US2570953A - Unidirectional strand processing machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 9, 1951 L. ILLMER UNIDIREC-TIONAL STRAND PROCESSING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 15, 1947 S. R Q

H mm vlw IN V EN TOR.

Oct. 9, 1951 L. ILLMER UNIDIRECTIONAL STRAND PROCESSING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 13, 1947 .Ilvlllll I INVENTORI Oct. 9, 1951 L. ILLMER 2,570,953

UNIDIRECTIONAL. STRAND PROCESSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 13, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Oct. 9, 1951 L. ILLMER 2,570,953

UNIDIRECTIONAL STRAND PROCESSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 13, 1947 '4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Oct. 9, 1 951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UNIDIRECTIONAL STRAND PROCESSING MACHINE Louis Illmer, Cortland, N. Y.'

Application December 13, 1947, Serial No. 791,474

19 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel and highly eihcient strand grinding machine of the automatic type for steel mills and similar heavy duty surfacing or the like diametral reducing needs in which a series of slowly advanced abrasive tapes or the equivalent tool agency is effectively utilized to penetratively treat a long mill length of reelable high tensile strand stock when dragged through my grinder unit in a closed travel course by means of improved reeling equipment especially adapted to handle a workpiece of one-tenth inch or larger gauge size.

Laterally pliable rod stock or a batch of heavy alloy steel wire may herein be unidirectionally dr ged in successive passes by radically simplified reeling means at a relatively high optimum velocity without having any laid coil retractibly pry away from its reel rim while imparting the desired intensified cutting rate to an endless treated work piece when brought into operative engagement with a plurality of continuously advanced abrasive tapes in consecutive unidirectional strand passes. These tapes may respectively be carried by either rotating or by stationary head units, the work piece travel rate primarily serving to furnish the necessary lengthwise stroking for rapid penetrative abrasive action. Such practice enables the bending stress of the crimped coil stock to be safely extended well beyond its elastic limit without rupture at a substantial saving in diametral size and first cost of the reel requirements.

As a prerequisite for cold wire drawing, a stock ingot may initially be reduced by hot rolling into long rods having a reasonably uniform diameter of about or less in size. It is this and the like type of heavy metallic strand, particularly of stainless or the like alloy steel, that my grinder is designed to handle at a fast productive rate in a long mill length that may weigh about 1000 lbs. per batch. After being preground with coarse grit tape, such rod stock may be further reduced stepwise through a series of draw benches or die blocks.

It will be obvious that a similar but less favorable finish maybe attained by longitudinally shaving down the diametral strand size of a reeled work piece by cutting tool means other than an abrasive agency. As herein practiced,

it is preferred to slowly feed paper backed abrasive tape crosswise of a relative fast moving endless work piece in a partially perimetrically wrapped condition and to substantially expend the grit cutting quality in a single pass through its concaved' cutting zone to virtually impart a 2 burnished finish by accumulated grit loading a the work piece leaves such zone. The resulting high degree of superficial smoothness attained, reduces wear on part of a wire drawing die when run at a prescribed reeling velocity.

Upon reaching a, prescribed diametral size, the drawn wire may be returned to my grinder to further refine its superifical polish by the use of finer grit tape. Such augmented processing is also conducive to a more economical subsequent electrochemical treatment, particularly where different wire sizes are to be closely matched for a requisite bright finish.

An optimum work piece travel velocity of more than one thousand feet per minute is preferred in order to achieve the performance herein sought and this aspect may still call for power driven reeling means of comparatively large diameterso as not to be repeatedly subject a large gauged crimped rod to abnormal set likely to bring about rapid metal fatigue. Furthermore, such stipulated fast reeling is expedited by maintaining the treated coiled rod in a single reel layer without allowing it to become snarled into bunched formation that may interfere with freely unwrapping the reeled stock at higher linear velocity or to otherwise seriously mar the ground surface finish of the strand product. My driven tractor reel also possesses ample overall face width to stow an extensive coiled batch length that provides for an adequate grinder time period without need of frequent batch replenishment when rapidly ground with coarse grit.

The problem of reeling a work piece of large diametral size at high running speed in successive light cut passes, is inherently difficult to solve in a satisfying manner particularly as regards its technical and commercial aspects. The power requirements for such stock a measured per foot of length, is found to be substantially proportionate per single crimp to the excess bending stretch or elongation imparted beyond its elastic limit and that the corresponding motive power requirement increases directly with the work piece travel rate. Hence when for present purposes, the bending stress is allowed to assume an inordinate value for ag iven travel rate, such reel crimping in rapid succession tends also to unduly preheat an abrasively treated rod and results in abnormal wastage of reeling power. The cited conditions are best met commercially by a reel of minimum allowable diameter that is kept in proper relation to its maximum cooperating rod size and an appropriate linear travel rate. A further noteworthy feature of my wire grinder is to provide refined means for efiiciently handling rolled steel rod stock in a usual mill run length.

The object of my improvements is to devise compactly combined reeling and grinder equipment in accordance with my teachings or system that shall be reasonably low in first reel cost and rendered capable of rapidly reeling a long heavy strand ::at optimum velocity through one or more rotary grinder heads whereby to economically complete uniform superficial abrasive treatment throughout the strand length on a fast productive rate at a corresponding low attendance cost per ton of product and which in.- stallation provides for reasonably moderatepower requirements together with a comparatively short shutdown period in which. to replenish a completely ground strand batch. Further embodied herein are certain structural refinements designed to promote the end in view including a non-reversing reel tli'a't linearly drags an endless Wire'batch and whicnre'el cooperates with a sta- =tor equipped with automatic multiple camming -means 'arcuately'distributed exteriorly about my driven tractor reel for positivelyroller actuating a certain laterally shiftable last laid rim .embracingstrand coil sidewise in the direction of the reel axis in a "manner that is particularly appropriate in meeting heavydutystrand shift needs asapplied to a tractor reel of some 4 ft. in width when arranged to serve as a rodcoil storage space or accumulator.

