Improvements in Rolling Mills or Rotary Forging Presses and in Apparatus and Appliances connected therewith.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left. 23rd Nov., 1892-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rolling Mills or Rotary Forging Presses and in
Apparatus and Appliances connected therewith.
I, WILLIAM JAMES TAGG, of 23, Roe Lane, Pitsmoor, Sheffield, in the County
of York, Merchant Bar Roller, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLING MILLS OR ROTARY FORGING PRESSES AND
IN APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES CONNECTED THERE WITH " to be as follows:-
The objects of my invention are to produce by an improved process of rolling,
or rotary forging,
First, solid articles in iron, steel, or other malleable material which have hitherto
been made, either wholly or partly, by forging, pressing or stamping, such as
railway and other straight axles, shafts, piston rods, spindles, columns, and the
like.
Secondly, hollow articles such as pipes, gun barrels, tubes, and the like.
Thirdly, to produce such articles more expediteously and at less cost than by
existing processes.
I attain these objects by my improved rolling mill, or rotary forging press and
apparatus and appliances as follows:-
The mill resembles other rolling mills inasmuch as it comprises rolls and roll
housings, pinions and pinion housings, coupling boxes, spindles and the like
appurtenant fittings but it is provided with special apparatus and appliances by
means of which I am able to manipulate the material from the bloom or use into
an article equivalent to and resembling a highly finished forging.
My improved mill comprises a strong and suitably formed bed-plate or bed-
plates, at the driving end of which I place a pair of three high piníon housings,
with pinions, chocks, brasses and other necessary fittings as in an ordinary three
high mill. At a suitable distance I place a pair of strong and specially formed
roll bousings fitted with caps. The bottom chocks which carry the bearings for
the bottom roll are fitted into vertical slides in the roll housings and rest on the
ends of two rams which pass vertically, through the bottoms of the roll housings
and bed plate, directly under the journals of the roll, these rams I so arrange that
they may be actuated either by cams or levers placed upon a shaft, which shaft is
actuated by a crank by hydraulic, steam or other motive power, or in some cases
these rams may go direct into the cylinders of two hydraulic presses, in any case,
by means of these rams the bottom roll with its bearings and chocks is raised or
lowered in the housings and by the same means the necessary pressure is brought
to bear upon the object being rolled.
The top roll is fitted into bearings carried by chocks which are also fitted into
the vertical slides in the upper parts of the housings, where they are secured by
the previously mentioned caps, these caps I so arrange that by loosening the
bolts on one side they may be turned or slewed to one side, and the top or bottom
roll or both with their bearings and chocks may be bodily lifted from the housings
when it is necessary to change the same.
Both the top and the bottom rolls are driven in the ordinary way by spindles
and coupling boxes connected to the top and bottom pinions herein previously
referred to, but owing to a third or intermediate pinion being employed both rolls
revolve in the same direction. In order to allow for the variation in the position
of the bottom roll I arrange the roll housings a sufficient distance from the pinion
housings so that long spindles may be employed and thereby reduce the angle of
inclination.
The rolls employed in this mill will vary somewhat in form and size according

page_text: to the nature of the article to be rolled, but I will first describe a pair of rolls
adapted for rolling plain parallel bars or shafts such as a plain forged shaft without
collars. Both the bottom and top rolls in this case need only be plain cylinders; the
top roll however I provide with a pair of strong loose collars, which can be moved
along the whole length of the roll. The object of these collars is to fix the length
and finish the ends of the bar or shaft to be rolled and they are moved along the roll
and held in position at each end by means of a ram and two horizontal bridle rods.
The last named ram and bridle rods being passed through guides in the roll chocks
or housing and connected at a convenient distance from each housing with an arched
crosshead. The arched crosshead at the driving end allows of the roll spindles
to pass through it, both of these arched crossheads are fitted on to the aforesaid
rams which are carried in horizontal slides and are actuated along the same by the
rams of two hydraulic cylinders. The previously mentioned rams coming in con-
tact with the roll collars at the part where the greatest pressure is required. The
bridle rods are connected to the collars by four friction rolls, two on each side the
roll, arranged one at the back and one at the front of the collar on each side, by
this arrangement the collars can be moved along the roll.
