AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR HEATING AND FOR ROLLING OR SHAPING METALS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Stokes Williams, of Riverton, New Jersey,
United States of America, now of 8, Southampton Buildings, London, for
an Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR HEATING AND FOR ROLLING OR SHAPING METALS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Stokes Williams at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st December 1881.
JOSEPH STOKES WILLIAMS, of Riverton, New Jersey, United States of America,
now of 8 Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF, AND
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR, HEATING AND FOR ROLLING OR SHAPING
METALS."
My Invention relates to the utilization of electricity for heating metal during its
passage through or between rolls, draw-plates, dies, or other apparatus for imparting
to the metal the form or shape desired, such as that of rods, bars, plates, wires, rails,
or the like.
In carrying the said Invention into practice in connection with a machine having
rolls for the reduction of the metal, I arrange at one or each side of the rolls one or
more supports or guides for the passing metal. These supports or guides are
properly insulated so as to ensure the passing of the current through the metal to
be rolled or shaped, or the current is passed directly through the wires or conductors
lead from these supports or guides to a dynamo or magneto electric machine, a thermo
electric generator, battery, accumulator, or any preferred combination of apparatus for
generating or for generating and storing electricity. The conductors extend from
the respective poles of the source or sources or storage of electricity. The said
conductors are provide with suitable contact makers which are mounted upon, or
secured to, or in connection with, the said guides or supports or rolls dies or shaping
devices. The said contact-makers are so constructed as to obviate friction as much
as possible and are forced into contact with the passing metal by weights, springs,
or the equivalents thereof; they can be constructed in the form of brushes or

page_text: friction plates. Or the devices for securing proper contact can be modified, and
instead of the contact makers being forced against the passing metal by means of
springs, weights, or the equivalent thereof I can reverse the arrangement by
pressing the passing metal into close contact with the conductors by means of an
adjustable spring, weight, or device; for instance I can employ a weighted lever to
which a roller or wheel is attached the said roller or wheel being forced against the
metal by means of a weight or spring; such device provides for any inequalities or
irregularities in the size of the passing metal and the contact will always be
ensured.
It follows that when the circuit is completed through the metal being rolled, the
metal between the guides or supports will be heated and the rolling of the metal
thereby greatly facilitated. To prevent the escape of the current through the rolls
and the main frame of the machine I insulate such rolls from the said frame, or
otherwise provide suitable insulation. When I employ a series of pairs of rolls or
shaping devices I prefer to arrange separate and distinct insulated supports
or standards on each side of the several series of rolls, and to so connect them with
the generator that a distinct current will pass through each portion of the metal
extending between the said supports in its passage through or between the rolls,
draw plates, or other shaping devices, or I connect the circuit makers directly to the
shaping devices these being insulated. In some cases I arrange the supports on
one side only of each of the series of rolls so that the metal will be heated prior to
its entry between the rolls instead of when actually passing through, and being
operated upon, by the same.
In order to regulate the intensity of the current and thereby govern the
temperature-of-the-metal-as-it-passes through, into, or between, the rolls, draw
plates, or shaping devices, I employ a rheostat, resistance, or other suitable regulating
device in the circuit between the metal to be heated and the source or store of
electricity; I set or arrange this regulating device in accordance with the section,
thickness, or body of the inetal to be operated upon in a given time. I prefer to
employ a regulator or governor which is provided with a dial or other suitable
apparatus or means to indicate the amount of resistance in the circuit; the amount
of current which will pass this apparatus is regulated by a galvanometer, or otherwise,
and the table or dial in such regulator will guide the operator in setting the
apparatus or governor so that the temperature of the passing metal will be
governed in accordance with its resistance. In other words the quantity of current
is supplied or distributed in accordance with the work to be done.
I sometimes arrange a series of rolls, draw plates, or devices for shaping, forming,
and finishing the wire bar, plate or piece being operated upon. In such case I lead
or conduct the current from separate sources or stores of electricity, and I employ a
series of branches from the same source or store to regulate and distribute the
electricity so as to heat the metal at different places or between independent
couples of contact makers, independent pairs of rolls, or independent devices, for
shaping, forming, and finishing the metal.
1 employ adjustable or regulated resistances or regulating devices in each
circuit.
The rolling or movable shaping devices, when in series, can be geared together
80 as to form practically one apparatus or machine suitable insulation being
provided.
I can combine with the revolving or moving mechanism a governor which can
be combined with the regulating device in the circuit so that the speed of the rolls
will control the resistance in the circuit; or instead of the governor or the circuit
being combined directly with the rolls I can combine it with movable mechanism
which will be acted upon by the metal to be shaped or formed.
