Improvements in Roller Mills.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Nov., 1887
Specification Accepted, 20th Jan.. 1888
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Roller Mills.
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:
My present invention has for its object the improvement of the framing, the
driving mechanism and the relief mechanism for a series or train of rolls, constructed
and operating substantially as described in my, patent. No. 11,584, dated Septem-
ber 29, 1885, and it consists in the several novel and improved constructions,
combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter more fully described and
pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1, is a top plan view of my improved roll supporting and driving mechanism
as applied to both double and single sets of rolls arranged in series.
Fig. 2, is a detail view of a portion of the frame showing the manner of applying
and connecting the cross pieces to the longitudinal girders.
Fig. 3, is a transverse sectional view taken on the line, figure, 1, showing
the adjusting, supporting, and relief mechanism as applied to a single pair of rolls.
Fig. 4, is a longitudinal section of one end of the relief mechanisin.
Fig. 5, is a detail of a portion of the relief mechanism illustrating the manner of
applying the fork or shipper to the sleeve.
Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.
as hereinafter
The frame for supporting the rolls and operating mechanism
described is composed of two parallel bars or girders, A, A, preferably of angle iron-
of any desired length according to the number of pairs of rolls to be employed, and
angle iron cross bars or side pieces, B, B, preferably less in depth than the girders, A.
to which latter they are securely fastened by bolts passing through the webs of the
girders, A, and provided with hook heads entering holes in the web of the bars, B,
whereby the said bars, B, being cut or formed with ends fitted to the webs of girders, A,
may be securely clamped and rigidly secured in position by tightening up the nuts on
said bolts, thus forming a simple and cheap frame, but one possessing all the necessary
strength and rigidity. Such a frame can not only be quickly and economically

page_text: Instead
constructed and placed together or taken apart, but it possessesthe additional advantage
that by employing long girders, A, and duplicating the cross bars any desired number
of sets or pairs of rolls may be accommodated in what is practically a single frame,
possessing great strength and rigidity while occupying a minimum of space.
of hook head bolts, other well known fastenings such as rivets, keys &c., may be
employed for uniting the girders and cross pieces and the ends of said cross
pieces may be bent or shaped to afford a longer bearing for the face of the girders, A.
The two cross pieces, B, which constitute the end pieces of a frame for the reception
of a single or double set of rolls as desired, are so arranged and applied between the
girders, A, that the top horizontal flanges, b, shall project in opposite directions or
away from the rolls, fitting between the webs of said cross pieces as shown in
figure
Although as is obvious, the frame (or series of frames) constructed as described is
well adapted for the accommodation of a series of pairs of rolls the latter being
mounted in bearings on the cross pieces, B, and driven by any approved method, the
preferred arrangement of operating mechanism, is as follows. To the cross pieces, B,
are bolted bearings, 1, supporting the rear or non-adjustable roll, C2, through the
centre of which passes a driving shaft, C. The front adjustable roll, C, is provided
with a journal, 2, at each end fitting within a bearing, 3, which rests upon the
flange, of the cross piece, B, and is provided with a cylindrical post or projection, 4,
on its under side and fitting between the walls of an elongated opening or slot, 5, in
the flange, b. The hearings, 3, are formed or provided with a horizontal prolonga-
tion, 6, carrying a dependent rib, 7, passing through the slot, 5, and extending
below the flange, b. Each bearing, 3, is also provided with an adjustable rod or set
screw, S, whose end makes contact with the bearing, 1, of the rear roll, to adjust and
limit the movement of the front roll, and as a convenient means for effecting the
longitudinal adjustment of said rod, 8, it may be threaded through a nut, 10, inserted
in a recess, 11, cast or formed in the bearing, or the nut may be formed on a
bolt passing down through the slot and constituting the post or projection, 4,
before referred to. The devices for setting up and holding the roll, C, in adjusted
position may be of any approved form and construction which will permit the
bearings, 3, to be pressed back when the resistance of the material between the rolls
is excessive, the preferred form of adjusting mechanism being such as shown in my
prior patent and applied in the following manner :-
To the web of the girder, A, and in line with each bearing 3, is secured
a sleeve, 12, carrying a spring, 13, whose outer end bears against a projection, 14,
on the bearing entering the end of said sleeve, while the opposite end of
the spring rests against a collar 1, fitting upon the end and hearing against a
shoulder on the rod or adjusting screw, 16. This rod, 16, is threaded through a nut, 17,
located in a recess within the sleeve or spring case, and preferably bearing against
the inner end of the latter while a hand wheel, 17", or equivalent device applied to
the screw, 16. serves as a convenient means for rotating said screw to regulate the
tension of the spring and its pressure against the bearing of the roll. By means of
the screw and spring the bearings, 3, can be set up and held in adjusted position with
any desired degree of pressure, at the same time each bearing being held by an elastic
pressure device is free to yield.
