Rolling mill with closed frames and with a control system for continuously and rapidly adjusting the roll gap

Claim 1

IN A ROLLING MILL COMPRISING TWO SOLID, STIFF FRAMES CONSISTING OF AN UPPER AND A LOWER TRAVERSE CONNECTED BY UPRIGHT COLUMNS, A PAIR OF CHOCKS MOUNTED IN THE FRAMES AND ROLLS ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN THE CHOCKS AND SPACED FROM EACH OTHER TO FORM A SUITABLE ROLL GAP, IN COMBINATION AN ELASTIC METALLIC MEMBER DISPOSED IN EACH FRAME BETWEEN AT LEAST ONE CHOCK AND A TRAVERSE OF THE FRAME, MEANS FOR HYDRAULICALLY PRE-STRESSING THE FRAMES AND SAID ELASTIC MEMBERS TO A PRE-DETERMINED STRESSING FORCE PRIOR TO A ROLLING OPERATION, A MEASURING DEVICE FOR DETECTING AND SIGNALLING THE ACTUAL AXIAL LENGTH OF AT LEAST ONE OF SAID MEMBERS, AND A CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ADJUSTING SAID HYDRAULIC STRESSING FORCE IN EACH FRAME IN RESPONSE TO THE SIGNALS OF SAID MEASURING DEVICE TO KEEP THE AXIAL LENGTH OF SAID MEMBERS CONSTANT.