Improvements in Machinery for the Manufacture of Hollow Metal Cylinders, Tubes, or Rings for Use in the Construction of Steam- boilers and for other Purposes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 18th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 12th Oct., 1888
Improvements in Machinery for the Manufacture of Hollow Metal
Cylinders, Tubes, or Rings for Use in the Construction of Steam-
boilers and for other Purposes.
I, MANASSAH GLEDHILL, Director of Sir Joseph Whitworth & Co. Limited, of
Openshaw, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to rolling machinery whereby I can work or develop a mass of
steel or other metal having the form of a hollow block or ingot, into a cylinder, tube
or ring suitable for use in the construction of the shell or flue of a steam-boiler, or. for
other purposes in which strong, homogeneous and accurately formed tubular or hollow
work is required.
According to my said invention I employ a machine with a pair of rolls arranged
relatively to each other in such a manner that, when the machine is in operation, the
one roll acts on the inner surface and the other roll on the outer surface of the same
portion of the ingot or cylinder to be enlarged or developed.
In one form or arrangement of my invention the axes of the rolls are vertical; one
of these rolls is supported in its bearings in such a manner that it can be lifted out
and replaced without disturbing any other part of the machine so that the removal of
a cylinder, ring or hoop which has been subjected to the action of the rolls and the
introduction of a fresh one can be. very quickly effected. The other roll is made
movable or adjustable and is attached to, or arranged in combination with hydraulic
apparatus by which it can be caused to exert great pressure upon the work.
A table or platform is arranged to move upon rails to and from the said rolls. This
table supports the cylinder or ring being operated upon, in the proper position
relatively to the rolls. It is provided with a series of radially arranged roller-bars on
which the cylinder or ring rests. As the latter increases in diameter, the table, by
moving on the rails, alters its position as required, while the radial roller-bars keep
the cylinder or ring central on the said table. The rolls are driven by suitable bevel
and spur gearing.

page_text: I modify the above described construction by using rolls on horizontal axes. In
one arrangement I use two rolls mounted in bearings in strong standards between
which is a space to be occupied by the metal cylinder, ring or hoop. The shafts of
the rolls are extended through the standard at one side of the machine, and the
extended ends are provided with spur-wheels geared with each other. The standard
at the other side of the machine is made removable and is connected with hydraulic
or other apparatus whereby it can be moved into and out of its place to permit the
cylinders, rings or hoops to be readily inserted between and removed from the rolls
without disturbing any other part of the machine. Or I provide other means for
permitting the introduction and removal of the metal cylinder.
At the bottom of the space between the standards, I provide one or more burners,
stoves or furnaces designed for the burning of gas or oil to heat the cylinder or hoop
during the operation of rolling. The said burners, stoves or furnaces are made
adjustable to suit the variations or-changes in the dimensions of the cylinder or hoop
in the said operation.
The machine constructed as above described may be used in some instances to
complete the forging of the metal cylinder or hoop. Work to be finished by turning
in a lathe can be completely forged therein, but I prefer, in the case of work which
has to be forged accurately to gauge, such as a boiler-shell, that the cylinder or hoop
should leave the said machine before being brought to its ultimate thickness and
diameter, and should be subsequently finished by rolling while cold to ensure its
having clean or smooth and hard surfaces. For this purpose I modify the construction
of the rolling machine as follows, that is to say-The general arrangement of the
standards with the space between them is the same as in the modification last above
described, the two rolls are, however, considerably shorter than the metal cylinder to
be operated upon. These rolls are mounted upon strong shafts which rotate in suitable
bearings and the said rolls are capable of sliding endwise on the said shafts. The rolls
can be operated to increase both the diameter and length of the metal cylinder or
ring, but in practice I do not require this machine to alter the length. The rolls or
roll-shafts are connected and arranged in combination with feed-mechanism whereby
they can be caused, while rotating, to move slowly to and fro across the metal cylinder.
In some forms or modifications of this finishing machine, I use screw feed-mechanism,
and in another modification I use hydraulic power for the feed-motion. In the latter
case, the rolls are solid on the shafts, the said shafts being connected by a cross-head
fixed on the end of a double acting hydraulic cylinder. The said feed-mechanism
is either made entirely automatic, or it is constructed to be reversed by hand or to
be entirely operated by hand.
