Device for the axial clamping/release of the chocks of the rolls in a rolling mill stand

Device for the axial clamping/release of chocks (15) of working rolls (14) on a rolling mill stand, the rolling mill stand including an actuation side (10a-FIG. 1) and a working side (10b-FIG. 2), stationary housings (11) associated with stationary blocks (12) being comprised at the sides, each of the stationary blocks (12) being associated with a relative sliding block (13) positioned in a direction axial to the working rolls (14), each sliding block (13) defining a lodgement for a chock (15), the bearings of the working rolls (14) being lubricated with a centralized air-oil system which comprises a first part of connectors (22) located on the machine and fixed to supporting means (24) and a second part of connectors (17) included on the front of the relative chock (15), the sliding blocks (13) being associated, on the actuation side (10a), with oscillatory means (27) that clamp/release the sliding blocks (13) to/from the relative chocks (15), these oscillatory clamping/ releasing means (27) being able to move from a second position of releasing (FIG. 4) the chock (15) from the relative sliding block (13) to a first clamping position (FIG. 3), these clamping/releasing means (27) in their second releasing position acting on the means (24) that support the first part of the connectors (22) so as to clamp transversely the first part of the connectors (22) in a determined position coordinated axially with the position of the second part of the connectors (17).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention concerns a device for the axial clamping/release of the 
chocks of the rolls in a rolling mill stand. 
To be more exact, the subject of this invention is embodied with a device 
which makes possible the quick and easy clamping and release, both on the 
working side and on the actuation side of the rolling mill stand, of the 
chocks bearing the working rolls to and from the relative sliding blocks 
providing axial displacement. 
Moreover the device according to the invention makes possible a quick, easy 
and accurate connection and disconnection of the connectors feeding 
lubrication fluid to the bearings of the working rolls during the steps of 
changing the rolls. 
The invention is applied advantageously, but not only, to rolling mill 
stands which process wide flat products and which require not only the 
normal reciprocal vertical positioning of the rolls but also a reciprocal 
axial displacement of the rolls so as to prevent hollows developing at 
given points in the circumference of the rolls owing to continuous wear. 
Rolling mill stands have been disclosed which have their working rolls 
installed on chocks, which during working are secured axially to sliding 
blocks positioned between the chocks themselves and the stationary 
housings of the rolling mill stands. 
Stationary blocks arranged axially to the rolls are generally included 
between the sliding blocks and the housings of the rolling mill stands. 
Displacement means act on the sliding blocks and enable the working rolls 
to be displaced axially during the working steps. 
The state of the art discloses various examples of systems of installation 
of the rolls on the relative chocks and of the chocks on the relative 
sliding blocks both on the actuation side and on the working side of the 
rolling mill stand, these systems ensuring a correct positioning of the 
rolls and the ability to obtain an accurate axial movement thereof. 
JP-A-61-37307 discloses, for instance, a rolling mill stand in which the 
working rolls are associated with axial displacement means and in which an 
auxiliary thrust device is included which enables all the plays to be 
eliminated which are caused between the elements in reciprocal movement. 
This auxiliary device acts on the relative sliding block so as to ensure 
in an extremely accurate manner and under all operational conditions the 
correct desired axial displacement of the working rolls, thus obviating 
inaccuracies due to such plays. 
SU-A-1,667,969 and SU-A-1,502,146 disclose a system for axial clamping of a 
chock to a relative sliding block, this system comprising an oscillatory 
lever element which can be momentarily disactivated during the step of 
changing the roll. 
EP-A-483,599 discloses another example in which clamping lever means are 
included and are actuated, when the chock has been put in position, so as 
to clamp the chock axially to the sliding blocks. 
One of the problems most often encountered in the state of the art arises 
from the modest size of the sliding blocks, or this size creates problems 
or the positioning of the sensors which monitor the open/closed positions 
or the lever elements. 
The systems of the state of the art are therefore often devoid of the 
sensors, and this situation can entail problems of safety, control and 
speed of starting the working cycle of the rolling mill stand. 
The sensors, when they are included, are positioned within the sliding 
blocks, with resulting problems during the step of acting on the sensors 
for cleaning, maintenance or replacement. 
