AU754587B2 - Bayonet roll end adaptor - Google Patents

Description

P/00/01 128/5/91 Regulafion 3.2(2)

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION 0 0 00 STANDARD PATENT Application Number: Lodged: 00 0 :0.0 66 0 Invention Title: BAYONET ROLL END ADAPTOR The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to :-us 1 BAYONET ROLL END ADAPTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to bearing assemblies for rotatably supporting the roll necks of rolls in a rolling mill.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Over the years, various arrangements have been developed for retaining bearing assemblies on the necks of rolls in rolling mills. These arrangements invariably require some alteration to the cylindrical distal ends of the roll necks.

Such alternations typically comprise, for example, cutting circular grooves or machining circumferentially spaced radially projecting bayonet lugs into the roll ends. In such cases, the roll ends must be lengthened in order to accommodate the required machining.

The circular grooves weaken the roll necks and provide areas of potentially damaging stress concentrations. The split adaptor rings that are seated in the grooves are difficult and expensive to machine, and are themselves prone to failure due to overstressing. Machining bayonet lugs into the roll ends is also a costly operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for retaining a bearing assembly on the neck of a roll in a rolling mill,_said apparatus comprising: an adaptor element having outwardly projecting adaptor lugs circumferentially separated by first flutes; fastening means for detachably securing said'adaptor element to a distal end of the roll neck; and a locking element comprising an integral component of said bearing assembly, said locking element having inwardly projecting second lugs circumferentially separated by second flutes, said locking element being rotatable between an unlocked position at which said second lugs are aligned with said first flutes to accommodate axial shifting of said bearing assembly onto and off of the roll neck, and a locked position at which said second lugs are aligned with said Sfirst lugs to axially retain the bearing assembly on the roll neck.

The adaptor element may have a cylindrical configuration and may additionally be provided with circumferentially spaced inwardly projecting third lugs.

The adaptor element may be constructed and arranged to project axially from the distal end of the roll neck.

The fastening means may comprise fasteners threaded into the distal end of the roll neck.

The fasteners may be aligned radially with said first lugs.

The third lugs may be aligned radially with said first lugs.

10 The fastening means may be arranged between said first and third lugs.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for retaining a bearing assembly on the neck of a roll in a rolling mill, said apparatus comprising: a ring-shaped adaptor element having outwardly projecting first lugs circumferentially separated by first flutes; fastening means for detachably securing said adaptor element to a distal end of the roll neck, said adaptor element, when thus secured, being constructed and arranged to project axially from the distal end of the roll neck, said fastening means being aligned radially with said first lugs and being threaded into the distal end of the roll neck; and a locking element comprising an integral component of the bearing *O assembly, said locking element having inwardly projecting second lugs circumferentially separated by second flutes, said locking element being rotatable between an unlocked position at which said second lugs are aligned with said first flutes to accommodate axial shifting of said bearing assembly onto and off of said roll neck, and a locked position at which said second lugs are aligned with said first lugs to axially retain the bearing assembly on the roll neck.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for retaining a bearing assembly on the neck of a roll in a rolling mill, said apparatus comprising: an adaptor element having projecting adaptor lugs circumferentially separated by first flutes; fastening means for detachably securing said adaptor element to a distal end of the roll neck; and a locking element comprising an integral component of said bearing assembly, said locking element having projecting second lugs circumferentially separated by second flutes, said locking element being rotatable between an unlocked position at which said second lugs are aligned with said first flutes to accommodate axial shifting of said bearing assembly onto and off of the roll neck, and a locked position at which said second lugs are aligned with said first lugs to axially retain the bearing assembly on the roll neck.

S 10 In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the above described problems and shortcomings are avoided by detachably securing an adaptor element to the distal end of the roll neck. The adaptor element has outwardly projecting first bayonet lugs separated by. first flutes. A locking element comprising an integral component of the bearing assembly has inwardly projecting second bayonet lugs separated by second flutes. The locking element is rotatable between a unlocked position at which its second bayonet lugs are aligned with the first flutes of the adaptor element to thereby accommodate axial shifting of the bearing assembly onto and off of the roll neck, and a locked position at which its second bayonet lugs are aligned with the adaptor element's 0 20 first bayonet lugs to axially retain the bearing assembly on the roll neck.

