Abstract: To enable safe coiling of very thin metals at high speed, the invention discloses a coiler comprising a mandrel of considerably smaller diameter then prior art mandrels, enabling said mandrel to be directly driven by an electric motor without using reduction gears. The coil outer diameter is also reduced, the result being a coiler having far lower polar moment of inertia than prior art coilers, therefore greatly reducing the incidence of tension errors and strip breaks. The mandrel is constructed specifically for operation with a spool upon which the coil is wound, and incorporates the novel feature of concentric expansion using a plurality of circumferentially oriented wedges, which ensures uniform support and grip of the spool bore, holding said spool and coil concentric with the axis of the mandrel.

Abstract: A 6-high rolling mill has work rolls which have offsets, relative to the intermediate rolls, such that during operation there is a net horizontal force acting to urge the work rolls into engagement with the support rolls whereby substantially all horizontal support of the work rolls is provided by the support rolls. Support pads are located proximal the rolls' side faces, without exerting any substantial force on the work rolls during operation.

Abstract: A shapemeter for measuring the flatness of a tensioned metal strip has a plurality of coaxially aligned measuring rings, with each measuring ring being rotatably supported on the outer circumference by an associated force sensor.

Abstract: A drive assembly for axially adjusting at least one roll of the upper and lower pairs of first intermediate rolls of a cluster mill of the 20-high (1-2-3-4) type. The drive comprises a first horizontally oriented rack connected to one of the first intermediate rolls by a link and universal joint assembly. As least one idler gear, with its axis horizontally oriented, is meshed with the first rack. A second rack horizontally oriented is affixed to the piston of a horizontally oriented hydraulic cylinder. The second rack and the hydraulic cylinder are in parallel spaced relationship to the first rack. The second rack is meshed with the at least one idler gear so that axial movement of the piston and second rack in the hydraulic cylinder will result in axial movement of the first rack via the at least one idler gear to axially shift the at least one roll.

Abstract: A cluster mill housing applicable to 20-high and 12-high cluster mills. The mill housing is similar in size and form to a comparable monobloc housing but is made of four distinct parts. The first part is a floor portion having a central lower roll cavity containing part terminating in end members and having a vertical column at each of its four corners. The second part comprises a roof portion having a central upper roll cavity containing part terminating at each of its ends in ears. The third and fourth parts comprise substantially identical bridge members overlying the roof portion ears and having downturned ends affixed to the tops of the columns. Each of the bridge members contain adjustment screws which bear against the adjacent roof portion ear. A synchronized drive assembly rotates the four adjustment screws equally and in the same direction to adjust the vertical position of the roof portion with respect to the floor portion.

Abstract: A wiping system for removing liquids such as lubricant and coolant liquids from the surfaces of a metallic strip. The system comprises upper and lower wiper rolls for wiping the upper and lower surfaces of the strip. The wiper rolls each comprise a metal core and a porous resilient covering. At least one upper backup roll for said upper wiper roll and at least one lower backup roll for said lower wiper roll providing support for said wiper rolls; urging said wiper rolls against their respective strip surfaces resulting in the formation of a liquid bead on each surface of said strip at the entry end of the wiper roll nip; and engaging their respective wiper rolls at contact zones at the entry ends of which beads of oil squeezed from said porous wiper roll covers are formed. A suction assembly is provided for each bead to remove liquid therefrom.

Abstract: A two-part housing assembly for a cluster mill. The housing assembly has substantially the same size, form and structure as a monobloc housing, but is divided along a horizontal plane located at or close to its horizontal center line into upper and lower mill housings each provided with a roll cavity and a roll cluster therein. The gap between the work rolls of the roll clusters is adjusted by symmetrical equal and opposite movement of the upper and lower mill housings achieved by four identical screws, one located in each corner of the mill housing assembly. Each screw has two threaded portions of opposite hand, one threaded portion engaging a threaded nut of opposite hand non-rotatively mounted in a recess in the upper mill housing and the other threaded screw portion engaging a threaded nut of appropriate hand non-rotatively mounted in a recess in the lower mill housing. Each screw supports the upper and lower mill housings.

