Abstract: The rolls of a rolling mill can be axially moved by way of an actuator device equipped with piston-and-cylinder units. The bearing blocks which receive the journal ends of the rolls to be moved are horizontally guided in separate guide bodies. The guide bodies, in turn can be shifted vertically in cylinder blocks arranged at the flanks of the windows of the respective base member, or in pressure plates associated with such cylinder blocks. The actuator device is characterized by a compact design which even during exchange of rolls is contained in the confines of the roll stand, and it can be easily coupled to the rolls to be moved. The guide bodies of at least one base member are formed with lateral projections at which are mounted the motive power providing hydraulic cylinders, and these are connected in such a way that the piston rods thereof point in the direction of the guide bodies.

Abstract: A supercompact rolling group (10) with rolls supported at one end. Vertical (11) and horizontal (12) units are arranged alternately or as necessary. Each unit (11-12) is driven by an independent motor (25-23) through a transmission (34) on parallel axes. A rolling line has at least one supercompact rolling group (110-210) constituted as above.

Abstract: A roll bending apparatus for use in a multi-stage rolling mill adapted for rolling a hard material or a thin sheet material with a high uniformity of thickness along the breadth, with a high degree of accuracy and low energy. The rolling mill has work rolls of a comparatively small diameter. The amount of bend of the small-diameter work roll is controlled by the roll bending apparatus for attaining the high degree of uniformity of thickness along the breadth of the rolled material. The roll bending apparatus has, for each of said work rolls, a supporting member having a work roll supporting portion for rotatably supporting the work roll and rockable vertically about a fulcrum, and a bending force generating means adapted for engaging the supporting member so as to cause a rocking motion of the supporting member thereby applying a substantially vertical roll bending force to the work roll through the supporting member.

Abstract: A rolling stand of the type with tie-rods that, in addition to being suitable to be easily replaced, dismantled and reassembled, it is also capable of being transformed from a two-high stand, having only a pair of parallel and motor-driven rolls, into a universal stand, composed, in addition to the pair of parallel rolls, by a further two vertical idle rolls, opposed to each other, and perpendicular to the previously mentioned cylinders.

Abstract: A six-high rolling stand has a pair of upper and lower working rolls defining a nip, a pair of upper and lower inner backup rolls vertically flanking and bearing on the working rolls, a pair of upper and lower outer backup rolls vertically flanking and bearing on the inner backup rolls, a frame, and respective journal blocks carrying the rolls in the frame and supporting the rolls therein for rotation about respective axes that are all substantially parallel with the outer roll axes at least defining a vertical plane. A drive is connected directly to the outer backup rolls for oppositely rotating same and the upper and lower rolls vertically engage one another so that the rotation of the outer backup rolls is transmitted through the inner backup rolls to the working rolls. Actuators braced between some of the journal blocks and the frame for vertically displacing at least some of the rolls horizontally perpendicular to the plane.

Abstract: An internal frame carrying vertical rolls of a roll set permanently remains in the mill. The frame consists of spaced-apart cross members tied together on each end by a yoke member. Clamping plates hold the frame down in the mill. Pass line adjustment of the vertical rolls is done through vertical movement of the frame. The yoke on the operating side is removable and is raised and lowered for roll set changing, and is equipped at its top with tracks which in the removable yoke's lower position form part of a rail system in the roll set changing operation. Pins and cylinders hold the removable yoke to the cross members. Stooling pins are automatically engaged in the chocks of the vertical and horizontal rolls forming an interlocking roll set for its removal from the mill.

Abstract: A portable carrier module for transporting work rolls and entry and exit guides to and from a cantilevered roll stand in a rolling mill. The carrier module remains removably mounted on the roll stand during the rolling operation, and includes integral roll cooling means automatically coupled to water supply conduits extending through the roll stand housing.

Abstract: The rolls of a universal type mill stand are adjusted by moving the lower horizontal roll into position, directly or iteratively, by shifting the upper horizontal roll axially under utilization of the vertical rolls. In the case of conical rolls the latter operation is included in the iteration to obtain minimum spacing between the vertical rolls. The position of all rolls under rolling pressure serves as reference for further adjustment towards dimensions of the stock.

