THREEFOLD ROTATIONALLY SYMMETRICAL STAND HOUSING HAVING INTEGRATED OPERATING FLUID LINES

Abstract

The present application relates to a stand housing (10) for a stand (1) for rolling metal rods, wires or pipes along a rolling axis (19), wherein the stand housing (10) comprises an outside (12) having six side surfaces (14.1-14.6) which, viewed along the rolling axis (19), form edges of a regular hexagon, an inlet side (15), and an outlet side (13). In this case, at least one water feed opening (43.1, 43.2, 43.3) is arranged on three of the side surfaces (14.1, 14.3, 14.5) that are not adjacent in each case, which opening is designed to conduct water through the interior of the stand housing (10) to a water outlet opening (42.1, 42.2, 42.3) in the outlet side (13) or in the inlet side (15).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a stand housing for a stand for rolling metal rods, wires or pipes along a rolling axis, comprising water feed openings that are designed to conduct water through the interior of the stand housing to water outlet openings.

BACKGROUND

Stand housings of the above technical field are known in principle, for example from CN 212760 366 U and CN 212 760 331 U. Stand housings to date usually have a rectangular shape viewed along the rolling axis.

In general, a plurality of stands is arranged in succession in a rolling mill. As a result, the material to be rolled can be stretched in particular by a difference between the roller speeds of the individual stands, and rolled to a smaller diameter.

Furthermore, the roundness of the material to be rolled is generally not sufficient after passing through one stand, because the cross-section assumes a polygon-like shape on account of the arrangement of the rollers and their relatively small number, the number of sides of the polygon corresponding to the number of rollers of the stand. For example, a material to be rolled that is rolled by a single three-roller stand has a cross-sectional shape which is not ideally round but rather approximately triangular.

The successive stands are preferably arranged, for improving the roundness of the material to be rolled, in such a way that in each case the corners of the cross section of the material to be rolled, of a material to be rolled that is leaving the stand, are contacted centrally by the rollers of the following stand, and the cross-section of the material to be rolled is rounded as a result.

Therefore, when a three-roller stand is used, the three rollers in each case, for example of the first and of the third stand of a rolling mill having four stands, are typically located in what is known as a “Y-arrangement”, and the rollers of the stand arranged therebehind in each case, for example the second and fourth, are arranged in what is known as an “anti-Y-arrangement” (). Due to the alternating arrangement of the rollers and stands in a Y-arrangement and anti-Y-arrangement, in each case the corners of the cross-section of the material to be rolled are rolled using the following stand, by a roller, and the cross-section of the material to be rolled is rounded as a result.

In the Y-arrangement, the lower roller is oriented in such a way that its roller shaft is positioned horizontally, i.e. the diameter of the lower roller extends vertically, in the viewing direction of the rolling axis. In contrast, in the anti-Y-arrangement it is the upper roller that has its roller shaft positioned horizontally, i.e. the diameter of the upper roller extends vertically, in the viewing direction of the rolling axis. In both cases, the roller shafts of the two further rollers are positioned tilted by 120° in each case, relative to the horizontal roller shaft. Of course, the arrangements relative to the horizontal are arbitrary overall, because it is only the relative arrangement of the rollers with respect to adjacent stands that is important for the effect described here.

The arrangement of the stands one behind the other to form a rolling mill typically takes place using stand bases, into which the stands are introduced and by which they are held. This makes it possible to replace stands from the rolling mill, for example for the maintenance which is regularly required.

The stand known from CN 212 760 366 U makes it possible to switch between the Y-arrangement and anti-Y-arrangement by rotation about a horizontal axis, about 180°, and allows for insertion into the stand base in both orientations. The upper and lower side surface of the rectangular stand housing serve as contact surfaces in the stand base.

For the operation of a stand, it is conventional to fasten peripheral devices to the stand. Furthermore, it has been found to be expedient, for precise setting of the caliber, to be able to adjust the rollers, in that these are for example mounted via an eccentric mechanism and thus the spacing thereof from the rolling axis is variable. There are various options for the adjustment, the details of which are not relevant in the present connection. In the cases of known stands, however, it is necessary both for different configurations for adjustment, specifically a remote adjustment configuration and a manual adjustment configuration, and for different peripheral devices, such as a roller guide or the like, to undertake laborious alteration work on the stand and the stand base that receives it, which relates in particular to the conducting of water or another cooling medium, and optionally compressed air for sealing the stand housing, through the stand housing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Against this background, an object of the present invention is that of providing a stand housing of the above technical field, which allows for more flexible use of the stand within a rolling mill, and in particular a more flexible selection both of a position in the rolling mill and also of a configuration, with a simultaneously compact design of the rolling mill including a water line inside the stand housing.

