Controlled deflection roll

Claim 2

A controlled deflection roll comprising: a stationary roll support member; a roll shell mounted to rotate about said stationary roll support member; said roll shell defining an interior space and having an inner roll shell diameter; a predetermined number of support elements supporting said roll shell at said stationary roll support member; a predetermined number of rotatable traveling rings arranged to said interior space defined by said roll shell; each one of said predetermined number of rotatable traveling rings being operatively associated with a related one of said predetermined number of support elements; each said rotatable traveling ring defining an outer traveling ring diameter which is smaller than said inner roll shell diameter by a predetermined amount; and said rotatable traveling rings being loosely inserted into said interior space defined by said roll shell such that said traveling rings are rotatable about said stationary roll support member independently of said roll shell.

Claim 3

The controlled deflection roll as defined in claim 1, wherein: each one of said predetermined number of rotatable traveling rings defines a related inner traveling ring surface constituting a travel path for said related support element operatively associated therewith.

Claim 4

The controlled deflection roll as defined in claim 1, wherein: said roll shell has a predetermined wall thickness; and each one of said predetermined number of rotatable traveling rings having a predetermined wall thickness which is greater than said predetermined wall thickness of said roll shell.

Claim 5

The controlled deflection roll as defined in claim 1, wherein: said predetermined number of rotatable traveling rings is arranged in said interior space defined by said roll shell in densely packed relationship with small intermediate spaces formed between individual ones of said rotatable traveling rings.

Claim 6

The controlled deflection roll as defined in claim 1, wherein: said predetermined number of rotatable traveling rings is arranged in said interior space defined by said roll shell such that individual ones of said rotatable traveling rings are arranged in spaced relationship from each other.

Claim 7

The controlled deflection roll as defined in claim 1, wherein: each one of said predetermined number of support elements constitutes a hydraulic support element.

Claim 8

The controlled deflection roll as defined in claim 1, further including: a pressure-fluid supply; a related inner traveling ring surface defined by each one of said predetermined number of rotatable traveling rings; and each said related support element constituting a hydrostatic support element comprising a bearing surface in flow communication with said pressure fluid supply and cooperating with said inner traveling ring surface of the operatively associated rotatable traveling ring.

Claim 9

A controlled deflection roll comprising: a stationary roll support member; a roll shell mounted to rotate about said stationary roll support member; said roll shell defining an interior space and having an inner roll shell diameter; a predetermined number of support elements supporting said roll shell at said stationary roll support member; a predetermined number of traveling rings arranged in said interior space defined by said roll shell; each one of said predetermined number of traveling rings being operatively associated with a related one of said predetermined number of support elements; each said traveling ring defining an outer traveling ring diameter which is smaller than said inner roll shell diameter by a predetermined amount; said traveling rings being loosely inserted into said interior space defined by said roll shell such that said traveling rings are rotatable independently of said roll shell; a predetermined number of annular guide elements; and each said guide element being operatively associated with a related one of said traveling rings in order to retain the same in a related predetermined position.

Claim 10

A controlled deflection roll comprising: a stationary roll support member; a roll shell mounted to rotate about said stationary roll support member; said roll shell defining an interior space and having an inner roll shell diameter; a predetermined number of support elements supporting said roll shell at said stationary roll support member; a predetermined number of traveling rings arranged in said interior space defined by said roll shell; each one of said predetermined number of traveling rings being operatively associated with a related one of said predetermined number of support elements; each said traveling ring defining an outer traveling ring diameter which is smaller than said inner roll shell diameter by a predetermined amount; said traveling rings being loosely inserted into said interior space defined by said roll shell such that said traveling rings are rotatable independently of said roll shell; a predetermined number of annular guide elements; and each said guide element being operatively associated with a related one of said traveling rings in order to retain the same in a related predetermined position.

Claim 11

The controlled deflection roll as defined in claim 8, wherein: said roll shell defines an inner roll shell surface; and said predetermined number of annular guide elements being disposed at said inner roll shell surface defined by said roll shell.

Claim 12

The controlled deflection roll as defined in claim 8, wherein: each one of said predetermined number of traveling rings defines an outer traveling ring surface; and a related one of said predetermined number of annular guide elements being disposed at said outer traveling ring surface.

Claim 13

A controlled deflection roll comprising: a stationary roll support member; a roll shell mounted to rotate about said stationary roll support member; said roll shell defining a interior space and having an inner roll shell diameter; a predetermined number of support elements supporting said roll shell at said stationary roll support member; a predetermined number of traveling rings arranged in said interior space defined by said roll shell; each one of said predetermined number of traveling rings being operatively associated with a related one of said predetermined number of support elements; each said traveling ring defining an outer traveling ring diameter which is smaller than said inner roll shell diameter by a predetermined amount; said traveling rings being loosely inserted into said interior space defined by said roll shell such that said traveling rings are rotatable independently of said roll shell; an inner roll shell surface defined at said roll shell; a predetermined number of annular guide elements being disposed at said inner roll shell surface of said roll shell; each one of said predetermined number of traveling rings defining an outer traveling ring surface; each one of a predetermined number of further annular guide elements being disposed at said outer traveling ring surface of a related one of said predetermined number of traveling rings; and said predetermined number of annular guide elements and said predetermined number of further annular guide elements cooperating such that each one of said traveling rings is retained in a related predetermined position.

