US2185416A - Wire-drawing machine - Google Patents

Description

M. MORGAN ET AL WIRE-DRAWING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 5, 1937 mo mw mm or m R A TTORNEY /NVENTORS Mvuzs MoRGn/v WELD MORGAN QYW/ NP QN VN PM VP WW M. MORGAN ET AL 2, 5, 16 WIRE-DRAWING MACHINE Filed March 5, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 7-7 3 INVENTORS MYLES MORGAN WELD MORGAN BY' W A-rmR av Jan, 2, 1940. MORGAN ET AL 2,185,416

WIRE-DRAWING MACHINE Filed March 5, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 /NVENTORS LES MORGAN LD MORGAN ATTORNEY M. MORGAN ET! AL WIRE-DRAWING MACHINE Filed March 5, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS MYLES MORGAN WELD MORGAN ATTORNEY Watented Jon. E, l m

arcane e-nnawma Macro- Myles Morgan and Weld Morgan, Worcester, Mass... assignors to Morgan Construction (.70., Worcester, Mass... a corporation or Massachusetts Application March 5, 1937, Serial No. 129,232

22 Elaims.

This invention relates to wire-drawing machines, and more particularly to machines of the type having a series of dies through which the wire is drawn by means of rotating drums or blocks to eiiect successive reductions of the wire.

It has been recognized heretofore that certain advantages arise from the maintenance of an appreciable tension in the wire between each drum and the succeeding die. This so-called back tension not only decreases the power required to drive the machine, but it also prolongs the life of the dies by reducing the die friction and the resultant heat, and makes it possible to draw wire at higher speeds. While attempts have been made to construct machines which would operate in this manner, the prior machines have in general been complicated, expensive, un

' reliable, and difiicult to maintain in proper adof rotatable drums, together with a simple and reliable mechanism for rotating the drums and applying a predetermined and readily adjustable torque to each of the drums. l

It is a further object of the invention -toprovide a wire-drawing machine having a plurality of rotatable drums, together with a simple and. reliable driving mechanism 50- arranged that each drum can be given a positive or substantially positive rotation for threading-up purposes and then a predetermined torque for the normal drawing operation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel construction for a multiple die wiredrawing machine which is so arranged that the wire willneither slip on the drums nor continuously accumulate thereon during the operation of the machine.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel and advantageous arrangement of the drums and dies of a multiple die wire-drawing machine, whereby the wire may be properly 7 aligned with the dies without the use of idler sheaves.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a simple construction for the drums of a wiredrawing machine, whereby the'wire may be deapparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the drawings illustrating one em bodiment of the invention and in which like ref erence numerals indicate like parts,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a wire-drawing machine, certain parts being broken away for clearness of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine, likewise partially broken away;

, Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectiontaken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but with certain parts removed and others broken away for clearness of illustration;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line l-'I of Fig. 5; r

Fig. 8 is a section taken on theline 8-8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a modification; and

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 10. 4

The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9 of the drawings comprises a series of four preliminary drawing drums or blocks [0, ll, I2, and I4, and a finishing drum l5, all five of the drums being rotatable about vertical axes located in a common vertical plane. A suitable die i6 is mounted inadvance of each drum, the drums serving to draw the wire W through the dies and thus effect successive reductions of the wire. Each die It is mounted on a cover plate l8 secured to the top of a frame l9, this frame being tank having upright side walls and a closed hottom. The plate I8 is preferably divided into separate sections for the respective drums, as shown in Fig. 1.

One of the drums is rotated at a substantially constant speed irrespective of the load applied thereto, so that the wire will be drawn at a predetermined rate. In the particular machine illustrated the third drum |2 has been selected as the'constant speed drum. This drum I2 is shown mounted on the upper end of a vertical spindle 20 which is rotatably supported in a bracket 22 mounted within the frame IS. A worm gear 23 is secured to the spindle 20, and this gear is driven by a worm 24 formed integral with a horizontal shaft 26. The shaft 26 is rotatably supported by means of bearings 27 in the bracket 22.

