US484768A - Guide device for rolling-mills - Google Patents

Description

4 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model.)

H. AIKEN. GUIDE DEVICE FOR ROLLING MILLS.

Patented Oct. 25, 1892.

wzmss SE-S.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets.Sheet 2. H. AIKEN. GUIDE DEVICE FOR ROLLING MILLS.

No. 484,768. Patented Oct. 25, 1892.

wrrnzssgs (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

H. AIKEN. GUIDE DEVICE FOR ROLLING MILLS.

No. 484,768. Patented 00t. 25, 1892.

4 Sheets Sheet 4.

(No Mo 'dei) H. AIKEN.

GUIDE DEVICE FOR ROLLING MILLS.

:No. 484,768. Patented 001;. 25, 1892.

WITNESSES m mums mm 120., momutum, wAsHmcn'oN, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

HENRY AIKEN, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

GUIDE DEVICE FOR ROLLING- MILLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,768, dated October 25, 1892.

Application filed December 5, 1891. $erial No. 414,081. (N 0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY AIKEN, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Guide Devices for R011- ing-Mills, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional plan View of my improved mill,tho part at the right hand of the sheet being shown in horizontal section on the plane of the guides. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line II II of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is aview showing the rolls in front elevation and the guides in vertical cross-section on the line III III of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view through one of the feed-rollers on the line IV IV of Fig. 2.

In Figs. 3 and 4: I show by dotted lines and full lines, respectively, the different positions assumed by the guides in lifting the metal from the lower passes to the upper passes of the rolls and in shifting it laterally.

My invention relates to an improvement on the rolling-mill guides described in a prior patent, No. 449,511, granted to me on March 31, 1891. The following quotation from the specification of that patent will explain the general purpose and advantages of my invention with relation to the prior state of the art: Heretofore in the operation of rolls for rolling rods or bars of iron or steel in which the metal is reduced by alternate back-andforth passes it has been the most common practice to employ men to stand on opposite sides of the rolls to receive the metal as it is delivered, to turn it one-fourth round for the purpose of effacing the fins produced at the preceding pass, and to reinsert it again into the guides to pass in the reverse direction. The position of these men is somewhat dangerous, the work is arduous, and adds considerably to the cost of manufacture. Their presence at the rolls also causes a practical limit to the production of the mill. They cannot give attention to more than one rod passing through one stand of rolls at once, since any greater number would so crowd the space about the rolls that the men would not have suflicient room to perform their duties safely and efficiently.

It is the object of my invention to provide improved mechanical means for performing this work of receiving, guiding, and deliver ing the metal, thus cheapening the cost of the product by diminishing the number of men necessary to be employed to tend the rolls and increasing the outputby enabling anumber of rods or metal pieces to be passed through the different grooves or passes of the rolls at the same time. By use of myimprovement, which I am about to describe, I obtain all the advantages derived from the removal of this Work from the uncertain care and limited capacity of human labor and putting it in charge of a reliable and surely-acting machine.

To describe my improvement generally, I employ, in connection with a set of three-high rolls and their feed-tables, a series of guides mounted on each of the tables, so as to move vertically therewith between the upper and the lower passes. These guides are provided with mechanism by which on the rise and fall of the tables they are shifted laterally and also turned laterally, so that they not only move the metal piece sidewise from a pass in one vertical plane to one in another plane, but also turn the piece about ninety degrees. There may be guides of this sort on both sides of the rolls relatively arranged so that on the rise of the tables the guides on one side are moved a short distance in one' direction and the guides on the other side in the opposite direction, and vice versa, on the descent of the table. After the first pass through the rolls the metal rod is received by one of the shifting guides, and when the feed-table is elevated, carrying the guide and rod with it, the guide is shifted and turned laterally, thus automatically moving the metal to the next pass and turning it into proper position to enter the same. On its emerging from the other side of the rolls it enters one of the second series of shifting guides and passes upon the feed-table, its motion being arrested before its end has passed the guide. On the next descent of the table the guide, with the metal, is automatically shifted laterally in the same direction, brought into position before the lower roll-pass, and on reversing the feed-table is caused to enter the same. On emerging it enters the second of the firstnamed series of guides, and so on, until the metal has traversed all the passes of the rolls and has been completely reduced.

In the accompanying drawings I show my invention applied to three-highrolls with vertically-moving feed-tables, and although in such combination it is specifically claimed it should be understood that it is not limited thereto, and that within the scope of the broader claims it may be applied to use in connection with two-high rolls adapted to be reversed after each pass of the metal.

