Improved Process and Apparatus for Rolling Metals.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 18th June, 1895-Accepted, 14th Dec., 1835
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improved Process and Apparatus for Rolling Metals.
I, PAUL HESSE, Engineer of 9, Gartenstrasse, Iserlohn, Germany, 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:-
The present invention consists in an improved process for producing plain and
shaped shafts and tubes and in the particular construction of the rolling machinery
employed in connection therewith.
And in order to render this Specification more easily intelligible reference is had
to the accompanying drawings in which similar reference numerals refer to similar
parts throughout the several views :-
Fig. 1 is a side sectional elevation of one form of rolling machinery constructed
according to the present invention,
Fig. 2 is a cross section on line a-b of Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 a cross section on line c-d of Fig. 1
Fig. 4 a cross section on line e-f of Fig. 1, and,
Fig. 5 a cross section on line g-h of Fig. 1 ;
Fig. 6 is a side sectional elevation of a modified form of the machine,
Fig. 7 a cross section on line -m of Fig. 6,
Fig. 8 a cross section on line i-k Fig. 6,
Figs. 9 to 12 are details hereinafter referred to.
Fig. 13 is a sectional side elevation of a further modification,
Fig. 14 a transverse section cutting the rolls and driving gear,
Figs. 15 and 16 are detail views,
;
Figs. 17 to 23 show the position and arrangement of the rolls in the machinery
described with reference to Sheets 1, 2, and 3.
The
Referring to Figs. 1 to 5-the hollow shaft 1 carrying the housing 4 is mounted
in bearings 2 and 3 and driven from a motor, operating the sheave pulley 5.
housing 4 has mounted therein a suitable number of rolls 6 on radially adjustable
stub shafts 9, which may lie in a direction parallel slanting or skew to the centre
line 7 of the machine. A sleeve is mounted to slide on the hollow shaft 1, and
adapted under circumstances to move radially a series of rolls 11, 11, mounted
around and bearing on said sleeve, the parts carrying said rolls being arranged to
slide in guides 10 and the latter being held against the sleeve 8 by the aid of
springs 12. If the sleeve 8 is slid along the shaft 1, the rolls 11 will be moved
radially towards and from the centre line of the machine, according to the shape
and direction of motion of said sleeve.
In the drawing the sleeve is represented conical, so that when it advances in the
direction of the arrow in Fig. 1 the rolls will be gradually pushed outwards.
This motion of the said rolls is transmitted by means of the lever system 13 to
the stem 14 of the bearing 42 of each of the pressure rolls 6. Thus the radial
adjustment of the said pressure rolls is dependent on the shape of the sleeve 8, and
if the sleeve is cylindrical no displacement of the rolls will take place. For this
reason the present rolling system is termed "copying system." 15 is a pressure
piston which may either be driven by a screw device as illustrated, actuated by
suitable pulleys, or by hydraulic pressure, said piston serving to force the hollow
or solid metal block 16 into the throat piece 17. As may be seen from Figs..
and 3 and 4, the throat piece is advantageously made somewhat larger in diameter

page_text: at the end at which the metal block enters the same, and is provided on its interior
surface with longitudinal or transverse grooves or flutings, between which the
metal block is forced. These grooves or flutings serve to compress the metal block,
to free its surface from impurities, to retain it against rotation and grip it firmly
against the tendency of the pressure rolls to turn it.
The throat piece 17 may be made in one piece or in sections according to the
size and nature of the rolling train, and is mounted in bearing 18, being advan-
tageously provided with a cooling jacket, into which water is poured from the pipe
system 19, said water escaping through the pipes 20 and cooling the pressure
rolls 6 and the rolls 21 which support the ends of said pressure rolls. The
bearing 18 may be formed of one piece or in sections, and is adjustably or rigidly
attached to the press.
