IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLING IRON AND ALL OTHER MALLEABLE METALS AND ALLOYS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Brown Roden, of Abersycham Iron
Works, near Newport, Monmouthshire, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLING IRON AND ALL OTHER MALLEABLE METALS
AND ALLOYS."
Sealed the 6th October 1853, and dated the 4th August 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Brown
Roden at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 4th August 1853.
I, RICHARD BROWN RODEN, of Abersycham Iron Works, near
Newport, Monmouthshire, do hereby declare that the nature of my
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLING IRON AND ALL OTHER MALLEABLE
METALS AND ALLOYS" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of improvements in rolling mills where what
are called "three high rolls" are used, and consists of causing the
middle roller to remain stationery as to position, and of moving or
adjusting the upper and lower rollers to or from the middle roller, to
which the power for driving the rolls is applied; by these means heavy
pieces of metal may be readily rolled with three rollers. In order to
lift the blooms or metal when rolling metals or moveable platform is

page_text: used before the rolls connected to the piston rod or suitable part of an
engine, by which means great weights of metal may be raised or moved
with facility in any direction about the rollers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Richard Brown Roden in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 13th January 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
RICHARD BROWN RODEN, of Abersycham Iron Works, near Newport,
Monmouthshire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the. Fourth. day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Richard Brown Roden, Her special
licence that I, the said Richard Brown Roden, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Richard Brown
Roden, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLING IRON AND ALL OTHER MALLEABLE
METALS AND ALLOYS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Richard Brown Roden, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Brown Roden, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof (that is to say):

page_text: This Invention consists of improvements in rolling mills where what
are called "three high rolls" are used, and consists of causing the
middle roller to remain stationary as to position, and of moving or
adjusting the upper and lower rollers to or from the middle roller, to
which the power for driving the rolls is applied; by these means heavy
pieces of metal may be readily rolled with three rollers. In order to
lift the "blooms" or metal when rolling metals a moveable platform is
used before the rolls connected to the piston rod or suitable part of an
"engine," by which means great weights of metal may be raised or
moved with facility in any direction about the rollers.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to
describe the manner of performing the same.
The carriage D,
Figure 1, represents a side elevation of the standard of a rolling
mill, shewing the bearings of the rollers and carriages which support
the same. The middle roller A, is prevented from leaving its line of
centre when the strain (caused by rolling) comes upon it by the
carriages B, D, which hold the brass bearings C, C.
is fixed in slots or holes through the sides of the standard, and is held
firmly in its place by the screw E, which forms a portion of it. The
other carriage B, rests in grooves or mortices in the standard, and in
this position the middle roller revolves. The top roller H, is adjusted
downwards by the screw J, and upwards by the two screws X, X,
which pass through and fasten on the top of the standard. The lower
roller G, is adjusted by the screw Z, which being underneath the bed
plate is worked by the pinion Y, to which motion is given by the
handle T.
I would here observe that I am perfectly aware that small sized iron
has for several years past been rolled by means of "three high rollers,"
but it has been considered by some impracticable to roll large sizes,
and consequently heavy weights, with "three high rollers," by reason
of the difficulty of adjusting and driving them. I do not, therefore,
claim the use of "three high rolls" generally.
Before proceeding to explain my method of lifting the heated metal,
which is usually termed the "bloom," I will briefly allude to the
present mode of doing the same. All who are acquainted with the

page_text: practice of rolling metals are aware that the "bloom" is lifted by
means of a long lever called a "hook," which is worked by one, two,
or more persons as required, and in propertion to the increased weight
of the bloom so must be increased the strength or number of hands at
the hooks, and consequently more expense will be incurred; and in
mills where heavy masses of iron, such as railway bars, boiler and ship
plates, and others, and also in copper mills where large sheets of copper,
are manufactured, this "hooking" in every instance forms a considerable
item in the cost of rolling.
Figure 2, represents the front elevation of a rolling mill with my
apparatus for lifting the "bloom" applied. The rollers, as there shewn
to illustrate this Invention, are used for rolling large slabs of iron (pre-
vious to their being converted into rails or bars of various shapes), and
are generally termed "blooming rolls." K, is a cylinder fitted with a
piston; it is fastened to the cross plate L, which is supported on the
brackets which project from the standard, and form a part thereof. O,
is a moveable plate or platform which conveys the "bloom" from the
bottom to the top grooves, or vice versâ, and is connected to the cross
bar N, (to which the piston rod is fastened) by the side rods P, P.
Q, Q, are parallel bars, up and down which the plate O, slides, and
which also form the parallel guides for the piston rod. R, is a threeway
cock which lets the steam (or whatever it may be worked with) under
the piston, and also discharges it when it has done its duty. S, S, and
S', are vulcanized india-rubber springs which take off the jar in case of
the piston being raised or lowered too suddenly; the spring S¹, is inside
the cylinder, and is raised or lowered by the screw T, which passes
through the lid. The general action of this mill and lifting apparatus
is as follows: The power is applied to the middle roller, which has a
pinion working into two other pinions, one on the upper and the other
on the lower roller. The mill being in motion, the metal to be rolled
is passed through one of the lower grooves U, U, after which the plate
O, receives it. The cock R, is then opened by a lever placed in a
suitable position, which admits the steam under the piston, thereby
causing it to ascend and take up the plate O, with the "bloom" resting
on it, to the top grooves V, V. It is then passed back again through