Abstract: An improved shapemeter is provided to measure the flatness of metal strip under tension as the strip passes over a shapemeter roll, the shapemeter including a stationary shaft with a set of bearings that allow the strip to easily pass over the shapemeter roll. The stationary shaft does not touch the inner ring of each bearing, but the inner ring is urged against a block having horizontal and vertical flexural members that deflect giving only a single degree of freedom. This single degree of freedom allows each block to rotate about a pivot point, which is defined by the locations of the flexural members, in the transverse vertical plane only. The shaft has a slot, which provides an open area in which a single box that contains all the force transducers is mounted. Each force transducer (e.g., a load cell) is attached to a thrust button that contacts the corresponding block, and thereby absorbs some of the vertical load on the block.

Abstract: Improved B and C backing bearing assemblies and second intermediate idler rolls, characterized by greatly reduced transverse rigidity, for use in 20-high cluster mills having a 1-2-3-4 roll arrangement. On each of the B and C backing assemblies, spacers are used to provide narrow gaps between the roller bearings and the shaft eccentrics so that they do not form a rigid tube about the shafts of the B and C backing bearing assemblies. Segmented bridge elements are provided to transfer the load from the middle to each side of each roller bearing. Tie means, tying all the parts together axially (including the roller bearings the eccentrics, the bridge means and the spacing means), are provided in a form which is flexible in transverse bending. The idler roll of the second intermediate rolls constitutes a solid, rod-like, transversely flexible core, mounting a series of slightly spaced rings to form the roll body.

Abstract: Improved B and C backing bearing assemblies and second intermediate idler rolls, characterized by greatly reduced transverse rigidity, for use in 20-high cluster mills having a 1-2-3-4 roll arrangement. On each of the B and C backing assemblies, spacers are used to provide narrow gaps between the roller bearings and the shaft eccentrics so that they do not form a rigid tube about the shafts of the B and C backing bearing assemblies. Segmented bridge elements are provided to transfer the load from the middle to each side of each roller bearing. Tie means, tying all the parts together axially (including the roller bearings the eccentrics, the bridge means and the spacing means), are provided in a form which is flexible in transverse bending. The idler roll of the second intermediate rolls constitutes a solid, rod-like, transversely flexible core, mounting a series of slightly spaced rings to form the roll body.

Abstract: A crown adjustment system for a 20-high (1-2-3-4) cluster mill comprising rack-actuated crown adjustment saddles on the F and G backing bearing assemblies. The F and G saddles are equal in number and located in aligned positions so that the gear rings of an aligned F and G saddle pair can be rotated by a single rack for crown adjustment at that saddle position. The mill has a housing affixed to a base having a bottom and supported on a foundation with a trench extending therethrough. The base bottom covers the trench. Each crown adjustment rack is operatively attached to and actuated by its own hydraulic cylinder mounted within the trench on the base bottom. Each cylinder is provided with a sealing assembly enabling replacement or repair of the cylinder without oil drainage from the base. The F and G shafts are provided with at least one aligned pair of screwdown gears actuated by a screwdown rack attached to a rod actuated by at least one hydraulic screwdown cylinder.

Abstract: This invention relates to devices used for measuring tension in a moving web of material at a location adjacent to a coiling device. The invention consists of a single roller over which the web passes, the roller being supported by blocks at its end which incorporate flexure elements to provide the necessary constraints to motion of the blocks, and load cells are used to detect forces arising on the blocks. A signal of tension which is independent of wrap angle of the web around the roller is determined from a single load cell signal when the coil diameter is known, and is determined from two load cell signals when coil diameter is not known. Signals of wrap angle and coil diameter can also be obtained from the two load cell signals.

