Rolling mill coil-forming laying head with unistructural path and deflector guide trough support

Abstract

A rolling mill coil-forming laying head apparatus includes a driven rotating quill that discharges elongated material into an elongated path hollow structure, such as a laying head pipe and a downstream deflector guide trough. The path and deflector guide trough structures are supported by a unistructural permanently-formed housing having integral elongated hollow pathway structure, deflector guide trough, and quill mounting support extensions formed therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A support apparatus for an elongated hollow pathway structure that retains and transports elongated materials in a rolling mill coil-forming laying head system comprising a unistructural permanently-formed housing having integral elongated hollow pathway structure, deflector guide trough, and quill mounting support extensions formed therein. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  comprising a generally cylindrical hollow housing having an outer circumference with the extension portions projecting radially therefrom. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  comprising a hubless housing. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  comprising a hubless housing. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  comprising permanently joined fabricated components. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the fabricated components permanently joined by welds. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  comprising a casting. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  comprising a metal casting. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  comprising a plastic casting. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  comprising a reinforced composite. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the deflector guide trough support extension adapted for coupling to replaceable deflector guide trough segments. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the integral elongated hollow pathway structure support extension adapted for coupling to replaceable elongated hollow pathway structures including laying head pipes. 
     
     
         13 . A roiling mill coil-forming laying head system comprising:
 a driven rotating quill;   a unistructural permanently-formed housing having integral elongated hollow pathway structure, deflector guide trough, and quill mounting support extensions formed therein;   an elongated hollow pathway structure that retains and transports elongated materials, coupled to the elongated hollow pathway support extension; and   a deflector guide trough coupled to the deflector guide trough support extension.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , comprising a generally cylindrical hollow housing having an outer circumference with the support extensions projecting radially therefrom. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , comprising a hubless housing. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , the housing comprising permanently joined fabricated components. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , the housing comprising a casting. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , the housing comprising a reinforced composite 
     
     
         19 . A support apparatus for an elongated hollow pathway structure that retains and transports elongated materials in a rolling mill coil-forming laying head system comprising a unistructural permanently-formed housing having integral elongated hollow pathway structure, deflector guide trough, and quill mounting support extensions formed therein, the housing formed from welded fabricated metal components. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , the deflector guide trough support extension adapted for coupling to replaceable deflector guide trough segments.