Patent US3630392A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3630392A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Rod stacking and handling apparatus
Assignee: Total Compagnie Francaise des Petroles SA
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Filing: 1970-04-13
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Granted: 1971-12-28
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Expires: 1990-04-13
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for the stacking and withdrawal of horizontal rods, comprising a plurality of horizontally aligned finger bars for supporting the rods in horizontal relation, each of the finger bars having a free end, a conveyor for receiving a rod in the horizontal position and for moving it vertically to a position adjacent the free ends of selected bars and a pair of screw conveyors in horizontal alignment that are movable upwardly for engaging the rod and for moving it laterally onto the selected bars. The conveyors cooperate with spacing combs on the bars which maintain the rods in a predetermined spaced relation on the bars when the conveyors are moved away from the bars.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernard G Cintract
- 👤 Rene G Sevin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 10:04
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B19/00; E21B19/14; E21B19/15; B; B65; B65G; B65G1/00; B65G1/02; B65G1/04; B65G1/0442
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
Apparatus for the horizontal stacking of rods in which each rod is supported horizontally by at least two carrying fingerbars in the same horizontal plane, each belonging to a distinct series of horizontal finger-bars that are aligned vertically and spaced evenly, each finger-bar of one series having a free end and a fixed end, said apparatus comprising means for the reception of a rod In the horizontal position and for the vertical movement of said rod to the desired level adjacent the free ends of a group of finger-bars situated in the same horizontal plane, at least two horizontal screw conveyors disposed in the same horizontal plane and having the same thread and orientation, means for rotating said screw conveyors in a synchronized fashion, turn-by-turn, and means for moving said conveyors in a synchronized fashion, up to a predetermined level adjacent said desired level, the length of said screw conveyors being greater than that of said finger-bars such that any rod, displaced vertically by said vertical movement means, is engaged by said conveyors and moved laterally onto said group of fingerbars.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
Apparatus for the horizontal stacking of rods in which each rod is supported horizontally by at least two carrying fingerbars in the same horizontal plane, each belonging to a distinct series of horizontal finger-bars that are aligned vertically and spaced evenly, each finger-bar of one series having a free end and a fixed end, said apparatus comprising means for the reception of a rod In the horizontal position and for the vertical movement of said rod to the desired level adjacent the free ends of a group of finger-bars situated in the same horizontal plane, at least two horizontal screw conveyors disposed in the same horizontal plane and having the same thread and orientation, means for rotating said screw conveyors in a synchronized fashion, turn-by-turn, and means for moving said conveyors in a synchronized fashion, up to a predetermined level adjacent said desired level, the length of said screw conveyors being greater than that of said finger-bars such that any rod, displaced vertically by said vertical movement means, is engaged by said conveyors and moved laterally onto said group of fingerbars.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
114 words
Apparatus for the horizontal stacking of rods as in claim 1, wherein each end of each shaft of said screw conveyors is mounted in a vertically movable support, one of said supports being mounted on a post situated beyond the free ends of said carrier finger-bars for supporting said rods, said one support comprising a horizontal support plate on such a level that, when the upper surface of the plate is on the level of the upper surface of said group of finger-bars, the rod, engaged by said screw conveyors during its movement by said vertical movement means, penetrates between two portions of neighboring helocoidal surfaces on said conveyors and engages said support plates.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus for the horizontal stacking of rods as in claim 1 wherein the portion of each said horizontal screw conveyors, extending beyond the free ends of said carrying finger-bars, has a thread whose length is greater than the rest of the thread of each screw conveyor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
Horizontal rod stacking apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising combs having a longitudinal portion and a plurality of equally spaced teeth extending transversely therefrom, said longitudinal portion having an axis parallel to said finger-bars and being pivotable about said axis so as to assume two extreme positions, said teeth being vertical in one of said positions and horizontal in the other position, the interval between the axes of two consecutive teeth being equal to the thread of the screw of the horizontal conveyors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
Horizontal rod stacking apparatus as in claim 4, further comprising means for retaining said combs in said one and said other position, and means carried by said horizontal screw conveyors to effect the movement of said combs from their vertical position to their horizontal position during the rising movement of said horizontal conveyors, and from the horizontal position to their vertical position during the descending movement of said conveyors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
