US2069517A - Guide twister - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 2, 1937. w H. CATTERALL UAL 2,069,517

GUIDE TwIsTER Filed July 29, 1.933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 2, 1937. W H. CATTERALL ET AL 2,069,517

GUIDE TWISTER Filed July 29, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 :um: u

Mlm/a Patented Feb. 2, 1937 S'ETES Parent eri-*ies GUIDE TWISTER Application `lilly 29, 1933, Serial No. 682,782

16 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved device for operating guides in combination with a repeater for rolling mills in which by suitable guiding mechanism the bar is led from the shaping pass of one set of rolls to the shaping pass of another set of rolls. More particularly our invention relates to devices for receiving the end of a bar coming from a roll pass to impart a twist to the bar, and to guide the bar to the entry guide which directs it into another set of pass rolls.

It is well known that in the form of rolling mills where the rolls for successive passes are arranged with their axes in a straight line, it is necessary that the end o1c the bar be reversed in its direction of travel in order that it may be successively passed through the various passes of the mill. It is also necessary during this reversing operation to give the bar a turn axially before it is passed into the second set of pass rolls. Heretoiore this was accomplished by having an operator stand Z between the roll stands and to grab the end of the bar as it comes from the rst pass and byV turning his body to turn the end of the bar and direct it into the next pair oi rolls. Another method is to provide fixed guides on the delivery side of the mill for twisting the bar as it comes from the first pass and directing it into a repeater which in turn directs the bar into the entry guide of the second pass. The hand turning method is not only difcult and dangerous, but '50 expensive from an operating point of view. The second method of using guides to perform this work has also required the attention of an operator to adjust the entry guides. Twisting guides have been used to twist the bar coming from the first pass, but if the guides remain in a fixed position the twist is communicated to the entry guides of the second set of rolls through the torsion of bar exerted by the twister. This torsional strain is constantly increasing on both the twisting and entry guides as long as the bar is in both and the return loop is increasing in length. This continued torsion greatly increases the wear on the guides and tends to scratch the bar. The 4 tendency of the growing twist in the bar is to push the top roll of the second stand in one direction and the bottom roll in the opposite direction thereby distorting the section and causing excessive end thrust and wear on the roll bearings. 50 By releasing the twister and permitting it to float back to the position of least torsion as the bar enters the second set of rolls, the tendency to scratch the bar is eliminated and prolongs the life of the guides and roll bearings.

55 An object of this invention is the turning and (Cl. Sil- 53) controlling of the bar which may be square, diamond shaped, oval, rectangular, or any other shape of cross-section worked through the mill requiring repeaters, so that it will be delivered to the entry guides of the second set of rolls uniformly and in the proper position to receive the shaping and reducing work of the pass in that set of rolls.

Another object is to relieve the torsion on the bar exerted by the twister at the delivery side of the iirst roll pass.

A further object is to provide for the automatic setting and releasing of the guide twister in combination with apparatus used to operate an opening and closing entry guide on repeating mills, or the setting and releasing of the twister automatically by mechanical means, or by hand, the setting of the twister and the operation of the adjustable entry guides being simultaneous.

The novel features will be more fully understood from the following description and claims taken with the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of two stands of roll passes, a guide twister at the delivery side of the rst stand, a repeater, an adjustable guide at the entry side of the second stand, and electrically controlled means for automatically operating the guide twister and the adjustable guides by the movement of the bar passing between the two stands.

Fig. 2 is an elevation and cross-section taken on lines 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section of the guide twister taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a front View of the guide twister and its housing.

