IMPROVEMENT IN MILL PLANT FOR MAKING WIRE RODS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, EDWIN SEWALL LENOX of Worcester, in the county of Worcester, and State
of Massachusetts, one of the United States of America, Gentleman do hereby
declare the nature of my said invention for "IMPROVEMENT IN MILL PLANT FOR
MAKING WIRE RODS" to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to a system of automatically winding, or coiling heated
wire-rods at intermediate stage of the rolling or reduction of the same, and of
uncoiling said rods without unduly straining them as they are conducted in beated
condition from the coiling apparatus to the rolls or mechanism for effecting further
reduction or finishing of the rods.
The object of the present invention is, to provide a reeling apparatus in which a
heated rod may be drawn from the reel in a direction at right angles, or nearly so,
to the plane in which the coils lie, so that the reel will offer little or no resistance
on the draft of the rod, and the sudden jerk on the rod, as the swift running rolls
seize the end, will have no injurious effect by stretching or breaking the rod in its
heated and consequently weakened condition. Also, to provide a reeling apparatus,
for reeling heated rods as they come from the rolling mill, in which the central
drum of the reel is carried by frictional contact with the plate or outer portion of
the reel, in a manner that will insure the proper winding of the rod upon said
drum. Also, to provide a reeling apparatus in which the central drum, or portion
upon which the rod is wound, can be removed for releasing the coil to permit the
convenient discharge of the rod in a complete coil when desired. Also, to provide
a reel having an outer cylinder or flange and a central winding drum of inverted
conoidal or other suitable form the upper part of which is made in a manner to
facilitate the withdrawal of the rod therefrom, in a direction coincident with the
axis of the reel without interfering with the free unwinding of the coils, as
more fully hereafter explained. Also, to provide a system of reels for alternately
receiving and winding heated wire-rods issuing from the train of reducing rolls,
and having combined therewith mechanism for guiding and unwinding the rods in
a direction perpendicular to the plane in which the coils lie, as said rods are
conducted to a supplementary train or trains, of reducing and finishing rolls.
The mechanism employed comprises (1) the reducing rolls of the primary train,
(2) the delivery guide for conducting the rod from said rolls to the interior

page_text: receptacle of (3) the reel (4) the withdrawing guides, and (5) the supplemental or
finishing rolls to which the heated rod is taken from the reel for its continued
reduction, or finishing, before it has cooled.
The reel or receptacle has a plate mounted on an upright hollow arbor, supported
by suitable bearings, and provided with a gear whereby the reel is operated by
means of a shaft and gears driven from or operating in connection with the
primary rolls or in other suitable manner, so that the speed of the reel will bear a
uniform relation to the speed of said rolls. The edge of the said plate is provided
with an upright cylinder or flange which forms the outer wall of the receptacle or
space into which the rod is received. The reel is provided with a central winding
-drum.mounted upon a spindle or shaft that passes through the hollow arbor which
carries the plate and said winding drum, or-its-shaft is provided with a friction
surface or clutch device for operating said drum with the motion of the surrounding-
part. The drum is in the present instance, supported at the upper end of the shaft
in such a manner that it will turn with said shaft and independently of the plate
except for the friction, and it is detachably connected so that it can be lifted off at
will, by means of a lever or lifting device inserted at the central eye or ring. The
outer surface of the drum upon which the wire-rod is coiled is made downwardly
tapering or of inverted conoidal form, the top corners are rounded as indicated,
giving to the upper part of the drum a somewhat spheroidal form. Also, that
there will be no projecting angle upon which the rod can catch when running
from the reel. A spring and lever device or other regulating mechanism may be
arranged for adjusting the tension or pressure of the frictional contact of the
clutch.
If desired, the central winding drum may be secured to the reel plate or to the
shaft by suitable locking or fastening device so that there would be no liability of
its being displaced by the rod.
The winding drum or the reel is herein shown as of downwardly tapering form,
but it is not desired to confine the construction thereof to that particular shape.
The above form, however, is preferable.
A tapering guide is arranged for conducting the rod from the rolls into the space
between the winding drum and rim. Said guide may be bifurcated and provided
with a switch for alternately directing rods to the right or left when two separate
reels are employed. Said guide or guides can be hinged to swing up and down
and suitable mechanism may be combined therewith for automatically lifting the
end of the guide as the coil of wire increases in height within the receptacle.
Above the receptacle or reel at a suitable height to permit the convenient
removal of the winding drum guide devices are arranged for. drawing the rod out
from the reel or receptacle in a direction perpendicular to the plane in which the
coils lie. Said guide devices may be mounted on any suitable supporting frame.