This object is achieved by a stand housing according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims.

A stand housing for a stand for rolling metal rods, wires or pipes along a rolling axis has an outside having six side surfaces which, viewed along the rolling axis, form edges of a regular hexagon, an inlet side, and an outlet side. In this case, at least one water feed opening is arranged at three of the side surfaces which are in each case not adjacent, which opening is designed to conduct water through the interior of the stand housing to a water outlet opening in the outlet side or in the inlet side.

This design of the stand housing makes it possible to use the stand housing in a particularly flexible manner within a rolling mill. The stand housing designed in this way can be converted between different positions in a rolling mill and between different orientations and between different configurations more easily than in the case of a stand housing from the prior art that comprises a water line.

In the present context, the side surfaces are the surfaces of the stand housing which laterally define the inlet side and the outlet side, through which the rolling axis extends. Together they form, viewed along the rolling axis, the lateral outer surface of the stand housing.

The side surfaces of the stand housing can serve as a contact surface, comprise a contact surface, or extend in parallel with a contact surface or a plurality of contact surfaces, for example formed by sliding rails, on which contact surface(s) the stand can stand in a stable manner, in particular in a stand base. The side surfaces do not have to be flat, but rather can also comprise steps, protrusions, or recesses, as well as openings, and can also be formed in multiple parts.

The water feed openings at the side surfaces that are not adjacent are distributed over the side surfaces in such a way that at least every second of the side surfaces is provided with at least one water feed opening. In this case, it is also possible for all the side surfaces to comprise at least one water feed opening and for one or more of the side surfaces to comprise a plurality of water feed openings. The fact that three of the side surfaces that are in each case not adjacent comprise at least one water feed opening reflects the symmetry of the regular hexagon, and is provided above all for a stand housing comprising three rollers.

The water outlet openings in the outlet side or the inlet side, or in the outlet side and the inlet side, serve to output the water, conducted into the stand housing via the water feed opening that is connected in each case to the water outlet opening, to a peripheral device, for example a roller guide or a cooling device for the rollers of the stand.

Preferably, two parallel water feed openings are arranged on the three side surfaces that are in each case not adjacent, one of which openings, in each case, is designed to conduct water through the interior of the stand housing to a water outlet opening in the outlet side, and the other of which, in each case, is designed to conduct water through the interior of the stand housing to a water outlet opening in the inlet side.

The fact that the two mentioned water feed openings of the same side surface are oriented in parallel with one another has the advantage that connecting a water connection in a stand base, into which the stand housing is inserted, can take place with the same linear movement for both water feed openings. In this case, it is preferred for one of the water feed openings to be located close to the outlet side and the other of the water feed openings to be located close to the inlet side.

In particular, viewed along the rolling axis, the water outlet openings are located in each case on a perpendicular bisector of an edge of the hexagon. This preferred positioning of the water outlet openings on the perpendicular bisectors can particularly preferably be located on an extension of a roller plane, i.e. a rotation plane, in the direction of an associated roller on the closest edge of the hexagon. As a result, a water feed for a roller guide can be arranged in a space-saving manner.

Preferably, furthermore in each case an air connection is arranged at three of the side surfaces that are in each case not adjacent, which air connection is designed to conduct compressed air into the interior of the stand housing. An air connection for feeding compressed air into the stand housing, in order to seal said housing against water penetrating in an undesired manner, for example through bearings, is known in principle. The preferred embodiment of the stand housing makes it possible for the stand housing to be used efficiently and flexibly in the stand base of the rolling mill, without the advantage of a compressed air seal opposing this efficient use of the stand housing. As a result, a stand housing is provided that can be used particularly flexibly and is reliable.

In this case, the three air connections advantageously lead into a common cavity, the stand housing being designed to prevent outflow of the compressed air from one of the air connections through one valve, respectively. The three air connections can thus preferably be provided with a non-return valve or the like, in order on the one hand to offer the possibility that compressed air can be applied to the common cavity, for sealing, via all three air connections, without in the process on the other hand being restricted with respect to the flexibility of use of the stand housing in the rolling mill. The air connections of the stand housing that are in each case not connected to a compressed air system can close automatically via the respective non-return valve, or optionally manually in the case of a different valve, with respect to escaping compressed air.

Advantageously, the air connections are arranged on the same non-adjacent side surfaces as the water feed openings. This makes it possible to arrange the respective connections for water and compressed air close together on the side of the stand base, such that an overall efficient design of the rolling mill can result. It is also possible, however, for the air connections to be arranged on the side surfaces which are in each case adjacent to the side surfaces of the water feed openings.