In the machines above described in which the rolls are arranged horizontally, I employ
rollers for supporting the cylinder or ring while subjected to the action of the pressure
rolls. Some of these rollers are arranged to bear against the circumference of the
said cylinder or ring, and I provide means for simultaneously adjusting the said rollers
according to the increase in its diameter. Other rollers are arranged to bear against
the ends of the said cylinder or ring.
Dated this 25th day of October 1987
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Machinery for the Manufacture of Hollow Metal
Cylinders, Tubes, or Rings for Use in the Construction of Steam-
boilers and for other Purposes.
I, MANASSAH GLEDHILL, Director of Sir Joseph Whitworth & Co., Limited, of
Openshaw, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, 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 Invention relates to rolling-machinery whereby I can work a hollow block or
ingot of steel or other metal in such a manner as to develop therefrom a cylinder,
tube or ring suitable for use in the construction of the shell or flue of a steam-boiler,
or for other purposes in which strong homogeneous and accurately formed tubular or
hollow work is required.
According to my said Invention, I provide a machine with a pair of pressing or
squeezing rolls arranged relatively to each other and in combination with adjusting
devices as hereinafter described so that, when the machine is in operation, one roll
acting on the inner surface and the other roll on the outer surface of the same portion
of the ingot or cylinder to be enlarged or developed, will complete or partially effect
the formation thereof.
In the accompanying Drawings I have shown how my said Invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan, and
Figure 2 a side elevation, showing one form of my improved rolling-machine.
Figure 3 is a plan, and
Figure 4 a side elevation, illustrating modifications in this form or arrangement of
my improved machine.
Figure 5 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, and
Figure 6 an end elevation, showing my improvements applied to another form or
arrangement of the said machine.
Figure 7 is a side elevation showing another form'or modification thereof.
Figure 8 is a side elevation, and
Figure 9 a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 8, showing a further
modification of my Invention.
Figure 10 is a side elevation illustrating a still further modification thereof, and
Figure 11 is a section on the line ¹¹, Figure 10.
In Figures 1 and 2, a is a base-plate which is to be sunk in a pit, and which has
formed thereon or rigidly attached thereto a strong standard b. c, c are the pressing
or squeezing rolls. In this machine the axes of the rolls c, c¹ are vertical. The roll c
is supported at its lower end in a bearing d formed on or attached to a carriage e.
This carriage is mounted upon wheels or rollers e¹ arranged to move upon rails a¹ on
the base-plate a; or it may be otherwise firmly supported upon the said base-plate
with a capability of moving thereon towards and away from the standard b. A bevel
wheel is fixed on the axle of the roll c and is geared with a bevel pinion ġ upon the
driving shaft g, which is supported in a bearing a² on the base-plate a and in a
bearing on the carriage e. This pinion is provided with a key fitted to slide in a
long key-way in the driving-shaft gl, or is otherwise arranged so that the said pinion,
though compelled to turn with the shaft, will move longitudinally with the carriage e,
and motion may be imparted from the said driving shaft to the roll c whatever may be
the position of the said carriage on its rails.

page_text: :
C
The roll c is supported at its upper end in a bearing d¹ which is arranged upon and
between guides attached at one end to the standard 6 and at the other end to a
standard ¹.
The roll c¹ is supported in bearings j, ¹ formed on or attached to a bar or cross-
head 2 arranged in combination with the rams or plungers * of hydraulic presses,
the cylinders of which are firmly secured in the standard b.
The bearings d, d¹ and carriage e are connected by rods with cross-bars &² formed
on or attached to the rams or plungers of the said hydraulic presses. The rods
are fitted to slide in suitable guide-apertures in the standard b. It will be seen that
there are two plungers in each hydraulic press k arranged to work in opposite
directions. By means of these hydraulic presses, the rolls c¹ can be caused to exert
great pressure upon the work, one roll being pushed by the rams or plungers * and
the other roll being pulled by the rams or plungers k³ of the said presses.
m is a hydraulic press for withdrawing the roll c' from the work; m³, m³ are
hydraulic presses for pushing the roll c away from the work. I may,
desired, employ other means for separating the said rolls.
however, if
Spur-wheels n, n³ are fixed on the axles of the rolls c, c' and are geared together
through the medium of the wheels n', n². Or the said rolls are otherwise so
connected or geared together that they will be rotated at equal velocities in opposite
directions.
