US2974397A

US2974397A - Roll supporting means

Info

Publication number: US2974397A
Application number: US724018A
Authority: US
Inventors: John C Bongiovanni
Original assignee: Osborn Manufacturing Corp
Current assignee: Osborn Manufacturing Corp
Priority date: 1958-03-26
Filing date: 1958-03-26
Publication date: 1961-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 1978-03-14

Description

March 1961 J. c. BONGIOVANYNI 2,974,397

ROLL. SUPPORTING MEANS JOHN c; BONGIQOVANNI 0% f fimM ATTORNEYS United States ROLL SUPPORTING MEANS John C. BongiovannL-University Heights, Ohio, assignor to The Osborn Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Mar. 26, 1958, Ser. No. 724,018

11 Claims. (Cl. 29-81) filed June 7, 1955, for Method and Mechanism for Processing Elongated Metal Articles, now Patent No. 2,937,431 issued May 24, 1960 and in my application Serial No. 666,375, filed June 18, 1957, for Strip Processing Mechanism, now Patent No. 2,913,809, issued Nov. 24, 1959, I disclose novel roll assemblies whereby a continuously traveling metal strip is adapted to be sharply flexed over a small diameter roll for the purpose of fracturing scale on such strip and also to regularize the strip and prepare it for subsequent power brushing operations. As illustrated and described in detail in my prior applications, the small diameter work roll, which may have a diameter of from about /2 inch to about 2% inches, for example, depending upon the work to be processed, is adapted to be supported by an appropriate back-up roll and opposed to a pair of cooperating larger rolls positioned relativelythereto to flex the metal strip over a substantial arcuate portion of the small roll periphery. The problem of journalling such small roll is consequently very much simplified and the roll supported against the heavy pressures imposed thereon.

l havefound that under certain conditions of use there may be an additional very substantial component of force exerted against the small work roll in the general direction of travel of the strip, and in my aforesaid application mounting a back-up roll somewhat oifset in the direction of travel of thestrip better to support the small work roll against this action. It is highly desirable, however, that the small work roll should be veryprecisely positioned relative-to the two opposed larger work rolls and should not be bodily displaced or bowed to any appreciable degree in the direction of travel of the work. It is accordingly an important object of the present invention to provide roll supporting means effective to maintain the desired position of the roll relative to other rolls of the assembly.

Still another object is to provide such roll supporting means which will be floating, that is, not mounted directly on the frame-of the machine or stand.

{ A further object is to provide such roll supporting means which may be arranged to brace the roll at intervals along its length.

f Another object is to provide such roll supporting means which may be mounted upon a back-up roll and maintained against rotation relative to the axis of such back-up rollby'engagement with other rolls of the assembly.

Other objects'of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention then comprises the features herein- Serial No. 666,375 I show and describe methods of claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. l is a semi-diagrammatic top plan view of a roll assembly including a small work roll and cooperating back-up rolls therefor, together with the supplemental support means of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section through the roll assembly, including the two opposed larger work rolls, and through one of my'new supplemental roll supporting means showing the manner in which the latter is mounted; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view of the lower roll assembly with the supplemental roll supporting means sectioned on the line 3-3 on Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to said drawing and especially Fig. 1 thereof, the small work roll 1 may be positioned by end bearings (not shown) and supported against a larger back-up roll 2 which is in turn cradled and supported by two considerably larger back-up rolls 3 and 4, these last-mentioned rolls being journalled in side frames 5 and 6 of an appropriate frame and power driven through drive means (not shown). A

As indicated in Fig. 2, a pair of much larger power driven work rolls 7 and 8 may be arranged relative to small work roll 1 to cause the sheet metal strip S traveling in the direction indicated by the arrow to conform to the arcuate surface of roll 1 and consequently to be sharply flexed thereover. It will be understood that such rolls 7 and 8 are arranged to ensure that the strip is thus wrapped over the small roll 1 and are not positioned relative thereto (and relative to the thickness of the metal strip being processed) to effect a rolling reduction in the thickness of such strip. Further reference maybe had to my aforesaid prior applications for other details of the mounting and operation of this roll assembly, the present invention being concerned as above indicated with supplemental roll supporting means of a novel type.

The back-up roll 2 immediately supporting the small work roll 1 will desirably be somewhat oifset in the direction of travel of the work in the manner indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, and this arrangement is of considerable benefit in resisting dislocation and deformation of the small work roll. To afford additional support, however, I mount one or more roll bracing means such as 9, 111 and 11 (Fig. 1) in corresponding circumferential grooves 12 in back-up roll 2, such devices entirely encircling such roll and being split into two portions joined other side in order better to resist dislodgment or distorafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the tion of the small work roll by the traveling strip. The

race device 9 is contoured normally to avoid contact with the strip where the latter is wrapped about work rolls 7, 8 and 1 but includes extended portions adapted to fit within

circumferential grooves

17 and 18 in large back-up rolls 4 and 3 respectively, closely fitting and conforming to the circular bottoms of such grooves.

It will at once be apparent that the support device or devices such as 9 are held in predetermined axial position by seating in the

grooves

12, 17 and 18. Provision of such grooves, moreover, permits such brace means to be made thicker than would otherwise be possible if grooves were provided only in the larger back-up rolls V 3 3 and 4, for example, or only in intermediate back-up roll 2. The device fits precisely in such grooves to afford substantially solid support for the small work roll 1 through to the large back-up rolls 3 and 4, but particularly the latter, .while at the same time such rolls are able to turn with a minimum of friction relative to the support. The latter engages sufiicient portions of the peripheries of large back-up rolls 3 and 4 to provide a large bearing seat and thereby to distribute the pressures tending to rotate the support about the axis of intermediate back-up roll 2.

