Improvements i не мадина Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements i не мадина
Apparatus therefor.
We, EDWIN NORTON, and JOHN G. HODGSON, of Maywood, in the County of Cook,
in the State of Illinois, United States of America, Manufacturers, 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:-
Our invention relates to apparatus for manufacturing sheet metal directly from
molten metal without first casting the metal into an ingot or billet and then rolling
and rerolling it to reduce its thickness.
Heretofore attempts have been made to produce sheet metal by pouring the molten
metal in a flat stream upon the peripheral surface of a rapidly revolving wheel or
roller the rim of which is hollow and filled with water, which circulates through the
same to keep the wheel cool, so that it will solidify the stream of molten metal as it
comes in contact with the surface of the wheel. In the practical operation of this
method, however, we have found great difficulty in producing the same smooth and
planished surface upon both sides of the sheet produced, and also in producing the shect
of metal of the requisite degree of uniformity. Heretofore, also, attempts have or
may have been made to produce metal bars, rails or plates by pouring molten metal
between two revolving rollers, the molten metal damming up and collecting in the
space above and between the rollers, as shown and described in the patent of the
United States No. 49,053, granted to Bessemer in 1865. This method is objectionable,
if not impracticable, by reason of the body of the molten metal above the meeting
line of the rollers and in contact with the rollers either becoming chilled and
solidified before passing through the rollers or else so heating the rollers as to prevent
their properly chilling the issuing stream of molten metal which passes between them.
By our improvement we obviate the difficulties of both of these old methods and
provide a successful and practical means for producing sheet metal of uniform
thickness and having both sides smooth and even; and it consists in pouring the
molten metal in a flat and wide stream between two wheels or rollers having smooth
peripheries and revolving at an equal or greater surface speed than the velocity of the
falling stream, so that the molten metal cannot dam up or collect in a body above the
meeting line of the wheels or rollers at the space between them, and thus either
become chilled by the rollers or rapidly heat the rollers. By this means the wide flat
stream of molten metal comes in contact with the rollers only at their meeting line,
and this momentary contact we have discovered by experiment is sufficient to set the
molten metal and instantly convert the wide flat liquid stream into sheet metal.

page_text: Another feature of our improvement consists in pouring the stream of metal
directly between the two wheels or rollers, the direction of the stream being tangential
to both rollers or wheels, so that the stream of molten metal will be equally acted
upon by both wheels, and thus produce the same smooth and polished surface on both
sides of the sheet. Where the cross section of the stream of molten metal is the same
or about the same as that of the strip of sheet metal to be produced-that is to say,
the same as the space between the peripheries of the two rollers at their meeting line
-the surface speed of the rollers need only equal or about equal the velocity of the
issuing stream of molten metal; but where the sheet metal is to be made thinner
than the issuing stream of molten metal the surface velocity of the revolving rollers is
correspondingly increased, in order to prevent the molten metal collecting and
damming up in the space between and above the rollers.
In practicing our invention we ordinarily drive the rollers at a uniform speed of
from two hundred to five hundred feet per minute, and then regulate the size or
thickness of the stream of molten metal to the particular thickness of sheet metal
desired to be produced by varying the size of the gate or nozzle through which the
stream of metal issues. As the flat stream of metal is in a liquid or molten con-
dition at the time it passes or begins to pass between the rollers or wheels, little if
spreading strain or pressure is exerted upon the rollers to force them apart, and it is
therefore coinparatively easy to keep the space or opening between the roller's uniform
and produce sheet metal of absolutely uniform thickness.
any
Our invention also consists in the novel devices and novel combinations of devices
herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.
5
In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, we have
shown one form of apparatus embodying our invention, and that which we deem to be
the best for use in practicing the same. The apparatus so shown in the drawings is
one which we have used and designed specially for use in the manufacture of sheet.
solder, which is an alloy of tin and lead. This machine fully embodies the principle
and modo of operation of our invention, and inay be used without change in the
manufacture of other sheet metals than sheet solder, though with certain metals
certain changes of construction obvious to those skilled in the art may be desirable,
especially in the crucible and heating apparatus.
In said drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus; Figure 2 a plan
view. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3, 3 of figure 2, and Figure 4 is a
horizontal section on line 4, 4 of figure 1. Fig. 5 is a detail horizontal section on
line 5, 5 of figure 3.
In the drawings similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.
