Improvement in the Method of and Apparatus for Heating and Rolling Strips of Metal to Thin Gauges.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 10th Mar., 1900
5
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in the Method of and Apparatus for Heating and
Rolling Strips of Metal to Thin Gauges.
I, THOMAS VALENTINE ALLIS, of 498, Washington Avenue, Bridgeport, Con-
ecticut, United States of America, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
his invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The first part of my invention consists in forming a pack of two or more
metal strips and arranging the ends of said strips one in advance of the other
and temporarily securing the end of the pack adapted to enter the reduction rolls,
and when said pack is properly heated, to reduce said pack to the required
thickness by a single pass through the said reduction rolls.
The furnace and rolls which may be employed for this purpose, admit of con-
siderable variation in form and construction, but I find the form or construction
hereinafter described to be most convenient, although I do not intend to confine
myself only to the use of those shown and hereinafter described for the purpose
of reducing the strips of a, metal pack to the required thickness.
My invention also consists in the arrangement of tracks whereby the furnace
may be brought to and from the reduction rolls and also have a lateral movement
so as to bring any of the bars or strips lying on the floor of the furnace directly
in line with the rolling track of the rolls. Also, in providing a main track,
turn table and spur tracks whereby a furnace is temporarily removed for repairs
and another brought into operation while such repairs are being made. Also,
in providing means whereby the rolling mill is temporarily taken out of action for
repairs and another substituted therefor so that, by this interchangeable feature
of the furnaces and rolling mills, the continuous heating and rolling operation
is maintained with but slight interruption.
.
My invention further consists in providing a covered feed way between the
throat or delivery end of the furnace and the reduction rolls so that the heated
bars or strips may not become chilled in their passage from the furnace to
the rolls.
My invention further consists in providing means whereby the roof bricks or
30 tiles may be easily and readily removed when damaged and new ones substituted
therefor. Also, in providing a series of removable channel irons which lie upon
the floor of the furnace to receive the strips of metal to be heated. Also, in
providing a series of individual gas burners distributed throughout the area
below the floor of the furnace whereby a more uniform heating surface is obtained
35 For this purpose, the series of gas burners communicate with branch pipe
leading from the main gas pipe located at a lower level than such burners, whil
the gas jets communicate with recesses in the upper surface of the bricks formin
the floor of the combustion chamber.
My invention further consists in providing means in the covered feed wa
40 located between the throat of the furnace and the reduction rolls whereby the pac
of metal strips are kept in alignment with each other, thereby avoiding a
of the rear end of the pack to spread or flare out.

page_text: In order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood reference is had to the accompanying drawings in
which:
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of the furnace and rolling mill, sectional
view of the girders or iron frames for supporting the removable roof bricks or
tiles, also broken view of the flexible gas and air pipes:
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the interior of the furnace showing sections of the
different constructions between the combustion chamber and the main gas
pipe:
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the furnace through line a of Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the furnace with the roof removed, sectional view of
the feed way, throat and entrance end of the furnace, also section of the roll
housings;
Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the covered frames set in each end of the
furnace for the purpose of guiding the metal strip in or out of the channel irons, 1
each compartment of said frames being on a line with one of the channel irons
in the furnace ;
Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the roof brick or tile;
Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of one of the iron girders or supports for the
roof brick or tile;
Fig. 8 is a broken sectional view of the main gas or supply pipe situated
below the furnace, and overlying iron plate, sectional view of the bricks above
the iron plates, the upper one having a recess or pocket therein to receive the
gas jet;
Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but showing all of the walls of the recess 2
vertical:
Fig. 10 is a broken side elevation of the furnace and its supporting truck
together with a pair of rolls adjacent thereto, feed way located between the
furnace and rolls, broken view of the gas pipe leading into said feed way;
Fig. 11 represents a pack of metal strips whose forward ends are shingled or 3
stepped off one in advance of the other for the purpose of enabling them to
readily enter into the bight of the reduction, rolls;
Fig. 12 is a broken view of the reduction rolls operating on a pack of metal
strips;
Fig. 13 is a plan view of my improved arrangement for temporarily removing 3
the furnace from the rolling mill, also broken view of the overhead tramway
for the overhead traveling crane for the temporary removal of the rolling
mill;
Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the tramway and crane.
