Patent Grant
11358191
The invention relates to a device for drying a metal strip, of easier maintenance.
The field of the invention is that of cold rolling for which it is necessary to spray on the strip to be laminated large volumes of a liquid, consisting of an oil or an emulsion in water, to carry out the lubrication and cooling of the strip and the cylinders. At the rolling mill output, the liquid film covering the strip is removed, in particular to enable satisfactory winding of the strip onto the coiler.
To this end, drying devices comprising two pressure cylinders, substantially parallel, arranged on either side of the strip to be laminated, perpendicular to the direction of travel thereof and which are applied directly onto the strip with a predetermined force so as to remove the oil are known in the prior art. Small-diameter pressure cylinders are typically used, which dry more effectively, but which are more sensitive to bending that larger diameter cylinders.
In the prior art, such drying devices are known from the document EP 0568 418 A1 and from the document EP 1 712 305 A1. Each pressure cylinder is applied onto the strip by means of a plurality of rollers distributed along the length of the cylinder, and following two axes of rotation substantially parallel with the axis of the pressure cylinder.
In these two documents, the rollers are supported by a plurality of bearing blocks, distributed along the length of the cylinder, pneumatic cylinders, respectively associated with the bearing blocks, enabling independent control of the pressures applied on the different roller subassemblies borne by the bearing blocks. Such drying devices according to this prior art further include means for controlling the fluid supply of the pneumatic cylinders, according to the width of the strip and the position thereof between the cylinders: such a drying device design makes it possible advantageously to apply pressure cylinder application forces, only or essentially on the part of the cylinders in contact with the strip: the compressed air intake is actuated solely to the pneumatic cylinders capable of applying the force thereof over the width of the strip to be dried, whereas the cylinders of the bearing blocks next to the parts of the cylinders protruding laterally from the strip are not supplied (or supplied at reduced pressure): this prevents defects such as those mentioned in the document EP 0 568 418 A1, namely rolling of the edges of the metal strip and poor drying of the median part of the metal strip.
In such a drying device, the upper assembly comprising the upper pressure cylinder, the pressure rollers, the bearing blocks thereof, and the corresponding pneumatic cylinders is borne by an upper crosspiece, positioned above the plane of travel of the strip to be dried, whereas the lower assembly comprising the lower pressure cylinder, the pressure rollers, the bearing block thereof and the corresponding pneumatic cylinders is borne by a lower crosspiece, positioned below the plane of travel of said strip to be dried.
As disclosed by the document EP 0 568 418 A1, the upper crosspiece may be connected to the lower crosspiece by means of hydraulic cylinders which make it possible, when retracted, to hold the working cylinders in the working position, in a first crosspiece position (illustrated on the left half of
For each crosspiece (respectively upper or lower), the pressure cylinder (respectively upper or lower) and the bearing blocks (including the corresponding pressure rollers) are supported by the same beam. Lugs, substantially parallel, are rigidly connected to both ends of this beam and secure the cylinder by both ends thereof, by means of bearings, respectively provided between the ends of the cylinder and the corresponding lugs. The bearing blocks are distributed along the length of the beam, each bearing block being connected to the beam by means of a rod traversing a bore of the beam. In other words, the assembly comprising the pressure cylinder, the bearing blocks, the pressure rollers thereof and the beam forms a self-supporting assembly, usually referred to as a “cassette” inserted into a longitudinal cavity of the crosspiece having a U-shaped cross-section.
The cylinder bodies are rigidly connected to the crosspiece, on the other side of the crosspiece with respect to the housing for the cassette, bores being drilled in the crosspieces aligned with the bearing block rods. These bores allow the passage of the rods of the pneumatic cylinders, which when pressurised engage with the rods of the bearing blocks to transmit the thrust force (as illustrated in the left half of
In the absence of thrust of the pneumatic cylinders (as illustrated in the right half of
According to the inventor's observations:
The aim of the present invention is that of proposing a drying device which remedies the drawbacks cited above, of easier maintenance compared to the prior art cited above.
A further aim of the present invention is that of proposing a drying device having a modular design, which can be suitable for various drying conditions.
Further aims and advantages will emerge from the following description which is merely given by way of indication and which is not intended to limit same. In addition, the invention relates to a treatment device intended for drying a laminated strip comprising:
According to the invention, the device comprises for each crosspiece, lower and upper,
and so as to enable the removal of said pressure cylinder by sliding said second sliding member, while the first sliding member and the corresponding pressure rollers are kept in said crosspiece.
