CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLING AND CORRUGATING PLATES OF METAL, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR SUCH PURPOSES
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Davies at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th
December 1860.
I, GEORGE DAVIES, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of
Middlesex, and No. 28, St. Enoch Square, in the City of Glasgow, Civil
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLING AND CORRUGATING PLATES OF
METAL, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR SUCH PURPOSES," (a com-
munication to me from abroad by Richard Montgomery, of New York, United
States of America,) to be as follows:-
In using corrugated iron or other metal plates for the various purposes to
which it is adapted, it is a great advantage to have the margins left smooth

page_text: and plain, so as to afford a convenient surface for uniting and rivetting the
different plates or pieces together. It is also important to have as much
thickness of metal at such parts as possible, since the plates are somewhat
weakened by the holes made for the rivets.
Now by the use of this Invention it is proposed to roll and smooth corrugated
iron or other metal plates (at one heat) with the margins flat or plain, and
somewhat thicker than the central or corrugated parts of the same.
In corrugating sheets of metal by the ordinary modes now in use, it is also
found that there is great liability to get the plates out of truth whilst they are
being fed into the machine, and which results in a considerable loss to the
manufacturer. It is also found that iron that has been corrugated by passing
it between one set of rolls only is often imperfect, whilst if subjected to the
same amount or degree of corrugation by passing it between two sets of rolls,
the first set commencing the corrugation, and the second set completing it, that
the iron is much more perfect, and has a better surface than if such corrugation
had been effected at one operation or by being passed between but one set of
rolls. It is also necessary that the two set of rolls should bear a certain
peculiar relation to each other, in order to effect the operation by "one heat."
To facilitate the foregoing operations, together with the attainment of other
advantages in the process_of_corrugating iron or other metal, is the object of
the present Invention.
For rolling corrugated plates of metal with flat margins for boiler plates or
other purposes,
the process and apparatus to be employed are as follows:-
The plate to be subjected to corrugation having been previously heated to the
required degree is placed on a table in front of the feeding bar, which latter
(being actuated by two adjustable arms connected to crank pins) in its
forward sweep pushes the plate towards and between the first pair of corrugating.
rolls. These rolls are formed with suitable corrugations, and have plain
shoulders at each end of rather smaller diameter than the corrugated part, so
as to leave the side edges of the plate plain and rather thicker than the
corrugated part. At one portion of the circumference the corrugations are
also cut away in a longitudinal direction, in order to form the front and back
edges of the plate in a similar manner. About opposite to the centre of this
plain part each of the shoulders of the upper roll is furnished with a projecting
pin, and the shoulders of the lower roll are provided with a corresponding hole.
The feeding in of the plate is so arranged that its front edge shall be fed in
midway at this plain part just as these pins are entering their respective holes
and abut against them, which will ensure the front edge of the plate being
parallel to the axis of the rolls. The plate having received its first amount of

page_text: corrugations by passing through the first pair of rolls, enters with its edges
between two guides, and is thus passed to the second pair of rolls, which latter
are not so far apart as the first set of rolls, but have their corrugations deeper,
for the purpose of reducing the thickness of the plate and completing the pro-
cess of corrugation. If the corrugated plate is intended to be arched or curved,
it (immediately on issuing from the second pair of rolls) passes over a sweep-
ing or curving roll, which is suitably indented, and is capable of adjustment to
and from the second pair of rolls, so as to give the required arch or curve.
A second process and apparatus to be employed for rolling corrugated plates
with flat or plain edges are as follows:-A pair of corrugating rolls similar to
those above described are placed one above the other in the centre of the
machine. The shaft of the lower roll has its bearings in the frame, whilst the
shaft of the upper roll has its bearings in blocks, which slide vertically in slots
in the upper portion of the frame; these blocks are capable of being raised or
lowered together by means of right and left hand screws actuated by bevil
gearing in connection with a hand wheel, and thereby the distance between
the surfaces of the two rolls can be adjusted. The two rolls are geared
together at one end by spur wheels, the teeth of which must be sufficiently
long to remain still in gear when the upper roll is adjusted to its greatest.
height above the lower one. On the reverse end of the lower roll is keyed a
bevil wheel in gear with two similar wheels placed loosely on a revolving.
transverse driving shaft. Between these is a clutch box revolving with the
shaft and sliding on a feather or key, so as to be capable of being thrown into
gear with either of the bevil. wheels, and so drive the rolls either forwards or
backwards, as may be desired. There is a feeding table opposite to the space
between the rolls, both at the back and front. The. object of this arrangement
is to work the plate forwards and backwards between the rolls by shifting the.
clutch box as soon as nearly the whole length of the plate has passed through,
between the rolls, and thus to gradually corrugate the plate at the same time;
that it is worked thinner by giving the hand wheel a turn simultaneously with
the shifting of the clutch box, so as to cause the two rolls to approach each
other after each passage of the plate through the rolls in. one direction.
In corrugating iron plates, it is frequently found that the outer surface of
the metal becomes somewhat cracked or scaled up by the operation, hence
it becomes necessary to pass the corrugated plate between a set of smoothing
or pressing rolls for the purpose of forcing or pressing back the slight scales
or cracks on the surface of the metal, so that when in use the surface
will be smooth and even; and it is proposed by this Invention to effect
this at the same time that the plate is being, curved, and immediately

