Laying head with segmented laying pipe

Abstract

A laying head is disclosed for forming the longitudinally moving hot rolled product of a rolling mill into a helix. The laying head includes a housing carrying a cone assembly for rotation about an axis. The cone assembly has a support member with a three dimensional configuration curving around said axis. A plurality of clamp members are fixed to the support member at spaced locations along the length thereof. A plurality of discrete tubular guides are removably retained by the clamp members at operative positions collectively defining a guide path which is parallel to the curvature of the support member. Means are provided for receiving the product along said axis and for delivering the product into the first of the guides. Means are also provided for rotating the cone assembly, whereupon passage of the product along the guide path will result in the product exiting from the laying head in the form of a helix.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.