US319693A - Rolling-mill plant - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. GARRETT.

ROLLING MILL PLANT.

No. 319,693. Patented June 9, 1885.

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ATTORN N. PUERSL Photolllhcgnphar. Washinglou, DJ.

UNITED STATES PATENT. QFFI WILLIAM GARRETT, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

' ROLLING-MILL PLANT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 319,693, dated June 9, 1885.

Application filed January 7 18%. (Xo model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

, Be it known that I, WILLIAM GARRETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pitts burg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Rolling-Mill Plants, of which improvements-the following is a specification.

In the accompanying drawings,which make part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved rolling-mill plant. Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modified arrangement of the intermediate and finishing rolls. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the billet-train. Fig. 4 is a like view of the intermediate rolls. Fig. 5 is a front elevation showing one of the arrangements of the finishing-rolls.

My invention relates to a rollingmill plant for heating and reducing a steel bloomsay, two feet long and four inches by four (more or less) in cross-section'at one heat by a continuous rolling operation to merchantable lengths of hoop and other merchantable sizes of iron or steel, as round, square, and flats.

Heretofore in working such blooms into hoops it has been necessary to first reduce such bloom,after being properly heated,to the form of bars one and a quarter inch square, more or less, such reduction being effected by suitable rolls known as billet train. These bars were then cut up into lengths suitable for forming a length of hoop, and these sections of bars were then reheated and passed through a hoop-train. The necessity for cutting the bars into sections arises from the fact that it is not practicable to roll hoop-iron of uniform size in lengths greater than one hundred and thirty feet, as the form to which the bar or billet is reduced-i. e.,thin and broad presents such alarge radiating surface that in rolling greater lengths than that above specified the rear end of the bar becomes too cool for reduction by the rolls; consequently in rolling greater lengths either the rolls spring sufficiently to allow the cool portions to pass through without proper reduction, or else the rolls break in the attempt to pass such cooled portions between them.

To overcome the above-mentioned obstacles in the reduction of blooms to hoop or other merchant-able forms of iron or steel ,the bloom,

after being properly heated, is reduced by suitable rolls to bar or billet form,and the bar or billet is then moved to shears located to one side of the billettrain and cut into lengths,

such as can be practically reduced to the desired form in suitable finishing-rolls; but this mode of procedure-i e., rolling to billet form, transferring to the shears, and then carrying the severed sections to the finishingrolls-is objectionable on account of the time consumed in such steps and the cooling of the iron during such manipulation, it being impracticable to effect these steps with sufficient celerity to permit all the sections into which the billet is divided to be rolled to finished form without a reheating of one or more sections before passing them through the finishing-rolls.

In my improved plant and the mechanism employed therein, a bloom having the dimensions above stated, or even of greater dimensions, can, after being properly heated, be reduced to hoop or other form having uniform gage and length by one operation. By that I mean that the bloom is reduced successively to billet, bar, and hoop, or other form by a continuous operation without reheating anypart or section thereof, the rapidity and continuity of the operation being such that the initial heat of the bloom is sufficient to permit of its complete reduction to finished form.

The heating-furnaces A A are of any suitable form and construction, and in convenient proximity thereto is located the billet-train B, driven by the engine repcsented at 2, power being transmitted from the engine to the billet-train by suitable shafts. The blooms are reduced to the bar form by repeated back and forth passes between the rolls 3, t, and 5 of said train. The series of grooves of the rolls composing the billet-train are constructed and proportioned for the progressive reduction of the bloom to billet form. The last rolls of the train, through which the billet is passed only once, are formed either with a plain surface or tongue and groove for the production of a fiat bar; also, they may be provided with grooves for the production of square, round, or oval bars or billets. From the last pass, which is between the rolls 5, the bar is conducted alonga trough, 6, of any suitable construction, to the intermediate or feed rolls or train, 0, which consists of the pinions 8 and a pair of rolls, 7, mounted in housings-9,. the rolls 7 being provided with suitable collar and groove, respectively, for reducing the billet or bar to a form adapted for the operation of the finishing-train.

Intermediate between the billet'train B and the feed-rolls G is located any suitable shearing or cutting mechanism, 9, the operative blades 10 of such mechanism being located in the path of the billet or bar on its passage from the billet to the feed or intermediate rolls or train. This shearing mechanism is so constructed as to be capable of rapid or instantaneous operation during the passage of the billet or' bar, andso that the blades will normally stand open to permit of the passage of the bar.

' \Vhile I consider it within the scope of my invention to locate the shearing mechanism at any point along the path of the bar between the two rolls 5 and 7, I consider it the best practice to pivot the blades to'the front side of'the standards of the housings 9 of the intermediate rolls or to some suitable frame im mediately in front of said housings.

