Interchangeable Work Roll Sets for Cold Rolling Diameter Trade-Offs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cold rolling technologies face limitations in producing rolled products of varying hardnesses and thicknesses due to constraints in work roll diameters, leading to issues like work roll flattening and reduced thickness reduction, especially when handling high-strength and ultra-high-strength materials.

Innovation Solution

The rolling device is configured with work rolls having adjustable diameter ranges, allowing different equipment sets with varying minimum and maximum diameters to be used, along with adaptable spindle heads and chocks, enabling the roll stand to be tailored to specific rolling stock requirements, including high-strength and ultra-high-strength materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If work roll diameter is increased to reduce flattening, then work roll flattening is reduced, but thickness reduction capability is reduced for high-strength materials

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework roll flatteningVSAvoidthickness reduction capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic work roll diameter selection system where different loading sets with varying work roll diameters can be selectively installed on the rolling stand. This allows the system to adaptively choose the optimal work roll diameter based on the specific material properties and rolling requirements, rather than being constrained to a fixed diameter. The loading sets are designed to be interchangeable, enabling dynamic reconfiguration of the rolling parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameter of work roll diameter by providing multiple loading sets, each containing work rolls with different diameters. This parameter variation allows optimization for different material strengths and rolling conditions. The system can select smaller diameter work rolls for high-strength materials requiring greater thickness reduction, and larger diameter work rolls for materials where flattening is the primary concern.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If work roll diameter is decreased to improve thickness reduction, then thickness reduction is improved, but work roll flattening increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethickness reductionVSAvoidwork roll flattening
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables dynamic selection of work roll diameter through interchangeable loading sets. When processing high-strength materials requiring maximum thickness reduction, the system can be reconfigured with smaller diameter work rolls. When processing materials where flattening control is critical, larger diameter work rolls are installed, allowing the system to dynamically adapt to different operational priorities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

By providing multiple loading sets with different work roll diameters, the system can change the work roll diameter parameter to match the specific rolling task. This parameter flexibility resolves the contradiction by allowing optimization for either thickness reduction or flattening prevention depending on the material and process requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If single loading set is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different materials is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveloading set configurationVSAvoidmaterial range capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the work roll system into multiple interchangeable loading sets, each optimized for specific material types or rolling conditions. This segmentation allows the complex requirement of handling diverse materials to be divided into manageable, pre-configured units. Each loading set is a self-contained module that can be independently selected and installed, making the complexity manageable through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rolling stand is designed with universal capability to accommodate multiple types of loading sets through standardized mounting interfaces and support structures. This multi-functionality allows a single rolling stand to handle a wide range of materials by simply changing the loading set, rather than requiring dedicated equipment for each material type. The universal design resolves the contradiction by enabling high adaptability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple loading sets with different work roll diameters are used, then product versatility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct rangeVSAvoidrolling stand configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the work roll functionality into separate, standardized loading sets that can be independently managed and installed. This segmentation allows product versatility to be achieved through modular combinations rather than a single complex integrated system. Each loading set is a discrete unit with defined characteristics, making the overall system complexity manageable through standardization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rolling stand incorporates universal mounting features and support structures that can accommodate multiple types of loading sets. This multi-functionality enables the system to handle diverse products without requiring fundamentally different equipment for each product type. The universal design allows the same rolling stand to be reconfigured for different products by simply changing the loading set, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3999259B1Cold rolling of rolled material
Publication Date: 2023.09.06 PRIMETALS TECH AUSTRIA GMBH
  • EP3999259B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3999259B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3999259B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a rolling device (1), a method and a rolling train (35) for the cold rolling of rolled stock (3). The rolling device (1) comprises a rolling stand (5), multiple assembly sets for optionally assembling the rolling stand (5) with one of the assembly sets, and a working-roll drive. Each assembly set comprises two working rolls (7, 8), for each working roll (7, 8) two working-roll chocks (9) and a spindle head (11), which can be connected in a form-fitting manner to a working roll journal (16) of the working roll (7, 8), wherein the working rolls (7, 8) of different assembly sets have different working-roll diameter ranges, which are determined by a respective minimum working-roll diameter and maximum working-roll diameter. The rolling stand (5) has mountings (19) for a respective working-roll chock (9) of an assembly set. The working-roll drive has two drive spindles (27), which are designed in each case for driving a working roll (7, 8) via the spindle head (11) assigned to the working roll (7, 8) by rotations about a longitudinal axis of the drive spindle (27).