Abstract: A rocker mill for reducing the diameter of metal tubes includes a rollstand mounted on a reciprocable sled. The rollstand includes upper and lower roll dies between which the tubes travel as the sled and rollstand are reciprocated. The roll dies are mounted on tapered segments of respective arbors to facilitate removal of the roll dies. The arbors are driven by respective spur gears which are in meshing relationship on one side of the rollstand. One of the spur gears is driven by a pinion gear coaxially attached thereto on the same side of the rollstand as the spur gears. The rollstand is arranged to be slid horizontally from the sled after a plurality of fasteners have been released. A stationary toothed rack which drives the drive gear is spring-biased vertically to raise the rack in order to facilitate the sliding of the rollstand off the sled.

Abstract: A rocker mill includes a rollstand and a carriage for supporting and repositioning a workpiece extending through the rollstand. A first hollow-shafted electric motor is mounted on the carriage and includes a first hollow open-ended rotor and threaded nut through which the stationary feedscrew passes. The threaded nut is connected to the first motor to be rotated thereby in order to move the carriage longitudinally toward the rollstand. A second hollow-shafted electric motor is mounted on the carriage and includes a second hollow open-ended rotor and a clamp through which the workpiece passes. The clamp is actuated into clamping engagement with the workpiece for transmitting rotational and longitudinal movements thereto. Such mechanism for imparting rotary and longitudinal movements to the workpiece is of very low inertia and thus is able to reposition the workpiece with a high degree of precision.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading hollow workpieces into a pilgering mill. The pilgering mill includes a reciprocating roll stand having a pair of metal forming rolls, a mandrel for insertion into a workpiece, and a mechanism for clamping the workpiece with various degrees of pressure. During loading and unloading of the mill, the workpiece is restricted from movement within the pilgering mill according to the various pressures applied to the workpiece by the clamping mechanism.