AN MENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLING IRON AND STEEL WIRE
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Cruikshank, of Princes End, near Tipton,
in the County of Stafford, Roller, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVE-
Sonny Winn"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Cruikshank at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 14th
February 1857.
I, JOHN CRUIKSHANK, of Princes End, near Tipton, in the County of Stafford,
Roller, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVE-
MENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLING IRON AND STEEL WIRE," to be as follows:-
In the ordinary method of rolling iron and steel wire one velocity only of
the rolls is used. The billet or pile of heated iron to be reduced to wire is
passed through grooved rolls, the grooves being of diminishing size.
My. Invention consists in rolling. iron and steel wire by two, three, or more
different velocities in the rolls, the said rolls working at the same time in the
same mill or otherwise. The piece of iron or steel being passed in succession.
through the different rolls at one heating, thereby facilitating the rolling of the
wire when the billet or pile of iron is partially reduced, which will be at the
first pair of rolls; it is liable to cool rapidly, and at this stage, it is passed to
the rolls having the greater velocity, by which mode of working I am enabled
to finish the rods more quickly than by the ordinary process, and whilst still
retaining their heat.
By my method I am enabled to roll wire of greater length than by the
ordinary method, which, is of great importance when the wire is used for
fencing, for making rope, and for various other purposes.

page_text: DF ECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, nied
by the said John Cruikshank in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th August 1857.**
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
CRUIKSHANK; of Princes End, near Tipton, in the County of Stafford, Roller,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date, the Fourteenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Cruikshank, .Her special licence that I, the said John Cruikshank,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Cruikshank, my executors, administrators, and 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
yend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ROLLING IRON AND STEEL WIRE," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John Cruikshank, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my,,or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office, within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
1
t NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Cruikshank, 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 thereof, that is to say :-
:
>
In the ordinary method of rolling iron and steel wire one velocity.only of
the.rolls is used, that is to say, the rolling is effected by passing the heated
rod through grooves of progressively diminishing diameter, the said grooves
being formed in the same pair of rolls, or in different rolls driven at the samė
speed.
:
My Invention consists in rolling iron and steel wire by means of rolls,
to which two, three, or more different velocities are given, the said rolls work-
ing at the same time in. the same mill, or otherwise, that is to say, the rolls
between which the heated rod is passed move with greater velocity in pro-

page_text: portion as the grooves in them are less, so that the heated rod passes at a
higher velocity between the rolls in proportion as its diameter diminishes.
The billet of iron or steel is passed. in succession through the different rolls
at one heating. When the billet or pile of iron or steel is reduced in diameter
it is liable to cool more rapidly, in consequence of the greater extent of surface
exposed to the air, and this tendency to cool goes on increasing as the rod is
reduced. But when the billet or rod is rolled according to my Invention, the
velocity of the rolls is increased as the diameter of the rod diminishes, and
the tendency to cool is counterbalanced by the greater rapidity of the rolling.
I am thus enabled to finish the rods more quickly than by the ordinary process
and whilst still retaining their heat.
My method of manufacture also enables me to roll wire of greater length
than can be effected by the ordinary method, which is of great importance
when the wire is used for fencing or making rope, and for various other
purposes.
My Invention is applicable to the rolling of all such rods of iron and steel
as are or may be used in the manufacture of iron and steel wire.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit
myself to the precise details herein described, as the same may be varied
without departing from the nature of my said Invention; but I claim as my
Invention the improvement or improvements in rolling iron and steel wire
herein-before described, that is to say, rolling billets or piles or rods of heated
iron and steel, so as to manufacture therefrom iron and steel wire or rods,
which are or may be made into wire, by the "use" of rolls driven at velocities
which increase as the diameter of the rod diminishes.
11.J
In witness whereof, I, the said John Cruikshank, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
-Witness,
WILLIAM GRIFFITHS PROVERBS.
JOHN CRUIKSHANK. (L.S.)