Patent ID: 6453712
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: B21B,B22D

Abstract:
A method for reducing end crop losses in rolling metal ingots comprising the steps of:(a) providing an ingot having at least one shaped end extending in a direction transverse to a rolling direction, wherein said shaped end has at least two enlarged portions extending longitudinally in the rolling direction and positioned at opposed, transversely spaced-apart locations adjacent to opposed edge faces of the ingot, said enlarged portions having a valley region of reduced longitudinal dimension therebetween, defined by a dimension â€œ&Dgr;â€ ; said at least one ingot shaped end also including upper and lower tapers extending in a direction transverse to the rolling direction across a width of said ingot, respectively, from an upper rolling face and a lower rolling face of said ingot across said enlarged portions and across said valley region; and (b) conducting a plurality of rolling passes on said ingot to reduce a thickness thereof and elongate said ingot, wherein said longitudinally extending enlarged portions and said transversely extending upper and lower tapers minimize the formation of overlap/lamination and tongue conditions, respectively, at the shaped end of the ingot, whereby end crop losses caused by said conditions are reduced.