Roll Stand Gap Control for Rolled Product Lateral Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

During the rolling process, especially in hot rolling, the rolled product can become unstable and shift laterally when the roll gap is opened or closed, due to small irregularities in roll positioning and geometric shape, leading to undesirable lateral forces and potential production interruptions.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that allow for the adjustment of work rolls in a plane perpendicular to the conveying direction, enabling precise control of the roll gap and the position of the work rolls relative to the rolled product, using non-contact position detection (e.g., cameras, radar, or laser scanning) to maintain the product's stability during opening and closing, and hydraulic or motor-driven actuators for precise positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the roll gap is opened or closed during rolling, then the rolled product can be conveyed through without forming force (enabling flying roll change), but the rolled product becomes unstable and shifts laterally due to irregularities in roll positioning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to perform flying roll changeVSAvoidlateral position stability of rolled product
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A control system continuously detects the lateral position of the rolled product during roll gap opening/closing operations and dynamically adjusts the work roll positioning to compensate for lateral shifts, maintaining product stability while enabling flying roll changes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the angular position and lateral coordinates of the work rolls during the opening/closing process to counteract lateral forces caused by geometric irregularities, thereby stabilizing the rolled product position

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the work rolls are adjusted to close the roll gap, then the rolling process can begin, but irregularities in roll angle and geometry cause non-constant roll gap change across strip width, exerting lateral force on the product

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverolling process continuityVSAvoidroll gap uniformity across strip width
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control system applies differential adjustment to different regions of the work rolls, modifying the roll gap locally across the strip width to compensate for geometric irregularities and maintain uniform gap closure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The work roll positioning is dynamically adjusted during the closing process based on real-time detection of lateral position deviations, allowing the system to adapt to irregularities in roll angle and geometry while maintaining manufacturing precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4240544B1Stabilisation of the rolled product during opening and/or closing of a roll stand
Publication Date: 2024.03.06 SMS GROUP GMBH
  • EP4240544B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4240544B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4240544B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for opening and/or closing a roll stand (1) having two working rolls (10) forming a nip (S) in which a rolled product (B) transported in a conveying direction (R) can be formed, wherein the positioning of at least one working roll (10) is variable in a plane perpendicular to the conveying direction (R), and the method comprises the steps of: conveying the rolled product (B) through the nip (S) in the conveying direction (R) and in the process opening or closing the roll stand (1) by correspondingly increasing or decreasing the nip (S); during opening or closing of the roll stand (1), detecting a position of the rolled product (B) before and/or after the nip (S) in the direction transverse to the conveying direction (R); and changing the positioning of the corresponding working roll (10) depending on the detected position, so that the rolled product (B) is stabilised at a target position during opening or closing of the roll stand (1).