US2366352A - Coil expander - Google Patents

Description

H. D. PAXSON Jan. 2, 1945.

COIL EXPANDER Filed Aug. 22, 1942 /20 v mu gmc/Mio@ HOMER D. PAXSON btwvw Patented Jan. V2, 1945 UNITED .STATES PATENT] `A()1I""FICE f v 2,366,352 .y CDILTEXPANDER IvHomerD.-Pa,xson,Sa;lem, .Ohio Application August 22, 1942,.seria1`N0. .455,822

' crime-'78) l-Claims.

This `invention relates to acoil expander rand moreyparticularly to an apparatus which is operativeto condition coils of strip 4steel or "other metal. In `the processing and .handling of coiled `strip stock it is often necessary or desirable to valter ther physical character of :the `coils and such 'alteration may consist, for examplein the eX- 'pansion -and tightening of 'the vcoil or .in .the contraction and loosening of the poils. .Both these operations 4may find utility in thexpickling of coiled stock by -the .batch .method v`in which thewcoils are immersed Ain the 4vcorrosive solution, washed, dried, oiled and rpreparedforshipment or use. To facilitatezthe operation-ofthis process :it is desirable that the adjacent convolutions rof the coil be 4spaced to allow 'entrance and .flow `of v 'the piekling .and'washing 4solutions between 'the convolutins 'and upon completion `of :the process it is desirable to retighten thec'oil to enable it to be bound for shipment or to allow its .proper .application .toan'uncoiling mechanism.

Also in vannealing operations the Acoils .should loe more or `less loosely Wound to prevent welding during :the .heating treatment. 4lillongation of the strip underheat :tends .to v'cause .an 'additional tightening of the coils fand it is highly iesirable vtherefore that the coils bein-aloose icon- Idition when placed inthe .annealing furnace.

Other practical lapplications ofthe concept and principles involved should be apparent. AForexample, a vcoil which .is `too .loosely wound, com- -monly termed .a .soft coil, his 'dif'cult to handle, bindand shipand if allowed to stand on its-edge for any `appreciable length of time, the natural set .attained in `the convolutions 4thereof is out of round which is objectionable inthe oper-ation of uncoiling mechanisms. 'Consequently it is usually desirable to maintain-a predetermined degree of tightness -or h'ardness incols of metal strip.

f The primary object of the invention therefore, is the Iprovision of a simple but lefficient. apkparatus which is operative to vti'ghten'or'loosen coils of metal strip to any vdesired degree. ,Another object of the `invention is fthe provision `of `ari-apparatus having the above generalicharacterristics which is operative to change theinner and outer diameters of any particular coil o'f metal strip within the 'limits of the capacity of .the par- Figure 1 isa plan view of line, inoperative position on the; apparatus; vand Figure 2 is a Atransversesectional View .through .a portion ofthe apparatus of Figure 1, .the power supplying means beingfshown in vschematic Youtline. y

The-apparatusof the invention, in `i'tsprefer-red randjillustrated embodiment, comprises a-circular base or support yIII to `,the top of which is fixed a plate II. Circumferentially spaced aboutl the outer ,portion of the plate I-l are a number of vradiallyextending guideways I 2. each consisting ro'f v`apair oftbars I3 whichare fastened tothe :plate lI Iby the .screws I-4.v Bars I3 yare rabbeted to receivethe blocks I5 and -itshould jbeapparent 'that upon loosening of Vthe-screws ldvthe blocks Arnayiloe adjusted radially inward or outward and relocked in position by tightening the screws.

.Each of :the blocks I5 carries yan upwardly extending post I6 oneof which .is lprovided with a diarn'etrically extending slot I'I to provide a clamping device the 'function of which willy -be hereinafter xfully explained.

lxtending'eentrally through the plate II -is lthe yvertical shaft VI8 to the upper'end of which is keyed a rotary table .-I9. This table is pro-l vided, on its upper Yface with depressed quadrants 20 lthe function of which -is to enable the downwardly .and outwardly 'extending ngers of 'a coil lifting device to pass under the lower .edgeof 'the C'onvoh'ltions of the coil resting on 'thermachine .In Teach of the r`spokes 2| intermediate the quadrants 12E! of the table I8 is apluralityof radially spaced.apertures.22.. Apertures 22are adapted to 'receive .the .reduced lowerend porti'onsof vposts `23 one of which may be provided'witha diametrically extending slot 24 to provide Va clamping' or anchordevice the .purpose of which will be explained below.

Aradial bearing 25 'journals theshaft I8 Vat the plate `II to Atake any .lateral strains or pressure an'd-a Ithrust bearing `consisting of circumferentially spaced 'balls 26 and aspaceplateZI kis fp'ositioned between Athe ltable 7I9 .and the .plate Il to support the weight of the rotary assembly and of the coil positioned thereon. Shaft I8is arranged to ybe rotated'in alternate directions and at vavariable rate of speed by a reversing motor'operating rthrougha suitable speed reduction unitas i's ywell understoodin the art. This :power Vassembly is indicated `schematically at 28 as deriving electrical current from line 29 and employing a reversing switch 30.

