Improvements in Machinery for Changing the Angle of the Flanges of Ź and Angle Bars.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 29th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 28th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 19th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Changing the Angle of the Flanges
of Ź and Angle Bars.
I, WILLIAM EVERHEART HIGHFIELD, of 2430, Fairhill Street, in the City of
Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Shipwright, do hereby
declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of the hereinafter described improvements upon the
machine forming the subject of Letters Patent, No. 2203, dated 19th May, 1881,
granted to John Henry Johnson in trust for me.
The machine is similar in its general construction and operation to that forming
the subject of the before-mentioned Letters Patent, having two pairs of conical or
beveled rolls carried by shafts geared together by bevel-wheels and adapted near
their outer ends to boxes pivoted to suitable bearings on opposite side frames of the
machine, the inner ends of the shafts being adapted to other boxes which are
guided in slots formed in plates secured to the inner sides of the said side frames.
To fixed bearings in the lower portion of the machine is adapted a shaft having
cams or eccentrics which act upon guided yokes connected by rods to the bars
carrying the lastly referred to boxes of the roll-shafts, so that as said cam shaft is
turned the said rolls may be caused to rise and fall, the pivoting of the outer boxes
of the roll-shafts permitting such movement.
The present machine is driven by means of a shaft adapted to suitable bearings
on one of the side frames of the machine, and provided with pulleys for receiving a
driving-belt from a pulley on any adjacent counter-shaft, the shaft having spur-
pinions which engage with spur-wheels adapted to turn freely upon sleeves
projecting from transverse bars at the ends of the machine. Each of these spur-
wheels has on its outer face two projecting fingers those of one wheel engaging
with a projecting arm carried by the outer end of the shaft of one of one of two pairs of
rolls and those of the other wheel engaging with a similar arm projecting from the shaft
of one of the other pair of such rolls, so that rotary movement is imparted to said
shafts without any interference with the swinging movement of the same, for the
diameter of the bearing-sleeves and of the openings in the spur-wheels is so much
greater than the diameter of the shafts that a vertical slot can be formed in each
sleeve to permit the swinging of the shaft.
The opposite side frames of the machine have central openings, so as to expose the
rolls for permitting the feeding of the bars thereto, and the upper rolls, are narrower
than the lower rolls so as to permit the passage of bars of Z shape between the
rolls, instead of limiting the capacity of the machine to simple angle-bars, as before.
In the present machine the lower rolls are of sufficient width to provide a support
for the central web of the bar throughout its entire width, while the upper rolls are
such as not to interfere with the outer flange of the bar.
The said cam-shaft has a worm-wheel which engages with a worm on a vertical
shaft but in order that the action of the machine may be more directly under the
control of the attendant than before I provide the upper end of such shaft with a
hand-wheel by turning which in one direction or the other the cam-shaft may be
actuated, so that its cams will cause the raising or lowering of the roll-shafts and
rolls, thus causing a change in the relation of the rolls to each other, and a
corresponding change in the character of the angular pass presented by said rolls.
The flanges of the bar are normally at right angles to each other and in starting
the operation the rolls of the machine present a right-angled pass.
When it becomes necessary to change the angle of the flange which is being acted

page_text: upon, the said hand-wheel is turned, so as to impart such movement to the cam-
shaft as to cause a depression of the inner ends of the roll-shafts thus changing the
angular position of the acting faces of the rolls in respect to a vertical line and
causing a like change in the angle of the pass formed by said rolls. The hand-wheel
is operated rapidly or slowly, depending upon whether the angle is to be changed
suddenly or gradually, and the operation of the hand-wheel is continued until the
change of angle is as great as desired.
In my former patented machine the cam-shaft at the bottom of the machine had a
worm-wheel which was operated by a worm on a vertical shaft at one side of the
machine, and this vertical shaft had a cone-drum which received a belt passing
around another cone-drum on a vertical shaft at the end of the machine, the latter
shaft being driven by gearing from one of the roll-shafts. The objection to this
plan was, mainly, the inaccuracy in the operation of the cam-shaft which it caused,
for as the power to operate the cam-shaft was transmitted through the medium of
the belt and cone pulleys there was always a liability of the belt to slip on the
pulleys, and the operator never knew exactly whether the angle-iron was being
properly beveled.
In the present machine, therefore, I secure a hand-wheel directly on the vertical
shaft carrying the worm which gears into the worm-wheel on the cam-shaft, so that
there is a positive and definite connection between this hand-wheel and the cam-
shaft, and no liability of any of the parts between the hand-wheel and cam-shaft
to slip; hence, whenever the operator turns the hand-wheel in one direction or the
other he knows to a certainty that there has been a corresponding operation of the
cam-shaft and a desired change in the position of the rolls. Not only, therefore,
does the present arrangement render the machine certain in its action, whereas it
was before more or less uncertain, but it also simplifies the construction of the
machine, as it dispenses with the second vertical shaft, the cone-drums, and the
connecting-belt.
