IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF THE ROLLS OF THREE-HIGH' ROLLING MILLS FOR ROLLING IRON OR STEEL OR OTHER METAL BARS, SUCH AS RAILS, GIRDERS, OR OTHER BARS OF VARIOUS SECTIONS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alphonse Edouard Thomas, of Clabecq, in the Kingdom of
Belgium, Mechanic, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
AND ARRANGEMENT OF THE ROLLS OF THREE-HIGH' ROLLING MILLS FOR
ROLLING IRON OR STEEL OR OTHER METAL BARS, SUCH AS RAILS, GIRDERS,
OR OTHER BARS OF VARIOUS SECTIONS."
ealed the 15th May 1877, and dated the 21st November 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alphonse Edouard Thomas at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st November 1876.
"
ALPHONSE EDOUARD THOMAS, of Clabecq, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Mechanic.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF THE ROLLS OF
THREE-HIGH' ROLLING 'MILLS FOR ROLLING IRON OR STEEL OR OTHER METAL
BARS, SUCH AS RAILS, GIRDERS, OR OTHER BARS OF VARIOUS SECTIONS."
My Invention consists of the improvements herein-after described in the con-
struction and arrangement of the rolls of "three-high" rolling mills (that is to say,
rolling mills in which three laminating cylinders or rolls one above the other operate
upon the billet or bar to be rolled) whereby considerable saving in the weight of
the said rolls is effected and the length of the said rolls may be reduced.
In three-high rolling mills of ordinary construction the grooves or ridges of the
middle roll have been made to work alternately with the upper and lower rolls,
which required the rolls to be provided alternately with double collars and grooves
or laminating ridges throughout their whole length.
.
According to my Invention the said middle roll is made to work throughout about
one-half of its length with the upper roll and throughout the remaining half or part
of its length with the lower roll. By this means the double collars or flanges upon
the rolls may be dispensed with partially or entirely, and one-half or nearly one-
half of the length of the said upper and lower rolls may be left plain without
grooves or ridges upon them, whereby the cost of manufacture is reduced.
The middle roll may be "male" throughout its length, that is to say, a series of
raised or projecting ridges formed upon it from end to end may be made to engage
throughout one-half of its length with grooves formed in the upper roll, and
throughout the remainder of its length with grooves formed in the lower roll, the
[Price 6.]

page_text: upper and lower rolls being "female," that is to say grooved; or one-half of the
middle roll may be "male" and its other half "female" and made to engage
respectively with the grooves and ridges on the upper or lower rolls.
In the middle of the middle roll should be by preference the finishing groove or
ridge engaging with both the upper and lower rolls and in some cases when the
rolling mill is intended for rolling two different sizes of bars, each end of the
middle roll may be provided with series of grooves or ridges engaging with the
upper and lower rolls, that is to say, the first series engaging with one of the said
rolls and the second with the other of the said rolls, and the middle or finishing
grooves being common to both. When the upper and lower rolls are made with
their acting ridges or grooves extending only to about half their length, I leave the
remainder of their length plain and either cylindrical or tapering towards the end
so as to reduce the weight of metal whilst allowing sufficient strength to the part,
or I reduce the length of the said upper and lower rolls or of either of them, leaving
only those parts upon which are the laminating ridges or grooves, and supporting
the said rolls by means of special housing or supports of suitable form and arrange-
ment. When the said upper and lower rolls are of reduced length as just described,
I am enabled to make them hollow without unduly reducing their strength, or I
reduce their diameter, increasing at the same time their rotatory velocity by means
of special housings and gearing.
In rolling metal bars with my improved rolls the bar or billet is made to pass
first through a groove formed between the upper and middle rolls; it is then returned
through a groove formed between the middle and lower rolls; it is then inade to pass
between a second groove formed between the upper and middle rolls, returning
through a second groove formed between the middle and lower rolls, and so on till
it is made to pass between the finishing grooves.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alphonse Edouard Thomas in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th May 1877.
ALPHONSE EDOUARD THOMAS, of Clabecq, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Mechanic.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF THE ROLLS OF
'THREE-HIGH' ROLLING MILLS FOR ROLLING IRON OR STEEL OR OTHER METAL
BARS, SUCH AS RAILS, GIRDERS, OR OTHER BARS OF VARIOUS SECTIONS."
My Invention consists of the improvements berein-after described in the con-
struction and arrangement of the rolls of "three-high" rolling mills (that is to say,
rolling mills in which three laminating cylinders or rolls one above the other operate
upon the billet or bar to be rolled) whereby considerable saving in the weight of the
said rolls is effected and the length of the said rolls may be reduced.
In three-high rolling mills of ordinary construction the grooves or ridges of the
middle roll have been made to work alternately with the upper and lower rolls,
which required the rolls to be provided alternately with double collars and grooves
or laminating ridges throughout their whole length.
