Embedded Nozzle Cassette for Rolling Mill Roller Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reversible rolling mills with 'cassette' technology face challenges in effectively cooling and lubricating working rollers due to nozzles being placed outside the cassette, leading to inefficient cooling and lubrication, especially when rollers are small or at high speeds, and complicating maintenance operations.
Innovation Solution
Embedding nozzles on support arms within the rolling mill, equipped with a connection/disconnection device that allows sealed fluid supply directly to the rollers, enabling efficient cooling and lubrication without increasing maintenance time, and using a ball-and-socket connection for fluid delivery to ensure effective fluid flow and reach.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If nozzles are placed outside the cassette on load distribution beams, then the structure is simple and maintenance is easier, but cooling and lubrication effectiveness is insufficient especially for small diameter rollers at high speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzles are embedded within the cassette structure itself, nested inside the assembly that contains the working roller, intermediate roller, and support arms. This allows the cooling and lubrication system to be integrated into the cassette rather than being external, enabling effective fluid delivery to small diameter rollers while maintaining the modular cassette design for easy maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The cassette structure is modified to include localized fluid delivery channels and nozzles positioned in close proximity to the working roller surface. This local integration ensures that cooling and lubrication fluid is delivered precisely where needed on the roller surface, improving effectiveness for high-speed operation while keeping the overall structure maintainable through cassette replacement.
2Reliability
If nozzles are embedded on support arms within the cassette, then cooling and lubrication effectiveness is improved, but the fluid supply system becomes more complex requiring connection/disconnection devices
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid supply system incorporates dynamic connection/disconnection capabilities that automatically engage or disengage based on the operational state. During normal operation, the nozzles are connected to fluid supply; during maintenance when the cassette is removed, the connections automatically disconnect. This dynamic behavior simplifies the overall system by eliminating manual connection/disconnection steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The cassette assembly includes integrated fluid channels and connection features that automatically establish fluid flow paths when the cassette is installed and automatically seal/disconnect when removed. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external operators to manually connect or disconnect fluid lines, reducing system complexity despite the embedded nozzle configuration.
3Ease of operation
If standard external nozzle placement is used, then maintenance operations are simpler, but fluid flow paths are too long causing insufficient cooling at high roller speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzles are nested within the cassette assembly in close proximity to the working roller, creating short fluid flow paths from the nozzle outlets to the roller surface. This nested configuration ensures that cooling fluid reaches the roller quickly and effectively, maintaining adequate cooling performance even at high roller speeds where rapid heat generation occurs.
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 solution ensures effective cooling and lubrication of working rollers, even at high speeds and with small diameters, while simplifying maintenance by eliminating the need for additional fluid disconnection during cassette removal or insertion, allowing for substantial fluid flows and improved operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
at least one nozzle (12) for spraying a cooling and/or lubrication fluid on at least one of the working rollers (2), on the strip (B) in the vicinity of the working rollers (2), in such a way that the stream of the nozzle (12) reaches said at least one working roller (2) by sliding on the strip (B), against the direction of scrolling of the strip (B)
Implementation Method 2
the stream of the nozzle (12) reaches said at least one working roller (2) by sliding on the strip (B), against the direction of scrolling of the strip (B)
Implementation Method 3
spraying a cooling and/or lubrication fluid on at least one of the working rollers (2)
Data Source
AI summary
Rolling mill (1) includes:side bearing rollers (5), able to laterally support the working rollers (2) of the rolling mill, with each side bearing roller being carried by a support arm (6), mounted pivoting on an axis (7),load distribution beams (8) extending between the corresponding posts of each pair, and elements (9) for applying a preload force on each support arm (6), intended to engage with one of the support arms on a bearing surface (10), and including at least one preload cylinder (11) integral with one of the load distribution beams (8),one or several spraying nozzles for a lubricant/cooling fluid, at least one of the nozzles (12, 12′), is embedded on one of the support arms (6) and the fluid supply circuit of the at least one nozzle (12, 12′) includes a connection/disconnection device (13) with the support arm (6).