85 words
Horizontal rod stacking apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said vertical rod movement means comprises at least two rollers which can be displaced from a low position, whose level is below the lowest carrier finger-bar group to a high position, above the highest carrying finger-bar group, at least one of said rollers cooperating in its high position with a train of moving rollers so as to serve as point of support for a rod sustained and being longitudinally displaced by said train of moving rollers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
86 words
Horizontal rod stacking apparatus as in claim 1, where the axis of each screw of said horizontal conveyors is supported by two cases sliding vertically on first and second posts, said first post supporting a series of carrying finger-bars at the fixed ends thereof, said second post carrying said means for the vertical movement of a rod to be lined up or to be extracted from the stacking system, and said case sliding on the first post includes the mechanism for the movement of said screw.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
123 words
Horizontal rod stacking apparatus as in claim 7, wherein the carrying finger-bars comprise two lateral supports, two retaining springs, a comb having a shaft lodged on said supports and under said springs, said shaft having two flat parts cooperating with said springs so as to retain said comb in a horizontal position or in a vertical position, the end of each shaft adjacent said first post having a cam cooperating with stubs mounted on said case of the screw of the horizontal conveyor sliding on said first post, thereby serving to tip said comb from its vertical position to its horizontal position during the rise of said case and to tip said comb in the opposite direction during the descent of said case.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
124 words
Horizontal rod stacking apparatus as in claim 6, further comprising a contactor activated by the position of a finger-bar situated in the path of movement of said vertical rod movement means, said finger-bar being tipped upward by any rod displaced upward by said vertical rod movement means and being tipped downward by any rod introduced on said vertical rod movement means, said contactor effecting in each one of said positions of its finger-bar, the application of said train of moving rollers upon the rod borne by said vertical movement means and the longitudinal movement of the rod in a direction for the disengagement of the rod outside the apparatus, said longitudinal movement being in opposite directions when said finger-bar is tipped upward or downward.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
Horizontal rod stacking apparatus as in claim 9 further comprising a contactor in the path of longitudinal displacement of the rod supported by said vertical rod movement means, said contactor being activated by the end of said rod in the course of its longitudinal displacement and controlling the stoppage of said train of moving rollers and said vertical rod movement means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
89 words
Horizontal rod stacking apparatus as in claim 7 further comprising at the ends of the track of said vertical rod movement means, an upper contactor and a lower contactor, said lower contactor being activated every time said vertical rod movement means reaches its extreme low position and effecting the activation of the rotation, by one turn, of said horizontal screw conveyors and the stoppage of said vertical movement means said upper contactor effecting the transmission of a warning signal every time said vertical movement means reaches its upper position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
128 words
Horizontal rod stacking apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said mechanism for the activation of the rotation of each of said screws involves a motor device, a first and a second contactor and a counter device, said motor device effecting the registration of one unit in said counter each time it is activated and the activation of said first contactor each time said motor device is activated, said first contactor effecting the stoppage of said motor device after the rotation of each screw by one turn, said counter, during the registration of a predetermined number of units equal to the total number of rods capable of being introduced on the carrier finger-bars of the same horizontal row, activating said second contactor for the transmission of a warning signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
Horizontal rod stacking apparatus as in claim 12, wherein said case having the mechanism for the movement of the screw, further includes a device for the locking of said case on its post, said second contactor, when it is activated by said counter causing the unlocking of said case locking device and activation of means for the displacement of said case to the next row of finger-bars.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
83 words
Horizontal rod stacking apparatus as in claim 13 wherein said mechanism for the activation of the rotation of the screws and said means for the movement of said case each involves a mechanism for the inversion of the direction of the movement, thus causing the rods to progress toward the post supporting the carrier finger-bars and starting from the upper finger-bars toward the lower finger-bars during the introduction of rods, and causing the rods to progress in an inverse direction during their withdrawal.
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) | 1974-12-27 | 1975-06-28 | 1975-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-27 | 1979-06-28 | 1979-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-27 | 1983-06-28 | 1983-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |