US2638143A - Roller leveler - Google Patents

Description

F. K. MAUST ROLLER LEVELER May 12, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 28 1949 Patented May 12, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROLLER LEVELER Frederick K. Maust, Queens Village, N. Y. Application July 28, 1949, Serial No. 107,157

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to roller levelers for attening and straightening sheet and strip material. More especially, it relates to a method of, and apparatus for attening and straightening vwork-material in roller levelers of the so-called double tilt type as covered by my U. S. Patent No. 2,132,426, issued October l1, 1938.

A double tilt roller leveler consists primarily of an upper and a lower row of straightening rolls positioned in staggered relation one with respect to the other and constructed in such a way as to subject the work-material passing between the rows of straightening rolls first to transverse waves or corrugations of gradually increasing magnitude on the entry side of the machine, then `to waves of maximum `magnitude between the centrally located straightening rolls, and finally to waves of gradually decreasing magnitude or amplitude on the exit side for flattening out the material.

To obtain effective leveling action, straightening rolls of comparatively small diameter must be employed which are supported between their -ends by means of supporting rolls or back-up rolls. `The levelers now in use have the straightening roll groups and their associated supporting rolls at the entry and exit side, respectively, mounted on bridge-type wings `which are tiltable as complete units into the desired angular tilting positions. Each wing is tilted around a fulcrum represented by one of the straightening rolls `mounted on the wing which requires extreme` accuracy in manufacture to obtain the necessary precise alignment and makes maintenance difficult and expensive, because the complete bank of straightening rolls and their back-up rolls must be removed for any work to be done lon either wing.

One object of the present invention is to subdivide the straightening r'olls and supporting rolls of one of the two roll banks into groups, to pivotally mount the end supports carrying the entry 'and exit straightening roll groups, and to similarly divide their associated supporting rollsV and `mount them in independently adjustable yokes, but employing a common fulcrum for the end `supports and yokes of each group.

' lAnother object is to provide means for displacing said end supports of one group of straightening rolls and the yokes of their associated supporting rolls simultaneously around their common fulcrum by moving the centrally located straightening rolls and their supporting -rolls into working position, While at all times `maintaining all supporting rollsAin contact with ftheir straightening rolls. i H

vtheir drive ends |56, spindles, gear box, speed re- A still further object is to provide simple but eilicient wedge means for accomplishing the double tilt of the straightening rolls and to thereby decrease the over-all height of the machine.

Another object is to provide means for individually aligning each of said end supports and each `out in the specification and especially in the claims to follow, I attain by means of my invention disclosed in the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a left hand front view of the leveler shown in Fig. 2, partly in section, wherein the lowercentral supporting roll bank is shown in section along line Ia la Fig. 2, and the lower right hand supporting roll bank is shown tion along line lb |b Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a side view of a roller leveler, partly in secvbroken away for clearness with top and bottom straightening and supporting rolls in neutral, parallel positions;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top view to illustrate the wedge-deflecting mechanism for th'e upper straightening or work-rolls;

Fig. `4 is a somewhat diagrammatic side view showing the workerolls and backing rolls in double tilt position;

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional View along line 5 5 `Fig. 2, depicting part of one work-roll end support and its manner of pivoting.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top View of the height adjusting mechanism in the direction of arrows Fig. 7 shows a top View of a supporting roll yoke Fig. 8 is a section along line 8 8 Fig. 4. Referring to Figs. l `and 2, the leveler comprises i a lower base l l and an upper frame l2 connected by two tie-rods i3 on the operating side, and two 'tie-rods I4 on the drive end. The generallyrec- 5o tangular base l l carries at each corner roll housings which have received the numerals I5 on the operating end and it on the drive end.`

The' upper and lower rows of straightening rolls are usually separately and individually driven by means of universal couplings securedto ducer, and a hydraulic or electric prime mover (not shown) as is well known in the art.

Double tilt The lower row of straightening rolls is shown divided into three distinct groups. Straightening rolls Il and i8 form the middle or central group; straightening rolls lil, 2d, 2E at one end of the row of straiglfiteninfT rolls form the left-hand wing group? straightening rolls i122, 23, 2d at the other end of said row of straightening rolls form the right-hand wing group as best seen in Figs. .2 and 4.

All straightening rolls extend the iull length between front roll housings i5 and rear roll housings I8 and are mounted in identical bearing brackets or end supports at front and rear. The central straightening rolls El and i8 are `iournaled in front bearing bracket and in an videntical bearing bracket located between the rear roll housings i 5. lIhese bearing brackets or end supports 25 are provided with laterally extending cradle supports and 2l' ior supporting left and right hand tltable wings or bearing brackets 2d and 29 which rotatably carry .the respective roll groups it, 2t, 2i and 22, Z3, 24 at their ends. Cradle supports 2t and 2l possess curvilinear supporting surfaces 3b and 3l for slidingly carrying respective wing supports or wing bearing brackets 23 and 29 having matching surfaces 32 and 33. Shai'ts Sil and 35 extend longitudinally between roll housings l5, i6 on the .left and right .hand sides of the leveler (Fig. 2)

'and may be journaled in eccentric bushings 36 and 31, respectively. These eccentric bushings may be turned in housings l5 and It in order to change the vertical and lateral locations of shafts '314 and 35 for aligning purposes. Pins 3'8 may serve to locate bushings 35 and 3l in their adjusted positions.

The straightening rolls wings 2'3 and 29 guided in suitable recesses of housings 'i5 and iii and are oscillatably mounted on respective fulcrum shafts '32 and .35 in bushings '36 and 3l, respectively, as shown for .the right hand wing 29 in Fig. 5. The shaft 3d represents the fulcrurn for the left hand wings 23 and shaft 35 the fulcrum .for the right hand wings 2t. These iulcrufms 34 and 35 'are situated outside their respective groups of straightening rolls carried in wings 28 and 29.

Horizontal thrust loads on wings 2s and 29 normal to the axes of the straightening :rolls are also absorbed by vertical curvilinear .sliding surfaces 39 and Lit which are in contact with the a, .substantially straight, vertical sides il of central bearing blocks 25. in addition, the lower' curvilinear surfaces 32 and Si of wings 28 and '29 may be provided with tongues t2 which extend into rmatching grooves i3 of central bearing cradle v.in `a .similar Way as above described in connection with their associated straightening rolls.

The supporting rolls are preferably, `but 4 However, each of these supporting roll banks is actuated independently of the lower straightening roll bearing brackets. Furthermore, the left and right hand supporting roll yokes M and carry three supporting rolls each, namely, ISI, |62, |63 and 64, IE5, H56, respectively, and the middle supporting roll bearing brackets or end supports designated as dii carry also three supporting rolls 61, l, 69, in contrast to their associated central straightening roll end supports 25 which only carry two straightening rolls. `It will be evident that for the proper vertical and ylateral support or the straightening rolls, one more supporting roll will be required in each bank than the number of straightening rolls to `be supported. With the exception of one more back-up roll carried by the central section, the

construction of the wing and central bearing elements of the supporting roll bank is analogous to `.that of their associated straightening rolls.

As best seen in Figs. 4 and i', the backmup roll groups 1.6i, 52, .1.63 and its, itt, ist are journaled .in respective wing assemblies it and 5 which eachconsist of two bearing blocks #ll and v4B pivoted in eccentric bushings it and 50, respectively, around one of the pivot or fulcrum shafts 34 or 35 in a similar manner as the corresponding straightening roll wings 28 and 2.9. A traverse with a curvilinear supporting surface 5I extends between bearing blocks il and 8 for tying the latter together into a wing assembly. A vertical curvilinear sliding surface 52 is provided yoneach of the bearing blocks il and d2 for contacting the .straight vsides 53 or the central supporting roll bearing bracket it which also has curvilinear .cradle supports 545 and for .supporting the left and right hand support- .ing roll wing assemblies [it and i5 on the matching surfaces 5I of the traverse, analogous to the construction Apreviously described in connection with .the straightening roll wings 28 and 29. Traverse '5I andcradle supports et and 55 have tongues 56 and grooves El, respectively, for lateral positioning (Eig. 8).

