US2399220A - Apparatus for cutting metal - Google Patents

Description

April 39, 1949.

NO. I- SHAVING UNlT NO.2-$HAVING mmc. FIELD 2,399,229

APPARATUS CUTTING METAL Original Filed Deb. 4, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 2o -TURNS v IB TURNS FEEDlNG UNI T INVENTOR I 10857 Field 9 BY Q 6 M, v

/ATI'ORNEYS April 30, 1946. c. FIELD APPARATUS FOR CUTTING METAL Original Fiied Dec. 4, 1942 s Sfxeets-Sheet 2 .523 QD-OZZS INVENTOR Cl'osy Field BY 6 aw/y w? ATI'ORN EY April30,1946. FIELD 2,399,220

APPARATUS FOR CUTTING METAL Original Filed Dec. 4, 1942 3 SheetS SheQQ 3 INVENTOR Crosy Field. BY I ATTORN EYS Patented Apr. 30, 1946 APPARATUS FOR CUTTING METAL Crosby Field, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor -to Brillo Manufacturing Company, 1110., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York a Original application December 4, 1942, Serial No. 467,869. Divided and this application June 19, 1943, Serial No. 491,471 a 8 Claims.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 467,869, filed December 4, 1942, and the present invention is shown as embodied in a plant for grooving metal, preferably steel, in such manner that the metal cut from the grooves shall constitute tough, elastic, long-staple filaments or fibers, of extremely minute but relatively uniform section and presenting sharp edges. Many of the novel features of the invention involve specific adaptations for this specific purpose. It will be found, however, that certain features of the invention are applicable for cut ting operations other than grooving, or for operating on metals other than steel or for purposes other than producing the specific product above described.

The specific material which I prefer to employ is steel wire or rod material of circular crosssection such as is commonly supplied in bundle coils. Many features, even-very specific features, of the method are applicable to steel or other material in other forms, as, forinstance, wires or rods or bands of metal that are of triangular, rectangular, polygonal or other desired crosssection. For the preferred use and for producing the preferred fibrous or wool-like material from cylindrical drawn wire or rods of bendable diameter, the invention involves close cooperative relation of many novel features and arrange ments.

In the present commercial art some of the machines in general use for the above purposesconsist essentially of a stationary bed over which a wire is drawn by a power-driven drum at one end of the bed. As the wire is drawn over the dominant position in the industry. They embody a series of wire carrying, rotating, power-driven tractor wheels or drums which relieve the wire of much of its tension and which make the bed friction available for applying traction to the wire. In this arrangement the surfaces of the tractor wheels opposite each of the knives can afford all,

or a large part, of the traction necessary to feed the wire against the cutting resistance of the knives. Consequently the number of knives that can be used in series all working successively on the same wire can be increased to almost any desired extent without danger of breaking the wire because .there is no corresponding increase of end traction required thereupon.

In the machines of the tractor wheel type the traction of the winding reel where the scrap from the machines is wound may be reduced to that required to keepthe wire in close frictional engagement with, the last tractor wheel bed, and this has preferably been regulated in the past by an automatic constant tension drive either through a friction clutch or a slipping belt or by electrical motors with an electrical control system such as'described in Patent No. 1,608,481.

With a single large tractor wheel from twenty to sixty knives have been used and in such cases it becomes practical to have one-directional operation. An important feature in multiplying the number of knives on a given tractor Wheel lay in combining the wheel with means for keeping the wire at the proper tension so that as the number of knives was increased the wire would not slip with respect to the wheel.

In tractor wheel systems in the past it has been the practice to use a relatively large number of tractor wheels, each with a limited number of knives, in reducing the wire to scrap in a single pass through the plant. It has been discovered by Crosby Field and Gerald G. Toole, however, that the number of wheels heretofore regarded as desirable maybe reduced, with a consequent reduction in operating costs, by providing friction boosters in connection with each of the tractor wheels. They discovered that the commonly accepted formulae for the increase of friction with the linear amount of surface coveredby a wire wrapped around a wheel did not apply for more than one turn of wire when the outer surfaces of the wire were subjected to such friction as is obtained by cutting layers off of these turns.v In order, therefore, to enable the increase of the numberof knives cutting, it was discovered that this lack of friction might be more than compensated for by the insertion in the system of a power-driven sheave on which .no cutting was done. In order to accomplish this, mechanisms described and claimed in the copending application of Crosby Field and Gerald C. Toole,.Serial No. 467,868, filed December 4, 1942, were developed and the sheaves of these mechanisms are referred to hereinafter as capstans. For a complete disclosure of their operation and control,

reference should be made to said copending application.

