US331575A - Machine for making taper tubes from hollow ingots - Google Patents

Description

(No ModeL) S. P. M. TASKER.

MAGHINE FOR MAKING TAPER TUBES FROM HOLLOW INGOTS.

Patented Dec. 1, 1885.

- .sw WITNESSES: u, Q l

UNITED, STATES PATENT Orricn,

STEPHEN P. M. TASKER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR-MAKING TAPER TUBES FROM HOLLOW INGOTS.

EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,575, dated December 1, 1885.

Application filed July 21, 1885. Serial No. 172,189.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN P. M. TASKER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for Making Taper Tubes from Hollow Metal Ingots, of which the following is aspecification,

The object of my invention is the manufacture of a taper tube from a hollow tapering metal ingot by rolling either hot or cold (by means of the machine hereinafter de scribed) the said ingot down and out upon a taper mandrel at least of the required length of the tube to be formed, and the exterior configuration or form of which mandrel is such as it is desired that the tapering bore of the resultant taper tube should possess, thereby compacting and consolidating the substance of the metal of the ingot, thinning or reduc ing the latter in thickness, and elongating it and shaping it until the desired proportions are attained. The ingots which I employ are conico-cylindric or of a hollow conico'cylindriform structure, of any metal, and either open at both ends, closed at the smaller end, or closed at the smaller end and provided through such closed end with an aperture for the traction rod of a mandrel.

As my machine is of especial applicability to the making of steel taper tubes, I contemplate also the employment of a steel cast conico-cylindric ingot of a character invented by me, two applications for patents for which werefiled in the United States Patent Office upon the 14th day of May, 1885, and respectively numbered 165,695 and 165,696.

Heretofore in the art of metal-rolling two or more pairs or sets of equal-sized concavefaced rolls, the two rolls constituting the respective sets or pairs of which, being placed the one over the other, have crossed each other that is to say, have been adjusted in such manner that vertical planes respectively projected from their respective longitudinal axes have intersected each other at other than a right angle, have been in successive disposition in the same machine employed for rounding, straightening, and sizing tubes and rods, the said tubes or rods having been passed through the passes of the-successivesets in a direction which (N0 model.)

may for the purposes of explanation be described as right angular to a common imaginary longitudinal axis of each pair of rolls, or in a direction much more nearly right angular to than parallel with the longitudinal axis of each individual roll of each pair. In such a machine all of the rolls upon a given side of the line of feed of the rod have, moreover, been arranged in a common frame with their axes parallel, and all of the rolls upon the other side of said line of feed have likewise been arranged in another common frame with their axes parallel but angularly disposed with respect to or crossing, so to speak,

the axes of the other series, the passes of all the sets having been of the same diameter,

and a common simultaneous adjustment of all of the passes having been the only adjustment thereof possible. Heretofore, again, a pair or set ot'equal-sized concave-faced rolls placed one over the other so as to cross have been employed for rounding, straightening, and smoothing tubes and rods, the said rods or tubes having been introduced and passed through a pass extending longitudinally between or through, so to speak, the rolls, and in a direction coincident with their common axis as opposed to having been passed through them in a direction right angular to said common axis of the set. Heretofore also in the art of metal-rolling two or three equal-sized rolls having concave work ing-faces have been arranged, in a suitable housing, obliquely side by side, or one over the other, or spirally, as it were, around a common central imaginary longitudinal axis of the set, so that the axes of the respective rolls forming each set have been inclined to each other in different planes, and each and all at an angle to the said common longitudinal axis, which is that of the article to be rolled, the said article having been introduced through a pass extending longitudinally between or through, so to speak, the rolls, (which pass, as is well known, is an extended straight bearing obtained between the roll-faces in a line bisecting the angle of inclination of the rolls,) and the said machines as such having been employed for rolling, finishing, reducing, straightening, and smoothing rods, tubes, shafting, and other cylindrical or other tubular articles, which receive a spiral or combined rotary and progressive movement from the rolls, which not only form the article to a true cylindrical shape, but at the same time feed it forward.

