Title of Invention

ROLLING MILL FINISHING SECTION AND A METHOD

Abstract A rolling mill finishing section for rolling long products such as bars, rods and the like, comprising: a finishing block and a reducing sizing mill arranged sequentially along a primary pass line; a secondary pass line departing from said primary pass line at an upstream junction preceding said finishing block, said secondary pass line bypassing said finishing block to rejoin said primary pass line at a downstream junction preceding said reducing sizing mill; and switch mechanisms at said junctions, said switch mechanisms being operable in a first mode to direct products along said primary pass line for rolling in both said finishing block andsaid reducing sizing mill, and being operable in a second mode to direct products initially along said secondary pass line to bypass said finishing block and then to return said products to said primary pass line for rolling in said reducing sizing mill.
Full Text FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970 [39 OF 1970]
PROVISIONAL/COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See Section 10]
"ROLLING MILL FINISHING SECTION AND A
METHOD"
MORGAN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, of Belmont Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, U.S.A.
The following specification particularly describes the nature of the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed :-


2OO0 GRANTED

6 MAR 2000
1 2-8-2005

The present invention relates to a rolling mill finishing section and a method.
Field of the invention
This invention relates generally to continuous rolling mills for rolling long products such as bars, rods and the like, and is concerned in particular with an improved layout for the finishing section of such mills.
Description of the prior art
As shown for example in U.S. Patent No. 5,325,697 (Shore et at.), the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference, it is known to roll product sequentially in finishing blocks and post finishing blocks (commonly referred to as "reducing sizing mills") arranged along a common primary pass line. Although this practice has many advantages which have resulted in its widespread commercial acceptance, one disadvantage stems from the inability to continue utilizing the reducing sizing mill while the upstream finishing block is being serviced or reconfigured to roll different product.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses this problem by providing a secondary' pass line which 5 diverges from me primary pass line at an upstream junction preceding the finishing block, and bypasses the finishing block, and then rejoins the primary pass line at a downstream junction preceding the reducing sizing mill. Switches at the upstream and downstream junctions are operable in one mode to direct products exclusively along the primary pass line for sequential rolling in both the finishing block and the reducing sizing mill. Alternatively, when the
10 finishing block is out of service for various reasons, e.g., when dummying individual stands, for normal maintenance, etc., the switches may be operated to divert products along the secondary pass line and around the finishing block for rolling solely in the reducing sizing mill. Optionally and preferably, at least one water cooling unit is shiftable between the primary and secondary rolling lines for cooling the products being directed to the reducing
15 sizing mill in both of the aforesaid operating modes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
20 The accompanying drawing is a schematic plan view showing two rolling mill finishing
sections in accordance with the present invention, one being arranged as a mirror image of the other.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Process sections that have already undergone rolling in upstream conventional roughing and intermediate mill sections (not shown) are directed along two parallel delivery paths 10 to 5 two rolling mill finishing sections 12A, 12B each being arranged in accordance with the present invention, with one being a mirror image of the other.
Each finishing section includes a finishing block 14, water cooling units 16, 18 and a reducing sizing mill 20 arranged along a primary pass line P1 aligned with a respective one of the delivery paths 10. The finishing block 14 includes a plurality of mechanically 10 interconnected roll stands driven by a common drive and configured and arranged to roll products in a twist-free manner. One such finishing block is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,577,405 (Shore et al.) the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.
The reducing sizing mill 20 may be a so-called "post finishing block" as described in U.S. Patent No. 5,325,697, where one or several light reduction round passes are preceded by 15 a heavy reduction oval-round pass sequence, with the time interval between passes being sufficiently brief to avoid abnormal grain growth in the products being rolled.
Each finishing mill section 12A, 12B is further provided with a secondary pass line P2
which departs from the primary pass line P1 at an upstream junction 22 preceding the finishing
block 14, and rejoins the primary pass line at a downstream junction 24 preceding the reducing
20 sizing mill 20. The intermediate portion of each secondary pass line P2 bypasses the respective
adjacent finishing block 14. Switch mechanisms S located at the junctions 22, 24 are operable
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in a first mode to direct products along the primary pass lines p1 for rolling in both the finishing blocks 14 and the reducing sizing mills 20. In a second operational mode, the switches S are operable to divert products from the primary pass lines P1 to the secondary pass lines P2 in order to bypass the finishing blocks 14 before returning to the primary pass lines for
rolling solely in the reducing sizing mills 20.
Optionally and preferably, the water cooling units 16 are shiftable laterally along tracks 26 by any conventional means, e.g., piston-cylinder units 28. When positioned on the primary pass lines P1 the water cooling units 16 are positioned to operate in concert with the
downstream water cooling units 18 to cool the products emerging from the finishing blocks 14 before they are subjected to continued rolling in the reducing sizing mills 20. When shifted to
the positions indicated at 16', the water cooling units lie on the secondary pass lines P2 where
they again operate to cool the products bypassing the finishing block before they are rolled in the reducing sizing mills.
Cobble and crop shear units 32 may be located between the downstream junctions 24 and the reducing sizing mills 20. Products emerging from the reducing sizing mills are directed to conventional controlled cooling and handling systems (not shown).
With the above described layout, in one operational mode, products can be rolled sequentially in the finishing blocks 14 and reducing sizing mills 20. In another operational mode, when the finishing blocks are out of service, larger diameter products can continue to be rolled in the reducing sizing mills 20. In either case, if desired, lower temperature
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theremomechanical rolling can be carried out in the reducing sizing mills by proper: positioning the water cooling units 16.





