Mixer Truck for Shipping Molten Metals

This invention relates in general to the construction of mixer trucks and, in particular, to a new and useful mixer truck for shipping molten metals in elongated cylindrical vessels which includes a universally mounted frame plate girder on the truck having spaced apart sets of rollers which form a rotational cradle support for rotatably supporting the vessel on runners which extend around its periphery and which includes a drive motor on the plate girder having a drive gear which is connected to drive a gear or sprocket on the vessel.

The subject of the invention is a mixer truck for shipping molten metals in an elongated, substantially cylindrical vessel, with a conically tapered center part and end parts recessed in steps or, if they have the same diameter, passing over into one another, where the rotation is effected over moving rings and runners at the ends of the vessel.

At the present time, power-transmitting driving parts are arranged on the vessel at both sides at a distance from the vertical axis of rotation of the turning socket and, therefore, an additional torque appears resulting from the driving forces. These forces increase the already existing specific loads on the respective diagonally opposed runners and lead to end pressures.

Additionally, conventionally supported runners do not ensure contact over the entire runner width, due to unavoidable deformations caused by the high bearing loads. The resulting uncontrollable higher specific load leads to destruction of the runners and rings, respectively.

The present invention provides a mixer truck for shipping molten metals which does not have the above-described inconveniences of the prior art, and which ensures linear contact between moving rings and runners over the entire ring width and keeps away additional runner loads from the driving forces in the form of edge pressures.

It was found that such a mixer truck can be provided if the runners which are in contact with the rings of the mixer vessel are arranged to swing in all directions in a framed plate girder carrying the tilting gearing, which bears over a ball turning socket on the bridge of the traveling gear, the power-transmitting driving unit of the tilting gearing being arranged between the rings, and preferably in the center.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus for transporting molten metals which includes a truck having a frame plate girder with two longitudinally spaced sets of transversely aligned rollers which rotationally support respective longitudinally spaced runners which extend around the end portions of axially elongated cylindrical mixing vessels, and wherein, the frame plate girder is universally pivotally mounted and carries a drive which advantageously includes a driving pinion engaged with an annular drive gear carried between the annular rings on the vessel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for transporting molten metals which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partial side elevational view of a truck for supporting a cylindrical vessel containing molten metal, constructed in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a section taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein, comprises a device for transporting molten metals which includes an axially elongated cylindrical mixer vessel 2 having an end section 2a of uniform diameter which contains two annular, longitudinally spaced, circumferential rings 1 and 1' which provide a bearing support for the vessel at each end.

In accordance with the invention, a truck 6 for the transport of the vessel is provided with a plurality of wheels 12 and it carries a central universal or ball pivot 5 for universally pivotally supporting a frame plate girder 4. Two sets of rotational support rollers 3 and 3', which are transversely spaced apart and provide a cradle support for each ring 1 and 1', respectively. The rings engage on rollers 3 and 3' for free rotation thereon and the drive for effecting this rotation is advantageously connected between the two rings 1 and 1' centrally. In the embodiment illustrated, a drive 7 comprises a drive motor 14 driving through a transmission 16 and a drive pinion 18 which are all mounted on the frame plate girder 4. A sprocket or gear ring 20 is carried on the vessel 2 between rings 1 and 1'.

By mounting the frame plate girder 4 so that it may be universally pivoted in all directions, a linear contact of the entire runner width of each runner 1 and 1' may be effected and this excludes a higher specific load caused by edge pressures. In addition, because of this universal mounting, difficulties in moving the vessel around curves and which may be caused by sagging of vessel 2, are avoided. A concentric arrangement of the drive between the annular rings on the vessel and the pivotal mounting of the rollers which support the rings on a frame plate girder for swinging in all directions produces no torque about the vertical axis of rotation of the frame plate girder and can thus not lead to any edge pressures.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.