The present invention refers to a rolling monoblock with intercooling.
In a rolling plant or rolling mill for wire rods, according to consolidated technology, one works on a billet which has been previously brought to a temperature above the re-crystallisation temperature; the billet is then subjected to rolling, so to gradually reduce its section to the desired section.
In the hot-rolling of steel wires, one uses in the final rolling steps a rolling mill composed of 8-10 rolling stands, arranged one after the other, and controlled by two transmissions in turn operated by two or more motors which may be sequentially arranged.
Given the high speed of work, in order to reduce to a minimum the risks of obstructions between the stands, the same are normally arranged very close to each other, with minimum distances which may even approach 800 mm.
The plastic deformation work done on the rolled section in subsequent steps considerably increases the temperature of the rolled section itself. Between the stands, cooling devices may be prearranged.
Given however the very limited time available, due to the reduced distances between the stands and the high speeds, said coolers are not able to remove the thermal energy ensuing from the deformation work and maintain constant the temperature of the bar.
It should be considered, indeed, that the speed of the wire entering the 1st stand may be estimated to be 10-20 m/s, and such speed upon exiting is comprised between 60-100 m/s.
In such conditions, even soft steel with a low carbon content, which requires little deformation work, entering the 1st stand at 950° C. will exit the 10th stand with a temperature of 1100-1150° C., considering a final speed of 100 m/s.
With such a high rolling temperature, in the final steps, metallurgical structures are produced inside the rolled section which are not suitable for the subsequent direct uses of the rolled section thus obtained.
In the above-indicated conditions, coarse pearlitic structures may easily be found inside the rolled bar, as may bainitic or even martensitic structures, which require complex thermal cycles before the final use. On the other hand, it is known from thermomechanical rolling that rolling at lower temperatures, comprised between about 750 and 900° C., the product obtained with all types of steel has a completely pearlitic structure with thin cementite layers, particularly adapted for wire drawing or cold deformation without requiring particular thermal treatments before the final use.
General object of the present invention is that of foreseeing rolling systems and plants which permit controlling the temperature of the rolled section, especially in the final steps.
With the aforesaid objects, according to the present invention, it has been thought to make a monoblock having the characteristics set forth in the claim.
The characteristics and advantages of the present invention with regards to the prior art will be clearer and more evident from an examination of the following description, referred to the attached FIGURE which schematically illustrates an intercooled monoblock.
With reference to the FIGURE, a rolling monoblock 10 with intercooling, object of the present invention, comprises a first block B1 and a second block B2, and is equipped with main controls 12 set between the two blocks B1, B2.
The monoblock is generally composed of 8 or 10 stands, but may also have a lower or higher number.
In the case shown, considering the rolling direction F of a product 11, the first block B1 comprises four rolling stands G1-G4 while the second block B2 comprises six stands G5-G10.
Moreover, the second block B2 is mounted on a moving cart, on which a second alternative block B′2 is present for a rapid exchange of the stand series of the second block.
Each of the two second blocks B2 and B′2 is equipped at the leaving portion with a calibrator, 13 and 13′ respectively.
In both blocks, moreover, coolers 14 foreseen along with disconnectable joints indicated with 15.
As a rule, the two blocks B1 and B2 are therefore foreseen with the first block comprising G1-Gm stands, the second block comprising G(m+1)-Gn stands, with m preferably but not exclusively equal to 4 and n preferably and not exclusively equal to 8 or 10.
Such blocks B1 and B2 are arranged with one upstream and one downstream from the main controls.
Between the first and the second block, the rolled section 11 follows an annular path A of length such to be able to carry out an appropriate cooling to the desired values, with related equalisation of the temperature inside the bar so to roll at a controlled temperature in subsequent steps.
In the annular path A, the following devices are foreseen in sequence in the rolling direction F:
If coolings are not foreseen inside the block, there develops a temperature increase on the first block B1 of stands of about 15° C. for each stand. However, the rolled section partially cools at the exit of each stand thanks to irradiation. In particular, at the exit of the stands which produce the rod in the oval-round calibration combination, a cooling device is foreseen which reduces the temperature 3-40° C. while still in the first block.
If one considers a temperature at the entrance of the first block B1 of 880° C., one obtains a temperature at the exit of the same, i.e. after 4 stands and at the entrance of the loop A, of about 945-950° C. Subsequently, along the annular path A, the rolled section is cooled with the coolers 23 to a temperature such that with the subsequent heating following the deformation in the second block B2, the final steps are attained at the desired temperature, less than 900° C.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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MI2005A0428 | Mar 2005 | IT | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP2006/002453 | 3/13/2006 | WO | 00 | 9/4/2007 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2006/097317 | 9/21/2006 | WO | A |
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20080245123 A1 | Oct 2008 | US |