Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 26th Aug., 1887.
I HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 has relation to the manufacture of eye-bars for bridges and has for
its objects the provision of novel methods and mechanical appliances for producing
eye-bars in an expeditious and economical manner and without in any way impairing
the tensile strength or quality of the iron.
In the manufacture of eye-bars it has heretofore been customary to first shape and
reduce the shank by forging or otherwise, and then, after reheating, to form or weld
the heads or eye parts. The effect of these separate operations has been to destroy
the uniformity and homogeneous property or quality of the iron, rendering it of
insufficient strength at the eyes or heads and uneven in its structure, thus greatly
impairing the value and efficiency of the bars and rendering their sustaining and
resisting qualities uncertain.
Our invention contemplates the manufacturing of eye-bars by a continuous process
of rolling, wherein the blank is reduced to the proper dimensions, and the shank
contraction and head or eye enlargement formed in and by reciprocating passes between
horizontal and vertical rolls.
Our invention accordingly consists in the novel steps or processes of rolling,
shaping, and gaging, hereinafter described, and in the novel construction and
arrangement of mechanical appliances for carrying said invention into practical
effect.
The apparatus embodying our invention comprises, essentially, two sets of horizontal
rolls and an intermediate pair of vertical rolls, the former being employed in reducing
the blank to proper thickness, while the latter serve to diminish the bar laterally, so as
to form the bank

page_text: In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in sections, of
the principal feature of the rolling apparatus with appurtenant parts. Fig. 2 is a plan
view of the same, omitting certain parts of the superstructure. Fig. 3 is a vertical trans-
verse section through the housing or supports of the vertical rolls and to one side of the
mechanism, whereby the latter are adjusted. Fig. 4 is a plan view of that portion of
the mill wherein are situated the vertical rolls. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section
through the housings of one pair of horizontal rolls. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section or
skeleton view of the mill, showing the mechanism for regulating the length of the
pass and causing a reversal of the operations. Fig. 7 is a skeleton view or vertical
longitudinal section through the mill to further illustrato the features shown in Fig. 6.
Fig. 8 is a plan view, and Fig. 9 a vertical longitudinal section, of one of the feed-
tables, located at either end of the mill, upon which the blanks are laid and fed to the
mill. Fig. 10 is a detail view of train of gearing for adjusting the vertical rolls.
Fig. 11 is a vertical transverse section through frame of feed-rollers.
The "mill" or apparatus embodying our invention is operated by any appropriate
reversing-engine, and as the rolls perform their work of reducing and shaping the
bars the engine is automatically reversed at the end of each pass, the length or duration
of these passes being gaged and controlled so that the bar will be not only of the
proper shape, but of the proper dimensions and proportions.
In the drawings, A A A¹ A¹ designate the horizontal rolls, suitably mounted in
housings B B, and arranged in pairs, one roll above the other. The two pairs are
located a sufficient distance apart to accommodate the vertical rolls C C, situated
between the housings of the horizontal rolls.
Of the horizontal rolls the lower roll of each pair is journaled in stationary bearings,
while the upper roll is mounted in vertically-sliding boxes or blocks bb, which allow
said upper rolls to be raised or lowered and according to the progress of the work.
The upper rolls, A A, are lowered and raised through the medium of the vertical
adjusting-screws D, which pass through threaded openings in the upper part of the
housings and carry beveled pinions dd, through which power is communicated from
suitable power-shafts and engaging-pinions. The lower ends of the screws D are
swiveled in or upon boxes or blocks bb, so that the latter move with the screws.
The two screws D of each upper roll are connected above the housings by a metallic
skeleton frame, E, of octagon shape, and connected to said frame by nuts e¹ are the
elongated bolts or rods e e, which depend between the sides of the housings and are
secured at their lower ends to an adjustable frame, E¹, the purpose of which will be
hereinafter explained. The frame E' is composed of four U-shaped sections, eeee.
