US2933305A

US2933305A - Apparatus for making flattened elongate metallic bodies with finished edges from powdered metal

Info

Publication number: US2933305A
Application number: US703399A
Authority: US
Inventors: William A Reed; Roger A Holman
Original assignee: Republic Steel Corp
Current assignee: Republic Steel Corp
Priority date: 1957-12-17
Filing date: 1957-12-17
Publication date: 1960-04-19
Anticipated expiration: 1977-04-19

Description

April 19, 1960 2,933,305 APPARATUS FOR MAKING FLATTENED ELONGATE METALLIC BODIES WITH FINISHED EDGES FROM POWDERED METAL Filed Dec. 1'7; 1957 W. A. REED ETAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Tic]. E.

Ill

INVENTORJ "111111,. lI/III/III/I/lll III/IA WILL/AM A. REED BY E0667? 4. HOLMAA/ ATTORNEY April 19, 1960 w. A. REED ETAL 2,933,305

APPARATUS FOR MAKING FLATTENED ELONGATE METALLIC BODIES WITH FINISHED EDGES FROM POWDERED METAL Filed Dec. 17, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ti: E1

!II Z4 p27 2/ i 33 355 f I! [I 33 I IIIHFH I ii 1 W? 4 I l 2 4 57 W I t i 5/ 34 17 25; i 45 i z:

I H g; 9 I 35 I 4 INVENTORS W/LL/AM '4. REED 46 R0651? A. HOLM/M/ ATTORNEY A ril 19, 1960 Flled Dec 17 1957 w. A. REED ET AL 2,933,305 APPARATUS FOR MAKING FLATTENED ELONGATE METALLIC BODIES WITH FINISHED EDGES FROM POWDERED METAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS W/LL/AM A. REED BY RQGE/Q ,4. HOLM/M/ WWW A 770/8/l/E/ A ril 19, 1960 w. A. REED ETAL 2,933,305

OR MAKING F ENED ELONGATE APPARATUS F LAT METALLIC BODIES WITH FINISHED EDGES FROM POWDERED METAL Filed D90 17, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ti. :1 E

m 2 """ll' 3 a, I 6

W/LZ/AM ,4. KEfD 06. 5? A. HOZMA/V United States APPARATUS FOR MAKING FLATTENED ELON- GATE METALLIC BODIES WITH FliNlSifll) EDGES FROM POWDEREI) METAL Application December 17, 1957, Serial No. 79.33%

Claims. (Cl. sea -2.5

The present invention relates to apparatus for making flattened elongate metallic bodies with finished edges from powdered metal. More particularly this invention cornprises apparatus for the rolling of powdered metal directly into strip or sheet form in a'single roll pass with particular provision for forming finished edge portions thereon. This last object is attained by providing a moving surface in contact with the edge portions of the powder being rolled as it passes between the principal rolls.

The prior art has taught the rolling of powdered metal directly into strip or sheet form by the use of rolls arranged on parallel horizontal axes and with the powdered metal supplied thereto from above. When such an apparatus is used, however, and irrespective of whether the principal rolls are cylindrical in form or contoured to some extent, the edge portions of the strip formed thereby are rough, irregular and often cracked with the cracks penetrating toward the center froin the edges. to use such a strip it is necessary that these rough edge portions be cut olf and discarded. While it is possible to rework the metal so out off, this causes a waste of metal or labor or both, which greatly increases the cost of the good portion of the strip formed by these processes. A primary object of the present invention is to avoid this loss and to obviate the necessity for cutting off lateral portions of the strip, so that the strip as formed may be substantially perfect from edge to edge and be useful throughout.

More particularly the present invention comprises the provision of a pair of principal rolls located side by side and with their axes disposed substantially parallel and preferably in a substantially horizontal plane and a pair of moving surfaces cooperating with the powder-engaging surfaces of the principal rolls in defining and bounding the space between such rolls in the plane of the axes thereof, these moving surfaces or edge-engaging surfaces preferably being in the form of edge rolls. It is found in accordance with the present invention that the edge defining surfaces or edge rolls should move with a speed substantially equal to the speed at which the rolled body emerges from between the principal rolls. Thus in a preferred form of the invention in which there are edge rolls, these rolls are operated at a peripheral speed substantially equal to the peripheral speedof the edge portions of the principal rolls.

