GB2035469A - Detachable bearing housings for rolling machines - Google Patents

Abstract

A pair of bearing assemblies for supporting the ends of a roll shaft in a rolling machine, each such bearing assembly comprising an upper bearing housing 13 detachably secured by means of screws 18 to a lower bearing housing 14 which is itself detachably secured to a side frame 10 of the rolling machine by means of screws 21, with the lower bearing housing 14 being accommodated in a substantially semiconductor recess 12 in the side frame 10. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in rolling machines This invention relates to rolling machines in which metal sheet or stock is formed to shape, or is straightened, or has some operation performed upon it as it is passed between a pair of co-operating rolls or is passed through more than one pair of co-operating rolls. The two co-operating rolls of a pair are known collectively as a pass and at their ends the roll shafts are mounted in bearings in the machine frame in such manner that the roll shafts can be freed from the bearings when it is desired to change rolls or remove rolls for maintenance work.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of the bearings in a roll pass to enable roll shafts to be removed more easily.

According to the invention there is provided in or for a rolling machine two bearing assemblies, one for each pair of ends of the roll shafts of a pass, each bearing assembly comprising an upper bearing housing and a lower bearing housing, the upper housing being detachably secured to the lower housing and the lower housing having means whereby it can be detachably secured in or on the main frame of the rolling machine.

Thus, by disconnecting the lower bearing housing from the frame of the machine at each end of the pass the whole assembly of upper and lower housings at each end can be removed from the machine and the upper housings can then be disconnected from their associated lower housings away from the machine. A complete pass of rolls can be removed from a machine and replaced by another complete pass of a different form without having to do any actual disconnecting of the roll shafts from the bearing housings and reassembling fresh roll shafts in bearing housings as all this work can be done away from the machine and the actual change-over can be done relatively quickly so as to reduce to a minimum the amount of time that the machine is inoperative.

Also, if for any reason, it is required to remove only the upper roll of a pass, then the upper bearing housing at each end can be removed from its associated lower housing without disturbing the position of the lower housing in the machine frame.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an elevation looking at one end of a roll pass in position in a rolling machine and Figure 2 is a section on the vertical centre line of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, part of the one side frame of a rolling machine is shown at 10 and this supports one end of a roll pass, the other end being supported in a similar side frame parallel to the side frame 10. At the position of the end of the roll shaft the side frame 10 has an upper horizontal edge 11 and a substantially semi-circular recess 12 which accommodates the lower part of the bearing housing assembly hereinafter described.

The bearing housing assembly at each end of the pass comprises an upper bearing housing 13 and a lower bearing housing 14, the upper housing 13 having projecting flanges 16 at each side and being mounted at its lower part in a rectangular recess 15 in the upper face 17 of the lower bearing housing.

The upper housing 13 is detachably held in place by appropriate screws 18 and accommodates a bearing for the end of the upper roll shaft 19.

The lower bearing housing 14 accommodates a bearing for the end of the lower roll shaft 20 and is secured to the upper edge 11 of the machine frame by cap screws 21 passing through the flanges 22 of the housing 14.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that the upper and lower bearing housings 13 and 14 respectively form a unitary assembly which by release of the cap screws 21 can be removed from the machine frame 10, the upper housing 13 being subsequently separated from the lower housing 14 by removing the cap screws 18.

1. A bearing assembly for supporting the end of a roll shaft in a rolling machine, said assembly comprising an upper bearing housing and a lower bearing housing, the upper housing being detachably secured to the lower housing and the lower housing having means whereby it can be detachably secured in or on the main frame of a rolling machine.

2. A bearing assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the upper housing has, at its lower part, a flange projecting from each side and the lower housing has a recess in its upper face, the lower face of the upper housing and of each flange being engaged in said recess and the upper housing being secured therein by means of screws or bolts passing through said flanges.

3. A bearing assembly according to Claim 2, wherein the lower housing has, at its upper part, a flange projecting from each side and securing screws or bolts passing through said flanges of the lower housing to secure it to the frame of a rolling machine.