The guide may consist of one or more hollow faced rolls either alone or in
combination with a guiding eye.
Entering and transferring guides for directing the rod to the grooves or passes
of the several reducing rolls are arranged in connection with the rolls in the usual
or any suitable manner.
In the operation of this improved reeling apparatus, the end of the rod in
coming from the rolls shoots from the guide into the annular space between the
outer rim and winding frame of the reel. The driving gearing of the reel is
arranged to impart to the reel plate a velocity of motion slightly greater than that
of the rod as it is delivered on the said plate, so that as the end of the rod is
carried around within the space, the coils tighten upon the winding drum and the
friction surfaces slip upon each other so that the periphery of the drum is retarded
to take up the rod only so fast as it is delivered from the guide winding it in
successive coils upon the surface of the winding drum close down to the plate or
bottom of the reel, the guide being elevated by the lifting mechanism only so fast
as required by the piling up of the coils of wire-rod. When the entire rod is

page_text: delivered and coiled in the reel, the attendant taking the last end of the rod
passes it through the eye and guide rolls and then inserts it into the bite of the
supplemental or finishing rolls and the coils are unwound from the reel in reverse
order from that in which they were coiled on the drum, the strain on the rod being
in a direction at right angles or nearly so, to the plane in which the coils lie, the
several rings of the coil are consecutively raised from the winding drum in an easy
and regular manner and without undue strain upon the rod.
The rods from the primary train of reducing rolls are preferably alternately sent
to the right and left. The reels being designed to revolve in opposite directions.
In case it is desired to remove the wire-rods from the reel in complete coils, the
central or winding drum may be lifted off from its shaft or spindle leaving the coil
within the receptacle, from which it can be then easily lifted by means of suitable
grappling hooks.

page_text: I, EDWIN SEWALL LENOX of Worcester, in the County of Worcester, and Stato
of Massachusetts, one of the United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to a system of automatically winding, or coiling beated
wire-rods at intermediate stage of the rolling or reduction of the same, and of
uncoiling said rods without unduly straining them as they are conducted in heated
condition from the coiling apparatus to the rolls or mechanism for effecting further
reduction or finishing of-the-rods.
With reeling apparatus employed in a wire mill-plant for reeling hot wire-rods
as they are delivered from the first section of the rolling mill, and coiled up at an
intermediate stage of their reduction, the end of the rod being subsequently taken
from the reel to a supplementary or finishing train of rolls, and unwound from the
reel before the rod is cooled; if the rod is drawn from the reel in a direction
coincident with the plane in which the coils of wire lie, the speed at which the rod
is taken by the leading rolls of the supplemental train, as its end is fed to them, is
such as to cause sudden strain up on the rod, which, in its soft and pliable con-
dition is liable to cause the breaking or pulling apart of the rod before the reel
attains a degree of rotary motion sufficient to deliver the rod from the reel as fast
as it is taken up by the rolls.
The object of my present invention is, to provide a reeling apparatus in which a
heated rod may be drawn from the reel in a direction at right angles or nearly so,
to the plane in which the coils lie, so that the reel will offer little or no resistanco
on the draft of the rod, and the sudden jerk on the rod as the swift running rolls
seize the end, will have no injurious effect by stretching or breaking the rod in its
heated and consequently weakened condition. Also, to provide a reeling apparatus,
for reeling heated rods as they come from the rolling mill, in which the central
drum of the reel is carried by frictional contact with the plate, or outer portion of
the reel, in a manner that will insure the proper winding of the rod upon said
drum. Also, to provide a reeling apparatus in which the central drum, or portion
upon which the rod is wound, can be removed for releasing the coil to permit the
convenient discharge of the rod in a complete coil when desired. Also, to provide
. a reel having an outer cylinder or flange and a central winding drum of inverted
conoidal or other suitable form, the upper part of which is made in a manner to
facilitate the withdrawal of the rod therefrom, in a direction coincident with the
axis of the reel without interfering with the free unwinding of the coils, as more
fully hereafter explained. Also, to provide a system of reels for alternately
receiving and winding heated wire-rods issuing from the train of reducing rolls,
and having combined therewith mechanism for guiding and unwinding the rods in
a direction perpendicular to the plane in which the coils lie, as said rods are
conducted to a supplementary train, or trains, of reducing and finishing rolls.

page_text: These objects I attain by mechanism, the nature and operation of which is
illustrated in the accompanying drawings and explained in the following
description, the particular subject matter claimed being hereinafter definitely
specified.