The remaining drums IO, N, I4 and I5 are each driven by a mechanism which serves in normal operation to transmit a predetermined substantially constant torque, so that the tension in the wire may be accurately controlled. For this purpose there is preferably associated with each drum a pump having two relatively movable parts, one of these parts being driven at a substantially constant speed and the other part being connected to the drum to drive the same. The pump may be arranged to circulate a suitable fluid, such as oil, through a pressure relief valve, the latter serving to maintain a predetermined substantially constant pressure at the discharge of the pump. In Figs. 3 to 7 inclusive there is shown the preferred mechanism for driving the drum I, and it will be understood that a similar mechanism may be provided for the remaining drums.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the drum II is mounted on the upper end of a vertical spindle 28 and directly above a. circular opening 38 in the cover plate I8. The spindle 28 extends downwardly through the opening 30 into the tank I9 and is rotatably supported by means of an upper anti-friction bearing 3| located just below the drum and a lower anti-friction bearing 32 located at the lower end of the spindle. These bearings are supported in a bracket 34 provided with lugs 35 which projectfrom opposite sides and engage horizontal ledges 36 on the sides of the tank l9. The upper portion 38 of the bracket 34 is separable from the remainder thereof along a horizontal plane, and this portion 38 serves both as a support for the upper spindle bearing 3| and as a protecting cover plate for certain parts therebeneath. The lower portion of the bracket 34 comprises a pair of depending arms 39 which converge at their lower ends and supports a small chamber 40. This chamber is closed at the bottom by a removable plate 4| in' which is mounted the lower spindle bearing 32. In order to transmit a predetermined driving torque to the spindle 28, there is mounted thereon between the bearings 3| and 32 a, suitable pump 43 which in the preferred form illustrated is of the gear type. This pump comprises a casing 44 having a central bore 45 (Figs. 4 and 5) -extending vertically thercthrough andconnecting laterally with three auxiliary bores 41 which also extend vertically through the casing. The auxiliary bores are uniformly'spaced about the axis of the bore 45. At one side of each auxiliary bore there is provided an inlet chamber 48, and at the opposite side of each auxiliary bore there is provided an outlet chamber 49. These chambers 48 and 49 preferably extend vertically through the casing 44, and each of them comcasing 44. Above the upper bearing plate 56 there is provided an upper end plate 59 having a hub 60 projecting upwardly therefrom in surrounding relation to the spindle 28. Below the lower bearing plate 51 there is provided a lower end plate 6|. The end plates 59 and 6| and the bearing plates 56 and 51 are all fastened to the casing 44 by means of screws 63, these parts when assembled forming a pump housing which is rotatably supported on the spindle 28 by means of upper and lower anti-friction bearings 64 and 65 respectively. The upper bearing 64.is mounted in the hub 60, and the lower bearing 65 is mounted partially in the lower bearing plate 5'! and partially in the lower end plate 6|, thus ensuring proper alignment of these parts.

The pump housing is rotated at a predetermined speed slightly exceeding the desired speed of rotation of the drum II. For this purpose a worm gear 61 is bolted to the hub 60, and this gear is driven by a worm 68 formed integral with a horizontal shaft 69. This shaft is rotatably supported by means of bearings 10 in the bracket 34. The shafts 69 for the drums II], II, M and I5 are aligned with the shaft 26 for the drum l2, and these shafts are connected by means of suitable fiexible couplings 12. This construction provides in effect a single horizontal sectional shaft, which may be driven by a suitable electric motor 13 directly connected thereto (Fig. 1). It will be understood that the speed ratio of the several sets of worms and worm gears will be varied for the respective drums, for it is necessary that the peripheral speed of the drums should increase progressively to compensate for the elongation of the wire resulting from the successive drawing operations.

' In order to facilitate the threading up of the machine, as will be described hereinafter, the shaft 26 of the drum I2 is preferably connected to the shaft 69 of the drum bymeans of a suitable spring-loaded friction clutch 14, which takes the place of one of the couplings 12. This clutch should be of suflicient capacity to transmit the power required in the normal operation of the machine without slippage. The clutch illustrated may be released when desired by means of a handle 15 (Fig. 9) located at the front of the machine and connected by a horizontal shaft 16 to a clutch-releasing yoke 11.

