Improvements in the Process and Apparatus for Step by Step Rolling of Tubes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, Ord Sept, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 1st June, 195-Accepted. 22nd Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 1st June, 195-Accepted. 22nd Aug., 1896
neot einen nin unpoddu in an
[Communicated from abroad by REINHARD MANNESMANN and MAX MANNESMANN,
both of Remschied-Bliedinghausen, Germany, Engineers.]
Improvements in the Process and Apparatus for Step by Step
Rolling of Tubes.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of London, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the process and apparatus for gradual or step-by-step
rolling of tubes on mandrels with segmentally recessed rolls that act intermittently
upon the tube which is being rolled, and which reciprocates forwards and
backwards between the rolls in the manner described in the Specification No. 3371
of 1891.
The present invention relates chiefly to means for actuating the mandrel and
regulating the amount of material treated at each action of the rolls, by stops against
which the tube or the mandrel is moved at cach reciprocation.
While the rolls, which are segmentally recessed, present their recessed parts
towards each other the mandrel and blank are pushed forwards together towards
them as far as permitted by the stop and the rolls then act on the portion of the
work thus advanced between them, rolling it out in length and moving the rear
part of the blank back against the stop, which by means of a screw is advanced
step by step, so that all parts of the blank are brought gradually and successively
between the rolls, and acted upon by them.
The wear and tear and heating of the mandrel are thus distributed over a
considerable surface, so that the durability of the mandrel is greatly increased, and
the mandrel is prevented from being itself rolled out or extended along with the
tube.
The stop may arrest a collar on the mandrel a spring being preferably interposed
between the stop and the collar. Or the stop may be of fork form projecting
between the rolls and arresting the end of that part of the blank which is not yet
reduced by the rolls, while it allows the reduced part to pass between its prongs.
In some cases a collar formed on the rear end of the blank serves to arrest the
advance of the blank when it meets the stop, or the advance may be arrested by
the end of the reduced part of the tube meeting the stop. The position of the stop
is adjusted preferably by a screw.
Dated this 3rd day of September 1895.
ABEL & IMKAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in the Process and Apparatus for Step by Step
Rolling of Tubes.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of London, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what mauner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
This invention relates to the process and apparatus for gradual or step by step
rolling of tubes on mandrels with segmentally recessed rolls that act intermittently
upon the tubular object which is being rolled, and which reciprocates forwards and
backwards and at the same time has an advancing motion between the rolls in the
manner described in the Specification to Patent No. 3371 of 1891.
The present improvements relate chiefly to processes and apparatus:
a, for actuating the mandrel of the rolling mill.
b, for regulating the amount of metal to be acted upon by the rolls at each
operation by means of an abutment piece against which the tubular object on the
mandrel is pushed each time.
C,
for supporting the tubular object to be rolled upon the mandrel by means of a
limiting stop connected to the mandrel, against which the rear end of the tube to
be rolled bears either permanently or periodically.
The mandrel and the tubular object to be rolled are simultaneously pushed
forward against the rolls while they at the same time perform a forward and back-
ward reciprocating motion, whereby on the one hand all parts of the tubular object
are by degrees brought between the rolls, and worked, and, on the other hand, the
mandrel serves by degrees as abutment for the rolls for the working of the tube
along a greater length than corresponds to the length of that part of the periphery
of the rolls which acts on the tube.
The wear of the mandrel and, when working red hot metals, also the heating
thereof is thus distributed over a greater length, thereby greatly increasing the
durability of the mandrel, and preventing it from being elongated together with the
tube by the rolling pressure.
The advance of the mandrel and tube is, in the arrangement shewn at Figs. 1, 2
and 8 of the accompanying drawings, under the control of a screw spindle, which
moves an abutment piece forward.
Against this abutment piece is pushed, during the intervals of action in Fig. 1
the mandrel, in Fig. 2 the rear flanged end of the tubular object and in Fig. 8
the front end of the rolled tube. The extent of movement of the abutment
piece by the screw spindle determines the quantity of the material operated
upon by the rolls at each attack thereof. Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 shew a modified
form of the abutment piece, which in this case is made to project in a forked form
between the rolls and the front end of the tubular ingot, as also, after the commence-
ment of the rolling operation, the conical connection or shoulder between the rolled
and the unrolled part, is pushed against the abutment, which allows the passage of
the finished tube, but prevents the passage of the unrolled part or of the coned
connecting shoulder.
The position of this abutment piece between the rolls in this case determines the
quantity of material to be worked at each operation.
In order to roll long tubes by means of short mandrels, and for determining
the position of the tubular ingot relatively to the mandrel, there is provided on
the mandrel a stop against which the rear end of the tubular ingot permanently
or periodically abuts during the rolling, so that when the ingot is considerably

page_text: elongated by the rolling, the front end of the tube becomes pushed towards the front
end of the mandrel and beyond the same.
In order during the rolling to act also on the extreme rear end of the tubular
object, which part is last acted upon by the rolls, the limiting stop which is applied
to the rear end of the tubular object can be moved away therefrom before the
moment when the rolls are to seize and act on this extreme end thereof so that the
rolls cau freely elongate it on the mandrel.