In the drawings-
Figure 1 is a plan view of mechanism illustrating the nature of my invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical, sectional view of portions of a wire-rod mill-plant embracing
features of my invention, and illustrating the arrangement of the reel in connection
with primary and supplementary trains of reducing rolls.
Figure 3 is a plan view showing roller guides and Figure 4 shows the construction
of guiding eyes, to be used for guiding the rod as it is drawn from the reel in a
direction perpendicular to the plane of its coils.
In reference to parts, A denotes the latter reducing rolls of the primary train;
B indicates the delivery guide for conducting the rod from said rolls A to the
interior receptacle of the reel C; D indicates the withdrawing guides, and E the
supplemental or finishing rolls to which the heated rod is taken from the reel for its
continued reduction, or finishing, before it has cooled.
The reel or receptacle Cinto which the rod is coiled may be constructed as shown
in Figure 2 the plate C¹ being mounted on an upright hollow arbor, supported by
suitable bearings, and provided with a gear G whereby the reel is operated by
means of a shaft G₁ and gears G₁ driven from or operating in connection with the
primary rolls A or in other suitable manner so that the speed of the reel will bear
a uniform relation to the speed of said rolls A. The edge of the plate C¹ is
provided with an upright cylinder or flange C which forms the outer wall of the
receptacle or space into which the rod is received. The reel is provided with a
central winding drum F mounted upon a spindle or shaft F¹ that passes through
the hollow arbor which carries the plate C₁ and said winding drum, or its shaft is
provided with a friction surface or clutch device H for operating said drum with the
motion of the surrounding part or plate C¹.
The drum is in the present instance, supported at the upper end of the shaft F¹
in such a manner that it will turn with said shaft and independently of the
plate C¹ except for the friction, and it is detachably connected so that it can be
lifted off at will, by means of a lever or lifting device inserted at the central eye
or ring f. The outer surface of the drum upon which the wire-rod is coiled is
made downwardly tapering or of inverted conoidal form, the top corners are
rounded as indicated at r, giving to the upper part of the drum a somewhat
spheroidal form. Also, that there will be no projecting angle upon which the rod
can catch when running from the reel. A spring and lever device K or other
regulating mechanism may be arranged for adjusting the tension or pressure of the
frictional contact of the clutch H.
The frictional contact or surface for operating the winding drum from the outer
portion of the reel C may be arranged at any convenient position and in any
convenient form for effecting the revolution of the parts in the relative manner
specified.
If desired, the central winding drum F may be secured to the reel plate or to the
shaft F by suitable locking or fastening device so that there would be no liability
of its being displaced by the rod.
The winding drum For the reel is herein shown as of downwardly tapering
form, but I do not desire to confine the construction thereof to that particular
shape as it may be made with vertical, straight, or corrugated sides, or may be
upwardly tapering if desired. I prefer, however, the form shown.
-
A tapering guide B is arranged for conducting the rod from the rolls A into the
space between the winding drum F and rim C2. Said guide may be bifurcated and
provided with a switch 6 for alternately directing rods to the right or left when
two separate reels are employed, as illustrated in Figure 1 and, where only a single
reel is used a single tubular guide will be sufficient. Said guide or guides, can be

page_text: hinged as at b', to swing up and down and suitable mechanism may be combined
therewith for automatically lifting the end of the guide as the coil of wire increases
in height within the receptacle C. In the present instance, I have shown a work L
on the shaft G2 operating a shaft l'carrying a gear that meshes with a rack m
which latter is connected to the guide B for lifting the clutch, or lever m³, which
may be connected with the gear that operates the rack so that said gear can be
unclutched from the shaft and the rack and guide permitted to drop to their
normal position before starting another rod into the reel.
Above the receptacle or reel C, at a suitable height to permit the convenient
removal of tho winding drum F, I arrange guide devices for drawing the rod out
from the reel or receptacle in a direction perpendicular to the plane in which the
coils lie. Said guide devices may be mounted-on-any-suitable-supporting-frame,
as D' and are preferably located at a position in line with and above the axis of
the reel. The guide D may consist of one or more hollow faced rolls as indicated
in Figures 2 and 3, either alone or in combination with a guiding eye d, which eye
may be made as shown in Figure 4 or in other convenient form.
It will be understood that entering and transferring guides p for directing the
rod to the grooves or passes of the several reducing rolls are arranged in connection
with the rolls in the usual or any suitable manner.
In the present drawings, I have shown the clutches for throwing the reels into
and out of action as arranged in the shaft G¹; but it will be understood that any
suitable style of clutches for that purpose, may be arranged in combination with
any portion of the driving mechanism where most convenient; and also, that
brake mechanism may be-arranged-in-any-convenient manner combined with the
reeling receptacles or their driving gear for quickly retarding their motion or
stopping them as required.