In operation, a suitable centering device, not shown, may be employed to align the coil axially with the center of the table I9 as the coil is lowered onto the table. he outer end of the outer convolution of the coil is gripped in the clamping slot Il and all the posts I5 having been previously adjusted to provide the desired final coil diameter,

- rotation of the table I9 in the proper direction will rotate the portion of the coil resting on the table thereby unwinding the coil and compacting the strip thereof against the posts I6. The tightness of the finished coil is determined by the speed of rotation of the table I9 and by the physical characteristics of the strip of the coil. In this manner a coil may be either expanded or tight-` ened or receive both of these treatments simultaneously. If it is desired to loosen the coil the outer end thereof is anchored in clamp I1 while the inner end thereof is anchored in clamp 24 and the table I9 rotated in the opposite direction for the required angular distance and at the required speed. If it is desired to rewind the coil to a smaller diameter all of the four posts 23 are inserted in selected apertures 22 and table I9 rotated in the proper direction until al1 the strip is compacted against the posts 23. It will be understood, of course, that in expanding a coil a short end portion of the inner convolution will remain curved inwardly, as-indicated in Figure 1 but this portion may be readily moved by hand into engagement with the adjacent convolution of the coil. Likewise, a short end portion of the outer convolution of the coil will remain outside of the general outline of the coil in contracting the coil but this portion may also be readily moved into the general peripheral contour of the treated coil. Frictional contact is relied on to prevent linear movement of the strip through the slots I1 and 24 but if it is found that this restraint is not sufficient a suitable wedging arrangement or other expedient may be resorted to.

It should now be apparent that I have provided an improved apparatus which accomplishes the objects initially set out. The machine is instantly available to expand or compact and/ or tighten or loosen coils of strip and by controlling the. speed and extent of rotation of the table I 9 any desired vfinal coil characteristic may be attained. In addition to the above the construction of the machine is such-that it may be readily adjusted to operate on coils of different weights and sizes.

The above specifically described embodiment v of the invention should be considered as illustrative only Ias obviously many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. vReference should be had therefore to the appended claims in determining the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising in combination a base, a plurality of cir- 4cumferentially spaced but radially extending guideways on said base, anupwardly extending retaining post adjustably mounted in each of said guideways, at least one of said posts being provided with means to engage and secure an end of a length of coiled strip, a rotary table positioned centrally of said guideways and posts and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced upwardly extending retaining posts at least onev 'of which is provided with means to engage and secure an end of a length of coiled strip, means adjustably mounting said second mentioned posts on said table whereby the radial distance between the axis of rotation of said table and said second mentioned posts may be varied, and means to rotate said table in alternate directions.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further characterized in that the upper surface of said table is depressed circumferentially intermediate the portions thereof supporting said second mentioned posts. y

3.l Apparatus of the character described comprising in combination a horizontally disposed support, a vertical shaft extending through said support, a rotary table of substantial area keyed to the upper end of said shaft with its upper surface flush with the end of the shaft Iand overlying the center portion of said support, a thrust bearing between said support and table, an annular series of circumferentially spaced upwardly extending retaining posts on said support outwardly 'of said table, and means to rotate said shaft, said support having circumferentially disposed supporting surfaces outwardly ofk said table and aligned substantially horizontally with the top surface of the table.

4. Apparatus according to claim' 3 further including an upwardly extending means on said table to engage and secure an end of a coiled length of metal strip. y 5. Apparatus for conditioning coils of metal strip comprising a fixed support, a rotary table positioned centrally of said support, a plurality of circumferentially spaced but radially extending guideways on said support outwardly of said table, each of said guideways comprising at least one radially extending bar, a block adapted to be clamped in adjusted position under and by said bar, each of said blocks being provided with an upwardly projecting post, and means to rotate said table.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 further characterized in that the upper surface of said table is provided with radially extending ribs the upper surfaces of which lie in the same plane as the upper surfaces of said bars.

7. Apparatus of the character described comprising in combination a horizontally disposed support, a vertical shaft extending through the center of said support, a rotary table keyed to the upper end of said shaft and overlying the center portion of said support, a thrust bearing between said support and table, a plurality of circumferentially spaced upwardly extending retaining posts on said support outwardly of said table, and means to rotate said shaft, one of said posts being provided with means to engage and secure an end of a coiled length ofstrip.

8. Apparatus according toclaim 7 further including an upwardly` extending means on said table to engage and secure the inner end of a coiled length of strip.l

9. Apparatus of the character described comprising in combination Aa table having a horizontally disposed supporting surface adapted to support at least a portion of a side edge of a coil of metal strip and the like, means mounting said table for rotation about a vertical axis, a normally fixed supporting member having asupporting surface disposed circumferentially outside of said table and aligned substantially horizontally with said supporting surface of said table, means to rotate said table, and an annular series of posts fixed with respect to said supporting member to engage the outer convolution of said coil.

said retaining means and adapted to support and rotate the coil, means to rotate said table, a plurality of upwardly extending posts carried by said table, at least one of said posts provided with means to engage and secure the inner end of a coiled length of metal strip and means to change the distance between the axis of rotation of said 5 table and said posts.

HOMER D. PAXSON.

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