and machinery or Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1885

page_text: and machinery or Apparatus therefor.
We, EDWARD WINDSOR RICHARDS of Middlesbrough-on-Tees, in the County of
York, Engineer, and FRANKLIN HILTON of Middlesbrough-on-Tees, in the County
of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention has reference to improvements in the manufacture of steel slabs,
plates and bars and machinery or apparatus therefor, the object being to produce
steel slabs, plates and bars of better quality and more economically than has
heretofore been usual.
•
In the process of rolling the steel the metal under treatment is necessarily exposed
to the air and whilst so exposed is undergoing rapid oxidation, and the longer the
operation takes the greater is the oxidation and consequent loss of metal. Now,
our invention has for object to expedite the operations so as to reduce the time that
elapses between the roughing and finishing operations thereby lessening the loss of
heat from the slab, plate or bar, obviating oxidation to a considerable extent (by
quickening the rolling operations) and producing a more homogeneous and uniform
plate, slab or bar than is usual. The quicker the plate, slab, or bar can be rolled,
the less will be its loss of heat, the less the amount of oxidation, and the more
homogeneous and uniform will be the finished plate, slab or bar.
Furthermore, by our invention large plates may be rolled with less labor than in
the manner and by the means ordinarily adopted.
The invention comprises apparatus of peculiar construction for facilitating
various operations in the process of rolling, as also a general arrangement of
machinery according to which blooms of steel tipped down on a fore-plate between
the standards of soft rolls are raised by lifters which, when not in operation, fall
clear of the fore plate; the material is rolled by the soft rolls; thence it is con-
veyed to hard or finishing rolls by a carriage provided with live and loose rollers,
and the plate, slab or bar is cleaned in the process of rolling, by water at high
pressure being caused to play over its entire surface at both its sides during the
rolling operation.
The annexed drawings illustrate apparatus according to this invention, Fig. 1
being a plan, Fig. 2 a back elevation and Fig. 3 an end view partly in section of
the general arrangement of plant.

page_text: Blooms of steel are conveyed by a locomotive travelling on rails 1, these being
so arranged that the blooms are tipped down on to the fore-plate 2, between the
standards 3 of the soft rolls 4.
The locomotive is provided with a specially constructed bogie, represented in
end view in Figure 4, side view in Figure 5, and plan view in Figure 6.
This bogie is provided with a series of rollers 5, the axes of which are parallel
to one another and to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle. The bloom is
drawn direct from the heating furnace on to the rollers 5; then the bogie is
pushed by the locomotive up inclined rails to the rollers 4. The rails dip suddenly
immediately in front of the rollers so that the bloom is caused to slide off the bogie
on to the fore plate 2, whereupon it is acted upon by one of the lifters 6. These
specially constructed hydraulic lifters are, as will be seen, situate below the soft
roll standards 3 and arranged to work through the foreplate 2. The lifters com-
prise a cylinder and ram on which is fixed a cross-head with the aid of which the
blooms can be readily moved as required by the operator. The lifters are so
arranged that they fall clear of the fore plate 2 during the process of rolling. The
material that has been rolled by the soft rolls 4 is. conveyed from them to the hard
or finishing rolls 7 by one or other of a pair of specially designed carriages 8 fitted
with live and loose rollers alternately and caused to traverse to and fro by an
endless rope or chain attached to a drum which is fixed on a shaft placed horizon-
tally at right angles to the mill train and worked by a pair of small reversing
engines that also supply the motive power for working the live rollers on the
carriages above referred to: the motion being transmitted by suitable means such
as a square shaft running along each side of the mill and carried or supported by
tumbler or rocking bearings. 9 is a hydraulic plate lifter for lifting the plate or
slab clear of the carriage to enable it to be readily turned or handled at the time
the carriage is opposite the soft rolls. It is similar in construction and manner of
.working to the lifters 6. In connexion with the rolls we provide apparatus to
effect cleaning of the plate or slab in the process of rolling by the action of water
at high pressure which is caused to play on the surface of the plate or slab that is
being rolled both at its top and bottom, the construction and arrangement of
the pipes conveying the water being such that the entire surface of the plate
or slab at each of its two opposite sides is subjected to the action of the water, as
represented in Figs. 7 and 8 which are respectively a side elevation and an end
elevation shewing the roll standards with the water pipes 11 applied thereto.
These pipes are arranged in two lines and are carried across in front of the roll
standards on the finishing side thereof, one line of pipes being above and one below
the line where the plates enter the rolls.
The pipes are perforated in such a manner that a constant flow of high pressure
water is brought to play violently upon both sides of a plate or piece of metal
under treatment as it enters and leaves the rollers. The apparatus is applied
to both hard and soft rolls and is attached to a watermain under hydraulic
pressure.
By the above described special apparatus and arrangements, labour can be saved,
the various processes be much facilitated and a plate produced of more uniform
texture and quality and with a cleaner surface than it has been found practicable
to produce by methods previously employed.

