Patent Grant
9808843
This application is the US-national stage of PCT application PCT/EP2010/006514 filed 26 Oct. 2010, published 26 Oct. 2011 as WO2011/054461, and claiming the priority of German patent application 102009050710.8 itself filed 26 Oct. 2009.
The invention relates to a roll stand as a part of a roll-stand group in a high-speed wire rod mill line, with at least one pair of rolls or pair of roll rings and a drive shaft connected to a motor.
Roll stands of the type under discussion are usually arranged in blocks one downstream of the other and change the cross section of a workpiece as it passes through successive pairs of rolls or roll rings in roll stands in roll-stand groups. In the field of high-speed wire rod mill lines the rod wire when passing through the finishing units of the wire rod rolling mills and above all when exiting from the last roll stand is conveyed at final roll speeds of more than 60 m/sec, preferably in the range of up to 130 m/sec.
In general, high-speed wire/rod mill lines are formed by a plurality of individual roll stands arranged one downstream of the other, which together or separately produce a roughing mill, an intermediate mill and a finishing mill, optionally with the use of a prefinisher between the intermediate mill and the finishing mill. The finishing mill in turn usually comprises a prefinisher as well as a finishing unit, optionally with a downstream unit for final sizing. The present invention relates to the above-mentioned finishing mill in a high-speed wire rod mill line, thus the prefinisher, the finishing unit and optionally the downstream sizing unit.
The prefinishers and finishing units used in wire rod rolling mills of this type are usually formed by a number of individual roll stands arranged one downstream of the other, with adjusters assigned thereto for the roll gaps and roll fittings for guiding the rolled product. The individual roll stands are thereby preferably arranged on a common base frame and the rolls of these stands, preferably in the form of roll rings, are usually cantilevered on respective support shafts. In turn, the pairs of support shafts are driven via transmissions of spur gear and bevel gear combinations jointly mounted on the base frame via longitudinal shafts arranged on both sides of the stand row.
Roll stand arrangements of this type are described by way of example in DE 199 19 778 [U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,637], DE 198 00 201, DE 196 25 811, DE 102 61 632, and DE 3 109 633.
The stands of each unit are thereby generally arranged in a V shape (the roll stands are arranged in a V-shaped manner relative one another and all of the roll stands are arranged obliquely at a predetermined angle to the mill floor) or also in a H-V shape (the roll stands are arranged in a V-shape relative one another, with one half is arranged horizontally parallel to the mill floor and the other half vertically perpendicular to the mill floor) relative one another alternately with predetermined angular offset such that the odd-number roll stands extend to a first side of the roll block and the even-number roll stands extend to a second side of the roll block, or vice versa.
The longitudinal shafts on both sides of a roll block of this type are in turn driven from a common transfer case with a common motor or with several motors connected in series. The drive of the individual roll stands is finally effected via a drive of the pairs of support shafts and finally via transmissions of spur gear and bevel gear combinations carried on the rolls or roll rings via the support shafts and jointly mounted on the base frame, where necessarily nonstraight and bent transmissions or drive shafts are arranged between the longitudinal shafts and the individual rolls or roll rings of each roll stand. A diagrammatic view of such drives used in the prior art is shown in
Known prefinishers or finishing units of this design are formed by two, four, six, eight, or ten stands. Depending on the material quality to be produced, combinations of roll blocks, such as, e.g. 6+4 or 8+4 stands are also used at the wire outlet. However, each of these blocks has separate transfer cases for connection to the longitudinal shafts.
The cross-sectional changes that the rolled product undergoes consecutively in the stands are thereby completely established by the drive concept and the necessary transmission system. A change in the cross-sectional reduction thereby requires the use of complex control gears or the change or the replacement of individual gear ratios. Because of the fixed ratio of each transmission system, for each change of the outlet diameter of the wire a corresponding change of the inlet and run cross sections of the grooves of the rolls of all stands is necessary, which necessitates the laborious replacement of all roll rings or a comprehensive and complex set of rolls. This leads to conversion times of greater or lesser length on the stand, during which upstream and downstream regions of the wire rod mill line must also shut down.
According to experience, with such fixed transmission systems the roll-ring diameter of a groove row can deviate from one another only by relatively small amounts of about +/−0.5 mm, since otherwise the longitudinal tension or longitudinal pressure of the wire rod strand cannot be adjusted in a controlled manner. The total format change of the wire when passing through the finishing unit instead is fixed and cannot be varied. With some types of material, this easily leads to overheating in the rolled product core or to exceeding the limit of shape change of the material. An adaptation of the cross sectional acceptance per roll pass is therefore not possible; instead according to the present prior art it would require the use of a prefinisher or finishing unit with correspondingly different ratios by means of control gears of the entire transmission arrangement.
The mechanical transmission system in turn, due to the plurality of masses capable of rotational vibration, has several natural resonance frequencies, which can be controlled only to a limited extent by a common drive motor with its high mass moment of inertia. This can mean that a wire mill cannot use certain speed ranges in an operationally safe manner.
The object of the invention is to provide a roll stand in a prefinisher or a finishing unit of a high-speed wire rod mill line in which the total shape change can be varied in a highly flexible manner and in which a change of the cross-sectional reduction per roll pass is possible with simultaneous free selection of the roll-ring diameter, the number of roll stands and the spacings of the roll stands from one another.
This object is attained as defined by the invention by means of a roll stand comprising the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.
The invention relates to devices in high-speed wire rod mill lines. Mill lines of this type are operated with exit speeds of the wire out of the last roll stage of about 60 to 130 m/s, the final cross sections of the wire being usually about 4-20 mm, preferably 5-16 mm. With such speeds of the wire and the angular speeds associated therewith especially of the shafts for the rolls or roll rings, friction bearings instead of the otherwise customary antifriction bearings are used.
For technological reasons regarding roll quality (wire guidance), high-speed wire roll mill lines of this type have a roll stand spacing of respectively 800-1000 mm.
As defined by the invention, each roll stand has its own drive with respective motor and respective drive shaft, wherein the motor, the drive shaft and at least one pair of rolls or pair of roll rings are aligned in a respective straight line with one another. As defined by the invention, the straight-line arrangement relates to an essentially straight arrangement without bends and accordingly without having to use the otherwise necessary special transmission arrangement, such as for instance bevel gear arrangements. The drive is hereby realized with particularly simple means with very high reliability and flexibility with regard to control and the installation space thereof is limited to a minimum.
Thus the transmission structure is substantially simplified compared to the prior art and is limited to a transmission driving the individual rolls or roll rings between the auxiliary shafts of these rolls or roll rings and the drive shaft for the respective roll stand, optionally additionally a transmission. The bevel gear stage otherwise necessary for the power flow deflection can be omitted, which also leads to the reduction of the rotating masses and to increased torsional stiffness in the roll stand.
Within the individual roll stands a coordination in terms of vibration engineering of the individual mechanical and electrical drive parts to one another can be carried out. The natural frequencies can thus be individually adjusted, which influences the entire vibration behavior. Furthermore, an optionally provided controller can be adjusted in terms of vibration engineering to each individual roll stand. Furthermore, preferably adjustable notch filters can be used, which can counteract a remaining resonance for each drive train. This also opens up the possibility of using individual notch filters for each roll stand.
The invention renders possible an optimization of the tension ratios between the stands, which can lead to a reduce friction in the roll gap and thus to an improvement in quality and significant increase in the roll service life. Due to the possibility of selecting free angular speed ratios with the drives of the individual stands, a targeted grading of the cross section reductions, for example in the finishing unit of the high-speed wire rod mill line is possible. This permits a flexible decrease distribution, in order, for example, through a declining decrease grading to reduce the overall heating in the core of the rod wire.
Optimal adjustments to desired cross-sectional sizes and tolerances are possible by means of a possible combination of large reductions in the first stand with precision reductions in the last stands.
Since it is no longer necessary for a respective conversion of an entire module, for example, of the finishing block of a wire rod mill line, for each change of the outlet cross section, the necessary stoppage times of the rod mill line are reduced overall as well as of the upstream and downstream assemblies, which leads to an increase in productivity of the mill line as a whole.
The free selection possibility of the reductions and of the longitudinal tension between the stands furthermore permits material-adapted and cross-sectionally oriented deformations and degrees of deformation effectiveness which can reduce the power consumption for each individual roll stand and the mill line as a whole. Likewise by means of the individual change of the longitudinal tension between the roll stands, an influence of the cross section is possible, whereby a length-dependent cross section error, preferably in the case of thickened wire ends, can be reduced.
By means of a preferably present automatic adjustment of the roll gaps and the fittings of each roll stand, optionally different finished cross sections can be rolled with the same blooming grooves of the rolls, whereby a further reduction of the conversion and stoppage times can be achieved. Since the individual roll stands with assembled roll rings and roll fittings can be exchanged proportionally for other roll stands and the angular speed adjustment can preferably take place via controller, it is furthermore possible to vary the reduction inside the block with unchanged inlet cross section of the wire.
The possibility of free selection of the roll-ring diameter thereby permits a better utilization of the roll rings, since new and old rings can be combined. Through the adaptation of the roll gap adjustments, the oval or round grooves can be used at each desired point in the finishing unit. Since overall rigid groove rows are no longer present, preferably only a dressing of the respective rolls or roll rings corresponding to the wear is necessary, whereby the respective service life of the individual rolls or roll rings can be increased.
With a prefinisher and finishing unit system according to the invention, preferably only the roll stands involved in the rolling process can be driven at high speed. The stands not involved can rotate at any desired slow idle speed, whereby high angular speeds difficult to control in terms of bearing technology are avoided.
Overall, the free selection possibility of the assignment of the individual stands within the prefinisher or finishing unit permits a targeted adjustment of the spacings between the individual stands, wherein these spacings in turn can be used in a targeted manner as a cooling stretch or compensation stretch. The fixed connection previously specified in the prior art between the inlet cross section and the outlet cross section of a roll-stand group comprising respectively several roll stands, so-called modules, therefore in terms of the invention preferably does not exist, since desired changes of the outlet cross section no longer inevitably requires a change in the inlet cross section and the associated change of all rolls or roll rings and grooves.
In general, due to variations in the cross section reduction in a high-speed wire rod mill line according to the invention from an individual leading pass section a large number of different final cross sections can be rolled in the same prefinisher or finishing unit. The failure of individual roll stands thereby does not inevitably lead to the stoppage of the entire wire rod mill line, in fact while circumventing individual failed or switched off roll stands, the rolling operation can be further continued for a large part of roll products.
According to the invention due to the reduced inertia compared to roll modules using longitudinal shafts, formed by at least two roll stands with a common drive, so-called modules, a clearly improved correction time of the drive train can be achieved, whereby the dynamic behavior of the roll-stand group or of the block as a whole and in particular during the leading pass operation is improved. This high dynamic and the preferred coordination in terms of vibration engineering of the individual mechanical and electrical drive parts to one another reduces the risk of dangerous resonances, which overall leads to a safer operation in the entire speed range of high-speed wire rod mill lines.
The individual roll stands according to the invention are mechanically uncoupled from one another as far as possible so that the leading pass impact in one roll stand cannot excite natural resonance vibrations on other roll stands, which can ultimately result in a more stable operation in the entire speed range of the roll-stand group and optionally in the entire roll mill line.
The roll stand according to the invention is part of a roll-stand group, in particular of a prefinisher or finishing roll module of high-speed wire rod mill lines with at least two roll stands of this type. In prefinisher or finishing units of this type, the spacing of the respective roll stands from one another as well as the number thereof is stipulated. Such an arrangement by blocks also renders possible the connection to an optionally precalibrated control unit and furthermore the exchange of entire roll-stand groups without the necessity of having to exchange individual roll stands or sub-groups of roll stands.
The combination by blocks of several roll stands is thereby realized in a particularly advantageous manner if between two and twelve roll stands are combined with roll gap diameter coordinated with one another.
Furthermore, it is particularly preferred if the roll stands of the respective roll modules are arranged in an alternating manner with a predetermined angular offset to one another. This type of alternating arrangement is always realized when the angular offset between a first and its following roll stand is fixed. An alternating arrangement as defined by the invention is furthermore always realized when the roll stands with odd numbering, counted from the inlet side to the outlet side of the group, are arranged essentially parallel to one another and the roll stands with even numbering are likewise arranged parallel to one another between these roll stands with odd numbering or vice versa. The angular offset is accordingly realized between all of the roll stands with odd numbering and all of the roll stands with even numbering.
It is particularly preferred when the roll stands of the roll module are arranged in a V-shaped manner relative one another, wherein the angular offset defined above is preferably about 90°. However, a V-shape as defined by the invention can also be realized with a deviation from the right angle, for example, with an angular offset of 60 to 120°.
The roll stands can thereby preferably all be arranged at a predetermined angle of, for example, 45° to the mill floor, so that the accessibility to each roll stand of the roll-stand group is the same and optionally can be automated, wherein, however, the same effects can also essentially be achieved with a deviation of about +/−15°. In an alternative and likewise preferred embodiment of the invention, however, the roll stands are fixed in a so-called H-V arrangement to one another, wherein the angular offset is likewise about 90°. One half of the roll stands are hereby arranged horizontally (H), thus parallel to the mill floor, and one half is arranged vertically (V), thus in a perpendicular manner to the mill floor. In an further alternative and likewise preferred embodiment, the angular offset arrangement of the roll stands following one another is spiral-shaped or star-shaped with a constant angular offset of about 120° (star arrangement) or about 60° (spiral offset), wherein respectively after 3 and 6 offset steps the starting position is reached again and a rolling of the wire without the necessity of a twisting of the wire between individual roll stands or all roll stands is possible.
In a further alternative embodiment of the invention, the angular offset between the adjacent roll stands is 180°, however, whereby a completely flat arrangement of the prefinisher or finishing units can be achieved, which furthermore can be provided in each desired incline to the mill floor. A flat embodiment of this type, however, usually requires the use of suitable twisting elements for the wire at least between individual roll stands in order to thus render possible a round rolling of the wire.
