US1992360A - Cross-roll delivery table - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 26, 1935. A. P. DIESCHER v CROSS ROLL DELIVERY TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 3, 1955 M. Mme/$0 M Feb. 26, 1935. A. P. DIESCHER CROSS ROLL DELIVERY TABLE Filed March 3, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I/YVENTOI? $1M ATTORNEYS BY 624W,

Feb. 26, 1931 p sc 1,992,360

CROSS ROLL DELIVERY TABLE Filed March 5, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet s //V l/E N TOR FIG 14 @527; Waryw ATTOFPNE Y8 Patented Feb. 26, 1935 UNl'lE D STATES 1,992,300 (moss-non. DELIVERY TABLE August P. Diescher, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Diescher Tube Mills, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa., a f corporation of Delaware Application March a, 1933, Serial No. 659,530

19 Claims. "(01. 80-11) My invention relates to tube-making apparatus, and particularly to delivery tables for receiving rapidly rotating and longitudinally moving tubes from cross-rolls.

In the operation of mills comprisingcrossrolls for reducing the wall thickness of tubular blanks, the walls of the finished tubes may be relatively thin, especially when the tubes are of large diameter. In reducing the wall thickness of and elongating tubular blanks by means of cross-rolls it is customary to employ a mandrel having adiameter which is of such size as to loosely flt therein.

'Mandrels of required size and of suflicient strength to resist the pressure of the cross-rolls in reducing the wall thickness of tubular blanks being worked thereby are relatively heavy, as will be appreciated. When the delivered tube formed orptherwise damaged by the weight of the mandrel. as a result of the impacts received by the walls when the tube and the mandrel are delivered to the receiving devices.

Furthermore, when the rapidly rotating tubes are received by a delivery table having rollers or other devices for engaging the tubesthat are not rotatable therewith, or if there is considerable relative movement between the tubes and the engaging surfaces, the outer surfaces of the tubes may be marred or scratched by the relatively stationary surfaces, and such damage may be suflicient to cause their rejection. Tubes are liable to be so damaged irrespective of the weight of the mandrel and 'whether they contain a mandrel or not, although the liability of their being so damaged is of course greater when they contain a heavy mandrel.

In accordance with the present invention, I provide a delivery table'in which the members for receiving and directly supporting the tubes and mandrels delivered from the cross-rolls are rollers which are mounted to rotate with the rapidly rotating tubes without relative movement between the engaging surfaces of the tubes and rollers. Most desirably and according to'an important feature of the present invention, these table rollers are rotatable upon axes parallel to the longitudinal path of the tubes and are bodily movable along this path. The speed of this axial movement may be as desired, but preferably it does not vary from that of the longitudinal move-4 mentpf the tubes to such extent that damage to the outer surfaces of the tubes may occur. It is obvious that the most desirable speed from the standpoint of relative movement would be that equal to the speed of longitudinal movement of the tube, although for practical purposes the speed may vary somewhat therefrom without 5 danger of damage to the tube.

Certain of these receiving rollers are substantially directly beneath the tube and the mandrel contained therein in order that the tube may be directly supported at its lowermost portion upon which the mandrel rests. Accordingly, there will be no deformation of the walls of the tube by the weight of the mandrel such as might be caused if the tube were supported entirely at other points.

Certain of the rotatable and movable receiving rollers are arranged to engage the tube on opposite sides thereof in order to act as guide rollers while the tube is rotating and is supported at least in part by the rollers directly therebeneath.

The effect of the provision of rollers arranged in the manner described above is to insure that relative movements between the enga in surfaces of the tubes and the supporting means 5 therefor of the delivery table are so limited that scratches or other marks on the surface of the finished tube are avoided or are so slight as not to be objectionable.'- Also, deformation or other' damage of the relatively thin hot walls of the 3() tube is avoidedbecause the tube is supported substantially directly beneath the portionsupon which the mandrel is supported. Furthermore, the rollers of the delivery table are provided with slightly convex surfaces and rounded edges. have thereby eliminated the usual sharp edges of such rollers which are a possible source of damage to the tubes.