Abstract: A rolling mill stand with roll housings (1, 2) through the window formed by the pillar transoms of the one roll housing (2), the set of rolls (7, 8) together with the bearing installation parts as well as the rest bar (17) and the roller fittings connected therewith can be driven out of and back again into the rolling mill stand on a traveling carriage with rollers (14) on rails (15). One of the two roll housings (2), or the two pillar transoms together with the ground traverse connecting them or the two pillar transom sections (2a, 2b) bordering the window on the driving-out side, constitute hereby an autonomous component superimposed on the traveling carriage and separable from the rolling mill stand.

Abstract: A back up roll assembly for supporting an intermediate roll and an upper work roll consists of a plurality of rotatable rollers spaced apart on a common shaft by fixed saddles and in engagement with the intermediate roll. The number of saddles exceeds one more than the number of rollers so that the back up roll assembly begins and ends with a saddle, each saddle being engaged by a piston cylinder assembly mounted in a frame, which frame takes up all of the rolling load and adds rigidity to the compensating system. Each piston cylinder assembly controls the positioning of its saddle and its neighboring rollers to exert a localized influencing effect onto the intermediate roll to compensate for, and/or control roll deflection.

Abstract: A rod or bar mill stand (72) is constructed to be used either in vertical or horizontal disposition. When in the horizontal disposition the rolls (3) are driven directly by the usual drive consisting of motor, pinion box and drive spindles which are arranged at the same general level as the stand. When the stand is in the vertical disposition, a drive adaptor (50) is introduced to transmit the drive from the drive spindles to universal spindles (71) arranged about the stand (72) to connect to the necks of the rolls (3).

Abstract: The disclosed stand comprises a housing with carriers that are located pairwise on either side of the axis of rolling oppositely to each other and accommodate the bearing chocks of the work rolls. The work rolls are disposed one above the other between the backup rolls. A device for prestressing the stand is included. A device for prestressing the work rolls separately interconnects the bearing chocks of the work rolls of each pair located one above the other.

Abstract: An embossing calender for thermoplastics films in which the film is embossed by passage between an embossing roller and a counter-roller and in which the rollers can be rapidly changed or replaced. This is achieved by providing separate support arrangements for the two rollers, which arrangements permit the respective rollers to be displaced into and out of their working positions. The support arrangement for the embossing roller comprises a support member along which at least one holder for the roller is displaceable between a working position and at least one further inoperative position. This permits the selective positioning of each holder and its associated roller.The arrangement for the counter-roller comprises a support which has a pivotally mounted displacement device associated therewith. The displacement device includes holders.

Abstract: A roll stand comprises a plurality of axially shiftable working rolls, each attached by supporting members axially slidably to a guide member which is movable vertically adjustably against the side of a cylinder block installed in the roll stand housing. Axially shifting hydraulic cylinders are provided to axially shift the working rolls by acting on the guide pieces. In particular a plurality of balancing hydraulic cylinders are installed in laterally projecting shoulders in the cylinder blocks behind each other in the axial shifting direction of the rolls and act on the working rolls to provide balancing and bending forces. In order to install only cylinder blocks of reduced size, the balancing hydraulic cylinders operating downwardly and the balancing hydraulic cylinders taken individually along the axial shifting direction project alternately downward and upward from the shoulder of the cylinder block associated with them and act on the guide pieces on which the working rolls are mounted.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are employed to convert a conventional slitter into a four high cold reduction mill. According to the preferred embodiment the blades of the slitter are removed and the upper and lower arbors are separated to place a pair of work rolls in between. A left and right side support unit is mounted on the upper and lower arbors. The left and right support units each carry a pair of upper and lower arbor housings for attachment to the upper and lower arbor shafts and a second pair of housings for mounting the upper and lower work rolls between the upper and lower arbors. Packing sleeves are fitted on the upper and lower arbor shafts so that the converted upper and lower arbors act as back-up rolls for the upper and lower work rolls. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the entire slitter head including its inboard and outboard housing is replaced by an entirely new four high head including its own inboard and outboard housing.

Abstract: A rolling mill roll stand has a housing removably mounted on a lower bridge. A pair of work rolls and their respective bearings and bearing chocks are contained within the housing. Separating devices act on the bearing chocks to maintain a gap between the work rolls. Hydraulic roll positioning cylinders are carried in the lower bridge and are arranged to act on the bearing chocks of one of the work rolls. The housing together with the work rolls, bearing chocks and separating devices is removable as a unit from the lower bridge, while allowing the hydraulic positioning cylinders to remain undisturbed.

