Improvements in Roller Mills.
Year: 1887

page_text: DI ECIFICATION.
Improvements in Roller Mills.
I, WILLIAM FRAZER COCHRANE, residing at Cambridge City in the County of
Wayne, and Sate of Indiana, one of the United States of America, Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of the said 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, although applicable in several particulars to other systems of
roller mill operating mechanisms, is more especially designed for use and application
in connection with a system such as described in the specification of my patent
No. 11584, granted September 29, 1885, and hence is regarded as an improvement
upon said patented mechanism; and the said invention consists, generally, in the novel
and improved form of frame composed of detachable and interchangeable sections,
the manner of supporting the driving shafts, the devices for communicating motion
to the driving shafts, the construction and application of the relief mechanism together
with certain other minor features of construction, all as hereinafter described and
pointed out in the claims.
Figure, 1, is a top plan view of a section of a mill arranged according to my
improved system.
Figures, 2, and, 3, are top and side views respectively of the side bar forming part
of the frame.
Figure, 4, is a plan view of one of the tubular cross rods or braces.
Figure,, is a longitudinal sectional view of the relief mechanism.
Figure, 6, is a side view, and figure, 7, a top plan view of the detachable pulley
frame, and
Figures, 8, and, 9, are details of one of its bearings.
Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.
The main features of my invention previously patented incorporated into the present
machine comprises a pair of cooperating rolls, A, and, A', the one A', supported in
fixed bearings a, and the other, A, supported in adjustable boxes or bearings, a.
The front or adjustable roll, A, of each pair is made tubular or hollow for the
reception and accommodation of the driving shaft, B, which latter is supported in
Price SAI

page_text: fixed bearings and is of a diameter less than the internal diameter of the opening in
the roll, to permit of the necessary lateral adjustment of the roll upon the shaft.
Motion is communicated from the driving shaft, B, to the roll, A, through the medium
of a flexible coupling, C, or an equivalent flexible connection such as will accommodate
the lateral movements of the roll and at the same time maintain a firm connection between
the shaft and roll so that the motion of the former shall be communicated to the
latter.
The rear roll, A', is driven from the shaft, B, through the medium of suitable
devices for transmitting motion from the one to the other, such as the gear wheels, a²,
or their equivalents, sprocket wheels and chains, pulleys and belts or friction wheels.
Both the driving gear and pulley for actuating the rear roll and the flexible coupling
or equivalent device for driving the front roll are connected to the driving shaft, B,
through the medium of clutches, B', as described in my prior patent, whereby
either or both rolls may be disconnected or connected to the driving shaft as desired.
With a view to economizing space two pairs or sets of rolls are arranged in the
same frame each pair being furnished with a single driving shaft, B, and to provide
for the more convenient removal and insertion of the rolls, the shaft, B, is divided into
sections, the contiguous ends being connected by separable or detachable couplings, B³,
so that any one of a series of rolls, A, can be removed and replaced without
disturbing the remaining portion of the driving shaft.
The adjusting devices as well as the relief mechanism such as shown in my said
prior patent specification may also be employed if desired.
The several devices and mechanisms herein before referred to are in all material
respects substantially the same and cooperate together in substantially the same manner
and for the purposes set forth in my prior patent, hence further description of these
parts except wherein they have been modified and adapted to the new frames is
unnecessary.
The improved frames are constructed, combined and arranged as follows:-
Each section of the train comprises two parallel side bars or castings, 1-1, united"
at their opposite ends by two cross rods or braces, 2, 3, and sustained upon posts, 4,
while the contiguous frames are connected by rods or braces, 5, 6, and the whole
united and clamped firmly in position by through rods, 7, 8.
As all the bars or castings, 1, of the train are in every respect similar in form and
construction and are duplicates (although those constituting a set or section are
reversed in position) a description of one of said bars or castings will serve for all.
The side bar, 1, consists essentially of a horizontal web, c, for the reception of the fixed
and adjustable boxes or bearings of the rolls, vertical brackets, c', and dependent
legs, c, at each end.