It is usually preferred that at least one and preferably both the principal rolls be positively driven. When edge rolls are used, as in a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is also practically necessary that they be moved at a peripheral speed substantially as aforesaid. It is also preferred that some drive means either friction drive or positive drive, be provided for the edge rolls.

It has also been found necessary in accordance with the present invention to have the moving powder-engaging surface of each of the lateral boundaries for the powder being rolled, and particularly for the edge rolls, to be substantially the same in width as (and not wider In order atent @r 2,933,305 Patented Apr. 19, 1 960 ice than) the width at the edges of the space between the principal rolls during the actual rolling of powder therebetween. It is thus found that each edge roll should be relieved or be provided with conical surfaces contigous to the powder-engaging surface thereof, the conical surfaces forming a predetermined angle with the powerengaging surface (considered in the plan-e of the axes of the edge rolls and principal rolls); so that any powder which may tend to pass between the edge rolls and principal rolls, laterally of the end of the principal rolls will not be squeezed between substantially parallel surfaces, but may fall freely throughout the apparatus and be collected and suitably disposed of thereafter. This predetermined angle should be from about 25 to and is preferably uniform on both sides of each edge roll.

In addition to this, means are provided for adjustably varying the space between the principal rolls so as adjustably to control the thickness of the strip or sheet being formed. It is also usually desirable and is provided according to the present invention that there be provision for adjustably varying the positions of the axes of the edge rolls with respect to a point midway between the principal rolls, in other words toward and away from the path of the powder. This last adjustment may be effected by the provision of an eccentric bearing member as particularly hereinafter disclosed.

Other and more detailed objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of a detailed disclosure thereof which follows and which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view, principally in elevation and with parts broken away, illustrating a portion of the drive for the principal rolls and illustrating the means for adjustably varying the space therebetween, this figure also showing a means for supplying metal powder in a heated condition to the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detailed view substantially in horizontal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing one of the adjustable mountings for the axis of one of the principal rolls;

Fig. 3 is a view, partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, illustrating the principal rolls and cooperating edge rolls with the drives therefor, the section being taken substantially on the line 3-42 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3a is a fragmentary view similar to a part of 3 showing a positive drive for the edge rolls for use in lieu. of the frictional drive of Fig. 3;

Fig. 4 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing the principal rolls, one of the edge rolls and the chute means for supplying metallic powder thereto;

Fig. 5 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, showing the mounting and certain of the adjustment means for the edge rolls;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the chute means for direpting metallic powder into the space defined by the 1'0 ls;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view principally in horizontal section and with the rolls shown in broken lines, the section being taken on the line 88 of Fig. 6, which is substantially at the level of the plane including the axes of the principal and edge rolls;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view in transverse section on the line 99 of Fig. 5, showing in greater detail the eccentric bearing mounting for the edge rolls; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale similar to a part of Fig. 8 and showing portions of the "illustrated a stationary structure of box-like form including a base 15, side members is and 17, end members 18'and 19 and a top member 25 It will be understood that other forms of stationary structure or mounting means could be used, the one shown being merely one which has in fact been used in an operating apparatus according to the present invention.

Mounted in suitable bearings in the stationary stucture particularly including the

side plates

16 and 17 are a pair or principal rolls" 2.1 and 22. The roll 21 is secured on a shaft 23, which passes through suitable bearings 24 in" the side members 16 and i7 and also through a bearing 25 external of the stationary structure or housing formed by the members -2d inclusive. The details of these bearings 24 and arenot illustrated as "they may be assumed to be conventional in character.

i The roll 22 is secured on a shaft 26, which is in turn journaled in suitable stationary but adjustable bearings 27, Figs. 1, 2 and 3. This'shaft is further journal'ed in a bearing 28 outside the housing formed by stationary members 15-20 and positioned so as to be suitably adjustable to accommodate the adjustments hereinafter set out in detail asto the positions of the bearings 27.

In order that the space between the rolls 2i and 22 may be adjustably controlled, so as to control the thickness of the strip or sheet being rolled, means are provided for adjusting the bearings 27 toward and away from the position of the bearings 24. For this purpose each of the bearings 27 is suitably rigidly but removably received within slide blocks 29 which are mounted for horizontal sliding movement in suitable ways formed in the side members 16 and 317. As shown in Fig. 1, each of the slide blocks 29 is provided with a pair of threaded bores into which extend threaded bolts 30 passing freely through the

members

16 and 17, respectively, and provided with heads 31 hearing against the outside of the end member 19 with or without the interposition of a suitable washer. Thus when the bolts 30 are rotated to thread them further into each slide block 29, the slide blocks will be drawn to the right as seen in Fig. 1. due to the bolts being prevented from movement to the left as seen inthat figure by engagement of the heads 31 thereof (or washers contiguous with the heads) against the outer surface of the end member 19. The adjustment once made is secured and/or movement of the slide biocks 29 to the left as seen in Fig. l is caused, once the bolts 30 are unloosened, by a pressure screw or bolt 352 thread ed in a part of, each side member (as 16 or 17) as shown at 33 inFig. 2 and abutting at its left hand end as seen in Figs. 1 and 2 against the adjacent side of each slide block 29. In this way the adjustment of the, position of the shaft 26 may be made positively within the limits of adjustment provided and suitably secured'against accidental movement as will now be clear to those skilled in the art.

Each slide block 29 is further provided with a shield or front plate 34 suitably secured thereto as by bolts 35 and overlying the marginal portions of each

side wall

16 and 17 respectively surrounding the opening in which each block 29 is adjustably movable. The plates are provided with. a plurality of elongate openings shown at 36 through which extend bolts 37 threaded into the re spective side wall. These bolts provide an additional means for securing each slide block 29 in an adjusted position. It will be understood that when a new adjustment of the position of the shaft 26 is to be made, the bolts 37 must first be loosened. The elongate openings are of such dimensions as to permit of the adjustment provided for the blocks 29.

, While it is contemplated as possible according to the present invention that but one of the principal rolls 21 or iii V a 4 22 need be'driven, it is conventional and is preferred that both be positively driven. For this reason both rolls 21 and '22 are suitably rigidlysecured, for example, by hubs 38 and keys or splines 39, to the

shafts

23 and 26 respectively. The

shafts

25 and 26 are provided with suitable gears 40 and41 respectively, rigidly secured thereto in any manner and meshing with one another Y as shownin Figs. 1 and 3. Power may be supplied for driving the principal rolls in any suitable way (not shown), for example, by suitable gear means meshing with one of the

gears

40 or 41. In general this drive maybe one conventionally used in rolling mills.

-In accordance with the present invention, means are provided for substantially exactly defining the end portions of the space between the principal rolls, so as to form a strip or sheet having finished edge portions which are substantially free from cracks. A considerable number of different types of edge-defining means were experimented with in the course of research resulting in the present invention. It was found, for example, that flange portions on one or both the principal rolls, which might overlap the other of such rolls or abut a portion of the other of such rolls, were not effective to give the desired results. it was further found that stationary abutment means was not satisfactory in securing desired results in this respect. It was found, however, that when a moving surface wasprovided', with the rate of movement substantially equal to the rate at which the metal moved through the space between the principal rolls, or in other words at a speed approximately equal to the peripheral speed of the principal rolls at the edge portions thereof (if different from the center portion), the desired results as to the forming of finished edge portions on the strip being formed were attained; Various means were experimented with for securing this result. It was found,

for example, that sliding panels or plates were effective it was determined that the simplest and most effective type of apparatus which, could carry out this requiredfunction would be edge rolls, mounted on axes parallel with one another and substantially in the same horizontal plane as the axes of the principal rolls and perpendicular to t the axes of the principal rolls. It is contemplated, however, that other types of moving surfaces, in addition to the substantially cylindrical surfaces of edgefrolls, could be effective to accomplish the desired result as to the metal strip being formed, even though they were not as desirable from the point of view of, the mechanical arrangements required to provide the necessary movement as aforesaid. a

In accordance-with the preferred'form of the present invention, there are provided a pair of edge rolls. 42 and 43 which are mounted on

shafts

44 and 45 respectively. The mounting for the edge rolls is best shown as to the roll 43 in Fig. 9, it beingunderstood that both edge rolls may be and preferably are similarly mounted, so that a'description of one will suffice. In this figure the edge roll 43 is shown removably mounted between a pair. ofsubstantially circular disks 46, which are bolted together by bolts 47 so as to embrace theedge roll 43therebetween as shown. The disks and the edge roll 43-are both splined to the center shaft 45 as shown at 48 so that all rotate in unison with this shaft. The arangement is such that if a quite different type of edge. roll is desired, the assembly just described may be completely disassembledand a new edge roll mounted between the disks 46; or alternatively, a complete setincluding an edge roll 43 and a pair of disks 46 may be substituted for the set shown in Fig. 9.

The

shafts

44 and 45 carrying the edge rolls as aforesaid are suitably mounted in a manner particularly hereinafter described in brackets '49. These brackets are stationarymembers extending laterally from the

side walls

16 and 17 and may be integral therewith or otherwise rigidly secured thereto as particularly shown in Fig. 5.

There is shown at 50 in Figs. 3 and some shields or housing parts which are alternatively usable for enclosing the edge rolls 43 when it is desired to prevent access of air to the material being rolled. This would be needed, for example, in the hot rolling of titanium powder and might also be needed in the rolling of other metals, where the hot metal is subject to rapid and sometimes almost instantaneous and spontaneous oxidation by atmospheric air. Under such circumstances, the powder is rolled Within a completely enclosed apparatus or housing which may be kept filled with an inert gas at a slight superatmospheric pressure, so as positively to prevent all contact between the oxygen of the air and the hot metal, which could be rapidly oxidized thereby.

In accordance with the present invention, it is desired that means he provided for adjusting the positions of the axes of the edge rolls toward and away from each other and particularly toward and away from a point midway between the principal rolls 21 and 22. For this purpose each edge roll is preferably adjustably mounted as best shown in Figs. 5 and 9 so that the shaft thereof, for example, the shaft 45 of Fig. 9, is provided with suitable roller or ball bearings as shown to facilitate the rotation of the respective shaft in a stationary and substantially hollow cylindrical bearing member 51, there being one of the members 51 on each side of each edge roll as shown in Fig. 9. Each member 51 is threaded into an eccentric bearing member 52 by threads in the outer surface of each member 51 and in the inner surface of the members 52. The threaded interior surface of the member 52 is located substantially concentrically with the shaft 45 and substantially eccentric of the outer cylindrical surface thereof which is indicated at 53. This outer cylindrical surface 53 is received in a cylindrical aperture in one of the bracket members 49. The eccentric members 52 are secured in position in the bracket members 49 by means of clamps comprising angle brackets 54 and bolts 55 as shown.

The adjustment may be effected as follows: When it is desired to change the position of the axis of either

edge roll

42 or 43, the associated bolts 55 cooperating with the clamps -54 therefor are loosened, so as to permit relative rotation between the eccentric members 52 associated with the roll to be adjusted and the bracket members 49. This relative rotation may be effected by applying' a suitable wrench or other rotating means to the eccentric members 52, radial bores 56 being provided in each eccentric member 52 for this purpose. Once the eccentric member 52 and the members 51 carried respectively thereby have been moved to a desired adjusted position, the adjustment may be secured by retightening the bolts 55, so that the brackets 54 will clamp the eccentric member 52 tightly in the associated brackets 49. It will be understood that the bearing member 51 has a snug fit with respect to the associated eccentric member 52, these members being shown threaded togetherv It is contemplated, however, if desired that a suitable set screw or equivalent means may be used to prevent relative rotation (unscrewing) of the

members

51 and 52. It will also be understood that if it is desired to replace an edge roll, one or both the members 51 may be unscrewed with respect to its associated eccentric members 52 respectively so as to permit of this action. t The bearing members 51 may similarly be provided with a series of radial bores 57 for the receipt of a suitable wrench or equivalent means to effect relative rotation with respect to the associated eccentric member 52.

As stated generally above, it is practically essential in accordance with the present invention that the edge rolls rotate at a peripheral speed substantially equal to the peripheral speed of the principal rolls, or in other words, at a speed substantially equal to the rate at which the metal strip being rolled emerges from between the' principal rolls. Suitable means for driving the edge rolls at this speed are, therefore, provided in accordance with this invention.

The drive for the edge rolls may be positive as shown for example in Fig. 3a or may be frictional as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the latter being the preferred arrangement in accordance with the present invention. If a frictional drive is used, it is preferred that friction drive members 58 be carried rigidly by each of the

edge roll shafts

44 and 45, these friction drive members each having a driving surface which is disposed in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the respective shaft. The friction drive members 58 may cooperate with drive members 59 rigidly carried by the shaft 23, for example. From a broad point of view, any suitable source of driving power may be used for driving the edge rolls including the same source used for driving the principal rolls. It is preferred, however, that the drives be synchronized as to speed, so that in normal operation the edge rolls will be given substantially the same peripheral speed as the principal rolls. However, the speeds need not be exactly matched, but merely be substantially the same in order that the desired results of the present invention be attained.