It will be appreciated, of course, that my new support means does not require the provision of any grooves in the small work roll itself which would not only seriously weaken such roll but would mar the surface of the traveling strip. While only the immediate back-up roll 2 need be grooved to receive the roll bracing means or shoe 9, it is preferred also to groove the larger backup rolls 3 and 4 to avoid the necessity of providing an unduly deep groove in roll 2. Various back-up roll arrangements may be employed in addition to the one illustrated by way of example, and reference may be had to my aforesaid co-pending applications for certain other suitable roll arrangements. It will ordinarily be desired to provide one brace or shoe midway of the length of the elongated small diameter work roll 1, and additional braces may be provided at uniformly spaced intervals as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The outer surface of the shoe may desirably be bevelled and contoured to facilitate threading of the strip S as well as ensuring smooth travel of the same during operation of the machine.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated and described, I have provided a roll assembly for processing continuously traveling metal strip and the like having an elongated small diameter work roll, a first back-up roll offset in the direction of travel of the strip and two larger back-up rolls cradling the first back-up roll. All three of such back-up rolls have circumferential grooves therein in the same'radial plane with a shoe fitting in the groove in the first back-up roll and completely encircling the same, portions of such shoe also fitting substantial arcuate portions of the grooves in the larger back-up rolls 3 and 4 effective to prevent rotation of the shoe about the axis of the first back-up roll 2. A groove 15 is provided in the outer surface of the shoe receiving and fitting the small diameter work roll 1 to brace the latter.

By way of further example, I have found that when processing steel strip approximately .100 inch thick, the small work roll 1 may desirably have a diameter of 1 inch. When such steel strip has a width of, for example, 48 inches or 92 inches, it is important to support this small work roll against deformation and dislocation. The braces or shoes of this invention in effect constitute bearings for the small work roll located where needed but without interfering in any way with the operation of the roll. These shoes or bearings may ordinarily be of bronze.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In a roll assembly for processing continuously traveling metal strip and the like comprising an elongated small diameter work roll, a first back-up roll therefor offset in the direction of travel of such strip, and two larger back-up rolls cradling said first back-up roll; all three of said back-up rolls having circumferential grooves therein in the same radial plane, a shoe fitting in such groove in said first back-up roll and completely encircling the same, portions of said shoe fitting substantial arcuate portions of such grooves in said larger back-up rolls effective to prevent rotation of said shoe about the axis of said first back-up roll, and a groove in the outer surface of said shoe receiving and fitting said small diameter work roll to brace the latter.

2. The roll assembly of claim 1, wherein the side of said groove in said shoe in the direction of strip travel is higher than the other side of said groove.

3. The roll assembly of claim 1, wherein said shoe is made in two segments fitted about said first back-up roll and secured together.

4. The roll assembly of claim 1, wherein the surface of said shoe toward said two larger work'rolls is spaced from the latter and contoured to guide such strip through the pass.

5. In a roll assembly for processing continuously traveling metal strip and the like comprising an elongated small diameter work roll, a first back-up roll therefor olfset in the direction of travel of such strip and a second back-up roll engaging said first back-up roll; each said back-up roll having a circumferential groove therein in the same radial plane, and a shoe fitting in such groove in said first back-up roll and completely encircling the same, a portion of said shoe fitting a substantial arcuate portion of such groove in said second back-up roll, an outer surface portion of said shoe generally opposite to the said portion of said shoe fitting such groove in said second back-up roll being formed to engage and support an arcuate portion of said small work roll.

6. In a roll assembly for processing continuously traveling metal strip and the like comprising an elongated small diameter work roll, a first back-up roll therefor, and a second back-up roll engaging said first backup roll; said first back-up roll having a circumferential groove therein, and a shoe fitting in such groove having a portion fitting a substantial arcuate portion of said second back-up roll to brace said shoe against rotation about the axis of said first back-up roll, the outer surface of said shoe being formed to engage and support an arcuate portion of said small work roll.

7. In a roll assembly for processing continuously traveling metal strip and the like comprising an elongated small diameter work roll, and a back-up roll therefor; said back-up roll having a circumferential groove therein, a shoe fitting in such groove, support means bracing said shoe against rotation about the axis of said back-up roll, the outer surface of said shoe being formed to engage and support an arcuate portion of small work roll.

8. The roll assembly of claim 7, wherein said shoe is arranged thus to support said small work roll against displacement in the direction of travel of such strip.

9. In a roll assembly for processing continuously traveling metal strip and the like comprising an elongated small diameter work roll, and a back-up roll therefor directly engaging said roll; arcuate bearing means for said small work roll spaced from the respective ends thereof, said bearing means being directly supported against said back-up roll and leaving a portion of the periphery of said small work roll unobstructed, said arcuate bearing means having a concave arcuate surface engaging and fitting another portion of the periphery of said small work roll.

10. In a roll assembly for processing continuously traveling metal strip and the like, including spaced side frames, a back-up roll having its respective ends journalled in said frames, and a work roll I f small diameter relative to said back-up roll mounted for support against the latter; a circumferential groove in said back-up roll intermediate said side frames, bearing means in said groove having a bearing surface engaging said small diameter work roll in a region offset from the region of engagement of said work roll and said back-up roll, and means engaging said bearing means effective to prevent rotation of the latter.

5 11. The roll assembly of claim 10, wherein said bear- 2,004,596 ing means encircles said back-up roll. 2,273,122 2,776,586 Referepces Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 419 426 1,892,933 Ooryell Jan. 3, 19 33 171782 1,905,129 Biggert et a1. Apr. 25, 1933 6 Biggert June 11, 1935 Maussnest Feb. 17, 1942 Sendzimir Jan. 8, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Nov. 12, 1934 Germany Aug. 2, 1956