The problems linked to the changing of the working rolls are also found in 
this type of rolling stand. In fact, so as to change the rolls, it is 
necessary to release the chocks axially from the relative sliding blocks 
and to disconnect the connectors, which feed the lubricating fluid and 
which are included terminally and frontally on the chocks, from the 
connectors included on the machine. 
During the step of fitting new rolls it is necessary first of all to align 
these connectors reciprocally and accurately so as to perform the coupling 
and then to secure the chocks axially to the sliding blocks. 
A further problem is the fact that the chock during working has to be free 
to move also transversely to the sliding blocks, and this fact means also 
that the connectors included on the machine have to be able to follow the 
chock in its transverse movement. 
This ability to make the connectors on the machine free to move 
transversely to the axis of the rolls entails problems of alignment and 
appropriate rotation of those connectors so that they will mate with the 
connectors on the chocks during the step of installation. 
Moreover, the changing of the rolls has to be carried out in as short a 
time as possible so as not to involve long machine downtimes which could 
impair the output of the plant. 
So as to avoid these problems and mainly to avoid the great losses of time 
due to the disconnection and successive connection of the lubricating 
connectors, it is the common practice in conventional rolling trains to 
use a grease lubrication system of a full fill-up type. 
According to this lubrication system the bearings of the working rolls are 
filled with lubricating grease when the rolls are dismantled. 
The rolls, when installed, are worked until the lubricating grease has been 
substantially all used up. 
This lubricating system makes it possible not to have flexible connections 
on the machine and thus to eliminate the additional times and the 
alignment problems during installation which are due to the disconnection 
and successive re-connection of the hydraulic feeding connectors. 
This system, however, is very expensive as compared to the centralised 
air-oil lubrication owing to the great quantity of lubricating grease 
which has to be employed. Moreover, it does not ensure a constant and 
balanced lubrication during the whole working cycle of the rolls. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present applicants, with the purpose not only of ensuring a system for 
the quick axial clamping/release of the chocks to/from the sliding blocks, 
have therefore also the purpose of using a centralised lubrication system 
with feeder connectors located on the machine, this system not entailing 
additional times or problems during the step of changing the working 
rolls. 
For this purpose the applicants have designed, tested and embodied this 
invention. 
The purpose of the invention is to provide a device for the quick axial 
clamping/release, both on the actuation side and working side of the 
rolling mill stand, of the chocks bearing the working rolls to/from the 
relative sliding blocks. 
The working side of the rolling mill stand is the side from which the 
chocks are normally withdrawn from the rolling mill stand, for instance 
during the step of changing the working rolls. 
The actuation side of the rolling mill stand is instead the side on which 
are arranged the electrical and hydraulic feeding assemblies and also all 
the service units which are used for the working of the rolling mill stand 
itself. 
The invention also provides, on the actuation side, means for the quick 
connection/disconnection of the hydraulic connectors associated with the 
means performing the axial clamping/release of the chocks to/from the 
sliding blocks. 
According to the invention, at least on the working side the means 
performing the axial clamping/release of the chocks are positioned in a 
position external to the relative sliding blocks. 
The sensors, therefore, which monitor the position of occurrence of the 
axial clamping/release may also themselves be positioned at an external 
position, thus making possible an easy access for maintenance or 
replacement. 
The rolling mill stand to which the device according to the invention is 
applied is associated with a centralized lubrication system, for instance 
of an air-oil type. 
This centralized lubrication system includes first connector means applied 
frontally to the terminal surface of the chock on the actuation side of 
the rolling mill stand, these first connector means being connected to 
second connector means included on the machine. 
The second connector means are connected by hoses to the centralized 
assembly feeding the lubricating fluid. 
The hoses enable these second connectors on the machine to follow the 
chocks, which are secured axially to the relative sliding blocks, in the 
axial movements of the chocks during the working step. 
These second connector means can also move in a direction transverse to the 
axis of the working rolls so as to follow the chocks in this transverse 
movement. 
The device according to the invention is embodied, on the actuation side of 
the rolling mill stand, with an oscillatory lever element which has a 
first clamping position and a second release position. 
