Abstract: An anode positioning hoist supported on an overhead crane used in a smelting apparatus including a cathode with an upwardly facing surface and an anode with a downwardly facing surface. The anode positioning hoist includes a pair of channel members defining opposed vertical channels and a cylinder/piston assembly including a cylinder located between the channel members and a piston rod extending downwardly from the cylinder. A carrier is fixed to the piston rod for movement therewith and includes rollers guided in the channels. A connector assembly is mounted on the carrier to releasably secure the anode to the carrier. A control system including a counterbalance valve mounted on the cylinder and a pressure switch operates to cause extension of the piston rod until the downwardly facing surface of the anode engages the upwardly facing surface of the cathode. The control system thereafter causes retraction of the piston rod a predetermined distance to provide a desired anode-cathode gap.

Abstract: An anode positioning hoist supported on an overhead crane used in a smelting apparatus including a cathode with an upwardly facing surface and an anode with a downwardly facing surface. The anode positioning hoist includes a pair of channel members defining opposed vertical channels and a cylinder/piston assembly including a cylinder located between the channel members and a piston rod extending downwardly from the cylinder. A carrier is fixed to the piston rod for movement therewith and includes rollers guided in the channels. A connector assembly is mounted on the carrier to releasably secure the anode to the carrier. A control system including a counterbalance valve mounted on the cylinder and a pressure switch operates to cause extension of the piston rod until the downwardly facing surface of the anode engages the upwardly facing surface of the cathode. The control system thereafter causes retraction of the piston rod a predetermined distance to provide a desired anode-cathode gap.

Abstract: Lifting apparatus comprising first and second generally vertical masts, an assembly including a frame moveable along the masts, and a load engaging mechanism mounted on the frame, a first brake mechanism which, upon actuation, engages the first mast to prevent downward movement of the frame relative to the first mast, a second brake mechanism which, upon actuation, engages the second mast to prevent downward movement of the frame relative to the second mast, an overspeed mechanism for sensing the downward velocity of the assembly and for actuating the first brake mechanism when the overspeed mechanism senses that the downward velocity of the assembly exceeds a predetermined value, a first electrical device for providing an electrical signal when the first brake mechanism is actuated, and a second electrical device for actuating the second brake mechanism in response to the electrical signal.

Abstract: A stacker crane comprising a trolley movable above the ground, a generally vertical rigid mast depending form the trolley, an assembly including a frame moveable along the mast, and a load engaging mechanism mounted on the frame, an adaptor plate mounted on the frame for vertical movement relative thereto, and a brake mechanism including a housing fixed against vertical movement relative to the plate, a brake member which is supported by the housing and which engages the mast to prevent downward movement of the housing relative to the mast consequent to undesirable downward movement of the assembly relative to the mast, and a shock absorber which is fixed relative to one of the adaptor plate and the frame, which engages the other of the adaptor plate and the frame and which stops downward movement of the frame relative to the adaptor plate over a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A stacker crane comprising a trolley moveable above the ground, the trolley including a frame, a turntable supported by the frame for rotation relative to the frame about a generally vertical rotation axis, and a rotate drive which rotates the turntable relative to the frame, a mast assembly depending from and fixedly mounted to the turntable so that the mast assembly rotates with the turntable relative to the trolley frame, a carriage supported by the mast assembly for vertical movement relative thereto and for common rotation therewith relative to the trolley frame, a load engaging mechanism mounted on the carriage, and a hoist assembly including a hoist drum which has an axis of rotation fixed relative to the trolley frame and which is rotatable in one direction and in an opposite direction, and a hoist rope wound around the drum and connected to the carriage such that rotation of the drum in the one direction raises the carriage and rotation of the drum in the opposite direction lowers the carriage.

Abstract: A floor-running stacker crane comprising a non-linear floor rail, a non-linear overhead rail, a base supported for movement along the floor rail, a turntable, a rotate bearing supporting the turntable on the base for rotation of the turntable relative to the base about a generally vertical axis, a rotate drive for rotating the turntable relative to the base, a mast having a lower end fixed to the turntable such that the mast rotates with the turntable relative to the base, the mast also having an upper end supported for movement along the overhead rail, a carriage moveable vertically relative to the mast, a hoist assembly for moving the carriage vertically relative to the mast, a load engaging mechanism, a rotate bearing supporting the load engaging mechanism on the carriage for rotation relative to the carriage about a generally horizontal axis, and a tilt drive for rotating the load engaging mechanism relative to the carriage.

Abstract: An overhead crane apparatus including a hoist supported on a trolley. The hoist includes a bottom block with a pair of horizontally extending first and second trunnions. The overhead crane apparatus also includes an automatic mechanism for releasably securing the bottom block to the trolley. The mechanism includes first and second bottom block support plates having therein respective first and second downwardly opening notches. The mechanism also includes first and second hooks and fluid actuated cylinder/piston assemblies for biasing the hooks toward latched positions wherein the hooks overlap the first and second notches, respectively. When the bottom block is raised the first and second trunnions enter the associated first and second notches and cam the hooks to unlatched positions responsive to movement of the bottom block to a secured position. The hooks then return to their latched positions to prevent the trunnions from moving downwardly out of the notches to thereby secure the bottom block.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stacker crane comprising an upright rigid mast rotatably connected at its upper end to a horizontally movable trolley, an intermediate mast that is vertically movable relative to the rigid mast, and a load supporting carriage guided for vertical motion by both masts and raised and lowered by a winch on the trolley. The intermediate mast has an upwardly projecting pilot portion that is telescopingly received within the rigid mast to guide the intermediate mast for motion between a lowered position near floor level and a raised position wherein the top of the intermediate mast is contiguous to the bottom of the rigid mast. The carriage is guided by a pair of vertical rails on each mast, at its opposite sides, the rails on the intermediate mast being aligned with respective rails on the rigid mast. The intermediate mast is biased upward by a force that can be overcome by the weight of the carriage.