US2012849A - Descaling and edging apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 27, 1935. K. c. GARDNER ET AL DESGALING AND EDGING APPARATUS Filed March 8, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 'ILM ATTORNEYS l vlrarusssm Aug. 27, 1935.

K. C. -GARDNER El AL DESCALING AND EDGING APPARATUS Filed MarohB, 1935 WITNESSES MMI/L,

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 @@@QQQQQ mww? INVENTORS Mmwyw ATTORNEYS Aug. 27, 1935.

K. c. GARDNER ET AL 2,012,849

DESCALING AND EDGING APPARATUS Filed March 8, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS A'rrgnu EYs Patented Aug. 27,V 1935 I DESCALING AND EDGING APPARATUS Kirtland C.Gardner, Coraopolis, and Florence C. Biggert, Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa., assignors to United Engineering & Foundry Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 8, 1933, Serial No. 660,040

21 Claims.

Our invention relates to descaling and edging apparatus that is adapted particularly for application to relatively wide metal Aplates for breaking or removing scale `that has formed thereon 5 and simultaneously therewithA straightening the edges of the plates.

When plates or slabs have been subjected to a spreading pass in a rolling mill, it is necessary to break the scale on the plates before flat rolling of v the latter is undertaken, and it is also necessary to straighten the edges which have become irregular during ,the spreading pass. When the plates are comparatively narrow the latter may be descaled in a satisfactory manner by subject- 1 5 ing them to a heavy edging pass either by horizontal or vertical edgers.

This method of operation has been found to be satisfactory on plates such, for example, as those having a thickness ofi'three inches and a 0 Width of as much as twenty-four inches. It has been found also that more highly satisfactory results were secured with rolls of large diameter than with` rolls of relatively' small diameter.

However, space requirements have been a limiting factor in the direction of increasing the size of the rolls. t

When relatively wide plates or slabs were rolled with the largest practicable edging rolls, the descaling effect did not reach to the center of the plates. The limited descaling effect of these rolls is due to the fact that the compressive forces 0f the rolls were distributed lengthwise of the plates to such extent that the latter were not sufficiently compressed except ,for a comparatively narrow portion along their edges. Accordingly, the eld of operations for descaling plates by means of rolls has been limited to plates of comparatively narrow width because of the impossibility of extending the compressive effect to the centerI of relatively wide plates.

It has also been proposed 'to squeeze the plates by the use of a press having rams or press heads with at surfaces at right angles to the sides of vthe plates and applying suficiently heavy presand at the same time to impart substantially plane surfaces to the edges thereof. The flat surfaces of the press heads are simply portions of 'a-.roll of infinite diameter. While this process sure required is relatively great and the process -is accordingly either comparatively slow in operation or is` relatively expensive because of the 55 excessive power requirements'.-

sure to descale the entire surfaces of the plates has been satisfactory insofar as concerns removing scalefrom plates of great width, the pres- We propose to secure the beneficial effects of a press and at the same time retain the benets of the rolling'operation for descaling and edging plates of relatively great width. We have found that satisfactory compressive effects for the re- 5 moval of scale may be caused to extend to the center of plates of comparatively great width by the use of rolls of very large diameter. However, rolls of the necessary size for securing these results would occupy an amount of space that would be highly excessive and in additionv the rolls would require an enormous amount of material, and' the cost of an installation using complete rolls of the character described above would be prohibitive. y

In accordance with the present invention We provide rolling members having surfaces for engaging the edges of plates that have a curvature corresponding to that of portions of surfaces of cylinders of very large diameter. These rolling members, which may be of relatively small depth' from their' curved surfaces, are caused to roll the edges of the plates. in substantially the same manner as though these rolling members wereme'rely parts of complete rolls.

The rolling members are caused to simulate the operation of rolling by cylinders of the size corresponding to the curvature of their rolling surfaces by .means of mechanical movements which cause the rolling members to progressively roll the edges ofthe plates, the arc of the contacting surfaces therebetween being sufliciehtly great by reason of the curvature of the rolling members that the compressive effects thereof extend to the center of the plates with the result that the rlatter are entirely descaled as well as l provided with plane surfaces along their edges.

It has been found also that compressive effects suilicient for descaling may be caused to extend to the center of the plates if the length of the contact surface between the rolling members and the plates at least equals one-half the width of the plate. With rolling members of the c aracter described above, we secure the advant ges -of an arc of contact surfaces of suiiicient length to produce the desired descalingeffect, but the time of operation and power requirements for. a progressive rolling operation are much lower than for a press using heads having flat engaging surfaces.

