Abstract: In the continuous manufacture of hot strip material, slabs are produced by a pair of continuous casters and heated to a rolling temperature in a bi-level roller hearth furnace. Hot slabs are discharged from the bi-level furnace alternately from its upper and lower roller hearths. The slabs are then scarfed to clean oxide scale from both sides and to heat the slabs to a temperature of about 2300.degree. F. The scarfed ends of adjacent slabs are overlapped and passed through a two high slab mill welder wherein the overlapped ends are joined together. The joined slabs are thereafter finish rolled to strip gauge in a continuous multi-stand hot strip mill.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing hot strip steel includes a continuous slab caster adapted to cast a strand of 4 inches or more in thickness. The strand is cut to slab length and heated in a roller hearth furnace or a walking beam furnace prior to entry into a multi-stand tandem reversing mill. The slab is rolled in a downstream direction through the mill in a first reducing pass. The mill is reversed and the elongated slab is rolled in an upstream direction through the mill in a second reducing pass. The intermediate bar exits the upstream end of the mill and is coiled in a coil box positioned intermediate the furnace and the reversing mill. The bar is then unwound from the coil box for rolling in the downstream direction through the mill in a third and finish pass. The finish gauge strip moves down a run out table downstream from the mill for coiling in a down coiler apparatus.

Abstract: Roll designs for roller hearth furnaces operating at temperatures ranging from under 1200.degree. C. to substantially higher are disclosed. A rotary mounted main roll body may be provided with a plurality of spaced tires for contacting and transporting a charge carried by the roll. An internal coolant circulation system is provided within the main roll body. Insulation may be provided around the main roll body.

Abstract: A roll system for a roller hearth furnace for thin slab casters is disclosed. The roll system includes a plurality of fluid cooled rolls rotatably mounted in the furnace configured to contact and at least partially support a charge transported along a pass line through the furnace. An upper surface of each of the fluid cooled rolls is positioned along the pass line. A plurality of dry rolls is rotatably positioned within the furnace wherein at least one dry roll is positioned between each pair of adjacent fluid rolls. The upper surface of each of the dry rolls is positioned below the pass line.

Abstract: Roll designs for roller hearth furnaces operating at temperatures ranging from under 1200.degree. C. to substantially higher are disclosed. A rotary mounted main roll body may be provided with a plurality of spaced tires for contacting and transporting a charge carried by the roll. An internal coolant circulation system is provided within the main roll body. Insulation may be provided around the main roll body.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting a set of bending rolls which simultaneously position a pair of adjustable top bending rolls with respect to a bottom bending roll. A bottom bending roll is mounted within a housing while a pair of adjustable top bending rolls is mounted on a frame. A pivot shaft is rotatably mounted on the housing with eccentric portions of the pivot shaft coupled to the frame. Rotation of the pivot shaft causes the simultaneous adjustment of the pair of adjustable bending rolls with respect to the bottom bending roll.

Abstract: Roll designs for roller hearth furnaces operating at temperatures ranging from under 1200.degree. C. to substantially higher are disclosed. A rotary mounted main roll body may be provided with a plurality of spaced tires for contacting and transporting a charge carried by the roll. An internal coolant circulation system is provided within the main roll body. Insulation may be provided around the main roll body.

Abstract: A vertical piercer/elongator mill includes a mill housing having a base, an open top and an open interior defined by a plurality of vertically extending mill posts and interconnecting side portions. A cylindrically shaped bottom cradle supports a rotatable bottom roll and is fitted in the mill housing through the open top thereof to assume an operable position within the open interior of the housing. A cylindrically shaped top cradle supports a rotatable top roll and is also received within the open interior of the mill housing through the open top of the housing. Vertical adjustment apparatus in the form of screw jacks and balance cylinders are associated with the upper and lower cradles to provide vertical movement of the cradles within the mill housing to establish a selected rolling gorge.

Abstract: A two-piece, mechanically connected mandrel assembly in which a locking wedge assembly serves to secure a tapered socket connection. The wedge assembly includes two long wedge segments, two short wedge segments, a bolt connecting the short wedge segments and a locking device to fix the bolt after proper torquing to secure the assembly. The two-piece, mechanically connected mandrel assembly is useful in the rolling or drawing of steel tubing or other metal constructs, and the four-piece locking wedge assembly both provides a secure connection and permits ready replacement of a worn work bar with a new work bar.

Abstract: A seamless tube mill comprises two disk rolls mounted to be driven in rotation on substantially parallel axes which axes are perpendicular to guide the workpiece along the pass line which rolls may be rotated away from the pass line to enable removal and replacement thereof without disconnecting and realigning the input shafts thereto.

Abstract: A frictionless strip support for supporting a metallic strip conveyed along a feed path in a treatment process. The support including at least one hydrostatic chute including a plurality of confined hydrostatic chambers having apertures therein for a supply of a pressurized treatment liquid such as molten metal, and at least one pair of hydrostatic guides positioned downstream of the hydrostatic chute. Each hydrostatic guide has a confined hydrostatic chamber with apertures therein for supply of a pressurized treatment liquid such as liquid metal. The frictionless support also includes a pump of supplying the pressurized treatment liquid through the apertures and to the confined chambers such that the treatment fluid maintains the strip spaced from the hydrostatic chute and the hydrostatic guides by hydrostatic force of the pressurized liquid normal to the strip surface as the strip is conveyed across the hydrostatic chute and the hydrostatic guides.

Abstract: A frictionless strip support for supporting a metallic strip conveyed along a feed path in a treatment process. The support including at least one hydrostatic chute including a plurality of confined hydrostatic chambers having apertures therein for a supply of a pressurized treatment liquid such as molten metal, and at least one pair of hydrostatic guides positioned downstream of the hydrostatic chute. Each hydrostatic guide has a confined hydrostatic chamber with apertures therein for supply of a pressurized treatment liquid such as liquid metal. The frictionless support also includes a pump for supplying the pressurized treatment liquid through the apertures and to the confined chambers such that the treatment fluid maintains the strip spaced from the hydrostatic chute and the hydrostatic guides by hydrostatic force of the pressurized liquid normal to the strip surface as the strip is conveyed across the hydrostatic chute and the hydrostatic guides.

Abstract: An adjustable guide for suppporting an elongated, generally cylindrical member having an axis that substantially coincides with a pass line of a metal working machine, said guide comprising a support stand which is stationary relative to said pass line and at least three radially adjustable guide shoes preferably having concave inner surfaces circumscribed about said cylindrical member pivotably mounted on said support stand such that said guide provides substantially continuous 360.degree. containment of said cylindrical member.