Changeable Rolling Stand With Cable Towing for Continuous Media Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rolling stands in rolling installations face frequent interruptions and maintenance challenges due to the need for frequent changes in roll dimensions, which requires disconnecting and reconnecting media supply lines, leading to wear and reliability issues with media couplings, and complicates preheating and reactivation of roll stands.
Innovation Solution
An interchangeable rolling stand with a cable towing device that allows movement between working and maintenance positions without disconnecting media lines, maintaining connectivity and reducing wear on media couplings, ensuring continuous operation and simplified maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If rolling stands are made interchangeable and moved between working and maintenance positions, then productivity is improved by allowing continuous rolling operations, but media couplings suffer from wear and failure due to repeated connection and disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the media supply lines from the rolling stand and creates a separate, fixed media supply system. The media lines are detached from the movable rolling stand and reconnected to a stationary supply system, eliminating the repeated coupling and decoupling of media connections during stand movement and maintenance operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a fixed media supply system as an intermediary between the rolling stands and the central media supply. This intermediary system with permanently connected media lines acts as a buffer, allowing rolling stands to be moved and maintained without affecting the media supply connections
2Reliability
If robust sealed media couplings are used to prevent wear and failure, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to larger dimensions and sealing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the media couplings from the system entirely by extracting the media supply lines from the rolling stands and connecting them to a fixed supply system, eliminating the need for complex sealed couplings
Solution Approach 2:
The patent accepts that media couplings are temporary connection elements that will wear out, but instead of making them robust and expensive, it eliminates their use entirely by creating a permanent media supply infrastructure that doesn't require repeated coupling and decoupling
3Ease of operation
If media lines are disconnected during maintenance or replacement, then ease of operation is improved by allowing stand movement, but loss of time occurs due to reconnection effort and functional interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by creating a fixed media supply system with permanently connected media lines before rolling stand operations begin. This preliminary infrastructure setup eliminates the need for repeated connection and disconnection operations during maintenance and stand replacement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining permanent media supply connections that remain active during rolling stand movement and maintenance. The media lines stay connected to the fixed supply system, allowing rolling stands to be moved and maintained without interrupting the media supply function
4Ease of repair
If rolling stands are moved outside the rolling line for maintenance, then ease of repair is improved by providing access to media couplings, but media couplings become difficult to access when located below the gearbox and changeover unit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the media supply lines from the rolling stand and relocates them to a fixed, accessible position in the media supply system. This extraction allows media connections to be accessed independently of the rolling stand's position and maintenance requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent resolves the accessibility problem by changing the spatial dimension of media coupling access. Instead of accessing couplings on the rolling stand itself (which may be blocked by gearboxes), the media lines are routed to a fixed supply system at a different spatial location that is easily accessible for maintenance operations
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Changeable rolling stand (10) for a rolling mill, preferably for rolling cylindrical stock, such as for instance rods, seamless tubes and/or wires, which can be moved along a maintenance direction (Wa) between a working position and a maintenance position and has: at least one media line (12), which transports a medium, preferably electricity and/or a fluid, used for operating the rolling stand (10); and a cable trailing device (20), which is designed such that the rolling stand (10) can be moved along the maintenance direction (Wa) by the distance between the working position and the maintenance position without the media line (12) having to be disconnected from the rolling stand (10).