A further objective resides in generally providing for a competitive heavy duty rod'grinder 'for handling an endless strand batch in consecutive unidirectional'passes to rapidly impart -a high grade surf-ace finish thereto sufiiciently smooth and round to adequately satisfy wire drawing needs. 'While a machineof this kind becomes massive in weight 'and correspondingly "expensive 'in'firstcost, such commercially important aspect is herein held within moderate limits by my relatively small sized reel as run unidirectionally at -'a comparatively high peripheral speed suitable for -eflicientgrinding. Ihe present disclosure further teacheshow to economically attain the maximum allowable 'reel "output without encountering rod rupture.

Reference is had 'to the accompanying four -s'heetsof drawings of a pref-erred exemplifica- "tion, and in which drawings:

'Fig. lillustrates an elevational side view of my unitary machine assembly provided with multiple rotating grinder'headaand'Fig. 2 represents 'a' top View thereof.

Fig. 3 cross-sectionally reveals a detail of my tractor reel taken along33' of Fig. l as partially telescoped within a c'ircumscribing stator of the split type.

Fig. 4 shows a top view-of stator prop means taken along 4-4 of Fig. '1, andFig- 5 is an elevational side View of 'Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 represents an .elevational :view of my :clutchable batch take-oil drum taken in partial section along tt"of Fig; 1.

Big. '7 shows a 'face viewof a grinder head as- :sembly as. seen from -ll'of liig. 1,. and Fig. 8a sectional view'of sucht'assembly taken along 88 DfLFig. v7.

"Fig. 9 details "a spring :retained tape backing jaw taken along9-6 of Fig.8, and Fig. 110 is an ?enlarged profile view of a preferred jaw shape taken along I illfi' of Fig. .9.

.Fig. 11 fragmentally details ashiftable skew isheavelbearing .taken'za'long 111-. H of-Fig. 1,;and

Fig. 12 diagrammatically outlines an alternative structural modification of the Fig; 2 assembly.

Referring more specifically to Figs. 1 and 3, such grinder assembly preferably comprises a smooth faced tractor reel i0 adapted to have either a large or a small gauged strand laid thereon at a closely Wound pitch and which reel is shown carried upon the horizontal main axle 11 that may span mated bearings .lSllCh as i2. Each bearing may be mounted upon a pedestal i3 resting upon sole plate means such as a pair of fore rail sections MA of channel profile extendingjlengthwise beneath my grinder unit.

A primary drive motor l5, preferably of the inbuilt gear reduction type, may have its slow speed outlet shaft coupled directly to one reel aaxlerend. Thehub of the reel l8 may be mounted to float upon said axle by disengaging the interposedclutch l6.

My fiangeless substantially even cylindrical rim face of saidtractor reelis preferably keptuninterrupted in profile andsuificient in diametral size notto excessively set itscircumscribing rod coils by abnormal superficialstretch or. elongation. Such disposition-also avoids absorbing abnormal "motive power when the endless work piece is givenca relatively high linear velocity. Heavy stock while beingcrimpingly trainedonto my reel, is preferably subjected to a bending stress beyond its elastic limit and thereby imparts arestricted-set.tendencythat hugs the 1'66]. rim when helically wrapped thereon. Such practice materially reduces reel.costs and permits its axle to be run at a relativelyhigh rotative speed.

A large plurality of/reel lightening'stanchions such as i Smay each'be'inset radially with respect to the rim diameterito provide for a precipitous offset or shallow ledge l9. Such succession of 'stanchions may extend in parallelism with the reelaxis asshown to afford a skeletonized cylindricalrim along which rod coils may by registering automatic roller means he collectively shifted in advance of the last oncoming reel coil.

A portion of the abrasively treated strand ll may initially comprise a long'bundle ofrod stock as rolledtoamegular'mill length whose ends are weldedtogether into "a closedloop. A restricted coiled portion 28 of such batch (see Fig- 3) maybe kept'tightly'wound helically about said rim .in a side by side. single layer formation to constitute rod gripping means for my driven reel. These -laid gripping coils need be merely sufiicient in number-to prevent excessive strand slip andv any augmented abrasive drag .exertedupon the work pieceis self. adjusted by a corresponding tighteningof thereel grip.

By a continued unidirectional turning of the traction reel, such group of rim gripping coils is automatically caused to move bodily toward and over the offset ledge I9, whereupon the initial coil tension orrim grip becomes progressively relaxed and the transferred coils may finally be made to nongrippingly depend from the top stanchions i8 Without;excessiveyradial clearance prior-to having .the. last leaving reel coil unwrap tangentially. These distributed stanchions or 'skeletionized rim extensions, are purposely given along reach to sliclably stow a considerable surplusrod batch thereon that may amount to onehalf ton .in weight. .As an equivalent, the cited stanchions l8 may be replaced by an inwardly stepped reel skirtsection .that1is integrally cast :asan extensionbf my coilgripping reel section .20, ;the;low;. tensioned ccils1being tangentially 1111'.-

'its coaxial reel perimeter.

wrapped from the rim end region lying remote.

gripping coils 2!] require no further strand conforming motive power until the unwrapped coils leaving the 'stanchions are straightened out for transit over the idler sheave 2!. Such reeling system needs a total but two pairs of reversed crimps per pass to be simultaneously imposed upon my fast running endless work piece without deleterious effects and thus correspondingly reduces heavy duty power needs.

The reel oncoming and reel oifcoming strand length portions of my endless work piece run in opposite travel directions at a maintained velocity. It would become inherently difficult to rapidly reverse a massive large sized reel of the kind herein contemplated. Furthermore, the present mode of sustained unidirectional reel drive does not suffer a loss in productive capacity due to frequent reel reversal periods.

