Including Cooling Patents (Class 72/201)
  • Patent number: 5921127
    Abstract: A hot strip rolling mill comprises a strip front-end arresting device arranged between the finishing mill and the down-coiler, and the strip front-end arresting device holds a front-end of the strip and moves from an exit of the finishing mill to the down-coiler at high speed while it gives a tension to the strip. Pinch rollers and cooling water spraying devices composing the strip cooling line are capable of moving in the upper and the lower direction with respect to the strip surface in accordance with the movement of the strip front-end arresting device. Further, the hot strip rolling mill comprises an auxiliary drive device for giving an initial acceleration to the strip front-end arresting device, and/or a strip edge portion holding device for easily transferring the front-end of the hot strip from the strip front-end arresting device to the down-coiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Ogawa, Toshio Kikuma, Tsuyoshi Higo, Noriyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5918493
    Abstract: A contour measuring devices for measuring the contour of hot-strip rolls installed in a roll stand during a rolling process includes a plurality of distance sensors that extend along the length of the hot-strip roll in a perpendicular and non-contacting manner and, in this manner. Each distance sensor has a measurement head oriented towards the hot-strip roll. The plurality of distance sensors are positioned separate from and lateral to each other on and along a longitudinal support. The longitudinal support is comprised of a double shell tube that cools the design sensors with an inner tube that conducts a coolant, a shell tube that surrounds the inner tube, and an annular space located therebetween. The inner tube is fixed at its opposite ends in a position relative to the shell tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Horst Cerv
  • Patent number: 5910184
    Abstract: A production plant for producing hot-rolled flat products includes a rolling train composed of a plurality of roll stands, a run-out table with devices for cooling the hot strip, and with subsequently arranged coiling machines for coiling the strip. At least the first roll stand of the rolling train is a reversing stand. At least one reeling furnace each is arranged in front of and following the reversing stand. A controllable cooling unit is provided between the reversing stand and the reeling furnace in front of the reversing stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: SMS Schloemann-Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gunter Kneppe, Dieter Rosenthal, Stephan Kramer
  • Patent number: 5907967
    Abstract: In the continuous rolling of wire from a heated billet in a continuous wire-rod mill in which the rolled product passes through the rolling stand of a roughing line and an intermediate line, the finish rolling is effected in at least one finish rolling line having double rolling stands with respective pairs of horizontal and vertical rolls. The double stands or units are spaced apart and along a portion of the spacing between them, rolling stretches are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: SMS Schloemann-Siemag AG
    Inventors: Georg Kleinefeldt, Klaus Hoffmann, Uwe Plociennik
  • Patent number: 5887469
    Abstract: A terminal crimping device includes an elevating crimper for crimping terminals onto exposed conductors of cables and an anvil positioned opposite to said elevating crimper so that the ascend/descend of the crimper is carried out by a servo motor. The terminal crimping device further includes a height sensor for outputting a crimp height at the time of crimping said terminals, a data storage unit for storing a pressing time range for determination on whether or not terminal crimping is normal and a crimper height value for determination of said pressing time; and determining unit for time measuring the time during which an output from said height sensor is not larger than the crimper height and determining that crimping is normal if the measured time is within said pressing time range. Thus, the determination on whether or not the terminal crimping is normal can be surely made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Maeda, Chiaki Hatano
  • Patent number: 5862697
    Abstract: A tube bending apparatus, comprising a tube holding mechanism; a first head member for substantially preventing lateral movement of a first portion of the tube; a unit for translating the tube along its longitudinal axis so as to be substantially adjacent the first head member; a unit for rotating the tube about its longitudinal axis; a bend arm member which is pivotally connected to the first head member; a drive mechanism for rotating the bend arm member so as to contact the tube for bending thereof; and wherein the drive mechanism comprises an electric motor and associated gearing for directly coupling the motor to the bend arm member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Inventor: M. Craig Webster
  • Patent number: 5862699
    Abstract: A rolling line for long products having a starting nominal transverse dimension between 120 and 180 mm and a final nominal transverse dimension between 4 and 25 mm. The rolling line comprises at least one roughing assembly, an optional reduction and sizing assembly, a fast pre-finishing assembly, and a fast finishing assembly. The optional reduction and sizing assembly having three rolling passes for finishing the long products when their final nominal transverse dimension is in a range between 20 mm and 25 mm. The fast pre-finishing assembly having a plurality of rolling passes, wherein the products are subjected to a same reduction sequence up to the last rolling pass of the plurality of rolling passes. The fast finishing assembly is provided for finishing the long products when their final nominal transverse dimension is lower than 20 mm and has four rolling passes comprised as two separate modules, each having two rolling passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche SpA