The details of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, 0 in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a cross-roll mill and a portion of a delivery table therefor constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a view partially in elevation and partially in section on line IIII of the apparatus of Fig. 1 and a tube being worked by the cross-rolls; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line III-III of Fig. 6; Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevation of a filler block for'the delivery table and parts associated therewith; Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a mandrel raising device shown in Figs. .1 and 2; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the delivery table and certain associated apparatus; Fig. '7 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 6, showing some parts of the apparatus not shown 5b of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a vertical section on line IX-IX- of Fig. 6; Fig. 10 is an enlarged plan view of a link carrying two spaced rollers; Fig. 11. is a similar view of a link carrying a single roller; Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the delivery tablecomprising a pair of rollers in engagement with a tube; Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 illustrating a single roller in position for supporting a tube andmandrel; and Fig. 14 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a cylinder and associated parts of the mandrel-stripping mechanism.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the cross-rolling mill'l shown comprises a pair of oppositely disposed cross-rolls 2 and 3 having their axes inclined to each other and to the line of feed of a blank between them. Disposed between the cross-rolls and on opposite sides of the pass between them is a pair of adjustably mounted grooved guide rolls or discs 4 and 5 arranged on horizontal axes'and adapted to be driven in any suitable manner by means of drive shafts 6 and '7.

Whilethe apparatus of the present invention is adapted to be employed with mills embodying cross-rolls of substantially any type, the structure of the mill may correspond, for example, to that of the wall reducing and elongating mill shown and described in S'. E. Diescher Patent No. 1,870,- 209, granted August 2, 1932.

A tubular blank 9 and a mandrel 10 therein, and a portion of each of which is shown in Fig. 2 in,an intermediate position in the pass between the cross-rolls 2 and 3, are adapted to be received by a delivery table 11, only a portion of which is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The complete delivery table 11 is shown in Figs. Band '7, and enlarged details thereof are illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 and 9 to 13, inclusive.

The delivery table 11 comprises an endless chain 12 that is mounted upon a stationary frame work 13 and is adapted to be actuated by two spaced'sprockets 14 at the forward or right-hand end of the table as viewed in Fig. '7. At the opposite end of the table the chain 12 passes over idler sprockets 15.

The stationary framework 13 is divided into two sections 16 and 1'7. The section 16 is stationary except that its height may be adjusted' The section 17 is longitudinally movable in order to adjust the length of the framework to adjust the amount of slack in the chain. As best shown in Fig. 7 and in enlarged detail in Fig. 4, the sections 16 and 17 are normally connected at adjacent ends on each side by means of what may be termed a "flller block 18.

A number of filler blocks or spacing blocks of various lengths may be made available in order that the length of the supporting framework 13 may be adjusted as desired. When the filler blocks 18 have been removed the movable section 17 may be shifted to shorten or lengthen the table as desired by means of a screw-threaded shaft 19 having a handwheel 20 thereon and which operates to move a supporting casting 21 along a guideway in a base 22. Other filler blocks of appropriate length may then be inserted. Both the stationary and the movable sections of the frame 13 may be adjusted as to height by means of jacks 23 which are detachably 'connected by couplings 24 in order that they may be operated either individually or simultaneously by any suitable manual or power-operated means.

The chain 12 comprises a series of pairs of spaced links 25 and spaced links 26 which alternate with each other throughout the length of the chain. Each third pair of links 25, one of which pairs is shown in enlarged detail in Figs. 1,0 and 12, is provided with an upright bracket 2'7 upon which are mounted two rollers 28 having their .axes parallel to the axis of a tube supported there- The links 25 and 26 are provided at their sides with pairs of rollers 29 that are adapted to roll upon a track 30 upon the tops of both sections of the frame 13.