According to one embodiment, each crosspiece has a U-shaped section, including one intermediate wall and two side walls adjacent to the intermediate wall, forming respectively the arms of the U, the inter-gap defined between the intermediate wall and the two side walls forming a cavity for receiving the first sliding member and the second sliding member, in a stacked manner in said cavity, said pressure cylinder being intended to protrude partially from the opening defined between the two free edges of said side walls, and wherein the device comprises, for each crosspiece, lower or upper:
According to one embodiment, the first guiding means comprise:
According to one embodiment, the second sliding member comprises said cylinder, as well as chocks rotatably mounted at the ends of said cylinder by means of bearings.
The second guiding means may thus comprise:
According to one advantageous embodiment, the device may comprise for each crosspiece, lower or upper:
According to one embodiment, the framework of the first sliding member includes a frame formed from two longitudinal beams and two transversal beams, which when inserted into the crosspiece is of fixed position with respect to the crosspiece, said bearing blocks being received at least partially in the inner volume of the frame, each bearing block being mounted free along a limited travel with respect to the framework, along the direction of the clamping plane, perpendicular to the plane of the framework frame.
According to one embodiment, said actuators comprise fastening ends, in particular having a T-shaped cross-section, intended to be inserted into complementary grooves of the bearing blocks, oriented along the axis of the crosspiece the fastening ends and the fastening grooves being configured to enable the coupling of the actuators with the respective bearing blocks thereof upon the insertion movement of said first sliding member in the crosspiece.
According to one embodiment, the device comprises a third sliding member supporting at least one scraper intended to scrape the strip, suitable for replacing for each crosspiece the second sliding member, engaging with the pressure rollers such that each of the scrapers may be applied in pressure on the strip by means of said pressure rollers.
According to one embodiment, the third sliding member comprises a beam having sliding surfaces, parallel and opposite, engaging with corresponding inner surfaces of said side walls, parallel, so as to allow possible sliding of the third sliding member, along a limited travel along the height of the side walls, along a perpendicular direction to the plane of travel of the metal strip.
According to one embodiment, the device comprises a fourth sliding member comprising a roller with a textile surface coating and chocks rotatably mounted at the ends of the roller, intended to replace, for each crosspiece, simultaneously said first sliding member and said second sliding member.
According to one advantageous embodiment, the upper crosspiece and the lower crosspiece having at the longitudinal ends thereof abutments, in the form of projections, directed towards one another, distributed laterally on either side of the strip to be dried, which in said working position of the pressure cylinders, or working position of the scrapers, engage mutually against one another, defining a slot of defined thickness for the passage of the strip to be dried between the upper crosspiece and the lower crosspiece.
The wings of the side walls of the crosspieces, upstream along the direction of travel of the strip to be dried, then advantageously form the first physical obstacles for the oil, prior to the action of the pressure cylinders (or scrapers), during drying.
The invention will be understood more clearly on reading the following description accompanied by the appended figures wherein:
The invention relates to a treatment device 1 intended for drying a laminated strip B comprising:
As illustrated by way of indication in
However, the invention relates to the maintenance of such a drying device.
According to the invention, the device 1 comprises for each crosspiece 2; 3, lower and upper:
Such a design enables the removal of said pressure cylinder 4; 6 by sliding said second sliding member 40; 60, while the first sliding member 50; 70 and the corresponding pressure rollers 5; 7 are kept (retained) in said crosspiece 2; 3. These operations are facilitated due to the controlled weight of these sliding members 40, 60 which only support one of the pressure cylinders, and not the assembly comprising this cylinder and the pressure rollers thereof.
Advantageously when only the pressure cylinders require a replacement, it is possible to:
According to one embodiment, each crosspiece 2; 3 may have a U-shaped section, including one intermediate wall 20; 30 and two side walls 21, 22; 31; 32 adjacent to the intermediate wall, forming respectively the arms of the U. The inter-gap defined between the intermediate wall 20; 30 and the two side walls 21, 22; 31, 32 forms a cavity for receiving the first sliding member 50; 70 and the second sliding member 40; 60 in a stacked manner in this cavity.
The first sliding member 50, 70 and the second sliding member 40, 60 are stacked in the cavity, the first sliding member positioned to the rear of the cavity, the second sliding member, positioned in the vicinity of the opening defined between the two free edges of said side walls and such that said pressure cylinder protrudes partially from this opening during drying.
The device may thus comprise, for each crosspiece 2; 3, lower or upper:
According to one advantageous embodiment, for each crosspiece 2; 3, lower upper:
Advantageously, such a design enables the setting of the application forces of the pressure cylinders 4; 6 only or essentially along the section of length of the cylinders in contact with the metal strip B. The compressed air intake is actuated solely to the pneumatic cylinders capable of applying the force thereof over the width of the strip to be dried, whereas the cylinders of the bearing blocks next to the parts of the cylinders protruding laterally from the strip are not supplied (or supplied at reduced pressure): this prevents defects such as those mentioned in the document EP 0 568 418 A1, namely rolling of the edges of the metal strip and poor drying of the median part of the metal strip.