The sections are inverted or ☐ shaped and straddle the axis of the upper roll, while
the sections es lie with their horizontal portions parallel with the axis. The legs or
limbs of section e' are bolted to the limbs of sections e³, as shown at e'. The inner
surfaces of the housings are grooved, as shown at es, to receive the tongues e on the
corresponding surfaces of the sections e³, which slide up and down according as
the upper roll is adjusted. On their inner surfaces and at their upper portions the
sections e e² are formed with bosses e, to receive the supporting-rods e, which are
secured thereto by nuts e. The boxes of the upper rolls and the frames E¹ are thus
coupled together, so as to insure uniform and steady conjoint action. The guides FF,
below the upper rolls, are supported against the under surfaces of the frame E¹ by
means of weighted levers F1 F, fulcrumed upon the sections e³ of the frames E¹, and
connected to said table by vertical pivoted connecting-rods ff.
To relieve the weight of the upper rolls and the frames E¹, counterbalancing-
weights G are employed and connected with the levers thereof, made through
suitably-arranged rods G' G', coupled to the frames E' E' E E, as shown. The lower
rolls are provided with the stationary guides G G³, supported by the housings or
framing of the mill. The vertical rolls C C, situated between the two pairs of
horizontal rolls, are journaled in adjustable blocks or boxes C¹ C, which are supported
by and adapted to slide between the housings of the horizontal rolls.
The vertical rolls are provided with flanged adjustable collars c c, by which the
vertical depth of the pass between them is regulated, such adjustment being effected

page_text: automatically, and according as the bar or blank is reduced in thickness by the
horizontal rolls. These collars are respectively embraced by yokes, each made in two
sections, bolted together as shown.
Each vertical roll is provided with a stationary flange, c¹, at its base, and the pass
for the shank of the bar is between the collar or flange c' and the flange c² on the base,
and forming a part of the sliding collar c. The flanges c c are slightly beveled, to
facilitate the passages of the bar and reduce the abruptness of the angles thereof.
The adjustment of the collars c c is effected through the medium of the frames E¹,
the inner sections, e³, of which are formed or provided with extensions E³, which
engage with the flanges of said collars, and which, when the frames E' are raised or
lowered, correspondingly raise and lower the collars, thus always maintaining
correspondence and uniformity in depth between the passes through the respective
rolls, in order to prevent the collars on the vertical rolls from sagging or binding.
When it is necessary to adjust the upper horizontal rolls separately, weighted levers T,
supported on extensions E*, are employed to sustain said collars in horizontal position
under all conditions.
The vertical rolls are operated through the medium of beveled gear-wheels H H³,
and in order to admit of the use of sufficiently large gear-wheels, while allowing the
rolls to be adjusted close together, we place one of the pinions, H, upon the upper end
of one roll and the other pinion upon the lower end of the other roll, and drive each
roll from a separate horizontal shaft, H. If the pinions were both on the upper or
lower ends of the vertical rolls, it would be necessary to use comparatively small
pinions, which would lessen the power, and these would have to have small shafts,
which would necessarily be weak and inefficient.
The lateral adjustment of the vertical rolls requires certainty and delicacy of
operation, and the requisite movement is obtained by the use of the appliances shown
in Fig. 3.