In each end of the web, c, is formed a longitudinal slot e, for the reception and
accommodation of the cylindrical hub I, and movable plate, I', of the adjustable
bearings, a, together with the latch, C2, of the relief mechanism if the latter is
employed.
The vertical brackets, c', are each provided with a transverse eye or socket, cs, and
with a sleeve, c, for the reception of the adjusting rod or bolt, F³, and tension
spring, F, the latter bearing against the projection,, on the bearing, a.
In or upon the under side of the web, c, at some distance from the ends of the
latter are formed the sockets or bearing c When the relief mechanism is to be
employed a recess, c', is formed or cast in the side of the web at the end in line with
the slot, c, for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.
With two side bars constructed as above described all that is required to form a
complete frame for the reception of one or two sets of rolls operating as described in
my prior patent, is the application of the cross bars or braces for holding the two side
bars firmly and rigidly in position. This office is performed by the hollow cross bars
or braces, 2, and, 3, both of which are provided with collars or shoulders, d, located a
a short distance from each end.
The cross bars, 2, are adapted to enter one end of the eye or socket, c, in the
bracket, cl, and to fit snugly therein with the collar or shoulder, d, against the end o

page_text: the socket or face of the bracket, while the cross bars or braces, 3, similarly constructed
engage the sockets or bearings, c³.
In setting up a single frame it is only necessary that the cross bars, 2, and, 3,
should be placed in position with their ends resting in the sockets, c², and, e, in the
two side hars, 1 when, by inserting the bolts, 7, and, 8, through the cross bars,
(suitable plates or washers being applied to said bolts outside of the side bars) and
screwing them tight, the frame will be completed and ready for the reception of the
bearings for the rolls, the adjusting devices, and, if desired the relief mechanism.
It will be observed that the frame as thus constructed and organized is composed
almost entirely of duplicate parts, there being but three distinct elements, i.c. the side
bars, the tubular cross bars and the through rods, and as the through rods are to be
found in the market, only two sets of patterns are required in forming the entire frame,
while if any one part is defective or becomes broken its place can readily be supplied
at a slight cost and without the necessity of renewing the whole frame. Although,
as is obvious this frame may be supported upon any convenient foundation, I prefer
to mount it upon hollow posts or pedestals, 4, detachably secured to the dependent.
legs or projections, c, at the ends of the side bars, 1, whereby the frame may be
set or adjusted vertically either by the insertion of washers or blocks between the post
and legs, c, or by substituting posts of different dimensions.
Although the frame described possesses numerous advantages and desirable features
as a separate structure it is more especially designed and adapted to form part of a
train or double system of rolls, that is to say, a system wherein two independent series
or train of rolls are mounted upon the same frames, each series being driven from an
independent shaft traversing all the hollow adjustable rolls on its series, with driving
mechanism for communicating motion to both of said shafts from a prime mover.
A frame work admirably adapted for the accommodation and support of such a double
series of rolls is formed by arranging a series of the separate frames in line and con-
necting the adjacent side bars, 1, by tubular cross pieces or stays, 5, 6, similar to the
cross bars, 2, 3) applied to the sockets, e, e, in the side bars, 1, and passing the through
rods, 7, 8, through these stays as well as the cross bars, whereby not only are the
separate members of each frame clamped and held in position, but the several frames
are united and held firmly and rigidly together so that when the bearings for the
rolls are applied to the side bars, 1, and the rolls mounted thereon, their parallelism
will be assured.
As will be observed the stays, 5, and cross pieces, 2, are applied to the side bars, 1,
in front of and above the axes of the rolls, while the stays, 6, and cross hars, B,
are located beneath the bearings and preferably in rear of the axis of the front
or adjustable rolls, an arrangement which insures great stability and rigidity and at the
same time permits ready access to the working parts of the machine.
When a number of frames are to be combined together in this manner, it will be
found more convenient to make the through rods in sections connected together as by
screwing the adjacent ends into a nut located in one of the sleeves or sockets, as shown
in figure, 1, so that the sections can be put together or renewed without withdrawing
the whole of the through rod.