Preferably, in each case one of the water feed openings and one of the air connections are oriented in parallel with one another and designed to be connected along the same direction. This makes it possible to ensure that these connections can thus be connected particularly reliably and efficiently to corresponding connections of the stand base at the same time as inserting the stand into a stand base and in the same insertion direction.

A preferred stand housing further comprises three bearing holes for mounting a roller shaft in each case, the bearing holes being made in one of the side surfaces so as to be offset about the rolling axis about a 120° rotation in each case, and the water feed openings being introduced into those side surfaces which do not comprise bearing holes.

This design of the stand housing can ensure that the water feed openings do not collide with the roller shafts or their stand base-side drive trains, and that efficient use is made of the installation space in the stand housing and in the stand base.

A preferred stand housing is closed and undivided and is in particular produced from a monobloc. In other words, the stand housing is preferably manufactured integrally and can therefore be produced for example by a casting method, as a result of which advantageous mechanical properties for absorbing the loads acting in the rolling process, and also efficient manufacture, are possible.

A preferred stand for rolling metal rods, wires or pipes along a rolling axis comprises three rollers which are located on one roller shaft respectively and surround the rolling axis in a star-shaped manner, which rollers together form a caliber, and a stand housing according to the above description.

Further advantages and developments of the invention emerge from the following description of the figures, and all of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A is a view along a rolling axis of a preferred stand, in an anti-Y-arrangement, in a first adjustment configuration.

FIG. 1B is a view along a rolling axis of the stand from FIG. 1A, in a Y-arrangement, in the first adjustment configuration.

FIG. 1C is a view along a rolling axis of the stand from FIG. 1A, in the anti-Y-arrangement, in a second adjustment configuration.

FIG. 1D is a view along a rolling axis of the stand from FIG. 1A, in the Y-arrangement, in the second adjustment configuration.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the stand from FIG. 1A, from a first perspective.

FIG. 2B is another perspective view of the stand from FIG. 1A, from a second perspective.

FIG. 3A is a side view of the stand from FIG. 1A, showing an adjustment connector.

FIG. 3B is another side view of the stand from FIG. 1A, showing a side opposite the adjustment connector.

WAYS OF IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION

In the following description of the figures, identical or corresponding elements are provided with the same reference numbers, and a repeated description is largely avoided.

FIG. 1A is a view along a rolling axis 19, extending in a Z-direction, of a preferred stand 1 for rolling metal rods, wires, or pipes. The stand 1 comprises a stand housing 10 which, in the embodiment shown here, is in the shape of a regular hexagon, when viewed along the rolling axis 19. An outside 12 of the stand housing 10 is provided with six side surfaces 14.1-14.6 of equal length, which are arranged around the rolling axis 19 in a rotationally symmetrical manner. Adjacent side surfaces 14.1-14.6 merge into one another in a region referred to as a corner 16.1-16.6. In this case, the corners 16.1-16.6 can be differently marked. They comprise an abutment edge between the adjacent side surfaces 14.1-14.6 that merge into one another in the corner 16.1-16.6, which edge can be sharp-edged but is preferably chamfered or rounded. A small intermediate surface between adjacent side surfaces 14.1-14.6 in the sense of a pronounced, relatively wide chamfer is also possible, and is still understood, in the present context, as a corner 16.1-16.6. An inlet side 15 (not shown in FIG. 1A but shown in FIG. 1B), and an outlet side 13, shown in FIG. 1A, of the stand housing 10 thus, like the stand housing 10 of the present embodiment, have a regular hexagonal shape overall, which is characterized inter alia by the fact that it has three pairs of side surfaces 14.1, 14.4, 14.2, 14.5, 14.3, 14.6, which are positioned in parallel with one another in each case. The stand housing 10 is manufactured as a monobloc.

The preferred stand 1 is designed in such a way that the inlet side 15 (not shown in FIG. 1A) resembles the outlet side 13 shown in FIG. 1A, such that all the features that are described below for the outlet side 13 are found on the opposite side of the stand housing 10 at the same or corresponding locations, as is also shown in the following with reference to other figures.

