Improvements in Rolling Mills.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 23rd Jan., 1997
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rolling Mills.
I, PAUL HESSE, of 9 Gartenstrasse, Iserlohn, in the Empire of Germany,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what mauner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The present invention consists of a rolling mill for producing the barrels of
rifles and guns of all descriptions as herein alter set forth.
And in order to render the present specification more easily intelligible reference
is had to the accompanying drawings in which similar letters of reference denote.
similar parts throughout the several views:-
Fig. 1 being a longitudinal section of the machine taken along the line e-of
Figure 3,
Fig. 2 a transverse section on the line a-b-c-d of Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 a plan of the machine,
Fig. 4 a transverse section on the line -h of Figure 3,
Fig. 5 a transverse section on the line -k Figure 3 and
Fig. 6 a section through the rolls on the line 1-m of Figure 1.
The bar 1 from which the barrel is to be formed, is placed in the guide 2 in a
hot state. The cover 4 of the said guide or throat piece 2, which is normally kept
up by the spring 3 is then closed by the lever 5 and the latter retained by means
of the spring catch, 6. Thus the bar 1 is properly enclosed on all sides but is at
the same time free to turn and to slide in the said enclosures. The pusher 9 is
revolubly mounted in the crosshead 8 and adapted to move in the direction of
the arrow 7 and pushes the bar 1 between the three rolls 10 which are mounted
Each roll 10 is mounted on a
equidistant from each other around said bar.
driving shaft 11 (Fig. 6) supported in a sleeve 12. The sleeves 12 are supported
at oue end in the circular machine frame 13 and are radially adjustable in the
At the
saime and at the same time revolubly mounted on the pivots 14 and 15.
opposite end the sleeves 12 are provided with exteriorly rounded collars 16
mounted in rings 17 having stems 18 revolubly mounted in a common frame 19.
The frame 19 is adjustable on the housing 13 by loosening the screws 20 (Fig. 2)
and turning the nuts on the screw spindle 21 which is pivotally mounted on the
frame 19 and engages in a lug of the housing 13, being adjustable thereon by
means of suitable nuts. Thus the centre lines of the rolls may be adjusted to pass
to the right or to the left of the main centre line of the machine. The rolls 10
retate all in the same direction and will by means of their conical or hemispherical
operative surface (24 Figure 6) either tend to pull the bar 1 in between them
if the centre lines 22 of the rolls lie to the left of the main centre line 23 of the
machine or push the bar 1 outwards if the centre lines lie to the right of the main
Thus it is
centre lire of the machine, the direction of rotation being the same.
possible to reverse the direction of motion of the metal bar under treatment
without reversing the direction of rotation of the rolls. On the other hand the
direction of motion of the bar may be reversed by reversing the direction of
rotation of the inclined rolls. As a rule and particularly in the present case the
bar 1 is drawn in by the rolls 10 and rolled out to a diameter corresponding to the

page_text: most approximate position of the working ends of the rolls. In this rolling process
the said bar will be rotated at a speed higher than the speed of rotation of the
rolls the proportion of the speed variation being in the ratio of the diameter of the
metal bar to that of the rolls. Thus if the diameter of the rolls is 150 and that of
the bar 30 the latter will be rotated five times as quickly as the rolls.
is
The diameter of the blanks for the small bore (8 mm.) modern rifles is 17 mm.
and in order to bring the rolls 10 sufficiently close together to enable a bar of such
diameter to be treated, their diameter at the operative surface (24 in Figure 6)
must not exceed 100 mm. The most advantageous form for the roll heads is the
semi-spherical form. In order to avoid weakening the rolls, which should be of
the hardest best and temper steel, the wedges or keys 62 for attaching the heads
are arranged at the rear of the head and a screw 63 holds the head against the
conical end of the shaft 11, which is ground into the said head. The radial
adjustment of the rolls is effected by means of the hardened wedges 26, the ends
of the roll sleeves are pivoted at 14 in the cap 60 revolubly mounted on the
supporting pin 15 adapted to slide in the housing 13 and carrying at its end a
roll 27 which is pressed agains: the wedge 26 by means of the spring 29. The
rear of the wedge is supported against the roll 28 which is mounted to run between
the points of two set screws (Fig. 2) as is also the roll 27. As the bar is drawn
into the rolls and reduced in the first place to 17 mm. diameter, the rod 9 will
advance simultaneously with the bar under the action of the spring 30 which
pushes the cross head 8 forwards said crosshead sliding on the guide bars 31 (Fig. 3),
thus the rod 9 and the bar 1 are kept in continual contact. This contact is of
importance in order to produce an exact copy of the templet 26. Three connecting
rods 32 are pivoted to the crosshead 8 and connected at their opposite ends to
double arm levers 33, which support at their lower ends in a pivotal joint 34 the
templet 26, by means of the screwed stem of the same. Thus when the bar
pushed into the rolls, the templets 26 will be withdrawn and vice versa. These
templets are shaped either at one or both of their operative surfaces, to correspond
to the form it is desired to give the bar under treatment. Thus if the rolls are
moved together the diameter will be reduced and rice versa. Thus by means of
templets of varying form or by varying the position of the templets 26 the
diameter of the metal under treatment may be varied at will, in the most convenient
manner. The metal bar passes through the roll into the sleeve 35 by which it is
guided and retained in its proper straight position. The sleeve 35 is mounted on
the hollow shaft 36 and rotated at a greater, less or equal speed to that of the har
by means of the pulley 37 or other suitable genring. The lever 33 is extended
downwards at 38 and connected by means of the rod 39 to the lower end of a double
arm lever 40 mounted in suitable bearing and having its upper end attached by
means of a fork to a collar 41 surrounding the end of the hollow shaft 36 so that
the latter is free to rotate but the collar is not longitudinally moveable thereon.