From the foregoing description it will be understood that the object to be rolled
is placed longitudinally between the top and bottom roll so that when in motion the
object and the rolls revolve parallel to each other which is the very opposite to the
ordinary process of rolling where the object is passed through the rolls at right
angles to their axes. It will however be obvious that an article to be so rolled
would require some appliances to keep it in position during the process of rolling.
I effect this by providing guide rollers on each side the main rolls, these guide
rollers may vary in number according to the size of the mill or length of the object
to be rolled, and in order that these guide rollers may be effective it is necessary
that they should be capable of adjustment in various directions, first, that they
may be adjusted vertically so that their centres may be kept parallel and in line
with the axis of the object being rolled, secondly, that they shall be adjustable
longitudinally so as to traverse with the object as it becomes elongated by the
reduction of its diameter and, thirdly, that they shall be capable of adjustment
transversely so as to accommodate the varying diameter and form of the object
being rolled.
The vertical adjustment I, obtain by fixing each guide roller to a slide carriage
attached to a saddle on a moveable bed on each side the main rolls, the ends of
these moveable beds are fitted into diagonal guides attached to or formed in the roll
housings, the guides being at an angle of 45 degrees or thereabouts.
The moveable beds are connected at each end by means of a combination of
levers and slides with the bottom roll chocks or rams which actuate the vertical
movements of the bottom roll, so that the same power which is employed to elevate
the bottom roll produces a simultaneous upward and forward movement of the bed
and guide rollers, the exact distance at which it may be desirable to adjust the
guide rollers transversely is obtained by screws or their equivalents fitted into the
saddles of the roller carriages.
The whole or part of the roller carriages are actuated by connections with the
arched crossheads on either side and are provided with connecting links and
slides to allow for the rise and fall of the movable bed. These connections are
likewise provided with detaching gear which can be adjusted.
It will thus be seen that when the bottom roll has been lowered into position to
receive a freshly heated bloom the same motion which elevates it so as to close the
object between the rolls likewise brings the guide rollers into position.
In addition to the arrangement herein last described for bringing the guide rollers
into position, in some cases I employ a supplemental arrangement by which
considerable pressure may be quickly brought to bear upon these guide rollers
so as to force them into close contact with the object being rolled.
1 effect this by placing on each side of the main rolls, two lever or cam
shafts carried on bearings or brackets attached to the roll housings, the axes of

page_text: these shafts being parallel to the axes of the main rolls, on these shafts I provide
levers or cams to actuate the slide carriages which carry the guide rollers, and in
order that the movements on both sides the main rolls may be simultaneous, I
connect these cam shafts by means of cranks or levers and connecting rods to a
T formed crosshead attached to a vertical ram rising through the centre of the
bed plate near the off side housing, where there are no driving spindles to interfere
with it. The vertical ram last referred to may be actuated by hydraulic, steam or
other motive power.
The guide roller carriages are provided with springs, the
reaction of which causes the rollers to be drawn clear away from the object being
rolled when the motion of the cam shaft is reversed.
At the front of the mill herein described and in a central position between
the housings I place an inclined frame along which the blooms or uses are
delivered either direct from the furnace to the mill or by bogie or trolley. At
the end of this frame, I place an elevating ram or table which may likewise be
actuated by hydraulic, steam or other motive power and by means of which the said
bloom or use is elevated in a diagonal direction until it can be easily forced into
position between the main rolls by the action of the guide rollers and appliances.
I will now endeavour to describe the operation of rolling a round bloom of a
given diameter and length into a finished bar or shaft of half its original diameter
and four times its original length. Such a bloom having been duly heated is rolled
down the inclined frame and received upon the elevator which being put into
motion elevates the bloom opposite the gap between the two main rolls, the
elevating rams and appliances for the bottom roll and guide roller beds are then set
in motion and the bloom is quickly closed between the main rolls: the side collars
are likewise advanced by the horizontal rams and bridle rods previously referred to
and the outside guide rollers are by the same movement closed in longitudinally
towards the centre: the rolls having been set in motion pressure is put upon the
bottom roll and as the bloom is reduced in diameter and commences to elongate the
ends are forced against the movable roll collars which are allowed under pressure
to traverse back along the roll towards the housings, the outer guide rollers in the
same way, traverse as the bloom elongates in the same direction. In this way as
the rolled shaft approaches completion the exact length can be insured by a gauge
fixed across the top or front of the housings with index pointers to which the
movable collars can be adjusted by the action of the hydraulic or other appliances
previously described.
