Abstract:
A charging appliance for melting units that work under vacuum or under protective gas atmosphere includes a charging shovel, for holding charging stock, attached to a carriage which transports the charging stock to an advanced position inside the melting unit. The charging appliance further includes an ejector that holds the charging stock in the advanced position while the charging shovel is being retracted, resulting in the charging stock being deposited in the melting unit. The rolling carriage which transports the charging stock runs along a rail set. The rail set is movable via lifting cylinders. By selective displacement of two lifting cylinders, the elevation and angle of tilt of the rail set can be adjusted. Accordingly, the charging shovel can be maneuvered in a wide variation of positions inside the melting chamber. The charging appliance can be quickly and accurately adapted for use to a particular melting unit.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is directed to a charging appliance for melting units, particularly for melting units that operate under vacuum or under a protective gas atmosphere. 
     A variety of charging appliances are used in the metals industry and utilized for vacuum melting units, particularly for vacuum-induction-melting and fine-casting systems. Blocks to be charged or charging stock are generally conveyed into a melting unit, particularly into a crucible inside a melting chamber, through a feeding lock. Subsequently, the blocks are melted either under vacuum or under a protective gas atmosphere. 
     Such a vacuum-induction-melting and fine-casting system is described, for example, in a brochure M 2 110/d of the former Leybold Heraeus GmbH &amp; Co. KG. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a charging appliance for melting units which: enables a far reaching and versatile maneuverability of an acceptance means, which deposits charging stock into a melting unit, even while under vacuum or protective gas atmosphere; works in a generally horizontally orientation; comprises a compact and precise means for discharging charging stock into the melting unit; and comprises a minimum overall length, measured outwardly from the melting unit. 
     In a charging appliance for melting units as initially described these objectives are accomplished in that: 
     the acceptance means for charging stock is displaced horizontally out of the charging appliance by a transportation means, such that the acceptance means and charging stock protrude into the melting unit; by using maneuvering devices, an initial longitudinal axis of the acceptance means can be selectively displaced vertically, or inclined or declined to the horizontal axis to adapt to particular discharge conditions; and because of a sealed configuration of the charging appliance these manipulations are possible while the charging appliance and the melting unit are under a vacuum or protective gas atmosphere during charging; 
     the transportation means, the acceptance means, and the maneuvering devices all facilitate a generally horizontal orientation and operation of the charging appliance; 
     the acceptance means and the charging stock are projected from inside the charging appliance to a precise unloading position, an advanced position, inside the melting unit, where an ejector means or stop mechanism remains at the advanced position while the acceptance means is retracted in a reverse direction from its initial projection, the ejector means thus preventing any retreat of the charging stock; when the acceptance means is withdrawn, the charging stock is unsupported and discharges at a precise location; the ejector means is guided by the transportation means along a longitudinal axis of travel of the transportation means, this feature obviates the need for a separate guide system, resulting in space savings; the ejector means is prevented from retreating with the acceptance means by a thrust chain assembly which is compact, rugged, and reliable; 
     the overall length of the charging appliance is minimized by the utilization of a thrust chain which takes up a length of retraction travel or backstroke of the stop mechanism and redirects this length or backstroke across a chain wheel from the longitudinal axis of the transportation means to a length at approximately 90° from the longitudinal axis of travel of the transportation means, resulting in a reduced overall length of the charging appliance. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a horizontally arranged charging appliance, whereby the appliance is in a loading position. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the appliance of FIG. 1, whereby the carriage is in a position shortly before the ejection of charging stock. 
     FIG. 3 shows the appliance of FIG. 1 and 2 in an assembly drawing. 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the section line IV--IV of FIG. 3. 
     FIG. 5, 6 and 7 are schematic views showing possible positions or movements of the conveyor means and, thus, of the acceptance means of the charging appliance according to the preceding figures. 
     FIG. 8 is a partial elevational view showing elements of the thrust chain 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 and 2 show a melting unit generally at 100 and a charging appliance generally at 200. FIGS. 1 and 2 also describe the operation of the charging appliance 200. FIG. 1 shows an initial position or a first position of the charging appliance. FIG. 2 shows an advanced position or second position of the charging appliance. 
     A structure of a horizontally arranged charging appliance is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A vacuum tight housing 1 is connected via a lock valve 2 to a melting chamber 3 residing under vacuum. The housing 1 is provided with a cover 5. After isolating the housing 1 from the melting chamber 3, residing under vacuum, by closing lock valve 2, after flooding the housing 1 and after opening the cover 5, charging stock 6 or in the present case a cylindrical block 6, is placed onto a charging shovel 8. A loading direction is indicated by an arrow 7 in FIG. 1. 
     A movable rail set 4 is situated inside the housing 1. The rail set 4 is arranged movable by lifting devices or maneuvering devices. The lifting devices or maneuvering devices are symbolically shown in FIG. 1 and 2 with double arrows 9, 10. The preferred embodiment of the lifting devices are hydraulic lifting cylinders 9a, 10a (shown in FIG. 3). 
     In an alternate embodiment (not shown), manually actuatable spindles, or electrical lifting units, or pneumatic lifting units can be used in lieu of the hydraulically actuated lifting cylinders 9a, 10a. Eccentrics and lever articulations can also be employed. 
