Improvements in Rolling Mills.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Aug., 1894-Accepted, 3rd Nov., 1894
VUMI LEIE DI PITICATION.
Improvements in Rolling Mills.
I ALPHONSE THOMAS of Clabecq in the Kingdom of Belgium, Engineer 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:-
My invention relates especially to rolling mills having three superposed rolls or
cylinders and consists in the several improvements hereinafter described the object
of which improvements is to make the rolls independent to allow of accurate
regulation of the distance or interval between them and of the pressure and to
compensate for wear of the bearings in which the journals of the rolls work.
My said invention consists essentially of the following ;-
1. A new construction of plummer-blocks for the middle and upper rolls.
2. The employment in combination with the said plummer blocks of wedges and
screws for regulating the distance or interval between the rolls and the pressure of
the journals upon their bearings.
These improvements are applicable to rolling mills for sheet iron with balanced
rolls the distance apart of which is varied at each passage of the piece to be rolled
as well as to bar rolling mills having two or three superposed non-balanced grooved
rolls the distance apart of which does not need to be varied at each passage of the
piece to be rolled.
According to my invention, I make the plummer blocks of the rolls either in one
piece or in two pieces connected together (for instance by bolts) so as to serve the
same purpose as plummer blocks made in one piece and I form an opening in the
upper face or in the lower face so as to expose the back part of one of the bearings
of the roll journals. This opening may be formed in such a manner as to permit
of the introduction of an adjustable wedge between two consecutive bearings oue
face of which wedge will be in contact with one of the plummer blocks and the other
face of which will be in contact either with the other plummer block or with a plate
which separates the said wedge from a second wedge introduced between the first
one and the plummer block. Or the said opening may be made circular and screw
threaded to receive a screw the end of which would rest on the exposed face of
the bearing, the pressure of which against the journal of the roll can be regulated
by tightening or loosening the screw according as required.
To prevent fracture of the bearings being caused by pressure of the screw upon
one part only of its surface, the upper part of the said bearing may be enclosed in
a sheath of steel or other strong metal. In rolling mills for sheet iron and large
bar iron, the journals of the rolls have usually a diameter equal to two thirds the
diameter of the body of the rolls thus leaving very little space between the journals
of two consecutive rolls and between the upper bearings of one roll and the lower
bearings of the roll immediately above; it is therefore not practically possible to
place two wedges between the plummer blocks, one to regulate the space between
two rolls and the other to regulate the tightening of the bearings of one of the said
rolls while allowing each roll to remain independent. It is for this reason that I
form an opening in one of the plummer blocks exposing one of the bearings, which
admits of the space between the rolls and the tightening of the bearings being
regulated by a single wedge.
The foregoing does not apply to rolling mills for bars and shaped iron with grooved
rolls the journals of the rolls of which mills having usually a diameter equal to only
half that of the rolls there is ample room for placing several wedges between the -
upper bearings of one roll and the lower bearings of the roll immediately above.

page_text: The use of screws is especially advantageous in narrow frames where the space
between the uprights or standards is not sufficient to permit a wedge and its rod to
be worked therein by means of actuating nuts located in one of the sides of the
plummer block.
I will now describe my improvements with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 of the said drawings is a side elevation of a rolling mill with three
superposed balanced rolls for sheet iron and large plates showing my improvements
applied thereto.
Figure 2 is a portion of a front elevation partly in section.
Figure 3 is a side elevation partly in section of a rolling mill for bar and shaped
iron with non balanced rolls showing my improvements applied thereto.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line A B."
Figure 5 is a smilar section taken on the line C D.
Figure 6 is a plan and an elevation of a notched wheel used for tightening the
screw.
Figure 7 is part of a side elevation Figure 8 is a portion of a front elevation
partly in section of a rolling mill of the same kind as that in Figures 3 and 4
showing the application of another arrangement of wedges.
Figure 9 shows in front elevation and in plan the application of a wedge of
special form to one of the middle plummer blocks of the rolling mill shown in
Figure 1 for regulating the separation of the upper and middle rolls and the
tightening of the bearings of the middle roll. It will be observed that in the sheet
and bar iron rolling mill shown in Figures 1 and 2 the middle roll is actuated by a
pinion and not by friction against the other rolls. The plummer blocks A A of
the upper roll and the plummer blocks B B of the middle roll are in one piece.
