Adjustable Heat-Retaining Cover for Variable-Width Rolling Stock

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heat keeping apparatuses for rolling transfer lines face limitations in enhancing heat retention due to fixed cover sizes, leading to temperature deviations and uneven rolling products when dealing with materials of varying widths or thicknesses.

Innovation Solution

A heat keeping apparatus with an adjustable heat keeping cover featuring arc-shaped cross-sectional structures and rotatable side cover parts, supported by thermally deformable and replaceable reflective panels, allowing for easy maintenance and impact protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a fixed-size heat keeping cover is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the heat keeping effect is limited when material size changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidadaptability to material size
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The heat keeping cover incorporates rotatable side cover parts that can be adjusted to different positions according to the width and thickness of the material being processed. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the same cover structure to adapt to various material sizes while maintaining effective heat retention, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the heat keeping cover is adjusted to fit different material sizes, then the heat keeping effect is enhanced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat keeping effectVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heat keeping cover is divided into an upper cover part and rotatable side cover parts that can be independently adjusted. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall structural simplicity. The side cover parts can be rotated to different positions without complicating the entire cover structure, thus enhancing heat keeping effect while controlling device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid panel structure is used, then the structure is stable, but the panel may bend or damage due to thermal deformation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidpanel reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The reflective panel is designed with flexible support connections that allow the panel to expand and contract thermally without generating excessive stress. The panel can still maintain its functional integrity and reflective properties while accommodating thermal deformation, thus improving reliability without sacrificing structural stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Stability of the object's composition

If the reflective panel is firmly fixed, then the panel position is stable, but maintenance and replacement become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepanel position stabilityVSAvoidpanel maintenance ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The reflective panel is connected through movable support structures that allow easy detachment and reattachment. During normal operation, the panel remains firmly positioned to maintain stability, but when maintenance is needed, the movable connections enable quick removal and replacement without complex disassembly procedures, thus balancing position stability with maintenance ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances heat retention by dynamically adjusting to material sizes, preventing bending and damage, and maintaining effective heat distribution through low emissivity and high reflectance materials, thus reducing temperature deviations and ensuring uniform rolling.

Implementation Method 1

a heat keeping cover includes an upper cover part provided to cover an upper side of the material, first and second side cover parts provided to cover sides of the material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

the heat keeping cover reduces the temperature drop at the rear end of the material by keeping the heat of the material being transferred

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 3

an elastic deformation part extending from the coupling groove in a bent state and fixed to the panel frame to allow deformation of the upper reflective panel in a width direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 4

a plurality of coil springs having one side connected to an edge of the panel frame and the other side connected to the upper frame

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3858504B1Heat-retaining rolling equipment
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 POSCO HLDG INC
  • EP3858504B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3858504B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3858504B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a heat keeping apparatus for a rolling transfer line. The heat keeping apparatus includes a heat keeping cover configured to cover and heat the outside of a material being transferred along the transfer line, wherein the heat keeping cover includes an upper cover part provided to cover an upper side of the material, first and second side cover parts provided to cover sides of the material and rotatably connected to both sides of the upper cover part, and at least one actuacting part provided to adjust unfolding of the first or second side cover part by rotating the first or second side cover part.