Abstract: A system for processing steel strips in a hot strip mill includes an apparatus and method for minimizing oxide growth on steel strips and reducing wear on work rolls in the finishing mill. In order to reduce oxide build up, steel strips are sprayed with coolant at selected locations throughout the finishing mill and the surface temperature of the strips is controlled to be within the range of an upper limit (T.sub.u) and a lower limit (T.sub.L) where oxide growth is minimized. Accordingly, wear on the work rolls due to abrasive contact with the steel strips is reduced.

Abstract: A system for processing steel strips in a hot strip mill includes an apparatus and method for removing the oxide layer in the finishing mill process such that the final thickness of the oxide layer is much less than previously possible. In order to reduce the thickness of the oxide layer, the invention provides for the removal of oxide scales from the surface of the steel strips at a distance in front of the working rolls of the finishing mill that minimizes the time the strip is exposed to ambient conditions after it is descaled and before it is received between the pair of working rolls. By minimizing this exposure time, the thickness of the oxide layers in the finished strips is substantially reduced.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system for controlling the gauge and width dimensions of elongated steel strips processed in the finishing stage of a hot rolling mill. Loopers located between adjacent mill stands in the finishing stage apply tension to the strips such that the tension causes plastic deformation of the strip. By providing a dynamic adjustment of the tension responsive to gauge and width sensing devices, the amount of permanent deformation in the plastic region is controlled. By controlling the amount of permanent deformation of a strip in the plastic region, the adjustable tension of the loopers effectively reduces variation of both gauge and width to an extent previously not possible. Preferably, corrections to width variation are carried out by the most upstream loopers. Corrections of gauge variations are carried out by downstream loopers and preferably by the last looper in the finishing stage.

Abstract: A system for processing steel strips in a hot strip mill includes an apparatus and method for removing the oxide layer in the finishing mill process such that the final thickness of the oxide layer is much less than previously possible. In order to reduce the thickness of the oxide layer, the invention provides for the removal of oxide scales from the surface of the steel strips at a distance in front of the working rolls of the finishing mill that minimizes the time the strip is exposed to ambient conditions after it is descaled and before it is received between the pair of working rolls. By minimizing this exposure time, the thickness of the oxide layers in the finished strips is substantially reduced.

Abstract: A first pair of generally cylindrical rollers are positioned on a run-out table. Each of the rollers has a first section including the first end of the rollers which is of a first diameter, a second section including the second end of the rollers of a second, larger diameter and a third section of changing diameter which forms a slope on the surface of the rollers joining the surfaces of the first and second sections. Each roller has its first and second ends mounted on opposite sides of the run-out table with respect to the other roller in the pair. A strip centered on the run-out table rests entirely on the smaller diameter section of the pair of rollers. The sloped sections of the rollers engage the sides of a strip as the strip veers away from the center line resisting lateral movement of the strip and cambering.