Structural steel conveyor line

Claim 5

A production line for the fabrication of structural steel units in combination with a master work instruction accompanying the work through the production line comprising one or more conveyor lines receiving heavy steel structural members from a storage area, means to cut and shape the heavy structural members to a size and shape dictated by the master work instruction, means to surface treat the sized and shaped structural members during their forward movement on the conveyor line, means to drill or punch the said structural members, means to assemble selected structural members together to form a basic structural steel unit, as called for in the accompanying master work instruction, a series of storage areas alongside the said conveyor line, the said storage areas containing an assortment of small structural members onto the conveyor line, and means to secure the said small structural members to the said basic structural steel unit to complete the unit as called for in the master work instruction, and discharging the completed structural steel unit from the conveyor line.

Claim 6

A production line for the fabrication of structural steel units in combination with a master work instruction accompanying the work through the production line comprising one or more conveyor lines receiving heavy steel structural members from a storage area, means to cut and shape the heavy structural members to a size and shape dictated by the master work instruction, means to surface treat the sized and shaped structural members during their forward movement on the conveyor line, means to drill or punch the said structural members, means to assemble selected structural members together to form a basic structural steel unit, as called for in the accompanying master work instruction, a series of storage areas alongside the said conveyor line, the said storage areas containing an assortment of small structural members onto the conveyor line, and means to secure the said small structural members to the said basic structural steel unit to complete the unit as called for in the master work instruction, and discharging the completed structural steel unit from the conveyor line.

Claim 7

A production line as set forth in claim 3 in which there are at least two conveyor lines carrying heavy steel structural members from a storage area, and side transfer units carry structural steel members from a first conveyor line to a second conveyor line after the members are drilled or punched, and means to place the structural steel members from the second conveyor line into a predetermined position with respect to the structural steel member on the first conveyor line for joining the members together to form the basic structural steel unit.

Claim 8

Apparatus for the continuous fabrication of structural steel units comprising first storage skids, one or more first conveyors alongside the said first storage skids, means to transfer selected structural steel units from the said first storage skids to a selected first conveyor, a cutting saw located intermediate the length of each of said conveyors, a gauging arm located adjacent each of said conveyors beyond said cutting saws, said gauging arms being measurably adjustable along the said conveyor beyond the said cutting saws, the said first conveyors adapted to advance the said structural steel units into contact with said gauging arm for cutting the units to a predetermined length by the said saw, means to transfer the cut-to-length units onto second storage skids and to a second conveyor, a shot blast house through which said second conveyor passes, a third storage skids alongside said second conveyor beyond said shot blast house, a third conveyor spaced from and parallel with the portion of said second conveyor located beyond said shot blast house, a punch and drill unit located over said third conveyor beyond said third storage skids, a fourth storage skids between said second and third conveyors beyond said punch and drill unit, and marshalling and work areas into which the said third conveyor extends, the said marshalling and work areas including a fourth structural steel unit storage skids, means to assemble parts for attachment to the structural steel units deposited on said fourth storage skids, and conveyor means to remove the worked-on structural storage units from the said marshalling and work areas.

Claim 9

Apparatus for the continuous fabrication of structural steel units comprising first storage skids, one or more first conveyors alongside the said first storage skids, means to transfer selected structural steel units from the said first storage skids to a selected first conveyor, a cutting saw located intermediate the length of each of said conveyors, a gauging arm located adjacent each of said conveyors beyond said cutting saws, said gauging arms being measurably adjustable along the said conveyor beyond the said cutting saws, the said first conveyors adapted to advance the said structural steel units into contact with said gauging arm for cutting the units to a predetermined length by the said saw, means to transfer the cut-to-length units onto second storage skids and to a second conveyor, a shot blast house through which said second conveyor passes, a third storage skids alongside said second conveyor beyond said shot blast house, a third conveyor spaced from and parallel with the portion of said second conveyor located beyond said shot blast house, a punch and drill unit located over said third conveyor beyond said third storage skids, a fourth storage skids between said second and third conveyors beyond said punch and drill unit, and marshalling and work areas into which the said third conveyor extends, the said marshalling and work areas including a fourth structural steel unit storage skids, means to assemble parts for attachment to the structural steel units deposited on said fourth storage skids, and conveyor means to remove the worked-on structural storage units from the said marshalling and work areas.