    Inventors: Massimo Lestani, Roberto Nini
  • Patent number: 5855131
    Abstract: Process and device for influencing the profile of a rolled strip in a roll stand by affecting the camber of the rolls, i.e., the surface geometry of the rolls in the longitudinal direction of the rolls. The camber of the rolls is affected by influencing the temperature profile of the rolls or their surface in the longitudinal direction of the rolls. In one embodiment, the temperature profile of the surfaces of the rolls is controlled by cooling the surfaces of the rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Friedemann Schmid, Guenter Soergel, Otto Gramckow
  • Patent number: 5855134
    Abstract: A wire roll stand with roll rings mounted in a cantilevered manner onto roll shafts, wherein the roll rings can be axially clamped through spacer rings against an end of the respective roll shaft. The roll shafts are adjustable by eccentric bushings mounted in a housing and the eccentric bushings as well as the roll shafts are sealed relative to walls of the housings. The housing wall through which the roll shafts extend is equipped with openings which take into consideration the adjusting range of the roll shafts, wherein the openings are fixedly lined with sealing rings having a U-shaped profile. The spacer rings have a U-shaped profile and are composed of at least two parts with separating surfaces thereof extending within the profile yokes, wherein the sides of the spacer rings rest on the sides of the sealing rings within the adjusting range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: SMS Schloemann-Siemag AG
    Inventors: Friedhelm Womelsdorf, Gerhard Pithan, Rudiger Grimmel, Karl Keller
  • Patent number: 5829288
    Abstract: A method and device for folding a metal sheet to a well-defined angle, in which the sheet is deformed in the recess of a die through a punch being moved above the recess and pressing on the sheet, towards the die, until it reaches a well-defined end position. The movement of the punch is regulated as a function of the folding force and of the folding angle. The punch is moved in the direction of the die until it is in an end position Ya corresponding to: Ya=Yt-dYw-dYr in which Yt is a calculated position, dYw is determined through extrapolation of the course of the folding angle as a function of the position of the punch, and dYr is the correction of the position of the punch which is necessary to compensate for the spring-back of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: L.V.D. Company N.V.
    Inventor: Wim Serruys
  • Patent number: 5823042
    Abstract: A method of forming and using a metal I-beam includes hot rolling an elongated metal workpiece to establish a web and a pair of flanges on the edges thereof. The web is formed with elongated reinforcement of solid cross-section having a generally straight longitudinal axis oriented generally parallel to the flanges. The hot rolled I-beam is cooled without forming substantial waves in the web and the I-beam is subsequently secured in a building construction or other structural product. The method involves the longitudinally oriented reinforcing means which preferably are one or more elongated laterally projecting ribs having such mass that the average temperature of the web prior to cooling will be sufficiently close to the average temperature of the flanges prior to cooling that the formation of waves within the web during cooling will be resisted. The reinforcement if preferably coextensive with the I-beam. The web is preferably substantially continuous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: J&L Structural, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl A. Snyder, Michael A. Karczewski, Karl W. Shurskis, Sunil Saigal
  • Patent number: 5823037
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrically heated metal strip rolling mill comprising: front and back reels for supporting a metal strip; electric power suppliers; a roll stand having a base, a roll support frame having upper and lower casings being fastened with studs, at least two pairs of supporting rolls rotatably fixed in said support frame, at least one pair of working rolls rotatably fixed in said roll support frame and disposed between the support rolls, and a roll drive mechanism for driving the support rolls; a means for applying electricity directly to the surface of one roll of the pair of working rolls from the electric power suppliers and conducting the electricity to the outside directly from another roll of the pair of working rolls; and a strip cooler disposed after said roll stand for cooling said metal strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Kyong In Special Metal Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Stanislav K. Kim, Eduard I. Anisimov, Sergey A. Kutsenko, Yury N. Petrochenko, Andrey Y. Sterlin, Valery V. Voznesensky, Won-Guk Jee, Hyung-Min Rho
  • Patent number: 5819574
