Year: 1887

page_text: I, WILLIAM FRAZER COCHRANE, residing at Cambridge City, in the County of
Wayne, and State of Indiana, one of the United States of America, Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of this 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 embraces improvements upon the system of gearing and relief
mechanism for driving rolls described in my patent No. 11584, of September, 29,
1885, and it consists in the several novel combinations, arrangements and constructions
of parts as hereinafter fully described and as set forth in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure, 1, is a top plan view of a section of a roller mill showing the application of
the improved driving mechanism.
Figure, 2, is a longitudinal sectional view of the improved flexible coupling.
Figure, 3, is an end view of the pulley frame.
Figure, 4, is a detail view of the clutch.
Figure, 5, is a detail of the hand connection for actuating the relief mechanism.
The frame work for supporting the rolls and operating mechanisms may be of any
approved construction, but I prefer to employ the frame shown consisting essentially
of the end pieces, A, sleeves, A', stays, A2, and through rods, A³, constructed and
combined substantially as described and claimed in another application bearing even
date with this application and numbered 15239.
According to my present invention two sets or pairs of rolls, B, are supported in
bearings, B, B, on the end pieces, A, of each frame or of each section of the frame,
where several sets of rolls are arranged in line, as contemplated by my present and
patented invention.

page_text: The two inner rolls, B³, of the double set are supported in bearings, B2, secured in
position upon the end pieces, A, of the frame, while the outer hollow rolls, B*, are
supported in movable bearings, B³.
The bearings, B' may be arranged and supported in any approved manner which
will permit of a movement towards and from the bearings, B2, to effect the adjustment
of the front roll; thus they may be supported as shown in my said prior patent or
provided with an adjustable elastic pressure device P, as shown, for effecting the
adjustment and determining the pressure exerted or resistance to be overcome in
forcing the roll and its bearing back or away from the roll, B2. As thus arranged it
will be noticed that while both the inner rolls, B2, are supported in fixed bearings, the
two outer or cooperating rolls are supported in movable or adjustable bearings.
Passing longitudinally through each of the front hollow rolls, B₁, is a driving shaft, C,
the two shafts being supported in the boxes or bearings, C, which latter are adjustably
secured to the stays or other suitable supports on the frame.
According to my present invention I dispense with the driving pulleys on the two
shafts, C, and employ in their stead bevel gears, 1, and a counter shaft, 2, provided at
each end with a bevel pinion, 3, and in the centre with a pulley, 4, where by a single
pulley is made to drive both shafts, C, and the speed of each shaft can be independently
regulated and adjusted by the substitution for gears, 1, and 3, of gears, of different
diameters.
The driving mechanism for the shafts, C, may be located at any convenient point
either between individual frames in the series or at the end of the combined
frame, as shown, and to this end the tubular stays, A2, which are bolted fast to the
frame by the through rods, A³, are each provided with a vertical eye or socket to
receive the post, 5, of a bearing block, 6. Each bearing block, 6, is provided with a
bearing, 7, for the reception and support of the end of the counter shaft, 2, and with
a transverse socket or bearing, 8, supporting the shaft, C.
With the parts thus constructed and arranged a light and efficient driving mechanism
is secured which is entirely supported upon the frame and can readily be applied or
removed therefrom. If additional strength is required to prevent the springing of
the shafts by the action of the bevel pinions upon the gears, the bearing blocks, 6, may
be connected or united by the addition of a yoke, 9, thereby forming a rigid frame
adapted to support the entire driving mechanism.
The pulley, 4, driven by a belt or equivalent means in the direction indicated by the
arrow communicates motion to both shafts, C, rotating the latter in opposite directions
and at any desired speed.
As in my prior patent each roll of the entire series is driven separately from one of
the two shafts, C, but instead of employing an oscillating toothed sleeve for communi-
cating motion to the hollow rolls and spur gearing for communicating motion
to the hack roll, I have devised a new form of flexible coupling for the front
or hollow adjustable roll and a new system of gearing for the back roll whereby
I am enabled to employ chains, belts or equivalent devices in place of the spur gears at
the same time avoiding crossed or twisted belts or idle pulleys.