Each third pair of links 26, which alternate with the pairs of links 25, is provided with an upright bracket 32 upon which is mounted a single roller 33 having its axis parallel to the axis of a tube supported thereon and which is adapted to engage tubes thereon substantially directly therebeneath. The roller 33 is mounted upon an arm 34, one end of which has a pivotal support at 35 and the other end of which is vertically adjustable by means of a stud bolt 36 threaded into the bracket 32 and a nut 3'7 thereon. This vertical adjustment of the rollers 33 relative to the rollers 28 is provided in 'order to insure the proper contact of all of the rollers with tubes of diiferent diameters.

The lower portion of the chain when passing beneath the movable section 1'7 is supported upon' guideways 39 of angle shape that are illustrated in Figs. 3 and '7. A curved guideway 40 is provided at each end of the table and in extension of the track 30. These guideways 40, which are illustrated in Figs. 2 and '7, insure that the several vlinks'25 and 26 are transferred between the lower horizontal portion of the chain and the upper horizontal portion gradually and without shock or jar such as might be caused if the links changed their paths of movement abruptly.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3, '7, 8 and 9, two beams42 extend above the delivery table 11 and have suspended therefrom a series of covers 43 for limiting lateral movements of tubes while carried upon the rollers'28 and 33. Each of the covers 43 comprises a pair of oppositely disposed inclined blocks 44 that are .laterally adjustable by means of a screw 45 having right-hand and left-hand threads, and which may be engaged by a crank or wrench at its outer end to suitably space the blocks 44 .to adapt them for tubes of various diameters. v

The cross-rolls 2 and 3 may be driven by means of a motor 46, a' gear stand 47, and spindles 48 and 49 that are respectively connected to the cross-rolls 2 and 3. The guide discs 4 and 5 are driven through their respective shafts 6 and '7 by means of suitable power devices such as electric motors, not shown.

The endless chain 12 is driven by means of a motor 51 and a gear mechanism 52 that is connected by universal joints 53 to a shaft 54 having thereon a one-way clutch 55 which drives the sprockets 14. The provision of the one-way clutch permits the chain 12 to be drivenby the longitudinal movement of tubes thereon in case the rate of movement of the tubes exceeds that at which the chain is being driven by the motor 51.

The motor 51 and gear mechanism 52 are adjustable to confrom with the position of shaft 54 and sprockets 14 by means of a screw 56 and a hand wheel 5'7. The universal joints 53 permit relative horizontal or vertical adjustments of the sprockets 14 and shaft 54 and the gear mechanism 52.

Mandrel-stripping mechanism, which is located at the end of the delivery table adjacent the mill 1 and is clearly shown in Fig. 8, comprises two fluid pressure cylinders 58, the details of one of which are illustrated in Fig. 14. A piston 59 in each of the cylinders is provided with a plunger 60 having a block 61, Fig. 8, at the outer end thereof that is adapted either to engage the side of a tube or to act as an abutment against the end of the tube while the mandrel is being removed therefrom. The details of the mandrel-stripping mechanism constitute no part of the present invention but are described and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 672,250, filed May 22, 1933.

A mandrel-lifting mechanism is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, and it comprises a fluid pressure cylinder 63 that is connected by means of a plunger 64 to a member 65 for supporting a roller 66. The member 65 is guided in its vertical movements by two bolts 67 extending through openings in the member 65 and provided with nuts 68 that are adjustable to limit the upward movement of the member 65 and its roller 66.

It may be assumed that a tubular blank such asthe blank 9 shown in Fig. 2 is passing through the cross-rolls 2 and 3 and contains a mandrel 10 therein. The cross-rolls operate to rotate the tube and the mandrel relatively rapidly and also to advance them longitudinally, although not necessarily atthe same rate of longitudinal movement.

As the tube 9 and mandrel 10 advance to the right, as viewed in Figs. 2, 6 and 7, the forward end of the tube first engages rollers 28 or a roller 33 of the delivery table 11 dependent upon the relative positions of the tube and the chain. The tube is successively engaged by other rollers 28 and 33 following those initially engaged as the corresponding links of the chain 12 move upward over the sprockets 15 and guideways 40 to theupper leveland beneath the tube.