Abstract: A continuous process line and a method for conversion of hot rolled stainless steel strip to a condition suitable for cold rolling. The process line comprises a conventional hot band annealing and pickling line having annealing and pickling sections, to which a rolling mill is added ahead of the annealing section. The process comprises the steps of cold rolling, annealing and pickling to minimize gauge and hardness variations along the length of the strip and to reduce the thickness of the strip.

Abstract: A crown adjustment system for a 20-high (1-2-3-4) cluster mill of the type having upper and lower clusters each comprising a work roll, two first intermediate rolls, three second intermediate rolls, and four backing bearing assemblies. Each of the backing bearing assemblies of the upper cluster comprises a shaft supported along its length by saddles. Each of the saddles has a projecting ring through which the shaft passes. A plurality of bearing roll segments are journaled on the shaft between its respective saddle rings. A plurality of eccentrics are keyed to the shaft, each being located within one of the saddle rings supporting the shaft. Within the saddle ring of each saddle supporting the shaft there is an eccentric ring mounted on bearing rollers between its respective saddle ring and the adjacent keyed eccentric.

Abstract: There is provided a mill computer control system for automatically controlling the position of the individual drives in accordance with at least one predetermined equation so as to produce variable profile forms of the roll gap. Crown forms and tapered forms are generated by the computer in response to single keystroke commands on the keyboard. The drives may be adjusted simultaneously or individually. Individual adjustments may be made which are preserved during changes in the crown form or the tapered form.

Abstract: Means and method for cold rolling metal strip characterized by edge drop. The invention contemplates the use in a cold rolling mill of at least one roll having a base profile provided with a flared component adjacent to at least one end of the roll. The base profile can be crowned, cylindrical, partly crowned and partly cylindrical, or partly cylindrical and partly tapered. The roll or rolls can be work rolls, intermediate rolls or the like. Rolls provided with a flared component at one end only can be arranged in skew-symmetry and shifted independently in an axial direction to adjust the work roll gap profile. The roll or rolls of the present invention and the method employing them achieve uniform elongation of the metal strip, minimizing quarter buckle. The at least one flared portion can be truncated at a point adjacent to the edge of the strip to be rolled.

Abstract: A device for wiping liquids from the surface of moving metal strip under tension, such as strip produced by cold rolling mills. The device consists of a plurality of rollers, between which the strip passes, where each roller is supported by a plurality of pairs of casters. The caster pairs are spring mounted in a pair of frames, the frames being urged together by fluid powered cylinders, so that the rollers are held against the strip surfaces under pressure, thus wiping the strip surface by preventing passage of liquid on the strip surface past the rollers. The caster are arranged so that the number of rollers can be changed by shifting and removing or adding rollers. In one embodiment, the device can be converted between three and four roller arrangements.

Abstract: A new method of operating reversing rolling mills whereby rate of production is maximized and strip or sheet flatness is improved.A digital computer which is provided with information describing the rolling mill equipment, the material to be rolled, and the starting dimensions and required finished dimensions of this material, is used to direct the adjustment of the mill settings before every pass, as limited by the load capacity of the mill and the power and speed of its drive, and to equalize the roll separating force on the last several passes in order to achieve the optimum product flatness.The system is designed to allow for full operator intervention at any stage, and will redirect the adjustment of mill settings on all passes succeeding the pass(es) in which the operator intervened, to maximize production and optimize product flatness for the remaining passes.

Abstract: An improved device for wiping liquids from the surface by moving metal strip under tension, such as strip produced by cold rolling mills, is disclosed. The device consists of three rollers, between which the strip passes, where each roller is supported by a plurality of pairs of casters, the caster pairs being spring mounted in a pair of frames, the frames being urged together by fluid powered cylinders, so that the rollers are held against the strip surfaces under pressure, thus wiping the strip surface by preventing passage of liquid on the strip surface past the rollers.

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.