Fig. 15 is a plan view of the preferred form of the feed way adapted to be 4
placed between the reduction rolls and the delivery end of the furnace the same
being provided with means for guiding the strips. A portion of the cap being
broken away to show the operation of one of the movable side guides;
Fig. 16 is a side elevation and section through line 6 of Fig. 15, also broken
view of the reduction rolls with the forward end of a metal pack just entering 4
into the bight of said rolls;
Fig. 17 is an end elevation of the preferred feed way looking in the direction
of arrow c of Figs. 15 or 16.
The furnace is constructed with the side walls 1 and 2 and the end walls 3
and 4 of brick, as usual, while the sides are sustained by the iron plates 5. The 5
upper portion of said plates form the shelves 5 adapted to receive any of the
roof brick or tile 6 when the same are removed. These brick or tiles, see
Fig. 6; are provided with the longitudinal T shaped slot 7 running entirely
through each. Each of the iron frames 8, that span the outside of the furnace and
whose feet rest on the base 9. are provided with the I beams 10 integral with 5
said frames. The T shape slot in these roof brick or tile are made enough
larger than said I beams so that they will easily slip on and off therefrom. By
い

page_text: this arrangement, any of the roof brick or tile that become damaged can
removed and replaced by sound ones.
Ե
This feature of construction is particularly adapted to wide furnaces as it
avoids the necessity of arching the roof, which arching or crowning often
unduly increases the air space between the roof and the work to be heated.
11 are the floor brick of the furnace supported on the stools 12. 13, 14 and 15
are three channel irons resting on the furnace floor. The number and position
of these channel irons correspond to the number and position of the openings 16,
17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 of the covered guide ways or frames 22 and 23, in the
ends of the furnace. This arrangement not only insures the strips of metal
against contact with each other, but keeps them in perfect alignment with the
reduction rolls.
The furnace shown is heated with gas and for that purpose the ordinary
flexible air and gas pipes 24 and 25 are used, which pipes connect with the
main pipe 26 placed above the base 9. 27, see Figs. 2 and 3, are. branches
leading from this main pipe and are provided at intervals with the holes 28
to which are secured the several short pipes 29, see also Figs. 8 and 9, carrying
at their outer ends the burners 30, which burners open into the recesses 31 of
the bricks 32. These bricks form the floor of the combustion chamber situated
between said bricks and the floor bricks 11. 33 are metal plates overlying the
branches 27 and are provided with holes 34 through which the burner pipes to
said branches pass. This arrangement of individual gas jets plentifully distributed
throughout the area of the combustion chamber will give a more uniform heating
surface than could otherwise be obtained. The arrangement shown of delivering
the flame into the recesses or pockets 31 insures a much better distribution or
diffusion of the heat than could be obtained were the burners arranged vertically
so as to discharge directly into the combustion chamber. In each alternate series
or rows of the bricks 32, I prefer to alternate or reverse the position of the
recesses or pockets 31 and burners 30 to still further facilitate the even distribution
of the beat.
In Fig. 11 is shown a pack of the metal strips 35, 36, 37 and 38 all ready
for the reduction rolls. These strips are placed one upon the other and are
temporarily fastened together by the rivets 39 at their forward ends so that they
may not be displaced relatively to each other while handling or by the rolls in
entering. The ends are stepped off or, in other words, are arranged one a little
in advance of the other, thus forming a tapered end which the rolls more
In fact,
readily engage than if the ends of all the strips in the pack were even.
it would be an utter impossibility to arrange the ends even and enter the pack
into the bight of the rolls when the distance between such rolls is less or equals
O the thickness of one of said strips. This arrangement of forming a pack of
strips stepped off or shingled at its entering end facilitates an excessive reduction
at a single pass through the rolls much better than could otherwise be attained,
and it is especially advantageous for producing very thin strips in packs.
.
In rolling thin metal it is very desirable that the strips should enter the
15 rolls without any perceptable loss of heat, therefore I have provided a feed way
high
or prolongation of the furnace, when such furnace is in position, wherein a
temperature is maintained by the aid of hot gases and a non-oxidizing flame
surrounding the strips to exclude the air and keep them hot, and, also, for
heating the rolls. This feed way also operates as a guide for the strips and is
50 closed on the sides and open at the ends.