The roll c is arranged in its bearings d'in such a manner that it can be lifted out
and replaced without disturbing any other part of the machine, that is to say, the said
roll can be lifted out through the hearing & so that the removal of a cylinder, ring or
hoop which has been subjected to the action of the rolls and the introduction of a fresh
one can be very quickly effected.
.
can, if desired, substitute for the hydraulic presses k, other apparatus for pushing
and pulling the rolls towards each other for the purpose above specified.
By constructing and arranging in the manner above set forth the hydraulic or other
apparatus for applying the pressure to the rolls, I provide for utilizing very con-
veniently the force exerted by the said apparatus upon the work, that is to say, if I
use hydraulic presses as above described, whatever may be the dimensions of the
cylinder or hoop between the rolls or the amount of pressure applied thereto, the force
which is exerted to move the rams or plungers out of the cylinders k¹ is applied to
both rolls in such a manner that the pressure upon the work does not cause any stress
tending to break the standard or separate it from the rolls, and no tie-rods or other
means for resisting this tendency need be provided. Moreover the pressure at the
ends of the rolls can be more easily varied and regulated than if the cylinders were
made with their rear ends solidly closed. But whether the machine is arranged as
shown in Figures 1 and 2 or as hereinafter described with reference to Figures 3
and 4, I can regulate the action of the hydraulic or other apparatus so as to increase
or diminish the pressure of the rolls upon the cylinder or ring at either end of the
same, and can work with more or less difference of pressure at the two ends, as
desired.
It is obvious that the combined pushing and pulling action of the rolls towards each
other may be applied to horizontal as well as to vertical rolls.
A table or platform o is provided for supporting the cylinder, hoop or ring A in the
proper position relatively to the rolls. It has a series of radially arranged roller-bars p
on which the said cylinder, hoop or ring is placed. As the latter increases in
diameter, the radial roller-bars p keep it in, or allow it to adjust itself to, the proper.
position upon the said table relatively to the rolls. In some instances, 1 arrange at
one side of the machine a furnace or stove for burning gas, oil or other fuel for heating
the cylinder before or after placing the same in the said machine.
I provide rails
on which the table with the work thereon can be conveniently moved into and out of
the machine.
To facilitate the movement of the work towards and away from the rolls and into
and out of the machine, 1 provide a carriage o² which is movable upon rollers towards
and
away
from the pressing rolls and is provided with rails o³. When the work is to

page_text: be introduced into the machine, the carriage o² is moved away from the pressure-rolls
until its rails o³ coincide with the rails o; the table o is then moved from the said
furnace along the said rails o¹. 03 until it is upon the said carriage; the table and
carriage are then moved together towards the pressing or squeezing rolls, to bring
the cylinder or ring A into the desired position relatively thereto.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 3 and 4, the roll c is supported at its lower
end in a bearing d formed on or attached to a bracket e* which is bolted or
otherwise rigidly secured upon the base-plate a. A spur-wheel * is fixed on
the axle of the roll c and is to be connected by suitable gearing with a steam-
engine or other motor. The cylinders of the hydraulic presses & are supported in
the standard b, and the rods are secured at their rear ends in lugs formed on the
said cylinders. These rods serve as ties which assist in supporting the roll cagainst
the pressure of the roll c¹.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 5 and 6, I use two horizontal rolls c, c¹,
mounted in bearings in strong standards 61, 63, between which is a space occupied by
the metal cylinder, ring or hoop A. The shafts or axles of the rolls are extended
through the standard and are connected respectively, by means of intermediate
shafts q, and universal joints q² at each end thereof, with the driving shaft g¹ and
with a shaft g2 geared therewith through the medium of toothed pinions r, r. In this
and in the other arrangements hereinafter described, the standard 2 is made
removable and is connected with a hydraulic press s or with other suitable apparatus
whereby it can be moved into and out of its place to facilitate the insertion of the
cylinders, rings or hoops between and their removal from the rolls, or I provide other
suitable means for permitting the introduction and removal of the said cylinders,
hoops or rings. Suitable wedges are to be driven between the bevelled edges & of
the standard and projections or lugs.a on the base-plate, to secure the said standard
in place during the operation of the machine.