Referring now to the drawings,'2 represents the housings of a three-high set of rolls 3, which may be constructed and arranged in the usual manner,being provided with series of grooved passes successively diminishing in size and of proper relative shape, the metal being passed between the bottom and middle rolls, then lifted. and passed in the reverse direction through the next succeeding pass between the top and middle rolls, and so on.

In order to transfer the metal from the upper to the lower passes, I employ verticallymovable feed-tables 4, of which only the front portion of the table at on one side of the rolls is illustrated, the other table being of similar construction. These tables maybe of any of thewellknown forms-for example, like those shown in my said patent, No. 449,511, which are pivoted at their rear ends on cross-shafts, on which, by means of a lifting cylinder and suitable mechanism,they are radially movable in a vertical direction. A table of this class is known as a tilting table; but it willbe understood that for purposes of my invention tables movable vertically in diderent manner may be employed.

Each of the tables is provided with a suitable number of feed-rollers 5, connected by gearing 6 and shafts 7 with each'other and with a suitable motor, (not shown,) bywhich they are driven so as to move the metal toward the rolls. I prefer that the feed-rollers should not be cylindrical in form, but that they should be stepped, as shown in Fig. 1, the different steps corresponding in diameter to the positions of the several roll-passes with which they coact in feeding and receiving the metal.

At the delivery side of each of the roll-passes is a fixed guide 8, secured to the housings by supporting-bars 9 inthe manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2. To co-operate with these guides in receiving, turning, and shifting the metal piece,I employ the shifting guides above mentioned, the use of which forms the principle feature of my invention.

10 10 are cross-bars situate near the inner end of the feed-table frame. The shifting guides 11, which are of tubular or box shape, are pivotally connected by pins 12 to these cross-bars, and are set parallel with each other at proper distances apart, conformably to the relative location of the roll-passes, the pins 12 being adapted to permit to the guidesa lateral radial oscillation, as hereinafter described. The reason for employing two supporting cross-bars and two sets of pivotal connections is to increase the strength of the apparatus but this is not essential. The several guides are provided with radial arms 13, fixed to the guides and projecting downwardly from the pivotal connections 12. These are joined at their ends by connecting-rods 14, there being, preferably,'a set of these arms and connecting-rods beneath each of the supporting cross-bars 10. The several guides are thus connected, and it is clear that if the rods 14 be moved lengthwise they will act on the arms 13 and cause each of the guides to turn laterally and radially on its pivot 12. To efiect this motion of the parts is the object of the apparatus now to be described.

15 16 are levenarms which are pivoted to the feed-table frame by means of a connecting-shaft 17, to which they are fixed and which insures their simultaneous motion. One of these lever-arms 15 ispivotally connected at its outer end by a double or universal joint 23 to alink 18, which at its lower end is secured by a similar joint 19 to the hous ings of the rolls or other fixed point, the purpose of these joints being to enable the link to adjust itself in position during the vertical and radial motion of the arm 15 with the feed-table. This arm 15 is also pivotally con nected by a link 20 with an arm of one of the guide-arms 13, which for this purpose is made in the form of a triangular lever or bellcrank. (Marked 13' in Fig.3.) The lever-arm 16 is connected by a link 20 with the corresponding arm 13 of the other transverse series of guide-arms 13.

21 is a downwardly-projecting portion of the table-frame, having a bearing against an upright guide-post 22, whose purpose is to guide the table in its vertical motion. When the table is at its lowest position, shoulders on these parts come into contact and limit the tables motion.

The operation is as follows: When the table is raised from its lower position (shown in Figs. 3 and 4.) to its higher position, in order to bring it before the upper series of rollpasses, the guides are raised with it, and also the pivotal centers 17 of the arms 15 16; but asthe connection 23 at the outer end-of the arm 15 cannot move vertically these arms are caused to turn downwardly on their cen-. ters, thus imparting a relatively-downward motion to the bell-cranks 13', thereby moving the connecting-rods 14. lengthwise to the right, and by means of the arms 13 turning each of the guides radially on its center of motion 12, bringing the partsinto the position shown by dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 4, each guide being then shifted to the left, turned laterally ninety degrees, and brought into line with the proper one of the upper line of roll-passes. When the table moves down, a reverse action takes place, the guides being turned radially and shifted to the right into proper position for the lower line of roll-passes. To secure accuracy of action, the moving parts should be properly proportioned in size, as shown in the drawings. Beneath the line of guides, preferably about midway of their length, I journal one of the feed-rollers 5 and opposite thereto each guide is provided with a lateral opening or gap B, extending at least half-way around the guide, Fig. 4, so that both in its-upper and its lower positions it shall be open at the points opposite the roller, thereby causing the contained metal piece to have a frictional bearing ther'eon. Important advantages in respect of certainty and positiveness of the feeding action of the table are secured by thus causing the roller to bear on the metal at this advanced point. If the guides are of sufficient length to Warrant it, I may use two or more feed-rollers 5' below them and may provide the guide with a corresponding number of gaps opposite the rollers.