An important feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a novel and improved feeding unit for the plant. Heretofore it has been found necessary to wind in a predetermined manner the wire that to be fed into the plant so that it will unwind properly from the feed drum without twisting or kinking. This former method of feeding a plant has the disadvantage not only of requiring time in the preliminary winding of the feed drum but also in the fact was being led off of the drum had a tendency to bury that loop in the underlying layers of wound wire, thus disrupting the feeding operation.

The present invention includes a novel combination between a feed drum, a'pair of snubber rolls and a pair of feeding capstans, whereby the wir may be fed into the plant from a bundle, without the preliminary step of winding, or whereby it may be fed into the p ant from a wound drum, .as has previously been done, but with the tension of the wire going through the plant relieved from the feed drum by means of the intervening snubber rolls and feed capstans, as willbe described.

In commercial use in a plant embodying the present invention, the invention aforementioned Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line I l-l4 of Figure 2 in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the electrical system used in the feeding unit shown in Figure 2.

Referring to Figures la and 1?), there is schematically presented the manner in which a wire to be cut into wool is led through the plant. At the left-hand side of Figure 1 a feed drum 302 carrying a coil of wire is shown. Wire, indicated by W, is led from feed drum 302 through a pair of snubber rolls 304 and 305 and is wrapped twenty times around a pair of feeding capstans 30B and 308. 'The feed drum is represented as mounted on the same shaft with a brake generator 310. One of the snubber rolls is mounted on the sam shaft with a brak generator 3l2 and one ofthe feeding capstans is mounted on the same fifteen times around a tractor wheel I0 and an of Crosby Field andiGerald C. Toole, and the invention of the parentcase of which this is a division, it has been found that the'novel arrangements mak possible the starting of the plant under full load, and that the plant can be continuously run under a greater rate of output with fewer operators than has heretofore been possible. The plant efficiency has further been increased because the various improvements have greatly reduced time lost through wirebreakage.

It is an objeetof the present invention to provide methods and means of the character described, having to a notable extent the characteristics andcapabilities aboveset forth. A further object is the provision of apparatus for cutting metal wool-from a wire in an improved manner; Yet another object is the provision of a feeding mechanism whereby preliminary wire Winding steps may be. eliminated. Another object is the provision in a feeding mechanism for a plant of thetype above referred to of means for maintaining proper tension upon the wire as it goes into the first shaving unit, while at the same time preventing" increased tension on the wire as it leaves the feed drum which is supplying wire to the plant. A still further object is the provision of simplified supporting structures in shaving units of the types above referred to. An additional object is the provision of an improved and practical method of feeding a plant of the character described. Other objects will be in part pointed out as the description proceeds and will in part become apparent therefrom.

In the accompanying drawings, in which an exemplary embodiment for attaining the above objectives is set forth and in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the various views:

Figures 1a and 1b are in combination a schematic representation of a plant embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the feeding unit for the plant;

idler wheel ll. After thus passing around the tractor wheel and idler wheel, the wire is wrapped three times around an idler l2 and idler wheel I I, as illustrated, and then passes once around adancer roll l3 and a dancer roll idler l4 before oing to the next shaving unit. A motor 16 is illustrated on a shaft which drives tractor wheel 10. Idler l2 and dancer roll idler M are loosely and independently mounted for rotation about the same axis. Dancer roll I3 is carried by a dancer roll arm l5 pivotally mounted at its lower end. 7

' The wire from shaving unit No. 1 goes to shaving unit No. 2, where it passes twenty times around a tractor wheel 20 and a capstan 2|. Thereafter it passes three times around capstan 2| and an idler 22, and time around a dancer roll 23and a dancer rollidler 24 before going to the next shaving unit. Tractor wheel 20 is indicated as driven by a motor26 and capstan 2| is in dicated as driven by a'motor 21. Idler 22 and dancer roll idler 24 are loosely and independently mounted for rotation about the same axis. Dancer roll 23 is carried by a dancer roll arm 25 pivotally mounted at its lower end. 7

No. 3 shaving unit and No. 4 shaving unit are identical with No. 2 shaving unit, as illustrated. From No. 4 shaving unit the wire W passes beneath a wind-up idler 5| to a wind-up drum 50 driven by a motor. 56. The manner, details and mechanisms by which these various shaving units may be operated and controlled are set forth in the copending application of Crosby Field and Gerald G. Toole, above-mentioned.

