Rolling Mill Bearing Housing Layout for Backlash-Free Roll Bending

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional rolling mills face challenges in accommodating backlash elimination cylinders due to size constraints, leading to increased device sizes and potential damage to bearing housings from offset loads during roll shifting.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves strategically positioning backlash elimination cylinders between bending cylinders and bearing housings, with members that are axially shiftable and have larger cross-sectional areas on the bearing housing side, allowing for effective force transmission without size increases, and using a controller to manage bending forces to act on the bearing center, minimizing misalignment and wear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If bearing-center-pressing bending-force applying devices are used to cause bending forces to act on the center of the bearing, then the lifetime of the bearing is extended, but it becomes difficult to secure spaces for disposing backlash elimination cylinders and the structure around bearings increases in size

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelifetime of bearingVSAvoidsize of structure around bearing
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions backlash elimination cylinders in the axial direction (one-dimensional arrangement) rather than distributing them radially around the bearing, thereby eliminating the need for additional radial space while still achieving the function of eliminating backlash in the rolling direction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The bending device structure is designed to serve dual functions: it applies bending forces to the bearing center while simultaneously providing space for backlash elimination cylinders, making the structure multi-functional without requiring separate dedicated spaces for each function

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

2Reliability

If backlash elimination cylinders are disposed in conventional bending device structures, then horizontal backlash in roll bearing housing can be eliminated, but the device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebacklash eliminationVSAvoiddevice size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the backlash elimination function with the existing bending device structure by positioning the backlash elimination cylinders within the same axial space occupied by the bending cylinders, combining two functions into a shared structural arrangement without increasing overall device size

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Length of moving object

If rolls are displaced in roll axis directions with large shift amounts, then the shift function is improved, but offset loads act on bearings and the lifetime of bearings becomes shorter

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroll shift amountVSAvoidlifetime of bearing
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a bearing housing as an intermediary component that can axially displace independently of the roll, absorbing the offset loads generated during large roll shifts and preventing these loads from being transmitted to the bearing, thereby protecting the bearing while maintaining large shift capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4019156B1Rolling mill, method for manufacturing rolling mill, and method for modifying rolling mill
Publication Date: 2023.12.13 PRIMETALS TECHNOLOGIES JAPAN LTD
  • EP4019156B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4019156B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4019156B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A rolling mill includes: bending cylinders 740, 741, and 744 for applying a bending force vertically to bearing housings 712 and 713 to thereby cause work rolls 710 and 711 to perform bending; a backlash elimination cylinder 760 for applying a pressing force in a rolling direction to the bearing housings 712 and 713; and members 712A and 713A disposed between the bending cylinder 741 and the bearing housings 712 and 713, and receiving the bending force from the bending cylinder 744. The bending cylinders 740 and 741 and the backlash elimination cylinder 760 are disposed axially on one of the entry and exit sides in the rolling direction, and the bending cylinder 741 and the members 712A and 713A are disposed on the other of the entry and exit sides in the rolling direction.