IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ROLLING IRON, MORE PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF THE TYRES OF RAILWAY WHEELS
Year: 1855

page_text: for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR
ROLLING IRON, MORE PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF THE
TYRES OF RAILWAY WHEELS."-A communication from Jackson Brothers;
Petin Gaudet, and Company, of Rive de Gier and St. Chamond, in the
Empire of France, Iron Manufacturers.
Sealed the 21st December 1855, and dated the 8th October 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th October 1855.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND
APPARATUS FOR ROLLING IRON, MORE PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE
OF THE TYRES OF RAILWAY WHEELS," a communication from Jackson Brothers,
Petin Gaudet, and Company, of Rive de Gier and St. Chamond, in the
Empire of France, Iron Manufacturers, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates principally to the manufacture, by rolling, of railway
and other tyres without welding, and consists principally of certain improved
arrangements of mechanism whereby such manufacture is more effectively
performed, and the seam or ragged edge usually left by the "rolls" is entirely

page_text: roughing "
Similar
obviated. Two forms of rolls are employed; one pair for "
or forming the tyre, and the other pair for finishing the same.
mechanism is employed to actuate both descriptions of rolls, and is as follows:
The rolls are mounted in a suitable frame so as to be capable of revolving;
the lower "roll" merely revolves on its own axis, but the upper one is so
arranged as to be capable of revolving, and also of being raised or lowered by
means of screws further from and nearer to the lower "roll," so as to exert
more or less pressure upon the iron as may be required. The "rolls" are
caused to revolve by a powerful engine or water wheel, and the screws are
actuated (when required) by means of a small steam engine, connected
thereto by means of spur and bevil gearing. The ends only of the
"
The upper
"rolls" act upon the tyre. The lower one forms the exterior of the tyre,
whilst the upper one forms the interior of the same.
"roll"
is furnished with an internal disc, and, the lower "roll" with a moveable
external disc. These discs form the sides of the tyre. The working parts of
the "rolls" are formed of cast steel, the use of which a much closer adjust-
ment of the parts can be effected. The end of the upper roll may be made
entirely of cast steel, and may be connected to the "roll" by means of a tail
piece, secured by a key or nut and washer. The difference between the
'roughing and finishing "rolls" is, chiefly, that in the former the recess that
forms the flange of the tyre is next to the plate or disc of the lower roll, whilst
in the latter this recess is at that edge of the lower "roll" which works
against the disc of the upper cylinder. There is also a slight difference in the
form of this recess. The effect of reversing the position of the tyre in the two
operations, and of slightly altering the form of the flange, and using cast steel
for the working surfaces of the "rolls," is, that the tyre is rolled with its form
sharp and perfect, and without flaws, seams, or rough edges of any description.
By this arrangement it will be perceived that the pressure only takes place
in a vertical direction, or in the direction of the thickness of the flange, and
that the width of the ring must be determined beforehand, according to the
istance apart of the flanges or discs of the two "rolls;" but by the following
form or construction of "rolls," the tyre may be rolled in such a manner that.
the pressure is exerted upon it in all directions at the same time. The upper
"roll" has a rectangular V-shaped groove around its periphery, and forms the
inner circumference and outer edge or side of the tyre, whilst the "lower roll"
is grooved in such a form as to roll the working surface flange and inner edge
or side of the tyre. The pressure is thus exerted in a direction diagonal to
the section of the tyre, and consequently the enlargement of the tyre, produced
by the rotation and pressure of the "rolls," takes place not only at the expense

