IMPROVED MACHINERY OR APPA- RATUS FOR ROLLING METALLIC AXLES FOR WHEELS, AND FOR ROLLING GUNS, SHAFTS OR OTHER CIRCULAR ARTICLES IN MALLEABLE IRON OR STEEL."
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Hancox, of Sheffield, in the County of
York, Roller, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MACHINERY OR APPA-
RATUS FOR ROLLING METALLIC AXLES FOR WHEELS, AND FOR ROLLING GUNS,
SHAFTS OR OTHER CIRCULAR ARTICLES IN MALLEABLE IRON OR STEEL."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Hancox at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th August 1869.
I, THOMAS HANCOX, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Roller,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR ROLLING METALLIC AXLES FOR WHEELS, AND FOR.
ROLLING GUNS, SHAFTS, OR OTHER CIRCULAR ARTICLES IN MALLEABLE IRON OR
STEEL," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improved machinery or apparatus whereby
metallic axles for wheels, and guns, shafts, or other circular articles in
malleable iron or steel can be rolled in a much more efficient and

page_text: perfect manner than hitherto and at a very great saving on the processes
now in use.
"
The improved mechanism consists principally of four metallic rolls
(suitably shaped according to the article to be rolled), which are mounted
or supported at their ends, one pair of rolls being above the other pair
in adjustable housings," or upright standards. The rolls are caused
to rotate in opposite directions by means of six cog wheels or pinions
connected therewith, also mounted in "housings" or standards which
wheels in gear with one another rotate so as to reverse the motions of
the rolls. These cog wheels are actuated or set in motion by three
other cog wheels or pinions mounted one over the other in suitable
bearings or standards, and motion is imparted thereto from a shaft or
other equivalent means in connection with a steam engine or other
motive power. The mechanism or apparatus is firmly secured at the
'housings" or standards in or on a suitably shaped metallic bed plate
or foundation. The axle, gun, shaft, or other circular article to be rolled
is put in at the side of the machine between the upper and lower rolls,
the upper rolls being forced up by springs or balances to allow of the
admission of the article to be rolled, then the necessary pressure is
applied to keep the rolls in the required positions by screws or other
equivalent appliances arranged in the "housings" or upright standards
supporting the rolls. The machinery is then set in motion from the
shaft before mentioned, and the rolls are caused to rotate at the required
speed round the article, being rolled until the axle, gun, shaft, or other
circular article is turned out perfectly rolled. In some cases it may be
found desirable to add another pair (or other pairs) of rolls at each side
of the four rolls before-mentioned supported or mounted in the same
"housings" or standards, (or in additional standards or bearings when
necessary,) in order that three or more axles or other articles may be
rolled at the same time in one machine. By the use of this mechanism
or apparatus axles, guns, shafts, or other circular articles can be turned
out rolled at the rate of from 100 to 120 or thereabouts per day, when
four rolls are employed, and so on in proportion when more rolls are
added.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Hancox in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 9th February 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
HANCOX, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Roller, send greeting.
'
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Thomas Hancox, Her special licence that
I, the said Thomas Hancox, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Thomas Hancox, my executors, administrators,
and 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 "IMPROVED MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR ROLLING METALLIC AXLES FOR WHEELS, AND FOR ROLLING GUNS, SHAFTS,
OR OTHER CIRCULAR ARTICLES IN MALLEABLE IRON OR STEEL," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Hancox, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 Thomas Hancox, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, and on reference being had to the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to improved machinery or apparatus whereby
solid metallic axles for wheels are rolled, necked, and finished, and guns,
shafts, or other circular articles in malleable iron or steel are rolled in a
much more efficient and perfect manner than hitherto, and at a very
great saving on the processes now. in use.
:

page_text: On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan
view; Figure 2 a side elevation, and Figures 3 and 4, end elevations of
the improved rolling machinery; Figure 5 represents a side view of a
pair of the rolls looking in the direction of the arrow Z.
The improved mechanism consists principally of four rolls B, B',
(suitably shaped according to the article to be rolled,) which are mounted
or supported at their ends (one pair of rolls B being above the other
pair B¹,) in adjustable housings" or upright standards H. The rolls
are connected at their ends to cog wheels or pinions F, (see Figures 1
and 2.) These are driven by a central one E, (Figure 4,) thus causing
the rolls to rotate all in the same direction, and in a direction opposite
to that of the article being rolled. The wheels or pinions are all
mounted in suitable housings or standards G. These wheels or pinions
may be actuated or set in motion by steam or other motive power
the motion being imparted. thereto from a shaft or other equivalent
means in connection with a steam engine or other motive power
apparatus. The mechanism or apparatus is firmly secured at the
"housings" or standards in or on a suitably shaped metallic bed plate
or foundation O.
In the Drawing an axle (for example) is represented between a pair
of rolls at Figure 5, in which D shows the collar of the same. The
axle C, or gun, shaft, or other circular article to be rolled is put in at
the side or end of the machine between the upper and lower rolls B, B',
the upper rolls B being forced up by springs or balances, (the latter are
formed of a balance rod L, lever M, and weight N,) to allow of the
admission of the article to be rolled into the machine. The article to
be rolled, necked, or finished, being placed between the rolls the
necessary pressure is applied thereto by means of the hydraulic
cylinder and ram K, to keep the rolls in the required positions during
the process, or this may be accomplished by suitable screws or other
equivalent appliances conveniently arranged in the standards H. The
article being properly placed between the rolls and the pressure applied
thereto, the machinery is set in motion from a shaft connected to a
steam engine or other motive power apparatus, the shaft is also con-
nected to and causes the rotation of the cog wheels or pinions E, F,
and rolls B, B', which, as herein-before mentioned, are all caused to
rotate in the same direction at the required speed and in an opposite
direction to the article under operation. In some cases it may be found

page_text: desirable to add another pair (or other pairs) of rolls at each side of
the four rolls before mentioned, supported or mounted in the same
"housings" or standards (or in additional standards or bearings when
necessary), in order that three or more axles or other articles may be
rolled at the same time in one machine. By the use of this improved
mechanism or apparatus, solid axles can be rolled, necked, and finished,
and guns, shafts, or other circular articles can be turned out rolled at
the rate of from one hundred to one hundred and twenty, or thereabouts
per day when four rolls are employed, and more in proportion to an
increased number of rolls.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention
for "Improved Machinery or Apparatus for Rolling Metallic Axles for
Wheels, and for Rolling Guns, Shafts, or other Circular Articles in
Malleable Iron or Steel," together with the manner in which the same
is to be or may be performed or carried into practical effect, I would
remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention, the general con-
struction and arrangement of machinery substantially as herein-before
described and illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, or any
mere modification thereof, and especially I claim the application and
use in rolling machinery of four rolls with the housings, pinions, and
standards, and the other appliances in combination for the purposes
above set forth, or any equivalent therefor or modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Hancox, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of January, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
THOMAS HANCOX. (L.S.)