page_text: and Machinery or Apparatus therefor.
We, EDWARD WINDSOR RICHARDS, of Middlesbrough-on-Tees, in the county of
York, Engineer, and FRANKLIN HILTON, of Middlesbrough-on-Tees, in the county
of York, Engineer, 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 has reference to improvements in the manufacture of steel slabs,
plates, and bars, and machinery or apparatus therefor, the object being to produce
steel slabs, plates and bars of better quality and more economically than has
heretofore been usual.
In the process of rolling the steel the metal under treatment is necessarily
exposed to the air and whilst so exposed is undergoing rapid oxidation, and the
longer the operation takes the greater is the oxidation and consequent loss of metal.
Now, our invention has for object to expedite the operations so as to reduce the
time that elapses between the roughing and finishing operations thereby lessening
the loss of heat from the slab, plate or bar, obviating oxidation to a considerable
extent (by quickening the rolling operations) and producing a more homogeneous
and uniform plate, slab or bar than is usual. The quicker the plate, slab or bar
can be rolled, the less will be its loss of heat, the less the amount of oxidation,
and the more homogeneous and uniform will be the finished plate, slab or bar.
Furthermore, by our invention large plates may be rolled with less labour than
in the manner and by the means ordinarily adopted.
The invention comprises apparatus of peculiar construction for facilitating various
operations in the process of rolling, as also a general arrangement of machinery
according to which blooms of steel tipped down on a fore-plate between the
standards of soft rolls are raised by lifters which, when not in operation, fall clear
of the fore-plate; the material is rolled by the soft rolls; thence it is conveyed to
bard or finishing rolls by a carriage provided with live and loose rollers, and the
plate, slab or bar is cleaned in the process of rolling, by water at high pressure
being caused to play over its entire surface at both its sides during the rolling
operation.
The annexed drawings illustrate apparatus according to this invention, Fig. 1
being a plan, Fig. 2 a back elevation, and Fig. 3 an end view partly in section of
the general arrangement of plant, Fig. 4 is an end view, Fig. 5 a side view, and
Fig. 6. a plan of a specially constructed bogie hereinafter described.
Figs. 7 and 8 are views at right angles to one another illustrating the appli-
cation of apparatus for cleaning with water the plates or slabs under process of
rolling.
Fig. 9 is a view to a larger scale similar to Fig. 3 but with some parts omitted.
☐ Fig. 10 is a corresponding plan.
✔
Figs. 11. 12. and 13 are views to a still larger scale, Fig. 11 showing a side
elevation of the rolls with one of the lifters; also a section of part of the fore-
plate, Fig. 12 a view at right angles to Fig. 11, partly in vertical section, and

