Patent Application
20210154714
The application relates to a device, having wearing bodies, for laterally guiding a metal strip running over a metal strip conveying device, and to a method for this purpose.
Devices for laterally guiding a metal strip running over a metal strip conveying device are known from WO2015043926 and EP17174195.2, for example. The metal strip conveying device can be a finishing train, for example. As viewed in the direction of running of the strip, for example, this can be a region ahead of or between the roll stands or a region ahead of a coiler. In WO2015043926 and EP17174195.2, for example, a metal strip is guided laterally by wearing bodies, which are arranged in a main body module. Guidance is accomplished by contacting the metal strip to be guided with the wearing surface of a wearing body for guiding purposes. In devices of this kind for lateral guidance, it is advantageous if the wearing body repeatedly exposes fresh regions to guidance-induced wear by the metal strip to be guided by rotation about an axis of rotation.
During guidance of a metal strip by wearing bodies of this kind, a torque and a force in the direction of the guiding surface of the main body module are exerted on the wearing bodies. This causes load-induced wear and can lead to an increased requirement for replacement.
The replacement of worn wearing bodies is often performed by installing fresh wearing bodies on a wearing body shaft used for rotation about the axis of rotation. This causes a loss of time since, for each wearing body, connections between the wearing body and the associated wearing body shaft must first of all be released and then refastened after the replacement of the wearing body. Since there is a multiplicity of wearing plates in a device for lateral guidance, the overall time lost may be considerable.
The problem addressed by the present invention is that of presenting a device for laterally guiding a metal strip running over a metal strip conveying device, in which the requirement for replacement is reduced, and a method for the operation thereof.
This problem is solved by a device for laterally guiding a metal strip running over a metal strip conveying device, the device for laterally guiding comprising at least one main body module having a guiding plane and at least one wearing body with a wearing surface for contacting the metal strip to be guided for guiding purposes, wherein the wearing body is rotatable about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the guiding plane. There is at least one support element, wherein the wearing body is attached to the support element, or the wearing body comprises the support element, and the support element is mounted in the main body module in such a way as to be movable in the direction of the axis of rotation and in a rotatable manner.
The support element can be mounted in the main body module directly or indirectly, that is in a further component, which is arranged in the main body module.
The support element can be part of a rotary device and may be comprised, for example, the shaft of a rotary device, of round or some other cross section, and comprised of a rotary drive for rotating the wearing body.
The metal strip conveying device can be a finishing train, for example. As viewed in the direction of running of the strip, this can be a region ahead of or between the roll stands or a region ahead of a coiler.
The finishing train can be a hot strip train or some other type of rolling mill for the production of metal strip. The metal strip can be a hot-rolled metal strip. The metal strip can be a steel strip or an aluminum strip, for example.
As regards explanations relating to the main body module having a guiding plane and at least one wearing body with a wearing surface for contacting the metal strip to be guided for guiding purposes, wherein the wearing body is rotatable about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the guiding plane, attention is drawn to the disclosures of WO2015043926 and EP17174195.2, the disclosures of which are included in the present application.
The wearing body is rotatable about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the guiding plane; this axis passes, for example, through a wearing body shaft by which the force for rotation is passed from a rotary drive to the wearing body, for example. Slight deviations from a perpendicular arrangement may be included here, that is the position of the guiding plane and the axis of rotation is substantially perpendicular.
By means of the movable support element, the position of a wearing body in relation to the guiding plane can be modified. This can be used to extend the service life of a wearing body. A wearing body, the wearing surface of which has already worn down at the surface is advanced by the length of the worn section, for example. As long as there is wearable material on the wearing surface, this process can be repeated. Replacement of wearing bodies is therefore only necessary later than with a conventional mode of operation, in which the position of the wearing body in relation to the guiding plane cannot be modified by movement. More material can be worn off the wearing surface before replacement is necessary.
Adjustment by movement of the support element can be performed manually, mechanically and/or hydraulically, for example.
In the device for laterally guiding a metal strip running over a metal strip conveying device, there is preferably at least one adjusting device for moving the support element. It is preferably a hydraulic adjusting device. The support element can be part of the adjusting device; in the case of a hydraulic adjusting device, the cylinder piston, for example.
In the device for laterally guiding a metal strip running over a metal strip conveying device, there is preferably also a device for measuring forces exerted on the wearing body by the metal strip and/or on the metal strip by the wearing body during the lateral guidance.
Measuring the force makes it possible to determine whether movement to move the wearing surface closer to or further away from the edge of the metal strip is advantageous. Force measurement is performed via the pressure prevailing in hydraulic cylinders, for example.
There is preferably a device for controlling force exerted on the wearing body by the metal strip and/or on the metal strip by the wearing body during the lateral guidance.
The guiding force and the extent of wear can be controlled by contact.
For moving the support element, the hydraulic adjusting device preferably comprises at least one hydraulic cylinder and a device for measuring and/or controlling the cylinder travel thereof. In comparison to a purely mechanical adjusting device, which is also possible in principle, a hydraulic adjusting device is simpler to handle and, in respect of adjustment of forces exerted on the metal strip by the wearing body, offers simpler possibilities of adjustment and force- and pressure-controlled strip guidance.
