IMPROVEMENTS IN CONTINUOUS ROLLING MILLS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, of the Firm of Harris
and Mills, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CONTINUOUS ROLLING
MILLS." A communication from abroad by William Rees Jenkins, junior,
Manufacturer, of Bellefonte, in the County of Centre, and State of Pennsylvania,
in the United States of America.
Sealed the 19th November 1878, and dated the 21st May 1878.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st May 1878.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of
"IM-
23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent.
PROVEMENTS IN CONTINUOUS ROLLING MILLS." A communication from abroad by
William Rees Jenkins, junior, Manufacturer, of Bellefonte, in the County of Centre,
and State of Pennsylvania, in the United States of America.
Continuous rolling mills have been heretofore constructed either with the pairs
of rolls alternately arranged in horizontal and vertical positions so as to compress
the iron alternately in opposite directions and to roll down the fin formed by the
preceding pair of horizontally or vertically arranged rolls against the solid surface
of the next oppositely situated pair of rolls; or such mills have been constructed
with the rolls all arranged in a horizontal position, and with twisting guides con-
necting the passes in the rolls, which guides are designed to give the iron a half
turn, and present it at right angles to the pass of the succeeding pair of rolls; but
the first class of mills has been found to be quite expensive on account of the com-
plicated gearing required to give the proper movements to the horizontal and
vertical rolls, and also the great loss of power which results from such construction,

page_text: .
while with the second kind mentioned it is found impossible to have the twisting
guides act with any degree of certainty, since in handling heavy pieces of iron they
are apt to fail in their operation and become clogged, and the mill consequently
soon breaks down. The object therefore of this Invention is to produce a con-
tinuous rolling mill, having all the rolls arranged in the same position (a horizontal
position preferred), which will act to compress the iron alternately at right angles,
and to roll down the fins formed by one pair of rolls against solid and unbroken
surfaces of the pass in the next pair, without the use of twisting guides, and in
general to make a continuous rolling inill which will be simple and durable in con-
struction, and efficient and certain in operation.
This Invention therein consists,-
In constructing the pairs of rolls of a train, all of which are arranged in the
same position and without the use of twisting guides, so that the fins formed by
one pair of rolls will be rolled down against solid surfaces or shoulders in the pass of
the succeeding pair.
In constructing and arranging the pairs of rolls in a train of similarly placed
rolls, with the axes to the passes in the same arranged alternately at right angles,
so that the iron passing in a straight line through the rolls will be compressed
alternately in opposite directions without the use of twisting guides.
In constructing the rolls in a continuous mill, so that ono roll of a pair sets into
the other on inclined lines, requiring only the top screws for the complete adjustment
of the rolls.
In constructing the rolls of a pair, one of a general convex and the other of a
general concave form, the convex roll being arranged as the top roll in one pair
and as the bottom roll of the next pair, each pair of rolls being provided with two
.passes.
•
In the construction of the guides for leading the iron in a straight line without
twisting the same from the pass in one pair of rolls to the pass of the next pair,
and in the manner of supporting the guides.
In the novel arrangement of the gearing; and further, in the peculiar construction
of the framework and housings.
The Invention is illustrated and described as applied to a mill for rolling rods
for making telegraph wire, and as such it is adapted to roll rods of great length,
which are especially desirable for this purpose, but it is evident that the same
principle could be applied for rolling other classes of rod, either square or round,
without any change, except in the finishing rolls, and for rolling band metal with
only slight changes in the form of the passes, and without departing from the spirit
and scope of this Invention.
In the accompanying Drawings,
Figure 1 is a top view of the mill, showing also the position of a pair of finishing
rolls.
Figure 2, a side elevation of a portion of the mill; Figure 3, an end view of the
same without the operating gear.
Figuro 4, a separate view of the second pair of rolls.
Figure 5, a section of two pairs of rolls, showing the manner of supporting the
guides.
Figures 6 and 7, cross sections of the two forms of guide used with the mill.
Figure 8, an elevation from the inside of one of the standards; and Figure 9, a
top view of the same.
Like letters denote corresponding parts in all the Figures.
A represents the bed plate, preferably cast in one piece, long enough to receive all
the housings, and of a proper width for the rolls designed to be mounted in the
housings. This bed plate is cast with a longitudinal raised bearing or rail A' on
each side, each of which is provided with a locking groove a of an inverted T shape
running its entire length. Upon these raised bearings are supported the
standards B forming the housings, the said standards having downwardly depending

page_text: flanges b on their inner edges, which rest against the inner edges of the bearings,
and with horizontal flanges b¹ on their outer edges, through which pass bolts a³,
whose heads lock in the groove a.