page_text: the next groove to the left (being a size smaller than the groove it has
already passed through below). The steam is then discharged, and the
plate O, returns to its former position ready to receive the "bloom"
again, and this is repeated as often as required. More than one cylin-
der may be worked in the same way, and this mode of lifting equally
applies to the rolling or "squeezing" of iron of all descriptions, and in
any stage of its manufacture, as well as to other malleable metals or
alloys. From the above description it will be seen that whatever may
be the weight to be lifted, the cylinder being made of a sufficient
diameter accomplishes the purpose much better than the old system of
hooking."
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that what I
claim is,
First, the adjusting of the upper and lower rolls to the middle one,
and giving motion to the middle roller.
Secondly, I claim the lifting and lowering metals to be rolled by
power applied to lifting and lowering apparatus, in combination with or
seperate from the rollers used.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Brown Roden, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Second day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
RICHARD BROWN RODEN. (L.S.)
Witness,
JAMES WALKINSHAW,
of Abersychan Iron Works,
Monmouthshire.

page_text: in red ink in the original, are here distinguished by being placed within
brackets.]
En the Matter of Letters Patent granted to RICHARD BROWN RODEN,
of Abersychan Iron Works, near Newport, in the County of
Monmouth, bearing date the Fourth day of August, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-three, No. 1824, for his Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLING IRON AND OTHER MALLEABLE METALS AND
ALLOYS."
DISCLAIMER AND MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION proposed to be
entered by the said Richard Brown Roden, at the Office of the Com-
missioners of Patents, pursuant to the Statutes in that case made and
provided.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
BROWN RODEN, of Abersychan Iron Works, near Newport, Monmouthshire,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, did grant unto me, the said Richard

page_text: Brown Roden, the sole privilege that I, the said Richard Brown Roden, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend my Invention therein entituled "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLING
IRON AND ALL OTHER MALLEABLE METALS AND ALLOYS," within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, during the term of fourteen years thence next ensuing: And whereas
I, the said Richard Brown Roden, in pursuance of a condition in the said
Letters Patent contained, did, by a Specification in writing, under my hand
and seal, particularly describe and ascertain of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, and did cause the said Specifi-
cation to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office, within the time and
in the manner by the said Letters Patent prescribed in that behalf: And
whereas since the filing of my said Specification I have been advised that
by reason of certain words herein-after disclaimed or altered being contained
in the said Specification, it is doubtful whether the second claim at or near the
end of the said Specification may not be construed so as to extend to or include
the lifting and lowering of metals [and moving them in any direction] by
apparatus not used in combination or in conjunction with rollers to be used for
rolling such metals, and I am therefore desirous of altering the said Specifi-
cation by disclaiming or altering words as herein-after expressed.
NOW THEREFORE, I, the said Richard Brown Roden, with the leave of
Sir William Atherton, Her Majesty's Solicitor-General, do hereby disclaim the
words "or separate from," contained in the second claim at the end of the said
Specification; and I also disclaim the words "in any direction," contained
in a previous part of the said Specification, and in the immediately preceding
words "raised or moved with facility," I substitute the word "lowered" for
the word "moved;" and by and with the leave aforesaid, and for the reason
aforesaid, and in order to cause the effect of this Disclaimer to be seen with
more facility, I declare that the said Specification, as hereby altered, shall
henceforth, with the aid of the Drawings accompanying the said Specification,
describe the said Invention as follows:-
66
This Invention consists of improvements in rolling mills where what are
"called three-high rolls' are used, and consists of causing the middle roller
" to remain stationary as to position, and of moving or adjusting the upper
"and lower rollers to or from the middle roller, to which the power for driving
"the rolls is applied; by these means heavy pieces of metal may be readily
"rolled with three rollers. In order to lift the 'blooms' or metal when
rolling metals a moveable platform is used before the rolls connected to the
•F