Attention will now be directed to my novel automatic camming means whereby the rim gripping coils 28 are bodily shiftel laterally after having been laid upon the tractor rim. A stationary housing or stator 24 may comprise a ringshaped channel iron providing for a bore constituent of approximately the same diameter as Said stator may be placed alongside one rim end of the traction reel (see Fig. 3). The respective terminal regions of the split or sectionized semicircular stator components may be equipped with mated patring flanges 25 and 26 that are superimposed and bolted together to admit of separately demounting the upper stator half. An extended plate 21 may underlie such mated flanges and be propelled by the support bracket 28 mounted upon the fore base rail section 1 4A. A reenforcing strut 29 may add rigidity to the lower half of the stator and the diagonally disposed straps such as 30 may serve to stiffen the split stator terminals against spread.

The web of my channel iron stator 24 may have a plurality of radially distributed bushings 3| erected therethrough at substantially uniform angular pitch spacing. Each such bushing may mount a journal 32 having a depending eccentric pin 33 circumscribed by a fast running, heavy duty radial ball bearing 34. As shown, the outer "race of said bearing preferably carries a perimetion to the reel axis with each perimetric roller edge kept closely interspaced from its contiguous rim face by less than the gauge size given to said last laid reel coil as shown (see Fig. 3). The disposition of my series of arcuately arranged roller perimeters is such as to be maintained in imme- 7 diate registering contact with the aforesaid last coil as a laterally shiftable track agency that in a simple direct manner is made to positively propel the entire group of previously laid reel coils bodily onward toward the opposite rim end, when the last laid coil is roller wiped lengthwise thereof.

My journal 32 may be adjustably rotated to fix the eccentricity of the successive pins 33 in progressively stepped or helically advanced positions. During a completed reel revolution, each rim gripping coil may thereby be positively shifted and progressively forced over by a distance corresponding to the diametral size given to the work piece. Such lateral movement on part of previously laid coils, makes room for the cleared reception of the last oncoming coilirrespective of the diametral size given to my reel and without requiring the strand to be subjected to high drag tension.

To this end, the respective roller faces are herein spirally placed into immediate thrusting registry with the last oncoming reel coil which collectively serves as a laterally shiftable race agency for such faces. As shown, each such roller may be made slightly liftable axially and radially away from the rim contour to compensate for any misaligned running of the reel.

Each journal 32 may be selectively retained in its adjusted position by means of a graduated keeper disc 37 whose edge may be clamped into place to suit work piece gauge requirements. The eccentric pin 33 may also be made withdrawable outwardly through the affixed bushing 3| to facilitate renewal of any defective roller or for other purposes. Such multiple antifriction rollers respectively run without abnormal slip at wire travel speed at the minimum of drag and without marring the work piece surface. For heavy duty needs, a considerable number of smaller rollers acting in unison are generally required to unfailingly bring about lateral movement on part of a tightly wound group of large gauged reel gripping rod coils.

By virtue of the described camming instrumentalities including a roller whose axis is radially disposed with respect to the reel axis, each rod stock coil may throughout its length be simultaneously crowded in the direction of the reel axis whether the latter is disposed horizontally or vertically. It is preferred to resort to the first named disposition in that small gauged coils can more readily be kept in sing-1e layer formation. Such disposition also promotes the attainment of safe high speed work piece travel for larger sized reeled rods without unwrapping entanglement or otherwise allowing any surplus coils to bunch up and collect to a considerable depth.

In order to maintain the desired single layer formation throughout the whole length of my stowed coils, I may resort to one or more restraining rollers such as 38 which overlie said single layer in a closely interspaced relation and prevent detrimental lifting of any one coil out of normal alignment by more than the major portion of the work piece size. A roller carrying guide 39 may have one end provided with an ear flange that is adjustably affixed to the top edge of a ringlike stator 2Q, as shown.

While the tractor reel I6 is running, the tension prevailing in the successive coils 20 will by frictional rim grip, become slackened prior to reaching the rim ledge is and thus impart a comparatively low tension to the strand loop portion when it reaches the idler sheave 2L Such reduced tension, even when augmented by grinder idrag, :may .of itself prove insufficient to assure lan-iunremitting crowding over of all my reel gripping coils. Unless the lateral-coilshiftfor a large sized grinder reel is positively-actuated,an nncoming last'laid coil may build up .andwind- .ingly.over-ridepreceding coils.

.The need for resorting to a conventional level winder mechanism is herein eliminated. Lateral coilishift by my improved roller camming means subsequent to laying such coil upon a solitary tractor reel, is effected at a low velocity rate which in turn hOlds its power requirements small .511. relation to that of rapidly dragging the work :piece through heavy duty multiple'grinder heads.

11 .0 suitably control the slack tension prevail- ;ingin the strandportion as it leaves the driven reel 1 9,, the supports of the skewed sheave 24 'may ;b.e:-shiftably mounted (see Fig. 11). The inclined sheave axle may have one of its endselevated *withrespect to its mate. Such axle may be spanningly carried between laterally diverted pedeszta'lscdi and d2 of different heights, each having a similar base shoe that slidably rest-upon their aft rail sections MC. Opposed depending shoe lips may each mount an adjustable wedge block id that engages beneath a contiguous channel flange as shown.

Aratchet actuated towing jack is (see Figs. 1 and 2) may comprise an-interiorly threaded quill 45 that cooperates with opposed eye bolt screws :such as 46 which ma be utilized to selectively shift the skew sheave toward Or away from the reel axle 'H. A separate jack may actuate each pedestal shoe and the rail overlying quills thereof may respectively be equipped with a chain interconnected sprocket such as dl which permit of turning both quills in unison when actuated through either ratchet such as '48.

Where it is desired to operate with a relatively higher tension on the slack side of my workpiece loop as it enters the grinder heads, this may readilybe accomplished by suitably adjusting the ratchets d8. lhe surplus coils then become more --tightly collapsed about the stanchions l8 but in such event itis preferred to increase the'number 60B. Such superstructure ;-ma be .upheld Joy-.2. plurality of structural uprights 6 lA-andfiiB that 'rest upon the medial railsection MB whose ends may respectively be aflixed .to the fore andaft rail sections MA andl-4C.

