Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for temporarily interrupting the passage of a long product between upstream and downstream paths in a rolling mill. Product passing along the upstream path is delivered onto a cylindrical drum. The drum is rotated in one direction to accumulate the product thereon in a series of windings. The direction of drum rotation is then reversed to unwind and deliver the accumulated product to the downstream path.

Abstract: Discrete billets are rolled through a plurality of roll stands arranged along a rolling mill pass line to produce successive product lengths having reduced cross sections and front and tail ends. At a selected location along the pass line, the tail end of each product length is joined to the front end of the next successive product length to thereby permit uninterrupted continuous rolling through the remainder of the mill.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for temporarily interrupting the passage of a long product between upstream and downstream paths in a rolling mill. Product passing along the upstream path is delivered onto a cylindrical drum. The drum is rotated in one direction to accumulate the product thereon in a series of windings. The direction of drum rotation is then reversed to unwind and deliver the accumulated product to the downstream path.

Abstract: A pinch roll unit for either propelling or retarding a product moving along the pass line of a rolling mill comprises a pair of levers mounted for rotation about parallel first axes. Roll shafts are carried by the levers with each roll shaft being journalled for rotation about a second axis parallel to the first axis of its respective lever. Pinch rolls are carried by the roll shafts and are positioned to define a gap therebetween for receiving the product. An electrically powered first motor operates via a linkage to rotate the levers about the first axes and to move the pinch rolls between open positions spaced from the product, and closed positions contacting and gripping the product therebetween. An electrically powered second motor rotatably drives the pinch rolls.

Abstract: Discrete billets are rolled through a plurality of roll stands arranged along a rolling mill pass line to produce successive product lengths having reduced cross sections and front and tail ends. At a selected location along the pass line, the tail end of each product length is joined to the front end of the next successive product length to thereby permit uninterrupted continuous rolling through the remainder of the mill.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for receiving a helical formation of rings of hot rolled steel rod emerging from a laying head, and for depositing the rings on a conveyor for continued transport away from the laying head. The apparatus operates to engage and propel lower portions of the rings towards the conveyor at a first rate of travel, while engaging and propelling upper portions of the rings towards the conveyor at a second rate of travel. The first and second rates of travel are different and selected to cause the rings to topple onto the conveyor in an overlapping offset pattern.

Abstract: A system for cooling a hot rolled steel product at a retarded cooling rate comprises a laying head for forming the product into a continuous series of rings. A conveyor receives the rings from the laying head at a receiving station and transports the rings in a non-concentric overlapping pattern through a cooling zone to a reforming station at which the rings are delivered from the conveyor and gathered into upstanding coils. The rings are covered with a granular insulation material while being transported through the cooling zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for receiving a continuous series of rings of a hot rolled product includes: a) a portable container having: i) a vertically disposed cylindrical side wall open at its upper and lower ends; ii) a base at the lower end of the side wall configured to removably locate the container at a coil forming station; iii) a horizontal shelf projecting inwardly from the interior of the side wall; and iv) a central core supported by the shelf, the core being spaced inwardly from the interior of the side wall to define an annular chamber therebetween, the shelf having access openings therein communicating with the chamber; b) an elevator platform at the coil forming station having support members configured and arranged to pass through the access openings in the shelf; and c) a mechanism for vertically adjusting the elevator platform to move its support members through the access openings in the shelf between raised operative positions at which the support members project into the annular chamber to supp

Abstract: A rolling mill has roughing, intermediate and finishing roll stands on a first side of a billet reheating furnace, and a breakdown mill on an opposite second side of the furnace. Billets are heated to an elevated rolling temperature in the furnace and are then ejected to the second side of the furnace for rolling in the breakdown mill before being directed back through the furnace for continued rolling into finished products at the first side of the furnace in the roughing, intermediate and finishing roll stands.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for applying a liquid lubricant to first and second components enclosed in a housing, with the lubricant applied to the second components being exposed to contamination by a liquid coolant applied to the exterior of the housing, and with the lubricant applied to the first components being substantially isolated from the liquid coolant. The system includes a partition internally subdividing the housing into a first chamber containing the first components and a second chamber containing the second components. Lubricant is delivered from a storage tank to the housing for application to the first and second components. A first conduit network communicates with the first chamber for returning the lubricant applied to the first components to the storage tank, and a second conduit network communicates with the second chamber for returning lubricant applied to the second components to the storage tank.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for receiving a helical formation of rings free falling from the delivery end of a conveyor and for gathering the rings into an upstanding cylindrical coil, The free falling rings encircle a vertically disposed guide and are supported initially on elevated intercepting elements. The interceptor elements are gradually lowered past a coil plate onto which the accumulated rings are transferred. The coil plate is then lowered to accommodate continued formation of the coil, and the intercepting elements are returned to their elevated position.