A hollow mandrel 22 is mounted on a rod 23 having its front end guided in the
bush 37 of the piston 15 and its rear end supported by a slide 24 which may be
operated longitudinally in both directions by means of a screw spindle and suitable
driving mechanism 25, 26, 27, or any other suitable operating mechanism. If the
metal block 16 is forced through the throat piece between the rolls 6 these latter
will be rotated by the contact with the metal block and the friction caused thereby,
and will consequently work the said block.
The rapidity with which the said block will be rolled out depends first, on the
amount of pressure exercised on the block by the piston 15, second, on the distance
apart of the pressure rolls in relation to the size of the block, third, on the propor-
tion of the smaller to the larger diameter of each of the rolls and fourth, ou the
speed of rotation of the housing 4 of the rolls 6.
According to the drawings the motion of the piston 15 is transmitted to a
lever 32 by means of the lever system 28, 29, and spindle 31, and connecting
rods 30. The lever 32 is mounted on a spindle 33 (Fig. 5) and operates the
levers 34 which are suitably linked to the ring 35 at 36 of the sleeve 8. This
arrangement causes the sleeve 8 to be propelled along the hollow shaft 1 during
the rolling process the pressure rolls 6 following the shape of the said sleeve, or if
the latter is cylindrical, remaining in one position as regards the centre of the
machine.
In the device illustrated in the figs. under consideration, the metal block will be
formed to a seamless tube having a conical exterior, which may be employed as a
gun barrel or for cannons.
It will be obvious that if the sleeve 8 is kept stationary during the rolling
process, the tube will have a cylindrical exterior. This may be easily accomplished
by disconnecting the ring 35 from the connecting rod 36 and retaining the sideve 8
by suitable means in one and the same position on the shaft 1. As soon as the
piston head 37, which is advantageously fluted or ribbed on its pressure surface,
has nearly reached the pressure rolls 6, the nuts 39 of the rod 38, which is in
connection with the lever 32 will operate a coupling 40 disconnecting the shaft.
from its driving power at 5, and stopping the machine.
The piston is now withdrawn, and the mandrel or swage 22 removed from the
block or tube 16, the rolls are adjusted a sufficient distance apart to allow of the
(convenient removal of the tube at the front or rear end of the machine.
Figs. 6, 7, and 8, of Sheet 11, show a modification according to which the metal
block 43 is rotated from a suitable driving pulley 63, and simultaneously forced
between rolls 44, mounted in a stationary housing 45 and radially adjustable
therein by means of sliding bearings 55. The pressure rod 46 of any suitable
kind of press is connected to the driving shaft 47, so as to be free to rotate, but
not being axially movable with regard to the same, by means of a suitable
coupling 48, the pressure head 49 being rigidly attached to the rod 47.
To the
shaft 47 is attached a shaping sleeve for the metal block, said sleeve having a
circular cross section and a profiled longitudinal section.
4
The shaft 47 is driven by the pulley 63 and is simultaneously forced forward,
together with the pressure head 49 the metal block 43 being forced through the

page_text: throat piece 50 which is advantageously fluted as described with regard to the..
similar piece 17, and between the rolls 44. The friction rolls 51 enable the throat
piece 50 to follow the motion of the shaft 47, thus turning the block 43 and causing
the pressure rolls 44 to rotate. If the guide rolls 52 of the double arm lever 54
contact with an elevated part of the shaping sleeve c, the said lever will be tilted
on its pivot and its opposite end, which engages a vertically guided rod 53 of the.
pressure roll bearings 55, will cause the said pressure rolls 44 to advance towards
each other, a depression on the shaping sleeve a will obviously have the opposite
effect as the guide rolls 52 of the levers 54 are continually held against the
shaping sleeve by means of suitable springs as shown.
By means of the hand wheel 56 and bevel gearing 57 and 58 the guide rolls 52
may be brought out of engagement with the shaping sleeve x, and thus, when the
rolls have been fixed in one position, cylindrical rods or tubes may be formed.