The stand 1 further comprises three rollers 20.1, 20.2, 20.3 that surround the rolling axis 19 in a star-shaped manner. The rollers 20.1-20.3 in each case define a rotational plane, which planes are at an angle of 120° relative to one another and intersect in the rolling axis 19. The rotational planes of the rollers 20.1-20.3 are arranged orthogonally to one pair of side surfaces 14.1-14.6 of the stand housing 10 in each case. In the region of the rolling axis 19, the rollers 20.1-20.3 form a caliber 21 between them. The caliber 21 is in particular surrounded by a roll surface 22 of each of the rollers 20.1-20.3, the roll surfaces 22 of the rollers 20.1-20.3 being formed centrally along the periphery of the respective roller 20.1-20.3, as a concave groove, in order to provide the material to be rolled with as round an outer contour as possible. Depending on the material to be rolled, the roll surface 22 can also be designed differently, however, in particular as a flat surface or as a convex surface. In FIG. 1A, it can be seen that the rollers 20.1-20.3 are arranged in an anti-Y-arrangement, because the upper roller 20.1 is positioned vertically and the two remaining lower rollers 20.2, 20.3 are in each case positioned at an angle of 120° relative to the vertical orientation of the upper roller 20.1.

The rollers 20.1-20.3 are in each case positioned fixedly on a roller shaft, via which the rollers 20.1-20.3 are driven. Axes of rotation of the roller shafts extend in parallel with one pair of side surfaces 14.1, 14.4, 14.2, 14.5, 14.3, 14.6 in each case. The axes of rotation are furthermore arranged transversely to the rolling axis 19 and are arranged around said axis in a rotationally symmetrical or star-shaped manner. The axis of rotation of the roller shaft of the upper roller 20.1 in FIG. 1A is oriented in the X-direction. The axes of rotation of the two other roller shafts are angled accordingly at an angle of 120° and 240°, respectively, with respect to the axis of rotation of the upper roller shaft. Of the roller shafts, in each case only a drive-side end 24.1, 24.2, 24.3 is shown in FIG. 1A, which end protrudes towards the outside, at one of the side surfaces 14.2, 14.4, 14.6 of the stand housing 10. As a result, the roller shafts can each adjoin an external drive, which can thus transmit its rolling torque to the roller shafts, and thus the rollers 20.1-20.3, via a coupling.

The roller shafts extend in the interior of the stand housing 10, in which an eccentric adjustment means (not shown) for adjusting the rollers 20.1-20.3 via their roller shafts is also located. The eccentric adjustment means makes it possible for a spacing between the roller shafts and thus the rollers 20.1-20.3 on the one hand, and the rolling axis 19 on the other hand, in the X-Y plane of FIG. 1A, to be changed. As a result, different sizes of the caliber 21 can be set, and also wear of the rollers 20.1-20.3 can be compensated, for a constant caliber 21. The eccentric adjustment means forms an adjustment mechanism of the rollers 20.1-20.3.

The adjustment mechanism of the rollers 20.1-20.3 can be actuated from the outside, in that an adjustment connector 30 that protrudes to the outside in the vicinity of the corner 16.1 is rotated. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, the adjustment connector 30 is designed in such a way that it is both manually actuatable and can also be actuated automatically by a motor. The adjustment connector 30 is preferably connected to a rotatably mounted gear shaft, which extends in the interior of the stand housing 10, and to a bevel gear which engages in a tooth segment of an eccentric bushing of the eccentric adjustment means, the eccentric bushing being able, in turn, to transmit to the two other eccentric bushings a rotational movement transmitted to it via the bevel gear, and thus being able to allow a synchronous adjustment of the rollers. The adjustment mechanism is not shown in detail in FIG. 1A beyond the adjustment connector 30.

The adjustment connector 30 is located in the vicinity of the corner 16.1, and the gear shaft connected to the adjustment connector 30 extends in parallel with the upper roller shafts in FIG. 1A, i.e. in the X-direction, the drive-side end 24.1 of which protrudes out of the stand housing 10 on the opposite side. The adjustment connector 30 is thus located substantially opposite the drive-side end 24.1 of a roller shaft that extends in parallel with the gear shaft. This relative arrangement implies that the adjustment connector 30 is not covered by a roll motor that is arranged flush with the drive-side end 24.1 of one of the roller shafts, because the drive-side ends 24.2, 24.3 of the roller shafts that are adjacent to the adjustment connector 30 are oriented upwards and downwards by approximately 60° in each case with respect to the adjustment connector 30 and its gear shaft, such that the motors coupled thereto form a large free space between them, which leaves the adjustment connector 30 freely accessible.

In FIG. 1A, the adjustment connector 30 is arranged close to the corner 16.1 and so as to be offset slightly upwards with respect to an imaginary horizontal central plane of the stand housing 10. In this case, a spacing along the Y-axis in FIG. 1A, between the adjustment connector 30 and the central plane extending in parallel with the gear shaft, i.e. in the X-direction in FIG. 1A, is less than 10% of the extension of the stand housing 10 in the Y-direction, i.e. between two opposite side surfaces 14.2, 14.5 of the stand housing 10.

