Electromechanical apparatus for holding and turning over hollow cylindrical bodies, in particular rolled steel coils

#The present invention relates to means necessary to enable a crane to move (lift, lower, turn over and eventually transport) hollow cylindrical bodies, for instance rolled steel sheets normally called "coils".

#As known, it is necessary in industry to move, for instance, rolls of sheet steel, in a safe and practical way, regardless of whether their axis is vertical or horizontal.

#Normally these coils are produced and used when their axis is horizontal, while for heat treatment, storage and transport it is preferred to have the coils with their axis in a vertical position.

#The invention will now be better understood by means of exemplary embodiments which are shown in the attached drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a side-view of a first embodiment in which the dotted lines show different working positions;

#FIG. 2 is a side view rotated 90.degree. with respect to FIG. 1 and partially sectioned along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

#Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 3, it will be noted that R indicates a hollow cylindrical body. This is lifted by the hook of a crane acting along the line X--X of FIG. 1. A pair of levers 10 are connected at one end by a pin 11 which receives the hook. At an intermediate zone the levers 10 have a pivot 12 around which a support 20 can rotate. This support comprises at least three rollers 21. To this set a fourth roller 22 may be added; this roller 22 being smaller than the others in diameter. These rollers are mounted one beside the other, forming two pairs capable of receiving the substantially circular guide 30. The center of the circular guide is comprised in a semi-circumference having as its diametral base the diagonal D of the hollow cylindrical body R. The guide 30 is part of the rotating clamp 31 which comprises a jaw 32 integral with the guide 30, and a moving jaw 33 which can be remotely controlled so as to approach or move away from the jaw 32 integral with the guide 30.

#The connection between the pair of levers 10 and the support 20, as said above, is the pivot 12 around which the support 20 can rotate. The support 20 assumes a defined position with respect to the levers 10 by means of two hydraulic cylinders 13 having their pistons linked at the fork-shaped end 14 of lever 10, opposite to the end having the pin 11. The body of the cylinder is connected, through the plate 24, to the support 20. In this way, the more weight bears on the support 20, the more the cylinders 13 tend to close, as both the end 14 and the plate 24 approach each other. The oil pressure produced by this movement in the cylinders 13 is transferred to the clamp by the closed circuit hydraulic system, as it will be described hereunder.

#At least one of the rollers 21 is driven by a gearmotor M, for instance of the hollow shaft type. The shaft 25, integral with the output of the gearmotor M, drives the pinions 26 provided at both ends of the shaft 25. The pinions 26 drive the crown wheel 27 which in turn drives the gear train 28 and 29. The gear 29 is integral with one of the rollers 21 which in turn is integral with a toothed pinion 21a which meshes with a rack 30a integral with the guide 30. The pinion 21a, by means of the gearmotor M, can thus change the position of the rotating clamp 31 with respect to the support 20.