It is to accommodate this movement of the roll at either end that the bearings, 3, are
provided with the cylindrical posts fitting the slots in the cross pieces, B, thus dispensing
with the sliding plates or boxes described in my prior patent as owing to the improved
method of connecting the bearings with the relief mechanism, said sliding plates are
not required. It will be observed that according to the present arrangement the
distance apart at which the rolls are to be set or worked is regulated by means of the
set screws, 8, the rolls are held to their adjusted position by means of the springs and
the pressure of the springs is regulated by means of the screw, 16.
The adjustable roll, C, mounteil in bearings. 3, is made hollow for the reception and
passage of the driving shaft C, supported in bearings, 18, which latter are detachably
and adjustably secured to the girders, A.

page_text: The two shafts, C, C³, for driving the front and rear rolls (each of said shafts
being, for convenience, made in sections secured together by couplings (³, as in my
prior patent) extend from end to end of the frame and through the two series of
rolls, C, C, whereby any desired number of sets of rolls may be driven from the two
parallel lines of shafting.
The rear series of rolls, (7, are fitted to turn loosely upon the shaft, Cs and are
provided at one end with a clutch section, 19, engaging opposite clutchi section, 20,
on the shaft, C, so that any one of said rolls can be uncoupled from its driving shaft
without interfering with the operation of the other rolls of the series.
The opening through the centres of the rolls, C, of the front series are sufficiently
larger than the diameter of the shaft, C', to permit of the requisite lateral movement
for the adjustment of the said roll, C, and the latter are separately connected to the
shaft through the medium of a flexible coupling and clutch (such for example as is
shown in my prior patent) consisting of the toothed section, 21, secured to the journal
of the roll, toothed clutch section, 22, intermediate toothed section or sleeve, 23, and
movable clutch section, 24, on the shaft, . This particular form of flexible
coupling although preferred is not essential to the present invention as other forms of
flexible couplings which will accommodate themselves to the lateral movement of the
rolls, may if desired, be employed as equivalents for the flexible coupling shown.
At the end of the girders, A, or if desired, between two sets of girders, or at any
point in the train of rolls, is bolted the pulley frame, P, enclosing the driving
pulleys, D, D³, on the shafts, O and provided with bearings for the said shafts and a
suspended frame carrying the tightener pulley as described and shown in another
application bearing even date with this application and numbered 15239, but any
other approved form of driving mechanism inay he employed for rotating the shafts in
either direction, either together or separately.
It not infrequently happens that the several pairs of rolls in a series as well as the
rolls constituting a pair or set are required to have different peripheral velocities and
as according to my present system, the corresponding rolls of each pair are driven from
a single continuous line shafting special provision has to be made for varying the
speed or peripheral velocity of each roll.
To effect this result in the simplest and most advantageous manner, the rolls of cach
set are so proportioned relative to each other and the speeds of their driving shafts,
that when in motion their peripheries will acquire the desired velocity and although
this effect can be produced when the shafts revolve at the same speed it is found more
advantageous to drive the shafts at different speeds and thereby distribute the adjust-
ment or regulation of movement between the relative velocities of the shafts and the
diameters of the rolls. Thus for example, if the shafts, C, and, C³, are driven
respectively at the rutes of four hundred and three hundred revolutions per minute,
and the rolls of one set are of equal diameter, say nine inches, the requisite differential
peripheral speed for milling grain will be produced. By increasing or decreasing the
diameter of the roll, C2, of the next set (accordingly as the differential peripheral
movement desired is to be greater or less than that of the first set of rolls referred to).
and correspondingly decreasing or increasing the diameter of the roll, C, any required
variation of peripheral movement may be obtained and this without in any manner
changing the construction of the frame or driving mechanism or disturbing the
alignment and position of the driving shafts.
As before stated each roll, C, C2, of the series is connected to its driving shaft
through a clutch, the movable section whereof is applied to the shafts.
