Hydraulic lock for locking a roller bearing on a roll in a rolling mill

Abstract

A hydraulic lock is disclosed for use on a roll in a rolling mill, the roll having a roller bearing mounted thereon towards an anterior side of a neck of the roll. The hydraulic lock comprises: (a) a port equipped with quick release connector supplying hydraulic fluid through a mating quick release connector; (b) a piston; (c) a hollow cylindrical body having a bolted-on cylindrical end cap and a locknut, the hollow cylindrical body and the bolted-on cylindrical end cap slidably mounted on the piston; (d) a pair of locking arms carried on the piston and pivotable about a hinge block; (e) a plurality of compression springs arranged around an internal periphery of the hollow cylindrical body urging a nose of the hollow cylindrical body against an inner race of the roller bearing.

Description

HYDRAULIC LOCK FOR LOCKING A ROLLER BEARING ON A ROLL IN A ROLLING MILLCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 668,379, filed July 8, 2024, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of rolling mills. More specifically, the present invention is related to hydraulic locks for use in rolls of a rolling mill.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In rolling metallic plates, strips, profiles, rods, or bars, mechanical locking has many detrimental problems.

[0004] Non-exhaustive examples of such problems include a potential for inconsistent mounting force, and a time-consuming operation.

[0005] Embodiments of the present invention are an improvement over prior art systems and methods.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In one embodiment, the present invention provides a hydraulic lock for use on a roll in a rolling mill, the roll having a roller bearing mounted thereon towards an anterior side of a neck of the roll, the hydraulic lock comprising: (a) a port supplying hydraulic fluid through mating quick release connector; (b) a piston; (c) a hollow cylindrical body abutting the roller bearing and placed around the roll at a posterior side of the neck of the roll, the hollow cylindrical body having a bolted-on cylindrical end cap on its posterior side and a locknut, that runs on threads located on the piston, on its posterior side, the hollow cylindrical body and the bolted-on cylindrical end cap slidably mounted on the piston; (d) a pair of locking arms carried on the piston and pivotable about a hinge block and configured to lock at an end of the posterior side of the roll; (e) a plurality of compression springs arranged around an internal periphery of the hollow cylindrical body urging a nose of the hollow cylindrical body against an inner race of the roller bearing; and (f) a pair of seals to seal the hydraulic fluid within a chamber enclosed by a portion of the hollow cylindrical body and another portion of the piston.

[0007] In one embodiment, the plurality of compression springs are picked to match a predetermined mounting force.

[0008] In one embodiment, the hydraulic fluid is any of the following: oil, grease or gas.

[0009] In one embodiment, the roll is a work roll in the rolling mill.

[0010] In one embodiment, the roll is a back-up roll in the rolling mill.

[0011] In one embodiment, the roll is an intermediate roll in the rolling mill.

[0012] In one embodiment, the neck is a cylindrical neck.

[0013] In one embodiment, the hydraulic lock further comprises a key to prevent rotation between the piston and the roll.

[0014] In one embodiment, the locknut is secured to the piston using a segment and one or more segment screws.

[0015] In one embodiment, the plurality of compression springs comprises four or more compression springs.

[0016] In another embodiment, the present invention provides a hydraulic lock for use on a roll in a rolling mill, the roll having a roller bearing mounted thereon towards an anterior side of a neck of the roll, the hydraulic lock comprising: (a) a port supplying hydraulic fluid through mating quick release connector; (b) a piston; (c) a hollow cylindrical body abutting the roller bearing and placed around the roll at a posterior side of the neck of the roll, the hollow cylindrical body having a bolted-on cylindrical end cap on its posterior side and a locknut, that runs on threads located on the piston, on its posterior side, the hollow cylindrical body and the bolted-on cylindrical end cap slidably mounted on the piston; (d) a pair of locking arms carried on the piston and pivotable about a hinge block and configured to lock at an end of the posterior side of the roll; (e) a plurality of compression springs arranged around an internal periphery of the hollow cylindrical body urging a nose of the hollow cylindrical body against an inner race of the roller bearing, wherein the plurality of compression springs are picked to match a predetermined mounting force; (f) a pair of seals to seal the hydraulic fluid within a chamber enclosed by a portion of the hollow cylindrical body and another portion of the piston; and (g) a locknut running on threads on the piston, wherein the locknut is configured to be backed off by a controlled amount, with the hydraulic fluid filling the chamber pulling cylindrical body and cylindrical end cap tightly against locknut.

