Improvements in Machines for the Manufacture of Rolled Metal Articles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 20th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Feb., 1890
[Communicated from abroad by GEORGE FREDERIOK SIMONDS, of Fitchburg, Massa-
chusetts, United States of America, Engineer.]
Improvements in Machines for the Manufacture of Rolled
Metal Articles.
I. HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:--
My invention relates to machines of the kind or class described in the specification
of former Letters Patent dated 9th June A.D. 1885, No. 7028, that is to say,
machines for forging metal articles which are circular in transverse section, by what
is known as the Simonds' method of rolling, and my said invention is designed to
improve the construction and increase the efficiency of such machines.
An important feature of my present invention is the construction of the machine
in such a manner that the dies or platens between which the metal is rolled, will
move vertically, instead of horizontally as in the machines heretofore constructed.
This form of construction affords the great advantage that the dies or platens counter-
balance each other and the operation of the machine is thus greatly facilitated, less
power than heretofore being required for driving the machine." Moreover the
inconvenience arising from the deposit of scale in or upon the lower die or platen,
in the machine as heretofore constructed, is entirely obviated.
In my improved machine, the dies or platens are constructed with racks
substantially as described in the said former specification. With these racks are
geared suitable pinions which are fixed upon shafts carried in bearings secured to
the bed of the machine. Strong vertical guides are firmly secured to the bed of the
machine for guiding the dies or platens in their vertical movement. One of
the aforesaid shafts is driven through a worm-wheel fixed thereon and having geared
with it a worm fixed upon the driving shaft. The other of the said shafts is
connected by suitable gearing with another shaft having fixed thereon a worm-
wheel with which is geared another worm on the driving shaft. One of the said
worms is formed with a right hand and the other with a left hand screw-thread, so
that the dies or platens will be moved in opposite directions. The driving shaft
has mounted thereon two pulleys connected by belts with a steam-engine or other
suitable motor for rotating them in opposite directions. Between these two pulleys
is arranged a friction-clutch which is fitted to slide to and fro upon the said shaft,
but is connected with the said shaft so that it will turn therewith. The said friction-
clutch is connected, by means of a rod passing through the centre of the driving
shaft, with a grooved collar fitted to slide upon the said shaft.
This grooved
collar is connected with a forked lever, the long arm of which engages with a rod or
bar fitted to slide in suitable guides in a bracket attached to the bed of the inachine.
This sliding bar is provided at or near one end thereof with rack-teeth, with which
is geared a toothed segment formed on, or firmly attached to a hand-lever whereby
the friction-clutch may be moved in one or the other direction to stop or reverse the
movement of the machine.
To provide for the automatic stoppage of the machine when the dies arrive at
either extremity of their movement, the said hand-lever is provided with an arm
projecting into the path of adjustable stops carried by a disc arranged to rotate with
the pinions for operating the dies or platens. By adjusting the said stops towards
or away from each other, the length of stroke of the dies or platens can be
regulated.

page_text: In combination with the aforesaid friction-clutch is arranged a brake, the shoe of
which is carried by a lever acted upon by a spring which tends to retain the brake-
shoe in contact with the friction-clutch. This spring is provided with means for
adjusting it to regulate the pressure of the brake on the said clutch. The brake is,
moreover, provided with an arm-projecting downward into a groove in the aforesaid
sliding har. At each end of this groove are inclined surfaces whereby, when the
said rod is moved from its central position, the said brake will be moved out of
contact with the friction-clutch. Or other suitable means are provided for taking off
the brake when the clutch is moved into contact or engagement with either of
the driving pulleys.
It is obvious. that I can somewhat modify the construction of the machine above
described. For example I can employ means other than those above described for
operating the vertically movable dies, and for moving the clutch to stop or reverse the
movement of machine.
The shafts are sometimes supported in ball-bearings, in which the balls are, in
some instances, arranged in circular series separated by rings or collars surrounding
the shaft.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, I.ondon, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for the Manufacture of Rolled Metal
Articles.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
My invention relates to machines of the kind or class described in the specification
of former Letters Patent, dated 9th June A.D. 1885, No. 7028, that is to say, machines
for forging metal articles which are circular in transverse section, by what is known
as the Simonds' method of rolling between dies provided with spreading and reducing
surfaces. And my said invention is designed to improve the construction and increase
the efficiency of such machines.