The rod 42 projects through the shaft 36 and has its rear end supported free to
rotate in the head of a bracket arm 43. From the above it will be clear that by
means of the lever system 38, 39, 40 and 41 the hollow shaft 36 and with it the
sleeve 35 will be moved in exactly the same measure as the bar 1 passes the rolls.
When the bar 1 has been properly rolled, ie. when it has entirely passed the rolls,
it will be pushed out of the sleeve 35 by the end of the bar or rod 42 which can if
necessary be pushed forward by hand. The bar 1 will then fall down under the
machine or may be caused to fall on to an inclined guide plate and pass on for
further treatment. In the mean time the rod 9 has been advanced close to the
rolls 10, the di-tance of the said rod end from the rolls, in its extreme position
being regulated by the nuts 44 on the spindle 45.
To the crosshead 8 is pivoted a curved rod 47 having at its rear end a hunk 48
which is longitudinally adjustable on the said rod said honk being outwardly
rounded off and adapted to engage over the crank pin 50 of a crank 49 which is
rotated by means of a worm wheel 51 and worm 52 and a graduated pulley 54.
The curved rod 47 may be raised and kept out of contact with the crank pin 50 by

page_text: means of a pivoted hand lever 46 which engages under the said rod 47 by means of
its pin as will be clearly seen from Figures 1 an 1 3. As soon as the rolling process
is finished, this lever 46 is turned down so that the hook 48 can engage with the
pin 50 when it comes round. The crank pin 50 is about the opposite position to
that shown in Figure I when the bar 1 has been rolled and in turning further
engages under the honk 48 and pulls the crosshevl back e mpre-sing the spring 30.
The crosshead, by means of the connectio 32 throws the lever 33 over driving the
templet wedge 26 between the rolls 27 and 28 and thus adjusting the rolls to their
position nearest together preparatory to another bar being placed in the guide 2.
The spring catch 6 is withdrawn from the arm 5 by the handle 61 and the next bar
laid in the guide. In the mean time the crank pin 50 has attained its rear position
and commences to go forwards but very slowly owing to the slow lineal movement
of the said pin at this point of its revolution. The spring 30 will at this point
exercise the most pressure on the bar 1 being most highly compressed so that the
har 1 will be slowly but powerfully pushed between the rolls at this part of its
movement. The second bar and so on, will now be rolled out in the manner
previously described. The crank pin 50 should have a somewhat quicker motion
than the speed at which the rolls 10 are capable of drawing the bar 1 in between
them. Consequently the pin 50 will disengage itself from the hook 48 at the
beginning of its stroke so that the latter may be raised by the lever 46 previous to
its being again let down to engage the said pin to subsequently compress the
spring 30 as described. The speed of the crank 49 can if desired be regulated to
correspond to that of the forward motion of the bar 1 so that the lover 46 would
be unnecessary which would save one manipulation in working the machine. The
pin 50 is adjustably mounted in the crank 49.
The rolling mill is driven by means of the fast and loase pulleys 55 and 56.
mounted on the hollow shaft 57 carrying the bevel wheel 58 which engages all the
bevels 59 of the rolls 10. If the pressure exerted on the block is sufficient to
force it through the rolls at a speed greater than the "take in" capacity of the
same due to the skew position of one of them, the metal (steel, bronze or alloy) will
be very highly compressed, which is of particular importance in making rifle and
gun barrels. By the take in capacity of the rolls is meant that by placing them
"skew" they will pull or push the bar. Thus if two of the three rolls are inclined
towards the block at equal angles and a third is set somewhat skew to them, this
third roll will act to move the block past the others, as will be evident.
If the inclined position of each of the rolls 10 is varied with regard to the other
rolls so as to cause each roll to effect a varying transport of the bar, the fibres of
the metal can be caused to take a great variety of positions and either to run
parallel to or to cross each other. The following means for treating the metal bar
in a variety of ways, may be employed in connection with the present machine;
1. The shape of the rolls.
2. The inclined position of the rolls to the bar under treatment.
3. The combination of the first two manipulations to attain a variety of
results.
