Counterflow Spray Cleaning Between Mill Stands in Cold Rolling

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Solution Overview

Problem

During cold rolling, metal particles and emulsion residues contaminate the workpiece surface, leading to poor surface quality, as existing cleaning methods like mechanical scraping wear out quickly and struggle to remove particles rolled into the surface before the final rolling operation.

Innovation Solution

A method involving spraying a cleaning liquid counter to the rolling direction between mill stands in a tandem or reversing rolling process, using existing emulsion or water, to remove contaminants before they are rolled further into the workpiece, thus improving surface quality and reducing mechanical wear on cleaning devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If mechanical scraping devices are used to clean the workpiece surface, then metal particles and emulsion residues can be removed, but the scraping devices are subject to wear and hard particles can scratch the workpiece surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface qualityVSAvoidcleaning device durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical scraping devices with a fluid-based cleaning system using cleaning liquid sprayed onto the workpiece surface. This substitution eliminates direct mechanical contact between cleaning devices and the workpiece, preventing both device wear and surface scratching while effectively removing metal particles and emulsion residues through fluid dynamics and chemical action

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs hydraulic spraying of cleaning liquid onto the workpiece surface between mill stands. The cleaning liquid is delivered through a spraying device that uses fluid pressure to apply the cleaning solution, leveraging hydraulic principles to achieve effective cleaning without mechanical contact and without requiring complex mechanical scraping mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Device complexity

If cleaning is performed only before and after the last rolling operation, then the cleaning process is simplified, but metal particles firmly rolled into the surface prior to the last operation cannot be removed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning process complexityVSAvoidsurface quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary cleaning action by spraying cleaning liquid onto the workpiece surface between mill stands during the rolling process. This intermediate cleaning removes metal particles and emulsion residues before they become firmly embedded in subsequent rolling operations, preventing surface contamination that would be difficult or impossible to remove later

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes continuous cleaning action by integrating cleaning between multiple mill stands throughout the rolling process. Rather than discrete cleaning only at the beginning and end, the cleaning liquid is applied continuously at intermediate stages, ensuring that contaminants are removed before they can be rolled into the surface, maintaining surface quality throughout the entire process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Device complexity

If cleaning liquid is sprayed in the direction of rolling, then the spraying system is simpler, but the cleaning effectiveness is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespraying system complexityVSAvoidsurface cleanliness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional spraying approach by directing the cleaning liquid opposite to the rolling direction. This counter-directional spraying creates effective counter-flow that enhances the removal of metal particles and emulsion residues from the workpiece surface, improving cleaning effectiveness through opposing fluid dynamics rather than following the rolling direction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 method effectively prevents metal particles from being rolled into the workpiece surface, enhancing cleanliness and surface quality, while avoiding the need for heaters and reducing energy consumption and pipework complexity.

Implementation Method 1

a cleaning liquid is sprayed onto the moving workpiece in a spraying direction having a component that is counter to the direction of rolling

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid spray: Fluid Spray

Data Source

PatentUS11554396B2Cleaning rolling stock during cold rolling of the rolling stock

Publication Date: 2023.01.17 PRIMETALS TECH AUSTRIA GMBH

AI summary

A method for cleaning rolling stock (5) during cold rolling of the rolling stock (5) in a tandem mill (1) which includes a plurality of mill stands (7, 9). The rolling stock (5) is moved through the tandem mill (1) in a direction of movement (3) and a cleaning liquid (26) is sprayed onto the rolling stock (5) between two roll stands (7, 9) in a spraying direction having a component opposite to that of the direction of movement (3).