US3864878A

US3864878A - Apparatus for machining pilger rolls and the like

Info

Publication number: US3864878A
Application number: US233920A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry C Ledebur; Harold R Wilson
Original assignee: Wean United Inc
Current assignee: Wean United Inc
Priority date: 1972-03-13
Filing date: 1972-03-13
Publication date: 1975-02-11
Anticipated expiration: 1992-02-11
Also published as: FR2175726A1; JPS492195A; FR2175726B1; DE2249549A1; SE392577B; GB1352112A; IT966810B

Abstract

A master roll and a work roll are rotated in unison, the master roll having a groove (such as in a Pilger roll) of a contour to be exactly duplicated on the work roll. A follower wheel and a cutter wheel are substantially coaxially mounted on a table which is supported by the frame of the machine by linkage mechanism similar to a parallelogram linkage. A vertical shaft is driven 180* from one position to another, the shaft rigidly supporting a cross track at its upper end. A plate is guided for movement longitudinally of track and supports an upright stub shaft which fits in a bearing depending from the underside of die table. A main weight urges the plate in one direction longitudinally of the track to provide a force which urges the follower wheel against the contour of the master roll and the cutter wheel against the work roll. Means are provided to overcome the urging force of the main weight so that a minor force may urge the plate in an opposite longitudinal direction relative to the track and thus position the follower and cutting wheels a slight distance from the respective, master and work rolls for inspection, adjustment and maintenance purposes.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 l 3,8

Ledebur et al. 5] Feb. 11, 1975 APPARATUS FOR MACHINING PILGER [57] ABSTRACT ROLLS AND THE LIKE A master roll and a work roll are rotated in unison.

[75] Inventors: Harry C. Ledebur, Canfield, Ohio; the master having a groove (Such as in a Pilger Ha ld R, Wil Wil i N C roll) ofa contour to be exactly duplicated on the work roll, A follower wheel and a cutter wheel are substan- [73] Asslgnee: d Youngstown tially coaxially mounted on a table which is supported Ohm by the frame of the machine by linkage mechanism 22 i Man 13 1972 similar 30a parallelogram linkage. A virticalhshatl'lt is riven rom one position to anot er, t e s at [21] Appl' 233320 rigidly supporting a cross track at its upper end. A plate is guided for movement longitudinally of track 521 0.8. Ci 51/50 PC, 51/101 R, 82/19 and pp an upright stub shaft which fits in a bear- 51 1m. 01 B24b 17/02 s depending from the underside of die table- A min 5 p f Search 51 50 PC, 10 R, 101 LG, weight urges the plate in one direction longitudinally 5 /100 P 100 R. 127; 32/ 4 19; 90/134 of the track to provide a force which urges the follower wheel against the contour of the master roll and [56] Referen Cit d I the cutter wheel against the work roll. Means are pro- UNITED STATES PATENTS vided to overcome the urging force of the main weight 2.024.453 12/1935 Davidson 82/19 that a force may urge the Plate oppo' 82/19 site longitudinal direction relative to the track and 2,109,454 3/1938 Becker Edmonds et 1 thus position the follower and Cutting Wheels 3 2,364,322 12/1944 Shultz et al. 51/101 R distance from the respeflive, master and Work rolls for 2,600,402 6/1952 Griffin 51/100 P inspection, adjustment and maintenance Purposes- 2,751,719 6/1956 Reichel 51/100 P Primary Examiner-Al Lawrence Smith Assistant ExaminerNicholas P. Godici A 18 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures Attorney, Age 11 FirmMichael Williams l I I'll v PATENIEBFEBHIQYS sum mar 10 i I l mm mm mm w wk Pmmsormim v 8.884.818

I SHEET 3 10 PATENTEB FEBI 1 I975 SHEEI USUF 1O PATENTEBFEB] 1 ms SHEET- C7UF 1O PATENTED FEB! I I975 SHEEI 090F 10 I Pmmm w w 3.864.878

' sum mar 10 APPARATUS FOR MACHINING PILGER ROLLS AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY Contour duplicating means are well known, a common example being represented by key duplicating mechanisms wherein a key to be duplicated and a blank to be cut are held in predetermined manner relative to a follower and a cutter. The follower is caused to bear against the key to be duplicated and to move in accordance with the ridges on the latter. The follower and cutter are mounted on a support 'which translates movement of the follower to exact movement of the cutter so that the latter duplicates the keycontour on the blank.

Machining of Pilger rolls requires more sophisticated apparatus than that of a key blank cutter since Pilger rolls have a groove extending inwardly of the peripheral surface which varies not only in axial width but also in radial depth. Apparatus for machining Pilger rolls is known in the prior art, and representative of patents on such apparatus are: U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,910,308; 2,024,433; 2,109,454 and 2,728,255. Pattern controlled machines for reproducing intricate patterns are also known, and representative of such machines are those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,330,566 and Our invention provides apparatus particularly suitable for machining the peripheral grooves in Pilger rolls, although it will be appreciatedthat other complex contours may be duplicated by use of our improved apparatus.

The invention may be summarized by the following brief description, a more comprehensive description being included hereinafter. In our improved apparatus, a master roll and work roll are mounted on shafts which rotate at the same speed. The master roll has a groove which is to be duplicated in the work roll. A follower wheel is mounted for movement toward and away from the axis about which the master and work wheels rotate, and acutter wheel is similarly mounted and both wheels are carriedby a table. The follower wheel is urged to follow the groove in the master roll and the cutter wheel is moved in exact accordance to duplicate a groove in the work roll.

The table which supports the follower and cutter wheels has a parallel linkage connection with the stationary frame of the apparatus, and a bearing connection witha stub shaft which extends from a plate. The plate is movable longitudinally within a track, and the latter is supported by an upright shaft which is rotatable 180 in either direction. A weight pulls the plate longitudinally of the track in one direction to in turn urge the follower and cutting wheels toward the master and work rolls, respectively. The linkage between the plate and machine frame permits the former to move in an orbital path so that the follower and cutting wheels may move not only inward of the periphery of their respective rolls, but also may move laterally of such inward movement, so that a force component will be applied to the follower and cutting wheels along the line with the radial disposition of the track while the flatwise planes of such wheels always remain perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the master and work rolls.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings accompanying this description and forming a part of this specification, there is shown, for purpose of illustration, an embodiment which our invention may assume, and in these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view of apparatus embodying our invention,

FIGS. 2 and 3 are end and top plan views, respectively, of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view generally corresponding to the line 4-4 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical sectional viewc'orresponding generallyto the line 5-5 of FIG. 2 I v I FIGJ6 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding generally to line 6-6 of FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side view of parts shown in FIG. 6, parts being broken away to show interior construction,

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the linkage mechanism between the supporting plate and the base of the apparatus,

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view generally corresponding to the line 99 of FIG. 4,

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of the bearing support for the follower wheel,

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary front view showing parts also seen in FIG. 1, and showing cooperating parts in phantom lines, and

FIGS. 12 through 16 are schematic views showing the disposition of parts at various stages of the operation of our improved apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The apparatus herein disclosed comprises a base 30 which is adapted to be mounted on a support surface, such as a floor or the like. An upright casing 31 extends upwardly from the base and encloses the operating mechanism of the apparatus. A top plate 32 (see especially FIGS. 3 and 5) is secured across the upper end of the casing 31 and has a pair of openings 33-33 to pass parts which will hereinafter be described.

Immediately below the top plate 32 isa table 34 in the form of a flat plate and preferably having a shape best seen in FIGS. 4 and 8. The table 34 is supported for orbital movement by linkage mechanism supported from the side wall of the casing 31. As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, a sub-support 35 has opposite sides 3636 and an end 37 firmly bolted to pads 38 which extend inwardly of three walls of the casing 31 and are securely fixed to such walls, as by welding or the like.

Four articulated pivotal connections 39 are provided between the sub-support 35 and the table 34, all being of substantially similar construction and therefore a description of one will serve to describe all. Referring particularly to FIGS. 4, 5, 8 and 9, a first link has its yoke arms 40 straddling a projection 41 which is integral with and extends from the sub-support 35. A pivot connection between the projection 41 and the arms 40 is provided by commercial thrust and roller bearings 42. A second link has its yoke arms 43 straddling the projection 44 of the first link and a pivot connection is formed therebetween by commercial thrust and roller bearings 45. The projection 46 of the second link is pivoted to the table 34 by a commercial roller bearing 47.

By means of the four articulated pivot connections 39, the table 34 may be moved in an orbital path defined by such connections. It is preferred to provide stability in the form of a stabilizing bar 48 which has one end pivoted to the shaft 45.1 for the bearings 45 of one of the articulated pivot connections (the lower left one in FIG. 4). The opposite end of the bar 48 is pivoted to a diagonally opposite articulate pivot connection 39 (the upper right one in FIG. 4). An elongated hole 49 is provided in the table 34 to pass such pivotal connection.

As seen in FIGS. 4, and 8, the table 34 has a pair of upwardly projecting

support blocks

50, 51, each firmly bolted to the table. As seen in FIG. 5, each support block extends through a respective opening 33 in the top plate 32, the openings being considerably larger than the support blocks to provide clearance for orbital movement of the latter.

Bolted to the support block 50 is a base plate 52 upon which a slide 53 is supported. Bolted to the support block 51 is a base plate 54 upon which a slide 55 is supported. The slide 53 provides ways for a carriage 56 which is movable in the direction of the double arrow 57 seen in FIG. 3, a hand wheel 58 and screw providing for selected adjustment of the carriage 56. The slide 55 provides ways for a carriage 59 which is movable in the direction of the double arrow 60 seen in FIG. 3, and a hand wheel 61 and screw provide for selected adjustment of the carriage 59. The carriage 59 in turn provides ways for a second carriage 62 which is movable in a crosswise direction as seen by the double arrow 63 in FIG. 3. A hand wheel 64 and screw provide for selected adjustment of the second carriage.

