Improved Apparatus for use in connection with Machinery for Rolling, Hammering, or otherwise Reducing Metals.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 7th Feb., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for use in connection with Machinery for
Rolling, Hammering, or otherwise Reducing Metals.
1, HENRY AIKEN, of Pittsburgh, in the County of Allegheny, State of
Pennsylvania, and United States of America, Engineer, 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 invention described herein relates to certain improvements in feed tables
for rolling hammering or otherwise reducing metals. According to the present
practice, in the manufacture of structural shapes, rails, plate metal, &c., a large
ingot is first broken down in one pair or stand of rolls and then transferred to
one, two or more pairs or stands of rolls, for the finishing operation. The
breaking down and finishing rolls are usually of the three-high type, and a feed
table is employed on each side of each pair or stand of rolls for feeding the bloom
back and forth into the rolls. As in the three-high type of mill, the bloom or
ingot is placed on different levels, first for the forward pass and then for the
back pass, it is necessary that the feed table on both sides of the rolls should
be capable of vertical adjustment, and as the breaking down and finishing opera-
tions are effected in different stands of rolls, these tables are made laterally adjustable
from one stand of rolls to another. For vertical adjustment, it is customary to
provide a pivotal bearing for the outer end of each table, the inner end being
raised and lowered by suitable mechanism. For purposes of lateral adjustinent
the feed table proper with its supporting and operating mechanism is mounted
upon a carriage provided with wheels traversing rails laid parallel with the axes
of the rolls. This mechanism, while applicable in a great many places is not
only costly as regards its erection in the first instance, but also as regards
maintenance. And further, it is not readily applicable where the finishing is
effected by two, three or more stands of rolls.
This invention has for its object such an arrangement and mounting of the
feed tables as will not only permit of the ready and easy use of as large a number
of pairs of rolls as may be desired, but will also lessen the first cost and sub-
sequent maintenance, and will also reduce the number of hands required to run the
mill. In general terms the invention consists in the construction and combination
of mechanical devices and clements all as more fully hereinafter described and
claimed.
In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this Specification,
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a rolling mill plant embodying my invention;
Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modification thereof;
Fig. 3 is an end elevation on an enlarged scale, of one of the feed tables and
its operating mechanism ;
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same;
Fig. 5 is a plan view of another modification of my improvement, and
Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the mill shown in Fig. 5.
The breaking down rolls 1 and the finishing rolls 2 and 3 are constructed and
erected in accordance with the rules well known in the art, dependent upon the
purpose for which they are to be used, i.e. for the manufacture of structural
shapes, rails, plates or other merchantable forms. As shown in the drawings, the
rolls of the several stands are coupled together so as to be driven by a single
engine, although, if desired, each stand of rolls may be driven independently
of the others. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, wherein a breaking down
and two or more finishing stands of rolls are employed, a crane 4 preferably of
the hydraulic type, is located a little to one side of the line of feed of the

page_text: breaking down rolls. The jib 5 of said crane, as also those of the other cranes
hereinafter referred to, is so connected to the piston of the lifting cylinder, as to
be capable of being lowered to or approximately to the floor level as shown in
Figs. 3 and 4, or to such a point that the feed table 6 on said jib can be
lowered to or a little below the lowest pass of the rolls 1. On these jibs are
arranged platforms on which are secured the feed tables. This table 6 consists of
side pieces in which are formed bearings for any desired number of feed rollers 7,
said feed rollers being provided on one end with projecting journals on which are
keyed beveled gear wheels 8 adapted to intermesh with corresponding gear wheels
on a countershaft 9 arranged in suitable bearings parallel with the feed table.
This countershaft is driven through suitable interposed gearing by engines 10
arranged on the platform as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. On the platform of the
crane is also located a fluid pressure cylinder 11 for operating the "go-devil" 12
employed for shifting the ingot or article being manufactured laterally of the
table as required. As shown in Fig. 1, only a part of the feed rollers are
driven directly from the countershaft 9, the remaining rollers being rotated by a
train of gearing 13 arranged along the opposite side of the table and operated
by the driven rollers.
A crane 4 with feed table and other operating mechanism as hereinbefore
described, is arranged in a corresponding position relative to the finishing rolls 3
as the crane 4 to the rolls 1, but on the opposite side of the mill, as shown in
Fig. 1.
The feed tables 6, 6° are only capable of vertical adjustment for the purpose
of feeding the ingot into one pass of said stands of rolls and receiving it from the
other pass.