The improved flexible coupling for driving the front roll is constructed and applied
as follows:-
Upon one journal of the hollow roll and outside of the bearing is shrunk or other-
wise secured, a wrought iron or steel collar, 11, and to this collar is secured one end
of a strong coiled spring, 12, encircling the shaft, C. The opposite end of this spring
is secured to a disk or collar, 13, loosely supported on the shaft, said collar being
provided with teeth or projections, 14, and constituting part of the clutch. In order
to protect the spring a shield, 15, may be attached to or formed integral with the
disk, 13, said shield enclosing the spring and abutting against the collar, 11.
Sliding upon the shaft, C, but connected to rotate therewith by a key, 16, is the
other or movable section, 17, of the clutch, a spring, 18, interposed between a
collar, 19, and the end of the section, 17, serving to hold the latter pressed towards
the opposite section.
The spring, 12, through which motion is communicated from the shaft to the hollow

page_text: adjustable roll, possesses special advantages in this particular combination of parts in
that it serves not only to permanently unite the roll and clutch section, but being
elastic in all directions, it accommodates itself to the lateral adjustment of the roll
upon the shaft without detracting from its driving power and serves as an elastic
cushion to receive and in a measure reduce or absorb the shock occasioned by
throwing the movable section of the clutch into engagement with the opposite
section connected to the spring and roll, while the shaft is running at a high rate of
speed.
The driving mechanism for the rear rolls is constructed and applied as follows:-
Upon each shaft, C, and beyond the end of the movable roll opposite to that to
which the flexible coupling is attached is loosely mounted a pulley or sprocket wheel, 20,
provided with a clutch section, 21, cooperating with the clutch section, 22, which
latter is movable longitudinally of the shaft, but connected to rotate therewith by a
key or spline.
On the shaft or journal of each of the inner rolls, B³, is mounted a pulley or sprocket
wheel, 23, which latter may if desired be connected to its shaft or journal through a
clutch, 24 in which case if found more convenient the corresponding pulley or sprocket
wheel, 20, may be secured to its shaft, C.
The pulley or sprocket wheels, 23, are applied to opposite ends respectively of the
two inner rolls, and they are so disposed relatively to the pulleys or sprocket wheels
on the shafts, C, that the wheel 28, of the inner roll of one set shall be in line with
the wheel, 20, on shaft, C, passing through the adjustable or outer roll of the opposite
set. The wheels, 20, and, 23, are connected together by drive chains, 25, (pulleys
with belts or cords of various forms being regarded as equivalents thereof) so that the
inner roll of one set will receive motion and be driven from the shaft, C, of the
opposite set.
This simple arrangement of driving mechanism has been devised in order that the
two inner rolls as well as the two outer or adjustable rolls may be driven directly from
the two parallel shafts, C, and in the proper relative direction, without the intervention
of toothed gearing or the employment of a complicated system of belting and its use
in this system is rendered practicable by reason of the fact that while the front rolls of
the two sets are adjustable with respect to the driving shafts the latter as well as the
inner rolls are sustained in fixed bearings.
The relief mechanism employed, is in general, the same as that claimed in my
application No. 15239 bearing even date with this application, but somewhat modified
in form and construction to adapt it to the improved system, as will presently
appear.