For each crosspiece, lower or upper, the cylinder body may be rigidly connected to the crosspiece, fastened to the intermediate wing 20 or 30, external to the crosspiece, the rods of the pistons traversing bores of the intermediate wing 20 or 30, and so as to engage with the bearing blocks of the first sliding members received in the cavity of the crosspiece.
According to one embodiment, said actuators 11 (in particular the piston rods) may comprise fastening ends 12, in particular having a T-shaped cross-section, intended to be inserted into complementary grooves of the bearing blocks 10, oriented along the axis of the crosspiece 2; 3 the fastening ends and the fastening grooves being configured to enable the coupling of the actuators with the respective bearing blocks 10 thereof upon the insertion movement of said first sliding member 50; 70 in the crosspiece 2; 3. Conversely, such a design enables the uncoupling of the actuators with the bearing block 10 thereof upon the removal movement of said first sliding member 50; 70 out of the crosspiece.
According to one advantageous embodiment, coupling or uncoupling will only be possible in the retracted position of the actuators 11, the coupling end then aligned (along the axis of the cylinder) with a notch 13 of the framework enabling the extension thereof. On the other hand and when the actuator 11 is in the non-retracted position, the framework of the first sliding member 50; 70 forms a physical abutment blocking the extension of the first sliding member along the sliding axis.
According to one embodiment, the framework of the first sliding member 50, 70 includes a self-supporting frame formed from two longitudinal beams L and two transversal beams T. When inserted into the corresponding crosspiece 2 or 3, this framework is of fixed position with respect to the crosspiece 2. The bearing blocks 10 are then received at least partially in the inner volume of the frame, each bearing block 10 being mounted free along a limited travel with respect to the framework, along the direction of the clamping plane, perpendicular to the plane of the framework frame. The framework and the bearing blocks 10 (and the rollers 5 or 7 thereof) of the first sliding member 50 or 70 form a self-supporting assembly which may be removed or inserted in one piece in the crosspiece. The notch 13 mentioned above may be created on one of the transversal beams.
The first guiding means between the first sliding member and the crosspiece may thus comprise:
According to the non-limiting example in
Once the ribs have been inserted into the grooves, the engagement locks the position of the sliding member at the rear of the cavity, i.e. in the vicinity of the intermediate wing 20 or 30 of the crosspiece, and so as to leave the rest of the cavity free: this ensures the presence of a clearance in the cavity allowing the insertion of the second sliding member bearing the pressure cylinders 4, 6, or the insertion of a third sliding member bearing scrapers, and which will be described hereinafter.
According to one embodiment, the second sliding member 40; 60 comprises said cylinder 4; 6, as well as chocks 41, 42; 61, 62 rotatably mounted at the ends of said cylinder 4; 6 by means of bearings. The two chocks 41, 42; 61, 62 and the pressure cylinder 4; 6 form a self-supporting assembly which may be removed, or inserted in one piece during replacement operations.
According to one embodiment, the second guiding means comprise:
These guiding means thus allow in operation a relative movement between the pressure cylinder 4; 6 and the crosspiece 2; 3 along a parallel direction with the clamping plane, by sliding the chocks along the side walls, particularly when the pressure cylinder engages in rolling with the pressure rollers of the bearing blocks 10.
The shoulders E of the crosspiece and those corresponding to the chocks 21, 22; 31, 32 have the function of ensuring that the second sliding member 40, 60 is held in the crosspiece, in particular for the second sliding member 40; 60 present in the upper crosspiece 2, which in the idle position will be forced downwards under the action of gravity.
According to one advantageous embodiment, the device may comprise a third sliding member 80; 90 supporting at least one scraper 8; 9 intended to scrape the strip, suitable for replacing for each crosspiece 2; 3 the second sliding member 40; 60.
Advantageously, this third sliding member engaging with the pressure rollers 5, 7 such that each of the scrapers 8, 9 may be applied in pressure on the strip B by means of said pressure rollers: in this case, the drying device is provided with the actuators 11; this enables the setting of the application forces of the scrapers 8; 9 only or essentially along the section of length of the cylinders in contact with the metal strip B. The compressed air intake is actuated solely to the pneumatic cylinders capable of applying the force thereof over the width of the strip to be dried, whereas the cylinders of the bearing blocks next to the parts of the cylinders protruding laterally from the strip are not supplied (or supplied at reduced pressure).