Attached to one stringer .beam as 60A, isa series of duplex brackets such as 63 whichcollectivelymount a single tape feed shaft 64. Said shaft carries a tape feed gear 55 adjacent to the respective opposed bracket. ends. The head carrying'pedestals 55 and 55 may. each mount a twin master gear 68 of which the inner component meshes with a registering idler feed gear 1. The gear arrangement is such that the master gear may rotate independently of the spindle-.52. The other of said twin master gears may mesh with-a pair of planetary headgears GGA-andBBB. Each head assembly may further provide for dual abrasivetapes 69A and 69B (see Fig. 9) which are continuously .fed between the backing jaws 1i3A=and 19B into opposed: operative engagement with the work piece 57.

. My multiple grinder head spindles may be col- ;lectivel-y operated bya drive shaft i2 extending beneath the several head assemblies in parallelism with the feed shaft EM (see Fig. 8). ,An independentlycontrolled auxiliary motor 13 may be direct-connected to said drive shaft and shut 'down while my tractorreel isbeing replenished with an-untreated stock batch. Such separate motor controls may be utilized to more .highly polish a treated wire during a final grinder stage 7 by shutting down said feed shaft while the head or heft of the applied rollers 35 to compensate for augmented coil shift effort.

For larger reels of the kind herein contemplated, a normal expectation for laterally shifting a large group of wound coils as a unit, is likely to reach more than one ton of applied thrust load. Considering the high speed at which -my roller bearings are intended to run, aload of this-magnitude is most fittingly carried by a series of smaller rollers uniformly distributed aboutthe reel axis.

Figs. '7 and 8 are illustrative of a preferred type of grinder unit 23 which my heavy duty reeling equipment is especially adapted to serve. Such grinder may comprise a pair of rotary or stationary head members 59A and 563 that are over- .hangingly afixed to opposite ends of the tubular spindle 52. The rate of grinder output may be increased in a proportionate relation to the number of heads employed provided the resulting coil :gr-ip about the tractor reel does not become .unduly heavy. Each such spindle may rotate in a pair of ball bearings that are individually mount- .ed inthe interspaced pedestals 54 and 55. A spindle drive gear 55 is installed therebetween that meshes with the idler gear 57. The respective bearing pedestals may be-supported upon a superstructure that comprises the rolled cross beam 6-2 whose ends are affiXedlycarr-ied bya mainof laterally spacedstringer beamsfi 0A and shaft remains operative.

The sectionalized tape feed shaft-64 may be driven in unison with the drive shaft 12' through a differential gear box '15 by the chain 16 (see :Fig. '7 A slow rate of movement is, given to one .such differential gear as fixed by independently .motorized'long-range speed reducer Tl preferably of the so-calledv gyro type whose'slow speed output shaft may be arranged .to drive said one gearby a change gear trainlB and'"'!9.'

The abrasive tapes or the like cutting agencies 69A and 693 may be advanced from radially opposed supply spools such as by a feed roller 8|. The roller shank may be entered through a head disc bore to mount a planetary gear thereon such as'68B that runs in mesh with its master gear E6. The resulting gear train positively advances the mated abrasive tapes of each head continuously in opposite directions as indicated by arrows. When slowly fed, the tape gritmay become substantially spent in a single pass through its localized cutting zone.

'The lengthwise stroking of the work piece with partially loaded tape, not only maintains a uni .form cutting performance irrespective of its rate of, grit attrition, but alsotattain a substantially smooth and bright work piece finish although fastcutting 20 to 30.mesh grit maybe .employed. The loaded grit prevailing in the strandleaving region of my abrasive tape imparts a substantially burnished finish to the ground strandina single cutting zone. For such coarse grinding, it is preferred to utilize rotary grinder heads in that they impart a truly round-profile to treated rod stockfree from undercut flats.

In case the opposed roller grooves of a hot rod .mill should fail to align in registry, my rotary I tape carrying grinder head and its grit backing .shoe tend .to increasingly impress any superficial .high spots of anoncircular rod andtherebygpen .mitof a: more rapidsubsequent die drawing-withflange 94.

out" materially destroying the quality of wire Fig. reveals the manner in which it is preferred to augment the grit embrace of each abrasive tape about a work piece perimeter having a comparatively large size. Each elongated trailing edge of my reversed tape backing jaws 10A and 7913 may respectively be provided with a protuberance 83 extending inwardly of its usual flat jaw face region. Such sinuous or perimetrically wrapped tape disposition augments the normal extent of grit contact for an abraded wire and correspondingly increases the grinding rate 'of the tapes 69A and 6913 for a given linear travel velocity of the work piece. The effect of such jaw protuberance is to, a certain extent concavedly wrap the grit face of my abrasive tape perimetrically about the wire surface. In the case of processing a wire of say one-fourth inch 4") in gauge size the productive rate of a given grinder head may thereby be substantially doubled, which in turn significantly reduces the first cost of such appurtenances.

As regards my improved means for replenishing a completed strand batch with dispatch, further reference is had to Figs. 1 and 2. Upon being relaxed by jack release, a sagging suspended work piece portion may be severed at w and the respective cut ends carried to a batch offtake or bundling drum 85 and to a cooperating batch supply spool 86 as schematically indicated in dotted and dashed outline by the numeral H. To facilitate such severance, the fore and aft rail sections MA and MC may each be equipped with a depending strut such as 81 having its free end provided with a releasable J-bolt 88 adapted to .clampingly retain said severed strand portion in fixed spaced relation.

The drum 85 and spool 86 may be shown compactly located beneath my grinder stringer beams 60A and 60B intermediate the traction reel Ii] and the sheave 2|. When these accessories are fabricated as spare counterparts, they may re spectively include a tapered rim 90 (see Fig. 6) having opposed end flanges 9| and 92. The drum web 93 may be demountably secured to the hub The driven bundling drum 85 may be arranged as a unit to comprise a framework 89 that spans the intermediate rail section MB to provide mated bearings for mounting a drive shaft 95 having a clutch 93 including an extended sleeve 91 that is telescoped through one such frame bearing; The hub flange 94 may be overhangingly carried by the projecting end of said sleeve. The opposite drum shaft end may be provided with a sprocket 98 that may be chain driven from a registering sprocket 99 mounted on the main axle H (see Fig. 2). When fashioned as a supply spool, the frame structure may be kept similar except that no clutch mechanism is required.