Of the parts found in the aforesaid application, 30, is the shaft, carrying the disk
with inclined teeth or cams, and the connection between the movable bearing and the
disk, the latter having teeth or cams cooperating with those upon the first mentioned
disk to effect the longitudinal movement of the said disk and the sleeve bearing the
fork or shipper for engaging the movable clutch section, 17. The spring, 18, for
reciprocating the clutch section, 17, and holding the cam disks in engagement instead
of being placed upon the shaft, 30, and bearing against the sleeve is located upon the
main driving shaft, C, between the collar, 19, and end of clutch section, 17, so that
said spring will act directly upon the movable section of the clutch to throw the latter
into engagement and hold it in place while the clutch is closed. This is more
especially desirable when, as in the present instance, the opposing section of the clutch
is connected to a spring driver, 12, and the clutch is provided with the compound
interlocking and frictional jaws described and claimed in my prior patent No. 11,584
of 1885, for in order to maintain the requisite contact of the inclined surfaces to start
the roll, and, when started to cause the interlocking projections of the movable section
to enter quickly between those on the opposing section, it is desirable that the movable
section of the clutch should be directly acted upon by the spring instead of through
the several parts of the relief mechanism.
As hereinbefore mentioned the clutch is of the combined interlocking and frictional

page_text: type described in my prior patent but modified in this particular, that instead of making
the interlocking projections, 14, of one section about the same width as the spaces
between the jaws of the opposing section, the spaces are enlarged to about twice the
width of the jaws, as shown in figure, 4. This change is found in practice to greatly
improve the action of the clutch in starting up the heavy roll, as it facilitates the
entrance of the jaws of the movable section between those of the opposing section as
soon as the latter has attained the proper speed, but before it has begun to revolve in
unison with the shaft.
In order that the relief mechanism may operate to unclutch the back as well as the
front roll of each pair, the back or inner roll being driven from the opposite shaft, the
movable section of the clutch, 24, on the inner roll is connected to the sleeve of
the relief. mechanism in such manner that when said sleeve is reciprocated the wheel, 23,
will be unclutched or disconnected from the roll. Any suitable arrangement of devices
for effecting this movement may be employed.
For the purpose of operating the relief mechanism by hand, to unclutch the rolls
when desired, I secure to the shaft 30, an arm, 40, in whose outer or free end is
pivoted a cam, 41, resting against a collar, 42, or other bearing on the outer sleeve, A',
of the frame, and provided with a handle or lever, 43. The disks, 31, of the relief
mechanism being keyed to the shaft, 30 when the hand lever is drawn outwards, the
cam, 41, riding upon the roller, 42, will force the arm, 40, down thereby turning the
shaft, 30, and disks, 31, so as to actuate the clutch shipping devices.
Owing to the high rate of speed at which the shaft is driven any oil or other lubri-
cant which escapes from the bearing and is deposited on the shaft will be quickly thrown
off and deposited upon surrounding objects. As this is not only annoying but
exceedingly objectionable in a machine designed to operate upon flour it is of the
utmost importance that it should be effectually suppressed or removed. With this in
view I have furnished each bearing, C, with a cup shaped cavity or rim, T, whose
outer edge is bent or extends slightly inwards towards the shaft to form a hood or cap
within which the oil will be caught and retained.
Although I have shown and described herein but a single section of a mill consisting
of two parts or sets of rollers with operating mechanism therefor, it is my purpose
and intention to arrange and combino together in a connected series any desired
number of sets of rolls to be driven from the two shafts, C.
Nor do I wish to be understood as limiting myself to the use of the particular form
of flexible coupling herein described and claimed, in the system of driving mechanism
for actuating the front and inner rolls, as the flexible couplings shown in my prior
patent or any other form of coupling which will accommodate itself to the necessary
adjustments of the hollow roll with respect to its driving shaft may be substituted as
an equivalent in this particular combination, without departing from the spirit of my
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a system, substantially such as herein described wherein the rolls are driven
directly from parallel shafts and in combination with said shafts, and a counter shaft
carrying the driving pulley, of the gears for communicating motion from the counter
shaft to both driving shafts, substantially as described.
2. In a system such as described and in combination with the hollow adjustable rolls,
the driving shaft passing through each of said rolls and the frame supporting the rolls
and driving shafts, of a gear frame detachably secured to the roll frame and carrying
a counter shaft, pulley and gears engaging gears on the driving shaft, substantially as
described.