page_text: of the thickness of the tyre, but also of its width, and the particles of the metal
receive pressure equally and in all directions at one time. In order to intro-
duce the tyre between the rolls, the outer flange of the lower roll is made
moveable, and is attached to a sliding part of a plummer block, which may be
removed by means of winch handles and screws, a sufficient distance to allow
of the introduction of the heated tyre. The disc is then replaced, and the
upper "roll" gradually lowered by means of the small steam engine and screws,
before mentioned.
The steam engine is furnished with a winch handle, a worm, and worm
wheel, and rod in connection with, by means of which the action of the screws
may be increased, decreased, or stopped at pleasure. The diameter of the tyre
is regulated by means of two rollers, capable of adjustment by the aid of a
worm and worm wheel, or by a ratchet wheel and pall acting upon a toothed
segment upon which the rollers are mounted.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 8th April 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ROLLING IRON, MORE PARTICULARLY
APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF THE TYRES OF RAILWAY WHEELS," a com-
munication from Jackson Brothers, Petin Gaudet, and Company, of Rive de
Gier and St. Chamond, in the Empire of France, Iron Manufacturers, upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, by an

page_text: instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
"
The said Invention relates principally to the manufacture, by rolling, of
railway and other tyres without welding, and consists principally of certain
improved arrangements of mechanism, whereby such manufacture is more
effectively performed, and the seam or ragged edge usually left by the "rolls"
is entirely obviated. Two forms of "rolls" are employed; one pair for "rough-
ing" or forming the tyre, and the other pair for finishing the same.
Similar
niechanism is employed to actuate both descriptions of rolls, and is as follows:--
The "rolls" are mounted in a suitable frame so as to be capable of revolving.
The lower "roll" merely revolves on its own axis, but the upper one is so
arranged as to be capable of revolving, and also of being raised or lowered by
means of screws further from and nearer to the lower "roll," so as to exert
more or less pressure upon the iron as may be required. The "rolls" is caused
to revolve by a powerful engine or water wheel, and the screws are actuated
(when required) by means of a small steam engine, connected thereto by
means of spur and bevil gearing. The ends only of the "rolls" act upon the
tyre; the lower one forms the exterior of the tyre, whilst the upper one forms
the interior of the same.
The upper
"roll" is furnished with an internal disc,
and the lower "roll" with a moveable external disc. These discs form the
sides of the tyre. The working parts of the "rolls" are formed of cast steel,
by the use of which a much closer adjustment of the parts can be effected.
The end of the upper "roll" may be made entirely of cast steel, and may be
connected to the roll by means of a tail piece, secured by a key or nut and
'washer.
The difference between the "roughing " and finishing "rolls" is, chiefly, that
in the former the recess that forms the flange of the tyre is next to the plate
or disc of the lower "roll," whilst in the latter this recess is at that edge of
the lower "roll" which works against the disc of the upper cylinder. There
is also a slight difference in the form of this recess. The effect of reversing
the position of the tyre in the two operations, and of slightly altering the form

page_text: of the flange, and using cast steel for the working surfaces of the "rolls," is,
that the tyre is rolled with its form sharp and perfect, and without flaws,
seams, or rough edges of any description. By this arrangement it will be
perceived that the pressure only takes place in a vertical direction, or in the
direction of the thickness of the flange, and that the width of the ring must
be determined beforehand, according to the distance apart of the flanges or
discs of the two "rolls;" but by the following form or construction of "rolls."
the tyre may be rolled in such a manner that the pressure is exerted upon it
in all directions at the same time.
The upper
"roll" has a rectangular V-shaped groove around its periphery,
and forms the inner circumference and outer edge or side of the tyre, whilst
the lower "roll" is grooved in such a form as to roll the working surface
flange and inner edge or side of the tyre. The pressure is thus exerted in a
direction diagonal to the section of the tyre, and consequently the enlargement
of the tyre, produced by the rotation and pressure of the "rolls," takes place
not only at the expense of the thickness of the tyre, but also of its width, and
the particles of the metal receive pressure equally and in all directions at
one time.
In order to introduce the tyre between the rolls, the outer flange of the
lower roll is made moveable, and is attached to a sliding part of a plummer
block, which may be removed by means of winch handles and screws a
sufficient distance to allow of the introduction of the heated tyre. The diso
is then replaced, and the upper "roll" gradually lowered by means of the
small steam engine and screws, before-mentioned. The steam engine is
furnished with a winch handle and rod, in connection with a worm and worm
wheel, by means of which the action of the screws may be increased, decreased,
or stopped at pleasure. The diameter of the tyre is regulated by means of two
rollers, capable of adjustment by the aid of a worm and worm wheel, or by a
ratchet wheel and pall acting upon a toothed segment upon which the rollers
are mounted.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall
refer to the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the improved tyre rolling machine;
Figure 2 is a corresponding front elevation of the same; and Figure 3 is a
corresponding plan of the front portion of the machine.
A, A, are two frames or standards, supporting the plate B (which carries
the actuating mechanism) and the rolls C, C'; the lower roll turns in fixed
bearings, whilst the upper one is connected when requisite to the two screws

