US1744549A - Method of and means for forming flanged articles - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 21, 1930. R. K. HOPKINS METHOD OF AND MEANS FQR FORMING FLANGED ARTICLES Filed Sept. 29, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet O/ d rolled produc+ H '1 Original blcmlf Jan. 21, 1930.

R. K. HOPKINS METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR FORMING FLAI IGED ARTICLES Filed Sept. 29, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 avwemtoz Patented Jan. 21, 1930 UNITED s'm Es PATEN'T OFFICE- ROBERT KINGSLEY HOPKINS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE. M. W. KELLOGG COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE METHOD 01? AND MEANS FOR FORMING FLANGED ARTICLES Application filed September 29, 1927. Serial No. 222,786.

The present inventionrelates to a process of, and apparatus for, forming flanged articles, and in particular to the forming of annular flanges with hubs.

a In forming flanged articles, and particularly where the flanged portion is relatively wide and the ratio of thethickness of the body of the article to that of the flanged portion is large, the methods heretofore employed have required recourse'to considerable machining work to bring the article down to finished dimensions. to the fact that there is an unequal distribution of metal between the flanged portion and the body portion, and in following any. of

the methods heretofore proposed forreducing the section of the blank both in the .flanged portion and the body portion by rolling or forging it has not been possible to bring about the elongation of the respective portions at the same rate. This is particularly true when rolling annular flanges having high hub portions and where the ratio of the flange thickness to the hub thickness is large.

According to the present invention the flanged article, such for example, as an annular flange having a high hub portion, is rolled in such a way that the hub and the is to say, the percentage of reduction of each is the same. In this way an article rolled to its finished dimensions may be produced. Also by causing the various portions of the article to grow proportionally, thesetting up of undesirable stresses in the metal is avoided.

The invention also includes a roll of special construction and means for associating it with rolls of more or less standard construction in such a way as to carry out the method above described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a section through an annular billet of a type suitable for use in rolling flanges.

Fig. 2 is a section showing the billet illustrated in Fig-1 after it has been rolled according to the practice heretofore employed and with the dimensions of the finishedfiange indicated in dotted .lines.

This is due flanged body elongate at the same rate; that Y Fig. 3 shows a section of a billet similar to that shown in Fig. 1,-together with a represent-ation, superimposed thereon in dotted lines, of the flange at the end of the rolling operation, and also showing the position the roll occupies at the beginning of the rolling operation and its course during the period in which the billet is being reduced to a flange of the desired dimensions.

Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 3 except that a billet-with a hub is shown.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of an ap paratus embodying the present invention with a blank shown in section and in position to be rolled.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational View of a moditied form of apparatus with a blank shown in section in position to be rolled similarly as in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5. 1 I

Fig. 8 is a perspective View showing the roll assembly being used in rolling straight flanged sections.

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of a further modification of the roll assembly including a modified form of the roll which constitutes one of the characteristic features of the presing flanges. According to this priorprac tice a thick billetor biscuit 20 is rolled in a mill having the axes ofthe rolls parallel to the axis of the flange and with the feed taken in a direction normal to the axis as in a tire mill. The resulting product 21 will assume a shape substantially as shown in 'Fig. 2, and still requires considerable machining toproduce the finished flange which is indicated by dotted lines at 22. The port-ion which must be machined away in order to produce the finishedflange is indicated at 23.

As-above indicated, the reason the billet' is not rolled with a hub more nearly approximati'ng the finished hub is because of the unequal distribution of the metal. This could not be done even though the 'cast billet had a hub on it. Suppose, for instance, it wasattempted to roll a high hub flange by the present process from either a flat billet as shown in Fi 1 or from a billet with a hub.

It -1S quite obvious for a given bite of .the

- rolls taken in a direction normal to the axis of the flange that the percent reduction of the flange body will be less than the percent reduction of thehub and for this reason the hub will elongate at a greater rate than the flange body. This will, of course, give a flange with a bell-mouthed hub, and if the rolling is carried far enough, one with a scalloped hub will result.

; shown in Figs. 3 and '4.

In any flange there is a certain definite relation'between hub-thickness and flange thickness. If this same relation is maintained in the billet 24 such as shown in dotted line in Fig. 4 and the rolling is directed in a line ba,

the percentage reduction on'both hub 25 and flange body 26 will be the same and the elongation in both these members will, therefore,

be identical. p

Since abillet 24 as shown in Fig. 4 is quite expensive to make, it is possible to make a: hub flange from a flat billet or biscuit"27 as shown in Fig. 3, the only requirement-be ing that the'rollin'g be done in the direction of the'line be, and that the point of the rollbe placed in such an initial position that the ratio between distance 06 and thickness of billet 0a, shall be the same as the ratio' of finished hub thickness to finished flange thickness. v

This type ofrolling can be accomplished on; either of the machines shown in Figs. 5

and 6.