A pit is formed beneath the space between the standards 61, 62. This pit may be
semi-circular as shown or square at the bottom. I prefer that it should be lined with
fire-brick or other refractory material. At the bottom of the said pit I provide one or
more burners, stoves or furnaces designed for the burning of gas or oil to heat (or
maintain the heat of) the cylinder or hoop during the operation of rolling. The said
burners, stoves or furnaces are made adjustable to suit the variations or changes in the
dimensions of the cylinder or hoop in the said operation. In some instances, I use a
box or series of boxes provided with Bunsen or other burners on the surface adjacent
to that of the said cylinder or hoop. Instead of the said box or boxes, I sometimes
use rollers perforated or provided with burners on their periphery. The surfaces of
the boxes or rollers should be coated with fire-clay or otherwise protected; they are
preferably connected with lovers or other devices whereby they can be adjusted
automatically or otherwise as required.
For supporting the cylinder or hoop during the rolling operation, I provide in the
said pit, rollers & carried by rams or plungers 2 working in cylinders t³ which are
connected with an accumulator or other reservoir containing liquid under pressure, so
that the said rollers ¹ will be caused to bear against the cylinder or hoop, but will
adapt themselves to the varying diameter thereof.
The machine constructed as above described may be used, in some instances, to
complete the working of the metal cylinder or hoop. Work to be finished by turning
in a lathe can be completely forged therein; but I prefer, in the case of work which
has to be forged accurately to gauge and is not to be subsequently finished by turning
or otherwise (such as a boiler-shell), that the cylinder or hoop should leave the said
machine before being brought to its ultimate thickness and diameter, and should be
subsequently finished by rolling while cold to ensure its having clean or smooth and
hard surfaces.
For this purpose I modify the construction of my rolling-machine as shown in
Figures 7 to 10, that is to say, the arrangement of the standards 61, 62 with the space
between them is the same as in the modification above described with reference to
Figures 5 and 6 the two rolls c, c¹ are, however, considerably shorter than the metal

page_text: cylinder to be operated upon. These rolls are mounted or formed upon strong shafts c²,c³,
which rotate in suitable bearings, and the said rolls are capable of sliding endwise on
or with the said shafts. The rolls can be operated to increase both the diameter and
length of the metal cylinder or ring, but in practice I do not require this machine to
alter the length. The rolls are connected and arranged in combination with feed-
mechanism whereby they can be caused, while rotating, to move slowly to and fro
across the metal cylinder so as to operate upon the same throughout its entire width.
In the machine shown in Figure 7, the rolls c' are made with sleeves c, c which
extend through the standard 62 and are screw-threaded internally to fit screw-threaded
hollow shafts u, u¹. Each of these hollow shafts works upon a reduced part of the
corresponding roll-shaft, and the said hollow-shafts and the roll-shafts extend through
a standard 63. The standards 62, 63 are movable between guides towards and away
from the pressure-rolls, the said standards being, for this purpose, connected with the
rams of a suitable hydraulic press.
A spur-wheel u² is fixed on the roll-shaft and is geared with another'spur-wheel ³
fixed on the hollow shaft u on which is also fixed a spur-wheel geared with a
spur-wheel fixed on the hollow shaft u. By these means, the two rolls. c, c¹, while
rotating, will be simultaneously fed or moved along the roll-shafts as required. The
said wheels can be changed or adjusted to vary the action of the rolls. P, p are radial
roller-bars adapted to bear against the edges of the cylinder or hoop to prevent end wise
movement thereof.
In the modification of my invention shown in Figures 8 and 9, feed-screws u, u are
combined with the short rolls c, c¹ and are connected with suitable gearing whereby
they will be operated to feed the said rolls along the roll-shafts as required, these
screws lie in grooves or channels in the roll-shafts c², e³ and pass through screw-
threaded holes in the rolls or through nuts 8 fitted therein. I prefer that, on the side
of the shaft opposite to that in which the groove is formed, there should be a long key
or feather for guiding and supporting the roll as it slides on the shaft and for
ensuring its rotation with the shaft. Provision is made for the removal of the gear-
wheels for the endwise feed-motion to permit the standard b to be moved away from
the rolls.