The bearings, 15, for the driving shaft, B, are adjustably secured to and supported
upon the stays, 6, in the following manner
Upon each stay is formed or secured an arm or stop, 16, provided with a socket, 17,
to receive the stem or post, 18, carrying the bearing, 15. A set screw or other convenient
device is employed for clamping the stem of the bearing support in the socket. The
bearing proper is preferably made in two sections, 19, each formed with a pivot bearing
or socket, 20, to receive the end of a set screw. 21, passing horizontally through the
ring or yoke, 22, to which the stem or post, 18, is attached. These set screws, 21,
serve not only to clamp and hold the two sections of the bearing together, and as a
means for effecting the lateral adjustment of the bearing, but they also operate as
pivots upon which the bearing is free to vibrate and accommodate itself to the angle
of the shaft. The ends of the bearing, 19, are formed or provided with flanges, 23,
forming a hemispherical cap or socket enclosing the end of the coupling, B², on one

page_text: side and the hub of the clutch, B', on the other, their function being to prevent the
oil or other lubricant which may run onto the shaft from being thrown off and to more
effectually accomplish this result the inner wall of the flange is at the outer or open
end of the cap extended inwards or towards the shaft as shown.
As the outer roll of each set in both series is made adjustable and as each of said
rolls encircles and is driven directly from one of the driving shafts, B, it follows that
the two shafts, B, must be driven in opposite directions, and I have devised the following
simple and efficient arrangement of driving mechanism whereby both shafts may be
driven in the proper direction and by a single belt.
Upon each shaft, B, either at the end or at any point in its length between two of the
frames is secured a pulley, 30, 31 and below or above these pulleys is arranged an
adjustable tightening pulley.
The belt, 33, as it proceeds from the driving pulley (deriving motion from the engine
or other prime motor) is first passed around the tightening pulley, 32, backwards and
upwards around the pulley, 30, thence down beneath and around the pulley, 31, and
back to the driving pulley. By this arrangement the strain is thrown upon the
shafts, B, in a diagonal line and the belt caused to embrace about two thirds or more
of the circumference of each pulley, 30, 31, thereby ensuring a firm contact and
preventing the slipping of the belt. As it would be inexpedient to throw the entire
strain of the driving belt upon the bearings, 15, of the shafts, B, a supplemental
frame, E, is provided which is so constructed and arranged as to be attached to and
form a part of the main frame as hereinbefore described.
This supplemental pulley frame; E, is constructed and applied as follows:-To two
end plates or timbers, 40, are secured upper and lower side bars, 41, 42. These side
bars are each preferably composed of a pair of bars or timbers, 43, held a short
distance apart by interposed blocks or washers 44, while bolts, 45, passing through
the side and end timbers serve to unite and clamp the several parts together, thus
forming an open framing for the accommodation of the pulleys, 30 31 while the
shafts, B, pass transversely through between the side bars, 41, and, 42.
Depending from each of the upper side timbers, 41 are two hangers, 46, carrying
divided bearings, 47, held within the ring or yoke, 48. of the hanger by set
screws, 49. Each hanger is provided with a cylindrical stem or post, 50, fitting grooves
or ways, 51, formed in the proximate faces of the timbers, 43, which latter are caused
to grasp
and hold the hanger by tightening up the screw bolts, 52, located on opposite
sides of the grooves and passing through both timbers, 43.
Resting upon the top of the timbers, 43, and above the hanger is a cap plate or
washer, 53, through which passes a screw bolt, 54, connected to the stem or post of
the hanger, said screw bolt serving as a means for raising and lowering the hanger
and at the same time to assist in supporting the latter. Between the timbers, 43, of
each lower side bar, 42, are suspended two links, 60, whose lower ends are pivotally
secured between the timbers of the side bar, 62, forming part of the frame, 64, carrying
the tightening pulley. The side and end bars or timbers of this frame, 64, together
with the hangers 65, and boxes, 66, are combined, arranged and connected in
substantially the same manner as the upper section of the main frame, D. and need not
therefore be more specifically described.