The pump 43 is arranged to deliver oil or other suitable fluid under pressure, so that torque may be transmitted to the drum The tank |9 is preferably utilized as a reservoir for the oil, which 'is maintained at a level slightly below the lower end plate 6| of the pump, as shown in Fig. 3.

W In order to supply oil to the pump this end plate that a rib (Figs. 4 and 6) extends across the bottom of each port it near its connection with the inlet chamber, so that the oil cannot completely drain from the pump when it is standing idle, and the pump will thus retain its priming. The high pressure oil escapes from the pump through three outlet ports M which lead downwardly from the respective outlet chambers it, through the lower bearing plate 5i and thence into the interior of '9. depending sleeve or annular skirt t2 formed integral with the plate El and located within the skirt it. The lower end of the inner skirt 82 extends into the chamber t0 and is surrounded by packing 33 which serves to prevent leakage of oil between the rotating skirt and the surrounding stationary walls of the chamber. The interior of the skirt 02 is somewhat larger in diameter than the adjacent portion of the spindle 2%, so that the oil may flow downwardly from the outlet ports 8! through the annular space between the spindle and the surrounding skirt and thence into the chamber 50.

The pressure of the oil delivered by the pump is preferably controlled automatically so that the torque applied to the spindle 28 may be predetermined. For this purpose a pipe 0 3 is provided to conduct the oil from the chamber t0 to a pressure relief valve 05 (Fig. 2) located outside the tank it. This valve 05 is of any well known type adapted to maintain a predetermined substantially constant pressure in the pipe at and provided with means for adjusting the pressure. One suitable construction is disclosed in the patent to Terry No. 1,863,075. A gauge 06 is preferably connected to each pipe 0 to indicate the pressure therein, and a manually operable shutoff cock 07 is preferably installed in each pipe t0 (exceptin connection with the drum l5) for use in threading-up the machine, as will be hereinafter explained. This cock may have a small hole drilled through its plug, so that it cannot be closed perfectly tight. The oil discharged by the several relief valves 85 enters a horizontal header pipe 08, from which branch pipes 09 lead to passages 90 (Fig. 3) formed in the upper portions of the brackets 30 and the bracket 22. These passages discharge the oil over the worm gears Bl and 23, thus effectively lubricating these parts, the oil then falling to the bottom of the tank It, whence'it is recirculated. A pressure relief valve M (Fig. 2) may be connected to the header pipe 88 and arranged to discharge oil into the tank I19 whenever the pressure in the header pipe exceeds a predetermined value.

Since the torque required to drive the drums i0 and it will ordinarily be considerably less than that required to drive the drum l0 and -I I, because of the decreasing diameter of the wire, the drums it and it are preferably actuated by means of pumps of smaller capacity. This reduction in capacity may be conveniently effected by reducing the axial dimensions of the pump casing and of the gears therein, as indicated in Fig. 2.

Each of the drums I0, ill, I2 and III is constructed, as shown particularly in Fig. 3, with a substantially cylindrical portion 93 having spaced upper and lower flanges 90 and 95 projecting outwardly therefrom and inclined slightly with respect thereto. This construction makes possible an advantageous. arrangement of the dies with respect to the drums, whereby the wire may be properly aligned with the dies without the use of idler sheaves. Referring particularly to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the wire leaves the first die it and engages the surface of the lower flange 05 of the first drum i0, thence passing around the cylindrical portion 03 of the drum in the form of a right hand helix with a sumclent number of wraps to ensure full capstan efiect without slippage, and leaving the drum tangentially at a point close to the upper flange 00. The second die it is located at a higher elevation than the first die and in direct line with the wire leaving the drum I0, the wire passing directly through this die and into engagement with the surface of the upper flange 90 of the second drum H. The wire then passes around the cylindrical portion of the drum i l in the form of a left hand helix and leaves thedrum tangentially at a point close to the lower flange 05 thereof. This arrangement is cohtinued throughout the entire machine, the wire passing around the drums alternately in the form of right and left hand 'the finishing drum I5, and this drum is made without an upper flange, having instead the usual stripper 06 which serves to support the coil of finished wire. With this construction it is possible to make all the drums alike (except the finishing drum), and mount all-of the drums at the same elevation.

