Ladle skimmer

Claim 2

A skimmer mechanism comprising a supporting structure, a turntable rotatably mounted on said supporting structure, motor means for rotatively moving said turntable, a boom assembly, means pivotally mounting said boom assembly on said turntable, power means for effecting pivotal movement of said boom assembly relative to said turntable and for holding it in a selected position, said boom assembly comprising an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member conforming to but of smaller crosssectional area than said outer tubular member, anti-friction means guidably supporting said inner tubular member in spaced relation to the outer tubular member whereby said inner tubular member is telescopically extensible and retractible relative to the outer tubular member, interengaging mechanical drive members partly on the outer tubular member and partly on the inner tubular member, motor means for actuating said drive members to extend and retract said inner tubular member with respect to said outer tubular member, a skimmer blade pivotally mounted at the outer end of said inner tubular member, and a power cylinder mounted on the interior of said inner tubular member remotely from the said outer end thereof for actuating said skimmer blade, said power cylinder having a piston therein the piston rod of which extends longitudinally through the interior of said inner tubular member for substantially the entire length thereof and pivotally connects to said skimmer blade, said interengaging mechanical drive members comprising a plurality of parallel longitudinally extending rack members on the outer surface of said inner tubular member, a plurality of pinion gears rotatably mounted in openings in the outer tubular member and extending inwardly into meshing engagement with corresponding said rack members, and said motor means comprising a plurality of separate motor means for individually driving a corresponding one of said pinion gears so as to exert forces unidirectionally on the inner tubular member to shift it in one direction or the opposite direction relative to the outer tubular member.

Claim 3

A skimmer mechanism comprising a supporting structure, a turntable rotatably mounted on said supporting structure, motor means for rotatively moving said turntable, a boom assembly, means pivotally mounting said boom assembly on said turntable, power means for effecting pivotal movement of said boom assembly relative to said turntable and for holding it in a selected position, said boom assembly comprising an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member conforming to but of smaller cross-sectional area than said outer tubular member, anti-friction means guidably supporting said inner tubular member in spaced relation to the outer tubular member whereby said inner tubular member is telescopically extensible and retractible relative to the outer tubular member, interengaging mechanical drive members partly on the outer tubular member and partly on the inner tubular member, motor means for actuating said drive members to extend and retract said inner tubular member with respect to said outer tubular member, a skimmer blade pivotally mounted at the outer end of said inner tubular member, and a power cylinder mounted on the interior of said inner tubular member remotely from the said outer end thereof for actuating said skimmer blade, said power cylinder having a piston therein the piston rod of which extends longitudinally through the interior of said inner tubular member for substantially the entire length thereof and pivotally connects to said skimmer blade, said outer tubular member being of polygonal cross-section having corresponding longitudinally extending faces and said inner tubular member being of corresponding polygonal cross-section and longitudinally extending faces, each of a plurality of the faces of said outer tubular member having a series of longitudinally spaced openings therein, and the said anti-friction means comprising a plurality of anti-friction rollers mounted in bearing members attached to the faces of said outer tubular member in such a manner that said rollers project inwardly through said openings so as to engage the corresponding outer faces of the inner tubular member in guiding and supporting contact, the inner tubular member having a plurality of openings in one face thereof adjacent to the inner end thereof, and said anti-friction means further comprising a plurality of anti-friction rollers mounted in bearing members attached to said one face of the inner tubular member in such a manner that said rollers project outwardly through said openings so as to engage the corresponding inner face of the outer tubular member to sustain the thrust of the inner tubular member on the outer tubular member only as the inner tubular member approaches an extended position outwardly with respect to the outer tubular member.

