IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR ROLLING AND SHAPING METAL CYLINDERS OR TUBES
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLEIE
DIEVLICATION.
We, JOHN ADDY HOPKINSON, and JOSEPH HOPKINSON, both of the firm of
J. Hopkinson and Co, of Huddersfield, in the County of York, Engineers, do
hereby declare the nature of our invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR ROLLING AND SHAPING METAL CYLINDERS OR TUBES," and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
Our invention relates to machines for rolling and shaping metal cylinders or
tubes, and is designed to afford further facilities for accomplishing the results
obtained by the machines described in the specification of our Letters Patent of
even date herewith; that is to say, by our present invention we seek to provide
for performing the same kind of work as that performed in our open or over-
hanging rolling machines, described in our said specification, by machines of that
class in which the shaping rolls are supported in bearings at both ends of the same.
Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which we will now
proceed to describe.
Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in central vertical section, and
Figure 2 is an end elevation, partly in section on the line x, x, Figure 1, of one
of our machines.
Figures 3 and 4 are similar elevations of another machine of somewhat modified
construction.
Figures 5 and 6 shew, in outline, two of the forms of cylinders or tubes that may
be produced by our machines.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the drawing.
A A are strong standards of cast iron or other suitable material; a, b are the
shaping rolls; these rolls, as shown, have a configuration suitable for imparting to
the cylinders the shapes shown in Figures 5 and 6. But we wish it understood
that we do not limit ourselves to this, or any other, form or configuration of the
rolls, that is to say, we may, in the same machine, use pairs of rolls of various
FD71

page_text: forms or patterns, either of which pairs can be readily removed and replaced by
others, when desired.
.
The said rolls are supported in suitable bearings c, d, e, f in the aforesaid
standards, and are geared together by the wheels g, h.
The bearings e, f of the upper roll b (Figure 1), are adjustable vertically by
the screws i, i. These screws are geared by worm-wheels to the shaft j, so
that, by means of the hand-wheel or its equivalent, both screws can be turned
simultaneously in either direction to move the top roll up or down. Or, if desired,
each screw may be provided with a separate hand-wheel for operating it.
The important novel and peculiar feature of the machine shewn in Figures 1
and 2 is the capability afforded by its construction, of removing either or both of
the rolls a, b, by drawing them endwise or longitudinally out of their bearings.
It will be seen that the roll-journals a¹, b¹, on which the gear-wheels are fixed, are
formed with sockets into which are fitted the ends a, b of the rolls. The
connection between these parts is made by a key and groove or is otherwise such
that the said journals a', b' compel the rolls to rotate with them, but permit the
said rolls to be drawn end wise away from them.
At the other end of the machine, it will be seen that the lower roll-journal
is extended beyond the bearing c and its extended end a³ is supported in a
supplementary bearing which forms part of, or is attached to, a carriage m
arranged to move endwise upon a horizontal bar or rail n; the said carriage has
the required endwise movement imparted to it, in either direction, by screws o
which are geared together by the wheels p and driven, in either direction as
required, by a belt on the pulleys q, q, or otherwise.
When a plain metal cylinder or tube is to be passed through our said machine to
be shaped as shewn in Figure 5, the top roll b is first raised by the vertical screws,
so that its enlarged journal b* will be clear above the periphery of the bottom
roll a
The said bottom roll is then drawn out by operating the screws o and thereby
causing the carriage m to traverse the rail n; the metal cylinder or tube is placed
on the bed or foundation between the standards A and then raised, so that the
roll a, when moved back into its working position by the carriage m, can pass
through the said cylinder, the end a re-entering the socket in the journal a¹. The
top roll is then set down so that the said cylinder is properly compressed between
the two rolls; the latter are then started and the shaping of the said cylinder is
effected as it passes through the space between the said rolls. The two rolls are
then adjusted to allow the finished cylinder to be removed and replaced by another
plain cylinder; the above described operations being repeated so long as metal
cylinders or tubes of the same pattern or configuration are to be produced.
But suppose that, at any time, it is necessary to change the pattern to be
produced to that shewn in Figure 6; then, instead of placing the metal cylinders
upon the lower roll, we place them upon the upper roll. For this purpose we first
raise the upper roll & clear of the roll a, then we disconnect the carriage m from
the lower roll and connect it, by screws m¹ or otherwise, to the upper roll-
journal b. Then, by means of the carriage m operated as above described, we
draw the said upper roll away from the socket b¹ and through the bearing e (whose
diameter is large enough to allow the body of the roll to pass freely through it).
Then the cylinder or tube to be shaped is introduced between the standards A, the
roll b is moved back into its bearings and the carriage m is disconnected from the
journal 6. The roll b is then set down upon the metal cylinder, whose outer
periphery then rests on the lower roll a. The rolls are then started and the
cylinder is worked into the required shape as above described.
Referring to the machine shewn in Figures 3 and 4, we can thereby obtain
the advantages above specified by somewhat different means. In this machine,
the standards A, the rolls a, b, the bearings d, f, the gear-wheels, the adjusting