As before stated, the vertical rolls have their bearings in sliding or adjustable
blocks CC, by the movement of which the rolls are brought toward or separated
from each other. The guides which carry these blocks also support the upright
adjustable frames I I, to which are pivoted near their upper and lower ends the
toggle-arms ii, matching the arms it, and pivotally connected to the vertical rods or
beams. The arus are pivoted to stationary frames J. The beans at their
upper ends are linked to the levers I¹ I', which are slotted lengthwise at their inner
ends and coupled to the head piece or slide 12 of a piston-rod, I, the piston of which
works in a vertical steam-cylinder, I, located upon a frame, J, above the vertical
rolls as shown. By the rise and fall of the piston, the play of which may be regulated
by adjusting-screw J', the admission of steam to the cylinder being under perfect
control, motion is communicated through the several connections to the rods, and
from them through the toggle to the frames I I, moving the latter inwardly or
outwardly, according to the direction of the movement of the piston. The slides or
frames II are connected to the bearing-blocks C¹ (by the horizontal set-screws K K,
which fit threaded sockets in the blocks and operate so as to cause said blocks to move
with frames I I. The frames or slides I I have journaled to them each a train of
gearwheels, kk, each train or set consisting, say, of five wheels in vertical line, with
their axes horizontal. The screws K K are keyed to the outmost wheels of the train,
and turn with the latter, so as to admit of an adjustment of the vertical rolls
independently of that obtained through the movement of the toggles and their
connections. The middle wheel of each train has a square arbor, ³, to receive a key
or crank, by which, when necessary, the train is operated and the vertical rolls
adjusted. The purpose of this adjustment will be hereinafter explained.
The gearing by which the vertical rolls are driven is necessarily adjusted to
correspond with that of the rolls, and hence the gears H' upon the horizontal shafts H
are secured to sleeves H³, having grooved collars H* to receive the forked ends of
vertical bars H. The horizontal shafts are splined or feathered, and the sleeves H*
correspondingly grooved, so that these parts turn together, notwithstanding the
sleeves are free to move lengthwise of the shafts. The bars H' are each secured to an

page_text: upper and lower bearing-block, C₁ C³, of one vertical roll, and move with said blocks,
so that as the latter are adjusted the proper relation of the intermeshing gears will be
maintained.
The rods are each divided in two, and the members connected by a double
nut,, by which the rods may be lengthened and shortened when it is desired to
change the normal position of the frames I, or regulate the adjustment or lateral
movement of the vertical rolls to suit the various dimensions of the eye-bars to be
produced.
It will be understood that the depth of the "break-in," or the amount of diminution
or reduction to be given to a blank in order to produce the shank, will generally
depend on the length, width, and other dimensions of the blank, while in other cases
bars or blanks of the same or a given length and width will have to be differently and
variously reduced. If, for instance, the width of the blank be, say, fourteen inches,
and it is required to reduce it by breaking-in or rolling laterally, so as to have a shank
of, say, seven inches, then the vertical rolls will have to be adjusted gradually from an
extreme separation of fourteen inches to the minimum distance apart of seven inches;
or, in other words, each vertical roll will have a lateral progression or movement of
three and a half inches inwardly. Now, the amount or distance which the roll so
moves will depend upon the adjustment of the rods with reference to the toggles.
When the vertical rolls are at the outer extremity of their lateral movement, the
rods are raised, the piston is at the bottom of the cylinder, and the toggles are raised
at their inner ends or points of connection with the rods, the angle at which the
toggles stand depending upon the length to which the rods are adjusted.
The stroke of the rods is just sufficient to bring the toggles in horizontal lines,
and, being always the same, the lateral movement of the frames I and of the vertical
rolls will depend upon the angle of the toggles at the beginning of the stroke--that is
to say, the more abrupt the angles of the toggles with the rod the greater will be
the lateral movement of the vertical rolls. It will be understood from this that if
from a lateral movement of the vertical rolls of, say, three and a half inches, it is desired
to increase the movement to, say, four or five inches, then the rods must be
shortened, while if it is desired to reduce this lateral movement to, say, three or two
inches, then the rods must be lengthened. The adjustment of the rods ² does not,
however, in any way affect or regulate the lateral dimensions of the shank of the
eye-bar, as with such adjustment the limit of inward movement of the rolls would
remain always the same, and no matter how deep the break-in might be the shank
would be of a given width-that is, say, seven inches. Now, in order to regulate this
inward movement so that the shank may be rolled to any required width, notwith-
standing the width of the bar, it is necessary to have an independent adjustment, and
this is provided for by the use of the trains of wheels and their connections, as with these
the rolls may be so adjusted as to come as close together as required. Thus, as will
be seen, if from the conditions already described in diminishing a bar from fourteen to
seven inches it is desired to reduce to, say, five inches or less, the trains of wheels are
operated, and while the toggles are at their horizontal positions, the length of the
rods remaining as before, the rolls are moved toward each other until the distance
between their working surfaces is five inches or less, as the case may be. The shank
would then be rolled to a width of five inches, the break-in on either side would be,
say, three and a half inches, and the condition would be proper for the reduction of a
bar of five inches by three and a half inches with ends three and a half inches by
twelve inches.