The shearing mechanism may be constructed to be operated either by hand or automatically at certain intermediate intervals,through suitable connections from one of the shafts of the rolls 7. V v

The bar or billet passes along the trough leading from the billet to-the intermediate rolls or train. It passes between the open blades of the shearing mechanism and into the bite of the rolls 7, and as soon as a sufiicient length; to form the desired length of finished product has been drawn by rolls 7 through the blades, the latter are operated. to sever said bar, one section of such severed bar passing on between the rolls 7 to a finishing train, presently to be described, and the other section remaining in the trough 6 with its front end in such close and convenient proximity to the rolls Z that the attendant can insert such end into the bite of the rolls with little loss of time. In fact the delay incident to the severing and feeding of the remaining portion of the bar is so short that the operation may be considered as uninterrupted or continuous. 1

The billettrainand intermediate rolls or train maybe located in such proximity to each -other that the billet-train will act as a feed to the intermediate rolls, in which case the shearing mechanism should be constructed in such a manner as to effect a severance of the bar withoutan appreciable delayin the movement of the bar or billet.

The train B and rolls or train 0 should. be located in such relation to each other and at such a distance apart as to permit of the repeated passes back'andforth of the bloom between the rolls'of the billet-train necessaryfor itsreduction to: bar or billet form. The delivery or last pairof rolls-5'of the billet-train and the intermediate feed-rolls, 7, should, as

the-billet or bar is passed through between two above stated, be arranged in a common line of feed, and, as I prefer, at such a distance apart that the rear end of the billet will es- 7o cape from the delivery-rolls 5 before itis necessary to sever the bar passing through the feed-rolls 7.- Thus itwill be seen that the rolls 5 of the billet-train act as a feed to the rolls 7 while a portion of the bar is passing through the rolls 7, but that such feed is stopped just before the bar is severed by the shears. The trough 6, when rounds or squares are to be rolled, should be of such a size in cross-sectionas to permit of the bar or billet being given a quarterturn during its passage from the billet to the intermediate rolls or train, such turning being effected by the workman with tongs; or any suitable turning mechanism may be located between the two trains.

The rolls 7 of. the intermediate train are constructed, respectively, with a collar and groove, forming between them a passage for the baror-billet, and the several sections of the bar or billet as they leave therolls- 7 pass 0 along the trough 11, and are fed intothe rolls 12, said rolls being arranged in a direct line of feed from the rolls 7 and 5 of the intermediate and billet trains B G. From the rolls 12 or more pairs of rolls, 13 and 14, for the reduction of the bar or billet to hoop or other form of product. The rolls 12 and 13 are provided, respectively, with. collars and grooves, as in the case of therolls 7 but these rolls are so arranged that the position of the collars and grooves on the rolls 13, next adjacent to the rolls 7, is reversed-4. 6., if the collar be on the upper roll of the pair 7 it will be on the lower roll of the pair 12 and the upper roll of the pair 13, and so on for as many rolls as may be employed.

In the corners at the bottom of the grooves are formed, as is usual, fillets for the reduction or rolling down of fins which may be formed. By the alternating arrangement described the fin, which will be formed along the edges of the side of the bar in contact with the collar in one pass or set of rolls, will be reduced by the fillets in the grooves inthe next succeeding pass or rolls.

The last pair of rolls, 14, in the finishing rolls or train should be made plain, as shown, as in the ordinary practice in rolling hoops; but in rolling rounds or squares said rolls are provided with grooves properly shaped for their production.

The rolls 12, 13, and 14 are arranged alongside of each other, and have journals coupled together, so as to be driven by the same power, and the billet or bar is guided, as-it leaves the rolls 12, to-the roll 13, and thence to the'rolls let, by curved troughs, such as are well known in the art; or they may be. so fed by catchers and feeders.

In order to increase the capacity of the plant I prefer to arrange twoother pairsof rolls, 15and 16, similar in-all respects to the rolls 13 and 14, on theopposite side of the rolls 12, as shown in Fig. 5, said rolls being coupled to the 'rolls 12 in the same manner as the'rolls 13 and 14, and also being provided, if desirable, with curved guides for feeding the bar or billet from the rolls 15 to the rolls 16. In the use of this double train, as I term it, the sections of the bar or billet are fed, as they leave the rolls 12, alternately to the rolls 13 and 15, at the judgment of the catcher, the curved guide being dispensed with in the double mill. By this arrangement of the rolls and the alternate feeding'the bars or billets can be fed quicklyinto the rolls 12, either the one or the other of the rolls 13 and 15 being always in readiness for operation.

In lieu of the above-described arrangement of rolls 13 and 14z'. 6., with their axes in line with the axes of the rolls 12said rolls l3 and 14 may be arranged with their grooves in line with the grooves of the rolls 12 or, in other words, the rolls 12, 13, and 14 may be arranged ina common line of feed and in close proximity to each other and to the rolls 7, as shown in Fig. 2. In this arrangement the speed of the rolls 12, 13, and 14 should be increased in proportion to the reduction and consequent elongation of the bar as effected by the rolls 7, 12, and 13. The bar or billet is guided from the rolls 12 to the rolls 13, and thence to the rolls 14 by short troughs.