As thus arranged the frame, 64, carrying the belt tightening pulley while free to
swing back and forth upon the links, 60, is securely held from movement in any other
direction so that both during and after adjustment the tightening pulley will always
be retained in its proper position relative to the driving pulley and the pulleys on the
shaft, B. Any suitable mechanism may be employed for swinging the frame 64, back
and forth upon its links and for holding it firmly in adjusted position, such for example
as a bolt, 67, connected at one end by a flexible joint to the end bar of said frame and
with its opposite end extended through the end plate or timber, 40, of the upper
section of the frame and provided with an adjusting nut, 68.
For the purpose of adapting the pulley frame to the frame of the roller mill a metal
plate, 70, is introduced between and bolted to the timbers, 43, of the upper and lower
side bars, 41, 42, at each end of the frame, D, and these plates, 70, are perforated

page_text: to receive the ends of the cross pieces or stays, 5, and 6, and the through rods, 7, and, 8,
by means of which the pulley frame is securely and firmly clamped and held in
position. As is obvious the pulley frame, D, may be thus mounted and secured either
at the end of the series of rolls, or at any intermediate point in the series and in
either event it may be and in practice is wholly supported upon the frame of the roller
mill thus forming an integral part thereof.
As hereinbefore mentioned it is proposed to provide each pair of rolls with a
relief mechanism for automatically unclutching the rolls from the driving shaft as
set forth in iny prior patent, and to this end special provision has been made in my
improved frame for the accommodation and support of the shaft and actuating
devices for working the clutches.
In the outer side and near the end of the web, c, of each side bar, 1, of the frame is
cast or formed a circular recess, c, and a central bearing, y, for the reception and
support of the shaft, gl, upon which latter and at opposite ends is mounted a clutch
operating device, consisting essentially of the sleeve g*, carrying the shipper, ², and
provided with the inclines or cams, g, a wheel or disk, g, having a series of cams or
inclines, cooperating with those on the sleeve, , and a spring, g', for pressing the
sleeve, g, towards the disk, g, and in addition to hold the sections of the clutch in
engagement.
The disks,, are located within the recess, c', and in line with the latch, c, carried
by the movable bearing, a, of the roll and are each provided with a pin, he, to engage
said latch, while the inner end of the sleeve, g, provided with the teeth or inclines, g',
enters and closes the open side of said recess, , thereby completely covering the parts
contained therein, and effectually excluding dirt.
The operation of the relief mechanism as thus constructed is as follows :-
The disks, y, being connected by catches, C², to the bearing «, of the movable
roll, A, (the latter being held in adjusted position by the pressure of the spring) and
being also connected to operate the shaft, , by a key, 2, when the roll, A, is forced
back, as by the entrance of any hard substance between the rolls, the disks, d³, will
be given a partial rotation and the inclines" or teeth thereon cooperating with the
inclines or teeth on the sleeve,, will force the latter backward or apart, thereby
effecting an instantaneous withdrawal of the movable sections of the clutches on the
driving shaft and stopping the rolls.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. An improved frame for roller mills such as described the same consisting
essentially in the combination with the duplicate side bars adapted to receive the
bearing of the rolls and provided with the vertical end brackets of the tubular cross
pieces litted to the end brackets and web, and the bolts passing through the cross
pieces and serving to clamp the side bars thereon, substantially as described.
2. The improved frame for roller mills constructed substantially as hereinbefore
described of the duplicate side bars tubular cross bars and through rods, the whole
combined arranged and applied, substantially as set forth.
3. Side bars, 1, composed of the web, e, for the reception of the fixed and adjust-
able bearings of the rolls, vertical bracket, c', having sockets, C³, and sleeve, c, and the
intermediate bearings, c³, combined with the tubular cross bars, 2, and, 3, and through
rods, 7, and, 8, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a roller mill such as described and as a means for sustaining the rolls, their
bearings and adjusting mechanism, the improved sectional frame consisting of the
duplicate side pieces, 1, the tubular cross bars connecting said side pieces and the
through rods for uniting and firmly clamping the parts together, the whole constructed
and combined substantially as described.
