Rolling mill coil-forming laying head with path or pipe having nested layer 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. A portion of the elongated structure or the entire structure is formed from nested, enveloping layers by inserting layers of pipe or other elongated hollow structure into each other. Elongated path hollow structures formed from nested layers 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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for retention and transport of elongated materials in a rolling mill coil-forming apparatus, comprising:
 an elongated hollow pathway structure having at least two layers including:   an inner layer defining an inner surface for transport of elongated materials therein; and   a retention layer for retaining the inner layer.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the layers selected from the group consisting of similar and dissimilar materials. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the inner layer comprising laterally adjoining segments of ferrous and non-ferrous material. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , comprising non-ferrous material in segments having higher wear rates. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a grout layer interposed between the inner layer and the retention layer. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the inner layer and the retention layer are in circumferential friction contact with each other, with the inner layer advancing axially with respect to retention layer during repetitive heating and cooling cycles of the elongated pathway structure. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the inner layer having a hardened inner surface. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the inner surface 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 1 , the inner layer 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. 
     
     
         10 . A rolling mill coil-forming apparatus comprising: a driven rotating quill; and
 an elongated hollow pathway structure having at least two layers including:
 an inner layer defining an inner surface for transport of elongated materials therein; and 
 a retention layer for retaining the inner layer. 
   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , the layers selected from the group consisting of similar and dissimilar materials. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , the inner layer comprising laterally adjoining segments of ferrous and non-ferrous material. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , the inner layer and the retention layer are in circumferential friction contact with each other, with the inner layer advancing axially with respect to retention layer during repetitive heating and cooling cycles of the elongated pathway structure. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , the inner surface 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 10 , the inner layer 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. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , formed by inserting the inner layer into the retention layer. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  formed by bending the combined inner and retention layers. 
     
     
         18 . A method for forming an apparatus for retention and transport of elongated materials in a rolling mill coil-forming apparatus, comprising:
 providing an inner layer defining an inner surface for transport of elongated materials therein;   providing a retention layer for retaining the inner layer; and   inserting the inner layer into the retention layer.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising bending the combined inner and retention layers. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  comprising affixing ends of at least the retention layer to an adjoining portion of said apparatus for retention and transport of elongated materials.