IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLING MILLS AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLING MILLS AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH."-A. communication from abroad by William Sellers, of
the City and County of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, and
George H. Sellers, of Wilmington, in the County of New Castle,
State of Delaware both in the United States of America.
Sealed the 20th October 1873, and dated the 10th June 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 10th June 1873.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLING MILLS AND IN APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREWITH," a communication to me from abroad by William
Sellers, of the City and County of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania,
and George H. Sellers, of Wilmington, in the County of New Castle,

page_text: State of Delaware, both in the United States of America, to be as
follows:-
This Invention has reference to mills for rolling metals and for other
purposes, and its object is to enable the rolls to be set at different
distances apart with rapidity, and to be held rigidly in the positions in
which they are set. I obtain these results by means of hydraulic
pressure applied to one or more of the rolls of a set by means of hydraulic
cylinders and the rams thereof, the supply and discharge of the water
being regulated by suitable valves in such a manner that when a
sufficient quantity of fluid has been admitted for adjusting the ram in
any cylinder, the supply shall be cut off and the fluid shall be retained
within the cylinder to maintain the ram in its adjusted position against
any pressure that the rolls can transmit.
The Invention consists of certain combinations of mechanism, of
which the following are the principal elements, videlicet :-
1st. The roll which is employed to act upon the material, and which
may have either a plain cylindrical barrel, or one grooved or fluted, or
otherwise formed to adapt it to the work to be performed.
2nd. The housings or frame which sustains the roll in its positions
and permits it to be moved.
3rd. One or more hydraulic cylinders for containg the water or other
fluid, by the pressure of which the movement of the roll is effected. If
two hydraulic cylinders for each moveable roll are employed, as will
generally be expedient, they may be formed directly in the frame or
housings, or if preferred, they may be constructed separately from the
frame or housings and secured thereto.
4th. One or more rams or pistons for the hydraulic cylinder or
cylinders. I prefer to construct the apparatus so that the hydraulic
cylinders are fixed, and the rams are caused to move relatively thereto;
but if deemed expedient the pistons may be fixed, and the cylinders
be constructed to move relatively to them. In the latter case the
passages for the ingress and egress of the fluid should be made in the
pistons.
5th. Self-closing mechanism for closing the inlet valve of the hydraulic
cylinder when the roll has been moved the required predetermined
distance. The construction and arrangement of this mechanism may be

page_text: greatly varied by the employment of mechanical equivalents or substitutes,
the peculiarity of the mechanism being that it forms a connection
between the movable roll (or some instrument moving simultaneously
therewith) and the inlet valve of the hydraulic cylinder, so that the said
valve is either closed or permitted to be closed by a spring or other
agent when the roll has moved the predetermined distance.
6th. Adjusting mechanism for adjusting the self-closing valve
mechanism, so that the position at which the movement of the roll is
stopped may be varied by varying the adjustment of this adjustable
mechanism. The form and construction of this mechanism may be
greatly varied, as stated in reference to the preceding mechanism.
7th. An indicator for indicating the position of the moveable roll or of
the ram, such indicator consisting of an index and means of indicating
the extent of movement. The indicator I prefer to use is an index hand
moving circularly upon a dial, but the hand may be stationary and the
dial may be moved, or some substitute may be used for each.
8th. A valve for controlling the admission of fluid to the valve chest
of the hydraulic cylinder.
9th. A stop latch for limiting the movement of the roll in case the
inlet valve of the hydraulic cylinder should not be entirely closed by the
mechanism for that purpose.
The said improvements are equally applicable to rolls having one
moveable roll in each set, or to sets having two movable rolls in each sets.
In the latter case a set of hydraulic cylinders and their appurtenances
may be applied to the lowermost roll for the purpose of moving it
upwards, and as the weight of the roll will insure its movement down-
wards when the hydraulic pressure is relaxed, counterpoise weights for
that roll will be unnecessary.
These improvements are particularly applicable where a number of
rolls are to be adjusted simultaneously, as in what is known as the four
roller mill, where the axes of one set of rolls are horizontal, and those of
a co-operating set are perpendicular.
I am aware that fluid pressure has been employed for moving to and
sustaining the rolls of rolling mills in position, but in all such cases the
position of the roll has been adjusted and maintained either by regulating
the escape of the fluid so that this fluid is at the same time flowing into

