US1963221A - Automatic metal feeder for typecasting and slug-casting machines - Google Patents

Description

June 19, 1934. c. F. BADGLEY 1,963,221

AUTOMATIC METAL FEEDER FOR TYPE CASTING AND SLUG CASTING MACHINES 7 Filed Sept. 8, 1932' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 19, 1934. c. F BADGLEY 1,963,221

AUTOMATIC METAL FEEDER FOR TYPE CASTING AND SLUG CASTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 8. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Emma bow 62611 llgadyley,

Patented June 19, 1934 UH STATES AUTOMATIC METAL FEEDER FOR TYPE- CASTING AND SLUG-CASTING MA- CHINES Cecil Forest Badgley, Bozeman, Mont, assignor of one-third to Harry H. Howard and one-third to Chester (3. Trescott, both of Bozeman, Mont.

Application September 8, 1932, Serial No. 632,221

Claims.

5 a constant level in the pot.

til

Primarily the invention has for its object to accomplish this result with a mechanism that is composed of as few parts as possible, a mechanism which is of a rugged construction, one that can be easily and cheaply manufactured and one which may be adapted, with but slight modification of form, to any of the standard makes of type-casting machines.

Further, it is an object to provide apparatus for the purpose stated in which the float that controls the actuation of the feeding escapement is protected from injury and from the accumulation of dross and dirt from the molten metal.

Again, it is an object to provide means to protect the float and the float tube against injury by the metal pig when the same is carelessly handled in hanging it onto the feeder chain.

Further, it is an object to provide apparatus for the stated purpose in which the escapement mechanism and all parts possible are located on a substantial frame to one side of and above the metal pot and out of the way of the operator when cleaning out the metal pot or when making any repairs to the machine.

Further, it is an object of the invention to provide for mounting the frame of the feeder to the main frame of the type casting machine where additional weight is of no consequence and which in no way will interfere with the normal operations of the machine. Only the weight of the very light float device is supported by the metal pot.

Another object is to provide a positive float arrangement that will permit adjusting the molten metal height to a maximum variation of from to A of an inch, thus providing for increased efliciency in the operation of the type machine.

Further, it is an object to provide a controlling float which is not only protected and enclosed but which is, in a measure, self-cleaning in that the action of the metal pot in coming forward to the casting position, changes the level of the molten metal within the pot in relation to the float itself, thus giving a vertical motion to the float which helps to keep it free from what little dross accumulates within the float protecting tube.

Further, it is an object to provide for taking up the entire strain of operation of the float set trip bar, or actuator trip bar as it is hereinafter called, on the escapement mechanism, by the frame which carries the actuator bar without putting any strain on the float or the float lever.

Further, it is an object to provide the'chain from which the metal pig is hung, with a compression spring for the purpose of effectively cushioning the jar of the dropping pig when the escapement is released by the automatic devices of the feeder, thereby preventing the splash of molten metal in the pot.

Again, it is an object to provide a mechanism in which the actuator trip rod thatis set by the float is carried by the metal pot while the actuated trip rod that operates the escapement mechanism is carried by a frame that is mounted on the pump bracket of the machine, the two trip rods being so cooperatively constructed that when the float is at the proper height the actuator trip rod engages the actuated trip rod on the forward motion of the pot and returns with it through the pull of the escapement spring when the metal pot recedes, but when the pot has suflicient metal the actuator trip rod will pass without effecting an actuation of the escapement mechanism.

Further, the invention has for its object to provide against breakage or damage being done to the parts in the event of sticking or failure of the float mechanism properly to operate.

Another object is to provide, in cooperation with the pig lowering mechanism, a signal device to inform the operator when the metal pig has been melted away and a new one is required, and to continue to give the signal at each. cycle of operation of the type casting machine in the event that the operator fails to hang a new pig on the feed chain.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends, the invention still further resides in the novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first fully described in the following detailed description, then be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which.-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my apparatus.

Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section similar to Figure 2, showing the position of the parts with the alarm mechanism set to operate. 7

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3, show- I ing the actuator trip rod elevated to engage and operate the actuated trip rod.

, Figure 6 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the float unit.

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

Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line 8-8 of Figure 2. I

Figure 9 is a detail section hereinafter ref'erred to.

In the drawings in which like numerals of reference designate like parts in all of the figures, 1 represents the metal pot of the type casting machine. To this pot is attached a float carrying bracket 2 having upstanding lugs 3 to support a fulcrum pin 4 on which the float lever 5 is pivoted.

6 represents the float which has a rod '7 whose upper end is provided with a series of pin holes 8 for the reception of pins 83 that hold the float lever 5 andthe rod 7 connected with a loose or rocking joint, the lever 5 having a hole 9 through which the rod '7 projects. The lever 5 has its other end forked as at 10 to fit the slots or side grooves 17 in the lower or actuator trip rod 16.

On its under side the float lever 5 has a block 11 which carries a fulcrum spring 12 that is secured to the block and the lever by screws 13, the fulcrum spring 12 having a fulcrum loop 14 to fit over the fulcrum pin 4.

The bracket 2 includes a supporting bridge in bearings in which and in the bracket the vertically movable actuator trip rod 16 is located, the rod 16 being provided with a stop pin 13 so that it may not come out of its bearing.

The upper end of the actuator trip rod is bevelled'as at 19 and is provided with an actuating stepped portion 20 at the same end.

The float carrying bracket 2 is provided with a float tube 84 that is rigidly secured to the bracket 2, in which tube 84 the float rises and falls. The tube 84 projects down into the molten metal in the pot 1.

In order to protect the float and float tube against injury by careless handling of the pig, I provide a float guard supporting rod 21 carried by the bracket 2 and carryinga float tube guard plate 22 adjustably secured on the rod 21 by a set screw 23 or other suitable means.

The main supporting frame 24 includes a foot 25 for securing it to the cam shaft bracket 26 of the type machine. It also includes another foot portion 27 by means of which it is secured to the pump bracket 28 of the type machine. In order that the mechanism may be clear of the pot the frame is provided with an offset portion 29.

The frame includes a top cross bar 30 and two vertical bars, between which Vertical bars is located a shaft 31 carrying spacer sleeves 32 and 33 and the hub 41 of the escapement hook. Another shaft 34 is mounted between the uprights of the frame below the shaft 31 and it carries a spacer sleeve 35 and the hub 36 of the nine-toothed sprocket wheel 62 as well as the hub 69 of the ten-toothed sprocket 68 and aspacer sleeve 37.

'38 and 39 are jam nuts which look the shafts 31 and 34 respectively into the vertical standards. One end of each shaft fits into a hole in one of the uprights of the standards while the opposite ends of the shaft are threaded and screw into threaded holes 2400 in the other upright of the standards, being held by the lock nuts 38 and 39 (see Figure 9).

41 is the hub of the escapement hook while 42 and 43 designate the short and long arms respectively of that hook. The hook is normally held with its short arm in engagement with a tooth of the ten-toothed escapement wheel or sprocket 68 by means of an escapement return spring 44. It is adapted to be rocked by a pulling action on the escapement hook pull arm 45, against the tension of the spring 44.

46 is another shaft carried by the main frame and located below the shaft 34. On this shaft 46 is located a bell crank lever 47 having an arm 48 connected by a link 49 to the escapement hook pull arm 45. It also has an arm 50 to which the pull chain 51 is connected. The other end 57 of the chain 51 is connected to the trip rod carrying rocker arm 56 that is fulcrumed on the stud 53. The stud 53 is carried by a frame 52 that is secured to the pump bracket 28 of the type machine. A spring 54 and an adjusting nut 55 are provided for holding the lever 56 on the stud.

The trip rod carrying rocker lever 56 has secured to its short end an articulated trip rod 58 that is actuated by the trip rod 16 at times. 59 is the one-way hinged end of the actuated trip rod 58. This end has its extremity bevelled as at 60 and provided with a stepped portion 61 to cooperate with the stepped portion 20 of the actuator trip rod 16 as will later be explained.