In the second release position the oscillatory lever element frees the 
chock from axial clamping to the relative sliding block and enables the 
chock to be withdrawn towards the working side of the rolling mill stand 
so as to enable the working rolls to be replaced or maintained. 
The oscillatory lever element in its second release position also clamps 
transversely the second connector means on the machine, which, as they are 
no longer secured to the relative chock, could be displaced transversely 
and therefore be misaligned in relation to the correct installation 
position. 
During the step of installing the chock with the new rolls, the first 
connector means positioned terminally and frontally on the chock are 
connected easily and quickly to the second connector means, which have 
remained clamped transversely in position. 
When the coupling has taken place, the oscillatory lever element is brought 
to the first clamping position in which it secures the chock axially to 
the relative sliding block. 
The oscillatory lever element in the first clamping position frees from 
constraint the second connector means, which are now solidly coupled to 
the chock and can follow the movements of the chock in an axial direction 
and in a direction transverse to the axis of the working rolls. 
On the working side of the rolling mill stand a clamping element of a 
rotary sleeve type is fitted on the front terminal part of the sliding 
blocks in a position external to the relative sliding block; this rotary 
sleeve is associated with actuator means and can be rotated in relation to 
the cylindrical end of the sliding block to which it is axially secured. 
The rotary sleeve bears on its circumference in a position at a determined 
angle at least one first clamping projection. 
This first clamping projection cooperates, in a first angular position of 
the rotary sleeve, with a hollow or abutment present on the stationary 
block so as to secure the sliding block axially to the stationary block. 
In this position the chock is released from the relative sliding block and 
can be withdrawn axially for the usual operations of replacement of the 
rolls. 
In a second angular position of the rotary sleeve, this position being 
rotated in relation to the first position, the first clamping projection 
cooperates with abutment means or with hollow means included on the chock 
so as to secure the sliding block axially to the chock. 
In this second position of the rotary sleeve the chock follows the axial 
movement imparted to the sliding block so as to displace the working rolls 
axially during the working steps. 
The clamping positions of the rotary sleeve are coordinated with respective 
longitudinally defined positions of the sliding block, on the one hand in 
relation to the relative chock and on the other hand in relation to the 
relative stationary block. 
According to a variant the rotary sleeve bears on its circumference at 
positions defined at an angle to each other at least one first clamping 
projection and one second clamping projection which are offset from each 
other by a desired angle. 
In a first angular position of the rotary sleeve the first clamping 
projection cooperates with a hollow or abutment included on the stationary 
block of the rolling mill stand, thus securing the sliding block axially 
to the stationary block, while the chock remains axially released. 
In a second angular position of the rotary sleeve the second clamping 
projection secures the chock axially to the sliding block, while the 
sliding block is released from the relative stationary block.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
A rolling mill stand, the actuation side 10a of which is shown in FIG. 1 
while the working side 10b of which is shown in FIG. 2, comprises housings 
11 to which are fitted stationary supporting blocks 12, one block per each 
of two working rolls 14. 
Sliding blocks 13 on which displacement jacks 38 act on the actuation side 
10a cooperate with the stationary supporting blocks 12. 
These jacks 38 have the purpose of performing axial displacement of the 
working rolls 14 during the rolling steps; this axial displacement is 
carried out during the rolling to displace the working rolls 14 in 
relation to each other and thus to change the relative working surfaces 
involved in the rolling action and thereby to make possible a more even 
distribution of the wear on the surfaces of the rolls 14. 
The working rolls 14 are installed on relative chocks 15, which during 
installation are secured axially to the relative sliding blocks 13 so as 
to follow those sliding blocks 13 in the axial movement imparted thereto 
by the jacks 38. 
The rolling mill stand includes a centralized system to lubricate the 
bearings of the working rolls 14 by means of female feeder connectors 17 
which are included terminally on the front of the chocks 15 and which are 
connected to mating male connectors 22 on the machine (FIG. 5). 
In this case on the actuation side 10a of the rolling mill stand the chocks 
15 include a first terminal frontal plate 16, which is fitted to the 
relative chock 15 by means of a pair of pins 18 provided with footstep 
bearings 19 and thrust springs 20. 
