1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to rod rolling mills where the hot rolled product is formed into a helical series of rings that are subjected to controlled cooling while being transported in an overlapping pattern on a conveyor. The present invention is concerned in particular with an improved apparatus and method for receiving the rings as they free fall from the delivery end of the conveyor and for gathering the rings into cylindrical coils.
2. Description of Related Art
In the coil forming apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,873 (Shore et al), support for the coil being formed from the free falling rings is initially provided by an upper coil plate assembly, and then by a lower coil plate assembly onto which the growing coil is transferred as the coil forming process continues to its conclusion. The two coil plate assemblies are operable in concert to allow formation of the coil in a so called “stepless” manner, i.e., without abruptly dropping packets of the rings. However, the advantage of doing so is largely offset by significant drawbacks, not the least of which is the unduly complicated and expensive system for supporting, vertically adjusting and coordinating the movement of the two coil plate assemblies.
Broadly stated, embodiments of the present invention avoid the above described drawbacks by providing an improved apparatus and method for supporting and vertically adjusting the coil plate assemblies. Compared to the apparatus disclosed in the above-referenced Shore et al. patent, embodiments of the present invention are less expensive, more compact and easier to operate and control.
In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the apparatus comprises a vertically disposed mandrel having an upper end positioned for encirclement by the free falling rings. A vertically disposed support column is positioned adjacent to the mandrel, and upper and lower coil plate assemblies are carried by and vertically adjustable on the support column. A drive system vertically adjusts the coil plate assemblies in a descending manner in which the free falling rings encircling the mandrel are initially accumulated on the upper coil plate assembly before being transferred onto the lower coil plate assembly.
The drive system preferably comprises a rack extending vertically along the length of the support column. Pinions carried by the coil plate assemblies are in meshed relationship with the rack, and motors carried by the coil plate assemblies drive the pinions.
The support surface of the lower coil plate assembly is preferably interrupted by gaps through which the upper coil plate assembly may be lowered to effect the transfer of initially accumulated rings from the upper coil plate assembly onto the lower coil plate assembly.
Advantageously, during transfer of the initially accumulating rings from the upper coil plate assembly onto the lower coil plate assembly, the drive system may be operated to simultaneously lower both coil plate assemblies at different speeds selected to ensure that the transfer occurs smoothly.
Preferably, each coil plate assembly includes multiple segments in the form of arms that may be adjusted between closed positions enclosing the mandrel and in the path of the free falling rings, and open positions remote from the mandrel and out of said path.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The components described hereinafter as making up the various embodiments are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many suitable components that would perform the same or a similar function as well as the materials described herein are intended to be embraced within the scope of embodiments of the present invention.
Referring now to the figures, when like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the view, embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail.
With reference initially to
The upper end 10a of the mandrel 10 projects upwardly into a reforming chamber 14, and is positioned for encirclement by rings “R” free falling from the delivery end of a conveyor 16.
A vertically disposed support column 18 is positioned adjacent to the mandrel 10. Upper and lower coil plate assemblies 20, 22 are carried by and vertically adjustable on the support column 18. As can best be seen by a reference to
The upper coil plate assembly 20 is vertically adjustable by means of a drive system comprising a gear rack 28 extending vertically along the support column 18. A pinion 30 is in meshed relationship with the rack 28. Pinion 30 is carried on a shaft 32 driven by a motor 34 or the like.
As shown in
Again, as shown in
As depicted in
As can be seen by additional reference to
When the arms of both the upper and lower coil plate assemblies are closed, the fingers 40 of the upper coil plate assembly 20 are aligned with the gaps 50 of the lower coil assembly 22, and the pedestals 48 of the lower coil plate assembly are aligned with the gaps 42 of the upper coil plate assembly 20.
At the lower end of each mandrel stem 10b, 10b′, the base 12 is provided with pedestals 52 separated by gaps (identified by the reference numeral 54 in
The operation of the apparatus in the course of a typical coil forming operation will now be described with reference to
At the stage depicted in
At the stage shown in
In
At this junction, a mechanism 56 of known design is activated to support the upper end 10a of the mandrel, allowing the mandrel stem 10b to be retracted to an extent sufficient to accommodate rotation of the base 12 about axis A.
At the stage shown in
While exemplary embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, modifications, additions and deletions may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and its equivalents, as set forth in the following claims.
This application claims benefit, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/731,115, filed Nov. 29, 2012, the entire content and substance of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61731115 | Nov 2012 | US |