Abstract: Hydraulic safety device for the mechanism for closing up the rolls of a rolling mill, comprising an hydraulic safety valve (20) which is accommodated directly inside the jack (1) for closing up the mill rolls and which automatically reduces the pressure of the fluid in the control chamber (12) as soon as the stroke of the body (11) of the jack reaches a predetermined limiting position.

Abstract: A housingless beam mill stand is described in which horizontal rolls are mounted in chocks which are prestressed against a rectangular frame by tension bolts which pass through the chocks and the frame, in conjunction with the prestressing cylinder. Vertical rolls are carried by roll chocks which have clearance ways through which the tension bolts also pass, and which permit lateral adjustment of the vertical roll chocks and thus the vertical rolls.

Abstract: Die-cutting roll assemblies are provided which utilize a shaftless die roll. In certain embodiments, stability in the press is provided by an assist adaptor which has flanged bearings that cooperatively support the die roll laterally and transversely. In other embodiments, the roll is supported in a frame that has removable centers, which permit the use of rolls of various lengths in the assembly.

Abstract: A rolling mill is disclosed wherein mill housings have an inverted U-shape forming windows that receive chocks for roll assemblies. The windows are open at the bottoms of the housings and chocks for the lower roll assembly have lugs that project into recesses formed in the lower portions of the housing post sections and rest against removable keys supported in slots that are generally parallel to the rotational axis of the roll assembly. A platform supports the rolling mill when processing workpieces. Pad surfaces on the platform engage the lower end faces of the housing post sections and anchors engage the housing post sections at the sides thereof which are opposite the housing windows to resist a component of the rolling load transferred by the keys to the housing post sections.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rolling unit having three rollers with axes arranged at 120.degree., wherein the main roller shaft derives its motion from a drive and transmits it to the shafts of the other two rollers through bevel gears. To simplify the assembly and service procedures, as well as to improve the roller adjustment facilities, the main roller is carried on a supporting body which can be removably positioned on the unit casing to allow axial adjustment of the main roller. The respective shaft engages rotatively, but in an axially slidable manner, with a coupling shaft connected to the drive. The supporting body may be attached to the casing radially, thereby it becomes possible to assemble the main shaft, together with the roller, bearings, and gears, and then secure the supporting body on the casing.

Abstract: Improved support means for the lateral support roll assemblies of a six-high rolling mill of the type having a pair of housings, a pair of vertically in-line work rolls, vertically in-line back-up rolls, intermediate in-line rolls located between the work and back-up rolls, a lateral support roll on each side of each work roll and a support roller assembly for each of the lateral support rolls. Each support roller assembly for each lateral support roll comprises a support arm providing horizontally adjustable mounting for its respective support roller assembly. The support arm is pivotally mounted to the chocks of the adjacent intermediate roll. A spacer is provided in association with the support arm to adjust the horizontal position thereof. A stationary side support beam assembly is provided to give rigid support to the spacer and the support arm.

Abstract: A modular unit for mounting in a mill, which unit has a housing containing a pinion fixed to a shaft with a drive gear extending from the housing. The housing partially encircles the periphery of the pinion and has an upper member for mounting a thrust bearing on one end of the shaft and a lower capsule plate element mounting another bearing opposite the thrust bearing, which plate is snugly received in an aperture in the mill through which the drive gear passes. The modular unit is secured to the mill along at least two planes in a manner to completely enclose the pinion and gear and to permit disassembly thereof through axial and radial movements of the unit relative to the axis of the shaft.

Abstract: A rolling mill comprising a roll housing in which are mounted a pair of work rolls which can be bent by work roll benders and a pair of support rolls therefor which are displaceable relative to each other in their axial direction and are bent by support roll benders. To minimize the size of the window of the rolling mill housing while including a plurality of mechanisms such as roll benders and means for roll displacement, said support roll benders are disposed closer to the center plane of the rolling mill than the work roll benders.

Abstract: A skew rolling mill for tubes is provided having a stand upright in two parts laterally separable along a vertical parting line, one part being fixed and the other movable horizontally transverse to the pass line of the mill, a pair of driven skew rolls journaled adjacent one another and inclined to the pass line, and a pair of driven guide discs journalled in the stand upright to be disposed in a vertical plane, one above and one below the pass line, the rolls and clamps being removable toward the vertical parting line and tie rods subject to pre-stress by hydraulically movable nuts.

