Gate Device Guide Unit Liner for Metal Strip

Solution Overview

Problem

High-strength thick metal strips experience increased frictional resistance and surface flaws when passing through gate devices due to their high bending stiffness, requiring excessive pushing force and energy consumption.

Innovation Solution

A gate device with a guide unit featuring a liner with a lower friction coefficient and hardness than the metal strip, attached to a body frame, which reduces frictional resistance and prevents surface flaws by using detachable and replaceable liners with varying thicknesses to accommodate uneven wear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a hard guide unit is used to guide high-strength thick metal strip, then the guide unit can withstand the high bending stiffness, but the metal strip surface is vulnerable to flaws and frictional resistance increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveguide unit strengthVSAvoidsurface flaws and frictional resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guide unit employs a composite structure combining a hard body frame for structural strength and a soft liner made of elastomer or thermoplastic resin for low friction and non-marring contact. This composite material approach allows the guide unit to simultaneously withstand the high bending stiffness of thick metal strip while preventing surface flaws and reducing frictional resistance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The liner acts as an intermediary element between the hard body frame and the metal strip. It provides a soft contact surface that interfaces with the metal strip, absorbing the mechanical stress and preventing direct contact between the hard body frame and the strip surface, thereby eliminating surface flaws while maintaining guide unit strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by moving object

If a soft guide surface is used to reduce friction, then energy consumption decreases, but the guide unit cannot withstand high bending stiffness forces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidguide unit strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The guide unit employs a composite structure combining a hard body frame for structural strength and a soft liner made of elastomer or thermoplastic resin for low friction and non-marring contact. This composite material approach allows the guide unit to simultaneously withstand the high bending stiffness of thick metal strip while preventing surface flaws and reducing frictional resistance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The guide unit is segmented into two functional parts: the body frame that provides structural support and withstands bending forces, and the liner that provides the contact surface for guiding the metal strip. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently for its specific function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Strength

If the guide unit body frame directly contacts the metal strip, then structural strength is maintained, but replacement of worn surfaces requires replacing the entire expensive body frame

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveguide unit strengthVSAvoidreplacement cost and complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The guide unit is segmented into two functional parts: the body frame that provides structural support and withstands bending forces, and the liner that provides the contact surface for guiding the metal strip. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently for its specific function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The liner is designed as a consumable, replaceable component with lower cost compared to the body frame. When the liner becomes worn, it can be replaced without replacing the expensive body frame, reducing maintenance costs and downtime. The liner acts as a sacrificial element that protects the permanent body frame

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 stabilizes strip passage and prevents surface flaws on high-strength thick metal strips by minimizing frictional resistance and allowing for cost-effective and efficient replacement of worn liners, reducing energy consumption and operational costs.

Implementation Method 1

having a lower friction coefficient than a friction coefficient of the body frame

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

having a lower hardness than a hardness of the metal strip. The presence of the liner can reduce frictional resistance on the guide surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWear: Wear

Data Source

PatentUS10413952B2Coiler device and gate device provided with guide unit

Publication Date: 2019.09.17 PRIMETALS TECHNOLOGIES JAPAN LTD

AI summary

This gate device is provided with a guide unit having a guide section that is disposed at the downstream side of pinch rollers at a path line along which a metal sheet is conveyed, opens/closes a coil-up line that is curved from the path line, and guides the upwards-facing surface side of the metal sheet led in to the coil-up line. A configuration is adopted such that the guide unit has a main body frame and a liner that is attached to the main body frame, forms at least a portion of the second guide surface that guides the metal sheet, has a lower coefficient of friction than the main body frame, and has a lower hardness than that of the metal sheet.