Improvements in Machines for Corrugating Cylinders.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in Machines for Corrugating Cylinders.
I, SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, (a communication
to me from abroad by Thomas F. Rowland, of the City, County and State of
New York, one of the United States of America, 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 :-
This invention relates to an improvement in machines for corrugating cylinders.
The cylinder is first made in any suitable way, then heated to a proper temperature
to be worked by the corrugating mill, and is then corrugated in the machine which is
herein described. The heating of the cylinder should be done in a vertical furnace,
preferably below the level of the corrugating mill, so that it can be quickly picked up
by a derrick or suitable contrivance and placed upon the corrugating mill.
The machine consists, generally, of two vertical rolls, one of which can be picked up
vertically, so as to permit of the placing of the cylinder between the two rolls. The
other roll can be adjusted up to and away from the first roll.
That which is new in this invention is claimed in the claims annexed to the present
specification.
In the drawings similar letters refer to similar parts.
Figure 1, represents a cross-section through the two rolls; Figure 2, an end
elevation showing the driving-roll lifted; Figure 3, a plan view partly in section,
showing the means of adjusting the centralizing guide-rolls. Figure 4, represents a
side view of the mill and the mechanism for moving the idle-roll toward the driving-
roll. Figure 5 represents a front elevation of the machine. Figure 6 represents a
top view showing the plater on which the bottom of the cylinder resis. Figure 7
represents a view of the upper bearings of the rolls mostly in section, and also a view
of the wedge-adjustment. Figure 8 represents a detail of the wedge-adjustment.
Figure 9 represents a plan view of the top of the frame of the machine, the upper half
in section on the line 99, Figure 7; Figure 10 a detail of the wedge-adjusting

page_text: mechanism; Figure 11, an enlarged view of the rolls, showing the cylinder in process
of corrugation; Figure 12, an enlarged view of the rolls, showing the means of rolling
a shorter cylinder; Figures 13 and 14, details of the adjustable spools on the rolls;
Figure 15, a view of a single spool; Figure 16, the means of locking the spools on
the shaft.
The mill consists, generally, of a suitable support for the parts, which need not be
described in detail, but may be of any proper construction. It consists, essentially, of
a driving roll, A, and an idle-roll, B. The driving-roll A can be picked up vertically to
allow of the insertion of the cylinder. The idle-roll B can be adjusted nearer to or
farther from the roll A by mechanism to be described. Both of the rolls are provided
with corrugating-spools F, hereinafter to be more fully described. The driving-roll A
is driven by the mitre-gear D C. The bevel-gear C is firmly stepped in the machine,
as shown, and the upper end of its shaft is provided with a transverse rib, E. The
roll A has a transverse channel, N, corresponding to the rib E, cut in its lower end, so
as to fit the said rib, whereby the roll A is driven when it is lowered. The roll A is
raised by the fluid in the hydraulic cylinder G. The piston-rod H of this hydraulic
cylinder is pointed at its lower end, as shown in Figure 7, and is provided with a
nut, J, which rests in a circular cavity in the top of the roll A. This cavity or
chamber is closed by the plate K. In this way whenever, the piston-rod H is pressed
upward by the fluid in the hydraulic cylinder the roll A is elevated. When the water-
pressure is taken away, the piston-rod H drops, so that its point rests on the upper
end of the roll A, and that roll will then revolve without revolving the piston-rod H.
If the piston-rod H revolved with the roll, the packing of the cylinder G might be
injured. The upper end of the roll A rests in the cylindrical bearing L, which is of
larger diameter than the roll itself, and which is carried in the upper frame, 14, of the
mill. This frame likewise carries the posts M M M, which carry the hydraulic
cylinder G. This bearing L is intended to be stationary in the frame of the machine,
while the roller A revolves within it, as shown. Both the rollers A and B are provided
with longitudinal splines N, and the spools F are provided with slots fitting the splines,
so as to revolve with the rolls A and B. The top and bottom spools are not of the
same shape as the intermediate spools, being adapted to roll the cylindrical ends of a
furnace or tube, while the middle is corrugated.
It is sometimes important to roll a cylinder less than the entire length of the
machine. In this case, were it not for the improvement, it would be necessary to
unship the cylindrical spools 22 and remove a sufficient number of the corrugating-
spools and replace the cylindrical spools upon each roll, and then replace above them
the corrugating spools. In order to avoid this I have constructed the two upper
cylindrical spools as shown in section in Figures 13 and 14. They are constructed in
two parts adapted to be drawn together by bolts P, the heads of which are of course
countersunk within the circumference of the rolls. When it is desired to corrugate a
shorter cylinder, the bolts P are removed and then the cylindrical spools. A sufficient
number of the corrugating spools F are then raised without unshipping, and the
divided cylindrical spool is placed in position below them, as is plainly seen by
comparing Figures 11 and 12. The lower spools, 23, are likewise made separable.
The utility of this method of dividing the upper and lower cylindrical spools in addition
to enabling the operator to corrugate cylinders of different lengths, also enables him
to make tubular ends of different diameters. For instance, by reversing the lower
spools it will be observed that the lower cylindrical end of the cylinder in process of
corrugation will be made less in diameter than it is in the form shown.
The idle-roll B is caused to approach the driving-roll A by the mechanism shown in
detail in Figures 1, 7, 8, 9 and 1. It is carried top and bottom in two sliding
bearings, R and R', which bearings slide in ways 35 in the frame of the machine.
These bearings are controlled by the wedges S and S1 at the top and bottom of the
roll. The wedges are controlled by the right and left hand screw T, which is itself
revolved by the worm-wheels V V₁, driving-wheel V₁, and engine W. The
wedges S S¹ are constructed alike and operate alike, but are reversed in their
movement. The wedge S is provided with projecting lips a b. The lip b engages