One feature of my present invention is the construction of the machine in such a
manner that the dies or platens between which the metal is rolled, will move vertically
instead of horizontally as heretofore. This form of construction affords the great
advantage that the dies or platens counter-balance each other, and the operation of
the machine is thus greatly facilitated, less power than heretofore being required for
driving the machine. Moreover, the inconvenience arising from the deposit of scale
in or upon the lower die or platen, in the machines as heretofore constructed, is
entirely obviated. My present invention, moreover, comprises other improvements
bereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be con-
veniently and advantageously carried into practice.
.
Figure 1 is a rear elevation, partly in vertical section, and
⚫ Figure an end elevation, partly in vertical section, showing one form of my
improved machine,
Figure 3 is a front elevation of a portion of the said machine.
Figure 4 is a rear elevation, partly in vertical section, and
Figure 5 an end elevation, partly in vertical section, showing another form or
modification of my improved machine.
Figures 6 to 9 are different views hereinafter referred to, illustrating details of
construction.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

page_text: A is the bed of the machine. B, B are the platens which are provided with the
racks C, and which carry the dies for roiling or forging the metal articles. D is the
driving-shaft which is carried in suitable bearings in the bed A and in a bracket A¹
firmly attached thereto. E, E are bearing surfaces on the platens B, which co-operate
with rollers F on the platen-operating shafts as hereinafter described.
The platens B and racks C are substantially similar in construction to those
described in the said former specification. With the racks C are geared suitable
pinions a fixed upon shafts 6, 61, carried in hearings c secured to the bed A.
Strong vertical heads or guides d are supported upon and firmly secured to the said
bed A for guiding the platens B in their vertical movement. These vertical guides
are adjustable relatively to each other as hereinafter described for the purpose of
bringing them into the precise relative positions to ensure the most efficient working
of the machine.
In the machine shown in Figures 1 to 3, the shaft 6 is driven through a worm-wheel e
which is fixed thereon and is geared with a worm fixed upon the driving-shaft. D.
The shaft is connected by gear-wheels g, g' with another shaft / having fixed
thereon a worm-wheel i with which is geared a worm j fixed on the driving-shaft D.
The worm is formed with a right hand screw-thread and the worm j is formed with
a left hand screw-thread, so that, when the driving-shaft is rotated, the platens B will
be moved in opposite directions.
In the machine shown in Figures 4 and 5, both of the platen-operating shafts,b, b1
are provided with worm-wheels e geared directly with worins f on the driving-shaft. D,
both of the said worms being formed with right hand screw-threads, so that the platens
and dies will be moved in opposite directions.
The shaft D is enclosed in a trough R formed in, or supported upon the base or
bed A of the machine, and the worm-wheels e are enclosed in a removable cover or
case R. This arrangement permits of the shaft D and the worms ƒ and j being
practically immersed in oil or other lubricant, so that the worm-gearing runs smoothly
and quietly and with but little wear.
I prefer that the bearings for the driving-shaft D should be provided with balls D¹
arranged in circular series and separated by rings or collars D².
k, kare pulleys connected by driving-belts or the like with a steam-engine or other
suitable source of motive power for causing them to rotate each in an opposite
direction to the other, and arranged to turn freely upon the shaft D. Between the
pulleysk, is arranged a friction-clutch / which is fitted to slide to and fro upon the
shaft D but is connected with the said shaft by means of a rod or bar & passing through
an elongated or slotted hole in the said shaft. Or other suitable means are provided
for connecting the shaft with the said clutch so that it will turn therewith. The said
clutch is connected, by means of a rod m extending longitudinally through the
centre of the driving-shaft D, with a grooved collar n fitted to slide upon the said
shaft. The said grooved collar n is connected with a forked lever o, the long arm of
which engages with one end of a rod or bar p fitted to slide in a suitable guide or
bearing g firmly attached to, or forming part of the bracket, A¹. The sliding rod or
bar p is, at or near its other end, provided with rack-teeth p¹ with which is geared a
toothed segment r formed on, or firmly attached to a hand-lever pivoted at ²,
whereby the clutch / may be moved in one or the other direction to stop or reverse the
movement of the machine.
