Rolling Mill Drive Layout With Z-Shaped Gearbox Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rolling mills require significant installation space for drive motors and reduction gears, necessitating a compact and resource-efficient design without compromising performance.
Innovation Solution
A rolling mill with a Z-shaped gearbox housing configuration for drive units, allowing flexible alignment and overlap of shafts to minimize space requirements while maintaining stability and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate drive mechanisms are used for each roller shaft, then individual shaft control and operational flexibility are improved, but installation space requirements and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple drive functions into a single integrated drive mechanism that can control multiple roller shafts. The drive unit includes a motor, gearbox, and differential mechanism that work together to provide individual shaft control while occupying minimal space. This merging of functions resolves the contradiction by achieving adaptability without proportionally increasing installation space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested arrangement where the differential mechanism is positioned within the gearbox housing, and the motor is mounted on the gearbox. This nesting of components maximizes space utilization and minimizes the overall footprint of the drive system while maintaining the capability for individual shaft control through the differential mechanism.
2Area of stationary object
If motors are positioned close to the rolling axis, then installation space is reduced, but sufficient spacing for motor mounting and maintenance becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions motors in the circumferential direction around the rolling axis rather than only radially outward. This dimensional arrangement allows motors to be spaced apart along the circumference, providing adequate mounting and maintenance access while keeping the radial distance from the rolling axis minimal, thus resolving the space versus accessibility contradiction.
3Area of stationary object
If Z-shaped gearbox housing configuration is used, then space requirements are minimized and alignment flexibility is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The Z-shaped gearbox housing is divided into multiple segments or sections that can be manufactured separately and then assembled. This segmentation allows each portion to be produced using standard manufacturing processes, reducing the complexity of manufacturing the entire Z-shaped structure as a single piece while still achieving the space-saving configuration when assembled.
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
The design achieves a space-saving, cost-effective rolling mill with efficient torque transmission and reduced installation space, enabling compact operation and versatile peripheral device integration.
Implementation Method 1
a gearbox with a Z-shaped gearbox housing, a drive shaft which is preferably aligned with and coupled to the motor shaft, and an output shaft offset parallel to the drive shaft, which is preferably aligned with and coupled to the roll shaft
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
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AI summary
The present application relates to a rolling mill (100) for rolling metallic bars, wires or tubes along a rolling axis, wherein the rolling mill (100) comprises two or more rolling stands (1) arranged one behind the other along the rolling axis, each of which is received in a stand support (70), wherein each of the rolling stands (1) has three rolls (20.1, 20.2, 20.3) mounted on a roll shaft (22.1, 22.2, 22.3) and surrounding the rolling axis in a star shape, which together form a caliber (21), wherein at least two of the three roll shafts (22.1, 22.2, 22.3) of each of the rolling stands (1) are operatively connected to a drive unit (80.1, 80.2, 80.3). The drive unit (80.1, 80.2, 80.3) comprises a motor (81.1, 81.2, 81.3) with a motor shaft and a gearbox (82.1, 82.2, 82.3) with a z-shaped gearbox housing (83.1, 83.2, 83.3) and with a drive shaft (84.1, 84.2, 84.3) coupled to the motor shaft and with a parallel to the drive shaft (84.1, 84.2, 84.3) offset output shaft (86.1, 86.2, 86.3) coupled to the roller shaft (22.1, 22.2, 22.3). The drive units (80.1, 80.2, 80.3) are configured in a first and a second configuration, wherein a portion of the drive shaft (80.1, 80.2, 80.3) protruding from the gearbox housing (83.1, 83.2, 83.3) and a portion of the output shaft (86.1, 86.2, 86.3) protruding from the gearbox housing (83.1, 83.2, 83.3) are each arranged axially overlapping or non-overlapping with a portion of the gearbox housing (83.1, 83.2, 83.3).