METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING METALLIC STRIP Russian patent published in 1998 - IPC

FIELD: process and equipment for rolling variable-thickness metallic strip used, for example as member of wiper unit of motor vehicle windshield. SUBSTANCE: blank with constant thickness and width is passed at temperature lower than 900 C between pair of shaping rollers mounted one opposite to another. Distance between rollers is changed for variably deforming strip along it in order to make variable-thickness strip. Rollers have parallel axes, one of which is fixed and another may move towards first and from it. Shaped strip whose thickness varies at least as 2:1 is subjected to variable heat treatment. Power applied to strip for heat treatment changes according to strip thickness. Apparatus according to preferable variant of invention includes pair of rollers, each roller is supported by bearing assemblies arranged between its ends what provides extending terminal portion. Rollers are mutually spaced in such a way that their overlapped end portions define rolling zone between rollers. EFFECT: enhanced efficiency of production process of variable-thickness metallic strip. 32 cl, 3 dwg