3. In combination with the end piece, A, of the roll frame the hollow stays secured
to said frame by the through rods, the bearing blocks mounted upon said stays
and supporting the parallel driving shafts, the gear wheels secured to said driving

page_text: shafts, and the counter shaft also supported in said bearing blocks and provided with
the pulley and pinions engaging the gears on the driving shafts substantially as
described.
4. The improved detachable gear frame constructed for application to a frame
substantially as herein described and consisting essentially of the hollow stays provided
with vertical sockets, and bearing blocks with posts adjustably secured in said sockets,
said blocks being connected together and provided with bearings for the two parallel
driving shafts and the transverse counter shaft, the whole being arranged and combined
together and with the driving shafts, their gear wheels, and the counter shaft and its
pinion, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. In combination with the sectional frame, composed of the end pieces, A,
sleeves, A', and through rods, A3, of the tubular stays, A³, secured by the through
rods to the end piece, A, and provided with vertical sockets and the vertically
adjustable gear frame mounted upon said stays, A2, and provided with the bearing
blocks supporting the driving shafts, C, and counter shaft, the latter provided with a
driving pulley or its equivalent and gearing connecting it to both shafts, C, substantially
as described.
6. In combination with the adjustable hollow roll and the driving shaft passing
longitudinally through the same and supported in bearings independent of the roll, a
spring connecting the roll and shaft for communicating motion from one to the other
substantially as described.
7. In combination with a hollow roll mounted in adjustable bearings, the shaft
passing through said rol! and supported in independent bearings, a clutch on the said
shaft and a spring connection between the clutch and roll for driving the latter,
substantially as described.
8. In combination with the hollow roll mounted in adjustable bearings and provided
with the collar secured to one end, the driving shaft passing through said roll,
the clutch mounted upon said shaft and a coiled spring surrounding the shaft
and attached to the said collar and clutch, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
9. The combination with the two hollow rolls mounted in adjustable bearings and the
two inner or back rolls mounted in fixed bearings of the parallel driving shafts each
passing through one of the hollow rolls, a flexible coupling for connecting each hollow
roll to its shaft, a pulley or sprocket wheel mounted on each shaft and a belt or chain
passing around said pulley and a pulley on the inner roll of the opposite set or pair,
substantially as described.
10. In a system such as described wherein two sets or pairs of rolls are mounted
in a single frame, the combination with the outer adjustable hollow roll of one of
said sets and the driving shaft passing through said roll and connected thereto,
of a belt or chain extending from a pulley on said driving shaft to a pulley
on the inner roll of the opposite set, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
11. The combination with the two inner rolls and their pulleys, the two hollow outer
rolls mounted in adjustable bearings and the driving shafts passing through the said
hollow rolls, of the flexible coupling connecting each hollow roll to its driving shaft, a
pulley mounted upon each driving shaft and a belt connecting the pulley on the driving
shaft of one set of rolls with the pulley on the inner roll of the opposite set, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
12. In a system such as described and in combination with the double set of rollers,
the two driving shafts each passing through the adjustable roller of one pair or set
and connected thereto by a flexible coupling and to the inner adjustable roller of
the opposite set by belt or chain gearing and the shaft driven from a prime
motor and connected through gearing to the two roll driving shafts, substantially as
described.
13. In combination with the driving shaft, clutch and relief mechanism, substantially
such as described, the spring applied to the shaft and pressing against the movable
section of the clutch thereon as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 14. In combination with the shaft of the relief mechanism substantially such as
described of the arm carrying the cam lever engaging a bearing on the frame,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
15. The improved compound frictional and interlocking clutch constructed and
combined substantially as described, the opposite sections of said clutch being formed
with the bevel ended interlocking projections or jaws, and widened spaces substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
16. In combination with the shaft and its bearing, the hood or rim applied to the
end of the bearing and operating to receive its oil thrown of from the shaft, substantially
as described.
Dated this 8th day of November 1887