Aluminum Company of America

Thomas J Roman

Michael A Ringle

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for retaining the configuration of an aperture formed through a coil when the coil is supported on a saddle. The saddle has a pair of spaced apart upstanding legs. The apparatus includes a first and a second member, with the second member having a length sufficient to span the legs of the saddle. A pair of arms are pivotably attached to the first member and the arms are joined to the second member by a pair of links. The links enable the arms to move between a first position in which the arms are spaced inward and apart from the perimeter of the aperture when the second member is not in contact with the legs of the saddle and a second position in which the arms cooperate with the first member to support the weight of the coil when the second member is in contact with the legs of the saddle. The apparatus is particularly useful for supporting a coil during a heat treatment operation.

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Prophetstown, IL, United States of America

Thomas J Roman