The footstep bearings 19 and thrust springs 20 have the purpose of 
compensating any small misalignments which might occur during 
installation. 
In this case the first plate 16 includes a pair of insertion and alignment 
pins 21 and a pair of the female connectors 17 to feed the lubricating 
fluid. 
The male connectors 22 are connected to the centralized lubrication system 
by means of feeder hoses 23 and hydraulic conduits 36. 
The male connectors 22 are fitted to a second plate 24, which has an 
overturned T-shaped section and can move transversely to the axis of the 
working rolls 14 within a groove 25, which has a mating shape and is 
machined in the sliding block 13. 
The second overturned-T shaped plate 24 is provided with a pair of holes 
35, which are shown with their axes drawn with lines of dashes (FIG. 5) 
and within which the insertion and alignment pins 21 are inserted and 
clamped pneumatically during installation of the chocks 15. 
According to the invention microswitches are included (but not shown) and 
give warning of the clamping and release of the insertion and alignment 
pins 21. 
The clamping/release device on the actuation side 10a according to the 
invention consists substantially of a lever 27 that can oscillate about a 
pivot 29 owing to the action of a hydraulic cylinder/piston actuator 28. 
The oscillatory lever 27 is lodged in a hollow 33 machined in the sliding 
block 13 and is equipped in this case with a tooth 30 on one side and is 
conformed as a hook 32 on its other side. The lever 27 has a first closed 
clamping position (FIG. 3) to clamp the chock 15 and a second open 
position (FIG. 4) to release the chock 15. In its first closed clamping 
position the lever 27 secures the chock 15 axially to the relative sliding 
block 13. 
To be more exact, the tooth 30 of the lever 27 in its first closed clamping 
position is located within a hollow 31 contained in a longitudinally 
defined position in the chock 15. 
The axial constraint provided by the tooth 30 enables the chock 15 to 
follow the relative sliding block 13 in the axial movement imparted to the 
latter 13 by the jack 38. 
Moreover, in this first clamping position the female connectors 17 are 
connected to the relative male connectors 22, which in turn can follow the 
axial movement of the chocks 15 since the overturned-T shaped second plate 
24 too is secured axially to the sliding block 13 owing to the presence of 
the insertion and alignment pins 21 within the holes 35. 
The axial movement of the overturned-T shaped second plate 24 is made 
possible by the hoses 23, which are shown only in FIGS. 4 and 5 for the 
sake of simplicity. 
Moreover the male connectors 22 can follow the chocks 15 in the movement of 
the latter 15 transversely to the lengthwise axis of the sliding blocks 13 
inasmuch as the overturned-T shaped second plate 24 can slide transversely 
within the groove 25 contained in the sliding blocks 13. 
When it is necessary to proceed with changing the rolls 14 and therefore 
with axial withdrawal of the chocks 15, the lever 27 is moved to its 
second open release position by actuation of the hydraulic cylinder/piston 
actuator 28. 
This hydraulic cylinder/piston actuator 28 has the end 34 of its rod 
spherical, and a block 39 advantageously made of bronze and inserted into 
a groove 40 in the lever 27 is associated with that end 34. 
Actuation of the hydraulic cylinder/piston actuator 28 causes rotation of 
the lever 27 about its pivot 29, sliding of the block 39 in the groove 40 
and partial rotation of the block 39 itself about the end 34 of the rod. 
This rotation of the lever 27 releases the relative tooth 30 from the 
hollow 31 in the chock 15 and thus enables the chock 15 to be withdrawn 
axially towards the working side 10b of the rolling stand. 
At the same time the hook-shaped end 32 of the lever 27 clamps in position 
the overturned-T shaped second plate 24 bearing the male connectors 22. 
In particular the hook-shaped end 32 acts on the ends of the base of the 
overturned-T shaped second plate 24, and those ends leave the groove 25 in 
the sliding block 13 (FIG. 4). 
In this way the overturned-T shaped second plate 24, which in this position 
would no longer be wholly constrained since its connection to the chock 15 
is lacking, stays clamped in position on the sliding block 13, and 
therefore the male connectors 22 are thus kept in a position of alignment. 