page_text: after it has been corrugated, by a modification of the above first-described
process and apparatus. Two pairs of. corrugating rolls are mounted side
by side in a convenient framing, and are driven
suitable means.
The first
pair of rolls are the corrugating rolls, and are furnished with indentations
or corrugations running parallel with the axis, whilst the second pair of rolls
(or the smoothing and holding rolls) are corrugated in a circumferential
direction, and immediately behind them is placed the sweeping or curving roll,
which is also grooved circumferentially, and is capable of adjustment to and
from the smoothing and holding rolls so as to regulate the amount of curve
given to the plate. The operation is as follows:-The plate or sheet to be
corrugated is fed in sideways between the first or corrugating rolls, and in.
passing through them it is corrugated. It is then turned endways or one-
fourth round, and passed back over the top smoothing roll on to a carriage
which runs on rails in front of the same; it is then pushed forward so as to
be caught between the smoothing rolls, into which its corrugations fit, and
whereby the plate is forced through between these rolls and up over the
sweeping or curving roll, which will give it the required curve lengthwise of
the corrugations. The second or smoothing and.holding rolls are not intended
to work so close together as to increase the corrugations, but only to smooth
the same and to hold the plate or sheet firm whilst it is being bent or curved to.
the required form.
A further improvement, which can be used in connection with any of the
above arrangements, consists in forming the rolls with corrugations and inden-.
tations running in parallel waved lines instead of being in straight lines as
usually the case, such rolls having the corrugations running either longitudinally
or circumferentially, as may be desired, and being furnished with plain shoulders.
at the ends of rather smaller diameter than the central or corrugated part, and
also having the said waved corrugations cut away longitudinally at one part of.
their diameter, so as to produce a plate with waved corrugations, and with
plain edges or margins rather thicker or stronger than the central or waved.
corrugated part, so as to afford greater facility for rivetting the finished plates
together, without diminishing their strength, as above described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Davies in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th June 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
DAVIES, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex,

page_text: and No. 28, St. Enoch Square, in the City of Glasgow, Civil Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me
the said George Davies, Her special licence, that I, the said George
Davies, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said George Davies, 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
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLING AND CORRUGATING PLATES OF METAL, AND IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR SUCH PURPOSES," being a communication
to me from abroad by Richard Montgomery, of New York, United States
of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George
Davies, 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
Oflice within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Davies, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing and on reference to the accompanying Drawings, that is
to say:
In using corrugated iron or other metal plates for the various purposes to
which it is adapted, it is a great advantage to have the margins left smooth and
plain, so as to afford a convenient surface for uniting and rivetting the
different plates or pieces together. It is also important to have as much
thickness of metal at such parts as possible, since the plates are somewhat
weakened by the holes made for the rivets.
Now by the use of this Invention it is proposed to roll and smooth corru-
gated iron or other metal plates (at one heat) with the margins flat or plain,
and somewhat thicker than the central or corrugated parts of the same.
In corrugating sheets of metal by the ordinary modes now in use it is also

