Manufacturing laying head pipe path below transformation temperature

Abstract

A rolling mill coil-forming laying head system elongated hollow pathway Or pipe structure defining an inner surface for transport of elongated materials is formed by the process of bending the pathway structure at near constant temperature, such as at near ambient temperature, preferably without application of external heat. In some embodiments, the method utilizes an automated bending machine, preferably under computer numerical control (CNC) that executes stored bending constructions to conform the pathway structure to a desired profile. The bending instructions may be modified so that the actual bending profile conforms to a desired profile. In this manner subsequent path structures may be formed, that have uniform physical properties.

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 defining an inner surface for transport of elongated materials therein, the apparatus formed by the process of bending the pathway structure below its constituent material transition temperature. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  having an inner layer defining the inner surface and a retention layer for retaining the inner layer, formed by the process of nesting the inner and outer layers prior to the bending step. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the elongated hollow pathway structure comprising a segmented construction formed by the process of laterally abutting adjoining segments prior to the bending step. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the bending step performed on an automated bending machine. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the bending step performed at near ambient temperature. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the bending step performed below 572° F. (˜300° C.). 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for retention and transport of elongated materials in a rolling mill coil-forming laying head system comprising an elongated hollow pathway structure defining an inner surface for transport of elongated materials therein, with uniform physical properties along its length. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , the uniform physical properties comprising uniform hardness along the inner surface. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , the uniform physical properties selected from the group consisting of hardness, surface finish, center of rotating mass, dimensions, melting temperature and weight per unit length. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , the pathway structure comprising a pipe having an outer diameter between approximately 50 mm-60 mm (1.97 in-2.36 in) and an inner diameter between approximately 10 mm-40 mm (0.39 in-1.57 in). 
     
     
         11 . A method for forming an apparatus for retention and transport of elongated materials in a rolling mill coil-forming laying head system, comprising:
 providing an elongated hollow pathway structure defining an inner surface for transport of elongated materials therein; and   bending the pathway structure below its constituent material transition temperature.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , the bending step performed at near ambient temperature. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , the bending step performed without applying external heat to the pathway structure. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , the bending step performed on an automated bending machine that executes stored bending instructions to conform the pathway structure to a desired profile. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , the pathway structure comprising a pipe having an outer diameter between approximately 50 mm-60 mm (1.97 in-2.36 in) and an inner diameter between approximately 10 mm-40 mm (0.39 in-1.57 in). 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising after the bending step:
 comparing the bent pathway structure actual bent profile with the desired profile;   modifying the stored bending instructions to correct for differences between the respective profiles, if the actual bent profile does not conform to the desired profile;   repeating the bending, comparing and instruction modifying steps until the pathway structure actual bent profile conforms to the desired profile;   storing modified second bending instructions that conform the actual and desired profiles; and   bending a plurality of pathway structures with the second bending instructions.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , the bending step performed at near ambient temperature. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , the bending step performed without applying external heat to the pathway structure. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising bending the plurality of pathway structures with uniform physical properties along each of their respective lengths, selected from the group consisting of hardness, surface finish, center of rotating mass, dimensions, melting temperature and weight per unit length. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , the pathway structure comprising a pipe having an outer diameter between approximately 50 mm-60 mm (1.97 in-2.36 in) and an inner diameter between approximately 10 mm-40 mm (0.39 in-1.57 in).