page_text: carriage m; rail n, screws o, and means for operating the said screws; are sub-
stantially similar to those described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. But, in
the machine shewn in Figures 3 and 4, we provide for the interchange or inversion
of the relative positions of the top and bottom rolls, that is to say, when the form
or configuration of the metal cylinders is to be altered, when working with any
pair of rolls in the said machine, we do not make the change which enables us to
vary the configuration of the metal cylinders (as described with reference to
Figures 5 and 6) by placing them on either the top or bottom roll; but we invert
the relative position of the rolls a and b.
For this purpose, we provide the roll b, at the end adjacent to the carriage m,
with a bush r, in which the journal 6 of the said roll has its bearing. The roll a
has a bearing a of exactly the same size for the purpose hereinafter specified. It
will be seen that this bush is of a diameter greater than that of any portion of the
roll b. The said roll also has an extended end 63 supported in the bearing in the
carriage m, as above described, and the same is so connected with the said carriage
that, by moving the latter endwise away from the standard A, the roll 6 will be
drawn out of its position, that is to say, the end 62 of the roll will be drawn out
of the socket-bearing 6', and its other end, with the bush thereon, will be drawn
with the carriage along the rail n.
In commencing to work, the top roll is first raised clear of the bottom roll by the
vertical screws as above described or otherwise; the roll b, with the bush, is then
drawn out longitudinally by the said carriage. The metal cylinder or tube to be
shaped is then placed between the standards as above described, and the roll 6 is
moved back into its working position as shewn. The shape given to the metal
cylinder by the rolls a, b, in this position, will be that shewn in Figure 6.
When it is desired to invert or reverse the shaping of the metal cylinders, the
rolls a and b are removed from their bearings; the bush r is removed from the
journal of the roll b, and placed upon the journal aª of the roll a; the latter is then
placed in the lower bearings and the roll b is placed in the upper bearings, that is
to say, the position of the said rolls in the machine, and in respect of the work to
be performed thereby, is reversed. The metal cylinders or tubes to be shaped are
placed on the roll a, which is now the lower roll, and the said cylinders or tubes,
when finished by the said rolls, will have the form or configuration shewn in
Figure 5.
The same relative results may, in the same machine, be effected by any suitable
pair of rolls.
From the above description, it will be seen that our invention provides for
forming either of two different sections with one pair of rolls, by placing the
cylinders on either the top or the bottom roll, or by using interchangeable rolls.
We wish it understood that we are aware that machines have been heretofore
used in which contrivances for adjusting the rolls and their bearings have been
employed, that is to say, we are aware that the endwise movement of the rolls, for
allowing the cylinders or tubes to be placed thereon and removed therefrom, is an
old and well known device.
But we are not aware that any machines have been heretofore devised or
constructed with special provision, such as we have described, for the adjustinent
of the rolls and of the work relatively to the rolls, whereby, with one pair of rolls,
the shaping of the cylinders or tubes may be varied as above set forth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is :-
First. A machine in which metal cylinders or tubes are shaped by passing
between two rolls of different form or configuration supported in bearings at both
ends, and in which, with any given pair of rolls, either of two different shapes or
sections may be imparted to the cylinders or tubes.

page_text: Second. The machine illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, in which provision is mado
for withdrawing and replacing either the top or the bottom roll, or both rolls,
without inverting the relative position thereof, as, and for the purpose, specified.
Third. The machine illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, in which provision is made
for changing or inverting the relative position of the two rolls, as, and for the
purpose, specified.
Dated this Oth dose of Desemba 100.1