An additional desirable feature of the friction drive as shown in Fig. 3 is that this drive is effective in all adjusted positions of the edge rolls, the differences in the adjusted positions of the edge rolls merely controlling the radius of the zone where the driving members 59 bear upon the driving surfaces of the members 58. Inasmuch as this will affect only the relative peripheral speeds of the edge rolls with respect to the principal rolls, and as the adjustment will not vary these peripheral speeds to a substantial extent, it is found that the drive means of Fig. 3 is practically effective for all adjusted positions of the edge rolls.

In Fig. 3a beveled gears 60 on shaft 23 and 61 on

roll shafts

44 and 45 are shown in lieu of the frictional driving arrangement of Fig. 3. In this form of the invention, the teeth of the gears 60 and 61 may mesh to a greater or less extent depending upon the adjusted position of each of the edge rolls. Alternatively, arrangements may be made as will now be obvious for adjusting the gears 60 longitudinally of the shaft 23 in any suitable way, so as always to be in proper mesh with the gears 61, which are carried rigidly with the respective edge rolls.

Considering now the edge rolls in their relation to the principal rolls, it is practically necessary that the powderengaging surfaces of the edge rolls shown at 62 in Fig. 10 shall be cylindrical in form and of substantially the same width as the width of the space 63 between the principal rolls at the edges of this space and that the powder-engaging surfaces of the edge rolls shall be substantially tangent to the edges of the principal rolls as shown in Fig. 10.

It has also been found that the edge rolls for best operation should have diameters from about one-half to about one times the diameters of the principal rolls, the arrangements shown in the drawings being that which the diameters of the cylindrical powder-engaging surfaces 62 of the edge rolls are the same as the diameters of the powder-engaging surfaces of the principal rolls 21 and 22.

From a substantial amount of research work in connection with the development of this invention, it has been found that if the width of the surfaces 62 were greater than the width of the space 63 at the edges thereof, there would be a tendency for some powder to get trapped between the overlapping edge portions of the surfaces 62 and the sides of the principal rolls. If on the other hand the surface 62; were of less Width than the space 63 between the principal rolls, it would not be possible to form a substantially perfect edge portion for the strip or sheet being rolled. The relationship, therefore, that the width of the cylindrical surfaces 62 should "tively to prevent any entrapment of any powder between such other portions of the edge rolls and any parts of the principal rolls.

In view of the fact that the edge rolls are of substan tial diameter and as the strips being rolled maybe relatively thin, it is desirable that the edge rolls considered as a whole shall be somewhat thicker than the width of the space 63. For this reason, therefore, the edge rolls are provided with

conical surface portions

64 and 65 contiguous to the cylindrical surface 62 and on each side thereof. In order that there be sufficient relief so that metal powder will not betrapped between the edge rolls and the principal rolls and yet so that the desired strength will be afforded to the edge rolls in support of the powdercontacting surface 62 thereof, the angle shown at 66 be tween each

conical surface

64 and 65 and the plane of one side of each of the principal rolls is also important. It is found in accordance with the present invention that this angle should be from about to about 75 and that it is preferably the same on both sides of each edge roll, so that each edge roll is symmetrical about a median plane perpendicular to the axis thereof. In a preferred form of the invention which is shown in the drawings, this angle 66'should be about Referring nowto Figs. 4 and 5 it will be seen that the edge rolls 42 and 43 are arranged to project through slots 67 formed in the

side members

16 and 17, these slots being sufiiciently large to receive the edge rolls without any frictional contact therebetween at all adjusted positions of the edge rolls.

There is also shown in Figs. 4 and 5, as well as in de tailed Figs. 6 to 8, an arrangement ofchute means for directing metallic powder into the space 63 between the rolls. This chute means is generally indicated at 68 and is preferably secured to the top member 20 of the casing so as to depend therefrom. The chute means as shown comprises a pair of

side plates

69 and 70 between which are a pair of

end plates

71 and 72. The chute means as a whole may be suitably secured, as by screws 73, Fig. 5, to the top member 23 and the parts thereof may be secured together by suitable screws or other fastening means as indicated at 74. The

plates

69 and 70 are each provided with a cut-out portion as shown at 75 through which the principal rolls extend. The upper end of one of these cut-out portions 75, shown at 76 in Fig. 6, is arranged to extend downwardly almost into contact with the principal rolls, but is out of frictional engagement therewith, so that powder supplied through the chute member 68 .will not pass around the principal rolls at these points. The

end plates

71 and 72 extend down to a point approaching the periphery of the edge rolls, but are out of contact therewith in all adjusted positions of the edge rolls, so as to prevent or at least to minimize powder supplied through the chute member 68 fromflowing out aroundthe edge rolls and to direct it into the space '63'between the principal rolls.