The feeding unit Figure 2 shows a perspective view of some of the novel features of the invention as it applies to the feeding unit. The wire is shownbeing led from the bottom of feed drum 302, beneath a guide pulley 303, under snubber roll 304 and around feeding capstans 306 and 308. Generator 3l2 is shown engageable through a clutch 3l3 with a shaft 3 l5 upon which snubber roll 304 is mounted. A generator 3 appears engageable through a clutch, not shown, .with a reducing gear 3l6. Gear 3l6 is engageable through a clutch 3|! with a shaft upon which feeding capstan 306 is 76 mounted, A generator 3 I 0, shown in Figure, la, is

indicated as driven by the same shaft "which carries feeding drum .302. In practice, a train of gears, not shown, is included in the drive between drum .302 and generator 3 I 0.

A pressure roller 320 carried by a rollerarm 322 is provided to engage the surface of the wire as it passes around feeding capstan 306, to maintain proper relationship of the various .loops and to eliminate crossing of the wire. Arm 322 is keyed :to aqshaft 324 mounted in conventional bearings and shaft 324 is provided with a spring arm 326 biased by a tension spring 328 to maintain pressure between roller 320 and feeding capstan 306. For a like purpose, pressure roller 330 is arranged on the under sideiof feeding capstan 308 and is held in engagement therewith by aspring 336 acting upon a spring arm-334 which carries a stud shaft 332 upon which pressure roller 330 is mounted.

Figure 3 shows a section through the snubber roll mechanism along the line I4-I4 of Figure 2. Snubber roll 1304 is provided with an annular groove 30] and snubber roll 305 is provided with an annular groove 309 (see Figure 3 Roll 304 is carried upon a shaft 3|5 and roll 305 is carried upon a shaft3l8. Shaft 315 is mounted in fixed bearings and has keyed to its right-hand end a gear 340. Shaft 318 is mounted in movable bearings 344 and 345 and has keyed to its right-hand end 'a gear 342. I The limits within which shaft 3| 8 is movable with respect to shaft 315 are not such as to allow gears 340 and 342 to be moved out of mesh. The wire, as it goes from the feed drumto the feeding capstans, passes through the opening formed between the snubber rolls by grooves 301 and 309 and the extent to which the wireis gripped frictionally by the snubber rolls depends upon the setting of screws 346 and 347, which load springs 348 and 349 to adjust the position of movable bearings 344 and 345.

If the plant is to be fed from a previously wound drum, such as drum 302, set screws 346 and 341 are positioned so that there is no frictional engagement between snubber rolls 304 and- 305 upon the wire and guide pulley 303 serves to direct the wire from drum 302 to feeding capstans 306 and 308. With this arrangement, generator 3l4 is adjusted, in a manner to be described, to act as a brake upon feeding capstan 306 and to provide a considerable portion of the resistance to rotation which is necessary in order to maintain proper tension in the wire between the feeding unit and the No. 1 shaving unit. Generator 3l0 on the shaft of feed drum 302 is adjusted to provide the remaining braking power required and to keep slack from accumulating between the feed drum and the feeding capstans. This relatively light tension between the feed drum and feeding capstans is not sufiicient to cause the loop of wire being led from the feed drum to bury itself in the underlying layers of wound wire upon the drum.

If it is desired to feed the plant from bundle coils, rather than from a previously wound drum, snubber rolls 304 and 305 are adjusted to engage the wire between grooves 301 and 309 and generator 3L2 is adjusted, in a manner to be described, to act as a brake through clutch 3 I3 and shaft 3 l 5 upon the snubber rolls. Under such conditions generator 3I2 and generator 3l4 both act as brakes upon the wire as it is being drawn into the plant by the No. 1 shaving unit. The snubber rolls serve to feed the wire from the bundle coils onto the feeding capstans and the feeding capstans, in turn, serve to supply wire properly into the plant.

quired to turn the armature and erator to an immediate stop.

The feeding unit electrical system Figure 4; shows a schematic representation of the electrical circuits by which the generators of.

the feeding unit are controlled. The electrical systems of these generators are identical and only the system for generator 3| 0 will be described. Corresponding parts in the system for generator 312 are indicated by the same reference numerals as used in the description of the circuits of generator 3l0, with'the addition of an 7a. Similarly, corresponding parts in the circuits of generator '3l'4 are indicated by corresponding reference numerals, with the addition of a b.

Current is supplied to'the field of generator 3 l 0 from lines 364 and 366 under the control of a variable resistance 368. The armature of generator 310 is rotated by the wire being pulled into the plant and the current generated is connected into the leads of'a double throw switch 312 which,

when the generator is acting as a brake, is closed contactor closes to form a dead short circuit across the leads to the armature of generator 3l0, which short circuit multiplies the torque re- Sometimes it is desirable to run generator 3l0 in the reverse direction as a motor as, for example, to rewind slack after repairing a wire break, in which case double throw switch 312 is closed across armature lines 360 and 362 to supply current to the armature of generator 3l0 under the control of a variable resistance 31.0. The armature is indicated protected by an overload responsive device L and a no-load responsive device N.