The details of our invention will be described in connection. -with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of apparatus constructed in accordance withv our invention; Fig. 2

is aview in longitudinal vertical section taken on line II-II oi Fig. 1 of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view partially in end elevation and partially in section along the line III-III of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a View in transverse vertical section taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the rolling membersand certain apparatus associated therewith; Figs. 6, '7 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views illustrating -the various positions of the rolling members during the process of rolling the edges of a plate; Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of a modified form of apparatus; and Fig. 11 is a similar view. of a further modiflcation.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, apparatus constructed in accordance with our invention comprises a housing I of suitable structural framework 'that is provided transversely of its central portion with a series of power-driven rollers 2 for conveying plates or slabs into the apparatus and for supporting them during the process of rolling their edges. Above'the rollers 2 is a series of rollers 3 which cooperate with the rollers 2 in guiding the plates into and out of operative position. The rollers 3 also prevent buckling of the central portion of the plates while the latter are being rolled to descale and edge them.

At each side of the rollers 2 and 3 are two rolling members 4 and 5 having curvedlportions 6 and 'I, respectively, that are substantially portions of surfaces of cylinders of very large diameter. The curvature of the surfaces 6 and 'I corresponds substantially to that of an arc of a circle having a diameter, by Way of example but without limitation thereto, of about 160 feet, which is suitable for rolling plates as wide as seven and a half feet. Each of the members 4 and 5 is actuated by a mechanism comprising an.

electric motor 9, a worm I0, worm gears II on opposite sides thereof each of which is rotatable with two superposed pinions I2 that engage spaced upper and lower gears I3 and I4, respectively. 1

Each pair of these double gears is connected to` a crank pin I5 disposed betweenthem and which is connected by an arm or link I 6 to one end of one of the members 4 and 5. Longitudinal movement of each member 4 and 5 is prevented by a link I8 having a pivotalconnection at one end to themember 4 or 5, as the case may be, and at the other end to a stationary member I9. This connection permits oscillation or rocking of the members 4 and 5, but substantially prevents longitudinal movement of the rolling members 4 and l The actuating mechanisms for the respectivel members 4 and 5 are caused to operate in synchronism by the provision of any well known or usualy mechanism. By way of example, we have Aprovided-that an electric' synchronizing machine 20 is mechanically connected to each of the motors 9,the machines 20 being electrically connected to each other or to the source of power in a well known manner. It will be appreciated,

also, that instead of two motors 9 with theirl associated synchronizing apparatus, we. may employ a single electric motor or other motor by providing suitable mechanical connections between the actuating means of the rocking orl rolling members 4 and 5.

In order to adaptA the apparatus for rolling the vedges of plates of various widths, the gear mechanism Vfor operation of each of the rolling members 4 and 5 is mounted in a frame 22 extending transversely of the housing I, and that is adjustable longitudinally of the frame of the housing I whereby the members 4 and 5 are caused to roll along respective parallel straight lines that are closer together orfarther apart. depending upon the adjustment of the frames 22 with respect to each other.

The frames 22 areeach adjusted by means'of A vfour screw-threaded shafts 23 adjacent the respective corners of the frame and that 'are mounted in stationary screw-threaded members 24. The shafts 23 are simultaneously rotated by means of a.motor 25, a shaft 26 having two worms 21 thereon, a worm gear 28 driven by each worm 21 and a pinion 29 connected to each worm gear the rollers for plates of various. thicknesses, by

neans of vertical screw-threaded rods 32 that are simultaneously adjusted vertically by means of gears 33 screw-threaded on the rods 32 and a motor 34 and a shaft 35 having a worm 33 at each end thereof for actuating each gear 33 on av screw-threaded rodi 32.

As best shown in Figs. 1,2 and 5, the members 4 and 5 are each thicker than the plates to be rolled by them. While the members 4 and 5 may be of a single material, it is preferred that they be provided with a face portion 31 of steel or alloy of higher grade than the supporting or backing portion 38.

The face portion 31 is provided with a. series of steps 39, 40 and 4I in its outer surface, the lower step 4I being at. the level of the upper surfaces of the rollers 2 and forming a ledge which supports the outer edges of the plates to be descaled and edged at they portions being rolled. The shape of the rolling members 4 and 5, other than their curved surfaces 6 and 'I may be such as desired to provide sulcient depth and cross-sectional area4 to resist the stresses applied thereto Aduring the rolling operation. By way of example, the rolling members are illustrated as of somewhat oval shape.

