US3575395A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Billet heating furnace and conveyor therefor
Assignee: Granco Equipment Inc
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Filing: 1969-11-14
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Granted: 1971-04-20
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Expires: 1989-11-14
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure relates to a walking beam furnace for heating billets and the like in which the billets are conveyed by a central beam through a furnace chamber. Power means are provided to impart circular motion in a vertical plane to the central beam and an independent pneumatic force biases the beam upwardly to assist the power means in the movement of the beam, to minimize power requirements and to minimize wear on the power equipment.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles B Gentry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:26
CPC Classifications
F; F27; F27B; F27B9/00; F27B9/14; F27B9/20; F27B9/201; F27B9/202; F27B9/206
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
In a billet heating furnace for rapidly heating metal billets, said furnace comprising: furnace walls forming a longitudinal passage for billets and having an entrance end and an exit end, said furnace walls forming a longitudinal opening at the bottom thereof from said entrance end to said exit end; means to support billets within said longitudinal passage at opposite sides of said longitudinal opening; a walking beam in said opening; an eccentric drive means supporting said walking beam to drive said walking beam through an orbital path whereby the top surface of said walking beam passes above and below said billet support means to move said billets through said furnace from said entrance end to said exit end; burner means spaced along the sides of said longitudinal passage for heating said billets as they are moved from said entrance end to said exit end; the improvement which comprises: an auxiliary resilient biasing means independent of said eccentric drive means for said walking beam to aid in the raising of said walking beam and to cushion the travel of said walking beam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
In a billet heating furnace for rapidly heating metal billets, said furnace comprising: furnace walls forming a longitudinal passage for billets and having an entrance end and an exit end, said furnace walls forming a longitudinal opening at the bottom thereof from said entrance end to said exit end; means to support billets within said longitudinal passage at opposite sides of said longitudinal opening; a walking beam in said opening; an eccentric drive means supporting said walking beam to drive said walking beam through an orbital path whereby the top surface of said walking beam passes above and below said billet support means to move said billets through said furnace from said entrance end to said exit end; burner means spaced along the sides of said longitudinal passage for heating said billets as they are moved from said entrance end to said exit end; the improvement which comprises: an auxiliary resilient biasing means independent of said eccentric drive means for said walking beam to aid in the raising of said walking beam and to cushion the travel of said walking beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A billet heating furnace according to claim 1 wherein said biasing means includes a plurality of pneumatic cylinders and means to supply a substantially constant fluid pressure to said pneumatic cylinders.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A billet heating furnace according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of annular cylinders are fixed to a bottom portion of said walking beam and said eccentric drive means comprises an eccentric hub journaled in each of said annular cylinders, and means to drive said eccentric hubs at a constant speed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A billet heating furnace according to claim 3 further comprising a frame supporting said furnace walls and said eccentric hub is journaled in said frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A billet heating furnace according to claim 4 wherein said biasing means is supported by said frame.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A billet heating furnace according to claim 1 wherein said walking beam includes an upper refractory member, a longitudinal support beam, and a cooled support member fixed between said upper refractory member and said longitudinal support beam to maintain the temperature of said longitudinal support beam relatively cool compared to said upper refractory member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A billet heating furnace according to claim 6 further comprising means for providing a heat seal for said longitudinal passage between said walking beam and said furnace walls.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
A billet heating furnace according to claim 1 wherein said billet support means comprises spaced refractory members having outer corners for supporting said billets, said sidewalls supporting said refractory members and having portions adjacent said refractory members sloping beneath said corners so that said billets are supported by said refractory members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A billet heating furnace according tO claim 8 wherein said burners comprise upper and lower burners, said lower burners being at said sloping wall portions and said upper burners being at said refractory members and positioned above the plane of said lower burners.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
166 words
In a billet heating furnace for rapidly heating metal billets, said furnace comprising: furnace walls forming a longitudinal passage for billets and having an entrance end and an exit end, said furnace walls forming a longitudinal opening at the bottom thereof from said entrance end to said exit end; means to support billets within said longitudinal passage at opposite sides of said longitudinal opening; a walking beam in said opening; means to drive said walking beam through an orbital path whereby the top surface of said walking beam passes above and below said billet support means to move said billets through said furnace from said entrance end to said exit end; burner means spaced along the sides of said longitudinal passage for heating said billets as they are moved from said entrance end to said exit end; the improvement which comprises: a pneumatic biasing means for said walking beam to aid in the raising of said beam and to cushion the travel of said walking beam.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
166 words
In a billet heating furnace for rapidly heating metal billets, said furnace comprising: furnace walls forming a longitudinal passage for billets and having an entrance end and an exit end, said furnace walls forming a longitudinal opening at the bottom thereof from said entrance end to said exit end; means to support billets within said longitudinal passage at opposite sides of said longitudinal opening; a walking beam in said opening; means to drive said walking beam through an orbital path whereby the top surface of said walking beam passes above and below said billet support means to move said billets through said furnace from said entrance end to said exit end; burner means spaced along the sides of said longitudinal passage for heating said billets as they are moved from said entrance end to said exit end; the improvement which comprises: a pneumatic biasing means for said walking beam to aid in the raising of said beam and to cushion the travel of said walking beam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A billet heating furnace according to claim 10 wherein said drive means includes a motor and the pressure in said pneumatic biasing means is adjusted to minimize the power requirements for said motor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A billet heating furnace according to claim 10 wherein said drive means includes an electric motor and the pressure in said pneumatic biasing means is adjusted to minimize the current draw on said motor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
85 words
A walking beam assembly comprising: a pair of fixed support means forming a longitudinal opening therebetween; a longitudinal support means having a top support surface in said longitudinal openings; means to support and drive said longitudinal support means through an orbital path whereby said top surface is raised above and is lowered below the top surface of said fixed support means; the improvement comprises: a pneumatic auxiliary support for said longitudinal support means biasing said longitudinal support means upwardly with a substantially constant, yielding force.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
85 words
A walking beam assembly comprising: a pair of fixed support means forming a longitudinal opening therebetween; a longitudinal support means having a top support surface in said longitudinal openings; means to support and drive said longitudinal support means through an orbital path whereby said top surface is raised above and is lowered below the top surface of said fixed support means; the improvement comprises: a pneumatic auxiliary support for said longitudinal support means biasing said longitudinal support means upwardly with a substantially constant, yielding force.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-19 | 1974-10-19 | 1975-04-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-19 | 1978-10-19 | 1979-04-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-19 | 1982-10-19 | 1983-04-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |