Mandrel Guide Slides for Multi-Diameter Rolling Bar Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current guide systems for mandrels and driving bars in rolling plants face significant maintenance and replacement costs due to wear, especially when dealing with varying diameters, leading to increased production times and costs.
Innovation Solution
A guide device with movable abutment surfaces on slides that adjust between predefined operating positions to accommodate different diameters, utilizing articulated mechanisms and mechanical locking elements for reliable operation and reduced tooling times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fixed abutment surfaces are used for guiding mandrels and driving bars, then the guide system provides stable support, but the surfaces wear out quickly and require frequent maintenance and replacement when dealing with varying diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the abutment surfaces movable instead of fixed. The slides can adjust their position along the longitudinal axis to accommodate different mandrel and driving bar diameters. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the same guide system to reliably guide elements of varying sizes without requiring frequent maintenance or replacement of worn components, as the surfaces can be repositioned rather than replaced.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by designing a guide system where the same abutment surfaces can serve multiple functions for different diameters. By allowing the slides to move longitudinally, the abutment surfaces become universal components that can guide mandrels and driving bars of various diameters, eliminating the need for multiple sets of fixed surfaces for different size requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sets of guide surfaces are provided for different diameters, then the system can accommodate varying sizes, but the device complexity and tooling changes increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single set of abutment surfaces that can accommodate multiple diameters through longitudinal movement of the slides. Instead of providing multiple fixed sets of surfaces for different diameters, the universal slides can be positioned along the longitudinal axis to match the required diameter, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the dynamics principle to transform a static, multi-configuration system into a dynamic, adjustable system. Rather than having multiple fixed tooling configurations for different diameters, the system employs movable slides that can be dynamically repositioned along the longitudinal axis, reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability to accommodate varying diameters.
3Ease of repair
If the abutment surfaces are made movable to accommodate different diameters, then maintenance is reduced, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by introducing movable slides that can adjust the position of abutment surfaces. This movement capability reduces maintenance frequency by allowing repositioning of worn surfaces, and the mechanism is designed to be relatively simple, using basic sliding and locking components rather than complex adjustment systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the guide system into separate movable slide components, each carrying abutment surfaces. This segmentation allows individual slides to be adjusted or replaced independently, simplifying the overall mechanism while reducing maintenance requirements. Each slide acts as an independent unit that can be easily repositioned along the longitudinal axis.
4Manufacturing precision
If sliding rules form containment surfaces to minimize movement space, then guiding precision is improved, but the wear on surfaces increases requiring more maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the containment surfaces movable rather than fixed. The slides can be repositioned along the longitudinal axis to accommodate wear, allowing the same surfaces to maintain guiding precision over extended periods. Instead of replacing worn fixed surfaces, the dynamic system simply repositions them to fresh contact areas.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a device (1) for guiding a movable element (6), in particular a driving bar (5) of a mandrel or a mandrel, in a rolling mill with mandrel. The device according to the invention comprises a support structure for the advancement of the movable element along an advancement direction. The device comprises a first slide (11) and a second slide (12) which are carried by said support structure (10A) and are slidable along a transverse direction (202) which is substantially orthogonal to an advancement direction), in which each slide carries two abutment surfaces (51-52, 53-54) for guiding the movable element and in which each slide is movable along said transverse direction (202) between at least a first operating position, upon reaching which said abutment surfaces are susceptible to coming into contact with a movable element of a first predefined diameter, and at least a second operating position, upon reaching which said abutment surfaces are susceptible to coming into contact with a movable element of a second predefined diameter. According to the invention, the device comprises actuating means which move the slides along the transverse direction between the operating positions and lock the slides themselves when one of said operating positions is reached.