By means of all of the above-mentioned alternatives in particular a simplified and also standardized structure with an opportunity of easy access to all of the roll stands and in particular to all of the roll stands of a module is provided, wherein above all in a 45° arrangement of all roll stands compared to the mill floor, an alternating arrangement of 90° of the respective roll stands relative one another is realized with corresponding symmetrical arrangement of the roll block as a whole.
As already mentioned at the outset, the deformation of the rod wire takes place with the action of at least two rolls or roll rings. However, the invention is not limited to the deformation of the wire with pairs of rolls or pairs of roll rings of this type. It is also preferred if three or four rolls or roll rings are assigned to at least one roll stand of a roll-stand group and the deformation of the material is caused in the roll gap formed by the three or four rolls or roll rings. The flexibility and application range of the roll stand according to the invention is hereby increased by particularly simple means.
As defined by the invention, an individual motor is provided for each roll stand, via which motor the rolls or roll rings are driven. It is particularly preferred if the motor is an electric motor or a hydraulic motor, which in a very preferred embodiment of the invention furthermore is designed so that it can be speed-regulated. Electric motors or hydraulic motors of this type are particularly space-saving and furthermore facilitate the straight-line arrangement of the drive train that is formed at least by the motor and drive shaft as well as optionally by a coupling.
Furthermore, a transmission is provided for the drive shaft in a preferred embodiment of the invention, which transmission is preferably integrated into the drive train. This transmission permits the provision of particularly high angular speeds, such as occur in high-speed wire rod mill lines, without the necessity of having to modulate the motor itself for this purpose or even having to replace it, since with high-speed wire rod mill lines of this type, angular speeds of the individual rolls of up to 17000 rpm occur, so the use of a transmission makes it possible for the angular speed to not be provided by the motor alone.
In a roll stand according to the invention, in addition to the motor and optionally to the transmission, an adjuster can also be assigned to the drive, via which adjuster the individual rolls or roll rings can be positioned relative to one another. A roll stand is hereby provided in which the roll gap can be adjusted in a preferably controlled manner, without for this purpose the rolls or the roll ring pairs having to be replaced, in order to effect a certain degree of deformation in the pass.
Advantageously, the drive of the individual roll stands combined in groups takes place via respective controllers, in particular via a common controller to which the respective motors are connected.
A controller of this type can be used not only to advantageously adjust the longitudinal tension and longitudinal pressure between two adjacent roll stands within each roll-stand group, but also can suppress the occurrence of resonance vibrations within a roll stand or the entire system or at least damp them in a stand-specific manner.
A controller is particularly preferred that processes angular-speed set points of the respective drive trains of the individual roll stands based on technological specifications, such as, for instance, the rolled product material, the maximum deformation values of this material, the roll stand constants, the inlet and outlet cross sections, the inlet temperature, the available roll sets, the batch sizes and/or the identification numbers and optionally dressing measurements of the rolls.
A controller is particularly preferred that is connected to measuring sensors that determine actual values at least for the angular speed of the respective drive trains. Based on this actual value determination, it will be possible to compare the previously determined desired angular speed values and actual angular speed values. This takes place in a very preferred manner using controllable drive operators for electric motors or hydraulic motors in the respective roll stands.
The controller can synchronize the angular speed preferably of each roll stand dynamically with the angular speed of at least one adjacent roll stand, preferably with the angular speeds of all of the roll stands combined in the modular manner.
The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to four
Finally
A memory circuit 17b detects the correction values currently determined and ensures an adaptive correction of the synchronization for the next rod wire.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2009 050 710 | Oct 2009 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2010/006514 | 10/26/2010 | WO | 00 | 5/21/2012 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2011/054461 | 5/12/2011 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3945234 | Steinbock | Mar 1976 | A |
| 6035687 | Grimmel | Mar 2000 | A |
| 6085565 | Suda | Jul 2000 | A |
| 6205835 | Balve | Mar 2001 | B1 |
| 7191629 | Shore et al. | Mar 2007 | B1 |
| 7719224 | Quan | May 2010 | B2 |
| 20070227220 | Compagnoni | Oct 2007 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2139035 | Jul 1993 | CN |
| 1179367 | Apr 1998 | CN |
| 928703 | Jun 1955 | DE |
| 3109633 | Dec 1981 | DE |
| 19625811 | Feb 1997 | DE |
| 10263162 | Oct 2003 | DE |
| 07323304 | Dec 1995 | JP |
| Entry |
|---|
| Machine Translation of DE928703. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20120216588 A1 | Aug 2012 | US |