page_text: and out of the roll pressure cylinders, or the fluid is confined within two
cylinders always in communication with each other, and with a ram in
each cylinder, the adjustment and maintenance of the roll ram being
accomplished by the adjustment and maintenance of the ram in the
other cylinder, whereas in the present arrangement the fluid after the
adjustment has been made is entirely cut off from its source of supply,
and the maintenance is accomplished by preventing the escape of this
fluid from its cylinder under any pressure that the rolls can transmit.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 10th December 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
36th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special
license that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry Johnson,
my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ROLLING MILLS AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," a communication
to me from abroad by William Sellers, of the City and County of Phila-
delphia, State of Pennsylvania, and George H. Sellers, of Wilmington,
in the County of New Castle, State of Delaware, both in the United
States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Henry Johnson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great

page_text: Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say:-
The said Invention has reference to mills for rolling metals, and for
other purposes, and its object is to enable the rolls to be set at different
distances apart with rapidity, and to be held rigidly in the positions in
which they are set. These results are obtained by means of hydraulic
pressure applied to one or more of the rolls of a set by means of hydraulic
cylinders, and the rams thereof; the supply and discharge of the water
being regulated by suitable valves in such a manner that when a
sufficient quantity of fluid has been admitted for adjusting the ram in
any cylinder, the supply shall be cut off, and the fluid shall be retained
within the cylinder to maintain the ram in its adjusted position against
any pressure that the rolls can transmit.
The Invention consists of certain combinations of mechanism, of which
the following are the principal elements, videlicit :-
:―
First. The roll which is employed to act upon the material, and which
may have either a plain cylindrical barrel, or one grooved or fluted, or
otherwise formed, to adapt it to the work to be performed.
Second. The housings or frame which sustains the roll in its positions
and permits it to be moved.
Third. One or more hydraulic cylinders for containing the water or
other fluid by the pressure of which the movement of the roll is effected.
If two hydraulic cylinders for each movable roll are employed, as will
generally be expedient, they may be formed directly in the frame or
housings, or, if preferred, they may be constructed separately from the
frame or housings, and secured thereto.
Fourth. One or more rams or pistons for the hydraulic cylinder or
cylinders. It is preferred to construct the apparatus so that the
hydraulic cylinders are fixed, and the rams are caused to move relatively
thereto; but, if deemed expedient, the pistons may be fixed, and the

page_text: cylinders be constructed to move relatively to them. In the latter case
the passages for the ingress and egress of the fluid should be made in
the pistons.
Fifth. Self-closing mechanism for closing the inlet valve of the
hydraulic cylinder when the roll has been moved the required pre- 5
determined distance. The construction and arrangement of this
mechanism may be greatly varied by the employment of mechanical
equivalents or substitutes. The peculiarity of the mechanism being that
it forms a connection between the movable roll (or some instrument
moving simultaneously therewith) and the inlet valve of the hydraulic 1
cylinder, so that the said valve is either closed, or permitted to be
closed by a spring or other agent, when the roll has moved the pre-
determined distance.
Sixth. Adjusting mechanism for adjusting the self-closing valve
mechanism, so that the position at which the movement of the roll is 1
stopped, may be varied by varying the adjustment of this adjustable
mechanism. The form and construction of this mechanism may be
greatly varied, as stated in reference to the preceding mechanism.
Seventh. An indicator for indicating the position of the movable
roll, or of the ram, such indicator consisting of an index and means of
indicating the extent of movement. The indicator which it is preferred
to use consists of an index hand moving circularly upon a dial, but the
hand may be stationary, and the dial may be moved, or some substitute
may be used for each.
Eighth. A valve for controlling the admission of fluid to the valve
chest of the hydraulic cylinder.
Ninth. A stop latch for limiting the movement of the roll in case the
inlet valve of the hydraulic cylinder should not be entirely closed by the
mechanism for that purpose.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings,
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the
Figures.

