Abstract: An oil film bearing for rotatably supporting a roll in a rolling mill is provide that includes a sleeve having an internal bore and an external spherical surface, the internal bore being configured and dimensioned for axial insertion onto a neck of the roll. A bushing includes an internal spherical surface configured and dimensioned to surround and rotatably contain the external spherical surface of the sleeve, the bushing being subdivided into multiple interconnected segments. A chock for containing and radially supporting the interconnected bushing segments.

Abstract: An oil film bearing rotatably supports a roll in a rolling mill. The bearing comprises a sleeve having an internal bore and an external spherical surface. The internal bore is configured and dimensioned for axial insertion onto a neck of the roll. A bushing has an internal spherical surface configured and dimensioned to surround and rotatably contain the external spherical surface of the sleeve. The bushing is subdivided into multiple interconnected segments contained and radially supported by a chock.

Abstract: A seal assembly for use in an oil film bearing rotatably supporting a roll in a rolling mill. The seal assembly includes a flexible seal mounted on a tapered intermediate section of the roll neck for rotation with the roll and within a fixed circular seal end plate. The seal end plate has a stepped interior defining annular inboard and outboard sealing surfaces, with the outboard sealing surface having a diameter larger than the diameter of the inboard sealing surface. The flexible seal has inboard and outboard flanges projecting radially into contact respectively with the inboard and outboard sealing surfaces of the seal end plate.

Abstract: Rolling mill bearings incorporate bearing bushings with pluralities of hydrostatic pad recesses, that are preferably in conjunction hydrodynamic bearings also formed within the bushing. Each recess has an isolated lubricant passage that is adapted for coupling to a separate isolated source of pressurized lubricant. In some embodiments herein, the isolated pressurized lubricant source is supplied by a dedicated outlet of a pressure pump. In this manner each hydrostatic pad recess has a dedicated pressurized lubricant supply that is not interrupted by loss of lubricant pressure events in other bearing pads or elsewhere within the rolling mill lubrication system.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to a rolling mill laying head. The rolling mill laying head comprises a quill rotatable about a central axis, said quill being equipped with a guide pathway configured and arranged to form a longitudinally moving product into a continuous series of rings; a stationary support structure; and axially spaced radial bearings supporting said quill for rotation about said axis, one of said bearings comprising a hydrostatic oil film bearing having an internal diameter of at least about 500 mm, and having a L/D ratio less than 0.25.

Abstract: A bushing for rotatably supporting a journal comprises a cylindrical wall having an inner bearing surface configured and dimensioned to surround the journal. Oil is supplied continuously to a lubricated zone between the journal and the bearing surface. The thus supplied oil escapes in opposite directions from inboard and outboard ends of the lubricated zone. A circular channel is positioned to capture oil escaping from the outboard end of the lubricated zone. A drain conveys oil captured in the channel back in the direction of oil escaping from the inboard end of the lubricated zone.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for use in a rolling mill oil film bearing to remove a laminar flow of oil exiting tangentially from between a rotating sleeve and a fixed bushing surrounding the sleeve. The system comprises confinement surfaces cooperating with the sleeve and the bushing to define an annular chamber arranged to receive the exiting laminar flow of oil. Impellers project into the chamber and are rotatable with and at the velocity of the sleeve to thereby propel the oil around the annular chamber. An outlet communicates tangentially with the annular chamber for removing oil being propelled around the chamber by the rotation of the impellers. The size of the outlet in relation to the volume of oil received in the annular chamber is such that the chamber remains filled with oil during steady state operation of the bearing.

Abstract: An oil film bearing for rotatably supporting a shaft comprises a spherical housing having a bore in which the shaft is rotatably supported, and an outer spherical surface. A chock contains the spherical housing. The chock is internally configured with an inner spherical surface coacting with the outer spherical surface of the spherical housing to define a raceway configured to accommodate angular rotation of the shaft about a central point.

Abstract: Rolling mill bearings incorporate bearing bushings with pluralities of hydrostatic pad recesses, that are preferably in conjunction hydrodynamic bearings also formed within the bushing. Each recess has an isolated lubricant passage that is adapted for coupling to a separate isolated source of pressurized lubricant. In some embodiments herein, the isolated pressurized lubricant source is supplied by a dedicated outlet of a pressure pump. In this manner each hydrostatic pad recess has a dedicated pressurized lubricant supply that is not interrupted by loss of lubricant pressure events in other bearing pads or elsewhere within the rolling mill lubrication system.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for use in a rolling mill oil film bearing to remove oil exiting from between a rotating sleeve and a fixed bushing surrounding the sleeve. The system comprises an annular chamber arranged to receive the exiting flow of oil. The chamber is isolated from a drainage sump by confinement surfaces including a seal interface defined by a flexible seal in contact with an adjacent rigid component of the bearing. Impellers project into the chamber and are rotable with and at the velocity of the sleeve to rotatively propel oil around the chamber. A discharge conduit communicates tangentially with the chamber and is arranged to receive a pressurized flow of the oil being rotatively propelled around the chamber. A venturi is located in the discharge conduit. A suction conduit connects the venturi to the drainage sump. Oil escaping from the annular chamber past the seal interface into the drainage sump is aspirated by the venturi for removal via the conduit.