In Figs. 1, 4 and 10 I show the plain box like structure 40 having the flange 41
to rest against the front end of the furnace so that when the furnace is shifted
along to bring the several channel irons of the furnace in line with such feed
way or guide, this flange will cover the other openings of the furnace and thus
55 prevent escape of heat except through the opening through which the strips are
being fed. I have provided the gas pipe 42 which opens into this feed way to
still further assist in maintaining the required temperature.

page_text: !
t
.
While this plain feed way or guide might be suitable for some kinds of work,
I prefer to use the construction shown at Figs. 15, 16 and 17, which is made in
two parts, viz.: the body 43 and the cap 44. Both cap and body have the
flanges 45 and 46 that rest against the front end of the furnace. The opening 47
is large enough to admit the heat and flame from the combustion chamber and
the space above the furnace floor. 48 and 49 are two movable side guides
having the longitudinal grooves 50 and 51 in their inner edges to rest against
the metal strips and guide them to the rolls. 53 is a support projecting from
the bottom of the body of the feed way to support the heated strips on their passage
through the said feed way. 54 is an overlying projection of the cap that operates
to prevent said strips rising from their support.
These movable side guides are adapted to have a movement to and from the
metal strips by means of the mechanism consisting of the rock shaft 55 journaled
in the boxes 56. Depending from the ends of this rock shaft are the toes 57
which engage with the slides 58 resting on the outside surface of the cap 44.
These slides engage the pins 59, which pins extend through elongated holes 60
in the said cap for that purpose. It will be understood that the said guides are
exactly alike and operated in the same manner so that, while the mechanism is
only shown for operating one of them, owing to the cap in Fig. 15 being broken
away, it relates to both. A parallel movement of these guides is maintained
by means of the links 60 pivotally supported on the pins 61 projecting from the
body of the feed way. The other end of these links are pivoted to the pins 62
of the movable guides so that, when the handle lever 63 attached to the rock
shaft 55 is operated, it will move said guides to and from the center of the
feed way.
64 is a set screw extending through a projection of the base of said
handle lever which is adapted to regulate or limit the outward travel of the
: movable slides when such screw engages the upright 65. while the set screws 66
engaging the end of the slides 58 limit the inward travel, of the said movable
guides. It is not the intention of these movable side guides to have them crowd
hard against the metal strips as they are being fed into the rolls, but they operate
more particularly to prevent flaring of that unsecured portion of the pack that
is not riveted.
To keep the forward end of the pack in alignment with the rolling track of the
rolls. I have provided the two fingers 67 and 68 secured to the pins 69 and 70
one in each of the movable guides. Slots or recesses are provided in the movable
side guides 48 and 49 for these fingers to operate in, one of such slots, 71, is
shown at Fig. 16. The pins 69 and 70 extend through the cap 44 and on these
outer projecting ends are secured the links 72 and 73. The inner ends of these
links are slotted to receive the pin 74 of the slide 75. This slide has a longitudinal
movement in the standard 76. 77 is a weighted lever carrying the weight 78.
This lever is pivotally supported on the pin 79 passing through an upper extension
of said standard. 80 is a short arm of said weighted lever that engages with
the slide 75. By this arrangement of the weighted lever the fingers 67 and 68
are continuously forced inward. It being understood that they need not come
in direct contact with the pack but just clear it so that, any deflection of the
forward end of the pack will bring said pack in contact with one or the other
of said fingers which being controlled by the weighted lever 77 before mentioned,
will force the said pack back into line. The set screw 81 in the upright 65 will
limit the inward movement of said fingers so that they can be set at any distance
required from the pack.
When the pack first enters the feed way, the side guides 48 and 49 are opened
to give free access for said pack. When, therefore, said pack reaches the
fingers 67 and 68 they will operate to direct it centrally to the rolling track of
the rolls and, when in the bight of said rolls, the side guides are then brought in
contact with the edges of the pack, which confine the several strips and keep
them in alignment.
The rolling mill is the ordinary construction consisting of the housings or side

page_text: 5
mes 82 and the rolls 83 and 84. I prefer, however, to increase
central portion or rolling track 85 and 86 of these rolls above the body portion.
is a guide adapted to receive and guide the strips after passing through the
ls.
88 and 89 are bars secured to the housings of the rolling mill to support the
edway 40 or the preferred form shown at Figs. 15, 16 and 17, and also the said
ide 87. However, these said supporting bars are not absolutely necessary as
her means could be employed.
