Abstract: A twin roll casting machine has an end-dam structure at each end of the pair of rolls. Each end-dam structure comprises a first part which is urged into engagement with the rolls in the vicinity of the narrowest part of the gap with a contact pressure which prevents leakage of molten metal. A second part, positioned above the first part, is urged into engagement with the rolls with a contact pressure which is less than that of the first part, but which nevertheless prevents leakage of molten metal.

Abstract: The roll comprises a rotatable arbor (1) with an annular sleeve (7) shrunk onto it. There are internal passages (25) in the sleeve for the flow of liquid coolant there along. The internal passages are in communication with ducts (19, 21) in the arbor and the liquid coolant passed along the passages from the ducts forms a thermal barrier in the sleeve between the outer periphery and the interface.

Abstract: In the manufacture of metal strip, the strip is cast in a caster (1) and it is then passed through a temperature control zone (5) where the temperature of the strip is brought to a predetermined level. To adjust the temperature of the strip, as its speed of passage through the temperature control zone varies, the temperature control means must be adjusted. Until operating conditions have stabilized, it is necessary to hang a part of the strip leaving the caster in a loop so as to accommodate variations in operating conditions.

Abstract: An air/oil mixture can conveniently be used as a lubricant. To produce the lubricant, oil under pressure is supplied alternately to a pair of separate oil lines (4,5) and at least one dual-line metering valve (8) is connected to the lines to receive oil from each line in turn and to inject a predetermined quantify of oil into a mixing zone each time the supply of oil is changed from one line to the other. Air under pressure is supplied to the mixing zone to mix with the oil injected into the zone.

Abstract: When rolling metal strip, an emulsion of rolling oil and water is applied to opposite surfaces of the strip. A measured flow of rolling oil is introduced into a measured flow of water to cause at least partial mixing and then it is subjected to turbulence to produce emulsion immediately prior to it being applied to the strip.

Abstract: When deforming an elongate workpiece, as by forging, rolling, or the like, it is necessary to know the exact position of the workpiece along its length with respect to the deforming device. To this end, one end of the workpiece is secured to a carriage in abutting relation with a stop member and the carriage is moved in the direction away from the deforming device. The position of the stop member with respect to the deforming device is continuously detected thus giving an indication of the position of the workpiece with respect to the deforming device.

Abstract: A tundish for molten metal having a front wall with an opening is provided. A plate with an opening is fitted into the opening in the front wall and retained therein. By replacing the plate with a plate with a plate having an opening at a different vertical level, the tundish can feed horizontal continuous casting molds of different levels.

Abstract: A force applicator comprises a ram operable by fluid under pressure. A pressure pad (7) is located between one movable part of the ram (3) and the load (9) and means are provided which enable relative movement to take place between the pressure pad and the ram in a direction at right angles to the direction of operation of the ram. The means may take the form of a fluid chamber (15) between the pressure pad and the ram or a disc of PTFE between them.

Abstract: A pressing machine for reducing the width of a hot metal slab has a pair of platens which are caused to engage with opposite edges of the slab to apply forces which reduce the width of the slab. This pressing action may cause buckling of the slab and to prevent, or at least reduce, the buckling, one or both of the opposite faces of the slab has a restraint provided adjacent thereto. The restraint may be in two parts connected to respective platens and arranged to allow for movement of one platen with respect to the other platen.

Abstract: A method of treating hot metal slabs (6) aims to reduce the width of the slab (6) produced by a continuous casting process to avoid the need for the prolific number of moulds otherwise required to produce slabs of various widths. In order to achieve this the hot metal slab (6) is presented, with its width dimension vertically oriented, to a pressing machine (24) having a vertically movable top platen (26) and a fixed bottom platen (28). The slab (6) is incrementally displaced, longitudinally, through the pressing machine and pressing forces are applied to its opposing edges by the platens, to reduce its width. Subsequently, the slab (6) is turned so that its width dimension is oriented horizontally and rolled between the horizontal rolls of a rolling mill (22). An apparatus for performing the method is disclosed.

