Cooperative rolling process and apparatus
AssigneeOlin Corporation
InventorsMichael J. Pryor, Joseph Winter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and process for rolling metal strip to provide increased percentage reductions in the thickness of the strip per pass and increased total reduction between anneals. A 4-high rolling mill is modified so that it is back-up roll driven such that the back-up rolls have different peripheral speeds in the same ratio as the desired strip reduction. The strip travels through the mill in a serpentine arrangement to provide three reductions per pass. Forward and back tension are applied to the strip during rolling.
Claims31
A rolling mill apparatus adapted to provide increased percentage reductions in the thickness of metal strip per pass and increased total reductions between anneals, said apparatus comprising:
- at least first and second driven back-up rolls having respective first and second roll axes defining a first plane, said back-up rolls being arranged for relative movement along said first plane toward and away from each other;
- at least first and second idling work rolls having respective third and fourth roll axes, said work rolls having substantially smaller diameters than said back-up rolls, said third and fourth roll axes being arranged generally in said first plane, said work rolls being arranged between said first and second back-up rolls and said work rolls being arranged for relative movement generally in said first plane toward and away from said backup rolls and from each other;
- means for driving said back-up rolls so that the peripheral speed of said first back-up roll is less than the peripheral speed of said second back-up roll;
- said rolls being arranged to take three thickness reductions in said strip in a single pass through said mill, a first of said reductions being taken in a first roll bite between said first back-up roll and said first work roll, a second of said reductions being taken in a second roll bite between said first work roll and said second work roll and a third of said reductions being taken in a third roll bite between said second work roll and said second back-up roll;
- said rolls being arranged so that said strip travels through said mill in a serpentine fashion wherein said strip first encompasses said first back-up roll and then forms an S-shaped bridle about said work rolls and then encompasses said second back-up roll;
- means for applying forward and back tension to said strip as it passes through said mill;
- and
- presser means for applying a desired pressure between said rolls.
A process for rolling metal strip adapted to provide increased percentage reduction in the thickness of the metal strip per pass, and increased total reductions between anneals, said process comprising:
- providing at least first and second driven back-up rolls having respective first and second roll axes defining a first plane, said back-up rolls being arranged for relative movement along said first plane toward and away from each other;
- providing at least first and second idling work rolls having respective third and fourth roll axes, said work rolls having substantially smaller diameters than said back-up rolls, said third and fourth roll axes being arranged generally in said first plane, said work rolls being arranged between said first and second back-up rolls and said work rolls being arranged for relative movement generally in said first plane toward and away from said back-up rolls and from each other;
- driving said back-up rolls so that the peripheral speed of said first back-up roll is less than the peripheral speed of said second back-up roll;
- passing said strip through said rolls in a serpentine fashion wherein said strip first encompasses said first back-up roll and then forms an S-shaped bridle about said work rolls and then encompasses said second back-up roll;
- applying forward and back tension to said strip as it passes through said rolls;
- applying a desired pressure between said rolls;
- whereby a first reduction in thickness is taken in a first roll bit between said first back-up roll and said first work roll, a second reduction in thickness is taken in a second roll bite between said first work roll and said second work roll and a third reduction in thickness is taken in a third roll bite between said second work roll and said second back-up roll.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.