The

side plates

69 and 76 except for the cut-out portions aforesaid extend down to a level lower than the plane including the axes of the principal and edge rolls as particularly shown at '77 in Fig. 5 and as further illustrated by the section shown in Fig. 8 which is taken in the plane including the axes of the several rolls. This in practice prevents the loss of all but a small amount of powder during the operation of the rolls in forming a sheet or strip from this powder.

'While it is not always essential that metal powder: for use in this device be heated prior to rolling and/or be protected from contactwith the atmosphere during such heating, there are some metal powders which must, and others which preferably should be, handled in this way. In order to provide for this heating, while holding the metal powder out of contact with the atmosphere, a device may be used substantially the same as or equivalent to the structure shown at the upper portion of Fig. 1. As shown in this figure, the top plate 21 carries a pair of mounting bases 78, which in turn carry vertically disposed standards 79. Adjustably securable onto the standards 79 at different'yertical positions with respect thereto are bearing memberstii), which may be secured, for example, by suitable set screws at any desired adjusted positions along the standards 79. Journaled in the bearing members 80 are a pair of aligned shafts '81 and 82 which carry a housing generally indicated at 83 which may serve as a metal powder heater and blender. This housing comprises a substantially cylindrical portion 84 merging with a conical portion 85, with a suitable valve 86 located at the apex of the cone, which is directed downwardly in the position of the parts shown in Fig. .1. In order to conserve heat, the housing 83 is preferably surrounded by a layer of insulation 87. Heat may be supplied to the powder within the blender by a suitable electric heating element 38 shown as a coil and having conductors .89 for supplying electric power thereto arranged to connect with suitable slip ring contacts included in a bank of slip rings 90; There is also preferably disposed within the blender a thermocouple. or other temperature-responsive device 91, which may be similarly arranged to be connected by conductors 92 to suitable annular contacts in the bank of slip rings 90. The supply of powder to the slip rings 90 for energizing the heating element 88 and the connections to a suitable temperature-indicating instrument or system are not shown, as they may be presumed to be conventional. I Means may also be provided for supplying and maintaining a neutral or inert protective atmosphere within the housing 83. For this purpose, each of the shafts 8i and 32 may be provided with a longitudinal bore connecting respectively to pipes 93 and 94. Such atmosphere may, for example, be hydrogen or nitrogen and may be maintained at a slight superatmospheric pressure, so that any leakage that may occur will be outwardly and'so that atmospheric air is positively prevented from contact with the metal powder within the housing 83; 1 I

In the normal operation of this portion of the apparatus, unheated metal powder is charged .into the blender while the shafts 81 and 82 are at a position somewhat above that, shown in Fig. 1 and while the valve 86 is directed upwardly and is open. The valve 86 may then be closed and the blender rotated about the axes of shafts 81 and 82 by suitable means (not shown). Mean while, electric energy may be supplied to the heating element 88 for bringing the temperature of the metal powder up to the desired point. During this heating the atmos phere within the blender may be maintained inert or neutral by supplying an inert gas, for example, through the pipe 94 and exhausting it throughthe pipe 93. The heating and rotating and consequent blending may continue for a desired time and until the temperature of the metal powder reaches a desired point. Following this, the rotation of the blender is stopped with the parts substantially in the position shown in the drawings, i.e. with a valve 86 directed downwardly; and the entire blender. may then be lowered with respect to the standards 79, so that the valved opening comes intoiregistry with the entrance through the top plate 20 for powder'to the rolls through the chute means 68. The rolling mill previously described is then started and the valve 86 opened to permit the flow of powder to the mill.

