Cold rolling mill equipped with a fully inlet hot oil sprayer.
The roll control system with hot oil and coolant headers addresses the issue of metal strip deviation by maintaining uniform heating and cooling, enhancing productivity and reducing defects in metal strip processing.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- NOVELIS INC(US)
- Filing Date
- 2024-05-17
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-08
AI Technical Summary
Metal strips in processing equipment often deviate from the desired pass-line, leading to uneven heating or cooling, potential equipment damage, and other costly issues.
A roll control system with a hot oil spray header on the inlet side and a coolant spray header on the outlet side of the rolling mill, controlled by a system that applies hot oil and coolant to the work rolls to maintain substrate flatness.
Enhances flatness control, improving productivity, reducing coil stacking defects, and enabling high-speed processing by ensuring uniform heating and cooling of metal strips.
Smart Images
Figure 2026518431000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Applications This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 504,023, filed May 24, 2023, entitled "COLD ROLLING MILL WITH FULL ENTRY HOT OIL SPRAY", the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0002] This application relates to systems and methods for processing metal strips, and more particularly to processing metal strips using a rolling mill.
Background Art
[0003] Many metal - processing processes involve the manipulation and processing of continuous metal strips. Processing metal as strips allows for the rapid processing of long lengths of metal, but the metal strips need to be maintained centered within a certain variation from the desired pass - line of the processing equipment. If the strip deviates too far from the desired pass - line of the equipment, the strip may make unwanted contact with the edges of the equipment, the strip may not be processed correctly (e.g., not heated or cooled evenly), or other unwanted, dangerous, or costly effects may occur.
Summary of the Invention
[0004] The embodiments encompassed by this patent are not defined by this summary of the invention but by the following claims. This summary of the invention is a high - level overview of various embodiments and introduces some of the concepts further described in the section on the modes for carrying out the invention below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used alone to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to the entire specification of this patent, any or all of the drawings, and the appropriate portions of each claim.
[0005] According to a particular embodiment, a roll control system for a rolling mill includes a hot oil spray header and a coolant spray header. The hot oil spray header may be located on the inlet side of the work stand of the rolling mill to apply hot oil to the surface of the work rolls of the rolling mill and to a large portion of the width of the work rolls at the inlet side. The coolant spray header may be located on the outlet side of the work stand of the rolling mill to apply coolant to the surface of the work rolls of the rolling mill at the outlet side. The roll control system may also include controllers for controlling the application of hot oil from the hot oil spray header and the application of coolant from the coolant spray header.
[0006] According to various embodiments, the rolling system includes a work stand comprising an inlet side, an outlet side, an upper work roll, a lower work roll, and a roll control system. The roll control system includes a hot oil spray header and a coolant spray header. The hot oil spray header may be located on the inlet side and may be close to the upper work roll and / or lower work roll, and the hot oil spray header may apply hot oil to the surface of the upper work roll and / or lower work roll on the inlet side and to most of the width of the upper work roll and / or lower work roll. The coolant spray header may be located on the outlet side of the work stand and may be close to the same upper work roll and / or lower work roll as the hot oil spray header, and the coolant spray header may apply coolant to the surface of the upper work roll and / or lower work roll on the outlet side.
[0007] According to some embodiments, the rolling system includes a work stand comprising an inlet side, an outlet side, an upper work roll, a lower work roll, and a roll control system. The roll control system includes a hot oil spray header and a lubricating spray header. The hot oil spray header may be located on the inlet side and may be close to the upper work roll and / or lower work roll, and the hot oil spray header may apply hot oil to the surface of the upper work roll and / or lower work roll on the inlet side and to a large portion of the width of the upper work roll and / or lower work roll. The lubricating spray header may be located on the inlet side of the work stand and may be close to the same upper work roll and / or lower work roll as the hot oil spray header. In various embodiments, the lubricating spray header may apply lubricating oil at least partially to the surface of the upper or lower work roll on the inlet side and within the roll gap defined by the upper and lower work rolls.
[0008] A method for controlling the flatness of a metal substrate includes receiving the metal substrate in a roll gap of a work stand of a rolling mill defined by upper and lower work rolls. The method includes using a roll control system to control the application of hot oil and coolant to at least one of the upper or lower work rolls.