Fig. 5 shows the connection end of a. lever for turning the twister.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the entry guide taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is diagrammatic of the Iiag switch positioned adjacent the entry guide as shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numerals I and 2 indicate two stands of rolls oi a continuous rod or bar mill, each having a set of rolls 3 and ll of the two high type. The set of rolls 3 having a reducing pass 5 formed therein while rolls l have a pass formed as at 6. From Fig. 2 it will be noted that the bottom roll of stand l is in line with the top roll of stand 2 so that the coupling connecting the two stands will move the piece being rolled in opposite directions. As a means of illustration, I have chosen to reduce a square bar 'l to an oval 8 in stand I, and in stand 2 the oval is reduced to a round 9, the rolls may, however, have any other shaped passes as desired. The ovalor bar as it comes from stand I is positioned with its major axis in a horizontal position, but upon entering the guide twister I the bar is turned about its axis so that'by the time it has passed through the repeater II `and reaches the guide I2 its end will have been turned substantially 90 for entering the pass of rolls 4. Intermediate the twister I0 and repeater II is a guide I3, and in- Vterrnediate the repeater and guide YI2 is another guide I4.

The guide twister I0 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 comprises a rotatable holder VI5 which is cylindrical in shape with a flange I6 for holding vit in The holder is provided with a rec- I1 for receiving the split guides The position. tangular opening I8 which are of Vordinary construction;r`

guides' are provided with straight grooved chan'- nels and are flared Vat their receiving ends so as lto provide an entry for the bar as it comes'from v the rolls. The guides are secured inholder I5 by means of set bolts I9. The bearing for mounting the Vholder is in the form of a pillow block having a base 28V and cap 2I. Y 'Ihe bearing is providedwith a tongue 22 on'its under sidewhich Y is adapted to slide in a slot 23 of the supporting 1 bracket 24 so 530 that the bearing can be adjusted' horizontally. Attached to the guide holder I5 is aV lever 25V for rotating the holder and the guides.

The entry guide I2 Vfor pass 6 is mounted between the housings of stand 2 by means of rest bars in the usual manner. This guide is mounted in a hollow rectangular guide box 26in which are Y positioned'stationary and movable guides 2l and Yfor the reception of a squared end of a shaft 32,

which extends outwardly through the roll housing, thus providing arconnection for the end of the shaft. Thus, when shaft 32 is rotated in one direction Vthe guide 28 is free toV open relative to guide 2'I and when the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction, guide 28 closes in on guide 2'I.

The guides I0 and I2 are operatively connected for simultaneous adjustment by means of alever 33 secured to the end of shaft 32. This lever is connected Vto lever 34 by means of link 35, and lever 34 in turn is connected to the cross shaft 36. Near the end of the shaft is attached a lever 371 which-is connected to a bell crank 38 by means of'rods 39 and 40,'and turnbuckle 4I. Lever 25 which is attached to the twister is connected Yto the bell crank 38 by means of the turnbuckle link 42. It will be noted that levers 33, 34, 31,'

and 38 areY provided with additional holes for adjustment purposes so that theV relative movement of the two guides may be varied to suit any con-Y dition: The turnbuckles 4I and 42 also provide for fine adjustment without stopping the Yrolling operation. v Y Y Y At the end of shaft 36 are mounted two4 discs 43 spaced apart, and in this space is mounted a lever'44pivotally connected to the discs. other end of the lever 44 is pivoted to supporting brackets 45. A solenoid magnet 46 is provided The v for rotating the shaft 36 in one direction while a weight 48 will cause the rotation ofthe shaft in an opposite direction. The core 4'I of the solenoid and weight are connected to leve144 by means of rods'49 and turnbuckle 56 as shown in Fig. .2.,

The solenoid is energizedV by means of an electric Y generator 5 I. Fig. l illustrates the wiring Vor circuit connections between the solenoid andgenerator which includes a flag switch 52 for opening and closing the circuit. The switch comprises a ilag 53 positioned in the guide I4 just ahead of guide i2. The flag is connected to a contactor Y 54 for completing the circuit in wires 55 and 53. The switch as a whole may be mounted in any y suitable manner but it should be mounted so that it may be moved toward or away from stand 2. The switch is opened by the movement of the bar being rolled as it passes under the flag 53, and after the bar has passed theY switch the spring 5l will return the switch to its closed po sition as shown in Fig. 7. In place ofthe flag switch, anelectric-eye or photo-cell may be used to advantage as a controlling meansY for openingv and closing the circuit between the generator and solenoid. TheA operation of the'eye would b`e effected by thepassing of the bar under the eye. The eye in this case would be considered an equivalent to the ilagv switch, v and as its purpose and function is well understood further descrip- Y tion is considered unnecessary.