The rollers 28 and 33 are adapted to rotate with the tube, whereby there is little or no relative rotative movement between these-parts. .Also, the longitudinal movement of the chain is such that any relative longitudinal movement between the rollers and the tube is not sufilcient to cause any objectionable damage such as scratches or marks upon the outer surfaces of the tube. In case the tube emerges from the cross-rolls at a speed greater than that of the longitudnal movement of the chain, the latter may be actuated faster than its driving connections by reason of the provision of the one-way clutch 55 which permits the chain to move faster than it is driven by the motor 51. e

While the tube and mandrel are upon the rollers 28 and 33, the spaced rollers 28 guide the tube in its longitudinal movement in proper position upon the central supporting rollers 33, and also partially support the tube and mandrel. The tube and mandrel are principally supported, however, by the rollers 33, which are substantially directly beneath the. portion of the tube for supporting the mandrel.

When the mandrel is smaller in diameter than the completed tube, the weight of the mandrel is supported by a relatively narrow portion of the tube, the wall of which may be relatively thin and hot. The single rollers 33, which are substantially directly beneath this narrow portion, may be provided in such number and such extent of hearing surface that there is no tendency to deform the walls of the tube by reason of the weight of the mandrel supported thereby.

The movement of the chain 12 and the rotation of the cross-rolls continue until the tubular blank has passed completely through the mill and the completed tube is supported entirely by the rollers 28 and 33. When the tube and mandrel are no longer rotated by the cross-rolls, their rotation soon ceases because of the retarding eflectof the rollers 28 and 33 upon which they are supported. The movement of the chain 12 is then stopped for the purpose of removing the mandrel from the tube. 1

The mandrel 10, which is preferably in the form of a hollow cylinder, may be withdrawn while the tube is clamped between the jaws 61 ofthe mandrel-stripping mechanism. The latter may also serve as abutments for the end of the tube adjacent the mill 1, when, for example, the apparatus is of the type in which the mandrel is secured to a movable mandrel head at the entrance side of the mill 1 which is withdrawn topass of the iness for a succeeding operation.

When the mandrel has been'withdrawn from the tube, the latter may be transferred laterally from the chain12 or the chain may beagain operated to convey the tube to any suitable position along the path of the chain for transfer to skids or other suitable device for conveying the finished tube to a suitable location for other processing or for cooling and storage.

From the foregoing it will be noted that I have provided an arrangement by means of which a rotating and longitudinally moving tube even though it has relatively thin hot walls and contains a relatively heavy mandrel may be received without danger of deforming or otherwise damaging the walls of the tube, either by reason of relative movement between the tube and its supporting means, or of the weight of the mandrel contained therein. This result is secured by providing a supporting means for the tube that rotates with the latter, while at the same time moving longitudinally at a speed that sufficientlyv The tubes emerge from the cross-rolls with a 4 helical movement, the angle of which depends upon the ratio of longitudinal movement to the rotative movement. livery table rotate about axes parallel to those of the tubes, their movement longitudinally or ax-' While the rollers of the debetween the engaging surfaces of the rollers and p the tube. Accordingly, the outer surface of the tube is not marred by scoring or scratching as might be the case if such relative movements were not eliminated.

The delivery table is of relatively simple construction and occupies little or no more space than that required for delivery tables of the prior art which do not provide the advantages that are present in the improved table that I have provided.

While I have shown and described a specific ar-' rangement of the supporting and guide rollers on their respective supporting links of the chain, other suitable arrangements for securing similar results with respect to elimination of relative movements between tubes and the receiving means therefor may be employed within the scope of my invention.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus of the present invention is suitable for use in connection with either hot or cold tubes.

The foregoing and other advantages will be appreciated by those skilled in the art of constructing and operating apparatus for producing and handling seamless tubes and mandrels therefor.

I claim: V

1. A table for receiving tubes from cross-rolls that rotate said tubes while advancing them longitudinally, said table comprising a series of rollers adapted to support and to rotate with said tubes, about axes parallel to the tube axis, and power driven means independent of said tubes for moving said rollers along the longitudinal path of said tubes, whereby a rotating and longitudinally moving tube may be received by said table substantially without relative movement between the engaging surfaces of the tube and table.

