Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for decelerating and temporarily accumulating a hot rolled product moving longitudinally along a first axis at a first velocity V1. The apparatus comprises a curved guide with an entry end aligned with the first axis to receive the product, and with an exit end spaced radially from the first axis and orientated to deliver the product in an exit direction transverse to the first axis. The curved guide is rotatable about the first axis in a direction opposite to the exit direction of the product and at a speed at which its exit end has a second velocity V2 lower than V1 and such that the product is delivered from the exit end as a helical formation of rings and at a third velocity V3 equal to V1-V2. A cylindrical drum is arranged to axially receive the helical formation of rings and to rotate about the first axis in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the curved guide and at a speed such that the product is unwound from the drum at the third velocity V3.

Abstract: A pouring reel for forming a long product moving at an incoming velocity into an annular coil comprises a central mast lying on a vertical axis. A cylindrical tub surrounds and cooperates with the mast to form an annular chamber, the bottom of which is closed by a coil plate. An entry pipe is arranged to deliver the product downwardly for accumulation in the chamber as a series of superimposed rings forming the annular coil. A first drive mechanism rotates the tub about the vertical axis, and a second drive mechanism rotates the mast about the same axis. The first and second drive mechanisms are operable independently of each other to thereby permit the tub and the mast to be rotated at surface velocities substantially matching the incoming velocity of the product.

Abstract: A modular rolling mill comprises a plurality of rolling units having work rolls configured and arranged to progressively reduce the cross sectional area of a product received along a mill pass line. Gear units are mechanically coupled to each rolling unit, with each gear unit in turn being mechanically coupled to a driven line shaft by first bevel gear sets. The ratios of the first bevel gear sets progressively increase from the first to the last of the gear units to thereby accommodate a progressively increasing speed of the product being rolled. A second bevel gear set is associated with the last gear unit. The ratio of the second bevel gear set is the same as the ratio of the first level gear set of the penultimate gear unit. The line shaft is selectively coupled to the last gear unit via one or the other of its first and second bevel gear sets.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling the speed of a curved rotatably driven laying pipe through which a longitudinally moving product is directed to exit from the delivery end of the pipe as a helical formation of rings. The method comprises determining the maximum and minimum internal radii Rmax, Rmin of the pipe at the location of the maximum radius R of the pipe as measured from its rotational axis; continuously measuring the velocity Vp of the product entering the laying pipe; and, controlling the rotational speed of the laying pipe such that the rotational velocities Vmax, Vmin of the pipe at said maximum and minimum internal radii bracket a range containing the velocity Vp of the product.

Abstract: A modular rolling mill comprises a plurality of rolling units having work rolls configured and arranged to progressively reduce the cross sectional area of a product received along a mill pass line. Gear units are mechanically coupled to each rolling unit, with each gear unit in turn being mechanically coupled to a driven line shaft by first bevel gear sets. The ratios of the first bevel gear sets progressively increase from the first to the last of the gear units to thereby accommodate a progressively increasing speed of the product being rolled. A second bevel gear set is associated with the last gear unit. The ratio of the second bevel gear set is the same as the ratio of the first level gear set of the penultimate gear unit. The line shaft is selectively coupled to the last gear unit via one or the other of its first and second bevel gear sets.

Abstract: A transport path is defined by a plurality of consecutively arranged separately driven conveyor sections. A plurality of heat treating stations are spaced one from the other along the transport path. Coils are conveyed along the transport path through one or more of the heat treating stations. The speed at which the coils are conveyed on the separately driven conveyor sections is controlled to provide different transport and/or dwell times for the coils at different locations along the transport path.

Abstract: Accumulators are interposed between an initial mill section having an elevated first production rate and each of a plurality of different outlet mill sections having lower second production rates. Each accumulator is constructed and arranged to receive intermediate products from the initial mill section at its elevated first production rate, and to deliver the intermediate products to the associated outlet mill section at its respective lower second production rate. The excess intermediate product resulting from the differential between the first and second production rates is stored temporarily in the accumulator. Switches direct successive intermediate product lengths from the initial mill section to selected outlet mill sections via their respective accumulators for simultaneous processing into packaged finished products.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for subdividing and decelerating a hot rolled long product advancing along a delivery path from a rolling mill to a cooling bed. The method comprises: (a) arranging a shear and a decelerator in succession along the delivery path, with the decelerator comprising a set of driven pinch rolls preceded by a plurality of deflector rolls; (b) contacting a lead segment of the product with the pinch rolls operating at an initial speed at least equal to that of the advancing product; (c) actuating the shear to separate the lead segment from the remainder of the product; and (d) decelerating the lead segment by: (i) reducing the speed of the pinch rolls; and (ii) actuating the deflector rolls to deflect the product segment from the delivery path into a sinuous path.

Abstract: A modular rolling mill comprises a plurality of separate rolling units arranged along a mill pass line. Each rolling unit includes at least two pairs of work rolls defining oval and round roll passes and carried on roll shafts that are staggered 90° with respect to each other. The rolling units contain intermediate drive trains configured to connect the roll shafts to parallel input shafts projecting to a first side of the pass line from the respective rolling units. A single driven line shaft is parallel to and on the first side of the pass line. Output shafts are mechanically coupled to the line shaft by bevel gear sets. The output shafts project laterally from the line shaft towards the pass line and are connected by separable couplings to the input shafts of the rolling units.