This situation makes the successive installation of the chocks 15 after 
replacement of the rolls 14 very quick and easy and quick, the connection 
between the female 17 and male 22 connectors being immediate. 
When coupling has been carried out between these connectors 17-22, with 
insertion of the insertion and alignment pins 21 within the holes 35, the 
hydraulic cylinder/piston actuator 28 is actuated to bring the tooth 30 of 
the lever 27 again into the hollow 31. 
This tooth 30 secures the chock 15 axially to the sliding block 13 and at 
the same time frees from constraint the male connectors 22, which can thus 
follow the axial and/or transverse movements of the chocks 15. 
A coordinated axial clamping device is included on the working side 10b and 
makes possible, in a first position, the securing of the chock 15 axially 
to the relative sliding block 13 and, in a second position, the release of 
the chock 15 from the sliding block 13, at the same time clamping the 
sliding block 13 to the relative stationary block 12. 
FIG. 2 shows a situation in which the chock 15 of the upper roll 14a is 
clamped axially to the relative sliding block 13 and is therefore in the 
working step. 
Instead, the chock 15 of the lower roll 14b is axially free from the 
relative sliding block 13 and can be withdrawn for replacement of the roll 
14 for instance, while the relative sliding block 13 is secured axially 
.to the stationary block 12. 
In this case the cylindrical end 41 of the sliding block 13 contains a 
space for lodgement of a grooved shaft 42 of an actuator 43, which in this 
instance is of a hydraulic type. 
This cylindrical end 41, moreover, includes holes for fixture of a flange 
44 by means of screws 52; this flange 44 acts as an abutment on a bearing 
45 of a rotary sleeve 46 and clamps the rotary sleeve 46 axially in 
relation to the sliding block 13. 
The rotary sleeve 46 is solidly fixed by means of screws 47 to the 
hydraulic actuator 43, which can rotate since it is provided with a rotary 
joint 48 associated with hydraulic feeder conduits 49. 
In this example the rotary sleeve 46 comprises in a circumferential 
position defined at an angle a first clamping projection 50 jutting out 
circumferentially and a second clamping projection 37 jutting out 
circumferentially. 
According to a variant which is not shown, the rotary sleeve 46 includes 
only one clamping projection. 
Where there are two clamping projections 50 and 37, these projections are 
offset from each other at an angle by an angle less than 180.degree. for 
obvious reasons of non-contact; this angle is advantageously 90.degree.. 
The rotary sleeve 46 has a first position defined at an angle, in which it 
clamps the chock 15 axially to the relative sliding block 13 for the 
normal working of the rolling cycle (FIG. 6); in this position the sliding 
block 13 is released from the stationary block 12. 
The rotary sleeve 46 has also a second position, in which it secures the 
sliding block 13 axially to the relative stationary block 12 and at the 
same time releases the chock 15, which can be withdrawn axially from the 
relative sliding block 13. 
The two clamping positions of the rotary sleeve 46 are coordinated with as 
many longitudinally defined positions of the sliding block 13, one of 
these positions in relation to the chock 15 and the other position in 
relation to the stationary block 12. 
To be more exact, the actuation of the hydraulic actuator 43, with the 
grooved shaft 42 solidly fixed to the sliding block 13, sets the hydraulic 
actuators 43 itself in rotation. 
Owing to the connection provided by the screws 47 the hydraulic actuator 43 
sets in rotation the rotary sleeve 46 and, in the situation of FIG. 6, 
positions the clamping projection 50 so as to abut against the frontal 
terminal edge 51 of the chock 15, thus assuring an axial constraint 
between the chock 15 itself and the sliding block 13. 
According to the invention this second position of the rotary sleeve 46 
obtained by rotation of the hydraulic actuator 43 releases the chock 15 
axially from the relative sliding block 13 and at the same time secures 
the sliding block 13 to the relative stationary block 12. 
So as to provide this axial constraint, the stationary block 12 includes a 
grooved insertion hollow 26 with which the second clamping projection 37 
cooperates in the second position of the rotary sleeve 46 (FIG. 7). 
In this position the chock 15 is released and can be withdrawn axially, 
while the sliding block 13 is secured axially to the relative stationary 
block 12.