Work Roll Bearing Assembly for Axial Support and Low Wear

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rolling stands used for high-strength steel rolling face issues with friction and wear due to small diameter rolls, leading to high frictional heat and potential fires, especially when using support rollers for lateral support, which complicates the rolling process and safety.

Innovation Solution

A roll stand design featuring a work roll with a bearing assembly that includes a fixed bearing on one end face, allowing for floating support and axial displacement, decoupling the static support and rotational freedom functions, and incorporating a support device to divert axial forces, thereby reducing wear and friction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If support rollers are used for lateral support of small diameter rolls, then the rolls can be stably supported during high-speed rolling, but friction and wear increase leading to high frictional heat and potential fires

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestable supportVSAvoidfrictional heat
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the support function from the rolling process by introducing separate support rollers that are stationary relative to the roll. These support rollers are positioned at the ends of the roll and provide lateral support without participating in the rolling motion, thereby eliminating the friction and wear problems between support rollers and the rolling surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The support rollers act as intermediaries between the roll and the housing. They provide the necessary lateral support while being isolated from the high-friction rolling contact. The support rollers rotate independently on their own axes, mediating the support function without creating harmful frictional heat at the rolling interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If support rollers are used for lateral support, then the rolls can be stably supported, but the device complexity increases due to additional components and assemblies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestable supportVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the support function from the rolling function. The support rollers are separate, independent components that can be individually positioned and adjusted. This segmentation allows for simplified maintenance and replacement, and the modular design actually reduces overall system complexity compared to integrated support systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If small diameter rolls are used for high-strength steel rolling, then the rolling precision can be improved, but the friction and wear due to high rotation speeds increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverolling precisionVSAvoidfriction and wear
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the traditional mechanical support system (where support rollers contact the rolling surface) with a separate support mechanism. The support rollers are positioned at the ends of the roll and provide support through a different mechanical arrangement that does not involve frictional contact during the rolling process, thus eliminating wear while preserving the precision benefits of small diameter rolls.

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 design enhances the friction and wear behavior of the roll stand, ensuring safe and stable operation by accommodating mechanical and thermal changes without distortion, and simplifies the structural design by eliminating the need for separate axial force transfer assemblies.

Implementation Method 1

mechanical or thermal changes in length, in particular of the elements to be stored, can be accommodated without the bearings becoming distorted

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

through adhesion or friction (roller and support roller/roller or the lateral surfaces/surfaces roll against each other)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3784424B1Millstand
Publication Date: 2023.12.20 PRIMETALS TECH AUSTRIA GMBH
  • EP3784424B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3784424B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3784424B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a roll stand (1), comprising: - a working roll (2), which is mounted in the roll stand (1) floatingly and for rotation about an axis of rotation (9) extending axially and which has two axially opposite end faces (3, 4); and - at least one bearing assembly (6), which is arranged on one of the two end faces (3, 4) of the working roll (2) and by means of which the working roll (2) is floatingly supported in the roll stand (1) and which has a housing (7), in which the working roll (2) is mounted using a fixed bearing (8). According to the invention, the bearing assembly (6) has a supporting device (17), by means of which the bearing assembly (6) can be axially supported in the roll stand (1).