Apparatus and method for leveling metal strip

Claim 1

In an apparatus for leveling an elongated metal strip having a given width including means for pulling said strip under tension along a generally longitudinal path, first and second generally cylindrical rolls extending transversely across said strip and on opposite sides of said path, each of said rolls having a cylindrical outer surface concentric to a longitudinally extending axis, and means for rotatably supporting each of said first and second rolls for rotation about said axes and in contact with said strip to define a flexing pattern for said strip as it moves along said path, the improvement comprising: said roll supporting means each including a cylindrical recess extending parallel to said roll axis and having a fixed inner cylindrical surface generally matching said outer cylindrical surface of one of said rolls, said inner cylindrical surface being substantially less than 360* to expose a position of said one roll and being slightly larger than said outer cylindrical surface to define an elongated arcuate space extending along said one roll and having first and second circumferentially spaced ends, said space having a generally uniform radial thickness determined by the difference in the size of said inner and outer cylindrical surfaces, said one roll being driven with respect to said inner cylindrical surface in a direction extending from said first Circumferentially spaced end of said space to said second circumferentially spaced end of said space, and means for continuously forcing a fluid into said space adjacent said first circumferentially spaced end whereby said fluid is dynamically forced along said space by rotation of one roll in said recess.