Improvements in Machines for Rolling Seamless Metal Tubes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 15th July, 1890-Accepted, 16th Aug., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Rolling Seamless Metal Tubes.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Win. Clark, of 53,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to me froin
abroad by Edward Fitz-Randolph (Manufacturer) of the City County and State of New
York, and George Heulett Clowes (Manufacturer) of Waterbury in the County of New
Haven and State of Connecticut, both in the United States of America,) 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 improvements in machines for rolling seamless metal
tubes from cylindrical castings, and the invention also relates to reducing rolls adapted
for use in connection with the machines.
The invention has for its object to provide a machine of simple compact and effective
construction and rolls which will simultaneously lengthen feed and properly shapé a
seamless tube from a cylindrical casting.
The invention consists in the novel construction of the rolls and in the combination
and construction of the several parts of the machine alapted to carry said rolls, as
will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specifica-
tion, in which
Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine.
Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away and disclosing the cable drum
and cable.
Figure 3 is an end view, illustrating a partially rolled casting in position and
the mandrel in transverse section.
Figure 4 is a vertical section through a roll head.
Figure 5 is a detail view, illustrating a partially rolled casting upon the mandrel
and the bearings of the rolls thereof, the casting being in section.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of a roll.
Figures 7 and 8 are partial sections of modified forms of the rolls.
Figure 9 is a side elovation of a modified form of machine.
Figure 10 is an end view of the same, the mandrel and tube being in section.
Figure 11 is a vertical section, through the casting and mandrel used in connection
with the modified form of machine and illustrating the reducing rolls in side elevation
and the tube as partially finished; and
Figure 12 is a side elevation of one of the reducing rolls.
Similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the
views.
The frame of the machine consists of two parallel side pieces 10 united by webs 11
and provided with ways 12 (figure 3) for the longitudinally-sliding carriage 1, held
in position upon the ways 12 by cap-plates 14 secured by bolts 15. In ears 16 at
each end of the carriage 13 are secured the ends of a cable 17 which is coiled upon
a cable drum 18 secured upon a transverse shaft 19 journaled in the side frames 10,
as illustrated in figures 2 and 3. Fast on the end of the cable drum shaft 19 is a
worm. wheel 20 which gears with a worm 21 upon a line shaft 22 mounted outside one of
the side frames 10 and parallel thereto said shaft 22 being rotated in any suitable
manner. Upon the carriage 13 near each each end is a suitable stock or centre post 23,
the said centre posts being either rigidly or adjustably or detachably attached to said
carriage an provided with the ordinary screw points 24. The centre points are
adapted to hold the mandrel in position carrying the casting to be rolled, as will be
hereinafter fully described. At about the middle of the frame is bolted a roll head 25,
which roll head preferably consists of two flanged castings bolted together to form an

page_text: interior chamber 26, as illustrated in figure 4. The roll head 25 may or may not be
provided with an opening 27 at the top. The roll head has a through central circular
opening 28 and at each side thereof and in the same horizontal plane therewith a
horizontal slot 29 is formed in each section of the said head and in the said slots 29
bearing blocks 30 are fitted to slide and are adjustable by screws 31 turned by hand
wheels 32. In each pair of these sliding blocks 30 at each side of the roll head a
longitudinal shaft 33 is journaled, the other ends of these shafts being journaled in
bearings 34 fixed to the rear end of the frame 10, as illustrated in figures 1 and 2.
These shafts 33 are driven from the shaft 37 of the fast and loose pulleys 38 by spar
wheel 36 gearing with wheels 35 fast on said shafts 33. Said shafts may however be
otherwise driven. Above and below each of the horizontal slots 29 of the roll head a
diagonal slot 39 is produced, in which bearing blocks 40 are fitted to slide which
blocks are adjusted by screw 41 and hand wheel 42 or its equivalent. In each aligning
pair of the bearing blocks 40 is journaled a short shaft 43 having keyed on it a
pinion 44, as shewn in figures 4 and 5, the pinions upon the right being adapted to
gear with the spur wheel 45 keyed to the right-hand shaft 33 within the roll head and
the pinions upon the left with a similar spur wheel 45 keyed to the left-hand shaft 33.
It will be observed that as the several shafts 33 and 43 are provided with two adjustable.
bearings in the roll head, the adjustment of the said shafts may be accurately accom-
plished. Upon the outer forward end of each of the short shafts 43 are secured the
rolls 46 adapted to reduce and form the tube. By reference to figure 3, it will be
observed that the rolls 46 are arranged quartering and equi-distant from the centre of
the central roll head opening 28.