The rolling having been accomplished the guide roller bed with the bottom roll
are lowered when the object which has been rolled is pushed from between the rolls
and allowed to roll down an inclined frame on the opposite side of the mill to which
it was received, and in some cases a mill such as I have herein described may be
employed for rolling axle or other blooms which are afterwards finished in a
separate mill as hereinafter described in the example given for rolling a railway
axle.
When it is desired to roll hollow articles such as pipes, gun barrels, tubes and
the like, the operation would be precisely the same as that herein last described
except that a hollow bloom or use is first prepared in which a spindle or mandrel is
placed, and on which spindle or mandrel the object is rolled.
The horizontal rams herein previously referred to may in this process be used for
forcing the mandrel in or out of the bloom or forging.
When it is desired to roll a shaft or an axle with journals and collars of various
diameters, as for example a railway axle, the whole of the apparatus and appliances
herein described for rolling a plain shaft are utilized except the main rolls and in
some cases the guide rollers are changed and as the variation in form and number
of collars only necessitates a change in these parts a description of a pair of
rolls for rolling a railway axle will suffice.
Such a pair of rolls when placed close together leave gates or gaps corresponding
exactly to the form of the axle to be rolled, the rolls however are constructed in
sections, first, what may be called the shaft with its journals and tenons, like an

page_text: ordinary roll, this shaft is turned and provided with key beds for the reception of
the loose interchangeable sections the centre section being of the size and
configuration to form the waist or middle of the axle, being securely keyed on to
the shaft, then two or more end sections to form the necks and collars of the axle
which are arranged to slide on fixed keys or feathers. When such a pair of rolls
with their sections are in position in the mill, the outer sections are brought close
up to the middle section so that when the bloom is put between them and the rolling
operation is commenced, the formation of the waist, necks and collars is commenced
and continued simultaneously or otherwise during the elongation of the bloom, the
outer sections being adjusted so as to traverse uniformly from the centre by means
of rams with claws similar to those described for regulating the pressure on the
loose collars herein previously described in the mill for rolling plain bars or shafts,
the claws on the ends of the rams being made to fit into grooves or recesses on the
movable sections.
By means of these rams and the claw ends connected therewith for actuating the
end sections, axles varying both as regards the length of their waists and length of
necks may be made. When it is desired to roll an axle with a larger waist, than
the middle sections of the rolls berein previously referred to has been turned to
form, by pressing the horizontal rams against the end sections at one end of the
axle and relieving the pressure from the sections at the other end and then reversing
the operation, various lengths in the centre or waist of the axle may be obtained,
and in like manner by regulating the position of the claw ends of the rams the
end sections of one roll may be made to move towards the centre of the axle a
little in advance of the end sections on the other roll which may in like manner
be made to move outwards a little in advance of those on the other roll.
In most cases the bloom for an axle such as I have herein described would have
been previously made of a diameter not less than that portion of the axle called the
seating.
In some cases very long objects either solid or hollow may be rolled in my
improved mill by entering the bloom endways between the rolls and forcing it
forward either continuously or in successive lengths, and in some cases to do this,
three or more rolls may be employed especially when large objects have to be
manipulated. By such an arrangement a gun forging of varying diameters could
be produced
In order to facilitate the last described arrangement for rolling very long objects,
four pinions may in some cases be employed so as to leave a space through which
the finished end of the shaft or other object can be passed on leaving the rolls.
Where three rolls are employed I should by preference place two of the rolls at
the bottom and one at the top, the bottom rolls only being driven. Such an
arrangement of rolls with suitable housings could be driven from a set of three
pinions placed with the driving pinion below the two roll pinions in suitably formed
pinion housings. Both the top and the bottom rolls being actuated by hydraulic
or other suitable power so that the centres of the rolls could be varied and pressure
put upon the object to be rolled as required.