[0009] The various embodiments described herein may include additional systems, methods, features, and advantages, which are not necessarily expressly disclosed herein but will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. All such systems, methods, features, and advantages are intended to be contained within this disclosure and protected by the accompanying claims.
[0010] This specification refers to the attached drawings below, but where similar reference numbers are used in different drawings, it is intended to show similar or similar components. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0011] [Figure 1] An embodiment of a rolling system for rolling a metal substrate is shown. [Figure 2] This is a flowchart of a work role control method according to an embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0012] This specification describes a rolling system equipped with at least a full-width hot oil spray over the upper and / or lower work rolls on the inlet side of the work stand of the rolling system. In various embodiments, the rolling system equipped with a full-width hot oil spray is a cold rolling mill having one or more work stands, each having an upper work roll and a lower work roll.
[0013] In certain embodiments, the rolling system includes a coolant spray for the upper and / or lower work rolls on the exit side of the work stand. The rolling system may also include a rolling or lubricating spray for the upper and / or lower work rolls on the inlet side, and at least partially within the roll gap formed by the upper and lower work rolls. A rolling system with a full-width hot oil spray on the inlet side and a coolant spray on the outlet side may enable improved control of the flatness of the metal substrate being rolled by the rolling system. This improved flatness control may, in turn, lead to other benefits such as increased productivity of the rolling system and metalworking system, improved material handling (e.g., by reducing coil stacking defects due to poor flatness), improved downstream processing (e.g., by reducing trimming and / or threading problems due to poor flatness), and / or improved customer processes (e.g., enabling high-speed processing of can bodies).
[0014] A rolling system equipped with a full-width hot oil spray on the inlet side and a coolant spray on the outlet side enhances the flexibility of the rolling system, allowing for various processes to be performed as needed. In various embodiments, the full-width hot oil spray may have a high flow capacity, such as up to approximately 1800 L / min, which can further enhance the flexibility of the rolling system. As a non-limiting example, the full-width hot oil spray and coolant spray may be actuated on a metal substrate used for machining the can body and / or can end, the full-width hot oil spray may be provided at different temperatures (e.g., a lower temperature for a first automotive process and a higher temperature for a second automotive process and / or texturizing process), the operation of the coolant spray header is optional, and / or the full-width hot oil spray may be provided to warm up or preheat the work rolls during machining of the metal substrate coil. Various other benefits and advantages may be realized by the systems and methods provided herein, and the above-mentioned advantages should not be considered limiting.
[0015] Figure 1 shows an example of a rolling system 100 for rolling a metal substrate 102 according to an embodiment. In various embodiments, the metal substrate 102 may be a variety of metals as needed, including but not limited to aluminum, aluminum alloys, steel, or other metals as desired. In some examples, the metal substrate 102 may be 1xxx, 2xxx, 3xxx, 4xxx, 5xxx, 6xxx, 7xxx, 8xxx series aluminum or aluminum alloys and / or any other aluminum or aluminum alloy.
[0016] The rolling system 100 includes a rolling mill 104 having at least one work stand 106. In the illustrated embodiment, the rolling mill 104 is a cold rolling mill with a single work stand 106. However, in other embodiments, the rolling mill 104 may have any number of work stands 106 as needed. As a non-limiting example, the rolling mill 104 may include two work stands 106, three work stands 106, four work stands 106, and / or any other desired number of work stands 106.
[0017] Each work stand 106 has an inlet side 108 and an outlet side 110 and includes a pair of vertically aligned work rolls, namely an upper work roll 112A and a lower work roll 112B. A roll gap 116 is defined between the work rolls 112A and 112B, and during the rolling of the metal substrate 102, the metal substrate 102 moves in the processing direction (indicated by arrow 107) so that the metal substrate 102 enters the roll gap 116 on the inlet side 108 and exits on the outlet side 110. An upper backup roll 114A and a lower backup roll 114B can support the upper work roll 112A and the lower work roll 112B, respectively, and apply force to the work rolls 112A and B so that the work rolls 112A and B reduce the thickness of the metal substrate 102 during rolling.