.It should be noted that the arcuate surfaces '39 and 0 of the straightening roll wings 28 and .29, .and the corresponding surfaces 5.2 or the .supporting roll wing assemblies or `yokes lili and 45 have the ylongitudinal axes of respective fulcrum .shafts '34 and 35 as `their centers. The lower arcuate surfaces 32 and 3s of the straightening roll wings and the corresponding arcuate surfaces "5I of the .supporting roll yokes lli and d5 have the longitudinal axis of .respective straightening .rolls 2l and 24 as their centers.

Hence, when .the central bearing brackets A25 of the straightening rolls and the central bearing brackets 4S of the back-up rolls are equally raised or lowered, the lower straightening roll wings .28, 29 and their associated back-up vroll yokes 44, 45 will be moved in unison around their respective fulcrum shafts 3e and 35. In other Words, when raising these central bearing brackets :25 `and 46 from their neutral or original positions shown in Fig. 2, where all straightening rolls and back-up rolls lie in parallel horizontal planes, to the double tilted position shown in Fig. 4, their straightening rolls i1 and i8 and associated back-up rolls i E58, i S9 will be lifted together. Simultaneously, the pivoted wings 28 and .2t with respective straightening roll groups I9, 2li, .2l and 22, 23, 2t will be tilted or oscillated around fulcrum shafts 313 and 35, respectively, in .such a way that straightening rolls 2E and 24 adjacent the middle group will be lifted as much `as this middle group n, ls; consequently, the vfour straightening rolls 2|, I8, Il, and 24 will subject the work-material passed between the upper and lower rows of straightening rolls to roll passes of maximum amplitude at an elevated level or straightening plane, whereas the angles of tilt or inclination formed by the straightening rolls I9, and 22, 23 may be identical and the apices of their angles of inclination will be directed toward the middle group. Thus the entry roll I9 will receive the work-material at a neutral or original level and said work-material will be gradually lifted to the higher straightening level of central rolls I8, II when passing over straightening rolls 2|] and 2|; the reverse will be true on the exit side, where the straightening level will be gradually dropped again to neutral, while the work-material passes rolls 24, 23, 22. The supporting roll groups |54, |65, |56of the right wing and IGI, |52, |63 of the left wing will be simultaneously similarly tilted as their associated straightening rolls and hence will follow .these straightening rolls and remain in supporting contact with them regardless of the magnitude of the angle of tilt, Fig. 4.

This simple and compact construction, which permits alignment and adjustment of each one of the several bearing brackets and wings, reduces the difficulties encountered with former leveling machines if it does not eliminate the same entirely.

The central bearing brackets and 45 may be vertically adjusted or displaced with respect to said stationary fulcrums` 34, by any suitable means. The well-known screw-adjustment may be employed or, as shown in the drawings, the lifting of the central groups of lower straightening and back-up rolls and the tilting of wings 28, 29 and yokes 44, 45 into double tilted positions may be accomplished by means of wedges which has the advantage of space conservation and rigidity.

Lower sloping surfaces on straightening and supporting roll brackets 25 and 46 are in contact with respective wedges 59 and 69, which rest on base plates EI fast to bed 62 of base I I. Pilot pingI 63 threaded into bases (il may extend through suitable openings 64 of wedges 59 and into matching cylindrical bores 65 of bearing blocks 25 and 46 to keep the adjusting elements in alignment. A screw 65 is threaded into each one of the wedges 59 and 6|! (Fig. 2). Screws G6 are rotatably held in brackets 6'! and actuated by means of bevel gears .58 fast to screws 66 and meshing bevel gears 59 fast to control shaft 'l0 which may be rotated by means of a handwheel on the front or operating side of the leveler. Control shaft 'I9 is shown to be journaled in bearings 12, 13, and 14. The central front straightening roll bearing bracket 25 carries a `scale 15 for indicating the degree of tilt. It rotatably supports indicator hand 'i6 actuated by a pin 'I1 fast to wedge 59, Fig. 2.

While two continuous longitudinal fulcrum shafts 34 and 35 have been shown for the suspension of all straightening roll wings and supporting roll yokes, it is evident that a plurality of short pivot bearings may be employed instead, maintaining however all pivots in the same longitudinal axes of the present fulcrum shafts 34 and 35, respectively. Thus said wings and yokes i zontal displacement of wedges 59 and 60, and hence, in vertically moving the centrally located straightening and supporting roll groups, and in simultaneously oscillating the entry and exit straightening and back-up roll groups around their respective fulcrums 34 and 35 into any desired double tilted positions.

Dejectz'on of upper straightening rolls To correct the mill-shape of the work-material, certain portions thereof must be subjected to preferential stretching. This is accomplished by deflecting the straightening rolls into a convex, concave or other shape which results in deeper transverse wave formations in the workmaterial along those portions which need stretching. The deflection of the straightening rolls is effected by moving their associated supporting rolls towards or away from the straightening rolls. It will be realized that it is highly desirable to so mount the straightening roll ends as well as the supporting rolls that their bearings are evenly loaded, in other words, that corner pressures are avoided when the straightening rolls are being deflected.

In the roller leveler shown., the upper bank of straightening rolls, characterized by the numeral '18, are deflectable. Their ends are journaled in bearing blocks 'I9 whose arcuate surfaces B0 are in contact with support saddles 8| secured to, or forming part of, the upper frame structure I2. Pivot arms 82 and 83 extend from upper frame l2 at each end of bearing blocks 19. Pins 94 are threaded into said pivot arms centrally to the straightening roll journals and extend into suitable bores S5 of straightening roll bearing blocks T9. Lock-nuts 85 are provided to keep pins 84 in position. The arcuate surfaces 89 have said pins 94 as centers and the solidly supported straightening roll bearing blocks may therefore oscillate around pivot pins 84 whenever the straightening rolls are deflected.

Three banks or units of short back-up rolls 81, 98, 99 reinforce the upper straightening rolls 18. The three units are substantially alike and oonsist in supporting rolls 90 journaled in side bearing blocks 9| and 92 fast to a center element 93 which is provided with an arcuate surface 94 in contact with a similar surface on pivot saddle whose upper sloping surface rests against wedge element 95. The latter is guided by pilot pins 91 whichare threaded into a base plate 98 bolted as at 99 or otherwise secured to upper frame I2. Saddle 95 has respective brackets or pivot arms I 0l) and IUI at each of its ends. Pivot pins or pivot `elements |92 are threaded into said brackets and secured by lock-nuts |03. Pivot pins |02 extend into bores of cross-bridges |94 which span the ends of bearing blocks 9| and 52 and are bolted or otherwise secured thereto. Arcuate surfaces 94 have pins |92 as their centers. A number of springs |95 with studs |95 threaded into base plates 93 are adjustable by means of nuts lill and hold the several elements of each supporting rollunit together. The cradle supp-ort formed by bearing blocks 9|, 92, center element 93, and cross-bridges |94 is thus rockably mounted and supporting rolls 99 of each bank may follow closely the straightening roll deection oontour.