The curved repeater trough I I is adapted to receive the bar after it issues from pass 5 and guides it in a curved direction to pass 6. The top of the troughV is open to allow the rod or bar to be raised out of the trough by means of the kicker 58 and to extend over a table 59 in case the rod is delivered from'pass 5 faster than is taken in by pass 6 thereby producing a loop or overfeed.

The kicker is connected to shaft 36 which operates the guides Vand-is automatically actuated by the passing of the bar under the flag 53. A kicker of this type is shown in U. SQPatent 1,046,950.V

In operation the normal position` of the twister I0 is set so'that when a .bar issuing from pass 5 enters the guides I8 a twist is .imparted to the bar. the end of the bar about 90.by the time itV has reached the guide I2. Normally the screw 3| This twist being' only sufficient tov VturnV is in a retracted position which allows `guide block 28 to open relative to guide block 2'I. This provides for the free entry of the end of the barY Under these conditions the flag into the guide. switch is in the closed position as shown in Fig. 7 which closes the electrical 'circuit in wires 55 and 56. When the circuit is closed thesolenoid is energized which lifts the core of the magnet. In,

other words, with the switch closed the solenoid is energized, the guide twister ID is in its twisting position, and the guide I2 is open., When the end of the bar being rolled reaches the flag 53 the switch is opened, thus de-energizing the solenoid and allowing the weight 48 to rotate shaft 36in a reverse direction so as to close the entry guide I2 on the bar and simultaneously turn the twister to a position coincident lwith pass 5 as shown'in Fig. 4. This feature of automatically. turning back the twister, after the bar has entered guide I2, permits the bar to emerge from pass 5 in an untwisted position, thereby releasing the torsion on the rod. The position of the switch relative to pass 6 isV determined by trial, and it is important that the switch be placed so that after the switch is opened by the passing bar, the end of the bar will have entered the guides and about reached the bite of the roll pass before the entry guides close upon the bar. If the entry guides close too quickly it may retard or stop the movement of the bar. The lapse of time between the opening of the switch and the entry of the bar into the bite of the rolls is caused by the inertia and friction in the operating parts. However, with the rod moving at a high rate of speed, this time interval is very short.

It will be noted that the solenoid sets the twister and the entry guide in one position only, and that the weight 48, which is an independent source of power, closes the entry lguide and returns the twister to its untwisted position.

The operating mechanism of the twister is constructed so that the angle of the twister can be increased or diminished, and the amount of release throw varied to suit the roller in a few seconds and without delaying the on-coming bar.

The advantages oiered by this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. By turning and controlling the bar it will be delivered to the entry guides of the second pass uniformly and in proper position to receive the shaping and reducing work of the pass; the releasing of the torsion on the bar exerted by the twister, because if the twister remains set in its former position this torsion is communicated to the entry guides of the second pass,lthe strain constantly increasing on both twister and entry 4guides as long as the bar is in both and the loop is increasing in length; reduction of wear on the twister and entry guides; and the elimination of the tendency to scratch the bar. In rolling very long bars with a xed twister the accumulating torsion is sometimes suiicient to cause the looped portion of the bar to rise up and twist, with obvious serious results both to the operators of the mill and the mill itself--this danger is also eliminated. The tendency of a growing twist in a bar to push the rolls in opposite directions is relieved, thereby producing a more uniform section and less end thrust on the roll bearings.