Abstract: A rod, bar or section mill has a train of rolling mill stands, each of which is attached to a bed plate with which the stand is introduced into, and withdrawn from, the mill. The bed plate carries pedestals on which are secured guides; those guides can be properly located on the bed plate prior to entry of the stand into the mill; on the stand being positioned in the mill, the guides are then automatically located relative to the pass-line and the down-time of the mill on stand replacement is reduced.

Abstract: A roll stand arrangement contains work rolls and back-up or support rolls, the work rolls being laterally supported by hydrostatic support ledges. Within each upright or support stand of the roll stand arrangement there is provided a guide frame which is guided within a window of the related support stand together with mounting elements for the back-up or support rolls. Within the guide frame there are guided the mounting elements of the work rolls in slide elements. There are simultaneously pivotably supported in the slide elements the shaft or bearing journals of the support ledges.

Abstract: In a three-roll Assel mill capable of automatically and rapidly changing the rolls, rails are arranged on an inner housing mounted within each of a fixed housing and a rotary housing to be rotatable along the inner wall thereof, and cradles having rolls mounted therein are placed on the rails, whereby during roll changing the housing proper is shifted and the inner housings are rotated in such a manner that the rails provided on the inner housings are successively aligned with rails laid externally and the rolls are moved in or out of the rolling mill.

Abstract: A vertical rolling mill is disclosed wherein a means for driving the mill rolls is comprised of a rigid vertical spindle having universal joints and couplings at either end which is detachably connected to the mill roll at its lower end and connected to a splined driving member at its upper end. The splined driving member consists of two parts. First, a hollow sleeve is mounted vertically in a drive case on the mill frame. The sleeve is supported within the frame through top and bottom antifriction bearings. It has internal splines at the lower end of its bore and an internal shoulder above the spline end. Second, a vertical shaft with an external spline and collar is inserted into the sleeve. The vertical shaft engages the internal spline of the sleeve and is supported by its collar which rests on the internal shoulder in the sleeve. Thus, the top frame, rather than the mill roll bearing, supports the weight of the spindle, joints and pod coupling.

Abstract: A roll changing device for rolling mills, in which the roll are changed through roll exchange between the work roll changing rails and intermediate roll changing rails which are mounted in a housing, and delivery rails placed in front of the rolling mill. The improvement comprises a vertically movable floor device carrying the delivery rails. The vertically movable floor device is adapted to move vertically to bring the delivery roll into alignment with the work roll changing rails and the intermediate roll changing rails to permit an easy and prompt roll change without any restriction in the space, even when the work rolls and the intermediate rolls are mounted at large depths from the floor level.

Abstract: A rolling mill has a pair of work rolls (12, 13), between which the work (14) is rolled and which are supported by respective back-up rolls (16, 15). Between one work roll (12) and its back-up roll (16) there are a pair of intermediate rolls (17, 18) which are axially adjustable relative to the other rolls.

Abstract: A pair of upper crossheads for a universal rolling mill is engaged with nut assemblies on extended ends of a pair of screwdown spindles. Each crosshead can be swung about a nut assembly on one of the screwdown spindles while disengaged from a nut assembly on the other screwdown spindle for pivotal movement of the crosshead to one side of the housing frame. The nut assemblies for the ends of the crossheads, which remain engaged with the screwdown spindles, have threads that raise the crossheads during pivotal movement. Pedestal supports on projecting wing portions of the frame carry the pivoted parts of the crossheads. During operation of the universal rolling mill, the upper crossheads are held in their operative position by a clamp engaged with a crosstie that extends between two nut assemblies that can be exposed.

Abstract: A method for rolling rails is provided wherein the final rolling operation includes processing of a rail blank in a leader pass universal mill stand and in a finishing pass universal mill stand. Both mill stands have horizontal rolls that form two roll passes, one of which is the leader roll pass and the other is a finishing roll pass. The rolls or the entire mill stands are interchanged from a previous location in a mill train to use an unused roll pass at the previous location, thereby doubling the roll life and eliminating the need to manipulate or otherwise handle the rail blank for passes in the mill stands.

Abstract: An improved cold roll forming apparatus providing for the exchange of rolls as a unit is disclosed, wherein sets of rolls are provided easily and removably exchangeable between sets of stands by one process. A frame supports the rolls and is lifted up to position the rolls between the stands, and at least one or more springy compressible devices are provided on the roll axles to operate as buffers and as devices to accelerate unfastening the rolls from holders of the stands. The springy compressible device has a cylindrical housing, a cover plate, and a spring exerting a biassing force between the cover plate and housing.

