Stand change carriage comprising lifting mechanism

Abstract

To provide a stand change carriage.SOLUTION: The present application relates to a stand change carriage (10) for simultaneously receiving and transporting a plurality of stands (12) of a rolling mill (14) for rolling metal rods, wires or pipes, the stand change carriage (10) comprising a plurality of stand places (16), one of the stands (12) being receivable individually in each of the stand places (16), and the stand change carriage (10) comprising a lifting mechanism (18) which is designed to raise and lower each of the stands (12) individually.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a stand exchange carriage for simultaneously receiving and transporting multiple stands of a rolling mill for rolling metal rod, wire, or pipe. [Background technology]

[0002] For rolling metal rods, wires or pipes, rolling mills are routinely used which include a number of stands arranged one behind the other in the rolling direction, said stands containing the actual rollers which apply a rolling force to the material to be rolled so as to produce metal rods, wires or pipes therefrom.

[0003] During operation, the rollers wear out and therefore must be refurbished at regular intervals. For this purpose, the stands containing the rollers to be refurbished must be removed from the rolling mill and transported to a stand factory. After the rollers have been refurbished, the respective stands must then be transported from the stand factory back to the rolling mill and inserted into the rolling mill. Furthermore, different stands must be used for different thicknesses of the product to be rolled, the inner diameter of which is already preset to the desired thickness of the respective product to be rolled.

[0004] In order to be able to carry out the exchange of stands in a rolling mill efficiently and safely, stand exchange carriages are used in a known manner. A stand exchange carriage, known for example from DE 10 20 05 13 56 A1, can simultaneously receive several stands and transport them reliably between the rolling mill and the stand plant.

[0005] However, a disadvantage of said stand exchange carriage is that it requires a complex stand base of the rolling mill, which must be designed to push the stands onto the stand exchange carriage and pull them from said carriage into the stand base. To make this possible, not only is a corresponding transfer mechanism required, but provisions must also be made from a structural point of view so that the stand exchange carriage can approach the stand base to such an extent that the transfer mechanism can transfer the stands between the stand base and the stand exchange carriage. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Chinese Utility Model Registration Application No. 215089793 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Against this background, the object of the present invention is to provide a stand exchange carriage in the above-mentioned technical field, which makes fewer demands on the stand base, and in particular to provide a stand exchange carriage which makes it possible to transfer the stand into the stand base in a particularly safe and at the same time fast and reliable manner. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] This object is achieved by a stand exchange carriage according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims.

[0009] A stand exchange carriage for simultaneously receiving and transporting multiple stands of a rolling mill for rolling metal rod, wire, or pipe includes a plurality of stand places, one of the stands being individually receivable in each of the stand places, and further includes a lifting mechanism designed to individually raise and lower each of the stands.

[0010] The stand places on the stand exchange carriage are designed so that they can each accept exactly one stand, and therefore each stand place allows any number of stands (up to the number of stand places on the stand exchange carriage) to be selectively accepted and transported.

[0011] The stand places are arranged so that their arrangement is identical to that of the stand receiving places (especially the receiving modules) of the stand base, so that the stand exchange carriage can approach the stand base laterally relative to the rolling direction (the stands are received in the stand base one behind the other in the rolling direction) and can receive or install the stands individually or simultaneously.

[0012] All possible mechanisms suitable and designed to raise and lower the stands individually can serve as lifting mechanisms: examples of this are hydraulic mechanisms, electrically driven mechanical mechanisms, or cranks that are to be manually operated.

[0013] By means of the lifting mechanism, the stand exchange carriage can also raise a stand independently of the movement mechanism of the stand base, and then move so that the stand is moved into the stand base, and lower said stand, thereby placing the stand in its intended location. Vice versa, the stand exchange carriage can use the lifting mechanism to grasp desired stands, lift them into the stand base, and then transport them directly, while stands that are not to be transported are not lifted and remain in the stand base.

[0014] The lifting mechanism allows for selectively lifting the stand for transport. In addition, the lifting mechanism places very low demands on the stand base. In particular, no mechanism is needed to push the stand out of the stand base or to pull the stand into the stand base. Moreover, the lifting mechanism allows for further advantages, which will be explained in more detail below.

[0015] Preferably, the stand exchange carriage includes multiple wheels for transporting the stand on rails or along a rail-less substrate. The multiple wheels allow stable transportation while also allowing flexible transportation, and can be designed to be suitable for both rail and rail-less substrates, thus responding to different boundary conditions on the stand base and in the stand factory. Alternatively, the stand exchange carriage can be transported differently, for example using a crawler track.

