IMPROVEMENTS IN MERCHANT-BAR ROLLING-MILLS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Gatton Melhuish Hardingham of 191 Fleet
Street, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, for
an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MERCHANT-BAR ROLLING-MILLS"
communicated to him from abroad by John Jones Roberts, of Reading, in
the County of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, one of the United States of
America
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said George Gatton Melhuish
Hardingham at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd May
1883.
"
GEORGE GATTON MELHUISH HARDINGHAM, of 191 Fleet Street, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, IMPROVEMENTS IN MERCHANT-
BAR ROLLING-MILLS" communicated to me from abroad by John Jones Roberts
of Reading, in the County of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, one of the United
States of America
This Invention relates to what is termed the "small" or "merchant" train of a
rolling-mill plant; and has for its objects to improve the product of the mill,
increase its output, decrease the capital required to be invested, impart increased
strength to the rolls whilst diminishing the liability to accidents. These objects
are attained by the construction of the rolls in the manner illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in the various Figures.
Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a merchant-bar mill for rolling iron,
steel or other metals, and shows the improved rolls and housings on the left hand
side. Figure 2 represents a set of rolls for a three-high mill, constructed in
accordance with this Invention. Figure 3 is an end view of the same. Figure 4
represents a set of rolls for square bars, preferably used in connection with the
present Invention. Figure 5 shows in end elevation the mode I prefer for housing
the roll bearings. Figure 6 is a front elevation of the same. Figure 7 embraces
a plan, side and front elevations of rider or bearing boxes used in the housings.
Figure 8 represents the adjusting keys. Figure 9 represents the side guides used.
in combination with the improved rolls.

page_text: A represents the housing shoe, adapted to fit the feet of the housings mounted
thereon and is provided with the usual longitudinal holding-down bolt recess A¹,
in which the bolt heads slide. B represents the housings for the rolls; B¹ the nut-
boss; B2 the housing screw; B³ inclined mortises in the legs for the keys F and B'
housings for the driving pinions; B5 caps; and B6 screws for same. Ċ represents
the usual fore plate, and D the ordinary side guides used in rolling metal.
E represents the seat for the lower roll and E', the riders for the middle and top
rolls. These are provided with a key groove E2 corresponding with the mortise B³
in the housing-legs. F are adjusting keys-one broad and one narrow-passing
entirely across the housing-legs in the mortises B³, and are secured in place
by set screws F¹. g represents the ordinary three-high roughing rolls. h represents
an ordinary set of three-high square-bar finishing rolls, and J represents the
improved step flat bar rolls, adapted to a three-high mill. K. represents a bar of
metal passing through the several series of rolls and emerging from the improved
rolls as a flat bar finished in one continuous operation L are the ordinary coupling
boxes; M the driving pinions.
It is well known to those experienced in rolling mills that rolls for flats, from
- the manner of their construction, are more liable to breakage and accidents of every
description than any others of the set. It is also well known that the manufacture
of the various sizes of flat iron usually kept in stock requires a multiplicity of
rolls, usually amounting to many tons in weight. It is also well known that in
producing the various sizes, it is common to throw the rolls out of horizontal level
and consequently to put a great strain upon the necks of the rolls and the coupling
boxes uniting the same entailing wabbling, noise and serious wear. Also that after
wear, the space between the collars and seats becoming enlarged, it is not an
unusual occurrence for the bar to catch while passing through, and either to split
off the collar, spoiling the roll, or winding thereon to break the same.
To avoid or minimise these defects the present Invention is designed. Preferably
the roughing and squaring-up rolls are run face to face, with the grooves equally
divided between them. Their alignment is therefore direct from the pinions; and
the improved step rolls, having their bearings rigidly adjustable by the keys F,
will be axially in line with the other sets of rolls. The housings are provided
with. the usual fore and back plates; and upon the fore plates are mounted the
usual side guides so arranged, relatively to the size of bar desired, that the same
shall be passed through the step opening between the rolls adapted to form
said size of bar, in this respect not differing from the present practice in small
mills.
In operation, the billet is first passed through the roughing rolls, the grooves
selected being those fitting it for the desired pass in the squaring up rolls; and
from them to the step rolls, where it is reduced to a flat bar. This operation may
be continuous, as shown in Figure 1, where K represents the billet entering the
roughing rolls at the right and emerging on the left from the upper step-rolls a
finished flat bar.
It will be noticed that the coupling boxes are placed directly upon the necks of
the rolls without the intervention of the usual spindle In this way the mill
becomes more compact and better adapted to do good work. If preferred, the
spindles may be used with double coupling boxes, as at present.
In practical use, the corners of the bar being filled out in the square finishing
rolls, it is found that in its reduction to a flat bar during passage through the
step-rolls the edge of the bar remains full and square. As usually arranged, the
step-rolls are placed in the housings at such a distance from centre to centre as
will leave a space of one fourth of an inch between the faces of the rolls at their
largest diameter. This space may be reduced or increased by a manipulation of
the key F which raises or lowers and rigidly maintains the positions of the
rolls relative to each other as the keys are driven out or in. In either position,
the set screws F¹ are tightened upon them, and they are securely retained as
desired.

page_text: Rolls constructed in accordance with this invention may be more rapidly finished
in the lathe and do not require the same degree of skill to produce as the present
flat bar rolls. The rolls are much stronger for the same diameter than under the
ordinary node of manufacture, consisting of collars and recesses formed in opposite
rolls, these often reducing the body of the roll to a less diameter than the necks of
the same.
As before remarked this invention effects a great reduction in the plant required
to manufacture-bar iron and similar products. The regular variation in the steps
of the rolls, with the facility for increasing or diminishing the space by the keys
as described give superior advantages to the manufacturer in the production of odd
sizes of bars. The repairs are simple, being confined to a straight surface; and
the life of the rolls is prolonged, as they are not so soon rendered unfit by reason
of weakness to be further reduced in diameter by re-turning.
The use of keys for raising and retaining the riders of housing rolls, as shown
in Figures 5, 6 and 8, although not new, is preferred as the simplest and most
reliable method of adjustment.
Having thus described 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 claim
The use in merchant-bar rolling mills, of stepped rolls void of collars constructed
substantially as described and adapted for mounting in roll housings in sets of two,
three or more high.
In witness whereof I the said George Gatton Melhuish Hardingham have
hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty third day of May in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
G GM HARDINGHAM (LS.)