Rolling Mill Drive Layout With Z-Shaped Gearboxes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rolling mills require significant installation space for drive motors and reduction gears, necessitating their arrangement far from the rolling axis, which complicates the design and increases resource requirements.
Innovation Solution
A rolling mill design featuring Z-shaped gearbox housings that allow for flexible configuration of drive units, enabling motors to be positioned close to the rolling axis while minimizing space requirements, using a combination of overlapping and non-overlapping shaft arrangements to optimize installation height and clearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate drives are used for each roller shaft, then individual speed control is achieved, but installation space increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple drive functions into a single integrated drive unit. The drive unit includes a motor with a motor shaft that is coupled to multiple roller shafts through a common transmission mechanism, allowing individual speed control of each roller shaft while using shared components to reduce overall installation space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs offset shafts arranged in different spatial dimensions. The first roller shaft is offset from the second roller shaft in a direction perpendicular to the rolling axis, and the motor shaft is offset from both roller shafts. This three-dimensional arrangement allows compact packaging of the drive unit while maintaining independent control capabilities.
2Area of stationary object
If motors are arranged close to the rolling axis, then installation space is reduced, but sufficient spacing between motors becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the spacing issue by utilizing the third dimension perpendicular to the rolling axis. The offset shaft arrangement in this perpendicular direction allows motors to be positioned close to the rolling axis for compact installation while maintaining adequate spacing between motor components through the offset configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive unit components are nested within each other in a compact arrangement. The motor shaft and roller shafts are arranged concentrically with offsets, allowing the transmission mechanism to be nested within the motor housing area, thereby reducing the overall footprint while maintaining functional spacing.
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 compact, space-efficient rolling mill with reduced resource usage, maintaining performance and flexibility for stand changes, while allowing for efficient use of installation space and stable torque transmission.
Implementation Method 1
The Z-shaped gearbox housing (83.1, 83.2, 83.3) has a drive shaft (84.1, 84.2, 84.3) that is preferably flush with the motor shaft and coupled thereto, and has an output shaft (86.1, 86.2, 86.3) that is offset in parallel with the drive shaft and is preferably flush with the roller shaft and coupled thereto.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates to a rolling mill (100) for rolling metal rods, wires or pipes along a rolling axis, wherein the rolling mill (100) comprises two or more stands (1) which are arranged one behind the other along the rolling axis and are in each case received in a stand base (70), wherein each of the stands (1) comprises three rollers (20.1, 20.2, 20.3) which are positioned on one roller shaft (22.1, 22.2, 22.3) in each case, surround the rolling axis in a star-shaped manner, and together form a caliber (21), wherein at least two of the three roller shafts (22.1, 22.2, 22.3) of each of the stands (1) are in each case 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) having a motor shaft, and a gearbox (82.1, 82.2, 82.3) having a Z-shaped gearbox housing (83.1, 83.2, 83.3) and having a drive shaft (84.1, 84.2, 84.3) which is coupled to the motor shaft, and having an output shaft (86.1, 86.2, 86.3) which is offset in parallel with the drive shaft (84.1, 84.2, 84.3) and which is 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 in a second configuration, wherein a part of the drive shaft (80.1, 80.2, 80.3) protruding out of the gearbox housing (83.1, 83.2, 83.3), and a part of the output shaft (86.1, 86.2, 86.3) protruding out of the gearbox housing (83.1, 83.2, 83.3), are in each case arranged so as to overlap axially with or so as to be axially free of overlap with respect to a part of the gearbox housing (83.1, 83.2, 83.3).