By these devices I am enabled to regulate the quantity of electricity in
accordance with the section or body, size of metal, or the speed with which it is
drawn or forced through the rolls or other shaping devices.
In order to provide for heating metals with uniformity, and to always have at

page_text: command a supply suited to the work to be done, I prefer to employ a storage
battery or accumulator (or a number or a series of thein) the poles of which
I connect with the contact makers which press upon, or are in contact with, the
metal to be treated, shaped, or formed. In order to regulate the quantity of
electricity from such a storage battery or system, I employ a resistance or governor
in the circuit or govern at the storage system.
It will be understood that for treating large sections of metal, quantity is
necessary or desirable for speedy and economical working, therefore in such cases
I subdivide the current from the one main leading from the accumulator or
accumulators and I charge the accumulators separately, or in series, and withdraw
from them separately, or in series.
In order to provide for connecting separate accumulators, batteries, or cells, or
for putting others into circuit as the electro motive force or quantity falls or
becoines too much reduced, I employ circuit makers or breakers, or a series of
then.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Stokes Williams in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th June 1882.
JOSEPH STOKES WILLIAMS, of Riverton, New Jersey, United States of America,
now of 8 Southampton Buildings, London. "AN. IMPROVED METHOD OF AND
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR HEATING AND FOR ROLLING OR SHAPING
METALS."
My Invention relates to a method of manufacture in which electricity is utilized
for heating metal during its passage through or between rolls, draw-plates, dies, or
other apparatus for imparting to such metal the form or shape desired and thus 1
producing rods, bars, plates, wires, rails, or the like.
The said Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing in which
Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section representing one method of applying
my Invention to a series of sets of rolls, and,
Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation representing the supports or guides arranged
within an electrical circuit mounted upon the frame that supports the rolls and in
close proximity to such rolls.
Figure 4 is an elevation partly in section shewing the combination with the sets
of rolls of a series of rollers for. ensuring the passage of the current through the
desired portions of the metal passing through such rolls.
Figure 5 is a vertical section of one form of resistance that may be employed in
carrying my Invention into practice.
Figure 6 is a vertical section, and,
Figure 7 a plan of a modification of the said resistance.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
a a represent the supports or standards which carry the bearings for the shafts
bb of the rolls c c for the reduction of the metal; these rolls may be constructed
of any suitable material and of any desired dimensions.
According to one method of carrying my Invention into practice I arrange
between each of the sets of rolls c c one or more supports or guides d for the passing
metal. These supports or guides are properly insulated from the base or bed of
the rolling machinery so as to ensure the passage of the current through the metal
to be rolled or shaped or in some cases the current may be caused to pass directly
through the said rolls to the supports or guides d. Wires or conductors 1, 2 lead
from these supports or guides à to one or more accumulators, storage batteries,
magazines, or electric reservoirs, which may be charged or revivified by means of a
dynamo or magneto electric machine or by a series of the same or by other
apparatus capable of generating electricity. These conductors 1, extend from
the respective poles or elements of the accumulator, storage battery, magazine,
clectric reservoir, or other apparatus for storing or conserving electricity or from a
series of the same and are connected with the said supports or guides & or are
provided with suitable contact-inakers mounted upon or secured to or in connection
with the said guides or supports or the rolls dies, or other shaping devices. The
said contact makers can be so constructed as to exert but little friction and can be
forced into contact with the passing metal by weights springs or the equivalents
thereof; the said contact makers can be constructed in the form of brushes or
friction-plates. Or other devices for securing proper contact can be forced against the
passing metal by means of springs weights or the equivalent thereof. Or I can reverse
the arrangement by causing the passing metal to be forced into close contact with
1

page_text: the conductors or contact makers by means of an adjustable spring, weight, or other
device, or a series of the same; for instance, I can employ a lever to which a roller
or wheel is attached the said roller or wheel being forced against the metal by
means of a weight upon the said lever or by a spring; such a device provides for
the proper passage of the electric current through the passing metal irrespective of
any inequalities or irregularities in the surface or body of such metal.
In Figure 4 of the Drawing I have shewn the application to each support d of
a roller or wheel of which by its own weight is kept in contact with the passing
metal. This roller is carried by an arm hinged to the support d at d¹ and is
included in the electrical circuit, so that the passage of the current at all times will
bo insured.