- Supporting roll units $7, 83, 99 may be moved towards or away fromtheir straightening rolls 'I8 to deflect the latter by the horizontal Inovement of `wedges 95 effected by means of control bar |98 and handle |09. Each back-up roll unitl has a yseparate operating .connection with ,said control bar Ilia .comprising a lever I-III pimcon nected to control bar IGI! as at I II `and seouredto vertical shaft III! which is rotatably mounted in bracket I I3 fast to the upper frame I2. The sha-:lt y'I |32 also carries a second control lever IIA which is normally operatively secured to shaft I2 by removable pin .I IE extending through the hub of lever H4 into shaft SI2. The end of lever IIII is pin-connected to wedge 96 as at 58. A handle I I I3 forms part of lever `I III and after removal oi pin |15, each wedge il@ may be individually adjusted by said handle I'Ii independent of cont-rol bar |58.

Ordinarily it-is desirable to deiiect the straightening lrolls I8 into either convex or concave con tours. In other words, 'the centrallylocated supporting rollunit ist is moved a greater distance towards or away from the straightening rolls 'IS than the outside supporting units Il? and 89. This may be accomplished in various ways. The slopes of wedges 9d differ, for instance, while the effective lengths of slotted operating levers I4 may be identical for all three supporting roll units; or the slopes of wedges I2@ may beheld constant and the effective'lengths of operating levers Ilma-y differ.

Any other desired ldeflection contour may be produced, however, by removing one or all of the pins and by adjusting the position of one or f all of the wedges 95 of each supporting roll unit individually, employing handles I I6. While three supporting roll units have been shown for the upper and lower straightening rolls for the purpose of illustration, it is understood that any desired number of supporting roll banks may be employed. Reference is made in this connection to my U. S. Patent No. 2,691,789 of August 31, 1937.

The deiiection arrangement shown has the advantages of low head-room requirements, rigidity, balanced bearing loads, possibility of quickly adjusting convex and concave deflection contours by the simultaneous movement of all supporting roll sections 3l', til, 3S by means of handle |09 supporting roll unit may be removed as a whole from the machine, because springs M5 and studs IIl hold the several parts of the unit in assembled position.

H eightadiustment For cleaning and maintenance purposes it is of great practical importance to be able to raise the upper straightening rolls as far away from the lower straightening rolls as possible. In the past, this has been accomplished by increasing the over-all height of the machine to create the necessary room for the desired lift. In addition to high and expensive housings and screw-down connections, the longitudinal inclination of the upper straightening rolls for stretching one marsin of the work-material has also been very restricted. These shortcomings are eliminated in the construction shown in the drawings.

The four tie-rods I3, I3 and III, Ill may be screw-threaded at both ends. Their upper ends may support the frame I2 in any suitable manner, such as between threaded nuts Ill and IIB and self-aligning thrustbearings III? and |20. Bushings |2| in housings I5 and I6 guide the tierods which extend through threaded sleeves |22 East 'to base II. Cross-'brackets .|23 yand |24 base Il extend between and fol-low the vertical movements of tie-rods Id at the drive endand tie-rods I-at the front of the machine, .respectively. Therefore, tie-rods M, I4 and I3., I3 are rotatably supported in bearings |25 and |26 `of brackets |23 and IM, respectively, which rest on threaded nuts |21 and |23 at the lower ends of tie-rods Ill and I3, respectively and serve to maintain tie-rods and cross-brackets in their relative positions.