It will be obvious that by altering the longitudinal section of the shaping
sleeve articles having varying profiles may be produced.. If the metal block is
provided with.suitable boring and worked in the same manner as described with
regard to Figs. 1 to 5, the result will of course be a hollow tube or shaft. The
shaping sleeve of Fig. 6 will form a solid gun barrel having collars 59 thereon.
The sleeve shown at Fig. 10 will form a shaft 60 suitable for screw propeller
shafts and coupling spindles. Fig. 11 shows the shape of the sleeve when it is
desired to make a fly wheel spindle 61, and Fig. 12 a shaping sleeve for rolling
guns 62. By adapting the feed mechanism of one of the devices shown on :
Sheets 1 and 11 to the rolling mechanism of the other & by other similar
combinations round solid and hollow bodies of any description may be attained.
The rolling train illustrated in Figs. 13 to 16 of the drawing Sheet 3 is designed
for producing objects of circular section, in the manufacture of which in the
practice, the form or profile is often varied.
The radial adjustment of the rolls 63 is effected in this case by means of the
rod 64 of the pressure piston of a hydraulic cylinder (Fig. 14) said pressure rod
operating a chain 65 and chain wheels 66, on the spindles of which latter
eccentrics having straps 67 are mounted; said eccentrics serving when the piston
is actuated in one direction or the other, to adjust the position of the rolls 63 with
the bearings of which they are connected. The rod 64 of the pressure piston is
provided with a pointer 69 which is adapted to move along a scale 70 and to show
the distance apart of the rolls or the diameter of the metal 71 under treatment at
the time.
A set screw 74 mounted in the end of a pivoted lever 73 is held against the end
of the block as it issues from between the rolls by means of a spring 72 (Fig. 15)
and the movement of the said set screw is transmitted on a reduced scale and shown
on an arm of the scale 70 by means of a pointer 75.
The machinist controlling the valve lever 76 will thus constantly have an exact
representation of the diameter and length of the work being produced. If a
templet or drawing is provided instead of the scale, said templet or drawing
showing on a reduced scale the form of the work to be produced, the machinist
will only need to take care that the position of the pointers 69 and 75 corresponds
to the form of the templet or to the dimensions on the drawings, in order to produce
an exact copy of the same.
The
In order to enable metal blocks of any length within certain dimensions to be
worked, the said block is forced through the rolls by means of a crank device
consisting of a crank disc 77 having an adjustable crank pin 78 arranged in a
slot thereof and a connecting rod 79 swivelled to the end of a shaft 80.
crank disc shaft 81 is mounted in bearings adjustable by means of screw
spindles 82 so that the pressure head 83 can be adjusted to almost abut against
the rolls 63 so that the entire metal block may be worked. It is obvious that the
pressure head 83 may be operated by other means than the crank disc such for
instance as an hydraulic press, suitable lever system, or a support, such motion.
being transmitted by means of a lever 85 on a reduced scale to register the shape

page_text: or the amount of metal worked on the scale 70, by means of a lever 84 shown in
dotted lines in Fig. 15.
The pressure head 83 may also be arranged so as to effect the complete
enforcement of the metal block through the rolls 63.
The hydraulic piston of Fig. 14 may also be replaced by other suitable means
and suitable automatic arresting device or a similar device operated by hand
be employed to fix or define the position of the power and thus avoid any
unintentional movement of the rolls.
According to the present process the material under treatment is energetically
compressed, it always being worked under pressure, which may be increased to any
desired amount. The rapidity and quality of the work produced depends on the
pressure and the speed of rotation of the rolls.
Rolling machinery of this kind is particularly adapted for making articles of the
very best quality, as is necessary for gun barrels, cannons, piston and connecting
rods and the like. The process is in fact universal and can be employed in all
branches of the industry.