[0017] In one embodiment, the roll is a work roll in the rolling mill.

[0018] In one embodiment, the roll is a back-up roll in the rolling mill.

[0019] In one embodiment, the roll is an intermediate roll in the rolling mill.

[0020] In one embodiment, the neck is a cylindrical neck.

[0021] In one embodiment, the hydraulic lock further comprises a key to prevent rotation between the piston and the roll.

[0022] In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a method implemented as part of a hydraulic lock for use on a roll in a rolling mill, the roll having a roller bearing mounted thereon towards an anterior side of a neck of the roll, the method comprising: (a) placing a hollow cylindrical body abutting the roller bearing around the roll at a posterior side of the neck of the roll in a rolling mill, the hollow cylindrical body having a bolted-on cylindrical end cap on its posterior side and a locknut, that runs on threads located on a piston, on its posterior side, wherein a pair of locking arms carried on the piston and pivotable about a hinge block are configured to lock at an end of the posterior side of the roll; (b) slidably mounting the hollow cylindrical body and the bolted-on cylindrical end cap on the piston; (c) supplying a hydraulic fluid via a port into a chamber; and (d) sealing, using a pair of seals, the hydraulic fluid within the chamber enclosed by a portion of a hollow cylindrical body and another portion of a piston.

[0023] In one embodiment, the hydraulic fluid is any of the following: oil, grease or gas.

[0024] In one embodiment, the roll is a work roll in the rolling mill.

[0025] In one embodiment, the roll is a back-up roll in the rolling mill.

[0026] In one embodiment, the roll is an intermediate roll in the rolling mill.

[0027] In one embodiment, the neck is a cylindrical neck.

[0028] In one embodiment, the hydraulic lock further comprises a key to prevent rotation between the piston and the roll.

[0029] In one embodiment, the locknut is secured to the piston using a segment and one or more segment screws.

[0030] In one embodiment, the plurality of compression springs comprises four or more compression springs.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0031] The present disclosure, in accordance with one or more various examples, is described in detail with reference to the following figures. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only and merely depict examples of the disclosure. These drawings are provided to facilitate the reader's understanding of the disclosure and should not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, or applicability of the disclosure. It should be noted that for clarity and ease of illustration, these drawings are not necessarily made to scale.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a cross-section through a typical work roll with a double-row tapered roller bearing with the present invention's hydraulic lock.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows an end view of the hydraulic lock.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged sectional view of the upper half of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged sectional view of the lower half of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged sectional view of the upper half of the present invention when the lock is in a dis-mounted position.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] While this invention is illustrated and described in a preferred embodiment, the invention may be produced in many different configurations. There is depicted in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, a preferred embodiment of the invention, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and the associated functional specifications for its construction and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. Those skilled in the art will envision many other possible variations within the scope of the present invention.

[0038] Note that in this description, references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” mean that the feature being referred to is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Further, separate references to “one embodiment” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment; however, neither are such embodiments mutually exclusive unless so stated and except as will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, the present invention can include any variety of combinations and / or integrations of the embodiments described herein.

[0039] It should be noted that the present invention, as described below, may be implemented in conjunction with work rolls, back-up rolls, intermediate rolls of a rolling mill.

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a cross-section through a work roll, having a double-row tapered roller bearing, and includes the present invention’s hydraulic lock (4).

[0041] The roll (1) typically has a cylindrical body (shown in FIG. 1 with a cylindrical neck). A double-row roller bearing (2) is mounted on the roll neck and runs in the chock - not shown. A chock end plate (3) is mounted on the chock, abutting the outer race of the roller bearing (2).

