Horizontal- and vertical-roll force measuring system

Claim 1

Apparatus for measuring horizontal- and vertical-roll forces exerted on a workpiece in a universal rolling mill, comprising: (a) first, second, third and fourth extensometer means adapted to be mounted in pairs along a common neutral axis on opposing strain sites on first and second rolling mill posts, each said extensometer means having a separate output signal which varies proportional to the total strain at a given strain site as a function of horizontal-roll force, vertical-roll force and a zero drift component, (b) first circuit means responsive to a zero switching signal for automatically and independently zeroing each extensometer output signal to correct for the zero drift component associated with a given site, (c) second circuit means for resolving the four zeroed extensometer output signals into simultaneous horizontal- and vertical-roll force signals associated with both said mill posts, said second circuit means adapted to produce said zero switching signal during the absence of the workpiece in said mill, and (d) means for utilizing the signals from the second circuit means to simultaneously determine horizontal- and vertical-roll forces in said universal rolling mill.