Abstract: The method and apparatus of the present invention is a rolling mill having rolls with inverse symmetrical profiles and a method of using the same. An inverse symmetrical profile is a profile in which the right and left sides of a roll, with respect to the roll center line, have the profiles that are described by the same polynomial function but with opposite signs. A family of metal strip profiles can be created by the method and apparatus of the present invention wherein the family of strip profiles created prior to roll shifting are strip profiles expressed by polynomial functions having terms of the n.sup.th order, where n is preferably 1-5 inclusive, and the family of strip profiles produced by shifting at least one upper roll having an inverse symmetrical profile and at least one lower roll having an inverse symmetrical profile are strip profiles expressed by polynomial functions having terms of the (n-1).sup.th order, where n is preferably 1-5, inclusive.

Abstract: A work roll bending system for profile control of continuous metal strip during rolling which is especially useful for retrofitting an existing rolling mill absent such feature to provide it with roll bending capabilities. The advantage of the system is its compactness in the vertical direction which facilitates its positioning between housing posts of the rolling mill where space in the vertical direction is often limited. Bending wings for exerting bending forces to work roll chocks with use of hydraulic cylinder and piston assemblies extend from the chocks in an intermeshing manner to allow wings from top and bottom work roll chocks to occupy the same horizontal plane without interference during at least some roll gap settings. That bending wing arrangement also allows for elimination of a "layer" of hydraulic cylinder and piston assemblies which also reduces space requirements in the vertical direction.

Abstract: The method and apparatus is directed toward an annealing furnace and a method of using the same where the annealing furnaces includes a layer forming apparatus suitable to create layers of metal product; an insulated housing having an interior cavity formed by a roof, a floor, opposing side walls extending the annealing furnace length, opposing side walls extending the annealing furnace width, said insulated housing also having an entrance for introducing metal product and exit for discharging metal product; a heating means in the interior cavity for heat treating metal product; transportation device suitable to convey the metal product in form of layers from the chamber entrance to its exit, whereas to guarantee a stay time inside said furnace suitable for obtaining a required heat treatment; and a discharging apparatus suitable to break up the product layers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing continuously cast thin or intermediate thickness gauge slabs into finished continuous hot-rolled strip in superlarge coil form. Optimum entry speed of continuous cast slabs into the hot rolling mill is enabled and substantially uninterrupted operation of the continuous caster is provided for; problems associated with welded coil ends during subsequent processing are reduced with use of the finished superlarge coils.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for reducing the total number of required rolling passes of a metal strip in a cold rolling mill to achieve a desired strip thickness. This is accomplished by increasing the exit strip tension of the metal up to 85% of the yield strength Y of the metal strip. This increase in exit strip tension allows a manufacturer to process strip in an apparatus at a maximum thickness reduction of about 50 to 55% in a single rolling pass. At the same time, the increased exit strip tension will result in a reduced lever arm of the work roll of the cold rolling mill and will substantially reduce all of the roll separating force, motor torque and roll mill power of the apparatus.

Abstract: A recirculating fume scrubber system in which fume is evolved from an aqueous bath in a process vessel, such as an HCl pickling tank, and the evolved fume is scrubbed with water and then the scrubbed gas is divided into two portions, one of which is released to a stack vented to atmosphere and the other portion is recirculated to the scrubber.

Abstract: In a mill for cross rolling metal strip and having upper and lower work rolls and backup rolls, at least one crossed intermediate roll is disposed between at least one pair of work roll and backup roll.

Abstract: A system and method for achieving an optimum interstand strip tension providing substantially equal loading of adjacent stands of a tandem rolling mill where such optimum tension is determined by the expression ##EQU1## where A1 and B1 are, respectively, the load ratio intercept and the slope of the load ratio versus interstand tension function for a first mill rolling stand, and A2 and B2 are, respectively, the load ratio intercept and the slope of the load ratio versus interstand tension function for an adjacent second mill rolling stand, and whereby the rolling capacity of the mill is substantially fully utilized.

Abstract: A system and method for rinsing residue from steel product with a fluid includes a monitoring system for monitoring movement of the steel product and a rinse control system for controlling a pumping system to pump fluid to at least one sprayer and an actuator which can open and close a drain seal in a drain in the rinse tank. The system operates by having the monitoring system monitor the movement of the steel product through the rinse tank and generating a run signal when the steel product is moving and a stop signal when the steel product has stopped moving and the rinse control system controlling the pumping system to pump fluid to at least one sprayer in the rinse tank and the actuator to open the drain seal in the drain in the rinse tank when the run signal is received and to control the actuator to close the drain seal when the stop signal is received.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for continuous pickling of metal strip comprises a series of pickling tanks in which the strip is submerged in pickling liquid in a caternary loop and wherein passage of the strip through the liquid produces a low liquid level at a strip entry end of each tank and a high liquid level end at a strip exit end of each tank, piping external to the tanks is provided through which pickling liquid cascades from the high liquid level end of one tank to the low liquid level end of an adjacent tank upstream thereof in a direction opposite the direction of strip travel. Valves in the cascade piping control the amount of pickling liquid flowing in the cascade piping. Pickling tank bottoms are sloped at either end to increase stirring action of the moving strip, and a holding tank or plurality of holding tanks are provided to empty the pickling tanks for repair and maintenance.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for roll crossing and shifting in which work roll chocks are mounted between Mae West blocks, the chocks and Mae West blocks being provided with opposed contact surfaces defining an angle .beta. to the roll axis, whereby, when the rolls are axially shifted, the rolls also cross, through an angle .alpha., due to forces acting on the chocks as they move along the contact surfaces of the Mae West blocks.