[0018] In certain embodiments, the rolling system 100 may optionally include a flatness sensor 117 for measuring or detecting the flatness of the metal substrate 102 as it exits the work stand 106. In the illustrated embodiment, the flatness sensor 117 is a flatness measuring roll 119, but in other embodiments, the flatness sensor 117 may be any other suitable sensor for measuring or detecting the flatness of the metal substrate 102. The specific location of the flatness sensor 117 should not be considered limiting, and in other embodiments, the flatness sensor 117 may be located at any other desired position relative to the work stand 106.
[0019] As shown in Figure 1, the rolling system 100 further includes a roll control system 120 for controlling one or more of the rolls of the work stand 106. In embodiments in which the rolling system 100 includes a plurality of work stands 106, the roll control system 120 may be provided for each work stand 106, but is not required in other embodiments. In a non-limiting example, the rolling system 100 includes at least two work stands 106, a first upstream work stand and a second downstream work stand, and the roll control system 120 is provided for at least the second work stand.
[0020] The roll control system 120 includes at least one hot oil spray header 122 for applying hot oil (represented by horizontal lines in Figure 1) to at least one of the work rolls 112A to B, and at least one coolant spray header 124 for applying coolant (represented by vertical lines in Figure 1) to the corresponding work roll 112A to B.
[0021] In the illustrated embodiment, the hot oil spray header 122 is located close to both the upper work roll 112A and the lower work roll 112B. In various embodiments, various characteristics of the hot oil spray header 122 may be controlled as needed, including, but are not limited to, the number of nozzles of the hot oil spray header 122, the type of nozzles of the hot oil spray header 122, the spray target of the hot oil spray header 122, the spray pattern from the hot oil spray header 122, the spray intensity, the spray position from the hot oil spray header 122 on the work rolls 112A-B, combinations thereof, and / or other desired characteristics.
[0022] In some embodiments, the hot oil spray header 122 may be a high-flow-capacity spray header. As a non-limiting example, the hot oil spray header 122 may have a high flow-capacity of up to about 1,800 L / min, but in other embodiments, the hot oil spray header 122 may have other high flow-capacity as desired. As will be described in detail below, a hot oil spray header 122 having a high flow-capacity may provide flexibility to the rolling system 100, and as a result, the same rolling system 100 and / or work stand 106 may be used for different processes, for example, but not limited to can rolling (e.g., rolling a metal substrate 102 for processing can ends and / or can bodies), automotive rolling, texturing rolling, and other special rolling.
[0023] As shown in Figure 1, the hot oil spray header 122 is mounted on the inlet side 108 of the work stand 106. In various embodiments, each hot oil spray header 122 can apply hot oil to the corresponding work rolls 112A-B along most of the width of the work rolls 112A-B (e.g., about 50% or more). In non-limiting examples, the oil spray header 122 can apply hot oil along at least 50% of the width of the work rolls 112A-B, for example, along at least 60% of the width of the work rolls 112A-B, for example, along at least 70% of the width of the work rolls 112A-B, for example, along at least 80% of the width of the work rolls 112A-B, for example, along at least 90% of the width of the work rolls. In certain embodiments, the oil spray header 122 may be a full-width oil spray header 122 that applies hot oil along substantially the entire width of the work rolls 112A-B (for example, about 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, and / or about 100% of the width).
[0024] The hot oil applied by the hot oil spray header 122 can be a variety of oils as needed. In certain embodiments, the temperature of the hot oil is higher than the temperature of the coolant. In some non-limiting examples, the temperature of the hot oil can be about 30°C to about 95°C, e.g., about 35°C, about 40°C, about 45°C, about 50°C, about 55°C, about 60°C, about 65°C, about 70°C, about 75°C, about 80°C, about 85°C, about 90°C, and / or about 95°C. In one non-limiting example, the temperature of the hot oil can be about 32°C to about 95°C. In certain embodiments, the temperature of the hot oil can be adjusted (e.g., by the controller 126, operator, etc.) to provide the desired heating to the work rolls 112A-B.