In rolling some forms of merchantable iron the two pairs of rolls 13 and 14 will not be sufficient to effect the proper reduction, in which case an additional pair of rolls may be arranged alongside of the rolls 14 or 16, or

-both, and in line therewith; or in case the plant shown in Fig. 2 is used, such additional rolls will be arranged in the line of feed of the bar. These rolls 12, 13, 14, &c., are for convenience termed finishing-rolls.

From the last pass of the finishing-rolls the bars are passed along a suitable trough to the planishing-rolls 18 or 19, and from thence the finished product passes along onto the hotbeds 19, where they are trimmed and bundled for shipment. These planished rolls are constructed with plain surfaces when hoop-iron is being rolled; but in rolling other forms of merchantable iron these rolls will be provided with grooves corresponding in shape to the cross-section of the form being rolled. The intermediate rolls, 7, finishing- rolls 12, 13, and 14, and planishing-rolls 18 are driven by the engine shown at 20, intermediate between the finishing and planishing rolls. The shaft of this engine is provided with pulleys 21 and 22, the pulley 21 being connected by a belt, 23, with the pulley 24 on a shaft connected by suitable couplings with the middle line of rolls ofthe finishing-trains, the upper and lower line of rolls being driven from the middle line by intermeshing pinions 25. On a shaft driven by the upper line of rolls is mounted a pulley, 26, said pulley being connected by a belt, 27,

V with a pulley, 28, mounted on a shaft coupled to the lower of the intermediate rolls, 7 the upper rollbeing driven from thelower rollby suitable intermeshingpinions, 8. The pulley 22 on the engine-shaft is connected with the pulley 30, connected to the planishing-rolls. These various pulleys are so proportioned that one hundred revolutions of the engine will give a speed of two hundred revolutions to the intermediate rolls, three hundred revolutions to the finishing-rolls, and three hundred and thirty revolutions to the planishing-rolls.

I do not wish to be understood as confining myself to the above speeds, as the rolls'may be driven faster or slower, and the proportionate speeds may be varied in accordance with the elongation efiected in the various trains; nor do I wish to confine myself to the form of rolls employed for rolling hoop-iron, as other forms of rolls suitable for the production of Various forms of merchantable iron--e; 9., rounds, squares, or flats-may be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Whcnthe finishing-rolls are arranged in a common line of feed, as shown in Fig. 2, the rolls 7, 13, and 14 are driven from the rolls 12, which are driven by the belt 23 by means of suitable gearing, as shown, such gearing being proportioned to give increasing speeds to the rolls 13 and 14, and the rolls 7 a lower speed than the rolls 12; and in this arrangement of the plant I may arrange a pair of planishing-rolls alongside of the last pair of finishing-rolls, as shown, said auxiliary planishing-rolls being driven by a belt passing over a pulley mounted on an extension of the engineshaft, as shown.

In the production of some forms of merchantable iron it may be desirable to increase the number of rolls or passes beyond that shown, and I therefore do not wish to limit myself to the number of rolls shown and described.

I claim herein as my inventioml. A rolling-mill plant for rolling hoop and other forms of merchant-able iron directly from blooms, having in combination abillet-train, hoop-finishing rolls, an intermediate pair of rolls, 7, and a shearing mechanism located in the line of feed of the bar or billet as it passes from the billet to the intermediate rolls, substantially as set forth.

2. A rolling-mill plant for rolling hoop and other forms of merchantable iron directly from blooms, having in combination a billet-train, intermediate or feed rolls, said rolls being arranged in or approximately in line with the delivery-rolls of the billet-train, and a shearing mechanism located in the line of feed of the bar or billet as it passes from the billet to lithe intermediate rolls, substantially as set orth.

3. A rolling-mill plant for rolling hoop and the finishing-rolls; and -shearing mechanism mounted on the housings of the intermediate rolls, substantially as set forth.

4. A rolling-mill plant for rolling hoop and other forms of merchantable iron directly from blooms, having in Combination a billet't-rain, an intermediate pair of rolls, said rolls being arranged in or approximately in line with the delivery-rolls of the billet -train, shearing mechanism arranged in the line of feed of the bar or billet as it passes to the intermediate rolls, three or more pairs of finishing rolls, one of said pairs being arranged in or approximately in line with the inter-mediate rolls, and planishing-rolls, substantially as set forth.

5. A rolling-mill plant for rolling hoop andother forms of merchantable iron directly from blooms, having in combination a billet-train, an intermediate pair of rolls, said rolls being 2o arranged in or approximately in line with the I delivery rolls of the billet train, shearing mechanism arranged in the line of feed of the bar or billet as it passes to the intermediate rolls, three or more pairs of finishing-rolls, said rolls being arranged with their axes in line with each other and one of said pairs being in line with the intermediate rolls, and planishing-rolls arranged in line with the deliveryrolls of the finishing-train, substantially asset forth.

6. A pair of rolls in combination with a shearing mechanism having its operative blades connected to the housings of said rolls, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

' \VILLIAM GARRETT. Wi tnesses DARWIN S. WOLCOTT, R. H. WHITTLESEY.

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