Cold-Rolled Strip Cleaning by Reverse Spray Between Tandem Stands

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for cleaning rolling stock during cold rolling are inefficient in removing metal particles and rolling emulsion residues, leading to surface contamination and requiring extensive mechanical scraping or post-processing, which can damage equipment and complicate the cleaning process.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the use of a cleaning liquid, such as a filtered rolling emulsion or water, sprayed between roll stands in a tandem train at pressures between 6 bar and 100 bar, with a spray direction opposite to the rolling stock's passage direction, effectively removing contaminants before they are rolled into the surface by subsequent stands, thus improving surface quality and reducing mechanical wear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If mechanical scrapers are used to clean the rolled material, then surface contamination is removed, but the scrapers are subject to wear and can scratch the surface of the rolled material

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface contaminationVSAvoidscraper wear and surface scratching
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical scrapers with a fluid-based cleaning system. A cleaning fluid is sprayed onto the rolled material between rolling stands to remove metal particles and emulsion residues, eliminating mechanical contact that causes wear and surface scratching while maintaining effective contamination removal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses hydraulic spraying of cleaning fluid at controlled pressure to clean the rolled material surface. The fluid delivery system employs pneumatic/hydraulic principles to spray cleaning agents between rolling stands, providing effective contamination removal without mechanical contact

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Device complexity

If cleaning is performed only before and after final rolling, then the cleaning process is simple, but metal particles embedded in the surface before final rolling cannot be removed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning process complexityVSAvoidembedded metal particles
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies cleaning action during the cold rolling process, specifically between rolling stands, to remove metal particles before they become firmly embedded in the material surface. This preliminary cleaning intervention prevents contamination entrenchment while maintaining overall process simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning process is segmented into multiple stages during cold rolling, with cleaning fluid applied between specific rolling stands (e.g., between 1st and 2nd, or 2nd and 3rd stands). This segmentation allows targeted removal of particles at different embedding stages without requiring complete process redesign

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-affected harmful factors

If water is sprayed at high pressure to remove contaminants, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontaminant removal effectivenessVSAvoidspray pressure energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes spray pressure parameters within a specific range (6-100 bar) to achieve effective contaminant removal while minimizing energy consumption. The cleaning fluid is sprayed at controlled pressure between rolling stands, balancing cleaning effectiveness with energy efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the existing rolling emulsion infrastructure and piping to deliver cleaning fluid, reducing the need for separate high-energy pumping systems. The cleaning process integrates with the existing emulsion application system, minimizing additional energy requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

This approach enhances the cleanliness and surface quality of the rolling stock by preventing metal particles and emulsion residues from being rolled into the surface, reducing the need for subsequent cleaning measures and avoiding mechanical wear on cleaning devices, while being cost-effective and energy-efficient.

Implementation Method 1

a cleaning fluid is sprayed onto the rolled material at a pressure between 6 bar and 100 bar in a spray direction that has a component opposite to the through-direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid spray: Fluid Spray

Data Source

PatentEP3421148B1Cleaning of a product which is cold rolled
Publication Date: 2022.10.05 PRIMETALS TECH AUSTRIA GMBH
  • EP3421148B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3421148B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3421148B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for cleaning a rolled material (5) during the cold rolling of the rolled material (5) in a tandem mill (1) having several rolling stands (7, 9), wherein the rolled material (5) is moved through the tandem mill (1) in a through-direction (3) and a cleaning fluid (26) is sprayed onto the rolled material (5) between two rolling stands (7, 9) in a spray direction which has a component opposite to the through-direction (3).