[0042] The present invention’s hydraulic lock (4) is encapsulated in the chock and loosely held in position by the chock end plate (3).

[0043] In one embodiment, the roll is a work roll in the rolling mill.

[0044] In one embodiment, the roll is a back-up roll in the rolling mill.

[0045] In one embodiment, the roll is an intermediate roll in the rolling mill.

[0046] In one embodiment, the neck is a cylindrical neck.

[0047] FIG. 2 shows an end view of the hydraulic lock, which has two locking arms (5), pivot mounted about a special hinge block (6), secured in location by index plungers (7) and may or may not be fastened together with a swing bolt (9). Element (8) in FIG. 2 is the segment. Index plunger (7) is a spring-loaded plunger that engages in a hole. When the locking arm is closed, the index plunger (7) engages, locating it in position. The swing bolt (9), is optional, and may be used to clamp the two locking arms together.

[0048] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged sectional view of the upper half of the present invention, wherein the hydraulic lock comprises a cylinder (10) with a ‘bolted-on’ cylinder end cap(11), both slidably mounted on a piston (12). Locking arms (5) are carried on the piston(12), pivot mounted about the hinge block (6). Locking arms (5) close into the slot at the end of the roll. Locknut (13) runs on the threads (22) on the piston (12). In the embodiment as per FIG. 3, the present invention provides a hydraulic lock for use on a roll (1) in a rolling mill, the roll (1) having a roller bearing (2) mounted thereon towards an anterior side of a neck of the roll (1), the hydraulic lock comprising: (a) a port (26) (into which is screwed a male connector 15, which engages with a corresponding female connector 14) supplying hydraulic fluid through mating quick release connector; (b) a piston (12); (c) a hollow cylindrical body (10) abutting the roller bearing (2) and placed around the roll (1) at a posterior side of the neck of the roll (1), the hollow cylindrical body (10) having a bolted- on cylindrical end cap (11) on its posterior side and a locknut (13), that runs on threads (22) located on the piston (12), on its posterior side, the hollow cylindrical body (10) and the bolted-on cylindrical end cap (11) slidably mounted on the piston (12); (d) a pair of locking arms (5) carried on the piston (12) and pivotable about a hinge block (6) and configured to lock at an end of the posterior side of the roll (1); (e) a plurality of compression springs (21) arranged around an internal periphery of the hollow cylindrical body (10) urging a nose of the hollow cylindrical body (10) against an inner race of the roller bearing (2); and (f) a pair of seals (17, 18) to seal the hydraulic fluid within a chamber (16) enclosed by a portion of the hollow cylindrical body (10) and another portion of the piston (12).

[0049] In one particular embodiment, the number of compression springs is greater than or equal to four. As a non-limiting example, a heavy or medium duty, industry standard spring may be used that is compact in the radial space.

[0050] Non-limiting examples of hydraulic fluids include oil, grease, a fluid medium, or a gaseous medium, where such hydraulic fluids are introduced through a port (26) such that the fluid is charged into the dismounting chamber (16). Special seals (17 and 18) seal the fluid and enable the lock to generate hydraulic pressure to dismount the bearing (2).

[0051] Hydraulic lock (4) can be backed off to provide a small running clearance. This is accomplished by backing off the locknut (13) by a controlled amount, then actuating hydraulic fluid (e.g. , oil, grease, or other fluid or gaseous medium) through a port (26) (into which is screwed a male connector 15, which engages with a corresponding female connector 14) such that the fluid is charged into the dis-mounting chamber (16). This pulls the cylinder (10) and cylinder end cap (11) tightly against the locknut (13). Special seals (17, 18) seal the fluid. Pressure may or may not be removed before rolling.

[0052] The lock may or may not have lip seals (19) or other seals running on the outer surface.

[0053] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged sectional view of the lower half of the present invention, wherein hydraulic lock (4) is in the mounted position, and the locknut (13) is secured to the piston (12) by a segment (8) using segment screws (25).

[0054] A key (20) may be used to prevent rotation between piston (12) and roll (1).