A shaft 65 is carried in bearings within the second carriage 62 and a grinding wheel 66 is carried by the shaft by means of a connection which permits ready removal of the wheel. It will be appreciated that a cutter other than a grinding wheel, may be carried by the shaft. An electric motor 67 (see especially FIG. 1) is supported from the top of the second carriage 62 and its shaft is connected by a belt or chain drive to the shaft 65 whereby rotation of the grinding wheel is effected.

A shaft 70 (FIG. is carried by the carriage 56 and a hardened steel follower wheel 71 is fixed to the shaft, a nut 72 threaded on a stub at the one end of the shaft, thus providing for ready removal of the wheel or for selected radial adjustment thereof. It will be noted that the shaft 70 has a threaded stub 73 at its opposite end, the stub being threaded into the carriage 56 to provide for limited axial adjustment of the shaft, and thus the follower wheel 71. A hand nut 74 locks the shaft against unintended axial movement.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the grinding wheel 66 and follower wheel 71 are in axial alignment and they are maintained in predetermined axially spaced relation. Referring to FIG. 2, a second upstanding casing 75 is supported by the base 30 to the rear of the casing 31, and a box structure 76 is secured to the top of the casing 75 and extends forwardly to overhang the casing 31. An electric motor 77 is carried at the rear of the box structure 76, the shaft of the motor entering a speed reducer 78 which may be of commercial form. The output ofthe speed reducer is in the form of axially aligned shafts 78, 80 (FIG. 3) which extend from opposite sides of the speed reducer'housing.

A master die 81 is removably fixed to the shaft 79 of the speed reducer and the work 82 to be formed is removably fixed to the shaft 80 of the speed reducer. Since the

shafts

79, 80 are rotated at the same speed, the master die 81 and work 82 will be likewise rotated.

In the illustrated embodiment the master die is in the form of a roll die for a Pilger type of rolling mill wherein the die roll has an annular groove that varies in axial width aroundits entire periphery and also vaties in radial depth about its entire periphery. The follower wheel 71 engages the peripheral surface of the annular groove in the master die or roll 81, and causes the grinding wheel 66 to follow its movements exactly so that the grinding wheel 66 will cut an annular groove in the work 82 which is exactly like the groove in the master die or roll 81.

Referring particularly to FIG. 5, a fabricated structure is disposed within the casing 31 and is fixed to and extends upwardly from the base 30. On top of this structure is a commercial gear reducer housing 91 which has a hollow shaft 93. A stub shaft 92-is held within, and for rotation with, the hollow shaft 93 by a nut 95. The stub shaft 92 has a head 94 fixed to its upper end. A worm gear 93.1 if fixed to the shaft 93 and meshes with a worm 93.2. An electric motor (see especially FIG. 4) is bolted to the side of rear casing 75, to drive into a speed reducer 101. The output of the speed reducer is connected to across shaft 102 on which is fixed the worm 93.2. A suitable clutch 103, such as an electrically operated clutch, is interposed in the cross shaft 102. A sprocket 104 (see FIG. 4) at an end of cross shaft 102 is connected to a sprocket 105 by a chain 106, (see FIG. 11). The sprocket 105 is keyed to a short shaft 107 rotatably carried by a bracket 108 located at the front of the casing 31 (see also FIGS. 1 and 2) and a hand wheel 109 is fixed to the shaft 107 for manual rotation of the shaft 102 when the electric clutch 103 has disengaged the drive from the motor 100. A revolution counter 109.1 may be connected to the shaft 107.

A horizontally elongated U-shaped upwardlyopening track 110 (see especially FIGS. 5 and 6) is fixed to the end 94 of shaft 93 for rotation therewith. A plate 111 overlies the track 110 and, as seen in FIG. 5, is somewhat shorter than the track. Rotatably carried by the plate 111 and extending downwardly therefrom are two spaced sets of

rollers

112, 113, which engage the sides of the track and guide longitudinal movement of the plate 111. A stub shaft 114 is fixed to the plate 111 and extends upwardly therefrom. A bearing 115 depending from the table 34 receives the stub shaft 114.

The plate 111 has depending

end members

116, 117 secured to its opposite ends. One end of a flexible cable 118 is adjustably secured to the end member 117 and is trained over a pulley 119 which is rotatably carried by the track 110 and head 94. The cable 118 extends downwardly through an opening 120 in the stub shaft '92 and its lower end terminates in an abutment 121 from which hangs a weight 122. The weight 122 is formed as a pair of

concentric rings

123, 124 closed at their bottom as at 125 to form a container space 126. A disc 127 is fixed to the upper end of a smaller ring 123 and has a hole through which the cable 118 extends. The abutment 121 on the cable 118 bears against the undersurface of the disc 127. The container space 126 contains lead shot 130 or other pelletized weight material so that the main weight has a predeter mined amount of downward pulling force (about 25 pounds in the illustrated embodiment).