Abstract: A housing structure for a rolling mill stand has two housings spaced apart and secured together with a spacer structure clamped between them by replaceable bolts. The housings support horizontal rolls and optionally vertical rolls and these rolls are supported on the spacer structure when the housings are displaced away from each other and from the spacer structure.

Abstract: A manipulator for manipulating metal ingots comprises a wheeled carriage with a peel assembly supported on it so that the peel assembly can move relative to the carriage. The peel assembly is supported adjacent one end of the carriage by at least one piston-cylinder device and a plurality of elongate links are pivotally coupled to the peel assembly and to a rigid support means on the carriage away from the end.

Abstract: A telescopic drive spindle assembly for a rolling mill permits the assembly to accommodate axial displacement of the roll. The assembly has first and second overlapping members with a piston in one member being displaceable in a cylinder in the other member. The piston defines a chamber and a quantity of gas in the chamber serves to urge the piston in the direction out of the cylinder so as to increase the effective length of the drive spindle.

Abstract: In a beam mill stand having lower horizontal roll chocks, supported by screw-ups, upper horizontal roll chocks suspended on hooks from balance beams and urged downward by screw-downs, and vertical roll chocks supported by and moveable in transverse guide ways, in order to facilitate changing of the rolls as an interlocked stack, there are resilient support mechanisms in the upper horizontal roll chocks which are restrained by the hooks on the balance beams. With the mill stand inoperative, when the beams are lowered the resilient support mechanisms are released and extend to engage the vertical roll chocks to support the upper horizontal roll chocks resiliently. An interlocking mechanism in the vertical rolls is operated by the resilient support mechanism so that the vertical and lower horizontal roll chocks are locked against lateral movement.

Abstract: A multi-stand hot strip rolling mill has a pinch roll assembly downstream of the last stand and before the coiler and a shapemeter roll is located between the last stand and the pinch roll assembly so as to engage with the strip.

Abstract: A method of aligning the horizontal and vertical rolls of a beam mill stand. First the upper horizontal roll is brought to a datum position, and then the vertical rolls are brought into contact with the opposite flanks of upper horizontal roll, to establish datum positions for the vertical rolls. The vertical rolls are then withdrawn from their datum positions, and the lower horizontal roll is brought into contact with the upper horizontal roll to establish a datum position for the second horizontal roll. The vertical rolls are brought into contact with the flanks of the upper and lower horizontal rolls. The initial inter-roll spacing of the vertical rolls at first contact is compared with the inter-roll spacing of the vertical rolls at the second contact to determine if there is any axial misalignment of the horizontal work rolls.

Abstract: In an arrangement for coiling metal strip on a downcoiler, the strip is directed to the downcoiler by a pair of pinch rolls and one or both of the rolls are used to steer the strip to a desired position on the mandrel so that a coil with tidy vertical sides is formed on the mandrel. One roll of the pair of pinch rolls may be skewed with respect to the other roll or both rolls may be skewed to the direction of travel of the strip material.

Abstract: In a method of operating a tandem rolling mill, the speeds of the mill rolls are kept constant, a signal representing the mass flow of material entering the first stand is compared with a signal representing the desired mass flow of material leaving the last mill stand and the difference, if any, is used to control the load on the first stand in the sense to reduce the difference substantially to zero.

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: An edger mill comprising a pair of oppositely mounted vertical rolls adapted for relative movement whereby the gap between them can be adjusted. Each roll is provided with a drive including a drive shaft comprising two drive sections extending generally parallel to the direction of roll gap adjustment. The first drive section has a splined portion coupled to a drive pinion for accommodating large adjustments effected in the roll gap when the mill is not under load. The second drive section is connected to the first drive section by a splined coupling which accommodates small roll gap adjustments effected when the mill is under load.