Device for measuring slab width

Abstract

This disclosure relates to the field of slab measurement technology, and more particularly to a device for measuring the width of a slab. The device includes a body, a telescopic component, a laser measuring unit, a first reference component, a second reference component, and a support component. The telescopic component is connected to the body and extends and retracts along the extension direction of the body. The laser measuring unit and the first reference component are disposed on opposite sides of the body. The second reference component is connected to the extended end of the telescopic component. The support component, connected to the body and used to support the slab surface, has a measuring reference surface that blocks the laser beam from the laser measuring unit. This disclosure, through an innovative design combining mechanical reference positioning with laser dynamic compensation, solves the pain points of low accuracy, poor adaptability, and high cost in traditional manual caliper measurement of slabs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of slab technology, and more particularly to an apparatus for measuring the width of a slab. Background Technology

[0002] Laser width measurement is used to measure the width of slabs in heating furnaces. The principle is that when a laser beam hits the side of the slab, the width can be calculated by the time difference and the laser's propagation speed. This method can accurately measure normal slabs. However, for specialty steels, flame cleaning is often required, which makes the slab side as bright as a mirror. When the laser beam hits the side, refraction occurs, leading to inaccurate width measurements.

[0003] When the width measurement is inaccurate, the operator uses a steel ruler to measure on-site. Since the slab is often heated to over 400°C, there is a risk of burns. Furthermore, the operator cannot closely examine the scale of the steel ruler, resulting in a large error. The steel ruler may also deform during the measurement process, leading to measurement deviations. Utility Model Content

[0004] This disclosure aims to address at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art or related technologies.

[0005] To this end, this disclosure provides an apparatus for measuring the width of a slab, comprising a body, a telescopic member, a laser measuring unit, a first reference member, a second reference member, and a support member. The telescopic member is connected to the body and extends and retracts along the extension direction of the body. The laser measuring unit and the first reference member are disposed on opposite sides of the body. The second reference member is connected to the extended end of the telescopic member. The support member is connected to the body and is used to support the surface of the slab. The second reference member has a measuring reference surface, which is used to block the laser beam of the laser measuring unit. The abutment surface is used to contact the side of the slab, and the measuring reference surface and the abutment surface are coplanar.

[0006] In one feasible implementation, the laser measuring unit includes a laser rangefinder, a positioning slide, and a positioning slider. The positioning slide is arranged along the extension direction of the main body, the laser rangefinder is connected to the positioning slider, and the positioning slider is slidably connected to the positioning slide.

[0007] In one feasible implementation, a first positioning indicator mark is provided on the positioning slide, and a second positioning indicator mark is provided on the first reference member. When the first positioning indicator mark and the second positioning indicator mark are opposite each other, the laser rangefinder is located at the reference positioning point.

[0008] In one feasible implementation, the second reference member is configured as a rectangular plate, and the center point of the second reference member is rotatably connected to the end of the telescopic member.

[0009] In one feasible implementation, the telescopic member includes a multi-section sleeve, a throttle, a reel, and a pull cable. The telescopic member extends outward from inside the body. The reel is disposed inside the body. The pull cable is wound around the reel and connected to the multi-section sleeve. The throttle is used to apply a force to retract the multi-section sleeve using the pull cable.

[0010] In one feasible implementation, the telescopic member is configured as an electrically operated telescopic rod.

[0011] In one feasible implementation, the first reference member and the support member are configured as rectangular prisms, the first reference member and the support member are spaced apart along the extension direction of the body, and the central axis of the first reference member and the support member are opposite to each other.

[0012] In one feasible implementation, a first support base is provided at the end of the first reference member away from the body, and a second support base is provided at the end of the support member away from the body. The first support base is coplanar with the side of the first reference member facing the second reference member.

[0013] In one feasible implementation, the contact surface between the second support base and the slab is configured as an arc-shaped surface.

[0014] In one feasible implementation, the lengths of the first reference member, the second reference member, and the support member are adjustable.

[0015] Compared with existing technologies, this disclosure has at least the following beneficial effects: the first reference component and the laser measuring part are placed on both sides of the body to form a fixed reference, and the second reference component dynamically contacts the edge of the slab through a telescopic component. Its measuring reference surface accurately blocks the laser beam, eliminating errors caused by the surface reflection characteristics of the target object. This disclosure solves the pain points of low accuracy, poor adaptability, and high cost in traditional manual caliper measurement of slabs through an innovative design that combines mechanical reference positioning with laser dynamic compensation. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this disclosure.