It is preferred to operate with a standardized endless work piece l1 having a predetermined linear dimension. The usual variation in the mill run bundle length of such treated stock may readily be compensated by the use of a supplementary make up or lead wire. When initially I welded to one end of an insufficient batch length,

these components may be coiled on an installed supply spool. An empty offtake reel is also placed into its operative position. The preparatory loop connections are then completed and the J-bolts 88' released.

' By disengaging the main axle clutch I6, the primary motor l5 may start to independently 10 rotate the drum 85 in its arrowed direction to slowly withdraw thereon the previously finished batch. After such batch withdrawal, the gripof the J-boltsmay be restored and the terminals of a newly installed batch may be welded into a slackened endless loop. By tightening the twin jacks 44, the grinder machine is made ready to treat another batch without undue time loss for batch replenishments. By virtue of the selective clutches l6 and 96 and the large difference between reel and drumdiameters, a relatively slow transfer velocity for batch replenishment needs, is herein established without resort to a sepa-' rate auxiliary motor.

Fig. 12 reveals the use of duplex traction reels such as H] and the elimination of a skewed sheave such as 2|. In such instance, the respective strand coils 20 may be laterally shifted stepwise by the successive use of dual camming means such as 35 (see Fig. 3). Their multifold coil groups are thereby made to respectively shift away from and toward the longitudinal axis of the common grinder unit 23 so as to complete a return circuit including a reeled batch portion that aligns with the grinder heads. Such duplex, reeling equipment allows of correspondingly shortening the reel stanchions [8 for a given batch weight or if desired, of increasing the surplus length of a stowed endless batch.

My machine is especially adapted to penetratively treat round reelable alloy wire or rod stock in larger sizes and may in consecutive passes economically impart a considerable weight reduction to such batch stock. For rod drawing needs, a weight reduction of 8 to 10% is generally deemed more than sufllcient to grind out surface crevices, eradicate decarbonization and expose uniform core metal.

It may be emphasized that my camming mechanism is also applicable in meeting the needs of a high speed wire drawing bench or the like strand reducing die means. For such purposes; a group of strand coils may be grippingly wrapped on a tractor reel rim and bodily shifted laterally in the direction of the rotor axis. In such application, it is preferred to provide for multiple counterbalancing rollers of the kind more fully set forth in my copending Serial No. 130,459 as filed December 1, 1949.

My improved wire grinder system resides in the use of a novel combination of claimed elements capable of effecting a noteworthy result that adequately meets heavy duty steel works needs. This may be economically attained by working with a rotary tape feeding head as used in con: junction with my essentially simplified unidirectional tractor reel in which strand camming means are maintained in immediate contact with the last laid reel coil to wipe lengthwise thereof without requiring any intrinsic strand carrier or the like interposed appurtenance. The method of working in successive endless passes as herein practiced, uniformly abrades a treated batch throughout its length without substantial waste of strand stock or abrasive tape. Even with coarse grit abrasive, a substantially burnished surface finish may be imparted to a long rod batch admirably suited for wire drawing die block purposes that requires no supplementary follow-up fine grit grinding to perfect a rough initial finish. As will be understood, the attainable final strand finish as measured in micro-inches, is dependent in a large measure on the maximum cut depth employed per single rod pass. Hence my grinder system achieves superior results at a relatively 1i low cost per ton basis particularly as regards labor, in contrast to that afforded by a one-pass deep-cutting, high speed abrasive wheel when the difference in superficialfinish'quality is properly evaluated.

The present annual production of American steel rods has reached over '5;000,000 tons, "of which some 10% may be profitably 'preground prior to drawing the same into wire, particularly in the case of low-carbon or alloy steel'stock, provided the cost of such treatment is reduced to a frugal level. A salient feature of 'the-present grinder improvements resides in effecting a decided saving in rod processing cost over prevalent wire grinder tools.

By using a 4 ft. diameter x 4ft. long tractor reel of 'the type herein devised and starting with annealed continuous high-carbon-alloy stock-that is mill rolled to a /4" rod diameter and reel dragged at a linear velocity-of 3-000 ft./min.-as an endless loop of over 2000'ft; in length,- the time per batch pass is about 07 min. Such a grinder unit may comprise eight-standardized rotary heads that collectively feed 4"-Wide 30 grit paper-backed roll tape crosswise-of the dragged rod axis. The corresponding =maximum dry grinder rate is about 650 lbs; per hour -fr'an ultimate radial cut depth of -.005 inchwhich-may be realized in "about 45 loop passes for-most annealed high carbon alloy rods and less than onehalf this requirement for low carbon rods -of plating quality.

The superficial finish finally attained for alloy rods is about 25 micro-inches at an appraised grit cost (1950 prices) for 45-passes approximately equal to:

For single stage tape utilization=about %/lb.

of rod For dual stage tape utilization=about /3/1b.

of rod The labor plus grit costs (single stage)-=.about The labor plus grit costs .(dual stage) =about $15.00/ton Simultaneously reversed rod crimps/pass=two pairs After such alloy rod is preground, its allowable wire drawing velocity may be considerably increased and thus substantiallycompensate forits cited preprocessingwcosts. Low-:carbon. rods of better plating qualitymay be expected to yielda considerable-marketing bonus over :conventional rods.

To recapitulate, the novel principle-underlying my grinder reeling teachings may be succinctly defined in the following simple algebraic terms:

When annealed solid steel rod stockof low elastic limit is coiled about a cylindrical drum and subjected to high superficial crimping stress in excess of one percent elongation while said stock is being reel transferred at a certain excessive velocity, this condition induces retrac tion to a lmiited extent of an oncoming rod portion from its rim. Such extra retraction of the kinked rod may be localized at the reel crown and its effect is dependent upon the gauge size since any set kink imparted to a relatively large red involves a material-lyaugmented pry application to make it conform to a given rim curvature.

