Abstract: A mill stand having a pair of work rolls cooperating with at least one backup roll. Bending forces are applied to at least one work roll at or adjacent the ends thereof. The work rolls may be offset with respect to the backup rolls in either an upstream or downstream direction, and the bending forces may be applied in the direction of offset. The forces may be applied to both work rolls. An opposing force may be applied to the opposite side of the work rolls intermediate the bending forces applied to the work roll ends either through the strip tension differential or a direct application. A rolling mill stand having a pair of cooperating work rolls and cooperating backup rolls has a pair of first auxiliary rolls applying forces at or adjacent the ends of the work rolls. The work rolls may be offset and the bending forces are applied in the direction of offset. Second auxiliary rolls may be provided intermediate the first auxiliary rolls to provide an opposing force.

Abstract: A rolling mill arrangement having at least one roll carrying a sleeve forming a cavity with the roll body near the two opposed ends of the roll. Pressurized fluid is regulated in these cavities to counteract "edge drop" which occurs at the edges of a product under the conventional procedures for controlling the mill for effecting control of the edge thickness of the strip when reducing the product along its width.

Abstract: A rolling mill strip tension monitoring assembly has a roll supporting structure which supports a plurality of pivotally mounted rolls. A sensor support is movably secured to the roll supporting means such that movement of the rolls other than axial rotational movement will effect a change in relative position between the noncontacting sensor array and the roll support. Sensors may consist of one or more elongated transducer array which may be of the induction type. Apparatus for comparing the position of a rolls with an adjacent roll may be employed. Apparatus for processing the signals.

Abstract: A thermally insulating block array is partially covered by thermal conducting sheets so as to enhance re-radiation of heat losses from a heated product in order to facilitate effective temprature control. The thermal conducting sheets preferably cover the face of the thermal insulating blocks which face the heated product and preferably cover the lateral surfaces of the blocks and portions of the rear surface to resist direct exposure of the thermal insulating block to the heated product.

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 rolling mill strip tension controlling apparatus may also function as a looper roll and shape meter and is provided with a plurality of generally aligned axially rotatable strip contacting rolls which are supported on rotating arms which in turn are rotated by actuators such as hydraulic cylinders. By monitoring actuator pressure and position a difference between the actual values for position or pressure and the predetermined values is used to provide through a servomechanism suitable corrective action on an individual roll by roll basis. A switch may be provided to permit the system to provide information from a computer to the servo system in a position mode or a pressure mode. The measured values may take the form of oscillations with respect to a predetermined base value.