In said drawings A represents the frame of the machine. This may be of any
strong and suitable construction. B B are a pair of hollow rollers or wheels having
smooth peripheries b, revolving together, with a slight space, b¹, between them at their
meeting line, or the line joining the centers. The space between these hollow wheels
or rollers is equal to the thickness of the sheet metal desired to be produced. These
wheels or rollers have hollow shafts or axles B B', which are journaled in suitable
bearings, B2 B2, on the frame of the machine. The bearings B2 B2 are made adjust-
able on the frame so that the axes of the hollow wheels or rollers may be adjusted
parallel to each other and the rollers set closer together or farther apart, according to
the thickness of the sheet metal desired to be produced. The adjustment of these
journals or boxes is effected by the adjusting screw B³. The openings 62 62 at one
end of the hollow shafts B' B₁ lead into the interior space of the hollow wheels or
rollers B at the center thereof, and communicate at their outer ends with the water
supply pipes 33 through the packed joints or couplings 6. The holes or openings
in the opposite end of the hollow shafts B₁ communicate through the radial branch
pipes with the hollow wheels B near their peripheries, and they are connected to
the water exit pipes through the packed joints or couplings . By this means the
entire interior of the hollow wheels B B are or may be kept full of water and a
constant circulation of water through the same maintained. The connection of the
inlet and outlet water pipes might, of course, be reversed, the inlet pipes communicating

page_text: with their wheels B B at their peripheries and the outlet at their centers; but the
beiter way is that shown in the drawings and before described, as the centrifugal
action of the revolving wheels tends to throw the water to the periphery, and thus
quickly distribute the incoming cold water to the periphery of the wheel, where it is
needed to cool the metallic rim, which tends to become heated by contact with the
molten metal. By locating the inlet and outlet pipes one at the center and one at the
periphery of the hollow revolving wheels B B a thorough circulation of the water is
occasioned inside the wheel before it can escape therefrom. This circulation of the
water would not be so well effected if the inlet and outlet pipes both communicated
with the hollow wheels at their center or both at their periphery. The shafts of the
wheels B B are geared together by gears B+ B'.
CC are scrapers or clearing devices, consisting, preferably, of blades of soft metal-
like copper, for example-so as not to scratch the peripheral surface of the wheels BB,
and located beneath the meeting line of said wheels in position to strip the sheet
metal from the periphery of either wheel in case it should adhere or tend to adhere
thereto. These stripping blades are mounted on arms c, attached to the pivoted levers or
handles CC, so that they may be readily moved into or out of contact with their
respective wheels B B.
D is the pouring nozzle or vessel, having a vertical slit or opening, d, through which
a thin wide flat stream of molten metal may issue directly between the two wheels B B
and in a direction tangential to both, so that said stream will equally strike the
periphery of both wheels and be equally acted upon on both sides by contact there-
with. The lower end, lip, or mouth of this pouring nozzle is or should be brought
down as low or near to the meeting line of the wheels as possible, so that the stream
of molten metal may have but a slight distance to fall after leaving the nozzle. The
nozzle Dis furnished with a valve or gate, d. This valve may be of any suitable
construction but we preferably employ a cylindrical plug valve having a slot or
opening through the same. The shaft of this valve is furnished with a handle or
lever, d, for operating the valve and adjusting it to any desired position to regulate
the size or thickness of the outlet. This valve lever is adjusted into any desired position
by means of the arc E, sliding block e, having set screws el, which afford an approxi-
mate adjustment, and by means of the adjusting screw e², threaded on the block e, the
head of which bears against the handle, and thus affords a means for accurate
adjustment of the pouring outlet or opening. The lower end of the pouring nozzle or
vessel I) is, for convenience, as well as for nicety of construction, made in two parts,
one of the parts being integral with the vessel D itself and the other part, d³, being
secured thereto by set screws d. The part d³, as well as the part upon which it fits,
is provided with shoulders d do, which fit together at the two ends or edges of the
nozzle, as clearly indicated in Fig. 5, these shoulders thus forming the pouring outlet
or opening in the nozzle.
The sides or walls of the pouring vessel D should be curved or made wedging, as
indicated at in the drawings, so that the pouring vessel may fit lower down between
the wheels or rollers B B.
The pouring vessel D is mounted upon an adjustable frame or support, F, so that
the pouring mouth, slit, or opening d of said vessel may be accurately adjusted in
relation to the middle line of the wheels or rollers B B so as to enable the molten
stream of metal to be accurately directed into the space beneath the revolving wheels.
The vessel D or its frame or support F may be thus adjusted by any suitable means.
