IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING AND CLEANSING ROUND BARS AND TUBES OF WROUGHT IRON, STEEL, OR OTHER METALS."
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Bramham Perkins, of Bradford, in the County of
York, Engineer and Iron Master, for the Invention of "IMPROVED METHOD
OF AND APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING AND CLEANSING ROUND BARS AND
TUBES OF WROUGHT IRON, STEEL, OR OTHER METALS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Bramham Perkins
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th March 1879.
ARTHUR BRAMHAM PERKINS, of Bradford, in the County of York, Engineer and
Iron Master. "IMPROVED METHOD OF. AND APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING AND
CLEANSING ROUND BARS AND TUBES OF WROUGHT IRON, STEEL, OR OTHER
METALS."
My Invention relates to rolling, straightening, and cleansing by means of
machinery or apparatus round bars or tubes of wrought iron, steel, or other metals,
instead of straightening with wooden mallets heretofore employed.
For this purpose I'employ an apparatus or machine constructed with a strong
foundation frame, having the top plate planed perfectly true; the frame is made
with side plates, and under the plate is cast or fitted a pipe extending the length
of the foundation frame, the pipe is drilled with a series of small holes through
which water under pressure is caused to flow to cleanse or remove the scales of the
round bar or tube being straightened, and also to keep the foundation plate cool,
and keep it true and from warping. On the side plate of the foundation frame,
and at the back are fitted movable sides to which are fitted rollers, the sides with
the rollers have a lifting and lowering movement for the purpose of lifting and
lowering when required; a heavy strong straightening movable frame which
receives a rocking forward and backward motion to roll and straighten the bar or
tube operated on; the movable top frame is made with chambers in which water
is placed to regulate the weight, and to keep the frame cool and prevent it warping
by the heat of the bar or tube operated on. The foundation frame is fixed on a
stone foundation, and to the foundation frame are fitted strong girders, and which
are secured to the stone foundation; these girders carry pedestals, having plummer
blocks in which work the main driving shaft of the apparatus; on the shaft are
fitted two eccentrics, and near the ends of the movable top frame the eccentrics

page_text: are fitted with eccentric rings or straps, and with eccentric rods; the ends of the
rods are fitted in bosses cast on the side plate at the back of the movable top
frame, the eccentrics actuate the eccentric rods, and give a rocking forward and
backward motion to the movable top frame which rolls the heated bar or tube
being straightened; the top back plate of the movable top frame is cast with two
strong bosses, through which pass the ends of strong stays which are connected to
the eccentric rings or straps; the eccentric rods work in guides fixed to the girders.
The main shaft is actuated by a strong spur wheel which is worked by another
small wheel actuated by a steam engine or by belt or gearing; on the main shaft
is fitted a clutch box to throw the apparatus in or out of gear.
A bar or tube having been heated to the required heat is placed on the top
plate of the foundation frame, the movable top frame being then in its most
backward position and at rest, the top frame having been brought to that position
by means of a hand wheel which actuates a worm, giving motion to a worm wheel
fitted on the end of a shaft extending the length of the foundation frame; on the
shaft are fitted at each end bevil wheels which gear in other bevil wheels fitted on
cross shafts; these cross shafts have cams forged on them, and the cams give the
lifting and lowering motion to the sides in which are fitted the rollers, and which
coming in contact with the under-side plate of the heavy movable top frame,
whilst rocking causes the lifting up of the frame which is brought on the top of
the heated bar or tube to be straightened; the whole weight of the frame is then
left on the bar or tube by the frame being lowered on the bar or tube, the rollers
being removed from contact with the underside plate of the frame. A hand lever
is then actuated which brings through gear the clutch in gear with the driving
wheel actuating the main shaft, eccentrics and eccentric rods giving the rocking
forward and backward motion to the movable top frame which presses on the
heated bar or tube, and rolls the same and gradually presses out any irregularity;
when the rolling of the bar or tube is going on, water under pressure is turned in
the pipe or tube cast or fitted in the foundation frame, the water escaping through
the openings in the frame while coming in contact with the heated tube or bar
being rolled, removes all scale, cleaning the bar or tube, and also causes the bar or
tube to contract in its length, and being firmly held between the plates of the
foundation frame, and the underside plate of the movable top frame helps also the
straightening of the bar or tube. When the bar or tube is straightened and cleaned
to remove the same from the frames, the hand wheel is turned, and the rollers
brought in contact with the underside of the eccentric rods, which through the back
stroke of the rocking motion lifts the frame from contact with the bar or tube, and
on the return stroke brings the movable frame bottom plate in contact with the
side of the bar or tube, pushing it into a cooling rack fitted in front of the
apparatus, the machine is then stopped and left in position to receive another bar
or tube.