While we have illustrated and described one particular embodiment of our invention, it will be understood that in its broader aspects, the invention is not limited to the specic means shown covering the Various movements and actions described, producing the results stated.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In a rolling mill the combination with two roll passes, of a straight grooved guide rotatably mounted at the delivery side of the rst pass and positioned to impart twist to the piece being rolled as it emerges from said pass, a separable guide located at the entry side of the second pass, and actuating means operatively connecting said guides for simultaneously closing said separable guide and turning said straight grooved guide to an untvvisting position so as to relieve its twisting eirect on the piece when in engagement with both guides.

2. In a rolling mill the combination with a plurality of roll passes, of a rotatable guide at the delivery side of one pass and positioned to twist the piece being rolled as it emerges from said pass, a guide having a fixed plate and a movable plate positioned at the entry side of another pass, and means for simultaneously adjusting said movable plate and turning said rotatable guide to an untwisting position so as to relieve its twisting effect on the piece.

3. In a rolling mill the combination with two roll passes, of a rotatable guide at the delivery side of the rst pass and positioned to twist the piece being rolled as it emerges from said pass, a separable guide adapted to be opened or closed at the entry side of the second pass, a repeater for conducting the piece from the iirst pass to the second pass, and means for simultaneously closing said separable guide upon the entry of the piece to the second pass and to turn said rotatable guide so as to allow the piece to continue its movement from the first stand in an untwisted position.

4. In a rolling mill the combination with two stands of rolls provided with grooved passes requiring the turning of the bar being rolled between the stands, of a curved repeater Jfor conducting 'the bar from one to the other stand, a rotatably mounted twister guide having a straight opening positioned at the delivery side of the rst stand, a separable guide at the entry side of the second stand, and means operatively connecting both of said guides for simultaneously opening or closing said separable guide and rotating said twister guide.

5. In a rolling mill, a set of rolls provided with an elongated pass, a second set of rolls having a pass diiering from the rst pass, means for conducting the bar being rolled from one to the other pass, a rotatably mounted twisting guide having straight grooves positioned between said conducting means and the first set of rolls, a separable guide between said conducting means and said second set of rolls, and means for simultaneously closing said separable guide against the bar entering the pass of said second set of rolls and to rotate said twisting guide.

6. In a rolling mill the combination with two roll passes, of a rotatable guide positioned at the delivery side of the rst pass, a separable guide adapted tobe opened and closed positioned at the y entry side of the second pass, a repeater extending from the delivery side of said rotatable guide to the entry side of said separable guide, said rotatable guide being positioned to receive and twist the piece being rolled as it emerges from the rst pass and to deliver the piece to said separable guide by means of said repeater, said saparable guide being in its open position relative to the twisted position of said rotatable guide when receiving the end of the piece, means operatively connecting said guides for simultaneously closing said separable guide upon the piece being rolled and for returning the rotatable guide to its untwisted position so as to relieve the torsion in the piece and its wedging effect upon the rolls.

'7. In a bar rolling mill the combinationwith two roll passes, of a stationary guide rotatably mounted at the delivery side of the rst pass, stationary guides intermediate said passes for conducting the bar from the delivery side of the rst pass to the entry si-de of the second pass, said rotatable guide being positioned relative to the rst roll pass so as to engage and immediately twist the bar upon entering the guide and to present the bar to the second roll pass by means of said intermediate guides, and automatically operated means controlled by the movement of the bar as it approaches said second pass for turning said rotatable guide whereby it is repositioned so as to coincide with the rst pass thereby relieving the twist in the bar as it passes through said guide.

8. The combination with a pair of rolling units, of a repeater through which a bar emerging from one unit is directed to the pass of the other unit, a twister interposed between the rst rolling unit Y and the repeater through which a rod emerging from the rst rolling unit must pass and by meansV of which the rod is turnedthe necessary amount to be received by the pass of the second unita separable guide between said repeater Vsaid second unit, means forclosing said separable guide against the bar-entering the pass of said second unit and for simultaneously turning said twister so as to relieve the torsion in the bar as it emerges from said first rolling unit.