We prefer, however, to effect the adjustment of the vessel D by mounting its
support F on four adjusting screws or adjustable standards, ff ff. By turning
the nuts of all four of these adjusting screws equally the mouth of the pouring nozzle
may be adjusted up or down without affecting the direction of the stream issuing
therefrom. By turning the nuts of the two screws on one side, one corner of the
pouring nozzle may be tilted up or down or brought closer to or farther from a
horizontal plane passing through the axes of the rollers. By turning the outer or the
inner end pair of nuts-that is to say, the two farther from the vessel D or the two
nearer thereto the mouth of the pouring nozzle may be moved or adjusted nearer to

page_text: one wheel or the other, as may be necessary to bring the same accurately to the
middle line between the two wheels. It will thus be seen that by means of these four
adjusting screws any desired adjustment may be given to the pouring nozzle
necessary to direct the issuing stream of molten metal properly between the revolving
wheels B B.
The vessel D is heated and the metal therein kept in a molten condition by means
of gas jets or burners C or other suitable heating devices. For beating this pouring
nozzle, however, we prefer to employ gaseous fuel, as thereby the flame may be pro-
jected directly against the nozzle and the same kept at the requisite temperature
without imparting any great amount of heat to the wheels B B and by combining
gas burning heaters with the pouring nozzle or vessel D and the revolving wheels or
rollers B B we are enabled to accomplish the important result of bring the pouring
nozzle well down between the revolving wheels. We locate, or preferably locate, one
of the gas burners G very near the lower end of the pouring nozzle at each edge
thereof. To concentrate the flame upon the vessel D), we provide said vessel with an
annular hood, D', surrounding the same. This hood also serves in part to shield and
protect the wheels B B from the flame and heat. This hood D, for convenience of
construction, is preferably cast integral with the frame or plate F, which supports the
vessel D. We provide the vessel D with a flange or shoulder, D2, which rests upon
A
the plate F.
H represents a crucible or heating vessel in which the metal to be converted into
sheet metal is melted or kept in a molten condition. This crucible should be of com-
paratively large size, so that it may hold a considerable supply of molten metal.
pipe, E, leads from the crucible Fl to the pouring nozzle D and serves to conduct the
molten metal in a continuous supply to the pouring nozzle. This conductor pipe is
kept hot by means of a series of gas jets or burners, h. These burners may be simply
holes in the gas pipe 1. The crucible H, at the opening therein leading into this
conductor pipe, is furnished with a valve, H2, which may be opened or closed by the
valve operating wheel H³ and screw connecting rod H. When in operation, the
metal to be fused may be supplied continuously to the crucible H as fast as the molten
metal flows therefrom; or, where it is desired to produce sheets or strips of sheet metal
only a few thousand feet long, the crucible may be filled with metal at intervals, fused
and drawn off, and then refilled, the revolution of the wheels or rollers B being stopped
during the heating operation. The vessel H may be heated in any suitable manner.
Where the metal being operated upon is solder or other like easily fusible metal, the
crucible may be conveniently heated by a number of gas jets or burners, K placed
under the same.
Krepresents the gas supply pipes, and K² air supply pipes connected with the
burners, as the gaseous fuel which we have used in the machine shown in the drawings
has been that made from gasoline, in the use of which, as is well known, separate gas
and air pipes are commonly employed.
N represents the driving pulley, secured to a counter shaft geared to the shaft of
one of the revolving wheels or rollers B. By means of this driving pulley and a
suitable belt, n, from a pulley on a counter shaft on an engine or other source of power,
the wheels or rollers B B are revolved at an equal or greater surface speed than the
velocity of the stream of molten metal, al, issuing from the opening d of the pouring
nozzle D, so that the flow of the metal will not be obstructed by contact with the
wheels or rollers B B, and be thus dammed up or collected in the space above and
between said rollers, where it would tend to be chilled by them and impart its heat
to them.
The surface speed of the wheels B B which we in practice have commonly employed
is about four hundred feet per minute, thus producing four hundred lineal feet of sheet
metal strip per minute. This surface speed may however, be materially varied without
departing from our invention. As the peripheral surfaces of the rollers B B are
travelling by or away from the mouth of the nozzle at an equal or greater speed than
the velocity of the flowing metal with which they come in contact, the revolving
wheels tend to facilitate the flow of the metal with which they come in contact and in

page_text: a measure to draw the metal from the nozzle rather than to in any way obstruct the
flow of the issuing stream. As the peripheries of the wheels do not come in contact
with the wide thin flat stream of molten metal except at their meeting point or line,
and at the very instant it is changing from a liquid to a solid state, the passing stream
of metal exerts little or no spreading pressure upon the wheels to force them apart,
and thus to increase or vary the distance between the rollers, and thereby cause
variations in the thickness of the sheet metal produced, as would necessarily be the
case if the rollers were subjected to violent and varying strains or pressures. For this
reason, also, it requires very little power to run the apparatus and revolve the
wheels B B at any velocity desired. Owing also, to the very limited portion of the
periphery of the wheels B B which at any instant is in contact with the molten metal
and receiving heat therefrom, the temperature of the wheels B B is easily kept uniform
and may be kept at any desired degree. By increasing or diminishing the capacity
of the inlet and outlet pipes, or of the velocity of the water flowing through the same,
the temperature of the wheels may be governed and the apparatus adapted to produce
sheet metal of greater or less thickness.