I effect this by placing a hydraulic cylinder or cylinders on or over the tops of
the housings by the rams of which the top roll is raised and lowered and pressure
brought to bear upon the object to be rolled. The centres of the bottom rolls are
likewise varied by the same action by employing four taper rams, two to each
housing connected to a crosshead from the top rams or from the top roll chocks
and running in grooves or slides at each side of each housing in such a manner as
to bear against the outer ends of the bottom roll chocks, so that the same move-
ment which depresses the top roll also forces down these side rams between the
ends of the bottom roll chocks and the housings thereby forcing them with the rolls
closer together. In like manner the bottom rolls may be drawn wider apart by
the upward movement of the side rams, which being dovetailed or otherwise fitted 5
into both the housings and the chocks, cause the chocks to traverse horizontally
inwards and outwards in accord with the upward and downward motion of the

page_text: rams. I likewise provide for the chocks for the bottom rolls suitable horizontal
slides or guides in the bottom of the housings.
As a modification of the last described arrangement for varying the centres of
the bottom rolls I sometimes employ separate hydraulic cylinders and rams placed
at the front and back of the housings so that the rams may act directly on the roll
chocks horizontally or otherwise as circumstances may require.
When manipulating objects which project over the ends of the rolls, instead of
loose collars as used on the rolls of the previously described mill, I attach a disc
or rollers to the end of the horizontal ram or rams which were previously described
as being used to resist the pressure brought to bear upon the last named loose
collars and in some cases I employ a single ram at each end of the rolls placed
centrally between the three rolls. The ram at the driving end being made long
enough to pass through the space between the pinions and in some cases the ram
and cylinders at both ends of the rolls may be made adjustable vertically so as to
be kept central or in line with the axis of the object being rolled, and they may
likewise be arranged so that the distance between the ends of the rolls and the
cylinders may be increased or decreased as circumstances may require, for this
purpose the cylinders and rams can be moved on a bed by means of a screw or
otherwise.
In some cases when manipulating hollow forgings I employ these end rams for
carrying and supporting the mandrel for which purpose I provide suitable centres
fixed in the head of the same. I likewise employ these rams as pipes for conveying
water to the inside of the mandrel or forging as required.
In dealing with heavy forgings I provide suitable cranes and appliances for
conveying the ingot or bloom as it is brought up to, and delivered from the rolls
and for supporting the weight of such portion of the forging as projects from
either end of the rolls during the process of rolling, I provide moveable carriages
fitted with friction rollers which will traverse as the forging elongates. In some
cases the projecting forging may be supported by the previously described horizontal
rams at the end of the rolls such rams being provided with friction rollers and the
rams themselves being likewise similarly supported.
Dated this 22nd day of February 1892.
R. HEBER RADFORD,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rolling Mills or Rotary Forging Presses and in
Apparatus and Appliances connected therewith.
I, WILLIAM JAMES TAGG, of 23, Roe Lanc, Pitsmoor, Sheffield, in the County
of York, Merchant Bar Roller, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLING MILLS OR ROTARY FORGING PRESSES
AND IN APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES CONNECTED THEREWITH and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :---
"
The objects of my invention are to produce by an improved process of rolling or
rotary forging,
First, solid articles in iron, steel or other malleable material which have hitherto
been made, either wholly or partly, by forging, pressing or stamping, such as
railway and other straight axles, shafts, spindles, columns and the like.
Secondly, to produce such articles more expediteously and at less cost than by
existing processes.
I attain these objects by my improved rolling mill or rotary forging press and
apparatus and appliances as follows:-
The mill resembles other rolling mills inasmuch as it comprises rolls and roll

page_text: housings, pinions and pinion housings, coupling boxes, spindles and the like appur-
tenant fittings but it is provided with special apparatus and appliances by means of
which I am able to manipulate the material from the bloom or use into an article
equivalent to and resembling a highly finished forging.