5. The combination to form a frame for the reception of a roller mill such as
described, together with its adjusting and relief mechanism, of the side bars slotted
for the reception of the adjustable bearings and provided with the recess at the end

page_text: for the reception of the disk of the relief mechanism and the vertical brackets having
the sleeves for the adjusting devices and transverse sockets at their upper ends, said
side bars being connected and clamped together by the tubular cross bars and through
bolts, all combined and arranged substantially as described.
6. The combination to form a frame for a series or system of roller mills such as
described of the duplicate side bars, 1 and tubular cross bars, with the tubular stays
interposed betwen the side bars of the contiguous frames and the rods passing through
the side bars, cross bars and stays of the series to unite and bind together the several
frames in a connected series, substantially as set forth.
7. In a roller mill wherein a series of pairs of rolls arranged in line and driven
from a shaft passing through the adjustable rolls of the series, are mounted upon side
bars, 1, connected together by cross bars, as described, and in combination with the
contiguous side bars of successive frames, the tubular stays connecting said frames
and arranged in line with the tubular cross bars, the through rods passing through the
said stays, cross bars and side bars, the steps formed upon the lower stays and the
bearings for supporting the driving shaft mounted in said steps, substantially as
described.
8. In combination with a series of side bars, 1, arranged in pairs and connected by
cross bars, each pair of side bars supporting a pair of rolls, substantially as described,
of stays connecting the side bar of one pair with the side bar of the next succeeding
pair, rods for clamping the several pairs together to form a continuous frame, bearings
mounted upon the stays and a driving shaft supported in said bearings and passing
through the hollow adjustable rolls of the series as and for the purpose set forth.
9. The combination, to form a continuous frame for a series of pairs of rollers
arranged in line and driven from a single shaft, substantially as described, of a series
of side bars, 1, arranged in pairs, the side bars of each pair being connected together
by tubular cross bars and to the side bar of the next succeeding pair by tubular stays
applied in line with the tubular cross bars, and sectional clamping rods extending
through each series of stays and cross rods, as and for the purpose set forth.
10. In a system such as described and in combination with the frame of the mill
and its stays, the pulley frame removably secured to said stays substantially as
described.
11. In a system such as described and in combination with two sets of rolls and
their fixed and adjustable bearings mounted upon a single frame, the parallel driving
shafts each passing longitudinally through one series of adjustable rolls and supported
in fixed bearings, the pulleys mounted upon said shafts, the adjustable tightener pulley
located beneath said shafts and the driving belt passing beneath the tightener pulley
and over the front and beneath the rear driving pulleys, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
12. The improved detachable pulley frame for roller mills constructed substantially
as hereinbefore described and consisting essentially of the end plates and upper and
lower divided side bars bolted together, the hangers adjustably held between the
sections of the upper side bars, the links pivoted to the lower side bars and carrying
the frame for the tightener pulley, as and for the purpose set forth.
13. In combination with the parallel driving shafts and their pulleys, the adjustable
bearings applied to each shaft at opposite ends of the pulleys, the hangers for
supporting said bearings provided with cylindrical posts, the parallel timbers
constituting the side bars of the pulley frame with their proximate faces grooved for
the reception of the posts of the hangers, the clamping bolts and the end plates to which
the side bars are secured, the whole constructed arranged and applied substantially as
set forth.
14. In combination with the rolls, their fixed and adjustable bearings, the frame
supporting said bearings and the driving shaft passing longitudinally through the
hollow adjustable roll substantially as hereinbefore described, of the divided bearings
applied to the shaft and pivotally supported upon set screws in a yoke, the latter being
provided with a post adjustably secured in a socket formed on the stay rod projecting
from the frame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 15. The combination in a roller mill and with the adjustable hearings of the
roll, the slotted frame supporting said bearings, the driving shaft and the clutches
substantially as described, of the improved relief mechanism comprising the toothed
disk mounted upon a shaft and located within a recess in the frame, the latch
connecting the said disk and movable bearing, the sleeve carrying the shipper mounted
upon the before mentioned shaft and provided with the toothed end cooperating with
the disk substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 8th day of November 1887.