Each standard is constructed, as shown more particularly in Figures 8 and 9,
with a foot c projecting on each side of the body c' of the standard, and abutting
against the end of the feet of the adjoining standards. The body c¹ rises centrally
from the foot c, so that the mean space between any two standards is about equal
to the mean width of the body of the standard. Each side of this framework it is
evident could be cast in one piece and bolted to the bed plate, but for convenience
in setting up and in making repairs it is preferred to cast the standards separate,
as shown. The body of each standard has ways c³ cast on the sides of the same,
and in these ways slide the carriages C resting in the bottom of the spaces between
the standards, and provided with brass liners in which the journals to the lower
rolls rest. The usual riders C¹ are placed near the top of the ways c², and have
brass liners resting upon the journals to the top rolls. The top rolls are kept up
against these riders by means of carriages C, which are supported by bolts c³
hanging from the caps, one at each end of each carriage.
Upon the standards are the caps D extending across the spaces between the
standards. Each cap has downwardly projecting flanges & at its ends resting in
grooves d¹ formed centrally in the top of the adjoining standards. The caps are
secured to the standards by bolts e secured in holes in the standards by heavy
keys c', and having screw-threaded upper ends, upon which turn nuts setting down
against the caps, and rigidly attaching them to the top of the standards. These
caps may be easily removed when it is desired to take out the rolls, and they have
the ordinary top screws E for adjusting the vertical position of the rolls, which
pass through the caps and set centrally upon the riders.
Between each pair of standards are arranged two rolls F, F, forming a pair, and
placed one above the other, the upper rolls being lettered F, while the lower rolls
are designated by F¹. At one end the journals of these rolls are extended beyond
the housings, and are geared together by cog wheels f of equal size; the ends f¹ of
the shafts outside of the cogs f are mado of angular form for coupling with the
operating gear to be presently described. Between the housings the rolls are of
peculiar construction.
and
As shown in the Drawing the upper roll F of the first pair of rolls is of a general
convex or projecting form, while the lower roll is of a general concave form, but
they can be reversed if desired. The top or convex roll of the first pair has an
annular flat surface g at its centre, the part of its greatest projection, which fits
against a correspondingly depressed surface gl at the centre of the concave roll; on
each side of the surface g the convex roll is bevilled inwardly, as shown at g,
the concave roll bevilled outwardly to the same extent, as seen at g³. As it is
preferred to contract them for rolling iron for rods, the rolls outwardly from the
bevilled surfaces g², g³, are formed on one side with angular indented surfaces 9, 9³,
and on the other with concave curved surfaces g°, g, forming two passes G, G¹, the
first of a lozenge shape, and the second of elliptical shape, but it is evident that
both passes of one pair of rolls can be of the same shape if desired.
The longer axes to the passes G, G¹, in the first pair of rolls diverge outwardly in
an upward direction at an angle of about 45°, while the shorter axes cross the
longer at right angles. Outwardly from the passes the rolls are constructed with
other bevilled surfaces 98, 9, and outside of these bevels are horizontal sur-
faces g, g. By having the meeting faces of the rolls constructed in this manner
the rolls will adjust themselves longitudinally under the pressure of the iron in the
pass when the top screws are turned.
The rolls of the second pair are constructed like those of the first pair, but are
reversed, the convex roll being at the bottom, while the concave roll is on top, and
consequently the inclination of the passes is reversed, the longer axes of these
passes being inclined inwardly at an angle of 45 degrees in an upward direction;

page_text: the passes of the second pair of rolls are however somewhat smaller than those of
the first to make the necessary reduction in the size of the iron.
The third pair of rolls is arranged like the first, and so on throughout the train,
the passes all the time becoming smaller, and being arranged with their longer axes
at right angles to the longer axes of the passes of the preceding and succeeding
pairs of rolls. It follows then that a bar of iron inserted in one of the passes in
the first pair of rolls will be compressed most violently upon the line of the shorter
axis, and if it overfills the pass will have fins formed on it at the ends of the longer
axis, but when the same bar, in this form and guided on a straight line, enters the
pass of the second pair of rolls the fins will be rolled down and the bar compressed
in the opposite direction, and so on through all the rolls in the train.
Only one set of passes is used at a time, but the object of having two sets is to
make the rolls last just twice as long as with one set, the cost of constructing the
rolls being no more than if one set alone were used.
It is preferred to have the passes in one line, alternately of elliptical and lozenge
form, as shown.
H, H, represent the guides which direct the course of the iron between the rolls.
Each guide at its receiving end is fitted to the lower roll, being bevilled to an edge,
and resting immediately upon the lower roll of the pair from which it receives the
iron, and in exact line with the passes to the same.
With the rolls arranged as shown the guido between the first and second pair of
rolls would have to be of the concave form shown in Figure 6.
This guide
lettered H has a body h of suitable metal formed to fit the lower roll F¹ of the
first pair, with a central flat horizontal surface h', inclined surfaces h³, and angular
and curved surfaces h³, h, to correspond to the shape of the passes.