It is customary to mount the machine directly in front of the furnace in which
the bars are being heated, so that on issuing from the furnace the bars may be passed
directly between the rolls; but it is advisable to move the machine away from the
front of the furnace when it is desired to use the latter for other purposes. For this
reason, I make the driving-shaft with a detachable section between that section to
which power is applied and that section which is geared to the machine, so that on
removing this intermediate section the machine may be shifted bodily on its
supporting sills or rails, so as to be moved away from the front of the furnace, that
section of the counter-shaft carried by the machine being then, if desired, coupled
to the driving-section, if it is desired to use the machine for acting upon short
pieces of bar, which can be heated without the use of the main furnace.
Dated this 29th day of May 1889.
DAY, DAVIES & HÙNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Changing the Angle of the Flanges
of Z and Angle Bars.
I, WILLIAM EVERHEART HIGHFIELD of 2430, Fairhill Street, in the City of
Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Shipwright, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This Invention consists of the hereinafter described improvements upon the
machine forming the subject of Letters Patent, No. 2203 dated 19th May, 1881,
granted to John Henry Johnson in trust for me."

page_text: In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1. is a longitudinal section of the machine.
partly in elevation. Fig. 2. is an end view of the same, looking in the direction of
the arrow Fig. 1. Fig. 3. is a side view of the complete machine and its driving
mechanism. Fig. 4. is a side view of part of the machine showing some of the parts
in a different position from that illustrated in Fig. 3; and Figs. 5, and, 6, are diagrams
illustrating the object of the machine.
:
The machine is similar in its general construction and operation to that forming
the subject of my before mentioned Letters Patent, having two pairs of conical cr
beveled rolls, A, A¹, and, B, B1, carried by shafts, a, a¹, and b, b, geared together by
bevel wheels, c, and adapted near their outer ends to boxes, d, pivoted to suitable
bearings on the opposite side frames, D, of the machine, the inner ends of the shafts
being adapted to boxes, d¹, which are guided in slots, d³, formed in plates secured to
the inner sides of said frames, D.
To fixed bearings in the lower portion of the machine is adapted a shaft, m, having
cams or eccentrics, n, which act upon guided yokes, p; connected by rods, s; to the
bars carrying the boxes, d', of the roll shafts, so that as said shaft, n, turned, the
rolls, A, A, and, B, BI, may be caused to rise and fall, the pivoting of the outer
boxes, d, of the roll-shafts permitting such movement.
'
:
The present machine is driven by means of a shaft, F, adapted to suitable bearings
on one of the side frames, D, of the machine and provided with pulleys, f, for
receiving a driving-belt from a pulley on any adjacent counter-shaft, the shaft F,
baving spur-pinions, t, which engage with spur-wheels, t¹, adapted to turn freely upon
sleeves, G, projecting from transverse bars, G', at the ends of the machine. Each of
these spur wheels has on its outer face two projecting fingers, w, those of one wheel
engaging with a projecting arm, æ, carried by the outer end of the shaft, a, and those
of the other wheel engaging with a similar arm projecting from the shaft, b, so that
rotary movement is imparted to said shafts without any interference with the swinging
movement of the same, for the diameter of the bearing sleeves, G, and of the
openings in the spur-wheel, t, is so much greater than the diameter of the shafts
that a vertical slot, y, can be formed in each sleeve, G, to permit the swinging of the
shaft.
The opposite side-frames, D, of the machine have central openings so as to expose
the rolls, A, A¹, B, B', for permitting the feeding of the bars thereto, and the upper
rolls, A, B1, are narrower than the lower rolls, A, B, so as to permit the passage of
bars of Z-shape between the rolls, instead of limiting the capacity of the machine.to
simple angle-bars as before.
It will be observed that in the present machine the lower rolls are of sufficient
width to provide a support for the central web of the bar throughout its entire
width, while the upper rolls are such as not to interfere with the outer flange of the
-bar.
The shaft, m, has a wormwheel, k, which engages with a worm, i, on a vertical
shaft, h, but in order that the action of the machine may be more directly under the
control of the attendant than before I provide the upper end of the said shaft, h, with
a hand-wheel, ¹, by turning which in one direction or the other the cam-shaft, m,
may be actuated, so that its cams will cause the raising or lowering of the roll-shafts
and rolls, thus causing a change in the relation of the rolls to each other, and a corre-
sponding change in the character of the angular pass presented by such rolls, as
shown in Figs. 3, and, 4, and by the diagrams Figs. 5, and, 6.
The flanges of the bar are normally at right angles to each other, as shown in
Figs. 1, and, 5, and in starting the operation the rolls of the machine present a right
angled pass as likewise shown in said figures.
