GB1389417A - Apparatus for producing rolled metal balls from bars or rods - Google Patents

Abstract

1389417 Rolling balls HELIPEBS Ltd 10 Sept 1973 [8 Sept 1972] 41948/72 Heading B3M Balls are rolled from cylindrical stock by feeding the stock axially between a pair of cylindrical rolls 2 (Fig. 4), each roll (Fig. 6) having a helical groove whose base is at a constant radius from the roll axis but whose width progressively increases towards the finishing (right hand) end of the roll. The profile of the groove (Fig. 5) may be produced by initially forming a groove of constant pitch and height (shown in dotted lines), and then superimposing a second groove of progressively increasing pitch towards the finishing end. The groove profiles are slightly different for rolling bearing balls and balls for ore crushing. Each roll (Fig. 4) is mounted in a yoke 17 supported in cylindrical housing 18. The housing 18 is rotatably adjustable by screws 20 about a horizontal axis to vary the inclination of the associated roll. Movement of the rolls relative to one another is controlled by hand wheels 14 and 22 which respectively move them together and apart. A further hand wheel 15 adjusts the vertical position of an upper guide 24, the lower guide 25 being adjustable by shims. The rolls may be inclined in opposite directions relative to a horizontal plane passing through the stock, may be of slightly different diameters, and may be offset axially relative to each other to urge the stock downwardly towards the guide 25 and prevent skidding of the balls relative to the grooves.