Forcing the metal block into the throat piece by means of a crank device
(Figs. 13-16 Sheet 3) produces a very important technical effect i.e. the
nerepheral speed of the revolving crank pin remains the same but the lineal speed
of the pressure head 83 which is connected to the crank pin by means of the
connecting rod 79 is equal to 0 when the pin lies in the main centre line of the
machine. The speed of the pressure head is greatest when the crank pin is in
the position shown in Fig. 13. The steam engine employed in connection with this
rolling machinery as a rule has the cut off controlled by the governors, and
consequently at the beginning of the forward stroke of the pressure head, the
cylinder will contain a small amount of steam only, but the engine will have a
large amount of stored power due to the fly wheel; this latter energy will be
exhausted as the block 71 is forced into the throat piece sufficiently to allow the
governor balls to fall and adjust the cut off valve to allow more steam to enter
the cylinder, just at the moment when the greatest power is required to act on the
block. The speed i.e. power of the machine is thus increased aud the governors
will again adjust the cut off allowing less steam to enter the cylinder, and as the
crank pin advances the lineal forward movement of the pressure head and the
energy exhausted decrease simultaneously, thus rendering the consumption of
steam and power most economical.
The importance of this effect will be evident to every one skilled in the art,
since an engine of less power than usual may be employed and thus the prime cost
of the machinery reduced.
The mandrel head 22 (Figs. 1 and 2) owing to the pressure of the rolls is
subjected to considerable pressure and heat, which would probably not be
sufficiently overcome by cooling it with water. The axial movement of the
mandrel head 22 has the effect of constantly bringing different and cooler parts of
its surface into co-operation with the rolls, and thus preventing a sticking of the
head in the block of hot metal. This arrangement is of particular importance, for
the reliable and undisturbed working of the machine.
The axial movement of the mandrel head 22 has further the object of allowing
the metal block to be introduced into the throat piece 17, it further allows of the
removal of the mandrel or of any part of the metal block which may have
remained stuck in the throat piece, as also of the removal of the article made, at
the front of the rolls, and after the block has been introduced, it is possible to
introduce or force the mandrel into the solid or hollow block.
The employment of a throat piece with all the forms of rolling machinery is not
absolutely necessary. If the rolls are adjusted to properly work the metal block
forced between them without forming grooves, the throat piece may be omitted as
hereinafter described reference being had to Sheet IV.
Figs. 17 to 23 show the arrangement and position of the rolls for the rolling
trains illustrated on Sheets I, II, and III, when the throat piece is omitted.

page_text: In Figs. 17 and 18 the rolls a b and c are represented, with the centres of the
rolls, in transverse section (Fig. 18), lying on a continuous circular line i, which
however in longitudinal section (Fig. 17) forms a spiral (triangle klm) since the
centres of the three rolls are displaced with regard to each other a distance equal
to t and g.
Furthermore the centre lines ln ko and pm of the rolls are so adjusted that they.
shall not run parallel to each other, that they shall not cut each other being
produced, and that they shall not run parallel to the centre line y z of the block
under treatment, nor cut the same being produced.
In Figs. 19 and 20 in which rolls ef g h having tapering longitudinal section are
employed arranged in the above manner, the result will be, that if strong pressure
is put upon the block under treatment, in the direction of the arrow s, the said
block not being rotated but only the rolls being rotated round the same in the
direction of the arrow ;
:
1st A certain point in the section of the block will not contact simultaneously
with the corresponding points of all the rolls, but,
2nd: The rolls will act successively on the block, according to their position with
reference to the direction of pressure (arrows) and,
3rd That each roll has a tendency to drive the metal forced towards it
towards the roll in front of it. As all the rolls in Figs. 19 and 20 are turned
round the metal block in the direction of the arrow v, the roll e will tend to drive
the metal of the block r towards the rollf whilst the latter will force the metal
towards the roll g and g towards h etc.
4th Since however the pressure on the block (arrows) will prevent the
material from being driven rearwardly, in that it forces the same through the rolls
in the opposite direction, and since each roll will press the fibres of the material in
a different direction to that of the previous roll crossing the same and further since
all the rolls, whatever their shape, can only receive one and the same peripheral
speed, the direction of the fibres of the material will be as represented in Fig. 24
as near as it is possible to illustrate the same i.e. part of the fibres will be inclined
to the direction of longitudinal motion of the block, part of the same will be
transverse to the same, the full lines in Fig. 24 representing the position of the
exterior fibres of the metal when it leaves the rolls and the dotted lines the
position of the fibres in the interior of the metal.