Height adjustment shafts |25 and |38 extend longitudinally to the leveler andare iournaled in several bearings, such as indicated at ISI ,'I32, |33, Itri of brackets |23 and |24. It will be seen that bearing |35 of bracket `I2!! is free to move vertically in window I5? of base I I. At the drive-'end of the machine, shafts |2t, I3@ carry worms |35 in mesh with Wo1'mwheels i3d which are fast to tie-rods It. At the front end, Worms i3? ,are vsecured to sleeves |38 which are free to rotate on shafts i222 and ISI? and carry one-hair" of jawclutches .39 (Figs, land 6). Worms IB'I are in mesh with worm-wheels I 48 secured to tie-rods |53. The other halves Idil of the jaw-clutches are'slidi-ngiy keyed to shafts and I3@ and are'movable into and out of engagement with elements IlII by means of forked levers IIII pivoted .in bracket i215 at I @2 and pin-connected to a cross-bar M3 which extends between levers Ill'I. Cross-bar |133 .is pivotally connected at its approximate center to lever IMI. A control lever |515 is pivotally mountedon bracket Id fast to crossbracket .Iii and is pin-connected to lever IM, as at Ici. Chain sprockets |49 and Iii. vmay be keyed to shafts I2ii and |36, respectively, and interconnected by chain ISI vto rotate said shafts in unison. A gear motor |152 for driving shaft Iii@ may be fianged to motor bracket |53 which is secured to or forms a part of cross-bracket |24 and is `ree to move vertically in window 'E56 of base I I. Universal joints or flexible couplings IIi5may be interposed in shafts |29 and It@ (Fig. l) to provide flexibility.

When hand lever |45 is in the position shown in Fig. l, the jaw-clutch halves E39 and |40 are separated and worms I 3l and their meshing worm-wheels i138 on tie-rods I3 Will remain stationary when shafts |25? and It@ are rotated by means of gear motor i552. When the jaw-clutches ISS-I4!! are brought into engagement by moving lever |45 to the right as viewer in Fig. l, all four tie-rods I4, It, I3, I3 will be rotated in unison, and the upper frame structure I2 with the upper straightening and Vsupporting rolls will be raised or lowered uniformly, depending on the direction of rotation of gear motor 52. In the first example, with jaw-clutch halves I39I il!) separated, the drive end of the upper frame I2 may be adjusted in the desired vertical direction, while the front end of the upper frame will remain stationary. Thus the upper straighteninT rolls may be longitudinally inclined with respect to the lower straightening rolls for stretching short margins of the work-material.

It will be noted that the height adjustment described not only employs the tie-rods I3, I3, I4, I4 directly for the vertical adjustment of the upper frame I2, permits longitudinal inclination of the straightening rolls by means of a simple clutch arrangement, lutilizes a single motor for raising the straightening rolls uniformly or for-longi tudinally inclining the straightening rolls, but utilises the available space in the bed of the machine ior providing a lift of considerable magnileveler.

Operation yof ZeveZer The lower straightening rolls and their associated supporting rolls are raised from their neutralpositions shown in Fig. 2 into any desired double tilted position by rotating handwheel 1I. If the work-material requires correction, the upperA straightening rolls lil are deflected into the necessary contour by manipulating control bar |08 or by individually adjusting each of the upper support roll units by means of handles I I6 after rst removing pins IIE, or by a combination of these methods. straightening rolls 'I8 isregulated in height for obtaining roll passes of the desired magnitudes by means of gear motor I52, either uniformly by rotating all four tie-rods or spindles I3, I4 with jaw-clutch It-|40 in engagement, or longitudinally inclined by disengaging clutch I39-I40 and thus keeping the front spindles I3, I3 stationary. This adjustment will depend on the effect to be produced on the work-material. Because the tilt orangle of inclination of the outer roll groups at the end of the lower straightening roll row may be identical, the same effect will be obtainedA whether the work-material is passed through the leveler from left to right or vice-versa.

When the operating direction is from left to right as viewed in Fig, 4, the entering work-material will be received at a neutral level and subjected 'to wave formations of gradually increasing amplitude, while the level of the straightening path is also gradually raised until the work-ma terial reaches lower straightening roll 2|. Then maximum wave depth and maximum straightening level are reached and maintained until the work-material has passed lower straightening roll 2li. The subsequent rolls 23, 22 will then impart waves of decreasing amplitude and iinally deliver the workmaterial in at condition, while simultaneously therewith, the level of the straightening path isalso gradually returned to its original neutral level.