In the embodiment, the adaptor element projects axially from the distal end of the roll neck, and is preferably ring-shaped with inwardly projecting third bayonet lugs configured and arranged to coact with a separable hydraulically actuated tool which may be used to urge the bearing assembly onto and off of the roll neck.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention might be more fully understood, embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a bearing assembly axially retained on a roll neck by an adaptor element in accordance with the present invention; 7Figure 2 is an end view of the threaded ring shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an outboard end view of the adaptor element; Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4; and Figure 6 is an inboard end view of the adaptor element.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference initially to Figure 1, an oil film bearing assembly is generally indicated at 10 and shown mounted on the tapered neck section 12 of a roll 14 of the type found in rolling mills. The bearing assembly includes a sleeve 16 keyed to the roll neck as at 18. The sleeve is surrounded by a bushing 20 fixed within a chock 22. The chock is adapted to be supported in a roll housing (not shown).

During mil! operation, oil is introduced continuously between the sleeve 16 and bushing 20, resulting in the sleeve being rotatably supported on a hydrodynamically maintained film of oil at the bearing load zone.

On its inboard side, the bearing assembly further includes a seal assembly 24. The outboard side of the bearing assembly includes: a thrust bearing 26 having an inner race 26a and outer races contained by a thrust bearing retainer 26b; an end plate 28; a circular transfer o000 °o0oV, 00 *oo0o: D-1167 plate 30; a lock nut 32 threaded onto a threaded ring 34; a coupling element 36 mechanically coupling the threaded ring 34 to the lock nut 32; and an end cover 38 pivotally connected at to the end plate 28 and held in a closed position by latching mechanism 42.

An adaptor element 44 in accordance with the present invention is secured to the distal end of the roll neck by cap screws 45 and the like.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the threaded ring 34 is externally threaded at 35, and is *s.provided internally with inwardly protruding lugs 56 circumferentially spaced by flutes 58.

,hnthe threaded ring is positioned as shown in Figure 1, its lugs 56 are captured between the adaptor 44 and a shoulder 60 on the roll neck.

The lock nut 32 is threaded onto the ring 34, and in its tightened condition as shown in Figure 1, bears against the transfer plate 30, the latter in turn being held against the inner race of the thrust bearing.

@0*0 The coupling element 36 includes upper and lower parallel legs 36a, 36b joined by a w::~eb 36c. The upper leg 36a is secured to the lock nut 32 by one or more screws 62, and the lower leg 36b extends into one of the flutes 58 between the inwardly protruding lugs 56 of the threaded ring 34. When thus positioned, the coupling element prevents relative rotation 0*0 *between the lock nut 32 and the threaded. ring 34.

The bearing assembly 10 is axially mounted on and removed from the tapered roll neck section 12 by means of a portable hydraulically actuated tool (not shown). A preferred embodiment of one such tool is described in copending U.S. patent application Serial No.

09/605,601 filed June 28, 2000, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

As can best be seen in Figures 4-6, the adaptor 44 is a generally ringshaped element having radially outwardly protruding lugs 74 spaced by flutes 76, and optionally radially inwardly protruding lugs 78 also spaced by flutes Holes 82.accommodate the screws 45 used to secure the adaptor to the roll end.

The external flutes 76 allow the internal lugs 56 of the threaded ring 34 to pass during initial mounting of the bearing assembly on the roll neck, as well as during removal of the bearing assembly from the roll neck. Once the bearing assembly is mounted, the threaded ring 34 is rotated to align its int6rnal lugs 56 with the external lugs '74 of the adaptor, thereby establishing an interlocked S 10 relationship therebetween. The coupling element 36 is then installed to prevent flanker relative rotation between these two components.