[0025] As described above, the roll control system 120 includes at least one coolant spray header 124 proximate to at least one of the work rolls 112A - B of the work stand 106. In the illustrated embodiment, the roll control system 120 includes coolant spray headers 124 proximate to both the upper work roll 112A and the lower work roll 112B. The coolant spray headers 124 are provided on the exit side 110 of the work stand 106 such that the coolant from the coolant spray headers 124 and the hot oil from the hot oil spray headers 122 are applied on opposite sides of a given work roll 112A - B. The coolant supplied by the coolant spray headers 124 can be various types of coolants suitable for providing cooling to the work rolls 112A - B as needed. By way of non - limiting example, the coolant can be water, oil, emulsion, and / or other coolants as needed. Various characteristics regarding the coolant spray headers 124 can be controlled as needed such that the coolant provides the desired cooling. By way of non - limiting example, the number of nozzles of the coolant spray headers 124, the type of nozzles of the coolant spray headers 124, the aim of the spray from the coolant spray headers 124, the spray pattern from the coolant spray headers 124, the spray intensity, the position of the spray on the work rolls 112A - B, combinations thereof, and / or other characteristics can be controlled. In certain embodiments, as discussed in detail below, the coolant spray headers 124 and the hot oil spray headers 122 can be controlled (e.g., by the controller 126) to provide an improvement in flatness control to the metal substrate 102 during rolling.
[0026] In various embodiments, the roll control system 120 also includes one or more lubrication spray headers 128 for supplying rolling oil or lubricating oil (represented by the slashes in FIG. 1). In certain embodiments, at least one of the one or more lubrication spray headers 128 can be provided on the inlet side 108 of the work stand 106 to apply lubricating oil to at least one of the work rolls 112A - B and at least partially into the roll gap 116. In the illustrated embodiment, the roll control system includes lubrication spray headers 128 that are respectively proximate to the upper work roll 112A and the lower work roll 112B at the outlet side 108. Optionally, one or more lubrication spray headers 128 can provide lubricating oil at the interface between the work rolls 112A - B and the corresponding backup rolls 114A - B. In the illustrated embodiment, the roll control system 120 includes inlet - side and outlet - side lubrication spray headers 128 for supplying lubricating oil to each interface between the work rolls 112A - B and the corresponding backup rolls 114A - B.
[0027] In certain embodiments, the controller 126 (e.g., a processor and / or memory) is provided as a component of the roll control system 120. However, in other embodiments, the controller 126 need not be a dedicated controller for the roll control system 120. Instead, it can be a controller for controlling various devices of the rolling system 100. When the controller 126 is included, the controller 126 can be communicatively or operably coupled (e.g., via wireless communication, wired communication, etc.) to the various spray headers 122, 124, 128 of the roll control system 120 and can control the injection of hot oil, coolant, and / or lubricating oil into the rolls of the work stand 106.
[0028] In some embodiments, the controller 126 may, but is not limited, control one or more of the spray headers 122, 124, 128 based on a desired process capability received (e.g., via a user interface, device, or other input), or detected, as needed, such as machining the can body, machining the can end, automotive machining, texturing, combinations thereof, and / or other machining. In a non-limiting embodiment, the controller 126 may activate the hot oil spray header 122 and the coolant spray header 124 to roll the metal substrate 102 for machining the can body and / or the can end. In another non-limiting example, the controller 126 may activate the hot oil spray header 122 to provide hot oil at a first temperature for rolling the metal substrate 102 for a specific automotive machining and a second elevated temperature for rolling the metal substrate 102 for other automotive machining and / or texturing. As a further non-limiting example, the controller 126 may dynamically control the hot oil spray header 122 and the coolant spray header 124 to provide a desired temperature gradient to the work rolls 112A-B for rolling the metal substrate 102 for processing the can body and / or can end. In certain embodiments, the controller 126 may optionally operate and control the hot oil spray header 122 together with the coolant spray header 124 at various, but not limited, processing stages, such as between coils, during acceleration or threading of the metal substrate 102, during steady-state rolling of the metal substrate 102, and / or during deceleration or tail end exit of the metal substrate 102.
[0029] Optionally, the controller 126 may be communicatively coupled to the flatness sensor 117, and based on the measured or detected flatness of the metal substrate 102 from the flatness sensor 117, the controller 126 may control one or more of the spray headers 122, 124, and 128 to control the flatness of the metal substrate 102. Figure 2 shows a non-limiting example of such control.
[0030] Referring to Figure 2, in certain embodiments, the method for controlling the flatness of the metal substrate 102 processed by the rolling system 100 may be at least partially performed by the controller 126, and in certain embodiments, it may be fully performed by the controller 126.
[0031] In block 202, the method may include receiving the measured or detected flatness of the metal substrate 102 from the flatness sensor 117.