An overload in the circuit operates through responsive device L to trip the main switch which supplies current to all motors in the plant and to bring the plant toan immediate stop, as described in said copending application of Crosby Field and Gerald C. Toole.- A break anywhere in the wire results in a loss of torque on the armature, whereupon no-load responsive device N serves to stop the entire plant in like manner. when the plant is being fed from a previously wound drum, generator 3l4 is adjusted through variable resistance 31% to eifect most of the braking power upon the wire. At such times generator 3I2 is idle and generator 3 l 0 supplies sufiicient braking power to keep slack from accumulating between the feed drum and the feeding capstans. If the plant is to be fed from bundle coils, generator 3l0 is idle and the braking upon the wire is effected by adjustment to the armature circuits of generators 3I2 and 3M. Regardless of which way'the plant is being fed, an overload in any armature, or a loss of torque upon any armature, serves to stop the entire plant. v

The invention has been illustrated and described in the form which it takes in one plant now in operation. The embodiment illustrated and described, as pointed out above,'has made the production of metal wool practical in a more compact plant than any known to the prior art, requiring fewer operators and capable of being run with a higher yield and under better control.

As many embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes may be brings the gen-' made in the embodiment'above set forth; it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth orshown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in 2, limiting sense o I claim:

1. In combination with a machinefor makin metal shavings from wire including a longitudi nally grooved cutting bed for supporting the wire anda plurality of floating grooving knives operating along said bed: wire guiding andf'eeding means in advance of the entrance of the machine, said advance guiding and feeding mean including a feed drum, a pairiof snubb'er rolls, a feeding capstan, an adjustable brake for'said feed drum, an adjustable bra-ke'for said snubber rolls and an adjustable brake for said feeding capstan, said feeddrum, snubber rolls, and feeding capstan being arranged in tandem in the order named, whereby wire may be fed into said machine either from the feed drum or from a bundle coil.

2. In combination with a machine for making metal shavings from wire including a longitudinally grooved cutting bed for supporting the wire and a plurality of floating grooving knives operating along said bed: wire guiding and feeding means in advance of the entrance of the machine, said advance guiding and feeding means including a feed drum, a pair of snubber rolls, a'feeding capstan, anadjustable' brake. for said feed drum, an adjustable brake for'said snubber rolls,

an adjustable brake for said feeding capstan and e mean for adjusting the relationshinone to the other, of said pair of snubber rolls, said feed drum, snubber rolls, and feeding capstan being arranged in tandem in the order named.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2 further characterized by the fact that said adjustable brakes comprise electric generators operable across variable resistances.

4. The structure set forth in claim 2 further characterized by the fact that said adjustable brakes comprise electric generators operable across variable resistances or, selectively, across a source of electric power, whereby any selected generator may be driven as a motor.

-5."Thestructure set forthi in claimz further characterized by the fact that said wire guiding and feeding means includes responsive means for bringing said wire guiding and feeding means to I an even" and immediate stop upon a loss in tension upon the wire being fed.

6; The structure set orth in claim 2 further characterized by the fact that said adjustable brakes rcomprise electric generators operable across variable resistances and in combination with overload responsive means for bringing said guiding andfeeding .unit to an immediate and even stop upon an overload in any generator.

7; In combination with a machine for making metalshavingsfrom wire including a longitudi-' nally grooved cutting. bed for supporting the wire and a plurality of floating grooving knives oper-V ating along said bed: wire guiding and feeding means in advance of the entrance of the machine, said advance guiding and feeding means including a pair of snubber rolls adjustably mounted'to grip'the wire between them and a pair of motor driven feeding capstans, saidpmeans additionally including an electric brake means connected to the snubber rolls to act as a brake against turning of said rolls, whereby the wire may be conditionedfor passage through the machine without preliminary winding on a reel.

. 8; In combination with a machine for making metal shavingsfrom wire including a longitucli nally grooved cutting bed for supporting the wire and a plurality of floating grooving knives operating along said bed: Wire guiding and feeding means in advance of the entrance of the machine, said advance guiding andfeeding means including a snubber roll followed bya feeding capstan, said means additionally including an electric brake means connected to the snubber roll to act as a brake against turning of said roll and an electric motor means connected to the feeding capstan to act as a drive for turning said capstan, whereby wire to be shaved may be adjustably tensioned by the feeding capstan against the action of the snubber roll and thus conditioned as a preliminary to entrance into the machine.

I CROSBY FIELD.

Images