Rollers are provided for supporting the cylinder or ring while subjected to the
action of the pressure-rolls. I provide means for simultaneously adjusting the said
rollers t¹ according to the increase in the diameter of the said cylinder or hoop. For
instance, I arrange the said rollers upon shafts v carried in bearings which are fitted
to slide between guides and through which are passed screw-threaded rods v²;
these rods have fixed thereon bevel-pinions v³ geared with a bevel-wheel * fixed on a
shaft on which is also fixed a worm-wheel w; with this worm-wheel is geared a
worm won the shaft w³, which is arranged to be operated through the medium of
suitable gearing, by means of the hand-wheel w³. In the machines shown in
Figures 7 and 10, I provide similar means for effecting the 'simultaneous adjustment
of the rollers t¹.
In the modification of my invention shown in Figure 10, I use hydraulic power for
the end wise feed-motion. The short rolls c, c¹ are solid or rigidly fixed on, and move
end wise with the shafts c², c³, the said shafts being connected by a cross-head y fixed
on the ram or piston-rod y¹ of a double-acting hydraulic press y². Or the said rods
may be otherwise connected to each other and to the rams in any suitable manner
which will ensure their simultaneous movement. The said cross-head is provided
with bearings at y* in which the ends of the said shafts can rotate freely while moving
endwise, and the upper shaft has sufficient play in the said cross-head to allow for
differences in the thickness of the cylinders or hoops to be rolled. The cross-head
should be so constructed that it is readily removable from the roll-shafts and can be
drawn back far enough to leave a clear space into which the standard 62 can be moved
away from the rolls as, and for the purpose, above specified. The roll-shafts are fitted
to slide through and rotate in suitable bearings in the standards 61, 6².
To give freedom to the shafts and rolls and allow for slight differences in the thick-
ness of the cylinders or hoops to be rolled, the shafts are made in transverse

page_text: section of the form shown in Figure 11 and are connected in any suitable manner
with the pinions r, ¹.
.I sometimes provide other means than those above described for effecting the
endwise adjustment of the rolls on or with their shafts for the purpose above
described.
The end wise feed mechanism, in either of the above described arrangements, is
either made entirely automatic by being suitably geared with the driving shaft, or it is
constructed to be reversed by hand, or the end wise feed movement may be effected
entirely by hand through the medium of suitable levers or otherwise.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it understood
that I am aware that, in the Specifications of former Letters Patent No. 2776, dated
20th July 1877, and No. 4288, dated 21st October 1880, rolling-machines have been
described for working hollow ingots into cylinders for use in the construction of
boiler-shells or flue-tubes, and that, in these machines, there is a movable roller to
which hydraulic pressure is applied. I therefore do not claim such machines generally,
nor do I claim broadly or irrespectively of my improvements herein set forth
the use of hydraulic apparatus for applying the pressure to a single movable roll i
but 1 claim
First. A rolling-machine wherein pressing or squeezing rolls are combined with
hydraulic or other apparatus whereby one of the said rolls will be pulled and the other
roll pushed against the work, substantially as, and for the purpose, above specified.
Second. The combination, with the aforesaid rolls, of hydraulic or other apparatus
for applying pressure to and for separating them, and the movable or adjustable table
for supporting the work, substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2
or to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings.
Third. A rolling-machine wherein short pressing or squeezing rolls are arranged to
move endwise while operating upon the cylinder, hoop or ring, for the purpose above
specified.
Fourth. The combination, with the said short rolls, of means for moving or adjusting
them upon or with their shafts substantially as described with reference to Figure 7,
or to Figures 8 and 9, or to Figure 10 of the drawings, for the purpose above
specified.
Fifth. A rolling-machine in which provision is made, substantially as set forth, for
heating the cylinder, hoop or ring while it is being rolled.
Sixth. In a rolling-machine, the provision, substantially as set forth, of the sup-
porting rollers carried by the rams or plungers of hydraulic cylinders which are
connected with an accumulator or reservoir for the purpose specified.
Seventh. The pair of roll-shafts connected with the apparatus for moving them or
the rolls end wise and arranged in combination with the movable standard or standards
in such a manner as to permit the said standard or standards to be moved clear of the
said roll-shafts substantially as described with reference to Figure 7 or to Figure 10
of the drawings, for the purpose specified.
Eighth. The improved rolling-machine consisting of the parts constructed and
combined substantially as described with reference to Figures 5 and 6, or Figure 7, or
Figures 8 and 9, or Figures 10 and 11 of the drawings, and operating as, and for the
purposes, above specified.