Means is preferably provided to cool the drums and the wire which is wound thereon, in order to prevent overheating of the wire as a result of the heat generated in the drawing operation. For this purpose a fan 98 is provided to discharge air into the upper portion of the tank or frame I9. This fan is shown located at the finishing end of the machine, and it may be driven by a suitable electric motor 99. In order to prevent contamination of the oil in the tank I0 by dust carried in suspension by the air stream, plates I00 are provided to connect the upper portions 38 of adjacent spindle supporting brackets, as shown particularly in Fig. 8. Suitable gaskets IOI are shown beneath the edge portions of these plates to ensure tight joints. Similar plates I02 are provided at the ends of the machine.

It will be apparent fromFig. 3 from the air flows from the upper portion of the frame I9 upwardly through the openings 30 in the cover plates I8 and thus into the interior of the drums. In order to prevent excessive leakage of air between the drums and the cover plate, each drum is formed with a depending skirt I04 which fits closely within an annular flange I05 extending upwardly from the cover plate. 'The air is discharged from the interior of the drums through series of openings I06 and I01 provided in the outwardly extending flanges 94 and 05 respectively. The air is directed to the upper openings I06 by means of a circular cap I09 which engages the upper flange 94 outwardly of the openings, this cap being held in place against the upper end of the spindle 28 by means of a screw IIO.

In order to facilitate the removal and replacement of the drums, each drum is provided with -an inwardly extending annular flange H2 which is formed with a series of holes to receive dowel pins I I3 carried on the rim of a spider H4. This spider is keyed to the upper portion of the spindle 28, and provided with apertures II5 through which the air may flow upwardly to reach the openings I06. It will be apparent that after rehit moval of the single screw III) the cap I09 and the drum therebeneath can be readily removed from the spider I I I.

The operation of this embodiment of the invention will now be apparent from the above disclosure. In threading up the machine the motor I3 is stopped and the wire is pointed, inserted through the first die I6 and secured by the usual gripping device (not shown) to the first drum II]. The relief valve 85 corresponding to this drum has been previously adjusted to a predetermined pressure which will provide the desired torque on the drum in normal operation with a predetermined back tension in the wire leaving the drum. Since this back tension is not present when threading up, the normal torque will be insufiicient to pull the wire through the first die. However, by starting the motor I3 and closing the hand valve 81, ample torque will be made available since the closed valve will allow only a slight discharge of oil from the corresponding pump, and the drum II) will be compelled to rotate at substantially the same speed as the worm gear 61 associated therewith. The slight oil fiow which does take place will prevent overheating of the oil in the pump. As soon as a sufiicient number of coils of wire have been wrapped about the first drum, the motor I3 will be stopped and the hand valve 81 opened, whereupon the wire will be inserted through the second die and secured to the second drum I I, the operation being then repeated. When the wire has been secured to the third drum I2, which is normally driven at a predetermined speed rather than by a predetermined torque, the friction clutch I4 is held released during the starting of the motor and then engaged smoothly. This avoids breakage of the wire which might otherwise occur by reason of the tendency of the mechanically driven drum I2 to pick up its load somewhat more quickly than the first two drums, to which torque is delivered solely through hydraulic means. The wire is passed through the remaining dies and around the remaining drums I4 and I5 in a similar manner. It will be noted that no hand valve 81 is provided in connection with the finishing drum I5, since sufficient torque must be applied to this drumto ensure continuous operation without the assistance of any back tension.

It will now be understood that once the entire machine is in full operation, each worm gear 6'! and the pump housing secured thereto will rotate at a slightly higher speed than the corresponding drum and main gear 5|. As a result of this difference in speed the teeth of each gear 5I and the idlengears 52 meshing therewith will draw oil upwardly from the supply at the bottom of the tank I9 through the inlet ports I9 and deliver it under pressure through the outlet ports 8|, chamber 40 and pipe 84. The pressure will be maintained at a predetermined value by the action of the relief valve 85, and this predetermined pressure in reacting upon the constant area of the teeth of the gear 5| will transmit a substantially constant torque to this gear and to the drum associated therewith. This ar rangement ensures a predetermined difference between the tension in the wire approaching the drum and the tensionin the wire leaving the drum (back tension). If desired, the pressure gauges 86 can be readily calibrated to read directly in units of torque or in units of net pull transmitted to the wire. By properly adjusting the several relief valves 85 it is possible to maintain any desired back tension on the wire as it approaches the respective dies I6, except the first die, which is operated without back tension. For experimental purposes, the net pull on each die, that is, the difference between the forward tension in the wire and the back tension therein, can

