Year: 1886

page_text: 946
I PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature
of this invention (a communication to me from abroad by Charles Hill Morgan of
Worcester in the State of Massachusetts, United States of America) 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 rolling mills for rolling. wire rods directly from fluid or
molten metal, and consists in the combination with a continuous train of reducing
rolls of a suitable apparatus for reducing scrap or pig iron to a molten state,
refining the same, then conducting said molten metal to a pair of cooling and
forming rolls, thence to the reducing rolls aforesaid, said metal being cooled to a
temperature just below a molten state in any suitable manner prior to entering the
forming rolls above referred to, cut apart as required after leaving said forming
rolls prior to entering the reducing rolls, and the waste caught underneath by
suitable means hereinafter more fully described. It also consists in the combination
of the parts aforesaid, with suitable reeling devices, conducting pipes, and one or
more supplementary sets of reducing rolls substantially as hereinafter set forth.
To clearly explain the nature of the invention reference is made to the
accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 represents a top or plan view of so much of a wire-rod rolling mill as is
necessary to illustrate the present improvements thereon, as hereinafter more fully
described and
Fig. 2 a vertical longitudinal section of the parts shown in Fig. 1. taken on
line A B. looking in the direction indicated by the arrow same Figure; also
showing parts of the mill in side view.
In the drawings C represents an ordinary continuous train of reducing rolls
provided with the usual guides c¹ for conducting the rods from one set of reducing
rolls to another in the process of reduction The parts marked D represent an
ordinary cupola provided with the usual means for melting the scrap or pig iron
contained therein, and with the outlet D¹ at the bottom for "tapping" said molten
metal when required for use as hereinafter described. E represents a crane
having an ordinary Bessemer converter E¹ mounted upon the outer end of its
swinging arm E³, and made hollow for conducting an air blast to said converter;
said arm also being fitted to turn on its bearings, and provided with means whereby
said arm and its converter are turned when required as hereinafter more fully
explained.
+

page_text: The purpose of said crane and converter is to transfer the molten metal in the
cupola D to the receiving ladle F, it being refined in said converter by the usual
Bessemer process. The
upper part a of the crane E is fitted to slide up and down
in the frame or base b, and is operated by turning the hand crank c by means of
the usual mechanism contained within said vertical base part b.
The
Said parts a and b are so constructed as to admit of the passage of the air blast
herein before referred to, up through the crane to the converter E¹ thereof.
part a not only moves vertically but also turns in its bearings, so that the arm E
may be swung around to conduct the converter from the cupola D, to the receiving
ladle F, and vice versa, as required in transferring the molten metal from the
former to the latter. The converter is tipped as required in performing the
operation by means of a hand crank through the crank shaft h, turning in suitable
bearings and provided at its upper end with the threaded part h¹ which meshes
with the worm gear i on the arm to which said converter is attached.
The receiving ladle F is provided at the bottom with a suitable outlet, and
tube converging inward towards the bottom through which the metal passes,
prior to entering the forming rolls kk, which are arranged to turn just under the
same. In order that the molten metal contained in the ladle F may be cooled
Bufficiently to mould the same in passing between the forming rolls k, and yet not
unduly retard its progress downward through the tunnel shaped tube j a suitable
number of pipe coils are arranged around the same through which may be passed
a current of cold water or steam blast, applied in any suitable manner. I do not
however confine myself to this method of cooling as various ways may be adopted
to effect the same result. The rolls kk, are hollow and may be cooled by water or
otherwise, to keep them at the proper temperature for rolling.
The temperature of the metal in the receiving ladle F is maintained and con-
trolled by applying a hot blast to the top thereof such as produced by the use of
petroleum or other hydrocarbon passed through the blast pipe m and into said
metal by means of super-heated steam or air.
Previous to pouring the first charge from the converter E¹ into the ladle F the
bottom opening of said ladle is closed by means of a plug n operated by a rod
extending up therefrom. The ladle having been filled, said plug is then withdrawn,
thus allowing the metal to flow down through the tube ; and between the rolls k k
into the receptacle p. When the metal has arrived at the proper consistency to
pass it into the continuous train C, it is cut apart as it continues to flow down, by
means of a suitable cutting device arranged under the forming rolls kk, the free
end being then caught by an attendant by means of suitable tongs and fed in
between the first set of reducing rolls of the continuous train C, which then carries
it along through the different stages of reduction in the usual way. In this
instance the metal is cut apart as aforesaid, by means of the rotating cutters o,
having the cutting edges of which when they come together by the rotation of said
cutters, act as shears to sever the metal. Said cutters may be operated as required
by any suitable and convenient means.
As the metal leaves the last set of rolls of the continuous train C it enters and
passes through a stationary conducting pipe H, thence into and through a rotating
pipe H and is distributed in the stationary reel G. around the central cone G¹
thereof. Said reel is arranged in a suitable enclosure of fire brick in which a fire
may be kept up if necessary to maintain or increase the temperature of the metal
deposited in said reel as aforesaid.
The distributing pipe H is operated by a driving shaft 12 (driven by any
suitable means) through the spur gears I and I which work together, the pipe H¹
being arranged in the gear I and both of said gears being fitted to turn in the
frame J.
If desired the rods deposited in the reel G, may be still further reduced in size
by passing them through one or more sets of supplementary rolls C. In removing
the same from the reel one end of the rod is drawn up through the central opening
in the gear I, the pipe H₁ having been previously removed, and thence over the