What is herein termed the "relief mechanism" is interposed between the movable
section, 24, of the clutch on the shaft, C, and the bearings of the roll, C, and is
constructed and arranged for operation as follows:-Upon a shaft 30, passing through
and supported in bearings in cross pieces, B, is mounted a disk or head, 31, provide:
with a series of inclined teeth or cams, 32. This disk, 31, is located beneath the
flange, b, of the cross piece and carries a pin, 33, fitting within a slot or opening in
the dependent rib, 7, of the bearing, 3.

page_text: Upon the shaft, 30, is mounted a second disk or collar, 34, provided with inclined
teeth or cams, 22, similar to and facing those upon the disk, 31. Beyond the
collar, 34, and connected to it by the interlocking members of a clutch, 35, is a sleeve 36,
bearing a fork, 37, engaging the movable section of the clutch on the driving shaft, C.
The fork, 37, instead of being formed integral with the sleeve is adjustably secured
in a socket, 38, formed in a sleeve or collar, 39, which latter fits upon and is adjustably
secured to the sleeve, 36, so that the fork can be adjusted both longitudinally, laterally
and radially of the sleeve, 36, to facilitate its application and accommodate it to the
adjustments of the shaft, C¹.
Surrounding the end of the shaft, 30, and concealed within the sleeve, 36, is a
spring, 40, bearing at one end against a shoulder in the sleeve and at the other against
a collar, 41, which latter is threaded on the end of the shaft, 30. The end of this
collar projects slightly within the open end of the sleeve, 36, and a nut 42, serves to:
retain it in adjusted position.
The operation of the relief mechanism is as follows :-
When the roll, C, is forced back against the pressure of the springs, 18, its bearing, 3,
engaging the disk, 31, will cause the latter to make a partial rotation. This move-
ment of the disk, 31, will through the medium of the teeth or cams 32; produce a
longitudinal movement of the collar, 34, and sleeve 36, thereby shifting the fork and
unclutching the roll from its driving shaft.
A similar connection is interposed between the opposite end of shaft; 30, and the
clutch for roll, C, so that when the shaft, 30, is oscillated both clutches will be
actuated at the same time.
When it is desired to operate the unclutching mechanism independently of the
action of the rolls the shaft, 30, may be provided with a collar, 45, to which is pivoted
one end of a link, 46, passing through the web of the girders, A, and carrying in its
outer end a cam lever, 47, for rotating the shaft, 30. If now the shaft, 30, and
disk, 31, are connected as by a key, 48 and the lever, 47, is depressed the disk will
be rotated, in a direction to cause the separation of the clutch sections.
The cam lever, 47, performs the double function of a power device for operating
the clutch and a stop or lock for retaining the clutch open when unclutched and this
is accomplished by causing the handle or other weight to project to one side of its
point of suspension on the link, so that its weight will operate in a direction to elevate
the cam and cause it to bear against the face of the girder. Thus as the roll, C, is
forced back the shaft, 30, rotated, and the link projected outwards through the web"
of the girders, A, the weight will cause the cam to rotate and prevent the reverse-
movement of the release mechanism after the clutches have been opened. When it is
desired to again start the rolls, the cam lever is raised thereby permitting the movable
sections of the clutch to be formed into engagement by the action of the spring, 40,
against the sleeve, 36.
If it is desired to shift the movable sections of the clutches on both shafts; (',
and, C³, they may both he connected to the sleeve 36, or the shaft, 30, of the relief
mechanism may be located at a point intermediate but below the rolls and the sleeve
provided with two forks or shippers, as shown.
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 1.
claim is :-
'
1. The improved frame for a system such as described composed of the girders, A; A'
and the angle iron cross pieces, B, B, for- the reception of the bearings for the rolls,
substantially as described.
2. In combination with the parallel girders, A, the angle iron cross pieces, B
fitted between the said girders and secured thereto by hooked bolts, substantially as
described.
3. In a system such as described, wherein a series of pairs of rolls are arranged in
line and driven from two parallel shafts passing through the rolls, the combination

page_text: with the rolls and driving shafts and as a means for supporting them in position, of
the frame composed of the two girders, A and detachable cross pieces, B, substantially
as described.
