Roll Mill Frame Micro-Interlocking Coating

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing roller mill systems require frequent and time-consuming roller changes due to wear, with current disassembly and assembly processes being expensive and labor-intensive, especially in high-pressure roller mills where significant grinding forces are involved.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a micro-interlocking coating on connecting surfaces within the roller mill's frame parts, allowing for a significant increase in transferable force and enabling faster disassembly and assembly by reducing the required lifting distance of connecting surfaces, along with the use of screw connections and a floating/fixed roller configuration to manage grinding forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional feather key or bolt connections are used to connect frame parts, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the disassembly process is time-consuming and labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoiddisassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a micro-interlocking coating (such as shot peening, shot blasting, or sandblasting) to the connecting surfaces, which changes the surface parameters by creating micro-irregularities. This increases the friction and interlocking capability between surfaces, allowing the connecting surfaces to be pressed together with sufficient force to transmit grinding forces while enabling faster disassembly by requiring only minimal lifting distance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the connecting surfaces are raised significantly to enable roller unit removal, then disassembly is easier, but the structural complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of disassemblyVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of raising the connecting surfaces significantly (which would increase structural complexity), the patent changes the surface parameters by applying a micro-interlocking coating. This coating creates micro-irregularities that increase friction and interlocking, allowing disassembly with minimal lifting distance while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the conventional mechanical solution of raising connecting surfaces (mechanical geometry change) with a surface treatment approach (micro-interlocking coating). This substitution maintains the original structural design while achieving the desired ease of disassembly through enhanced surface properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Force

If a micro-interlocking coating is applied to connecting surfaces, then the transferable force increases significantly, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransferable forceVSAvoidease of manufacture
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies surface treatment processes (shot peening, shot blasting, or sandblasting) that modify the surface parameters by creating micro-irregularities. These micro-irregularities increase the friction and interlocking capability, enabling the connecting surfaces to transmit high grinding forces (e.g., 16,000 kN and more) while using conventional manufacturing processes rather than requiring complex specialized manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 allows for faster and more efficient roller unit changes by increasing the transferable force and reducing the effort needed for assembly and disassembly, maintaining high grinding forces while minimizing production costs and design complexity.

Implementation Method 1

The transferable force between the two connecting surfaces is significantly increased by the micro-interlocking coating

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2988874B1Roll mill
Publication Date: 2019.06.05 THYSSENKRUPP IND SOLUTIONS AG
  • EP2988874B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2988874B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2988874B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a roll mill with two roll units (2, 3) which are arranged in a machine frame (1) and each comprise a grinding roll (20, 30) rotatably mounted in two bearing blocks (22, 23, 32, 33), wherein: the two grinding rolls (20, 30) are disposed opposite one another and are each coupled to a drive (4, 5) for driving the grinding rolls in opposing directions; a force-application system (50) for generating a grinding force is provided between the machine frame (1) and at least one roll unit (3), the grinding force being transferred via the machine frame (1) and the bearing blocks (22, 23, 32, 33) to the grinding rolls (20, 30); and the machine frame (1) consists of a plurality of frame parts (10, 11, 12, 13), a detachable, interlocking connection having two connecting surfaces (15a, 12a) pressed against each other being provided between at least two interconnected frame parts and/or between at least one frame part and one of the bearing blocks in order to transfer the grinding force, at least one of the two connecting surfaces (15a, 12a) pressed against each other having a coating (8, 9) which generates a microscale interlocking connection.