page_text: found that there is great liability to get the plates out of truth whilst they are
being fed into the machine, and which results in a considerable loss to the
manufacturer.
It is also found that iron that has been corrugated by passing it between
one set of rolls only is often imperfect, whilst if subjected to the same amount
or degree of corrugation by passing it between two sets of rolls, the first set
, commencing the corrugation, and the second set completing it, that the iron is
much more perfect and has a better surface than if such corrugation had been
effected at one operation, or by being passed between but one set of rolls. It
is also necessary that the two sets of rolls should bear a certain peculiar
relation to each other in order to effect the operation by one heat.
To facilitate the foregoing operations, together with the attainment of other
advantages in the process of corrugating iron or other metal, is the object of
the present Invention.
For rolling corrugated plates of metal with flat margins for boiler plates or
other purposes the process and apparatus to be employed are as follows:-
The plate to be subjected to corrugation having been previously heated to the
required degree is placed on a table in front of the feeding bar, which latter
(being actuated by two adjustable arms connected to crank pins) in its forward
sweep_pushes the plate towards and-between the first pair of corrugating rolls.
These rolls are formed with suitable corrugations, and have plain shoulders at
cach end of rather smaller diameter than the corrugated part, so as to leave
the side edges of the plate plain and rather thicker than the corrugated part.
At one portion of the circumference the corrugations are also cut away in a
longitudinal direction, in order to form the front and back edges of the plate
in a similar manner. About opposite to the centre of this plain part each of
the shoulders of the upper roll is furnished with a projecting pin, and the
shoulders of the lower roll are provided with a corresponding hole. The
feeding in of the plate is so arranged that its front edge shall be fed in midway
at this plain part just as these pins are entering their respective holes, and abut
against them, which will ensure the front edge of the plate being parallel to
the axes of the rolls. The plate having received its first amount of corru-
gation by passing through the first pair of rolls, enters with its edges between
two guides, and is thus passed to the second pair of rolls, which latter are not
so far apart as the first set of rolls, but have their corrugations deeper, for the
purpose of reducing the thickness of the plate and completing the process of
corrugation. If the corrugated plate is intended to be arched or curved, it
(immediately on issuing from the second pair of rolls) passes over a sweeping

page_text: or curving roll; which is suitably indented, and is capable of adjustment to and
from the second pair of rolls, so as to give the required arch or curve.
A second process and apparatus to be employed for rolling corrugated plates
with flat or plain edges are as follows:-A pair of corrugating rolls similar to
those above described are placed one above the other in the centre of the
machine. The shaft of the lower roll has its bearings in the frame, whilst the
shaft of the upper roll has its bearings in blocks, which slide vertically in slots
in 'the upper portion of the frame. These blocks are capable of being raised
or lowered together by means of right and left hand screws actuated by bevil
gearing in connection with a hand wheel, and thereby the distance between
the surfaces of the two rolls can be adjusted. The two rolls are geared
together at one end by spur wheels, the teeth of which must be sufficiently
long to remain 'still in gear when the upper roll is adjusted to its greatest
height above the lower one. On the reverse end of the lower roll is keyed a
bévil wheel in gear with two similar wheels placed loosely on a revolving
transverse driving shaft. Between these is a clutch box revolving with the
shaft and sliding on a feather or key, so as to be capable of being thrown into
gear with either of the, bevil wheels, and, so drive the rolls either forwards or
backwards, as may be desired. There is a feeding table opposite to the space
between the rolls, both at the back and front. The object of this arrangement
is to work the plate forwards and backwards between the rolls by shifting the
clutch box as soon as nearly the whole length of the plate has passed through
between the rolls, and thus to gradually corrugate the plate at the same time
that it is worked thinner by giving the hard wheel a turn simultaneously with
the shifting of the clutch box, so as to cause the two rolls to approach each
other after each passage of the plate through the rolls in one direction..
In corrugating iron plates, it is frequently found that the outer surface of
the metal becomes somewhat cracked or scaled up by the operation, hence it
becomes necessary to pass the corrugated plate between a set of smoothing or
pressing rolls, for the purpose of forcing or pressing back the slight scales or
cracks on the surface of the metal, so that when in use the surface will be
smooth and even; and it is proposed by this Invention to effect this at the
same time that the plate is being curved, and immediately after it has been
corrugated, by a modification of the above first-described process and apparatus.
Two pairs of corrugating rolls are mounted side by side in a convenient
framing, and are driven by suitable means.. The first pair of rolls are the
corrugating rolls, and are furnished with indentations or corrugations running
parallel with the axis, whilst the second pair of rolls (or the smoothing and
holding rolls) are, corrugated in a circumferential direction, and immediately