page_text: under the guide c in the frame, and the lip a beneath the guides d in the moving
bearing. Both ends of the idle-roll B are thus horizontally caused to approach and
recede from the driving-roll A by the operation of the engine W. It is essential
likewise to centralize the cylinder while being corrugated, so that it will not get out
of true. This is accomplished by the adjustable centralizing-rolls e e'. They are
pivoted at ff, as shown, and have gears on their outer extremities gearing into the
worm-wheels g, g', which are turned by the same shaft, h, having wheels kk. The
pivots are journaled in bearings 37, 37. The worms are right and left hand, as
shown, thereby simultaneously moving the guide-rolls e el toward the cylinder.
The operation of the apparatus can now be readily understood. The roll A is lifted
by the hydraulic cylinder G. The roll B is withdrawn by the engine. The rolls ee
are withdrawn by the hand-wheels k. The cylinder which has been heated, by
preference, in a pit below the level of the rolling-mill, is lifted and set on the
platform Z so that one side will lie between the rolls A and B when the roll A is
lowered. The roll A is then lowered, the bevel-gear CD set in operation, the roll
is centralized by bringing the wheels e el to the position shown in Figure 3, and the
rolls are then caused to approach each other by the operation of the engine W.
Corrugation ensues, as shown in Figures 11 and 12. During this operation the
diameter of the cylinder is slightly increased and the rolls e e¹ are withdrawn in order
to allow for such increased diameter. In case a shorter cylinder is to be corrugated
the spools are first adjusted to a suitable position as is shown in Figure 12.
.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A corrugating mill which consists of two vertical rolls, one of which is adapted
to be withdrawn vertically from the mill and the other of which is combined with
mecbanism by which its position may be adjusted with reference to the first roll,
substantially as described.
2. The combination in a corrugating-mill of a roller provided with corrugating-
spools and with divided cylindrical spools adapted to roll a cylindrical portion of
the tube to be corrugated, and whereby said cylindrical spools may be withdrawn
from the shaft without slipping them over the end of the shaft, substantially as
described.
3. In a corrugating mill, the combination of two rollers provided with corrugating
spools and the double wedge mechanism shewn for causing one of said rolls to
approach and recede from the other, the said wedge being provided with lips which
engage both with the sliding bearing in which the roll is pivotted and with the frame
of the machine, whereby the said roll is forced by a positive motion to approach and
recede from the fixed roll.
4. The combination, in a corrugating mill, of a roller which passes through the
supporting platform, mechanism located beneath said platform for driving the roller,
and mechanism for raising the driven roller vertically, so as to permit the introduction
of the cylinder to be corrugated, substantially as described.
5. The combination in a corrugating mill, of an idle roll and a driven roll carrying
corrugating spools, the said spools being provided with slots and the said roller shaft
with a feather for preventing the revolution of the spools, one or more of said spools
being divided, so that they may be removed and replaced upon the roll, substantially
as described.
6. The combination of the roller B carried in the sliding bearings at its extremities,
the wedges S S' right and left hand screw T, and mechanism for revolving the same,
substantially as described.
7. The combination of the roller shaft, the corrugating spools F, and the divided
cylindrical spools bolted together by bolts P as shewn, substantially as described.
8. The combination, in a corrugating mill, of the mechanism for causing the
movement of one roll toward and away from the other, which consists of a wedge

page_text: having lips at either side engaging with corresponding lips in a sliding bearing and
fixed frame, substantially as described.
9. The combination of the roll A, lifter G H, and locking device E, means for
driving said roll A, and the idle roll B substantially as described.
10. The combination of the lifter G, means for operating said lifter G, lifting
rod H, mechanism for permitting the revolution of the roll A without revolving
the rod H a fixed roll, B, and mechanism for revolving the roll A substantially as
described.