The rolling of metal belts.

A new method of producing thin-walled seamless metal belts is discussed. The method incorporates the principles of float-rolling (CBS rolling), whereby metal strip is pinched between a small diameter floating roll and two large diameter back-up rolls which rotate with different peripheral speeds. Whereas in conventional rolling reduction may be controlled by regulating the roil gap opening, in float-rolling reduction is insensitive to changes in roll gap opening and is controlled instead by varying the speed differential between the two back-up rolls. In this report, the relationships between reduction and roll speeds, roll gap opening, and strip tension are described, and some observations of rolling loads and torques are reported. Several problems associated with the production of belts by the float-rolling method are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]