US 6,408,667 B1 · Four-high mill stand roll change device, a method of retrofit, and a roll change device therefrom

Abstract

The invention is directed to a roll change device for use in a four-high rolling mill stand, and in particular it is directed to retrofitting an existing four-high rolling mill stand with a roll change device comprising actuators that are fastened to opposing inboard exterior surfaces of the lower backup roll chocks in the mill stand and a pair of spaced apart lift-rails attached to the actuators by lift-rail hooks and positioned to engage the lower work roll chocks of the mill stand when the actuators are operated. The roll change device further includes a self-contained roll staging platform that is installed as a single unit within the mill floor adjacent the four-high rolling mill stand or removed as a single unit from its position within the mill floor.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A roll change apparatus for changing a work roll assembly that includes a work roll mounted in work roll chocks moveably contained within pockets in backup roll chocks that support a backup roll within a four-high rolling mill stand, comprising:

a) actuators fastened to opposed inboard facing surfaces of the backup roll chocks that support the backup roll in the four-high rolling mill stand;
b) parallel spaced apart lift-rails attached to said actuators such that one end of each said lift-rail extends to a position below one of the work roll chocks and such that an opposite end of each said lift-rail extends to a position below the other work roll chock, each said extended lift-rail portion engaging a surface of the work roll chocks and lifting said work roll assembly to a roll changing position located above the backup roll when said actuators are operated to move said lift-rails in an upward direction, and each said extended lift-rail portion disengaging from said surface of the work roll chocks when the work roll contacts the lower backup roll in response to said actuators operated in a downward direction.

A method of retrofitting a four-high rolling mill stand with a roll change apparatus, the steps of the method comprising:

machining opposite inboard facing surfaces of a first backup roll chock and a second backup roll chock that support a backup roll within the mill stand;
attaching actuators to the machined opposite inboard facing machined surfaces;
attaching a first lift-rail to a first selected set of said actuators fastened to the machined opposite inboard facing surfaces so that said first lift-rail is parallel to a lower work roll supported by a first work roll chock and a second work roll chock within the mill stand, said first lift-rail including a first end positioned below and shaped to engage the first work roll chock, and said first lift-rail including a second end positioned below and shaped to engage the second work roll chock;
and
attaching actuators to the machined opposite inboard facing machined surfaces;
attaching a second lift-rail to a second selected set of said actuators fastened to the machined opposite inboard facing surfaces so that said second lift-rail is parallel to a lower work roll opposite said first lift-rail, said second lift-rail including a first end positioned below and shaped to engage the first work roll chock, and said second lift-rail including a second end positioned below and shaped to engage the second work roll chock.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Four-high mill stand roll change device, a method of retrofit, and a roll change device therefrom

Life of this patent

Four-high mill stand roll change device, a method of retrofit, and a roll change device therefrom

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19