According to iny Invention the said middle roll is made to work throughout
about one-half of its length with the upper roll and throughout the remaining half
or part of its length with the lower roll. By this means the double collars or
flanges upon the rolls may be dispensed with partially or entirely, and one-half or
nearly one-half of the length of the said upper and lower rolls may be left
plain without grooves or ridges upon them, whereby the cost of manufacture is
reduced.
The middle roll may be "male" throughout its length, that is to say, a series of
raised or projecting ridges formed upon it from end to end may be made to engage
throughout one-half of its length with grooves formed in the upper roll, and

page_text: throughout the remainder of its length with grooves formed in the lower roll, the
upper and lower rolls being "feinale," that is to say grooved, or one-half of the
middle roll may be "male" and its other half "female," and made to engage
respectively with the grooves and ridges on the upper or lower rolls.
In the middle of the middle roll should be by preference the finishing groove or
ridge engaging with both the upper and lower rolls, and in some cases when the
rolling mill is intended for rolling two different sizes of bars, each end of the middle
roll may be provided with series of grooves or ridges engaging with the upper and
lower rolls, that is to say, the first series engaging with one of the said rolls and the
second with the other of the said rolls, and the middle or finishing grooves being
common to both. When the upper and lower rolls are made with their acting
edges or grooves extending only to about half their length, I leave the remainder of
their length plain and either cylindrical or tapering towards the end so as to reduce
the weight of metal 'whilst allowing sufficient strength to the part, or I reduce the
length of the said upper and lower rolls or of either of them leaving only those parts
upon which are the laminating ridges or grooves, and supporting the said rolls by
means of special housing or supports of suitable form and arrangement. When the
said upper and lower rolls are of reduced length as just described, I am enabled to
make them hollow without unduly reducing their strength, or I reduce their
diameter, increasing at the same time their rotatory velocity by means of special
housings and gearing.
In rolling metal bars with my improved rolls, the bar or billet is made to pass
first through a groove formed between the upper and middle rolls; it is then returned
through a groove formed between the middle and lower rolls; it is then made to pass
between a second groove formed between the upper and middle rolls, returning
through a second groove formed between the middle and lower rolls, and so on till
it is made to pass between the finishing grooves.
But in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I will proceed to
describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawings, means pursued by me in
carrying the same into practical effect.
The said
Figure 1 represents in front elevation parts of the three finishing rolls of a three-
high rolling mill constructed according to my Invention for rolling girders. a is
the middle roll; b, the upper roll; and c, the lower roll. It will be seen that the
middle roll is "male" throughout its length, having formed upon it the raised or
projecting ridges A, B, C, D, E, F, which engage respectively with the grooves
A, B, C, formed in the upper roll b, and D, E, F, in the lower roll c.
upper and lower rolls are grooved throughout only about half their length, the
remainder of their length marked b¹ and c¹ being made of conical shape tapering
towards the ends, so as to reduce the weight of metal employed in their formation.
The metal billet or bar to be rolled is first passed through the groove formed
between A, A, and then returned through the groove between D, D¹; it is then
passed through the groove at B, B1, and returned through the groove at E, E¹, then
through the groove at C, C¹, and finally through the finishing groove between F
and F.
"
Figure 2 represents in front elevation parts of the three rolls a, b, c, of a three-
high rolling mill constructed according to another arrangement of my Invention.
About half the middle roll a is "female" at A, B, C, and its other half is "male
at D, E, F. The upper roll bis "male" at A¹, B, C, and engages with the
grooves A, B, C, of the middle roll a; whereas the lower roll c is female at D¹, E, F¹,
and engages with the middle roll a at D, E, F. The ends 6¹ and c¹ of the rolls b, c,
are of conical form, as in Figure 1. The metal bar to be rolled passes successively
through the groove formed between A and A¹, D, D¹, B, B¹, E, E¹, C, C¹, and
F, F, as herein-before described in reference to Figure 1.
Figure 3 represents in front elevation parts of the three finishing rolls a, b, c, of
a three-high rolling mill constructed according to another arrangement of my
Invention. The middle roll in Figure 3 is similar to the roll a in Figure 1, but
the upper and lower rolls b, c, instead of being terminated by conical ends b¹, c¹, as

page_text: in Figure 1, are made much shorter, extending to only about the middle of the
roll a, where by means of the gudgeons b, c, they are supported by special
housings. The middle roll a is made with a hole a¹ of equal diameter throughout
running through it. The upper and lower rolls b, c, have holes 61, 62, 61, and o¹, c², c¹,
through them; but the said holes which are at b, c, of the same diameter as the
hole a¹ in the middle roll a are at 62, c², of much larger diameter, the diminution in
the length of the said rolls b, c, allowing of their being made hollow without unduly
taking away from their strength.