     A carriage 11 comprising four wheels or rollers 12, 13, 12a, 13a runs on the rail set 4. Two wheels or rollers 12, 13 mounted on a near side of the carriage 11 are shown in FIG. 1 and 2. Similarly, two additional wheels 12a, 13a (13a not shown, 12a shown in FIG. 4) are mounted on a far side of carriage 11. The rail set 4 comprises two rails 30, 31 each having a C-shaped profile (not shown in FIG. 1 or 2, but shown in FIG. 4). The wheels or rollers 12, 12a, 13, 13a of the carriage 11 run inside the C-shaped profiles. 
     FIG. 1 and 2 show an ejector 20 seated at a front end of the carriage 11. An ejector guiding apparatus 14 is symbolically shown as part of carriage 11. The charging shovel 8 is also situated at the front end of the carriage 11; it is rigidly joined to the carriage such as by screws. The carriage 11 and the ejector 20 are transported by a circulating chain drive 15. A dog 16 couples the chain drive 15 and carriage 11. Movement of the chain 15 displaces the dog 16 which displaces the carriage 11, which displaces the ejector 20. 
     The lifting cylinders 9, 10 mount to the rail set 4 at points 17, 18. The rail set 4 can thus be displaced vertically and/or inclined to the horizontal by selective displacement of each lifting cylinder 9, 10. This results in corresponding tilts or vertical displacements of the charging shovel 8, particularly in the advanced position (shown in FIG. 2). These different tilts or this vertical displacement of the charging shovel are symbolically shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 described later in this specification. 
     After the block 6 is loaded and the cover 5 is closed, the housing 1 is evacuated, or put under a protective atmosphere. The lock valve 2 is opened. The carriage 11 and the ejector 20 are moved by the chain drive 15 out of the initial position according to FIG. 1, in a direction as shown by an arrow 23, into the advanced position, shown in FIG. 2. A thrust chain 21 is thereby loosely entrained. In the advanced position the block 6 is situated in the melting chamber 3. 
     To unload the charging shovel 8 and to deposit the block 6 into the melting chamber 3 the carriage 11 is retracted, in a direction as shown by an arrow 19, by the chain drive 15. The ejector 20 remains in the advanced position shown in FIG. 2. The ejector 20 is held in the advanced position by the thrust chain 21 which can transmit thrusting or compression forces as a result of its structural design (shown in FIG. 8), and which is itself blocked by a chain wheel 24 which is itself blocked by a blocked free wheel or braking means (not shown). When the carriage 11 is retracted, the ejector 20 serves to stop retraction of the block 6. Support from the shovel 8 is removed from under the block 6. The block 6 deposits into the melting chamber 3 or more particularly into a melting area or crucible 22. 
     In detail, the thrust chain 21 operates according to the following description. The thrust chain 21 is engaged to the chain wheel 24. The chain wheel 24 is provided with means to prevent the thrust chain 21 from disengaging when the thrust chain is subjected to a thrusting force during retraction of the carriage 11. Such a means can be an outer backing plate (not shown) wherein the thrust chain 21 is situated in a closely spaced fashion between the chain wheel 24 and the backing plate, thus the backing plate would receive the thrusting force from the thrust chain 21 and prevent the thrust chain from moving away from the chain wheel 24 and thus disengaging. The chain wheel 24 is provided with a free wheel or braking means (not shown). During movement of the chain in a direction shown by an arrow 25 (FIG. 1), the chain wheel 24 rotates freely. The ejector 20, the thrust chain 21 and the carriage 11 are moved into the advanced position of FIG. 2 by the chain drive 15. Given the return movement of the carriage according to arrow 19 of FIG. 2, the free wheel or braking means of the chain wheel 24 prohibits the movement of the thrust chain in a direction as shown by an arrow 25&#39; (FIG. 2), so that the thrust chain 21 and the ejector 20, connected to the thrust chain 21, remain in the advanced position shown in FIG. 2. 
     The free wheel or braking means of the chain wheel 24 is releasable, and is released when the charging shovel 8 is to be loaded with a new block 6. The braking means of the chain wheel 24 can be of various designs. A ratchet and pawl device can be employed wherein the pawl engages teeth of the ratchet to prevent rotation in one rotation direction but permits free-wheeling in an opposite rotation direction. Thus, the ratchet and pawl would permit free-wheeling rotation of chain wheel 24 in a rotation direction which would permit the thrust chain 21 to be transported to the advanced position; but would prevent a reverse rotation, which would prevent the thrust chain from retracting with the carriage 11. The pawl would then be released to permit rotation of the chain wheel 24 in a rotation direction which permits retraction of the thrust chain 21. Other braking devices known to the art could be employed as well. Once chain wheel 24 is released and free-wheeling, the thrust chain 21 can be retracted in a direction of the arrow 25&#39;. A motive force is required to retract the thrust chain 21 once the braking means has been released. Such a motive force can be a weight (not shown) suspended from a rear portion or backstroke portion of the thrust chain and situated inside a cylindrical compartment 27. Once chain wheel 24 is free-wheeling, such a weight would exert a force on the thrust chain 21 causing it to retract to the initial position shown in FIG. 1. Other means known to the art of providing motive force to retract the thrust chain could be employed. 