In the operation of the apparatus ldescribed above, it may be assumed that a plate 42 has been actuated into position to be rolled as illustrated in Figs- 1, 2 and 4. The rollers 3 will be in position to guide the movement of the plate into 1 operative position and to prevent its buckling when under pressure `of the rolling members. It may be assumed also that the members 4 and 5 and the actuating mechanism therefor occupy substantially the positions shown diagrammatically in Fig. 5 prior to the beginning of the rolling operation.

It will be noted that the cranks I5 connected to the memberA occupy dif/ferent angular positions The respective cranks I5 connected to the member 5 occupy positions that are symmetrical with thcse of the cranks connected to the member 4. 'I'he motors 9 actuate the cranks I5 con- I connected to the same nected to each member in opposite directions, and if the directions of rotationare those indicated by arrows in Fig. 5, the positions of the members 4 and 5 will be that shown in Fig. 6 when each. of the cranks has operated through an angle of about 45. The plate 42 is engaged at one end and'on opposite sides thereof by the rolling surfaces of the respective members 4 and 5.

The continued rotation of the cranks I5 causes the members 4 and 5 to rock or roll upon the plate 42, the intermediate positions of the rolling members 4 and 5 during such action being shown in Fig. 7. When the members 4 and 5 occupy thesepositions, it will be noted that the cranks member occupy similar angular positions and thepositions of the cranks connected to the respective members are symmetrical with each other.

Continued rotation o f the cranks causes themembers 4 and 5 to roll to their .extreme positions as illustrated inFig. 8 to complete the rolling of the plate 42. Further rotation' of the cranks inl the same directions will bring the members 4 and 5 to the position shown inFig. 9 wherein the4 plate 42 is released thereby. The rollers 2 may then be rotated to remove the finished plate from the machine and a new plate may be inserted between the rolling members 4 and 5.

While the cranks connected toeach member have been shown and described as rotating in opposite directions; substantially similar results may be secured by rotating the cranks connected to the same member in the same direction. This direction may, however, be opposite for the respective members, depending upon the relation of the cranks. i

During the operation of rolling the plates, sumcient pressure has been applied thereto and over a sufficiently wide area that the plates are compressed to their center line and scale thereon is effectively loosened for removal. At thejsame time the rolling of the edges has provided substantially plane surfaces therefor, the length of the throw of the cranks i5 and the length of the crank arms I6 being so chosen that the members 4 and 5 have rolled along a substantially straight'line and provided substantially straight edges to the plate 42; The rollers 2 and 3 permit longitudinal movement of the plate during rolling if such movement is necessary to adapt the plate to the movements of the members 4 and 5.

When a new plate has been inserted between the members 4 and 5 while they are in positions corresponding to those of Fig. 9, the direction of operation of the rolling members 4 and 5 may be reversed by reversing their driving motors,fand the plate will be rolled in the direction opposite to that of the plate whose rolling has been previously described. If it is desired, however, all of the plates may be rolled in the same direction,

although considerable time may be saved by reversing the operation for alternate plates. If the cranks i5 continue to rotate in the same directions, the cycle described above will be repeated.

By the employment of rolling surfaces of curvature of the degree referred to above, the contact arc between the rolling members and the plate or slab is sufliciently long that the penetration of the compressive `effect to the center of the plate is assured. The faults of the ordinary rotary edger are thus avoided.

and laborinvolved All of the advantages of pressing the plates are secured with the further advantage that the length of the plate that is engaged by the rolling members may be controlled in accordance with operating requirements. While it has been found that if the length of the contact surface is at least equal to half the width of the plate,

the length of the contact arc may be varied substantially as desired within certain limits by changing the arrangement of cranks and linkage for connecting them to the rolling members.

Reference may now is illustrated a modified form of apparatus for accomplishing substantially similar results. In this form of our invention two curved members 44 having rolling surfaces 45 that conform substantially to portions of materiallylarger rolls are each flexibly connected to a link 46 having a stationary pivotal support at one end thereof.

The members 44 operate to roll a. plate 42 when a` rollers 48 that engage the carriage 41, having -concave rear surfaces of the members 44,' is

drawn along longitudinally of the rolling members 44 to cause them to roll the plate to produce straight edges thereon in a manner similar to.

that described in connection with the preferred form of our invention. The spacing of the actuating rollers 48 for the rolling members 44 provides that the latter will operate with a rolling or rocking effect upon the plate to be rolled. It

will be appreciated that the position of the rolling members is dependent upon the longitudinal position of the carriage 41 and the actuating` rollers carried thereby.