page_text: "
piston rod or suitable part of an engine, by which means great weights of
"metal may be raised or lowered with facility about the rollers."
66
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to describe
"the manner of performing the same.
66
"
"Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the standard of a rolling mill,
showing the bearings of the rollers and carriages which support the same.
"The middle roller A is prevented from leaving its line of centre when the
"strain (caused by rolling) comes upon it by the carriages B, D, which hold
"the brass bearings C, C. The carriage D is fixed in slots or holes through
"the sides of the standard, and is held firmly in its place by the screw E,
"which forms a portion of it. The other carriage B rests in grooves or
"mortices in the standard, and in this position the middle roller revolves.
"The top roller H is adjusted downwards by the screw J, and upwards by
"the two sereens [screws] X, X, which pass through and fasten on the top of
"the standard. The lower roller G is adjusted by the screw Z, which, being
"underneath the bed plate, is worked by the pinion Y, to which motion is
given by the handle T."
66
"I would here observe, that I am perfectly aware that small sized iron
"has for several years past been rolled by means of three-high rollers,' but
"it has been considered by some impracticable to roll large sizes, and con-
sequently heavy weights with 'three-high rollers,' by reason of the difficulty
"of adjusting and driving them. I do not therefore claim the use of 'three-
high rolls' generally."
66
66
"Before proceeding to explain my method of lifting the heated metal,
"which is usually termed the 'bloom,' I will briefly allude to the present
"mode of doing the same. All who are acquainted with the practice of
rolling metals are aware that the 'bloom' is lifted by means of a long lever
"called a hook,' which is worked by one, two, or more persons, as required,
"and in proportion to the increased weight of the bloom so must be increased
"the strength or number of hands at the hooks, and consequently more
expense will be incurred; and in mills where heavy masses of iron, such as
railway bars, boiler, and ship plates, and others, and also in copper mills
"where large sheets of copper are manufactured, this hooking in every
instance forms a considerable item in the cost of rolling."
66
$6
"
66
€
Figure 2 represents the front elevation of a rolling mill with my
apparatus for lifting the bloom' applied; the rollers as there shewn to
illustrate this Invention are used for rolling large slabs of iron (previous to
their being converted into rails or bars of various shapes), and are generally

page_text: 66
"
"
66
65
"termed 'blooming rolls.' K is a cylinder, fitted with a piston; it is fastened
"to the cross plate L, which is supported on the brackets which project from
"the standard, and form a part thereof; O is a moveable plate or platform,
"which conveys the 'bloom' from the bottom to the top grooves, or vice versà,
"and is connected to the cross bar N (to which the piston rod is fastened)
by the side rods P, P; Q, Q, are parallel bars, up and down which the
"plate O slides, and which also form the parallel guides for the piston rod;
"R is a three-way cock, which lets the steam (or whatever it may be worked
with) under the piston, and also discharges it when it has done its duty;
S, S, and Sare vulcanized india-rubber springs, which take off the jar in
"case of the piston being raised or lowered too suddenly, the spring St is
inside the cylinder, and is raised or lowered by the screw T, which passes
through the lid. The general action of this mill and lifting apparatus is as
"follows: The power is applied to the middle roller, which has a pinion
working into two other pinions, one on the upper and the other on the
lower roller. The mill being in motion, the metal to be rolled is passed
through one of the lower grooves U, U, after which the plate O receives it.
"The cock R is then opened by a lever placed in a suitable position, which
"admits the steam under the piston, thereby causing it to ascend and take up
"the plate O with the 'bloom' resting on it to the top grooves V, V; it is
"then passed back again through the next groove to the left (being a size
"smaller than the groove it has already passed through below). The steam
"is then discharged and the plate O returns to its former position ready to
"receive the bloom' again, and this is repeated as often as required. More
than one cylinder may be worked in the same way, and this mode of lifting
equally applies to the rolling or 'squeezing' of iron of all descriptions, and
"in any stage of its manufacture, as well as to other malleable metals or
alloys."
66
66
66
66
66
66
"From the above description it will be seen that whatever may be the
weight to be lifted, the cylinder being made of a sufficient diameter,
"accomplishes the purpose much better than the old system of 'hooking.""
66
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
"performing the same, I would have it understood that what I claim is,―"
"First, the adjusting of the upper and lower rolls to the middle one, and
giving motion to the middle roller."
66
"
66
Secondly, I claim the lifting and lowering metals to be rolled by power
applied to lifting and lowering apparatus in combination of [with] the
"rollers used."

page_text: And I, the said Richard Brown Roden, do further declare that the above
written Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration are not, or is either of
them, nor is any part thereof respectively intended to extend the exclusive
right granted by the said Letters Patent, and that these Presents shall not
extend the said exclusive right in any way whatsoever.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Brown Roden, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of March, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty.
RICHARD BROWN RODEN. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-
named Richard Brown Roden, in the
presence of
ALEX. EDWARDS, Solicitor, Pontypool.
ALEX. EDWARDS, Jun., his Clerk.
To the Commissioners of Patents.
I hereby grant my fiat giving leave to the above-mentioned Richard Brown
Roden to file in the Great Seal Patent Office, with the Specification to which
the same relates, the above-written Amended Disclaimer & Memorandum of
Alteration.
W. ATHERTON.
Temple, 12 May 1860.