Abstract: Method and apparatus for casting metal strip in a twin roll caster wherein each of the rolls is provided with a surface of convex or concave configuratiion in at least a middle portion of the roll surface. Such surface may be formed mechanically on the roll or the roll may be bent into such configuration by applying bending force to the roll neck, or the roll may be cooled in a pattern forming a thermal crown of such configuration.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for cleaning oxide scale from rolling mill rolls comprises a cleaning spray system including a fluid header juxtaposed to a mill work roll and an associated backup roll and a plurality of nozzles equidistantly spaced along the length of the header. High pressure cleaning water sprays, for which water is supplied by a descaling pump when not in use for descaling, are directed onto a work roll, and by rotation of the header, then directed onto the associated backup roll. The water sprays are directed against the rolls at an angle from 3.degree. to 10.degree. for optimum removal of oxide scale. For even restoration of the roll surface, the cleaning spray system periodically during the cleaning operation is shifted axially along the length of the rolls a distance about one-half the spacing between adjacent nozzles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compact rolling plant and method for using it to manufacture hot rolled metal strip. The rolling mill and method are capable of rolling both thick and thin slabs with minimum delays between slabs. The complete rolling of a bar or a strip below a critical transformation temperature range may be done at any speed without heat losses in unrolled portions of the strip or bar.

Abstract: A time period between slabs entering a rolling stand which are produced by a continuous caster is controlled to enable a plant to be built with a considerable reduction of the overall size as compared to known plants of the same type. The plant optimally controls the speed of a continuous caster used with the rolling plant in conjunction with the speed of the workpiece along the passline through the rolling stands. This minimizes the length of the plant and provides both the minimum time for the slab to reach the rolling stands from the furnaces, as well as provides for the necessary time to change the rolls of the roll stand when required, while allowing continuous operation of the caster.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling a metal strip, the apparatus having a header that receives and directs a curtain of water across the strip, a water collector on one side of the curtain of water and a source of air on the opposite side of the curtain of water arranged to direct a flow of air across the curtain of water and divert water into the water collector. A deflector is arranged to interrupt at least a portion of the flow of air such that at least a portion of the wall of water contacts and cools the strip of metal. The flow of air is provided at a pressure of about 50 to 100 psi and, with the flow of air completely blocked by a deflector, the strip of metal is cooled completely across the width of the strip.

Abstract: A method of rolling an elongated workpiece in the form of a sheet or strip and of reducing edge drop during rolling comprising passing the workpiece through at least one pair of opposed work rolls which comprise an arbor and a hollow sleeve shrink-fitted over the arbor and having end portions defining, between the arbor and sleeve, a cavity providing a self-compensating flexible roll end portion which is placed over and extends beyond a longitudinal edge of the workpiece during rolling. Preferably, the shrink-fitted portion is provided with maximum radial stress at the middle thereof and decreasing toward the ends of the shrink-fitted zone. The work rolls may be backed up with self-compensating backup rolls to further improve uniformity of the rolled workpiece by reducing crown variation thereof. Positioning of the rolls is accomplished by axial shifting.

Abstract: One or more spray bars having a plurality of spray nozzles for cooling a rolling mill roll are provided with an apparatus to cause at least one spray bar to undergo a translational, rotational, and/or pivotal movement sufficient to change the spray-angle and/or spray-distance affected by nozzles thereon to thereby control the cooling rate effected by the nozzles so moved. The spray bar can be automatically controlled by providing a means for monitoring the roll condition and/or workpiece condition and means responsive thereto for moving the spray bar as necessary to change and adjust individual cooling rates effected by the nozzles and correct for any undesired result so monitored. A unique spray bar has nozzles arranged in a curved alignment so that each effects a different spray-angle and/or spray-distance. Like apparatus and comparable methods can be utilized to cool a hot rolled product.

Abstract: A chockless work roll support and positioning apparatus and method comprises a pair of brackets for each end of each work roll and having a pair of work roll support rollers rotatably mounted on each bracket. Each bracket is connected to at least one actuator means, such as a hydraulic piston/cylinder assembly, preferably one actuator means for each support roller. The actuator means are actuated through a servovalve, by position or pressure signals to position the support rollers at desired positions and to exert a desired pressure between the respective support rollers and the corresponding work rolls. By such signal control, the work rolls may be balanced, bent in the upstream or downstream horizontal direction, upwardly or downwardly, or may be placed in offset or cross-rolling position.

Abstract: A composite table roll for use in roll tables in metal rolling mills, particularly for handling hot metal workpieces, having a sleeve portion which is tightly secured to an underlying arbor only at the axial mid-portion so that the end-portions of the sleeve are not in contact with the arbor sufficient to cause any significant heat conductivity thereacross and the end-portions are free to thermally expand with reference to the arbor to thereby greatly minimize any thermal distortion of the arbor in the event a hot metal workpiece becomes stalled on the roll table.

Abstract: A sleeved roll generally has a bendable arbor. The sleeve is shrunk-fit on the arbor such that the dimensional difference between the arbor diameter and the sleeve inner diameter varies along the arbor axis. Thus the radial stresses induced by the shrunk-fit vary along the axis of the arbor.The sleeved bendable roll may be employed as a work roll or as a backup roll in a rolling mill.The roll is assembled by providing a bendable arbor having an axial surface and a hollow sleeve, axially contouring at least a portion of the arbor surface or the sleeve inner surface, positioning the hollow sleeve having an inner surface adjacent the arbor, and then shrink-fitting the sleeve inner surface on the axially convexly contoured surface of the arbor.

