Continuous Casting Strand Guide Roller Segments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Downstream roll stands in continuous casting processes face uneven mechanical load and wear due to compensating for profile wedging in the strand, which degrades the quality of the strand and increases mechanical stress.

Innovation Solution

The method involves recording the actual profile of the strand and adjusting individual roller segments to equalize side edge heights before the strand enters the roll stands, ensuring that only a strand without wedges is fed downstream, thereby reducing mechanical stress and improving strand quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If downstream roll stands compensate for profile wedging in the strand, then the strand quality is maintained, but the mechanical load and wear on the roll stands increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestrand qualityVSAvoidmechanical load on roll stands
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies preliminary action by equalizing the side edge heights of the strand in the strand guide device before the strand enters the downstream roll stands. The control device adjusts the roller segments to equalize side edge heights, thereby eliminating profile wedging in advance. This prevents the need for downstream roll stands to compensate for wedging, reducing their mechanical load and wear while maintaining strand quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Force

If individual roller segments are adjusted to equalize side edge heights, then mechanical stress on roll stands is reduced, but the control system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical stress on roll standsVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention implements feedback control by using a control device that receives information about the actual side edge heights of the strand and automatically adjusts the roller segments to equalize them. The control device processes the height information and generates control signals to the adjustment elements, creating a closed-loop feedback system that automatically maintains equal side edge heights without requiring complex manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies self-service by enabling the strand guide device to automatically equalize its own strand profile through the control device. The device monitors its own output (side edge heights) and self-corrects any deviations through automatic adjustment of roller segments, reducing the need for external intervention and simplifying overall system operation despite the automated control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the strand is equalized in the strand guide device, then the quality of the strand is improved, but the adjustment process requires precise control of multiple roller segments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestrand qualityVSAvoidprecision of roller segment adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies segmentation by dividing the strand guide device into multiple independently adjustable roller segments, each capable of individual adjustment. This segmentation allows precise local control of different portions of the strand, enabling the system to equalize side edge heights through coordinated adjustment of individual segments rather than requiring uniform adjustment of the entire device, thereby achieving high precision with manageable control complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP1917115B2Method and device for positioning at least one roll segment of a strand guiding unit against a strand
Publication Date: 2018.03.14 SMS GROUP GMBH
  • EP1917115B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1917115B2 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1917115B2 patent drawingFigure 3~4b

AI summary

The setting process is for a guide device (100) including a roller segment (110-1) with lower and upper roller carriers (112-1, 114-1) each carrying a roller to guide the continuous casting (200) between the rollers. The setting elements are individually controlled so that the heights of the right and left side edges are kept equal to each other.