Center-spine mounted tandem cantilevered rolling mill

Abstract

A center-spine mounted tandem cantilevered rolling mill includes three or more pairs of upper and lower spindles. An elongated rigid center spine extends horizontally midway between the upper and lower spindles. The upper spindles are removably mounted above this center spine by upper front and rear bearings, with their axes extending parallel and oriented perpendicular to the length of the spine. The front ends of the upper spindles project forward centilevered beyond the spine for carrying the upper work rolls. The lower spindles are removably mounted below this center spine by lower front and rear bearings in alignment with the respective upper spindles. The front ends of the lower spindles project forward cantilevered beyond the spine for carrying the lower work rolls. Each pair of upper and lower work rolls is called a 'stand'. By virtue of this spine located symmetrically mid-way between and closely coupled to the spindles, the interstand forces and stresses created by dynamics of tandem rolling are nullified or cancelled out in the spine, thereby isolating respective spindles from rolling stresses occuring in neighboring spindles. The forces to which each stand is subjected include overturning and skewing moments and separating forces caused by passage of stock between work rolls. All spindles are independently accessibly mounted. Thus, either upper or lower spindle in each stand can advantageously be removed without removing the other. A lighter, more compact rolling mill is provided having the same ratings as a heavier, bulkier prior art mill.