A second modification illustrated in Fig. 11 comprises apparatus in which substantially similar results may be obtained. Instead of employing rolling members that are substantially stationary with respect to longitudinal movement thereof, we provide curved rolling members 50 that are adapted to be actuated longitudinally by means of pinions 5I connected to gear teeth 52 on the back portions of the rolling members, whereby both the latter and the plate 42 to be rolled are actuated longitudinally by the rolling members.

'Ihe advantages of machines constructed in accordance with our invention are that plates may be rolled in .such manner as to cause the scale to be loosened therefrom over the entire surfaces thereof by the employment of means that are the equivalent of rolls of very large diameter. The rolling members, A suchv small portions of the cylindrical .'-rolls of great diameter to which the rolling surfaces of the rolling members conform that they Vmay be conveniently employed in a relatively simple andy inexpensive machine. It will be appreciated that two rolls of such unusually large diameters as those referred to above would occupy excessive space and would require an amount of material that would be .out of proportion tothe uses for which they would be adapted.

The mechanical movements that have been provided for actuation of the rolling members enable the latter to perform the functions of rolls without providing a center aboutwhich the rolling members are actuated. :y

By' means of the apparatus :of the present invention we are able to entirely and conveniently remove the scale from plates and to provide them whereby the amount of time in such operations is kept at a minimum and the cost of the operation is prowith, straight edges portionately reduced.

however, constitute only be had to Fig. 10 in which plates, comprising a series of power-driven rolls constituting atable for supporting a plate therefor simultaneously rolling' opposite edges of a plate to impart substantially plane surfaces'the'reto, said members being arcuate chord sections of rolls of relatively great diameter, and means lying well within and considerably shorter than the radius of the curved surface of each member for rocking the members substantially about the radius of the surface.

2. A machine for descaling and edging metal.

plates, comprising a pair of members each having a portion of substantially cylindrical contour adapted to engage with a side of a plate, and means for rocking' said members to cause said portionsvto roll the edges of'said plate to impart substantially plane surfaces thereto, said means lying within the radius of the cylindrical contour but operating to rock the members substantially about the radius of the contour.

3. A machine for descaling and edging metal plates, comprising a member at each side of a plate, each member constituting substantially a felly portion oi' a cylinder of large diameter-whereby the curved surfaces of the members approch a straight line, and means substantially shorter than the radius of the cylinder for causing said members to roll the edges of said plate in the manner of rolls of complete diameter.

4. A machine for descaling and edging metal on, a seriesof guide rolls-above said table, and means comprising a pair of rocking curved members for rolling the edges of a plate on said table.

5. A machine for descaling and edging metal plates, comprising a member for engaging each side edge of a plate and having a curved portion constituting substantially a portion of the surface of a cylinder of large diameter, and means for causing said members to roll the edges of said plate in the manner of rolls of complete diameter, said means comprising a rotatable crank operatively connected to each end of each of said members, and means for rotating said cranks.

6. A machine for descaling and edging metal plates, comprising a member forengaging each side edge of a plate and having a curved portion corresponding substantially to a portion of the surface of a cylinder of large diameter, and means for causing said members to roll the edges of said plate in the manner of rolof complete diameter, said lmeans comprising a rotatable crank operatively connected to each end of each of said members, and means for rotating the cranks connected to the same member in opposite directions.

'1. A machine for descaling and edging metal plates, comprising a member for` engaging each side edge of a plate and having a portion corre-` sponding substantially to a portion of the curved surface of a cylinder of large diameter, and means for causing said members to roll the edges of said plate in the manner of rolls of complete diameter, said means comprising two rotatable spaced cranks respectively connected by links to the ends of each of said members for successively actuating the ends of said members into and out of engagement with said plate, and means for simultaneously rotating all'of said cranks.

8. A machine for descaling and -edging metal plates, comprising a member for engaging each side edge of a plate and having an engaging porconnected to the respective ends of each of said members, the cranks of each pair being rotatable in opposite directions and having two coincident positions during each complete rotation thereof and thereby actuating the ends of the member connected thereto successively into engagement with the plate.

