Rolling mill coil-forming laying head with path or pipe components formed by laser sintering process

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. Any portion of the elongated path/pipe structure, including the entire structure is formed by a laser sintering (LS) process. Coil-forming apparatus elongated path/pipe components formed by a laser sintering process 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. Laser sintering path component fabrication processes facilitate construction of asymmetrical structures that cannot be readily fabricated with bent symmetrical wall pipe, tubing or other conduits. The LS fabricated structures facilitate formation of zones within the component, such as including by way of example wear-resistant zones, material stand off or material transport guide zones, or friction reducing zones.

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 for transport of elongated materials therein, at least portion of which is laser sintered superalloy.   
     
     
         2 . 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. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , comprising a laser sintered superalloy zone. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , comprising the zone affixed to the pathway structure after its sintering formation. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a mechanical engagement surface for engagement with other adjoining pathway structure. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the pathway structure having a profile selected from the group consisting of an asymmetrical profile and a symmetrical profile. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , the pathway structure having an asymmetrical profile selected from the group consisting of cross section, twist about elongate axis, and smooth inner surface continuous curve. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , having a zone selected from the group consisting of wear resistant zone, projecting material standoff, material transport guide structures and friction reducing zone. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  comprising a laser sintered superalloy zone. 
     
     
         10 . A rolling mill coil-forming laying head system comprising the apparatus of  claim 1  and a driven rotating quill. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for retention and transport of elongated materials in a rolling mill coil forming laying head system comprising:
 an elongated hollow pathway structure for transport of elongated materials therein formed by superalloy laser sintering.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , the pathway structure having a profile selected from the group consisting of an asymmetrical profile and a symmetrical profile. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , the pathway structure having an asymmetrical profile selected from group consisting of cross section, twist about elongate axis, and smooth inner surface continuous curve. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , having a zone selected from the group consisting of wear resistant zone, projecting material standoff, material transport guide structures and friction reducing zone. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , having zones selected from the group consisting of wear resistant zone, projecting material standoff, material transport guide structures and friction reducing zone. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , the superalloy portion comprising a mechanical engagement surface for engagement with other adjoining pathway structure. 
     
     
         17 . A rolling mill coil-forming laying head system comprising the apparatus of  claim 11  and a driven rotating quill. 
     
     
         18 . A method for forming an apparatus for retention and transport of elongated materials in a rolling mill coil forming laying head system comprising:
 forming an elongated hollow pathway structure for transport of elongated materials by laser sintering superalloy material.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising forming a zone selected from the group consisting of wear resistant zone, projecting material standoff, material transport guide structures and friction reducing zone by laser sintering superalloy material. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  comprising forming the elongated pathway structure with an asymmetrical profile selected from group consisting of cross section, twist about elongate axis and smooth inner surface continuous curve.