FIG. 1A shows three mounting elements 26.1, 26.2, 26.3 for a guide (not shown in FIG. 1A) for the material to be rolled. The guide can be mounted on the outlet side 13 of the stand housing 10, which is shown in FIG. 1A. The mounting elements 26.1, 26.2, 26.3 can also be arranged on the inlet side 15 (not visible in FIG. 1A), so that a guide for the material to be rolled can be mounted there.

The guide for the material to be rolled can for example be a roller guide, in particular a roller guide 60, as is shown by way of example in FIG. 1B, or a funnel guide. The mounting elements 26.1, 26.2, 26.3 are positioned in a star-shaped manner around the rolling axis 19 and so as to be opposite one of the rollers 20.1, 20.2, 20.3 in each case, with respect to the rolling axis 19. The three mounting elements 26.1, 26.2, 26.3 are in each case arranged around the rolling axis 19 at an angular spacing of 120°.

Furthermore, three coupling clamping regions 50.1, 50.2, 50.6 are arranged on the outlet side 13 of the stand housing 10, shown in FIG. 1A, in adjacent corners 16.1, 16.2, 16.6 of the stand housing 10. The coupling clamping regions 50.1, 50.2, 50.6 are in each case delimited by two clamping rails 52. The three adjacent corners 16.1, 16.2, 16.6 in which the coupling clamping regions 50.1, 50.2, 50.6 are arranged are the corner 16.1 in which the adjustment connector 30 is also arranged, and the two corners 16.2, 16.6 adjacent thereto. The coupling clamping regions 50.1, 50.2, 50.6 serve to fasten a roller guide adjustment connector 64 (not shown in FIG. 1A but shown in FIG. 1B) securely on the stand housing 10. This relative arrangement of the coupling clamping regions 50.1, 50.2, 50.6 in the corner 16.1 of the adjustment connector 30 and the two corners 16.2, 16.6 surrounding these makes it possible for the particular flexibility of the arrangement and configuration of the stand I to be combined with a roller guide and thus to be transferred to the entire system consisting of the stand I and roller guide.

FIG. 1A shows that the stand housing 10 comprises four sliding rails 40.2, 40.3, 40.4, 40.5 on the outlet side 13, which rails are arranged in parallel with four neighboring side surfaces 14.2, 14.3, 14.4, 14.5. The sliding rails 40.2-40.5 adjoin one another and extend along the periphery of the hexagonal stand housing 10, from the corner 16.2 comprising the coupling clamping region 50.2 to the corner 16.6 comprising the coupling clamping region 50.6. In the illustration of FIG. 1A, the sliding rails 40.2-40.5 are not arranged on the side surfaces 14.2-14.5, but rather so as to be offset inwards in the direction of the rolling axis 19. The sliding rails 40.2-40.5 form glide surfaces which extend on the one hand in the peripheral direction along the side surfaces 14.2-14.5, and on the other hand out of the sheet plane in parallel with the rolling axis 19 and the side surfaces 14.1-14.6, i.e. in the Z-direction in FIG. 1A. Thus, the sliding rails 40.2-40.5 can serve as contact surfaces in four orientations of the stand 1 and are intended in particular for facilitating receiving of the stand I in a stand base (not shown), in that the stand I can be pushed into the stand base on the sliding rails 40.2-40.5 and in this case the sliding rails 40.2-40.5 can also be used as scaling elements. On the opposing inlet side 15 (not shown in FIG. 1A) four sliding rails 40.2-40.5 are also located, opposite the sliding rails 40.2-40.5 that are shown, such that in each case a pair of the sliding rails 40.2-40.5 on opposing sides can be used for stable mounting of the stand 1 in a stand base.

The stand 1 further comprises three water outlet openings 42.1, 42.2, 42.3 on the outlet side 13 shown in FIG. 1A. Cooling water, which is intended to be used for a roller guide for example, can thus be introduced into the stand housing 10 at one of the side surfaces 14.1, 14.3, 14.5 through water feed openings (not shown in FIG. 1A), conducted through the stand housing 10, and conducted out through one of the water outlet openings 42.1, 42.2, 42.3 and fed from there to the roller guide.

Furthermore, on the outlet side 13 shown in FIG. 1A and also the inlet side 15 (not shown in this figure) a total of five clamping points 44.2, 44.3, 44.4, 44.5, 44.6 are located in the corners 16.2, 16.3, 16.4, 16.5, 16.6 that define the side surfaces 14 along which the sliding rails 40.2, 40.3, 40.4, 40.5 are arranged, which clamping points can absorb a clamping force from the stand base for fixing the stand 1.

