GB895731A - Improvements in coupling spindles for connecting rolling-mill rolls with the pinionsdriving them - Google Patents

Abstract

895,731. Shaft couplings; universal joints. SCHLOEMANN A.G. Aug. 31, 1960 [Sept. 17, 1959], No. 29976/60. Class 80 (2). A rolling mill having its rollers 4 connected to drive spindles 2, 3 in a pinion housing 1 by a pair of shafts each of which has a universal joint at either end, has couplings between the drive spindles and the rollers consisting of interengaging teeth 31, 32, Figs. 1, 2, or 46, 50, Figs. 4, 5, held in engagement by permanent magnets 33, 51, respectively. The teeth 31, 32 are formed in a coupling muff 27 and a frustoconical shaped connector 22, and have pointed tips to facilitate their engagement, the permanent magnet 33 being carried by the coupling muff. The connector 22 contains the partspherical end 20 of a roller spindle 7, having arcuate teeth 21 meshing corresponding teeth within the connector so as to form in combination with bearing rings 23 a universal joint. As shown, the spindle 7 is splined for axial movement relatively to a roller 11, the latter being formed with a part-spherical end 13 having arcuate teeth 14 meshing corresponding teeth within a coupling muff 16 fast on the driving spindle 2. Rightwards axial movement of the spindle 7 within the roller 11 is limited by a spring 52. The coupling muff 29 and its driving spindle 3 are mounted in a support 5 which can be slidden leftwards of Fig. 1 axially to such a position that an end disc 10 fast on the spindle 7 engages the bottom of an axially splined recess in the roller 11, further leftward movement of the support 5 overcoming the force of attraction between the permanent magnet 31 and the adjacent connector 22 to disengage the teeth 31, 32. The roller 11 may then be removed and replaced by another. In a modified construction, the shaft 3, Fig. 4, is formed with a generally conical end 49 which can be passed into a part-spherical universal joint element 38 connected for rotation therewith by teeth 46, 50, Fig. 5, held in engagement by permanent magnets 51. The part-spherical universal joint element 38 is formed with arcuate teeth 39 meshing corresponding teeth within a coupling muff 35 at the end of the spindle 7, the teeth being kept in engagement by the attraction of a permanent magnet 35 at the base of the coupling muff. A seal 40 biased by a spring 42 closes the recess of the muff. As a modification, forms of universal joints having relatively axially movable parts may be employed instead of the splined shaft construction shown.