page_text: www
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same.
Figure 4 represents a transverse section of the rolling mill at the inner
side of one of the pinion housings.
Figures 5 to 17 inclusive represent views of various parts of the
mechanism detached from the residue.
The rolling mill represented in the Drawings is an illustration of one
mode of embodying this Invention. It has a set of pinions A, A, and
pinion housings A³, A¹, and a set of rolls B, B¹, and roll housings C, C,
and it is intended to operate in connection with a second set of rolls and
roll housings for finishing, arranged at the right-hand side of the rolls,
represented in Figures 1 and 2, the rolls of such second set being
connected with the driving ends of the set B, B¹, by means of coupling
spindles and boxes similar to those (a, a¹, a²) which connect the
rolls B, B', with the pinions A, A. In the rolling mill thus represented,
the lower roll B¹ is stationary, while the upper roll B is arranged to
move towards and from the lower roll. For this purpose the journals of
the upper roll are arranged to revolve in brasses supported by moveable
boxes (one for each journal), and these boxes are constructed to slide in
the housings, and are connected with a counterpoise weight in the usual
manner by means of rods and levers which, being of the usal con-
struction, are not represented in the Drawings. The counterpoise weights
which are used should be heavy enough to raise the upper roll and its
appurtenances, and to displace the fluid in the cylinders whenever such
upward movement is permitted.
The hydraulic pressure by which the movable roll is forced toward the
stationary roll is applied to two hydraulic cylinders 6 (Figure 3), one of
which is formed in the head of each of the roll housings C. Each
hydraulic cylinder is fitted with a ram or piston D which is suitably
packed. The water is supplied to the cylinder by means of pipes c, c,
which communicate with an accumulator of the usual construction, and
in the present case, the plunger or piston of the accumulator is loaded
with a weight of four hundred pounds to the square inch.
The supply of water to each cylinder 6 and its escape therefrom is
determined by means of valves contained in a valve chest E, one of
which is arranged above each cylinder, and these valve chests and their
valves are represented in detail at Figures 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13. Each

page_text: valve chest E is connected with the cylinder beneath by means of a
passage d, and each contains an inlet valve e, an escape valve f, and a
check valve g; each of these valves is fitted with a spring which tends to
move it towards its valve seat, and thus insures its closing. The valve
stems of the inlet and escape valves are connected by means of a lever h
and a spring piston i, which is compressed whenever the valve is opened.
to insure the closing of the valve when released from the opening
mechanism. The inlet and escape valves are operated by means of a
valve lever h¹ which is connected with a second valve lever h³, and the
latter valve lever is commanded by a rock shaft F. This rock shaft 1
extends across the housings of the set or pair of rolls, and it is fitted
opposite each lever ³ with two toes j, j¹, so that by rocking the rock
shaft in one direction the inlet valve is opened, and by rocking it in the
other direction the escape valve is opened; while by leaving the rock
shaft and toes in a negative position, as represented at Figure 10, both 1
valves remain closed.
· For convenience of operation the rock shaft F is extended to the
pinion housings where it is fitted with an arm k that is connected with a
hand lever G, by moving which the rock shaft can be moved in either
direction, and either valve may be opened. A raised platform H (Figures 3
4, 14, and 15) is also provided for the operator.
When the escape valve is opened the water from the cylinder escapes
into the passage 1, Figure 12, and thence passes out of the valve chest by
the pipe c', Figures 9 and 10. The fluid from the accumulator enters
the valve chest by means of the pipe c, and passes into the valve
chamber of the inlet valve e, Figure 12, which is arranged to open
against the pressure of the accumulator, so as to prevent the
of
passage
fluid through it when there is no resistance to the movement of the
roller by the hydraulic pressure. When the inlet valve is opened the
water can pass through the valve seat into the passage , and thence in
an oblique lateral direction to the chamber m of the check valve g,
which will move from its seat whenever the pressure of the water
supplied from the accumulator is greater than the pressure in the water
cylinder. The water passing through the valve seat of the check valve
g enters a descending passage (represented by dotted lines in Figure 12)
which communicates with the main passage d to the hydraulic cylinder
beneath. The object of the check valve g is to prevent the return of
water from the bydraulic cylinder to the accumulator when the pressure