62 is the nine-toothed sprocket mounted on the shaft 34 and over which the bicycle chain 63, hereinbefore referred to, passes. One end of the chain is provided with a handhold 64 while the other end is provided with a compression spring 65 that carries a hook 66 on which the pigs 67 are hung. The sprocket 62 under the weight of the pig moves the escapement wheel 68 when it is released by the escapement hook tooth-=by-tooth. The hubs of the sprocket 62 and escapement wheel 63 have a ratchet connection 70 so that the chain 63 may be pulled back by the handhold without actuating the escapement mechanism.

71 is the escapement adjusting screw which is carried by the bracket 72 that is in turn fasper actuating rocker arm 77. This arm '77 is fulcrumed at 78 to the bell crank lever arm 50 and has a loop 80 which passes over the bell shank and over the clapper bracket 75. The rocker arm 77 is held with its heel 79 out of the path of the heel '76 by means of a throw-out spring 31.

The arm 77, however, is provided with a finger 82 that is adapted to be engaged by the handhold 64 when the pig has been used up and serves to move the arm 77 over to a position where its heel '79 will come into the path of the heel M5 76 and trip the clapper of the bell at each reciprocation of the bell crank lever 47, i. e. once in each cycle of the type machine.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the 159 manner in which my invention operates is best explained as follows:

Assume that a pig has been placed on the hook 66 and the chain pulled to raise the pig so that its lower end will just enter the pot above the molten metal. Now as the metal in the pot is consumed the float 6 will fall and in consequence thereof the actuator trip rod 16 will be raised so that as the pot moves back the upper end of the lower actuated trip rod will be elevated to a position above the lower end of the actuated trip rod 58. Therefore, as the metal pot comes forward again the trip rods will engage with the result that the trip rod carrying rocker lever 56 will be rocked to thereby exert a pull on the chain 51 to rock the escapement hook which permits the weight of the pig to rotate the escapement wheel and the sprocket wheel through an we equal to one-half the distance between adjacent teeth of the escapement wheel. As the pot moves back again the spring 44 will rock the escapement hook back to its former position, thereby permitting the pig to move the sprocket and escapement wheel a distance equal to onehalf the distance between two escapement wheel teeth. As soon as the pig enters the molten metal it will raise the level of the molten metal so as to elevate the float and lower the actuator trip rod. Further movements of the metal pot will have no effect on the lowering of the pig unless the level of the molten metal falls beyond the normal level and again elevates the actuator trip rod.

After the escapement mechanism has been operated. a sufficient number of times to feed the pig entirely to the pot, the handhold 64 will engage the rocker arm finger 82 and move the rocker arm over so that its heel '79 will come into the path of the heel '76 of the clapper 86. Therefore, upon each pull on the chain 51 the clapper will be operated to sound the alarm. So long as the handhold engages the finger 82 the alarm will be sounded once in each cycle of operation of the type feeding machine, that is to say once in each reciprocation of the metal pot, for the float will be down and the actuator trip rod will be up so that at each forward movement of the metal pot a pull is given to the chain 51.

Thus, if the operator is inattentive the first time the bell rings his attention will be repeatedly called to the fact that the metal in the pot is getting low for the want of a new pig.

I have found that by using a nine-tooth chain sprocket 62 and a ten-tooth escapement wheel 68, a better distribution of the weight of the chain and pig is obtained, and as the escapement hook has its arms of uneven length and arranged so that the ends thereof barely clear the teeth on the escapement wheel, the escapement wheel is prevented from vibrating. The metal pig is lowered only the distance of one link of the chain for each movement of the escapement hook.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought the complete construction, operation and advantages of my invention will be clear to those skilled in the art to which it relates.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated and described is to be taken as illustrative of a preferred form, and the invention is not to be considered as limited thereto since changes in the details of form and construction can be made without departing from the principle of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a type casting machine having a movable melting pot, a flexible pig-suspending means and an escapement mechanism cooperating therewith for lowering the pig into the pot, means for sup- 1 porting said suspending means and said escapement mechanism in position over the pot, means actuated by the movement of the pot for operating said escapement mechanism, said last named means including a float carrying bracket mounted on the pot, a float lever fulcrumed on said bracket, a float connected to one end of said lever, an actuator trip bar vertically movable in bearings on said bracket and engaged with the other end of said lever, and said escapement mechanism including a trip bar actuated by said actuator trip bar.