4. In combination with the parallel girders, A, and relatively narrow cross pieces, B,
having the flange, b, at the top and secured to the girders, A, by bolts as described,
of the hearings, 1, secured to the cross pieces, B, the adjustable bearings, 3, mounted
upon said cross pieces, and provided with cylindrical hubs fitting elongated slots
therein, and the separable sleeves secured to the front girder, A, and carrying the
tension springs for holding the bearings in adjusted position, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
5. In combination with the slotted cross pieces and the movable bearings mounted
thereon and provided with the dependent ribs. 7, and cylindrical hubs fitting said slots,
of a relief mechanism substantially such as described connected to the movable section
of the clutch and provided with the actuating disk having the inclined teeth or cams,
said disk being connected directly to the dependent rib on the movable bearing,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6. In combination with the fixed and inovable bearings of a pair of rolls and the
adjustable tension springs engaging said movable bearings, of the set screws, for
determining the positions of the said movable bearings, substantially as described.
7. In combination with the movable bearings of the adjustable roll, an adjustable
stop for limiting the movement of the said bearings, in one direction. and an
adjustable tension spring acting upon each bearing to hold it in adjusted position,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
8. In combination with the longitudinal girders, A, and cross pieces, B, united as
described to form a series of frames for the reception of a series of pairs of rollers, of the
parallel driving shafts each passing through one roller of each pair, the driving
pulleys secured to said shafts and the detachable pulley frame carrying bearings for
the shafts and secured to the ends of the girders, A, substantially as described.
9. In a system, such as described wherein the driving shafts pass longitudinally
through the front and rear rolls respectively of a series of pairs of rolls arranged
in line the combination with said parallel driving shaft, of a series of pairs of rolls
the rolls of each pair being proportioned to each other and to the speed of their
respective driving shafts substantially as described, to produce the desired differential
peripheral speed, as and for the purpose set forth.
10. The combination with two lines of shafting located in parallel planes, and sup-
ported in fixed hearings, of a series of rolls mounted upon one of said shafts and each
connected thereto through a clutch, a second series of hollow rolls mounted in
adjustable bearings and embracing the other shaft to which latter they are separately
connected by a clutch and flexible coupling, the cooperating rolls on opposite shafts
forming a pair being so proportioned relative to each other and the driving shafts,
which latter are given a
uniform motion, as to produce the desired differential
peripheral volocity substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
11. The combination with the hollow adjustable roll, its driving shaft, flexible
coupling and clutch, and a relief mechanism, substantially as described, for operating
the movable section of the clutch, of the movable bearing for the adjustable roll,
pivoted and sliding in an elongated bearing in the frame and connected directly to
the toothed disk of the relief mechanism, as and for the purpose set forth.
12. In combination with the movable section of the clutch and the reciprocating
sleeve or section of the relief mechanism, substantially such as described, of the
adjustable sleeve carrying the adjustable shipper, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
13. In combination with the driving shaft, hollow roll, flexible coupling, and
movable section, of the clutch, a relief mechanism substantially such as described,
provided with a longitudinally and radially adjustable shipper for engaging the
movable section of the clutch, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
14. In combination with the hollow roll supported in movable bearings on the frame
and the driving shaft passing through said roll and connected thereto by a flexible

page_text: coupling and clutch, of a relief mechanism substantially such as described, consisting
essentially of shaft supporting disks provided with inclined teeth or cams on their
proximate surfaces, one of the said disks being connected to the movable bearing
of the roll and the other to a sleeve carrying a fork engaging the movable section of
the clutch, and a spring for holding the two disks pressed together and the clutch
section engaged as set forth.
15. In combination with the shaft of a relief mechanism such as described, the
link connected to said shaft and carrying a cam lever bearing against the frame, as
and for the purpose set forth.
16. In combination with shaft of the relief mechanism the disk connected to the
movable bearing of the roll and provided with inclined teeth or cams, a second disk
or collar provided with a series of inclined teeth or cams cooperating with those of
the first mentioned disk, a sleeve provided with a fork for engaging the movable
section of a clutch, and a cam lever pivoted in the end of a link passing through the
frame and connected to the shaft said cam levor serving both as a holding and
operating device for the relief mechanism, substantially as described.
17. In combination with the angle iron side pieces, B, of the frame, the movable
bearings for the adjustable roll supported on the flange, b, and provided with the web
and cylindrical post working within the elongated slot in said flange, of the shaft
of the relief mechanism substantially as described, supported in bearings in the cross
piece, below the bearing for the adjustable roll with the operating disk of the said relief
mechanism located in proximity and connected directly to the web on the bearing,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
18. In a system such as described and in combination with the rolls, C, C²,
constituting a pair or set, the two driving clutches for said rolls, a shaft. supported
in bearings and located above or below and between the bearings of the rolls and
provided with shippers engaging both clutches to disengage both rolls, from their
driving mechanisms, substantially as described.
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