    Abstract: A hydraulic device provided with a plurality of hydraulic actuators directly connected to a hydraulic pump for control. A hydraulic pump is operable in both rotational directions when the electric motor is rotated forwards and in reverse. Ports of each hydraulic actuator are connected via a connecting line in parallel with ports of the hydraulic pump. A plurality of electromagnetic valves are provided in the connecting lines to the hydraulic actuators. By opening or closing each electromagnetic valve, the operation of the associated hydraulic actuator is controlled. The operation direction of each hydraulic actuator is controlled by rotating the electric motor clockwise or counterclockwise. Further, a position sensor is provided for detecting displacement of the specified hydraulic actuator and the electric motor is controlled based on a signal transmitted from the position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Opton
    Inventor: Toruaki Yogo
  • Patent number: 5812406
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording an operating status of an NC processing machine is provided. Measuring and recording operations can be performed with trial processing and actual processing distinguishing from each other. In order to record the operating status in a case where an NC apparatus is controlled to cause an NC processing machine i.e. a press brake, to perform continuous processing according to a processing program, a processing condition for a work used in previous processing is stored in a memory. A comparison/decision unit decides whether a processing condition for a work used in current processing coincides with the stored processing condition of the work in the previous processing. If the current processing condition coincides with the previous processing condition, a recording unit records the current processing as actual processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Amada Metrecs Company, Limited
    Inventors: Shigeharu Matsumoto, Hiroshi Yoshikawa, Nobuo Sakurai
  • Patent number: 5810951
    Abstract: The in-line combination of a reversing rolling mill (Steckel mill) and its coiler furnaces with accelerated controlled cooling apparatus immediately downstream thereof and associated method permits steel to be sequentially reversingly rolled to achieve an overall reduction of at least about 3:1, imparted by a first reduction while the steel is kept at a temperature above the T.sub.nr by the coiler furnaces so as to preserve an optimum opportunity for controlled recrystallization of the steel after each rolling pass, and a second reduction while the temperature of the steel drops from about the T.sub.nr to about the Ar.sub.3. The second reduction is preferably of the order of 2:1 as a result of which the steel reaches a final plate thickness. The steel product then passes through the accelerated controlled cooling apparatus, preferably applying laminar flow cooling at least to the upper surface of the steel passing therethrough so as to reduce the temperature of the steel from about the Ar.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: IPSCO Enterprises Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Dorricott
  • Patent number: 5802902
    Abstract: A production plant for rolling hot strip from slabs produced by continuous casting, wherein a shearing machine is arranged following a continuous casting plant of the casting machine and in front of an equalizing furnace, and an additional shearing machine and a descaling unit are arranged following the equalizing furnace and in front of a rolling mill, and wherein a heating or cooling unit and a strip reeling unit of coiling machine are arranged following the rolling mill. A first roll stand group forming a continuously operating rolling train is composed of several four-high stands, for example, five four-high stands; individual heating devices are provided also between the successive four-high stands of this group of roll stands; in addition, the reeling unit or the reeling machine is configured as a double reeling machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: SMS Schloemann-Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dieter Rosenthal, Wilfried Bald
  • Patent number: 5799523
    Abstract: A device for influencing the profile of strip rolled in at least one roll stand includes adjusting units, bending units and possibly displacement units for the stand and spray beams adjacent the rolls of the stand for spraying cooling agent and/or lubricating agent onto the rolls, if necessary, in a controlled manner; the device further includes a regulating unit. Additional spray beams are provided adjacent the two end portions of the body of each roll, wherein the effective range of each additional spray beam extends from the respective end of the body of the roll into the area of the strip edge facing this end of the body of the roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: SMS Schloemann-Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jurgen Seidel, Rudiger Holz, Klaus Klamma, Hans-Joachim Polking
  • Patent number: 5784913
    Abstract: A machine for cold bending a thick walled tube is provided which includes a rotatable bend die around which the tube is bent and a pressure die which engages an outer side wall of the tube tangential to the bend. The pressure die has a pinch-type tube groove with multiple radiuses which receives the tube and substantially prevents relative movement between the pressure die and the outer side wall of the tube. The machine also includes a pressure die boost system which linearly advances the pressure die in a forward direction as the bend die is rotated. The boost system includes a linear actuator and an electro-hydraulic control system which automatically drives the linear actuator in accordance with a pre-programmed profile of pressure and flow parameters. The linear actuator has a hydraulic cylinder with a piston, a pusher coupling the piston to the pressure die, and ports in the cylinder on opposite sides of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Pines Manufacturing