     The thrust chain 21 and chain wheel 24 provide a suitable means for exerting a pushing force on the charging stock or block 6 during retraction of the carriage 11. The structural design of the thrust chain 21 accomodates thrust or compression forces and the thrust chain 21 is adequately guided to prevent buckling during retraction of the carriage 11. Also, flexible properties of the thrust chain 21 as opposed to a rigid type push member, permit a rear portion or backstroke portion of the chain 21 to be engaged around the chain wheel 24 and extend at an angle approximately 90° from the longitudinal axis of the carriage 11, into the cylindrical compartment 27. Thus, an overall length of the charging appliance 200, measured in a direction outward from the melting unit 100 is minimized. Although approximately 90° provides a minimum overall length, a variety of angles could be employed. 
     After the ejector 20 is retracted, the charging appliance can be reloaded with a new block 6 as previously described. 
     FIG. 3 shows structural details of the charging appliance 200. As indicated in FIG. 4, the housing is fashioned trough-like in region 26. The cylindrical compartment 27, for the acceptance of the thrust chain 21, is connected to the housing 1. The housing 1 is mounted to a lock valve 2 which is mounted to the melting unit 100. Lifting cylinders 9a and 10a are mounted to the housing 1. 
     The rail set 4 is pinned or hinged to an acceptance element 28 at point 17 and to a connecting element 29 at point 18. The acceptance element 28 is located near a front end of the rail set 4. The acceptance element 28 is moved by the lifting cylinder 9a which is mounted to the housing 1. The rail set 4 is pinned or hinged to the connecting element 29 near a back end of the rail set 4. 
     The rail set 4 can thus be displaced vertically and/or pivoted by the lifting cylinders 9a and 10a. For vertical parallel displacement, the lifting cylinders 9a and 10a are appropriately controlled, i.e. the points 17 and 18 are lifted or lowered by the same distance. 
     On the other hand, either point 17 or 18 can serve as a fixed point while the respective other point 17 or 18 is being moved. This causes a pivoting of the rail set 4. A vertical parallel displacement and a pivoting can also be additively carried out. It follows that the rail set 4 and thus the charging shovel 8 can be maneuvered over a broad range of positions, especially in the advanced position. 
     In a section along the section line IV--IV of FIG. 3, FIG. 4 shows the trough-like housing 1 and the lifting cylinder 9a. The acceptance element 28 accepts two rails 30, 31 comprising C-shaped profiles. The wheels or rollers 12, 12a of the carriage 11 run inside the C-shaped profiles. The profile of the charging shovel 8 is likewise trough-shaped to accept the cylindrical block 6. Ejector 20 and the contours of the cylindrical block 6, are also shown. 
     As set forth in detail above, FIG. 5 shows that the charging shovel 8 can be moved upward or downward parallel to an initial position in the direction of arrows 37, 38 on the basis of an appropriate control of the lifting cylinders 9a, 10a. Two possible positions of a longitudinal axis of the rail set 4, determines the position of the charging shovel 8, are schematically shown by the dot-dash lines 39, 40. Location points 41, 42 thereby correspond to the point 17 of FIG. 3. Location points 43, 44 correspond to the point 18 of FIG. 3. 
     FIG. 6 shows how the displacement of the point 17 causes the rail set longitudinal axis 39 to pivot around the point 18. 
     Similarly, FIG. 7 shows how displacement of the point 18 causes the rail set longitudinal axis 39 to pivot around the point 17. 
     A structure of the thrust chain 21 is shown in FIG. 8. In a side view, FIG. 8 shows the thrust chain 21 is provided with top plates 45, 46 mounted on a chain side opposite to an engagement side of the thrust chain 21 which engages the chain wheel 24. The top plates 45, 46 can be attached by welding or brackets. The thrust chain 21 is comprised of a plurality of link plates 47, each having a hole at each end. The link plates 47 are aligned in an end to end fashion in two closely spaced apart rows. Axles or chain studs 48, 49 connect each link plate 47 to each adjacent link plate 47 and to opposing and identical link plates 47 (not shown). The chain studs 48, 49 also can hold rollers onto the thrust chain 21 (not shown). The thrust chain 21 can thus fulfill both a common function of a chain, transmission of tractive forces, and can also transmit pressure forces or compressive forces along the length of the thrust chain 21. Tractive forces that are symbolized by arrows 50, 51 are transmitted by the link plates 47 of the thrust chain 21. Compressive forces are illustrated by arrows 52, 53 and are transmitted by the tightly adjacent top plates 45, 46. 
     Further exemplary embodiments are also conceivable for realizing the basic idea of the thrust chain 21. Thus, the thrust chain 21 can be replaced by any other power transmission element that can serve both as a tensile element as well as a thrust element. 
     As is apparent from the foregoing specification, the invention is susceptible of being embodied with various alterations and modifications which may differ particularly from those that have been described in the preceding specification and description. It should be understood that we wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonable and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.