The furnace is mounted upon the truck 90 whose wheels 91 rest upon the
ack 92 mounted on the bottom truck 93 whose wheels 94 rest on the tracks 95,
shown at Figs. 1 and 3. These tracks 95 rest on the floor or ground and they
apport the whole structure connected with the furnace and on which the furnace
moved parallel with the rolls for the purpose of bringing any one of the channel
ons of the furnace in line with the feed way and, of course, with the rolling
rack of the reduction rolls. The track 92 enables the furnace to be brought up
gainst the flange of the before mentioned feed way. By this arrangement, the
urnace is capable of two adjustments at right angles with each other.
In Figs. 13 and 14 will be seen the arrangement whereby the method before
mentioned is carried out for temporarily removing the furnace and rolling mill
for repairs. 96 is a track laid down to correspond with the track 92 of the
truck 93. This main track 96 is adapted to extend to some part of the works
or into another apartment thereof so that all debris incidental to such repairs is
removed from the mill proper.
98 is a turn table in the line of the main track and 99, 100, 101, 102 and 103
are spur or side tracks leading from this turn table for the accommodation of
furnaces that need repairing or having been repaired are waiting to be used. To
illustrate this, let it be supposed that the furnace 104 now in front of the rolling
mill, as shown at Fig. 13, will soon need repairs. In which case, the furnace 105
which has been repaired is charged with metal strips to be rolled and heated by
the gas and air pipes 106 and when ready is brought forward to take the place
of furnace 104. 107, 108, 109 and 110 represent other furnaces either waiting
repairs or waiting to be run to the reduction rolls.
Fig. 14, in connection also with Fig. 13, represents the system or means
employed for interchanging the rolling mills for repairs as described for the
furnaces. 111 represents an overhead track for the traveling crane 112, which
is of the ordinary construction. When, therefore, the rolling mill 113 in operation
needs repairing, the traveling crane is brought into requisition and such mill
removed and replaced by another that has been repaired. Let it be supposed
that the rolling mill 113 needs repairing and the rolling mill 114 has already
been repaired, then the combined gas and air pipes 115 are applied to the rolls
for the purpose of bringing them up to the proper temperature to receive the
heated strips from the furnace when such rolling mill is brought into operative
position with the furnace. 116 represents a rolling mill being transported by
the traveling crane.
While I show only the burner and a broken view of the gas and air pipes 115
for heating the rolls and bringing them up to the proper temperature preparatory
to such rolls being brought into active operation to receive and roll hot strips
of metal, it will not be necessary to enter into a detail description of the con-
struction of these pipes of the source and means employed for furnishing the
0 requisite air and gas as this is old and will be readily understood. My improve-
ment consists in their application to rolls that are temporarily removed from
before the furnace and, when so removed, are heated to the proper temperature
required for receiving and rolling hot metal strips so as not to reduce the
temperature of such strips as would certainly be the case were the rolls cold.
This arrangement described, for temporarily removing the rolling mill and
furnace will permit of an almost continuous operation of a rolling mill and
furnace as but little time is lost in making the change of either the rolling
55

page_text: mill or furnace, otherwise it would require several hours or days to make the
necessary repairs and, in the meantime, the works would be idle until this was
accomplished.
While I show a separate covered feed way between the furnace and the rolls
wherein the temperature of the metal strips after they have left the furnace
is maintained by surrounding such strips with hot gases. I hold myself at
liberty to attach such covered feed way to the end of the furnace but I prefer,
however, to arrange it separate as shown.
While I show only packs of metal strips as being used in connection with
my improved furnace it will be understood that such furnace is as well adapted
for heating single strips or bars.
While I show the removable roof brick or tile formed with a T shaped opening
therethrough and an iron girder of a corresponding shape to receive said brick
or tile, it will be understood that any other suitable form of slot and girder may
be used.
