Guide with adjustable nose cone

Abstract

A guide is adapted to be positioned for encirclement by a helical formation of rod rings free falling from the delivery end of a conveyor. The guide comprises a vertically projecting mandrel terminating at its upper end in a nose cone. The nose cone has a horizontal profile defined in part by at least one element having an outer edge separated by a variable radial distance from a central axis of the mandrel.

Claims

1. A guide adapted to be positioned for encirclement by a helical formation of rod rings free falling from the delivery end of a conveyor, said guide comprising: a vertically projecting mandrel terminating at its upper end in a nose cone, said nose cone being non-rotatable and having a horizontal profile when viewed from above defined by a plurality of angularly spaced elements, each of said elements having an outer edge separated by a radial distance from a central axis of said mandrel; adjustment means for changing said horizontal profile by increasing the radial distance of at least one of the said elements; and said at least one element is adjustably mounted on said nose cone, and wherein said adjustment means serves to shift said at least one element outwardly from a central axis of said mandrel.

2. The guide of claim 1 wherein said at least one element is located on a downstream side of said nose cone.

3. The guide of claim 1 wherein said adjustment means serves to enlarge said horizontal profile in the direction of delivery of rings from the end of said conveyor.

4. The guide of claim 1 wherein said at least one element is pivotally adjustable.

5. A guide adapted to be positioned for encirclement by a helical formation of product rings free falling from the delivery end of a conveyor, said guide comprising: a vertically projecting mandrel having a non-rotatable nose cone at its upper end defined by plurality of angularly spaced fins extending radially from a central axis of said mandrel, said fins defining a horizontal profile as viewed from above; and adjustment means for enlarging said horizontal profile in the direction of delivery of rings from the end of said conveyor by shifting at least one of said fins outwardly from said central axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a guide, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is a plan view of the guide, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken respectively on lines 3-3 and 4-4 of FIG. 2;

(4) FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a guide, in accordance with an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

(5) FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of a portion of a conventional rolling mill.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) The components described hereinafter as making up the various embodiments are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many suitable components that would perform the same or a similar function as well as the materials described herein are intended to be embraced within the scope of embodiments of the present invention.

(7) Referring now to the figures, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the views, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

(8) With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a guide 24 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is adapted to be positioned for encirclement by a helical formation of rod rings R free falling from the delivery end of a conveyor 26. The guide 24 comprises a vertically projecting mandrel 28 terminating at its upper end in a nose cone 30. The nose cone includes a plurality of angularly spaced elements, preferably in the form of fins 32, extending radially with respect to a central axis A of the mandrel 28.

(9) The fins 32 may be of the type depicted in FIG. 3, with rims 34 having outer edges separated by a radial distance D.sub.1 from the mandrel's central axis A. If all the fins are identical, the resulting horizontal profile will be circular, as shown at P.sub.1 in FIG. 2. Profile P.sub.1 may be suitable for guiding rings of certain rod sizes, but may not be suitable for other rod sizes, which may require an enlarged profile.

(10) In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, and in order to accommodate other rod sizes, the horizontal profile of the nose cone may be enlarged by projecting at least one of the fins outwardly from axis A to achieve the altered profile P.sub.2 shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 4, this can be accomplished by providing one of the fins 32 with a radially enlarged rim 34 having an outer edge separated from the mandrel's central axis A by an increased radial distance D.sub.2.

(11) Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5, one of the fins 32 may be pivotally adjustable outwardly by means of a linear actuator 36. The linear actuator may be of many known types, for example and not limtation, hydraulically or pneumatically actuated piston/cylinder units, screw types, etc.

(12) The nose cone's horizontal profile can be preferably enlarged on the downstream side of the nose cone, i.e. and as shown in FIG. 5, in the direction X of delivery of rings R from the conveyor 26.

(13) With an exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1-4, enlargement of the nose cone's horizontal profile may be accomplished during down times of the mill when rings are not free falling from the conveyor 26. But in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 5, the horizontal profile of the nose cone 30 can be adjusted both during mill down times as well as when the mill is in operation and rings are free falling from the end of the conveyor 26 into the reforming chamber.

(14) While exemplary embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, modifications, additions and deletions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and its equivalents, as set forth in the following claims.