The present application is a 35 U.S.C. §§ 371 national phase conversion of PCT/CN2017/088053, filed Jun. 13, 2017, which claims priority of Chinese Patent Application No. 201620572000.3, filed Jun. 15, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. The PCT International Application was published in the English language.
The present invention relates to mill rolls, in particular to mill rolls capable of rolling long kilometers suitable to be used in an ESP production line, and a method for rolling long kilometers comprising the mill rolls.
ESP endless strip steel production lines have achieved a rigid connection between the continuous casting machine and the rolling line, thereby eliminating steel scrap loss caused by frequent threading-in and -out as in conventional hot continuous rolling. By doing so, the ESP production process and ESP production lines realize a stable rolling process, particularly for thin gauge products.
In general, the economic benefits of thin gauge products are greater than those of thick gauge products. The greatest advantage of ESP is the good capability for rolling thin gauge products at high mass flow. The ESP rolling process features a transition form that is ‘thick-thin-thick’, i.e. after the start-up of the ESP line, the final rolled product is rather thick, thereafter the gauge of the final rolled product becomes thinner and thinner, and before the end of the uninterrupted rolling campaign, the gauge of the final rolled product becomes thicker again. The core of improving the thin gauge proportion lies in increasing the rolling kilometers, which means the increase of continuous casting tonnage of the casting machines and the reduction of roll wear. Continuous casting tonnage is limited by the service life of casting nozzles, and roll wear is limited by the guaranteed requirements of the rolled product. Currently, the service life of the nozzles used in ESP continuous casting falls into a bearable range, and roll contact and the runaway of the rolled product due to roll wear are keys to limit the rolling kilometers, which is going to be solved by an optimized roll profile according to the invention.
Currently, the roll profile of the mill rolls is mainly cosine concave which feature larger partial wear when performing long-kilometer rolling. Due to wear, contact (a.k.a. box holes or roll kissing) between the rolls, in particular between the edges of the rolls, can happen easily. Thus, smooth rolling and geometric properties of the rolled product can no longer be guaranteed. Consequently, the rolling kilometers of mill rolls according to the prior art is less than or equal to 80 km.
A technology task of the present invention is to provide mill rolls which are capable of rolling long kilometers and may be used in an ESP production line, with the purpose of overcoming the above shortages of the prior art technology.
The invention solves this technical problem by: mill rolls capable of rolling long kilometers used in an ESP production line, comprising rolls, a bearing box at each end of each roll and a roll axial shifting device, particularly a roll and a horizontal shifting device, which may be a hydraulic cylinder. The rolls comprise a first and a second roll, which may be an upper roll and a lower roll below the upper roll. Both ends of each roll are connected with a bearing box, respectively. One end of each of the rolls is connected with the roll axial shifting device, the middle portion of the surface of the rolls sinks radially inwards, and one end of the rolls is frustum-shaped, progressively smaller axially outwards. The other end of the rolls is cylindrical. The first, e.g. upper roll and the second, e.g. lower roll have the same roll profile and are positioned in the opposite direction.
Each end of each roll is connected to a respective bearing box for rotatably mounting the respective roll in the mill stand. Each roll features a first end which is frustum-shaped, a middle portion having a concave shape, and a second end with a cylindrical shape. The first, e.g. upper roll is positioned in an opposite direction to the second, e.g. lower roll, i.e. if the first, e.g. upper roll features a frustum-shaped end on the left hand end, a concave middle part and a cylindrical end on the right hand side, the lower, e.g., second roll arranged in the same mill stand consequently features a cylindrical end on the left hand end, a concave middle part and a frustum-shaped end on the right hand side. Of course, also an inverse arrangement is possible. One end of each roll is connected to a roll axial shifting device, here for example, a roll shifting hydraulic cylinder, for shifting the roll in an axial typically horizontal direction. The roll shifting hydraulic cylinders typically are long stroke cylinders, having a stroke between 300 and 600 mm. By shifting the upper roll in an axial direction (e.g. from left to right) by the roll axial shifting device, typically a hydraulic cylinder connected to the upper roll and by shifting the lower roll in the opposite axially typically horizontal direction (e.g. from right to left) by the roll axial shifting devices also typically a hydraulic cylinder connected to the lower roll, the maximum kilometers of the mill rolls can keep up uninterrupted operation increases from some 80 km to 150 km. Thereby, maintenance costs for re-grinding the rolls are reduced, yield is increased due to fewer sequence starts, and the output of thin gauge rolled product is increased.