Extending downwardly from the lower end of stub shaft 92 is a rod 131 which slides through a tube 132 supported at its upper end in the disc 127 and at its lower end by a bracket 133 fixed to the bottom 125 of the weight 122. A pair of springs 134 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) are connected between the track 110 and the plate 111 and urge the latter to the left, as viewed in FIG. 5, with a force less than that of the weight, such as force of about five pounds.

A circular flange 140 is fixed around the outer ring 124 of the weight 122 and rollers 141 on the ends of the furcations of a bifurcated lever 142 are adapted to engage under this flange. The lever 142 is pivoted about a horizontal shaft 143 supported between spaced flanges 144 of the fabricated structure 90. A lever 145 is fixed for rotation with the lever 142 and has'a slot 146 in its free end to pass a pin 147 carried at the upper end of a rod 148 forming part of a screw-jack 149. A sprocket 150 is secured to a shaft atthe input end of the jack and rotation of this shaft in opposite directions causes the rod to move up or down and thereby swing the

connected levers

142, 145 accordingly. A chain 151 (see also FIG. 11) is trained over the sprocket 150 and a sprocket 152 carried by a shaft rotatably mounted in the bracket 108 at the front of the casing 31, and a handwheel 153 (see also FIG. 1) is provided to manually rotate the

sprockets

152, 150. As will be evident from later description, the weight 122 is adapted to urge the grinding wheel 66 and the follower wheel 79 into respective engagement with work 82 and the master die 81. To relieve the wheels of the urging force, the operator rotates the hand wheel 153 in a direction to cause the screw jack 149 to retract the rod 148 and thus swing the

levers

142, 145 so that the weight 122 is moved upwardly by engagement between the rollers 141 and the flange 140. Accordingly, the weight 122 is supported by the rollers 141 and the cable 118 is freed of this weight. With the weight so supported, the springs 134 are effective to urge the grinding and follower wheels away from the work 82 and the master die 81. This is used in the event the operator wishes to check the wheels or their relative disposition with the work and master die, and to make any adjustments thereto.

As best seen in FIG. 5, two

limit switches

160, 161 are secured by brackets to the undersurface of the fixed sub-support 35. In the present embodiment, the limit switches are diametrically opposed and are adapted to be selectively engaged by a downwardly extending finger 162 carried by the track 110. The limit switches 160, 161 are connected in electrical circuit with the motor 100 which rotates the shaft 93. The finger 162 is shown in FIG. 5 as in engagement with limit switch 160 and the motor 100 will rotate the shaft 93 in the direction of the arrow 163 seen in FIG. 4. After 180 of rotation of the shaft 93, the finger 162 will engage the limit switch 161 and this will cause a reversal of the polarity of the motor 100 to cause the shaft 93 to be rotated in the opposite direction until the finger 162 strikes the limit switch 160, whereupon the motor will be energized to again drive the shaft 93 in the direction of the arrow 163. Suitable switching mechanism (not I shown) may be provided to control energization of the ing liquid through a hose 176 to flow over the griding wheel and work 82. As best seen in FIG. 5, an upstanding guard plate 177 circumscribes the top plate 32 to prevent escape of the liquid over the edges of the top plate. Cooperating

guards

178, 179 are formed on the top plate 32 and

base plates

52, 54 to form a labyrinth seal and thereby prevent the liquid from flowing through the openings 33 in the top plate.

The master die 81 and work 82 are rotated at a considerably greater speed than the shaft 93. For example. in thepresently disclosed embodiment, the master die and work may be rotated at a speed varying from 3 to 50 rpm., whereas the shaft 93 may be rotated back and forth 180 at speeds varying from 0.005 to 0.05 rpm. It is therefore contemplated that the complete contour will be cut in the work 82 in exact duplicate of the master die 81, when the shaft 93 turns 180. A rough cut may be made in the work 82 onone-half a revolution of the shaft 93, and a finish cut may be made in the reverse one-half revolution.

To set up the apparatus for duplicating the contour of the master die 81 onto the work 82, the grinding wheel 66 is chosen, or is dressed, to exactly correspond to the follower wheel 71, and these wheels are rigidly secured to their

respective shafts

65 and 70. It is as sumed that during this time the screw jack 149 has lifted the weight 122, and the springs 134 are pulling the follower wheel 71 and grinding wheel 66 away from the master die 81 and work 82 respectively. FIG. 3 shows the

wheels

66 and 71 in retracted position. Since the plane through the flatwise centers of these wheels is aligned with the flatwise centers of the master die and work, the illustrated condition would exist when the shaft 93 has been rotated to correspondingly rotate the track from its position shown in FIG. 4.