page_text: behind them is placed the sweeping or curving roll, which is also grooved
circumferentially, and is capable of adjustment to and from the smoothing and
holding rolls, so as to regulate the amount of curve given to the plate. The
operation is as follows:-The plate or sheet to be corrugated is fed in sideways
between the first or corrugating rolls, and in passing through them it is
corrugated. It is then turned endways or one-quarter round, and passed back
over the top smoothing roll on to a carriage, which runs on rails in front of the
same; it is then pushed forward so as to be caught between the smoothing
rolls, into which its corrugations fit, and whereby the plate is forced through
between these rolls, and up over the sweeping or curving roll, which will give
it the required curve lengthwise of the corrugations. The second or smoothing
and holding rolls are not intended to work so close together as to increase the
corrugations, but only to smooth the same, and to hold the plate or sheet firm
whilst it is being bent or curved to the required form.
A further improvement, which can be used in connection with any of the
above arrangements, consists in forming the rolls with corrugations and inden-
tations running in parallel waved lines instead of being in-straight lines as
usually the case, such rolls having the corrugations running either longi-
tudinally or circumferentially, as may be desired, and being furnished with
plain shoulders at the ends of rather smaller diameter than the central or
corrugated part, and also having the said waved corrugations cut away longi
tudinally at one part of their diameter, so as to produce a plate with waved
corrugations, and with plain edges or margins rather thicker or stronger than
the central or waved corrugated part, so as to afford greater facility for rivetting
the finished plates together without diminishing their strength, as above
described.
Such being the nature and object of the said Invention for certain improve-
ments in rolling and corrugating plates of metal, and in machinery or apparatus
employed for such purposes, I will now proceed to describe the manner in
which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical effect. S
And in order that the same may be distinctly understood, I have annexed
hereto five Sheets of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have marked the same
with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the following
explanation thereof, that is to say:-
Sheet 1 of the Drawings exhibits a machine for rolling corrugated plates 3
with plain margins (suitable for boiler plates and other purposes) by means
of two sets of rolls, and for sweeping or curving the same (if desired) to any'
articular radius.
In this Sheet, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section through the

page_text: machine; Figure 2, a top view of one of the rolls; Figure 3, a section of the
plate after it has passed through the first pair of rolls; Figure 4, a section of
the plate after it has passed through the second pair of rolls; and Figure 5, a
top view of the sweeping and forming roll.
5 The plate m to be subjected to corrugation is placed on the table r, in front
of the feeding bar k. This bar k is attached to two arms j, of which only one
is represented in the Drawings; the bar is attached to the arms in any suit-
able way, so that it can be set at a greater or less distance from the ends of
the arms. The arms have at their front ends pins s, which may be adjusted
in the radial slots at a greater or less distance from the centre of the spur
wheel f. By this means a reciprocating motion will be imparted to the bar k,
which, during its forward sweep, serves to push the plate m towards and
between the first pair of corrugating rolls d, d. The shoulders y, y, of the
roll d are provided with one pin n each, these pins taking in corresponding
holes q in the shoulders of the lower roll d'. Between the rolls d, d', the plate
receives its first corrugation. As the plate passes from between the rolls d, d';
its edges enter and are guided by slots i (one on each side of the machine),
formed by guide pieces h, h. Passing beyond the front end of the slots, the
plate enters between the second pair of rolls c, c', which latter are not so far
apart as the first two rolls d, d, for the purpose of compressing the material:
to its final thickness, and thus completing the process of corrugation. Of
course the indentations of the second pair of rolls c, c¹, are deeper than those
of the rolls d, d, so as to correspond with the expansion of the material con-
sequent upon the diminution of its thickness. From the rolls c, c¹, the corru-
gated plate passes over the sweeping and forming roll w, as represented by:
red lines in Figure 1. Part of the corrugated circumference of each of the
rolls is cut off, as seen at t, t, t, t, in Figure 1, for the purpose of leaving the
ends of the plates smooth or flat. The distance of the bark from the first
pair of rolls is such that the front end of the plate will just arrive at and abut
against the pins n as they begin to enter the holes q. Thus these pins serve
to adjust and regulate the front end of the plate so as to be parallel with the
axis of the rolls when entering between the rolls. The upper rolls c and d
have their bearings in.blocks a, which can be adjusted by screws b. The four
rolls are properly geared together by cog wheels c, e, f, f, g, g. The roll w is
the sweeping and forming roll. This roll is placed just at the back of the last
or second set of corrugating rolls, and is placed in bearings v, which are
adjustable by means of set screws u and slots t¹, t, so that it can be set in the
proper position to sweep or bend the sheet into a curved form suitable for the