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure or the prior art, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments. The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Furthermore, the same reference numerals denote the same parts throughout the drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 This is one of the three-dimensional structural schematic diagrams of this disclosure; Figure 2 This is the second schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure disclosed herein; Figure 3 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the structure disclosed herein.

[0019] in, Figures 1 to 3 The correspondence between the reference numerals and component names in the attached drawings is as follows: 100 - First positioning indicator mark; 200 - Second positioning indicator mark; 1-Main body; 2-Telescopic component; 21-Multi-section sleeve; 22-Thrust handle; 23-Cable reel; 24-Pull cable; 3-Laser measuring unit; 31-Laser rangefinder; 32-Positioning slide; 33-Positioning slider; 4-First reference component; 41-First support base; 5-Second reference component; 51-Measuring reference surface; 6-Support component; 61-Second support base. Detailed Implementation

[0020] To better understand the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this disclosure, the solutions disclosed herein will be further described below. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described herein can be combined with each other.

[0021] Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a full understanding of this disclosure, but this disclosure may also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein; obviously, the embodiments in the specification are only some, and not all, of the embodiments of this disclosure.

[0022] Currently, when slab width measurements are inaccurate, operators use steel rulers for on-site measurement. However, since slabs are frequently heated to over 400°C, this poses a risk of burns. Furthermore, operators cannot closely examine the ruler's markings, leading to significant errors. Deformation of the steel ruler during measurement also contributes to measurement inaccuracies. Specifically, existing measurement methods have many problems. For example, the surface temperature of the slab is often measured above 400℃, and the heat radiation can penetrate the heat insulation mask, which can easily cause burns if measured for a long time. When the steel ruler is placed flat on the slab, the 0 position cannot be aligned with the edge of the slab, resulting in measurement deviation. The steel ruler cannot be kept perpendicular to the width of the slab when it is placed, which also causes measurement deviation. Operators cannot check the measured dimensions up close on the hot slab surface, resulting in reading deviation. After long-term use, the surface of the steel ruler is deformed and blackened, which affects the measurement and reading of the length.

[0023] Based on this, the present disclosure provides a device for measuring the width of a slab. The first reference element 4 and the laser measuring unit 3 are positioned on opposite sides of the main body to form a fixed reference. The second reference element 5 dynamically contacts the edge of the slab through the telescopic element 2. Its measuring reference surface 51 precisely blocks the laser beam, eliminating errors caused by the surface reflection characteristics of the target object. This disclosure, through an innovative design combining mechanical reference positioning with dynamic laser compensation, solves the pain points of low accuracy, poor adaptability (the slab side becomes mirror-like after flame cleaning), and high cost in traditional manual caliper measurement of slabs.

[0024] The device for measuring the width of a slab will be described in detail below through specific embodiments: Reference Figures 1 to 3 As shown, this disclosure provides a device for measuring the width of a slab, including a body 1, a telescopic member 2, a laser measuring unit 3, a first reference member 4, a second reference member 5, and a support member 6. The telescopic member 2 is connected to the body 1 and extends and retracts along the extension direction of the body 1. The laser measuring unit 3 and the first reference member 4 are disposed on opposite sides of the body 1. The second reference member 5 is connected to the extended end of the telescopic member 2 and connected to the body 1. The support member 6 is used to support the surface of the slab. The second reference member 5 has a measuring reference surface 51, which is used to block the laser beam of the laser measuring unit 3. The abutment surface 52 is used to contact the side of the slab. The measuring reference surface 51 and the abutment surface 52 are coplanar.

[0025] The first reference element 4 and the laser measuring unit 3 are positioned on opposite sides of the main body to form a fixed reference. The second reference element 5 dynamically contacts the edge of the slab through the telescopic element 2, and its measuring reference surface 51 precisely blocks the laser beam, eliminating errors caused by the surface reflection characteristics of the target object. This disclosure solves the pain points of low accuracy, poor adaptability (the side of the slab is as bright as a mirror after flame cleaning) and high cost in traditional manual caliper measurement of slabs through an innovative design that combines mechanical reference positioning with laser dynamic compensation.