page_text: D, D', which serve to raise or lower the roll, so as to exert a greater or less
pressure upon the iron under treatment in the machine. The rolls are driven
by any suitable and powerful prime mover, whilst the small steam engine H,
attached to the framing, works the screws D, D¹. Three shafts are used to
effect this; the first shaft d is the main driving shaft of the engine; one of
its extremities is furnished with the crank e, whilst the other extremity is
fitted with a worm wheel f. This shaft works in bearings in the small
standards 9, and carries the small driving pinion h, the fly wheel i, and the
eccentric j, for working the slide valve. The ends only of the rolls C and C¹
are the parts which act upon the tyre; the lower roll C¹ produces the exterior
surface and flange of the tyre, whilst the upper roll C forms the interior of
the tyre, and has fitted upon it a slight rim m', the object of which is to
produce the slight concavity, plainly seen in the large view, Figure 10.
The manufacture is thus divided into two distinct parts; first, the rough
formation of the tyre; and second, its completion of finish.
The roll C which receives the double motion is cast in one piece with the
plate or disc k, and sometimes with the rolling or shaping end E; but I prefer
that the exterior of this part, however, should be of cast steel, as well as the
working parts of the fixed cylinder C'.
Figure 4 represents, in section, the arrangement adopted for the first
treatment of the tyre on its leaving the surface, and it also clearly shows
those parts which are to be composed of steel. The part E forms the interior
of the tyre into a straight line or plane surface. As that portion of the steel
ring e¹ which rolls the thickest portion of the tyre is required to be stronger
than the other parts, it is made slightly thicker, as shewn in the Drawing,
Figure 4. The actual rolling or shaping parts of the rolls may also be
constructed entirely of steel, if found desirable.
Figure 5 represents an arrangement of this latter description in vertical
section without a rim or bead.
Figure 6 represents the construction of a roll having a rim or bead, the
only difference between the two being in external appearance.
It will be obvious, on referring to this Figure, that the rolling parts can
he firmly united in the middle of the roll C, by employing a piece of steel E,
with a short tail terminating in a slot l, which is destined to receive a conical
key, or the tail may extend the whole length of the roll, and be held fast at
the other end by a nut and washer. The lower roll C¹ carries the steel ring 1,
which shapes the exterior of the tyre. It is fixed on the cylinder C, and
presents this peculiarity, that in the first or roughing rolls, the part forming
the flange is situated against the plate k¹, which terminates the roll C¹ (see

