Metal deforming – By use of roller or roller-like tool-element – Plural roller-couples
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-26
2001-12-11
Tolan, Ed (Department: 3725)
Metal deforming
By use of roller or roller-like tool-element
Plural roller-couples
C072S201000, C072S230000, C072S231000, C072S250000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06327885
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a rolling-mill installation for the continuous production of fine steel, especially wire, having roughing block, a finishing block arranged on the rolling line of the roughing block, a water cooling section arranged next and on the rolling line, and a laying unit arranged downstream.
Rolling-mill installations of this type are used for the conventional rolling of fine steel, especially of wire. In an installation of this type, for example one disclosed by EP B1 0 606 966, various paths, in which different rolling stands are arranged, can be passed through, depending on the desired final cross section of the rolled product and depending on the necessary final rolling temperature for the rolled material. The different paths are put into or out of operation by change-over devices for the rolled material—these are diverter-like components—, the rolled material on the one hand tracing relatively long or on the other hand tracing relatively short paths through the entire rolling-mill installation.
In recent times, the aim has been to achieve specific advantageous structure in the rolled material and therefore improved mechanical properties of the rolled material, which is implemented by means of thermomechanical rolling. In this case, following intensive surface cooling, the rolled material passes through a soaking section, in which far-reaching equalization of the temperature of the surface of the rolled material with the temperature of the core is carried out, so that for the subsequent deformation there is a largely homogenous temperature field within the cross section of the rolled material. Rolling-mill installations in which thermomechanical rolling is possible are disclosed, for example, by EP B1 0 264 868 and EP B1 0 560 115.
The drawback with installations of this type is, on the one hand, an extremely short soaking section, which does not permit adequate temperature equalization between core and surface, as a result of which thermomechanical rolling over the entire cross section cannot be achieved. On the other hand, adequate temperature equalization requires very long soaking sections, which in turn result in an extremely long design of the overall installation. In order to avoid these drawbacks, the rolled material has been led in a loop after emerging from the water cooling section and, after passing through the loop, has been finished in the finishing stand. An installation of this type is disclosed, for example, by EP B1 0 571 789. However, the drawback with an installation of this type is that during the rolling of small finished dimensions, as a result of the high number of passes, the reheating of the previously cooled material does not permit thermomechanical rolling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is set the following specific task: using an only slightly modified conventional rolling-mill installation for the continuous production of fine steel (the installation being build for conventional rolling) it is also to be possible to carry out thermomechanical rolling of the fine steel, especially of wire, and in particular as an option. In order to implement this, as mentioned, only slight conversion work on the conventional rolling-mill installation is to be necessary. In particular, thermomechanical rolling is to be possible with the same overall length of the original rolling-mill installation, so that no additional space is required in the longitudinal direction of the installation, and therefore no lengthening of the machine hall is to be required either.
According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the finishing block arranged on the rolling line of the roughing block can be moved into a rolling position at a distance from the rolling line of the roughing block and back again, and in that downstream of the water cooling section there is arranged a rolled-material diverter with which the rolled material can optionally be routed on the one hand in the direction of the laying unit and on the other hand, via a soaking section, to the finishing block moved at a distance from the rolling line of the roughing block.
EP 0 732 159 A2 discloses the practice of arranging a rolling stand with the rolling grooves for its alignment to the roll accessories and the roll centre on a guide frame such that it can be displaced in the direction of the axes of the rolls in the roll stand. In this case, a stationary guide frame bears a bearer for the roll accessories. By means of displacing the rolling stand relative to the bearer, precise alignment of the rolling grooves to the roll accessories can be achieved.
A solution which is simple in design terms is characterized in that the finishing block can be moved out of the rolling line of the roughing block by parallel displacement or movement into a position to one side.
Another solution which is simple to implement is characterized by pivoting the finishing block into a position to one side of the rolling line of the roughing block.
In order to ensure the cooling of the finished fine steel, there is preferably arranged on the rolling line of the finishing block moved to the side of the rolling line of the roughing block a further water cooling section, this further water cooling section being oriented in the direction of the laying unit.
The soaking section can be configured in a particularly space-saving way if it has two approximately semicircular curved parts which are connected by a rectilinear part.
For the satisfactory conveyance of the rolled material to be rolled thermomechanically, it is advantageous to provide at least one driver at the start of the soaking section and one driver close to the end of the soaking section, upstream of the finishing block, it being expedient for a total of three drivers to be provided, specifically one at the start of the soaking section in the area of the rolled-material diverter, a straightening driver at the end of the first semicircular curved part of the soaking section, following the rolled-material diverter, and the third driver at the start of the second semicircular curved part of the soaking section, the said second curved part of the soaking section opening flush with the rolling line of the finishing block arranged to the side of the rolling line of the roughing block.
An embodiment which is favourable in terms of space is characterized in that a main part of the soaking section extends approximately parallel to the water cooling section arranged on the rolling line of the roughing block.
The rolled-material diverter provided to change over from conventional rolling to thermomechanical rolling is characterized, according to a preferred embodiment, in that it can be moved optionally into two positions, specifically into a first position for conventional rolling, in which a guide of the rolled-material diverter is oriented from the rolling line of the roughing block to the laying unit, and into a second position for thermomechanical rolling, in which a first further guide is oriented from the rolling line of the roughing block to the soaking section, and a second further guide is oriented from the finishing block moved at a distance from the rolling line of the roughing block to the laying unit, the first further guide, in plan view, crossing the second further guide, and these guides being offset vertically, at least in the crossing area.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5345805 (1994-09-01), Hauck
patent: 5715720 (1998-02-01), Balve et al.
patent: 5893288 (1999-04-01), Shore
patent: 5946783 (1999-09-01), Plociennik et al.
patent: 6105412 (2000-08-01), Muller
patent: 6161411 (2000-12-01), Bocking
patent: 19843032 (1998-09-01), None
patent: 0264868 (1988-04-01), None
patent: 0560115 (1993-09-01), None
patent: 0571789 (1993-12-01), None
patent: 0732159A2 (1996-09-01), None
patent: 0606966 (1997-09-01), None
Hölbling Wolfgang Horst
Marsoun Dietmar
Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen, LLP
Tolan Ed
Voest-Alpine Industriean-lagenbau GmbH
LandOfFree
Rolling-mill installation does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Rolling-mill installation, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Rolling-mill installation will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2568264