In rolling or reducing a bar or blank it is fed in from either end of the mill between
the first pair of horizontal rolls, and in its reduction is reciprocated automatically
until the full amount of reduction is obtained, the horizontal rolls first reducing the
bar in thickness, after which the vertical rolls reduce it laterally between the heads or
eyes in forming the shank. In making its passes the bar during the preliminary stage
lies between the two followers L L. These consist of flattened bars of suitable length,
one at either end of the blank, resting or riding on anti-friction rolls L' L', mounted
in suitable framing, M, at the ends of the mill. The outer extremities of the

page_text: followers L L are turned up and fastened to transverse bars 11, which are journaled
to slides, moving in guides P, elevated on either side above the ends of the rolls L'.
Ropes or chains M² M' are connected to the bars l, and, passing over pulleys M²,
carry counterbalancing-weights M', which tend to draw said bars toward the mill and
thus keep the ends of the followers L L against the ends of the eye-bar blank. As
the latter is reduced it necessarily lengthens, and the followers adapt themselves to
this elongation. While the followers L L, which are thinner than the blank, are
being utilized they pass, respectively, to and fro between the horizontal rolls. These
followers are only utilized at the beginning of the operation and until the bar is
sufficiently broke in to produce the shank on the eyebar, after which they are drawn
out from the mill and, by means of the levers N attached to the bars 1, are raised up
out of the way, the bar 1 turning on its journals in the slides l.
In producing the automatic reciprocation of the blank, which is fed by the action
of the rolls, it is necessary to reverse the engine at the end of each pass, and this
reversal is accomplished, first, through the action of the followers L, and afterwards
through the action of other followers, which will be presently described.
N' designates a frame or bent bar, which extends over the mill lengthwise and to
one side, and is mounted on rollers n. This frame has depending limbs n', and one
of these limbs is connected to a laterally-extending horizontal bar or arm, O, located
beyond one of the housings of the horizontal rolls. A slide, P, located at a suitable
distance from the mill and carrying a tappet or beveled block, P¹, is employed as the
medium through which the lever of the engine is operated to cause the latter to
reverse motion at proper intervals-i.e., just at the completion of each pass. The
slide P is operated from and by the frame N₁ and the bar or arm 0, which latter at
its extremity plays between the adjustable stops or blocks o, attached to the slide P.
Now, when the followers L are being utilized at the termination of each pass, one
of the bars comes in contact with the adjacent limb of the frame N¹ and moves
the latter, thus moving the arm O against one of the studs o, causing the slide P to
be shifted, and the engine-lever thereby thrown over, whereby the engine is reversed.
The operations of the mill are at once reversed and the blank and followers caused to
make a return pass. When this is being completed, the frame N₁ is shifted in the
opposite direction from that above described, and thus a counter reversal of the
engine takes place.
Instead of having the bars come in direct contact with the limbs of the frame N', the
latter may be provided with horizontal adjustable pins p, and by adjusting the latter the
periods of reversal nicely regulated. The blocks o are adjustable for a similar purpose.