page_text: purpose to which it is to be applied. This roll is grooved out, as fully shewn
in Figure 5, so that as the corrugated sheet or metal plate leaves the last set
of rolls it is received on to the corrugated or grooved sweeping and formning roll,
by which it is guided and directed as it leaves the last set of rolls, and at the
same time it gives the corrugated sheet or plate such a direction that it is
bent into a curved form, as fully shown in red lines at m* in Figure 1. The
distance between the two sets of rolls is such that the front margin of the
plate enters the space t, t, between the rolls c, c', at the same time that the
rear margin of the plate leaves the first set of rolls, so that the margins of the
corrugated sheets are left smooth and plain. It may also be remarked, that
the circumference of each roll is such that it completes one revolution during
the passage of the sheet between each set of rolls. The shoulders y of the
rolls d, d, are the same distance from each other as those of the rolls c, c', so
as to preserve the same thickness of the side margins of the corrugated plates,
as shown at z, z, Figures 3 and 4. The regulating and adjusting pins n are
shown attached to the roll d, but they may be attached to the roll d', or to all
of the rolls, and may be used with advantage when the plates are fed by hand,
and also when the corrugation is completed, by passing the sheet between only
one set of rolls. The sweeping and forming roll w may also be used with
advantage when only one set of corrugating rolls are used.
Sheet 2 and 3 of the Drawings illustrate an improved-method-of-rolling-
similar corrugated plates with flat margins with one set of rolls only, by passing
the plate backwards and forwards.
In Sheet 2, Figure 1 is an elevation of one end of the machine complete,
and Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same.
'
In Sheet 3, Figure 1 is an elevation of the opposite end of the machine to
that shown at Figure 1, Sheet 2; Figure 2 is an elevation of a portion of the
back of the machine; Figure 3 is a view of a portion of the corrugating rolls,
and of the bearings for the same, detached from the framework; Figure 4.is
a portion of the reversing gear, similarly detached; Figure 5 is a cross section
of one of the corrugating rolls; and Figure 6 is one of the bearing boxes for
the upper roll detached from the other parts. Similar letters of reference
indicate like. parts in all the Figures of these two Sheets.
Two corrugating rolls H, H', are arranged in the centre of the machine one
above the other; they are provided with corrugations E, E, E, &c., and
E', E', E', &c., covering part of the circumference of each roll, and leaving
smooth cylindrical surfaces at L, L'; the ends of the rolls are also smooth, as
seen at E F

page_text: The shaft T of the lower roll has its bearing in the frame R, S, whilst the
shaft T of the upper roll has its bearings in blocks V, V₁, which slide vertically
in slots in the upper portion of the frame R, S.
The blocks are provided with shield plates U, of which only one is to be
seen in the Drawings at Figure 1, Sheet 3. Each of these shield plates has a
slot, through which extends a bolt screwed into the frame pieces: W and W1
respectively. These shield plates serve to guide the blocks V, V, in their
vertical adjustments; this vertical adjustment of the upper roll H is obtained
by means of bevil wheels Y, X, and Y, X, and right and left screw shafts
Z, Z', which latter work through screw holes in the frame pieces W, W¹. A
hand wheel J' is fastened on the shaft J of the bevil wheels Y, Y¹. It will be
seen that by turning the hand wheel (the bevil wheels Y, Y¹, and the bevil
gears X, X', taking into them will be turned) the screw shafts Z, Z', one of
which is a left-hand screw, will turn, together with the bevil wheels X, X', and
thus the lower ends of the screw shafts will rise or descend as the case may
be, and as the blocks V, V, bear against the ends of the screw shafts, the
blocks V, V, and shaft T will be allowed to rise or be, depressed so as to
adjust the space between the two rolls through which space the plates of iron
to be corrugated pass. The ends of shafts T, T', are provided with spur
wheels G, G¹, so as to gear the two rolls together. The teeth of the two spur
wheels G, G', must be long enongh to be still in gear when the upper roll is
adjusted to its greatest height above the lower roll. The other end of the
shaft T has a large bevil wheel h attached to it, which takes into two bevil
pinions I, I, (see Figures 1 and 4, Sheet 3). These two bevil pinions turn
loosely upon the driving shaft, to the end of which is attached the driving
pulley, N. The driving shaft has a key or feather U, U₁, extending the
whole distance between the two bevil pinions. A sliding boss N fits loose
upon the driving shaft, and has a notch or groove on its whole length fitting
the projection or key U¹, U', so as to allow the boss to slide longitudinally
upon the driving shaft, whilst it is compelled to turn with it. The boss has a
projection on each side K and K¹, which can be made to engage with corre-
sponding projections M, M³, extending from the bevil pinions I, I', respectively.
This connection between the sliding boss and one or the other of the two
bevil pinions is made by moving the boss towards the one or the other of the
pinions until the projection K. or K¹ engages with one of the projections
M, M'. This lateral adjustment of the boss is made by means of the fork P¹,
pivoted to a rod R', extending from the frame R. S is a handle by which
the fork may be operated. The fork fits over a circular notch in the sliding