[0016] In this case, the wheels are preferably arranged outside the surface on which the stand places are located, so that the stand places are all located within the surface covered by the wheels. This ensures that heavy stands are placed between the wheels, and that the center of gravity of the loaded stand exchange carriage is reliably located between the wheels, so that the stand exchange carriage can stably and safely transport the stands and can also stably and safely receive and install the stands. Alternatively, the wheels can be arranged inside the surface on which the stand places are located, i.e., the stand places can be located outside the surface covered by the wheels.

[0017] The lifting mechanism includes a spindle mechanism for raising or lowering the stand. A spindle mechanism is a particularly preferred lifting mechanism because it is capable of exerting large forces over large distances with great precision. Thus, the stand can be safely raised and lowered with great accuracy. Alternatively or additionally, a hydraulic mechanism or a hand crank can be used.

[0018] The lifting mechanism includes a lifting pin for gripping the stand, and two lifting pins are arranged on each of the stand places. In this case, the lifting pins are designed to grip the stand so that they can engage with openings in the stand that correspond to the lifting pins. Alternatively, other devices (e.g., forks or clamping means) can be used to grip and lift the stand.

[0019] The lifting pins are an effective way of gripping the stand to raise or lower it, resulting in a reliable yet simple, and therefore low-maintenance, cost-effective connection of the lifting mechanism to the stand.

[0020] The stand exchange carriage preferably includes an energy supply source for supplying energy to the lifting mechanism. Alternatively, the stand exchange carriage can be provided with an external energy supply, but for example via a power cable or via an induced electric field at the location where the lifting mechanism is intended to be operated.

[0021] The own energy supply makes the stand exchange carriage particularly advantageous, since it can operate independently and has a larger radius of action that is not restricted by cables etc. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the stand exchange carriage, the own energy supply also makes it possible to move the stand exchange carriage (i.e. not just to operate the lifting mechanism independently).

[0022] Preferably, the stand exchange carriage includes at least four stand places and the lifting mechanism is designed to raise and lower the at least four stands individually. Alternatively, fewer or more stand places can be provided and the lifting mechanism can be designed to raise and lower only the stands together.

[0023] Therefore, many stand bases are designed so that they contain four stands arranged one behind the other in the rolling direction, and therefore in the case of such stand bases it is particularly advantageous to provide four stand places for stand exchange carriages so that all stands can be exchanged simultaneously using the stand exchange carriages.

[0024] A protective barrier is preferably arranged between paired stand places to cover the intermediate space between the stand places. Alternatively, the protective barrier can be omitted, especially when the stand base already includes a protective device for the intermediate space between adjacent stands.

[0025] The protective barrier enables the stand exchange carriage to make an additional contribution to the safety of the machine and therefore supports the operation of the rolling mill particularly effectively when the stand exchange carriage remains in operation in the stand base. This is optional. The protective barrier of the stand exchange carriage makes it possible to prevent the material to be rolled from escaping from the intermediate space between adjacent stands in the event of a malfunction. The protective barrier can also reliably prevent people from reaching into the intermediate space. Correspondingly, the stand base can also omit this type of protection.

[0026] Particularly preferably, the protective barrier is provided with an inflatable sealing lip on both sides facing the stand-place. Alternatively, this kind of sealing lip can be omitted or it can be designed differently, in this case in a non-inflatable state, in particular purely elastic.

[0027] By means of a sealing lip, the protective barrier can also particularly reliably prevent splashing water (which occurs in large quantities in the intermediate spaces between adjacent stands during operation of the rolling mill) from escaping. Water is used there for cooling. If the stand exchange carriage includes a protective barrier between adjacent stand places, said protective barrier can be further improved by a sealing lip. If the sealing lip is not only elastically deformable but also expandable, it can cover particularly large gaps between the protective barrier and the stand, the receiving module or the stand place in the stand receiving base and establish a particularly tight seal.

[0028] Preferably, the stand place is designed to receive a stand having a hexagonal outer shape when viewed along the rolling direction of the stand, but alternatively, the stand place could be designed to receive a differently shaped stand (e.g., a conventional stand having a square outer shape).

[0029] Stands with this kind of hexagonal outer shape are particularly well suited to be received by the stand exchange carriage described above, since there are side projections present when the stand is positioned on a side surface that can be successfully gripped by the lifting mechanism (especially the lifting pins).

