Rolling Mill Lateral Cartridge Extraction Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Continuous rolling mills with three adjustable rolls face challenges in roll replacement and maintenance, particularly with asymmetrical stiffness in lateral change-over systems and difficulties in repairing 'bellows' emergencies, which complicate operations and increase complexity.
Innovation Solution
A rolling mill design with three single-stroke actuators mounted symmetrically on the fixed structure, allowing lateral cartridge extraction and rotation-translation movements of spindles to facilitate easy maintenance and repair, ensuring symmetrical stiffness and reducing structural complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a lateral change-over system is used to replace rolls, then roll replacement becomes possible without axial displacement, but asymmetrical stiffness is introduced into the system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately introduces asymmetry through the lateral change-over system, accepting the trade-off of asymmetrical stiffness to achieve improved ease of operation for roll replacement. The system uses a lateral extraction path that allows cartridges to be removed and replaced without axial displacement of the entire rolling mill.
2Ease of repair
If complex lateral change-over systems are implemented, then roll replacement is facilitated, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rolling mill is divided into modular cartridges, each containing a set of rolls. These cartridges can be independently extracted laterally and replaced, allowing roll replacement without requiring complex systems that affect the entire mill. The segmentation into discrete cartridges simplifies the change-over mechanism.
3Device complexity
If traditional rolling mill designs are used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but difficulty in repairing bellows emergencies occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral change-over system provides an extraction path that allows operators to access and remove cartridges containing damaged rolls or bellows. This extraction capability enables easier repair of bellows emergencies by allowing direct access to the problematic area without dismantling the entire mill structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a rolling mill 20 which defines a rolling axis X and comprises at least two rolling stations 22. At least one rolling station comprises a fixed structure 40, a roll-holder cartridge 24 and three actuators 32. The cartridge is connected removably to the fixed structure and comprises three rolling rolls 26. The rolls are movable radially and rotatable about three respective axes arranged at 120° from each other. The three actuators are mounted on the fixed structure and comprise pistons 50 movable along respective radial axes t arranged at 120° from each other. Each of the actuators is able, during use, to act on one of the rolls so as to impart a radial force suitable for rolling the article 44. The rolling mill 20 according to the invention is characterized in that the three actuators are of the single-stroke type and are arranged so that, when the pistons of two actuators are completely retracted to the end-of-travel stop of the working stroke, a path P is created free from obstacles and parallel to the axis of the third actuator. The path P which is created is such that allows the cartridge to pass out laterally on the opposite side to that where the third actuator is situated.