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1. A rolling mill finishing section for rolling long products such as bars, rods and the like, comprising:
a finishing block and a reducing sizing mill arranged sequentially along a primary pass
line;
a secondary pass line departing from said primary pass line at an upstream junction preceding said finishing block, said secondary pass line bypassing said finishing block to rejoin said primary pass line at a downstream junction preceding said reducing sizing mill; and
switch mechanisms at said junctions, said switch mechanisms being operable in a first mode to direct products along said primary pass line for rolling in both said finishing block and
said reducing sizing mill, and being operable in a second mode to direct products initially
along said secondary pass line to bypass said finishing block and then to return said products to
said primary pass line for rolling in said reducing sizing mill.

2. The rolling mill finishing section of claim 1 further comprising a water cooling unit located between said upstream and downstream junctions, and means for shifting said water cooling unit between said primary and secondary pass lines to cool products being rolled in each of said modes.
3. The rolling mill finishing section of claim 1 further comprising a cobble and crop shear unit located on said primary pass line between said downstream junction- and said reducing sizing mill.
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4. The rolling mill finishing section of claim 2 further comprising a second cooling unit on said primary rolling line at a location spaced from both said first mentioned water cooling unit and said downstream junction.
5. The rolling mill finishing section of claim 1 combined with a second identical

2 rolling mill finishing section, the said two finishing sections being arranged as mirror images
3 of each other.



6. A method of finish rolling long products such as bars, rods and the like,
comprising:
in a first operational mode, rolling said products through a finishing block and a reducing sizing mill arranged on a primary pass line; and
in a second operational mode, diverting said products from said primary pass line to a secondary pass line bypassing said finishing block and then back to said primary pass line for rolling in said reducing sizing mill.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising shifting a water cooling
unit between said primary and secondary pass lines to cool products being rolled in each of
said operational modes.


8

8. A rolling mill finishing section for rolling long products such as bars, rods and the like substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.



Dated this 6th day of March 2000.

[ B KOMBI OF REMFRY & SAGAR
ATTORNEY FOR THE APPLICANTS


9

8. A rolling mill finishing section for rolling long products such as bars, rods and the like substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.



Dated this 6th day of March 2000.

[ B KOMBI OF REMFRY & SAGAR
ATTORNEY FOR THE APPLICANTS

Documents:

189-MUM-2000-ABSRTACT(6-3-2000).pdf

189-mum-2000-abstract(granted)-(20-7-2007).pdf

189-MUM-2000-CANCELLED PAGES(2-8-2005).pdf

189-MUM-2000-CLAIMS(6-3-2000).pdf

189-mum-2000-claims(granted)-(20-7-2007).pdf

189-MUM-2000-CORRESPONDENCE(26-3-2010).pdf

189-MUM-2000-CORRESPONDENCE(30-7-2005).pdf

189-MUM-2000-CORRESPONDENCE(IPO)-(8-8-2007).pdf

189-MUM-2000-DESCRIPTION(COMPLETE)-(6-3-2000).pdf

189-mum-2000-description(granted)-(20-7-2007).pdf

189-MUM-2000-DRAWING(6-3-2000).pdf

189-mum-2000-drawing(granted)-(20-7-2007).pdf

189-MUM-2000-FORM 1(6-3-2000).pdf

189-MUM-2000-FORM 16(16-11-2011).pdf

189-MUM-2000-FORM 19(16-4-2004).pdf

189-MUM-2000-FORM 2(COMPLETE)-(6-3-2000).pdf

189-mum-2000-form 2(granted)-(20-7-2007).pdf

189-MUM-2000-FORM 2(TITLE PAGE)-(6-3-2000).pdf

189-mum-2000-form 2(title page)-(granted)-(20-7-2007).pdf

189-MUM-2000-FORM 26(26-3-2010).pdf

189-MUM-2000-FORM 3(13-7-2000).pdf

189-MUM-2000-FORM 3(2-8-2005).pdf

189-MUM-2000-FORM 3(6-3-2000).pdf

189-MUM-2000-FORM 5(6-3-2000).pdf

189-MUM-2000-FORMAL DRAWING(2-5-2000).pdf

189-MUM-2000-PETITION UNDER RULE 137(2-8-2005).pdf

189-MUM-2000-PETITION UNDER RULE 138(2-8-2005).pdf

189-MUM-2000-POWER OF AUTHORITY(14-9-2000).pdf

189-MUM-2000-POWER OF AUTHORITY(2-8-2005).pdf

189-MUM-2000-SPECIFICATION(AMENDED)-(2-8-2005).pdf


Patent Number 208274
Indian Patent Application Number 189/MUM/2000
PG Journal Number 32/2007
Publication Date 10-Aug-2007
Grant Date 20-Jul-2007
Date of Filing 06-Mar-2000
Name of Patentee MORGAN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
Applicant Address 15 BELMONT STREET, WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS 01605, U.S.A.
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 TERENCE MICHAEL SHORE 185 MOUNTAIN ROAD, PRINCETON, MASSACHUSETTS 01541, U.S.A.
PCT International Classification Number B21B 1/18
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 60/123.873 1999-03-11 U.S.A.
2 09/495,224 2000-01-31 U.S.A.