Intermediate Stand Guide Offset Adjustment for Vertical Roll Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing intermediate stand guides for rolling trains require manual adjustment and only provide lateral guidance, limiting their ability to absorb tilting moments and adjust offset dimensions, which can lead to unwanted interference during the rolling process.

Innovation Solution

An intermediate stand guide with a vertical rolling stand that includes adjustable guide elements connected to a traverse, allowing for precise adjustment of the offset dimension via compensating plates, enabling remote adjustment outside the machine and providing both lateral and angular guidance to prevent edge collisions and ensure accurate alignment with vertical rollers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If guide plates are manually adjusted inside the machine, then lateral guidance is provided, but adjustment of offset dimension outside the machine is not possible and tilting moments cannot be absorbed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment accessibilityVSAvoidguidance functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The guide device is divided into separate guide plates that can be independently adjusted. Each guide plate is mounted on a separate carrier that can be positioned independently, allowing external adjustment of offset dimensions while maintaining lateral guidance functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A carrier structure serves as an intermediary between the guide plate and the rolling mill frame. This carrier allows the guide plate to be positioned at adjustable offset dimensions while still providing the necessary lateral guidance, and can absorb tilting moments through its structural design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If guide element is positioned close to vertical roll, then guidance accuracy is improved, but unwanted interference during rolling process occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguidance accuracyVSAvoidinterference during rolling
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guide element's offset dimension is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. This allows the offset to be optimized for different rolling conditions - close enough for accurate guidance but far enough to prevent interference, with the ability to change the position as needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The offset dimension parameter can be changed by adjusting the carrier position or guide element position on the carrier. This parameter adjustment allows optimization between guidance accuracy and interference prevention for different material widths and rolling conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If guide element is fixed to vertical rolling stand, then structural simplicity is maintained, but adjustment of offset dimension is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidoffset adjustment capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The connection between the guide element and vertical rolling stand is made adjustable through the carrier mechanism. The carrier can be positioned at different locations on the rolling stand structure, and the guide element can be positioned at different offsets on the carrier, providing versatility while maintaining relatively simple structural connections

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4031304B1Intermediate stand guide with a vertical roll stand of a mill train, and method for guiding the rolled stock using the intermediate stand guide
Publication Date: 2023.11.08 SMS GROUP GMBH
  • EP4031304B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4031304B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to an intermediate stand guide (3) on a vertical roll stand (1) of a mill train for guiding the rolled stock into a horizontal roll stand (2) or out of a horizontal roll stand (2), comprising at least one guide element (4) which is supported on the vertical roll stand (1), can be adjusted together with the advancing movement of a vertical roll (6), and follows the advancing movement of the vertical roll (6), wherein the guide element (4) is set back relative to the vertical roll (6) edge in engagement with the rolled stock by a specified degree of offset (X') transversely to the rolling direction, the guide element (4) is connected to a crossbar (5) of the vertical roll stand (1), and the degree of offset (X') can be specified via the installation spacing between the vertical roll (6) and the crossbar (5) of the vertical roll stand (1).