Abstract: A high speed rod trimming shear includes a pair of eccentrically bored sleeves mounted for rotation about parallel first axes. Carrier shafts are supported in the bores of the eccentric sleeves for rotation about second axes parallel to the first axes and located on opposite sides of the rod path. The carrier shafts have blade holders with attached cutting blades. A primary drive rotates the carrier shafts continuously, and an adjustment mechanism rotatably oscillates the eccentric sleeves to adjust the distance between the carrier shafts between a first setting at which the cutting blades rotate out of contact with the rod, and a second setting at which the cutting blades coact during rotation to sever the product.

Abstract: A turndown apparatus has first and second guide rollers arranged respectively along the inside and outside of a curved path along which bendable products such as bars, rods and the like move at high speeds. The guide rollers coact in pairs to define gaps spaced along the curved path, and a mechanism is provided for symmetrically adjusting the gaps defined between the guide rollers in order to accommodate different product sizes.

Abstract: In a rolling mill, a reforming chamber is positioned to receive rings of hot rolled steel rod descending along a vertical path from the delivery end of a conveyor onto a support on an underlying carrier. The carrier has an upstanding stem around which the rings accumulate to form a cylindrical coil. First, interceptor elements operate above the carrier to interrupt the descent of rings, and second interceptor elements supported on the carrier beneath the first interceptor elements operate to subdivide the coil being formed around the stem into upper and lower segments, with a gap therebetween occupied by the second intercepting elements.

Abstract: Apparatus for shearing elongated products such as rods, bars and the like moving longitudinally along a path of travel. The apparatus includes a pair of constant diameter helical blades mounted for rotation about axes parallel to the path of travel. The rotational orientation of the blades and the spacing between their respective axes is such that segments of the blades coact along a cutting path parallel to the path of travel. The blades are rotated in opposite directions to thereby cause coacting segments thereof to move repetitively along the cutting path in the direction of product movement. A switch diverts the products from the path of travel across the cutting path for shearing by the coacting segments of the cutting blades.

Abstract: Long products are hot rolled and sized by being subjected to progressively diminishing area reductions in a succession of at least three mechanically interconnected two roll passes driven by a common mill drive. The area reductions are achieved by imparting a first cross sectional configuration to the products rolled in the first roll pass, and by imparting a different second cross sectional configuration to the products being rolled in each of the second and third roll passes. A wide range of product sizes is accommodated by selectively adjusting the speeds at which each of the roll passes is driven by the common mill drive in order to vary the drive speed ratios between successive roll passes.

Abstract: A block type rolling mill having work roll pairs arranged along a rolling line to roll a single strand product in a twist-free manner, wherein the work roll pairs are driven by a common mill drive via a drive train which includes first and second line shafts extending in parallel relationship with the rolling line, and intermediate drive means for mechanically interconnecting two successive work roll pairs interposed between the two successive work roll pairs and the first and second line shafts, and first and second engagement means for alternatively connecting the intermediate drive means to one or the other of the first and second line shafts via respective first and second intermeshed gear sets having different gear ratios.

Abstract: A coil forming apparatus has a pair of mutually perpendicular elongated mandrels mounted on a hub. Rotation of the hub about an axis perpendicular to the mandrel axes results in the mandrels being moved between a collecting station at which they protrude vertically from the hub to receive product rings from an overlying delivery device, and a discharge station at one side of the hub at which they protrude horizontally to accommodate axial removal of the coils. The mandrels are axially adjustable relative to the hub, and each mandrel has oppositely disposed ends adapted to receive rings from the delivery device. A retracting device is employed to withdraw each mandrel across the rotational axis of the hub from the discharge station to an intermediate station on the opposite side of the hub.