Roll Coolant Coupling With Flangeless Journal Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for coupling coolant supply and drainage to rolls in continuous casting installations have limitations in reliability, maintainability, and design compactness, particularly due to the requirement of a minimum roll journal diameter for flange-based solutions.
Innovation Solution
A device with a rotatably mounted journal and axial recess, featuring a flangeless hollow cylindrical element for sealing, which allows for a compact and reliable fluidic connection between coolant channels and roll cooling channels, utilizing an inner and outer module sealing unit with elastic sleeves and slide rings for secure sealing and easy maintenance access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flange-based sealing unit is used to couple coolant supply to a roll, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the minimum roll journal diameter is increased, reducing design compactness
Solution Approach 1:
The flange is extracted from the sealing unit design. The patent removes the flange component that protrudes from the roll journal, keeping only the essential sealing elements (sleeve and sealing unit) that can be contained within the roll journal without requiring additional bearing surfaces for flange fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of fixing the sealing unit to a flange that requires sideways bearing, the invention inverts the approach by directly installing the sealing unit into the roll journal without a flange, utilizing the roll journal's end face and cylindrical surface for mounting the sealing components.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a flange is used for holding the elastic sleeve, then the sealing stability is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The flange is removed from the design, simplifying the manufacturing process by eliminating the need to machine flange features and reducing the number of components that must be assembled and secured.
Solution Approach 2:
The roll journal itself serves multiple functions: it provides the mounting surface for the sealing unit, contains the sealing components, and eliminates the need for a separate flange structure, thereby simplifying both manufacturing and assembly.
3Reliability
If a flange-based sealing unit is used, then the sealing performance is improved, but the ease of maintenance and component replacement are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the flange and its associated fixation mechanisms (such as set screws or bolts required to secure the flange to the roll), the sealing unit becomes more accessible for maintenance. The sleeve and sealing unit can be installed and removed more easily from the roll journal without dealing with flange fastening hardware.
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 provides a compact, reliable, and maintainable coolant supply and drainage system for rolls, suitable for small journal diameters, ensuring effective coolant circulation and preventing leakage, while facilitating easy maintenance and component replacement.
Implementation Method 1
The hollow cylindrical element serves for holding an elastic sleeve, which forms a sealing unit with a slide ring
Implementation Method 2
The outer module comprises a slide ring, which forms a sealing unit with the hollow cylindrical element
Implementation Method 3
at least one roll cooling channel, through which a coolant can pass
Implementation Method 4
the strand comes into contact with rollers and rolls, which on account of the high strand temperature are at least partly cooled by having a coolant, such as water, flow through the cooling rollers or rolls
Data Source
AI summary
A device is disclosed for coupling a coolant supply and/or coolant drainage to a roll, especially in a continuous casting installation, wherein the roll includes a journal, which is mounted rotatably in a bearing block, and a lateral recess, extending in the axial direction, and at least one roll cooling channel, through which a coolant can pass. The device includes at least one coolant channel, which can be brought into fluidic connection with the roll cooling channel on the journal side; and a sealing unit for sealing the fluidic connection between the coolant channel and the roll cooling channel, including an inner module and an outer module. The inner module includes a hollow cylindrical element, which can be inserted into the lateral recess of the journal, and which, when viewed in the axial direction, has no flange on the outer side of the journal.