After the follower and grinding wheels, and the master die and work are secured in their respective shafts, the hand wheel109 (FIGS. 3 and 11) is rotated to manually rotate the shaft 93 and the track 110 to the position shown in FIG. 12, in the event the shaft is not in position. The weight 122 is then released by turning the hand wheel 153 (FIGS. 3 and 11) to rotate the jack shaft in a direction to withdraw the rollers 141 from engagement with the flange 140. The pull of the weight 122 will move the plate 111 to the left in FIG. 12, full movement to the left being limited by engagement of the plate depending member 116 with an upstanding member on the track 110. The hand wheels 58 and 61 (FIG. 3) are rotated to respectively move the

slides

56 and 59 toward the master die and work, and the cross-slide 62 may be adjusted by rotation of the hand wheel 64 to position the grinding wheel 66 exactly with respect to the work 82 as the follower wheel 71 is positioned with respect to the master die 81. If the work has been cast with a rough representation of the contour to be cut thereon, it is carefully aligned with the master die so that the contours are in radial alignment. This may be accomplished automatically by providing both master and work with keyways at the proper location, to fit with aligned keys on the shaft ends 79 and 80 extending from opposite sides of the speed reducer (FIG. 1).

Preferably, the shaft 93 and therefore the track 110 are rotated by hand to a position wherein the longitudinal centerline of the track is slightly off parallel with respect to the axis of the master and work rolls, and this position is shown slightly exaggerated by the dash line 181 in FIG. 12. The follower wheel will thereby be urged by a force component indicated at 182 to bear against the left hand portion of the groove in master die 81, and the grinding wheel will be in the exact same position with respect to the work 82.

The clutch 103 is then actuated to cause rotation of the cross shaft 102 by means of the motor 100, and this therefore effects a very slow rotation of the shaft 93, and the track 110, in the direction of the arrow 183 seen in FIG. 12. The pull of the weight 122 is effective to constantly urge the follower and grinding wheels to engagement with the respective master and work rolls. However, because the follower wheel 70 responds to the varying contour presented by the relatively rapidly rotating master roll, such response will counteract the urging force of the weight.

In FIG. 12, for example, the follower wheel 70 is urged by the force of the weight 122 in the direction of the force component 182. However, as the master roll rotates, the follower is rapidly moved to and fro in the direction of the movement of the plate 111 along the track 110, this movement being back and forth along the line shown by the arrow 182. This causes the table 34 to move in the same direction and in the same amount, and since the grinding wheel 66 is carried by the table, it therefore moves to and fro in exact accordance with the follower wheel.

FIG. 13 shows the position of parts after the shaft 93 and the track 110 have been rotated 45. In this position, the weight 122 provides a force component shown by the arrow 182.1. However, the irregularity of the groove in the master roll will again cause the follower to respond to the changing curvature presented by the rapidly rotating master roll. In this case, the follower is rapidly moved to and fro in the direction of movement of the plate 111 along the track 110, this movement now being back and forth along the line shown by the arrow 182.1. As before, the table 34 is caused to move in the same direction and in the same amount, and the grinding wheel 66 carried by the table therefore moves in exact accordance with the follower wheel.

FIG. 14 shows the position of parts after the shaft 93 and the track 110 have been rotated 90. The follower wheel 70 is now at the midpoint of the groove in the master roll 81 and will respond to the changing diametrical curvatures of the groove, and will move to and fro along the line shown by the arrow 182.2, to cause a corresponding movement of the grinding wheel in the manner set forth above.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show the position of parts when the shaft 93 and the track 110 have been rotated 135 and substantially l80, respectively. It will be understood that the changing curvatures presented to the follower wheel 70 by the rapidly rotating master roll will cause to and fro movement of the follower along the lines shown by the arrows 182.3 and 182.4, respectively. When the shaft has been rotated to the position shown in FIG. 16, the finger 162 (FIG. 5) extending downwardly from the track 110 will trip the limit switch 161 and either stop rotation of the shaft 93, or cause it to rotate in the reverse direction an amount of about 180 degrees until the finger trips the limit switch 160.

If the groove in the work roll has been only rough cut during the first pass, the grinding wheel may be moved a slight amount toward the axis of the master and work rolls (by adjustment of the slide 59 shown in FIG. 3) and a subsequent pass of the grinding wheel, in the manner hereinbefore stated, will finish grind the groove in the work roll to the exact contour of that in the master roll.

The follower wheel 70, as before stated, is not freely rotatable, and this is preferred since a rotatable mounting of this wheel would introduce bearing tolerances which would affect accuracy. When the contact spot on the wheel becomes worn, the wheel may be unlocked and rotated slightly and again locked, to present an unworn contact spot. When the entire periphery of the wheel is worn, the wheel may be removed and replaced with a new one, or the wheel may be dressed.

