GB2124949A

GB2124949A - Apparatus for supporting opposing guide-shoes in a piercing or elongating rolling mill

Info

Publication number: GB2124949A
Application number: GB08317472A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Emanuele Gancia; Carlo Rigamonti
Original assignee: Innocenti Santeustacchio SpA; Innse Innocenti Santeustacchio SpA
Current assignee: SMS Group SpA
Priority date: 1982-07-22
Filing date: 1983-06-28
Publication date: 1984-02-29
Also published as: GB2124949B; DE8320978U1; GB8317472D0; JPH0217681Y2; FR2530504A3; FR2530504B3; IT8222493V0; JPS5977501U

Abstract

Each operative guide-shoe 22 is fixed to a respective guide shoe carrier 28 mounted on a rig supported by the rolling mill stand for movement towards and away from the rolling axis of the mill. In order to facilitate the replacement of worn guide-shoes 22 each guide-shoe carrier 28 mounts a second guide-shoe 32 and is rotatably mounted on its associated rig such as to enable the second guide-shoe 32 to be rotated into the position previously occupied by the first guide-shoe. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for supporting opposing guide-shoes in a piercing or elongating rolling mill The present invention relates to apparatus for supporting the opposing guide-shoes in a piercing or elongating rolling mill provided with superimposed rolls rotatably mounted within a stand and defining between them a horizontal rolling axis, each guideshoe being fixed to a respective guide-shoe carrier mounted on a movable rig supported by the stand for movement towards and away from the rolling axis.

As is known, the guide-shoes are members which face one another and are intended to retain a billet in position between the rolls of the rolling mill.

It is also known that the guide-shoes must be periodically replaced because of the considerable wear to which they are subject in carrying out their function.

When it is necessary to replace the guide-shoes their respective rigs are moved away from the rolling axis until the guide-shoes with their corresponding guide-shoe carriers, are outside the stand and are readily accessible for removal of the guide-shoes and their replacement by new ones.

Although advantageous from various points of view and basically serving the required purpose, this method is somewhat laborious and takes a not inconsiderable amount of time, during which the stand is inoperative.

The object of the present invention is to provide support apparatus of the type specified which has structural and functional characteristics such as to overcome the said disadvantage.

This object is achieved by apparatus of the type specified which is characterised in that each guideshoe carrier is provided with a pivot by means of which it can be rotated relative to the said rig, and in that a second guide-shoe is fixed to each guide-shoe carrier on the side opposite the first with respect to the pivot.

Further characteristics and advantages of the apparatus according to the present invention will emerge from the description of a preferred embodiment given below by way of non-limiting exampie with reference to the appended drawings, in which: Figure lisa plan view of a detail of a piercing or elongating rolling mill incorporating apparatus according to the invention, Figure 2 is a partially sectioned view of the detail of Figure 1 taken on the line ll-ll.

With reference to the appended drawings, a rolling mill which is generally indicated 1 and may equally well be of the piercing or elongating type, includes two superimposed rolls 2 and 3 rotatably mounted within a stand 4. The rolls 2 and 3 define between them a horizontal rolling axis indicated X-X, along which passes a billet 5 intended to be pierced or elongated as required.

On opposite sides of the stand 4 the rolling mill 1 includes two pieces of apparatus according to the present invention, both indicated 6 and located opposite each other.

Each apparatus 6 includes an arm structure 7 which extends parallel to the rolling axis X-X, outside the stand 4.

The arm structure 7 is connected at one end 8 to a support member 9 of the stand 4 by means of a pivot structure 10 having a pivot pin 11 with its axis of rotation perpendicular to the rolling axis X-X and, at its opposite end 12 to an adjustable support member 13 fixed to a support member 14 of the stand.

Advantageously, the adjustable support member 13 includes a mechanical jack 15, of known type, driven by a geared motor 16 fixed to the member 14.

The arm structure 7 is constituted by a pair of spaced beams 17 and 18 parallel to each other and centrally provided with respective lugs 19, 20 which extend towards the rolling axis X-X.

The lugs 19 and 20 togetherform a support 21 for supporting a respective guide-shoe 22.

An opposing guide-shoe 22 is supported by an opposing support 21 belonging to the opposing apparatus 6.

These guide-shoes 22 retain the billet 5 in correspondence with the rolls 2 and 3 of the rolling mill along the rolling axis X-X.

Each fixed guide-shoe 22 is mounted on a guideshoe carrier 28 which is provided with a pivot 29 located in a pivot seat 26 provided in the support 21.

References 30 and 31 respectively indicate a mechanical jack, driven via a gear box of known type, and a cylinder, the respective operative ends of both being engaged with a part of the guide-shoe carrier 28; the jack 30 and the cylinder 31 respectively constitute members for adjusting the angular position and for locking the guide-shoe carrier itself.

A second fixed guide-shoe 32 is mounted on each guide-shoe carrier 28 in a position diametrally opposite the first guide-shoe 22 relative to the pivot 29. Drive members 27 are provided for angularly displacing the guide-shoe carrier 28 to bring the second guide-shoe 32 into the position of the first guide-shoe 22.

A hydraulic cylinder, indicated 33, is provided for rotating each arm structure 7 about the pivot 10, the cylinder extending between the arm structure 7 and the stand 4.

With the guide-shoe support apparatus according to the invention the replacement of the guide-shoes is carried out in the manner described below.

For this purpose it is sufficient to free the end 12 of the arm structure 7 from the support member 13, to rotate the arm structure 7 about the pivot 10 by means of the corresponding cylinder 33 thereby to remove the guide-shoe from the stand, and then after the jack 30 and its opposing cylinder 31 have been withdrawn, to rotate the guide-shoe carrier 28 through 180 about the pivot 29 using the drive means 27.

The adjustment and locking of the guide-shoe carrier is then effected by means of the jack 30 and the cylinder 31 respectively.

Finally the arm structure 7 is brought back into its initial position and realigned by means of the support member 13.

The apparatus according to the invention achieves the important advantage of permitting the rapid substitution of worn guide-shoes with new shoes, thereby minimizing the time during which the rolling mill is inoperative.

Once the replacement has been effected and as the rolling mill returns to operation, the worn guide shoes 22 are removed from their respective guide shoe carries 28 and other new ones are mounted in their place.

Claims

1. Apparatus for supporting the opposing guide shoes in a piercing or elongating rolling mill with superimposed rolls rotatably mounted within a stand and defining between them a horizontal rolling axis, each guide-shoes being fixed to a respective guide-shoe carrier mounted on a rig supported by the stand for movement towards and away from the rolling axis, characterised in that each guide-shoe carrier is provided with a pivot by means of which it can be rotated relative to the rig, and in that a second guide-shoe is fixed to each guide-shoe carrier, on the side opposite the first with respect to the pin.

2. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

3. A mill including apparatus as claimed in either Claim 1 or Claim 2.