Abstract: A stainless steel load cell having a shear web design suitable for use in a continuous casting environment is disclosed. Strain gauges are disposed on both sides of each of the four webs to detect deformation, while a wheatstone bridge is provided, having thermally-compensated potentiometers, to balance the strain gauge output to provide a signal indicative of an applied load. The interior of the load cell is sealed on both sides with disc shaped stainless steel seal members. The interior of the load cell is coated with a very low durometer polymer to provide the bridge and strain gauges with a barrier to moisture and other corrosive vapors. The load cell is enclosed by an air-tight canister that is supplied with pressurized nitrogen gas for drying purposes.

Abstract: A roll monitor sled data handling system comprising a roll monitor sled and an off-line data handling system. The roll monitor sled consists of a housing having mounted thereon sensors which measure the roll gap and the angle of the rolls. These sensors create analog signals which are converted to digital signals and transmitted to an on-board computer. The processed digital signals include digital signals corresponding to analog signals created when the sensors are in contact with the rolls. The computer processes the digital signals and transmits the processed data to a radio modem. The radio modem transmits the processed digital signals to the off-line data display system. The data display system comprises a receiver modem, a host computer, a digital to analog converter and a display and chart recorder. The selected data is displayed and/or recorded to give the user a "real-time indication" of the critical dimensions of the rolls in a continuous casting machine.

Abstract: In place calibration of the permanent on-line force measurment system of a rolling mill is performed by replacing the working rolls with dedicated calibration rolls, which can be scrap working rolls. Discontinuities formed in the cylindrical surfaces of dedicated calibration rolls, such as flat surfaces or preferrably flat bottomed longitudinal grooves, are engaged by interface members which also engage confronting flat surfaces or grooves in calibration load cells inserted between the dedicated calibration rolls. The interface members, which are made of a softer material than both the calibration rolls and the load cells, cold flows to evenly distribute the load and eliminate the need for precision machining of the interfaces. The dedicated calibration rolls can also be fixed, such as by welding, to dedicated calibration roll chocks which mount the calibration rolls in the mill housing to further prevent roll rotation and ejection of the calibration load cells.

Abstract: In place calibration of the permanent on-line force measurement system of a rolling mill is performed by replacing the working rolls with dedicated calibration rolls, which can be scrap working rolls. Discontinuities formed in the cylindrical surfaces of dedicated calibration rolls, such as flat surfaces or preferrably flat bottomed longitudinal grooves, are engaged by interface members which also engage confronting flat surfaces or grooves in calibration load cells inserted between the dedicated calibration rolls. The interface members, which are made of a softer material than both the calibration rolls and the load cells, cold flows to evenly distribute the load and eliminate the need for precision machining of the interfaces. The dedicated calibration rolls can also be fixed, such as by welding, to dedicated calibration roll chalks which mount the calibration rolls in the mill housing to further prevent roll rotation and ejection of the calibration load cells.

Abstract: A gap monitor for rolls of a continuous casting machine characterized by sets of rolls disposed in opposed pairs separated by spaced gaps and defining a path of travel for a workpiece, each roll comprising aligned roll segments, a roll gap monitor including a housing having one side retractably movable from the housing to contact rolls so that the other side of the housing also contacts the corresponding rolls. The one side is coextensive with the housing and is spring biased outwardly to contact the aligned roll segments. The monitor also comprises a gap sensor extending between opposite sides of the housing and having opposite ends engageable with the opposite pairs of rolls successively as the monitor moves through the path of travel. Transducer means are operatively connected to the gap sensor for transmitting signals representative of measurements of the gaps of each pair of rolls.