FIG. 1B shows the stand 1 from FIG. 1A in a position that can be assumed, relative to the orientation of FIG. 1A, by tilting of the stand 1 about 180° about a horizontal axis K, i.e. which extends in the X-direction. Thus, FIG. 1B is a rear view of the stand I according to FIG. 1A, i.e. showing the inlet side 15. In this position of the stand 1, in contrast to the position illustrated in FIG. 1A the rollers 20.1-20.3 are arranged in a Y-arrangement.

The roller shafts are displaced in parallel relative to the position of the stand 1 from FIG. 1A, and therefore their drive-side ends 24.1-24.3 protrude out of the stand housing 10 in the same direction, but in a different position, specifically mirrored at the respective corner 16.2, 16.4, 16.6. Thus, due to the above-described tilting, the stand 1 shown allows for use in the rolling mill having both a Y-arrangement and an anti-Y-arrangement of the rollers 20.1-20.3 in the same stand base, the drive-side ends 24.1-24.3 of the roller shafts shifting merely in translation. This allows a high degree of flexibility of use of the stand I in a compact rolling mill. The roll drives, which are coupled to the drive-side ends 24.1-24.3 of the roller shafts in the two positions of the stand 1, can be arranged on the same side of the rolling axis 19 for each stand place having alternating Y-arrangement and anti-Y-arrangement, which keeps the space requirement of the entire rolling mill relatively small.

Due to the tilting about the axis K, the adjustment connector 30 is still arranged in the vicinity of the corner 16.1 of the stand housing 10. It is arranged in a manner slightly offset downwards with respect to the horizontal central plane of the stand housing 10, specifically mirrored at the corner 16.1. Nonetheless, in this position of the stand 1 too, i.e. the Y-arrangement, the adjustment connector 30 can be easily reached from the same side, and thus is suitable in particular for efficient manual operation of stands 1 adjacent to the eccentric adjustment means.

FIG. 1B further shows a roller guide 60 which is fastened on the stand housing 10 via the mounting elements 26.1-26.3, which have been described above with reference to FIG. 1A and are also present on the inlet side 15 of the stand housing 10 shown in FIG. 1B. The roller guide 60 is also adjustable, in that rollers of the roller guide 60 can be positioned closer to or further from the rolling axis 19 by means of a roller adjustment mechanism. For the roller adjustment mechanism, the roller guide 60 is connected via a universal shaft 62 to a roller adjustment connector 64 via which a torque can be applied to the roller adjustment mechanism.

The roller adjustment connector 64 is attached to the coupling clamping region 50.1 and the clamping rail 52, associated therewith, on the stand 1. Due to the arrangement of the mounting elements 26.1-26.3 and the coupling clamping regions 50.1, 50.2, 50.6 on the stand housing 10, the roller guide 60 can be attached securely, precisely, and quickly to the stand housing 10.

Furthermore, a water line 66 of the roller guide 60 is visible in FIG. 1B. The water line 66 is connected to the water outlet opening 42.3 through which cooling water for the guide rollers of the roller guide 60 leaves the stand 10, the cooling water being fed to the stand 10 by a water feed opening 43.3 (not shown in FIG. 1B) when said stand is received in the stand base and connected to a water connection of the stand base.

FIG. 1C shows the preferred stand I from FIG. 1A, in a position rotated clockwise about the rolling axis 19 about 120° with respect to the position from FIG. 1A. Owing to the geometry of the stand 1, the rollers 20.1-20.3 are oriented in the same anti-Y-arrangement as in the position shown in FIG. 1A, and the three drive-side ends 24.1-24.3 also extend in the same directions and are located at the same positions, such that they can be coupled to the external motors, for applying the rolling torque, in the same way as in the position from FIG. 1A. However, the adjustment connector 30 is arranged rotated clockwise about 120° compared with FIG. 1A.

This arrangement preferably serves to implement remote adjustment of the adjustment mechanism of the rollers 20.1-20.3 by an external motor. The position of the adjustment connector 30 in the location of the stand 1 shown in Fig. IC makes it possible for an external adjustment coupling of an external adjustment motor to come into engagement, in the stand base (not shown), with the adjustment connector 30 and to actuate this, in order to adjust the rollers 20.1-20.3. This is different from the case in the locations shown in FIG. 1A and 1B.

The stand 1 must be able to be pushed into and pulled out of a stand base transversely to the rolling axis 19, in order to be able to be serviced quickly. This requirement in turn means that the stand in FIG. 1A-1D has to be pushed to the right, into the stand base, in order that the roll motor that drives the vertical roller 20.1 in FIG. 1A and 1B or 20.2 in Fig. IC and 1D can come into engagement with the respective drive-side end 24.1 and 24.2, respectively, because the roll motor for the roller 20.1 is arranged to the right, beside the rolling axis 19, in FIG. 1A and 1B, and for 20.2 to the right, beside the rolling axis 19, in FIG. 1C and ID, in order to be coupled to the drive-side end 24.1 and 24.2, respectively.