Claim 14

A controlled deflection roll comprising: a stationary roll support member; a roll shell mounted to rotate about said stationary roll support member; said roll shell defining a interior space and having an inner roll shell diameter; a predetermined number of support elements supporting said roll shell at said stationary roll support member; a predetermined number of traveling rings arranged in said interior space defined by said roll shell; each one of said predetermined number of traveling rings being operatively associated with a related one of said predetermined number of support elements; each said traveling ring defining an outer traveling ring diameter which is smaller than said inner roll shell diameter by a predetermined amount; said traveling rings being loosely inserted into said interior space defined by said roll shell such that said traveling rings are rotatable independently of said roll shell; an inner roll shell surface defined at said roll shell; a predetermined number of annular guide elements being disposed at said inner roll shell surface of said roll shell; each one of said predetermined number of traveling rings defining an outer traveling ring surface; each one of a predetermined number of further annular guide elements being disposed at said outer traveling ring surface of a related one of said predetermined number of traveling rings; and said predetermined number of annular guide elements and said predetermined number of further annular guide elements cooperating such that each one of said traveling rings is retained in a related predetermined position.

Claim 15

The controlled deflection roll as defined in claim 11, wherein: each one of said predetermined number of annular guide elements cooperates with a related one of said predetermined number of further annular guide elements in a groove-and-tongue relationship.

Claim 16

A controlled deflection roll comprising: a stationary roll support member; a roll shell mounted to rotate about said stationary roll support member; said roll shell defining an interior space and having an inner roll shell diameter; a predetermined number of support elements supporting said roll shell at said stationary roll support member; a predetermined number of traveling rings arranged in said interior space defined by said roll shell; each one of said predetermined number of traveling rings being operatively associated with a related one of said predetermined number of support elements; each said traveling ring defining an outer traveling ring diameter which is smaller than said inner roll shell diameter by a predetermined amount; said traveling rings being loosely inserted into said interior space defined by said roll sheel such that said traveling rings are rotatable independently of said roll shell; said predetermined number of traveling rings being arranged in said interior space defined by said roll shell such that individual ones of said traveling rings are arranged in spaced relationship from each other; a predetermined number of spacer elements provided intermediate said traveling rings; and said spacer elements being operatively associated with said traveling rings in order to retain the same in a predetermined position.

Claim 17

A controlled deflection roll comprising: a stationary roll support member; a roll shell mounted to rotate about said stationary roll support member; said roll shell defining an interior space and having an inner roll shell diameter; a predetermined number of support elements supporting said roll shell at said stationary roll support member; a predetermined number of traveling rings arranged in said interior space defined by said roll shell; each one of said predetermined number of traveling rings being operatively associated with a related one of said predetermined number of support elements; each said traveling ring defining an outer traveling ring diameter which is smaller than said inner roll shell diameter by a predetermined amount; said traveling rings being loosely inserted into said interior space defined by said roll sheel such that said traveling rings are rotatable independently of said roll shell; said predetermined number of traveling rings being arranged in said interior space defined by said roll shell such that individual ones of said traveling rings are arranged in spaced relationship from each other; a predetermined number of spacer elements provided intermediate said traveling rings; and said spacer elements being operatively associated with said traveling rings in order to retain the same in a predetermined position.

Claim 18

The controlled deflection roll as defined in claim 13, wherein: said spacer elements constitute elastic spacer elements.

Claim 19

The controlled deflection roll as defined in claim 14, wherein: said elastic spacer elements constitute rubber-elastic spacer elements.

Claim 20

The controlled deflection roll as defined in claim 14, wherein: said elastic spacer elements constitute metallic elements bent in such a manner as to form a spring profile.

Claim 21

A controlled deflection roll comprising: a stationary roll support member; a roll shell mounted to rotate about said stationary roll support member; said roll shell defining an interior space and having an inner roll shell diameter; a predetermined number of support elements supporting said roll shell at said stationary roll support member; a predetermined number of traveling rings arranged in said interior space defined by said roll shell; each one of said predetermined number of traveling rings being operatively associated with a related one of said predetermined number of support elements; each said traveling ring defining an outer traveling ring diameter which is smaller than said inner roll shell diameter by a predetermined amount; said traveling rings being loosely inserted into said interior space defined by said roll shell such that said traveling rings are rotatable independently of said roll shell; and a helically-extending slot provided in said roll shell.

Claim 22

A controlled deflection roll comprising: a stationary roll support member; a roll shell mounted to rotate about said stationary roll support member; said roll shell defining an interior space and having an inner roll shell diameter; a predetermined number of support elements supporting said roll shell at said stationary roll support member; a predetermined number of traveling rings arranged in said interior space defined by said roll shell; each one of said predetermined number of traveling rings being operatively associated with a related one of said predetermined number of support elements; each said traveling ring defining an outer traveling ring diameter which is smaller than said inner roll shell diameter by a predetermined amount; said traveling rings being loosely inserted into said interior space defined by said roll shell such that said traveling rings are rotatable independently of said roll shell; and a helically-extending slot provided in said roll shell.