BEARING SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR A ROLL SUBMERGED IN A MOLTEN METAL COATING BATH

摘要

The invention includes a vessel (24) for containing a bath (28) of molt en coating metal such as zinc, a sink roll (30) submerged into the bath definin g a path of travel for a metal strip (12) through the bath with the strip applyi ng force to the roll as a result of tensile load on the strip and a pair of stabilizi ng rolls (32). Sink roll (30) is supported by a pair of spaced arms (36) and each stabilizing roll (32) is supported by a pair of spaced arms (44). Each roll has a cylindrical body (52) having an outer surface for being in contact with stri p (12) and a trunnion (54) projecting axially from each end of the roll body. Each arm (36) has an upper end (38) and a lower end (40), the upper ends being mounted at positions (42) above the vessel and the lower ends for being submerged into the bath. Each lower end of the arms includes means (58) for supporting the roll and means (56) for restraining lateral thrust of the rol l. The support means includes an oversized opening (59), a ceramic wear resistant bearing (68) mounted within the opening and a cylindrical sleeve (66) mounte d onto each of the trunnions. Each sleeve has an outer wear resistant surface (72). Each of the sleeve mounted trunnions is positioned within and supporte d by one of the openings. Restraining means (56) includes a stop surface (60) disposed adjacent to the outer end of the trunnion. The bearing surface is a t least as wide ass the width of the sleeve and the distance between the stop surfaces is greater than the over all length of the roll. This insures that the full width of the outer surface of the sleeve is supported by the bearing during coating of the strip.