This in turn means that, in FIG. 1A-1D, no external adjustment motor may be located to the left next to the rolling axis 19 and thus also the stand 1, i.e. in front of the rolling axis 19 in the insertion direction. The locations from FIG. 1A and 1B are therefore configured for manual adjustment, i.e. the actuation of the adjustment connector 30 by a person, and in this configuration the adjustment connector 30 cannot be actuated, or can be actuated only with excessive effort, by an automatic remote adjustment means. The locations from FIG. 1C and 1D, in which the adjustment connector is located behind the rolling axis 19 in the insertion direction, are configured for remote adjustment, i.e. actuation of the adjustment connector 30 by means of an external motor.

In the location of the stand 1 shown in FIG. 1C, said stand is positioned on the sliding rails 40.4, while the roller 20.2 is the roller having a vertical rotation plane, and the coupling clamping region 50.6 is located in the horizontal direction, beside the rolling axis 19.

FIG. 1D shows the preferred stand in the configuration from FIG. 1C, i.e. the configuration for a remote adjustment with the adjustment connector 30 at the top right. The location of the stand 1 in FIG. 1D can be assumed relative to that in FIG. 1C, by tilting of the stand 1 about 180° about the axis K that is inclined about 120°, and thus also 60°, relative to the horizontal, which axis extends through the corners 16.1 and 16.4. Analogously to the transition between the location of the stand 1 from FIG. 1A and that from FIG. 1B, upon the transition between the location of the stand 1 from FIG. 1C and that from FIG. 1D, too, tilting about 180° about the axis K takes place, which axis extends substantially in parallel with the gear shaft of the adjustment connector 30. As a result, upon this tilting the orientation of the adjustment connector 30 is not changed, and the rollers 20.1-20.3 transition out of the anti-Y-arrangement shown in FIG. 1C and into the Y-arrangement shown in FIG. 1D, and vice versa.

FIG. 1D, like FIG. 1B, shows the inlet side 15 of the stand 1. As also in FIG. 1B, a roller guide 60 including the universal shaft 62 and roller adjustment connector 64 is attached to the stand housing 10 via the mounting elements 26.1, 26.2, 26.3 and the coupling clamping region 50.2 using clamping rails 52.

In the location of the stand 1 shown in FIG. 1D, said stand is positioned on the sliding rails 40.3, while the roller 20.3 is the roller having a vertical rotation plane, and the coupling clamping region 50.2 is located in the horizontal direction, beside the rolling axis 19.

Owing to the hexagonal shape of the stand housing 10, the stand 1 can be arranged in the four locations shown in FIG. 1A-1D, which are all compatible with similar arrangements of the roll motor in the rolling mill with stand bases. As a result, both Y-arrangements and anti-Y-arrangements of the rollers can be assumed, and likewise in two different configurations in the sense of different orientations and arrangements of the adjustment connector 30, once for manual adjustment and once for remote adjustment. In the case of the known square stand housings this flexibility is not achieved, because these stand securely and can be shifted only on or along one of the side surfaces of the stand housing and can be displaced, which fixes the orientation of the adjustment connector at a constant orientation of the roll motors.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the inlet side 15 of the preferred stand 1, in which the three rollers 20.1, 20.2, 20.3 are arranged in the anti-Y-arrangement and the adjustment connector 30 of the eccentric adjustment means is oriented horizontally to the side.

Recesses and drilled holes are visible along the outside 12 of the stand housing 10, which are provided for receiving the roller shafts, in FIG. 2A only the drive-side end 24.2 of the roller shaft belonging to the roller 20.2 being directly identifiable, and the adjustment connectors 30. It can furthermore be seen that the clamping point 44.6 on the inlet side 15 facing the viewer is connected by a bolt to the opposite clamping point 44.6 on the outlet side 13, such that a clamping force applied to the clamping points 44.6 can be conducted directly and stably between said clamping points 44.6, in order to fix the stand 1 in its stand housing, without critically deforming or even damaging sensitive parts of the stand housing 10 by too great a local introduction of force. The clamping points 44.2-44.5 are designed in the same way and are connected to one another.

FIG. 2B shows, like FIG. 2A, the inlet side 15 of the stand 1 from a different perspective from FIG. 2A, in which the drive-side end 24.1 of the roller shaft of the roller 20.1 can be seen.

FIG. 3A and 3B are each side views of the stand, in which the three rollers are oriented in the anti-Y-arrangement. FIG. 3A shows the corner 16.1 and the side surfaces 14.1 and 14.6, as well as the adjustment connector 30 and the drive-side ends 24.2 and 24.3 of the roller shafts of the rollers 20.2 and 20.3.

