IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLING MILLS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Edwards, of the Firm of Edwards and Co.,
Patent Agents and Engineers, of 40, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLING
MILLS." A communication from abroad by Gustav Erkenzweig, of Hagen,
Westphalia, in the Empire of Germany.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmund Edwards at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd December 1881.
EDMUND EDWARDS of the Firm of Edwards and Co-Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 40, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
sex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLING MILLS." [A communication from abroad by
Gustav Erkenzweig, of Hagen, Westphalia, in the Empire of Germany.]
This Invention relates to rolling mills used for the purpose of rolling bars of
iron, steel, or other metal, in which pairs of rolls both horizontal and vertical are
used; and it has for its objects novel methods of constructing such rolling mills, so
that the vertical rolls, which automatically receive the metal which has been first
rolled between horizontal rolls, are capable of being easily and quickly moved
horizontally for a distance equal to the length of the horizontal rolls, so that they
can be adjusted in any required position in front of the latter, and vertically for a
distance equal to their own length any part of which can therefore be brought
opposite to the horizontal rolls.
By this novel method of construction and arrangement each groove in the
horizontal rolls can be made as desired to come opposite to and correspond with
each groove in the vertical rolls.
In order to carry out the Invention, the frames or standards which carry the
bearings of the horizontal rolls are fitted at their lower ends into guides formed
upon the base plate of the mill, parallel with the horizontal rolls, in such manner
that they can be moved laterally into any desired position and be fixed in such
position when adjusted, by means of bolts or wedges, or both.

page_text: The frames or standards are also provided with vertical guides, in which the
bearings which carry the vertical rolls are capable of being moved vertically into
any desired position, being also fixed when so adjusted in a similar manner.
In order that the vertical rolls described may be driven at a velocity properly
corresponding with that of the metal entering them from the horizontal rolls, each
pair of vertical rolls is driven by a separate driving belt of leather or other suitable
material in the ordinary way, such driving belts being fitted loosely round their
pulleys and tightened sufficiently by means of separate pressure rollers or pulleys
pressed against them by means of springs or weights.
The belt being driven at a speed somewhat greater than is requisite, will slip
upon the pulleys if the strain upon the metal which is being rolled becomes too
great, and the velocity of the rolls will thus be automatically regulated as desired.
The method of arrangement last described may be applied to rolls which receive
the metal to be rolled from other rolls similarly situated, as well as to combinations
of vertical and horizontal rolls.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edmund Edwards in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd June 1882.
EDMUND EDWARDS, of the Firm of Edwards and Co-Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 40, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
sex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLING MILLS." A communication from abroad by
Gustav Erkenzweig, of Hagen, Westphalia, in the Empire of Germany.
This Invention relates to rolling mills used for the purpose of rolling bars of
iron, steel, or other metal, in which pairs of rollers both horizontal and vertical are
used; and it has for its objects novel methods of constructing such rolling mills
and of mounting and driving the vertical rolls so that the latter, which automatically
receive the metal which has been first rolled between horizontal rolls, are capable
of being quickly and easily moved horizontally through a distance equal to the
length of the horizontal rolls and can be adjusted and fixed in any required
position in front of the latter; whilst they are also capable of adjustment vertically
through a distance equal to their own length, any part of which can therefore be
brought opposite to the horizontal rolls.
The accompanying Drawing is in illustration of the Invention, Figure 1 being a
plan, Figure 2 a front view, and Figure 3 a side view of a rolling mill. The same
letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several Figures. a, a, are two
horizontal frames, firmly connected together by four intermediate pieces or
stays b, b, b, b, bolted between them, so that these frames which carry the vertical
rolls constitute a solid piece of machinery which is capable of being raised or
lowered as desired in the vertical frame c. The bearings of the vertical rolls are
adjusted in the horizontal frames a, a, in the usual well understood way.
The vertical frame c containing the frames a, a, and the vertical rolls is capable
of moving borizontally in the horizontal foundation plate i for a distance equal to
the length of the horizontal rolls, and is also of sufficient height to allow the
vertical rolls to be raised or lowered in it through a distance equal to their own
length. The raising or lowering in this manner of the frames a, a, and the vertical
rolls is effected by means of two or more screws d and they are fixed in any desired
position by means of screws e, and by keys on the opposite side of the frames a, a.
Driving spindles f, f¹, are connected to the vertical rolls by couplings, and are
provided with key ways or grooves in which are fitted keys in the toothed
wheels g, g', and the bevilled toothed wheel the latter being firmly connected to
the toothed wheel g¹. The wheel g' gears with and is driven by the corresponding
bevilled toothed wheel h¹ upon a shaft revolving in bearings as shewn and driven
by the pulley k.
By the method of construction and arrangement described and shewn, it is
possible to bring every part or groove of the vertical rolls opposite to every part
or groove of the horizontal rolls.
In order to drive the sets of vertical rollers arranged as shewn in Figure 1, two
parallel driving shafts are used above the horizontal rolls, as shewn in Figure 3.
These two driving shafts are driven in opposite directions, either by the same
motive power which drives the horizontal rolls, or by a separate motive power.
Upon these driving shafts are fixed driving pullies the length of which is equal to
the length of the horizontal rolls, so that the vertical rolls may be adjusted as
already described opposite to any part of the length of the horizontal ones, or the
driving pullies may be made moveable so that they can be keyed in their proper
position upon the driving shaft when the position of the vertical rolls has been
adjusted.

page_text: The pulley k is driven by a belt from one of these driving pullies as shewn in
Figures 2 and 3, the belt being of such length as to be loose upon the pullies, but
being tightened sufficiently by means of a loose pulley pressed against it by a
spring or by a lever and weight, as shewn at in Figures 2 and 3. The motion of
the pulley is transmitted by the bevilled wheels h, h', to the toothed wheels g, g',
and through the spindles f, fi, to the vertical rolls.
It is important that the velocity of the vertical rolls should correspond properly
with that of the metal which is to be rolled after it leaves the horizontal rolls, and
in order to prevent upsetting or compression of the metal in the guides, the velocity
of the vertical rolls is made to exceed very slightly that of the metal entering
them, whilst to prevent such increased velocity from tearing and injuring the metal,
the pressure of the loose roller is adjusted so that the driving belt slips upon the
pullies if the strain upon the inetal becomes too great.
In arrangements of rolling mill machinery, where, instead of that described
above, the metal to be rolled, after having passed between one pair of horizontal
rolls is fed automatically between another pair of horizontal rolls, only one upper
driving shaft is required. According to the direction of rotation of the pairs of
horizontal rolls (corresponding with the vertical rolls in the arrangement already
described and shewn) the upper or lower roll is brought into connection with the
driving shaft.
Having now particularly described the Invention and the manner in which it
is to be performed I claim:-First-The method of moving the vertical rolls up
and down for their own length, and horizontally through a space equal to the
length of the horizontal rolls, substantially as and for the purpose described and
shewn in the Drawing--Second-The method of driving the vertical rolls in
the arrangement described and shewn, or the vertical or horizontal rolls receiving
the metal to be rolled from another pair of rolls through which it first passes, by
means of one driving belt for each pair of such rolls, the driving belt receiving the
necessary tension by means of a loose pressure roller, pressed against the belt by
one or more weights or springs, substantially as described and shewn in the
Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edmund Edwards have hereunto set my hand
and seal this 20th day of June in the year of our Lord 1882.