Metal Rods or Bars and other Objects.
Year: 1888

page_text: Metal Rods or Bars and other Objects.
I HENRY ALEXIS WILLIAMS of Taunton in the County of Bristol and State of
Massachusetts one of the United States of America, Agent for the H. A. Williams
Manufacturing Company of Boston in the aforesaid State, 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 :-
This invention relates to mechanism for reducing and shaping metal objects, and is
especially applicable among other things for reducing objects substantially cylindrical
in cross section from a larger to a smaller diameter.
In machines for reducing metal objects, as now constructed and known to me, the
amount of surface contact between the surfaces of the reducing rolls or plates and
the surface of the rod or other object to be reduced, is so great as to largely increase
the difficulty of reducing the rod to its desired shape, as for instance, in reducing a
rod of uniform diameter to a taper (as in making spindles, hackle-pins or the like)
or a rod of uniform diameter to varying diameters (as in making car-coupling pins)
or in the manufacture of steel bullets from a rod of uniform diameter.
In accordance with my invention, this difficulty is obviated by cutting preferably
slanting grooves in the reducing surfaces, and so arranging these grooves that the
working surfaces or lands between them shall always be opposed, the said grooves
permitting the metal being reduced to flow freely.
In the present embodiment of my invention, the metal object to be reduced or
shaped, such as a rod or bar, is placed between two rolls revolving in the same
direction, and provided with lands and grooves for more or less of their length, the
bar or rod to be reduced or shaped being caught between the said rolls by moving
one of them toward the other, the bar or rod so nipped being rotated by the said rolls
and drawn or brought to the required shape.
One feature of my invention therefore consists essentially of two working surfaces
preferably rolls having lands and grooves, the said lands being effective to reduce
or shape the metal and the grooves to permit the flow of the metal acted on by
the lands.
-
Another feature of this invention consists in providing a stop or regulating device,

page_text: as will be described, by means of which the metal rods or bars may be reduced to
substantially the same diameter to secure uniformity in the work produced.
Another feature of my invention consists in providing a feed controlling device, to
be described, by which the position of the axes of the reducing rolls may be changed
to automatically feed the metal rod or bar in either direction, that is forward or
backward between the said rolls.
Other features of my invention will be pointed out in the claim at the end of this
specification.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention, one of the
coupling bars at one end being broken out.
Figure 2 a top or plan view of the machine shown in Figure 1, the caps of the
journal boxes being broken out to show the cams employed to change the movable
roll.
Figure 3 a front end elevation of the machine.
Figure 4 a section of Figure 2 on line x-x, and
Figure 5 a detail to be referred to.
In the present embodiment of my invention I have shown but a single set or pair
of reducing or shaping rolls a, a', the roll a being hereinafter designated by me as
the fixed or stationary roll, and the roll a¹ as the movable roll.
Each roll a, a, is provided for at least part of its length as shown with strips or
lands a', which are preferably concentric with the axes of the said rolls, and are
separated by grooves or depressions a³ preferably of less width than the said lands.
When the object to be reduced such as a rod or bar is to have a smooth surface,
I prefer to have these lands extend continuously around the circumference of these
rolls at a pitch of about six threads to the inch, each of said rolls being so placed that
they will act on the rod or bar at diametrically opposite points.
The rolls a, a¹, have their journals supported in boxes b, b', and 62, 63, respectively,
see Figures 2, 3, and 4, loosely fitted in uprights or housings 64, 65, of a base 66
forming part of the frame of the machine.
Each journal box is retained in place as shewn by a flange 6* which bears against
the inner side of the housings 64, 65, see Figs. 1 and 4. The rolls a, a', are rotated
in the same direction as herein shown, by pinions c, c', in mesh with and driven by
a gear c mounted on a shaft c³ supported in uprights c and provided as shown with
a fast pulley 6 and loose pulley c', the said rolls being connected as shown by
coupling rods c, c, each enlarged at both of its ends and provided with a square or
other shaped socket co to fit the square or other shaped end of the journals of the said
rolls, and of the shafts of the pinions c, c¹, see Fig. 1.
The roll a is substantially fixed or stationary while in operation, and the roll a¹ is
capable of being moved toward and from the said fixed roll, during the operation of
the machine, it being moved toward the said roll, as shown, by cams d, d¹, on a
shaft, the said cams or equivalents being shown as located in recesses or pockets d³
in the housings 64, 65, they being covered in practice by the caps d secured as shown,
by bolts d to the said housings.
The cam shaft d² may be operated as shown by turning a crank or handle d¹0
secured to the arbor of a pinion d" in mesh with a gear d¹³ on the said cam-shaft, the
said gear engaging a rack-bar d" movable in guides d, and herein shewn as screw
threaded for a portion of its length to be engaged as shown by nuts d¹, d¹³, one on
either side of a stop, shown as one of the guides, the said rack-bar, stop, and nut
constituting the pressure regulating device of the machine.
The machine herein shown is especially adapted to form spindles and like tapering
objects, the taper being effected as shown, by inclining the axis of the roll a' toward
the axis of the roll a, which in the present instance is effected by changing the position
of the cam d' on the shaft d to vary its eccentricity, so that the said can will act
on the journal box ³ to move the end of the roll a¹ toward the roll a, before the cam d
operates to move its end of the roll a¹ toward the roll a, the journal boxes 62, 63, of the
roll a' being capable of sliding in their housings.
The journal boxes 62, 63, are normally forced toward the cams as shown by springs e