When it becomes necessary to change the angle of the flange which is being acted
upon, the hand-wheel, ', is turned, so as to impart such movement to the cam-shaft, m,
as to cause a depression of the inner ends of the roll-shafts, a, a, b, b¹ thus changing
the angular position of the acting faces of the rolls in respect to a vertical line and
causing a like change in the angle of the pass formed by said rolls, as shown for
instance in Figs. 4 and, 6. The hand-wbeel, h¹, is operated rapidly or slowly,
•

page_text: depending upon whether the angle is to be changed suddenly or gradually, and the
operation of the hand-wheel is continued until the change. of angle is as great as
desired.
The machine is furnished with two dial plates u, v, the former of which is in the
form of a graduated arc over which travels a pointer, u¹ connected by a two-armed
lever, u, to the adjustable box, d¹. As this box is moved vertically to a greater or
less extent and the angle of the resultant bar is changed, the amount of movement
and the angle which the bar is to assume will be marked by the pointer upon this
dial.
The dial, v, is circular and is fitted with a pointer, v', connected to a worm-wheel, v³,
which engages with a worm, v³, to which motion is imparted by suitably supported
bevel gearing, v, and a small pinion, v, engaging with one of the gear wheels of the
driving mechanism. The travel of the pointer, v', around its dial will indicate the
speed at which the bar is travelling through the rolls.
In my former patented machine the cam-shaft at the bottom of the machine had a
worm wheel which was operated by a worm on a vertical shaft at one side of the
machine and this vertical shaft had a cone-drum which received a belt passing around
another cone drum on a vertical shaft at the end of the machine, the latter shaft
being driven by gearing from one of the roll-shafts. The objection to this plan was,
mainly the inaccuracy in the operation of the cam-shaft which it caused, for as the
power to operate the cam-shaft was transmitted through the medium of the belt and
cone pulleys there was always a liability of the belt to slip on the pulleys, and the
operator never knew exactly whether the angle-iron was being properly bevelled.
In the present machine therefore, I secure a hand-wheel directly on the vertical
shaft carrying the worm which gears into the worm-wheel on the cam shaft, so that
there is a positive and definite connection between this hand-wheel and the cam-shaft,
and no liability of any of the parts between the handwheel and the cam-shaft to slip;
hence whenever the operator turns the hand-wheel in one direction or the other he
knows to a certainty that there has been a corresponding operation of the cam-shaft
and a desired change in the position of the rolls. Not only therefore does the present
arrangement render the machine certain in its action whereas it was before more or
less uncertain, but it also simplifies the construction of the machine, as it dispenses
with the second vertical shaft, the cone-drums and the connecting belt.
It is customary to mount the machine directly in front of the furnace in which the
bars are being heated, so that on issuing from the furnace the bars may be passed
directly between the rolls; but it is advisable to move the machine away from the
front of the furnace when it is desired to use the latter for other purposes. For this
reason I make the driving-shaft with a detachable section, F¹, between that section to
which power is applied and that section which is geared to the machine so that on
removing this intermediate section the machine may be shifted bodily on its sup-
porting sills or rails, so as to be moved away from the front of the furnace, that
section of the counter-shaft carried by the machine being then if desired, coupled to
the driving section, if it is desired to use the machine for acting upon short pieces of
bar which can be heated without the use of the main furnace.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
1. The combination of a pair of bevelled rolls and their shafts adapted to pivoted
boxes, with an arm projecting laterally from the shaft of one roll, and a driving wheel
having longitudinally-projecting fingers for engaging with said arm, and a central
opening of larger diameter than the shaft, whereby the swinging of the latter on its
pivots is permitted, all substantially as specified.
2. The combination of a pair of bevel wheels having shafts adapted to pivoted boxes,
an arm projecting from the shaft of one roll, a driving wheel having projecting fingers
engaging with said arm, and a sleeve serving as a bearing for said wheel and having
a vertical slot for the passage of the shaft, all substantially as specified,

page_text: 3. The combination of the two pairs of bevelled rolls and the pivoted shafts carrying
the same, a shaft having cams and connecting rods whereby said cams are caused to
act on the roll-shafts, a counter-shaft, worm-gearing whereby the counter-shaft is
caused to operate the cam-shaft, and a hand wheel whereby said counter-shaft may be
directly operated, all substantially as specified.
4. The combination of the line-shaft, the supporting sills parallel therewith, the
frame of the machine mounted so as to be traversed longitudinally on said sills, and
a driving shaft comprising a primary or power-receiving section, adapted to bearings
adjacent to and in line longitudinally with the machine, a section carried by and
geared to the machine, and an intermediate detachable section; as set forth.
Deted this 14th day of February 1890
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.