High-Temperature Annealing Roll with Composite Casing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rollers used in high-temperature annealing lines face challenges such as creep, deformation, and short lifespan due to high temperatures and thermal expansion, leading to issues like 'heat buckles' and poor guidance, and existing materials like ceramic or graphite rollers are fragile and require frequent replacement.

Innovation Solution

A roller design featuring a cylindrical casing made of thermostructural composite material with elastic retaining elements and a metallic mandrel, allowing for high-temperature operation up to 1300°C while maintaining mechanical strength and preventing deformation, and an axial support element for compatibility with existing installations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If steel rollers are used in high-temperature annealing lines, then they provide good mechanical strength and support, but they deform under thermal expansion leading to heat buckles and poor guidance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoidroller geometry stability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The roller consists of a composite structure combining a metallic mandrel (providing mechanical strength) with a thermostructural composite material casing (providing thermal stability and low thermal expansion). This composite design allows the roller to maintain both structural integrity and geometric stability at temperatures above 1100°C.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Shape

If ceramic or graphite rollers are used to withstand high temperatures, then they maintain geometric stability, but they are fragile and have limited lifespan

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroller geometry stabilityVSAvoidmechanical strength and lifespan
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention combines the thermal stability of ceramic/graphite materials with the mechanical strength of metallic materials in a composite structure. The thermostructural composite material casing provides high-temperature resistance while the metallic mandrel provides structural support, eliminating the fragility issue of pure ceramic or graphite rollers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the roller have different material properties optimized for their specific functions: the metallic mandrel provides mechanical strength and structural support where needed, while the thermostructural composite material casing provides thermal stability and low expansion where it contacts the hot steel sheets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If steel rollers are used for lower temperature treatments, then they provide good mechanical support, but their significant thermal expansion coefficient causes deformation and heat buckles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical support capabilityVSAvoidcompatibility with high-temperature operation
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The composite structure allows the roller to be adapted to high-temperature operations (above 1100°C) while retaining the mechanical support capability of metallic materials. The thermostructural composite material casing has a low thermal expansion coefficient that prevents deformation at high temperatures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Temperature

If rollers operate at temperatures above 1100°C, then they can handle very high performance silicon steel manufacturing, but existing steel rollers cannot withstand these temperatures and must be replaced frequently

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating temperature capabilityVSAvoidroller lifespan
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The thermostructural composite material casing enables the roller to operate at temperatures above 1100°C while the metallic mandrel provides structural support. This composite design significantly extends the roller lifespan at high temperatures compared to pure steel rollers that must be replaced every month.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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

The solution enables reliable operation at high temperatures with enhanced mechanical strength, reduced risk of deformation, and compatibility with existing facilities, extending roller lifespan and reducing the need for frequent replacements.

Implementation Method 1

each elastic tongue whose end bears on the rocket

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

due to their significant coefficient of expansion, they can deform under the effect of temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentEP2483431B1High-temperature annealing line roll
Publication Date: 2016.07.13 GERAKL
  • EP2483431B1 patent drawingFigure 1~1A
  • EP2483431B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2483431B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a high-temperature annealing line roll (100) comprising a cylindrical envelope (120) and at least one spindle (130; 140) consisting of a metallic material mounted on one of the ends of the cylindrical envelope, said at least one spindle comprising a mandrel (131; 141) that can rotatably drive the cylindrical envelope (120). The cylindrical envelope (120) consists of a thermostructural composite material. The roll (100) also comprises at least one holding element (150; 160) for holding the envelope (120) on the spindle (130; 140), said element comprising a crown or a plurality of crown segments (151, 152; 161, 162) fixed to an end of said envelope, each crown or crown segment being extended by at least one elastic tongue (153; 163), the end of which is supported on the spindle.