4 One roll may be set skew, and will serve as a transport roll and the others.
be arranged inclined, ie, pointing towards a common centre at equal angles in a
plane intersecting the centre lines or axes of the rolls and the line or centre line
in which the common centre falls and which extends along between the rolls. That
is to say instead of all three rolls being inclined at equal angles towards a common
centre, one of the same is set skew and consequently tends to transport or push or
pull the metal bluck under treatment. Two of the rolls may be arranged on the
skew and if desired at different angles.
5. If bars of very small diameter are to be treated one or two of the rolls may
have a larger diameter and one or two counter pressure rolls of small diameter be
employed, the said latter rolls may either be positively driven or run loosely with
the ones driven, in the former case they will help to work the metal in the latter
they will merely smooth it.

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. A rolling mill by means of which the metal under treatment is rolled out to
the smallest caliber by a series of rotary rolls arranged transverse or skew to the
direction of motion of the metal, substantially as described.
2. A form of carrying out the machine covered by Claim 1 according to which
at least three rotary rolls are so arranged as to receive the metal to be treatel at
point at which the roll surfaces are furthest apart and to roll it out rotating and
compressing it, the said metal leaving the rolls at the point where their surfaces
are closest together.
3. A rolling mill of the kind covered by Clains 1 and 2 in which a solid metal
bar 1 is placed in an open guide 2 whereupon the guide cover 4 is closed by means
of a lever 5 and retained in position by a spring 6, whereupon the said bar is forced
by a pusher arrangement between three rolls 10, the said rolls being radially
adjustable during the rolling process, the metal bar being forced to leave the rolls
at the point at which they are closest together and pass into a guide sleeve 35
adapted to slide longitudinally, either automatically or by hand in the manner
substantially as described.
4. In the rolling mill covered by Claims 1, 2 and 3 a pusher device for the bar 1,
having a spring 30 adapted to force the bar 1 by means of a rotary rod 9 between
the rolls 10, a crosshead also moved by said spring and a templet wedge 26,
connecting rods 32, levers 33 swivel joints 34 to transmit the motion of said cross-
head to the templet wedge, pressure rolls 27, 28 at each side of said wedge and
spring 29 to keep the roll 27 of the radially adjustable roll end against the wedge
of each roll substantially as described.
5. In a rolling mill as covered by Claims 1 to 4, the combination of a device for
compressing the spring of the pusher device, consisting of a crank 49 having an
adjustable pin 50, a step pulley, worm and worm wheel to rotate said crank, a
rod 47 hook 48 on the cross head 8 and adapted to engage said crank pin at times,
and means in connection with said crosshead for operating the templet wedges
substantially as described.
6. In a rolling mill as covered by Claims 1 to 5, the combination of the roll
shafts having sleeves 12, one end of which is mounted in a radially adjustable
swivel 14, 60 and the other end in a ring 17 a pivot 18 to said ring and a frame 19
to support pivotally the said rings, said frame 19 being mounted on the housing 13
of the machine and adjustable on the same by means of a set screw and threaded
spindle in such manner that ou turning the frame 19 on the housing the centre
lines 22 of the driving shafts of the rolls 10 may be caused to pass the main
centre line 23 of the machine in two directions from the right and left substantially
as described.
7. A device for stopping the machine covered by Claims 1 to 6 consisting of the
loose pulley 56 and the lever 46 adapted to engage under the bar 47 and raise the
same out of the path of the crank pin 50.
8. In combination with the rolling mill, covered by Claims 1 to 7 the guide
sleeve 35 for the metal coming from the rolls the longitudinally moveable hollow
shaft 36 in connection with said sleeve pulley 37 to rotate said shaft, lever system 38,
39, 40 aud collar and link connection 41 to said shaft and a rod within the said
shaft to push the finished metal out of the sleeve 35 either automatically or by
hand, subst.ntially as described.
9. In combination with the rolling mill covered by Claims 1 to 8 the attachment
of the roll head 10 to the shaft end consisting of the conically formed shaft end
which is ground into the roll, the screw 63 and the wedge attachment 62, Fig. 6,
substantially as described.
10. A modification of the rolling machinery covered by Claims 1 to 9 consisting
a in the employme:t of rolls of any desired shape, 6 in the simultaneous inclination

page_text: of the rolls to any desired extent and consequent transport of the metal under
treatment, the combination of the manipulations a and b to produce variations,
d the inclination or skewing of one roll only the others remaining in their normal
positions and may either run loosely or be driven, e the employment of two or
more of the rolls mentioned at d, f the employment of one, two or several larger
rolls, with two, one or several smaller rolls which may either run loosely or be
driven substantially as described and shown.
11. The employment of the rolling mill covered by Claims 1 to 10 for producing
hollow or solid rifle and gun barrels for heavy guns, substantially as described.
Dated this 30th day of January 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.