The roll profile curve of the middle portion of the roll surface sinking radially inwards is a cosine curve or a polynomial roll profile curve. In particular the polynomial roll profile curve is a parabolic curve.
The slope of the frustum is defined as the ratio between the radial extension R of the frustum and the length L of the frustum. The slope of the frustum corresponds to the ratio between the wear Δr of the roll and the roll shifting value s (see
The slope of the frustum is preferably not more than 0.01.
Advantageously, the bearing boxes for the upper roll, preferably both the bearing boxes for the upper roll and for the lower roll, are connected to roll radial adjusting devices, typically radial adjusting hydraulic cylinders for adjusting the roll in a radial, typically vertical direction. Alternatively to roll adjusting hydraulic cylinders, electric drives (e.g. screw drives) can be used. Thereby the roll gap between the upper and the lower roll can be kept constant despite the wear of the rolls.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a thickness gauge for measuring the thickness of the rolled product is connected to a controller. The controller determines a thickness error e, that is the difference between a target value of the thickness of the rolled product and the measured thickness of the rolled product. The controller is connected to the roll shifting hydraulic cylinders for shifting the upper roll and the lower roll in opposite axial, typically horizontal directions in accordance with the thickness error. During endless production, the radial, typically positions of the upper and lower rolls remain generally constant. Therefore, the thickness error e, which may be determined continuously or discontinuously during rolling, corresponds to the sum of the radial wear of the upper and lower rolls. The rolls are shifted in opposite horizontal directions as a function of the thickness error e. As an alternative to or in addition to determining the thickness error e, a wear monitor for determining the wear Δr of the upper roll and the lower roll during rolling can be used. The wear monitor takes into account rolling parameters such as rolling force, rolling speed, rolling time, material of the rolling stock etc. The wear monitor is connected to a controller and the controller is connected to the roll axial shifting hydraulic cylinders for shifting the upper roll and the lower roll in opposite axial directions as a function of the wear Δr.
In order to keep the thickness of the rolled product constant during rolling, the controller is connected to roll radial adjusting devices, typically hydraulic cylinders, for the upper roll for adjusting the upper roll in a radial direction in accordance with at least one of the thickness error e and the wear Δr.
In order to keep both the thickness and the pass-line of the rolled product constant during rolling, the controller is connected to the roll radial adjusting devices or hydraulic cylinders (or electric drives) for the lower roll for adjusting the lower roll in a radial direction in accordance with the thickness error e and the wear Δr.
A further technological task of the invention is to provide an advantageous method for rolling long kilometers comprising the mill rolls according to the invention. By utilising the method, not just the time that the rolls can be kept in continuous operation is improved, but also the geometric shape, particularly the crown, of the rolled product remains good during rolling long kilometers.
This is achieved by the following method steps: In order to compensate for wear of an upper roll and a lower roll, the upper roll is shifted in a first axial, typically horizontal direction a distance corresponding to the roll shifting value by a roll axial shifting device, typically a hydraulic cylinder, connected with the upper roll, and the lower roll is shifted in a second horizontal direction for the said distance by an axial, shifting device, a shifting hydraulic cylinder, connected with the lower roll, wherein the first axial direction is opposite to the second axial direction. By shifting the upper roll and the lower roll in opposite axial directions during rolling, the mill rolls can be utilized for a much longer time in the rolling mill and the mill rolls can roll many more kilometers. Also, the shape of the rolled product does not deteriorate during rolling.
During rolling, it is advantageous when the distances that the upper roll and the lower roll are shifted is increasing over time in a steady or an unsteady manner. In other words, neither the upper roll nor the lower roll are oscillating in an axial direction, since the rolls are shifted in one direction only such that the distance the rolls are shifted is typically increasing over time. The increase can be done steadily, i.e. without interruption, or unsteadily, i.e. where the increase is temporarily stopped.
