1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to rolling mill laying heads employed to form hot rolled products into helical ring formations, and are concerned in particular with an improved tripper for engaging and toppling the rings onto a conveyor for transport in an overlapping pattern to a remote location.
2. Description of Related Art
In a conventional laying head, as shown at 10 in
The tripper 16 is flat, with a welded straight lip 16a positioned to engage the exiting rings. Experience has shown that as rolling speeds increase, the rings R end up making only point contact with the tripper lip 16a, leading to erratic tripping and non uniform distribution of the rings R on the conveyor 18.
Also, the tripper lip 16a is prone to rapid wear, requiring frequent and costly replacement of the entire tripper.
Broadly stated, embodiments of the present invention address the drawbacks of the prior art by providing an improved tripper with a plate and/or lip contoured to more reliably contact the rings, and with a modular construction allowing the lip to be readily replaced when worn, or when differently contoured shapes are required to handle the rings of different products.
In exemplary embodiments, the tripper comprises a ramp on which the rings exiting from the laying head are carried towards the conveyor. A lip projects upwardly from a front edge of the ramp. The lip is positioned to engage and topple the rings onto the conveyor. At least one of the ramp or the top edge of the lip is contoured to conform to the curvature of the rings.
In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the lip is replaceable and detachably connected to the ramp. In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the ramp has a top surface inclined upwardly towards the lip. The top surface may be contoured with a gradually widening and deepening depression leading to the lip.
Preferably, both the top surface of the ramp and the top edge of the lip are contoured to conform to the curvature of the rings.
These and other objects, 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, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the views, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.
With reference to
As with the conventional tripper shown in
With reference additionally to
At least one and preferably both the top surface 23 of the ramp 22 and a top edge 25 of the lip are contoured to conform to the curvature of the rings. Thus, the top surface 23 of the ramp may be provided with a gradually widening and deepening depression 26 leading to the lip 24, and the top edge 25 of the tip may have a complimentary concave curvature.
The contoured top surface 23 of the ramp 26 provides better support for the rings as they move into engagement with the lip 24. The curved top edge 25 of the lip creates larger surface contact with the rings, thereby improving tripping consistency and increased tip service life.
The lip 24 can be replaceable and detachably connected to the ramp 22. Thus, as shown for example in
While exemplary embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, modifications, additions and deletions can 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. 61/539,076, filed 26 Sep. 2011, the entire contents and substance of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
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Entry |
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PCT International Search Report mailed Jan. 8, 2013 corresponding to PCT International Application No. PCT/US2012/055710 filed Sep. 17, 2012 (12 pages). |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20130075229 A1 | Mar 2013 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61539076 | Sep 2011 | US |