To provide for the automatic stoppage or reversal of the machine when the platens B
arrive at either extremity of their movement, and to prevent danger of driving the
platens too far in case the operator should neglect to move the hand-lover; the said
hand-lever is provided with an arm projecting into the path of adjustable stops s
carried by a disc t arranged to rotate with the pinions a for operating the platens B.
By adjusting the stops s towards or away from each other, the length of stroke of the
said platens B can be regulated as required. The pulleys k, k¹are of different diameter,
the larger pulley being adapted to operate the platens in the working stroke of the
dies, while the smaller serves to effect the more rapid return movement thereof.
The aforesaid rollers F and bearing surfaces E sustain the thrust or pressure that is

page_text: brought upon the dies in the work of forging, and relieve the surfaces of the guides d
from such pressure, so that the said guides merely operate to accurately control or direct
the movement of the platens and are relieved from the wear that would result if they
also afforded the main support of the platens against the work.
The platens may thus have an easy fit in their guides, and in order to remove from
the said guides any pressure or wear further than that necessary to merely control or
direct the movement of the platens, it is necessary that the rollers F should be capable
of accurate adjustment with relation to the platen-guides. This is effected by means of
the devices more clearly shown in Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9. The bearing-boxes K are
movable longitudinally in guides K' in the heads d and bear, at their sides away from
the platens as shown at K2, Figure 7, against cams or eccentrics L' (shown in dotted
lines in Figure 7) formed at the ends of a shaft or spindle L which is provided about
midway between its ends with worm-wheel teeth L2, Figure 6, geared with a worm or
endless screw M² on a bolt M that turns in a thimble or bushing N fastened in one of
the heads or guides d. Thus, by turning the bolt M (which is shown as provided with
a square-head for facilitating this operation), the shaft or spindle L is turned with a
slow uniform motion, and, by the action of the cams or eccentrics L', affords an
exceedingly minute and accurate adjustment of the box K of the platen-operating
shaft b, which may thus be set so that the rollers F receive the entire thrust or
pressure of the work upon the dies and platens, while the latter move freely in their
guides.
It is necessary that the heads or guides & should be adjustable towards and away
from each other to accurately regulate the space between the dies, which determines
the diameter of the forged article.
This result is effected by adjusting one of the heads & longitudinally upon its
supporting bearings or ways on the bed A by means of a screw operated by
a hand-
wheel P, such adjustment being substantially like that of the upper platen-guide in
the machine described in the said former specification.
It is also necessary that the guides & should be adjusted with extreme accuracy
transversely to their line of movement or in the direction parallel to the axis of the
piece being forged, and in order to effect such accurate adjustment conveniently and
quickly, the other head d is made movable transversely to the bed A, upon the sup-
porting or guiding surface A¹ thereof, the said head being restrained from longitudinal
movement on the said bed by means of keys A2, Figures 8 and 9.
The transverse movement of this head d need be only very slight, as the dies are
fastened to the platen so as to be very nearly in accurate registration, but, if it should
be found, upon trial in the machine, that they do not exactly register, they can be
brought into exact registration by the transverse movement of the said head d, which
is effected by means of an adjusting-bolt Q having a screw-thread engaging with a
corresponding screw-thread in the head d, and the said bolt being restrained from
longitudinal movement in the bed A, by means of a bushing Q¹ fixed in the said base,
and forming the bearing for the bolt Q.
In combination with the aforesaid friction-clutch is arranged a brake, the shoe u
of which is carried by a lever v pivoted at v and acted upon by a spring wor by a
weight, which tends to retain the said brake-shoe u in contact with the friction-clutch.
This spring or weight is provided with means for adjusting it to regulate the pressure
of the brake on the said clutch. The brake-lever vis, moreover, provided with a
stud projecting downward into a groove or depression y in the aforesaid sliding
rod or bar p. At each end of the groove y are inclined surfaces, whereby, when the
said rod is moved from its central position, the brake shoe u will be moved out of
contact with the friction-clutch 1. When the rod is moved into its central position,
the arm a enters the depression y and the spring w automatically applies the brake to
the clutch. The motion of the clutch will, therefore, be arrested or retarded before
being reversed. Other suitable means, however, may be provided for automatically
applying the brake to the clutch / when the latter is moved out of contact or engage-
ment with either of the driving-pulleys.
