Rolling Mill Stand Bending Blocks for Larger Roll Opening
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rolling mill stands face challenges with limited maximum opening capacity between work rolls, instability during rolling of thick products, and increased costs due to complex construction and additional shifting blocks required for assembly and disassembly.
Innovation Solution
A rolling mill stand design featuring two upper and two lower work rolls with separate upper and lower bending blocks, integrated axial shifting devices, and T-section sliding guides allows for increased opening capacity and simplified assembly, with shifting blocks fixed to the bending blocks rather than the housing, enabling vertical movement and reducing the need for additional spare blocks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the upper bending block is fixed to the chock of the upper backing roll, then the offset applied between the upper work roll and the upper backing roll is not effective, but the construction becomes more complex and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The upper bending block is segmented into two separate elements: one fixed to the housing and another fixed to the chock of the upper backing roll. This segmentation allows the offset to remain effective for stabilizing the work roll while avoiding the complexity of installing shifting devices on all spare chocks.
Solution Approach 2:
The shifting device is extracted from the chock assembly and fixed directly to the housing, separate from the upper bending block and chock assembly. This allows the offset to be applied effectively while simplifying the construction and reducing costs.
2Length of moving object
If bending blocks are bolted to the housing, then the stand opening capacity is limited to about 350 mm, but the construction is simpler
Solution Approach 1:
The upper bending block is made movable relative to the housing through a sliding coupling mechanism with T-section guides. This allows the block to move vertically, enabling the stand opening capacity to reach up to 650 mm while maintaining a relatively simple construction.
3Ease of operation
If shifting blocks are installed on spare chocks of upper backing rolls, then the shifting system can be assembled, but the costs increase and assembly/disassembly becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The shifting device is merged with the housing structure, and the upper bending block serves dual functions: providing bending force and facilitating shifting. This eliminates the need for separate shifting blocks on spare chocks, reducing costs and simplifying assembly and disassembly operations.
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 enhances manageability, stability, and cost-effectiveness by allowing larger openings (up to 650 mm) while simplifying the assembly and disassembly process, reducing the number of spare shifting blocks needed and avoiding detachment issues during roll replacement.
Implementation Method 1
a first vertical sliding coupling allowing said chock of the lower work roll to perform vertical movements
Implementation Method 2
each of the two upper bending blocks... forms a second vertical sliding coupling with a respective guide fixed on said first housing
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The rolling mill stand comprises a bending device and a shifting device for the rolling rolls (18, 19, 20, 21). The housing (14) supports the upper backing and work rolls (18, 20), and the lower backing and work roll (19, 21) and comprises the lower bending block (7, 7'), the upper bending block (101), the chock of the upper work roll (3), the chock of the lower work roll (9), the axial shifting device (15, 15') of the upper work roll (18), the axial shifting device (16, 16') of the lower work roll (19). The chock (9) of the lower work roll (19) is coupled with the lower bending block (7, 7') to transmit a bending load on the lower work roll (19). The upper bending block (101) transmits a bending load on the upper work roll (18) by means of the action of actuators (2, 2'). The bending block (101) comprises a slide (13, 13') with a T-section which slides in the guide (17) and a chock (4) of the upper backing roll (20), whereby the upper bending block (101), instead of being a single piece, is formed by two different and separate structural components.