While there is herein shown and described but one principal form of the invention and certain variants of portions thereof, other variants and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. We do not wish to be limited, therefore, except by the scope of the appended claims, which are to be construed validly as broadly as the state of the prior art permits.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for making flattened, elongate metallic bodies, as strips and sheets, comprising a pair of substantially horizontal axis principal rolls positioned side by side with their axes located substantially in a horizontal plane and parallel to each other, so as to compress flowable metallic powder supplied thereto from above to the form of an elongate metallic body, which is sufficiently compact and dense to be self-sustaining as it emerges from said principal rolls, said principal rolls defining the two lo'nger sides of a space therebetween corresponding generally to the cross-section of an elongate body formed from metallic powder by said rolls; a pair of edge rolls having outer, substantially cylindrical, powder-engaging surfaces and positioned so that said powder-engaging surfaces substantially exactly define the ends of said space and serve to confine the fiowable metallic powder supplied as aforesaid to the space between said principal rolls, said edge rolls having their powder-engaging surfaces of substantially the same lateral width in a direction axial of said edge rolls as the width of the edges of said space and being substantially tangent to the edges of said principal rolls, and wherein, in the substantially horizontal plane aforesaid including the axes of said principal rolls, only the powder-engaging surfaces of said edge rolls extend in directions substantially perpendicular to the axes of said principal rolls and all other portions of said edge rolls are spaced away from said principal rolls and are non-parallel with the powder-engaging surfaces of said edge rolls, so as to prevent any entrapment of any metal powder between said other portions of said edge rolls a and any parts of said principal rolls; and means for rotating said edge rolls at a peripheral speed substantially the same as the speed at which said body emerges from be tween said principal rolls.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising means for positively and continuously driving both of said principal rolls, and means for rotating said edge rolls.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising means for positively and continuously driving both said principal rolls, and means for frictionally driving said edge rolls, so as to permit of some variations between the peripheral speeds of the powder-engaging portions of said principal and said edge rolls.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising means for adjustably varying the distance between the axes of said principal rolls, so as to control the thickness of an elongate metallic body being formed therebetween.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising means for adjustably varying the distance between the axes of said edge rolls, so as to control the width of an elongate body being formed in said apparatus.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which said edge rolls each have a diameter which is in the range of about one-half to one times the diameter of said principal rolls.

7. Apparatus for making flattened, elongate metallic bodies, as strips and sheets, comprising a pair of substantially horizontal axis principal rolls positioned side by side with their axes located substantially in a horizontal plane and parallel to each other, so as to compress flowable metallic powder supplied thereto from above to the form of an elongate metallic body, which is sufficiently compact and dense to be self-sustaining as it emerges from said principal rolls, said principal rolls defining the two longer sides of a space therebetween corresponding generally to the cross-section of an elongate body formed from metallic powder by said rolls; a pair of edge rolls having outer, substantially cylindrical, powder-engaging surfaces and positioned so that said powder-engaging surfaces substantially exactly define the ends of said space and serve to confine the flowable metallic powder supplied as aforesaid to said space between said principal rolls, said edge rolls having their powder-engaging surfaces of substantially the same lateral width in a direction axial of said edge rolls as the width of the edges of said space and being substantially tangent to the edges of said principal rolls, and wherein, in the substantially horizontal plane aforesaid including the axes of said principal rolls, only the powder-engaging surfaces of said edge rolls extend in directions substantially perpendicular to the axes of said principal rolls and all other portions of said edge rolls are spaced away from said principal rolls and are nonparallel with the powder-engaging surfaces of said edge rolls, so as to prevent any entrapment of any metallic po'wder between said other portions of said edge rolls and any parts of said principal rolls; means for rotating said edge rolls at a peripheral speed substantially the same as the speedat which said metallic body emerges from between said principal rolls, and means individual to each of said edge rolls for adjustably varying the position of the axis thereof toward and away from a point centrally of the powder being rolled and midway between said principal rolls.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7, further comprising means eifective in all adjusted positions of said edge rolls for frictionally driving them.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim '7, in which said means for adjustably varying the position of the axis of each of said edge rolls comprises a support, a bearing means ro'tatably mounted with respect to said support for adjustive rotation with respect thereto, and means mounting each of said edge rolls for rotation about an axis eccentric of said bearing means, whereby adjustive rotation of said bearing means results in adjustment of the position of the axis of rotation of said edge rolls toward and away from the space between said principal rolls.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8, in which said means for frictionally driving said edge rolls comprises a friction disc carried rigidly with each of said edge rolls respectively, and a positively driven friction drive roller in frictional driving engagement with each said disc respectively, and means rotated in synchronism with said principal rolls for driving said friction drive rollers, the surface of said friction discs against which said friction drive rollers bear being respectively perpendicular to the axis of each said edge roll.