page_text: seated in sockets in the housings 64, 6, see Figures 3 and 4. The metal rod to be
reduced and shaped will be sustained as herein shown by guides e¹, e³, supported by
uprights e. In the operation of the machine as thus far described, the rod to be
reduced and shaped is placed between the rolls, it being sustained by the support e³,
and the rolls having been set in motion by shipping the belt from the loose to the fast
pulley, the roll a¹ as herein shown, is moved bodily toward the roll a by turning
the crank or handle do until the metal rod is nipped between and rotated by the
said rolls.
The force with which the metal rod is nipped between the said rolls determines the
rapidity of the flow of the metal, and consequent reduction of the rod, and the said
force may be regulated, as herein shown, by controlling the amount of power applied
in moving the roll a¹ toward the fixed roll a, to the crank or handle.
The nut d¹ on the threaded portion of the rack-bar acts as a stop to limit the
forward movement of the roll a¹, so that the successive metal rods or bars will be
reduced to substantially the same diameter or shape in cross section thus ensuring
uniformity of work.
The amount or degree of taper imparted to the metal rod or bar may be changed
by varying the inclination of the axes of the rolls toward each other, which may be
accomplished by changing the eccentricity of the adjustable cam or equivalent on its
shaft. If this does not give the exact taper required, the journal box 6', which is
maintained normally pressed against a set screw f, shown by dotted lines in Figure 4,
by a spring f¹ recessed in a socket in the housing 6, may be accurately adjusted by.
this set-screw, but when the exact taper required has been thus obtained, then the
roll a in the operating of the machine is fixed, the roll a¹ being moved toward the
roll a by means of the cams as described.
In practice the axes of the rolls a, a', may be made to occupy three different
positions with relation to each other as indicated by the dotted and full lines Figure 5,
and marked respectively 1, 2, and 3. The relative positions of the said axes is
changed, as herein shown by means of a lever de pivoted as at d to the housing 65
and having lugs or cars do, do, upon which rest the journal boxes 61, 63, respectively,
the said lever being connected by link do, preferably to a foot treadle, not shown.
The axes of the rolls normally occupy the position marked 1, they being held in the
said position as shown by a spring d secured to the housing 65, the rolls when in
this position producing an outward feed of the metal rod.
To feed the metal rod into the machine the operator depresses the treadle so as to
bring the rolls into the position marked 3 that is opposite to that marked 1. To
effect the flow and consequent reduction of the metal rod or bar without feeding it in
either direction, the rolls are brought into the position marked 2, that is, with their
axes in the same horizontal plane. It will thus be readily seen that the metal rod
may be kept moving in and out between the rolls by alternately changing the position
of the axes of the said rolls from 1 to 3 and vice versa.
I prefer to have the lands and grooves on the rolls extend completely round the
circumference thereof, but I do not desire to limit myself to the use of such rolls, as
rolls having the grooves extended nearly but not quite around their circumference
may be used with good results, as the said rolls would find their true centre by means
of the yielding or movable boxes supporting them.
Instead of the particular shaped rolls of uniform diameter herein shown, I may
employ rolls of varying diameter having an irregular contour, of a shape to conform
to the article to be produced, such as projectiles etc.
The rolls a, a', having the lands and grooves inclined and extended around their
circumferences, preferably six to the inch, are especially adapted to be used in the
production of spindles, hackle pins, etc. By varying the inclination and number, and
also the length of the lands and grooves, I am enabled to produce in a machine, such
as herein shown, spiral reamers and threaded bolts.
By means of the adjustable features herein shown, I am enabled to produce
objects of different lengths and diameters with one and the same set of rolls or
working surfaces.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In a machine for reducing and shaping metal rods and other objects, two
working surfaces composed of lands as a² and grooves as a³ substantially as
described.
2. In a machine, for reducing and shaping metal rods and other objects, two
working surfaces composed of inclined lands as a², and grooves as a³, substantially as
described.
3. In a machine for reducing and shaping metal rods and other objects, two rolls
having lands and grooves extended around the circumferences thereof, substantially
as described.
4. In a machine for reducing and shaping metal rods and other objects, two
working surfaces having lands and grooves, the lands being somewhat wider than the
said grooves, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
5. In a machine for reducing and shaping metal rods and other objects, two rolls
having inclined lands as a³, and grooves as a³, extended round the circumference of
the said rolls, the lands being equal to or somewhat wider than the grooves,
substantially as described.
6. In a machine for rolling, reducing and shaping metal rods or bars, the combi-
nation with rolls by which to reduce or shape a metal rod or bar or other object,
and means substantially as described, to move one roll bodily toward the other, of a
stop to limit the movement of the said movable roll, to thereby obtain uniformity in
work, substantially as described.
7. In a machine for rolling, reducing and shaping metal rods, the combination
with rolls by which to reduce and shape a metal rod or other object, of a feed
regulating device by which the said metal rod may be fed in either direction,
substantially as described.
8. In a machine for rolling, reducing and shaping metal rods, the combination
with rolls by which to reduce and shape a metal rod or other object, and means
substantially as described, to move one roll bodily toward the other, of a stop to
limit the movement of the said movable roll, and a feed regulating device by which
the metal rod may be fed in either direction, substantially as described.
9. In a machine for rolling, reducing and shaping metal rods, reducing and
shaping rolls having lands and grooves and a cam to move one roll toward the
other, combined with a stop to limit the movement of the said roll, substantially as
described.
10. In a machine for reducing, and shaping metal rods, rolls having lands and grooves,
combined with an adjusting device to act on one of said rolls to obtain nicety of
adjustment, substantially as described.
11. In a machine for reducing and shaping metal rods, the combination with
reducing and shaping rolls having lands and grooves, of yielding or movable journal
boxes therefor, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.