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US 10,279,383 B2Granted
Apparatuses and methods for polishing a metal sheet or plate leveler
AssigneeSSAB Enterprises, LLC
InventorsPaul Raymond Ruffner, Susan Marie Tucker, Anthony Edward Wellington, Thomas Jacob Cox
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for safely and efficiently polishing the work rolls of a metal sheet or plate leveler. The apparatus includes a support and one or more polisher assemblies to be inserted between the upper and lower work rolls of the leveler, for simultaneously polishing the upper and/or lower work rolls of the leveler during the rotation of the work rolls.
Claims40
An apparatus for polishing the work rolls of a metal leveler, each said work roll having a work roll circumference and a work roll length, the leveler having a frame, a series of upper work rolls and a series of lower work rolls, said apparatus comprising:
- one or more polishing units sized, shaped and configured to be removably inserted between the series of upper work rolls and the series of lower work rolls of the leveler, at a position under the lowest points of the series of upper work rolls and over the highest points of the series of lower work rolls, said polishing unit comprising at least one polisher configured for engaging and polishing at least one of said series of upper and lower work rolls of the leveler during the rotation of said work roll,
- said at least one polisher including a substantially rigid concave pan having an abrasive material positioned therewithin for exposure of said abrasive material to said respective work roll upon engagement of said polisher with said respective work roll and upon rotation of said work roll within said substantially rigid concave pan.
An apparatus for polishing the work rolls of a metal leveler, each said work roll having a work roll circumference and a work roll length, the leveler having a frame, a series of upper work rolls and a series of lower work rolls, said apparatus comprising:
- one or more polishing units sized, shaped and configured to be removably inserted between the series of upper work rolls and the series of lower work rolls of the leveler, said polishing unit comprising at least one polisher configured for engaging and polishing at least one of said series of upper and lower work rolls of the leveler during the rotation of said work roll,
- said at least one polisher including a substantially rigid concave pan having an abrasive material positioned therewithin for exposure of said abrasive material to said respective work roll upon engagement of said polisher with said respective work roll and upon rotation of said work roll within said substantially rigid concave pan,
- said at least one polishing unit comprising a first series of polishers corresponding in number to the number of work rolls in said series of upper work rolls and a second series of polishers corresponding in number to the number of work rolls in said series of lower work rolls,
- said first series of polishers configured to simultaneously engage each of said work rolls in said series of upper work rolls respectively,
- said second series of polishers configured to simultaneously engage each of said work rolls in said series of lower work rolls respectively,
- all of said first and second series of polishers operably configured to polish said respective series of upper and lower work rolls as all of said work rolls rotate while engaged with said first and second series of polishers.
3 more elements
A method for polishing the upper and lower work rolls of a metal leveler through the use of a polishing apparatus, the method comprising:
- configuring the leveler into a polishing position to accept the insertion of the polishing apparatus;
- configuring the polishing apparatus into an orientation position to enable insertion of the apparatus into the leveler,
- inserting the polishing apparatus into the leveler, between the upper and lower work rolls, at a position under the lowest point of the upper work roll and above the highest point of the lower work roll, wherein the polishing apparatus includes polishers configured from substantially rigid concave pans which can be simultaneously aligned for engagement with respective work rolls to simultaneously polish each of the upper and lower work rolls of the leveler during the rotation of the work rolls, wherein at least one of the polishers is configured to engage and polish substantially the operable length of the upper and lower work rolls of the leveler;
- extending the upper and lower polishers to engage the upper and lower work rolls of the leveler during rotation of the work rolls;
- and
- simultaneously polishing the contacted work rolls, during the rotation of the work rolls.
3 more elements
A method for polishing the upper and lower work rolls of a metal leveler through the use of a polishing apparatus, the method comprising:
- configuring the leveler in an open position;
- inserting said polishing apparatus into the leveler, between the upper and lower works rolls, at a position under the lowest point of the upper work roll and above the highest point of the lower work roll, wherein the polishing apparatus includes polishers on its top and bottom surfaces for simultaneously engaging and polishing the respective work rolls of the leveler during the rotation of the work rolls, wherein at least one of the polishers includes a substantially rigid concave pan having an abrasive material therewithin, said pan being configured to engage and polish at least a majority of a length of a corresponding work roll of the leveler;
- juxtaposing the polishers and the upper and lower work rolls of the leveler by extending the polishers to further contact the work rolls, during the rotation of the work rolls,
- rotating the work rolls to polish the work rolls within the polisher pans.
