Vertical automatic addition tong apparatus
View Patent ↗An electrode lifting apparatus provides a mechanism for lifting a free electrode in a vertical orientation and moving the free electrode suspended below the lifting apparatus to a location for a joining procedure with another electrode or portion of an electrode. The electrode lifting apparatus also supports the free electrode during a joining procedure that includes driven rotation of the free electrode by an electrode torque station. The electrode lifting apparatus includes a bail and a body, the body having a yoke and a housing. First and second arms on the body connect the housing to the yoke. The body may angularly rotate relative to the relatively fixed bail about a reference vertical axis during driven rotation of the free electrode by the torque station. A threaded stem attached to the bail provides a threaded engagement with the yoke allowing such relative angular rotation in some embodiments.
1. An electrode lifting apparatus, comprising:
a body including a yoke and a housing positioned below the yoke, the housing defining an interior space shaped to receive a portion of the electrode;
a first arm positioned between the yoke and the housing;
a second arm positioned between the yoke and the housing opposite the first arm;
a bail positioned above the yoke;
a stem positioned between the yoke and the bail, the stem providing a threaded engagement between the bail and the yoke such that the yoke is angularly moveable relative to the bail about a reference vertical axis;
a first grip member linked to the first arm via a first cam, the first cam pivotally attached to the housing between the first grip member and the first arm; and
a second grip member linked to the second arm via a second cam, the second cam pivotally attached to the housing between the second grip member and the second arm;
wherein the first and second grip members are moveable relative to the housing toward and away from the interior space in the housing.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a bail opening defined in the bail.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bail is pivotally attached to the yoke.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a bail stop positioned to retain the bail at a bail angle of between about thirty degrees and about sixty degrees relative to a reference horizontal axis.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the bail stop comprises an annular ring disposed around the bail.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the stem is attached to the bail.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the stem is a threaded stem.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a latch retainer on the housing.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first arm spring disposed on the first arm; and
a second arm spring disposed on the second arm.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the yoke is vertically moveable relative to the housing along the reference vertical axis.
11. An electrode lifting apparatus, comprising:
a bail defining a bail opening;
a body positioned below the bail, the body including a yoke and a housing, the housing defining an interior space shaped to receive a portion of the electrode;
a threaded stem positioned between the bail and the yoke, the threaded stem providing a threaded engagement between the yoke and the bail,
wherein the body is angularly moveable relative to the bail about a reference vertical axis.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the yoke is vertically moveable relative to the housing along the vertical axis.