Abstract: An oil film bearing for rotatably supporting a shaft comprises a spherical housing having a bore in which the shaft is rotatably supported, and an outer spherical surface. A chock contains the spherical housing. The chock is internally configured with an inner spherical surface coacting with the outer spherical surface of the spherical housing to define a raceway configured to accommodate angular rotation of the shaft about a central point.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for use in a rolling mill oil film bearing to remove oil exiting from between a rotating sleeve and a fixed bushing surrounding the sleeve. The system comprises an annular chamber arranged to receive the exiting flow of oil. The chamber is isolated from a drainage sump by confinement surfaces including a seal interface defined by a flexible seal in contact with an adjacent rigid component of the bearing. Impellers project into the chamber and are rotable with and at the velocity of the sleeve to rotatively propel oil around the chamber. A discharge conduit communicates tangentially with the chamber and is arranged to receive a pressurized flow of the oil being rotatively propelled around the chamber. A venturi is located in the discharge conduit. A suction conduit connects the venturi to the drainage sump. Oil escaping from the annular chamber past the seal interface into the drainage sump is aspirated by the venturi for removal via the conduit.

Abstract: A seal is disclosed for use in a rolling mill oil film bearing in which a sleeve is mounted on a roll neck for rotation therewith, the sleeve is journalled for rotation in a fixed bushing, and a flow of oil exits from between the sleeve and the bushing. The seal comprises a flexible circular seal body adapted to be mounted on and to rotate with the roll neck. Circumferentially spaced impellers project from the seal body. The impellers are rotatable with the seal body and serve to rotatively propel oil exiting from between the sleeve and bushing.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for use in a rolling mill oil film bearing to remove a laminar flow of oil exiting tangentially from between a rotating sleeve and a fixed bushing surrounding the sleeve. The system comprises confinement surfaces cooperating with the sleeve and the bushing to define an annular chamber arranged to receive the exiting laminar flow of oil. Impellers project into the chamber and are rotatable with and at the velocity of the sleeve to thereby propel the oil around the annular chamber. An outlet communicates tangentially with the annular chamber for removing oil being propelled around the chamber by the rotation of the impellers. The size of the outlet in relation to the volume of oil received in the annular chamber is such that the chamber remains filled with oil during steady state operation of the bearing.

Abstract: A rolling mill laying head comprises a quill rotatable about a central axis. A guide pipe carried by the quill and is configured and arranged to form a longitudinally moving product into a continuous series of rings. Axially spaced bearings support the quill on a stationary support structure for rotation about its axis. At least one of the bearings comprises a hydrostatic oil film bearing.

Abstract: A sleeve is disclosed for use in an oil film bearing of the type employed to rotatably support the tapered neck of a roll in a rolling mill. The sleeve is machined from a hollow forging of a base metal with a cylindrical outer surface and a tapered inner surface adapted to be seated on the tapered roll neck. The tapered inner surface of the sleeve is coated with a layer of material that is chemically dissimilar with respect to the base metal.

Abstract: An oil film bearing assembly rotatably supports the neck of a roll in a rolling mill. The bearing assembly comprises a housing containing a sleeve bearing and a thrust bearing. A circular lock assembly coacts with the thrust bearing to axially retain the bearing assembly on the roll neck. The lock assembly is axially received on and is rotatable into and out of mechanical interengagement with the roll neck. First bearing elements are carried by and project inwardly from the lock assembly to contact a surface of the roll neck at a first location, and second bearing elements project inwardly from the housing to contact an outer surface of the lock assembly at a second location spaced axially from the first location.

Abstract: A method of at least partially filling a keyway in the metal sleeve of a rolling mill oil film bearing comprises machining a pocket into the keyway. A metal key is provided with a shape complimentary to that of the pocket, with at least one exterior dimension of the key exceeding a respective internal dimension of the pocket. The key is thermally shrunk to reduce its at least one external dimension to an extent sufficient to accommodate insertion of the key in the pocket. The thermally shrunk key is then inserted in the pocket, and allowed to thermally expand, thereby establishing an interference fit between the key and the pocket.

Abstract: An oil film bearing assembly rotatably supports the neck of a roll in a rolling mill. The bearing assembly comprises a housing containing a sleeve bearing and a thrust bearing. A circular lock assembly coacts with the thrust bearing to axially retain the bearing assembly on the roll neck. The lock assembly is axially received on and is rotatable into and out of mechanical interengagement with the roll neck. First bearing elements are carried by and project inwardly from the lock assembly to contact a surface of the roll neck at a first location, and second bearing elements project inwardly from the housing to contact an outer surface of the lock assembly at a second location spaced axially from the first location.

Abstract: An oil film bearing is disclosed for a rolling mill roll having a tapered neck leading to a reduced diameter end section. The bearing comprises an internally tapered sleeve received in a seated position on the tapered roll neck. The sleeve is journaled for rotation in a bushing fixed within a chock assembly. A tubular piston is received on and fixed relative to the reduced diameter end section of the roll. A cylinder is internally subdivided by the piston into first and second chambers. A sleeve ring abuts an end of the sleeve and a circular thrust component is interposed between and arranged to overlap adjacent segments of the sleeve ring and the piston.