2. In a type casting machine having a movable melting pot, a flexible pig-suspending means and an escapement mechanism cooperating therewith for lowering the pig into the pot, means for supporting said suspending means and-said escapement mechanism in position over the pot, means actuated by the movement of the pot for operating said escapement mechanism, said last named means including a float carrying bracket mounted on the pot, a float lever fulcrumed on said bracket, a float connected to one end of said lever, an actuator trip bar vertically movable in bearings on said bracket and engaged with the other end of said lever, and said escapement mechanism including a trip bar actuated by said actuator trip bar, said trip bars being so cooperatively mounted that the actuating force is applied in a direction transversely to the axes of said trip bars.

3. In a type casting machine having a movable melting pot, a flexible pig-suspending means and an escapement mechanism cooperating therewith for lowering the pig into the pot, means for supporting said suspending means and said escapement mechanism in position over the pot, means actuated by the movement of the pot for operating said escapement mechanism, said last named means including a float carrying bracket mounted on the pot, a float lever fulcrumed on said bracket, a float connected to one end of said lever, an actuator trip bar vertically movable in bearings on said bracket and engaged with the other end of said lever, and said escapement mechanism including a trip bar actuated by said actuator trip bar, a float tube carried by said float carrying bracket as a protecting well for the float said float tube having a continuous unbroken wall where submerged in the pot, the pot being open to the float only at its extreme lower end.

4-. In a type casting machine having a movable melting pot, a flexible pig-suspending means and an escapement mechanism cooperating therewith for lowering the pig into the pot, means for supporting said suspending means and said escapement mechanism in position over the pot, means actuated by the movement of the pot for operating said escapement mechanism, said last named means including a float carrying bracket mounted on the pot, a float lever fulcrumed on said bracket, a float connected to one end of said lever, an actuator trip bar vertically movable in bearings on said bracket and engaged with the other end of said lever, and said escapement mechanism including a trip bar actuated by said actuator trip bar, said trip bars being so cooperatively mounted that the actuating force is applied in a direction transversely to the axes of said trip bars, a float tube carried by said float carrying bracket as a protecting well for the float said float tube having a continuous unbroken wall where submerged in the pot, the pot being open to the float only at its extreme lower end.

5. In a type casting machine having a movable melting pot, a flexible pig-suspending means and an escapement mechanism cooperating therewith for lowering the pig into the pot, means for supporting said suspending means and said escapement mechanism in position over the pot, means actuated by the movement of the pot for operating said escapement mechanism, said last named means including a float carrying bracket mounted on the pot, a float lever fulcrumed on said bracket, a float connected to one end of said lever, an actuator trip bar vertically movable in bearings on said bracket and engaged with the other end of said lever, and said escapement mechanism including a trip bar actuated by said actuator trip bar, a float tube carried by said float. carrying bracket as a protecting well for the float, and means for protecting said float and its float tube against impact of the pig.

6. In a type casting machine having a movable melting pot, a flexible pig-suspending means and an escapement mechanism cooperating therewith for lowering the pig into the pot, means for supporting said suspending means and said escapement mechanism in position over the pot, means actuated by the movement of the pot for operat ing said escapement mechanism, said last named means including a float carrying bracket mounted on the pot, a float lever fulcrumed on said bracket, a float connected to one end of said lever, an actuator trip bar vertically movable in bearings on said bracket and engaged with the other end of said lever, said escapement mechanism including a trip bar actuated by said actuator trip bar, a float tube carried by said float carrying bracket as a protecting well for the float, and a guard plate carried by said float tube bracket and interposed between the pig and the float and float tube.