While in the embodiment of my invention as disclosed, three straightening rolls have been shown as comprising each one of the tiltable roll groups at each end of the lower row of straightening rolls, and two straightening rolls as comprising the central or middle group, any desired number of straightening rolls may be employed foreach of said groups. For frequent reversing service, the symmetrical arrangement is preferred as shown, but for uni-directional straightening as is encountered, for instance,` in straightening coils, it may be desirable to have fewer straightening rolls in the pivotable wing sections at the entry side than at the exit side.

The principle of employing supporting and straightening roll wings pivoted at one of their ends and vertically displaceable at the opposite ends may be applied .to any of the supporting roll arrangements known in the art. Various other changes and modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.v I desire, therefore, thatonly such limitations shallbe placed upon my inven- The upper bank or row of tion as` are speciically set forth in the appended entry Iside and on the delivery side of the leveler,

end supports to carry the remaining centrallyV located straightening rolls of said row, a common fulcrum for the wings on the entry side and another common fulcrum for the wings on the delivery side, means for pivotally connecting said wings to said end supports, means for vertically displacing said end supports of said centrally 1ocated straightening rolls for thus tilting said wings on the entry and delivery side around their respective fulcrums in such` a manner that theapices of the'angles of tilt of the respective wings on the entry and exit side are directed toward said centrally located straightening rolls.

2; In a roller leveler, Jtwo rows of cooperating wings of said groups around their respective fulcrums without interrupting the passage of the work-material through said roller leveler.

3. In a roller leveler having two rows of cooperating straightening rolls and tiltable wings for rotatably sustaining groupsof rolls at each end of one of said rows, end supports for sustaini ing the `central roll group located between said end groups, means for pivotally connecting said wings to said end supports, a fulcrum for each of said wings, said fulcrum being located outside thegroups of rolls carried by said wings, a cradle support for each' or" said wings, and means for vertically displacing said cradle supports and said end supports and for thus angularly displacing said wings around their respective fulcrums fo tilting said wings.

d.` In a roller leveler, a row of straightening rolls comprising a group of rolls at each end of said row and another group located centrally therebetween, tiltable wing supports for rotatably mounting each of said end groups of rolls, a

lcommon fulcrum for the wing supports of each end group, movable end supports for rotatably, sustaining said central group of rolls, means forl pivotally connecting said end supports to said` wingl supports, and actuating meansfor vertically displacing said end supports of said central group with respect to the fulcrums of said end groups and for tilting said wing supports of said i end groups with respect to said central group.

5. In a roller leveler, a row of straightening rolls comprising a rst group of rolls at one end of said row, a second group of rolls at the other end of said row, and a third group of rolls located therebetween, in combination with a plul rality of banks of supporting rolls located along eachof said' groups of straightening rolls; wing supports for rotatably sustaining said first and second groups of straightening rolls, verticallyl displaceable end supports for rotatably sustaini ing said third group of straightening rolls, means for pivotally connecting said wing supports to said end supports; yokes for mounting the supporting roll banks associated with said rst and second group of straightening rolls, vertically displaceable bearing brackets for mounting the supporting roll banks associated with .said third rolls in supporting contact with their respective.

associated straightening rolls.

6. In a roller leveler, rows of. straightening rolls including groups of. straightening rolls at each end of one of said rows and a central group of straightening rolls located between said end groups, means for pivotally connecting said end groups of straightening rolls to said. central group of straightening rolls, means for tiltingeach of said end groups around a respective common fulcrum, said fulcrurns being situated outside the longitudinal ases of the straightening rolls of the respective end groups.

i 7... In a roller leveler, rows of cooperating straightening rolls including groups of straighteningv rolls at each end. of one of said rows, a central. group of straightening rolls located between said end groups, bearing brackets for rotatably sustaining each of said end group of rolls ontheir ends, end supports for rotatably sustaining. said centralY group of straightening rolls,` a common ulcrum for the bearing brackets of each oi. said end groups, means for pivotally connecting. said bearing. brackets to said end supports, and wedge means for oscillating said bearing brackets of. each. end group around its respective fulcrum to produce gradually increasing transverse waves in the work-material on the entry side and gradually decreasingtransverse waves on the exit side.,

