Rolling Device and Rolling Process

Abstract

In a rolling device at least one roller associated with a multi-zone cooling has at least one spray bar having a plurality of nozzles for a coolant. At least one short-stroke cylinder or mechanical movement or movement mechanics is arranged and adapted such that the spray bar is adjustable therewith in and against the feed direction of a material strip to the at least one roller, to be rolled, relative to the at least one roller. The temperature of the roller is affected locally corresponding to each nozzle on at least one roller by a multi-zone cooling with at least one spray bar. The spray bar is adjustable by means of at least one short-stroke cylinder or mechanical movement or movement mechanics in and against the feed direction of a material strip to the at least one roller, to be rolled, relative to the at least one roller.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. DE 20 2014 008 017.8, filed Oct. 9, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a rolling device according to the preamble of claim 1 as well as a rolling method according to the preamble of claim 9.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a further development of a rolling device and a rolling method according to German patent application DE 10 2011 009 195 A1.

Already for the DE 10 2011 009 195 A1 it was emanated from prior art known from practice in the cold rolling technology to apply besides mechanical actuators e.g. for roll bending, roll shifting, roll swinging among others for influencing the strip flatness also the so-called thermal flatness control. An embodiment of such a conventional arrangement of a rolling device 1 is schematically illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b. In this technique, the cooling and lubricating medium required for the forming process is applied with nozzles 6 mounted in parallel to the roll body with rollers 4. Each nozzle 6 can be switched on and off individually by appropriate valves. Thereby it is possible to locally influence the temperature of the roller 4 and to locally change its diameter (the principle of multi-zone cooling). This in turn affects the geometry of the roll gap and thus the flatness of the strip. The nozzles 6 arranged in parallel to the roller 4 are installed in so-called spray bars 2 (four pieces usually) which are stationary mounted to the rollers 4 in the rolling stand 3.

In design, the arrangement of the spray bar with the nozzles is a compromise that must take into account the different roller diameters in order to achieve a preferably maximum wetting sector of the roller for each situation. The aim thereof is to choose the wetting sector as large as possible in order to be able to locally take the greatest possible influence on the temperature and thus the diameter. For the economic operation of the cold rolling arrangements a roller grind off area as large as possible is intended for the reduction of means of production costs. This means within the scope of this compromise to be found, a limitation at certain diameter ranges in the optimum wetting and effectiveness of the coolant application. The desired effect of local heat dissipation cannot be good or optimized the same in all diameter ranges. Also, the change of the distance from the nozzle exit to the roller surface means that there are changes in the geometry of the fan-like inclined nozzle spray pictures, what also interferes with the differentiation of the nozzles (same as zones) amongst each other.

The disadvantages of this prior art have already been solved by a rolling device and a rolling method according to DE 10 2011 009 195 A1, and the present invention has and the object of a further improvement of this technique.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This object is achieved with a rolling device according to claim 1 as well as a rolling method according to claim 9.

By means of the invention there is provided accordingly a rolling device with at least one roller associated with a multi-zone cooling which at least comprises one spray bar having a plurality of nozzles for the coolant for locally influencing the temperature of the roller in accordance with each nozzle, wherein there is provided at least one short-stroke cylinder or mechanical movement or movement mechanics which is arranged and adapted such that the spray bar is adjustable therewith in and against the feed direction of a material strip to the at least one roller, to be rolled, with respect to the at least one roller.

Thus, according to the invention short-stroke cylinders or mechanical movement or movement mechanics, in particular short-stroke hydraulic cylinders or short-stroke block cylinders are added to the generic rolling device, which can provide for a movement of the spray bar in or against the direction of transport of a material strip to be rolled. This movement, which is in particular aligned in the horizontal direction, allows for a higher accuracy of the spray distance adjustment over the entire working range.