page_text: boss N, as shown in the Drawings. It will be seen that by engaging the boss
with either one of the pinions, the pinion will be caused to revolve together
with the shaft and boss, and motion will thus be transmitted to the large bevil
wheel h and to the corrugating rolls. If the boss is engaged with the pinion I,
the rolls will revolve in the direction of the arrows, so as to take a plate of
iron placed on table A and deliver the corrugated plate on table A', while if
the boss is engaged with the pinion 1, the rolls will revolve in the reverse
direction when the plates are to be fed over the table A', and will be delivered
on to the table A. The tables A, A', are in line with the open space between
the two rolls; they are supported on legs P, and are provided with two parallel
rails b, c, to guide the plate and bring it square up to the rolls. The circum-
ference of each of the rolls is equal to the length of the plates when corrugated.
Each plate is to be formed with smooth ends for the
purpose of rivetting the
plates together, and with smooth margins on the sides.
in between the rolls, when the smooth places L, L', of
that the front edge of the plate will be caught in between the rolls when it
(the front edge of the plate) is in the centre or half way between the two
corrugations at the ends of the smooth surfaces L, L. By this means one-
half of the surfaces L, L, will form one smooth end of the plate, and the
other half the other smooth end, while the smooth ends of the rolls F, F,
form the smooth side margins of the plate.
Each plate is passed
the two rolls meet, so
The object of the whole arrangement as above described is to work the
plate backwards and forwards between the rolls by means of shifting the
sliding boss N as soon as nearly the whole length of the plate has passed
through between the rolls, and also to gradually corrugate the plate, while at
the same time it is worked thinner by giving the hand wheel J¹ on the
shaft Ja turn simultaneously with the shifting of the boss, so as to cause the
two rolls to approach each other after each passage of the plate through the
rolls in one direction.
One advantage of the arrangement as described is that one workman can
control the whole operation by taking hold of the handle S₁ with one hand
and of the hand wheel J¹ with the other hand, and operating them as above
described, so as to work the plate back and forth between the rolls, and
gradually to diminish the distance between the two rolls until the plate has
been reduced to the desired degree of corrugation and thickness, and that too
without subjecting the partially corrugated metal sheet to the liability of being
injured by being improperly fed to the rolls by an attendant at each time it is
passed between the rolls. This is-due to the fact that the metal sheet is never

page_text: allowed to pass quite beyond the action of the rolls until after it is completely
corrugated, thus retaining the sheet in an even and proper position at all
times during the operation.
Another advantage is that there is no necessity for shifting the driving belt
on the pulley N₁; the motion of the rolls can be reversed by shifting the
sliding boss as above set forth, and the rolls can be brought to rest by placing
the boss half way between the two bevil pinions, when the projections K, K',
on the said boss will engage with neither of the projections M, M', of the
pinions.
Another advantage resulting from the application of this Invention consists
in the fact that on this machine.the plate can be worked back and forth, and
corrugated and rolled until finished at one heat, as there is no time lost. for
the purpose of lifting the plate. This advantage is very important in a
practical point of view, as it increases considerably the rapidity of the opera-
tion, and thus reduces the expense of the article. By adopting this part of the
Invention iron can be rolled and corrugated at one operation and at less
expense than heretofore, while at the same time the quality of the article will.
be better, in consequence of the gradual operation to which it is subjected, and
which preserves the fibres of the iron from undue strain during the whole
process of working the plate.
Sheet 4 of the Drawings represents a machine for forming corrugated
arched plates or sheets by means of a double set of rolls, one set forming the
corrugations and the other set finishing and bending the same.
In Sheet 4, Figure 1 represents a front view of the machine; Figure 2
represents a back view of the machine, showing the sweeping roll; Figure 3
represents a longitudinal section through the holding and smoothing rolls, and
a similar section through the frame which supports the corrugating rolls; and
Figure 4. represents a section on line A, B, Figure 1, showing the relative
position of the carriage holding and smoothing rolls, and sweeping or arch
forming roll.
A, A, represents the frame which supports the corrugating rolls E, E, and
D, D, is the frame which supports the holding and smoothing rolls G, G,
together with the arch forming roll H. Both frames are securely fastened to
a base C. The rolls E, E, are corrugated lengthwise, and turn on journals,
E', E'. Through the cap piece B pass adjusting screws B¹, B', for the purpose
of forcing the upper roll E down against or towards the lower roll E, the
journals of the upper roll E being mounted in boxes or bearings a, a, which
slide up and down in the frame A. The holding and smoothing rolls G, G, are