As the blank during the reducing operation speedily increases in length, the
followers L L soon become inefficient. They must be so adjusted at first that the
reversals will take place while the vertical rolls are at a sufficient distance from the
ends of the blank to leave the heads or eye parts intact, but are only used until
the bar is reduced to the required width to form the shank, after which other
followers are brought into use. The latter consist, essentially, of the horizontal
rods R R¹, located between the horizontal rolls outside the working surfaces of the
latter, and so constructed and arranged that their inner ends play in recesses in
blocks R R². To the inner ends of the rods R R¹ are attached fingers or
studs R R³, which project through slots in the faces of said blocks. The latter
are located between the horizontal and vertical rolls, as shown, and are supported
upon the inner ends of the bars S S, pivotally connected with horizontal beams S' S¹.
A lever S, is connected the center of each beam S¹, and has its fulcrum in a
post, S³, so that by moving such lever the beam and the blocks may be moved into
or out of position. They are in position-i.e., in the way of the eye-bar-only after
the followers L L have been disposed of. Screws ss, in the beams S¹, are used to
limit the inward movement of the latter, and further adjustment is provided for by
making the connections S S each in two threaded pieces coupled together by a take-up
nut, The rods R R' are also made each in two threaded sections coupled together
by take-up nuts rr, by means of which the rods may be nicely adjusted to suit the
length of the eye-bar and the period at which the reversals are to take place. Now,

page_text: when the rods R R¹ and their connections are brought into requisition, the bar has
been diminished to the width of the shank. The passes then being continued, the
shoulder at one end of the eye-bar comes in contact with one of the fingers R³, and
pushes the follower a short distance. A connection having been previously made
between the rod R and the frame N¹, by means of the pivoted dogs p², attached to
said rods, the movement given to the latter is taken up by the said frame and
communicated to the slide P, so that at every pass the engine and consequently the
operation of the mill is reversed. The follower R R¹ is adapted to all the conditions
of the blank until its reduction is complete, as it operates correctly and at proper
periods, while the eye-bar gradually elongates when the heads of the eye-bar come in
contact with the follower so that the heads remain intact-i.e., without any lateral
diminution.
The followers L are drawn forward and backward when required either to bring
them into proper relation with the eye-bar or to facilitate the displacement of the
by means of the shafts W, carrying the adjustable pinions W₁, which engage with
racks W on the guides 12 when required. These shafts are attached-to the bars 1, so
that when turned backward or forward, the pinions being in engagement with the
racks. These shafts and pinions are only necessary for the withdrawal of the guides,
as the weights and ropes serve to draw the followers forward. When not in action,
the pinions are thrown out of gear with the racks.
A brake, Z, of any suitable character, is attached to the frame of the feed-table,
and is employed to obtain a purchase on the ropes when it is desired to hold the
follower and bar in any stationary position.
After the bar has been properly rolled, so as to produce the shank, it is laid upon a
straightening-bed, allowed to cool, and the length then measured off and marked,
after which the ends are reheated to a moderate degree, and the heads are cut or
punched to give them their proper shape and dimensions. The heads are then placed
in a suitable die or press and finished, so as to remove the fins, angles, or irregularities,
and render all the surface smooth and even at the same time the eye is punched out.
Having now particularly described the nature of the said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my foreign corre-
spondents I declare that what I claim is,
1. In an organized machine or rolling-mill for the manufacture of eye-bars, the
combination, with two sets of horizontal rolls, of an intermediate set of vertical rolls
adapted to roll and shape the shank of the eye-bar, one or more followers, and
mechanism, substantially as described, for automatically reversing the operation of
the mill at the completion of each pass.
.
2. In an organized machine or rolling mill for the production of eye-bars, the
combination, with two sets of horizontal rolls, of an intermediate set of vertical and
lateral-adjustable rolls for the reduction of the shank of the eye-bar, with mechanism,
substantially as described, for simultaneously moving said rolls inwardly, as set forth."