Claim 4

A skimmer mechanism comprising a supporting structure, a turntable rotatably mounted on said supporting structure, motor means for rotatively moving said turntable, a boom assembly, means pivotally mounting said boom assembly on said turntable, power means for effecting pivotal movement of said boom assembly relative to said turntable and for holding it in a selected position, said boom assembly comprising an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member conforming to but of smaller cross-sectional area than said outer tubular member, anti-friction means guidably supporting said inner tubular member in spaced relation to the outer tubular member whereby said inner tubular member is telescopically extensible and retractible relative to the outer tubular member, interengaging mechanical drive members partly on the outer tubular member and partly on the inner tubular member, motor means for actuating said drive members to extend and retract said inner tubular member with respect to said outer tubular member, a skimmer blade pivotally mounted at the outer end of said inner tubular member, and a power cylinder mounted on the interior of said inner tubular member remotely from the said outer end thereof for actuating said skimmer blade, said power cylinder having a piston therein the piston rod of which extends longitudinally through the interior of said inner tubular member for substantially the entire length thereof and pivotally connects to said skimmer blade, said outer tubular member being of polygonal cross-section having corresponding longitudinally extending faces and said inner tubular member being of corresponding polygonal cross-section and longitudinally extending faces, each of a plurality of the faces of said outer tubular member having a series of longitudinally spaced openings therein, and the said anti-friction means comprising a plurality of anti-friction rollers mounted in bearing members attached to the faces of said outer tubular member in such a manner that said rollers project inwardly through said openings so as to engage the corresponding outer faces of the inner tubular member in guiding and supporting contact, the inner tubular member having a plurality of openings in one face thereof adjacent to the inner end thereof, and said anti-friction means further comprising a plurality of anti-friction rollers mounted in bearing members attached to said one face of the inner tubular member in such a manner that said rollers project outwardly through said openings so as to engage the corresponding inner face of the outer tubular member to sustain the thrust of the inner tubular member on the outer tubular member only as the inner tubular member approaches an extended position outwardly with respect to the outer tubular member.

Claim 5

A skimmer mechanism comprising a supporting structure, a turntable rotatably mounted on said supporting structure, motor means for rotatively moving said turntable, a boom assembly, means pivotally mounting said boom assembly on said turntable, power means for effecting pivotal movement of said boom assembly relative to said turntable and for holding it in a selected position, said boom assembly comprising an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member conforming to but of smaller cross-sectional area than said outer tubular member, anti-friction means guidably supporting said inner tubular member in spaced relation to the outer tubular member whereby said inner tubular member is telescopically extensible and retractible relative to the outer tubular member, interengaging mechanical drive members partly on the outer tubular member and partly on the inner tubular member, motor means for actuating said drive members to extend and retract said inner tubular member with respect to said outer tubular member, a skimmer blade pivotally mounted at the outer end of said inner tubular member, and a power cylinder mounted on the interior of said inner tubular member remotely from the said outer end thereof for actuating said skimmer blade, said power cylinder having a piston therein the piston rod of which extends longitudinally through the interior of said inner tubular member for substantially the entire length thereof and pivotally connects to said skimmer blade; said means pivotally supporting the said boom assembly on said turntable comprising a pair of spaced bearing members on said turntable, a pair of spaced bearing members fixed to said outer tubular member and disposed within the said bearing members on said turntable, and a common shaft journaled in said bearing members; and said power means for effecting pivotal movement of said boom assembly relative to said turntable and for holding it in a selected position comprising a plurality of double-acting power cylinder means on opposite sides respectively of said common shaft and connectingly interposed between said turntable and said outer tubular member of said boom assembly, the said power cylinder means on one side of said shaft being pressurized oppositely to that on the other side for applying unidirectional force moments on said boom assembly to balance said boom assembly in a selected position and To pivotally shift said boom assembly to different positions.