page_text: corrugated with parallel corrugations running around the rolls, as fully shown.
in Figure 1, and are mounted on journals G¹, G₁, which turn in suitable
bearings in the frame D, D, the upper roll being adjusted by means of.
screws b, b. The rolls G, G, are geared together by spur wheels F, F. To
the end of the journal of the lower corrugating roll E is attached a socket
piece K, whilst the journal E¹ is bored out so as to admit of the end of the.
journal of the lower roll G being inserted therein, so that a pin or bolt can be
passed through the cap or socket piece K and both journals, whereby the
power which is applied to drive the corrugating rolls E, E, will also and. at the
same time give motion to the holding or smoothing rolls. G, G. A clutch box 1
could be used to connect the lower rolls G and E, so that by means of a lever
the rolls G, G, could be thrown out of action at any time. Supporting rails
d, d, are attached to the front of the frame D, D, upon which run the wheels
i, i, of a carriage e. The carriage e has side guides g, g, while the top of the
carriage is so arranged as respects the rolls G, G, that its top is a little below
the top of the corrugations in the bottom roll G. The ends of the supporting
rails d, d, are provided with stops f. f.
The operation is as follows, namely:-The sheet to be corrugated having been
properly heated is fed in sidewise between the corrugating rolls E, E, and in
passing through it is corrugated, when it is turned and passed back over the g
-top-holding-roll-G-on-the-carriage-e-and-between-the-sides-9-9-then-forward-
so as to be caught between the holding rolls G, G, so that the corrugations in:
the sheet or plate will fit into the corrugations in the rolls G, G, whereby the
sheet or plate is held firm, and is also forced through between the rolls G, G,
and up over the corrugated forming roll H, (as seen at Figure 4), which has
its bearings in that part of the frame D marked D¹. The rolls G are not:
intended to work so close together as to increase the corrugations, but only to
smooth the corrugations and to hold.the sheet or plate firm and even while it
is being curved or bent into the desired form by the roll H. The roll H can
be set to give any desired curve to the plate by means of the screws c, c.
By the above combination and arrangement of mechanism the plate or
sheet is first corrugated (the plate sidewise), the corrugations then smoothed,
and also an arched. form is given to the sheet or plate in the direction of the
corrugations by one heat of the iron.
In corrugating iron it is found that the outer surface is somewhat cracked
or scaled up by the operation, as above mentioned, hence it becomes necessary
to pass the corrugated plate or sheet between a set of smoothing or pressing
rolls, for the purpose of forcing or pressing back the slight scales or cracks on.