It is preferred to work with partially annealed steel wire or rod stock having anelastic limit of about 50,000 lbs. per square inch, for whieh'the 12 allowable elongation may be--empirically fixed as approximately equal to:

. d 1.4 S =56O A 12.. cg; Eq where V So=percent of superficial stretch for crimped alloy steel wire required to initiate the cited rim retraction when reel transferred at V0 velocity-percent of elongation dw=diametral rod sizeinches Dm=optimum cylindrical rim diameter-inches The corresponding critical velocity at which such rim retraction may be .initiated lies in the neighborhood of:

where Vo=0ptimum linear velocity of the transferred rod beyond which the cited retraction is likely to startfeet per minute.

In case the reel diameter shouldibematerially reduced from the prescribed Dre value, an'additional increase in bending stress arises but the effect thereof may *be counteracted by a :materially lowered linear 'velocity held within the following limits-z VX=actual running velocity of the transferred work piece-feet/minute.

Sx=560 dw/Dr=actual imposed rod stretch .for a reduced rim diameter D; that is smaller than 'Dmpercent ,of elongation.

Insubstance, theforegoingfindings :reveal that the optimum .of rendered grinder performance islikely to .-;be .had by the use of a light weight reel having a prescribed FDm. diameter. Equation 0 shows .it.eX-pedient for :safe .ro'd transfer to run with a .reel diameter that. progressively increases with its. applied stock size dw.

For an annealed steel rod,-a-=-reel-l0 to 12 feet in diameter :would..1-pr.o v.e suitable .ito properly meet running conditions, but this may be re- .duced to about 5%. footfor the safe handling of a wire. The corresponding optimum V0 values are respectivelyestimated as 2300 feet/min. at a 2% stretch, and as 3450 feet/min. at 5 /2 7}, stretch. In theevent that'a smaller than the optimum reel diameter Dro -'-is resorted to, the allowable rod transfer rate needs -tobe substantially reduced in accordance with -Equation--D which in turn involves a reductionjn grinder performance. In Figs. 1 and 2, the reels are drawn in appropriate scale for treating rod s ock.

Eq. B

where 13 it isbelieved the foregoing rather explicit struc tural disclosure and its functional behavior will make evident to those skilled in this art, the more outstanding commercial and operative advantages afforded by my strand grinder improvements, and I reserve the right to equivalently modify such illustrative design features, all without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention heretofore described and more particularly characterized in the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. A strand processing machine comprising a driven tractor reel including a truly cylindrical rim adapted to have a group of strand coils contiguously trained thereon helically at one rim end region in single layer formation and which coils constitute a length portion of an endless work piece batch that is unidirectionally advanced in successive passes, tubular cutting tool means having a length portion of such work piece threaded through said means in a travel course directed toward and into immediate contact with said rim, stationary stator means including a sustained thrust roller whose axis is radially disposed with respect to the reel axis and the perimeter of which roller is brought into immediate engagement with the last laid rim coil as a retractible rail agency whereby to positively and automatically shift said group of coils laterally toward the other rim end region, and supplementary strand redirecting means serving to carry the oflcoming first unwrapped rim coil along a travel course that returns said endless work piece through the cutting tool means.

2. A strand processing machine comprising a driven tractor reel including a circular rim adapted to have a group of wire coils grippingly trained thereon in helical formation, cutting tool means brought into operative engagement with a reel oncoming portion of the work piece, stator means of which a component overlies a portion of the reel perimeter, a series of bushings radially erected through such stator component and angularly distributed therealong, a separate eccentric journal mounted to adjustably rotate in each such bushing, a roller carried by each journal in close proximity to the rim exterior and the respective perimeters of which rollers are brought into operative thrusting engagement with the last laid rim coil, and keeper means serving to fix a particular eccentric adjustment given to the respective rollers.

3. A strand treating machine comprising a driven tractor reel including a rim adapted to have strand coils grippingly trained thereon helically in single layer formation, cutting tool means brought into operative engagement with a reel oncoming portion of the work piece, a horizontal axle mounting said reel across a pair of bearing pedestals, a split stator including semi-circular sections whose respective terminals are flanged and superimposed in registry, a support bracket serving to rigidly prop each such pair of registering flanges, and cooperating camming means carried by each stator section and serving to simultaneously thrust said group of coils laterally in the direction of the reel axis.

4;. A strand treating machine comprising a unidirectionally driven tractor reel including a comparatively-narrow circular rim adapted to have a group of rim gripping strand coils helically trained thereon in closely spaced formation, a

plurality of angularly distributed stanehions pro- 14 imeter to provide for rim'ledge means, c'uttin means for treating the rim oncoming strand and augment the longitudinal tension thereof, and multiple automatic camming means that are angularly interspaced about the reel axis to collectively impart a lateral transfer movement to the aforesaid group of coils that successively shift the same toward and overthe rim ledge whereby to substantially release coil tension and which re--v laxed coils are thereupon shifted laterally in single layer formation along the reel stanohions.

5. A strand treating machine comprising a unidirectionally driven reel including a comparatively narrow circular rim adapted to have a group of rim gripping strand coils helically trained thereon under tension, cutting tool means for treating the rim oncoming strand and augmenting the longitudinal tension thereof, a plurality of angularly distributed stanchions projecting the same toward and over the rim ledge to substantially release coil tension and which relaxed coils are further shifted in single layer formation along the reel stanchions, and restraining roller means spacedly overlying said relaxed coils to substantially maintain them in single layer formation.

6. A unitary strand treating machine comprising a tractor reel including a driven axle provided with a reel clutch and a rim adapted to have a group of strand coils grippingly trained thereon in helical formation and which coils constitute a length portion of an endless work piece batch that is longitudinally advanced in successive passes, an elevated superstructure mounting tubular cutting tool means thereon and having a reel oncoming work piece portion threaded therethrough, camming means including a roller disposed to laterally thrust the last laid reel coil axially lengthwise of said rim, supplementary strand reversing means having an axis that is interspaced with respect to the reel axis and which reversing means serves to redirect a rim leaving strand portion into return alignment with said tubular cutting tool means, and a batch supply spool and a mated batch oiftake drum carried by said superstructure and respectively located in interposed relation to the reel axis and the axis of the strand reversing means.