The grinding wheel 66 rotates, as described, and when its periphery becomes worn, it may be re-dressed to exact correspondence'to the periphery of the follower wheel 70, by a dressing device (not shown) which is moved to proper position relative to the grinding wheel. Thus, the grinding wheel need not be removed from its shaft, and the fact that the dressing operation reduces the diameter of the grinding wheel is of no importance, so long as the peripheral contour of the grinding wheel is exactly like that of the follower wheel, since the axes of the follower and grinding wheels are always either coaxial or maintained in parallelism. After a certain amount of re-dressing, it will be appreciated that the grinding wheel will have to be replaced with a new one.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for duplicating the contour of a nonuniform peripheral groove of a master roll in the periphery of a work roll, comprising:

a base,

shaft means rotatably carried by said base and supporting said master and work rolls,

motor means for driving said shaft means so that both rolls rotate at the same speed,

follower means cooperable with said master roll and cutter means cooperable with said work roll,

table means on which said follower and cutter means are mounted in fixed, spaced relation,

connection means between said table means and said base for supporting said table means for planar movement relative to said base,

a rotatable shaft carried by said base and having connection with said table means whereby rotation of said shaft effects shifting of said table in a plane,

means operable to urge said table means and thus said follower and cutter means in a direction whereby each engages respectively the periphery of said master roll and said work roll,

said follower means being moved toward and away from and laterally of the axis of said master roll through engagement with the contour surface of said groove in said master roll and translating such movement to said cutter means through said table means so that said cutter means duplicates such groove in said work roll,

said connection means between said table means and said base comprising a parallel linkage system which constrains said table means to orbital movement in its plane, whereby to maintain said follower and cutter means at a predetermined angle with respect to the axes of said master and work rolls, through the entire formation of the duplicate groove in said work roll.

2. The construction according to claim 1 wherein said follower means is a radially adjustable wheel and wherein said cutter means is a driven, rotatable cutting disc, said parallel linkage system maintaining said follower wheel and said cutter disc so that their respective flatwise planes are at right angles to the axes of said master and work rolls.

3. The construction according to claim 2 wherein said means operable to urge said table means provides a component force the direction of which varies from a direction substantially parallel to the axes of said master and work rolls to a direction substantially normal to said axes.

4. The construction according to claim 2 wherein said parallel linkage comprises sets of links at four marginal places of said table means, each set of links having ends pivoted toeach other, and one link pivotally connected to said table means and the other link pivotally connected to said base.

5. The construction according to claim 4 and further including a stabilizer bar having one end pivotally connected to the pivot between one .set of links and its other end pivotally connected to the pivot of a diagonally disposed set of links.

6. Apparatus for duplicating the contour of a nonuniform peripheral groove of a master roll in the periphery of a work roll, comprising:

a base, formed as a housing having a top closure,

shaft means rotatably carried in bearings extending upwardly from said top closure, said shaft means supporting said master and, work rolls, 7

table means on which said follower and cutter means are mounted in fixed, spaced relation, said table means being disposed within said housing and below said top closure whereby it and its connection with said base are protected from foreign matter,

said follower and cutter means being carried by supports which extend upwardly from said table means and through openings in said top closure,

and means operable to urge said table means and thus said follower and cutter means in a direction whereby each engages respectively the periphery of said master roll and said work roll,

said follower means being moved toward and away from and laterally of the axis of said master roll through engagement with the contour surface of said groove in said master roll and translating such movement to said cutter means through said table means so that said cutter means duplicates such groove in said work roll.

7. The construction according to claim 6 wherein liquid is applied to said cutter means during the cutting of the duplicate groove in said work roll, and

wherein said top closure has a rim to provide a tray for collecting said cutting liquid.

8. The construction according to claim 7 wherein said top closure and the supports carrying said follower and cutting means have cooperating rims forming a labyrinth seal to restrict liquid and foreign matter from entering said housing.

9. Apparatus for duplicating the contour of a nonuniform peripheral groove of a masterroll in the periphery of a work roll, comprising:

a base,

a rotatable shaft carried by said base and having connection with said table means whereby rotation of said shaft effectsshifting of said table in a plane,

a weight operable to urge said table means and thus said follower and cutter means in one direction whereby each engages respectively the periphery of said master roll and said work roll,

means to make said weight inoperable to urge said table means, and means to urge said table means in an opposite direction when said weight is made inoperable,

10. Apparatus for duplicating the contour of a nonuniform peripheral groove of a master roll in the periphery of a work roll, comprising:

a base,

shaft portions rotatably carried by said base and to which said master and work rolls are secured in laterally spaced relation,

motor means for driving said shaft portions at the same speed,

table means on which said follower and cutter means are mounted in spaced relation corresponding to the spacing of said master and work rolls,

connection means between said table means and said base for supporting said table means for horizontal planar movement in an orbital path relative to said base,

an upright rotatable shaft carried by said base, having a track at its upper portion which runs transverse to the axis of said shaft,

a plate movable longitudinally along said track,

an upright pivotal bearing connection between said shaft and said table means,

and means urging said plate toward one end of said track to in turn urge said follower and cutter means carried by said table means in a direction toward and into engagement with respective master and work rolls,

said urging means applying a force component on said follower and cutter means, the direction of which varies as said track is rotated with said upright shaft.