[0055] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged sectional view of the upper half of the present invention when the lock is in a dis-mounted position. To dis-mount the lock, the male connector 15 is engaged with a corresponding female connector 14 to apply hydraulic fluid into the dismounting chamber (16). This causes the cylinder (10) to impinge against the chock end plate (3) at the area shown by (23); simultaneously, the nose of the piston (12) is urged against the shoulder of the roll (1) at the area shown as (24). This dis-mounts the chock from the roll (1).

[0056] In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a method implemented as part of a hydraulic lock for use on a roll (1) in a rolling mill, the roll (1) having a roller bearing (2) mounted thereon towards an anterior side of a neck of the roll (1), the method comprising: (a) placing a hollow cylindrical body (10) abutting the roller bearing (2) around the roll (1) at a posterior side of the neck of the roll (1) in a rolling mill, the hollow cylindrical body (10) having a bolted-on cylindrical end cap (11) on its posterior side and a locknut (13), that runs on threads (22) located on a piston (12), on its posterior side, wherein apair of locking arms (5) carried on the piston (12) and pivotable about a hinge block (6) are configured to lock at an end of the posterior side of the roll (1); (b) slidably mounting the hollow cylindrical body (10) and the bolted-on cylindrical end cap (11) on the piston (12); (c) supplying a hydraulic fluid (via a port (26) into which is screwed a male connector 15, which engages with a corresponding female connector 14) into a chamber (16); and (d) sealing, using a pair of seals (17, 18), the hydraulic fluid within the chamber (16) enclosed by a portion of a hollow cylindrical body (10) and another portion of a piston (12).

[0057] In one embodiment, the roll is a work roll in the rolling mill.

[0058] In one embodiment, the roll is a back-up roll in the rolling mill.

[0059] In one embodiment, the roll is an intermediate roll in the rolling mill.

[0060] In one embodiment, the neck is a cylindrical neck.

[0061] In one embodiment, the hydraulic lock further comprises a key to prevent rotation between the piston and the roll.

[0062] In one embodiment, the locknut is secured to the piston using a segment and one or more segment screws.

[0063] In one embodiment, the plurality of compression springs comprises four or more compression springs.

[0064] Compression springs save valuable axial space, making this invention highly suitable for rolls with very short ends.

[0065] The present invention’s hydraulic locks are more compact and use fewer and simpler parts than other known inventions of hydraulic locks, thus making this system more cost-effective.

[0066] The simpler design makes this unit quicker and easier to use than other known inventions of hydraulic locks.

[0067] The present invention’s compression springs are picked to match a predetermined mounting force. In one non-limiting example, should the force required be 1-2 metric tons, a plurality of medium duty or heavy duty springs may be used to provide the predetermined mounting force of 1-2 metric tons. In one embodiment, at least 4 springs are used to provide the predetermined mounting force. FIG. 2 illustrates one non-limiting example featuring 16 compression springs 21 configured to deliver the predetermined mounting force. However, this number is merely illustrative, and the invention is not limited to employing exactly 16 springs.CONCLUSION

[0068] A system and method have been shown in the above embodiments for the effective implementation of a work roll lock with stiff compression springs and locknut. While various preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, it is intended to cover all modifications falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A hydraulic lock for use on a roll in a rolling mill, the roll having a roller bearing mounted thereon towards an anterior side of a neck of the roll, the hydraulic lock comprising: a. a port supplying hydraulic fluid through mating quick release connector; b. a piston; c. a hollow cylindrical body abutting the roller bearing and placed around the roll at a posterior side of the neck of the roll, the hollow cylindrical body having a bolted- on cylindrical end cap on its posterior side and a locknut, that runs on threads located on the piston, on its posterior side, the hollow cylindrical body and the bolted-on cylindrical end cap slidably mounted on the piston; d. a pair of locking arms carried on the piston and pivotable about a hinge block and configured to lock at an end of the posterior side of the roll; e. a plurality of compression springs arranged around an internal periphery of the hollow cylindrical body urging a nose of the hollow cylindrical body against an inner race of the roller bearing; and f. a pair of seals to seal the hydraulic fluid within a chamber enclosed by a portion of the hollow cylindrical body and another portion of the piston.