be readily determined by supporting the dies by means of calibrated springs in a well-known manner, and the most desirable torque for the several drums under a particular condition of wire drawing and rate of reduction can be easily ascertained. In this manner a substantial saving in power and. in die maintenance cost can be effected. It will be understood that the drum I2, which is driven at a predetermined speed, controls the rate at which the wire passes through the entire machine.

The oil which flows past the several relief valves 85 enters the header pipe 88, and is distributed by this pipe to the pipes 89 which deliver it to the several worm gears to lubricate the same, the oil then returning by gravity to the reservoir. In this manner correct lubrication of the gears is ensured even during the threadingup period, when all the pumps may not be supplying oil simultaneously.

Air is supplied by the fan 98 to the upper portion of the frame I9, and this air flows upwardly through the openings 30 into the interior of the drums, whence it escapes through the openings I06 and I01. These openings direct the air in jets over the wire which is coiled about the cylindrical portion 93 of each drum. In this manner the drums and the wire are effectively cooled.

Each drum can be readily removed from the machine by first removing the screw III) and the cap I09. Moreover, the sectional construction of for the drums independently of the other units.

The novel arrangement of the dies and drums eliminates the necessity for idler sheaves, and allows all the drums to be mounted at the same height and without excessive overhang on their respective spindles. Most of the wear on the drum surfaces is caused by the first few wraps of the on-coming wire, so that some of the drums wear near the lower flange and some near the upper flange. By interchanging the drums after they have been thus worn it is possible to double their useful life.

In Figs. 10 and 11 there is shown a modified form of the invention in which one drum is arranged in axial alignment with another, thus providing a very compact construction. This arrangement can also be used to replace the positively driven drum I2 in the machine previously described, thus changing say a five-drum machine to a six-drum machine.

As shown particularly in Fig. 10, the spindle 28 of Fig. 3 is replaced by a somewhat longer spindle 120 which projects upwardly from the pump 43. This spindle I20 is surrounded by a sleeve I2I having an outwardly extending flange I22 at its lower end which is bolted to the worm gear 61 and thus positively rotated at the same speed as the pump housing. The sleeve is supported above the flange I22 by means of an anti-friction bearing I24 carried by the upper portion 38 of the bracket 34.

A drawing drum I25 is keyed to the upper portion of the sleeve I2I directly above the opening 30 in the cover plate I8. This drum is constructed with a substantially cylindrical portion ,the top plate I8 and of the worm shafts 69 makes Wt having spaced upper and lower flanges I21 and I28 projecting outwardly therefrom, the lower flange I28 having a depending skirt I29 which fits closely within the annular flange I on the cover plate III. The drum I25 is provided.

with a hub portion I3I which extends above the sleeve MI and carries an anti-friction bearing I32 forming a rotatable support for the spindle A second drawing drum I33 is keyed to the upper portion of the spindle I20 above the drum I25, this drum I33 being held in place by means of a circular cap Hit which is secured to the upper end of the spindle by means, of a screw I35. The upper drum I33 is constructed with a substantially cylindrical portion It'll having spaced upper and lower flanges I38 and I39 projecting outwardly therefrom, the lower flange I39 having a depending skirt Ittl which closely surrounds the upper flange Ill of the lower drum. Each of the flanges I27, I28, I38 and I39 is provided with a series of openings M2 for the discharge of cooling air which is delivered to the hollow interiors of the drums through the opening 30.

