Abstract:
A laying head tripper has a ramp with a lip detachably secured to its forward edge. The ramp and/or the lip are contoured to match the curvature of the rings being formed by the laying head.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    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. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    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. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    In a conventional laying head, as shown at  10  in  FIG. 8 , the rotating laying pipe  12  is surrounded by a cylindrical shroud  14 . The laying pipe  12  forms the hot rolled product into a helical formation of rings “R”. As the rings R exit the shroud  14 , they engage a tripper plate  16 , causing the rings to topple forwardly onto a roller conveyor  18  or other like means designed to transport the rings in an overlapping pattern to a remote location. 
         [0006]    The tripper  16  is flat, with a welded straight lip  16   a  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  16   a,  leading to erratic tripping and non uniform distribution of the rings R on the conveyor  18 . 
         [0007]    Also, the tripper lip  16   a  is prone to rapid wear, requiring frequent and costly replacement of the entire tripper. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    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. 
         [0009]    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. 
         [0010]    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. 
         [0011]    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. 
         [0012]    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. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view of a laying head incorporating of a tripper, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the tripper, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the tripper, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an end view of the tripper, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is an end view of a tripper using a lip with an alternative configuration, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is an illustration of a laying head employing a conventional tripper. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    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. 
         [0022]    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. 
         [0023]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a tripper  20  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown mounted at the exit end of a laying head shroud  14 . The tripper includes a ramp  22  with a lip  24  projecting upwardly from its forward edge. 
         [0024]    As with the conventional tripper shown in  FIG. 8 , the ramp  22  is positioned to carry rings exiting from a laying head towards a conveyor, and the lip  24  is positioned to engage and topple the rings onto the conveyor. 
         [0025]    With reference additionally to  FIGS. 2-5 , it will be seen that the ramp  22  may have a top surface  23  inclined upwardly towards the tip  24 . 
         [0026]    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. 
         [0027]    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. 
         [0028]    The lip  24  can be replaceable and detachably connected to the ramp  22 . Thus, as shown for example in  FIG. 6 , the lip  24  may be attached to the ramp by bolts  28  or other equivalent fastening means. Multiple lip profiles can be used to optimize the tripping characteristics. A non-limiting example of one such profile is shown in  FIG. 7 , where the top edge  25  of the lip is only partially arcuate. The modular tripper components can be fabricated from various wear resistant materials (mild steel, tool steel, heat treated, etc) to best suit different products (carbon steel, stainless steel, etc). 
         [0029]    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.