In the operation of my improved reeling apparatus, the end of the rod in coming
from the rolls A, shoots from the guide B into the annular space between the
outer rim C and winding frame of the reel. The driving gearing of the reel is
arranged to impart to the reel plate a velocity of motion slightly greater than that
of the rod as it is delivered on the said plate, so that as the end of the rod is
carried around within the space, the coils tighten upon the winding drum and the
friction surfaces at H slip upon each other so that the periphery of the drum is
retarded to take up the rod only so fast as it is delivered from the guide B
winding it in successive coils upon the surface of the winding drum close down to
the plate or bottom of the reel, the guide B being elevated by the lifting
mechanism only so fast as required by the piling up of the coils of wire-rod.
When the entire rod is delivered and coiled in the reel, the attendant taking the
last end of the rod passes it through the eye d and guide rolls at D, and then
inserts it into the bite of the supplemental or finishing rolls E and the coils are
unwound from the reel in reverse order from that in which they were coiled on the
drum, the strain on the rod being in a direction at right angles or nearly so, to the
plane in which the coils lie, the several rings of the coil are consecutively raised
from the winding drum in an easy and regular manner and without undue strain
upon the rod.
With the two recling devices arranged as in Figure 1 the rods from the primary
train of reducing rolls are alternately sent to the right and left. The reels are
designed to revolve in opposite directions as indicated by arrows. While the rod
is being wound onto one of the reels, the rod upon the other reel may be in the
process of unwinding and passing to the supplemental train of finishing rolls.
In case it is desired to remove the wire-rods from the reel in complete coils, the
central or winding drum F may be lifted off from its shaft or spindle F' leaving
the coil within the receptacle, from which it can be then easily lifted by means of
suitable grappling hooks. The outer rim C may be made removable from the
plate or bottom of the reel, or it may be permanently connected therewith, if
desired.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A revolving reel or rod-receiving receptacle having facilities for automatically
winding up a hot wire-rod, in combination with a guiding device for drawing the
wire-rod from said reel in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the coils and a
supplemental set of rolls for further reducing or finishing said rod.
"
2. In a plant for reducing wire-rods, the combination, of a receptacle for
receiving the hot rod in regular or irregular coils, a guide for withdrawing said
rod in a direction perpendicular, or substantially so, to the plane of the coils, and
a set or series of reducing rolls, substantially for the purpose set forth.
3. In a plant for making wire-rods, the combination, of a primary train of
reducing rolls, a receptacle for receiving and winding the rod in regular or irregular
coils, a guide for directing the rod from the primary reducing rolls into said
receptacle a guide for withdrawing said rod in a direction perpendicular, or
substantially so, to the plane of the coils, and a supplementary set or series of
reducing rolls.
4. In a plant for reducing wire by rolling from hot, coiled rods the combination
of a coil supporting receptacle, having a central drum, a guide disposed at a
position beyond said drum in line, or nearly so, with the axis thereof, and a set,
or sets, of reducing rolls disposed to receive the rod from said receptacle and guide,
substantially as described.
5. A revolvable reel for reeling wire-rods, having a supporting plate, and a
central winding drum mounted thereon, for independent rotative action and
operated by means of friction, substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.
6. In a reel for coiling or reeling wire-rods, the combination, with a revolvable
reel plate, having an outer cylindrical rim, a central, independently revolvable
drum, and a friction clutching surface for connecting and imparting motion to said
drum for operation with said plate, substantially as set forth.
7. In a reel for coiling wire-rods, the combination with, a revolvable reel plate
having an outer cylindrical rim, of a removable central winding drum or cone as F,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
8. The combination, of the revolvable reel having an outer cylinder, and a
frictionally operated winding drum, the rod reducing rolls A, the reel driving
devices operating in connection with said rolls, and the delivering guide D for
conducting the rod from, said roll to the receptacle of the reel, substantially as
shown and described.
9. In a plant for rolling wire-rods, the combination of the primary and secondary
trains of rolls the oppositely revolving reels provided with peripheral rim C² and
frictionally operated winding drums F, the bifurcated guide provided with a switch
device b, the withdrawing guides D, and mechanism for imparting motion to said
reels, substantially as described for the purpose set forth.
10. The combination, in a wire-rod reeling mechanism of a revolvable reel plate
having an outer cylinder, a central winding drum operated by frictional contact
with the reel plate driving mechanism, and an adjusting device, as K. for regulating'
the tension of the friction, substantially as set forth.
Dated IL:
L 1
CL 1000