The construction of the reducing rolls is fully illustrated in figures 6, 7, and 8,
from which it will be observed that the rear end is of greater diameter than the
forward end and that the two peripheral end surfaces a a are connected by a spiral
inclined plane band that the surface intervening the two end surfaces is spirally
stepped. The plane of the spiral may be either parallel with the axis of the roll, as
illustrated in figure 6, or may verge slightly toward the axis, as shewn in figure 7, or
from the axis, as shewn in figure 8. The purpose of this construction of the roll is to
more readily draw in the tube while revolving and rolling it. The surfaces a and a
of the roll are parallel with the axis of the same and the diameter of the inner end
surface a¹ is such as just to meet the outer surface of the unrolled portion of the tube
while the diameter of the rear end surface a is such that it will finish the tube, or in
other words remove any irregularities left therein by the spiral surface of the roll.
The cylindrical casting 47 to be extended and reduced is placed upon a mandrel 48
provided with reduced extremities or necks 49 and the said casting at one end is bent
rolled or otherwise manipulated and lapped over the rear end of the mandrel, as
illustrated at 50 in figure 5. The mandrel with the tube upon it is adapted to pass
through the centre opening 28 of the roll head and is held in a horizontal position
parallel with the sliding carriage 13 by means of the centreing screws of the centre
posts 23, as illustrated in figures 1 and 2.
In operation, the close fitting cylindrical casting 47 is placed upon the mandrel 48
and the rear en of the mandrel is passed through the aperture 28 of the roll head and
supported by the centres. The drum shaft 19 is then revolved to cause the carriage 13
to travel rearward, whereupon the rear end of the casting is brought in contact with
the peripheral surface a¹ of the roll, and the said roll being revolved will in turn
revolve both the casting and the mandrel and owing to the peculiar forin of the said
rolls above described and by the assistance of the cable attached to the carriage, the
two are passed through the head between the rolls and the casting is reduced in
thickness and elongated thereby, as illustrated in figure 5.
In figures 9, 10, 11, and 12, is illustrated a modification of the machine in which
the frame consists of two parallel side pieces 10" upon which a bed 11 is permanently
secured. At or near each end of the frame a centre port 12" is fixed upon the bed
one or both of which posts may be so attached as to be readily detached or be
swung to one side. Upon the frame, at or near the middle, is fixed a transverse roll
head 13ª perpendicular to the bed. The construction of the roll head is similar to that

page_text: of the machine above described. 14 is a central opening and at each side of the
said opening and on the same axial level therewith one end of a shaft 15° is journalled
in adjustable bearings 16, as shewn in figure 10, carrying within the head a spur
wheel 17, as shewn in dotted lines in said figure. The shafts 15° are carried
rearward from the roll head and journaled in bearings secured to the frame, as shewn
in figure 9, and are driven by wheels 18" 19" from shaft 20 as before described.
Adjustable bearings 21 are introduced in the sections of the roll head to slido
diagonally of said sections to and from the central opening 14". In each pair of
bearings 21 is journalled a short shaft 22 carrying a pinion 23ª within the
chamber of the head and a reducing roll 24" is mounted on the forward extremity
of said shaft which extends beyond the head. The pinions 23 gear with the spur
wheel of the contiguous line shaft 15* and the rolls are so arranged as to surround
the central opening 14" as illustrated in figure 10. The arrangement of the rolls
and the means of driving them are similar to those illustrated in figures 1, 2, 3,
and 4, and heretofore described. In this connection it should be understood that
other mechanism may be substituted for driving the rolls without departing from the
spirit of the invention.
The construction of the reducing rolls is fully illustrated in figures 11 and 12
wherein it will be observed that the rear end 25 is of greater diameter than the
forward end 26 and that these two peripheral surfaces are connected by a spirally-
fluted inclined surface 27ª made up of a series of spiral grooves of half round section
alternating with spiral ribs of similar section, which vanish into the said end surfaces.
The mandrel stem 28 is held firmly between the centre posts and is circular in cross-
section, consisting of a body portion a of a diameter equal to the bore of the casting 29ª
to be rolled, as shewn in figure 11 and an extension b of less diameter. Upon the part of
the mandrel stem a mandrel 30 is loosely mounted, conical for the greater portion of its
length and terminating at the smaller end in a true cylindrical surface d. The rotary
mandrel is held in position by a collar 31ª equal in diameter to the reduced end of the
mandrel and the remaining length of the mandrel stem is covered by a sleeve 32" of
the same diameter as the collar. The mandrel 30* is of a length corresponding to the
width of the reducing rolls and is located in the same plane with them, the rear or
smoothing and finishing surface of the rolls registering with the cylindrical end of the
mandrel.