In order to compensate thickness changes due to the wear of the rolls, it is beneficial to lower the upper roll in a radial direction by roll radial adjusting devices, typically hydraulic cylinders.
In case the radial or vertical position of the lower roll is kept constant, it is preferable to radially lower the upper roll, typically vertically by a distance that corresponds to the sum of the wear in the radial direction of both the upper roll and the lower roll. By doing so, the thickness of the rolled product can be maintained despite the wear of the rolls.
In case the vertical positions of the upper roll and the lower roll can be changed during rolling, it is preferable that the upper roll is lowered radially by a distance that corresponds to the wear of the upper roll in the radial direction, and that the lower roll is raised radially, typically vertically by a distance that corresponds to the wear of the lower roll in the radial direction. By doing so, the so-called “pass line” of the rolled product is kept constant.
In case the material of the upper roll is identical to the material of the lower roll, it is preferable that the distance that the upper roll is moved radially or lowered corresponds to the distance that the lower roll is moved radially or raised.
During rolling, it is preferable to shift the upper roll in the first axial direction a distance corresponding to the roll shifting value by means of the roll axial shifting device, typically the hydraulic cylinder connected with the upper roll. The upper roll is instead lowered radially by roll radial devices, here adjusting hydraulic cylinders, in a radial, vertical direction. It is also preferable to shift the lower roll in the second axial direction by the same distance by means of the roll axial shifting hydraulic device of cylinder connected with the lower roll, and the lower roll is raised in the radial direction by roll radial adjusting hydraulic cylinders, whereas the distance the upper roll is lowered radially corresponds to the distance the lower roll is raised radially. By doing this, the thickness and the pass line of the rolled product remain constant, despite the wear of the rolls.
In general, it is beneficial to set the maximum shifting distance of the upper roll and of the lower roll in a range between 300 mm and 600 mm. Once the rolls are shifted over the maximum shifting distance or even before that, the rolls will be exchanged.
In order to allow proper roll axial shifting during rolling, it is advantageous to measure the thickness of the rolled product during rolling and to calculate the thickness error e, that is the difference between the target value of the thickness of the rolled product and the measured thickness of the rolled product, during rolling, and the upper roll and the lower roll are shifted in opposite axial directions as a function of the thickness error e.
As an alternative to calculating the thickness error, it is advantageous to determine the wear Δr of the upper roll and the lower roll during rolling, taking into account rolling parameters including rolling force, temperature, e.g. of the rolls, the rolled product etc., rolling speed, material of the rolling stock and of the rolls etc., and the upper roll and the lower roll are shifted in opposite axial directions as a function of the wear Δr.
It is beneficial to shift the upper roll and lower roll by a roll shifting value s, wherein
wherein L is the length of the frustum-shaped end of the rolls, R is the radial extension of the frustum-shaped end of the rolls, and Δr is the wear.
Compared with the prior art technology, the present invention has the following prominent beneficial effects:
The present invention is further described in detail in combination with the accompanying drawings and embodiments as below.
As was noted above, the first and second rolls are typically one above the other and are oriented so that their axes are horizontal. They are shifted horizontally or in the planes of the axes. The mill rolls are also adjustable radially, typically vertically.
As shown in
As shown in
The upper roll 3 and the lower roll 4 have the same roll profile. The rolls are positioned in respective opposite axial directions. This design allows the compensation of wear of the rolls. The asymmetric design with a cylinder at one end of each roll and a frustum at the other end has the following advantages: When roll shifting is not matched with the wear of the rolls, runaway of rolled product can be reduced to some extent by means of gravity and plane support. Moreover, after the occurrence of wear, secondary turning or grinding of the rolls can be performed on the cylindrical section to increase the service life and applicable surface of the rolls.
