6-f ?Y7 -AU VERIFICATION OF TRANSLATION INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION NO. PCY/JP2004/010311 I, MICHITAKA OOSUGA a translator residing at 33-4,TATSUNO-CHO, HIRATSUKA-SHI, KANAGAWA 254-0046 JAPAN am the translator of the document(s) attached and I state that the following is a true translation to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Signature of Translator L&V,-4 Dated ar '00a6 a
DESCRIPTION
Wedge Setup/Control Method for Plate Material Rolling Technical Field [0001] The present invention relates to a wedge setup/control method for rolling of a metal or other plate material.
Background Art [0002] In the rolling of a metal or other material, particularly in the rolling of a plate material, it was conventionally demanded that the wedge (thickness variation in the direction of the plate width) be eliminated. More specifically, it was demanded that the plate thickness on the work side be equal to the plate thickness on the drive side. Formerly, while there was no plate material after mill roll replacement, the roll gap was reduced by a force, for instance, of 1000 or 1500 tons to ensure that the same rolling force is applied to the work side and drive side.
In general, however, the rolled plate varied in plate thickness. More specifically, the plate thickness on the work side differed from the plate thickness on the drive side. This plate thickness difference was caused, for instance, by the difference of a mill elastic constant in a mill housing between the work side and load side, the mill hysteresis difference between the work side and load side, or the slab plate thickness between the work side and drive side.
A conventional technology disclosed, for instance, by Patent Document 1 uses a wedge measuring instrument, which is installed at the outlet side or inlet side of a rolled material, to measure the amount of wedge. When the wedge is measured on the outlet side, this technology exercises feedback control in accordance with the measured amount of wedge. When the wedge is measured on the inlet side, this technology exercises feed forward control while using the load differential between the right- and lefthand sides of a roll and the load applied to a side guide.
In this manner, this technology simultaneously suppresses the camber and wedge (refer to Patent Document 1, for example).
[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-210513 Disclosure of the Invention 00 3- 0 O Problem to be Solved by the Invention SIt seems that there was few positive setup/control method for providing the work side and drive side with the same plate thickness in plate material rolling. If the wedge is great particularly in plate material rolling, it is difficult to continue with rolling, and the dimensional error of a rolled plate or other problem may arise.
Means for Solving the Problem C In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a wedge setup/control method for plate material rolling, which is used in reversible rolling of a plate material with a rough mill for hot rolling, said method comprising the steps of: preparing a wedge meter on the outlet side of the rough mill to measure the plate thickness in the direction of the plate width; measuring, in an odd-numbered pass rolling of the rough mill, a wedge and the plate thickness at the center of the plate width with the wedge meter in accordance with the distance from the plate leading end, and storing the measure values; calculating, in an even-numbered pass rolling, a wedge influence coefficient for roll gap levelling and the outlet side plate thickness with the wedge meter in accordance with the distance from the plate leading end; determining the amount of roll gap levelling control; and exercising feed forward control to apply the amount of the roll gap levelling control to roll gap levelling of the rough mill.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a wedge setup/control method for plate material rolling, which reversibly rolls a plate N:\Meltboume \Cases\Patent\DO00-60999\P60427.AU\pciSpecification 2008-3-11 doc 13/03/08
I
0- 4 0 0 material with a rough mill for hot rolling and performs finish rolling with each stand of a finishing mill, said Smethod comprising the steps of: preparing a wedge meter on the outlet side of the rough mill to measure the plate thickness in the direction of the plate width; M measuring, in a final pass of the rough mill, a wedge and the plate thickness at the center of the plate width C- with the wedge meter in accordance with the distance from the plate leading end, and storing the measured values; adding a gain to the ratio between the plate C- thickness at the center of the plate width of each stand of the finishing mill based on a mill setting calculation and the wedge prevailing after control in accordance with the time at which the distance from the plate leading end reaches a stand of the finishing mill so that the ratio is equal to the ratio between the stored plate thickness at the center of the plate width on the rough mill side and the wedge; calculating the amount of roll gap levelling control at each stand of the finishing mill by using the inheritance coefficient of the wedge, the wedge on the inlet side, and the wedge influence coefficient for roll gap levelling; and applying the amount of roll gap level control to each stand of the finishing mill.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a wedge setup/control method for plate material rolling, said method comprising the steps of: preparing a finishing mill that includes a plurality of stands and a wedge meter on the outlet side of the finishing mill to measure the plate thickness in the direction of the plate width; entering the plate thickness at the center of the plate width on the outlet side of each stand of the N:\Melboume\Cases\Patent6OO-606999\P60427 AU\Specis\P60427 AU Specification 2008-3-11 doc 1310308 4a 00 O finishing mill in accordance with a mill setting calculation to measure a wedge: Sadding a gain to the ratio between the wedge prevailing after individual stand control and the plate thickness at the center of a plate so that ratio is equal to the ratio between the measured wedge and the plate Sthickness at the center of the plate width on the outlet side of the last stand; C determining the amount of roll gap level control of each stand in accordance with an inlet side wedge Sprevailing after each stand of the finishing mill is C controlled, the inheritance coefficient of the wedge, and the wedge influence coefficient for roll gap levelling; applying the determined amount of roll gap level control to a first stand of the finishing mill; tracking an on-plate point of the first stand to which the amount of roll gap level control is applied; applying the amount of roll gap level control sequentially to the same point for the remaining stands; measuring the next wedge and the plate thickness at the center of the plate width when the same point reaches the wedge meter; and exercising control repeatedly in the same manner.