    Inventor: Ajay K. Bhandari
  • Patent number: 5771731
    Abstract: A production plant for producing hot-rolled flat products includes a rolling train composed of a plurality of roll stands, a run-out table with devices for cooling the hot strip, and subsequently arranged coiling machines for coiling the strip. A compact deformation stage in the form of a rolling train with one to four roll stands is arranged following the reeling unit of a conventionally constructed hot-rolled wide strip train. This rolling train is specifically constructed for the deformation in the ferritic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: SMS Schloemann-Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Rohde, Manfred Albedyhl
  • Patent number: 5768927
    Abstract: A work roll crossing type rolling mill has back-up rolls arranged in such a manner that their axes are not inclined in a horizontal plane. Work rolls are constructed in such a manner that their axes can be inclined in a horizontal plane relative to the backup rolls such that the axes of the work rolls cross the axes of the back-up rolls and such that the axes of the work rolls cross each other. A lubricant supply device is provided for supplying a lubricant between each work roll and each back-up roll combination to greatly reduce the thrust exerted to the work rolls, whereby the rolling mill is given an excellent ability of controlling the crown of the material to be rolled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Hitachi Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kajiwara, Tokuji Sugiyama, Yoshio Takakura, Takao Sakanaka, Yasutsugu Yoshimura, Ken-ichi Yasuda, Shinichi Kaga
  • Patent number: 5743125
    Abstract: A production plant for producing hot-rolled flat products includes a rolling train composed of a plurality of roll stands, a run-out table with devices for cooling the hot strip, and with subsequently arranged coiling machines for coiling the strip. At least the first roll stand of the rolling train is a reversing stand. At least one reeling furnace each is arranged in front of and following the reversing stand. A controllable cooling unit is provided between the reversing stand and the reeling furnace in front of the reversing stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: SMS Schloemann-Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gunter Kneppe, Dieter Rosenthal, Stephan Kramer
  • Patent number: 5727412
    Abstract: A method of processing large slabs into memory free strip or plate comprises the steps of: rolling the large slabs into strip or plate on a rolling mill with a finishing temperature above 1340.degree. F.; in-line cooling the strip or plate to a temperature in the range 900.degree. F. to 650.degree. F. with the strip or plate laid out on a flat cooling conveyor; slowing the speed of the strip or plate to speeds typical of cut-to-length lines; side trimming and/or cutting the strip or plate to lengths at temperatures above 500.degree. F.; cooling the strip or plate to a temperature below 300.degree. F.; and stacking the strip or plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Tippins Incorporated
    Inventors: William H. Tippins, George W. Tippins, Ronald D. Gretz
  • Patent number: 5724842
    Abstract: A rolling mill (1) for rolling metal strip has provision for applying discrete levels of liquid coolant to the strip and the temperature (te) of the strip leaving the mill is compared with a target temperature (ts) and the temperature (Te) the incoming workpiece is compared with a target temperature (Ts). The difference signals are employed to control the levels of liquid coolant and the rolling speed so that the exit temperature remains substantially equal to the target exit temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Davy McKee (Poole) Limited
    Inventors: Robert John Beattie, Philip Francis Round, Andrew Storey
  • Patent number: 5713233
    Abstract: The present invention is a vane adjustment machine for adjusting contoured vanes on a vane ring. The vane adjustment machine has a support structure with a bench top and a free-floating suspension. The bench top supporting a programmable rotary table which is electrically actuated to rotate a removably mounted vane assembly to bring each contoured vane into a position to be dimensionally measured, heated, and bent. The vane adjustment machine has a trace probe mounted adjacent to the rotary table for engaging each contoured vane and measuring its relative position radially and axially. A torch is mounted adjacent the rotary table to heat each contoured vane individually. A non-contact infrared sensor is on the bench top adjacent to the torch for measuring the temperature of a heated contoured vane. A bending head is suspended by the free-floating suspension over the vane ring to individually engage the trailing edge of each individual contoured vane and bend the-trailing edge to adjust the contoured vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Sifco Custom Machining Company
    Inventors: James F. McCarthy, Loren L. Davis
  • Patent number: 5710411