Or I employ instead of driving by spur wheel gear a direct oscillating engine,
the piston rod being connected to the top movable frame, the steam is admitted to
the cylinder alternately at either end by a fourway cock; or a slide valve may be
employed. The piston actuating the piston rod gives the required forward and
backward motion to the top frame to roll and straighten the bar or tube, and
instead of the lifting and lowering rollers I employ an inclined plane which is
hinged to the foundation frame, and which coming in contact with rollers fitted to
the top frame causes the lifting up of the frame to place a bar or tube to be rolled
and straightened. The inclined plane is worked by cams and gear.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Arthur Bramham Perkins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th September 1879.
ARTHUR BRAMHAM PERKINS, of Bradford, in the County of York, Engineer and
Iron Master. "IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING AND.
CLEANSING ROUND BARS AND TUBES OF WROUGHT IRON, STEEL, OR OTHER
METALS."
The said Invention relates to an improved method of rolling, straightening, and
cleansing by means of machinery or apparatus round bars or tubes of wrought
iron, steel, or other metals, instead of straightening them with the wooden mallets
heretofore employed.
For this purpose I employ an apparatus or machine constructed with a strong
foundation frame, having the top plate planed perfectly true; the frame is made
with side plates, and under the plate is cast or fitted a pipe extending the length of
the foundation frame; the pipe is drilled with a series of small holes through
which water under pressure is caused to flow to cleanse or remove the scales of the
round bar or tube being straightened, and also to keep the foundation plate cool
and keep it true and from warping. On the side plate of the foundation frame and
at the back are fitted moveable slides, to which are fitted rollers; the slides with
the rollers have a lifting and lowering movement for the purpose of lifting and
lowering when required a heavy, strong, and moveable straightening frame which
receives a rocking forward and backward motion to roll and straighten the bar or
tube being operated on; the moveable top frame is made with chambers in which.
water is placed to regulate the weight and to keep the frame cool, and prevent it
warping by the heat of the bar or tube operated on. The foundation frame is
fixed on a stone foundation, and to the foundation frame are fitted strong girders
which are secured to the stone foundation; these girders carry pedestals, having
plummer blocks in which works the main driving shaft of the apparatus; on the
shaft and near the ends of the moveable top frame are fitted two eccentrics, the
eccentrics are fitted with eccentric straps or rings, and also with eccentric rods, and
the ends of these rods are fitted and fixed to projecting pieces cast on the side
plate at the back of the moveable top frame; the eccentrics actuate the eccentric
rods, and give a rocking forward and backward motion to the moveable top frame
which rolls the heated bar or tube being straightened; the top back plate of the
moveable top frame is cast with two strong bosses through which pass the ends of
strong stays which are connected to the eccentric rings or straps, and the stays are
passed through metal tubes; the eccentric rods work in guides fixed to the girders.
The main shaft is actuated by a strong spur wheel which is worked by another
spur wheel actuated by a steam engine or by belt or gearing; on the main shaft is
fitted a clutch box to throw the apparatus in or out of gear.
A bar or tube having been heated to the required heat, is placed on the top plate
of the foundation frame, the moveable top frame being then in its most backward
position and at rest, the top frame having been brought to that position by means
of a band wheel which actuates a worm, giving motion to a worm wheel fitted on
the end of a shaft which extends the length of the foundation frame; on the ends
of the shaft are fitted bevil wheels which gear in other bevil wheels fitted on cross
shafts, on which are forged cams which give the lifting and lowering motion to the
slides in which are fitted the rollers, and when in contact with the underside plate
of the heavy moveable top frame whilst rocking, cause the lifting up of the frame
which is brought onto the top of the heated bar or tube to be straightened; the
whole weight of the frame is then left on the bar or tube by the frame being
lowered onto the bar or tube; but for straightening tubes, rollers are employed on
which the bottom ends of the moveable frame rest to prevent the crushing in of
the tube, and the foundation frame is made moveable, and is actuated by gear or

page_text: hydraulic power to regulate the straightening of tubes of different diameters; when
the rollers are removed from contact with the underside plate of the moveable
frame, the apparatus is started by means of a hand lever, which being actuated,
brings by means of gear the clutch in gear with the driving wheel which actuates
the main shaft, eccentrics and eccentric rods giving the rocking forward and back-
ward motion to the moveable top frame which presses on the heated bar or tube,
and rolls the same and gradually presses out any irregularity. When the rolling of
the bar or tube is going on, water under pressure is turned on into the pipe or tube
cast or fitted in the foundation frame, the water escaping through openings in the
frame, and which coming in contact with the heated bar or tube being rolled
removes all scale, thereby cleansing the bar or tube, and causing it to contract in
its length whilst being firmly held between the plate of the foundation frame and
the underside plate of the top moveable frame, and this helps also to straighten the
bar or tube.
