Contactless Wiper Nozzle Curtain for Rolling Liquid Removal

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In hot or cold rolling mills, inefficient cooling and lubrication processes occur due to slow evacuation of cooling liquids, leading to reduced cooling efficiency and improper adhesion of lubricants, as traditional contact-based scrapers cause water or emulsion leakage and mixing with lubricants, affecting lubrication effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A contactless wiping system using a separation lug with a nozzle strip oriented to deflect liquid jets away from the rolling surface, creating a curtain of liquid that redirects and recovers the liquid and lubricant flow, preventing entrapment and ensuring efficient evacuation without mechanical contact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional contact-based scrapers are used to remove cooling water, then the cooling liquid can be removed from the product surface, but water or emulsion leaks onto the strip or mill footprint, mixing with lubricant and reducing lubrication efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidlubrication effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical contact-based scraper system with a non-contact liquid jet system. High-pressure liquid jets are directed at the cooling water on the strip surface to deflect and remove it without mechanical contact, thereby preventing water leakage and mixing with lubricant while maintaining cooling efficiency

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

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses hydraulic principles by employing high-pressure liquid jets to remove cooling water. The system utilizes pressurized fluid streams to deflect and redirect water away from the strip surface, replacing mechanical scraping with a hydraulic-based non-contact removal mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Speed

If contact scrapers are used to evacuate cooling liquid, then cooling water removal is achieved, but the scrapers cause water or emulsion to leak and mix with lubricant, affecting lubrication effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid evacuation speedVSAvoidlubrication process reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes mechanical scrapers with a non-contact liquid jet system that uses high-pressure fluid streams to evacuate cooling water at high speed. This replacement eliminates mechanical contact that causes leakage and mixing, thereby maintaining both evacuation speed and lubrication process reliability

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

3Productivity

If traditional contact-based wiping systems are used, then liquid removal is achieved, but mechanical contact causes wear and leakage issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid removal efficiencyVSAvoidmaintenance interval
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces mechanical contact-based wiping systems with a non-contact liquid jet system. By using high-pressure fluid streams instead of mechanical scrapers, the system achieves efficient liquid removal without mechanical wear, thereby extending maintenance intervals and improving system durability

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

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 system effectively redirects at least 90% of the liquid and lubricant away from the rolling surface, enhancing cooling efficiency, reducing maintenance needs, and preventing lubricant interference, while allowing for early and turbulent cooling without wear or leakage issues.

Implementation Method 1

the nozzle array being oriented so as to provide a jet in the form of a curtain of liquid directed in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of movement of the belt or rotation of the cylinder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLiquid jet deflection: Jet

Data Source

PatentEP3678794B1Industrial facility comprising a contactless wiper
Publication Date: 2021.09.29 CENT DE RECH METALLURGIQUES CENT VOOR RES IN DE METALLURGIE
  • EP3678794B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3678794B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3678794B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention concerns a contactless wiping system (1) for wiping coolant and/or lubricant from the surface of a moving metal strip (15) or a working roll (3), comprising a separation block (7) with an integrated coolant supply ended by a manifold of nozzles (2) intended to be placed along the width of the strip (15) or the roll (3), and suitable for being separated from the metal strip (15) or working roll (3) by a determined gap (6) during use, the nozzles (2) being oriented in such a way as to provide a jet (4) in the form of a liquid curtain oriented in a direction substantially opposite the direction of travel of the strip (15) or the direction of rotation of the roll (3) and a liquid recovery gutter (5), such that, during use, the liquid sprayed by the nozzles (2) is capable of deflecting a liquid and/or a lubricant (4') entrained by the strip (15) or by the roll (3) and of forming a combined flow (4") of liquid or of a mixture of liquid and lubricant that moves off the strip (15) or the roll (3), falling back into the recovery gutter (5) and allowing said combined flow (4") to be discharged, practically no liquid and/or lubricant being entrained by the strip (15) or the roll (3) downstream from the wiping system (1).