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hot reversing rolling mill for isothermally reducing a metal strip product. The mill includes a hot reversing mill stand with a pair of coilers positioned on opposite sides of the mill stand. At least one heater is positioned between one of the coilers and the mill stand with at least one strip cooling unit positioned between one of the coilers and the mill stand. A sensor is provided for sensing a strip parameter indicative of strip temperature as well as a controller for controlling each of the heating and cooling units in response to the sensed parameter. The rolling mill of the present invention can be utilized for isothermally rolling multiple passes of a metal strip product on the hot reversing mill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignees: Tippins Incorporated, Ajax Magnethermic Corporation
    Inventors: George W. Tippins, John E. Thomas, Nicholas V. Ross
  • Patent number: 5706691
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a supporting method, equipment, and controlling method for the roll-former stand by which the height and inclined angle of the cluster roll comprising subsequentially deposited plurality of side rolls likely as a roll former as a pipe mill can be arbitrarily set, and the interdistance between said rolls can be reduced. The basic structure consists of the following procedures; namely, (1) a supporting a pair of cluster platforms, on which a common bed is mounted, by a link being formed by jacks; a plurality of side rolls is supported by a roll bracket and deposited on said common bed, (2) fixing both end portions of the link on the platform or a bed plane surface to form an arbitrary triangle, and (3) measuring the length of the link by a linear encoder which is provided along said links. The measured data is converted to the Cartesian coordinates by the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Nakata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atumu Okamoto, James Mok
  • Patent number: 5708678
    Abstract: Method to equalize the temperature in a heating furnace (10) with a controlled-oxidization ambient, the furnace (10) comprising at least one insulated chamber (11) cooperating with a supporting and conveying surface defined by a plurality of rollers (12), the rollers (12) including rings (35) to bear slabs (19), a plurality of burners (18) being comprised in cooperation with the upper part of the furnace (10), whereas a plurality of aspiration intakes (21) is included in cooperation with the lower part of the furnace (10), the feed to the burners (18) being adjusted in such a way as to ensure a strongly oxidizing atmosphere within the furnace (10) so as to obtain a desired and controllable layer of scale on the surface of a slab (19) in the furnace (10), this strongly oxidizing atmosphere being conveyed so as to surround and lap continuously and evenly the whole periphery of the slab (19), the furnace (10) cooperating downstream with a descaling assembly (22) to remove the layer of scale thus formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche SpA
    Inventors: Fabio Fasoli, Roberto Millone
  • Patent number: 5701775
    Abstract: Cooling of metal strip in a single or multistand cold rolling line by applying coolant liquid only to the lower surface of the strip, and removing the liquid therefrom, after each, or between successive roll stands. The liquid is delivered, at each cooling locality, at low pressure through a plurality of slots each extending transversely beneath and across the full width of the strip, the slots being spaced apart along the path of the strip and generally being oriented to discharge the coolant liquid toward the strip lower surface at an angle of greater than 90.degree. to the direction of strip advance. Coolant removal is effected by directing one or more liquid knives against the strip lower surface between the plurality of slots and the next downstream roll stand in the line, at a location at which the strip is trained around a hold-down roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Olivo Giuseppe Sivilotti, Gino Luigi Leone, James Gordon Sutherland, Herbert James Thorburn, Bruno Crosato
  • Patent number: 5694803
    Abstract: A fin folding machine is disclosed for sequentially folding relatively thin sheet metal material into narrowly grooved corrugations. The fin folding machine includes a pair of opposed clamping tools disposed on opposite sides of the sheet material. The clamping tools are movable in a direction transverse to and into engagement with the sheet material to clamp the sheet material therebetween. A pair of opposed forming tools are disposed on opposite sides of the sheet material and are sequentially movable in a direction transverse to and into engagement with the sheet material to fold the sheet material in one direction by the engagement of one of the forming tools and then in the opposite direction by the engagement of the other of the forming tools. Gas charged accumulators are used to apply a force to continuously urge a respective one of the clamping and forming tools into engagement with the sheet material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Douglas R. Ervin, Clifford G. Knepper, Thomas J. Quinn
  • Patent number: 5694799
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a hot-rolling process and a hot-rolling mill for metal strips (5) having one or more roll stands with work rolls (1, 2). In order to prevent surface defects on the work rolls (1, 2), a coolant liquid is sprayed on the entry side in a narrow region extending immediately in front of the roll gap exclusively by a series of flat jet nozzles in such a way that their core jets primarily strike the surface of the work rolls or are directed into the roll gap for direct cooling and in that the entering metal strip is acted upon at the same time by the same coolant liquid for protecting the surfaces of the rolls from the radiated heat of the metal strip. The spraying of the coolant liquid is regulated in such a way that the metal strip is cooled only in a very narrow outer zone. In so doing, the temperature at the surface of the work rolls (1, 2) is adjusted in such a way that it lies below the boiling point of the coolant liquid at least immediately in front of the roll gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: SMS Schloemann-Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Waldemar Wolpert, Friedrich Heymann, Manfred Mohlenkamp, Gunter Pietzko