Assuming a set of rolls of either character last above described as a given type, I may assume a set of rolls of the character first above described as another given type, and may de fine the distinguishing characteristic of the two types to be the direction in which the article to be rolled is passed through the set of rollsthat is to say, whether it be passed through them in a direction right angular to what I may term their common axis, as in the case of the rolls first described, or parallel or coincident with said common axis, as in the case of either of the sets of rolls last above described.

I have discovered that a superior merchantable taper tube of metal, but especially that a taper steel tube, can be economically and successfully manufactured either from a conicocylindric metal ingot, or especially from a conico-cylindric steel cast-ingot, by employing, in connection with a set of concave-faced rolls, the rolls of which set cross each other and are positively driven, a taper mandrel adapted to be entered head or apex first and advanced through the pass of the set, the exterior configuration of which is that of the bore of the resultant tube upon which the ingot is placed, which is adapted to be rotated about its longitudinal axis with the ingot upon it, and which is at least of the required length of the tube to be formed from said ingot, and also by employing, in connection with said mandrel and rolls, means operating as the mandrel advances for so controlling the relative angular disposition of the axes of the pair of rolls that said rolls are caused to gradually separate a distance sufficient to occasion the gradual diametric enlargement of the pass of the set as portions of the mandrel of greater diameter progressively enter and advance through the pass of said set, whereby the substance of the metal of the ingot is compacted and consolidated, and, after a sufficient number of repeated passes, the rolls being each time at starting adjusted to a smaller normal pass, the ingot itself thinned or reduced in thickness and elongated and shaped until the required proportions are attained.

Apparatus embodying a good form of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings and described in this specification, the particular subject-matter claimed as novel being hereinafter definitely specified.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a topplan view of an apparatus conveniently embodying a good form of my improvements, an ingot having a closed advance end being shown in position upon the mandrel and undergoing reduction in its passage through the rolls in the direction of the arrow upon it. Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional elevation of the apparatus represented in Fig. 1, section being supposed in the plane of the dotted line a: m of said Fig. 1, and sight being taken in the direction of the arrows upon said line, the reduction of the ingot being also illustrated, and the mandrel being provided with a traction-rod, which passes through a hole in the advance end of the ingot. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of major portion of the apparatus of Fig. 1. Fig. 4. is a partial left-hand end elevational View of the apparatus represented in Fig. 1, the roll adjusting bars being also shown in section in the plane of their retaining-bolts. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary face view of one of the rolls and a sectional elevation through a convenient form of one of its axle-boxings, showing also a-portion of one of the cylindriform segments of the housing and of one of the roll-adjusting bars. The view is in the nature of an explanatory diagram, and is neither drawn to scale nor isometrically correct.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, A represents any suitable bed or foundation for supporting the housings within which the rolls are journaled. M is a taper mandrel, or a mandrel which is to the extent of the length of the taper tube to be produced conico-cylindrical, and which is adapted to be rotated about its longitudinal axis by any convenient meansas, for instance, by being swiveled at its rear extremity in the mandrel frame or carriage. B is a conico-cylindric ingot upon the mandrel. O O are two longitudinally-extending parallel housings vertically erected from the bed or foundation, and either cast solid therewith or bolted or otherwise secured thereto. The housings, in the form of apparatus shown in the drawings, support aset of rolls, which are marked D. The rolls are each of the same size, and are respectively adjusted one above the other, and their axes, Whatever for the time being be the relative angular disposition of the rolls, must always cross each other at an angle other than a right angle, and which is such as to cause the concave working-surfaces of the two rolls to always present in any angular relationship, not, however, right angular, a pass which when viewed from the end of the machine is, whatever its diameter, practically circular.