My improved mill comprises a strong and suitably formed bed-plate or bed-
plates, at the driving end of which I place a pair of three high pinion housings
with pinions, chocks, brasses and other necessary fittings as in an ordinary three
high mill. At a suitable distance I place a pair of strong and specially formed
roll housings fitted with caps. The bottom chocks which carry the bearings for
the bottom roll are fitted into vertical slides in the roll housings and rest on the
ends of two rams which pass vertically through the bottoms of the roll housings
and bed-plate directly under the journals of the roll, these rams I so arrange that
they may be actuated either by cams or levers placed upon a shaft, which shaft is
actuated by a crank by hydraulic, steam or other motive power, or in some cases
these rams may go direct into the cylinders of two hydraulic presses, in any case,
by means of these rams the bottom roll with its bearings and chocks is raised or
lowered in the housings and by the same means the necessary pressure is brought
to bear upon the object being rolled.
The top roll is fitted into bearings carried by chocks which are also fitted into
the vertical slides in the upper parts of the housings, where they are secured by the
previously mentioned caps, these caps I so arrange that by loosening the bolts on
one side they may be turned or slewed to one side and the top or bottom roll or
both with their bearings and chocks may be bodily lifted from the housings when it
is necessary to change the same.
Both the top and the bottom rolls are driven in the ordinary way by spindles and
coupling boxes connected top the to and bottom pinions herein previously referred
to, but owing to a third or intermediate pinion being employed both rolls revolve
in the same direction. In order to allow for the variation in the position of the
bottom roll I arrange the roll housings a sufficient distance from the pinion
housings so that long spindles may be employed and thereby reduce the angle of
inclination.
The rolls employed in this mill will vary somewhat in form and size according to
the nature of the article to be rolled but I will first describe a pair of rolls adapted
for rolling plain parallel bars or shafts such as a plain forged shaft without collars.
Both the bottom and top rolls in this case need only be plain cylinders, the top roll
however I provide with a pair of strong loose collars, which can be moved along
the whole length of the roll. The object of these collars is to fix the length and
finish the ends of the bar or shaft to be rolled and they are moved along the roll,
and held in position at each end by means of a ram and two horizontal bridle rods.
The last named ram and bridle rods being passed through guides in the roll chocks
or housing and connected at a convenient distance from each housing with an
arched crosshead. The arched crosshead at the driving end allows of the roll
spindles to pass through it, both of these arched crossheads are fitted on to the
aforesaid rams which are carried in horizontal slides and are actuated along
the same by the rams of two hydraulic cylinders. The previously mentioned rams
coming in contact with the roll collars at the part where the greatest pressure
is required. The bridle rods are connected to the collars by four friction rolls, two
on each side the roll, arranged one at the back and one at the front of the collar
on each side, by this arrangement the collars can be moved along the roll.
From the foregoing description it will be understood that the object to be rolled
is placed longitudinally between the top and bottom roll so that when in motion
the object and the rolls revolve parallel to each other which is the very opposite to
the ordinary process of rolling where the object is passed through the rolls at right
angles to their axes. It will however be obvious that an article to be so rolled
would require some appliances to keep it in position during the process of rolling.
I effect this by providing guide rollers on each side the main rolls, these guide
rollers may vary in number according to the size of the mill or length of the object

page_text: to be rolled, and in order that these guide rollers may be effective it is necessary
that they should be capable of adjustment in various directions, first, that they may
be adjusted vertically so that their centres may be kept parallel and in line with
the axis of the object being rolled, secondly, that they shall be adjustable longi-
tudinally so as to traverse with the object as it becomes elongated by the reduction
of its diameter and, thirdly, that they shall be capable of adjustment transversely so
as to accommodate the varying diameter and form of the object being rolled.
The vertical adjustment I obtain by fixing each guide roller to a slide carriage
attached to a saddle on a movable bed on each side the main rolls, the ends of these
movable beds are fitted into diagonal guides attached to or formed in the roll
housings, the guides being at an angle of 45 degrees or thereabouts.
The movable beds are connected at each end by means of a combination of levers
and slides with the bottom roll chocks or rams which actuate the vertical movements
of the bottom roll, so that the same power which is employed to elevate the bottom
roll produces a simultaneous upward and forward movement of the bed and guide
rollers the exact distance at which it may be desirable to adjust the guide rollers
transversely is obtained by screws or their equivalents fitted into the saddle of the
roller carriages.
The whole or part of the roller carriages are actuated by connections with the
arched crossheads on either side and are provided with connecting links and slides to
allow for the rise and fall of the movable bed. These connections are likewise
provided with detaching gear which can be adjusted.