2. A. table for receiving tubes of relatively large diameter and having relatively thin walls from cross-rolls that rotate said tubes at relatively high speed while advancing them relatively slowly longitudinally, said table comprising a series of rollers adapted to support and to rotate with said tubes about axes parallel to the tube axis, and power-driven means independent of said tubes for moving said rollers along the longitudinal path of said tubes, said moving means comprising an endless member upon which said rollers are supported.

3. A table for receiving tubes from cross-rolls that rotate said tubes at relatively high speed while advancing them relatively slowly longitudinally, said table comprising a series of rollers adapted to support and to rotate with said tubes about axes parallel to the tube axis, and means along the longitudinal path of said tubes, said moving means comprising an endless chain for carrying said rollers at a speed approximately that of the longitudinal movement of said tubes, and power means for driving said chain.

4. Apparatus for receiving from cross-rolls tubes containing a relatively heavy mandrel of smaller diameter than the surrounding tube, said apparatus comprisinga series of rollers spaced along the path of said tube as it is delivered from said cross-rolls for supporting said tube thereon for rotation about its axis, certain of said rollers being arranged to engage the bottom portion of said tube upon which the mandrel therein is supported and other of said rollers being arranged to engage said tube to guide the latter in its movements.

5. Apparatus for receiving from cross-rolls tubes containing a relatively heavy mandrel of smaller diameter than the surrounding tube,

said apparatus comprising a series of rollers spaced along the path of said tube as it is delivered from said cross-rolls for supporting said tube therein for rotation about its axis, certain of said rollers being arranged singly to engage the bottom portion of the tube upon which the mandrel therein is supported and other of said rollers being arranged in pairs to engage opposite sides of said tube to guide the latter in its movements.

6. Apparatus for receiving from cross-rolls tubes containing a relatively heavy mandrel oi smaller diameter than the surrounding tube, said apparatus comprising a series oi. rollers spaced along the path of said tube as it is delivered from said cross-rolls and for supporting said tube thereon for rotation about its axis, certain of said rollers being arranged in groups consisting of pairs of spaced rollers for serving as guides for said tubes and alternating with single rollers for supporting the lowermost portion of said tube upon which is supported the mandrel contained insaid tube.

7. Apparatus for receiving from cross roll s tubes containing a relatively heavy mandrel of smaller diameter than the surrounding tube said apparatus comprising a series of rollers having axes parallel to the tube axis and spaced along the path of said tube as it is delivered from said cross-rolls for supporting said tube thereon for rotation about its axis, certain of said rollers being arranged to engage the bottom portion of said tube upon which the mandrel therein is supported and other of said rollers being arranged to engage said tube to guide the latter in its movements, and means comprising an endless chain for moving said rollers along the path of said tube.

8. Apparatus for receiving from cross-rolls tubes containing a relatively heavy mandrel of smaller diameter than the surrounding tube, said apparatus comprising a series of rollers having axes parallel to the tube axis spaced along the path of said tube as it is delivered from said cross-rolls for supporting said tube thereon for rotation about its axis, certain of said rollers being arranged to engage the bottom portion of said tube upon which the mandrel therein is supported and other of said rollers being arranged to engage said tube to guide the latter in its movement, and an endless chain to which said rollers are secured and which is adapted to move said rollers along the path of said tube at a speed approximately that of said tube.

9. A table for receiving tubes of relatively large diameter and having relatively thin walls from cross-rolls that rotate said tubes at relatively high speed while advancing them relatively slowly longitudinally, said table comprising a longitudinal series of members for rotating with a tube supported thereon, and power-driven means independent of said tube for actuating said members along the longitudinal path of said tube at substantially the speed thereof, whereby there is substantially no relative movemerit between the engaging surfaces of a tube and said members.