page_text: Figure 4); while, on the contrary, in the finishing roller the position of this
cavity is reversed, it being placed against the plate k, fixed to the upper roller
(see Figures 5 and 7).
The sections of the rolls of the two rolling mills for preparing and finishing
the tyres are not similar; the first producing a tyre of the section represented
at Figure 11, and the second one a tyre similar to that represented at Figure 10.
The reason of the difference is, that, as I have herein-before stated, on the
completion of the tyre an irregular edge is produced on the outside of the rim
at the junction of the rolls in ordinary rolling mills, which has to be removed
by a chisel, and as the force of the pressure tends to destroy the sharp edge
of the rolls, the thickness of this seam is constantly increasing. I have
therefore employed cast steel as the rolling surface, but at the same time
have given to one of the preparatory or roughing rolls the form represented
in Figure 11, since (from the difference in the sections of the rolls of
each rolling mill) upon the tyre being taken to the finishing rolls, the material
of which the tyre is composed gets its position changed gradually as the rolling
proceeds, as shewn by the red lines in Figure 9, so that when the operation
is finished the tyre is free from flaws and ragged seams.
I consider these two improvements, namely, the employment of rolls of
different sections, and the use of steel shaping or rolling surfaces, of great
importance in the manufacture of tyres. By the processes herein-before
described it will be seen that the rolling can only be effected in the direction
of the thickness, or of the radius of the wheel tyre, and that the original
width of the ring should be determined beforehand by regulating the distance
apart of the flanges of the two rolls, and the material also can only be com-
pressed in one direction. A modification is therefore made in the form of
the ends of the rolls, by which the ring is rolled in such a manner that a
pressure is exerted upon it in all directions at the same time.
Figure 12 of the Drawings shows the principle upon which this modification
is constructed. The lower roll A is fixed, as already explained, and can only
turn on its own axis, whilst the upper one B is capable of being raised or lowered
during its revolution by the screws C, which are connected to the bearings of
the roll, and are actuated by a small steam engine, as herein-before described.
The rolling parts alone of the rolls A and B, which are situated outside the
framework D of the mill, are modified, as shewn in the Drawing, so as to roll
the tyre in an oblique direction. The result of this arrangement is, that the
main pressure of the rolls is exerted in a direction diagonal to the section of
the tyre, and in consequence the enlargement of the tyre produced by the
pressure and the rotating motion of the rolls takes place in proportion to the

page_text: reduction of the thickness and width of the tyre simultaneously. By this
means the particles of the maes of metal are compressed equally and by one
operation in all directions towards the centre of the maes. I therefore wish to
claim this process as applied, not only for rolling wheel tyres, but to all other
articles to which this process is applicable.
The ring or roughed tyre having been re-heated, is carried to the finishing
rolling mill by means of a travelling crane or other means. The winch
handles, Figures 1, 2, and 3, in the plumber block p, are now worked, when
the disc of the roll is moved or withdrawn slightly from the end of the
roll, to allow of the ring being inserted and submitted to the action of the
shaper E. The two parts of the plumber block p are then again united, and
the small steam engine is brought into action, thereby causing the upper roll
to descend.
This engine is furnished with a valve, by which the action of the screws can
be instantaneously stopped and regulated without sudden shocks. In order,
however, to regulate the pressure with mathematical precision, such pressure
is completed by using the winch handle q, Figure 2, on the spindle of which is
the worm r, in gear with the worm wheel f, mounted on the shaft d in con-
nection with the screws D; by this arrangement the slightest variation in
pressure can be produced. The diameter of the tyre is limited by the rollers 2',
Figures 2 and 8, fixed to the toothed segments y¹ in gear with the pinions a¹.
In order, however, to be enabled to vary this with mathematical precision, it
is proposed to employ a worm u¹ and worm wheel ', or an arrangement of
ratchet wheel and pall s¹, shewn on the right of Figure 2, and which will
allow of the wheel being worked in either direction. These arrangements
may, however, be modified as found most expedient.
The pressure rollers a' are mounted upon one of the arms of the segments
y in a convenient manner, and by their agency a pressure can be exerted at
will against the actual bevilled surface of the tyre.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict myself to
the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe or
refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from
the principles or main features of the said Invention; but what I consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by
the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the system or mode of making or rolling wheel tyres without welding,
as herein-before described.

page_text: Second, the general construction, arrangement, and combination of machinery
or apparatus for rolling or manufacturing the tyres of railway wheels without
welding, as herein-before described.
Third, the application and use of rolls having the rolling or shaping parts
composed of steel, as herein-before described.
Fourth, the division of the process of manufacturing wheel tyres into the
two operations of roughing and finishing, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Eighth day of April, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-six.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)