It will thus be seen that when the bottom roll has been lowered into position to
receive a heated bloom the same motion which elevates it so as to close the object
between the rolls likewise brings the guide rollers into position.
In addition to the arrangement herein last described for bringing the guide rollers
into position, in some cases I employ a supplemental arrangement, by which
considerable pressure may be quickly brought to bear upon these guide rollers so
as to force them into close contact with the object being rolled.
I effect this by placing on each side of the main rolls, two lever or cam shafts
carried on bearings or brackets attached to the roll housing, the axes of these shafts
being parallel to the axes of the main rolls, on these shafts I provide levers or cams
to actuate the slide carriages which carry the guide rollers, and, in order that the
movements on both sides the main rolls may be simultaneous, I connect these can
shafts by means of cranks or levers and connecting rods to a T formed crosshead
attached to a vertical ram rising through the centre of the bed-plate near the off
side housing, where there are no driving spindles to interfere with it. The vertical
ram last referred to may be actuated by hydraulic, steam, or other motive power.
The guide roller carriages are provided with springs, the re-action of which causes
the rollers to be drawn clear away from the object being rolled when the motion of
the cam shaft is reversed.
At the front of the mill herein described and in a central position between the
housings I place an inclined frame along which the blooms or uses are delivered
either direct from the furnace to the mill or by bogie or trolley. At the end of
this frame I place an elevator or elevating ram which can be so arranged as to
move in a vertical or diagonal direction and which may likewise be actuated by
hydraulic, steam or other motive power and by means of which the said bloom or
use when it has been delivered down the inclined frame on to the elevator or by a
bogey or trolley on to the elevator is elevated in a vertical or diagonal direction by
the movement of the ram until it can be easily forced into position between the
main rolls by the action of the guide rollers and appliances herein previously
described.
I will now endeavour to describe the operation of rolling a round bloom of a
given diameter and length into a finished bar or shaft of half its original diameter
and four times its original length; such a bloom having been duly heated is rolled
down the inclined frame and received upon the elevator which being put into motion
elevates the bloom opposite the gap between the two main rolls, the elevating rams

page_text: and appliances for the bottom roll and guide roller beds are then set in motion and
the bloom is quickly closed between the main rolls: the side collars are likewise
advanced by the horizontal rams and bridle rods previously referred to and the
outside guide rollers are by the same movement closed in longitudinally towards the
centre. The rolls having been set in motion, pressure is put upon the bottom
roll and as the bloom is reduced in diameter and commences to elongate the ends are
forced against the movable roll collars which are allowed under pressure to traverse
back along the roll towards the housings, the outer guide rollers in the same way,
traverse as the bloom elongates in the same direction. In this way as the rolled
shaft approaches completion the exact length can be insured by a gauge fixed across
the top or front of the housings with index pointers to which the movable collars
can be adjusted by the action of the hydraulic or other appliances previously
described.
The rolling having been accomplished the guide roller beds with the bottom roll
are lowered, when the object which has been rolled is pushed from between the
rolls and allowed to roll down an inclined frame on the opposite side of the mill
to which it was received, and in some cases a mill such as I have herein described
may be employed for rolling axle or other blooms which are afterwards finished in
a separate mill as hereinafter described in the example given for rolling a railway
axle.
When it is desired to roll a shaft or an axle with journals and collars of various
diameters as for example a railway axle, the whole of the apparatus and appliances
herein described for rolling a plain shaft are utilized except the main rolls with
their loose collars and bridle rods and in some cases the guide rollers are changed
and as the variation in form and number of collars only necessitates a change in
these parts a description of a pair of rolls for rolling a railway axle will suffice.