8, In a roller leveler, rows of straightening rolls and supporting rolls including a group of straightening rolls and associated supporting rolls at. each endof one of said rows, tiltable wings for sustaining said groups of straightening rolls, tiltable yokes for sustaining their associated supporting rolls, a. comm-on tilting iulcrum for said tiltable wings and said tiltable yokes of` each.

group, eccentric. aligning means for each one of said tiltable wings and yokes to regulate the respective positions of their straightening rolls and their associated supporting. rolls with respect to one another, adjustable wedge meansfor each of said wings, adjustable wedge means for each oi said yokes, and common adjusting means for all said adjustablev wedge means to tilt said Wings and said yokes. in unison aroundv their respective fulcrums.

9. In a roller leveler, in combination, a row of upper and a row of lower straightening rolls mounted in staggered relation, said row of lower straightening rolls being divided into three groups, the rst group comprising straightening rolls located at one end of said row, the second group comprising straightening rolls located at the other end of said row, and the third group comprising straightening rolls located centrally ybetween saidv rst and said second groups; banks of supporting rolls for said three groups of straightening rolls; pivotable bearing brackets for mounting said first and said second groupof straightening rolls and their associated banks of supporting rolls, vertically displaceabl-e Supports for mounting the third group of straightening rolls and their associated banks of supporting rolls, means for pivotally connecting said bearing bracketsto said vertically displaceable supports, wedgefi'neansA for vertically displacing said supports and for simultaneously inclining said first and' said second group with respect to said third group. without interrupting the passage of the work-material.

10. In a roller leveler, in combination, any upper frame carrying an upper row of straightening rolls, a lower base carrying a lower row'of cooperating straighteningy rolls; said row` of lower straightening rolls being divided' into three groups, the rst group comprising straightening rolls located at one end of said row, the second group comprising straightening rolls located at the other end of said row, and the third group-comprising straightening rolls located centrally between said first and said second groups; banks of back-up.`

rolls for each of saidthree groups of straightening rolls; pivotable ibearing brackets for mounting said first and said s-econd group of straightening rolls andtheir associated'banlrs of back-up rolls, vertically disp-laceable supports .for mount'- ing the third group of straightening rolls. and their associated banks of back-uprolls, means. for pivotally connecting said bearing brackets to A said displaceable supports to maintainoperatve relationship between said three groups of rolls', wedge elements for displacing said supports for thus simultaneously inclining said rst and said second group of rolls with respect to said. third group without interrupting the passage of the work-material.

1l. In a roller leveler having a rst and a second row of cooperating straighteningV rolls between which the work-material is to pass, tiltable wings for carrying the end rolls on the entry.

side and. on the` delivery side of the irst row, endy supports for mounting the remaining centrally located straightening rolls of said first row', means' for pivotally connecting said wings to saidl end:

supports to maintain operative relationship between all. rolls of said firstv row, adiusting means for displacing said end supports vertically to tilt said wings and to simultaneously change the opening between. said rst and second rowsy of straightening rolls.

FREDERICK K. MAUST.

llteferencesv Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS.

Number Name Date 299,615 Borchardt June 3', 1884 537,652 Smith Apr.:16., 1895.

1,739,156 Linquist Dec. 10, 1929 2,091,789 Maussnest Aug. 31, 193'? 2,105,240 Flagler Jan. 11, 1.938 2,132,426- Maussnest Oct. 11, 19.38 2,219,163 Maussnest Oct. 22, 1940. 2,275,629y Ingels Mar. 10, 1942 2,476,254 winiock Jury 12, 1.949

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 3,210 Great Britain of 1906 490,908 Great Britain Aug. 23, 1938

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