Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
In a system for handling of elongated steel billets or the like, delivery means for delivering billets seriatim to a generally horizontal position, a plurality of spaced transfer arms pivotal about a common generally horizontal axis parallel to said horizontal position, a magnet supported on an end portion of each of said transfer arms and each having a face for attraction of a billet thereto, and actuating means for simultaneously pivoting said transfer arms about said axis between receiving and release positions, said magnet faces in said receiving position of said transfer arms being disposed in close proximity to longitudinally spaced portionS of one side of a billet in said generally horizontal position to magnetically attract and hold the billet to said faces, each of said magnets being an electromagnet, means for electrically energizing said magnets when said transfer arms are in said receiving position and for maintaining energization of said magnets through at least a portion of the movement of said transfer arms to said release position, and roller means for receiving and supporting a billet released from said magnets in said release position of said transfer arms and for conveying the billet in a longitudinal direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
In a system for handling of elongated steel billets or the like, delivery means for delivering billets seriatim to a generally horizontal position, a plurality of spaced transfer arms pivotal about a common generally horizontal axis parallel to said horizontal position, a magnet supported on an end portion of each of said transfer arms and each having a face for attraction of a billet thereto, and actuating means for simultaneously pivoting said transfer arms about said axis between receiving and release positions, said magnet faces in said receiving position of said transfer arms being disposed in close proximity to longitudinally spaced portionS of one side of a billet in said generally horizontal position to magnetically attract and hold the billet to said faces, each of said magnets being an electromagnet, means for electrically energizing said magnets when said transfer arms are in said receiving position and for maintaining energization of said magnets through at least a portion of the movement of said transfer arms to said release position, and roller means for receiving and supporting a billet released from said magnets in said release position of said transfer arms and for conveying the billet in a longitudinal direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
In a system as defined in claim 1, support surface means on said transfer arms disposed in a common plane generally at right angles to said magnet faces and in supporting relation to a second side of a billet disposed in generally horizontal position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
In a system as defined in claim 1 and including at least three transfer arms, said actuating means being arranged to allow displacement of each transfer arm relative to the others for accommodating cambers in a billet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
In a system as defined in claim 3, said actuating means comprising an individual fluid-actuated device for each of said transfer arms, a common source of fluid under pressure and means for coupling said fluid-actuated devices to said common source for movement of said arms between said receiving and release positions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
In a system as defined in claim 1, connecting means between said magnets and said transfer arms arranged to allow limited freedom of movement of said magnets independently about an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the billet to accommodate twists in the billet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
In a system as defined in claim 5, said connecting means being additionally arranged to allow limited freedom of movement of said magnets independently in directions generally normal to said one side of the billet to accommodate cambers in the billet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
In a system as defined in claim 6, said connecting means comprising for each magnet a pivot pin generally parallel to the billet in said generally horizontal position and a member having an opening receiving said pivot pin and elongated in a direction generally normal to said one side of the billet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
In a system as defined in claim 1, said delivery means comprising a generally horizontal table for receiving billets in side-by-side relation, and means for sliding said billets sidewise to be delivered seriatim to said generally horizontal position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
In a system as defined in claim 8, said magnet faces being in a generally vertical plane in said receiving position of said transfer arms to engage longitudinally spaced portions of a generally vertical side of a billet in said generally horizontal position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
In a system as defined in claim 1, said magnet faces being in a generally vertical plane in said receiving position of said transfer arms, support surface means on said transfer arms disposed in a generally horizontal plane to underlie the underside of the billet in said generally horizontal position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
In a system as defined in claim 10, said support surface means being spaced above said common horizontal plane in said receiving position of said transfer arms, the planes of said support surface means and said magnet faces being inclined in opposite directions from a vertical plane in said release position of said transfer arms.