The improvement of the ultra-high-resolution spraying according to the invention especially according to DE 10 2011 009 195 A1 by the use of short-stroke cylinders or mechanical movement or movement mechanics, which can provide an additional preferably horizontal movement of the spray bar, has the following advantages over the prior art according to DE 10 2011 009 195 A1:

higher accuracy of the spray distance adjustment over the working range;

the working range can be extended in that it is permitted that different spray pressures are used at the spray bar, and that the spray overlap is controlled in addition; thereby it should be noted: If the pressure increases or decreases at the spray bar, the spray pattern or nozzle spray picture of a single nozzle changes, and this change in spray pattern or nozzle spray picture also changes the overlap of the spray pattern or nozzle spray pictures from adjacent nozzles, what now can be controlled by the inventive improvement, resulting in a wider working range of the entire system at or for the rolling device;

the spray pressure and the spray distance adjustment can be controlled by an algorithm depending to what extent a process cooling is required; and

the improvement according to the invention has further advantages when very small coolant flows are used, as it allows that the pressure is reduced whilst a complete coverage of the working range is maintained.

In the rolling device according to the invention it is preferred when the feed direction of a material strip to the at least one roller is at least substantially horizontal.

Another preferred embodiment is that at least one pair of short-stroke cylinders or mechanical movements or movement mechanics is provided, wherein one short-stroke cylinder or mechanical movement of the pair is arranged below the material strip feed and one short-stroke cylinder or mechanical movement of the pair is arranged above the material strip feed.

Further, with preference a controller can be provided, adapted to control, on the one hand, the distance of the spray bar from the at least one roller by controlling any existing short-stroke cylinder or mechanical movement or movement mechanics and, on the other hand, the pressure of the coolant supplied to the nozzles in a matched manner such that desired nozzle spray pictures at the at least one roller are adjusted.

Further, preferably there can additionally be provided that the at least one spray bar is inclinable and controllable such so as to keep the distance of the spray bar or nozzles from the roller at least substantially constant even with different roller diameters.

With different working roller diameters, by inclining such as e.g. pivoting the spray bar the distance to the roller can be kept at least approximately constant.

Preferably, the at least one spray bar is guided rotationally or is pivoted and/or guided linearly for inclination.

Further preferred, a controller can be provided which is adapted to incline the at least one spray bar relative to the associated roller in such a way that a predetermined distance of the spray bar or the nozzles to the concerned roller is adjusted. Here, even more preferably a path measurement system may be provided to continuously, at regular or irregular time intervals or on request determine the actual distance of a spray bar from a roller directly or indirectly, and to pass on this actual distance continuously, at regular or irregular time intervals or on request to the controller, which is adapted to control the inclination of the at least one spray bar relative to the associated roller so that the predetermined distance of the spray bar or nozzles from the concerned roller is adjusted.

In another preferred embodiment, it is provided that for inclining the at least one spray bar there is provided at least one especially hydraulic actuating cylinder.

With preference, but not restrictive, the rolling device may concern a flat rolling device, or such with a 4-high or 6-high rolling stand configuration.

It is also preferred if the nozzles arranged on the at least one spray bar are adapted for generation of fan-like nozzle spray pictures of coolant.

In the rolling method according to the invention the temperature of the roller is affected locally corresponding to each nozzle on at least one roller by means of a multi-zone cooling with at least one spray bar having a plurality of nozzles for the coolant, wherein the spray bar is adjustable or is adjusted by means of at least one short-stroke cylinder or mechanical movement or movement mechanics in and against the feed direction of a material strip to the at least one roller, to be rolled, with respect to the at least one roller.

With preference it can also be provided that the at least one spray bar is controlled and inclined such that the distance of the spray bar or the nozzles from the roller is kept at least substantially constant even with different roller diameters so that also at different roller diameters equally good or optimized application of the coolant is ensured. This may preferably be further developed in that, in particular, thereby the at least one spray bar may be guided rotationally or pivoted or guided linearly by at least one especially hydraulic actuating cylinder for inclination.

