US1911549A

US1911549A - Automatic guide abjuster

Info

Publication number: US1911549A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1933-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 1950-05-30

Description

May 30, 1933.

W. H. CATTERALL AUTOMATIC GUIDE ADJUSTER Filed March 22, 1930 Patented May 39, 1933 unites srarss PATENT Fries WILLIAM n. CATT'ERALL, or LEBANON, PENNSYLVANIALASSIGNTOR T BETHLEHEM STEEL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA AUTOMATIC GUIDE ADJUSTER Application filed March 22, 1930. scrial No. 437,951;

My invention relates to rolling mill. apparatus and more particularly to that class of rolling .mills known as continuous, 1n which plurality of stands of rolls are em- I. ployed for the successive reduction of a heated bar cf metal. v j

In the continuous rolling of a bar in a mill of this type a heated billet is first fed from the furnace and then reduced by successive stages by feeding the bar throughgraduated roll passes of the several stands of rolls each successive pass serving to reduce its cross sectional area and to extend and elon gate the bar, the rolling process from start 3.1 to finish being continuous. As a result, the method of rolling is greatly facilitated and the bar is not given a chance to cool, and a reheating thereof is not necessary. 7

Conductors and guides lead the bar from LL one roll pass to the next the bar being usually rotated about 90 between each pass.

The bar is usually adapted to pass loosely through all of the entry and delivery guides with the exception of the entry guide for the $.2 finishing roll pass which must be made adjustable to close as soonas the forward end of the bar enters the guide in order that the bar will be turned exactly 90 from the pre ceding roll pass to enter the finishing roll 1.1.23 pass in the proper position. If for any reason the guide is not closed or properly adjusted the bar when it issues from the finishing roll pass will be deformed or have fins along the opposite edges and will have to be scrapped.

1' J5 Heretofore it has been the practice to employ a pair of cooperating guide plates having opposed longitudinal recesses in their adjacent-faces adapted to constitute a guiding aperture for the rod or bar and to adjust one .4 of the guide plates for the bar just before it enters the finishing roll pass by means of an adjustable screw adapted to bear against a movable guide plate and controlled manually by an operator by means of a rod and lever connection. This requires constant attention by theoperator in order that the guide maybe opened and closed at the proper time. As the bar when it reaches the finishing roll pass will be traveling at considerable speed,

sometimes as great as several feet per second guides and a curved repeater trough connectit very often happens that the operator will not ac; quick enoughtolclose the guide in time before the endofthe bar. enters the finishing roll pass and several feet of the bar may have been rolled before the guide 5 is finally closed in which case all of said end which has passed throughthe finishing roll pass before the guide is closed, will have fins formed thereon and will have tobe cut off and discardech It also sometimes occurs that the operator does not open theguide properly or wide enough for the forward end of the bar to enter at the desired time,

in which case a cobble may be formed or injury to the mill may be the result.

Que of the objects of my invention is to automatically adjust a movable guide plate used to direct albar and hold it accurately in proper position to present the same to the circumferential grooves or other shaped passes of the rolls.

. Another object of my invention relates to automatically controlling the opening and closing of the guide by means which is controlled the bar being rolled, thereby eliminating manual labor.

A further object of my invention-relates to electrical means for opening a guide and independent means 7 for closing the guide which is controlled by the bar being rolled.

Having thus givena general description of my invention, I will now, in order to make the same more clear, refer to the annexed mg the same and illustrating the application of my invention applied thereto; Fig.2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the electrical circuits and apparatus involved;

3 is an enlarged detail showing a ver ticaltransverse section throughthe guides, casing and rest bar therefonthe section be ing taken on theline of the adjusting screw ence on the drawing the numerals 1 and 2 indicate the last two stands of rolls of a continuous rod or bar mill each having a set of rolls 3 andf4 of the twohigh type. The set of rolls 3"havinga reducing pass 5vformed therein while the setof rolls 4 have a finishing roll pass formed therein as at 6.