3. In an organized machine or rolling-mill for the production of eye-bars, the
combination, with the horizontal rolls, one of which is adjustable, of a vertically-
moving frame located between the housings of each pair of rolls, movable boxes or
blocks in which said adjustable roll is journaled, screw-shafts and pinions through
which said boxes or blocks are raised and lowered, a frame connecting said screw-
shafts and supported thereby, and screw shafts or bolts connecting the two frames,
whereby the latter are moved to correspond with the adjustment of the roll, sub-
stantially as described.
4. In an organized machine or rolling-mill for the production of eye-bars, the
combination, with the horizontal rolls and with the vertical rolls for diminishing or
rolling the shanks of said eye-bars, of flanged adjustable collars on said vertical
rolls, and shifting mechanism connecting said collars with the devices through which
the upper horizontal rolls are adjusted, whereby the adjustment of the latter and the
movement of the collars are effected conjointly, as set forth.
5. In an organized machine or rolling-mill for the production of eye-bars, the

page_text: combination, with the horizontal rolls and the laterally-adjustable vertical rolls having
adjustable collars, as set forth, of mechanism, substantially as described, for
automatically adjusting said collars to a height corresponding to that of the upper
horizontal rolls.
6. In a machine or rolling-mill for the production of eye-bars, the combination,
with vertical rolls adapted to form the shank of said bars, of sliding or movable
blocks or boxes to which said rolls are journaled, sliding frames to which said boxes
are connected, a steam-cylinder and piston from which power is transmitted to said
frames, and intermediate mechanism comprising linked rods or levers and toggle-
arms, substantially as described, whereby the movement of the piston effects the
lateral movement of the frames and of both the vertical rolls simultaneously, for the
purpose set forth.
7. In a rolling-mill, the combination, with laterally-adjustable vertical reducing-
rolls, of mechanism for adjusting said rolls, so that said feed shall be within definite
and variable limits, substantially as described.
8. In a rolling-mill, the combination, with laterally-movable vertical reducing-rolls
journaled in sliding boxes, of correspondingly-movable feeding-frames coupled to the
piston of an engine, and a system or systems of toothed gearing and adjusting-screws
carried by or mounted on said frames, whereby said rolls may be adjusted to move
within prescribed limits and through a prescribed field, as and for the purpose set forth.
9. In a rolling-mill, the combination, with vertical-reducing rolls, of a horizontal
power-shaft for each roll and intermediate beveled gearing, the pinion for each roll
being, respectively, on opposite ends, whereby a closer adjustment of the rolls may
be obtained and larger pinions employed, substantially as set forth.
10. In a machine or rolling-mill for the production of eye-bars, the combination,
with the reducing and shank forming rolls, of primary followers and reversing
mechanism for regulating the travel of the eye-bar in the preliminary stages of the
reducing operations, said followers being capable of displacement when not in
requisition, substantially as set forth.
11. In a machine or rolling-mill for the production of eye-bars, the combination,
with the vertical shank-reducing rolls and a longitudinally-moving frame, through
which the engine is reversed and counter reversed, of a secondary follower
constructed substantially as described and adapted to be brought into position so
that the shouldered portions of the eye-bar will alternately come in contact therewith,
whereby as each pass is being completed the engine will be automatically reversed
and the operations of the mill correspondingly reversed.
12. In a machine or rolling-mill for the production of eye-bars, the combination,
with the rolls and the primary gages, of a series of rolls upon which said followers
travel, and by which the blank or eye-bar is supported in being fed to the mill, a
transverse bar or frame to which said follower is connected outside the mill, sliding
blocks to which said transverse bar is pivoted, so that the follower may be lifted and
lowered, guides in which said blocks move, and ropes or chains, pulleys, and weights,
whereby the transverse bar and follower are drawn inwardly, substantially as
described.
13. In a rolling-mill, the combination, with the horizontal rolls, of which the
upper
roll is adjustable, and with an adjustable frame located between the housings and
coupled to the boxes of said roll, of a guide-table supported at the bottom of said
frame by means of weighted levers attached to the latter, substantially as described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.