Referring now to Fig. 11, it will be seen that the wire W, after passing through a die M5, engages the cylindrical portion I2Ii of the lower 'drum I25. The wire then passes around an idler sheave I46 and through a second die III to the cylindrical portion I3I of the upper drum I33. A sufficient number of wraps are passed around each drum to ensure the desired capstan effect. Since the upper drum is rotated at a somewhat lower speed than the lower drum, and yet the linear speed of the wire engaging the upper drum must be higher because of the reduction in size effected in the die III, the diameter of the cylindrical portion I317 of the upper drum is shown considerably greater than the diameter of the cylindrical portion I28 of the lower drum.

It will now be apparent that the lower drum I33 will be driven positively by the worm gear bl, preferably at a substantially constant speed, and this drum will control the rate at which the wire will travel through the machine. The upper drum, on the other hand, will be driven at a predetermined substantially constant torque through the medium of the pump a3 and the spindle I20. It will thus be possible to control the back tension in the wire passing around the idler sheave Mt and entering the die Ml. There will be no slippage of the wire on the drums and no accumulation of the wire thereon. The construction is very compact, and provides a simple and highly advantageous means for increasing the number of reductions in an existing machine. Certain features of construction disclosed herein are claimed in our divisional application Serial No. 282,236, filed June 30, 1939.

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

1. A wire-drawing machine comprising a die, a rotatable drum arranged to draw wire through the die, an oil reservoir, a pump arranged to withdraw oil from the reservoir and having two relatively rotatable parts, means connecting one of said parts to the drum, gears arranged to rotate the other part, means to regulate the pressure of oil discharged by the pump and thereby control the torque applied to the drum, and means ,to conduct oil discharged by the pump to said gears to lubricate the same.

2. .A wire-drawing machine comprising a series of dies, a series of drums rotatable about vertical axes and arranged to draw wire through the dies successively, vertical spindles connected at their upper ends to the drums to drive the same, an upper and a lower bearing for each spindle, an annular worm gear surrounding each spindle close to and beneath the upper bearing, a hydraulic power transmission located between .each worm gear and the lower bearing and connecting the worm gear to the spindle to drive the same, a horizontal rotatable drive shaft, a series of worms on the drive shaft which mesh with said worm gears, means providing an oil reservoir beneath the power transmission, the said lower bearing being submerged in oil in said reservoir, and means to conduct oil from the reservoir to the power transmission.

3. A wire-drawing machine comprising a series of dies, a plurality of rotatable drums arranged to draw wire through the dies successively, worm gears located'adjacent the drums, a rotatable shaft, worms mounted on the shaft and meshing with the worm gears, a plurality of pumps each having two relatively rotatable parts, means connectingone of said parts of each pump to theadjacentdrum, means connecting the other part of each pump to the adjacent worm gear, and means to regulate independently the pressure of fluid discharged by the respective pumps and thereby control independently the torque applied to the respective drums.

4. A wire-drawing machine comprising a die,

a drum rotatable about a vertical axis and arranged to draw wire through the die, a vertical spindle connected at its upper end to the drum to drive the same, a bearing supporting the spindle adjacent to the drum, an annular worm gear surrounding the spindle adjacent the bearing, a horizontal rotatable worm in mesh with the worm gear, a hydraulic power transmission located beneath the worm gear and connecting the worm gear to the spindle to drive the same, means providing a reservoir for liquid beneath the power transmission, and means to conduct liquid from the reservoir to the power transmiss1on.

5. A wire-drawing machine comprising an elongated tank arranged to form a reservoir for oil, a series of brackets mounted in the tank, an upper and a lower bearing on each bracket, ver-# tical spindles rotatably supported in said bearings, a rotatable drum mounted on the upper end of each spindle, an annular worm gear surrounding each spindle, a horizontal rotatable drive shaft formed in separate connected sections for the respective brackets, a worm on each section of the shaft in mesh with the adjacent worm gear, a pump mounted on each spindle, each pump having a rotor connected to the spindle and a housing surrounding the rotor and connected to the worm gear, the housing having an inlet,port through which oil may enter from the reservoir and an outlet port, and means to control independently the pressure of the oil discharged through the respective outlet ports.