Effect of the Invention The present invention, which is outlined above, can roll a plate in such a manner that the plate thickness on the work side is equal to the plate thickness on the drive side. A rolling operation can be normally performed because no plate camber or plate skew is encountered during rolling. Further, a take-up operation can be normally performed by a take-up device on the finishing mill outlet side. In addition, subsequent processes such as a cold rolling process can be smoothly performed because the plate thickness in the direction of the plate width is uniform. Furthermore, the accuracy of a product N:elboume\CasesPatent000-60999\P60427AU\SpecisP60427AU Specfication 2008-3-11.doc 13/03/08 4b 00 O made of a plate material produced by the use of the present invention is increased because a uniform plate Sthickness is provided in the direction of the plate width.
Brief Description of the Drawings c Fig. 1 illustrates the shape of a wedge.
SFig. 2 is a system configuration diagram that Ci schematically shows an overall configuration example of wedge setup/control according to the present invention.
N:\Melboume\Cases\Patentl60000-60999\P60427.AU\Specis\P60427 AU Specification 2008-3-11 doc 13/03/08 Fig. 3 is rolling mills (horizontal mill and finishing mills) are generally configured.
Fig. 4 is a roll gap leveling diagram that illustrates a situation where the drive side is opened by AL mm with the work side closed by AL mm.
Description of Symbols [0008] 1:rolled slab 2:attached edger 3:horizontal mill (rough mill) 4:first wedge meter first controller 6: second controller 7"13: first to seventh stands (finishing mills) 14: second wedge meter third controller 24: reduction device 2 1:upper work roll 22: plate to be rolled 2 3:lower work roll Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention [0009] The method and apparatus for wedge setup/control in plate rolling will now be described. As an example, a hot strip mill for slab hot rolling will be described below.
First Embodiment [0010] Fig. 1 illustrates the shape of a wedge. The wedge is a plate thickness difference in the direction of the plate width between the work side and drive side. That is, the wedge is defined by the following equation: AW=hO -hDs Equation (1) where AW is the wedge, hws is the plate thickness on the work side, and hDS is the plate thickness on the drive side.
[0011] Fig. 2 is a system configuration diagram that schematically shows an overall configuration example of wedge setup/control according to the present invention.
A
rolled slab 1 weighs 10 to 50 tons (or as much as 150 tons).
It is heated and generally reversible rolled (or unidirectionally rolled) by rough mills 2, 3. In Fig. 2, the reference numeral 2 denotes an attached edger; 3, a horizontal mill, which is a rough mill; 4, a first wedge meter; 5, a first controller for roll gap leveling control of the horizontal mill 3; 6, a second controller; 7 to 13, first to seventh stands, which are finishing mills; 14, a second wedge meter; and 15, a third controller.
The wedge meters 4, 14 measure the plate thickness with X-rays or gamma rays. In some cases, a sensor is moved in the direction of the plate width for measurement purposes. In some other cases, many sensors and detectors are used for measurement purposes.
In general, the plate thickness distribution in the direction of the plate width is measured. The plate thicknesses (hws and hDs) on the work side and drive side are then measured by subjecting the measured plate thickness distribution to approximation by using, for instance, a polynomial expression. Further, the plate thickness at the center of the plate width is measured.
