Universal Rolling Mill, and in a Method of Rolling Metals.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Universal Rolling Mill, and in a Method of Rolling Metals.
I, ABRAM REESE, of 3132 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburg, in the County of
Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Inventor 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 has relation to rolling mills for rolling iron and steel I beams,
and has for its object the provision of novel means for rolling such beams more
accurately, rapidly and economically than by any of the methods or appliances
heretofore employed.
In rolling I beams and channel bars, grooved rolls are now employed, the
different reducing and finishing passes being made through separate grooves of
graduated gauge and shape, the mills being of the ordinary construction, and
conformable to the ordinary type of rolling mill, the form and relation of the
grooves being their only distinguishing feature.
In rolling I beams for girders and general building purposes, the ingots are
very large, and the rolls are subject to very great strain in consequence of the
power and pressure required in reducing the web of the ingot, and causing the
flanges to fill the grooves in both rolls. Many passes are necessary in rolling
and finishing a beam of ordinary size, and much time, labor and expense entailed.
Grooved rolls are in themselves costly, and are subject to very rapid wear,
necessitating frequent re-turning and re-cutting, and adjustment is practically
restricted to exact limits, these being entirely inadequate to the demands of the
work to be done.
Under the most favourable conditions, however, it is impossible to roll I beams
of accurate form and structure by means of grooved rolls, and the principal
difficulty is in rolling the flanges, so as to produce and preserve the proper depth,
surface and angle, and avoid irregularity and lack of fulness and finish on the
edges and sides. The filling of the grooves of the rolls is dependent upon the
pressure of the body of the roll between the grooves, the metal of the beam ingot
being forced out from the web towards the flanges, and into the grooves, the sides
of which aid little, if at all, in the rolling and reducing action, their purpose and
effect being simply to limit the spread of the metal. The sides of the grooves are
not only ineffective as reducing agencies, but are in fact obstacles and drags, opposing
the free movement of the ingot, and tending to hoist and tear the surfaces in which
they are in rubbing, but not in free rolling, contact, impeding the uniform longi-
tudinal stretch of the metal, as well as its lateral spread, and preventing in a great
measure the complete filling of the grooves of both upper and lower rolls.
My present invention aims at entirely overcoming the difficulties above referred
to, as well as many others met with in rolling flanged beams, and to this end
contemplates the rol
+
rolls constituting a universal mill, in which grooved rolls are entirely discarded,
and the obstacles to the production of a flanged beam of any standard size, and of
accurate form and finish entirely eliminated.
And by the mill embodying my invention, and the method of operating the same,
I claim to be able to produce such beams with less labor, more rapidly, and at less
cost than now incurred in the production of imperfect beams.
My invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of
parts hereinafter described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings
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2

page_text: on the the y-y of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line z
Figure 4 is an end elevation.
of Figure 1.
Figures 5, 6, 7 and 9 are detail views of the vertical rolls of the second pass, with
their bearing blocks and adjusting devices.
Figure 8 is an end view of the sliding yoke for adjusting the vertical rolls.
Figure 10 is a detail elevation of a modified forin of adjusting devices for the
vertical rolls of the first pass, and Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view of a part of
the devices shown in Figure 10.
The mill is of a compound or double character, and consists of two separate
or distinct sets of rolling appliances for the operation of two separate and inde-
pendent passes.
A, A, and B, B designate the housings, respectively of the two roll structures,
and C, C, D, D¹, the horizontal rolls mounted therein. The rolls C, C, are
employed in the first pass to which the ingot is subjected, and in connection with
the vertical rolls c, c, c', c', mounted on the same housings are designed to roll and
reduce the web of the I beam, and at the same time to operate positively on the
Hanges of the beam, so as to determine the exact width and depth of the latter
between the flanges, and the proper corresponding depth of the flanges. For
rolling I beams, the rolls C, C', which are of the same size and structure, and which
in practice are to be of such weight and dimensions as may be required, are formed
each with the central enlargement, body part or collar C, upon or raised from the
neck portions c², of the exact width and shape as the space or channel between the
flanges on one side of the beam to be produced. To make a channel bar, a plain
roll is used as the top roll.
The lower roll C¹, is mounted in stationary boxes E, E, whilst the upper roll C,
is mounted in adjustable boxes E', E', of the usual construction and arrangement,
suitable adjusting screws E³, E3, rising above the housings, and carrying hand or
power wheels E³, E³, and the boxes supported upon springs E, E, or balanced in
any convenient way.
The collars C' are rounded on their angles as shown at e, to correspond with the
curve of the inner sides of the flanges of the beams, and between the periphery of
the collars C, and the body of the rolls, the distance is exactly that of the projec-
tion of the flanges from the surface of the web of the beam.