Such position of the fibres is of great importance for the quality of the work
produced in that an energetic displacement of the molecules takes place and that
the strains caused by a one-sided working of the material are avoided. Since also
the fibres of the metal lie transversely one to the other, such metal may be
subjected to much greater strains both longitudinally and transversely without
giving way.
In Figs. 21, 22, and 23 a pinion 86 engages a segment 87, pivoted at 88, the
spindle 89 of the rolls 90 being mounted by means of a ball and socket joint 94 in
the segment 87 and secured against rotation. The rolls 90 may be adjusted in the
direction of pressure (arrows) by means of a screw spindle 88 and in a direction
transverse to the direction of pressure by means of the pinion 86. At the opposite
end the spindle 89 is mounted by means of a ball and socket joint 93 in the block 91
(Fig. 23) which is connected to or suspended on a screw spindle 92 by means of a
ball and socket joint, so that the same may be adjusted radially and in the direction
of pressure as may be desired. By means of this arrangement the rolls may be
adjusted to any desired position both with regard to each other as also with regard
to the block under treatment. The rolls may be placed so as to cause one roll to
annul the effect of the next, or to increase or lessen such effect, or one roll may
perform the primary rolling and the next be employed as finishing, polishing, or
smoothing roll.
If the rolls are rotated in the opposite direction to that hitherto described i.e. to
that of the arrows in Fig. 20, the effect in so far as concerns the relative positions

page_text: of the fibres of the material under treatment will, under the same conditions be
the reverse.
In treating the various metals in a hot or cold condition, and in connection with
the rolling train illustrated on Sheets 1, 2, and 3, this influences the quality, form,
and exterior appearance of the work produced very considerably. As a rule it is
advantageous to first work the metal at a high pressure with the rolls running in
one direction, that of the arrow in Fig. 20, and then to rotate the metal block in
the opposite direction, finishing and smoothing the work produced.
By reversing the direction of rotation two entirely different effects may be
produced on one and the same piece of metal, so that the machinery hereinbefore
described will suffice for each and every practical purpose.
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.) A rolling process consisting in forcing a block into a throat piece in such
manner as to prevent the block from rotating when the throat piece is kept
stationary but to enable the said block to rotate with the throat piece, whereupon
the said block is forced between freely rotating rolls and rolled out by the latter
substantially as described.
(2.) A rolling process as covered by Claim 1 embracing the employment in
common of presses having throat pieces and copying rolling machinery, consisting
in pressing the metal under treatment into a throat piece so as to cause projecting
parts of the walls of said throat piece to enter the metal block and to prevent the
rotation of the same when the throat piece is kept stationary but to allow the block
to rotate with the said throat piece, whereupon the block is pressed between freely
rotating inclined rolls which if the throat piece is stationary rotate after the
manner of planets around the stationary block but if the block rotates are rotated
on their axes by contact with said block, the form of the object to be produced
being attained by means of corresponding templet, the form of which is transmitted
to the radial position of the rolls by suitable intermediate members substantially as
described.
(3.) In the process covered by Claims 1 and 2 the employment of a hollow
pressure head (15) (Figs. 1 to 5 Sheet 1) adapted to force a hollow block (16)
into a throat piece (17) said block being prevented from rotating by means of
projections on the throat piece penetrating it then forcing said block (16) between
the inclined rolls (6) said rolls being mounted to rotate freely on their spindles (9)
in a housing (4) mounted on a hollow shaft (1) and driven by suitable gearing (5)
thus rolling said block (16) out to a tube on a mandrel (22) said rolls (6) being
mounted on slides (42) and radially adjustable by means of guide rods (14) and
levers (13) suitably connected to rolls (11) adapted to transmit the form of a
longitudinally by hand or mechanically adjustable sleeve (8) substantially as
described.