The third sliding member may comprise a beam comprising one or a plurality of scrapers 8; 9 on one of these faces. The scrapers 8, 9 are directed along the length of the beam. When the beam bears a plurality of scrapers, these are situated at a single level so as to scrape the metal strip simultaneously. The scraper(s) are fastened statically on the beam.
Laterally, this beam may have parallel and opposite sliding surfaces 81, 82; 91, 92, engaging with said corresponding inner surfaces of said side walls 21, 22; 31, 32, parallel, so as to allow possible sliding of the third sliding member 80; 90, along a limited travel along the height of the side walls, along a perpendicular direction to the plane of travel of the metal strip.
These beams may further include shoulders 83; 93 engaging with the shoulders E of said side walls, in the vicinity of the free ends oriented along the side walls 21, 22; 31, 32. Said shoulders E of the crosspiece 2; 3 and those 83; 93 of the third sliding members engage mutually at the end-of-travel abutment, so as to ensure that the third sliding member 80; 90 is held in said cavity of the crosspieces 2; 3.
On the back wall (opposite the wall of the beam supporting the scraper(s)), the beam may have a protruding section 84, 94 wherein the curved or (dihedral) profile serves as a support, simultaneously for the pressure rollers borne along the two parallel axes.
According to one embodiment, the device may comprise a fourth sliding member 100; 110 comprising a roller with a textile lining and chocks 101, 102; 111, 112 rotatably mounted at the ends of the roller, intended to replace, for each crosspiece 2; 3, simultaneously said first sliding member and said second sliding member. For each sliding member 100; 110, the textile roller and the chocks thereof form a self-supporting assembly which may be removed or inserted in one piece in the crosspiece.
These chocks 101, 102; 111, 112 may have:
Thus, and even when the device has actuators 11 particularly pneumatic suitable for carrying out a setting of the cylinder application distribution on the width of the strip, these are not used for textile rollers, of larger diameter, frequently subject to a clamping force of lower intensity than that of the pressure cylinders.
Advantageously, such a modular design of the device, namely the option to use, as drying means, not only pressure cylinders, but also scrapers and/or textile rollers, makes it possible to adapt the drying means according to the drying conditions. As illustrated by way of indication in the graphic in
According to one advantageous embodiment, the upper crosspiece 2 and the lower crosspiece 3 may have at the longitudinal ends thereof abutments 23, 33, in the form of projections, directed towards one another, distributed laterally on either side of the strip to be dried.
As illustrated in the figures, these abutments 23, 33, typically four in number may be provided, at each arm of the U. In said working position P2 of the pressure cylinders 4, 6, (or working position of the scrapers 8, 9), engage mutually against one another, defining a slot of defined thickness for the passage of the strip to be dried between the upper crosspiece 2 and the lower crosspiece 3.
Such a slot of thickness “F” is illustrated in
The lower and upper crosspieces may also be placed in contact by these abutments 23 and 33 when equipped with the third sliding members bearing the scrapers 8 and 9. In such a case, and in the manner of the pressure cylinders, the application forces of the scrapers 8 and 9 on the strip to be dried are regulated using regulation on the actuators 11 of the pneumatic type.
On the other hand, when equipped with the fourth sliding members bearing the textile rollers, the upper and lower crosspieces are not abutted against one another, but on the contrary in a slightly separated working position: the application forces of the textile rollers on the strip to be dried are then regulated using regulation on the typically hydraulic actuation means. In other words and in this case, the actuators 11 of the pneumatic type are not used.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 59083 | Sep 2016 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/FR2017/052577 | 9/26/2017 | WO | 00 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2018/060581 | 4/5/2018 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4551878 | Turley | Nov 1985 | A |
| 4763505 | Klute | Aug 1988 | A |
| 4782545 | Aiassa | Nov 1988 | A |
| 4843673 | Sendzimir | Jul 1989 | A |
| 5335387 | Grillat | Aug 1994 | A |
| 5737796 | Sendzimir | Apr 1998 | A |
| 6041636 | Datzuk | Mar 2000 | A |
| 6581429 | Takakura | Jun 2003 | B1 |
| 10226804 | Ernst de la Graete | Mar 2019 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 19815029 | Jul 2006 | DE |
| 0 568 418 | Nov 1993 | EP |
| 1 712 305 | Oct 2006 | EP |
| 2648372 | Dec 1990 | FR |
| 2661625 | Nov 1991 | FR |
| 2 806 941 | Oct 2001 | FR |
| 63 309317 | Dec 1988 | JP |
| 101557723 | Oct 2015 | KR |
| Entry |
|---|
| International Search Report, PCT/FR2017/052577, dated Nov. 8, 2017. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20190217355 A1 | Jul 2019 | US |
