Adjustable side guide with quick change strip heater assembly

Abstract

A hot metallic workpiece is advanced between side guides extending along opposite lateral sides of a driven roller table for guiding the hot metallic workpiece to a hot mill. Each of the side guides takes the form of a beam section including an elongated horizontal workpiece guide joined to an elongated horizontal back section by web sections horizontally separated one from another and forming a plurality of utility pockets. The elongated horizontal guide has window openings at the pass line communicating with corresponding situated utility pockets each containing a burner to direct hot products of combustion toward the side of a workpiece while advance by the roller table toward a hot mill. A burner carrier supports a group of spaced apart burners with the burners of each group connected to discrete utility lines. A driven screw and stationary nut form a drive operative with each of the plurality of burner carriers to locate each group of burners in an operating position where the burners thereof are aligned with corresponding ones of the window openings to direct products of combustion from the burners for heating opposed lateral sides of a hot metallic workpiece while guided by the elongated horizontal guide and an inoperative position wherein the spaced apart burners of each group are at an elevated position above the window opening along the utility pockets for servicing of the burners of each of the group of burners. Telescoping guide assure unimpeded movement of the burner carrier between the operative and inoperative positions of the burner associated therewith.