(4.) A modification of the invention covered by Claims 1 and 2 as illustrated
on Sheet II Figs. 6 to 9 consisting in pressing a block (43) into a rotary throat
piece (50) mounted in a stationary housing (45) by means of a rotating pressure
shaft (47-49) driven by suitable gearing (63) then forcing the said block between
rolls (44) by which it is rolled out, the said pressure shaft (47-49) carrying a
sleeve-like templet (a) on which guide roils (52) of levers (54) run, causing the
radially adjustable rolls suspended from the opposite ends of said levers to follow
the shape of a (Figs. 10, 11, and 12, Sheet 2) and copy said form on the object
being produced substantially as described.
(5.) In combination with the process covered by Claims 1 to 4 as illustrated in
Figs. 13, 14 and 15, Sheet 111, the arrangement of a device for registering the
length of the metal under treatment (71) by suitable means (lever 73 pointer 75
and connecting rod 84) on a scale 70, whilst a second register (69) device is

page_text: employed in connection with the means (pressure piston rod 64) for producing the
radial adjustment of the rolls (63) whereby the diameter of the object being
produced (71) will be visible (copied on a scale (70) and will correspond with or
may be compared with drawing or templet of the said object substantially as
described.
(6.) In combination with the process covered in Claim 1 the radial adjustment
of the rolls (Figs. 13, 14, and 15, Sheet III) by means of the driving mechanism
of a suitable press (piston rod 64) said mechanism actuating chains (65) chain
wheels (66) having eccentrics (67) or crank discs to radially adjust the rolls (63)
substantially as described.
(7.) In combination with the rolling process covered by Claims 1 to 6 (Figs. 1
to 5 Sheet 1) effecting the axial movement of the templet (sleeve 8) by trans-
mitting to the same the motion of the pressure head (15) by means of rods (30 38)
and levers (28, 29, 32, 34) the driving gear (sheave pulley 5) being thrown out of
gear when the pressure head has performed its full stroke by uncoupling a sliding
coupling device (40) substantially as described.
(8.) In combination with the process covered in Claims 1 to 6 the arrangement
of the positions of the rolls (Figs. 17 to 20 Sheet IV) according to which the
centres or effective surfaces of the rolls (Figs. 19 to 20) are displaced in the
direction of the axes of the block with regard to each other substantially as
described.
(9.) In combination with the process covered by Claims 1 to 6 arranging the
rolls skew to the metal block so that the centre lines of the said rolls on being
produced shall neither cut one another nor the centre line of the block substantially
as described.
(10.) In combination with the process covered in Claim 9 (Figs. 21, 22 Sheet IV)
the arrangement of rolls (90) mounted to rotate on spindles (89) having suitably
shaped ends (93) mounted in clamps (91) radially adjustable by means of screw-
spindles (92) the opposite ends (94) of said spindles being mounted in segments (87)
capable of axial movement by screws (88) and rotary movements in the transverse
direction by means of pinions (86) substantially as described.
(11.) In combination with the process covered by Claim 1 and the following
ones, pressing the metal blocks between the rolls by means of a pressure head (83).
driven by a crank device (77, 78, 79) said crank device being adjustable in position
to the rolls substantially as described.
(12.) In combination with the process claimed effecting the axial movement of
the mandrel (22) before, during, or after the rolling process by means of suitable
reversible driving gear (25, 26, 27) substantially as described.
(13.) A modification of the process claimed consisting in omitting the throat
piece substantially as described.
(14.) The employment of the process covered by Claims 1 to 13 for mauu-
facturing, from all metals capable of being rolled, all kinds of solid and hollow
goods, having circular section and variable longitudinal section, substantially as
described.
Dated this 17th day of June 1895.
66
CASTLE SMITH,
Invention" Office, 54 Fleet Street, Loudon, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.