6. A wire-drawing machine comprising a die, a rotatable drum arranged to draw wire through the die, a spindle connected at one end to the drum to drive the same, a bearing to support the spindle adjacent to the drum, a bearing to support the other end of the spindle, a pump mounted on the spindle between thetwo bearings, said pump having a rotor connected to the spindle and a housing surrounding the rotor, means to rotate the housing, the housing havin an inlet port and an outlet port through which 76 fluid is caused to flow by the relative rotation of the housing and rotor, and means to regulate the pressure of the fluid discharged by the pump and thereby control the torque applied to the drum. 7. A wire-drawing machine comprising a die, a rotatable drum arranged to draw wire through thedie, a spindle connected at one end to the drum to drive the same, a bearing to support the spindle adjacent to the drum, 2. bearing to sup- 10 port the other end of the spindle, a pump rotor surrounding the spindle between the bearings, the rotor being connected to the spindle to drive the same, a pump housing surrounding the rotor, means to rotate the housing, the housing having 16 an'inlet port and an outlet port through which fluid is caused to flow by the rotation of the housing relative to the rotor, and means to regulate the pressure of the fluid discharged through the outlet port and thereby control the torque 20 applied to the drum.

8. A wire-drawing machine comprising a die, a rotatable drum arranged to draw wire through the die, a spindle connected at one endtothe drum to drive the same, a bearing to support the spindle adjacent to the drum, a bearing to support the other end of the spindle, a pump mounted on the spindle between the two bearings, said pump having a rotor connected to the spindle and a housing surrounding the rotor, an annular worm gear surrounding the spindle and connected to the housing to rotate the same, a rotatable worm in mesh with the worm gear, the housing having an inlet port and an outlet port through which fluid is caused to flow by the rel- 5 ative rotation of the housing and rotor, and

means to regulate the pressure of the fluid discharged by the pump and thereby control the torque applied to the drum.

9. A wire-drawing machine comprising a die, 40 a rotatable drum arranged to draw wire through the die, a spindle connected at one end to the drum to drive the same, a bearing to support the spindle adjacent to the drum, a bearing to support the other end of the spindle, a pump 45 mounted on the spindle between the two bearings, said pump having a rotor connected to the spindle and a housing surrounding the rotor, an annular worm gear surrounding the spindle between the first mentioned bearing and the hous- 50 ing and connected to the housing to rotate the same, a rotatable worm in mesh with the worm ear, the housing having an inlet port and an outlet port through which fluid is caused to flow by the relative rotation of the housing and ro 56 to and means to regulate the pressure of the fluid discharged by the pump and thereby control the torque applied to the drum.

10. A wire-drawing machine comprising a die, a rotatable drum arranged to draw wire through 60 the die, a second die to which the wire is delivered by the drum, means to draw the wire through the second die and maintain a substantial tension in the wire between the drum and the second die, hydraulic means to apply to the 65 drum a predetermined torque which is sufl'icient to rotate the drum in normal operation but insuflicient to draw wire through the first die except with the assistance of the said substantial tension, and means to apply an increased torque 70 to the drum when threading up the machine.

11. A wire-drawing machine comprising a die, a rotatable drum arranged to draw wire through the die, a pump having two relatively rotatable parts, means connecting one of said parts to the 75 drum, means to rotate the other part, a conduit for fluid discharged by the pump, means asso ciated with the conduit and arranged normally to maintain automatically a predetermined fluid pressure in the conduit and thereby provide a predetermined torque to drive the drum, and 5 manually operable means whereby the fluid pressure in the conduit may be temporarily increased beyond the said predetermined pressure to increase the torque applied to the drum and facilitate the threading-up of themachine. 10

12. A wire-drawing machine comprising a die,

a rotatable drum arranged to draw wire through the die, a pump having two relatively rotatable parts, means connecting one of said parts to the drum, means to rotate the other part, a conduit 15 for fluid discharged by the pump, a pressure relief valve associated with the conduit to maintain automatically a predetermined fluid pressure in the conduit and thereby provide a predetermined torque to drive the drum, and a valve 0 so arranged that it may be closed to prevent flow in the conduit when desired and thus increase the torque applied to the drum and facilitate the threading-up of the machine.

