Turret Mandrel Ring Rolling for Precise Continuous Thickness Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ring rolling devices face challenges with imprecise mandrel mounting, large and heavy rotary tables, and the need for specialized forming rolls, leading to inefficiencies and inaccuracies in the ring rolling process.

Innovation Solution

A ring rolling device featuring a rotatably mounted mandrel and a turret drum with support rollers, allowing for precise positioning and rotation of the mandrel, enabling quick and precise feeding and rolling of ring blanks, with a drive roller for continuous rolling and adjustable mandrel positioning for enhanced throughput.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a rotary table with multiple mandrels is used to enable continuous ring rolling, then productivity is improved, but the device becomes large and heavy, slowing down operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous ring rolling capabilityVSAvoidrotary table weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the rotary table into a turret drum structure with multiple independently rotatable mandrels. Each mandrel can be positioned and rotated separately, allowing continuous operation while reducing the overall weight and inertia compared to a solid rotary table. This segmentation enables lighter construction while maintaining continuous production capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If mandrels are mounted in a conventional rotary table, then multiple ring blanks can be processed, but mounting precision is poor, leading to rolling inaccuracies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemultiple ring blank processingVSAvoidrolling accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamically adjustable mandrel positioning mechanisms within the turret drum. Each mandrel can be independently positioned and locked at precise locations, allowing for accurate ring rolling while maintaining the ability to process multiple ring blanks. The dynamic adjustment capability ensures high precision for each individual rolling operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If a specially shaped forming roll with increasing radius is used, then ring blank thickness can be reduced continuously, but the device complexity increases and requires coordinated rotation of turntable and forming roll

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous thickness reductionVSAvoidcoordinated rotation mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a complex forming roll with varying radius that requires coordinated rotation, the patent inverts the approach by using a standard cylindrical forming roll combined with a movable mandrel system. The mandrel is moved toward the forming roll to reduce the roll gap, achieving continuous thickness reduction without requiring the forming roll to have a special shape or require complex coordinated rotation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Manufacturing precision

If the roll gap is reduced by moving the mandrel toward the forming roller, then ring blank thickness is reduced, but the mandrel positioning precision must be high to avoid rolling inaccuracies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvering blank thickness controlVSAvoidmandrel positioning mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical positioning mechanisms with a hydraulic or pneumatic actuation system for moving the mandrel toward the forming roll. This substitution allows for precise and smooth control of the mandrel position, enabling accurate thickness control while simplifying the overall positioning mechanism compared to traditional mechanical screw or gear systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

This configuration achieves high precision and increased rolling throughput, allowing for efficient production of rings with reduced thickness and improved material handling, enabling both hot and cold ring rolling processes without additional heating requirements.

Implementation Method 1

The at least two rotatably mounted support rollers support the mandrel in the direction of the turret drum axis of rotation, so that the mandrel is located between the support rollers and the pressing element during rolling

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

the ring blank is rolled between the mandrel and a forming roll. The thickness of the ring blank is reduced and at the same time its circumference is increased since no material is removed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP3110577B2Ring rolling device
Publication Date: 2021.03.03 HATEBUR UMFORMMASCHEN
  • EP3110577B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3110577B2 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3110577B2 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a ring rolling device for enlarging a ring blank (9), comprising a drive roller (1) and a rotatable revolving drum (3), in which five mandrels (2) are rotatably mounted. Ring blanks (9) can be mounted around the mandrels (2). By rotating the revolving drum (3), the mandrels (2) move towards and away from the drive roller (1). The revolving drum (3) is arranged in relation to the drive roller (1), in such a way that, by rotating the revolving drum (3) a decreasing roll gap is formed between a mandrel (2) approaching the drive roller (1) and the drive roller (1), in which roll gap a ring blank (9) mounted around the mandrel (2) is rolled, during the rotating of the revolving drum (3). The revolving drum (3) has four rotatably mounted support rollers for rotatably mounting each mandrel (2), said support rollers supporting the mandrel (2) in the direction of the rotational axis (39) of the revolving drum, such that, during the rolling process, the mandrel (2) is located between the support rollers and the press element (1).