Alternatively or additionally, it is preferred if the actual distance of a spray bar from a roller is determined directly or indirectly by means of a path measurement system and passed on to a controller which causes an inclination of the at least one spray bar, such that a predetermined distance of the spray bar or nozzles from the concerned roller is adjusted.

Yet another preferred embodiment is that there is controlled on the one hand, the distance of the spray bar from the at least one roller by controlling any existing short-stroke cylinder or mechanical movement or movement mechanics and on the other hand, the pressure of the coolant supplied to the nozzles in a matched manner such that desired nozzle spray pictures are adjusted on the at least one roller.

Further preferred and/or advantageous embodiments of the invention and its various aspects will be apparent from the combination of individual claims as well as the entire present application documents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail only by way of example by means of an embodiment with reference to the drawings, in which

FIG. 1a shows in a schematic principle sketch an embodiment of a rolling device with the maximum distance of the rollers,

FIG. 1b shows in a schematic principle sketch an embodiment of a rolling device with the minimum distance of the rollers, and

FIGS. 2a, b show in a schematic principle sketch an embodiment of a rolling device according to the prior art, according to a front view and in a plan view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the embodiment and application example described below and shown in the drawings, the invention will now be explained in more detail by way of example only, i.e. it is not limited to this embodiment and application example or to combinations of features within this embodiment and application example. Method and device features are obtained in analogy also from device and method descriptions, respectively.

Individual features which are specified and/or illustrated in connection with a specific embodiment are not limited to this embodiment or the combination with the other features of this embodiment, but can be combined within the scope of the technical possibility with any other variants, even when they are not outlined separately in the present document.

Identical reference numerals in the individual figures and illustrations of the drawings denote identical or similar or identically or similarly effecting components. By means of the illustrations in the drawings also those features become apparent that are not provided with reference numerals, regardless of whether such features are described below or not. On the other hand, features mentioned in this specification, but not visible or shown in the drawings, are readily understandable for a man skilled in the art.

In the FIGS. 1a and 1b an embodiment of a rolling device 1 is shown in schematic principle sketches.

The present invention is based over the known prior art according to the example in FIGS. 2a and 2b, which were already described above in the introduction and therefore need not be treated separately, to circumvent the problem initially described in that the spray bars 2 are mounted in the rolling stand 3 or frame so that they are inclinable and can be positioned according to the current diameters of the rollers 4. Thus, it is achieved in a multi-zone cooling with inclinable spray bars that even with different roller diameters an equally good or optimized application of the coolant is ensured. An embodiment of the invention is schematically shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b.

One possibility is to mount the spray bars 2 pivoted to the stand 3 and e.g. to position the spray bars 2 by a cylinder 5 and a path measurement system (in the FIGS. 1a and 1b a variant with four spray bars 2 is shown, but the invention is not limited to those precise number and arrangement). The spray bars 4 are carrying a plurality of nozzles 6 to generate fan-like nozzle spray pictures 7 of coolant, which preferably simultaneously can also be a lubricant.

In addition to these solutions shown in Figs. la and lb, however, any other principles can also implement that are suitable for positioning and the man skilled in the art with the knowledge of the present invention can now select readily. Also, the movement does not necessarily take place in rotation about a pivot point. Also linearly guided spray bars can be used within the meaning of this invention. The application is for example conceivable for all flat rolling devices. Further, it is preferred but not limited to use 4-high or 6-high rolling device configurations with the rolling device 1.

The FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate other features and designs within the respective embodiment what the expert in the field of rolling devices can take without problems without further explanations, particularly with regard to the disclosure of the presently concerned cooling issue, from the graphic/pictorial representation alone, without descriptive explanations would be required therefore.