[0012] A first wedge setup/control method according to the present invention relates to wedge feedback control in the rough mills 2, 3. In rolling in the direction from the attached edger 2 to the horizontal mill 3 (odd-numbered pass), the wedge is measured on the rolling outlet side to exercise roll gap leveling control over the horizontal mill 3.
[0013] The horizontal mill 3 and finishing mills 7 to 13, which are rolling mills, are generally configured as shown in Fig. 3. The reference numerals 21 and 23 denote mill rolls. The reference numeral 22 denotes a plate to be rolled. The reference numeral 20 denotes a reduction device that is hydraulically or electrically driven to provide roll gap control over the roll drive side. The reference numeral 24 denotes the same hydraulically or electrically driven reduction device for exercising roll gap control over the roll work side.
[0014] Fig. 4 is a roll gap leveling diagram that illustrates a situation where the drive side is opened by AL mm with the work side closed by AL mm.
When the first wedge setup/control method is employed, the first controller 5, which is shown in Fig. 2, operates as indicated below: 8W a L =AW Equation (2) aL The following equation is then obtained from the above equation: dW AL AW Equation (3) (aw) In accordance with the above equation, the first wedge meter 4 is used to measure the wedge on the rolling outlet side and adjust the roll gap leveling value AL of the horizontal mill 3. AW is the measured wedge that is ow derived from Equation W is the wedge influence aL coefficient for the roll gap leveling value AL. It can be otherwise calculated with a rolling schedule given or can be actually measured.
Control according to Equation is provided by exercising successive integral control over the wedge measured by the wedge meter 4 shown in Fig. 2 or by exercising on time/off time control in which a process for measuring the result of the control provided by the horizontal mill 3 with the wedge meter 4 and exercising control with the horizontal mill 3 is repeated. In this manner, wedge control can be exercised over the whole length in an odd-numbered pass.
Second Embodiment [0015] A second wedge setup/control method according to the present invention relates to wedge feed forward control in the rough mills 2, 3. In rolling in the direction from the attached edger 2, which is shown in Fig. 2, to the horizontal mill 3 (odd-numbered pass), the wedge is measured with the first wedge meter 4 on the outlet side in accordance with the distance from the leading end and then stored. The measured wedge is referred to as AW(x) (x: distance from the plate's leading end). At the same time, the outlet side plate thickness at the center of the plate is measured and stored. The measured outlet side plate thickness is referred to as Next, in rolling in the direction from the horizontal mill 3 to the attached edger 2 (even-numbered pass), the mill setting calculation plate thickness on the outlet side is referred to as h. Tracking is performed with the stored measured AW(x) and H(x) regarded as an inverse pass. When the plate engages with the horizontal mill 3, the first controller 5, which is shown in Fig. 2, operates as indicated below: h )W AW(x) AL(x) Equation (4) H(x) aL The following equation is then obtained from the above equation: 1 h (AW) Equation (aw) Hk In accordance with the above equation, the roll gap leveling value AL(x) for the horizontal mill 3 is 3W controlled. is the influence coefficient of roll gap leveling in an even-numbered pass for the wedge.
An alternative is to measure the inlet side plate thickness H(x) and inlet side wedge AW(x) at the center of the plate thickness in an even-numbered pass by using the wedge meter on the inlet side, provide a delay until the horizontal mill 3 is encountered, and apply the values to Equations and Third Embodiment [0016] A third wedge setup/control method according to the present invention relates to feed forward control that is exercised between the rough mill outlet side and finishing mills. On the outlet side of the rough mill final pass (odd-numbered pass, rolling in the direction from the attached edger 2 to the horizontal mill the plate thickness hTB(x) at the center of the plate width and the wedge AWTB(X) are measured in accordance with the distance x from the plate leading end and then stored. TB stands for a transfer bar. These stored values are stored in the second controller 6, which is shown in Fig. 2. Further, the following calculations are performed.