[0030] It is particularly true in the case of hexagonal stands (but in principle also in the case of square stands) that the roller shaft couplings (by which the rolling torque is introduced onto the roller shafts) extend diagonally downwards and to the side (from which side the stand is exchanged). Due to this setup, the stand exchange carriage mentioned above can make an additional contribution to the safety of the machine, since it covers these couplings during operation of the rolling mill, if it remains in the stand base during operation.

[0031] Further advantages and developments of the invention emerge from the following description of the figures and from the claims. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0032] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred stand exchange carriage with a stand received thereon. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 illustrates a preferred stand exchange carriage in a retracted position within the stand base. [Figure 3] 1 is a cross-sectional view along the rolling direction of a preferred stand change carriage in a rolling mill. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the preferred stand exchange carriage. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] 1 shows a stand exchange carriage 10 suitable for receiving four stands 12. For this purpose, the stand exchange carriage is equipped with four stand places 16, all designed to individually receive a stand 12. In the situation shown in FIG. 1, a stand 12 is received in one of the stand places 16, while the three remaining stand places 16 are empty. Viewed from the left, the second stand place 16 of the stand exchange carriage 10 is occupied by a stand 12, while the first, third, and fourth stand places 16 are empty.

[0034] FIG. 1 further illustrates a rolling mill 14 including four stand receiving places 34 of a stand base 32 arranged one behind the other along the rolling direction W. Three stands 12 are received in the stand receiving places 34 (specifically, in the first, third, and fourth stand receiving places 34, as viewed from the left). One of the stand receiving places 34 (the second stand receiving place 34, as viewed from the left) is unoccupied. The stand exchange carriage 10 is positioned in FIG. 1 so that it can laterally enter the stand base 32 to transport a stand 12 in the second stand place 16 into the second stand receiving place 34 of the stand base 32 (in which a stand 12 has not yet been received), or to receive one or more (particularly all) of the stands 12 positioned in the stand base 32 for transporting a complete set of four stands 12. Viewed from the right hand side in the rolling direction W, the rolling mill 14 is accessible by the stand change carriage 10 or an operator to change the stands 12 or to perform setting of the stands 12 or other parts of the rolling mill 14.

[0035] Viewed along the rolling direction, the stand 12 has, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a hexagonal outer shape, said stand being positioned on the hexagonal side surfaces formed by the outer shape, such that the corners of the hexagon halfway up the height of the stand 12 can be reached on the accessible side.

[0036] The stand exchange carriage 10 includes a base frame 36, which is movable on wheels 20 via a rail system shown in FIG. 1. The base frame 36 includes a crosspiece 38 and two limbs 40 extending laterally at its two ends, with wheels 20 disposed at the two ends of the limbs 40. The base frame 36 thus spans a rectangular surface, which it surrounds in a C-shape on three sides, with one of the wheels 20 disposed at each corner of the rectangular surface. Thus, large loads can be accommodated within the area spanned by the base frame 36 and reliably transported on the wheels 20.

[0037] Along with the crosspiece 38, the stand exchange carriage 10 includes a four-part lifting mechanism 18. Each part of the lifting mechanism 18 belongs to one of the stand places 16 and is designed to raise and lower the stands 12 individually.

[0038] For this purpose, the lifting mechanism 18 includes two lifting pins 24 in each of the stand places to interact with corresponding openings in the stand 12. The openings are provided in the above-mentioned corners of the hexagon, halfway through the height of the stand 12, but other arrangements of the openings, as well as other means of interaction between the lifting mechanism 18 and the stand 12, are possible.

[0039] The lifting pins 24 are attached to vertically displaceable slides 42, which are guided on vertical rails 44. Thus, each stand 12 is gripped by the lifting pins 24 and can be individually raised and lowered by vertically moving the corresponding slide 42 along the vertical rails 44.

[0040] A spindle mechanism 22 is provided for operating the lifting mechanism 18. For this purpose, each part of the lifting mechanism 18 (i.e., each slide 42 of the stand place 16) is equipped with an individually driven spindle 46, which extends from the crosspiece 38 to the slide 42 where it interacts by means of a screw thread.

[0041] A protective barrier 26 is arranged between each pair of adjacent stand places 16 to cover an intermediate space 28 between the stand places 16. The protective barrier 26 extends substantially vertically and is shaped and dimensioned so that it extends parallel to the outer shape of the stand 12. Moreover, each of the protective barriers 26 includes in each case two sealing lips 30, which extend beside the protective barrier 26 and along the outer shape of the stand 12 located on this side.