In particular, the rolling device 1 according to FIGS. 1a and 1b, has at least one roller 4, which is associated with a multi-zone cooling, which comprises at least one spray bar 2 having a plurality of nozzles 6 for coolant for influencing the temperature of the roller 4 locally corresponding to each nozzle 6, wherein at least one short-stroke cylinder 8 or mechanical movement or movement mechanics is provided which is arranged and adapted such that the spray bar 2 is adjustable both in and opposite to the feed direction of a material strip to the at least one roller 4, to be rolled, with respect to the at least one roller 4.

Thus, in the embodiments shown short-stroke cylinders 8 or mechanical movements or movement mechanics, as in particular short-stroke hydraulic cylinders or short-stroke block cylinders, are added to the generic rolling device 1, which can provide for movement of the spray bar 2 in or against the direction of transport of a material strip to be rolled, in accordance with the arrow in the FIGS. 1a and 1b. This movement, which in particular is aligned in the horizontal direction, allows a higher accuracy of spray distance adjustment over the entire working range.

The improvement of the ultra high-resolution spraying in particular according to DE 10 2011 009 195 A1 by the use of short-stroke cylinders 8 or mechanical movements or movement mechanics, which may provide additional preferably horizontal movement of the spray bar 2, has the following advantages over the art according to DE 10 2011 009 195 A1:

higher accuracy of the spray distance adjustment over the working range;

the working range can be extended in that it is permitted that different spray pressures are used at the spray bar 2, and that the spray overlap is additionally controlled; thereby it should be noted: If the pressure increases or decreases at the spray bar 2, the spray pattern or nozzle spray picture 7 of a single nozzle 6 changes, and this change in spray pattern or nozzle spray picture 7 also changes the overlap of the spray pattern or nozzle spray pictures 7 from adjacent nozzles 6, what now can be controlled by the inventive improvement, resulting in a wider working range of the entire system at or for the rolling device 1;

the spray pressure and the spray distance adjustment can be controlled by an algorithm depending to what extent a process cooling is required; and

the improvement according to the invention has further advantages when very small coolant flows are used, as it allows that the pressure is reduced whilst a complete coverage of the working range is maintained.

In the rolling device 1 according to the embodiments in FIGS. 1a and 1b is preferred if the feeding of a material strip to the at least one roller 4 is at least substantially horizontally. In the embodiments of Figs. la and lb, the short-stroke cylinders 8 or mechanical movements or movement mechanics are provided in pairs with one short-stroke cylinder 8 or mechanical movement or movement mechanics of each pair being arranged below the material strip feed and one short-stroke cylinder 8 or mechanical movement or movement mechanics of each pair being arranged above the material strip feed. Further, in the embodiments illustrated in the Figs. la and lb a controller is provided, which is adapted to control on the one hand the distance of the spray bar 2 from said at least one roller 4 by controlling any existing short-stroke cylinder 8 or mechanical movement or movement mechanics and on the other hand, the pressure of the coolant supplied to the nozzles 6 in a matched manner so that desired nozzle spray pictures 7 are adjusted at the at least one roller 4.

The present invention is of particular advantage to/in the rolling of aluminum, but without being limited to this application. It is also advantageous that by the present invention the maintenance work on the rolling devices over conventional designs in the prior art is reduced, which are exemplarily and schematically illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b, which have been referred to already above and which is readily understandable for the expert on the field of rolling devices especially with regard to the disclosure of the presently concerned cooling issue.

By the invention it can be realized in a rolling device in an advantageous manner that with in particular different work roll diameters for example by pivoting or in general inclining/pitching of the spray bar, the distance of the corresponding nozzle to the roller is kept at least substantially constant.

Dimensions and other data contained in the Figs. la and lb represent merely exemplary size specifications or data for execution of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b; the invention is not limited to this size specifications and other formative data and also not on relations resulting therefrom.

The invention as based on the embodiment is shown in the description and in the drawings exemplarily only and is not limited thereto but includes all variations, modifications, substitutions and combinations which a man skilled in the art can derive from the present document, particularly in the scope of the claims and the general representations in the introduction of this description as well as the description and drawings of the embodiment and can combine with his expert knowledge as well as the prior art. In particular, all the individual features and embodiment possibilities of the invention can be combined.