10. Apparatus for receiving from cross-rolls tubes containing a relatively heavy mandrel, said apparatus comprising means beneath the tube and its contained mandrel and in approximate vertical alignment with the axes thereof for supporting them and for-rotating with said tube, and means for actuating the supporting means longitudinally with said tube.

11. Apparatus for receiving from cross-rolls tubes containing a relatively heavy mandrel of smaller diameter than the surrounding tube, said apparatus comprising means in approximate vertical alignment with the axes of a tube and its contained mandrel for supporting them and for rotating with said tube, and means for moving the rotatable supporting means along the longitudinal path of said tube while the latter is supported thereon.

12. The combination with a pair of cross-rolls from which tubes emerge with a helical movement, of a delivery table for receiving said tubes and comprising rollers for engaging said tubes and rotatable therewith, the axes of the rollers being parallel with the tube axis, and means independent of the movement of said cross-rolls and said tubes for moving said rollers longitudinally while they are rotating, whereby the resultant movements of the points of the surfaces of said rollers are helical.

13. The combination with a pair of cross-rolls from which tubes emerge with a helical movement, of a delivery table for receiving said tubes and comprising rollers for engaging said tubes and rotatable therewith, the axes of the rollers being parallel with the tube axis, and powerdriven means for moving said rollers longitudinally while they are rotating and at approxitnately the same speed as that of the longitudinal movement of the tubes, whereby the angle of the resulting helical movement of the points of the surfaces of said rollers is approximately that of the movement of the tubes.

14. A table for receiving tubes from cross-rolls that rotate the tubes while advancing them longitudinally, said table comprising a series of rollers adapted to support and to rotate with the tubes, an endless chain on which said rollers are mounted, and driving means for moving said chain to carry said rollers along the path of the tube at a speed approximately that of the longitudinal movement of the tube, said driving means including a one-way clutch whereby the chain and rollers are free to be moved by a tube moving faster than the chain is moved by the driving means.

15. Cross-rolling apparatus comprising a pair of cross-rolls, a delivery table for receiving tubes having mandrels therein from said cross-rolls, said mandrels being retractable through said cross-rolls for a subsequent operation, and mandrel supporting means between said cross-rolls and said delivery table for engaging a mandrel during its return movement and thereby relieving the tube from supporting said mandrel while the latter is retracted.

16. Cross-rolling apparatus comprising a pair of cross-rolls, a delivery table for receiving tubes having mandrels therein from said cross-rolls, said mandrels being retractable through said cross-rolls for a subsequent operation, and mandrel supporting means between said cross-rolls and said delivery table for engaging a mandrel during its return movement and thereby relieving the tube from supporting said mandrel while the latter is retracted, said supporting means being vertically adjustable whereby it may be moved into and out of operative position.

17. Apparatus for receiving rotating tubes from cross-rolls comprising a delivery table having rollers for guiding the longitudinal movement of said tubes and rollers for supporting said tubes, and means for efl'ecting relative vertical adjustment of the guide rollers and the supporting rollers to adapt them for cooperation with tubes of various diameters.

18. Apparatus for receiving rotating tubes from cross-rolls comprising a delivery table having centrally disposed supporting rollers and guide rollers laterally spaced from the line of supporting rollers for engaging said tubes,- and means for adjusting the vertical positions of said supporting rollers to insure proper engagement of all said rollers with tubes of different diameters.

19. The combination with a pair of cross-rolls from which tubes emerge with a helical movement, of a delivery table for receiving and supporting said tubes and comprising rotatable rollers having surfaces for engaging said tubes, and power-driven means for moving said rollers axially thereof at approximately the same rate as the longitudinal. progression of the tubes, whereby the points of the surfaces of said mlhrs move in helical paths.

AUGUST P. DIESCHIR.

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

- Patent No. 1,992,360. .February 26, 1935.

AUGUST' P. DIESCHER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, first column, line 28, claim 13, after 'means" insert the words independent of said cross-rolls and saidtubes; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 9m day at April, A. n. 1935.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) I Acting bfimmissioner of Patents

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