It follows therefore that when the circuit is completed the metal between the
guides or supports d will be heated and the rolling or shaping of auch metal thereby
greatly facilitated. To prevent the passage of the current through the rolls and
their supports I in some cases insulate such rolls from the said supports; or I
otherwise provide suitable insulation, to prevent the passage of the current through
the metal reducing or rolling apparatus. When I employ a series of pairs of rolls
or shaping devices I prefer to arrange separate and distinct insulated supports or
standards between each of the several series of rolls, and to so connect them with
one or more electric reservoirs, accumulators, or storage batteries that independent
electrical circuits will be provided through each portion of the metal extending
between the said supports in its passage through or between the rolls,
draw-plates or other shaping devices or the circuit-makers may be connected
directly to the shaping devices these being suitably insulated. In some cases I
arrange the supports on one side only of each of the series of rolls or shaping
devices so that the metal will be heated prior to its entry between the rolls or
other shaping devices.
In order to regulate the intensity of the current and thereby govern the
temperature of the metal as it passes through, into, or between the rolls draw-
plates or other shaping devices, I employ a governor, rheostat, resistance, or other
suitable regulating device in the circuit between the metal to be heated and the
apparatus for storing or conserving electricity. I set or arrange this regulating
device in accordance with the section, thickness, bulk or body of the metal to be
operated upon in a given time. I prefer to employ a regulator or governor which
is provided with a dial and pointer or other suitable apparatus or means to
indicate the amount of resistance in the circuit; the amount of current which will
pass may thus be regulated, and such dial and pointer will guide the operator in
setting the apparatus or governor so that the temperature of the passing metal
will be governed in accordance with the resistance. In other words the amount of
current is supplied or distributed in accordance with the body or bulk of the
metal and the work to be effected. In constructing resistances such as shewn in
Figures 5, 6 and 7 I provide a vessel g containing mercury or other fluid into
which two plates or pieces hi of carbon or other suitable material dip. These
plates or pieces are included in the circuit and are insulated the one from the
other by a strip or piece j of suitable non conducting or insulating material so that
the current in order to pass from one plate to another must traverse the mercury
or other fluid. The pieces hi are adjustable within the vessel and may be
raised and lowered so as to vary the resistance in the circuit by means of a screw
as shewn or by other suitable means. By raising the said pieces hi above or
out of contact with the mercury or other fluid the circuit may be broken. In
connection with the screw I prefer to arrange a pointer which when the said
screw is adjusted traverses or moves over an indicator or graduated dial m.
dial denotes to the operator or person in charge of the machine the amount of
resistance put into the circuit and enables him to readily regulate the same
according to the body or section of the metal passing through the rolls or other
shaping devices.
This
When I employ a series of rolls, draw-plates, or other devices for shaping forming

page_text: and finishing the wire, bar, plate, or piece being operated upon, I sometimes lead or
conduct the current from separate sources or stores of electricity as above stated or
I can employ a series of branches from the same circuit wherein means or apparatus
for storing or conserving the electricity is arranged and so distribute the electricity
as to heat the metal at different places, or between independent pairs of contact-
makers, independent pairs of rolls, or independent devices for giving shape or form
to the metal.
I prefer to employ adjustable or regulable resistances or regulating devices in
each circuit.
The rolling or movable shaping devices when employed in series can be geared
together so as to form practically one apparatus or machine suitable insulation
being provided and in order to provide for the proper working of the apparatus the
rolls or shaping devices are so arranged and combined as to ensure their proper
relative speed according to the decreasing section of the metal.
I can combine with the revolving or moving mechanism a governor which can be
combined with the regulating device in the circuit so that the speed of the rolls
will control the resistance in the circuit; or instead of the governor in the circuit
being combined directly with the rolls I can combine it with movable mechanism
which will be acted upon by the metal to be shaped or formed.
By these devices I am enabled to regulate the amount of electricity which passes
through the metal in a given time in accordance with the section or body of metal
or the speed with which it is drawn or forced through the rolls or other shaping
devices.
By employing electric reservoirs, magazines, or accumulators,-the-electric-energy-
will be in constant reserve, and a uniform supply will be maintained and the reservoirs
magazines or accumulators will serve the double purpose of regulating and main-
taining the supply which is essential in order to provide an efficient method or
apparatus for utilizing and regulating the electric energy for the heating of metal
during its passage through rolls or other shaping devices and also to secure greater
economy in the generation of electricity for the reason that it may be constantly
generated with advantage and without loss even when metal is not passing through
the said rolls or other shaping devices. In order to regulate the quantity of
electricity passing from one or inore electric reservoirs, magazines, storage-batteries,
or apparatus to the metal to be heated I preferably employ a resistance or governor
in the circuit between the said reservoir, magazine, storage battery, or apparatus, or
a series of the same and the metal to be heated as above described or I otherwise
provide for the maintenance of a determined quantity of electricity in the said
storage-battery or apparatus. It will be understood that for treating large sections
of metal electricity in quantity or with low tension is necessary or desirable for
speedy and economical working; therefore in some cases I subdivide the current
from the main leading from one or more magazines reservoirs or storage-
batteries or accumulators and I charge vivify or revivify the same separately or in
series and withdraw the electricity from them separately or in series. By this
means I am enabled to regulate supply of electricity or the tension of the current
for heating the metal.