Claims

1. A rolling device with at least one roller associated with a multi-zone cooling, the rolling device comprising:

at least one spray bar having a plurality of nozzles for a coolant, for locally influencing the temperature of the roller in accordance with each nozzle;

at least one short-stroke cylinder or mechanical movement or movement arranged and adapted such that the spray bar is adjustable therewith in and against a feed direction of a material strip to the at least one roller to be rolled with respect to the at least one roller.

2. The rolling device according to claim 1, wherein the feed direction of the material strip to the at least one roller is at least substantially horizontal.

3. The rolling device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one pair of short stroke cylinders or mechanical movements or movement mechanics, wherein one short-stroke cylinder or mechanical movement or movement mechanics of the pair is arranged below the material strip feed and one short-stroke cylinder or mechanical movement or movement mechanics of the pair is arranged above the material strip feed.

4. The rolling device according to claim 1, further comprising a controller adapted to control a distance of the spray bar from the at least one roller by controlling any existing short stroke cylinder or mechanical movement or movement mechanics and a pressure of the coolant supplied to the plurality of nozzles in a matched manner, such that desired nozzle spray pictures at the at least one roller are adjusted.

5. The rolling device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spray bar is inclinable and controllable to keep the distance of the spray bar or the plurality of nozzles from the roller at least substantially constant even with different roller diameters, and wherein the at least one spray bar is guided rotationally or is pivoted for inclination and/or that the at least one spray bar is guided linearly for inclination.

6. The rolling device according to claim 1, further providing a controller adapted to incline the at least one spray bar relative to an associated roller in such a way that a redetermined distance of the spray bar or the nozzles from the associated roller is achieved.

7. The rolling device according to claim 6, further comprising a path measurement system for continuously determining an actual distance of the spray bar from from a roller directly or indirectly at regular or irregular time intervals or on request, and for passing on the actual distance continuously at regular or irregular time intervals or on request to the controller, the controller being adapted to control the inclination of the at least one spray bar relative to the associated roller so that the predetermined distance of the spray bar or the plurality of nozzles from the associated roller is adjusted.

8. The rolling device according of claim 1, further comprising at least one especially hydraulic actuating cylinder for inclining the at least one spray bar, wherein the rolling device is a flat rolling device or has a 4-high or 6-high rolling stand configuration, and/or wherein the plurality of nozzles arranged on the at least one spray bar are adapted to generate fan-like nozzle spray pictures of the coolant.

9. A rolling method for affecting locally a temperature of a roller corresponding to each nozzle on at least one roller by means of a multi-zone cooling with at least one spray bar having a plurality of nozzles for the coolant, the method comprising adjusting the spray bar by means of at least one short-stroke cylinder or mechanical movement or movement mechanics in and against a feed direction of a material strip to the at least one roller, to be rolled, with respect to the at least one roller.

10. The rolling method according to claim 9, further comprising:

controlling and inclining the at least one spray bar such that the distance of the spray bar or the plurality of nozzles from the roller is kept at least substantially constant even with different roller diameters, so that also at different roller diameters equally good or optimized application of the coolant is ensured;

guiding rotationally, pivoting or guiding linearly the at least one spray bar by at least one hydraulic actuating cylinder for inclination;

determining an actual distance of the at east one spray bar from a roller directly or indirectly by means of a path measurement system and passing on the actual distance to a controller which causes an inclination of the at least one spray bar;

adjusting a predetermined distance of the spray bar or the plurality of nozzles from the concerned roller; and

controlling a distance of the spray bar from the at least one roller by controlling a short-stroke cylinder or mechanical movement or movement mechanics, and adjusting a pressure of the coolant supplied to the plurality of nozzles in a matched manner such that desired nozzle spray pictures are adjusted on the at least one roller.