Roll Stand Lateral Support for Small Work Roll Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Roll stands with an odd number of rolls face challenges in preventing lateral bending of the small work roll, which affects the overall rigidity and stability, especially when rolling high-strength steels with varying forming resistance.

Innovation Solution

A support device that provides horizontal support to the small work roll, adjustable to prevent lateral bending, combined with a drive system ensuring synchronized rotation and adjustable speed of the rolls, and the use of a replacement insert that includes a support shell and pump for fluid-based stabilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If a small work roll is used to reduce rolling forces for high-strength steels, then the required rolling forces are reduced, but lateral bending of the small work roll occurs affecting rigidity and stability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverolling forcesVSAvoidlateral bending stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A support device is introduced as an intermediary element between the small work roll and the rolling stand frame. This support device provides lateral stabilization to the small work roll, preventing bending while allowing the small diameter to maintain reduced rolling forces. The support device acts as a mediator that enables the small work roll to function without suffering from its inherent lateral instability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The support device utilizes hydraulic or pneumatic mechanisms to provide adjustable lateral support to the small work roll. By using fluid pressure systems, the support force can be dynamically adjusted to match the rolling conditions and material being processed, ensuring optimal stability without compromising the small work roll's ability to reduce rolling forces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Ease of manufacture

If the small work roll diameter is reduced to enable rolling of high-strength steels, then high-strength steels with high resistance to deformation can be rolled more easily, but the rigidity of the rolling stand decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of rolling high-strength steelsVSAvoidrolling stand rigidity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The support device serves as a mediator that compensates for the reduced rigidity inherent in small diameter work rolls. By providing external lateral support, the system maintains the overall rigidity of the rolling stand while allowing the small work roll to continue enabling the rolling of high-strength steels with reduced forces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The rolling stand system becomes a composite structure combining the small work roll with the support device mechanism. This composite system leverages the advantages of the small work roll (reduced rolling forces) while compensating for its disadvantages (reduced rigidity) through the integrated support structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Adaptability or versatility

If work rolls with different diameters are used for asymmetrical rolling of clad steel plates, then different peripheral speeds are achieved for different forming resistances, but the configuration complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveasymmetrical rolling capabilityVSAvoidroll configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support device is designed to be universally applicable to small work rolls of various diameters and configurations. It can accommodate both asymmetrical rolling applications (with different diameter rolls) and conventional symmetrical rolling (with identical diameter rolls), providing lateral support in all cases. This multi-functionality reduces the need for specialized support mechanisms for each rolling mode.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The support device incorporates adjustable mechanisms that allow dynamic adaptation to different roll configurations. The support force and positioning can be modified based on whether asymmetrical or symmetrical rolling is being performed, enabling the system to handle varying complexity requirements without requiring fundamentally different support structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enhances the rigidity and stability of the roll stand, allowing for higher rolling speeds and flexible operation, including asymmetrical rolling of clad steel plates, while maintaining compatibility with conventional roll stand configurations.

Implementation Method 1

a pumping device (170) is provided for pumping fluid into a space (175) between the support shell (155) and the small work roll (110)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentEP4117834B1Roll stand for rolling a metal strip
Publication Date: 2023.11.01 SMS GROUP GMBH
  • EP4117834B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4117834B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2i
  • EP4117834B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3i

AI summary

The invention relates to a roll stand (100) for rolling a metal strip (200), comprising a small working roll (110) and a large working roll (120) arranged opposite the small roll, said working rolls together spanning a roll gap for rolling the metal strip (200). The roll stand further comprises an additional roll (111) which supports the small working roll (110), the small working roll (110) having a smaller diameter than the additional roll (111), and the additional roll (111) having a smaller diameter than the large working roll (120). According to the invention a supporting device (150) for the small working roll (110) is provided which acts at least on one side in the horizontal direction, and an adjusting device (160) is provided for horizontal adjustment of the supporting device (150) relative to the small working roll (110).