[0026] Specifically, the body 1 of this disclosure can be set as a cylinder, cuboid, or other irregular shape. This disclosure specifically sets the body 1 as a hollow cylinder, with a rounded outer surface for easier operation. The hollow part of the body 1 can accommodate the driving structure of the telescopic component 2. Further, the first reference component 4 and the second reference component 5 can be set as a main body or a plate. It should be noted that, to ensure measurement accuracy, the contact surfaces of the first reference component 4 and the second reference component 5 with the slab are set as planes. The laser measuring unit 3 of this disclosure can be configured as a laser rangefinder, distance sensor, etc. This disclosure specifically uses a laser rangefinder. The laser measuring unit 3 and the body 1 can be fixedly connected or detachably connected. This disclosure specifically uses a detachable connection to facilitate future replacement of the laser rangefinder type or maintenance. It is understood that after the laser measuring unit 3 is positioned on the body 1, the initial position of the laser emitter on the laser measuring unit 3 should be on the same plane vertically as the contact surface between the first reference component 4 and the slab, thereby accurately measuring the distance between the contact surfaces of the first reference component 4 and the second reference component 5 and the slab. In use, the first reference piece 4 is first brought into contact with one side of the slab. The body 1 is then allowed to fall naturally so that the support piece 6 is supported on the surface of the slab to complete the reference point positioning. The telescopic piece 2 is then retracted so that the contact surface 52 of the second reference piece 5 is in contact with the other side of the slab. The laser measuring unit 3 is used to measure the specific distance between the second reference piece 5 and the laser measuring unit 3 to obtain the width of the slab.

[0027] In some embodiments, the laser measuring unit 3 includes a laser rangefinder 31, a positioning slide 32, and a positioning slider 33. The positioning slide 32 is arranged along the extending direction of the body 1. The laser rangefinder 31 is connected to the positioning slider 33, and the positioning slider 33 is slidably connected to the positioning slide 32.

[0028] In this embodiment, the sliding design of the laser measuring unit 3 significantly improves the accuracy and adaptability of slab width measurement through the dynamic coupling of mechanical positioning and photoelectric measurement. When the positioning slider 33 slides on the slide rail 32, the laser rangefinder 31 can freely adjust its position along the extension direction of the body. This achieves precise calibration of the laser beam emission point, eliminating system errors caused by installation deviations or optical path offsets. When burrs, warping, or tilting exist at the edge of the slab, the sliding adjustment function allows the laser rangefinder 31 to be fine-tuned to the optimal measurement point, avoiding oblique incidence errors caused by the laser beam not being perpendicular to the slab surface. Furthermore, the laser rangefinder 31 is integrated into the slider 33, reducing the direct corrosion of the optical lens by dust and high-temperature steam. Specifically, the slider 33 can be electrically driven (such as a stepper motor), combined with a field PLC system to achieve remote position control, avoiding the risk of manual approach to the high-temperature slab. This embodiment solves the measurement inaccuracy problem caused by slab edge deformation in high-temperature industrial scenarios by combining adjustable optical path positioning with dynamic calibration, while reducing maintenance costs with modular design.

[0029] In some embodiments, a first positioning indicator mark 100 is provided on the positioning slide 32, and a second positioning indicator mark 200 is provided on the first reference member 4. When the first positioning mark and the second positioning indicator mark 200 are opposite each other, the laser rangefinder 31 is located at the reference positioning point.

[0030] In this embodiment, the positioning slide 32 and the first reference component 4 are different components, and relative positional deviations are easily generated during processing or assembly. The first positioning mark 100 on the slide is aligned with the second mark 200 on the first reference component 4 to achieve precise calibration of the laser beam emission point and eliminate system errors caused by installation deviations or optical path offsets. Operators do not need professional instruments and can complete the reference point calibration by visually aligning the marks, which is suitable for rapid reset after production line maintenance and equipment relocation.

[0031] In some embodiments, the second reference member 5 is configured as a rectangular plate, and the center point of the second reference member 5 is rotatably connected to the end of the telescopic member 2.

