Apparatus and method for rolling workpieces

A rolling apparatus for rolling a workpiece rotatable about a rotational axis, the rolling apparatus comprising:

• a rolling arm;
• an arm support for supporting the rolling arm to allow the arm to follow the workpiece as it rotates for being rolled;
• a first rolling head mounted on the rolling arm and including at least one roller to engage the workpiece and apply pressure thereto during a rolling operation;
• a second rolling head mounted on the rolling arm spaced from the first rolling head and including at least one roller to engage the workpiece and to apply pressure thereto during a rolling operation;
• a drive associated with the rolling arm for shifting one of the first and second rolling heads relative to the other rolling head between an open position to provide clearance between the heads for a workpiece bearing to be rolled and a closed position for undertaking the rolling operation;
• guide surfaces of the arm and the one rolling head that guide the shifting of the one rolling head by the drive from the open position to the closed position with the guide surface of the one rolling head engaged with the guide surface of the arm when the one rolling head is shifted to the closed position wherein the arm support comprises a lever having spaced ends with one end pivotally connected to the rolling arm for pivoting of the rolling arm in one direction, and
• an axial shift assembly to which the other end of the arm is pivotally connected for pivoting of the lever arm in another direction.

A rolling apparatus for rolling a workpiece rotatable about a rotational axis, the rolling apparatus comprising:

• a rolling arm;
• an arm support for supporting the rolling arm to allow the arm to follow the workpiece as it rotates for being rolled;
• a first rolling head mounted on the rolling arm and including at least one roller to engage the workpiece and apply pressure thereto during a rolling operation;
• a second rolling head mounted on the rolling arm spaced from the first rolling head and including at least one roller to engage the workpiece and to apply pressure thereto during a rolling operation;
• a drive associated with the rolling arm for shifting one of the first and second rolling heads relative to the other rolling head between an open position to provide clearance between the heads for a workpiece bearing to be rolled and a closed position for undertaking the rolling operation;
• guide surfaces of the arm and the one rolling head that guide the shifting of the one rolling head by the drive from the open position to the closed position with the guide surface of the one rolling head engaged with the guide surface of the arm when the one rolling head is shifted to the closed position, wherein the first and second rolling heads are at one end of the rolling arm;
• and
• a counterweight mounted on an opposite end of the rolling arm to counterbalance the arm.

A rolling apparatus for rolling a workpiece rotatable about a rotational axis, the rolling apparatus comprising:

• a rolling arm;
• an arm support for supporting the rolling arm to allow the arm to follow the workpiece as it rotates for being rolled;
• a first rolling head mounted on the rolling arm and including at least one roller to engage the workpiece and apply pressure thereto during a rolling operation;
• a second rolling head mounted on the rolling arm spaced from the first rolling head and including at least one roller to engage the workpiece and to apply pressure thereto during a rolling operation;
• a drive associated with the rolling arm for shifting one of the first and second rolling heads relative to the other rolling head between an open position to provide clearance between the heads for a workpiece bearing to be rolled and a closed position for undertaking the rolling operation;
• and
• guide surfaces of the arm and the one rolling head that guide the shifting of the one rolling head by the drive from the open position to the closed position with the guide surface of the one rolling head engaged with the guide surface of the arm when the one rolling head is shifted to the closed position,
• wherein the drive comprises a hydraulic cylinder having an actuator rod with the rod being fixed to the one rolling head and extending and retracting as the one rolling head is shifted between open and closed positions and the cylinder has a thin and relatively tall construction to include multiple bores and drive pistons therein.

A rolling apparatus for rolling a workpiece rotatable about a rotational axis, the rolling apparatus comprising:

• a rolling arm;
• an arm support for supporting the rolling arm to allow the arm to follow the workpiece as it rotates for being rolled;
• a first rolling head mounted on the rolling arm and including at least one roller to engage the workpiece and apply pressure thereto during a rolling operation;
• a second rolling head mounted on the rolling arm spaced from the first rolling head and including at least one roller to engage the workpiece and to apply pressure thereto during a rolling operation;
• a drive associated with the rolling arm for shifting one of the first and second rolling heads relative to the other rolling head between an open position to provide clearance between the heads for a workpiece bearing to be rolled and a closed position for undertaking the rolling operation;
• and
• guide surfaces of the arm and the one rolling head that guide the shifting of the one rolling head by the drive from the open position to the closed position with the guide surface of the one rolling head engaged with the guide surface of the arm when the one rolling head is shifted to the closed position, wherein the rolling heads in the open position define a generally upwardly opening jaw to allow the arm to be lowered for workpiece loading and raised to position the rolling heads on either lateral side of the workpiece bearing for undertaking the rolling operation.

A rolling apparatus for rolling a workpiece rotatable about a rotational axis, the rolling apparatus comprising:

• a rolling arm;
• an arm support for supporting the rolling arm to allow the arm to follow the workpiece as it rotates for being rolled;
• a first rolling head mounted on the rolling arm and including at least one roller to engage the workpiece and apply pressure thereto during a rolling operation;
• a second rolling head mounted on the rolling arm spaced from the first rolling head and including at least one roller to engage the workpiece and to apply pressure thereto during a rolling operation;
• a drive associated with the rolling arm for shifting one of the first and second rolling heads relative to the other rolling head between an open position to provide clearance between the heads for a workpiece bearing to be rolled and a closed position for undertaking the rolling operation;
• guide surfaces of the arm and the one rolling head that guide the shifting of the one rolling head by the drive from the open position to the closed position with the guide surface of the one rolling head engaged with the guide surface of the arm when the one rolling head is shifted to the closed position, wherein the arm support comprises a pivotal support member;
• and
• a frame support that extends axially to allow the pivotal support member and the rolling arm supported thereby to be shifted axially substantially parallel to the workpiece rotational axis.