13. A wire-drawing machine comprising a die, 25 a rotatable drum arranged to draw wire through the die, a spindle connected at one end to the drum to drive the same, a gear secured to the spindle, a pump housing surrounding the gear and rotatable relative thereto, means to rotate 30 the pump housing, a planetary idler gear rotatably mounted within the pump housing and meshing with the first mentioned gear, the pump housing having an inlet port and an outlet port through which fluid is caused to flow by the action of the gears, a stationary chamber located adjacent the pump housing,'a sleeve carried by the pump housing and coaxial with. the spindle, the sleeve and spindle providing a passage therebetween which connects, the outlet port with the 40 chamber, and means to regulate the pressure of the fluid in the chamber and thereby control the torque applied to the drum.

14. A wire-drawing machine comprising a die,

a rotatable drum arranged to draw wire through the die, a spindle connected at one end to the drum to drive the same, a bearing to support the spindle adjacent to the drum, a second bearing to support the other end of the spindle, walls forming a chamber supporting and enclosing the second bearing, a gear secured to the spindle between said bearings, a pump housing surrounding the gear and rotatable relative thereto, means to rotate the pump housing, a planetary idler gear rotatably mounted within the pump housing and meshing with the first mentioned gear, the pump housing having an inlet port and an outlet port through which fluid is caused to flow by the action of the gears, a sleeve carried by the pump housing and surrounding the spindle," the sleeve connecting the outlet port with the chamber, and means to regulate the pressure of the fluid in the chamber and thereby control the torque ap-. plied to the drum.

15. In combination with a series of dies and a plurality of rotatable drums arranged to draw wire through the dies successively, driving mechanism for one of said drums comprising a pump having a rotary element, means connecting the rotary element to the drum and arranged to subject the drum to the same torque as the rotary element, and means to regulate the pressure of fluid discharged by the pump and thereby control the torque applied to the drum.

16. A wire-drawing machine comprising a series of dies, a plurality of rotatable drums arranged to draw wire through the dies successively, one of the drums being arranged to rotate at a predetrmined speed, a pump for each of the remaining drums, each pump having two relatively movable parts, means connecting one of the parts of each pump to the corresponding drum, a, rotatable shaft, gears connecting the shaft to the other parts of all the pumps and to the said predetermined speed drum, an oil reservoir, a header pipe, the pumps being arranged to withdraw oil from the reservoir and deliver it to the header pipe, means to conduct oil from the header pipe to the gears to lubricate the same, and means to regulate independently the pressure of the oil discharged by the respective pumps and thereby control independently the torque applied to the corresponding drums.

17. A wire-drawing machine comprising a series of dies, a plurality of rotatable drums associated with the dies and arranged with their axes parallel, and means to rotate the drums in the same direction, the dies being so positioned with respect to the drums that after leaving each die the wire passes around the corresponding drums in the form of a helix, with the helices for successive drums alternately right-hand and lefthand.

18. A wire-drawing machine comprising a series of dies and a plurality of rotatable drums associated with the dies and arranged with their axes parallel, each drum having a pair of spaced flanges extending outwardly therefrom, the dies 40 axes parallel, each drum having a pair of spaced ges extending outwardly therefrom, the dies and drums being so positioned relatively that the wire is delivered first to one flange and then to the other on successive drums, and the drums being so constructed that successive drums may be interchanged when one flange on each becomes worn, thereby prolonging the useful life of the drums. v

20. A wire-drawing machine comprising a series of dies, and a plurality of drums rotatable about spaced parallel axes, each drum having a pair of spaced flanges extending outwardly therefrom and aligned with the flanges on the other drums, the dies being mounted in a staggered arrangement so that the wire may be delivered first to one flange and then to the other on successive drums.

21. A wire-drawing machine comprising two dies, two axially aligned rotatable drums arranged to draw wire through the dies successively, a pump having two relatively rotatable parts, means to rotate one of said parts and one of the drums at a predetermined speed, means connecting the other of said parts to the other drum, and means to regulate the pressure of fluid discharged by the pump and thereby control the torque applied to the said other drum.

22. A wire-drawing machine comprising two dies, two axially aligned rotatable drums arranged to draw wire through the dies successively, a pump having a rotor in axial alignment with the drums and a housing surrounding the rotor,

" meansconnecting the housing to the nearer of

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