Such a pair of rolls when placed close together leave gates or gaps corresponding
exactly to the form of the axle to be rolled, the rolls however are constructed in
sections, first, what may be called the shaft with its journals and tenons, like an
ordinary roll, this shaft is turned and provided with key beds for the reception of
the loose interchangeable sections, the centre section being of the size and
configuration to form the waist or middle of the axle, being securely keyed on to
the shaft, then two or more end sections to form the necks and collars of the axle
which are arranged to slide on fixed keys or feathers, when such a pair of rolls
with their sections are in position in the mill, the outer sections are brought close
up to the middle section so that when the bloom is put between them and the
rolling operation is commenced, the formation of the waist, necks and collars is
commenced and continued simultaneously or otherwise during the elongation of the
bloom, the outer sections being adjusted so as to traverse uniformly from the centre
by means of rams with claws similar to those described for regulating the pressure
on the loose collars herein previously described in the mill for rolling plain bars or
shafts, the claws on the ends of the rams being made to fit into grooves or recesses
on the movable sections.
By means of these rams and the claw ends connected therewith for actuating the
end sections, axles varying both as regards the length of their waists and length of
necks may be made. When it is desired to roll an axle with a larger waist, than
the middle sections of the rolls herein previously referred to has been turned to
form, by pressing the horizontal rams against the end sections at one end of the
axle and relieving the pressure from the sections at the other end and then reversing
the operation, various lengths in the centre or waist of the axle may be obtained,
and in like manner by regulating the position of the claw ends of the rams the
end sections of one roll may be made to move towards the centre of the axle a
little in advance of the end sections on the other roll which may in like manner
be made to move outwards a little in advance of those on the other roll.
In most cases the bloom for an axle such as I have herein described would have
been previously made of a diameter not less than that portion of the axle called
the seating.

page_text: The nature of my invention will be better understood on reference to the
accompanying two sheets of drawings in which,
Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is a front elevation of my improved rolling mill provided with
the means of rolling a railway axle. The cam shafts and cams employed for
actuating the roller carriages being removed to simplify the illustration,
Fig. 2, Sheet 1, being a plan of the same with the cam shafts and cams on both
sides being shewn in position.
Fig. 3, Sheet 1, is a section taken through the centre of the mill on the
line A. B.
Fig. 4, Sheet 1, is an end view taken on the line C. D.
Fig. 5, Sheet 2, is a front elevation of the same mill, the cam shafts, the cams
and the roller carriages with their saddles and movable table and gearing being
removed to simplify the illustration and in this view the movable roll sections
which form the waist and necks and collars of the axle are shewn in section.
Fig. 6, Sheet 2, is a section looking onto the inside face of the housings or what
may be called a section taken through the roll necks, to shew the arrangement for
moving the roller carriages, saddles, and tables simultaneously with the elevating
of the bottom roll.
Fig. 7, Sheet 2, is a front elevation of my improved rolling mill provided with
the meaus of rolling a round bloom, bar or shaft parallel and without collars,
Fig. 8, Sheet 2, being a section through the centre of the mill on the line A. B.
The same letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
u, is the bed-plate.
b, b, are the three high pinion housings.
c, c, are the roll housings.
d, is the top roll.
e, is the bottom roll.
ff, are the vertical rams for raising the bottom roll.
9, 9, are the cams for actuating the same.
h, is the cam shaft.
is the crank on the same.
j, is the ram of a hydraulic or other cylinder by which the cam shaft is moved.
k, k, are the driving spindles.
1, 1, are the coupling boxes on the same.
m, m, are the loose collars (Fig. 7, Sheet 2).
n, n, are the horizontal rams by which the movements of the roll collars or
sections and roller carriages are actuated.
o, o, are the bridle rods by which the movement of the ram is communicated to the
upper part of the roll collars, the lower part of the ram, n, coming in direct
contact with the lower part of the collars where the pressure is most required.
p, p, are the arched crossheads.
9, 9, are the horizontal hydraulic cylinders for actuating the rams, n.
r, r, are the friction rolls connected to the loose roll collars.
8, 8, are the guide rollers.
t, t, are the roller slide carriages.
u, u, are the saddles for the same.
v, v, are the movable beds on each side the main rolls.
w, w, are the diagonal guides formed in the roll housings.
x, x, are the levers and
2,, are the slides by which the table v, is moved upwards and downwards by
the action of the bottom roll lifting gear.
y, y, y, are the screws for adjusting the roller carriages transversely.
z, z, are the links and
z¹, z¹, the slides.
A, A, are the detaching gear.
B. B. are the cam shafts at either side the roll housings for actuating the roller

page_text: F, 18 the formed crosshead.