  • Patent number: 5689987
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the progress of a superplastic formation process that uses cumulative gas-mass outflow from a forming part being formed from generally one or more sheets of superplastically formable material, a process that may include selective diffusion bonding of the sheets together. The method includes using the expected initial conditions of the process to determine the gas-mass cumulative exhaust at room temperature and pressure. The method is advantageous over inlet measuring methods where high pressure gas must be measured and any small hole in the system results in large errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventor: Ken K. Yasui
  • Patent number: 5682781
    Abstract: For the advance of the slide rail of a pipe bending machine, a hydraulic cylinder (22) is provided. The pressures (P1,P2) on both sides of the piston (23) of the cylinder (22) are detected, and from these pressures, the actual value of the advance force (F) is calculated. A set value generator (49) generates the set value (Fs) of the advance force in dependence on the respective rotational angle (.alpha.) of the bending template. A controller (48) controls a throttle valve (42) such that the actual value (Fi) follows the set value (Fs). Thus, a power control of the slide rail advance is effected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Inventor: Rigobert Schwarze
  • Patent number: 5676004
    Abstract: In a bender (e.g., press brake), work (plate material) can be bent by a bending tool composed of a pair of punch and die. A position detector (17) mounted on a movable side of the bending tool generates a limit point pulse (ULi) whenever the tool reaches a limit point. A timer (29) measures a time interval between the two limit point pulses (ULi). A time compare discriminate section (31) compares the time interval measured by the timer with a reference time interval (TR), and further discriminates the current bending as a trial bending when the time interval is longer than the reference time but as an actual bending when shorter than the reference time. Further, an arithmetic section 33 calculates a sum total number of times of the bending and the sum total time period spent in the bendings, separately in both of the trial and actual bendings. The obtained bending data are displayed or recorded to obtain an accurate man-hour in the bending processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Amada Metrecs Company, Limited
    Inventors: Shigeharu Matsumoto, Nobuo Sakurai, Ichiro Kojima
  • Patent number: 5669257
    Abstract: A terminal barrel is crimped to a wire laid on an anvil. In the crimping operation, a servo-motor drives a driving axis, the forward and reverse rotation of which vertically reciprocates a crimper. The operation includes the steps of: preliminary recording reference speeds or accelerations of the crimper at vertical positions in the reciprocating movement, and the reference value of a current which is supplied to the servo-motor when the terminal is crimped; descending the crimper at the reference speeds corresponding to the crimper position while the crimper descends from its top position to its crimping start position; crimping the terminal by supplying the reference current to the servo-motor during a predetermined period while the crimper is crimping the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiro Inoue, Kazuhiko Takada
  • Patent number: 5666842
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a grain-oriented silicon steel sheet having excellent and uniform magnetic characteristics by improving the magnetic flux density of a silicon coil cold rolled to a thin thickness without increasing a Si content. The method comprises controlling steel sheet temperature along the rolling direction of a coil immediately downstream of the outlet roll bites of one or more rolling paths to about 15.degree. C. or less, and controlling the temperature of one or more of the rolling paths between about 150.degree. C. to about 350.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Kawasaki Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Michiro Komatsubara, Yasuyuki Hayakawa, Humihiko Takeuchi, Masataka Yamada
  • Patent number: 5661887
    Abstract: A blind rivet set verification system for setting a blind rivet assessing the acceptability of the rivet set. The system includes a remote intensified rivet setting tool and computer hardware and software. The tool comprises a displacement transducer that produces a displacement signal and a pressure transducer that produces a pressure signal. The transducers are connected to the computer which receives the distinct signals. These signals are interpreted to plot a displacement-versus pressure waveform and to determine the velocity of the movement of an air piston that responds to the rivet set by hydraulic pressure. Using the combined date of the velocity waveform and the displacement-versus pressure waveform, the breakload is identified and compared against predetermined ideal data to assess the acceptability of the set. The displacement reading at break is corrected for jaw slippage and offset of the air piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Emhart Inc.