In Figures 1, 2 and 3 there is formed in the middle of the upper face of the
upper plummer blocks A A a large recess f which extends from one end to the
other of the thickness of the plummer block, and in the centre of this recess or
thereabouts is formed a cylindrical screw threaded opening which exposes the upper
face of the upper bearing as of the journals of the upper roll. In this opening is
placed a screw e the lower end of which rests upon the upper face of the bearing a
of the upper roll. In this screw is formed a central cavity of square section in
which fits the tail y' of a wheel g (shown separately in Figure 6) placed in the
recess f which wheel y has radial notches g³ cut in it which permit of the said wheel
and the said screw e being turned by means of bars one end of which is introduced
into the said notches.
As shown in the section of Figure 4, wherein the same arrangement is illustrated,
a groove k is formed in one of the sides of the recess which groove communicates
by a transverse groove with the screw threaded cylindrical opening in the plummer
block. In this transverse groove is placed a block i one end of which is within the
cylindrical opening of the plummer block and the other projects into the groove k.
The end of the said block which is within the said cylindrical opening is so shaped
as to fit in the thread of the screw e and its other end bears against one side of a
wedge placed in the groove k, the other side of which wedge bears against a small
projection ³ in the said groove. This wedge j is furnished with a screw threaded
rod which projects beyond the outer face of the plummer block and is furnished
with nuts j¹ which permit of the wedge; being moved forward or backward in the
groove k according as it is wished to press the block i against the screw e or to relax
the pressure in order to allow the said screw e to turn. The recess f of the plummer
block is covered by a plate w which rests on the upper face of the said plummer
block and on which the pressure screw bears.
When it is wished to tighten the bearings a³ a³ upon the journal of the roll the
block is first loosened by withdrawing the wedgej by means of the nuts it, the
screw e is then tightened by turning the wheel g and when the pressure is considered
sufficient, the block i is again pressed against the screw e by drawing the wedge;
forward.
To prevent the heating of the journals which may be caused by too great a

page_text: tightening of the bearings and to avoid great friction and fracture of the bearings,
1 arrange springs c, preferably of corrugated sheet steel, below the lower bearings
and behind the side bearings. Receptacles with conduits d may be formed in the
plummer blocks to lubricate the journals.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2 the middle plummer blocks B B
have an opening in the centre of their upper part which exposes the upper face of
the upper bearings a of the journals of the middle roll.
Between the plummer blocks A and B is introduced a wedge b provided with a
screw threaded rod passing through a slot D' in the pillar D and with a nut 62 outside
the said pillar which nut bears against a rigid arm i fixed in the upper part of the
plummer block B so as to move up and down with the said block. The lower
surface of the upper block A rests upon the upper surface of the wedge b which
bears upon the upper surface of the bearing a of the middle roll. Hence when the
nut 62 is turned in the direction proper to screw it upon the rod b' the space between
the plummer blocks A and B and consequently between the upper and middle rolls
is increased and at the same time the bearings a and a' are tightened against the
journal of the middle roll. By turning on the contrary the nut ³ in the other
direction the wedge b is allowed to recede whereby the block A is caused to
approach the block B and the pressure on the bearings a and a¹ is reduced.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 3 the space between the upper and middle
rolls is regulated by means of a wedge 6 having a screw threaded rod b' actuated by
nuts 63 introduced between the upper and middle plummer blocks but this wedge
has no action upon the tightening of the bearings a a¹ of the journals of the middle
roll. The pressure of the said bearings a a is regulated by means of a screw
similar to the screw e used for the tightening of the bearings of the upper plummer
blocks. For this purpose, in the centre of the lower surface of the blocks B is
formed a screw threaded opening of cylindrical form which exposes the lower face
of the lower bearing a' of the journals of the middle roll. In this opening a
screw e is arranged the head of which screw has the same shape as the wheel g
Figure 6. To prevent the loosening of the screw el a cavity ki is formed in the
plummer block which cavity connects the front of the same with the screw threaded
cylindrical opening. In this cavity is placed a block similar to the block i
Figure 4 one end of which block fits in the thread of the screw e'. This block ¹
is pressed against the side of the screw e¹ by a bolt p screwed through a nut pl
placed in the groove and through another nut p² bearing against a projection B'
on the plummer block B. This method of wedging the screw e¹ may be applied to
the screw e and the method of wedging the said screw e Figure 4 may be applied
to the screw e¹. The head of the screw e¹ or the wheel g of the screw e may have
any suitable form, for instance it may be made like the head of an ordinary screw
jack or may have a square or polygonal head in order that it may be turned with
the aid of a key or spanner.
