BACKGROUND DISCUSSION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to rolling mills producing hot rolled long products such as bars, rods and the like, and is concerned in particular with an improvement to the water boxes employed to cool such products.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Conventional water boxes typically comprise a housing containing a plurality of nozzles arranged sequentially along the path of the hot rolled product. The nozzles are subdivided into base and top sections which coact to define tubular enclosures containing replaceable sleeves. The base sections are fixed in place on a common underlying manifold, and the top sections are adjustable between closed positions and open positions allowing access to the sleeves. The nozzles are supplied via the manifold with pressurized water which serves to cool the hot rolled product.

Conventionally, the nozzle top sections are closed by so called "C clamps" that are manually set by mill personnel. This is a time consuming task requiring attention to detail to insure that the necessary high level of torque is applied to each clamp. Failure to do so can result in nozzle leakage and a loss of cooling efficiency.

The present invention addresses these problems by providing a mechanism for automatically applying a correct clamping force to the closed top sections, and in a preferred embodiment, for also simultaneously opening and closing the nozzle top sections. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a water box comprises a plurality of nozzles arranged sequentially along a first axis. The nozzles are subdivided into base and top sections, with the top sections being pivotally adjustable about a second axis parallel to the first axis between closed positions coacting with the base sections to define tubular enclosures containing replaceable sleeves through which a hot rolled product is directed, and open positions allowing access to the sleeves. A torque shaft is rotatable about a third axis parallel to the first and second axes. A linkage connects the nozzle top sections to the torque shaft. Clamp members are carried by the torque shaft. The torque shaft is rotatably adjustable between an open setting at which the clamp members are separated from the nozzle top sections and the top sections are in the open positions, and a closed setting at which the top sections are closed and the clamp members are in contact with and urging the top sections into the closed positions.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the clamp members include springs for resiliently urging the top sections into their closed positions.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, the nozzles are enclosed within a housing having a door pivotally adjustable about a fourth axis parallel to the first, second, and third axes. Arm members project radially from the torque shaft. The arm members are engageable with the door during rotation of the torque shaft between its open and closed settings to pivotally adjust the door about the fourth axis between open and closed positions. In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, the clamp members are carried by a vertically adjustable support in the form of a beam extending in parallel relationship with the first axis. In this embodiment, the nozzle top sections are manually adjusted between their open and closed positions, with the vertically adjustable beam support serving only to automatically apply a closure force acting through the clamp members to urge the nozzle top sections into their closed positions.

These and other features and attendant advantages will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a side view of a water box in accordance with the one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the water box;

Figure 3 is an enlarged end view of the water box;

Figure 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, showing the nozzles and housing cover open on the left hand side, and showing the cover open with the nozzles closed on the right hand side;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one end of the water box, showing the cover and nozzles open;

Figure 7 is an enlarged view of a nozzle and clamping mechanism in the open condition; Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 showing a nozzle and clamping mechanism in the closed condition; and

Figure 9 is a sectional view similar to Figure 4 depicting an alternative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference initially to Figures 1-4, an apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention comprises a dual sided water box 10 for cooling hot rolled products moving longitudinally along parallel pass lines (hereinafter "first axes") A ₁ , A ₁ . The dual sides of the water box are mirror images of each other, and thus a detailed description of the components on one side is equally applicable to the components of the other side.

As can best be seen in Figure 4, the water box includes reinforced side walls 12 projecting upwardly from a bottom wall 14 to define an enclosure interiorly subdivided into two halves by a central wall 16.

With reference additionally to Figures 6-8, a plurality of water nozzles 18 are arranged sequentially along each of the first axes Ai. The nozzles are subdivided into base and top sections 18a, 18b, with the top sections being pivotally adjustable about second axes A ₂ parallel to the first axes A]. The base sections 18a are fixed to and in communication with an underlying water manifold 20. The top sections 18b are adjustable between closed positions (as shown in figures 4 and 8) coacting with the base sections to define tubular enclosures containing replaceable sleeves 22, and open positions (as shown in Figures 6 and 7) allowing access to the sleeves 22. A torque shaft 24 is rotatable about a third axis A ₃ parallel to the first and second axes Ai, A ₂ . The torque shaft 24 is connected to each of the nozzle top sections 18b by a linkage assembly comprising a crank arm 26 projecting radially from the torque shaft, a flange 28 projecting laterally from the nozzle top section 18b, and an intermediate connecting link 30. Clamp members 34 are carried by and are rotatable with the torque shaft 24. The clamp members preferably include one or more packages of disc springs 36.

Operating means in the form of linear actuators 38 are provided externally at opposite ends of the water box. Each linear actuator is mechanically coupled to the torque shaft 24 by a linkage 40. The linear actuators serve to rotatably adjust the torque shaft 24 between an open setting (as shown in Figures 6 and 7) and a closed setting (as shown in Figures 4 and 8). When in its open setting, the torque shaft serves to pivotally and simultaneously open the nozzle top sections 18b, with the clamp members 34 being separated from the top sections. In its closed setting, the torque shaft operates to pivotally and simultaneously close the nozzle top sections 18b and to apply the clamp members 34 to the top sections, with the disc springs 36 serving to exert a resilient closure force.

The water box interior is closed by covers 42 mounted for pivotal movement about a fourth axis A ₄ between closed positions as shown in Figures 1-4, and open positions as shown in Figures 5 and 6. As can best be seen in Figures 6-8, the torque shaft 24 is additionally provided with radially projecting cover lifting arms 44 having rollers 46 engageable with the curved edges of interior ribs 48 spaced along the undersides of the covers 42. When the torque shaft is rotated from its closed to its open setting, the lifting arms 44 serve to open the covers. This condition is illustrated on the left hand side of Figure 5. Optionally, as shown on the right hand side of Figure 5, the covers may be opened manually, leaving the torque shaft in its closed setting, with the nozzle top sections 18b resiliently urged into their closed positions.

Referring now to Figure 9, an alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in which the clamp members 34 are carried on beam supports 50 extending over the length of the water box in parallel relationship with the first axes A _t . The clamp members 34 are carried on the beam support 50, the latter being mounted for vertical adjustment on tracks 52. The beam supports 50 are connected by laterally extending brackets 54 to the linear actuators 38.

With this embodiment, the nozzle top sections are individually and manually adjusted between their open and closed positions, and the covers 42 are also manually opened and closed. The linear actuators 38 serve to adjust the beam supports 50 between raised positions (left hand side of Figure 9) at which the clamp members 34 are raised to accommodate opening of the nozzle top sections and lowered positions (right hand side of Figure 9) at which the clamp members serve to resiliently urge the nozzle top sections into their closed positions.

In light of the foregoing, it will now be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention offers significant advantages to mill operating personnel. For example, the nozzles serving a pass line can be opened and closed in unison without having to manually loosen and tighten individual clamps. The nozzle top sections are held in their closed positions by resilient forces that insure water tight integrity, again without the need for individual attention by operating personnel.