Lateral Metal Strip Guide with Axial Support Load Transfer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for lateral guidance of metal strips in hot strip mills face challenges with axial forces and tilting moments, leading to increased wear on bearings and limited service life due to the off-center application of forces, which conventional storage concepts struggle to manage effectively.
Innovation Solution
A device with a rotating element rotatably and axially displaceably mounted in a housing, featuring support surfaces that limit axial displacement and distribute axial loads directly into the housing, reducing the burden on bearings and allowing for smaller bearing sizes, and incorporating a wear element like an Eco Slide Disc for improved guidance and reduced maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the rotating element is mounted with large bearing spacing to accommodate off-center axial forces, then the axial loads that can be absorbed increase, but the device size becomes larger and bearing wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces axial displacement capability to the rotating element, allowing it to move along its rotation axis. This transforms the force transmission from a purely radial bearing support system to one that utilizes axial movement to accommodate off-center loads, effectively adding a dimensional degree of freedom to the force management system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mounting parameters of the rotating element by allowing controlled axial displacement within defined limits. This parameter change enables the system to adapt to varying load conditions and off-center forces without requiring large bearing spacing, as the axial position can adjust to optimize force distribution.
2Device complexity
If the bearing spacing is reduced to decrease device size, then the device becomes more compact, but the axial loads that can be absorbed are physically limited and bearing wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
By enabling axial displacement of the rotating element, the patent adds an axial dimension to the force management capability. This allows compact bearing spacing while maintaining high axial load absorption, as the load path can shift axially to optimize force distribution rather than relying solely on increased bearing spacing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the rotating element dynamically adjustable in its axial position, allowing it to move and adapt to the applied loads. This dynamic capability enables the system to maintain optimal performance with compact dimensions, as the axial position can be adjusted in real-time to accommodate varying force conditions.
3Device complexity
If fixed wear plates are used, then the structure is simple, but the wear is concentrated at the same point leading to short service life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic rotation of the wear disc, causing the contact point with the metal strip to move circumferentially around the disc. This periodic movement distributes the wear across the entire disc surface, preventing concentrated wear at a single point and significantly extending service life while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating wear disc creates a self-distributing wear pattern where the motion itself ensures even wear distribution across the disc surface. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex wear distribution systems while automatically extending component life through uniform material removal.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a device comprising a housing (2) and a rotary element (4) mounted in the housing (2) such that it can be rotated and axially shifted (14). In order to reduce bearing loads in the rotary element (4), in particular with eccentric loading of the rotary element (4), the device provides at least one first support surface (6) on an end side (8) of the rotary element (4) and a second support surface (10) axially opposite (40) said first support surface (6) on the housing (2). The rotary element (4) is then mounted in the housing (2) in such a way that, with the impact of an axial force (12) on the rotary element (4), the axial shiftability (14) of the rotary element (4) is limited by the support (16) of the first support surface (6) on the second support surface (10).