Cooling device for a rolling mill work roll

1. A cooling device for a work roll in a rolling mill, said device comprising:

a manifold housing having a generally concave inner edge configured and dimensioned to surround a surface area of the work roll;

first means for applying a liquid coolant to said surface area via first outlets arrayed along the inner edge of said housing; and

second means for simultaneously applying pressurized gas to said surface area via second outlets also arrayed along the inner edge of said housing, wherein

said first nozzles are located in parallel first planes, and said second nozzles are located in a second plane between and parallel to said first planes, and wherein said first nozzles are alternately arranged in a staggered relationship on opposite sides of said second plane.

2. The cooling device of claim 1 wherein said liquid coolant is water and said pressurized gas is compressed air.

3. The cooling device of claim 1 wherein said manifold housing comprises a modular assembly of exterior first sections sandwiching an interior second section therebetween, said first means comprising a network of first grooves in interior surfaces of said first sections, and said second means comprises a network of second grooves in a surface of said second section.

4. The cooling device of claim 3 wherein said second grooves are closed by an internal cover plate.

5. The cooling device of claim 3 wherein said internal cover plate also closes the first grooves in the interior surface of one of said first sections.

6. The cooling device of claim 5 wherein the first grooves of the other of said first sections are closed by said second section.

7. A cooling device for a work roll in a rolling mill, said apparatus comprising:

a manifold housing having a generally concave inner edge configured and dimensioned to surround a surface area of the work roll, said housing comprising exterior first sections sandwiching an interior second section therebetween;

first means comprising networks of first grooves on interior surfaces of said first sections for applying a liquid coolant to said surface area via first outlets arrayed along the inner edge of said housing; and

second means comprising a network of second grooves on said interior second section for simultaneously applying a pressurized gas to said surface area via second outlets also arrayed along the inner edge of said housing.

8. A method of cooling a work roll in a rolling mill, said method comprising:

applying a liquid coolant to a surface area of the work roll; and

simultaneously applying a pressurized gas to the same surface area.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said liquid coolant is water and said pressurized gas is compresses air.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said liquid coolant is applied to said surface area at spaced locations in two parallel first planes, and wherein said compressed gas is applied to said surface area in a second plane between and parallel to said first planes.

11. A cooling device for a work roll in a rolling mill, said device comprising:

a manifold housing having a generally concave inner edge configured and dimensioned to surround a surface area of the work roll;

first means for applying a liquid coolant to said surface area via first outlets arrayed along the inner edge of said housing; and

second means for simultaneously applying pressurized gas to said surface area via second outlets also arrayed along the inner edge of said housing, wherein

said manifold housing comprises a modular assembly of exterior first sections sandwiching an interior second section therebetween, said first means comprising a network of first grooves in interior surfaces of said first sections, and said second means comprises a network of second grooves in a surface of said second section.