In Fig. '5 the flange receives a pure rolling action on allsurfaces, whilein Fig. 6 it is i supported on a revolving disc 28 and is rolled against the face of this disc and also against.

a central projecting pin or roll 29. The machine or roll assembly shown in Figs. 5 and 7 comprises a-pluralityof supporting rolls 30 and 33 which may be either driven or merely idle rolls, or partly driven and partly idle rolls. In the: drawings the rolls 30 are mounted to rotate idly and the roll '33 is driven from-a suitable source of power.

Positioned above theroll 33 is shown still anotherroll 34. This roll is shaped especially for carrying out the method herein dis.

closed and has the form of a pair of trunare shown as meeting at right angles. However, it will be understood that for producing a hub section and an abutting section on the flange'which sections vary in thickness, as for example, thinner either at the outer edges or at the point of intersection of the hub and body portions on eitheror both of such portions', the rolling surfaces may intersect at an angle greater than or less than 90. The roll 34 is mounted axially on a shaft 37 and may beeither driven or idle. In order to simplify the apparatus it is preferredio omit mechanismfor driving the roll 34. However, means are provided for adjusting the roll 34 to and from the billet or blank 38 being worked upon so'as to control the bite taken or the rate of reduction. \Vhile the means for supporting and adjusting the roll 34 may assume various forms, in the drawing the shaft carrying the roll 34 is shown asmounted in bearings 39 formed in the ends of a yoke 40 which in turn is mounted on'the end of a .rack bar 41 which is adapted to be reciprocated in the housing 42 by means of the pinion 43 or othersuit-able means.

I As is indicated in the drawing the roll 34 is so mounted that it follows such a path, as

'drivenand may or may not be adjusted toward and away from the rolls -33 and 34.,

Adjustable guide rolls 48 are also provided. In Fig; 6, in lieu of the rolls 30 and 33, a revolving disc 28 carried by a vertical shaft 49 is provided, and. in lieu of the inner roll 4'? a central pin29 also mounted on the'shaft'49 is provided. It will be understood, however, that instead ofmounting the central pin orroll 29 on the shaft 49, it may be supported from'above in any suitable manner. I

In Fig. 8, a rectangular billet or blank 50. is shown as beingrolled by means of the rolls 33, 34 and '47. Guide rolls 48 and supporting rolls 30 are also. provided.

similar in itsprinciple of operation to roll 34 above described but with a plurality ofdouble frusto-conicalsections is provided. This roll in additionto havingrolling surfaces meeting on the line of intersection 45 has shoulders defining surfaces 52 and 53 intersecting on' the line 54 and surfaces 55 and 56-- intersec ting on theline 57, The surface 53 is adapted to engagethe outer peripheral surface of thebody of the'flange being rolled and to cooperate with a shoulder 58 carried by the roll 33 in forming such peripheral surface to a finished dimension. Similarly the rolling surface 55 engages .the upper edge portion of the hub and cooperates with a shoulder 59 on the roll 47 to roll the upper edge portion of the hub to a finished dimension.

According to the modification shown in Fig. 10 a roll 60 is provided. This rollis similar in general form to roll 51 except that it has shbulder portions defining the surfaces 53 and 55 which portions extend outward a sufficient distance to entirely,close, respectively, the space between the roll 60 and the roll 33 at the outside peripheral edge of the body of the flange, and the space between the roll 47 and the roll 60 at the upper edge of the hub.

Inthe modification shown in Fig. 11 a roll 34 having a single double frusto-conical section is used in conjunction with rolls 33 and 47 having shoulder portions 58' and 59' extending outward from the body portions of the respective rolls a sufficient distance to close the spaces between the body portions of the rolls 33 and 4 and the opposing portions of the roll 34.

In Figs. 9, 10 and 11 the rolls and the flanges being worked are shown in the position they assume at the end of the rolling operation and at the time when the flange has been brought to its finished dimensions It will be understood that either an annular billet with a hub formed thereon or a plain annular blank or biscuit may be operated upon the same as in the case of the modifications previously described. Also, if desired, the flange or other member being'rolled may be brought substantially to its finished dimensions with a roll assembly such as shown in Figs. 5 and.6 and then transferred to a roll assembly such as any one of those shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11" and further rolled to finished dimensions. It will also be understood that the modifications shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11 may be used in rolling rectangular billets or blanks such as shown in Fig. 8.