If this movement of the limiting stop on the mandrel for freeing the rear end of
the tubular object be dispensed with, by fixing it on the mandrel, the extreme rear
end of the object cannot be completely worked.
The arrangements for the advance of the tube or mandrel up to the abutment are
not shewn on the drawings, as this can be effected by hand.
7"
In the various figures a are the rolls, 6 the abutment piece, the tubular object
to be rolled, the mandrel d' a collar on the mandrel which bears against the
abutment b, the part of the tubular object which bears against the abutment, s is
the screw spindle which moves the abutment piece forwards or backwards, p the
screw spindle which advances the device for supporting and periodically freeing
the rear end of the object; t is a buffer spring against which the collar d' on the
mandril d bears, and which takes up the forward thrust of the tubular object and
mandrel, e is a limiting stop, a sleeve or a thickening on the mandrel (Fig. 9)
against which the object is periodically applied.
.
1, 9,¸9¹ g² g³ h¹² i and o refer to the connection of the sleeve e with the
advancing spindle p. The rolls are preferably rotated in the direction of the
arrows.
Fig. 1 shews a longitudinal section through the tubular object to be rolled, the
roll grooves, and the abutment piece advanced by the screw spindle, against which
the inandrel is pushed with its collar d'. The buffer spring t or other suitable
yielding device renders the impact elastic.
In Figs. 2 and 8 the same longitudinal section is shewn, but in Fig. 2 a collar
on the rear end of the tubular ingot bears against the abutment, while in Fig. 8 the
rolled tube bears against the abutment. In place of causing the tube to bear
against the abutment, the mandril may be made to bear against it.
It will be seen that in Figs. 1, 2 and 8 the extent of the displacement of the
abutment determines the quantity of material operated upon at one time by the
rolls.
Fig. 3 shews the vertical longitudinal section through the tubular object, the rolls,
and an abutment connected to the housings of the rolls, the abutment being in this
case of a forked shape, and made to project between the rolls.
The tubular object is shown in the position in which it is seized by the rolls.
The farther back the abutment is shifted the greater is the attack of the rolls on
the object.
Fig. 4 shews the same section but the tubular object is here in the position in
which it is released by the rolls.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section through a fork shaped abutment piece which is adjust-
able by means of a screw spindle.
The bearing block is connected to the housings; by a forward or backward.
adjustment of the abutment piece b, the extent of the material to be acted upon at
each operation can be varied.
Fig. 6 is a horizontal longitudinal section through the tubular object and the
abutment piece, and shews the conical transition or shoulder between the rolled
tube and the unrolled part, such shoulder being in contact with the abutment.
This is the position of the tubular object at the moment when it is seized by the
rolls.
The abutment & has an opening which allows the finished tube a free passage,
but does not allow of the passage of the unrolled part and conical shoulder.
Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section through an abutment piece which is of

page_text: tubular form at the rear end and is fork shaped in front, and is provided with
buffer springs.
The buffer springs transfer the impact between the tubular object and the
abutment to the housings of the rolls.
Fig. 9 is a vertical longitudinal section through the tubular object, the roll
framing with the roll grooves, the abutment, the tubular limiting stop e on the
mandrel and the mechanism for shifting the limiting stop on the mandrel for the
purpose of freeing the last portion of the rear end of the tubular object at the moment
when it is attacked by the rolls.
Fig. 10 shews a cross section through the mechanism for shifting the limiting
stop on the mandrel.
Fig. 11 shews the plan of the same mechanism.
The limiting stop e on the mandrel is connected by means of lateral pivots and
the connecting links to the pivots g³ fixed on the lever g. Extensions of the
pivots 93 carry blocks which slide in the guides h²; h is a block in which the
mandrel is rotatably mounted and which has lateral studs ' rotatably mounted in
the eye g² of the lever g; g is connected by means of pivots gl and guide links i
with the moveable slide o, which can be shifted in the direction of the rolling action
by means of screw spindle p. The length of lever from g¹ to g² is greater than
that from gl to 93; in consequence hereof the sleeve e is shifted on the mandrel when
the lever g is turned backward or forward on its pivots.
In Fig. 9 the tubular object is represented in the moment when it is attacked by
the rolls. The limiting stop e has, during the idle forward motion of the tubular
object and mandrel, been shifted backward on the latter, whereby the rear end of
the tubular object is set free and can be worked by the rolls. When the tubular
object is moved backwards by the rolls, the sleeve e will again bear against the
same.
The forked abutment piece with a conical extension and which projects between
the rolls, is secured to the roll housings at Fig. 9.
The tubular object is pushed forward until its coned shoulder bears against the
abutment before it is attacked by the rolls.
If it is not required to set free the rear end of the tubular object, the sleeve e
can be fixed on the mandrel. The said rear end then remains unacted upon, and
the mechanism, for shifting the sleeve e on the mandrel is dispensed with.
Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section through the tubular object the roll grooves and
the abutment, and shews the limiting stop e fixed to the mandrel d. The rear end
of the tubular object is applied against this stop, so that the other end thereof
when the tube is elongated by the rolling, will be pushed over the small front end
of the mandrel, as shewn.
