Abstract: A flying shear has leader and follower blades rotating in opposite directions about parallel axes located above and below a horizontal plane. The radius of rotation of the leader blade is longer than the radius of rotation of the follower blade. The blades are configured and arranged to coact in a radially overlapping relationship at a cutting zone spaced vertically from the horizontal plane. A switch directs longitudinally moving products such as bars, rods and the like from the horizontal plane across the cutting zone for separation by the rotating blades into leading and trailing segments.

Abstract: A shear is disclosed for subdividing an elongated product moving longitudinally in a horizontal plane. The shear includes upper and lower continuously rotating blades respectively coacting in a radially overlapping relationship at first and second laterally disposed cutting zones. An upstream switch operates to divert the product laterally across the cutting zones to separate a leading end from an intermediate section in the first cutting zone, and to separate a trailing end from the intermediate section in the second cutting zone.

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

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: In a single strand hot rolling mill finishing section a plurality of multi-stand prefinishing rolling units are arranged along and are selectively shiftable onto and off of a first pass line segment. A multi-stand finishing rolling unit and a multi-stand post finishing rolling unit are arranged sequentially along a second pass line segment. A switch and associated delivery guides are selectively operable to direct products from the first pass line segment to the second pass line segment either at a location upstream of said finishing rolling unit, or alternatively, at a location between the finishing rolling unit and the post finishing rolling unit. With this arrangement, final rolling in the post finishing rolling unit may be preceded with or without rolling in the finishing rolling unit and with or without rolling in one or more of the prefinishing rolling units.

Abstract: A method of continuously rolling a ferrous workpiece into a finished round, comprising rolling the workpiece in successive first and second roll passes at an elevated temperature of between about 650 to 1000° C., the first and second roll passes each being defined by two work rolls and being dimensioned to effect a combined reduction in the cross sectional area of the workpiece of at least about 20-55%, with an accompanying effective strain pattern dominated by a concentration of maximum effective strain at a central region of the cross sectional area; and while the effective strain pattern remains dominated by a concentration of maximum effective strain at a central region of the cross section, continuing to roll the workpiece in at least third and fourth consecutive roll passes, each of the third and fourth roll passes being defined by at least three rolls and being sized to effect a combined reduction in the cross sectional area of the workpiece of not more than about 4-25 %.

Abstract: A multi-stand block for a rolling mill comprises a plurality of roll stands alternately arranged on opposite sides of a pass line along which a product is rolled in a downstream direction from an entry end to an exit end of the block. Drive shafts are provided on opposite sides of the pass line. The drive shafts comprise coaxial segments interconnected by couplings, with each roll stand being connected to a respective one of the line shaft segments. A block drive is connected to the line shafts at the upstream end of the block, and the couplings are selectively disconnectable to mechanically isolate any downstream line shaft segments and the roll stands connected thereto from the block drive.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for controlling the tension in rod or bar products being rolled continuously in first and second roll stands independently driven by drive motors. A first surface velocity gauge is positioned at the delivery side of the first roll stand and a second surface velocity gauge is positioned at the entry side of the second roll stand. The first and second gauges are operative, respectively, to continuously measure and generate control signals representative of the exit surface velocity of the product exiting the first roll stand and the entry surface velocity of the product entering the second roll stand. Separately operable controllers are provided for varying the operating speeds of the roll stand drive motors.

Abstract: In a single strand hot rolling mill finishing section a plurality of multi-stand prefinishing rolling units are arranged along and are selectively shiftable onto and off of a first pass line segment. A multi-stand finishing rolling unit and a multi-stand post finishing rolling unit are arranged sequentially along a second pass line segment. A switch and associated delivery guides are selectively operable to direct products from the first pass line segment to the second pass line segment either at a location upstream of said finishing rolling unit, or alternatively, at a location between the finishing rolling unit and the post finishing rolling unit. With this arrangement, final rolling in the post finishing rolling unit may be preceded with or without rolling in the finishing rolling unit and with or without rolling in one or more of the prefinishing rolling units.

Abstract: A multi-stand block for a rolling mill comprises a plurality of roll stands alternately arranged on opposite sides of a pass line along which a product is rolled in a downstream direction from an entry end to an exit end of the block. Drive shafts are provided on opposite sides of the pass line. The drive shafts comprise coaxial segments interconnected by couplings, with each roll stand being connected to a respective one of the line shaft segments. A block drive is connected to the line shafts at the upstream end of the block, and the couplings are selectively disconnectable to mechanically isolate any downstream line shaft segments and the roll stands connected thereto from the block drive.

