Multi-Layer Thickness Gauge Frame for Hot Rolling Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for measuring the thickness of strip-shaped or plate-shaped objects in hot rolling processes face significant measurement errors due to temperature changes, which cause deformation and relative displacement of sensors, leading to inaccurate thickness readings.
Innovation Solution
A multi-layered frame structure with a base frame element, a cooling device, and a jacket that uses air flow and radiation protection to minimize temperature effects on sensors, ensuring accurate thickness measurements even in high-temperature environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a C-shaped frame with sensors is used for thickness measurement, then thickness measurement capability is achieved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to temperature-induced frame deformation and sensor displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is divided into multiple independent segments (first leg, second leg, connecting piece) that can thermally expand or contract independently. This segmentation prevents cumulative thermal deformation across the entire frame structure, maintaining sensor alignment and measurement accuracy despite temperature changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested structure where the first leg and second leg are positioned within a shared thermal environment defined by the connecting piece. This nesting allows both legs to experience similar temperature conditions, ensuring their thermal expansion characteristics remain consistent relative to each other, thereby maintaining the geometric relationship necessary for accurate thickness measurement.
2Temperature
If conventional cooling systems with fluid circuits are used, then temperature control is improved, but localized thermal expansion and frame distortion occur due to uneven cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cooling function from the frame structure itself by introducing separate cooling elements (cooling channels or Peltier elements) that are integrated into the legs but thermally decoupled from the connecting piece. This extraction allows independent temperature control of each leg without causing differential thermal expansion in the connecting piece, preventing frame distortion.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is designed with local quality by providing targeted cooling zones at specific locations within each leg where sensors are mounted. This localized cooling approach allows precise temperature management at critical measurement points without creating temperature gradients across the entire frame structure, thereby avoiding thermal distortion.
3Ease of operation
If sensors are mounted directly on the frame legs, then measurement function is achieved, but sensor position stability deteriorates under thermal stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-positioning sensors on thermally stable mounting platforms or brackets that are attached to the frame legs. These mounting structures are designed with thermal compensation features or are made from materials with low thermal expansion coefficients, ensuring that sensors are already positioned accurately before thermal stress occurs, maintaining measurement precision under thermal conditions.
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 solution effectively decouples the sensor connection from environmental temperature influences, maintaining measurement accuracy and reducing temperature fluctuations, thereby minimizing errors in thickness measurements.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling device having a fan is arranged in the base frame element
Implementation Method 2
each leg has a structure made up of several layers to reduce the temperature effect on the frame and/or the sensor
Implementation Method 3
the distance between the sensors can change due to external influences such as changes in temperature. When the temperature changes, the frame construction can expand or deform due to the material's own thermal expansion coefficient
Data Source
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AI summary
With regard to a reliable measurement of the thickness of an object (4) even in an environment with high temperatures, a device (1) is provided for determining the thickness of an object (4), more particularly a strip-like or flat object (4), preferably for use in a hot rolling process, having a frame (2) with at least one leg (5, 6), the at least one leg (5, 6) having a sensor (8a, 8b) for the contactless measuring of the distance to the object (4), which device is characterised in that the at least one leg (5, 6) has a structure consisting of a plurality of layers in order to reduce the temperature effect on the frame (2) and/or on the sensor (8a, 8b).