It is obvious that I can somewhat modify the construction of the machine above

page_text: described without departing from the nature of my invention. For example, 1 can
employ means other than those above described for operating the vertically movable
dies, and for moving the clutch to stop or reverse the movement of the machine.
The construction of the machine in respect of the parts not hereinbefore particularly
described, and the formation of the dies may be substantially similar to those of the
machine described in the said former specification.
:
When the dies and platens are arranged to move in a vertical path, it is obvious
that they will, as above stated, counter-balance each other, and that any scale detached
from the metal under treatment cannot remain in the dies, but will fall therefrom. by
gravity.
It is evident, moreover, that the advantages of the counterbalancing of the dies
and platens, and of the removal of the scale from the dies by gravity can be
obtained by arranging the said dies or platens to move in a path slightly inclined to
the vertical.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my Foreign Correspondent I wish it understood that I claim :-
First. A machine for the manufacture of rolled metal articles, which is so constructed
that the dies or platens move in a vertical, or nearly vertical path, for the purposes
above specified.
Second. The combination, with the dies or platens provided with the racks, of
pinions geared with the said racks, worm-wheels fixed on the shafts of the said pinions,
and a driving-shaft provided with worms geared with the said worm-wheels, with or
without a trough or channel in which the said driving-shaft works and with or without
a removable cover or casing enclosing the said worm-wheels, all substantially as, and
for the purposes, set forth.
Third. The combination, with the supporting bed or base, of the platen-guides one
of which is adjustable towards and away from the other on the said bed or base, and
the other of which is laterally adjustable on the said bed or base, substantially as, and
for the purposes, set forth.
Fourth. The combination, with the dies or platens provided with the racks, of the
operating-shafts having mounted thereon the pinions and rollers, and means for
adjusting the said shafts and their bearings towards and away from the dies or platens,
for the purpose above specified.
Fifth. The combination, with the die or platen provided with the rack and with
bearing surfaces at the sides of the said rack, of an operating-shaft having mounted
thereon a pinion geared with the said rack and rollers co-operating with the said
bearing surfaces, adjustable bearings for the said shaft, an adjustable shaft or spindle
provided with worm-wheel teeth and with a cam or eccentric engaging with the said
bearings, and a worm geared with the said worm-wheel teeth, substantially as, and
for the purposes, set forth.
Sixth. The combination, with the driving-pulleys, of a friction-clutch arranged
between the same and connected by means of a rod extending longitudinally through
the centre of the driving-shaft, with a device for moving the said clutch into and
out of contact or engagement with either of the said pulleys, substantially as, and for
the purposes, above specified.
Seventh. The combination, with the dies or platens and the mechanism for operating
the same, of suitable means for automatically arresting or reversing their motion, as
above specified.
Eighth. The combination, with the driving-pulleys and the clutch arranged between
the same, of a lever or other device for operating or adjusting the said clutch, a
sliding rod or bar connected with the said device and provided with rack-teeth, and
a hand-lever provided with a toothed segment geared with the said rack-teeth, sub-
stantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Ninth. The combination, with the said hand-lever provided with the toothed segment,
of an arm formed on or attached to the said lever, and adjustable bolts or other stops

page_text: carried by a disc or wheel connected by suitable gearing with the driving-shaft, sub-
stantially as described, for the purpose of arresting or reversing the motion of the
dies or platens, as above specified.
Tenth. The combination, with the clutch, of a brake which, when the said clutch
is moved away from either of its operative positions, will be automatically applied to
the said clutch, for the purposes above specified.
Eleventh. The combination of the clutch, the sliding rod or bar, and the brake
having the lever acted upon by a spring or weight and provided with a stud or pro-
jection adapted to bear against the said sliding rod or bar and to enter a groove or
depression therein, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Twelfth. The improved machine constructed substantially as described with reference
to Figures 1, 2 and 3 or with reference to Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying
drawings and operating as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Dated this 20th day of January 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.