11. Apparatus for making flattened, elongate metallic bodies, as strips and sheets, comprising a pair of substantially horizontal axis principal rolls positioned side by side with their axes located substantially in a horizontal plane and parallel to each other, so as to compress flowable metallic powder supplied thereto from above to the fo'rm of an elongate metallic body, which is sufliciently compact and dense to be self-sustaining as it emerges from said principal rolls, said principal rolls defining the two longer sides of a space therebetween corresponding generally to the cross-section of an elongate body formed from metallic powder by said rolls; a pair of edge rolls having outer substantially cylindrical, powder-engaging surfaces positioned so that said powder-engaging surfaces substantially exactly define the ends of said space and serve to co'nfine the flowable metallic powder supplied as aforesaid to the space between said principal rolls, said edge rolls having their powder-engaging surfaces of substantially the same lateral width in a direction axial of said edge rolls as the width of the edges of said space, said edge rolls each further having two substantially conical beveled surfaces contiguous to its powder-engaging surface, and the angle between the powder-engaging surface of each edge roll and each of the two conical surfaces contiguous therewith as measured in a plane radial of each edge roll and containing the axis thereof being 11 from about .25 to about 75, said: substantially cylindrical powder-engaging surface of each edge roll being substantially tangent to the edges of said principal rolls, whereby in the substantially horizontal plane aforesaid including the axes of said principal rolls, only the powderengaging surfaces of said edge rolls extend in directions substantially perpendicular to the axes of said principal rolls and all other portions of said edge rolls are spaced away from said principal rolls and are non-parallel with the powder-engaging surfaces of said edge rolls, so as to prevent any entrapment of any metal powder between said other portions of saidedge rolls and any parts of said principal rolls; and means for rotating each of said edge rolls at a peripheral speed substantially the same as the speed at which said metallic body emerges from between said principal rolls.

.12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11, in which each of the angles aforesaid between the two conical beveled surfaces and the contiguous cylindrical powderengaging surface of each edge roll are substantially the same, so that each edge roll has a form which is substantially symmetricalwith respect to a median plane per pendicular to the axis thereof.

13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11, in which each said angle between the cylindrical powder-engaging surface of each edge roll and each of the conical beveled surfaces thereof is substantially 45.

14. Apparatus for making flattened, elongate metallic bodies, as strips and sheets, comprising a' pair of substantially horizontal axis principal rolls positioned side by side with their axes located substantially in a horizontal plane and parallel to each other, so as to compress flowable metallic powder supplied thereto from above to the form of an elongate metallic body, which is sufficiently compact and dense to be self-sustaining as it emerges from said principal rolls, said principal rolls defining the two longer sides of a space therebetween corresponding generally to the cross-section of an elongate body formed from metallic powder by said rolls; a pair of edge rolls having outer, substantially cylindrical powder-engaging surfaces and positioned so that said powder-engaging surfaces substantially exactly define the ends of said space and serve to confine the fiowable metallic powder supplied as aforesaid to the space between said principal rolls, said edge rolls having their powder-engaging surfaces of substantially the same lateral width in a direction axial of; said edge rolls as the width of the; edges of said space, and being substantially tangent to the edges of said principal rolls, and wherein, in the substantially horizontal plane aforesaid including the axes, of said principal rolls, only the powder-engaging surfaces of said edge rolls extend in directions substantially perpendicular' to the axes of said principal rolls and all other portions of said edge rolls are spaced away from said principal rolls and are non-parallel with the powderengaging surfaces of said edge rolls, so as to prevent any entrapment of any metal powder between said other portions of said edge rolls and any parts of said principal rolls; means for rotating said edge rolls at a peripheral speed substantially the same as the speed at which said body emerges from between said principal rolls; and chute means for directing powdered metal downwardly into said space, said chute means including parts extending to a level below that of the axes of said principal rolls, and said chute means further being provided with cut-out portions through which portions of said principal rolls and portions of saidedge rolls extend.

1 15. Apparatus in accordance with claim 14, in which the parts of said chute means which define said cutout portions through which portions of said principal rolls extends include wall portions making up parts of said chute means and extending downward almost into engagement with said principal rolls, but out of frictional contact therewith. 6

OTHER REFERENCES Ingenious Mechanisms for Designers and Inventors,

vol. III, published by the Industrial Press, New York,

1951, pages 314 and 315.