9. In a rolling mill, the combination with two stands of roll passes, a guide twister at the Vdelivery side of the rst pass, a separable guide at the entry side of the second pass, means `for simultaneously adjusting said separable guide and Y turning said twister, and means for regulating the angular position of said twisterfrelative to its correspon-ding roll pass. l

10. In a rolling mill, the combination with two stands of rolls, a guide twister atthe delivery side of the first stand, a Vseparable guide at the entry side of the second stand, means for simul-V taneously opening said separable guide and turning said twister'in one -direction to twist the piece V,being rolled, and means independent of saidirst means for automatically closing said separable guide and turning said twister in the opposite direction to untwist the piece after it has entered the separable guide. v Y i 'Y 11. In a rolling mill, the combination with two stands of rolls, a guide twister at the delivery side of the rst stand, a separable `guide including a Y xed guide plate and a movable guide plate at the entry side of the second stand, electrically operated meansV controlled by a travelling bar being rolled for releasing said movable guide and simultaneously turning said twister in one direction, and means independent of said electric means for closing said movable guide and turning said twister in the opposite direction. y

12. In a rolling mill, thev combination of two stands of rolls, a guide Vtwisterat the delivery side or" the rst stand, a guide box secured to the housings of the second stand, a iiXed guide plate and a movable guide plate mounted in said box, means controlled by the bar being rolled to release or close said movable plate and to rotate said twister in opposite directions, a repeater between said twister and said guide box,

' and means for adjusting` the degree of rotation of saidV twister.

13. In a rolling mill, the combination with two stands of roll passes, of a guide twister in xed relation to the delivery side of the rst pass, aY

piece after its forward end has reached the second pass and ywhile still in engagement with the piece. i n Y 14. In a rolling mill, the 'combination with two stands of rolls having different passes, an entry guide box securedto the housingsV of the second stand, a xed guide plate Yand a movable guide plate each having a grooved innerfface mounted in the guide box, a screw threaded intomthe side of the guide box, a shaft connected to the screw, a guide twister at the delivery side of thek first stand carrying straight grooved guides, means operatively connecting said screw shaft with said twister, electrically operated means controlled by the bar being rolled adapted to rotatesaid shait and screw to release the Vmovable guide plate from the xed guide plate androtate said twister so as to twist a bar emerging from the first stand of rolls, 'and means independent of the electrically operated means for rotating the shaft and screw in the reverse direction to that ,of the electrically operated means for'moving the Ymovable guide plate toward the iixedY guide plate and to rotate said twister-in Vthe reverse'direction so as to untwist the'ba'r but not 15. In a rolling mill, the combination with two stands. oi rolls having differently shaped passes,

said guides for opening said second guide and simultaneously turning said twister forl positioning the guide carried thereby-Vat an angle to said its forward end has entered the entry guide. Y

rst pass so as 'to twist the bar as it emerges from said pass, power control means adjacent said second guide actuated bythe bar as it approaches the second pass for automatically .interrupting the power to said member, and

means independent of said power memberrfor automatically closing said second guide and simultaneously returning said twister to a position so as to allow the piece to continue its movement from the iirst pass in an untwisted position and thereby relieve its torsional strain on the guides `and wedging effect on the rolls. Y

16,. In a rolling mill, the combination with two stands of rolls, of a rotatable guide twister mounted in xed relation to the delivery side of the iirst stand of rolls, xed guides for directing the bar being rolled from said twister tothe second Vstand .of rolls, actuating means for r0- Vtating said twister, twister control means positioned in the way of said kfixed guides and in front of said second stand of rolls, and means operatively connecting Vsaid control with said actuating means, said controlV being directly responsive to the effect of a bar passing through said xed guides for automatically rotating said twister. Y

1 WILLIAM H. CATTERALL.

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