page_text: in the former exceeds that in the latter, as is usually the case when iron
is passing between the rollers; and for this purpose it is arranged to
close by moving against the current of water passing from the inlet
valve towards the hydraulic cylinder, so that when the check valve is
closed the movable roll is fixed in its position by the water within the
hydraulic cylinder.
The mechanism thus far described enables the movable roll B to be
moved towards the stationary roll by hydraulic pressure, and permits the
former to be moved from the latter by the counterweights, but does not
determine the extent of the movement. In order that such extent may
be controlled as required, so that the moveable roll may be moved a
definite distance by the hydraulic pressure, self-closing mechanism is
provided to close the inlet valves of the hydraulic cylinders of the
movable roll as soon as the moveable roll has been moved to any
previously indicated position. To this end the valve lever ², Figure 10,
is slotted so as to permit the end of the latch m to pass through it, and
a spring n¹ is provided to cause the hook of the latch to engage with and
hold the valve lever whenever the latter is moved to open the inlet
valve. The latch has the form of a lever, and its outer end is arranged
within the range of movement of the head of the slide K. This slide is
constructed in two parts p, p¹, the former (p) of which has the form of a
scrow, and the latter (p³) of an elongated nut or sleeve which is screwed
upon the said screw. The slide is held upright by means of two brackets
p³, p³, one of which holds the lower end of the sleeve p¹, while the other
bracket (p) holds the upper end of a shaft r which traverses the slide.
The brackets hold the slide loosely so that it may be readily moved up
and down. The lower end of the slide is commanded by a lever L whose
inner end is connected with the ram D of the hydraulic cylinder, and
whose outer end is beneath the slide. Hence, when the ram D moves
downward to move the roll, the outer end of the lever L acting upon the
lower end of the slide K raises the slide. The slide when raised moves
the latch n and releases the valve lever h³, thus permitting the inlet
valve to close and stop the entrance of water from the accumulator, the
result of which operation is that the movement of the roll is stopped at
the place where it happens to be when the lever L operates the slide K.
In order that the movement may be stopped for different positions of
the moveable roll, the slide K is shortened or elongated by screwing its
scrow part p more or less into the sleeve part p². For this purpose the

page_text: shaft which traverses the slide is connected with it by means of a
longitudinal groove and spline or key, so that it may turn the screw
part p, and the sleeve part p¹ is prevented from turning by means of a
similar groove and spline or key, which groove is formed in the bore of
the bracket p²; hence the turning of the shaft r adjusts the slide, and the
two slides for one moveable roll are adjusted simultaneously by con-
necting their shafts r, r, with a long adjusting shaft which is fitted
with a hand wheel for the operator. The connection of the shafts r, r, r³,
is effected by the bevelled wheels 8, 8.
When the train contains but one pair of rolls but one adjusting shaft
is required, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, but when the train contains
two pair of rolls which require movement two adjusting shafts (one for
each pair) are required, and in the latter case it is convenient to have
one of these shafts a tubular shaft, as at ², Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8, and to
arrange it to turn upon the other shaft r¹. If more than two adjoining
shafts are required one or more additional tubular shafts may be
added.
In order that the operator who controls the mechanism may readily
adjust the adjustable slides K for the successively different positions
which the movable roll is required to occupy during the rolling of a bar 1
by successive passages between the rolls, an indicator N is provided,
and is arranged in this instance over the pinion housings.
is
The indicator suitable to be used with two sets of rolls in a train is
represented in detail at Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8. It has dials and two
hands t¹, t¹, t³, t, two for the set of roughing rolls, the others for the
finishing rolls. The hands ť, t¹, are secured to the ends of a shaft u,
which is connected by a worm wheel and screw o¹ with the adjusting
shaft of the finishing rolls, so that when the adjusting shaft
turned by its hand wheel M³, the hands f, t¹, shall traverse the dials t.
For convenience in setting the roll the dials are graduated with
rings of divisions w which correspond with some fractional part of
the movement of the adjustable part p of the piston K. The other
hands, t, are fitted to short tubular shafts or sleeves which turn upon
the respective ends of the shaft u of the first hands f, t¹, and are con
nected through the cog wheels x, x, the countershaft u¹ and the worm a
wheel and screw v³, v³, with the second adjusting shaft r¹, so that the
second hands t, t³, are caused to turn correspondingly with the turning
of the second adjusting shaft by the hand wheel M. By watching