FIG. 3A further shows two water feed openings 43.2, which can be connected to a water connection in the stand base, in order to receive water in the stand housing 10 and conduct it out via the water outlet opening 42.2, in order, for example, to feed it to a water line 66 of a roller guide 60. In FIG. 3A, an air connection 41.2 is furthermore visible next to the drive-side end 24.2, via which connection compressed air can be fed to the stand housing 10, in order to protect the interior of the stand housing 10, in particular the gearbox parts located therein, for example the eccentric adjustment means, against penetrating water, by excess pressure.

FIG. 3B shows the corner 16.4 opposite the corner 16.1 from FIG. 3A, and the side surfaces 14.3 and 14.4 opposite the side surfaces 14.1 and 14.6. Furthermore, the sliding rails 40.3 and 40.4 both on the inlet side 15 and on the outlet side 13 are visible. In the perspective view of FIG. 3B, the drive-side end 42.1 of the roller shaft of the roller 20.1 is visible at the end face, an air connection 41.1 and two water feed openings 43.3 also being shown.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

• • 1 stand
  • 10 stand housing
  • 12 outside
  • 13 outlet side
  • 14.1, 14.2, 14.3, 14.4, 14.5, 14.6 side surface
  • 15 inlet side
  • 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 16.4, 16.5, 16.6 corner
  • 19 rolling axis
  • 20.1, 20.2, 20.3 roller
  • 21 caliber
  • 22 roll surface
  • 24.1, 24.2, 24.3 drive-side end
  • 26.1, 26.2, 26.3 mounting element
  • 30 adjustment connector
  • 40.2, 40.3, 40.4, 40.5 sliding rail
  • 41.1, 41.2, 41.3 air connection
  • 42.1, 42.2, 42.3 water outlet opening
  • 43.1, 43.2, 43.3 water feed opening
  • 44.2, 44.3, 44.4, 44.5, 44.6 clamping point
  • 50.1, 50.2, 50.6 coupling clamping region
  • 52 clamping rail
  • 60 roller guide
  • 62 universal shaft
  • 64 roller adjustment connector
  • 66 water line
  • K tilt axis for shifting between Y-arrangement and anti-Y-arrangement

Claims

1. A stand housing for a stand for rolling metal rods, wires, or pipes along a rolling axis, the stand housing comprising:

an outside having six side surfaces when viewed along the rolling axis form edges of a regular hexagon, an inlet side and an outlet side, and

at least one water feed opening arranged on three of the side surfaces that are not adjacent to one another, the at least one water feed opening configured to conduct water through the interior of the stand housing to a water outlet opening in the outlet side or in the inlet side.

2. The stand housing according to claim 1, wherein two parallel water feed openings are arranged on the three side surfaces that are not adjacent, on each of the respective three side surfaces, a first opening is configured to conduct water through the interior of the stand housing to a water outlet opening in the outlet side, and of a second opening is configured to conduct water through the interior of the stand housing to a water outlet opening in the inlet side.

3. The stand housing according to claim 1, wherein the water outlet openings are each located on a perpendicular bisector of an edge of the hexagon when viewed along the rolling axis.

4. The stand housing according to claim 1, wherein an air connection is arranged on each of three of the side surfaces that are not adjacent to one another, the air connection is configured to conduct compressed air into the interior of the stand housing.

5. The stand housing according to claim 4, wherein the three air connections lead into a common cavity, wherein the stand housing is configured to prevent an outflow of the compressed air out of one of the air connections through one valve respectively.

6. The stand housing according to claim 4, wherein the air connections are arranged on the same non-adjacent side surfaces as the water feed openings.

7. The stand housing according to claim 4 wherein in one of the water feed openings and one of the air connections are oriented in parallel with one another and are configured to be connected along the same direction.

8. The stand housing according to claim 1, further comprising three bearing holes for mounting one roller shaft in each bearing hole, respectively, wherein the bearing holes are in one of the side surfaces such that the bearing holes are offset in a rotationally symmetrical manner about the rolling axis by a 120° rotation between adjacent bearing holes, and wherein the water feed openings are in side surfaces which do not comprise any bearing holes.

9. The stand housing according to claim 1, wherein the stand housing is closed and undivided.

10. A stand for rolling metal rods, wires or pipes along a rolling axis, comprising:

three rollers each located on one roller shaft respectively, and surrounding the rolling axis in a star-shaped manner collectively forming a caliber; and

a stand housing according to claim 1.

11. The stand housing according to claim 1, wherein the stand housing is formed from a monobloc.