[0032] In block 204, the method includes determining a control response based on a flatness measurement received in block 202, which may include determining a control response for one or more of the spray headers 122, 124, and 128, and / or providing an alert or notification to the operator. In various embodiments, block 204 may include comparing the measured or detected flatness to a desired flatness of the metal substrate 102. In such embodiments, the desired flatness may be received by the controller 126 (e.g., via a user interface, remote device, or other input) and / or determined by the controller 126 based on other inputs (e.g., a desired subsequent machining of the metal substrate 102). In various embodiments, based on the difference between the detected flatness and the desired flatness, the controller can determine a temperature gradient of the work rolls 112A-B such that the detected flatness matches or is within a predetermined tolerance range of the desired flatness. In such embodiments, based on the determined temperature gradient, the controller can determine a control response for one or more of the spray headers 122, 124, and 128. Determining one or more control responses of the spray headers 122, 124, and 128 may include, but are not limited to, determining the temperature of the hot oil, determining the spray pattern of the hot oil spray header 122 and / or the coolant spray header 124, determining the spray intensity of the hot oil spray header 122 and / or the coolant spray header 124, determining the activation and / or deactivation times of the hot oil spray header 122 and / or the coolant spray header 124, combinations thereof, and / or, if necessary, one or more other control responses of the spray headers 122, 124, and 128.
[0033] In block 206, the method includes generating control signals to implement the control response determined in block 204. In various embodiments, block 206 includes generating control signals to control one or more spray headers 122, 124, 128, and / or generating control signals to generate alerts or notifications. As a non-limiting example, block 206 may include generating control signals to control the hot oil spray header 122 to supply hot oil at a first flow rate, and to control the coolant spray header 124 to supply coolant at a second flow rate.
[0034] In other embodiments, the flatness of the metal substrate 102 may be controlled based on information from additional and / or alternative sensors, as needed. As a non-limiting example, the method illustrated in Figure 2 may further be based on information measured or determined by a roll temperature sensor, a roll chamber sensor, a hot oil temperature sensor, and / or a coolant temperature sensor.
[0035] A set of exemplary embodiments is provided below, including at least several embodiments explicitly listed as “exemplary” to provide a further explanation of various exemplary embodiments of the concepts described herein. These examples are not intended to be mutually exclusive, exhaustive, or limiting, and this disclosure is not limited to these examples but rather encompasses all feasible modifications and variations within the scope of the issued claims and their equivalents.
[0036] Example 1. A roll control system for a rolling mill, the roll control system comprising: a hot oil spray header located on the inlet side of the work stand of a rolling mill, configured to apply hot oil to the surface of the work rolls of the rolling mill and to a large portion of the width of the work rolls at the inlet side; a coolant spray header located on the outlet side of the work stand of the rolling mill, configured to apply coolant to the surface of the work rolls of the rolling mill at the outlet side; and a controller configured to control the application of hot oil from the hot oil spray header and the application of coolant from the coolant spray header.
[0037] Example 2. A roll control system according to any preceding or succeeding example or combination of examples, wherein the hot oil is at a temperature of approximately 32°C to approximately 95°C.
[0038] Example 3. A roll control system according to any of the preceding or succeeding examples or combination of examples, wherein the hot oil spray header is configured to apply hot oil at a flow rate of up to approximately 1800 L / min.
[0039] Example 4. A roll control system according to any preceding or succeeding example or combination of examples, further comprising a lubricating spray header on the inlet side of the work stand, wherein the lubricating spray header is configured to apply lubricating oil to the surface of the work roll on the inlet side and at least partially within a roll gap at least partially defined by the work roll.
[0040] Example 5. A roll control system according to any preceding or subsequent example or combination of examples, wherein the controller is configured to control the application of the hot oil and the coolant based on a subsequent process for a metal substrate processed by the rolling mill.
[0041] Example 6. A roll control system according to any preceding or succeeding example or combination of examples, wherein the subsequent process includes at least one of a can body forming process, a can end forming process, a texturing process, or an automotive part forming process.
[0042] Example 7. A roll control system according to any preceding or succeeding example or combination of examples, wherein the controller is configured to control the application of the hot oil and the coolant based on the detected flatness of the metal substrate processed by the rolling mill.