The rolls as represented in Figure 3 are more applicable to rolling mills specially
constructed for the purpose, as they require special housings. When they are to be
mounted in housings of ordinary construction it is preferable that the lower roll c
alone should be of diminished length, as in that case suitable extra housings for it
may be placed between the ordinary housings.
The construction and arrangement of rolls represented in Figure 3 may also be
applied to the rolls represented in Figure 2, that is to say, the rolls a, b, o, Figure 2,
may be made hollow, and the rolls b and c, Figure 2, may be made of diminished
length, as represented in Figure 3.
In the arrangement represented in Figure 3 the metal billet or bar to be rolled is
passed successively through the grooves formed between A, A¹, D, D¹, B, B¹², E, E¹,
C, C, and F, F¹.
Figure 4 represents in front and end elevations the rolls a, b, c, of a three-high
rolling mill for rolling flat bars, constructed according to another arrangement of
my Invention. The construction of the said rolls which is applicable to other trains
and for rolling iron or metal of various sections is particularly suitable for rolls of
considerable length of operating surface. In the rolls a, b, c, Figure 4, there are one-
third less double collars than are required in a three-high rolling mill of ordinary
construction. In ordinary three-high rolling mills of ordinary construction the rolls
if they had say ten grooves or flutings would require nine double collars or flanges,
whereas in the rolls represented in Figure 4 there are only three double collars, one
between the grooves B and C, a second one between the grooves D and E, and a
third one between the grooves G and H. In Figure 4 the bar or billet to be rolled
is first passed through the groove A; it is then passed through the groove c, then
through the groove B, and successively through the grooves D, E, H, F, I, G, and
finally through the finishing groove J.
Instead of leaving parts of the upper and lower rolls plain, as shown at b¹, c¹,
Figures 1 and 2, the said parts may be constructed with grooves or ridges formed
in or upon them to engage with corresponding ridges or grooves on or in the middle
roll of another three-high rolling mill, so that when the parts of the said upper and
lower rolls used in one rolling mill are worn out, or when it is desired to change
them, the same upper and lower rolls may be used with another middle roll in
another rolling mill. This arrangement is illustrated by Figure 5, in which a, b, c,
are the three rolls similar to those represented in Figure 2, except that the end of
the upper roll b instead of being plain as the end c¹ of the lower roll c has formed
upon it the ridges 61, 62, 63, shaped for rolling flat bars with the middle roll of
another mill. In like manner laminating ridges or grooves may be formed on the
plain end of the lower roll c likewise to operate with another suitably shaped
middle roll.
The rolls herein-before described may be constructed for rolling other sections of
iron or metal than those represented in the Drawings.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the means of performing
the same,
I wish it to be well understood that I do not confine myself to the precise
details herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, as
the same may be varied without departing from the nature of my said Invention;
but I claim as my Invention,-
Firstly. The construction and arrangement of the rolls of three-high rolling mills
herein-before described and illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings,
that is to say, forming side by side in one-half of the upper roll all the grooves for

page_text: the rolling of the metal in one direction, and forming side by side in one-half of the
lower roll all the grooves for the rolling of the metal in the other direction, and
forming the plain ungrooved parts of the said upper and lower rolls conical tapering
towards their ends, essentially as and for the purpose described.
Secondly. The construction and arrangement of the rolls of three-high rolling
mills herein-before described and illustrated in Figure 2 of the accompanying
Drawings, that is to say, forming one-half of the middle roll "male," and the other
half of the middle roll "female," so as to have placed side by side all the ridges or
grooves rolling the metal in the same direction; all the ridges on the middle roll
rolling the metal in one direction, and all the grooves upon it rolling the metal in
the other direction.
'
Thirdly. The construction and arrangement of the rolls of three-high rolling mills
herein-before described and illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying Drawings,
that is to say, diminishing the length of the upper and lower rolls or of one of thein,
and supporting the said rolls of diminished length by means of special housings;
also making the said rolls hollow, as described.
Fourthly. The construction and arrangement of the rolls of three-high rolling
mills herein-before described and illustrated in Figure 4 of the accompanying
Drawings, that is to say, forming the middle roll of series of ridges and grooves
alternately, each series rolling the metal in the same direction and being composed
of several ridges or grooves side by side, and engaging alternately with suitable
grooves or ridges formed upon the upper and lower rolls.
Fifthly. Utilizing the plain ends of the upper and lower rolls of three-high rolling
mills, constructed as herein-before described, by forming upon the said ends extra
grooves or ridges for use when required with another middle roll of suitable shape,
substantially as herein-before described and illustrated in Figure 5 of the accom-
panying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alphonse Edouard Thomas, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
ALPHONSE EDOUARD THOMAS. (L.S.)