The rolls move the tubular object with the mandrel backwards, in rolling upon
the same.
As soon as the rolls release the tubular object, the mandrel together with the
tubular object is pushed forward again, preferably by hand, until it bears against
the abutment, both being at the same time turned round through 90°. The tubular
object is then again seized by the rolls, and pushed back, then they are again
pushed forward, and so on.
The tubular body operated upon and its mandrel are, after each operation of the
rolls, fed farther forward between the latter, such forward feed being regulated and
controlled either by the abutment piece moved forward by the screw spindle s, as
at Figs. 1, 2 and 8 or by the stationary abutment piece Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 12,
whereby by degrees all parts of the tubular object, with the exception, in certain
cases above referred to, of the extreme rear end, are acted upon by the rolls. At
the same time the point of action on the mandrel also advances by degrees, corre-
sponding to the advance of the abutment piece, so that in working red hot metals,
the heating of the mandrel is not confined to a limited part thereof, but is distributed
over almost the entire length of the mandrel.

page_text: A buffer springt Fig. 1, lessens the impact of the tubular object and man rel
during the advance or takes it up entirely and regulates, in combination with the
abutment piece b advanced by a screw spindle or equivalent device, the advance of
the mandril and tubular object.
The movable abutment shewn in Figure 1 with buffer springs for lessening or
neutralizing the impact, can also be advantageously combined with the abutment
piece projecting between the rolls as at Figures 3 and 7, whereby a rapid working
will be facilitated.
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. In rolling mills for step by step rolling of tubular objects on mandrels, the
metl.od of causing intermittently acting rolls to operate upon a highly heated.
tubular object situated on a reciprocating mandrel having a combined forward and
backward and advancing motion, which mandrel is advanced between the rolls after
each operation, whereby a different portion of the mandrel is at each operation
made to act as abutment for the rolls when operating on the tubular object, and
thus the heat transmitted to the mandrel is distributed over a greater surface.
thereof, substantially as described.
2. In rolling mills for step by step rolling of tubular objects on mandrels with.
intermittently acting rolls, the method of causing at each operation of the rolls, a
definite quantity of material to be seized thereby and to be rolled out on the
mandrel, this being effected by the provision of abutment pieces in definite positions.
relatively to the rolls which abutment pieces are either fixed or movable or provided
with spring action and which determine the position of the tubular object to be
acted upon or of the mandrel at the moment of attack, substantially as described.
3. In rolling mills for step by step rolling of tubular objects on mandrels,.
operating as set forth in the second claim, arranging the abutment piece to project
between the rolls so that the advance of the tubular object operated upon is
controlled by the conical shoulder thereof coming in contact with the abutment
piece, substantially as described.
4. Process for step by step rolling of tubular objects on mandrels with inter--
mittently acting rolls, whereby tubes can be produced of greater length than the
mandrel, consisting in providing the reciprocating and advancing mandrel with a.
limiting stop either fixed or movable thereon, and which is either continuously or
periodically in contact with the rear extremity of the tubular object being rolled,.
so that on the rolling and elongation of the tubular object on the mandrel, it will
advance towards and pass beyond the front end of the mandrel, substantially as.
described.
5. In the process for step by step rolling of tubular objects on mandrels referred
to in the 4th claim, arranging the limiting stop on the mandrel to be moved out of
contact with the rear end of the tubular object so as to set this free and allow such..
rear end to be acted upon by the rolls, substantially as described.
6. A rolling mill for step by step rolling of tubular objects on mandrels with
intermittently acting rolls, in which a mandrel having a to and fro reciprocating
inotion, is shifted longitudinally relatively to the rolls by means of a screw spindle
or equivalent device for the purpose of distributing the heat transmitted from the-
tubular object as much as possible over the mandrel or to prevent its wear from
being confined to one part, substantially as described.
7. In a rolling mill for step by step rolling of tubular objects on nandrels,.
constructing such reciprocating mandrels with a thickened part or with a collar
against which the tubular object bears during the action of the rolls, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
8. In a rolling mill for step by step rolling of tubular objects on mandrels,
constructing such mandrel with a thickened part or with a fixed or movable collar
in combination with means for imparting thereto a reciprocating and advancing-

page_text: motion, the advance of the middle position of the mandrel being made to determine
the extent to which the part thereof on which the rolling operation is effected is
shifted forward at each operation, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
9. The combination with the reciprocating and advancing mandrel referred to in
the eighth claim, of an abutment piece for regulating the quantity of material acted
upon at each operation of the rolls, substantially as described.
10. The combination with the reciprocating and advancing mandrel with limiting
stop and abutment piece, such as referred to in the 8th or 9th claims, of buffer
springs or equivalent devices for reducing or absorbing the impact, substantially as
described.
11. Rolling mills for step by step rolling of tubular objects on mandrels having
abutment pieces for determining the amount of material acted upon at each rolling
operation, and with or without limiting stops on the mandrels for the tubular objects
to bear against the said parts being combined and operating substantially as herein
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
This 20th day of May 1896
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.