In Figs. 9, 10 and 11 the auxiliary supporting rolls and guide rolls have not been shown. However, it is to be understood that such rolls are provided, or other suitable'means used for supporting or guiding the blank.

lVhile the invention has been described with particular reference to the apparatus shown, it is to be understood that the method may be carried out with other forms of ap paratus and that various modifications and changes in the aparatus shown and described may be made without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not deemed to be limited other than as indicated in the appended claims.

- What I claim is:

1. Process of forming a metal article having an extended flange portion, in which the flange and body portions of the article are developed simultaneously and in the same proportion as these portions bear in the finished article, which comprises rolling a blank of rectangular cross section with a roll having rolling surfaces disposed at right angles and causing said roll to advance, in the course of the reduction of the blank, from a predetermined point on one surface of the blank in a path defined by a straight line passing through the line of intersection ofthe surfaces of said blank remote from the portion being worked on by said roll.

2. Process of forming annular metal articles having a high hub portion and an extended flange portion, in which the flange and hub portions of the article are developed simultaneously and in the same proportion as these portions bear in the finished article,

which comprises rolling a blank of rectan ular cross section with a roll having rolling surfaces dlsposed at right angles and causing said roll to advance, in the course of the reduction of the blank, from a predetermined point on one surface of the b1ank in a path defined by a straight line passing through the line of intersection of the surfaces of said blank remote from the portion being worked on by said roll. I

3. Process of forming annular metal articles having a high hub portion and an extended flange portion in which the flange and hub portions of the article are developed snnultaneously and in the same proportion as these portions bear in the finished article, which comprises applying rolling pressure to a portion only of a surface of an annular blank and causing said roll to advance con-. tinuously, in the course of the reduction of the blank, laterally as well asperpendicularly to the surface upon which pressure is being applied, and simultaneously forging the remainder of the said surface outward laterally with respect to the direction of advance of said roll.

4. Process of forming a metal article having an extended flange portion, in which the flange and body portions of the article are developed simultaneously and in the same proportion as these portions bear in the finished article, which comprises applying rolling pressure to a portion only of a surface of a blank and causing said roll to advance continuously, in the course of the reduction of the blank, laterally as well as perpendicularly to the surface upon which pressure is being applied, and simultaneously forging the remainder of the said surface outward a body portion of cross-section different from that of the said flange'portion, comprising a roll havin rolling surfaces intersecting in a plane su stantially at right angles to the axis of rotation of said roll, means for supporting a metal blank of initially rectangularcross-section inoperative relation to said roll, and means for moving-said roll against a portion but not all of the surface of oneside of said flange and for causing it to advance in the course of the reduction of the blank in a straight path and in a direction substantially at right angles to the axis of ';aid roll and at an angle to said blank surace.

6. Apparatus forforming flanged metal articles, comprising .a roll having rolling atright angles to the axis of rotation of said roll, means for supporting an annular metal blank in operative relation to said roll, means for causing relative movement between said roll and said blank, in the course of the re; duction of the blank, in a straight path and in a direction substantially at right angles to the axis of said roll, and means causing the annular blank to revolve in rolling contact with said roll.

7. Apparatus for forming flanged metal articles, comprising rolls 'for supporting an annular blank, a roll mounted above said blank and having rolling surfacesintersecting in a plane substantially at right angles to the axis of rotation of said roll, a'roll engaging the inner surface of said annular blank, and means for adjusting the rolls to and from one'another and for causing said blank to revolve in rolling engagement-with said rolls.

8 Apparatus for forming flanged metal articles, comprising a roll having rolling sursurfaces intersecting in a plane substantially faces intersecting in a plane substantially at right angles to the axis of rotation of said roll, means for causing relative-movement between said roll. and a blank of initially" rectangular cross-section, in the course of the i bdu'ction of the blank, in a. path defined by a straight line passing through the line of ins tersection of thesurfaces of said blank re mote from the portions being worked by said roll, and means for causing rollingcontact between said roll and said blank.

9.: Process of forming annular metal articles having a high hub portion and an extended flange portion, in which the flange and hub portions of the "article are devel- .oped simultaneously in the same proportion as these portions bear in the-finished articles, which comprises forming, a metal .blank with hub and flange portions, bringing a rolling member into contact-withjhe intersecting surfaces of said hub and-flangepOrtiOnS, imparting rolling pressure from said member to said blank, and causing said member to adyance, in the course of the reduction of the

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