Claim 6

A skimmer mechanism comprising a supporting structure, a turntable rotatably mounted on said supporting structure, motor means for rotatively moving said turntable, a boom assembly, means pivotally mounting said boom assembly on said turntable, power means for effecting pivotal movement of said boom assembly relative to said turntable and for holding it in a selected position, said boom assembly comprising an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member conforming to but of smaller cross-sectional area than said outer tubular member, anti-friction means guidably supporting said inner tubular member in spaced relation to the outer tubular member whereby said inner tubular member is telescopically extensible and retractible relative to the outer tubular member, interengaging mechanical drive members partly on the outer tubular member and partly on the inner tubular member, motor means for actuating said drive members to extend and retract said inner tubular member with respect to said outer tubular member, a skimmer blade pivotally mounted at the outer end of said inner tubular member, and a power cylinder mounted on the interior of said inner tubular member remotely from the said outer end thereof for actuating said skimmer blade, said power cylinder having a piston therein the piston rod of which extends longitudinally through the interior of said inner tubular member for substantially the entire length thereof and pivotally connects to said skimmer blade; said means pivotally supporting the said boom assembly on said turntable comprising a pair of spaced bearing members on said turntable, a pair of spaced bearing members fixed to said outer tubular member and disposed within the said bearing members on said turntable, and a common shaft journaled in said bearing members; and said power means for effecting pivotal movement of said boom assembly relative to said turntable and for holding it in a selected position comprising a plurality of double-acting power cylinder means on opposite sides respectively of said common shaft and connectingly interposed between said turntable and said outer tubular member of said boom assembly, the said power cylinder means on one side of said shaft being pressurized oppositely to that on the other side for applying unidirectional force moments on said boom assembly to balance said boom assembly in a selected position and To pivotally shift said boom assembly to different positions.

Claim 7

A skimmer mechanism comprising a supporting structure, a turntable rotatably mounted on said supporting structure, motor means for rotatively moving said turntable, a boom assembly, means pivotally mounting said boom assembly on said turntable, power means for effecting pivotal movement of said boom assembly relative to said turntable and for holding it in a selected position, said boom assembly comprising an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member conforming to but of smaller cross-sectional area than said outer tubular member, anti-friction means guidably supporting said inner tubular member in spaced relation to the outer tubular member whereby said inner tubular member is telescopically extensible and retractible relative to the outer tubular member, interengaging mechanical drive members partly on the outer tubular member and partly on the inner tubular member, motor means for actuating said drive members to extend and retract said inner tubular member with respect to said outer tubular member, a skimmer blade pivotally mounted at the outer end of said inner tubular member, and a power cylinder mounted on the interior of said inner tubular member remotely from the said outer end thereof for actuating said skimmer blade, said power cylinder having a piston therein the piston rod of which extends longitudinally through the interior of said inner tubular member for substantially the entire length thereof and pivotally connects to said skimmer blade; said means pivotally supporting the said boom assembly on said turntable comprising a pair of spaced bearing members on said turntable, a pair of spaced bearing members fixed to said outer tubular member and disposed within the said bearing members on said turntable, and a common shaft journaled in said bearing members; and said power means for effecting pivotal movement of said boom assembly relative to said turntable and for holding it in a selected position comprising a pair of double-acting power cylinders on each side of said shaft, each pair in straddling relation to the outer tubular member of said boom assembly and connectingly interposed between said turntable and said outer tubular member of said boom assembly, one pair of power cylinders being oppositely pressurized with respect to the other pair for applying unidirectional force moments on said boom assembly to balance said boom assembly in a selected position and to pivotally shift said boom assembly to different positions.