' Rest bars 7 connect the side of the roll housings of each stand of rolls together. The entering and delivery guides 8 and 9 for the reducing pass 5 are mounted on the rest bars 7 at either side of the rolls. The entering guide for the finishing pass 6 is mounted in a hollow rectangular guide box 10 secured to a rest bar 7 for the stand of rolls 2, comprising stationary and movable guide blocks 11 and 12 each having a longitudinally grooved inner face 13 and 14 adapted to form a guiding aperture for'the rod .or bar. The stationary guide block .11 is secured within the hollow guide box .10 by means of one or more set bolts 15 while themovable guide block 12'is adapted to be moved laterally toward the stationary guide block by means ofa pivoted lever 16 and screw 17 which is threaded ception of a squared end 19 of a shaft 20 which extends outwardly through the roll housing of the finishing roll stand 2, and journaled in a bearing 21. A lever 22 is mounted on the intermediate portion of the shaft 20 having an adjustable weight 23 mounted thereon, while the outer end of the shaft has a sheave 24 keyed thereto to which is attached as at 25 one end of a flexible strand 26 while 3 ing core 27 of a solenoid 28. The solenoid 28 the opposite end is attached toa reciprocatwith its connection to the sheave 24 is adapted to rock or rotate the shaft 20 and screw 17 in one direction a-partial revolution to open the guide, while the weight 23 on lever 22 is I adapted to rotate'the shaft a partial revolution in the reverse direction.

in one direction until it reaches a stop 30, instead of a weight as illustrated in Fig. 1.

For illustration I have indicated in Fig. 2

the rotation of the shaft 20 by the solenoid and spring in either direction'as 90, but this amount of rotation may be varied by ad ustmg the parts if desired.

Troughs 31 and 32 are located before the entering guides for each roll pass each having a flag adapted to extend downwardly therein in an inclined direction as at 33 and 34. Short shafts 35 and 36 are journaled in

bearings

37 and 38 formed on the side of the troughs and attached to the flags. The shafts each having a

contact arm

39 and 40 mounted on their outer ends each adapted to form a switch and make contact with a pair of

contacts

41 and 42, 43 and 44 respectively.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated the wiring or circuit connections. for the different parts as they appear in their normal positions in which 45 indicates a generator or source of power having a circuit connection 46 extending to the solenoid 28 and fromthe solenoid tothe'contact 41 by aconnection 47, other circuit connections extend between

contacts

42 and 44 as at 48 and between generator 45 and contact 43 as at 49. The

contact arms

39 and 40 are raised into dotted position indicated, by the rod or bar engaging the flags as it passes through the trough-s in the direction of the arrows and returnedto their norinal posit ons as indicated in full lines by .means of the springstSO and 51, or if desired made circular 'to form a round'rod or bar. when it issues from thepassjas the finished product as at 53.

IA curved repeater trough 54 extends between the delivery guide 9 and the trough 32 and'zis adapted to receive the bar after it. issues froni pass 5 and guide it in a curved direction to thefinishing pass 6. The top of the repeater trough 54- isopen to allow the rod or bar to be raised out of the repeater trough and to extend over a table 55 in case the rod is delivered from the reducingroll pass 5 faster than it is taken up by the finishing roll pass 6 thereby producing a loopor overfeed as indicated by dotted lines in The operation of my device is as follows: In Figs. 1 and 2 the flags 33 and 34 are arranged'in a two stage contact which will open or close the circuit to the solenoid,

causing the entering guide for the finishing roll pass to be opened. by the solenoid and closed by a spring or weight.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the contacts 41. and 42 are normally open, when the forward end of the oncoming bar or rod enters the trough 31 it engages the flag 33 and swings the arm 39'into

engagement'with contacts

41 and 42 thereby closing the circuit through the solenoid 28, the core 27 of which will be energized and drawn downward thereby rotating the sheave 24, shaft 20 and screw 17 a partial revolutionin a counter clockwise direction whereby the pressure of the screw 17 on the pivoted lever 16 will be released allowing the guideplate 12 a limited lateral movement when en aged by the forward end of the bar or rod. After the bar or rod passes through the trough 31 it enters the entering guide 8, then into the reducing pass 5, thence into delivery guide 9, which has an inclined groove formed therein adapted to give the bar a turn as it passes through the curved repeater 54 and enters the trough 321 where it'engages flag 34, swinging the contact arm 40 out of engagement with the N contacts t3and 44c and opening'the' circuit deenergizing the core 27 of the solenoid 28, this allows the adjustable weight 23 on arm 22 or spring 29 to rotate the shaft 20 and screw '17 in a clockwise direction thereby laterally advancing the movable guide plate 12 toward the fixed guide plate 11 by the increased pressure of the end of the screw 17 on the pivoted arm 16 and closing the guide in such a manner that the bar or rod will enter the finishingpass Gin the proper alignment, the bar having been turned substantially 90 after leaving pass 5. The weight 23 or spring 29 on arm 22 may be so adjusted as to allow time enough for the end of the oncoming bar to pass properly between the guide plates 11 and 12 before the guide is closed. The rod or bar is then fed through the finishing roll pass 6 and the then finished PIOClLlCL- is conveyed to a cooling bed to cool.