In order to provide a receiving and feeding table for the opposite
side of each of said stands of rolls, and for transferring the ingot from the
breaking down rolls 1 to the rolls 2, feeding it to and fro through said rolls 2
and then transferring it to the rolls 3, cranes 4 and 4 with feed tables and
other operating mechanisms similar in all respects to that hereinbefore described,
are arranged respectively midway between the lines of feed of the rolls 1 and 2,
and 2 and 3, but on opposite sides of the train as shown in Fig. 1, so that the
feed table 6 may be shifted into line with the rolls 1 when the ingot is being
reduced therein as represented in dotted lines, and then swing into line with the
rolls 2 having the ingot in position therein. While the rolls 2 are in operation
on the article, the crane 4 with its feed table 6 is swung into line with the
rolls 2, as indicated in dotted lines, and after reduction has been effected
by the rolls 2, the crane 4b and its table with the article resting thereon, is
rotated into line with the rolls 3. In order to effect the desired rotation of
the cranes 4 and 4 as above described, a fluid pressure cylinder 14 is arranged
in suitable proximity to each crane, and a rack 15 intermeshing with a gear
wheel 16 on the lower end of the mast of the crane, is attached to the piston
of the cylinder.
The valves controlling the vertical movements of the tables 6, 6, the vertical
and horizontal movements of the tables 6 and 6, and the operation of the feed
rollers and go-devils, are arranged so as to be accessible from the platform of
cach crane.
In operating the plant shown in Fig. 1, the heated ingot is placed upon the
feed table 6, and the latter adjusted vertically to either the lower or upper pass
dependent upon the direction of rotation of the rolls 1.
The table 6ª is swung
around into line with the rolls 1 and the feed rollers of both tables are rotated in
the direction necessary to move the ingot between the roll, and to carry it along
on the opposite side of the rolls. Both tables are then adjusted to the proper
height for the back pass, and the feed rollers reversed so as to feed the ingot
back through the breaking down rolls. Both tables are again adjusted for the
forward pass, their feed rollers reversed and the ingot again fed through the
breaking down rolls. This operation is continued until the ingot has been sufficiently
reduced to be transferred to the finishing rolls. The operator then raises the feed

page_text: table 6 by admitting fluid pressure into the cylinder of the crane, and swings
the table around until in line with the stand of rolls 2 by admitting fluid pressure
into the cylinder 14, employed for rotating the crane, the table 6 is also shifted
into line with the rolls 2 and both tables to the proper height for the first or
forward pass, when the above described operation of rolling is repeated.
After the reduction by the rolls 2 has been effected, the table 6 with the ingot
or partially rolled beam or plate, resting thereon, is swung around into line with
the rolls 3, and the tables 6 and 6 being adjusted to the proper height, the
operations herein before described are repeated.
While reduction in the rolls 3 is being effected, the table 6 can be swung into
line with the rolls 1 and an ingot can be broken down, during the finishing of the
preceding ingot, and as soon as this finishing operation is completed, the table 6'
can be swung into line with the rolls, 2, so as to be in readiness for the second
ingot, which as hereinbefore described, is carried to the rolls and fed thereinto by
the table 6".
In lieu of making two of the feed tables stationary as against movement from one
stand of rolls to the next as shown in Fig. 1, all of the tables may be made movable
from one stand of rolls to the next, as shown in Fig. 2, the cranes for moving the
tables being located on a line at right angles to the axes of the rolls and midway
between two adjacent stands of rolls.
When three or more stands of rolls are employed, it may be desirable to transfer
the ingot from the breaking down rolls to the third or fourth stand of rolls or from
any one of the stands of rolls to one or the other of the transfer tables 17 or 17"
leading to some other part of the mill, in which case the several feed tables are
swung around into line with each as shown in Fig. 2. When in line with each
other the feed rollers of the several tables are rotated in the proper direction,
thereby carrying the ingot along until it rests upon the table 6, if it be desired
to reduce it in the third or fourth stand of rolls, or the ingot may be moved along
onto one of the transfer tables. It will be readily understood that as the feed
tables can be swung horizontally to any desired angle to the line of rolls, it is
immaterial as to the angle at which the transfer tables are arranged to said rolls,
it only being necessary that the ends of the transfer table adjacent to the rolls,
should be sufficiently near the are of the circle described by the ends of the feed
tables, to permit the ingot to pass easily from the feed to the transfer tables,
or vice versa.
If desired, the feed tables on each side of the rolls may be made in two sections,
as shown in Fig. 5. In which case, the sections 18 adjacent to the rolls have their
outer ends pivoted to a stationary support or bed 19, and their inner ends connected
by a pitman 20 to the crank arms 21 of rock shafts 22. On the shafts are keyed
gear wheels 23, intermeshing with racks 24 formed on a reciprocating bar 25, which
is attached at one end to the piston rod 26 of a fluid pressure cylinder 27. In
order to prevent scale and dirt from getting into the teeth of the wheel and rack
the latter is covered by an angular tube 28 as shown in Fig. 6. The outer
sections 6 of the feed tables are supported in the manner hereinbefore described
upon cranes 4, and are employed in transferring the ingot from the section 18 of
one feed table to that of another and also from prolongations of the feed tables
during the rolling operations.