[0032] In this embodiment, the central rotating shaft structure allows the second reference member 5 to rotate freely around the end of the telescopic member 2, ensuring that the contact surface 51 always fits against the edge of the slab, thus avoiding laser incident angle deviation caused by fixed installation. Compared to rod-shaped reference members, the rectangular plate structure significantly reduces reference surface jitter caused by equipment vibration.

[0033] In some embodiments, the telescopic member 2 includes a multi-section sleeve 21, a throttle 22, a reel 23, and a pull cable 24. The telescopic member 2 extends outward from inside the body 1. The reel 23 is disposed inside the body 1. The pull cable 24 is wound around the reel 23 and connected to the multi-section sleeve 21. The throttle 22 is used to apply the force of the pull cable 24 to retract the multi-section sleeve 21.

[0034] In this embodiment, the nested design of the multi-section sleeve 21 reduces the volume in the retracted state while ensuring the extended length. The reel 23 winds and stores the pull cable 24, avoiding the space waste of traditional gear and rack structures, and is especially suitable for deployment in the narrow space inside the body 1. The throttle 22 drives the reel 23 to directly wind and unwind the pull cable 24, eliminating the intermediate transmission link. One end of the pull cable 24 is fixed to the innermost sleeve, and the other end is wound around the reel (23), forming a closed-loop tension control. Furthermore, the multi-stage sleeves can be limited by precision slide rails to avoid superposition errors caused by section extension and retraction. In terms of maintenance, the reel 23 and the pull cable 24 are integrated into an independent module, which can be quickly replaced after damage, improving maintenance efficiency. Specifically, one end of the pull cable is connected to the frontmost section of the multi-section sleeve 21. During use, the extension is achieved by manually pulling the multi-section sleeve 21, and the retraction is achieved by the pull cable and the throttle. Figure 3 As shown, the pull wire 24 passes through the multi-section sleeve 21 and through the second reference piece 5 and is fixed by a clamp.

[0035] In some embodiments, the telescopic member 2 is configured as an electrically operated telescopic rod.

[0036] In this embodiment, the telescopic component 2 is configured as an electric telescopic rod, which offers the advantage of highly efficient and precise displacement control compared to manual or mechanical drive solutions. The electric telescopic rod, driven by a motor, achieves millimeter-level stroke control (accuracy ±0.1mm) and supports real-time fine-tuning of the telescopic length. Compared to manual throttle operation, it eliminates human error and is more suitable for high-precision slab edge measurement requirements. Furthermore, when the multi-section sleeve 21 is obstructed, the motor current over-limit triggers a shutdown protection mechanism (such as a built-in temperature controller and current limiter) to prevent sleeve deformation and extend equipment life.

[0037] In some embodiments, the first reference member 4 and the support member 6 are configured as rectangular prisms, the first reference member 4 and the support member 6 are spaced apart along the extension direction of the body 1, and the central axis of the first reference member 4 and the support member 6 are opposite to each other.

[0038] In this embodiment, the central axis of the first reference member 4 and the support member 6 are strictly aligned (coaxiality ≤ 0.05 mm) to construct a virtual guide track for the telescopic member 2: eliminating radial sway during the extension and retraction of the multi-section sleeve 21 and reducing radial runout error.

[0039] In some embodiments, a first support base 41 is provided at the end of the first reference member 4 away from the body 1, and a second support base 61 is provided at the end of the support member 6 away from the body 1. The first support base 41 is coplanar with the side of the first reference member 4 facing the second reference member 5.

[0040] In this embodiment, the first support base 41 and the second support base 61 form a double-sided support, distributing the cantilever load of the telescopic member 2 to two independent force points. This effectively suppresses trajectory fluctuations during scanning by the laser rangefinder 31. Furthermore, the plane of the first support base 41 facing the second reference member 5 is strictly coplanar with the body plane of the first reference member 4 (parallelism ≤ 0.02mm), forming a gapless reference transmission chain, ensuring that the scanning path of the laser rangefinder 31 is error-free with the edge of the slab. Moreover, the support base increases the contact area of ​​the support, eliminating axial sway caused by the tilting of the base during the extension and retraction of the multi-stage sleeve 21.

[0041] In some embodiments, the contact surface between the second support base 61 and the slab is configured as an arc-shaped surface.

