GB1470635A - Process and apparat's for cleaning the sbrface of wire products - Google Patents

Abstract

1470635 Grinding wire INCO EUROPE Ltd 22 May 1975 [31 May 1974] 22221/75 Heading B3D A method of cleaning the surface of a wire comprises feeding the wire W centrally through a grinding zone defined by grinding faces of a pair of grinding discs 33, 34 which are rotated in opposite directions about a common axis perpendicular to and passing centrally through the grinding faces whilst the pair of discs as a unit are simultaneously rotating about the longitudinal axis of the wire, contact being maintained between the wire and both grinding faces on each side of the axis of rotation of the grinding discs. In apparatus for carrying out the method, the grinding discs 33, 34 are mounted on shafts 45, 45A supported by bearing assemblies 52 for axial and rotary movement in a housing 31. The shafts 45, 45A are of square cross-section and engage square holes in sprockets 48 mounted for rotation in sprocket housings 46 bolted to the housings 51 of the bearing assemblies 52. The sprockets 48 engage the spacings between an array of rollers 28 on the side of a drive ring 26 supported for rotation by rollers 27 on a stationary ring 23 mounted on a frame 22 having cross members provided with bearing assemblies 37, 38 supporting the housing 31 of the grinding discs for rotation about axis of the wire. The bearing assemblies have guides 35A, 36A for the wire, and a coupling 35 connects the housing 31 to a pulley 39 belt driven from a motor 42. The drive causes rotation of the housing, and hence the grinding discs, about the axis of the wire W fed through the guides 35A, 36A, the engagement of the sprockets 48 with the rollers 28 of the drive ring 26 causing the grinding wheels to rotate in opposite directions. A supplementary means for rotating the grinding discs consists of a motor connected by a drive 67 to a sprocket 66 which engages a further series of rollers mounted on the drive ring 26. The grinding discs are pressed against the wire by fluid pressure cylinders 60 having pistons connected to rods 58 which extend through axial bores in the shafts 45, 45A and are secured to the grinding discs, the fluid pressure being supplied to the cylinders by a rotating union 43. Bellows 56 and a cover 57 protect the apparatus from grinding debris. With the pulley drive 39 disconnected, the apparatus can be used for grinding the opposed faces of rectangular wire. The grinding may be effected dry or in the presence of a liquid.