G, is the vertical ram for actuating the same connected with a hydraulic or other
cylinder.
H, is the inclined frame in front of the mill.
I, is the elevating ram for lifting the bloom from the inclined frame to the centre
of the rolls.
J, is the claw moving the end roll sections.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1. In a rolling mill or rotary forging press the arrangement and combination of
parts and appliances by means of which plain parallel bars or shafts such as a plain
forged shaft without collars may be rolled, the object to be rolled being placed
longitudinally between a pair of rolls so that when in motion the object and the
rolls revolve parallel to each other in the manner and for the purposes substantially
as herein described and illustrated.
2. In a rolling mill or rotary forging press the arrangement and combination of
parts and appliances by means of which an axle with journals and collars of various
diameters such as for example a railway axle may be rolled, the object to be rolled
being placed longitudinally between a pair of rolls so that when in motion the object
and the rolls revolve parallel to each other in the manner and for the purposes
substantially as herein described and illustrated.
3. The arrangement and combination of parts and appliances comprising a pair
of rolls both driven in the same direction, by means of which plain parallel bars or
shafts without collars may be rolled, such rolls being provided with loose collars or
sections for fixing the length and finishing the ends of the object to be rolled, such
collars or sections being moved along the roll adjusted and held in position by means
of hydraulic or other rams and bridle rods connected by an arched cross-head at
each end of the mill, the bridle rods being provided with friction rolls at each side
of the collars in the manner and for the purposes substantially as herein described
and illustrated.
4. The arrangement and combination of parts and appliances comprising a pair
of rolls both driven in the same direction and provided with loose interchangeable
sections by means of which an axle with journals and collars of various diameters
such as for example, a railway axle may be rolled, the centre section being of the
size and configuration to form the waist or middle of the axle and can be securely
keyed on to the roll or roll shaft and two or more end sections to form the necks
and collars of the axle arranged to slide on fixed keys or feathers so that when
such a pair of rolls with their sections are placed close together in the mill they
leave gates or gaps corresponding exactly to the form of the axle or other object
to be rolled, the end sections being moved and adjusted by the rams referred to in
Claim 3, but in lieu of the bridle rods and friction rolls a claw is employed in the
manner and for the purposes substantially as herein described and illustrated.
5. The arrangement and combination of parts and appliances by means of which
an uniform pressure is employed in elevating the bottom roll into position, and for
increasing the draught during the process of rolling comprising a crank shaft
actuated by a hydraulic or other ram placed in its centre and carried on stritable
bearings under the housing bed-plate, the cams communicating motion to the
elevating rams below the chocks of the bottom roll in each housing in the manner
and for the purposes substantially as herein described and illustrated.
6. The arrangement and combination of parts and appliances comprising the
guide rollers on each side of the main rolls with their saddles movable beds and
lifting gear by means of which the object being rolled may be placed and retained

page_text: in position during the process of rolling such guide rollers being adjustable
vertically and transversely, simultaneously or otherwise, with the elevation of the
bottom roll and reduction in diameter of the object being rolled through the
medium of the rams and appliances described in Claim 5. The longitudinal
adjustment of the before mentioned guide rollers being likewise effected simul-
taneously or otherwise with the elongation of the object being rolled through the
medium of the rams and appliances described in Claim 3, in the manner and for the
purposes substantially as herein described and illustrated.
7. The supplemental arrangement and combination of parts and appliances by
means of which considerable pressure may be quickly brought to hear upon the
guide rollers so as to force them in contact with the object being rolled, comprising
the two lever or cam shafts carried in bearings on each side of the main rolls their
axes being parallel to the same, the levers or cams to actuate the slide carriages,
the cranks or levers and connecting rods by which motion is communicated from
a hydraulic or other ram or rams through a T formed crosshead in the manner and
for the purposes substantially as herein described and illustrated.
8. The arrangement and combination of parts and appliances by means of which
the article to be rolled may be delivered and elevated into position in the mill
comprising an elevator moved in a diagonal direction and actuated by a hydraulic
or other ram or rams in the manner and for the purposes substantially as herein
described and illustrated.
Dated this 22nd day of November 1892.
R. HEBER RADFORD,
Agent for the Applicant.