When the bar is straightened and cleansed, and to remove the same from the
frame, the hand wheel is turned, and the rollers are brought in contact with the
underside of the moveable frame which, through the back stroke of the rocking
motion is thereby lifted from contact with the bar; and on the return stroke, the
moveable frame bottom plate is brought into contact with the side of the bar,
pushing it onto a cooling rack fitted in front of the apparatus; the machine is then
stopped and left in position to receive another bar or tube.
Or instead of driving by spur wheel gear, I employ an oscillating engine, the
piston rod being connected to the top moveable frame; steam is admitted in the
cylinder alternately at either end by a four way cock, or a slide valve may be
employed. The piston actuating the piston rod gives the required forward and
back ward motion to the top frame to roll and straighten the bar, and instead of
the lifting and lowering rollers, I employ hydraulic rams worked by water pressure,
(town water pressure may be employed); and for straightening tubes I employ a
horizontal engine which works the moveable frame in a horizontal line; the
foundation top plate in this case is made moveable, and is lifted or lowered to suit
the different diameters of tubes by gear or by hydraulics; the top moveable frame
works over friction rollers fitted in supports fixed on side frames. But in order to
enable my improvements to be better understood, I will proceed to describe the
same by reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which Figure 1, Sheet 1,
represents a side elevation of my improved apparatus partly shewn in section;
Figure 2, front elevation; and Figure 3, plan of the same.
Figure 4, Sheet 1, represents a side section of the moveable top frame with roller
gear to lift the moveable frame for a new bar; Figure 5, Sheet 2, represents a
side elevation of apparatus worked by an oscillating engine instead of spur wheel
gear; Figure 6, Sheet 2, represents hydraulic moveable top frame lifting apparatus
for straightening tubes.
Figure 7, Sheet 2, represents hydraulic lifting apparatus for the moveable top
frame for straightening bars. Similar letters of reference are used in all the
Figures to represent similar parts.
A is the foundation frame having the top plate B planed perfectly true; within 4
the foundation frame is fitted or cast a pipe C, extending the length of the
foundation frame; the pipe and the top plate are drilled with a series of small holes
D, through which water under pressure is caused to flow to cleanse or remove the
scales of the round bars or tubes operated on, and also to keep the foundation plate
cool and keep it from warping; the foundation frame is fixed on a strong stone 5
foundation E, and at the back of the foundation frame are fitted strong girders F,
which are also fixed on stone foundations; these girders are made with openings G,
in which work slides H, to which are fitted rollers I; the slides and rollers have a
lifting and lowering movement to lift when required a strong heavy straightening
rocking frame J to roll and straighten the bar operated on; the rocking frame is 5
made with chambers K, in which water is placed to regulate the weight and keep.
the rocking frame cool, and prevent it warping by the heat of the bar or tube

page_text: operated on. The girders F are fitted with plummer blocks L, in which works the
main driving shaft M, on which are fixed eccentrics N, which are fitted with
eccentric straps or rings O, and to which are secured eccentric rods P, which are
also secured to the back plate Q of the rocking frame J, the eccentrics by means of
the straps and eccentric rods give a rocking forward and backward motion to the
frame J which rolls the heated bar, and thus straightens it. On the back plate Q
are cast two bosses R, through which are passed strong rods S, and which are
secured in lugs T of the eccentric straps O; tubes U are. passed over the rods S to
stay and securely keep the eccentrics in working position with the rocking frame;
the eccentric rods work in guides V which are secured to the girders F.j
The main shaft M is actuated by a strong spur wheel W worked by another spur
wheel X, which may be actuated by a steam engine or by belt or gearing; on the
main shaft is fitted a clutch box Y, which is placed in or out of gear with the
wheel W by gear, and a lever coming in a convenient position near the lifting
roller hand wheel A¹.
A bar Z having been heated to the required heat is placed on the top plate B,
and under the rocking frame which is then at its most backward position and at-
rest (as shewn in the Drawings), the rocking frame having been brought to that
position by means of the hand wheel A¹ being turned, which actuates a shaft B',
on which is secured a worm C¹, which gives motion to a worm wheel D¹, fitted on
the end of a shaft, E¹, which extends nearly the length of the foundation frame; the
shaft works in plummer blocks F', fitted on frames G' which are secured on stone
foundations; bevil wheels H' are secured on the shaft E¹, which gear in other bevil
wheels I, which are secured on short cross shafts J¹, on which are forged cams K¹,
on which rest the bottom ends of the slides H, in which are fitted the rollers I ;
the cams K¹ give the lifting and lowering motion to the slides and rollers, and when
in contact with the underside plate of the heavy rocking frame whilst rocking,
cause the lifting up of the frame, bringing it on the top of the heated bar to
straighten it; the slides are then lowered, and the whole weight of the rocking
frame is placed on the top of the bar, but if the rocking motion is employed to
straighten tubes, the foundation plate is fitted with rollers to prevent the crushing
in of the tubes.
