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: A hydro-mechanical actuator for adjustably positioning a part, for example a roll carriage of a vertical roll mill stand, is described in which an actuating member having a pusher is mechanically driven to approximate a desired position and then is adjustably displaced by a hydraulic mechanism. The actuator member has a threaded portion which engages a threaded nut secured against rotation by keys; hance rotation of the actuating member will cause its axial displacement. Rotation of the actuating member is by a driving splined sleeve which engages a splined portion of the actuating member. The hydraulic mechanism includes a piston which engages with the threaded nut which can move axially with the actuating member, so that the position of the actuating member, and pusher, can be adjusted by controllably varying the pressure applied to either side of the piston in the cylinder.

Abstract: A rolling mill having at least a pair of work rolls (12, 13) each supported by a back-up roll (14, 15) has at least one roll (16) of hollow construction to give the mill compliance. The hollow roll (16) may contain an arbor (20) to give local stiffness to the roll as required by the shape of the material (17) entering the mill.

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: An uncoiler for metallic strip material may suffer from rotational effects of a coil supported on the mandrel if the coil is eccentrically mounted on the mandrel. The uncoiler has means for detecting these rotational effects and, if the effects are greater than a predetermined level, a signal is prepared which is used either to prevent further increase in rotational speed of the mandrel or to reduce the speed of the mandrel.

Abstract: Rolling plant for hot rolling metal workpieces comprises a reversing roughing mill, a continuous finishing mill spaced from the roughing mill and an intermediate coiler which can be retracted to an inoperative position clear of the pass-line. In the penultimate forward pass of the roughing mill, the coiler is in its inoperative position and the workpiece is rolled to a length greater than the coiler--roughing mill spacing but less than the finishing mill--roughing mill spacing, the leading end of the workpiece passing under the coiler. In the final forward pass, the coiler is in its operative position on the pass-line and effects coiling of the workpiece. Subsequently, the coil is uncoiled and led out to the finishing mill.