9. A machine for descaling and edgingmetal plates, comprising a member at each side of a plate, each member corresponding substantially to an arcuate rim section of a cylinder of large diameter so that the curved surfaces of the members approach a straight line, and means for rocking the members whilerestraining them from longitudinal movement and thereby causing them `to roll the edges of said plate into substantially plane surfaces.

10. A machine fer descaling relatively heavy metal plates, slabs, blooms and the like comprising a member having an arcuate surface the curvature of which corresponds to that of an arc of a circle of very large diameter, the radial depth of said member being relatively small, and actuating means for rocking said member to cause its arcuate surface to. roll along a substantially straight line, said means lying well within the radius of the'arcuate surface whereby the member simulates the action of a very large roll without the space and weight requirements thereof.

11. A machine for descaling relatively heavy metal plates, slabs, bloomsand the like comprising a member having an arcuate surface the curvatu're of which corresponds to that of an arc of av circle of very large diameter, the radial depth of said member being relatively small, and actuating means of relatively short radial depth and positioned close to -the member for rocking said member to cause its arcuate surface to roll along a substantially straight line, said actuating means comprising two rotatable elements having connections to said member that are angularly asynchronous. v

12. A machine for descaling relatively heavy metal plates, slabs, blooms and the like comprising a-member having an arcuate surface the curvature of which corresponds to that of an arc of a circle of very large diameter, the radial depth of said member being relatively small, and actuating means for rocking said member to cause its arcuate surface to roll along. a substantially straight line, said actuating means comprising two rotatable elements, cranks connected thereto that do not coincide angularly and a link connected to each crank and the links being connected to said member at pointssspaced circum- A ferentially with respect to said arcuate surface.

13. A machine for descaling and edging metal plates,comprising a member at each side of a plate, each member constituting substantially an arcuate portion of a cylinder of large diameter,

14. A machine for descalng and edging metal plates, comprising a member for engaging eachv side of a plate and having a curved portion constituting substantially a portion of the surface of a cylinder of large diameter, means for causing said members to roll the edges of said plate in the manner of rolls of complete diameter, said means comprising a rotatable crank operatively connected to each end of each of said members, means for rotating said cranks, and means for varying the positions of the cranks and said members to vary the distance between the edges produced by said members.

15. A machine for descaling and edging metal plates, comprising a series of power-driven rolls constituting a table for supporting. a plate thereon, a series of guide rolls above said table, means comprising a pair of rocking curved members for rolling the edges -of a plate on said table, and means for adjusting the vertical position of said series of guide rolls.

16. A machine for descaling and edging `metal plates, comprising a member at each side of a' plate, each member constituting substantially a felly-like, arcuate portion of a cylinder of large diameter, a plurality of rotatable means engaging 'directly with but radially behind each member for causing said members to roll the edges of said plate in the manner of rolls of complete diameter, and means for synchronizing the operation of said members.

17. Apparatus for edging metal plates, comprising a curved rocking member of relatively long radius but short radial dimensions for imparting a substantially plane surface to an edge engaged thereby, a rotatable element 'contacting behind the member, and means for effecting relative movement between the member and the element.

18. Apparatus for edge straightening and descaling slabs and the like comprising a pair of opv positely facing arcuate rim-like sections of rolls of relatively great diameter, means for rocking the sections against opposite sides of a slab to descale and edge it, said means being` positioned closely adjacent the sections but being of considerably less radialsize than the radius of each arcuate section.

19. Apparatus for edge straightening and descaling slabs and the like comprising a pair of oppositely facing arcuate rim-like sections of rolls of relatively great diameter, means for rocking the sections against opposite sides of a slab to descale and edge it, said means including a relatively short crank adjacent each end of each section, and a connecting rod securing each crank and the section.

' 20. Apparatus for edge straightening and descaling slabs and the like comprising a pair of oppositely facing arcuate rim-like sections of rolls of relatively great diameter, means for rocking the sections against opposite sides of a slab to descale and edge it, said means including a carriage, a plurality of rollers journaled on the carriage and engaging behind each section, and mechanism for moving the carriage and the sections relative to each other to effect the rolling operation on the slab.

21. Apparatus for edge straightening and descaling slabs and the like comprising a pair of oppositely facing arcuate rim-like sections of rolls of relatively great diameter, means for rocking the sections against opposite sides of a slab to descale and edge it, said means including a ra'ck on each member and gear wheels meshing with the rack.

KIRTLAND C. GARDNER. FLORENCE C. BIGGERT, JR.

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