The length of the wheels or rollers BB may be increased or diminished, according
to the width of the metal sheet desired to be produced. The wheels B B shown in
the drawings are comparatively short, as the machine illustrated is one designed for
use in manufacturing narrow sheet solder strip for a special purpose.
P represents the chute or opening below the machine through which the strip of
sheet metal produced issues.
The wheels or rollers B B bave smooth unflanged peripheries, so that any slight
inequalities or lack of uniformity in the size of the flowing stream of molten metal
will be compensated for at the edges of the strip of sheet metal produced by variations
in the width. Where the stream does not flow with absolute uniformity in size or
velocity in respect to the surface velocity of the wheels B B, the edges of the sheet.
metal strip will be somewhat serrated, the inequalities in the flow being compensated
for by such variations in the width of the strip, its thickness being maintained uniform.
The length of the slot or opening d in the pouring nozzle D should preferably be
equal to or about equal to the width of the strip of sheet metal designed to be produced.
The nozzle,or pouring vessel D should be adjusted so that it will lie or extend directly
above and parallel to the space or opening 6 between the peripheries of the wheels B B
at their meeting line.
The wheels BB have an equal surface speed, and they, of course, should preferably
be of the same diameter.
As the rollers or wheels B B have smooth unflanged peripheries, strips of sheet
metal from any desired width from the narrowest up to the full length of the rollers
may be made upon the same machine by simply regulating the width and thickness
of the stream of molten metal and the velocity of the revolving wheels. This is a
great advantage in the practical use of our invention, as it obviates the necessity and
expense of making separate pairs of rollers for each different width of sheet metal
desired to be produced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1st. The process or improvement in the art of manufacturing sheet metal in con-
tinuous strips, consisting in pouring molten metal in a continuous unbroken stream
between two rollers or wheels revolving together with a space between them equal to
the thickness of the sheet metal to be produced, and at a sufficiently great surface.
speed to offer no obstruction to the flowing stream of molten metal, and thus
pass the same between the rollers as fast as it flows and without permitting - the
imolten metal to collect in a body above and between the rollers, substantially as;
specified.
2nd. The process or improvement in the art of manufacturing sheet metal, con-
sisting in pouring molten metal in a thin wide flat stream between and in contact

page_text: with two smooth revolving chilling rollers, and in a direction tangential to both said
rollers, and while said rollers revolve together with a space between them equal to
the thickness of the sheet metal to he produced and at a surface speed equal to or
exceeding the velocity of the flowing stream of molten metal, substantially as
specified.
3rd. The apparatus or machine for manufacturing sheet metal, consisting in a pair
of smooth revolving chilling rollers or wheels with a space between their peripheries
at their meeting line equal to the thickness of the sheet metal to be produced
and a pouring nozzle or vessel having a discharge opening or slot at its lower
end or bottom directly above and extending parallel to said space between the
peripheries of said rollers, so that the stream of molten metal issuing from said
pouring nozzle or vessel may flow in a direction tangential to both said rollers,
substantially as specified.
4th. The combination of two revolving chilling rollers, a pouring nozzle above and
between them and means for driving or revolving said rollers at a greater surface
speed than the velocity of the flowing stream of molten metal, substantially as
specified.
5th. The combination with a pouring nozzle or vessel having a long narrow
discharge opening, of a pair of chilling rollers revolving with a space between
them equal to the thickness of the sheet metal to be produced and at a sufficient
surface speed in respect to the space between the rollers, the size of the
discharge opening, and the velocity of the flowing streain of molten metal so
that the molten metal cannot collect above and between the rollers, substantially
as specified.
6th. The combination with a pair of revolving rollers, of a pouring nozzle or
vessel above and between them and a heater for heating said vessel, substantially
as specified.