After the rear end of the bar 52 passes the flag 33 the contact arm 39 will return to its normal position out of engagement with the contacts ll and 42. As the bar continues to advance and the rear end passes the flag 34 the contact arm will return to its normal position and engage the

contacts

43 and 44.

The operation described above will then be repeated when the forward end of the next bar being rolled enters the trough 31.

Although I have illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the flag 33 as mounted to extend into the trough 31 so that the bar will engage the flag before it enters the roll. pass 5 it will be readily understood that this flag may be placed after the pass on the other side of. the rolls or in the curved repeater 54 or any place along the line of travel of-the bar.

The space between the l must not however be greater than the length of the bar being rolled and the forward end of the bar must engage the 34; and swing the contact arm 40 out of engagement with the contacts 43 and a l, to open the circuitat this point before the rear GHQ of the bar passes flag 33 thereby swinging arm 39 out of en gagement with contacts all and otherwise if the rear end of the bar passes the flag33 first and the circuit is opened at this point before the forward end of the bar engages the flag 34, the guide-for the finishing pass will be closed before the proper time.

In my invention the operation of my device is entirely automati of the bar on its way to enter the roll passes alternately closing and opening an electric circuit at the proper instant, or the bar itself may engage two or more contact points thereby completing a circuit and thus becoming an electrical conductor for a part of the circuit. V

Although I have described and illustrated my invention in considerable'detail, I do not wish to be limited to the exact and specific details thereof as shown and described, but may use such modifications in, substitutions for, or equivalents thereof, as are embraced within the scope of my invention, or as point ed out in the claims. 7

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a guide for rolling mills, comprisinga pair of r0lls,va pass for ncd in'thc rolls forthe reduction of a bar, housings for-the rolls, rest bars connecting the housings together, a guide box secured to oneofthe rest bars, a fixed guide plate and a movable guide plate each having a grooved inner face mounted in the hide box a screw adapted I n I 7 I to be automatically rotated and controlled b* the barbeinv rolled for o )enin and clos- 1 ing the guide, electrically operated means for is rotating the screw in one direction and means independent of the electrically operated means for rotating the screw in the reverse direction. 1

2. Ina guidefor rolling mills, comprising .a pair of rolls, a pass formed in the rolls for the reduction of a bar, housings for the rolls, rest bars connecting the housings together, a guide box secured to one of rest bars,

a fixed guide plate and a movable guide plate each having a grooved inner face mounted injthe guide box, a screw threaded into the side of-the gulde box, shaft connected to the screw, electrically operated means controlled by the bar being rolled adapted to rotate the shaft and screw when opening the guide,and means attached to the shaft and independent of the electrical means for rotating the shaft and screw in the reverse direction to that of the electrically operated means for closing the motion of the operating mechanism is to be controlled by *a flag or flags or the like placed in the path shaft and screw when opening the guide and means attached to the shaft and independent of the electrically operated means for rotating the shaft and screw in the reverse direction to close the guide.

4. In a guide for rolling mills, comprising a pair of rolls, apass formed in the rolls for the reduction of a bar, housings for the rolls, rest bars connecting the housings together, a guide box secured to one of the rest bars, a fixed guide plate and a movable guide plate each having a grooved inner face mounted in the guide box, a screw threaded into the side of the guide box, a shaft slidably secured to the screw and rotatable therewith, a sheave mounted on the shaft, a solenoid having a reciprocating core, a flexible connection between the sheave and the core of the solenoid, a pair of spaced flags adapted to be engaged by the bar being rolled, acontact arm-attached to each flag and movable with the flags, a pair of c011- tacts adapted to be engaged by each contact arm when the circuit is closed to energize the core of the solenoid and rotate the shaft and screw when opening the guide,'means for normally holding one pair of contacts open and the other pair of contacts closed, and means attached to the shaft and independent of the electrically operated means for rotating the shaft and screw in the reverse direction to close the guide. I

5. In a guide for rolling mills, a guide box, a fixed guide plate and a movable guide plate mounted therein, a lever pivoted to the guide box and contacting with the movable guide plate, a rotatably mounted adjusting member engaging the pivoted lever, electrically operated means for automatically rotating the adjusting member in one direction to open the guide, and means independent of the electrically operating means for closing the guide.