The inwardly protruding lugs 78 and intervening flutes 80 may be employed to mechanically couple the removable hydraulically actuated tool of the type described in U.S. Patent 6,415,489 to the roll end.

When detachably secured in place as shown in Figure 1, the adaptor 44 is constructed and arranged to project axially from the distal end of the roll neck.

Preferably, the outer and inner lugs 74, 78 are in radial alignment, with the holes 82 and the screws 45 extending therethrough located between the radially aligned lugs.

S 20 Use of the adaptor 44 obviates any need for machining grooves or bayonet lugs into the end of the roll neck. This in turn accommodates a beneficial S shortening of the roll neck. The adaptor is a robust component better suited to absorbing axial loading of the bearing during a roiling operation.

Comprises/comprising and grammatical variations thereof when used in this specification are to be taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components or groups thereof, but not to preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

Discussion or mention of any piece of prior art in this specification is not to be taken as an admission that the prior art is part of the common general knowledge of the skilled addressee of the specification.

Claims (5)

1. An apparatus for retaining a bearing assembly on the neck of a roll in a rolling 2 mill, said apparatus comprising: 3 an adaptor element having outwardly projecting adaptor lugs circumferentially 4 separated by first flutes; fastening means for detachably securing said adaptor element to a distal end of the roll

6. .neck; and a locking element comprising an integral component of said bearing assembly, said locking element having inwardly projecting second lugs circumferentially separated by second flutes, said locking element being rotatable between an unlocked position at which said second lugs are aligned with said first flutes to accommodate axial shifting of said bearing assembly 11 onto and off of the roll neck, and a locked position at which said second lugs are aligned with g 12. said first lugs to axially retain the bearing assembly on the roll neck. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said adaptor element has a cylindrical 2 configuration and is additionally provided with circumferentially spaced inwardly projecting :3 third lugs. 0 s o 1 3. The apparatus of claims 1 or 2 wherein said adaptor element is constructed and 2 arranged to project axially from the distal end of the roll neck. 1 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fastening means comprises fasteners 2 threaded into the distal .end of the roll neck. 1 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said fasteners are aligned radially with said 2 first lugs. 8 6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said third lugs are aligned radially with said first lugs.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said fastening means are arranged between said first and third lugs.

8. An apparatus for retaining a bearing assembly on the neck of a roll in a rolling mill, said apparatus comprising: a ring-shaped adaptor element having outwardly projecting first lugs circumferentially separated by first flutes; fastening means for detachably securing said adaptor element to a distal end of the roll neck, said adaptor element, when thus secured, being constructed and arranged to project axially from the distal end of the roll neck, said fastening means being aligned radially with said first lugs and being threaded into the distal end of the roll neck; and a locking element comprising an integral component of the bearing assembly, said locking element having inwardly projecting second lugs circumferentially separated by second flutes, said locking element being rotatable 0 OV, between an unlocked position at which said second lugs are aligned with said first flutes to accommodate axial shifting of said bearing assembly onto and off of said roll neck, and a locked position at which said second lugs are aligned with said S first lugs to axially retain the bearing assembly on the roll neck.

9. An apparatus for retaining a bearing assembly on the neck of a roll in a rolling mill, said apparatus comprising: an adaptor element having projecting adaptor lugs circumferentially separated by first flutes; fastening means for detachably securing said adaptor element to a distal end of the roll neck; and a locking element comprising an integral component of said bearing assembly, said locking element having projecting second lugs circumferentially separated by second flutes, said locking element being rotatable between an unlocked position at which said second lugs are aligned with said first flutes to 9 accommodate axial shifting of said bearing assembly onto and off of the roll neck, and a locked position at which said second lugs are aligned with said first lugs to axially retain the bearing assembly on the roll neck. DATED this 19th day of September 2002 MORGAN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY WATERMARK PATENT TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS 290 BURWOOD ROAD HAWTHORN VICTORIA 3122 AUSTRALIA RLT/RJS/MEH P20203AU00 S o* oe *o o o *oe