The journaling or housing of the rolls and the means for controlling the set of said rolls are as follows: Each housing, in the region of its support of a set of rolls, has preferably the form of a segment of a vertical cylinder, the said cylindrical segments being marked 0 c in the drawings, or, at least, the said housings arevertically-cylindrically concaved on their adjacent faces, the curvature being the same in each, while the inner faces of said cylindrical segments of the housings are separated from each other a distance equal to the diameter of a circle an arc of which corresponds with an arc of their inner curved cylindrical faces-that is to say, a circle whose circumference is equal to that of the base of a supposed cylinder introduced vertically so as to fill the space between the cylindrical segments of the housing. The curved inner walls of both the segmental portions 0 and 0 therefore, have a common central vertical axis which is midway between them. The axles d of the rolls are preferably housed and journaled within adjustable boxings or bearings (2*, which are respectively conveniently fitted with respect to and adapted to have a movement within reversely-disposed segmental ways H, formed in opposite pairs in the respective cylindrical segments of the housings, and two of which are as to each housing projectedin what may be termed diagonallyquartered relationship upon a common radius from a common center, which is concentrio with what I have characterized the common longitudinal axis of the rolls, and is conveniently about midway of the vertical depth of the said cylindrical segments, as will be more clearly understood by a reference to the drawings. By virtue of these pairs of reversely-disposed segmental ways, within which either the axles of the rolls or their boxings are, as shown, entered, the movement of the rolls for increasing or diminishing the diameter of their pass becomes both certain and easy.

A suitable arrangement or disposition of the segmental ways for the axle-boxings or the axles with respect to the cylindriform segments of the housings is represented in the drawings, and will be easily understood by a reference thereto. The corresponding segmental ways in opposite cylindrical segments are of course diagonally opposite. The ends of the axles, or, when boxings are employed, a part of the boxings, project through their ways and beyond the outside faces of the cylindrical segments, and it is obvious therefore that if control is bad of the said ends of the axles the set of the rolls with respect to each other and with respect to their segmental ways can be controlled at will, and the pass between the pair of rolls be in consequence increased or diminished in diametric extent.

In order to simultaneously effectuate the predetermined movements of the rolls of the set, I have devised the following convenient means for simultaneous adjustment: I I are a pair of what I term traveling standards, being vertically-erected framingposts con veniently provided with laterally-projecting base plates or toes 1' i which take under and have a movement with respect to longitudinally-extending overhung grooves, channels, or lateral gutters a ta along the sides of the bed or foundation. Each pair of traveling standards is preferably connected by a top crossbar, I, so that each pair of standards is connected by the cross-bar to form a transverse traveling frame, and both of these frames are connected together; or, when more than two frames are employed, each frame connected with its neighbor by longitudinally-extending drive-bars J J which are of any desired length,and preferably ofthelength of the mandrel, and which are connected together by a traction-head, K, with respect to which the traction-rod m is swiveled.

The traveling standards, connecting top nected whole to travel lengthwise of the bed or foundation, and with respect to the housings and rolls in either direction.

In the drawings no representation is made of any means for occasioning the advance or retraction of the mandrel-frame for the reason that I assume such representation to be unnecessary, because the various appliances in common use for actuating inandrels and mandrel-frames are well known to iron-masters. I assume it, however, to that any suitable mechanism is to be applied to the said carriage to occasion its advance and retreat at any predetermined speed.

Adjustably supported conveniently with respect to the traveling standards are four roll- 5 adjusting bars, L, as I term them, two of which are applied at each side of the machine. These roll-adjusting bars are in effect grooved bars, they being provided with inturned flanges Z at top and bottom, so that as to its entire longitudinal extent a groove within which is entered the projecting extremity of the axlesof the rolls or a part of the axleboxings. Thus both axles or the boxings thereof of the upper roll are respect- I05 ively entered within the grooves of the two upper roll-adjusting bars, and both axles or the boxings thereof of the lower roll are re spectively entered within the grooves of the' two lower roll-adjusting shown in the drawings. The bars upon their side or back faces are provided with opposing pairs of lugs Z between which are contained as in a housing adjusting-nuts a, threaded upon adjusting-rods N, which cut with both a right and a left handed screwthread, and which are housed in threaded sockets i conveniently formed as a part of or connected with the traveling standards.