11. The construction according to claim wherein the connection between said table means and said base is a parallel linkage system comprising sets of links at four marginal places of said table means, each set of links having ends pivoted to each other, and one link pivotally connected to said table means and the other link pivotally connected to said base.

12. The construction according to claim 11 and further including a stabilizer bar having one end pivotally connected to the pivot between one set of links and its other end pivotally connected to the pivot of a diagonally disposed set of links.

13. The construction according to claim 10 wherein said master and work rolls are rotated at a materially higher speed than the rotation of said upright shaft.

14. The construction according to claim 13 wherein said upright shaft is limited to approximately 180 of rotation.

15. The construction according to claim 10 wherein said urging means is a weight which is connected to said plate by means of a flexible cable.

16. The construction accordingto claim 15 and including means to make said weight inoperable.

17. Apparatus for duplicating the contour of a groove of a Pilger roll in the periphery ofa roll blank, comprising:

a base,

horizontally disposed shaft means rotatably carried by said base and supporting said Pilger roll and said roll blank in laterally spaced relation,

motor means for driving said shaft means so that both rolls rotate at the same speed, a table carried by said base for orbital movement in a horizontal plane,

follower means and cutter means mounted on said table in spaced relation, said follower means being cooperable with said Pilger roll and movable toward and away from the axis thereof, and said cutter means being cooperable with said roll blank and movable toward and away from the axis thereof,

a rotatable vertical shaft carried by said base,

a connection between said vertical shaft and said table, comprising parts relatively movable along a horizontal line, one part being connected to said shaft and the other part being connected to said table,

means for rotating said vertical shaft at a considerably slower speed than the rotation of said Pilger roll and roll blank, whereby said connection is rotated from a position wherein its parts are relatively movable along a horizontal line which is substantially parallel to the axes of said Pilger roll and roll blank, the rotation of said vertical shaft swinging said horizontal line of movement through an arc of substantially means for urging said follower means and said cutter means to engagement with their respective Pilger roll and roll blank,

said follower means responding to the varying groove contour presented to it by the rotating Pilger roll to counteract the force of said urging means and thereby be rapidly moved to and fro along the horizontal line of said relatively movable parts, to cause said table to move in the same direction and in the same amount, and therefore move said cutting means in exact accordance with said follower means.

18. The construction according to claim 17 wherein the connection between said vertical shaft and said table comprises,

a horizontal track rotatable with said shaft and extending crosswise thereof,

and a plate movable to and fro along said track, said plate having a bearing connection with said table.

Claims

1. Apparatus for duplicating the contour of a non-uniform peripheral groove of a master roll in the periphery of a work roll, comprising: a base, shaft means rotatably carried by said base and supporting said master and work rolls, motor means for driving said shaft means so that both rolls rotate at the same speed, follower means cooperable with said master roll and cutter means cooperable with said work roll, table means on which said follower and cutter means are mounted in fixed, spaced relation, connection means between said table means and said base for supporting said table means for planar movement relative to said base, a rotatable shaft carried by said base and having connection with said table means whereby rotation of said shaft effects shifting of said table in a plane, means operable to urge said table means and thus said follower and cutter means in a direction whereby each engages respectively the periphery of said master roll and said work roll, said follower means being moved toward and away from and laterally of the axis of said master roll through engagement with the contour surface of said groove in said master roll and translating such movement to said cutter means through said table means so that said cutter means duplicates such groove in said work roll, said connection means between said table means and said base comprising a parallel linkage system which constrains said table means to orbital movement in its plane, whereby to maintain said follower and cutter means at a predetermined angle with respect to the axes of said master and work rolls, through the entire formation of the duplicate groove in said work roll.

4. The construction according to claim 2 wherein said parallel linkage comprises sets of links at four marginal places of said table means, each set of links having ends pivoted to each other, and one link pivotally connected to said table means and the other link pivotally connected to said base.

5. The construction according to claim 4 and further including a stabilizer bar having one end pivotally connected to the pivot between one set of links and its other end pivotally connected to the pivot of a diagonally disposed set of links.