While I show the furnace arranged to have two movements, viz.: parallel with
the axis of the reduction rolls and also at right angles thereto, I may find it
convenient and advisable in some case to have only one movement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same may be carried into practical operation,
I desire it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details
herein shown and described so long as the peculiar principals of my invention
are retained, but what I do claim and desire to secure by these Letters Patent
is as follows:-
1. The herein described improvement in rolling packs of metal strips which
consist in shingling the end of the pack to insure its entry into the bight of
the reduction rolls of a rolling mill and fastening said shingled ends to prevent
any movement or disarrangement of said strips in passing into the bight between
said rolls, substantially as herein before described:
2. The combination with reduction rolls, of a rolling mill, of a furnace adapted
to heat metal strips to be delivered direct to said rolls, means whereby said furnace
is adapted to be shifted parallel with said rolls or at right angles thereto sub-
stantially as herein before described.
3. The combination with reduction rolls, of a rolling mill and a furnace adapted
to heat metal strips to be delivered direct into said rolls of an air excluding feed
way for the strips extending from the furnace to close proximity to the rolls
and thereby adapted to continue the application of hot gases and flame to the
point of reduction and between the rolls, also to exclude air from the passing
strips, also to keep them hot and also to heat said rolls, substantially as herein-
before described.
4. The method of rolling metal which consists in heating it while being fed
into the rolls and protecting said metal from air while issuing from the furnace
and entering the rolls by an envelope of hot gases and flame, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
5. The combination with reduction rolls, of a rolling mill and a furnace adjacent
thereto from which metal strips are delivered direct to said rolls, of a covered
feed way located between the said furnace and said rolls and adapted to exclude
the air from said strips in their passage from the furnace to the rolls and to
admit hot gases and flame to said strips in their passage to said rolls, edge guides
for controlling the alignment of the strips, substantially as herein before described.
6. The combination with reduction rolls, of a rolling mill, of a furnace adapted
to heat metal strips and a feed way between said furnace and rolls, the furnace
being adjustable laterally and parallel with the axis of said rolls, tracks or guides
on which said furnace is mounted, so that said furnace may be adjusted to and
from the said feed way and also parallel with the axis of the reduction rolls,
substantially as hereinbefore described.

page_text: 7. The combination with reduction rolls, of a rolling mill and a furnace
adjacent thereto from which heated metal strips are delivered direct to said
rolls, of a covered feed way located between said furnace and rolls, adjustable edge
guides located in said feed way to control and align the passing strips, substantially
as hereinbefore described.
8. The combination with reduction rolls, of a rolling mill and a furnace
adjacent thereto from which metal strips are delivered direct to said rolls, of a
covered feed way located between said furnace and rolls, adjustable edge guides
for said strips, movable guide fingers for keeping the proper alignment of the
forward end of the metal strips with the said feed rolls, means whereby said
fingers exert an inward pressure, substantially as hereinbefore described.
9. The method of constructing the roof of a furnace of the character described,
which consists in providing each brick or tile with the necessary aperture com-
bined with a support on which such brick or tile are strung, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
10. The combination in a furnace of channel irons for the reception of strips
of metal to be heated, substantially as herein before described.
11. The combination in a furnace of gas pipes below the floor of the combustion
chamber, burners leading therefrom into the floor brick of said combustion
chamber, recesses or pockets into which said burners open whereby a more uniformi
heat is distributed throughout said combustion chamber, substantially as herein-
before described.
12. The combination in a furnace of channel irons to receive the metal strips
to be heated, metal guide ways located in the receiving and delivery ends of the
furnace and on a line with such channel irons, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
13. The combination with the reduction rolls, of a rolling mill and a furnace
adapted to operate in close proximity to and in conjunction with each other,
wheels on which said furnace is mounted, a main track in the rear of said
furnace on which said furnace is adapted to be run, a turn table in such main
track, spur or side tracks leading from said turn table for the accommodation
of extra furnaces, substantially as hereinbefore described.
14. The combination with reduction rolls, of a rolling mill and a furnace
adapted to operate in close proximity to and in conjunction with each other,
wheels on which said furnace is mounted, a main track in the rear of said
furnace on which said furnace is adapted to be run, a turn table in such main
track, spur or side tracks leading from said turn table for the accommodation of
extra furnaces, means whereby any one of these extra furnaces may be heated
preparatory to its being brought into operative position at the reduction rolls,
O substantially as herein before described.
15. The method hereinbefore shown and described for heating reduction rolls
of a rolling mill to the proper temperature for hot rolling preparatory to said
rolls being brought into operative position before a furnace adapted to heat and
deliver metal strips direct to said reduction rolls.
Dated this 4th day of December 1899.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.