    Inventors: Darren S. Byrne, Eymard J. Chitty
  • Patent number: 5651281
    Abstract: A method for rolling rolled strips 3, 4 in a hot strip rolling mill 6, comprises at least two roll stands 6, 7, with horizontally adjustable top and bottom work rolls 10, 11. Each work roll is backed up directly or through an intermediate roll by a backup roll 9 or in a reversing stand where at least two passes are rolled, wherein the roll strip is subjected to a condition control for which profile the surface evenness-imparting correctively control elements act upon the rolled strip to meet requirements of profile accuracy and surface evenness of the rolled strips in spite of flexible rolling program if a target contour of the profile of the rolled strip 3, 4 is preset for achievement of which two groups of correction control elements act successively upon the rolled strip. The control elements 12, 13 of first group are brought to bear if a rolled strip thickness is above the critical thickness and influence largely the contour of the rolled strip in its central region referred to the strip center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: SMS Schloemann-Siemaq
    Inventor: Jurgen Seidel
  • Patent number: 5644941
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for severing and controlled cooling of individual rods from a rolled section, particularly from a section of preferably high-grade steel which emerges hot from rolling at final speed from the rolling line of a finishing train, wherein the section is divided during its passage through parting shears into cut lengths and wherein a cut length each is conveyed after severing to an annealing strip or an annealing furnace. The rolled section is supplied to parting shears whose knives rotate on both sides of the section in a horizontal plane and which, when severing the section, displace the resulting section ends in the horizontal plane laterally relative to each other by a certain distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: SMS Schloemann-Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rolf Stodt, Hans Peter Drugh
  • Patent number: 5640872
    Abstract: In a process for cooling hot rolled metal plates (16) and strips, especially such of aluminium or an aluminium alloy, a hot rolled strip (12) is cut to plates (16) immediately after it emerges from a rolling mill (10). Immediately after the cutting to length, the plates (16) pass through a cooling station (20) where they are jetted directly with water from flat stream nozzles (52). The water stream (W) emerging from the flat stream nozzles (52) form essentially a plane (E) which is directed at the plate surface (32). Immediately after it leaves the flat stream nozzle (52), the water stream (W) is periodically deflected by means of streams (A, B) of air or water in such a manner that the water stream (W) striking the plate surface (32) performs a wiping action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Alusuisse-Lonza Services Ltd.
    Inventors: Miroslaw Plata, Malcolm Hill
  • Patent number: 5638714
    Abstract: The invention is a cold rolling process which converts rods of hot rolled metal into strips with width to thickness ratios as high as approximately 17 to 1. The process cools the rod between successive rolling mills and employs feed backward tension controls to direct the speed of each individual upline rolling mill in order to reduce the thermal and mechanical shock experienced by the rod as it is flattened into a strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Fintube Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Jerry E. Ryan, James C. McReynolds, Thomas J. Butchko
  • Patent number: 5615568
    Abstract: In a bender (e.g., press brake), work (plate material) can be bent by a bending tool composed of a pair of punch and die. A position detector (17) mounted on a movable side of the bending tool generates a limit point pulse (ULi) whenever the tool reaches a limit point. A timer (29) measures a time interval between the two limit point pulses (ULi). A time compare discriminate section (31) compares the time interval measured by the time with a reference time interval (TR), and further discriminates the current bending as trial bending when the time interval is longer than the reference time but as an actual bending when shorter than the reference time. Further, an arithmetic section 33 calculates a sum total number of times of the bending and the sum total time period spent in the bendings, separately in both of the trial and actual bendings. The obtained bending data are displayed or recorded to obtain an accurate man-hour in the bending processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Amada Metrecs Company, Limited
    Inventors: Shigeharu Matsumoto, Nobuo Sakurai, Ichiro Kojima
  • Patent number: 5587633
    Abstract: It is an object to obtain a press apparatus and a press controlling method which apply press working to a processed object with accurate press load and is capable of press working with accurate press load without affected by variations in thickness of the processed objects and variations in shut height of molds. A servo motor (51) is connected concentrically to a rotation transmitter (52), and a screw shaft (53) is provided passing through the center of the rotation transmitter (52). The driving force of the servo motor (51) is converted into a thrusting force of a press ram (54) by combining the rotation transmitter (52) and the screw shaft (53). Correct press load is applied to the processed objects and troubles in the press processing caused by variations in thickness of the processed objects can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsubishi Electric Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideji Aoki, Takahiro Tashima, Suekazu Nakashima, Yoshiyuki Osako, Hidetaka Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 5568744
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for manufacturing rolled wire sections and round steel sections in coils from carbon steels or high-grade steels. The arrangement includes a wire production line with a multiple-stand wire mill and a round steel production line with, for example, a multiple-stand round steel mill which branches from a common billet supply line including a billet furnace and a cooling bed, wherein the wire mill and the round steel mill are arranged next to each other. An aftertreatment unit following the production lines includes a coil forming station for round steel sections and for wire sections arranged following one of the two production lines, a transfer device for wire coils to the round steel production line, a coil forming device for wire sections arranged at the end of the wire mill, the coil forming device being followed by a transfer device for wire coils or round steel coils, and a coil conveying and cooling device arranged following one of the two production lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: SMS Schloemann-Siemag AG