Figure 7 is a partial side elevation and Figure 8 a partial front elevation partly
in section of a rolling mill of the same kind as that illustrated in Figure 3 to which
is applied an arrangement of wedges for regulating the space between the upper
and middle rolls and the tightening of the bearings for the journals of the middle
roll. In this arrangement, the tightening of the bearings of the upper roll is
regulated by means of wedges m placed above the upper bearings as of the journals
of the said upper roll. Each of the middle plummer blocks B has an opening in
its upper face which exposes the upper face of the upper bearing a of the journal
of the middle roll. A wedge 6 with a screw threaded rod b' actuated by nuts b³ is
introduced between the plummer blocks A and B for regulating the space between
the upper and middle rolls and a similar wedge b turned in a direction contrary to
that of the wedge b is placed on the upper face of the bearing a.
Between the
two wedges 6 and 6 a plate is placed which rests upon the edges of the upper
face of the middle plummer block at the sides of the opening in the said block.
The wedge brests and slides upon the upper face of the said plate h and the
wedge 6 which rests upon the bearing a slides between the lower face of the said

page_text: plate so that the wedge b has no action on the wedge 64 and on the bearings of the
middle roll the tightening of which is regulated by the said wedge b*.
The wedges may be made separate from their rods and connected together by
screwing the rod in the wedge or the rod may be fixed in the wedge by means of a
cotter. This construction admits of the use of very large wedges which give a
good seat to the bearings and which are put in position at the same time as the
plummer blocks the rod being introduced through the side slots of the pillars, when
the wedge is in place. The wedges not being required to pass through the said
slots they may be made much narrower the strength of the frame being thereby
increased.
Figure 9 shows the application to one of the plummer blocks of the middle roll
of the rolling mill for sheet iron and large bar iron illustrated in Figure 1 of a
wedge C with two rods c¹ fixed on the outer side of the wedge which may be used
with frames not provided with slots for the rods of the wedges to pass through.
The nuts bear upon lugs y fixed to the plummer blocks or cast therewith. By
the use of these wedges the application of my invention to existing frames may be
readily effected.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I
claim
1. In rolling mills with superposed rolls a method of constructing the plummer
blocks for the rolls consisting in making the said blocks in one piece or in two
pieces bound together in such a manner as to serve the same purpose as the blocks
made in one piece, with an opening in the upper or in the lower face which exposes
the back of the corresponding bearing of the roll journal the said opening being of
cylindrical form and screw threaded to receive a screw, or having merely the form
of a groove to receive a wedge for the purpose specified substantially as herein-
before described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
2. In rolling mills having three superposed rolls in which the distance between
the rolls is varied at each passage of the piece to be rolled, the use with plummer
blocks for the middle roll having in their upper face an opening which exposes the
upper face of the upper bearings for the journals of the middle roll, of wedges with
screw threaded rods actuated by nuts introduced between the upper and middle
plummer blocks and resting upon the upper bearings for the journals of the roll for
the purpose specified and substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
3. In rolling mills in which the spaces between the rolls do not need to be varied
at each passage of the piece to be rolled, the use of an adjustable screw introduced
in a cylindrical screw threaded opening formed in the upper face of the upper
plummer block aud coming into contact with the upper bearing of the said block
for regulating the tightening of the bearings of the upper roll, and of an adjustable
screw introduced in a cylindrical screw threaded opening formed in the lower face
of the middle plummer block and coming into contact with the lower bearing of
the said block for regulating the tightening of the bearings of the middle roll
substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in Figure 3 of the accompanying
drawings.
4. In rolling mills in which the space between the rolls has not to be varied at
each passage of the piece to be rolled, the use with plummer blocks for the middle
roll constructed with an opening in the upper face exposing the upper bearing, of
two wedges separated by a plate resting on the edges of the upper face of the
middle plummer block, one of the said wedges serving to regulate the space
between the upper and middle rolls, and the other to regulate the tightening of the
bearings of the middle roll substantially as herein before described and shown in
Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.
5. The use in combination with the wedges or the screws which regulate the
tightening of the roll bearings, of springs placed under the lower bearings and

page_text: behind the side bearings for the purpose specified and substantially as hereinbefore
described and shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
6. The use in combination with the screws which regulate the tightening of the
roll bearings of a block adjustable by means of a bolt or of a wedge actuated by
nuts for the purpose specified and substantially as hereinbefore described and
shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
7. In rolling mills with three superposed rolls in which the distance between the
rolls is varied at each passage of the piece to be rolled, the use between the upper
bearings of the journals of the middle roll and the lower face of the plummer
blocks of the upper roll of wedges furnished with two screw threaded rods fixed on
the outer side of the wedge, in combination with lugs on the outer face of the
middle plummer blocks for the actuating nuts of the said wedges to bear against
for the purpose specified and substantially as shown in Figure 9 of the accom-
panying drawings.
Dated this Twenty-third day of August 1894.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.