In operation, the casting to be rolled is placed upon the body of the mandrel stem
which with the mandrel is passed through the central opening of the head and secured
by the centre posts, as shewn in figure 9. The casting is now fed to the rolls and
engaged by the front or forward peripheral surface and as the rolls are revolved the
spiral inclined surface also engages whereupon the casting is drawn forward, compressed
upon the revolving mandrel, reduced and lengthened out, the perfect contour of the
tube being completed while between the rear peripheral surface of the said rolls and
the cylindrical surface of the mandrel, as illustrated in figure 11.
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 reducing roll having its cylindrical end surfaces in two diameters connected
by a spiral inclined plane, substantially as shewn and described.
2. A reducing roll having cylindrical end surfaces in two diameters connected by a
spiral inclined plane vanishing into its ends, substantially as shown and described.
3. A reducing roll having cylindrical end surfaces in two diameters and the inter-
vening surface spirally stepped, substantially as shewn and described.
4. A reducing roll provided with cylindrical surfaces in two diameters, having the
intervening surface spirally stepped, said steps being inclined, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
5. The combination, with a mandrel, of a series of reducing rolls substantially as
described arranged equidistant around said mandrel in a plane transverse to the axis
of the mandrel, substantially as shewn and described,

page_text: 6. The combination, with a mandrel, of a series of reducing rolls arranged around
said mandrel and having their peripheral surfaces in two diameters connected by a
spirally inclined plane and means, substantially as shewn and described, for supporting
the rolls, as and for the purpose specified.
7. The combination, with a reciprocating mandrel, of a stationary head a series of
reducing rolls journalled in the said head around the said mandrel and having their
peripheral surfaces in two diameters connected by a spiral inclined plane, all combined
for operation substantially as described.
8. The combination, with a horizontally reciprocating mandrel and a fixed head
provided with adjustable hearings located in a plane transverse to the axis of the
mandrel, of reducing rolls journaled in said adjustable bearings around the mandrel,
said rolls having their peripheral surfaces in two diameters and connected by a spiral
inclined plane and means substantially as described, for revolving said rolls, as and for
the purpose specified.
9. The combination, with a horizontally reciprocating carriage provided with centre
posts and a fixed head vertically-extending above said carriage and provided with a
series of adjustable bearing blocks equidistant from the central opening of the bead, of
a series of reducing rolls journaled in the said bearing blocks around the opening in
the head, said rolls having their peripheral surfaces in two diameters connected by a
spiral inclined plane, a mandrel held between the centre posts of the carriage and
passing through the central opening of the head and means, substantially as shewn and
described, for reciprocating the carriage and revolving the said rolls, as and for the
purpose set forth.
10. A reducing roll having its peripheral surface in two diameters connected by
a spiral fluted inclined plane, substantially as shewn and described.
11. A reducing roll having its peripheral surface in two diameters connected by
a spiral fluted inclined plane vanishing into its end surfaces, the ribs whereof are
stepped, substantially as shewn and described.
12. The combination, with a mandrel stem consisting of a body and a reduced
extension or neck and a rotary conical mandrel mounted upon said neck at its
junction with the body, of reducing rolls substantially as described arranged
equidistant around the said mandrel in a plane transverse to the axis of the mandrel,
as set forth.
13. The combination, with a mandrel stem consisting of a body and a reduced
extension or neck and a mandrel loosely mounted upon said neck conical for a
greater portion of its length and provided with a cylindrical reduced end, of
reducing rolls substantially as described arranged equidistant around the mandrel
in a plane transverse to the axis of the mandrel, as and for the purpose specified.
14. The combination, with a mandrel stem consisting of a bedy and a reduced
extension or neck and an essentially-conical mandrel loosely mounted upon the
neck at its junction with the body, of a series of reducing rolls arranged around
said mandrel and having their peripheral surfaces in two diameters connected by
a spiral fluted inclined plane, substantially as shewn and described.
15. The combination, with a stationary mandrel stem consisting of a body, and
a reduced extension or neck and a mandrel loosely mounted upon the said neck
near its junction with the body conical for a greater portion of its length and
provided with a cylindrical reduced extremity, of reducing rolls arranged equi-
distant around the mandrel parallel therewith and having their peripheral surfaces
in two diameters connected by a spiral fluted inclined plane, the small end of the
mandrel being between the large ends of the rolls, substantially as shewn and
described.