[0042] In this embodiment, the contact surface between the second support base 61 and the slab is designed as an arc-shaped surface. Through stress dispersion combined with dynamic bonding, the indentation damage to the slab caused by the traditional planar edges is effectively eliminated. The traditional planar support edges are in line contact with the slab, which easily produces permanent indentations on the surface of the slab at high temperatures. The arc-shaped contact surface transforms the line contact into a surface contact, reducing the pressure to 1 / 5 of that of the planar support, completely avoiding indentation defects. The radius of curvature of the arc (e.g., R=500–1000mm) matches the thermal expansion deformation trend of the slab, allowing the support pressure to diffuse evenly along the normal direction of the arc surface, eliminating local stress concentration.

[0043] In some embodiments, the lengths of the first reference member 4, the second reference member 5, and the support member 6 are adjustable to increase the adaptability of this disclosure. Specifically, the first reference member 4, the second reference member 5, and the support member 6 can be made adjustable in length by adopting segmented screw-connected extension sections or telescopic rods or telescopic plates.

[0044] In this disclosure, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance; the term "multiple" refers to two or more unless otherwise expressly defined. The terms "install," "connect," "link," and "fix" should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connect" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; "link" can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this disclosure according to the specific circumstances.

[0045] In the description of this disclosure, it should be understood that the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," "rear," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this disclosure and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or unit referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this disclosure.

[0046] In the description of this specification, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "specific embodiment," etc., refer to a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example, which is included in at least one embodiment or example of this disclosure. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0047] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this disclosure and are not intended to limit this disclosure. Various modifications and variations can be made to this disclosure by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this disclosure should be included within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A device for measuring the width of a slab, characterized in that, The device includes a body, a telescopic component, a laser measuring unit, a first reference component, a second reference component, and a support component. The telescopic component is connected to the body and extends and retracts along the extension direction of the body. The laser measuring unit and the first reference component are disposed on opposite sides of the body. The second reference component is connected to the extended end of the telescopic component. The support component is connected to the body and is used to support the surface of the slab. The second reference component has a measuring reference surface and a contact surface. The measuring reference surface is used to block the laser beam of the laser measuring unit, and the contact surface is used to contact the side of the slab. The measuring reference surface and the contact surface are coplanar.

2. The apparatus for measuring the width of a slab according to claim 1, characterized in that, The laser measurement unit includes a laser rangefinder, a positioning slide, and a positioning slider. The positioning slide is arranged along the extension direction of the main body. The laser rangefinder is connected to the positioning slider, and the positioning slider is slidably connected to the positioning slide.

3. The apparatus for measuring the width of a slab according to claim 2, characterized in that, The positioning slide is provided with a first positioning indicator mark, and the first reference component is provided with a second positioning indicator mark. When the first positioning indicator mark and the second positioning indicator mark are opposite each other, the laser rangefinder is located at the reference positioning point.

4. The apparatus for measuring the width of a slab according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second reference component is configured as a rectangular plate, and the center point of the second reference component is rotatably connected to the end of the telescopic component.

5. The apparatus for measuring the width of a slab according to claim 1, characterized in that, The telescopic component includes a multi-section sleeve, a throttle, a reel, and a pull cable. The telescopic component extends outward from inside the main body. The reel is located inside the main body. The pull cable is wound around the reel and connected to the multi-section sleeve. The throttle is used to apply a force to retract the multi-section sleeve using the pull cable.

6. The apparatus for measuring the width of a slab according to claim 1, characterized in that, The telescopic component is configured as an electric telescopic rod.

7. The apparatus for measuring the width of a slab according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first reference member and the support member are configured as rectangular prisms, and the first reference member and the support member are spaced apart along the extension direction of the body, and the central axis of the first reference member and the support member are opposite to each other.

8. The apparatus for measuring the width of a slab according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The first reference member has a first support base at one end away from the main body, and the support member has a second support base at one end away from the main body. The first support base is coplanar with the side of the first reference member facing the second reference member.

9. The apparatus for measuring the width of a slab according to claim 8, characterized in that, The contact surface between the second support base and the slab is set as an arc-shaped surface.

10. The apparatus for measuring the width of a slab according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lengths of the first reference member, the second reference member, and the support member are adjustable.

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