If a device of this kind is added to a purely mechanical possibility of adjustment, force- and pressure-controlled strip guidance is possible in that case too.
The adjusting device is preferably supported on the main body module. In this case, forces exerted on the wearing body by the metal strip and/or on the metal strip by the wearing body are ultimately introduced into the main body module.
There is preferably an adjusting device for moving the main body module. The position of a wearing body in relation to the guiding plane can then be modified by moving the main body module.
For moving the main body module, the hydraulic adjusting device preferably comprises at least one hydraulic cylinder and optionally a device for measuring and/or controlling the cylinder travel thereof. In comparison to a purely mechanical adjusting device, which is also possible in principle, a hydraulic adjusting device is simpler to handle and, in respect of adjustment of forces exerted on the metal strip by the wearing body, offers simpler possibilities of adjustment and force- and pressure-controlled strip guidance.
The wearing body rotatable about the axis of rotation can preferably be rotated into a multiplicity of rotational positions, wherein the wearing surface is substantially parallel to the guiding plane in all the rotational positions, and the guiding plane of the main body module is substantially orthogonal to the conveying direction of the metal strip to be guided. Here, the wearing surface is the surface provided for guidance. This can be a surface before it guides and is worn. It can also be a surface which has already been worn down by previously occurring wear and is being used for guidance again. The wearing body is preferably a, preferably round, disk with a flat wearing surface.
The present application furthermore relates to a method for laterally guiding metal strips running over a metal strip conveying device, comprising at least one main body module having a guiding plane and at least one wearing body with a wearing surface for contacting the metal strip to be guided for guiding purposes, wherein the wearing body is rotatable about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the guiding plane, characterized in that the position of the wearing body in relation to the guiding plane is modified by moving a support element to which the wearing body is attached or which comprises the wearing body, before contacting a first metal strip for guiding purposes, and or during the contacting of a first metal strip for guiding purposes, and/or in a period of time after the contacting of a first metal strip for guiding purposes and before the contacting of a second metal strip for guiding purposes.
It is thereby possible to operate a device according to the invention for laterally guiding a metal strip running over a metal strip conveying device.
According to the invention, the position of the wearing body in relation to the guiding plane is modified by moving a support element to which the wearing body is attached or which comprises the wearing body. The modification of a previously existing state can take place before a first metal strip enters the guiding device—e.g. because the previously existing state was chosen for metal strips with different dimensions. The modification can also take place during the contacting of a first metal strip for guiding purposes, e.g. because knowledge is gained that makes an adjustment appear worthwhile. The modification can also take place after the contacting of a first metal strip for guiding purposes and before the contacting of a second metal strip for guiding purposes—e.g. because the first metal strip has different dimensions or it has been realized that movement closer to the edge of the metal strip is advantageous for better guidance.
The method according to the invention allows an extended time of use for wearing bodies and a reduced requirement for replacement.
The position of the wearing body in relation to the guiding plane is preferably chosen in accordance with the magnitude of the force which is exerted on the wearing body by the metal strip and/or on the metal strip by the wearing body or is expected for a further metal strip. This makes it possible to monitor the extent of wear and to ensure good guidance.
The method according to the invention allows an extended time of use for wearing bodies and a reduced requirement for replacement.
The position of the main body module in relation to the wearing surface is preferably modified by moving the main body module during the contacting of a metal strip for guiding purposes, or in a period of time after the contacting of a first metal strip for guiding purposes and before the contacting of a further metal strip for guiding purposes.
The method according to the invention allows an extended time of use for wearing bodies and a reduced requirement for replacement.
At least one wearing body is placed against the metal strip in a pressure-controlled manner by means of a hydraulic adjusting device supported on the main body module.
This makes it possible to monitor the magnitude of the guiding force while the strip is being guided and to enable monitored guidance.
The present invention is described by way of example below with reference to a number of schematic figures.
Main body module 3 has a guiding plane 4 and a plurality of wearing bodies of which only the wearing surfaces 5a, 5b, 5c are illustrated. The wearing bodies are rotatable about axes of rotation perpendicular to the guiding plane. The wearing surfaces are preferably flat, as explained in WO2015043926 and EP17174195.2.
In an illustration similar to
Optionally, a device 17 for measuring force exerted on wearing bodies and/or for measuring force exerted on the metal strip is present. Optionally, a device 18 for controlling force exerted on the wearing bodies and/or for measuring force exerted on the metal strip is present.
Optionally present devices for force- and pressure-controlled strip guidance, e.g. valve stands, have been omitted from the illustration for greater clarity.
Although the invention has been illustrated and described more specifically in detail by means of the preferred illustrative embodiments, the invention is not restricted by the examples disclosed, and other variations can be derived therefrom by a person skilled in the art without exceeding the scope of protection of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18166960.7 | Apr 2018 | EP | regional |
The present application is a 35 U.S.C. §§ 371 national phase conversion of PCT/EP2019/055733, filed Mar. 7, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, which claims priority of European Patent Application No. 18166960.7 filed Apr. 12, 2018,the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. The PCT International Application was published in the German language.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2019/055733 | 3/7/2019 | WO | 00 |
