Patent GB-573769-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to loading and unloading apparatus particularly for heattreating apparatus
IPC: C21D9/00
Filed: 1943-04-09
Abstract: 573,769. Electric heating. BUDD INDUCTION HEATING, INC. April 9, 1943, No. 5728. Convention date, April 13, 1942. [Class 39 (iii)] [Also in Group XXII] Loading and unloading apparatus stated to be applicable for chucks in machine tools and other apparatus is particularly designed for use in heat treating the ends of long and heavy pipes as used for conveying oil and gas. Such apparatus is described in Specification 560,189 and the details of the chuck are more fully described in Specification 509,895. The pipe P, Fig. 1, rests on rollers 127 on a series of supports 126, on which it is forwarded to pass through clamping jaws in a carriage 40 to contact with a cushioning stop 97 by which it is precisely located with respect to the carriage 40 whilst the latter is in its rear position. Jaws 51, Fig. 6, on the carriage are now closed to grip the pipe and the carriage is traversed to the right in Fig. 1, to insert the pipe into the chuck so that its end comes properly into contact with a laminated ring 25. The chuck is now closed and then the jaws 51 are opened. On completion of the heat treatment the jaws 51 are again closed, the chuck is released, and the carriage 40 is retracted to withdraw the pipe. The various movements are effected by hydraulic cylinders with valves controlled by two solenoids or in some cases by one solenoid and a spring. The electrical connection for the solenoids are controlled by two drum-type controllers electrically rotated so that the motions are interlocked with one another and with the electric heating part of the machine, failure of the heat treating apparatus to function or improper feeding, locating or gripping &c, of the pipe preventing sequential operation. The locating stop 97 is mounted on a slide 86 in the headstock frame 24, Fig. 1, and has hardened wear plates 98 to engage the pipe. A third hardened plate 110 is carried by a head on a plunger 109 and is held by a spring 113 in advance of the plates 98 as limited by a collar 112. The plunger 109 being forced back by the pipe rocks a lever 104 and closes a switch 102. Further advance of the pipe pushes the slide 86 connected at 88 to the rod 89 of a piston 90 under fluid pressure supplied at 96 through an adjustably loaded valve. Contact of the piston 90 with the end of its cylinder effects precise location. The supporting frame for the stop is pivoted at 68 to the headstock. and at 78 to the piston rod 75 of an oscillating cylinder 70 pivoted at 72 to a bracket 73 on the frame. After the jaws have closed the cylinder 70 is operated to tilt the stop out of the path of the pipe before the cylinder 47 is actuated to insert the pipe into the chuck. The jaws 51 are actuated by a double acting piston in a cylinder 57 the rod of which is connected at 55, Fig. 4. to a frame 54 sliding in guides 48, Fig. 6, and linked at 60, Fig.' 4. to the jaws that are guided .by connected T-members 50 sliding in inclined slots on the slide 48. The carriage 40 has a bracket 43 connected to the rod 44 of a double acting piston in a cylinder 47 to effect traverse on guide rods 42. The chuck, which has a twopart collet bevel closed at each end at 29, is operated by a sleeve 27 with bevel surfaces 28 and connected by rods 32 to a ring 33 mounted by thrust bearings between rings 34 connected to one or more double acting pistons 37. A tail pin 125, on the rod 89, in the initial position of the stop depresses the' head 123, Fig. 12, of a spring plunger 121, mounted in a guide 122 secured to the rocking frame, to act through a lever 119 to maintain a switch normally open. This switch is in series with the switch 102 and both switches must be closed before the sequence controller can operate. A master relay switch, that closes at the beginning of the cycle of sequence control, cannot effect the closure unless a limit switch 179, Fig. 1, has been closed on completion of the inserting movement of the carriage 40.