[0043] Example 8. A rolling mill comprising a first work stand and a second work stand, wherein the second work stand comprises a roll control system described in any preceding or succeeding example or combination of examples.
[0044] Example 9. A rolling system comprising a work stand, the work stand comprising an inlet side, an outlet side, an upper work roll, a lower work roll, and a roll control system, wherein the roll control system includes a hot oil spray header located on the inlet side and adjacent to the upper work roll or the lower work roll, configured to apply hot oil to the surface of the upper work roll or the lower work roll and to a large portion of the width of the upper work roll or the lower work roll at the inlet side, and a coolant spray header located on the outlet side of the work stand and adjacent to the same upper work roll or the lower work roll as the hot oil spray header, configured to apply coolant to the surface of the upper work roll or the lower work roll at the outlet side, the rolling system comprising the hot oil spray header.
[0045] Example 10. A rolling system according to any of the preceding or succeeding examples or combination of examples, wherein the hot oil spray header is configured to apply the hot oil at a flow rate of up to approximately 1800 L / min.
[0046] Example 11. The method according to any preceding or succeeding example or combination of examples, wherein the hot oil is at a temperature of approximately 32°C to approximately 95°C.
[0047] Example 12. A rolling system according to any preceding or succeeding example or combination of examples, wherein the rolling system is a cold rolling mill, the work stand is a second work stand of the cold rolling mill, and the cold rolling mill further comprises a first work stand upstream of the second work stand.
[0048] Example 13. A rolling system according to any preceding or succeeding example or combination of examples, further comprising a controller configured to control at least one of the hot oil spray header or the coolant spray header based on the processing stage of the rolling system.
[0049] Example 14. A rolling system according to any preceding or succeeding example or combination of examples, further comprising a controller configured to control at least one of the hot oil spray header or the coolant spray header based on the measured flatness of a metal substrate processed by the rolling system.
[0050] Example 15. A rolling system comprising a work stand, wherein the work stand comprises an inlet side, an outlet side, an upper work roll, a lower work roll, and a roll control system, the roll control system comprising: a hot oil spray header located on the inlet side and adjacent to the upper work roll or the lower work roll, configured to apply hot oil to the surface of the upper work roll or the lower work roll and to a large portion of the width of the upper work roll or the lower work roll on the inlet side; and a lubricating oil spray header located on the inlet side of the work stand and adjacent to the same upper work roll or the lower work roll as the hot oil spray header, configured to apply lubricating oil to the surface of the upper work roll or the lower work roll on the inlet side; the rolling system comprising:
[0051] Example 16. A rolling system according to any of the preceding or succeeding examples or combination of examples, wherein the hot oil spray header is configured to apply the hot oil at a flow rate of up to approximately 1800 L / min.
[0052] Example 17. A rolling system according to any preceding or succeeding example or combination of examples, wherein the hot oil is at a temperature of approximately 32°C to approximately 95°C.
[0053] Example 18. A rolling system according to any preceding or succeeding example or combination of examples, wherein the hot oil spray header is configured to apply the hot oil along the entire width of the upper work roll or the lower work roll.
[0054] Example 19. A rolling system according to any preceding or succeeding example or combination of examples, wherein the rolling system is a cold rolling mill.
[0055] Example 20. A method for controlling the flatness of a metal substrate, the method comprising receiving the metal substrate in a roll gap of a work stand of a rolling mill, the roll gap being defined by an upper work roll and a lower work roll, and controlling the application of hot oil and coolant to at least one of the upper work roll or the lower work roll using a roll control system, the roll control system comprising: a hot oil spray header located on the inlet side of the work stand and configured to apply the hot oil on the surface of the upper work roll or the lower work roll at the inlet side and over a large portion of the width of the upper work roll or the lower work roll; and a coolant spray header located on the outlet side of the work stand and configured to apply the coolant on the surface of the upper work roll or the lower work roll of the rolling mill at the outlet side.
[0056] Example 21. A method by which the application of the hot oil and the coolant is controlled based on the measured flatness of the metal substrate, either preceding or succeeding example, or a combination of examples.
[0057] Example 22. The method by which controlling the application of the hot oil is performed, including controlling the flow rate of the hot oil to about 1800 L / min, in any preceding or succeeding example or combination of examples.