6. In a guide for rolling mills, comprising a guide box, a fixed guide plate and a movable guide plate mounted therein, means for feeding a bar to be rolled between the guide plates, a screw threaded into the guide box adapted to control the adjustment of the movable guide plate, an electrical circuit, switches in spaced relation to each other in the circuit each adaptedto be closed or opened by the passage of the bar, a solenoid in the electrical circuit for rotating the screw in one direction, and independent means for rotating the screw inithe reverse direction.

7. In a guide for rolling mills, comprising a pair of rolls, a pass formed in the rolls for the reduction of a bar, housings for the rolls, rest bars connecting the housings together, a guide box secured to one of the rest bars, a fixed guide plate and a movable guide plate mounted within the guide box, a

the circuit is closed to rotate the shaft and screw in one direction to allow the guide to open and a weighted lever mounted on the shaft for rotating the shaft and screw in the reverse direction to close the guide.

. 8. In a guide for rolling mills, comprising a pair of rolls, a pass formed in the rolls for the reduction of a bar, housings for the rolls, rest bars connecting the housings together, a

guide box secured to one of the rest bars, a'

fixed guide plate and a movable guide plate mounted within the guide box, a lover pivoted 4.

LO the gu debox and engagmg the movable guide plate, a screw threaded into the guide box adapted to engage the pivoted lever and control the adjustment of the movable guide plate, a rectangular socket formed in the screw, a shaft having a squared end slidably engaging the socket and rotatable with the screw, a sheave mounted on the shaft, an electrical circuit, switches in spaced relation to each other in the circuit each arranged to close or open by the passage of the bar, a solenoid in the electrical circuit, a reciprocating 'core for the solenoid having a flexible connection between the core and the sheave adapted when the circuit is closed to rotate the shaft and screw in one direction to allow the guide to open, and a weighted lever mounted on the shaft for rotating the shaft and screw in the reverse direction thereby exerting pressure against the pivoted lever and movable guide plate to close the guide.

9. In a guide for rolling mills, comprising a fixed guide plate and amovable guide plate,

' means for feeding a bar between guide plates,

a trough for conducting the bar to the guide, an electric circuit, a pair of spaced switches in series in the electric circuit, a flag for each switch extending into the trough across the path of the feed bar and adapted to control the opening and closing of the switch-es, means for allowing the guide to open when the circuitis closed, and independent means for closing the guide when the circuit is open.

bar, troughs and guides for conducting the bar to the roll passes and giving thebar a partial axial rotation, a pair of spaced flags normally arranged across the path oi the traveling bar being reduced and adapted to swing out of the path when engaged by the bar, anentering guide'for one of the roll passes, a switch connected to each flag and movable therewith, an electrical circuit for connecting the switches, means for normally holding one of the switches open, means for holding the other switch closed, and means for controlling the opening and closing of the guide by the closing and opening of the switches. i

11. In a guide for rolling mills, a pair of cooperating guide plates, means for feeding a bar between the guide plates, anelectric circuit, a pair of switches in the circuit, means for normally holding the first switch open and the second switch closed, a flag attached to each switch arrangedin the path of the traveling bar and movable therewith, means when the forward end of the traveling rod engages the flag attached to the first switch. for closing the circuit and" allowing the guide to open, and means when the forward end of the traveling rod engages the flag attached to the second switch for opening the circuit and closing the guide.

12. In a guide for rol ing mills, a pair of rolls, a pass formed in the rolls for the reduction of a bar, a fixed guide box, a stationary guide plate and a laterally adjustable guide plate movably mounted within the fixed guide box, means for holding the laterally movable guide plate against longitudinal movement, eleitrically operated means in spaced relation with the guide for laterally adjusting the movable guide plate in one direction to open the guide before the bar on ters the said guide, and means independent of the electrically operated means for laterally adjusting the movable guide in the reverse direction to close the guide before the bar being rolled enters the roll pass.

13. in a guide for rollin mills, a fixed guide box, a stationary guideplate and a laterally adjustable guide plate movably mounted within the fixed guide box, means for holding the laterally movable guide plate against longitudinal movement, a rotatably mounted adjusting member, electrically operated means for rotating the adjusting member for y laterally adjusting the movable guide plate in one direction to open the guide, and resilient means for laterally adjusting the mov able guide plate to close the guide.

