Method and apparatus for rolling metal wire or rod into wide, flat strips

Abstract

A metal wire or rod is passed between two rolls one inside the other but with offset axes. The larger outer roll which may be ring-shaped has a smooth inside contact surface. The smaller internal roll has a smooth outside contact surface. Together, these two eccentrically disposed surfaces form a long converging throat between them through which the wire or rod is passed as it is being rolled into a strip. The opposing, smooth surfaces have a separation at the closest point which is less than 1/3 the diameter of the metal wire or rod to be fed between them. The distance between the point where the wire first contacts the opposing, smooth contact surfaces of the converging throat and the closest point of separation between the opposing surfaces is preferred to be at least four times the original diameter 'D' of the wire or rod being fed therethrough. The wire or rod is thus progressively nipped between the opposing, smooth contact surfaces in the convergent throat of the two rolls as it passes through thereby flattening the metal since lateral movement and flow of the metal in the convergent throat region is unrestricted while elongation of the metal is restricted by the long converging throat. Rolling of metal wire or rod in this advantageous manner produces a wide, flat metal strip having a width of at least 2.5 times the original diameter 'D' of the wire rod, and the resultant strip width may considerably exceed 4.0 times D.