When the rollers are removed from contact with the rocking frame, the apparatus
is started by throwing the clutch box Y in gear with the driving wheel W of the
main shaft M, actuating the shaft, eccentrics, straps, and rods, which rocks forwards
and backwards the heavy frame J which presses on the heated bar or tube, rolling
the same, and gradually pressing out any irregularity.
When the rolling is going on, water under pressure is turned on into the pipe C,
which water escapes through the series of small holes D, and comes in contact with
the heated bar or tube being rolled and so cleanses it, and also causes the bar to'
contract in its length whilst being held firmly between the frames, and which helps
also to straighten the bar.
To remove the bar or tube, the hand wheel A¹ is actuated, and the rollers I aro
brought in contact with the underside of the heavy rocking frame which, through
the back stroke, lifts the frame from contact with the bar, and on the return
stroke brings the front prolongation L'in contact with the side of the bar, pushing
it onto a cooling rack fitted in front of the apparatus; the apparatus is then stopped
and left in position to receive another bar to be operated on, the prolongation L'
prevents the heavy rocking frame in the back stroke from dropping off the bar, if
the bar has not been pushed sufficiently under the rocking frame, thereby preventing
injury or breakage of the apparatus by the sudden dropping of the heavy rocking
frame onto the foundation plate top; this prolongation also serves to lift or remove
in the first instance the heavy rocking frame should the face plates of the rocking
and foundation plate be face to face; a lifting roller M' is employed which works in
bearers N¹, formed on the end of a lever 01; the lever is fitted in lugs cast on the
top of the centre rib of the rocking frame; the lever is fitted with a balance weight
P, to bring the roller back into position when the rocking frame is making its
·

page_text: forward stroke; it causes the roller M' to roll on the inclined projection Q', which
gives ease to the rocking frame, and allows time to actuate the hand wheel A', and
bring the rollers I in contact with the underside plate of the rocking, frame, to lift
up the frame and receive the heated bar.
Instead of driving the apparatus by gear, I may employ a steam engine which
may be an oscillating or horizontal engine; the steam engine is fixed on strong
iron girders fixed in the centre of the foundation frame and secured to it. R¹
(Figure 5, Sheet 2), is an oscillating steam engine, in the cylinder of which steam is
admitted alternately at either end of the cylinder by a four way cock S¹, and which
is actuated by a hand wheel T¹ fitted on the end of a rod U¹, which works in a
bearer V¹ formed on the end of the guide W₁; the piston rod X¹ is made with a flat
projection Y', which is firmly secured to the rocking frame; the piston projection
works in the guide W¹ on the piston rod, and piston guide rod X2, I fit collars Z);
in the collars are fitted india rubber rings or buffers A², which during the out and
in stroke of the piston come in contact with the glands B2, and relieve any blow
that might be produced through the rocking of the heavy frame.
Instead of, the roller lifting gear, I may also employ hydraulic rams C², which
are fitted with rollers D2; the rams are worked by preference with town water
pressure; the rams lift up the heavy rocking frame when placing the heated bar
under the frame to be rolled and straightened; the hydraulic rams are fitted with
pipes and taps to work the rams when required:
And I prefer to employ a horizontal engine to straighten tubes; in this case the
foundation plate A is made to have a lifting and lowering motion, and is actuated
by gear, or may be actuated by hydraulic power; the forward and backward
motion of the heavy frame in this case is horizontal instead of the rocking motion,
the frame being guided on rollers, and the position of the foundation frame and
rollers is regulated by lifting and lowering the foundation frame according to the
diameter of the tubes to be operated on.. I also employ if required a lifting
hydraulic ram C², and secure longer brackets which have extra forward motion.
Having thus described my improvements and the best means I am acquainted
with for carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details shewn and 'described, as they may be varied
without, departing from the peculiar character of the Invention, but what I do
claim, is,
The construction and employment of apparatus for rolling, straightening, and
cleansing round bars or tubes of wrought iron, steel, or other metals, such rolling
and straightening being effected by heavy rocking frames, or by heavy rolling
frames working horizontally, and which are actuated by gear or by a steam engine,
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and represented in the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur Bramham Perkins, have hereto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
Witness,
WALTER JAS. TURNER, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
Bradford.
ARTHUR BRAMHAM PERKINS. (L.S.)