US2535911A - Slab gripping device - Google Patents

Description

J. E. FRAME SLAB GRIPPING DEVICE Dec. 26, 1950 Filed Aug. 21, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 NEE Dec. 26, 1950 J; E. FRAME 2,535,911

SLAB GRIPPING DEVICE Filed Aug. 21, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FWEIJ- FIG. 4- 5/ FIEE.

I! if 1% 46 [mm afar:

Patented Dec. 26, 1950 SLAB GRIPPING Davies John E. Frame, Gary, Ind., assigncr to Carnegie- Illinois Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application August 21, 1945, Serial No. 611,769

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in gripping devices for slabs and the like.

Considerable difficulty has been experienced with the gripping devices mounted on peels for transferring large steel slabs into and out of heating furnaces. Frequently slabs are not held securely and tend to drop from the gripping device, and at other times, due to the heat of the furnace and other causes, the gripper becomes bound and does not properly release the slab. This causes a large overload on the motor, frequently resulting in failure thereof.

It is accordingly among the objects of the present invention to provide a dependable slab gripping device which will securely grip and hold slabs being transferred in and out of slab heating furnaces.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a slab gripping device which will not bind due to heat or application of gripping forces.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a slab gripping device which is simple in design and inexpensive to operate.

The foregoing and further objects will be apparent from the specification and drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view;

Figure 2 is a side elevation;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail, partly in section of the screw and mounting therefor;

Figure 4 is an enlarged section of the ratchet or overload clutch;

Figure 5 is a partial elevation of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical section of the spherical abutting surfaces between the screw and reciprocable jaw; and

Figure '7 is a vertical cross-section on line VII-VII of Figure 6.

Referring more particularly to the drawing. the numeral 2 designates a peel bracket carried by suitable ram or crane for lifting slabs and moving them in or out of a heating furnace. The peel consists of a framework or housing 4 having a slideway 6 at the outer end thereof on which there is fixedly secured an outer jaw 8 and a loosely mounted reciprocable inner jaw ID. A screw I2 is flexibly connected to the jaw l0 and with spherical abutting surfaces l4 between the end of the screw and the jaw. An enlarged or elongated slot I6 is provided in the screw adjacent the end thereof for reception of a bolt l8. Due to the loose mounting of the jaw ID on slideway 6, the spherical surfaces between the jaw and screw, and the elongated slot in the screw, relative motion between the jaw and the slideway and screw is permitted in order that the jaw may accommodate itself to the contour of a slab being gripped thereby.

A sleeve nut 29 is mounted within a nut housing 32 of the framework 4. The nut 28 has an annular shoulder 24 around the mid-portion on which is securely mounted a gear 26. Thrust bearings 28 are provided on either side of the shoulder 24 to prevent relative longitudinal movement between the sleeve nut 20 and the housing 32. A bushing 30 is provided around the sleeve nut 29 So as to permit rotation thereof in the nut housing 32. The bushing 30, thrust bearings 23 and sleeve nut 2!] are held together as a unit by nut housing caps 22, which are bolted to the nut housing 32.

A pinion 34 on shaft 36 engages the gear 26. Shaft 36 is journaled in the framework 4 at its outer end, and in a pedestal 40 at its inner end. A ratchet gear 42 is rotatably mounted on a hub 44 at the outer end of the shaft 36, and a bushing 46 is provided between the ratchet gear 42 and hub 44. A motor-driven pinion 48 engages the ratchet gear 42. A ratchet wheel 5|] is mounted around the hub 44 and held against side teeth 52 of the ratchet gear 42 by springs 54 acting through bolts 56. Motor pinion 48 is suitably connected to a reversible motor 58.

This ratchet or overload clutch arrangement prevents overloading of the motor 58, and the flexible mounting of the jaw I0 on slideway 6, together with the loose connection between the jaw I B and screw l2, prevents binding of the screw H2 in the sleeve nut 20. Accordingly, the desired power can be efl'iciently applied to the movable jaw Ill to securely grip a slab, and at the same time the flexible mounting of and connection to the jaw Ii! prevents binding thereof and permits ready release of the slab.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that this embodiment is merely for the purpose of illustration and description and that various other forms may be devised within the scope of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I c'laimi 1. A slab gripping device comprising a frame, an outwardly extending arm on said frame, a jaw fixedly mounted on said arm adjacent the outer end thereof, a reciprocable jaw loosely mounted on said arm in opposed relation to said fixed jaw, a screw mounted on said frame in alignment with said reciprocable jaw, said reciprocable jaw having a bore terminating in a spherical surface in alignment with said screw, the head of said screw being disposed in said bore and having a spherical end adapted to engage the spherical end of said bore, a slot in said head and a pin in said reciprocable jaw extending through said slot to permit relative motion between said reciprocable jaw and said screw to permit said reciprocable jaw to accommodate itself to a workpiece gripped thereby and to prevent binding of the jaw or of the screw.

2. A slab gripping device comprising a frame, an outwardly extending arm on said frame, a jaw fixedly mounted on said arm adjacent the outer end thereof, a reciprocable jaw loosely mounted on said arm in opposed relation to said fixed jaw, a screw mounted on said frame in alignment with said reciprocable jaw, said reciprocable jaw having a bore terminating in a spherical surface in alignment with said screw, the head of said screw being disposed in said bore and having a spherical end adapted to engage the spherical end of said bore, a slot in said head and a pin in said reciprocable jaw extending through said slot to permit relative motion between said reciprocable jaw and said screw to permit said reciprocable jaw to accommodate itself to a workpiece gripped thereby and to prevent binding of the jaw or of the screw and means to operate said screw, said means comprising an elongated sleeve nut engaging said screw and journaled on said frame, a gear centrally disposed on said sleeve nut, thrust hearings on each side of said gear and means for turning said gear.

JOHN E. FRAME.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 681,065 Mears Aug. 20, 1901 698,768 Wales Apr. 29, 1902 717,053 Taylor Dec. 30, 1902 1,009,609 Wenneborg, Jr. Nov. 21, 1911 1,259,023 Kendall Mar. 12, 1918 2,206,177 Foss July 2, 1940

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