[0058] As used herein, the terms “invention,” “the invention,” “this invention,” and “the present invention” are intended to broadly refer to the subject matter of this patent application and all of the following claims. It should be understood that any statements containing these terms do not limit the subject matter described herein or the meaning or scope of the following claims.
[0059] This description refers to alloys identified by AA numbers and other related symbols, such as "System" or "5xxx". For an understanding of the most commonly used numbering system for naming and identifying aluminum and its alloys, please refer to "International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Wrought Aluminum and Wrought Aluminum Alloys" or "Registration Record of Aluminum Association Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Aluminum Alloys in the Form of Castings and Ingot" (both published by the Aluminum Association).
[0060] Hot rolling generally refers to a rolling process in which the temperature of the metal exceeds its recrystallization temperature. Cold rolling generally refers to a rolling process in which the temperature of the metal is lower than its recrystallization temperature. Warm rolling generally refers to a rolling process in which the temperature of the metal is lower than its recrystallization temperature but higher than the temperature during cold rolling.
[0061] All ranges disclosed herein should be understood to encompass all subranges contained therein, and unless otherwise indicated herein, the descriptions of ranges of values herein are intended solely as abbreviations for individually referring to each distinct value or its gradient contained within that range, and each distinct value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually described herein. For example, a range described as "1 to 10" should be considered to encompass any and all subranges (including 1 and 10) between a minimum value of 1 and a maximum value of 10. That is, all subranges begin with a minimum value of 1 or greater, e.g., 1 to 6.1, and end with a maximum value of 10 or less, e.g., 5.5 to 10. The terms "about" or "approximately" include exact values.
[0062] As used in this disclosure, the meanings of "a," "an," and "the" include singular and plural references unless explicitly indicated otherwise by the context.
[0063] The subject matter of embodiments of this disclosure is described herein using specifics to satisfy statutory requirements, but this description is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the claims. The claimed subject matter may be embodied in other ways, may include different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction with other existing or future technologies. This description should not be construed as implying any particular order or arrangement in or between the various steps or elements, except when the order of individual steps or the arrangement of elements is explicitly described. Directional references such as “up,” “down,” “upper side,” “lower side,” “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “sideways,” “vertical,” “front,” and “back” are intended, among other things, to refer to the orientation shown and described in one (or more) figures to which the components and directions refer.
[0064] The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” should be interpreted as unrestrictive terms (i.e., “including, but not limited to”) unless otherwise specified. All methods described herein may be performed in any preferred order unless otherwise indicated herein or unless otherwise clearly contradicted by the context. Any and all examples or illustrative expressions (e.g., “etc.”) provided herein are intended merely to better illustrate embodiments of the invention and, unless otherwise asserted, do not impose limitations on the scope of the invention. No expression herein should be interpreted as indicating that an unclaimed element is essential to the practice of the invention.
[0065] The embodiments described above are merely possible examples of embodiments and are described solely to provide a clear understanding of the principles of this disclosure. Many variations and modifications can be made to the embodiments(s) described above without substantially departing from the spirit and principles of this disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be incorporated herein within the scope of this disclosure, and all possible claims for individual embodiments or combinations of elements or steps are intended to be substantiated by this disclosure. Furthermore, certain terms are used herein and in the following claims, but they are used in a general and descriptive sense only and are not intended to limit the embodiments described or the following claims.
Claims
1. A roll control system for a rolling mill, wherein the roll control system is A hot oil spray header located on the inlet side of the work stand of a rolling mill, configured to apply hot oil to the surface of the work rolls of the rolling mill and to approximately 50% or more of the width of the work rolls at the inlet side, A coolant spray header located on the outlet side of the work stand of the rolling mill, configured to apply coolant to the surface of the work roll of the rolling mill at the outlet side, A controller configured to control the application of hot oil from the hot oil spray header and the application of coolant from the coolant spray header, The roll control system, including the roll control system.
2. The roll control system according to claim 1, wherein the hot oil is at a temperature of approximately 32°C to approximately 95°C.
3. The roll control system according to claim 1, wherein the hot oil spray header is configured to apply the hot oil at a flow rate of up to approximately 1800 L / min.
4. The roll control system according to claim 1, further comprising a lubricating spray header on the inlet side of the work stand, wherein the lubricating spray header is configured to apply lubricating oil at the inlet side to the surface of the work roll and at least partially to the roll gap defined at least partially by the work roll.
