Compact Hydraulic Mount for Tapered Oil Film Bearing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional hydraulic mounts for rolling mill oil film bearings increase the axial length of the bearing/roll assembly, necessitating heavier rolls, longer roll grinders, and wider mill foundations, which is costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
An internally tapered sleeve is seated on the roll neck with a compact hydraulic mounting and locking assembly using a tubular piston and cylinder with a circular thrust component, allowing axial advancement and retraction of the sleeve for compact positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional hydraulic mounts are used for mounting and locking bearings onto roll necks, then the mounting and locking functionality is achieved, but the axial length of the bearing/roll assembly significantly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic piston is nested within the bearing assembly's axial space, with the piston rod extending through the chock assembly. The cylinder, piston, and associated components are arranged concentrically and axially within the existing bearing structure, allowing the hydraulic mounting function to be integrated without proportionally increasing the overall axial length. This nesting approach enables the hydraulic actuation mechanism to occupy shared space within the bearing assembly rather than adding separate external components.
2Ease of operation
If traditional hydraulic mounts are used for mounting and locking bearings, then the mounting and locking functionality is achieved, but heavier rolls and wider mill foundations are required
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic mounting mechanism is merged with the bearing assembly structure itself. The cylinder, piston, chock assembly, and bearing components are integrated into a single unified structure where the hydraulic actuation system shares structural elements with the bearing support system. This merging eliminates the need for separate heavy mounting mechanisms and allows the bearing assembly to serve dual functions of both supporting the roll and providing hydraulic actuation for mounting/locking operations.
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 provides a more compact bearing/roll assembly, reducing system costs by minimizing the axial length and weight requirements, while maintaining effective mounting and locking functionality.
Implementation Method 1
Pressurization of the first chamber will cause the cylinder to axially advance and act via the thrust component and the sleeve ring to urge the sleeve into its seated position. Pressurization of the second chamber will cause the cylinder to axially retract
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
An oil film bearing (10) is disclosed for a rolling mill roll having a tapered neck (14) leading to a reduced diameter end section (18,20). The bearing (10) comprises an internally tapered sleeve (12) received in a seated position on the tapered roll neck (14). The sleeve (12) is journaled for rotation in a bushing (24) fixed within a chock assembly (26). A tubular piston (38) is received on and fixed relative to the reduced diameter end section (20) of the roll. A cylinder (42) is internally subdivided by the piston (38) into first and second chambers (44a,44b). A sleeve ring (36) abuts an end of the sleeve (12) and a circular thrust component (32) is interposed between and arranged to overlap adjacent segments of the sleeve ring (12) and the cylinder (42). One or the other of the first and second chambers (44a,44b) may be pressurized, whereupon pressurization of the first chamber (44a) will cause the cylinder (42) to axially advance and act via the thrust component (32) and the sleeve ring (36) to urge the sleeve (12) into its seated position, and pressurization of the second chamber (44b) will cause the cylinder (42) to axially retract and act via the chock assembly (26) and the bushing (24) to withdraw the sleeve (12) from its seated position.