6. Apparatus for duplicating the contour of a non-uniform peripheral groove of a master roll in the periphery of a work roll, comprising: a base, formed as a housing having a top closure, shaft means rotatably carried in bearings extending upwardly from said top closure, said shaft means supporting said master and work rolls, motor means for driving said shaft means so that both rolls rotate at the same speed, follower means cooperable with said master roll and cutter means cooperable with said work roll, table means on which said follower and cutter means are mounted in fixed, spaced relation, said table means being disposed within said housing and below said top closure whereby it and its connection with said base are protected from foreign matter, said follower and cutter means being carried by supports which extend upwardly from said table means and through openings in said top closure, connection means between said table means and said base for supporting said table means for planar movement relative to said base, a rotatable shaft carried by said base and having connection with said table means whereby rotation of said shaft effects shifting of said table in a plane, and means operable to urge said table means and thus said follower and cutter means in a direction whereby each engages respectively the periphery of said master roll and said work roll, said follower means being moved toward and away from and laterally of the axis of said master roll through engagement with the contour surface of said groove in said master Roll and translating such movement to said cutter means through said table means so that said cutter means duplicates such groove in said work roll.

7. The construction according to claim 6 wherein liquid is applied to said cutter means during the cutting of the duplicate groove in said work roll, and wherein said top closure has a rim to provide a tray for collecting said cutting liquid.

9. Apparatus for duplicating the contour of a non-uniform peripheral groove of a master roll in the periphery of a work roll, comprising: a base, shaft means rotatably carried by said base and supporting said master and work rolls, motor means for driving said shaft means so that both rolls rotate at the same speed, follower means cooperable with said master roll and cutter means cooperable with said work roll, table means on which said follower and cutter means are mounted in fixed, spaced relation, connection means between said table means and said base for supporting said table means for planar movement relative to said base, a rotatable shaft carried by said base and having connection with said table means whereby rotation of said shaft effects shifting of said table in a plane, a weight operable to urge said table means and thus said follower and cutter means in one direction whereby each engages respectively the periphery of said master roll and said work roll, means to make said weight inoperable to urge said table means, and means to urge said table means in an opposite direction when said weight is made inoperable, said follower means being moved toward and away from and laterally of the axis of said master roll through engagement with the contour surface of said groove in said master roll and translating such movement to said cutter means through said table means so that said cutter means duplicates such groove in said work roll.

10. Apparatus for duplicating the contour of a non-uniform peripheral groove of a master roll in the periphery of a work roll, comprising: a base, shaft portions rotatably carried by said base and to which said master and work rolls are secured in laterally spaced relation, motor means for driving said shaft portions at the same speed, follower means cooperable with said master roll and cutter means cooperable with said work roll, table means on which said follower and cutter means are mounted in spaced relation corresponding to the spacing of said master and work rolls, connection means between said table means and said base for supporting said table means for horizontal planar movement in an orbital path relative to said base, an upright rotatable shaft carried by said base, having a track at its upper portion which runs transverse to the axis of said shaft, a plate movable longitudinally along said track, an upright pivotal bearing connection between said shaft and said table means, and means urging said plate toward one end of said track to in turn urge said follower and cutter means carried by said table means in a direction toward and into engagement with respective master and work rolls, said urging means applying a force component on said follower and cutter means, the direction of which varies as said track is rotated with said upright shaft.

11. The construction according to claim 10 wherein the connection between said table means and said base is a parallel linkage system comprising sets of links at four marginal places of said table means, each set of links having ends pivoted to each other, and one link pivotally connected to said table means and the other link pivotally connected to said base.

14. The construction according to claim 13 wherein said upright shaft is limited to approximately 180* of rotation.

16. The construction according to claim 15 and including means to make said weight inoperable.

17. Apparatus for duplicating the contour of a groove of a Pilger roll in the periphery of a roll blank, comprising: a base, horizontally disposed shaft means rotatably carried by said base and supporting said Pilger roll and said roll blank in laterally spaced relation, motor means for driving said shaft means so that both rolls rotate at the same speed, a table carried by said base for orbital movement in a horizontal plane, follower means and cutter means mounted on said table in spaced relation, said follower means being cooperable with said Pilger roll and movable toward and away from the axis thereof, and said cutter means being cooperable with said roll blank and movable toward and away from the axis thereof, a rotatable vertical shaft carried by said base, a connection between said vertical shaft and said table, comprising parts relatively movable along a horizontal line, one part being connected to said shaft and the other part being connected to said table, means for rotating said vertical shaft at a considerably slower speed than the rotation of said Pilger roll and roll blank, whereby said connection is rotated from a position wherein its parts are relatively movable along a horizontal line which is substantially parallel to the axes of said Pilger roll and roll blank, the rotation of said vertical shaft swinging said horizontal line of movement through an arc of substantially 180*, means for urging said follower means and said cutter means to engagement with their respective Pilger roll and roll blank, said follower means responding to the varying groove contour presented to it by the rotating Pilger roll to counteract the force of said urging means and thereby be rapidly moved to and fro along the horizontal line of said relatively movable parts, to cause said table to move in the same direction and in the same amount, and therefore move said cutting means in exact accordance with said follower means.

18. The construction according to claim 17 wherein the connection between said vertical shaft and said table comprises, a horizontal track rotatable with said shaft and extending crosswise thereof, and a plate movable to and fro along said track, said plate having a bearing connection with said table.