Abstract: A compact rolling mill has a housing structure divided into a plurality of rolling bays by rigidly interconnected posts extending transversally across the rolling line. Each rolling bay has a window facing a common side of the mill. The rolling bays are adapted to contain roll packages, with each such package including a pair of work rolls straddle mounted between bearings arranged in bearing chocks. The roll packages are movable, either singly or as a group, in a common lateral direction through the windows, between operative rolling positions supported by the housing posts within the rolling bays, and extracted inoperative positions on the aforesaid common side of the mill.

Abstract: An axial adjustment device for use with a cluster mill stand, including tapered intermediate rolls each of which has a roll neck and a pivot bearing on the roll neck. At least one axial adjusting device is provided which is operable in an axial direction of the intermediate rolls and includes a single shift bar for each pair of intermediate rolls, and a common dog engageable with the intermediate rolls and operable in a direction transverse to the axial direction of the adjusting device, the dog being arranged at the end of the shift bar next to the roll neck for support thereof and for raising and lowering thereof in the direction transverse to the axial direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vertical stand of a sizing mill for rolling seamless tube in which each roll of the mill is contained in and supported by a yoke moveable both transversely of the product passline and axially of the roll axis, the latter adjustment being performed by an elevator arranged normally at the bottom of the mill for moving both yokes as a unit with their rolls, i.e. a yoke-roll set, through the top of the stand to a roll changing position where both yokes are transferred as a unit to one of two in-lined arranged side shifting carriages supported by the stand, the arrangement being such that when a used yoke-roll set is moved away from the stand at the top thereof by one of the carriages a replacement yoke-roll set is positioned above the stand of the other carriage in readiness to be received and lowered into the stand by the elevator.

Abstract: A mill roll balance system for incorporation within a rolling mill is provided. The balance system includes a rigid beam assembly for guiding a portion of the mechanism utilized to stabilize the top roll and for preventing any resultant horizontal forces due to an unbalanced counterweight apparatus utilized to provide an upward force to the upper roll in the mill. A plurality of steelyard rods are provided and are continuous in their length from a point below the bottom of the roll housing through the housing to their upper terminus switches proximate the upper roll for providing the necessary counter-balancing upward force to the screw-down mechanism's downward force on the upper roll.

Abstract: A vacuum roll mill stand comprises a housing closed at opposite sides with covers and having its interior brought in communication with a vacuum pumping means to thereby form a chamber adapted to accommodate chocks carrying workrolls geared through the intermediary of spindles to a drive. The chocks together with the workrolls are secured on one of the housing covers thereby forming a frame, the housing being annular in shape and arranged so as to have its geometrical axis coincident with the axis of rolling; the housing also being fitted with through openings adapted to receive the spindles together with vacuum seals.

Abstract: A roll turning or grinding machine is provided adapted to receive a multi-roll stand, such as a four-roll stand whose rolls are to be machined or ground by means of a tool, the roll stand being not provided with a drive shaft for the rolls whereby the rolls rotate freely or idly during a rolling operation, said machine having gear wheels journalled in a support and driven by a motor and engaging counter-wheels attached to the rolls for driving the rolls to machine them or while they are being ground.

Abstract: A travelling gantry is used for exchanging the working rolls of roll stands. A carriage is mounted on a cross member of the gantry and a roll extraction device with roll receiving rotatable sleeves therein is suspended from the carriage in a vertically adjustable manner. The cross member of the gantry is preferably a box girder of which the lower wall has lateral projections providing guide surfaces engaging in an inverted T-section groove of the carriage.

Abstract: A strand guiding stand to be used in a continuous casting plant has longitudinal beams and cross beams forming a cage-like carrying structure. Strand guiding rollers having roller axles are mounted in this cage-like carrying structure. Roller holding means accommodate the roller axles and thereby fasten the strand guiding rollers of each side of the strand guiding stand directly to the longitudinal beams, independently of the cross beams.