Each of the roll-adj usting bars is conveniently I20 maintained against the inner side faces of the traveling standards upon the side of the frame upon which said bar happens to be by means of retaining-bolts O,which pass through vertical slots P, formed in said standards. r2

The roll-adjusting bars, in whatever adjusted position they may he set, are a fixture with the traveling carriage,and travel with it from end to end of the bed-plate and longitudinally past the housings. parts each upper roll-adjusting bar and each lower roll-adjusting bar is to be parallel with be understood 0 each bar presents bars, substantially as" I 10 i are 11 In the set of the 1 0 its opposite neighbor. It will therefore be readily understood that if the two upper rolladjusting bars are given a slight pitch or downward inclination from front to rear and the two lower roll-adjusting bars are similarly given an opposite pitch or upward inclination from front to rear, (which inclinations can readily be imparted by the adj ustment of the adjusting-nuts n and retainingbolts 0,) and if the said inclinations happen to correspond with the diametrically-opposite surface planes of the mandrel, the operation of said roll-adjusting bars upon the axles of the rolls will. be such as in their advance with the mandrel frame or carriage to occasion the gradual separation of the two rolls of the set, so that the pass of said set is automatically and gradually increased in diametric extent as the thicker portions of the mandrel advance through it. In the drawings I have represented such a convergence or inclination of the roll-adjusting bars as corresponds to the taper of the mandrel. It is obvious, however, that a greater or less inclination can be imparted at the will of the operative. By the original set of roll-adjusting bars the initial diametric extent of the pass of the set can be quickly and accurately determined. As a gearing to occasion the positive driving in opposite-directions of the two rolls of each set, I equip the said rolls with toothed wheels Q Q, the teeth of which. are of such form and spaced at such distances apart that notwithstanding varying relative inclinations and consequent distances apart of the rolls the said toothed Wheels are in constant engagement, so that when rotation is imparted to one of them rotation in a contrary direction is also imparted to the other; and I also provide a driving spur-Wheel, It, upon a shaft, 1", suitably journaled preferably beneath the foundation of the machine, the teeth of which spurwheel engage with the teeth of the lower tiothed wheel and occasion the rotation of the rolls to which said wheels are applied in either direction at will. The housings constitute a most convenient framing, but the segmental ways may be formed independently of or supported separately from the said hous- %1aving now described what I believe to be a convenient embodiment of my invention, and at the same time described the operation of the machine, it is proper for me to add that I believe myself to be the first to use a conicocylindriform mandrel the exterior contour of whichis that of the desired bore of the tube, and which is of the length of the tube to be produced, and also capable of rotation about its longitudinal axis, in conjunction with a set of positively driven angularly disposed or crossing concave-faced rolls, and in conjunction also with means for causing the gradual and predetermined approach and recession of said rolls and the consequent gradual predetermined variance of diametric area of the pass of the set by occasioning a predetermined variance of their relative angular disposition, by which arrangement it is possible to reduce the external diameter of a tapering ingot placed upon the mandrel,and by setting down the rolls after each pass to effect a continued reduction until said ingot becomes atapering tube of the desired thickness of Wall substance, which, it is to be observed, need not be uniform throughout the tube and of no greater length than the mandrel.

It is of course obvious that while the housing for containing and the specific means for occasioning the simultaneous adjustment of the rolls which I have represented and described are well adapted for the purpose, yet

that they are not essential to my invention" The especial adjusting devices described, or others operating to substantially the same result, however, permit of the simultaneous adjustment of the pass of the rolls by a single movement or adjustment of the roll-adj usting bars, so as to accommodate the rolls to any size of ingot within their range of separation.

The method of driving the rolls which I have represented is a good one, because it permits of their reversal to aid in backing out the mandrel,and also of the driving of the rolls at different rates of speed.

The mandrel may be greater preferably driven by a power independent of the power employed to drive the rolls, and may, of course, be driven independently of the carriage or frame which drives the rolladjusting bars. I

The ingots may or cold.

