A U T O M A T I C P I N C E R S FOR G R I P P I N G A N D T R A N S P O R T I N G L O A D S

Translated from Metallurg, No. 6, p. 35, June, 1962

At the plate mill in the Magnitogorsk Metallurgical Combine, following the suggestion of I. Yu. Dmitriev, V. A. Shibaev, and N. P. Zinkevich, automatic pincers have been made for transporting ingots.

The pincers (see figure) consist of two tongs 1 hinged at the axle 4. By means of the shafts 5, the tongs are joined with a hinge to the arms 2, which are joined to each other by the shaft 7. This in turn goes through an aperture in the bracket 3 which fits onto the crane hook. A catch 8 is secured to the arm 2 on a pivot at the shaft 6, by means of which the tongs are wedged open and do not c o m e together when transported by the crane without a load.

When the pincers are lowered by the crane onto the ingot, the tongs, under the action of their own weight, open and envelop the ingot. The shaft 9 on the arm 2 thus goes through under the notch, deflecting the lug 10 held on a pivot to the catch 8, and it (the shaft 9) moves freely to its extreme position under the catch, and the lug is restored to its initial position.

When the pincers are raised above the ingot by the crane, the shaft 9 goes through under the catch 8 in the reverse direction pressing the lug 10 into the notch in the catch, bridging it. The shaft 9 then goes along the lower edge of the catch, so that the arms are not kept

Automatic pincers, open. Thus the pincers are free to come together, to grip and raise the ingot.

To release the ingot, it is necessary to lower the pincers onto the ingot which has been laid in place, until the shaft 9 deflects the lug 10, not going further than the lug, and then the pincers are raised. The shaft thus fails into the notch of the catch. The tongs remain open and ~he pincers do not grip the ingot as they are lifted.

V. E.

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