Abstract: A billet is initially rolled into a process section having at least first and second segments joined by an intermediate web, with the cross-sectional area of the second segment being larger than that of the first segment. The intermediate web is slit to separate the first and second segments, and the thus separated segments are simultaneously rolled into finished products having different cross-sectional areas.

Abstract: In a system for subdividing hot rolled product lengths being delivered from a rolling mill along a first path, a first switch acts in concert with a first shear to subdivide each product length traveling along the first path into successive segments including a front end segment, a plurality of intermediate segments, and a tail end segment, and to alternately deliver the successive segments to one or the other of two adjacent downstream second paths leading to a cooling bed. Second switches on the second paths are selectively adjustable between first positions allowing the intermediate segments to continue along the second paths, and second positions diverting the front and tail end segments from the second paths to third paths. A second shear chops the front and tail end segments moving along the third paths into scrap pieces.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for continuously rolling a product exiting from an upstream roll stand at a delivery velocity V1 higher than the take in velocity V3 of a downstream roll stand. The excess product resulting from the velocity differential between V1 and V3 is temporarily accumulated between the roll stands.

Abstract: A bearing assembly is disclosed for rotatably supporting a quill in the housing of a rolling mill laying head. The bearing assembly includes first and second axially spaced roller bearing sets interposed between the quill and the housing. The bearing assembly also includes a force exerting unit for applying a radial preloading force to the first bearing set at a first location around the circumference thereof. The preloading force is opposed by a reactionary force acting on the second bearing set at a second location around the circumference thereof disposed 180° from the first location.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for receiving a hot rolled bar product from a rolling mill, and for delivering the bar product to a cooling bed. A shear subdivides the bar product into bar segments and alternately directs the bar segments to one or the other of two downstream intermediate paths for continued travel thereon. A switch on each of said intermediate paths alternately directs bar segments traveling thereon to one or the other of two respective downstream delivery paths for continued travel thereon to the cooling bed. Decelerators slow the bar segments traveling along the delivery paths.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for decelerating and temporarily accumulating a hot rolled product moving longitudinally along a receiving axis at a first velocity V1. The product is directed through a curved guide having an entry end aligned with the receiving axis to receive the product, and an exit end spaced radially from the receiving axis and oriented to deliver the product in an exit direction transverse to the receiving axis. The curved guide is rotated about the receiving axis in a direction opposite to the exit direction of the product and at a speed at which the guide exit end has a velocity V2, thereby decelerating the product being delivered from the guide exit end to a reduced velocity V3 equal to V1?V2. The curvature of the guide and the orientation of its exit end is such as to form the delivered product into a helix deposited and temporarily accumulated on a cylindrical drum.

Abstract: In a laying head for forming a longitudinally moving hot rolled product into a helix, a tubular quill has a central axis of rotation and a through passageway extending along the central axis from a first end to an opposite second end of the quill. The interior quill surface has a cylindrical section leading from the first end of the passageway to a radially outwardly flared section which in turn leads to the second end of the passageway. A laying pipe is received in the through passageway. The laying pipe has an entry end aligned with the central axis at the first end of the passageway, a curved intermediate portion surrounded by the flared section of the interior quill surface, and an end portion projecting axially from the second end of the passageway to a delivery end spaced radially from the central axis.

Abstract: Discrete billets are rolled through a plurality of roll stands arranged along a rolling mill pass line to produce successive product lengths having reduced cross sections and front and tail ends. At a selected location along the pass line, the tail end of each product length is joined to the front end of the next successive product length to thereby permit uninterrupted continuous rolling through the remainder of the mill.

Abstract: A pinch roll unit for either propelling or retarding a product moving along the pass line of a rolling mill comprises a pair of levers mounted for rotation about parallel first axes. Roll shafts are carried by the levers with each roll shaft being journalled for rotation about a second axis parallel to the first axis of its respective lever. Pinch rolls are carried by the roll shafts and are positioned to define a gap therebetween for receiving the product. An electrically powered first motor operates via a linkage to rotate the levers about the first axes and to move the pinch rolls between open positions spaced from the product, and closed positions contacting and gripping the product therebetween. An electrically powered second motor rotatably drives the pinch rolls.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for decelerating and temporarily accumulating a hot rolled product moving longitudinally along a receiving axis at a first velocity V1. The product is directed through a curved guide having an entry end aligned with the receiving axis to receive the product, and an exit end spaced radially from the receiving axis and oriented to deliver the product in an exit direction transverse to the receiving axis. The curved guide is rotated about the receiving axis in a direction opposite to the exit direction of the product and at a speed at which the guide exit end has a velocity V2, thereby decelerating the product being delivered from the guide exit end to a reduced velocity V3 equal to V1-V2. The curvature of the guide and the orientation of its exit end is such as to form the delivered product into a helix deposited and temporarily accumulated on a cylindrical drum.

Abstract: Discrete billets are rolled through a plurality of roll stands arranged along a rolling mill pass line to produce successive product lengths having reduced cross sections and front and tail ends. At a selected location along the pass line, the tail end of each product length is joined to the front end of the next successive product length to thereby permit uninterrupted continuous rolling through the remainder of the mill.