The spiralor rotary progressive motion to which the ingot on the mandrel and with it the mandrel to which it for the time being adheres is subjected prevents finning or irregularities of any kind, and therefore tends to produce a uniformly-tapering and very marketable tube.

The mandrel may be extracted from the tube after rolling by stretching the tube, by loosening the mandrel, and by extracting the latter by any suitable means.

It is obvious that, if desired, the rolls may be set with their pass of a predetermined diameter and the mandrel be operated independently of the carriage to which the rolladjusting bars are connected, the latter being maintained in any fixed position, and the entire machine be thus employed for rolling cylindriform tubes.

It is proper for me to add that my machine without the mandrel is well adapted for reducing the diameters of rods, and, if desired, by asuitable adjustment of its pass for rounding, straightening, and finishing such products, it being simply necessary for any that the mandrel should be removed and the product to be operated upon be manipulated be rolled down either hot driven at a speed or less than that of the rolls, and istapering tubes or such employment of said machine innits stead through the pass between the ro s.

I do not claim or seek herein to cover in connection with rolls of the character herein set forth, and which are provided with positive mechanism for driving them, any mechanism for positively advancing or retracting the mandrel, as, while I may see fit to employ in connection with this apparatus means for operating the mandrel at either a greater or less speed than that imparted to the rolls, and although I deem such proceeding clearly within my invention, yet I have made the driving of the mandrel the subject of claim in another application which I have executed and filed contemporaneously with this application; nor yet do I claim herein the combination, with a pair of crossing concave -faced rolls, of a conico-cylindric mandrel; nor,again, the employment, in connection with the axles of the rolls, of reversely-disposed segmental ways; nor, again, the roll-adjusting contrivances, per se, as the foregoing features form a part of the subject-matter of other applications executed and filed by me contemporaneously with this application.

Having thus described my invention,I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a machine for making taper tubes from hollow conico-cylindric metal ingots, the combination of a pair of concave-faced rolls arranged with their axes inclined to each other, a conico-cylindric mandrel at least as long as the tube to be formed, and which is passed through the pass formed by the rolls in a direction right angular to their common axis, means for automatically oocasioning variances in the angular disposition of the rolls, and consequently variances in the diametric extent of their reducing-pass, and mechanism for driving the rolls, substantially as set forth.

2. In a machine for making taper tubes from hollow conico-cylindric metal ingots, the combination of a pair of concave-faced rolls arranged with their axes inclined to each other, a conico-cylindric mandrel at least as long as the tube to be formed, and adapted to be passed through the pass formed by the rolls in a direction right angular to their common axis, means for automatically oocasioning variances in the angular disposition of the rolls, and consequently variances in the diametric extent of their reducing-pass, mechanism for driving gular disposition of the rolls, and consequently variances in the diametric extent of their reducing-pass, and means for driving the rolls, substantially as set forth.

4. In a machine for making taper tubes from hollow conico-cyliudric metal ingots, the combination of a pair of concave-faced rolls arranged with their axes inclined to each other, a conico-cylindric mandrel at least as long as the tube to be formed, adapted to be passed through the pass formed by the rolls in a direction right-angular to their common axis, and adapted to be rotated about its longitudinal axis, means for automatically oocasioning variances in the angular disposition of the rolls, and consequently variances in the diametric extent of their reducing-pass, means for driving the rolls, and means for causing the advance and retraction of the mandrel, substantially as set forth.

5. In a machine for makingtapertubes from hollow conicocylindric metal ingots, the combination of a pair of concave-faced rolls arranged with their axes inclined to each other, a conico-cylindric mandrel at least as long as the tube to be formed, and which is passed through the pass formed by the rolls in a direction right angular to their common axis, housings for supporting said'rolls, reverselydisposed segmental ways for the axles of the rolls, roll adjusting bars, means for moving said roll-adjusting bars with respect to the housing, and means for driving the rolls, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 6th day of July, A. D. 1885.

STEPHEN P. M. TASKER.

In presence of- J. BONSALL TAYLOR, WM. 0. STRAWBRIDGE.

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