Work roll cooling apparatus and method

A work roll cooling apparatus for a rolling mill, comprising:

• a work roll having a rolling surface;
• at least one chock configured to support the work roll in the rolling mill, the work roll which is supported in the chock, having an axis about which the rolling surface is rotatable;
• a shroud configured for being positioned adjacent the rolling surface when the work roll is in use supported on the chock so as to provide a cooling space between the shroud and the work surface within which a coolant is brought into contact with the work roll;
• the shroud including a first part disposed at a selected location on the chock to provide a predetermined gap between the first part and the rolling surface, a second part at a side of the first part away from the work roll, and a connection for releasably connecting the first and the second parts;
• and
• wherein, in a connected condition, the first and the second parts are joined so as to provide and define the cooling space within the shroud, and in a disconnected condition, each of the at least one chock, the first part of the shroud and the work roll may be axially removed from the rolling mill and from the second part of the shroud.