page_text: friction roll q to said supplementary rolls.
suitable bearing r which may in turn be
said drawing off operation.
The friction roll q is fitted to turn in a
fitted to rotate if desired to facilitate
It will be understood that the rolls k and those of the continuous train C are
constructed and fitted to turn in the usual well known manner and as operated by
ordinary mechanism connected therewith.
In the foregoing specification one reel only. has been described together with one
crane and cupola, but if desired two or more of each may be employed, and the
other parts made to correspond therewith as shown in Fig. 1, thereby increasing
the production of the mill.
By the use of two cranes and converters working alternately the receiving
ladle F and continuous mill may be kept in constant operation as will be readily
seen, the rods being directed alternately to first one reel and then the other as fast
as delivered from said mill and subsequently drawn off with less haste to the
supplementary rolls as hereinbefore described.
In practice it is proposed to use suitable switch device for directing the rods
into, first one and then the other of the conducting pipes H as they leave the
continuous train C.
Although two reeling devices only have been shown and described a greater
number may be used if desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is-
1. The combination of a continuous train of reducing rolls with the means for
reducing scrap or pig iron to a molten state; for conducting said molten metal to
a suitable receiving ladle and refining the same during the transit thereof, for
conducting the metal from said receiving ladle to, and between suitable forming
rolls and for cutting said metal apart preparatory to its being fed into the first
set of rolls of the aforesaid continuous train of rolls, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
2. The combination of the continuous train of rolls C, with the cutters o, forming
rolls k, k, receiving ladle and means for supporting said ladle, means for supplying
the same with molten metal for conducting said metal to the rolls k, k, aforesaid,
and for controlling the discharge and temperature thereof, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
3. The combination of the reeling mechanism constructed and arranged sub-
stantially as described, and the continuous train of rolls C, with the cutters o,
forming rolls k, k, receiving ladle F, means for supporting said ladle, means for
supplying the same with molten metal for conducting said metal to the rolls k, k
aforesaid, and for controlling the discharge and temperature thereof, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
4. The combination of one or more sets of supplementary rolls, the reeling
mechanism constructed and arranged substantially as described, and the continuous
train of rolls C, with the cutters o, forming rolls k, k, receiving ladle F, means for
supporting the same, means for supplying it with molten metal for conducting
said metal to the rolls k, k aforesaid, and for controlling the discharge and
temperature thereof, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
DL:
2
1000