Abstract: A device for controlling the rotation of the working rolls in a tube rolling mill of the kind comprising a number of housings, each containing three working rollers normally in axial alignment on a single bearing structure, the rolls in each housing being keyed to corresponding shafts controlled from outside the housing and actuated by a single rotor, the device being characterized in that it comprises:three high-speed shafts (8, 14, 21) borne outside the plurality of housings (2) in the rolling mill (1) and extending parallel to the common axis of the housings (2),a reduction gear (22, 23, 24) for each working roll (4, 5, 6) of each single housing (2), borne outside the housing and axially engageable or disengageable from the corresponding shaft (4a, 5a, 6a) of the aforementioned roll (4, 5, 6),a bevel gear (22a, 23a, 24a) between each reduction gear (22, 23, 24) and one of the high-speed shafts (8, 14, 21), anda kinematic transmission (9, 11, 13-16, 15, 20) between the single motor (7) and each high-speed s

Abstract: A roll mill stand has a supporting frame which mounts two housings with at least three work rolls being arranged therebetween, the geometric center lines of the rolls being located in a single plane and set one with respect to another to form a pass. The work rolls are mounted each in a respective shell, the latter being hinged upon one of the housings by a pivot secured in the housing parallel to the work roll and connected to the other housing by a screw-down mechanism intended to adjust the radial gap between the work rolls. At least one of the shells is supported by the respective pivot connecting the shell to the housing, the gap between the work rolls being adjustable transversally with respect to the axis of rolling.

Abstract: A roll mill stand comprises a housing which mounts chocks having secured therein journals carrying work rolls forming a pass, at least one of said work rolls being coupled by means of a splined joint with one end of a spindle, the other end of said spindle being connected by a splined joint to a pinion geared to a drive means. The roll mill stand is provided with an arrangement for axial displacement of the spindle, comprising a motion screw mounted coaxially with the spindle and coupled with its other end, the motion screw carrying a nut with a disk affixed to the end face thereof, the nut being mounted on a hub coupled with the spindle shaft for rotation with respect to said nut, the roll mill stand being additionally provided with a braking mechanism placed on the stationary part of the roll mill stand and cooperating with the disk of said nut, as said nut is being slowed down to disengage the spindle from the work roll.

Abstract: A multi-line rolling system having a plurality of rolling positions aligned in the direction of rolling. Each rolling position includes a housing or housing structures supporting at least two sets of work rolls which may be selectively coupled to a common power source, thereby permitting the rolling line formed by one roll set to be rendered inoperative while the rolling line of the other roll set continues to roll product received from a feed line. The system further includes an appropriate switching mechanism for directing product from the feed line to either rolling line.

Abstract: A rolling mill of the four-high type wherein the lower work roll chocks are interconnected by runners to form a sled-like construction and the upper work roll assembly is supportable by the lower work roll assembly so that the two work roll assemblies may be changed as a unit. The runners are supported by tracks carried by the upper back up roll chocks when the upper back up roll chocks are raised to bring the tracks into supporting engagement with the runners arranged above the tracks.

Abstract: A vertical rolling mill according to the present invention comprises at least a pair of rolling rolls having vertical axes of rotation, a stand which supports said rolling rolls in rotatable fashion, a frame which is provided with a sole plate whereon said stand is mounted and an upright portion extending upwardly at one side of said sole plate, at least a pair of spindle members having vertical axes of rotation respectively which are juxtaposed below said sole plate of the frame and are connected with a driving member so as to rotate in opposite directions, and holding members which are installed on said upright portion of the frame, said stand being devised so that, when it is mounted on the sole plate, the side thereof is held by said holding members, and each rolling roll is connected with each spindle member below said stand so as to be driven thereby, and said pair of rolling rolls are provided with a single caliber formed thereon for the purpose of inserting the material-to-be-rolled therein.

Abstract: A rolling mill stand, particularly for a rod or bar mill, has, at each side of the pass line, a rotary roll housing which includes a number of fitments each for detachably carrying a roll assembly. By rotating the roll housings, one of the roll assemblies of each roll housing can be brought into a rolling position, in which it is coupled to drive means. In order to change the rolls at the rolling positions, each of the roll housings is rotated to bring a fresh roll assembly into position. The stand has a roll change rig enabling one or more of the roll assemblies of each roll housing to be quickly run out of the stand and replaced by substitute roll assemblies.

Abstract: A universal cassette type stand for a continuous rolling line which can be converted from a universal beam stand having two horizontal rolls and two vertical rolls into a stand having two horizontal rolls for rolling structural shapes. Each horizontal and vertical roll includes two hydraulic tightening jacks each associated with a different chock. Each jack is provided with a servo-valve, a position sensor, and a pressure probe. The supply of each jack is servo-controlled by a regulation loop where the measurement of the tightening is transformed into a position reference depending on the modulus of either the lower or upper part or sides of the stand. The regulation or control loop is such that one of several alternatives for rolling the beam to a desired mode can be accomplished.