14, In a guide for rolling mills, a fixed u guide box, a stationary guide plate and a laterally adjustable guide plate movably mountprovided with a ed within the fixed guide box, means for holding the laterally movable guide plate against longitudinal movement, a lever pivoted to the fixed guide box and contacting with the move able guideplate, a rotatably mounted adjus ing member for engaging the lever, electrically operated means for rotating the adjusting member in one direction to open the guide,

and resilient means for rotating the adjusting member inthe opposite direction to close theguiden a V r ,15; In a guide for rolling mills, afixed guide box, guide plates mounted thereineach grooved inner face adapted to form a guiding aperture for the bar, an electrically operated rotating means adapted to rotate in one direction to open the guide,

and means independent of theelectrically op erating means adapted to rotate the rotating means in the reverse direction for closing the guide. i a

16. In a guide for rolling mills, a stationary guide box, a fixed guide plate and a movable guide plate mounted therein, a lever pivoted to the guide box and contacting with the movable guideplate, a rotatably mounted adjusting screw engaging the pivoted lever, electrically operated means for" rotating the adjusting screw in one direction to open the guide, and a weighted lever means for rotating the screw in the opposite direction for closing the guide. 17. In a guide for rollin mills, a stationary guide box, a fixed guide plate and a laterally movable guide plate mounted therein, means for holding the laterally movable guide plate against longitudinal movement, a lever pivoted to the guide box, an adjusting screw threaded into the uide box and engaging the lever, a socket formed in the adjusting screw, a shaft slidably keyed to the adjusting screw, electrically operated means for rotating the shaft and adjusting screw in one direction, and mechanicalmeans for rotating the shaft and adjusting the screw in the reverse direction.

18. In a guide for rolling mills, a stationary guide box, a fixed guide plate and a laterally movable guide plate mounted therein, means for holding the laterally movable guide plate against longitudinal movement, a lever pivoted to the guide box, an adjusting screw threaded into the guide box and engaging the lever, a rectangular socket formed in the ad justing screw, a shaft having squared end the reduction of a bar, housings for the rolls,

rest bars for connecting the housings together, a stationary guide box secured to one of the rest bars, a fixed guide plate and a laterally movable guide plate each having a grooved inner face mounted in the guide box, means for holding the laterally movable guide plate against longitudinal movement, alever pivoted to the guide box and contacting with the movable guide plate, a rotatably mounted adjusting member for engaging the lever, electrically operated means controlled by the bar bemg rolled for automatically rotating the adj usting member in one direction to open the guide, and means independent of the electrically operating means for closing the guide. i

20. In a guide for rolling mills, comprising a pair of rolls provided with a pass for j the reduction of a bar, housings for the rolls,

rest bars for connecting the housings together, a stationary guide box secured to one of the rest bars, a fixed guide plate and a laterally movable guide plate each having a grooved inner face mounted in the guide box,

having a squared end slidably engaging the socket, a sheave mounted on the shaft, electrically operated meanscontrolled by the passage of the bar being rolled for automatically rotating the shaft in one direction, and means independent of the electrically operating means for rotating the shaft in the reverse direction.

21. In a guide for rolling mills, eomprising a pair of rolls provided with a pass for the reduction of a bar, housings for the rolls, rest bars for connecting the housings together, a stationary guide box secured to one of the rest bars, a fixed guide plate and a laterally movable guide plate each having a grooved inner face mounted in the guide box, means for holding the laterally movable guide plate against longitudinal movement, a lever pivoted to the guide box and contacting with the movable guide plate, an adjusting screw threaded into the stationary guide box and engaging the lever, a shaft having its end slidably keyed to the adjusting screw, an electric circuit provided with switches in series adapted to be opened and closed by the passage of the bar, a solenoid in the circuit controlled by the switches, a connection with the shaft adapted to rotate the shaft in one direcion to open the guide, and a weighted lever mounted on the shaft adapted to rotate the shaft in the reverse direction.

22. In a guide for rolling mills, comprising a pair of rollsprovided with a pass for the opening the guide, and resilient means for closing the guide.

23. In a guide for rolling mills comprising a pair of rolls, a pass formed in the rolls for the reduction of a bar, a guide mounted adj a-. cent to the roll pass, electrically operated means for opening the guide before the bar enters the said uide, and means independent of the electrica ly operated means for automatically closing the guide before the forward end of the bar enters the roll pass.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

IVILLIAM H. CATTERALL.