The reservoirs accumulators or magazines may be placed upon a branch from
the main circuit extending from the generator or generators so as to maintain in
combination with the said generator or generators the supply of electricity or the
generator or generators can be employed solely for the purpose of charging
vivifying or revivifying the said reservoirs accumulators or magazines. I preferably
employ a series of magazines or reservoirs which are so combined and arranged
that they may alternatively or successively be brought into use for maintaining
the supply of electricity to the metal to be heated and be alternately or succes-
sively charged vivified or revivified by the generator or generators. In other words
I so arrange the aforesaid reservoirs accumulators batteries or magazines in
combination with the conductor or conductors from the generator or generators

page_text: that when tho electro-motive force in one or more of such reservoirs accumulators
batteries or magazines falls below a predetermined limit one or more other reservoirs
accumulators batteries or magazines will be placed automatically or otherwise in
the circuit to the metal to be heated whilst the first named reservoir accumulator
battery or magazine or series of the same in which the electro-motive force has
fallen will be placed in the circuit to the generator or generators so as to be again
charged vivified or revivified.
In order to provide for connecting separate accumulators reservoirs batteries or
magazines and for placing others into the circuit as the electro motive force falls or
becomes too much reduced in any one or more of such accumulators reservoirs
batteries or magazines, I employ a circuit maker or breaker or a series of the same
or I may employ a commutator or cominutators.
These circuit making and breaking devices may be operated automatically and
either continuously or intermittently at fixed or determined periods or given times.
For instance they can be combined with electric translating devices such as electric
motors solenoids or magnets or with time mechanism.
The electric energy may be supplied to these devices from the electric reservoirs
accumulators batteries or magazines or the generator or generators, for supplying
electricity to the metal to be heated, or such energy may be supplied from one or
more independent reservoirs batteries or generators. Or the said devices instead
of being actuated by electricity may be operated by any other suitable means such
for instance as by machinery or by hand. I am thereby enabled to maintain a
constant and uniform supply of electricity to the metal to be heated and conse-
quently to soften to the desired extent and with uniformity and certainty the
metal passing through the rolls or other shaping devices.
Having thus fully described my said Invention and the manner of performing
the same I wish it understood that I claim
First: The method of heating metal, prior to or during its passage through or
between rolls or other devices, by passing through the metal an electric current
from one or more reservoirs accumulators, storage batteries, or magazines charged
vivified or revivified by a generator or generators for the purpose specified.
Second-The method of heating metal prior to or during its passage through or
between rolls or other devices by passing through the metal an electric current
from a generator or generators which current is regulated or maintained at a uniform
tension or quantity through the medium of one or more reservoirs, accumulators,
storage batteries or magazines substantially as set forth.
Third The method of heating a bar or other piece of metal passing through
rolls or other devices by means of electric currents passing through a series of
independent or branch circuits to different sections or parts of the said bar or picce
for the purpose specified.
Fourth-The combination with mechanism or apparatus for rolling or shaping
metals of a series of insulated supporting posts or circuit makers so connected with
the source or store of electricity or both through the medium of conductors and
arranged relatively to the metal to be heated that the electric current passing
through the moving metal will be regulated in accordance with the thickness or
body of such metal passing through the rolls or other shaping devices substantially
as set forth for the purposes specified.
Fifth The employment between the source or sources of electricity and the
metal to be heated of an adjustable or variable resistance or resistances whereby
the supply of electricity to the metal and consequently the temperature of the latter
while passing through the rolls or other shaping devices can be regulated sub-
stantially as set forth for the purposes specified.
Sixth The employment of one or more electric reservoirs, accumulators, storage
batteries, or magazines for maintaining the supply of electric energy to heat a bar
or piece of metal during its passage through rolls or other shaping devices and to
conserve or prevent the waste of the electric energy transmitted from a generator

page_text: or generators when the metal to be heated moves out of contact with the circuit
makers substantially as set forth for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof I the said Joseph Stokes Williams have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Thirtieth day of June in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
JOS. S. WILLIAMS. (L.S.)