7th. The combination with a pair of revolving rollers, of a pouring nozzle or
vessel above and between them, a heater for heating said vessel, and a crucible
or vessel for holding molten metal, and a pipe or conductor leading therefrom to
said pouring vessel or nozzle, substantially as specified.
8th. The combination, with a pair of revolving rollers, of a pouring nozzle or
vessel above and between them, a heater for heating said vessel, a crucible or
vessel for holding molten metal, a pipe or conductor leading therefrom to said
pouring nozzle or vessel, and a heater for heating said pipe or conductor, substantially
as specified.
9th. The combination with a pair of revolving rollers, of a pouring nozzle or
vessel above and between them and a heater for heating said vessel, said heater
consisting of gas burners, substantially as specified.
10th. The combination of a pair of revolving wheels or rollers having a space
between them equal to the thickness of the metal to be produced, a pouring nozzle
or vessel, and a crucible connected with said pouring nozzle or vessel, substantially
as specified.
11th. The combination, with a pouring nozzle having a long narrow discharge slot
or opening, of a pair of hollow revolving rollers or wheels having a space between 4
their peripheries at their meeting line, into which the stream of molten metal
issuing from said pouring nozzle is directed, said wheels revolving at an equal or
greater surface speed than the velocity of said flowing stream of molten metal, the
shafts of said wheels or rollers being hollow and communicating at one end
with an inlet water pipe and at the other with an outlet water pipe, substantially 5
as specified.
12th. The combination, with a pouring nozzle having a long narrow discharge slot
or opening, of a pair of hollow revolving rollers or wheels having a space between
their peripheries at their meeting line, into which the stream of molten metal issuing
from said pouring nozzle is directed, said wheels revolving at an equal or greater 5
surface speed than the velocity of said flowing stream of molten metal, the shafts of
said wheels or rollers being hollow and communicating at one.end with an inlet water

page_text: pipe and at the other with an outlet water pipe, the inlet water pipe communicating
with the interior of the roller near its center and the outlet near its periphery,
substantially as specified.
13th. The combination with a pair of revolving chilling wheels or rollers, of a
pouring nozzle or vessel above and between them, one or both of said wheels or
rollers being mounted on adjustable hearings to regulate the thickness of the sheet of
metal produced, substantially as specified.
14th. The combination of a pair of revolving wheels or rollers, B B, pouring
nozzle or vessel D, having discharge openings d, and support F for said vessel
mounted on one or more adjusting screws, substantially as specified.
15th. The combination, with a pair of revolving rollers, of an adjustable pouring
nozzle above and between them, substantially as specified.
16th. The combination, with the revolving rollers B B, of pouring nozzle D above
and between them, having discharge openings d at its lower end, support F, and four
adjusting screws, substantially as specified.
17th. The combination with revolving rollers B B, of pouring nozzle or vessel D
above and between them and made of a curved or wedging shape to permit the lower
end of said nozzle to project down near the meeting line of said revolving rollers,
substantially as specified.
18th. The combination, with revolving rollers B B, of pouring nozzle or vessel D,
located above and between them, a gas or other heater for projection of flame against
said pouring nozzle or vessel, and a hood, as D¹, surrounding said vessel to confine
the heat, substantially as specified.
19th. The combination, with revolving rollers B B, of pouring nozzle or vessel D,
having discharge slot or opening d at its lower end, and a valve or gate, d¹, to
regulate the discharge orifice, and an adjusting handle or lever for said valve,
substantially as specified.
20th. The combination, with revolving rollers B B, of pouring nozzle or vessel D,
having discharge slot or opening d at its lower end, and a valve or gate, d¹, to
regulate the discharge orifice, and an adjusting handle or lever for said valve, arc E,
sliding block e, and adjusting screw e², substantially as specified.
21st. The combination, with a pair of revolving rollers B B, of a pouring nozzle
or vessel, D, above and between the same, and a discharge chute, N, below said
rollers, substantially as specified.
22nd. The combination of a pair of revolving rollers having smooth unflanged
peripheries, and having a space between them equal to the thickness of the sheet of
metal to be produced, with a pouring nozzle or vessel located above and between said
rollers, whereby any inequality in the flow of the metal in respect to the velocity of
the revolving wheels is compensated for by variations in the width of the strip of
metal produced and the sheet metal made of uniform thickness, substantially as
specified.
23rd. The combination, with a pair of revolving wheels or rollers having smooth
and unflanged peripheries, of a pouring nozzle above and between them provided
with a valve or gate for regulating the size of the issuing stream, whereby sheet
metal strips of different widths may be produced on the same machine, substantially
as specified.
Maywood Illinois USA Sentember 30th 1888