"7. A unitary strand processing machine comprising laterally interspaced sole plate means, a clutchable tractor reel mounted upon a main axle carried by mated pedestals that respectively rest upon said sole plate means, such reel including a rim that is selectively rotatable upon the main axle and adapted to have a group of strand coils grippingly trained thereon in helical formation, motorized drive means applied to rotate said axle, supplementary strand redirecting means operatively mounted upon another axle, a cutting tool unit arranged to treat a reel oncoming strand portion as a work piece, camming means disposed to laterally shift the last laid reel coil axially'lengthwise of said rim, a framework spanningly resting upon said sole plate means and provided with mated bearings that mount a drive shaft in substantial parallelism with the reel axle, a shaft clutch interposed between said bearings and which clutch is equipped with.a sleeve projecting through one such bearing, an overhanging oiftake drum 1'5 affixed to the projecting .end of said sleeve, and power transmission means driving :the clutched drum in unison with the unclutched main reel axle.

'8. A strand processing machine comprising duplex tractor reels each including a circular rim respectively adapted to have agroup of rim gripping strand coils helically trained thereon, and which respective coil groups are constituents of a common endless work piece batch having two linearly remote portions thereof suspended between said tractor reels, motive means driving said reels in unison and serving to impart a linear velocity to said batch, cutting tool head means placed into operative engagement with one of the suspended work piece portionsyand automatic complementary camming means for said duplex reels and which means respectively include a roller serving to simultaneously shift each such coil group laterally in reversed travel direction as measured axially lengthwiseof their respective rims whereby to bring said one suspended work piece portion into aligned return engagement with said head means.

9. A strand processing machine comprising laterally spaced sole plate means, a driven tractor reel having an axle whose ends are respectively sustained by said means, such reel including a rim adapted to have a group of strand coils grippingly trained thereon, an elevated superstructure erected upon the sole platezmeans, arcutting :tool unit :upheld by the superstructure and arranged to treat a reel oncoming strand regionas a workpiece, and strut means provided withia releasable clamp disposed to fixedly retain a strandlength portion against longitudinal shift.

:10. A strand processing machine comprising .an axle mounted tractor reel including a drivenrim adapted to have a group of strandcoils .grippingly trained thereon and which wrapped coils constitutea lengthportion of an endlesswork piece batch :that is :advanced longitudinally by said reel, cutting tool-means arranged ito treat a .reel oncoming .work piece region, camming means serving to laterally shift the last laidstrand coil axially lengthwise of said rim, a .pair of laterally spacedibaserails, a skew sheave that is embraced byisaidzendless work pieceandcarriedby another axle which ilS :interspaced from and inclinedly mounted relative to the reel axle by a short and along laterally diverted pedestal each provided .wit-hiaslidablezshoe thatzrespectively engages one of said base .rails, :and .jack mean cooperating with each rail and serving to definitely .locate the respective slide positions of saidshoes whereby zto ,adjustably tension the sheave embracing work piece.

;1 l. A strand processing: machinecomprisingan axle:mounte.d tractor reel including adrivcn rim adapted to have a group of strand coils .grip

.pingly trained thereon and which .wrapped coils constitute .a length portion of ,an endless work piece. batch that is advanced longitudinally by said :reel, cutting tool head ,means arranged :to

treat-a reel oncoming work piece ,region, camming :nieans serving to laterally :shift the last .laid strand coil axially lengthwise ofsaid ri-m', laterally spaced :base grails, iagskew sheave that hassaid endless workpiece trained thereon-and :is :carriedsby an axleinterspaced from the reel axle :upon mated pedestals respectively equipped with :a slidable :rail engaging shoe, a separate towing jack for shifting eachsuch shoe and .which :jacks respectively comprise opposed-screw shanks zandni threadedzinterconnecting :quill, and

i6 means .operatively linking said iquills to rotateifi unison.

12-. A strand grinder comprising a driven tractor reel including a circular rim vadapted to have a group of strand coils :helically trained thereon and which laid coils constitute a length portion of .an endless work piece batch that is advanced linearly by said reel, motorized means for driving said reel, camming means including a thrust roller imposed into immediate registering contact with the last laid reel coil as a race agency to laterally shiftisuch coil -,axially lengthwise of said :rim, rotatable grinder head means carrying a-supply of abrasiveta-pe that .is brought into cutting zone engagement with a reel .oncoming strand portion, controlled motorized means including a .driveshaft for rotating said head means, and a separate motorized tape feed shaft section equipped with a long-range reducer of which the input shaft is operated from said drive shaft through differential gear means that permit of independently stalling the rotation of the feedshaft section while said drive shait continues to rotate.

13. A strand grinder comprising a driven tractor reel adapted to havea group of strand coils grippingly trained thereon, grinder head means equipped'with a pair of opposed abrasive tapes that are respectively fed into localized cutting zone engagement with a reel oncoming strand portion as a tape inter-posedwork piece, and complementary elongated backing jaws carried by the head means and serving to thrust said tapes toward their respective-cutting,zones, a longitudinal face region of one such jaw being kept substantially flat in profile and its mated remaining face region provided with an arcuate protuberance projecting inwardly toward the jaw whereby to extend the eifective-cutting contact-area of the tape grit.

14. A strand processing machine comprising a driven tractor reel adapted to have a plurality of strand coils spirally laid thereon,-means serving to bodily shift such coils laterally after being laid, and cutting tool means serving to reduce the dianietrical size of a reel oncoming strand portion, said means including a pair of reversely faced abrasive tapes having said oncoming strand portion operatively interposed therebetween and of which one such tapeis linear-1y advariced toward and partially Wrapped perimetrically about such strand portion to constitute a concaved cutting zone.