Upon the body of the guide are bolted two plates i, i, extending the entire
length of the guide, and formed of curved and angular shape to correspond to the
similarly shaped portions of the body of the guide. By bolting the plates i, i, to
the body of the guide straight passages G, G³, are inade through the guide from
end to end, and of the same shape as the passes in the first pair of rolls, but of
little larger size so as to allow the iron to pass freely through. At about its centre
the guide is supported upon a broad flat bar k, which rests in recesses _formed on
the insides of the standards, of sufficient length to allow of the removal of the rest
bar without disturbing the housings. The delivery end of the guide H is supported
as near to the second pair of rolls as possible without touching them, and with the
passages G, G³, in direct line with the passes in these rolls. A lug is formed on
the under side of the guide, just in front of and resting against the bar l, so that
the longitudinal pressure exerted upon the guide by the forcing of the iron through
it from the first pair of rolls will not disturb its position.
The other form of guide H¹ to be used between the second and third pairs of
rolls is of the same construction and has the same parts as the guide H, with the
exception that it is of general convex form to fit the convex lower roll of the second
pair, and has the lowor plates i, i', on its convex side, which is its upper side. It
is supported in the same manner as the guide H, and receives and delivers the
iron in the same way.
With the rolls arranged as shown the guides H would be used between the first
and second pairs of rolls, the third and fourth, fifth and sixth, and so on, while
the guides H' would be placed between the second and third pairs of rolls, the
fourth and fifth, sixth and seventh, and so on throughout the train.
The rolls are operated by the following means:-Upon the square end f¹ of either
the upper or lowor roll of the first pair is loosely fitted a sleeve m connected to a
short shaft m', which is in turn connected by a sleeve coupling m³ to a counter-
shaft I. These sleeve couplings and the short shaft allow the upper roll to be
adjusted out of line with the countershaft, but still rotated thereby. The counter-
shaft I has a large bevel wheel n on its end, which gears with a bevel wheel n¹ on
the driving shaft K placed at right angles to the countershaft.
3

page_text: The upper roll of the first pair is operated through the driving and countershafts,
and the lower roll through its connection with the upper roll.
The upper roll of the second pair is connected to a countershaft I, not run
directly from the driving shaft, but from the countershaft 1 through cog wheels o, o¹,
of different sizes, so that the second pair of rolls are given the necessary increased
speed to accommodate them to the increased length of the iron.
The third pair of rolls is connected to a countershaft I run from the driving shaft
by bevilled wheels n, n³, of such size that this pair of rolls will run with greater
speed than the second pair.
The fourth pair of rolls is operated by connection of its countershaft through
cogs o, o¹, with the countershaft of the third pair, and so on throughout the train,
every other pair of rolls being driven by connection to the driving shaft, and the
other pairs of rolls by connection with the countershafts of the first-mentioned
rolls.
At L in Figure 1 is shown the position of a pair of finishing rolls, which would
be of ordinary construction, and could be geared to the extended journal of either
the top or bottom roll of the last pair in the train.
The dotted line shows the manner in which the loop of the rod would be held by
a boy and drawn out to take up the slack if the last pair of rolls is geared to run
faster than the finishing rolls.
The advantage of the peculiar form of the rolls, other than before stated is, that
it gives greater strength of resistance in the direction of the greatest pressure, of
the grooves or passes, that they give a form or shape to the iron, which reduces it
in size without forming a "fin upon it; in the alternate disposition of long and
short axes, that the iron is compressed without destruction of its fibre, in the
arrangement of all the rolls horizontally, that the mill is thereby rendered more
simple and cheap in construction, and can be more simply and cheaply operated;
in the whole mill being a continuous mill, that iron can be rolled of a greater length
more rapidly and with loss expense of labour than where it is necessary to roll
back and forth.
There are other advantages of a less prominent character which will be apparent
upon inspection to those skilled in the art.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and the mode in which
the same is carried into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is,-
First. A continuous rolling mill with the rolls all arranged in the same position,
and without twisting guides, cach pair of rolls of which is adapted to roll down the
fins formed by the previous pair against solid surfaces or shoulders.
Second. In a continuous rolling mill, the arrangement and construction of the
pairs of rolls in a train of similarly placed rolls, so that the same shall present to
the iron passing between them the longer and shorter axes of the passes alternately
at right angles.
Third. In a continuous rolling mill, the construction of the rolls setting one into
the other ou inclined lines so as to require no means for adjusting the rolls longi-
tudinally.
Fourth. In a continuous rolling mill with all the rolls placed in the same position
and without twisting guides, the construction of the rolls of each pair, one of a
general convex or projecting form, and the other of a general concave form, the
rolls being alternately arranged in each successive pair, and provided with double
passes.
Fifth. In a continuous rolling mill with all the rolls arranged in the same
position, the guides for leading the iron from the pass in one pair of rolls in a
straight line, and without twisting it to the pass in the succeeding pair of rolls.
Sixth. The guides H, H³, conforming to the shape of the rolls, and having
plates i, i¹, forming passages G, G³, and supported substantially as described.
Seventh. The combination of the countershafts I, I', driving shaft K, bevilled
wheels n, n², and cog wheels o, o', substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: Eighth. The combination of the bed plate, standards, and caps, constructed and
connected substantially as described.
In witness whereof I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
B. J. B. MILLS.
(1.S.)