Vertical piercer mill

Abstract

A vertical piercer/elongator mill includes a mill housing having a base, an open top and an open interior defined by a plurality of vertically extending mill posts and interconnecting side portions. A cylindrically shaped bottom cradle supports a rotatable bottom roll and is fitted in the mill housing through the open top thereof to assume an operable position within the open interior of the housing. A cylindrically shaped top cradle supports a rotatable top roll and is also received within the open interior of the mill housing through the open top of the housing. Vertical adjustment apparatus in the form of screw jacks and balance cylinders are associated with the upper and lower cradles to provide vertical movement of the cradles within the mill housing to establish a selected rolling gorge. Hydraulically actuated feed angle adjustment devices are associated with the top and bottom cradles and mill housing to provide controlled rotative movement of the top and bottom cradles about a vertical axis to establish a selected feed angle between the top and bottom rolls. Hydraulic clamps are also associated with the mill housing to fixedly secure the top and bottom roll cradles within the open interior of the mill housing. Motorized guide shoes are provided on the mill housing on opposite sides of the pass line and permit quick guide shoe changes. The mill housing further includes an adjustable bar steadier to provide support for a piercer bar during startup and for subsequent shell support. A spindle support apparatus is also provided for ease in roll spindle coupling.