1 more element
A method for polishing the work rolls of a metal leveler through the use of a polishing apparatus, the method comprising:
- configuring the leveler in an open position;
- inserting said polishing apparatus into the leveler, wherein the polishing apparatus includes polishers on its top and bottom surfaces for simultaneously engaging and polishing the respective work rolls of the leveler during the rotation of the work rolls, wherein at least one of the polishers includes a substantially rigid concave pan having an abrasive material therewithin, said pan being configured to engage and polish at least a majority of a length of a corresponding work roll of the leveler, said step of inserting the top and bottom polishers into the leveler comprises using an air motor to move the polishers relative to a table support and inserting the polishers between the upper work rolls and lower work rolls of the leveler;
- juxtaposing the polishers and the upper and lower work rolls of the leveler by extending the polisher to further contact the work rolls, during the rotation of the work rolls,
- rotating the work rolls to polish the work rolls within the polisher pans.
1 more element
A method for polishing the work rolls of a metal leveler through the use of a polishing apparatus, the method comprising:
- configuring the leveler in an open position;
- inserting said polishing apparatus into the leveler, wherein the polishing apparatus includes polishers on its top and bottom surfaces for simultaneously engaging and polishing the respective work rolls of the leveler during the rotation of the work rolls, wherein at least one of the polishers includes a substantially rigid concave pan having an abrasive material therewithin, said pan being configured to engage and polish at least a majority of a length of a corresponding work roll of the leveler;
- juxtaposing the polishers and the upper and lower work rolls of the leveler by extending the polishers to further contact the work rolls, during the rotation of the work rolls, in which the step of extending the polishers comprises using an air motor and a valve to inflate and adjust internal air bags within the polishing unit, in order to cause the polishers to contact and polish the work rolls;
- rotating the work rolls to polish the work rolls within the polisher pans.
1 more element
A method for polishing the work rolls of a metal leveler through the use of a polishing apparatus, the method comprising:
- configuring the leveler in an open position;
- inserting said polishing apparatus into the leveler, wherein the polishing apparatus includes polishers on its top and bottom surfaces for simultaneously engaging and polishing the respective work rolls of the leveler during the rotation of the work rolls, wherein at least one of the polishers includes a substantially rigid concave pan having an abrasive material therewithin, said pan being configured to engage and polish at least a majority of a length of a corresponding work roll of the leveler;
- juxtaposing the polishers and the upper and lower work rolls of the leveler by extending the polishers to further contact the work rolls, during the rotation of the work rolls,
- at least partially closing the orientation of the upper and lower work rolls to further bring the polishers into contact with the work rolls;
- rotating the work rolls to polish the work rolls within the polisher pans.
2 more elements
A method for polishing the work rolls of a metal leveler through the use of a polishing apparatus, comprising the steps of:
- configuring the leveler into an open position to accept the insertion of the polishing apparatus,
- inserting the polishing apparatus into the leveler, wherein the polishing apparatus includes upper and lower polishers restrainably positioned relative to one another along both sides of a platform, said polishers being configured from substantially rigid concave pans which can be simultaneously aligned for engagement with respective work rolls containing an abrasive material,
- lowering the upper work roils to engage the upper polishers;
- continuing to lower the upper work rolls to enable the lower polishers to engage the lower work rolls respectively;
- and
- simultaneously polishing the upper and lower work rolls during the rotation of the upper and lower work rolls.
3 more elements
An apparatus for polishing the work rolls of a metal leveler, each said work roll having a work roll circumference and a work roll length, the leveler having a frame, a series of upper work rolls and a series of lower work rolls, said apparatus comprising:
- one or more polishing units integrally positioned on a unitary fixture, said fixture being sized, shaped and configured to collectively and removably position said one or more polishing units between the lowest points at the bottom of the series of upper work rolls and the highest points at the top of the series of lower work rolls of the leveler, said one or more polishing units comprising at least one polisher configured for engaging and polishing at least one of said series of upper and lower work rolls of the leveler during the rotation of said work roll,
- said at least one polisher including a substantially rigid concave pan having an abrasive material positioned therewithin for exposure of said abrasive material to said respective work roll upon engagement of said polisher with said respective work roll and upon rotation of said work roil within said substantially rigid concave pan.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.