Powered turnaround for a coil lift and transfer car and the like

Claim 2

A carriage structure for conveying coils and the like, said structure comprising a wheel-mounted platform, a lift structure elevatably mounted on said platform, means mounted on said platform for raising and lowering said lift structure, said lift structure including an upper extension, said extension having a projection extending at an angle to said extension and shaped for closely fitted insertion into an opening in an external load support, a load bearing platen rotatably mounted on said projection adjacent the upper surface thereof and disposed substantially within the confines of said projection, and a turnaround mechanism for angularly displacing said platen, said turnaround mechanism being mounted within the confines of said projection and in operative engagement with said platen, whereby said projection said platen and said mechanism can be so inserted.

Claim 3

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said upper extension and said projection together define a generally C-shaped configuration and said platen and said turnaround mechanism are mounted on an upper generally horizontally extending arm of said C-shape.

Claim 4

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said extension and said projection are shaped such that said lift structure engages said extension at a location substantially directly beneath said platen.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said projection has a cavity in an upper surface thereof, and said platen is rotatably seated in said cavity.

Claim 6

The combination according to claim 1 wherein a thrust bearing is confined between said platen and an adjacent internally shouldered portion of said projection.

Claim 7

The combination according to claim 5. wherein said platen is provided with a stepped configuration, and a stepped portion thereof is aligned substantially coaxially with at least one of said shouldered portion and said thrust bearing to aid in positioning said platen on said projection.

Claim 8

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said projection and said extension are so shaped that said projection extends substantially a horizontal direction.

Claim 9

A carriage structure for conveying coils and the like, said structure comprising a wheel-mounted platform, a lift housing carried on said platform, a lift structure slidably mounted on said housing and engaging lift means mounted within said lift housing so that said lift structure is raised and lowered upon actuation of said lift means, said lift structure including an upper projection shaped for closely fitted insertion into an opening in an external load support, a load bearing platen rotatably mounted adjacent the upper surface of said projection and substantially within the confines thereof, a turnaround mechanism for said platen mounted within the confines of said projection and in operative engagement with said platen, said platen including a stepped pivot member, a thrust bearing confined between said platen and a Shouldered portion of said projection adjacent said pivot member, said pivot member including a pinion secured thereto for rotation therewith, said turnaround mechanism including a pair of racks engaged with said pinion, and means for reciprocating said racks.

Claim 10

A carriage structure for conveying coils and the like, said structure comprising a wheel-mounted platform, a lift housing carried on said platform, a lift structure slidably mounted on said housing and engaging lift means mounted within said lift housing so that said lift structure is raised and lowered upon actuation of said lift means, said lift structure including an upper projection shaped for closely fitted insertion into an opening in an external load support, a load bearing platen rotatably mounted adjacent the upper surface of said projection and substantially within the confines thereof, a turnaround mechanism for said platen mounted within the confines of said projection and in operative engagement with said platen, said platen including a stepped pivot member, a thrust bearing confined between said platen and a Shouldered portion of said projection adjacent said pivot member, said pivot member including a pinion secured thereto for rotation therewith, said turnaround mechanism including a pair of racks engaged with said pinion, and means for reciprocating said racks.

Claim 11

The combination according to claim 8 wherein said racks are mounted for reciprocation within a pair of interconnected cavities therefor within said projection and a pair of back up liners are interposed respectively between said racks and those wall surfaces of said cavities remote from said pinion. 10 A carriage structure for conveying coils and the like, a lift structure elevatably mounted on said carriage structure, lift means supported on said carriage structure for raising and lowering said lift structure, said lift structure including an upper extension shaped for closely fitted insertion into an opening in an external load support, a load bearing pivot member rotatably mounted on said projection adjacent the upper surface thereof and disposed substantially within the confines thereof, a thrust bearing confined between said pivot member and an adjacent internally shouldered portion of said projection, a turnaround mechanism for angularly displacing said pivot member, said turnaround mechanism being mounted within the confines of said projection and in operative engagement with said pivot member, bi-directional motive means for angularly displacing said platen in either rotational direction thereof, said motive means including a pair of bi-directional prime movers oppositely coupled to said pivot member and cooperatively energizable for the application of approximately equal turning forces to said pivot member in either rotational direction thereof.

Claim 12

The combination according to claim 8 wherein each of said racks abut wall means forming part of said mechanism at one extremity of movement of said racks, and means are provided for adjustably positioning said wall means for angularly aligning said platen.