AUTOMATIC AXLE LOCK CYLINDER SYSTEM
TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure, in general, relates to systems for removing deposits from a steel ladle, and, more particularly, to an automatic axle lock cylinder system for a ripper machine involved in removal of deposits such as slag stuck on inner wall of the ladle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed subject matter, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Molten steel pot, famously known as ladle, after dispensing the molten steel in a continuous casting facility, has to be cleaned before receiving pig iron during the next converter cycle. During the cleaning, the major task is of removing deposits such as slag or slag ingots adhering to the slag line of the inner wall of the ladle.
[0004] Conventionally, for cleaning of the ladle or for removing of the deposits, heavy machines, such as ripper vehicles having a ripper device mounted on its rear side, have been adopted. During operation, an operator of the ripper vehicle has to actuate an out-rigger down switch to lower down the hydraulic support legs parallel to the rear wheels. With such lowering down of the hydraulic support legs, the rear wheels are raised above the ground level and the vehicle is supported on the hydraulic support legs. Following the lowering of the support legs, the operator has to actuate an axle lock switch to lock the floating axle of the rear wheels so as to block the vibration transfer from the ripper device to the ripper vehicle during the ripping or cleaning of the deposits such as slag or slag ingots adhering to the slag line of the inner wall of the ladle.
[0005] Once the cleaning is completed, the operated has to actuate an out-rigger up switch to raise the hydraulic support legs from the ground level. Following this, the operator has to actuate an axle unlock switch to unlock the floating axle of the rear wheels.
[0006] Accordingly, in total, the operator has to operate/actuate four switches during one cleaning cycle. Because on these many actuations, in some cases, the operator may forget to so as to actuate an axle unlock switch to unlock the floating axle of the rear wheels. This results in the movement of the ripper vehicle with rigid axle of the rear wheels. Such rigid axel fails to dampen the jerks and shocks during the movement of the ripper vehicle and may damage various components of the ripper vehicle.
[0007] Accordingly, it will be apparent to the skilled artisan that there exists a need in the state of the art for an improved system for operating the ripper vehicle during the cleaning process of the ladle.

OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0008] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed hereinbelow.
[0009] It is a general object of the present disclosure to provide an improved system for operating the ripper vehicle during the cleaning process of the ladle.
[0010] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an automatic axle locking cylinder system to easy out the locking and unlocking of the floating axle.
[0011] These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY
[0012] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to an automatic axle lock cylinder system for a ripper machine involved in removal of deposits such as slag stuck on inner wall of the ladle. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0013] In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to an automatic axle lock cylinder system. The system includes a first relay (K1) receiving input voltage from an out-rigger down switch (SOUT) associated with hydraulic support legs of a rigger vehicle so as to energize a relay coil present in the first relay (K1), wherein the energized relay coil of the first relay (K1) closes a first normally-opened (N/O) switch to make an electric connection of the first relay (K1) with a positive terminal (+) of a power source. The system further includes a second relay (K2) receiving the voltage from the positive terminal (+) of the power source through the closed first normally-opened (N/O) switch and a normally-closed (N/C) switch so as to energize a relay coil present in the second relay (K2), wherein the energized relay coil of the second relay (K2) closes a second normally-opened (N/O) switch to actuate a floating axle solenoid (Y) for locking cylinder of a floating axle. The system further includes a third relay (K3) receiving an input voltage from an out-rigger up switch (SIN) associated with the hydraulic support legs of the rigger vehicle so as to energize a relay coil present in the third relay (K3), wherein the energized relay coil of the third relay (K2) opens the normally-closed (N/C) switch to disconnect the voltage supply to the second relay (K2) from the positive terminal (+) of the power source so as to deactivate the floating axle solenoid (Y) for unlocking cylinder of the floating axle.
[0014] In an aspect, the out-rigger down switch (SOUT) is actuated to lower down the hydraulic support legs of the rigger vehicle.
[0015] In an aspect, the out-rigger up switch (SIN) is actuated to raise up the hydraulic support legs of the rigger vehicle.
[0016] In an aspect, the out-rigger down switch (SOUT) and the out-rigger up switch (SIN) are actuated to provide an instant, one time, voltage supply.
[0017] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a circuit diagram of an automatic axle lock cylinder system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0021] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0022] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
[0023] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0024] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0025] Embodiments explained herein pertain to an engine starting delay system for allowing proper pre-lubrication of engine components. Regardless of their specific construction, a diagram of the automatic axle lock cylinder system proposed in accordance with the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 1.
[0026] The system shown in FIG. 1 includes an out-rigger down switch (SOUT) and an out-rigger up switch (SIN) associated with hydraulic support legs of a rigger vehicle. These switches are used to lower or raise the hydraulic support legs mounted parallel to rear wheels of the rigger vehicle during the cleaning operation of the ladle.
[0027] When an operator actuates the out-rigger down switch (SOUT) for lowering the support legs on the ground level for raising the rear wheels above the ground level, an instant, one time, voltage is supplied to a first relay (K1) of the system from the out-rigger down switch (SOUT). After receiving the input voltage, a relay coil present in the first relay (K1) is energized, resulting into closing of a first normally-opened (N/O) switch. The closing of the first normally-opened (N/O) switch makes an electric connection of the first relay (K1) with a positive terminal (+) of a power source.
[0028] In an aspect, the electric connection established by the closing of the first normally-opened (N/O) switch allows a second relay (K2) of the system to receive the voltage from the positive terminal (+) of the power source through the closed first normally-opened (N/O) switch and a normally-closed (N/C) switch. Upon receiving the voltage from the positive terminal (+) of the power source, a relay coil present in the second relay (K2) is energized, resulting into closing of a second normally-opened (N/O) switch to actuate a floating axle solenoid (Y) for locking cylinder of a floating axle. The floating axle solenoid (Y) ensures that the cylinder of the floating axle is locked during the actuation of the out-rigger down switch (SOUT) associated with the hydraulic support legs of the rigger vehicle.
[0029] Thereafter, once the ladle cleaning is complete, or even when the position of the rigger vehicle is to be moved, the operator may actuate the out-rigger up switch (SIN) to raise the hydraulic support legs and to lower the rear wheels of the rigger vehicle.
[0030] Upon actuation of the out-rigger up switch (SIN), an instant, one time, voltage is supplied to a third relay (K3) of the system from the out-rigger up switch (SIN). After receiving the input voltage, a relay coil present in the third relay (K3) is energized, resulting into opening of the normally-closed (N/C) switch to disconnect the voltage supply to the second relay (K2) from the positive terminal (+) of the power source. Such opening of the normally-closed (N/C) switch deactivates the floating axle solenoid (Y) for unlocking cylinder of the floating axle. Thus, the floating axle solenoid (Y) ensures that the cylinder of the floating axle is unlocked during the actuation of the out-rigger up switch (SIN) associated with the hydraulic support legs of the rigger vehicle.
[0031] Thus, with the implementation of the present disclosure, the system having three relays (K1, K2, and K3) provides an automatic locking/unlocking of floating axle cylinder with activation and deactivation of the switches (SOUT and SIN) associated with the hydraulic support legs of the rigger vehicle. This automatic locking/unlocking of floating axle cylinder ensures that the floating axle is correctly locked/unlocked during its operation.
[0032] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

We claim:

1. An automatic axle lock cylinder system comprising:
a first relay (K1) receiving input voltage from an out-rigger down switch (SOUT) associated with hydraulic support legs of a rigger vehicle so as to energize a relay coil present in the first relay (K1), wherein the energized relay coil of the first relay (K1) closes a first normally-opened (N/O) switch to make an electric connection of the first relay (K1) with a positive terminal (+) of a power source;
a second relay (K2) receiving the voltage from the positive terminal (+) of the power source through the closed first normally-opened (N/O) switch and a normally-closed (N/C) switch so as to energize a relay coil present in the second relay (K2), wherein the energized relay coil of the second relay (K2) closes a second normally-opened (N/O) switch to actuate a floating axle solenoid (Y) for locking cylinder of a floating axle; and
a third relay (K3) receiving an input voltage from an out-rigger up switch (SIN) associated with the hydraulic support legs of the rigger vehicle so as to energize a relay coil present in the third relay (K3), wherein the energized relay coil of the third relay (K2) opens the normally-closed (N/C) switch to disconnect the voltage supply to the second relay (K2) from the positive terminal (+) of the power source so as to deactivate the floating axle solenoid (Y) for unlocking cylinder of the floating axle.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the out-rigger down switch (SOUT) is actuated to lower down the hydraulic support legs of the rigger vehicle.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the out-rigger up switch (SIN) is actuated to raise up the hydraulic support legs of the rigger vehicle.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the out-rigger down switch (SOUT) and the out-rigger up switch (SIN) are actuated to provide an instant, one time, voltage supply.