2. The hydraulic lock of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of compression springs are picked to match a predetermined mounting force.

3. The hydraulic lock of claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic fluid is any of the following: oil, grease or gas.

4. The hydraulic lock of claim 1 , wherein the roll is a work roll in the rolling mill.

5. The hydraulic lock of claim 1 , wherein the roll is a back-up roll in the rolling mill.

6. The hydraulic lock of claim 1 , wherein the roll is an intermediate roll in the rolling mill.

7. The hydraulic lock of claim 1 , wherein the neck is a cylindrical neck.

8. The hydraulic lock of claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic lock further comprises a key to prevent rotation between the piston and the roll.

9. The hydraulic lock of claim 1 , wherein the locknut is secured to the piston using a segment and one or more segment screws.

10. The hydraulic lock of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of compression springs comprises four or more compression springs.

11. A hydraulic lock for use on a roll in a rolling mill, the roll having a roller bearing mounted thereon towards an anterior side of a neck of the roll, the hydraulic lock comprising:a. a port supplying hydraulic fluid through mating quick release connector; b. a piston; c. a hollow cylindrical body abutting the roller bearing and placed around the roll at a posterior side of the neck of the roll, the hollow cylindrical body having a bolted- on cylindrical end cap on its posterior side and a locknut, that runs on threads located on the piston, on its posterior side, the hollow cylindrical body and the bolted-on cylindrical end cap slidably mounted on the piston; d. a pair of locking arms carried on the piston and pivotable about a hinge block and configured to lock at an end of the posterior side of the roll; e. a plurality of compression springs arranged around an internal periphery of the hollow cylindrical body urging a nose of the hollow cylindrical body against an inner race of the roller bearing, wherein the plurality of compression springs are picked to match a predetermined mounting force; f. a pair of seals to seal the hydraulic fluid within a chamber enclosed by a portion of the hollow cylindrical body and another portion of the piston; and g. a locknut running on threads on the piston, wherein the locknut is configured to be backed off by a controlled amount, with the hydraulic fluid filling the chamber pulling cylindrical body and cylindrical end cap tightly against locknut.

12. The hydraulic lock of claim 11 , wherein the roll is a work roll in the rolling mill.

13. The hydraulic lock of claim 11, wherein the roll is a back-up roll in the rolling mill.

14. The hydraulic lock of claim 11 , wherein the roll is an intermediate roll in the rolling mill.

15. The hydraulic lock of claim 11 , wherein the neck is a cylindrical neck.

16. The hydraulic lock of claim 11, wherein the hydraulic lock further comprises a key to prevent rotation between the piston and the roll.

17. A method implemented as part of a hydraulic lock for use on a roll in a rolling mill, the roll having a roller bearing mounted thereon towards an anterior side of a neck of the roll, the method comprising: a. placing a hollow cylindrical body abutting the roller bearing around the roll at a posterior side of the neck of the roll in a rolling mill, the hollow cylindrical body having a bolted-on cylindrical end cap on its posterior side and a locknut, that runs on threads located on a piston, on its posterior side, wherein a pair of locking arms carried on the piston and pivotable about a hinge block are configured to lock at an end of the posterior side of the roll;b. slidably mounting the hollow cylindrical body and the bolted-on cylindrical end cap on the piston; c. supplying a hydraulic fluid via a port into a chamber; and d. sealing, using a pair of seals, the hydraulic fluid within the chamber enclosed by a portion of a hollow cylindrical body and another portion of a piston.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the hydraulic fluid is any of the following: oil, grease or gas.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the roll is a work roll in the rolling mill.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the roll is a back-up roll in the rolling mill.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the roll is an intermediate roll in the rolling mill.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the neck is a cylindrical neck.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the hydraulic lock further comprises a key to prevent rotation between the piston and the roll.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the locknut is secured to the piston using a segment and one or more segment screws.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of compression springs comprises four or more compression springs.

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