The feed rollers 7 of the sections 18 are driven by a single engine through the
medium of suitably arranged counter-shafting, as shown in Fig. 5. By reference
to Fig. 6, it will be observed that the throw of the crank arms 21 is so adjusted
relative to the vertical movement of the feed tables that said crank arms will pass
through an are of 180 degrees, the opposite limits of their movement being in a
vertical plane passing through the crank shaft. By this arrangement, the table
is started in its upward or downward movement at a low speed, such speed
gradually accelerating until the table has accomplished half its movement, when
the speed gradually diminishes. By this proportion of the speed all liability of

page_text: throwing the ingot off the table, as frequently happens in the construction
heretofore in use where a bell crank is employed and the table is started and
stopped during its highest movement, is avoided.
It is preferred when employing a feed table arranged as shown in Figs. 5 and 6,
to relieve the mechanism for raising and lowering the sections 18 of the weight
thereof, and to this vertical fluid pressure cylinders 29 are arranged under said
sections, the pistons of the cylinders 29 being connected to the sections, as shown
in Fig. 6, and the cylinders connected to accumulators wherein sufficient pressure
is maintained to at least balance to weight of the sections 18.
It is a characteristic of this invention that by arranging the feed table on a
vertically arranged pivotal support, such table can be swung in a horizontal plane
to any desired angle to the axes of the reducing rolls, and the feed rollers being
driven, the article resting therein can be directed to any part of the plant.
While I have described my invention in connection with a rolling mill plant, it
will be readily understood that my improved table can be used in connection with
hammers, or other metal reducing devices, and hence the term rolls is used
generically herein, and is intended to include thereunder other known mechanical
equivalents for reducing metal.
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. In a plant for rolling, hammering, or otherwise reducing metals, the com-
bination of two, three or more mechanisms for reducing by rolling, hammering or
otherwise, one or more feed tables therefor, and a crane for transferring the table
from one stand of rolls to another, substantially as set forth.
2. In a plant for rolling, hammering, or otherwise reducing metals, the com-
bination of mechanism for reducing by rolling, hammering or otherwise, a feed
table provided with driven feed rollers, mechanism for driving the rollers, and a
crane for raising and lowering the feed table and driving mechanism, substantially
as set forth.
3. In a rolling mill plant, the combination of a stand of rolls and a feed table
movable from a plane at right angles to axes of the rolls into a plane parallel with
such axes, substantially as set forth.
4. In a rolling mill plant, the combination of rolls, a feed table provided with
driven rollers, mechanism for driving said feed rollers, and mechanism for trans-
ferring the feed table and roller driving mechanism from a position at right angles
to the axes of the rolls to a plane parallel with the axes of such rolls, substantially
as set forth.
5. In a plant for rolling, hammering, or otherwise reducing metals, the com-
bination of two, three or more mechanisms for reducing by rolling, hammering or
otherwise, feed table provided with driven rollers arranged on opposite sides of
each of the mechanisms and stationary as against lateral movements, auxiliary
feed tables, and cranes for transferring the auxiliary table from the rear of one of
the main feed tables to a position in line with one of the other main feed tables,
substantially as set forth.
6. In a plant for rolling, hammering, or otherwise reducing metals, the com-
bination of mechanisms for reducing by rolling, hammering or otherwise, a feed table
having a pivotal support at its outer end, a shaft provided with crank arms connected
to the inner end of the table, the radial length of the crank arms being equal to
half the desired vertical movement of the table, substantially as set forth.
7. In a plant for rolling, hammering or otherwise reducing metals, the com-
bination of mechanisms for reducing by rolling, hammering or otherwise, a feed
table having a pivotal support at its outer end, and mechanism for raising and
lowering said table, constructed to start the table with a gradually accelerating
speed and stop with a gradually decreasing speed, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 8. In a plant for rolling, hammering or otherwise reducing metals, the com-
bination of mechanisms for reducing by rolling, hammering or otherwise, a feed
table and a pivotal support therefor, whereby said table may be swung to any
desired angle, substantially as set forth.
9. In a plant for rolling, hammering or otherwise reducing metals, the com-
bination of mechanism for reducing by rolling, hammering or otherwise, a feed
table, and a vertically adjusted pivotal support therefor, whereby said table may
be raised or lowered, and swing to any desired angle, substantially as set forth.
Dated at Pittsburgh Pa U.S.A. this Thirteenth day of October A.D. 1890.
Witnesses:
R. H. WHITTLESEY,
DARWIN S. WOLCOTT.
HENRY AIKEN.