IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLERS FOR ROLLING SPECIAL OR FIGURED IRON AND OTHER MATERIALS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Wirth, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent
Agency, of Frankfort-on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLERS FOR ROLLING SPECIAL OR FIGURED IRON
AND OTHER MATERIALS." A communication from Joseph de Buigne, residing
at Graz, in the Empire of Austria.
Sealed the 12th January 1877, and dated the 22nd July 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Wirth at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd July 1876.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Agency, of Frankfort-
on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLERS FOR
ROLLING SPECIAL OR FIGURED IRON AND OTHER MATERIALS." A communication.
The difficulties which present themselves in the manufacture of double T iron
and the like without flaws are increased by the following conditions, that is to say,
first, when the top and bottom flanges are wide in proportion to the length of the
centre piece; second, when the centre piece and flanges are the same, but the
thickness of the metal is reduced.
In the old method of manufacture half the pattern was formed on each roll, the
flanges being placed vertically in position to the axes, the centres being naturally
parallel to the axes of the rolls. The disadvantages of this method are that the
flanges of a double T iron are not compressed vertically, and are therefore not of
equal consistency with it, and are liable to start and separate from the same when
under pressure; accordingly as the flanges are increased in width or decreased in
thickness this fault is augmented. It is impossible to calculate the strength of a
piece of iron rolled in this manner with exactness, because in the rolling the centre
is compressed, while the flanges are depressed. Special irons with large_flanges
cannot be rolled by reason of the want of vertical pressure on the latter.
reason, and to obviate the necessity for a very large plant" in the mill, special sets
of rolls have been very generally in use, consisting of two rolls placed vertically
Price GI
"
For this

page_text: and two horizontally, all having their axes in the same vertical plane, and being
adjustable with screws. Each time the iron is passed between the rolls they are
advanced slightly towards each other until the required size is reached. By this
method iron is produced of equal strength, because all surfaces receive equal
pressure at the same time. These special rolls however are very costly, and the
expenses of working them very heavy; and in rolling wide flanged iron great
difficulty is experienced in producing the flanges of equal width.
I have therefore made experiments, and with great success, in rolling iron in all
required shapes with a novel and peculiar construction, and thereby produce iron sound
and tough throughout, and the metal is in all parts equally compressed. Two or three
This new
sets of these rolls are enough to produce almost any required shape.
method of rolling special bar iron is carried into effect chiefly by means of flanged
grooves in the rolls placed at obtuse angles to each other. The centre lines of the
The
stem divide these angles in equal parts, and the axes are so inclined to the roll axes
that the two first flanges stand diagonally to each corresponding flange, one in the
upper roll and one in the under, as required, and vertically to the roller axes.
other two flanges are inclined towards the roll axes, and thereby produce the division
line between the upper and under rolls.
By my system one of the most useful sections ✗ is easily produced, from which
a double T iron (I) is manufactured. There the block is placed between the rolls
at the first groove, and the flanges are pressed out into the same shape as they are
received into the second groove. The flanges and the centre stem receive a second
pressure, and so on at each passage through the rolls the iron has three of its surfaces
compressed. At each passage through the rolls the upright flanges receive the
required vertical pressure; to insure the necessary width of flange the bar is passed
through the grooves several times, during which the top roll is adjusted as with
other sets of rolls; it is then passed through again to flatten the ends, and is then
again passed through and finished.
When special iron is made with wide flanges and short stems the piece should be
passed backwards and forwards through the corresponding groove to give it strength
of flange, and roll it small enough to enter the next. During this rolling holes are
formed between the roll and vertical flange, but this has been found by experience
not to affect the finished iron. By this process the stem or centre piece may be
reduced to any size. Any iron made by this process is finished by passing the same
through a smoothing and dressing roll.
Very small sizes for window crosses, glass work, and the like can be finished on
the drawing bench after having been previously rolled.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frank Wirth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th January
1877.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Agency, of Frankfort-
on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLERS FOR
ROLLING SPECIAL OR FIGURED IRON AND OTHER MATERIALS." A communication
from Joseph de Buigne, residing at Graz, in the Empire of Austria.
The difficulties which present themselves in the manufacture of double T iron
and the like without flaws are increased, first, when the flange is wide in proportion
to the centre piece; second, when the centre piece and flanges have the same dimen-
sions, but the thickness of the metal is reduced.
In the accompanying Drawing Figure 1 illustrates the rolling of long double T iron

page_text: according to my Invention; Figure 2 illustrates the application of this new rolling
method for short T iron in which the flanges and grooves are placed at obtuse
angles to each other. The centre lines of the stem divide these angles in equal
parts, half being in the upper and half in the under roll. The remaining Figures
are sections of various forms of iron. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, are the grooves in the
rolls.
In order that this Invention may be the more easily understood I introduce the
following examples :-
A double T iron, Figure 3, for example, is more easily produced from section,
Figure 4, than from any other. Now single T iron are easily produced from the
section, Figure 5, but a double T iron has not yet been produced from the section,
Figure 4. By my Invention however this object is easily accomplished, and the
section, Figure 3, obtained.
In Figure 2 the commencement block is placed between the rolls at the groove I.
Here the flanges A and C are pressed into the same shape as they have when
received in the groove 2. This time the flanges B and D are produced, and the
centre stem receives a second pressure, and so on at each passage through the rolls,
the iron having three of its sides or half of each flange and the stem pressed. At
each rolling the vertical flanges receive the required vertical pressure to insure the
necessary width of flange. The bar is passed through the rolls several times, during
which passage the top roll is adjusted as with the ordinary sets of rolls; it is then
passed through No. 7 to flatten the ends, and last of all through No. 8, when it is
finished.
The rolls shewn in Figure 2 are those suited for figured iron of short stem and
wide flanges. Each piece is passed backward and forward through the corresponding
groove to give it strength of flange; this has been found by experience not to affect
the finish of the iron. By this process the stem or centre piece may be much reduced
in size.
Besides the above advantages a great many grooves in the rolls are saved. Thus
to produce the section shewn in Figure 6 only one groove is required, and not a
long series as heretofore. All sections of iron manufactured by this process aro
finished by passing them through a smoothing and finishing groove.
Small pieces of iron for window crosses, glass work, and the like, may be finished
on the drawing bench after having been previously rolled. It will be understood
that this refers to any shape or size of special iron, and not only to those shewn in
the Drawing.
I will now proceed to give an example shewing the advantages of my Invention
over the old methods of manufacture. Girders are often wanted for building pur-
poses of the form and dimensions shewn in Figure 7. To produce this section by
the old method it would be necessary to use at least ten grooves, which on account
of the strength of the rolls cannot be brought into one single pair of rolls, but wuld
be divided into two sets, one shaping and one finishing pair. According to my
Invention at least 50 to 75 per cent. of the entire cost would be saved, and the
roughing rolls are not necessary for producing a girder of the same dimensions.
Its
This Invention, as will be seen from the foregoing, is not confined to the manu
facture of T or V iron, but can be applied to any shape known or wished for.
adaption is not confined to the manipulation of iron, but may be used equally well
for steel, zinc, or other metals.
Having thus fully described the said Invention and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim,―
First. The rolls with slanting or sloping grooves, constructed and operating as
above set forth.
Second. The combination of horizontally and vertically working rolls, all having
their axes in the same vertical plane.
Third. The rollers constructed and working vertically with their axes in the same
horizontal plane in such a manner that special iron passed between their grooves

page_text: is compressed on all sides, as shewn in the accompanying Drawing and as above set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frank Wirth, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
FRANK WIRTH. (L.S.)