GB1585235A

GB1585235A - Clamping apparatus for a strip rolling mill

Info

Publication number: GB1585235A
Application number: GB4681577A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Schloemann Siemag AG
Current assignee: SMS Siemag AG
Priority date: 1976-11-17
Filing date: 1977-11-10
Publication date: 1981-02-25
Also published as: IT1087488B; JPS61182608U; DE2652307A1; JPS5363257A; FR2371247A1; FR2371247B3

Description

(54) CLAMPING APPARATUS FOR A STRIP ROLLING MILL (71) We, SCHLOEMANN-SIEMAG AKTI ENGESELLSCHAFT, of 4000 Dusseldorf 1, Steinstrasse 13, Federal Republic of Germany, a joint stock company organised tinder the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be grånted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be- particularly described in and by the' following statement: The present invention relates to a clamping apparatus for a strip rolling mill.

According to the preseiit invention there is provided a clamping apparatus for a strip rolling mill, comprising clamping means arranged in an upper plane and a lower plane, the clamping means in each plane comprising an inner and an outer, clamping member arranged on each side of a vertical plane of symmetry, threaded shaft means rotatable to move the outer clamping members towards or away from each other, and toothed rack means extending parallel to the threaded shaft means and so connected to the clamping members that on rotation of the threaded shaft riieans the inner clamping members are caused by pinions engaging the rack means to move half the distance moved by the outer clamping members.

Preferably the apparatus comprises coupling means to' constrain the clamping means in the upper plane to move in unison with the clamping means in the lower plane.

Preferably the threaded shaft means comprises two shafts one having a left hand thread and the other having a right hand thread.

Preferably the apparatus comprises means to vary the spacing between corresponding groups of the clamping members in the upper and lower plane.

Preferably the rack means comprises at one side of the plane of symmetry two spaced fi'?st racks each provided' with teeth: along one side thereof, one end of both racks being fixed between the outer clamping member and a carrier means associated with the outer clamping member and each rack meshing with a respective pinion rotatably mounted to the' inner' clamping member.

Preferably the rack means further com- prises at the' said One side of the plane ofsym- metry two spaced second racks each provided with teeth along one side" thereof, one end' of both second racks being fixed between a central clamping member disposed at the plane of symmetry and carrier means associated with the central clamping member and each second rack meshing with 9 respective one Of the pinions.

Preferably the rack meansfurther comprises at the other side of the plane of symmetry two other spaced third racks each provided with teeth along one side thereof, one, end of both third racks being fixed between the central clamping member and its associ- ated carrier means and each third rack meshing with a respective pinion rotatably mounted to the inner clamping member, there being a fourth rack provided with teeth on mutually opposite sides and fixed between the outer clamping member and carrier: means associated with the' outer clamping member, the teeth on each side of the' fourth rack meshing with a respective one of the pinions.

An embodiment of the present invention will nOw be more particularly described b y way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. f shows a side elevation of a p-artial section of a clamping apparatus.

Fig. 2 shows a partial section along the line II-II in Fig. I, and Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the clamping apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig 1 shOws a frame 1, in which two lower threaded spindles 2 are' journalikd beside each other perpendicularly to the running direction of the band and are drivable through common (not illustrated)' driving means. As shown in Fig. 2, a spindle nut 3, which is constructed as an entraining member for an- outer clamping member' 4 and guide members 5 of the band press, is provided on the threaded spindle 2'.- Fixed clamping members 6 are provided centrally in the frame 1.Inner clamping members 7 are arranged between the'clam'ping' members 4 and the clamping members 6 to both sides of clamping members 6 and at equal mean spacings. The guide members 5 as well as the clamping members 4, 6 and 7 are provided with exchangeable wear members 8.

A toothed rack 10, which is provided with teeth on one side and which meshes with a pinion 11 freely journalled in a carrier bar 12 of the clamping bar 7, is fixed between the outer clamping member 4 shown in Fig. 2 and an outer carrier member 9 thereof. A rack 14, which likewise meshes with the pinion 11, is fixed between the centrally arranged clamping member 6 and a carrier member 13 thereof. When the threaded spindle 2 is driven, the clamping member 4 and the toothed rack 10 are displaced, for example out of the position shown by continuous lines in Fig. 2 into the position shown in dashed lines.The inner clamping member 7 is displaced by the toothed rack 10, the pinion 11 and the toothed rack 14 by half the distance moved by the outer clamping member 4 so that in an end position, in which an opening is provided for the smallest possible band width of the stock to be rolled, the carrier members 9, 12 and 13 and the clamping members 4, 6 and 7 fastened to the carrier members lie beside one another by the wear pieces 8 and form a guide plane.

To avoid wedging the toothed racks 10 and 14 on displacement of the clamping members, toothed racks 10a and 14a as well as a pinion 1 lea are provided in mirror image to a notional axis of symmetry 15, as is shown in Fig. 3.

In the same manner as the clamping members 4 and 7 of that part of apparatus shown in Fig. 2 are pushed towards the central clamping members 6, that part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 and symmetrical with Fig. 2 is simultaneously pushed together by means of racks 16 and 17 and pinions 18. The rack 16 is, however, arranged between the outer clamping member 4 and the carrier member 9 thereof in the axis of symmetry 15 and is provided on both sides with teeth, which mesh with a respective one of two pinions 18 in the inner carrier member 12. Racks 17 are fixed between the clamping member 6 and the carrier member 13 thereof parallel to a rack 16 and likewise mesh with the pinions 18.

