Patents by Inventor Rolf Franz

Rolf Franz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20150027185
    Abstract: An apparatus for straightening metal strips, including a first, upper group and a second, lower group of straightening rollers arranged in each case immediately in succession in a strip running direction, and a group of individually controllable actuators arranged alongside one another in a transverse direction. An axial bending profile of at least a first of the straightening rollers is settable by the group of actuators. At least one second group of individually controllable actuators arranged alongside one another in the transverse direction is provided. An axial bending profile of the least a second of the straightening rollers, which is in particular different from the bending profile of the first bending roller, is settable by the second group of actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: SMS Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank-Günter Benner, Roman Dehmel, Rolf Franz, Matthias Kipping, Peter Jollet, Jens Artel
  • Patent number: 8807201
    Abstract: A device and a method for horizontal casting of a metal band. The device includes a dispensing vessel for a melt and a cooled conveyor belt disposed downstream of the dispensing vessel in the casting direction running between two deflecting rollers and on which the metal band can be transported. The device further includes at least one roller that can be engaged with the metal band for profiling. Early and therefore improved influence on the profile of a metal band, that is the leader band, is thereby made possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: SMS Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rolf Franz, Christian Mengel, Olaf Norman Jepsen, Karl-Heinz Spitzer, Hellfried Eichholz
  • Patent number: 8523099
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method and a coiler mandrel for coiling metal strip (110), wherein the coiler mandrel (100) comprises a mandrel body (120), a plurality of radially expandable segments (115) arranged around the mandrel body (120), and a plurality of hydraulic cylinders (116) by which the segments (115) can be moved in the radial direction. To be able to coil the metal strip with a circular coil eye even when the friction varies in the individual cylinders, the invention proposes that each cylinder (116) of the plurality of cylinders be individually controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: SMS Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Matthias Kipping, Rolf Franz
  • Patent number: 8217377
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for measuring the width (B) and/or the position of a metal strip (2) or a slab, which has at least two measuring systems (3, 4), with each located on a side (5, 6) of the metal strip (2) or the slab, wherein each measuring system (3, 4) has a sensor (7) designed to detect the lateral end (8, 9) of the metal strip (2). To make the measuring device robust and to enable dynamic measurement, according to the invention the sensor (7) is located on a moving element (10) with which it can be moved in a straight line in a direction (Q) at right angles to the longitudinal direction (L) of the metal strip (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: SMS Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Olaf Norman Jepsen, Rolf Franz, Matthias Tuschhoff, Matthias Kipping
  • Publication number: 20120132390
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for horizontal casting of a metal band (4). The device thereby comprises a dispensing vessel (3) for a melt (1) and a cooled conveyor belt (6) disposed downstream of the dispensing vessel (3) in the casting direction running between two deflecting rollers (77) and on which the metal band (4) can be transported, and wherein the device comprises at least one roller (8, 889, 9 that can be engaged with the metal band (4) for profiling. Early and therefore improved influence on the profile of a metal band (4), that is, the leader band (4), is made possible by said embodiment and further preferred embodiments of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: SMS SIEMAG AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Rolf Franz, Christian Mengel, Olaf Norman Jepsen, Karl-Heinz Spitzer, Hellfried Eichholz
  • Patent number: 8171982
    Abstract: A device for manufacturing a metal strip has solidification section (3) formed as a horizontally extending conveyor element for transporting cast metal in a transport direction (F), a delivery vessel (2) for delivering liquid metal to a first location of the solidification section (3), a delivery vessel (2) for delivering liquid metal to a first location of the solidification section (3); and a device provided at or downstream of a second location spaced from the first location for maintaining a desired tension of a metal strip and including at least one driver (8, 9) for transporting the metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: SMS Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rolf Franz, Olaf Norman Jepsen, Christian Mengel, Michael Breuer
  • Publication number: 20120031159