The vertical rolls c, c, c', c', which operate in connection with the main horizontal
rolls C, C¹, are located respectively in front of, and behind the rolls C, C', and for
the purposes of the lateral adjustment, which is a necessary function of these vertical
rolls; they are mounted or journalled in grooved brasses or boxes f, f, fitted to the
edges of slots f¹, f', in transverse bars f', f, attached to the housings A, A, in
the usual manner.
The rolls c, c, c¹, c', are driven from the shafts d, d, by means of the bevelled
pinions d, d, the former being keyed to the spindles of the rolls, and the latter
provided with grooved collars d³, and adjustably splined upon their shafts, so as to
adjust with the rolls c, c, c', c¹, the lower spindles, of which engage with the
grooves in the collars d.
The rolls c, c, c¹, c¹, are fed or adjusted inwardly towards the collars c³, by means
of the double wedge-shaped vertical slides G, G, which play in boxes G', G, on the
inner faces of the housings A, A, and pass through the slots f¹, f, in the
bars behind the brasses or boxes f, f, in which the vertical rolls c, c, c', c',
have their bearings, the inclined faces g³, of the wedges being outwards, or toward
the boxes, so as to impinge against the latter, and force them inward, according as
the wedges are lowered. The sides of the boxes or brasses f, f, are bevelled, to
correspond with the bevel or taper of the wedges, as shown at f³, f³, so that the
contacting surfaces shall be in easy sliding touch.
In order to take up and compensate for wear due to the friction of the wedges,
I provide the devices shown in Figure 10 and 11 in which H, is a grooved and
bevelled block, sliding in the slot between the roller bearing f, and the wedge

page_text: slide G, and carrying an upright threaded pin h, upon which is fitted the horizontal
arm of an L-shaped adjusting key h', the bevelled limb 2, of which, fits between
the vertical side of the block H, and the bevelled side of the bearing f. Nuts i, i,
are screwed upon the pin h, above and below the horizontal arm 2, and provide a
means for adjusting the key ¹, so as to move the block H, toward the wedge,
according as the contact surfaces wear.
The wedges or wedge slides G, are operated through the medium of the horizontal
shafts 1, 1, journalled on the housings A, A, above the rolls c, c, c', c', and carrying
the pinions,, ³, i³, engaging with the racks i, formed on the sides of the wedge
slides. On one end of the shaft I is secured a crank arm 12, by which it is turned.
This shaft carries also a pinion 1', which through idlers I, I, and pinion I, on
shaft I', communicate motion to the shaft 1'. Hence, by turning shaft I, all four
wedge slides are simultaneously operated, and correspondingly all four vertical
rolls c, c, c', c', are adjusted toward or from the central line of the mill exactly the
same distance. This adjustment of the rolls, and the mechanism for obtaining it, 1
consider very important features of my mill.
It is essential to have all four rolls move exactly alike, and by means readily
controllable. The wedge slides G, and connections accomplish this, and when the
rolls are once adjusted, they can not be forced back, or the wedge slides moved by
any pressure against their bevelled surfaces, the rolls being thus practically locked
in their places.
When the wedge slides G are raised, the rolls c, c, c', c¹, are free to move
outwardly, and are so moved by the ingot passing through between them, until
further movement is arrested by the wedge slides.
The appliances so far described constitute one complete part of the mill, and
have a definite work to perform. The first pass of the ingot, forged to such shape
and dimensions as to pass into the bite of the rolls, is made through this part of
the mill, and the first reduction of the web of the beam takes place under the action
of the collars of the horizontal rolls C, C. At the same time, the edges of the beam
flanges are rolled by the narrow portions of the horizontal rolls, and the width of
the beam determined by the vertical rolls c, c, c', c', which however do not necessarily
roll the metal, being out of such operative position. They tend, however, to
prevent undue lateral spreading of the metal under the squeeze of the horizontal
rolls C, C, and the bending outward of the flanges, without the rubbing or tearing
effect produced by the outer surfaces of the grooves in grooved horizontal rolls.
The web of the beam is reduced in this pass and at the same time, and by the same
horizontal rolls, the flanges are rolled to a uniform depth, and the channel of the
beam accurately shaped to conform to the shape of the collar of the horizontal roll.
After this pass, the beam is in condition for a pass through the second section
of the mill. This section, of which the housings B, B, are a part, is situated any
convenient distance back of the first section, so that the beam leaving the first pair
of rolls enters the second pair.
The latter consists of the shafts D, D', and the central disc or collar portions D², D³,
the latter being of the exact width of the channel spaces in the beams between the
flanges, that is, of exactly the same width as the collars on the first pair of rolls.
