Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
Apparatus for reducing the width of metallic workpieces, such as slabs, comprising: a pair of working means operating in the plane of the workpiece for engagement with the opposed edges of said workpiece; drive means connected to each of said working means for generating therebetween a substantial force to reduce the width of the workpiece; adjustment means connected to each of said working means for controlling the relative distance therebetween to produce a workpiece having a desired width; a pair of constraining means including metal reducing surfaces for engaging with the opposed sides of said workpiece in a plane normal to said plane of the workpiece for reducing local increases in workpiece thickness simultaneously with the reduction in width thereof; and means for varying the relative distance between said pair of constraining means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
Apparatus for reducing the width of metallic workpieces, such as slabs, comprising: a pair of working means operating in the plane of the workpiece for engagement with the opposed edges of said workpiece; drive means connected to each of said working means for generating therebetween a substantial force to reduce the width of the workpiece; adjustment means connected to each of said working means for controlling the relative distance therebetween to produce a workpiece having a desired width; a pair of constraining means including metal reducing surfaces for engaging with the opposed sides of said workpiece in a plane normal to said plane of the workpiece for reducing local increases in workpiece thickness simultaneously with the reduction in width thereof; and means for varying the relative distance between said pair of constraining means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said adjustment means comprises: a support; a nut carried by said support; a screw received in said nut and engageable with said working means; and drive means for causing relative rotation between said screw and said nut to displace said screw and said working means relative to said support.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pair of working means comprises: a roller having a work surface constructed and arranged to contact an edge of the workpiece; an arbor rigidly secured to said roller; and a chock rotatably supporting said arbor, said drive means coupled to said arbor for transmitting torque to said roller.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said pair of constraining means comprises: first and second collars supported by said arbor in a spaced-apart relationship; each of said collars having a workpiece engaging surface arranged in a direction normal to said work surface of said roller.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said means for varying the relative distance comprises: drive means supported by said first collar and operatively engaging and rotating said second collar relative to said first collar; and mutually engaging threaded surfaceS formed on said collars for varying the relative distance therebetween upon operation of said drive means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pair of working means comprises: a pair of squeezer heads each having work surfaces for contact with the edge of a workpiece at a desired elevation; support means for positioning said squeezer heads at said desired elevation; a crosshead for supporting each of said squeezer heads; and tension rods interconnecting said crossheads for resisting the force generated between said squeezer heads incident to reducing the thickness of a workpiece.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said pair of constraining means comprises: a first and second plurality of platens having workpiece engaging surfaces arranged in a direction normal to said work surfaces of said squeezer heads; positioning means connected to said first and second plurality of platens for constraining a workpiece at said desired elevation.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of producing metallic slabs subsequently to be processed in a rolling mill to produce semifinished or finished products, such as strip, plate, or the like, comprising the steps of: continuously casting molten metal to form a solidified casting having a width greater than the desired width of said products; dividing the casting into slabs of a desired length suitable for subsequent handling and processing; materially reducing the width of the slabs to a predetermined dimension whereby on subsequent processing products having desired thickness and width dimensions will result; and simultaneously engaging the opposite sides of the slab for reducing local increases in the thickness of the slab due to the width reduction thereof.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of producing metallic slabs subsequently to be processed in a rolling mill to produce semifinished or finished products, such as strip, plate, or the like, comprising the steps of: continuously casting molten metal to form a solidified casting having a width greater than the desired width of said products; dividing the casting into slabs of a desired length suitable for subsequent handling and processing; materially reducing the width of the slabs to a predetermined dimension whereby on subsequent processing products having desired thickness and width dimensions will result; and simultaneously engaging the opposite sides of the slab for reducing local increases in the thickness of the slab due to the width reduction thereof.