Circular Rolling Mill Roller Positioning With Fluid Overload Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional circular rolling mills require bulky hydraulic units for roller movement, increasing complexity and maintenance costs due to the need for pivoting electric geared motors and damping systems.
Innovation Solution
A circular rolling mill design where electric geared motors are fixedly mounted on auxiliary frames, with a fluid discharge mechanism incorporating a variable volume chamber to absorb overloads and prevent damage from surface irregularities, allowing precise control of roller position without the need for pivoting supports.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electric geared motors are mounted on pivoting supports to allow roller movement, then the rolling mill can adapt to surface irregularities, but the device complexity increases and maintenance operations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pivoting function from the motor mounting and relocates it to a separate articulated support structure. The motor remains fixed while the support articulates, separating the motor's rotational function from the roller's positioning function. This reduces motor complexity while maintaining adaptability to surface irregularities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary articulated support structure between the fixed motor and the movable roller. This intermediary component absorbs the complexity of movement and positioning, allowing the motor to remain simple and fixed while still enabling roller adaptation to surface irregularities through the support's articulation.
2Ease of operation
If hydraulic jacks are used to move rollers, then roller positioning is achieved, but a bulky hydraulic unit must be provided near the rolling mill
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the hydraulic jack system with an electric geared motor system. Instead of using hydraulic pressure to move rollers, electric motors with reduction gears directly drive the rollers, eliminating the need for bulky hydraulic units while maintaining effective roller positioning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent eliminates the hydraulic system entirely in favor of an electric drive system. The electric geared motors provide the necessary force and control for roller movement without requiring hydraulic fluid reservoirs, pumps, or pressure systems, significantly reducing the volume of stationary equipment needed.
3Device complexity
If electric geared motors are fixedly mounted, then structure is simplified and maintenance is reduced, but the ability to adapt to surface irregularities is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the roller positioning system into two independent parts: a fixed motor mounting providing structural simplicity, and an articulated support structure providing adaptability. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together to achieve both simplicity and versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic capability through the articulated support structure that can pivot and adjust its position. While the motor remains fixed and simple, the articulated support dynamically adapts to surface irregularities, allowing the system to maintain both structural simplicity and adaptability through controlled movement of the support rather than the motor.
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
Simplifies the rolling mill structure, reduces maintenance, and prevents damage to the electric geared motor by absorbing overloads through the fluid discharge mechanism, ensuring precise control and stability during operation.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid discharge mechanism is interposed in a kinematic chain for transmitting force between the rack and the roller moved by this rack. Furthermore, the fluid discharge mechanism comprises at least one variable volume chamber supplied with pressurized fluid and the volume of which varies as a function of the relative position of the roller and of the rack
Data Source
AI summary
This circular rolling mill has a fixed main frame, a pair of cylindrical rollers, internal and external, to shape internal and external radial faces of an annular part and supported by a first secondary frame mounted on the main frame, as well as a pair of conical rollers, upper and lower, to shape opposite front faces of the part and supported by a second secondary frame mounted on the main frame. At least one rack and pinion assembly moves a roller in translation relative to one of the secondary frames. At least one electric geared motor drives the pinion of the rack and pinion assembly. The electric geared motor is fixedly mounted relative to one of the auxiliary frames. A fluid discharge mechanism is interposed in a kinematic chain for transmitting force between the rack and the roller moved by this rack. The fluid discharge mechanism has at least one variable volume chamber supplied with pressurized fluid and the volume of which varies as a function of the relative position of the roller and of the rack.