Claim 10

Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which the said means to transfer selected structural steel units from first storage skids to first conveyors comprise reciprocating members, and pivoted dogs on said reciprocating members, the said pivoted dogs engaging with the structural steel units to move the said units in one direction off the said storage skids and onto the said first conveyor.

Claim 11

Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which the said means to transfer structural steel units between adjacent parallel conveyors and over storage skids comprises reciprocating members, a series of pivoted dogs on said reciprocating members, with the said pivoted dogs engaging with tHe structural steel unit to move the said unit along the reciprocating member and the storage skids in one direction from one of the parallel conveyors to the other.

Claim 12

Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which the storage skids are located at spaced intervals lengthwise in the space between conveyors and bridging the space therebetween, and the said reciprocating transfer means are located one alongside each of said storage skids.

Claim 13

Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which the said reciprocating transfer means include a frame, a fixedly mounted cylinder and piston device, and connecting means between the piston of said cylinder and piston device and the said frame, the said cylinder and piston device being operable to reciprocate the said frame and dogs to progressively advance the structural steel unit along the said frame.

Claim 14

Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which the said reciprocating members are mounted in guides on the said parallel conveyors and are reciprocated into spaces between supporting rollers of the said parallel conveyors.

Claim 15

Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which the said reciprocating transfer means include a frame mounted for reciprocating movement transversely of one of said parallel conveyors, a fixedly mounted cylinder and piston device, connecting means between the piston of said cylinder and piston device and the said frame, the said cylinder and piston device being operable to reciprocate the said frame and dogs to progressively advance the structural steel units off the said one parallel conveyor and onto said storage skids and onto the other one of said parallel conveyors.

Claim 16

Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which the said means to transfer the structural steel units between conveyors and over storage skids comprises a series of continuous belt units located at spaced intervals lengthwise of the conveyors, a carriage on each of said belt units, and a pivoted dog on each of said carriages, the said pivoted dog adapted to engage the structural steel units to move the said structural steel units in one direction from one conveyor and over said storage skids to the other conveyor, and drive means for said belt units.

Claim 17

Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which the said gauging arms comprise a carriage movable on a track located alongside the conveyor, a spring-loaded measuring tape reel fixed on said track adjacent to said cutting saw, with the free end of the measuring tape being secured to the said carriage, and a reciprocating stop arm on the said carriage adapted to be moved over the said conveyor to stop an advancing structural steel unit at a predetermined distance in advance of the said cutting saw.

Claim 18

Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 in which a reading dial is disposed over the said measuring tape adjacent the tape reel, the said reading dial indicating the distance between the said stop arm and the cutting saw.

Claim 19

Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which at least some of the conveyors consist of a series of pairs of rollers, journalled in side members of the conveyors, each pair of rollers being adjustable relative to each other to support on their periphery various sizes of structural steel units.

Claim 20

Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 in which one length of conveyor, ahead of the conveyor having pairs of rollers, is pivotally mounted at the end thereof remote from said latter conveyor and the end of the conveyor remote from its pivotal mounting is supported on hydraulic jacks, the said hydraulic jacks being adjustable vertically to bring the end of the conveyor to a level coincident with the lowermost edge of the structural steel member supported on the pairs of rollers on the adjacent conveyor.

Claim 21

Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which the said marshalling and work areas consist of the said third conveyor and the said fourth structural steel storage skids are located on either side of third conveyor, the said latter storage skids including reciprocating members each having pivoted dogS and means to reciprocate the said members for movement of the structural steel units from the said third conveyor onto the said fourth structural steel storage skids.