Abstract: A shear is disclosed for subdividing an elongated product moving longitudinally in a horizontal plane. The shear includes upper and lower continuously rotating blades respectively coacting in a radially overlapping relationship at first and second laterally disposed cutting zones. An upstream switch operates to divert the product laterally across the cutting zones to separate a leading end from an intermediate section in the first cutting zone, and to separate a trailing end from the intermediate section in the second cutting zone.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for receiving a helical formation of rings of hot rolled steel rod emerging from a laying head, and for depositing the rings on a conveyor for continued transport away from the laying head. The apparatus operates to engage and propel lower portions of the rings towards the conveyor at a first rate of travel, while engaging and propelling upper portions of the rings towards the conveyor at a second rate of travel. The first and second rates of travel are different and selected to cause the rings to topple onto the conveyor in an overlapping offset pattern.

Abstract: A method of continuously rolling a ferrous workpiece into a finished round, comprising rolling the workpiece in successive first and second roll passes at an elevated temperature of between about 650 to 1000° C., the first and second roll passes each being defined by two work rolls and being dimensioned to effect a combined reduction in the cross sectional area of the workpiece of at least about 20-55%, with an accompanying effective strain pattern dominated by a concentration of maximum effective strain at a central region of the cross sectional area; and while the effective strain pattern remains dominated by a concentration of maximum effective strain at a central region of the cross section, continuing to roll the workpiece in at least third and fourth consecutive roll passes, each of the third and fourth roll passes being defined by at least three rolls and being sized to effect a combined reduction in the cross sectional area of the workpiece of not more than about 4-25%.

Abstract: A system for cooling a hot rolled steel product at a retarded cooling rate comprises a laying head for forming the product into a continuous series of rings. A conveyor receives the rings from the laying head at a receiving station and transports the rings in a non-concentric overlapping pattern through a cooling zone to a reforming station at which the rings are delivered from the conveyor and gathered into upstanding coils. The rings are covered with a granular insulation material while being transported through the cooling zone.

Abstract: Round bars are successively rolled through first and second roll passes. Each roll pass is defined by a pair of work rolls having cylindrical rolling surfaces with notches therein extending transversely and obliquely with respect to the rolling line, and with the roll axes defining the second roll pass being offset at 90 with respect to the roll axes defining the first roll pass. The first pair of work rolls is arranged to configure the round bar into an intermediate process section having flat parallel first sides with first ribs protruding therefrom, and the second pair of work rolls is arranged to reconfigure the process section into a finished concrete reinforcing element having flat parallel sides which are perpendicular to the first parallel sides and which have second ribs protruding therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus for receiving a continuous series of rings of a hot rolled product includes: a) a portable container having: i) a vertically disposed cylindrical side wall open at its upper and lower ends; ii) a base at the lower end of the side wall configured to removably locate the container at a coil forming station; iii) a horizontal shelf projecting inwardly from the interior of the side wall; and iv) a central core supported by the shelf, the core being spaced inwardly from the interior of the side wall to define an annular chamber therebetween, the shelf having access openings therein communicating with the chamber; b) an elevator platform at the coil forming station having support members configured and arranged to pass through the access openings in the shelf; and c) a mechanism for vertically adjusting the elevator platform to move its support members through the access openings in the shelf between raised operative positions at which the support members project into the annular chamber to supp

Abstract: A rolling mill has roughing, intermediate and finishing roll stands on a first side of a billet reheating furnace, and a breakdown mill on an opposite second side of the furnace. Billets are heated to an elevated rolling temperature in the furnace and are then ejected to the second side of the furnace for rolling in the breakdown mill before being directed back through the furnace for continued rolling into finished products at the first side of the furnace in the roughing, intermediate and finishing roll stands.

Abstract: A roll stand for a rolling mill, comprising: a support structure adapted to be fixed at a selected location along a mill center line. First and second work rolls are configured and arranged to roll products directed therebetween. The first work roll has roll necks journalled for rotation in bearings contained in first chocks, and the second work roll likewise has roll necks journalled for rotation in bearings contained in second chocks, with the first and second chocks of the work rolls being arranged in pairs located on opposite sides of the mill center line. The first and second chocks of each pair are connected to the support structure for pivotal movement respectively about parallel first and second connecting axes which extend in parallel relationship with respect to the axes of the rolls and orthogonally with respect to the mill center line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for finish rolling long products such as bars, rods and the like, comprising: in a first operational mode, rolling the products through a finishing block and a reducing sizing mill arranged on a primary pass line; and in a second operational mode, diverting the products from the primary pass line to a secondary pass line bypassing the finishing block and then back to the primary pass line for rolling in the reducing sizing mill. Optionally and preferably, a cooling unit is shifted between the primary and secondary pass lines to cool products being rolled in each operational mode.

Abstract: A system for controlling front and tail end gauge of a continuous hot rolled product in a rolling mill includes first and second individually driven roll stands arranged successively along said pass line in advance of a group of roll stands. A controller adjusts the operating speed relationship between the first and second individually driven roll stands to achieve an increased level of tension in the front and tail end segments of the product passing between the first and second individually driven roll stands. The increased level of tension results in the decrease in product cross sectional area sufficient to compensate for the lack of cross sectional area reduction resulting from the absence of interstand tension experienced by said front and tail end segments while being rolled in the group of roll stands.