    Inventor: Johann Grotepass
  • Patent number: 5564298
    Abstract: A die tool wear monitor and analysis system identifies tooling wear, variations in the quality of the manufactured product, and undesired operational conditions within a press. A first signal indicates the angular position of a reciprocating ram and a second signal indicates the force differential present between the tooling components. The second signal is plotted relative to the first signal and defines a value of force differential for selected positions of the upper and lower tooling relative to each other. Preferred values consisting of at least one upper and one lower limit are established for each of the second signals with respect to each of the first signals. The second signal is compared to the established preferred values and when it falls beyond them, the manufacture part is ejected and/or the operation of the conversion press is terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventor: Michael DeMeo
  • Patent number: 5557958
    Abstract: In a transfer feeder in which transfer bars are driven in a feeding direction by swinging a feed lever (4) through a cam-follower (5) by a feed cam (2) mounted to a camshaft (1) rotated by power taken out of a transfer press, a control circuit controls air pressure of a rear cushion cylinder (6) pushing the feed lever to the feed cam to an optimum value in response to a production speed of the press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kenji Nishida, Kazuhiko Shiroza
  • Patent number: 5553469
    Abstract: A method of controlling thermally alterable profiles of working rolls during hot rolling of strips having different width includes providing cover shells for the working roll, determining a position of edges of the rolling strip on the working roll, determining a position of thermally isolating cover shells, which cover longitudinal portions of the working roll in a region of the strip edges for influencing a temperature gradient of the working roll, and displacing the cover shells to selectively cover a longitudinal region of the working roll in a strip edge-contact region of the working roll with the rolling strip, and a longitudinal region of the working roll which does not contact the rolling strip during strip rolling. The cover shells and a mechanism for displacing the cover shells are parts of an arrangement for effecting the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: SMS Schloemann-Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: J urgen Seidel
  • Patent number: 5540074
    Abstract: A self-contained unitary assembly for peripheral devices normally located close to a Steckel mill is provided. The assembly has a frame open at both ends to receive and pass through the steel product being rolled. Above and below the pathway for the steel product are located transversely spaced arrays of descaler nozzles and their headers and also controlled cooling nozzles and their headers. Also included within the unitary assembly is the x-ray measuring gauge or other suitable measuring instrument for measuring some characteristic of the steel product. The unitary assembly is positioned between the pinch rolls and the Steckel mill. Protective steel plates or beams are provided running both transversely and longitudinally within the frame for the assembly to provide protection for the nozzles and measuring apparatus. These protective elements also serve to minimize the amount of errant water spray that might otherwise tend to enter the coiler furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: IPSCO Enterprises Inc.
    Inventors: Olan R. Smith, Michael J. Suchan
  • Patent number: 5535599
    Abstract: Modular roll apparatus particularly suitable for conveying hot material such as a sheet of steel being processed. Each roll has its own individual water bath and drive mechanism. A water trough isolates the bath from the bearings and drive mechanism for the roll and bathes the underside of the roll to cool it. The entire modular unit can be removed from its operating position and replaced by a similar such unit. A conveyor containing a multiplicity of such units is suitable for conveying hot sheet steel or other hot material in a processing mill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: IPSCO Enterprises Inc.
    Inventors: Olan R. Smith, Michael J. Suchan
  • Patent number: 5531085
    Abstract: A die lubricant applicator for spraying lubricant from a pressurized source of lubricant through a plurality of injector nozzles onto a die press. Associated with each injector nozzle is a solenoid-operated valve for selectively gating the flow of the lubricant to the injector nozzle, and also an electronic control, such as a portion of a programmable logic controller, responsive to the movement of the die of the die press, for opening the solenoid valve for a predetermined and programmable dwell time, thereby passing a predetermined volume of lubricant from the pressurized source to the injector nozzle. The electronic control associated with each injector nozzle includes a programmable timer that causes the solenoid valve to open for the programmed dwell time, and the electronic control may also include a programmable counter that can inhibit the firing of the programmable dwell timer for a number of die press cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Inventor: John W. Hayes
  • Patent number: 5528816
    Abstract: Plant and method to produce strip (11), starting from thin slabs (29) produced by a continuous casting plant (12), whereby the thin slab (29) undergoes at least one descaling step followed by a roughing step and a finishing step before being wound in coils, the mould being subjected to an oscillation action the conformation of which is at least partly correlated with the casting parameters (at least the speed, temperature and complex structure of the steel), and whereby the thin slab (29) leaving the crystalliser of the continuous casting plant (12) has a thickness between 70 and 100 mm. and travels at a speed between 2 and 10 metres per minute, the thin slab (29), before the roughing rolling step, staying at least in a furnace (16) at least maintaining the temperature of the slab (29) for a period correlated at least with the characteristics of the surface defects of the thin slab (29), the roughing rolling step being carried out at an outgoing speed of about 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche SpA
    Inventors: Estore Donini, Gianpietro Benedetti