It will be understood that the feed-tables at both sides of the rolls may be provided with mechanism constructed as above described, and that such mechanism should be relatively constructed so that the opposite guides simultaneously move laterally in respectively opposite directions and to the same extent.

The operation of the apparatus in rolling metal is as follows: The metal billet, being properly heated,is placed on the feed-table 4 at one side of the rolls, and the feed-rollers, being driven, carry it up to the rolls, where it is introduced by the workman into the pass 0 between the bottom and middle rolls. On its egress at the other side of the rolls it passes through the fixed guide 8 opposite the pass 0, and thence into and through the adjacent shifting guide 11. When the rear end of the metal has passed through the fixed guide, but before it has traversed the shifting guide, the feed-rollers on the receiving-table are stopped, and the tables are then lifted, as shown by dotted lines in Figs. 2, 3, and 4:. The effect of this is to lift the guide 11, containing the end of the metal piece, to the level of the upper roll-passes,and, by operation of the mechanism above described,to shift the guide laterally into line with the fixed guide at the upper pass d, at the same time turning the guide, and thus turning, also, the contained metal piece on its longitudinal axis. The feed-rollers,being then started, carry the piece through the shifting guide 11 and guide 8 into the pass d, thence through the fixed guide at the other side of the rolls and into and through the end one of the series of the shifting guides 11 on the then receiving side of the rolls, which guides by lifting of the feed-table has been shifted laterally into proper position to receive the same. The piece is thus carried through the pass d by the rolls until its rear end has passed the fixed guide and has'entered the shifting guide. The feed-tables are then lowered, thus bringing said shifting guide opposite the pass e and turning the metal, as above described. The piece is then fed forward through the pass e, through the fixed guide opposite thereto, and through the second shifting guide of the series on the then receiving side of the rolls, which guide, by descent of the table, has been brought opposite to pass 6. The operation is then continued by passing the metal back and forth and at each pass automatically shiftingand turning it laterally until it reaches the last pass m of the rolls, from which it is received by the feed-table as a rod in its elongated and finished state.

The advantages of my improvement in respect of the saving'of labor which results from the automatic feeding and turning of the metal will be understood from the foregoing description. The use of guides provided with gaps is of especial advantage, since the bearing of the metal on the feed-roller at an advanced pointinsures the delivery of the metal to the rolls and makes theaction of the device much more positive and certain. These open guides may be used even when the actuating mechanism is constructed and arranged as in my said prior patent,'and not constructed to have a laterally-radial motion.

Changes in the form, construction, and rela tive arrangement of the parts of the apparatus may be made without departure from my invention. For example, instead of a system of levers arranged to be actuated automatically on the vertical motion of the table, I

may in like manner to that suggested in myprior patent move the guides by a lever actuated by hand or by power, said lever being suitably connected with the operating-arms of the several guides.

I claim 1. The combination, with rolls and a feed-' table, of a guide situated over the table and adapted to be turned and a feed-roller beneath the guide, the guide having a gap situated opposite to the roller and adapted to expose the piece to contact therewith in both positions of the guide, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination, with rolls and a feedtable comprising driven feed-rollers, of a guide pivotally and eccentrically mounted on the table and constructed to be turnedradially on its pivot to shift the metal laterally on the rollers of said table, and mechanism for so turning the guide, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. The combination, with rolls and a vertically-movable feed-table comprising driven feed-rollers, of a guide pivotally and eccentrically mounted on the table and constructed to be turned radially on its pivot to shift the metal laterally on the rollers of said table, and a connection between the guide and a point 0% the table constructed to cause the turning of the guide when the table is moved, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. The combination, with rolls, of a vertically movable feed-table, guides mounted thereon and pivoted eccentrically, and mechanism connecting the guides and adapted to guides and adapted to cause their simultaneous motion, levers pivotally connected with the feed-table and with a point off the table, so that on vertical motion of the table they shall swing laterally,and a connection between the levers and the guide-arms, adapted to transmit to the latter the motions of the levers, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of NovembeaA. D. 1891.

HENRY AIKEN.

Witnesses:

THOMAS W. BAKEWELL, W. B. Conwm.

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