Claim 8

A skimmer mechanism comprising a supporting structure, a turntable rotatably mounted on said supporting structure, motor means for rotatively moving said turntable, a boom assembly, means pivotally mounting said boom assembly on said turntable, power means for effecting pivotal movement of said boom assembly relative to said turntable and for holding it in a selected position, said boom assembly comprising an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member conforming to but of smaller cross-sectional area than said outer tubular member, anti-friction means guidably supporting said inner tubular member in spaced relation to the outer tubular member whereby said inner tubular member is telescopically extensible and retractible relative to the outer tubular member, interengaging mechanical drive members partly on the outer tubular member and partly on the inner tubular member, motor means for actuating said drive members to extend and retract said inner tubular member with respect to said outer tubular member, a skimmer blade pivotally mounted at the outer end of said inner tubular member, and a power cylinder mounted on the interior of said inner tubular member remotely from the said outer end thereof for actuating said skimmer blade, said power cylinder having a piston therein the piston rod of which extends longitudinally through the interior of said inner tubular member for substantially the entire length thereof and pivotally connects to said skimmer blade; said means pivotally supporting the said boom assembly on said turntable comprising a pair of spaced bearing members on said turntable, a pair of spaced bearing members fixed to said outer tubular member and disposed within the said bearing members on said turntable, and a common shaft journaled in said bearing members; and said power means for effecting pivotal movement of said boom assembly relative to said turntable and for holding it in a selected position comprising a pair of double-acting power cylinders on each side of said shaft, each pair in straddling relation to the outer tubular member of said boom assembly and connectingly interposed between said turntable and said outer tubular member of said boom assembly, one pair of power cylinders being oppositely pressurized with respect to the other pair for applying unidirectional force moments on said boom assembly to balance said boom assembly in a selected position and to pivotally shift said boom assembly to different positions.

Claim 9

A skimmer mechanism comprising a supporting structure, a turntable rotatably mounted on said supporting structure, motor means for rotatively moving said turntable, a boom assembly, means pivotally mounting said boom assembly on said turntable, power means for effecting pivotal movement of said boom assembly relative to said turntable and for holding it in a selected position, said boom assembly comprising an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member conforming to but of smaller cross-sectional area than said outer tubular member, anti-friction means guidably supporting said inner tubular member in spaced relation to the outer tubular member whereby said inner tubular member is telescopically extensible and retractible relative to the outer tubular member, interengaging mechanical drive members partly on the outer tubular member and partly on the inner tubular member, motor means for actuating said drive members to extend and retract said inner tubular member with respect to said outer tubular member, a skimmer blade pivotally mounted at the outer end of said inner tubular member, a power cylinder mounted on the interior of said inner tubular member remotely from the said outer end thereof for actuating said skimmer blade, said power cylinder having a double-acting piston therein the piston rod of which extends longitudinally through the interior of said inner tubular member for substantially the entire length thereof and pivotally connects to said skimmer Blade, a pair of flexible hose means for communicating pressure fluid to opposite sides of the piston respectively, a reel mechanism carried by said outer tubular member adjacent the end remote from said skimmer blade which automatically feeds out said hose means or takes up slack therein as necessary to accommodate extension and retraction of said inner tubular member relative to the said outer tubular member, said hose means extending solely into the interior of said inner tubular member when said inner tubular member is retracted and into the interiors of both the inner tubular member and of the outer tubular member when the inner tubular member is in its extended position.

Claim 10

A skimmer mechanism comprising a supporting structure, a turntable rotatably mounted on said supporting structure, motor means for rotatively moving said turntable, a boom assembly, means pivotally mounting said boom assembly on said turntable, power means for effecting pivotal movement of said boom assembly relative to said turntable and for holding it in a selected position, said boom assembly comprising an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member conforming to but of smaller cross-sectional area than said outer tubular member, anti-friction means guidably supporting said inner tubular member in spaced relation to the outer tubular member whereby said inner tubular member is telescopically extensible and retractible relative to the outer tubular member, interengaging mechanical drive members partly on the outer tubular member and partly on the inner tubular member, motor means for actuating said drive members to extend and retract said inner tubular member with respect to said outer tubular member, a skimmer blade pivotally mounted at the outer end of said inner tubular member, a power cylinder mounted on the interior of said inner tubular member remotely from the said outer end thereof for actuating said skimmer blade, said power cylinder having a double-acting piston therein the piston rod of which extends longitudinally through the interior of said inner tubular member for substantially the entire length thereof and pivotally connects to said skimmer Blade, a pair of flexible hose means for communicating pressure fluid to opposite sides of the piston respectively, a reel mechanism carried by said outer tubular member adjacent the end remote from said skimmer blade which automatically feeds out said hose means or takes up slack therein as necessary to accommodate extension and retraction of said inner tubular member relative to the said outer tubular member, said hose means extending solely into the interior of said inner tubular member when said inner tubular member is retracted and into the interiors of both the inner tubular member and of the outer tubular member when the inner tubular member is in its extended position.