page_text: the
proper hand the operator thus has it in his power to adjust the slides
of the movable roll so as to stop the movement of the moveable roll by
the hydraulic mechanism at any desired point. In order to facilitate
the adjustment of the hydraulic mechanism the dials have annular
grooves y¹ and y³ for each hand t, t, and movable markers y, y, are
fitted to these movable rings or grooves so that these markers may be
set beforehand at the places at which the hands are to be successively
stopped during the operation of rolling a bar. Each marker is by
preference constructed with a friction spring to hold it by friction in the
place at which it may be set. The dials, hands, and markers, are
duplicated as shown and described merely for convenience.
If the valve lever h², Figure 10, was entirely under the control of the
operator he might not move it sufficiently to latch it by the latch n, but
might hold it open by the rock shaft F sufficiently to let the water move
the movable roll much farther than was required. In order to prevent
such a contingency an admission valve P, Figure 17, is inserted in the
pipe c between the accumulator and the valve chests E, E, the most
convenient position for this valve being in the vicinity of the platform H
upon which the operator stands. In the present case this valve (as
represented at Figure 17) is a balanced valve, so that it may be readily
moved against the high pressure in the accumulator. This valve and
the inlet valves e are so combined that the valve P cannot be opened
until the rock shaft F has been moved sufficiently to engage the valve
lever h³ with the latch n, and has been rocked back again towards the
central position sufficiently to fill the valve lever h² from any control by
the opening toe. The combination in the present instance is effected
in the following manner :-The stem of the valve P is connected by a
lever q (Figure 14) and rod z with a segment R, which is pivoted at one
end to the housing A¹, and extends transversely through a slot in the
hand lever G by which the inlet valve is opened. An antifriction wheel
82 is secured in the slot of the hand lever in the proper position to act
upon the upper edge of this segment which has two grades m³, m³, both
of which are concentric with the pivot e² of the hand lever G, and which
are connected by an inclined grade m*.
The adjustment of the mechanism is such that when the hand lever G
and the rock shaft F are in their mean positions, as seen at Figures 14, 4,
and 10, the valve P is open, and the antifriction wheel & bears upon the
larger concentric portion m³ of the segment R, but when the hand lever

page_text: is moved outward for the purpose of opening the inlet valve, the
depression of the grade m' permits the segment R to rise, and the valve
P to be closed by means of a spring & provided for that purpose, and the
valve is held closed by its spring until the hand lever is moved inward
and its antifriction wheel depresses the segment R. Hence, whenever
the operator moves the lever G for the purpose of opening the inlet
valve, he, by that act, permits the valve P to close and prevent water
from passing to the valve chests, and thence to the hydraulic cylinder,
until he has first set the inlet valve, and has then moved the rocking toe
backward to its central position, so as to leave the inlet valve free to be
closed by its spring whenever the slide K trips the latch n. On the
other hand, if the operator moves the hand lever G back to its mean
position without having moved it outward far enough to cause the valve
lever /² to be latched by the latch n, the valve lever will move back (by
the action of the valve spring) with the backward movement of the
hand lever, and the inlet valve will be closed by its spring by the time
the admission valve is opened. The operator is thus compelled to move
the hand lever in both directions the requisite distance for the proper
operation of the inlet and admission valves or no water passes to the
hydraulic cylinder, and the movable roll will not be moved. For con-
venience of holding the hand lever in its mean position a spring latch i³,
Figure 14, is provided to engage with a notch in the under side of the
segment lever R, and this latch is manipulated by the handle j³, so that
the operator can free the hand lever G by the same hand that moves the
latter.
The closing movement of the roll being arrested by the closing of the
inlet valve e, and the water pressure always remaining upon this valve,
except when the latching mechanism is being adjusted, it is evident that
if from any cause the valve e should not be perfectly tight the closing
movement of the roll would continue with more or less rapidity,
depending upon the quantity of water passing the valve e.
To guard against accident from such an occurence a stop latch n³
(Figures 9 and 10) is provided. This stop latch is pivotted to the valve
lever h³, and passes through a slot in a projection n³ of the latch n. A
notch in the under side of this stop latch n³ falls in front of n³, as shown
in Figure 10. In this position, should the closing movement of the roll
continue, the projection n³ would press against the notch in the latch n³,
and through this latch communicate its movement to the lever h³, thereby