5. The roll control system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the application of the hot oil and the coolant based on a subsequent process for a metal substrate processed by the rolling mill.
6. The roll control system according to claim 5, wherein the subsequent process includes at least one of a can body forming process, a can end forming process, a texturing process, or an automotive part forming process.
7. The roll control system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the application of the hot oil and the coolant based on the detected flatness of the metal substrate processed by the rolling mill.
8. A rolling mill comprising a first work stand and a second work stand, wherein the second work stand comprises the roll control system described in claim 1.
9. A rolling system comprising a work stand, wherein the work stand is Entrance side, The exit side, Upper work roll and Lower work roll and A roll control system is provided, and the roll control system is A hot oil spray header located on the inlet side and close to the upper work roll or the lower work roll, configured to apply hot oil to the surface of the upper work roll or the lower work roll and to approximately 50% or more of the width of the upper work roll or the lower work roll on the inlet side, A coolant spray header located on the outlet side of the work stand and in close proximity to the same upper work roll or lower work roll as the hot oil spray header, the coolant spray header is configured to apply coolant to the surface of the upper work roll or lower work roll at the outlet side, including: The aforementioned rolling system.
10. The rolling system according to claim 9, wherein the hot oil spray header is configured to apply the hot oil at a flow rate of up to approximately 1800 L / min.
11. The rolling system according to claim 9, wherein the hot oil is at a temperature of approximately 32°C to approximately 95°C.
12. The rolling system according to claim 9, wherein the rolling system is a cold rolling mill, the work stand is a second work stand of the cold rolling mill, and the cold rolling mill further comprises a first work stand upstream of the second work stand.
13. The rolling system according to claim 9, further comprising a controller configured to control at least one of the hot oil spray header or the coolant spray header based on the processing stage of the rolling system.
14. The rolling system according to claim 9, further comprising a controller configured to control at least one of the hot oil spray header or the coolant spray header based on the measured flatness of a metal substrate processed by the rolling system.
15. A rolling system comprising a work stand, wherein the work stand is Entrance side, The exit side, Upper work roll and Lower work roll and A roll control system is provided, and the roll control system is A hot oil spray header located on the inlet side and close to the upper work roll or the lower work roll, configured to apply hot oil to the surface of the upper work roll or the lower work roll and to approximately 50% or more of the width of the upper work roll or the lower work roll on the inlet side, A lubrication spray header located on the inlet side of the work stand and in close proximity to the same upper work roll or lower work roll as the hot oil spray header, configured to apply lubricating oil at least partially to the surface of the upper work roll or lower work roll and to the roll gap defined by the upper work roll and the lower work roll on the inlet side, The rolling system comprising the above.
16. The rolling system according to claim 15, wherein the hot oil spray header is configured to apply the hot oil at a flow rate of up to approximately 1800 L / min.
17. The rolling system according to claim 15, wherein the hot oil is at a temperature of approximately 32°C to approximately 95°C.
18. The rolling system according to claim 15, wherein the hot oil spray header is configured to apply the hot oil along the entire width of the upper work roll or the lower work roll.
19. The rolling system according to claim 15, further comprising a coolant spray header located on the outlet side of the work stand and in close proximity to the same upper work roll or lower work roll as the hot oil spray header, the coolant spray header being configured to apply coolant to the surface of the upper work roll or lower work roll at the outlet side.
20. A method for controlling the flatness of a metal substrate, wherein the method is The receiving of the metal substrate in the roll gap of the work stand of a rolling mill, wherein the roll gap is defined by an upper work roll and a lower work roll, Using a roll control system, the application of hot oil and coolant to at least one of the upper work roll or the lower work roll is controlled. The roll control system includes, A hot oil spray header located on the inlet side of the work stand and configured to apply hot oil to the surface of the upper work roll or the lower work roll, and to approximately 50% or more of the width of the upper work roll or the lower work roll, A coolant spray header located on the outlet side of the work stand and configured to apply the coolant to the surface of the upper work roll or the lower work roll of the rolling mill at the outlet side, The method, including the method described above.
21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the application of the hot oil and the coolant is controlled based on the measured flatness of the metal substrate.
22. The method according to claim 20, wherein controlling the application of the hot oil includes controlling the flow rate of the hot oil to about 1800 L / min.