As shown in
The lower roll is an example. The wear form is shown as
After the upper roll 3 and lower rolls 4 are positioned together, their relationship is shown in
In
In
wherein L is the length of the frustum and R is the radial extension of the frustum as depicted in
In
and the lower roll are shifted by an axial distance and the upper roll is lowered radially, typically vertically by the distance 2*Δr. By doing this, the thickness of the rolled product remains at h0. The right picture 7C depicts the situation after a longer time of rolling, wherein the radius of each of the upper roll and the lower roll is reduced by 2*Δr due to wear. Due to that and without any change of the radial or vertical positions of the upper and lower rolls, the thickness of the rolled product will have increased to h0+2*Δr due to wear. The wear Δr is again determined and in order to continue the rolling of a rolled product having a crowned shape, each of the upper roll and the lower roll is shifted by an axial distance 2s, and the upper roll is lowered further in the radial or vertical direction by the additional 2*Δr, making it 4*Δr against the initial radial or vertical position depicted in the left picture
In
the upper roll is lowered radially, or vertically by the distance Δr and the lower roll is raised radially or vertically by the distance Δr. Doing so causes the thickness of the rolled product to remain at h0 and the so-called pass line of the rolled product remains constant. The right picture
In
In
The present invention can compensate the wear of mill rolls, thereby extending the rolling kilometer of the rolls, so as to realize above 150 km rolling, while guaranteeing a proper geometry of the rolled product and the thickness profile in the width direction of strip steel.
It is noted that specific embodiments of the present invention have been described the invention in detail; as for technicians or engineers in the field, various apparent changes made without departing from the essence and scope of the present invention shall fall into the protection scope of the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
201620572000.3 | Jun 2016 | CN | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/CN2017/088053 | 6/13/2017 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2017/215595 | 12/21/2017 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3948072 | Aramaki | Apr 1976 | A |
4864836 | Ochiai | Sep 1989 | A |
5714692 | Rohde | Feb 1998 | A |
6295851 | Sjostrom | Oct 2001 | B1 |
6324881 | Benedetti | Dec 2001 | B1 |
20130192790 | Eckerstorfer et al. | Aug 2013 | A1 |
20130228082 | Honjou | Sep 2013 | A1 |
20160101450 | Linzer et al. | Apr 2016 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
201015778 | Feb 2008 | CN |
101987326 | Mar 2011 | CN |
102688889 | Sep 2012 | CN |
102886385 | Jan 2013 | CN |
103203370 | Jul 2013 | CN |
203330115 | Dec 2013 | CN |
205659983 | Oct 2016 | CN |
0276743 | Aug 1988 | EP |
0153849 | Jan 1992 | EP |
1228818 | Aug 2002 | EP |
1228818 | Aug 2002 | EP |
2139622 | Oct 2012 | EP |
S 59-1006 | Jan 1984 | JP |
S 60-82211 | May 1985 | JP |
S61-186108 | Aug 1986 | JP |
S 62-6806 | Jan 1987 | JP |
S 62-68611 | Mar 1987 | JP |
03000406 | Jan 1991 | JP |
H 3-406 | Jan 1991 | JP |
06198313 | Jul 1994 | JP |
H 06-198313 | Jul 1994 | JP |
20000-15308 | Jan 2000 | JP |
2004-098074 | Apr 2004 | JP |
2013-226572 | Nov 2013 | JP |
2268795 | Jan 2006 | RU |
2476280 | Feb 2013 | RU |
2484908 | Jun 2013 | RU |
929262 | May 1982 | SU |
WO 2017215595 | Dec 2017 | WO |
Entry |
---|
Russian Federation Office Action, dated Dec. 18, 2019, issued in corresponding Russian Federation Patent Application No. 2018144296/02(073846). English translation. Total 19 pages. |
International Search Report dated Sep. 15, 2017 in corresponding PCT International Application No. PCT/CN2017/088053. |
Written Opinion dated Sep. 15, 2017 in corresponding PCT International Application No. PCT/CN2017/088053. |
Office Action dated Jan. 27, 2020 issued in corresponding Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-565721 with English translation. |
Indian Office Action, dated Jul. 3, 2020, issued in corresponding Indian Patent Application No. 201817042968. Total 7 pages. |
Extended European Search Report, dated Jan. 8, 2020, issued in corresponding European Patent Application No. 17812706.4. Total 6 pages. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20190308232 A1 | Oct 2019 | US |