Abstract: A load indication system monitors not only the total frictional load on the mold oscillator in a continuous casting apparatus, but also monitors the difference in the oscillator load at various locations around the mold to detect mold wobble and load imbalance. In addition, both the total frictional load and the mold wobble are monitored by detecting their peak-to-peak values.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for measuring roll eccentricity. It includes a housing adapted for guided transport in a reference direction tangent to the roll face. The housing is also adapted to rotate the roll at the speed of transport. An elongated runner extending lengthwise in the transport direction is displaceably mounted in the housing. The roll face abuts and displaces the runner but the runner mounting maintains it parallel to the transport direction. Thus, measurements of runner displacement at any point along its length provide an indication of eccentricity of the roll.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for preventing reaction forces on a flow control valve from affecting measurements of particulate feed rate, where such measurements are made using weighing devices to determine the amount of particulates in a supply container as a function of time. The apparatus includes means for applying sufficient compressive prestress to spacer bars for absorbing reaction forces on the valve so that extension of the staybars is prevented during particulate feeding. Movement of the container due to reaction forces on the valve is prevented and particulate feed rate errors are substantially eliminated.

Abstract: A shear plug particularly for use in combination with a load cell in the roll-rack of a continuous-casting machine. The plug includes a body which has a shallow recess in one face and an axially aligned and preferably deeper recess in the other face, and a wall separating the recesses. The shallow recess receives the end of a load cell of smaller dimensions. On application of an overload the load cell punches out a tapered segment from the wall. The plug does not expand sideways when it fails and is readily removed from the surrounding mechanism.

Abstract: A method for arresting a propagating crack in a steel line pipe characterized by ductile or mixed mode fracture which involves providing a mass of material on or around the pipe which is sufficient to constrain or reduce the outward acceleration of the pipe walls behind the crack tip after the crack tip has propagated therepast.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for determining forces on a casting as it solidifies in a continuous-casting machine. A plurality of roll-pairs of an otherwise conventional curved roll-rack are equipped with means (e.g. load cells) which show the compressive load exerted by the different roll-pairs on the casting. The roll-pair beyond which no further upward trend in compressive load occurs marks the plane at which the casting first solidifies throughout its cross section, since beyond this plane the casting no longer has a liquid core tending to bulge the skin and separate the rolls. Whenever the load on a roll-pair departs substantially from the norm, the indication is that the rolls of this pair are improperly gapped (that is, the spacing between roll faces is either too great or too little).

Abstract: A method and mechanism for controlling forces exerted between opposed roll-pairs of a continuous-casting machine and a casting traveling therebetween. Each roll pair is equipped with a load cell for measuring the force. If the force at any roll-pair deviates from the norm, it is an indication that the dimension of the gap between rolls of that pair requires correction. Correction is effected through a screw threaded adjusting means.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating improperly positioned or bent rolls among a set of rolls which define a confined path of travel for a workpiece, particularly useful for checking a straight or curved roll-rack of a continuous-casting machine. The apparatus may be propelled through the path defined by the rolls by any suitable mechanism. For example, as applied to a roll-rack, the apparatus may be attached to the upper end of a starter bar and propelled with the bar through the rack, or the apparatus may be suspended from a hoist and pulled through the rack. The apparatus includes a housing and means within the housing for measuring the gap between work-engaging faces of the rolls and/or, when used with a curved roll-rack, means for measuring the angular relation of adjacent bottom rolls. The latter measurement is used in determining whether the work-engaging faces lie on arcs of the intended radii.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating improperly positioned or bent rolls among a set of rolls which define a confined path of travel for a workpiece, particularly useful for checking a straight or curved roll-rack of a continuous-casting machine. The apparatus may be propelled through the path defined by the rolls by any suitable mechanism. For example, as applied to a roll-rack, the apparatus may be attached to the upper end of a starter bar and propelled with the bar through the rack, or the apparatus may be suspended from a hoist and pulled through the rack. The apparatus includes a housing and means within the housing for measuring the gap between work-engaging faces of the rolls and-or, when used with a curved roll-rack, means for measuring the angular relation of adjacent bottom rolls. The latter measurement is used in determining whether the work-engaging faces lie on arcs of the intended radii.