    Abstract: To accomplish the object of providing a method of and an apparatus for optimally cooling the rolls of a roll stand, where energy considerations, such as the minimization of necessary cooling fluid flow and cooling fluid pressure, and incident design and manufacturing costs, must be taken into account, the invention proposes that the rolls are cooled with a combination of high- and low-pressure cooling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Juergen Seidel, Matthias Kipping, Rolf Franz
  • Publication number: 20120024434
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of and a plant for making hot-rolled strips of cast metal, wherein the cast strip is subjected as a rough strip to at least a first step for momogenizing the grain structure in a protective gas and the cast strip is then subjected to at least a further heat-treatment step before it is rolled to reduce its thickness. After the thickness reduction the cast strip is subjected to a second step of homogenization or recrystallization of its grain structure before finally the strip is passed to a cutter and a finished rolled hot piece is severed from the following strip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Rolf Franz, Karl-Heinz Spitzer, Hellfried Eichholz, Markus Schaeperkoetter
  • Publication number: 20110107810
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method and a coiler mandrel for coiling metal strip (110), wherein the coiler mandrel (100) comprises a mandrel body (120), a plurality of radially expandable segments (115) arranged around the mandrel body (120), and a plurality of hydraulic cylinders (116) by which the segments (115) can be moved in the radial direction. To be able to coil the metal strip with a circular coil eye even when the friction varies in the individual cylinders, the invention proposes that each cylinder (116) of the plurality of cylinders be individually controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: SMS SIEMAG AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Matthias Kipping, Rolf Franz
  • Publication number: 20100281969
    Abstract: The invention relates a position sensor (1) for measuring the adjustment stroke of a hydraulic piston/cylinder system (3, 4) which acts on the support chock of the rolls (2) of a rolling mill stand, wherein the position sensor (1) is designed to measure a relative displacement between two components (3,4) of the piston/cylinder system (3, 4) in the displacement direction (a) thereof and wherein the position sensor (1) is equipped with a coupling element (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: Ralf Seidel, Rolf Franz
  • Publication number: 20100252223
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for manufacturing a strip (1) of metal, particularly of steel, wherein liquid metal is delivered to a solidification section (3) from a delivery vessel (2), and wherein the cast metal solidifies along the solidification section (3). In order to achieve an optimal strip quality without damages, the inventive method proposes that liquid metal is delivered to a first location (4) of the solidification section (3) that is realized in the form of a horizontally extending conveyor element, and in that the solidified metal departs the conveyor element (3) at a second location (5) that is spaced apart from the first location in the transport direction (F), wherein means (6, 7) for maintaining the mass flow of the strip departing the solidification section (3) and/or the tension in the strip at a desired value are provided at or downstream of the second location (5) referred to the transport direction (F).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Rolf Franz, Olaf Norman Jepsen, Christian Mengel, Michael Breuer
  • Publication number: 20090116041
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for measuring the width (B) and/or the position of a metal strip (2) or a slab, which has at least two measuring systems (3, 4), with each located on a side (5, 6) of the metal strip (2) or the slab, wherein each measuring system (3, 4) has a sensor (7) designed to detect the lateral end (8, 9) of the metal strip (2). To make the measuring device robust and to enable dynamic measurement, according to the invention the sensor (7) is located on a moving element (10) with which it can be moved in a straight line in a direction (Q) at right angles to the longitudinal direction (L) of the metal strip (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Olaf Norman Jepsen, Rolf Franz, Matthias Tuschhoff, Matthias Kipping
  • Patent number: 6070472
    Abstract: An arrangement for measuring the planarity of a rolled strip which is under tension in a hot strip rolling train with a roughing train and a finishing train including several roll stands and a reel. At least one measuring roller is arranged in rolling direction between the first roll stand of the finishing train and the reel, wherein the rolled strip is guided over each measuring roller, so that the measuring roller is bent as a result of the strip tension; in addition, pick-ups for measuring bending of the measuring roller are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: SMS Schloemann-Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Matthias Kipping, Rolf Franz, Matthias Tuschhoff, Peter Sudau