[0042] The sealing lip 30 is inflatable and is therefore able to establish a sealing contact between the protective barrier 26 and the stand 12. When the stand change carriage 10 remains in the stand base 32 during operation of the rolling mill 14, the protective barrier 26 is able to ensure that metal and spray water do not escape from the area between adjacent stands 12 and that no one can reach said area.

[0043] Figure 2 shows the stand exchange carriage 10 from Figure 1 in a retracted position into the stand base 32. Viewed from the left, the part of the lifting mechanism 18 belonging to the second stand place 16 is not fully raised, while the three other parts of the lifting mechanism are fully raised.

[0044] It can be seen in Figure 2 that in this retracted position the base frame 36 also makes an additional contribution to the safety of the machine in that it covers the rotating parts that protrude from the ground to drive the rollers of the stand.

[0045] 3 is a cross-sectional view along the rolling direction W of the stand exchange carriage 10 in the rolling mill 14. The stand exchange carriage 10 can enter and remain in the rolling mill 14 as shown here, while the stand 12 transported by the stand exchange carriage 10 is received in the stand receiving place 34 of the stand base 32.

[0046] In this setup, the protective barrier 26 can serve to protect the intermediate space 28 between adjacent stands 12 during operation. The protective barrier 26 can thus prevent the material to be rolled from escaping out of the intermediate space 28 or can prevent people from reaching the intermediate space 28.

[0047] The sealing lip 30 on the protective barrier 26 can be inflated in the retracted set-up of the stand exchange carriage 10, thus also closing the intermediate space 28 in a sealed manner against splashing water. Thus, the cooling water that is released in large quantities between the stands 12 during operation can be kept in the intermediate space 28 and discharged in a controlled manner.

[0048] Figure 4 is an enlarged detailed view of the stand change carriage 10 to show in more detail the sealing lips 30. The sealing lips 30 are positioned on either side of the protective barrier 26 and are intended to establish, with the stands 12 (not shown in Figure 4) positioned on these two sides, a connection that is impervious to splashing water, to contain the cooling water released into the intermediate spaces 28 between adjacent stands 12 within the rolling mill 14 and to protect the area in front of the rolling mill 14 from said water.

[0049] FIG. 4 also shows the lifting pins 24 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but without the pins engaging the stand 12 to raise or lower it. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 10 Stand exchange carriage 12 Stand 14 Rolling Mill 16 Stand Place 18 Lifting Mechanism 20 wheels 22 Spindle mechanism 24 lifting pins 26 Protective Barrier 28 Intermediate Space 30 sealing lip 32 Stand base 34 Stand Reception Place 36 base frame 38 Cross Piece 40 Limbs 42 slides 44 Rail 46 Spindle W Rolling direction

Claims

1. A stand exchange carriage (10) for simultaneously receiving and transporting a plurality of stands (12) of a rolling mill (14) for rolling metal rod, wire, or pipe, comprising: the stand exchange carriage (10) includes a plurality of stand places (16), one of the stands (12) being individually receivable in each of the stand places (16); The stand exchange carriage (10) includes a lifting mechanism (18) designed to raise and lower each of the stands (12) individually.

2. The stand exchange carriage (10) of claim 1, wherein the stand exchange carriage (10) includes a plurality of wheels (20) for transporting the stand (12) on a rail or along a railless substrate.

3. 3. The stand exchange carriage (10) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the lifting mechanism (18) includes a spindle mechanism (22) for raising or lowering the stand (12).

4. 4. A stand exchange carriage (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lifting mechanism (18) includes a lifting pin (24) for gripping the stand (12), and two lifting pins (24) are arranged on each of the stand places (16).

5. 5. The stand exchange carriage (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the stand exchange carriage (10) comprises an energy supply source for supplying energy to the lifting mechanism (18).

6. The stand exchange carriage (10) includes at least four stand places (16), 6. A stand exchange carriage (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the lifting mechanism (18) is designed to raise and lower the at least four stands (12) individually.

7. 7. A stand exchange carriage (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a protective barrier (26) is arranged between a pair of stand places (16) to cover an intermediate space (28) between the stand places (16).

8. 8. A stand exchange carriage (10) according to claim 7, wherein said protective barrier (26) is provided with inflatable sealing lips (30) on both sides facing said stand place (16).

9. 9. A stand exchange carriage (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the stand place (16) is designed to receive a stand (12) having a hexagonal outer shape when viewed along the rolling direction of the stand (12).

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