Rolling mill coil-forming laying head with path or pipe having laterally joined segmented construction

Abstract

A rolling mill coil-forming apparatus includes a rotating quill that supports an elongated path hollow structure, such as a laying head pipe, for receiving elongated material after it has been rolled. The elongated structure is constructed of combinations of ferrous and non-ferrous dissimilar materials. Elongated path hollow structures are formed from adjoining, abutting segments, and can be constructed in any three dimensional compound curve shape that can replicate the smooth, continuous curve elongated material transport path of known laying pipes, or any other desired path. A pathway structure segment or plurality of segments may be constructed of a homogeneous material, or alternatively, different materials may be spliced or otherwise joined to form the composite, complete elongated path hollow structure. The adjoining segment portions may be nested within or circumscribe another pathway structure layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for retention and transport of elongated materials in a rolling mill coil-forming laying head system comprising:
 an elongated hollow pathway structure defining an inner surface for transport of elongated materials therein, the elongated hollow pathway structure comprising a segmented construction formed from laterally abutting adjoining segments.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of claim it all segments forming the inner surface comprising non-ferrous material. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , at least a portion of the segments comprising non-ferrous material. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising at least two abutting segments coupled by joining structure selected from group consisting of weld, splice, spines, keys, interlocking ends, fastened ends, flanged ends and fasteners. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , having a zone selected from the group consisting of wear resistant zone, projecting material standoff, material transport guide structures and friction reducing zone. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the pathway structure comprising an asymmetrical profile selected from group consisting of cross section, twist about elongate axis, and smooth inner surface continuous curve. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising adjoining segments of ferrous and non-ferrous material. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , comprising an inner layer of adjoining segments circumscribed by an outer layer. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , the inner layer and the outer layer are in circumferential friction contact with each other, with the inner layer advancing axially with respect to outer layer during repetitive heating and cooling cycles of the elongated pathway structure. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising an inner layer of adjoining segments circumscribed by an outer layer. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , the inner layer and the outer layer are in circumferential friction contact with each other, with the inner layer advancing axially with respect to outer layer during repetitive heating and cooling cycles a elongated pathway structure. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , at least a portion of the segments comprising non-ferrous materials selected from group consisting of nickel based alloys, cobalt based alloys and titanium based alloys, stainless steel, tungsten carbide, ceramics, superalloys and nano layers of said non-ferrous materials deposited on the inner surface. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for retention and transport of elongated materials in a rolling mill coil forming laying head system comprising:
 an elongated hollow pathway structure defining an inner surface for transport of elongated materials therein formed by joining laterally abutting segments.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , comprising joining at least two abutting segments by joining structure selected from group consisting of weld, splice, spines, keys, interlocking ends, fastened ends, flanged ends and fasteners. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , formed by inserting an inner layer of the segments into an outer layer and thereafter bending both layers into an elongated pathway structure. 
     
     
         16 . A rolling mill coil-forming laying head system comprising:
 a driven rotating quill; and   an elongated hollow pathway structure defining an inner surface for transport of elongated materials therein, the elongated hollow pathway structure comprising a segmented construction formed from laterally abutting adjoining segments.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , all segments forming the inner surface comprising non-ferrous material. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , at least a portion of the segments comprising non-ferrous material. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , comprising at least two abutting segments coupled by joining structure selected from group consisting of weld, splice, spines, keys, interlocking ends, fastened ends, flanged ends and fasteners. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , having a zone selected from the group consisting of wear resistant zone, projecting material standoff, material transport guide structures and friction reducing zone.