The upper part of the band press is also so constructed that upper clamping members are movable together by means of further, upper tooothed racks 14, 15, 16 and 17 and pinions 11 and 18 in a similar manner to the lower clamping members (of. Fig. 1). The upper part differs from the lower part, however, in that the upper threaded spindles (not shown), are journalled in a press frame 19 and are drivingly connected through, for example, bevel gear means with the lower threaded spindles 2.

An advantage of the above described exemplary embodiment is that it is relatively simple to manufacture, is robust and functions efficiently without expensive maintenance even in a rough rolling operation.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS 1. A clamping apparatus for a strip rolling mill, comprising clamping means arranged in an upper plane and a lower plane, the clamping means in each plane comprising an inner and an outer clamping member arranged on each side of a vertical plane of symmetry, threaded shaft means rotatable to move the outer clamping members towards or away from each other, and toothed rack means extending parallel to the threaded shaft means so connected to the clamping members that on rotation of the threaded shaft means the inner clamping members are caused by pinions engaging the rack means to move half the distance moved by the outer clamping members.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising coupling means to constrain the clamping means in the upper plane to move in unison with the clamping means in the lower plane.

3. An apparatus as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the threaded shaft means comprises two shafts, one having a left hand thread and the other having a right hand thread.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising means to vary the spacing between corresponding groups of the clamping means in the upper and lower planes.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rack means comprises at one side of the plane of symmetry two spaced first racks each provided with teeth along one side thereof, one end of both racks being fixed between the outer clamping member and a carrier means associated with the outer clamping member and each rack meshing with a respective pinion rotatably mounted to the inner clamping member.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the rack means further comprises at the said one side of the plane of symmetry two spaced second racks each provided with teeth along one side thereof, one end of both second racks being fixed between a central clamping member disposed at the plane of symmetry and carrier means associated with the central clamping member and each second rack meshing with a respective one of the pinions.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the rack means further comprises at the other side of the plane of symmetry two spaced third racks each provided with teeth along one side thereof, one end of both third

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. equal mean spacings. The guide members 5 as well as the clamping members 4, 6 and 7 are provided with exchangeable wear members 8. A toothed rack 10, which is provided with teeth on one side and which meshes with a pinion 11 freely journalled in a carrier bar 12 of the clamping bar 7, is fixed between the outer clamping member 4 shown in Fig. 2 and an outer carrier member 9 thereof. A rack 14, which likewise meshes with the pinion 11, is fixed between the centrally arranged clamping member 6 and a carrier member 13 thereof. When the threaded spindle 2 is driven, the clamping member 4 and the toothed rack 10 are displaced, for example out of the position shown by continuous lines in Fig. 2 into the position shown in dashed lines.The inner clamping member 7 is displaced by the toothed rack 10, the pinion 11 and the toothed rack 14 by half the distance moved by the outer clamping member 4 so that in an end position, in which an opening is provided for the smallest possible band width of the stock to be rolled, the carrier members 9, 12 and 13 and the clamping members 4, 6 and 7 fastened to the carrier members lie beside one another by the wear pieces 8 and form a guide plane. To avoid wedging the toothed racks 10 and 14 on displacement of the clamping members, toothed racks 10a and 14a as well as a pinion 1 lea are provided in mirror image to a notional axis of symmetry 15, as is shown in Fig. 3. In the same manner as the clamping members 4 and 7 of that part of apparatus shown in Fig. 2 are pushed towards the central clamping members 6, that part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 and symmetrical with Fig. 2 is simultaneously pushed together by means of racks 16 and 17 and pinions 18. The rack 16 is, however, arranged between the outer clamping member 4 and the carrier member 9 thereof in the axis of symmetry 15 and is provided on both sides with teeth, which mesh with a respective one of two pinions 18 in the inner carrier member 12. Racks 17 are fixed between the clamping member 6 and the carrier member 13 thereof parallel to a rack 16 and likewise mesh with the pinions 18. The upper part of the band press is also so constructed that upper clamping members are movable together by means of further, upper tooothed racks 14, 15, 16 and 17 and pinions 11 and 18 in a similar manner to the lower clamping members (of. Fig. 1). The upper part differs from the lower part, however, in that the upper threaded spindles (not shown), are journalled in a press frame 19 and are drivingly connected through, for example, bevel gear means with the lower threaded spindles 2. An advantage of the above described exemplary embodiment is that it is relatively simple to manufacture, is robust and functions efficiently without expensive maintenance even in a rough rolling operation. WHAT WE CLAIM IS

1. A clamping apparatus for a strip rolling mill, comprising clamping means arranged in an upper plane and a lower plane, the clamping means in each plane comprising an inner and an outer clamping member arranged on each side of a vertical plane of symmetry, threaded shaft means rotatable to move the outer clamping members towards or away from each other, and toothed rack means extending parallel to the threaded shaft means so connected to the clamping members that on rotation of the threaded shaft means the inner clamping members are caused by pinions engaging the rack means to move half the distance moved by the outer clamping members.

racks being fixed between the central clamping member and its associated carrier means and each third rack meshing with a respective pinion rotatably mounted to the inner clamping member, there being a fourth rack provided with teeth on mutually opposite sides and fixed between the outer clamping member and carrier means associated with the outer clamping member, the teeth on each side of the fourth rack meshing with a respective one of the pinions.

8. A clamping apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A strip rolling mill comprising a clamping apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.