page_text: opening the exhaust valve and permitting the water to escape as fast as
it enters the pressure cylinder, and effectually arresting any further
movement of the roll. The stop latch n³ has a toe which projects
towards the rocking toe J¹ in advance of the face of the valve lever h³,
so that the first operation of the rocking toe J¹ (when rocked toward the
valve lever h³ for the purpose of latching this lever on n) is to trip the
stop latch n³, and permit the valve lever h³ to move without being
arrested by the projection n³. After the successive closings of the rolls
have been made, required to complete the successive passes of the rolling
operation, the indicator is turned backward until the index hand is at
the place of beginning; this will restore the slide K. to its original
position, ready for another series of passes.
The position of the rolls is restored for a fresh operation by rocking
the toe J¹ against the valve lever h³, causing the exhaust valve to open
and permitting the escape of the water from the pressure cylinders; the
weight of the rolls and the counterweights will then force the rolls back
to the required position.
In the case of what is technically known as a cobble, that is to say,
where the rolls become jammed, the pressure upon the valves may
possibly be so great (not being entirely balanced) as to prevent their
movement; to relieve this condition a screw plug z¹, Figure 13, is
provided, which can always be opened so as to permit the escape of
water from the pressure cylinders and allow the rolls to open to their
original position, and in this particular the system described presents
very great advantages over the ordinary screw adjustments.
The adjustment for each pass can readily be made whilst the material
being operated upon is passing through the rolls, so that ample time is
afforded for this purpose; the rolls instantly set themselves to this
adjustment after each pass, the attendant moving the lever G out and
relatching; and such adjustment has not heretofore been attained.
In the Drawings above referred to the improvements are represented
as applied to sets of rolls having one movable roll in each set, but the
improvements are equally applicable to sets having two moveable rolls
in each set. In the latter case a set of hydraulic cylinders and their
appurtenances may be applied to the lowermost roll for the purpose of
moving it upwards, and as the weight of the roll will insure its move-
ment downward when the hydraulic pressure is relaxed counterpoise
weights for that roll will be unnecessary.

page_text: These improvements are particularly applicable where a number of
rolls are to be adjusted simultaneously, as in what is known as the four
roller mill, where the axes of one set of rolls are horizontal, and those of
a co-operating set are perpendicular.
I am aware that fluid pressure has been employed for moving to and
sustaining the rolls of rolling mills in position, but in all such cases the
position of the roll has been adjusted and maintained either by regulating
the escape of the fluid, so that this fluid is at the same time flowing into
and out of the roll pressure cylinders, or the fluid is confined within two
cylinders always in communication with each other, and with a ram in
each cylinder, the adjustment and maintenance of the roll ram being
accomplished by the adjustment and maintenance of the ram in the other
cylinder, whereas in the present arrangement the fluid after the adjust-
ment has been made is entirely cut off from its source of supply and the
maintenance is accomplished by preventing the escape of this fluid from
its cylinder under any pressure that the rolls can transmit.
I have represented the movable roll as combined with two hydraulic
cylinders and their rams, this being the arrangement preferred, but
one hydraulic cylinder and ram may be used, and the roll may be so
combined with these that it may be moved by them.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The combination substantially as before set forth of the
hydraulic cylinder, the ram thereof, and the self-closing mechanism for
the inlet valve of the said hydraulic cylinder.
Second. The combination substantially as before set forth of the
movable roll, the hydraulic cylinder, the ram thereof, and the closing
mechanism for the inlet valve of the said hydraulic cylinder.
Third. The combination substantially as before set forth of the
hydraulic cylinder, the ram thereof, the self-closing mechanism for the
inlet valve and the adjusting mechanism for adjusting the said valve
mechanism.
Fourth. The combination substantially as before set forth of the

page_text: movable roll, the hydraulic cylinder, the ram thereof, the self-closing
mechanism for the inlet valve, and the adjusting mechanism for adjusting
the said valve mechanism.
Fifth. The combination substantially as before set forth of the
hydraulic cylinder, the ram thereof, and the indicating mechanism.
Sixth. The combination substantially as before set forth of the
moveable roll, the hydraulic cylinder, the ram thereof, and the indicating
mechanism.
Seventh. The combination substantially as before set forth of the
hydraulic cylinder, the ram thereof, the inlet valve for said cylinder,
and the admission valve, which is closed while the inlet valve is being
opened.
Eighth. The combination substantially as before set forth of the
moveable roll, the hydraulic cylinder, the ram thereof, the inlet valve
for said cylinder, and the admission valve, which is closed while the inlet
valve is being opened.
Ninth. The combination substantially as before set forth of the
hydraulic cylinder, the ram thereof, the inlet valve, the latch for holding
the same open, and the slide for moving the said latch.
Tenth. The combination substantially as before set forth of the
hydraulic cylinder, the ram thereof, the inlet valve, and the check valve
for preventing the return of water from the hydraulic cylinder.
Eleventh. The combination substantially as before set forth of the
admission valve, the hand lever, and the graduated or divided segment.
Twelfth. The combination substantially as before set forth of the
inlet valve, the mechanism for operating it, and the stop latch for
operating the exhaust valve in connection with the inlet valve.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to
this my Specification set my hand and seal, the Ninth day of
December One thousand cight hundred and seventy-three.