thereon which is normally pressed against the end of the cylinder by a spring 112 engaging an abutment 101 on the slide. In operation fluid is admitted to the larger area of the piston in the cylinder 205 and to the cylinder 90 causing both slides 80, 200 to approach each other until further motion of the slide 80 is prevented by a stop 113 on the piston rod 107 meeting one of the stepped surfaces on a rotatable, but normally stationary, drum 115, thus determining the radial position of the work. Fluid supply is then cut off from the cylinders 90, 205, whereupon the latter returns against its stop, and air is admitted to the cylinder 100 through a telescopic pipe 122, causing the piston rod 107 to press against the drum 115 and withdraw the slide 80. On cutting off the air supply, the spring 112 withdraws the stop 113 clear of the next step on the drum. At each complete revolution of the turret the drum 115 is rotated to present a different step to the stop 113 and so position the succeeding fourteen ingots for a new row of holes B, C, ... The drum is removably attached at 132, Fig. 8, to a shaft 135 rotatable in the frame 81 and carrying a removable ratchet 144, rotation of the shaft between the indexing movements being prevented by the friction between a collar 139 thereon and the bearing 136. A hydraulic cylinder 170, Fig. 14, supported on a stationary bracket 171, has a piston rod 176 attached to a crosshead 179 slidable on the bracket and a connecting-rod 185 links the cross head to an arm 187 rotatable on the shaft 135. A second arm 149 attached to the arm 187 carries a pivoted pawl 151 urged by a spring 155 into contact with the ratchet 144, a constant fluid pressure maintaining the piston rod 176 in its withdrawn position until fluid is admitted to the larger area of the piston to cause the pawl to engage the next tooth of the ratchet. The ratchet is shown as having twentyfour teeth for use with a drum having twenty-four steps in order to position the work pieces for twelve rows of holes A .. L and twelve more rows L .. A, but different sized ratchets and drums may be substituted. A second pawl 151 may be provided for co-operation with a ratchet 145 having a different number of teeth from the ratchet 144 and disposed adjacent thereto, the inoperative pawl being held out of action by a catch 160. When drilling a series of ingots having less than fourteen columns of holes, some of the work-holders will be left empty and the remaining ones may be given the correct lateral positions in the turret by alteration of the set screws in the brackets 77. Turret rotating and locking mechanism.-The work turret 60, Fig. 4, which consists of an annular body built up of segments secured together by bolts 61, is rotatably mounted on a central post 52 and a bearing plate 53 on the bed 51. An index plate 54, Figs. 4 and 6, is secured to the turret and is provided with apertures 270, corresponding in number with the work-holders and having notches 271 for co-operation with an index pawl 273 and radial jaws 272 for engagement with a locking dog 320. The pawl is pivoted at 276 on a crosshead 304 attached to the piston rod 302 of a hydraulic cylinder 300 and is urged by a spring 291 into contact with the index plate as limited by a stop 294. The piston rod is normally retracted by constant fluid pressure acting on the smaller area of the piston and is actuated by supply of fluid to the other side to engage the pawl in the next aperture. The locking dog 320 which has a hardened wear plate 324, is pivoted at 321 and is connected by a link 327 to a crosshead 330 attached to the piston rod 342 in a hydraulic cylinder 340. Constant fluid pressure normally maintains the dog against the index plate and fluid is admitted behind the piston to withdraw the dog, surfaces 331, 333 on a fixed bracket 332 limiting movement of the dog in either direction. Work gripping and mounting.-The ingots are mounted on three studs 72, Figs. 20 and 22, carried by the arms 71, 73 of the work-holders 70, and are gripped by arms 220 acting between the studs. The arms 73 are shorter than the arms 71 so that the portions of the ingots being operated upon are unsupported, the disposition of the arms on the holders 1 .. 7 being opposite to that on holders 7 .. 14. The clamping arm 220 of each holder is formed integral with one of a pair of slides 235 attached to a pneumatic cylinder 240 whose piston-rod 227 is secured to a base 229 adjacent the holder 70. The slides 235 operate in vertical guides 232 integral with the base 229 and are limited in their upward movements by stops 237 in the guides. Air is admitted constantly below the piston 226, to grip the work, by a telescopic pipe 252 in the base 229 and a passage 256 through the piston rod, and may be admitted above the piston to release the clamp by a hand-operated valve 260 in a byepass pipe 259 connecting the ends of the cylinder, the position of the valve which cuts off supply above the piston also opening this to exhaust at 261. The clamping arms bind the holders 70 on their rails as well as gripping the work and the bases 229 are hinged to the holders 70 at 231 so that the reactions of the piston rods 227 will not tend to lift the holders. Operation.-On closing a main switch and then pressing one of a pair of buttons for either manual or automatic control of the machine the corresponding relays are energized to open solenoid-controlled valves and the slides 80, 200 are actuated to position the holder 1, Fig. 34. An ingot is then placed against the gauges 77, 85, and the valve 260 operated to clamp the ingot and work-holder on the turret. On pressing another button, the slide 200 is retracted, operating a switch S5, Fig. 34, on the slide to actuate the withdrawing cylinder 100, and switches S4, S2 are operated to allow the turret to be indexed. During positioning of the work-holder 1, the punch 400 and drills 426 operate, switches being provided thereon for preventing indexing of the turret until they have been withdrawn. The opposed cylinders 401 of the punch are operated by hydraulic pressure to cause the plungers to approach until the pressure in a spring valve 405 rises to a predeter