Abstract: A sizing press has a pair of opposed rotatably supported pressing tools for reducing the width of a flat metal slab. Piston cylinder assemblies rotatably oscillate the pressing tools relative to each other. Each pressing tool has first and second slab-contacting surfaces which extend in different planes. The invented method of this invention includes the steps of moving the pressing tools toward each other against the sides of a metal workpiece and reducing the width of an initial workpiece length. Thereafter, rotating the pressing tools to further reduce the width of only a portion of the initial workpiece length and to reduce the width of an adjacent workpiece length.

Abstract: The distribution of tension in flat products is measured by a bendable roll engaged by segmented rolls. The bendable roll has a peripheral surface which engages the width of workpiece and is elastically bendable along its axis under the tension in the workpiece. The elastic deformation of the solid roll exerts loads on the segmented rolls and one or more sensors detect the transmitted loads.

Abstract: The edge to edge width of a moving workpiece is measured as the workpiece is transferred over horizontal table rolls between a pair of spaced apart generally horizontal sideguards extending perpendicularly of the axes of the table rolls. A pair of opposed arms have generally vertical central portions with the upper ends of the arms rotatably mounted to the sideguards about horizontal axes which extend in lengthwise vertical planes along the sideguards. The arms rotate in transverse vertical planes extending between the table rolls and transverse to the direction in which the workpiece moves. Contact rollers adapted to contact the opposed edges of the workpiece are supported at the lower ends of the rotatably mounted arms such that each contact roller contacts a workpiece edge in a transverse vertical plane within about 25.degree. of a lengthwise vertical plane when the center of gravity of the arm and contact roller structure is within about 20.degree. of the lengthwise vertical plane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rolling mill of the 4 Hi Mae West type having cylinders for axially shifting the work rolls for a schedule free rolling operation, work roll balance cylinders are mounted in the Mae West blocks and as a result assume a varying off set axially relation with the work roll bearings, a control for the balance cylinders to compensate for the effect the offset conditions would otherwise have on the forces of the balance cylinders to maintain the forces at a predetermined value.

Abstract: A pair of self-compensating backup rolls for use in a rolling mill. The backup rolls are sleeved and have relief means along oppositely arranged end portions to absorb dynamically generated roll bending forces.

Abstract: A method for hot rolling a continuously cast thin slab to form strip comprising the steps of: (a) subjecting a segment of predetermined length of the slab to a reduction pass in a first direction between a pair of work rolls; (b) retracting the segment in a direction opposite the first direction to the entrance side of the work rolls while accommodating the additional length of the segment produced by the reduction operation; (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) in sequence as necessary to finish the segment; and (d) consecutively subjecting the next contiguous portion of the slab to steps (a), (b) and (c) until the slab is finished along its entire length. Apparatus for practicing the method also is disclosed.

Abstract: A multistand tandem strip rolling mill and associated method wherein effective control of gauge and shape are provided. Shape monitoring sensors may be provided adjacent to a first mill stand and adjacent to a downstream mill stand in order to provide feedback-feedforward information regarding strip shape and gauge to controller units which when a predetermined shape has not been achieved issues a control signal to adjust the actuators. A computer preferably has stored information regarding the desired shape and gauge effects a comparison between the signals received from the shape and gauge sensors.Gauge sensors may be provided adjacent to the shape sensors. The mill stands preferably have roll bending cylinders positioned by roll bending system servo-valves which are actuated by signals from the controller.

Abstract: An arrangement for winding material onto a coiler drum along a passline of a hot reversing mill comprising an apparatus having two pivotal arms mounted on a common shaft and movable in a different arcuate path toward and away from the coiler drum. Rollers at the end of the arms tightly enwrap the material around the drum when the arms are positioned against the drum as the material is being underwound onto the drum. The roller of one of the arms may act as a deflector roller when positioned away from the drum as the material is being overwound onto the drum. The other arm consists of two wrapper rollers on a pivotal mounting for their proper orientation around the drum and for flat passes of the material through the mill. This other arm is positioned away from the drum below the passline to allow a retractable table roll assembly consisting of a plurality of table rolls to be positioned in the passline for supporting the material.

Abstract: A control for a press for controlling the flow of fluid to two hydraulic actuators which applies a desired working force to or which positions the press platen in a desired position including a sub-control for introducing first and second super-imposed oscillations on the fluid of the actuators of equal amplitude and opposite phase to reduce internal friction in the actuators without disturbing the desired applied force or position of the platen.

Abstract: A rolling mill has a pair of cooperating work rolls with first and second chock pairs associated with each work roll. At least one work roll is rocked in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the work roll during operation of the rolling mill to enhance shear rolling and create regions of irregular thickness in the workpiece. This reduces friction between the work rolls and the workpiece in subsequent rolling thereby permitting greater lateral spread of the workpiece. The rocking may be effected in a generally vertical direction by a pair of cylinders secured to a pair of chocks or may be effected in a generally horizontal direction which may be that of the path of flow of the workpiece through the rolling mill by pairs of cylinders associated with each work roll or may involve rocking in both directions.