page_text: Blooms of steel are conveyed by a locomotive travelling on rails 1, these being
so arranged that the blooms are tipped down on to the fore-plate 2, between the
standards 3 of the soft rolls 4.
The locomotive is provided with the specially constructed bogie, represented in
Figs. 4. 5. and 6. This bogie is provided with a series of rollers 5, the axes of
which are parallel to one another and to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle.
The bloom is drawn direct from the heating furnace on to the rollers 5, then the
bogie is pushed by the locomotive up inclined rails 1e to the rolls 4. The rails
dip suddenly at 12 immediately in front of the rolls so that the bloom is caused to
slide off the bogie on to the fore-plate 2 whereupon it is acted on by one of the
lifters 6. These specially constructed hydraulic lifters are, as will be seen, situate
below the soft roll standards 3 and arranged to work through the fore-plate 2.
Each lifter comprises a cylinder 60 and a ram 6b on which is fixed a cross-head 6°
provided with anti-friction rollers 6d. With the aid of such a lifter, which may
be operated by any suitable motive power, preferring to use high pressure water,
the blooms can be readily moved as required by the operator. The lifters are so
arranged that they fall clear of the fore-plates 2 during the process of rolling.
The material that has been rolled by the soft rolls 4 is conveyed from them to the
hard or finishing rolls 7 by one or other of a pair of specially designed carriages 8
fitted with live and loose rollers 13 and 14 alternately and caused to traverse to
and fro on rails 20 by an endless rope or chain 15 attached to a drum 16 which is
fixed on a shaft 17 placed horizontally at right angles to the mill train and worked
by a pair of small reversing engines 18 that also supply the motive power for
working the live rollers on the carriages above referred to, the motion being
transmitted from the shaft 17 by suitable means such as bevil wheels 19ª and a
square shaft 19 running along each side of the mill and carried or supported by
tumbler or rocking bearings. The live rollers 13 are provided each with a bevil
wheel 21 in gear with a second bevel wheel 22 secured to and driven by a cross
shaft 23 common to all the bevil wheels 22 of one carriage 8-The cross shafts 23
are driven from the shafts 19 by bevil gear 24 as shown. 9 is a hydraulic plate
lifter for lifting the plate or slab clear of the carriage to enable it to be readily
turned or handled at the time the carriage is opposite the soft rolls. It is similar
in construction and manner of working to the lifters 6. In connexion with the
rolls we provide apparatus to effect cleaning of the plate or slab in the process of
rolling by the action of water at high pressure which is caused to play on the
surface of the plate or slab that is being rolled both at its top and bottom, the
construction and arrangement of the pipes conveying the water being such that
the entire surface of the plate or slab at each of its two opposite sides is
subjected to the action of the water, as represented in Figs. 7 and 8 which are
respectively a side elevation and an end elevation showing the roll standards with
the water pipes 11 applied thereto. These pipes are arranged in two lines and are
carried across in front of the roll standards on the finishing side thereof, one line of
pipes being above and one below the line where the plates enter the rolls.
The pipes are perforated in such a manner that a constant flow of high pressure
water is brought to play violently upon both sides of a plate or piece of metal
under treatment as it enters and leaves the rolls. The apparatus is applied to
both hard and soft rolls and is attached to a water-main under hydraulic pressure.
By the above described special apparatus and arrangements, labour can be saved,
the various processes be much facilitated, and a plate produced of; more uniform
texture and quality and with a cleaner surface than it has been found practicable
to produce by methods previously employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner it is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In the manufacture of steel slabs plates and bars the use in the manner set

page_text: whereby the operations are expedited reducing the time that elapses between the
roughing and finishing operations thereby lessening the loss of heat from the slab
plate or bar obviating oxidation to a considerable extent and producing a more
homogeneous and uniform slab plate or bar as above set forth.
2. In a rolling mill plate slab or bar lifters substantially such as described for
the purpose specified.
3. The method substantially as described of cleaning slabs plates and bars in the
process of rolling by the action of water at high pressure caused to play on the
surfaces of the slab plate or bar that is being rolled the construction and arrange-
ment of the apparatus conveying the water being such that the entire surface of
the slab plate or bar at each of its two opposite sides is subjected to the action of
the water as above set forth.
4. In a rolling mill a carriage or carriages substantially such as described for
conveying or transferring slabs plates or bars from one set of rolls to another.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Agent for the Applicants.