A high-strength heavy-walled stainless steel seamless tube or pipe exhibiting excellent low-temperature toughness is characterized by having a chemical composition containing Cr: 15.5% to 18.0% and a steel microstructure containing a ferritic phase and a martensitic phase, wherein the maximum value of the areas of the ferrite grains in the steel microstructures in a circumferential direction cross section and an L direction (rolling direction) cross section of the steel tube or pipe is 3,000 m.sup.2 or less and the content of ferrite grains having areas of 800 m.sup.2 or less is 50% or more on an area fraction basis, where, when adjacent ferrite grains are present in the steel microstructure and the crystal misorientation between one ferrite grain and the other ferrite grain is 15 or more, the adjacent grains are assumed to be grains different from each other.

A high-strength heavy-walled stainless steel seamless tube or pipe exhibiting excellent low-temperature toughness is characterized by having a chemical composition containing Cr: 15.5% to 18.0% and a steel microstructure containing a ferritic phase and a martensitic phase, wherein the maximum value of the areas of the ferrite grains in the steel microstructures in a circumferential direction cross section and an L direction (rolling direction) cross section of the steel tube or pipe is 3,000 m.sup.2 or less and the content of ferrite grains having areas of 800 m.sup.2 or less is 50% or more on an area fraction basis, where, when adjacent ferrite grains are present in the steel microstructure and the crystal misorientation between one ferrite grain and the other ferrite grain is 15 or more, the adjacent grains are assumed to be grains different from each other.

An apparatus for forging a hollow body from a pre-perforated hollow block includes forging tools that can be driven radially in relation to a forging axis, a clamping head which is displaceable on a guide bed in the direction of the forging axis and includes collet chucks for the hollow block, and a mandrel carriage which is arranged on the side of the clamping head facing away from forging tools, which is displaceable independently of the clamping head along the guide bed, and whose mandrel bar provided with the forging mandrel penetrates the clamping head coaxially to the forging axis. In order to provide advantageous constructional conditions the mandrel carriage includes an axial actuating drive for the mandrel bar and can be coupled in a tension-proof manner to the clamping head.

Provided is a mandrel which is inserted into a pipe material when the pipe material is bent, the mandrel including: a core member having a rod-shaped main body portion and a small-diameter portion which is provided on one end side of the main body portion and which is thinner than the main body portion; and a front end member which is provided on one end side of the core member and which is formed integrally with the core member so as to cover the small-diameter portion.

Provided is a mandrel which is inserted into a pipe material when the pipe material is bent, the mandrel including: a core member having a rod-shaped main body portion and a small-diameter portion which is provided on one end side of the main body portion and which is thinner than the main body portion; and a front end member which is provided on one end side of the core member and which is formed integrally with the core member so as to cover the small-diameter portion.

A skew rolling apparatus with which shape defects in non-steady-state portions at the front and back ends of a seamless pipe shell can be prevented. The skew rolling apparatus includes a skew pierce rolling mill configured to pierce roll a steel material into a seamless pipe shell, and a skew outside-diameter mill following the skew piercing mill in a pass direction of the seamless pipe shell in the skew rolling apparatus. The skew rolling apparatus satisfies specified formulae.

A skew rolling apparatus with which shape defects in non-steady-state portions at the front and back ends of a seamless pipe shell can be prevented. The skew rolling apparatus includes a skew pierce rolling mill configured to pierce roll a steel material into a seamless pipe shell, and a skew outside-diameter mill following the skew piercing mill in a pass direction of the seamless pipe shell in the skew rolling apparatus. The skew rolling apparatus satisfies specified formulae.

The present invention relates to a plant 10 for rolling a seamless tube. The plant comprises a rotary piercer 20 which is designed to pierce a billet 11 pressed against a plug 22 mounted on a rod so as to obtain a pierced blank 12. The rod is connected to a thrust block 26 designed to oppose the axial thrust which is produced on the rod during piercing. The plant also comprises a longitudinal mill 30 which is designed to roll the pierced blank 12 on a mandrel 32 so as to obtain a semi-finished tube 13. The mandrel is connected to a retaining block 34 designed to impart to the mandrel a predetermined speed during rolling. In the plant according to the invention the thrust block 26 and the retaining block 34 are formed by a single thrust/retaining block 36.

The invention also relates to a method for rolling a seamless tube.

The present invention relates to a plant 10 for rolling a seamless tube. The plant comprises a rotary piercer 20 which is designed to pierce a billet 11 pressed against a plug 22 mounted on a rod so as to obtain a pierced blank 12. The rod is connected to a thrust block 26 designed to oppose the axial thrust which is produced on the rod during piercing. The plant also comprises a longitudinal mill 30 which is designed to roll the pierced blank 12 on a mandrel 32 so as to obtain a semi-finished tube 13. The mandrel is connected to a retaining block 34 designed to impart to the mandrel a predetermined speed during rolling. In the plant according to the invention the thrust block 26 and the retaining block 34 are formed by a single thrust/retaining block 36.

The invention also relates to a method for rolling a seamless tube.

The present invention relates to a compact plant 10 for rolling a seamless tube. The plant comprises a rotary piercer 20 which defines a rolling axis X.sub.PR and is designed to pierce a billet 11 pressed against a plug 22 mounted on a rod so as to obtain a pierced blank 12. The rod is connected to a thrust block 26 designed to oppose the axial thrust during piercing. The plant also comprises a longitudinal mill 30 which defines a rolling axis X.sub.LL and is designed to roll the pierced blank 12 on a mandrel 32 so as to obtain a semi-finished tube 13. The mandrel is connected to a retaining block 34 designed to impart to the mandrel a predetermined speed during rolling. In the plant 10 according to the invention the rolling axes X.sub.PR and X.sub.LL coincide. The invention also relates to a method for rolling a seamless tube.