page_text: the surface of the metal, so that when in use the surface will be smooth and
even. This is effected by this machine at the same time that the sheet is
being curved, and immediately after it has been corrugated.
The carriage e can be run back and forth on the rails d, d, the stops f, f.
preventing the carriage from being pulled off the rails, while shoulders on the
front of the carriage prevent its being pushed up too close against the rolls
G, G. The machine is driven by means of a driving pulley or spur wheel
keyed upon the end of the journal E' of the lower corrugating roll E.
Sheet 5 of the Drawings illustrates an improved machine for rolling plates
with waved corrugations and plain or flat margins. In this Sheet, Figure 1 is
a front view of the machine. Two rolls I¹ and J¹ are arranged (one above the
other) between the uprights E, F, of a suitable frame. The lower roll J¹ has
fixed bearings in the uprights E, F, while the upper roll I' bas its bearings in
blocks, which can be moved up or down in vertical slots in the uprights E, F.
Screws A, B, work through female screws in the cross pieces H, G, and bear
with their lower ends against the upper surfaces of the blocks or bearings of.
the upper roll I', so as to limit the vertical play of the same. It will be seen
that by screwing down the screws A, B, the blocks, and with them the roll I',
will be made to approach the lower roll J¹, so as to decrease the distance
between the surfaces of the two rolls, or the open space between them through.
which the metal to be rolled is intended to pass. The journals at one end of
the rolls extend through the block and upright F respectively, and the ends of
the journals are provided with spur wheels M, N, gearing into each other, so,
as to cause the rolls to revolve against each other whenever motion is com-.
municated to one of the rolls, which latter is done by means of suitable gearing
attached to the shaft of the lower roll J¹, extending beyond the upright E.
The teeth of the wheels M and N are of sufficient length to keep the wheels
in gear during all adjustments of the blocks required for practical purposes.
The rolls are each provided with a series of waved ribs P, P, and corresponding.
depressions or recesses Q, Q, between each two of the ribs; all these waved
ribs and depressions being parallel to each other, and being arranged on the.
surface of the rolls, so as to be parallel to the axes of the rolls, as fully shewn
in the Drawings., The rolls are so placed in relation to each other that the
ribs of one roll fit into the recesses of the other roll, and vice versâ. The ribs
and depressions of each roll terminate near the ends of the rolls, so as to leave.
smooth cylindrical shoulders O at the ends of the rolls. The diameter of these
shoulders is somewhat smaller than the diameter of either, one of the rolls
passing through two of the ribs diametrically opposite to each other.
When a

page_text: metal plate is to be rolled, power is applied to the end of the shaft of the roll J¹
after the upper roll 1' has been adjusted to a suitable height above the lower
roll J by means of the screws A, B, and the red-hot metal plate is passed
towards the rolls, so that its front end is caught between the two rolls, when
the revolutions of the rolls will commence to draw the plate through the space
between the rolls.
During this process the ribs of the rolls will form the surface of the plate
into waved corrugations extending across the plate, as shewn at Figures 2
and 3, which are section and plan views of a waved corrugated plate C, C,
representing the plain margins. When the whole length or nearly the whole
length of the plate has passed through between the rolls, the motion of the
shaft of the roll J', and consequently the revolution of each of the rolls, may
be reversed in any convenient manner, which will cause the plate to move
back. When the whole length or nearly the whole length of the plate has
again passed through between the rolls, the motion of the rolls is again
reversed, as above described, thus working the plate back and forth until
finished. After each passage of the plate through between the rolls, the
screws A, B, may be turned down a little, so as to force the roll I' towards
-the-lower-roll-thus-causing-the-corrugations-of-the-plate-as-it-is-worked-back-
and forth to become gradually deeper, while the metal becomes correspond-
ingly thinner. It will been seen that by always reversing the motion of the
rolls at a certain distance from the edges of the plate, instead of allowing the
entire length of the plate to pass through between the rolls, smooth margins
will be left along the front and rear edges of the plate. The side margins of the
plate passing through between the smooth cylindrical shoulders O will also be
kept smooth, and these side margins will be thicker than the other parts of
the plates, because the shoulders O are of a smaller diameter than the ribbed
portions of the rolls, as above described, and thus a wider space is left between
these shoulders than there is between the corrugated surfaces of the rolls.
The plates after having been worked through these rolls will represent a
waved corrugated surface, and may be used for boilers, flues, or similar
purposes.
Figure 4 represents part of a flue made from waved corrugated plates
manufactured on the principle of this part of the Invention. In this Sheet of
the Drawings the waved corrugations of the rollers I, J, are represented as
running longitudinally or in the direction of the axes of the rollers; but it will
be evident that the same effect may be produced by forming the waved cor-
rugations circumferentially round the same at right angles to the axes.

page_text: Having now described the nature and object of the said Invention for
"Certain Improvements in Rolling and Corrugating Plates of Metal, and in
Machinery or Apparatus to be employed for such Purposes," 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 the Invention
communicated to me by the aforesaid Richard Montgomery, the various
devices or arrangements of mechanism for rolling corrugated metal plates, as
set forth in the five Sheets of Drawings hereto annexed and above particu-
larly explained, or any mere modification thereof operating substantially in the
same manner.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Davies, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
GEORGE DAVIES. (L.S.)