15. A strand processing machine 'comprisingin combination a driven tractor reel whose rim element affords a cylindrical face of which the major portion is embraced by a closely wound group of laterally flexible strand coils including a last laid reel oncomingcoil that are trained lielically in singlelayerformation into immediate contact with said face and which group of coils constitute'a length component of a strand loop serving as an endless work piece, tool means disposed to diametrically reduce the work piece size, and stationary stator means mounted alongside one rim end region and equipped with a series of automatic carnming means angularly disposed in arcuate .order about the reel axis and respectively including a thrust roller whose axis is located outwardly beyond the lateral confines of the lastglaid coil, the several roller perimeters being simultaneously maintained intoimmediate contact with said lastlaid coilserving as a laterally shiftable-track agency that .is roller wiped topositively and collectively propel 17 the entire group of coils axially toward the other rim end.

16. A strand processing machine comprising in combination a unidirectionally driven tractor reel including a cylindrical rim element having one end region that provides for a perimetric face adapted to be helically embraced by a closely wound group of laterally flexible strand coils crimpingly trained under linear tension into immediate contact with said face and which coils constitute a strand length component serving as a work piece of which a portion is tangentially dragged to contiguously lay on said face a last oncoming reel coil that affords an initial point of tangency, tool means disposed to diametrically reduce the work piece size, and ring shaped stationary stator means having a bore approximately equal to the rim face diameter mounted in substantial coaxial relation and equipped with automatic camming means including a series of rollers of which their respective perimeters travel without substantial slip at linear strand velocity in maintained immediate lengthwise wiping contact with said last laid coil as a laterally shiftable track agency, the first of said roller series starting in the vicinity of such point of tangency with the remaining rollers angularly spaced therefrom in the direction of reel rotation and which rollers are stepped gradationally away from the aforesaid one rim end whereby during each reel revolution to positively advance the entire length of said last laid coil laterally toward the opposite rim end to an approximately equal distance.

17. A strand processing machine comprising in combination a unidirectionally driven tractor reel having a cylindrical rim element adapted to be embraced by a group of laterally flexible strand coils including a last laid reel oncoming coil that are trained onto the rim helically under initial linear tension in substantially single layer formation and which group of coils constitute a strand length component that serves as a work piece, tool means disposed to diametrically reduce the work piece size, ledge means sunk axially crosswise of the rim length to substantially relieve coil tension and underlying said group of coils between the ends thereof, and automatic camming means including a roller cooperating with said last laid coil to positively impart a progressive transfer movement to the aforesaid group of coils and thereby shift each coil successively over and beyond the ledge means.

18, A strand processing machine comprising in combination a driven tractor reel having a smoothly faced cylindrical rim element adapted to be contiguously embraced by a group of reelable strand coils trained helically about the rim face and which group of coils constitute a length component of a strand loop serving as an endless work piece that is linearly advanced in consecutive passes at a relatively fast rate of travel, grinder head means provided with a pair of comparatively coarse grit abrasive tapes having the work piece operatively interposed therebetween and which tapes are slowly fed crosswise of the work piece to substantially expend the tape grit by gradual loading in passing through their respective grinding zones, the finished work piece surfacing treatment as measured in microinches being thereby brought to a materially finer state than the cutting depth imparted by the zone approaching tape grit, and reel associated means serving to laterally shift said group of coils in the direction of the reel axis in unison with the reel rotation.

19. A strand grinder machine provided with a driven tractor reel having a layer of strand coils trained thereon, rotatable cutting tool means serving to reduce the gauge size of' a reel oncoming strand component, said means comprising a pair of duplex abrasive tapes that are alignedly superimposed in substantial edgewise registry, and feed means independently advancing said tapes linearly in unison with the driven reel into straddling relationship about the profile of such strand component with their respective grit faces reversely crimped to constitute diametrically opposed concaved dual cutting zones that each partially embrace said profile whereby to spread the combined effective perimetric expanse of such zones.

LOUIS ILLMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,744,779 Massingham Jan. 28, 1930 1,847,161 Alden Mar. 1, 1932 2,105,637 Davis Jan. 18, 1938 2,343,460 Illmer et al. Mar. 7, 1944 2,365,640 Illmer et al Dec. 19, 1944 2,424,465 Illmer July 22, 1947

Claims (1)

1. A STRAND PROCESSING MACHINE COMPRISING A DRIVEN TRACTOR REEL INCLUDING A TRULY CYLINDRICAL RIM ADAPTED TO HAVE A GROUP OF STRAND COILS CONTIGUOUSLY TRAINED THEREON HELICALLY AT ONE RIM END REGION IN SINGLE LAYER FORMATION AND WHICH COILS CONSTITUTE A LENGTH PORTION OF AN ENDLESS WORK PIECE BATCH THAT IS UNIDIRECTIONALLY ADVANCED IN SUCCESSIVE PASSES, TUBULAR CUTTING TOOL MEANS HAVING A LENGTH PORTION OF SUCH WORK PIECE THREADED THROUGH SAID MEANS IN A TRAVEL COURSE DIRECTED TOWARD AND INTO IMMEDIATE CONTACT WITH SAID RIM, STATIONATY STATOR MEANS INCLUDING A SUSTAINED THRUST ROLLER WHOSE AXIS IS RADIALLY DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO THE REEL AXIS AND THE PERIMETER OF WHICH ROLLER IS BROUGHT INTO IMMEDIATE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LAST LAID RIM COIL AS A RETRACTIBLE RAIL AGENCY WHEREBY TO POSITIVELY AND AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT SAID GROUP OF COILS LATERALLY TOWARD THE OTHER RIM END REGION, AND SUPPLEMENTARY STRAND REDIRECTING MEANS SERVING TO CARRY THE OFFCOMING FIRST UNWRAPPED RIM COIL ALONG A TRAVEL COURSE THAT RETURNS SAID ENDLESS WORK PIECE THROUGH THE CUTTING TOOL MEANS.

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