The discs or collars D*, D' are however of exceptionally large diameter, so as to
leave ample space between the shafts D, D', for the accomodation of the vertical
rolls M, M, and their fittings between the shafts, and on line with the vertical
centres of the shafts D, D'.
While, in the first section of the mill, the two horizontal rolls are worked positively
from the power and their shafts geared together, the lower roll D', only, of the second
section is positively rotated from the power, the upper roll being turned by the friction
of the beam. The vertical rolls in this section of the mill do the positive rolling,
while the horizontal rolls prevent the web from buckling, and maintain the flanges
from inward bending or crushing.
The vertical rolls M, M, are mounted in U bearings N, N, which slide in frames n,n,
secured on the housings B, B. The bearing pieces N, N, are bevelled on their rear

page_text: sides, and against the latter press the bevelled portions n², n², of the horizontal
wedge bars 0, 0, 'which pass through mortises P, P, in the housings B, B,
from front to rear. The frames m, n, are secured in any desired manner, but
preferably as shown, between the journal boxes, and upon brackets in the window
of the housing of the horizontal rolls, the frames n,, having shoulders, ³,
which abut against the inner sides of the housings B, B, so as to sustain lateral
pressure.
The wedge slides O, O, are somewhat like the wedge slides G, by which the
vertical rolls c, c, c', c, are adjusted, but have each but one bevelled face o', the
slides being of full thickness for one half its length, and being then bevelled
and diminished to half this thickness, the mortices in the housings being of
corresponding widths, so that the slides will move lengthwise only, and without any
lateral play.
The thinner portions of the wedge slides O, O, extend outward from the housings
towards the housings A, A, and are formed with racks P, P, on their upper edges,
with which pinions P', P', engage, to move the slides in and out, such pinions being
mounted on a transverse shaft p, journalled in boxes P, attached to the housings,
and provided with a crank P³.
The vertical rolls M, M, are adjusted toward the rolls K, K', by the inward
movement of the wedge slides, and are moved outwardly by the pressure of the
beam. The rolls M, M are rotated positively from the shaft of the lower roll K¹,
by the bevelled gears Q, Q', the large gears Q, being splined upon the shafts, and
provided with grooved collars g, with which the lower spindles of the vertical rolls
engage, so that the gears are kept in operative engagement, while the vertical rolls
are adjusted.
When the mill is in operation, the vertical rolls M, M, are rotated at about the
same speed as the vertical rolls c, c, c¹, c', so that the ingot emerging from the pass
through the first section of the mill shall not be restrained or dragged.
Power is conveyed to the rolls in any desired manner, and I have shown a con-
venient arrangement in which the shafts of the lower rolls are gear coupled through
gears R, R', on their respective shafts, and an intermediate idle gear S on a separate
shaft. The usual mill arrangement of shafts and gearing is of course adopted, the
shafts proper being unencumbered, the gearing being on outside shafts, which are
coupled when necessary with the roll shafts by suitable crabs.
It will be understood that the two sections of the mill constitute two separate and
independent mills, but in respect to their operations and alternate uses, form a train,
one section being fed from the other, and each dependent upon the operations
performed by the other.
As previously stated, the first pass of the fresh unfinished ingot is made through
the first section, that is, between the rolls C, C' and c, c, c', c¹. As the reduced
ingot, having its web and flanges uniformly rolled, emerges and enters the pass
of the second section, which is widened or enlarged, to admit the end of the
beam, the upper roll D, is lowered, and the vertical rolls M, M, are moved
inwardly, by turning the hand wheels s, on adjusting screws S, of the upper roll
and the pinion shaft p, until the rolls touch and slightly grasp the ingot.
The latter now passes from the first horizontal rolls, and through the second,
whereupon a further inward adjustment of the rolls D, M, M, is made, and the
operation of the mill reversed. The ingot is now fed back through the pass of
the rolls D, D', M, M, and is positively operated upon by the vertical rolls M, M,
which roll the outer sides of the flanges, properly reducing and evening them, the
form of the web and of the inner sides of the flanges being preserved, and the
bending, contraction or buckling prevented by the rolls D, D'. As the rolls D, D',
are not called on to operate positively as reducing appliances, and are not subject to
any special strain, they need not be heavy in proportion to their diameter, but may
be hollow or webbed.
The ingot, in passing from these rolls, again enters the first pair, but in an opposite
direction from that of the first pass, and as it enters, the rolls C, c, c, c', c', are

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page_text: Sixthly-The method of rolling I beams or channel bars, which consists in first
reducing the web and flanges by pressure normal to the plane of the web, and,
second, simultaneously supporting the web and inner faces of the flanges, and rolling
the parallel outer faces of the flanges, substantially as described..
Dated this 15th day of August 1892.
:
ABRAM REESE,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.
ABRAM REESE,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.