4. A rolling machine having a pair of bearing assemblies, each assembly being constructed according to Claim 3, and the lower housing of each assembly being accommodated in a substantially semi-circular recess in an associated side frame of the machine.

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

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in rolling machines This invention relates to rolling machines in which metal sheet or stock is formed to shape, or is straightened, or has some operation performed upon it as it is passed between a pair of co-operating rolls or is passed through more than one pair of co-operating rolls. The two co-operating rolls of a pair are known collectively as a pass and at their ends the roll shafts are mounted in bearings in the machine frame in such manner that the roll shafts can be freed from the bearings when it is desired to change rolls or remove rolls for maintenance work. The object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of the bearings in a roll pass to enable roll shafts to be removed more easily. According to the invention there is provided in or for a rolling machine two bearing assemblies, one for each pair of ends of the roll shafts of a pass, each bearing assembly comprising an upper bearing housing and a lower bearing housing, the upper housing being detachably secured to the lower housing and the lower housing having means whereby it can be detachably secured in or on the main frame of the rolling machine. Thus, by disconnecting the lower bearing housing from the frame of the machine at each end of the pass the whole assembly of upper and lower housings at each end can be removed from the machine and the upper housings can then be disconnected from their associated lower housings away from the machine. A complete pass of rolls can be removed from a machine and replaced by another complete pass of a different form without having to do any actual disconnecting of the roll shafts from the bearing housings and reassembling fresh roll shafts in bearing housings as all this work can be done away from the machine and the actual change-over can be done relatively quickly so as to reduce to a minimum the amount of time that the machine is inoperative. Also, if for any reason, it is required to remove only the upper roll of a pass, then the upper bearing housing at each end can be removed from its associated lower housing without disturbing the position of the lower housing in the machine frame. The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an elevation looking at one end of a roll pass in position in a rolling machine and Figure 2 is a section on the vertical centre line of Fig. 1. Referring now to the drawings, part of the one side frame of a rolling machine is shown at 10 and this supports one end of a roll pass, the other end being supported in a similar side frame parallel to the side frame 10. At the position of the end of the roll shaft the side frame 10 has an upper horizontal edge 11 and a substantially semi-circular recess 12 which accommodates the lower part of the bearing housing assembly hereinafter described. The bearing housing assembly at each end of the pass comprises an upper bearing housing 13 and a lower bearing housing 14, the upper housing 13 having projecting flanges 16 at each side and being mounted at its lower part in a rectangular recess 15 in the upper face 17 of the lower bearing housing. The upper housing 13 is detachably held in place by appropriate screws 18 and accommodates a bearing for the end of the upper roll shaft 19. The lower bearing housing 14 accommodates a bearing for the end of the lower roll shaft 20 and is secured to the upper edge 11 of the machine frame by cap screws 21 passing through the flanges 22 of the housing 14. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the upper and lower bearing housings 13 and 14 respectively form a unitary assembly which by release of the cap screws 21 can be removed from the machine frame 10, the upper housing 13 being subsequently separated from the lower housing 14 by removing the cap screws 18. CLAIMS

1. A bearing assembly for supporting the end of a roll shaft in a rolling machine, said assembly comprising an upper bearing housing and a lower bearing housing, the upper housing being detachably secured to the lower housing and the lower housing having means whereby it can be detachably secured in or on the main frame of a rolling machine.

2. A bearing assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the upper housing has, at its lower part, a flange projecting from each side and the lower housing has a recess in its upper face, the lower face of the upper housing and of each flange being engaged in said recess and the upper housing being secured therein by means of screws or bolts passing through said flanges.

3. A bearing assembly according to Claim 2, wherein the lower housing has, at its upper part, a flange projecting from each side and securing screws or bolts passing through said flanges of the lower housing to secure it to the frame of a rolling machine.

4. A rolling machine having a pair of bearing assemblies, each assembly being constructed according to Claim 3, and the lower housing of each assembly being accommodated in a substantially semi-circular recess in an associated side frame of the machine.

5. A bearing assembly for supporting the end of a roll shaft in a rolling machine substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

6. A rolling machine substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.