Claim 11

A skimmer mechanism comprising a supporting structure, a turntable rotatably mounted on said supporting structure, motor means for rotatively moving said turntable, a boom assembly, means pivotally mounting said boom assembly on said turntable, power means for effecting pivotal movement of said boom assembly relative to said turntable and for holding it in a selected position, said boom assembly comprising an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member conforming to but of smaller cross-sectional area than said outer tubular member, anti-friction means guidably supporting said inner tubular member in spaced relation to the outer tubular member whereby said inner tubular member is telescopically extensible and retractible relative to the outer tubular member, interengaging mechanical drive members partly on the outer tubular member and partly on the inner tubular member, motor means for actuating said drive members to extend and retract said inner tubular member with respect to said outer tubular member, a skimmer blade pivotally mounted at the outer end of said inner tubular member, a power cylinder mounted on the interior of said inner tubular member remotely from the said outer end thereof for actuating said skimmer blade, said power cylinder having a piston therein the piston rod of which extends longitudinally through the interior of said inner tubular member for substantially the entire length thereof and pivotally connects to said skimmer blade, and stop means for limiting the outward extension of said inner tubular member with respect to said outer tubular member, said stop means comprising an element fixed on the outer surface of said inner tubular member and projecting therefrom, a member slidably mounted on said outer tubular member and projecting through a slot therein toward said inner tubular member, said slidably mounted member being adapted to be engaged by the said element on the inner tubular member as said inner tubular member approaches the intended limit of outward extension relative to the outer tubular member, and cushioning cylinder means fixed on said outer tubular member and cooperating with said slidably mounted member for yieldingly resisting movement thereof incidental to outward extension of said inner tubular member.

Claim 12

A skimmer mechanism comprising a supporting structure, a turntable rotatably mounted on said supporting structure, motor means for rotatively moving said turntable, a boom assembly, means pivotally mounting said boom assembly on said turntable, power means for effecting pivotal movement of said boom assembly relative to said turntable and for holding it in a selected position, said boom assembly comprising an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member conforming to but of smaller cross-sectional area than said outer tubular member, anti-friction means guidably supporting said inner tubular member in spaced relation to the outer tubular member whereby said inner tubular member is telescopically extensible and retractible relative to the outer tubular member, interengaging mechanical drive members partly on the outer tubular member and partly on the inner tubular member, motor means for actuating said drive members to extend and retract said inner tubular member with respect to said outer tubular member, a skimmer blade pivotally mounted at the outer end of said inner tubular member, a power cylinder mounted on the interior of said inner tubular member remotely from the said outer end thereof for actuating said skimmer blade, said power cylinder having a piston therein the piston rod of which extends longitudinally through the interior of said inner tubular member for substantially the entire length thereof and pivotally connects to said skimmer blade, and stop means for limiting the outward extension of said inner tubular member with respect to said outer tubular member, said stop means comprising an element fixed on the outer surface of said inner tubular member and projecting therefrom, a member slidably mounted on said outer tubular member and projecting through a slot therein toward said inner tubular member, said slidably mounted member being adapted to be engaged by the said element on the inner tubular member as said inner tubular member approaches the intended limit of outward extension relative to the outer tubular member, and cushioning cylinder means fixed on said outer tubular member and cooperating with said slidably mounted member for yieldingly resisting movement thereof incidental to outward extension of said inner tubular member.