Improvements in Roller Bending-machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1895
Communicated from abroad by THE BABCOCK & WILCOX Co., of New York, in
the United States of America, Steam Boiler Manufacturers.]
Improvements in Roller Bending-machines.
I, WALLACE FAIRWEATHER, C.E., of 62 Saint Vincent Street, in the County
of the City of Glasgow, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to roller_bending-machines for rolling or warping metal
plates in cylindrical form.
'The invention consists in conjunction with a master roll, of two subordinate rolls,
one of which is fixed and adjusted, the other automatically movable, the latter
being sustained against the work by means of a definite yielding pressure. Said
invention further consists in certain various novel features of construction adapted
for the embodiment of the said principle; and in order to enable others skilled in
the art to which my invention appertains, to understand and use the same, I will
proceed to describe its construction, explain its operation, and subsequently point
out in the appended claims its novel characteristics.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference
indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine.
Figure 2 a plan view thereof.
-
Figure 3 an end view, exhibiting the roller-end of the machine.
Figure 4 an opposite end view, exhibiting the geared end of the machine.
Figure 5 a transverse sectional view taken on the line x-x, Figure 2; the
machine being viewed end wise in the same direction as in Figure 4; and
Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, are transverse sectional views through the rolls, showing
different periods of operation, the machine being viewed endwise in a direction
opposite to that in Figure 5.
A represents the master roll; B an adjustable subordinate roll; and C the
movable subordinate roll held by hydraulic pressure. All said rolls are trunnioned
at their inner ends in the vertical supporting frame D, and at their outer ends the
subordinate rolls B, C, are journaled in the supporting frame E, while the master
roll A is journaled in a separate frame F, which is made removable in order to
effect the insertion and removal of the work between each operation.
frames D, E, F, as well as the gear frame G, H, are placed upon longitudinal base
bars I, J, which may be readily removed, and bars of different lengths substituted
when it is desired to substitute rolls A, B, C, of different lengths for bending
various dimensions of work.
The
The master roll A is journaled in fixed position. The subordinate roll B is
adjustably fixed with reference to the roll A, according to the intended diameter
of the work to be rolled. The adjustment of said roll B is effected by means of
its movable journal boxes, 1, fitting guideways in frames D, E, said boxes being
provided with screw shanks 2, which may be moved through the agency of the
worm geared nuts 3, worms 4, and shafts 5, 6. The shafts 5, 6, are operated by a
countershaft 7, through pinion 8, spur 9, and clutches 10, 11, on the extremities of
the independent central shaft 12. The shaft 7, may be driven in the one direction

page_text: or the other by the fast pulley 15, upon which may be shifted a direct or crossed
belt respectively, from the loose pulleys 18orld, thus moving. the roller B up or
down to the desired position of adjustments where it is held at a fixed position
during the bending operation of the machine.
The movable subordinate roller C is mounted at either extremity in journal
boxes 20, sliding in suitable guideways in frames D, E, and said boxes are provided
with hydraulic plungers 21, in cylinders 22, cast integral with or mounted in said
frames D, E, and supplied by pipes 23, with hydraulic pressure, which for present
purposes may be connected with a hydraulic pressure accumulator to afford a definite
yielding pressure of the roll C, upoù the master roll A.
It is obvious that both the boxes of the subordinate rolls may be mounted on
hydraulic cylinders. The roll C always being held against the roll A. by maximum
pressure sufficient to bend the edge of the plate, while the pressure exerted by the
-roll B against the sheet could be varied at will.
As clearly shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, the rolls, B, C, are. adjustably mounted
so as to approach the roll A, in lines directly, radial to the latter, and are arranged
as closely together as is possible without an interference with a full movement of
the roll B, toward the roll A. This arrangement of the rolls enables the shortest
possible bight on the plate K, to be secured, and the complete and proper bending
of such plate at its edges to be thoroughly effected. It also enables the plate to be
bent into a curve of smaller radius than when a second feed-roll is interposed
between the subordinate bending-rolls.
The master roll A is driven by means of its shaft 30, and a spur gear 31,
mounted thereon, which is driven through the train of gearing 32, 33, 34, counter-
shaft 35, and fast pulley 38, upon which direct and crossed belts may be respectively
shifted from loose pulleys 36 and 37, to reverse the bending rolls A, B, C, during
their operation.
The movable roll C, receives its rotation from the shaft of the master roll A,
through a yielding train of gearing 40, 41, 42, 43, adapted to admit of the required
motions without interfering with the transmission. The gears 41, 42, to this
apparatus are pivoted in a link 44, swivelled on two other links 45, 46, pivoted on
the driving and driven shafts.
The removable frame F, carrying the outer extremity of the master roll A, is
moved off and on by means. of a hydraulic cylinder 50, shown in dotted lines in
Figure 1, and also in Figure 3, the same carrying a plunger -51, attached by
yoke 52, to the said frame F, as. also indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1, and
appearing in end view in Figure 3. The frame F is pivoted on the yoke 52, so
that it may be thrown down into a horizontal position as indicated in Figure 1; after
being pushed off the journal of the roll A, so as to clear the work.
The plate K is introduced to the rolls between A and B, and, as the edge comes
down between the rolls A and C, the hydraulic pressure sustaining the roll C-bends
the extreme edge of the plate to the finished curvature of the drum. A further
rotation of the roll A, bends the plate up into a cylindrical form until the lap K,
with its double thickness, approaches B. The hydraulic pressure is then released
from C, which allows the lap K to pass over B, without kinking the plate, and
the lap K, after being brought into. position directly between A and C, is again
subjected to the hydraulic pressure, so that both parts of the plate at the lap K,
are bent to the desired curvature, forming an absolute contact between the two
parts of the plate in the lap, and having the same curvature as the balance of the
shell, thus obviating any preliminary bending or hammering of the plate previous to
its introduction to the rolling-machine.
The feature of hydraulic pressure on the roll C, enables the operator to release
his work, or to shift it-about in the rolls without altering the curvature at which
the machine is set by the adjustment of the roll B.
The diameter of the work is predetermined by the adjustment of the roll B,
the roll-C, being advanced upon the foll A, in the same position for all diameters
of bending.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a roller bending-machine, the combination of one master-roll, and two
subordinate bending-rolls, which latter rolls are movable to and from said master-
roll and are arranged to approach the same in lines directly radial to the master-roll,
substantially as and for the purposes specified.
2. In a roller bending-machine, the combination of a fixed master-roll with
two subordinate rolls, one of which latter is adjustably fixed and the other
sustained against the work by predetermined bydraulic pressure, variable at will.
3. In a roller bending-machine, the combination of a master-roll, an adjustably
fixed subordinate roll, a movable subordinate roll, movable journal boxes supporting
the same, and hydraulic cylinders and plungers connected to said boxes for the
purposes described.
4. In a roller bending-machine a movable housing for the top roll, in combination
with the hydraulic cylinder for shifting said housing in and out of position for
removable work.
Dated this 12th day of February 1805