'7. In a type casting machine having a movable melting pot, an upright main supporting frame having means by which it may be secured to immovable parts of the machine, said frame including uprights, two shafts carried by said frame near the top thereof, and an escapement wheel journalled on one of said shafts, an escapement hook osoillatably mounted on the other of said shafts in cooperative relation to said escapement wheel, a sprocket Wheel journalled on the first of said shafts, said sprocket and escapement wheel having a one-way ratchet engagement, a chain passed over said sprocket wheel, a hook on one end of said chain to hold a pig, a supplemental frame and means for mounting it at a place adjacent the path of movement of the pot, a rocker lever on said supplemental frame, a; trip rod carried by said rocker lever, means connecting said rocker lever with said escapement hook to operate the same, and a float-set actuator trip rod carried by the pot to cooperate with said first mentioned trip rod.

8. In a type casting machine having a movable melting pot, an upright main supporting frame having means by which it may be secured to immovable parts of the -machine, said'frame in- 'cluding uprights, two shafts carried by said frame near the top thereof and an escapement wheel journalled on one of said shafts, an escapement hook osoillatably mounted on the other of said shafts in cooperative relation to said escapement wheel, a sprocket wheel journalled on the first of said shafts, said sprocket and escapement Wheel having a one-way ratchet engagement, a chain passed over said sprocket wheel, a spring secured to one end of said chain, a pig hook carried by said spring, a supplemental frame and means for mounting it at a place adjacent the path of movement of the pot, a rocker lever on said supplemental frame, a trip rod carried by said rocker lever, means connecting said rocker lever with said escapement hook to operate said escapement hook in one direction, and a spring for operating said escapement hook in the opposite direction, a trip rod carried by the pot to cooperate with said first mentioned trip rod, and a float device for moving said trip rod.

9. In a type casting machine having a movable melting pot, an upright main supporting frame having means by which it may be secured to immovable parts of the machine, said frame including uprights, two shafts carried by said frame near the top thereof, and an escapement wheel journalled on one of said shafts, an escapement hook osoillatably mounted on the other of said shafts in cooperative relation to said escapement wheel, a sprocket wheel journalled on the first of said shafts, said sprocket and escapement wheel having a one-way ratchet engagement, a chain passed over said sprocket wheel, a hook on one end of said chain to hold a pig, a supplemental frame and means for mounting it at a place adjacent the path of movement of the pot, a rocker lever on said supplemental frame, a trip rod carried by said rocker lever, means connecting said rocker lever with said escapement hook to operate the same,

and a float-set actuator trip rod carried by the pot to cooperate with said first mentioned trip rod, said first mentioned trip rod comprising an articulated body having a one-way hinge connection between its members.

10. In a type casting machine having a movable melting pot, an upright main supporting frame having means by which it may be secured to immovable parts of the machine, said frame including uprights, two shafts carried by said frame near the top thereof, and an escapement wheel'journalled on one of said shafts, an escapement hook osoillatably mounted on the other of said shafts in cooperative relation to said escapement wheel, a sprocket wheel journalled'on the first of said shafts, said sprocket and escapement wheel having a one-way ratchet engagement, a chain passed over said sprocket wheel, a hook on one end of said chain to hold a pig, a supplemental frame and means for mounting it at a place adjacent the path of movement of the pot, a rocker lever on said supplemental frame, a trip rod carried by said rocker lever, means connecting said rocker lever with said escapement hook to operate the same, a float-set actuator trip rod carried by the pot to cooperate with said first mentioned trip rod, a chain guard carried by said main supporting frame, an alarm carried by said chain guard, means actuated by the escapement actuating mechanism for operating said alarm, means rendering said alarm operating means ineffective while a pig is being fed to the pot, and means for setting said alarm operating means to its effective position upon the substantially complete consumption of the pig.

CECIL FOREST BADGLEY.

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