The present invention is characterized by the fact that the following relationship prevails on the outlet side of the finishing mill i-th stand: AW-i=7iVAWi+ w)_A L, Equation (6) M i where rj± is a wedge inheritance coefficient. If a rolling schedule is given, this coefficient can be separately calculated. It can also be determined on an experimental basis. The first term on the right side of Equation is an element to which the wedge of the upstream stand (that is, the inlet side) is inherited. The second term on the right side of Equation is an element that is controlled according to the stand's roll gap leveling value. When Equation is expressed by the distance x between the transfer bar and plate leading end, the following equation is obtained: AW r
AL
1 Li(x) **Equation (7)
S
L )i As shown in Fig. 2, the finishing mills according to the present invention are represented by the first to seventh stands 7 to 13. Therefore, the value i in Equations and is between 1 and 7. For various stands of the finishing mills, the following equations are derived from Equation AW(x)=7 1 AWT-(x)+ AL, L Equation (8-1) a L 1 AW2(x)= 2 w AL 2 Equation (8-2) L 2 SOL AW(x)=AW2(x)+
AL
3 ***Equation (8-3) AW6(x)=r 6 AW(x)+ AL 6 Equation (8-6) I( aL/6 A ()=7AW6 aw h L, Equation (8-7) aL 7 A characteristic strategy of the present invention uses the following equation: AWT(x) A.(x) hB(x) h) G Equation (9) where hi(x) is a plate thickness at the center of the plate. In Fig. 1 in which a conventional method is shown, this plate thickness is given by a mill setting calculation (not shown). Gi is a gain.
The following equation is obtained from Equation
AW
T
B h (x) i x) TB( Equation h
G,
The above equation is substituted into the left sides of Equations to Since AWTB(x) in Equation is known, AL 1 is determined. When AW 1 in Equation is substituted into Equation
AL
2 is determined. In the same manner, AL 1 is determined from Equation In Fig. 2, from right to left, the finishing mills are the first stand 7, the second stand 8, and so on to the seventh stand 13.
The symbol i in the above equation represents a stand number. The roll gap leveling amount ALi(x), which is determined as described above, is applied to the first to seventh stands 7 to 13 by performing tracking over the distance x with the second controller 6, which is shown in Fig. 2. In other words, the same point at the distance x is subjected to tracking. For various stands 7 to 13, the control output is applied to the same point.
An alternative is to determine the average values of the plate thickness hTB(x) at the plate center on the rough mill outlet side and of the wedge AWTB(x) over the whole length, subject the obtained average values to calculations according to Equations and and apply the calculation results to the roll gap leveling values of the first to seventh stands 7 to 13 before rolling of the finishing mills. Transfer bar tracking is not required, and control is exercised only once.
Fourth Embodiment [0017] A fourth wedge setup/control method according to the present invention relates to wedge feedback control that is exercised between the finishing mill side second wedge meter 14 and the third controller 15. When the plate leading end reaches the second wedge meter 14, the second wedge meter 14 measures the wedge AW 1 MEAS. Further, the plate thickness hi (i 1 to 7) at the center of the plate width on the outlet side of each stand is input into the third controller 15 from the mill setting calculation (not shown). The second wedge meter 14 is the same as the first wedge meter 4.
The present invention is characterized by the fact that Equation is used. In other words, the third controller 15 uses the following relationships for various stands 7 to 13: AW, I+aw) AL 1 L Z'aL I
AW
2 =1 2 AW, +aw)*L 2 AW, 77,AW 2 AL 3
AW
6 7,AW, a(
AL
6 AW, =j 7
,AW
6 2
AL
7 Equation (11-1) Equation (11-2) Equation (11-3) Equation (11-6) Equation (11-7) The first term AWo of the right side of Equation (11- 1) is a transfer bar wedge. However, the value 0 (zero) is used for AWo.
Further, the present invention is also characterized by the fact that the following control strategy is used: AWi AW, ai- -W Equation (12) hi h7 where ai is a gain.
AW
7 =AW E s Equation (13) When the above equation is true, the following equation is obtained from Equation (12): h AW
M
AS
A. Equation (14) a, h, When the above equation is substituted into the left sides of Equations (11-1) to the following equation is obtained from Equation (11-1): AL, Equation (15-1) The above equation determines the roll gap leveling control amount for the first stand 7. Further, when AW 1 in Equation (11-1) is substituted into Equation the following equation is obtained:
L
2
AW
2 -q Equation (15-2) The above equation determines the roll gap leveling control amount for the second stand 8. In the same manner, the roll gap leveling control amount for each stand is calculated. For the seventh stand 13, the following equation is obtained:
AL
7
W
7 7
AW'"
6 Equation (15-7) aL)7 The roll gap leveling control amounts AL± (i 1 to which have been determined as described above for the finishing mill stands 7 to 13, are applied to the stands as described below. The present invention uses two application methods.
The first method provides single-point control.
First of all, AL 1 is applied to the first stand 7, which is shown in Fig. 2. On-plate point A to which AL is applied is then tracked. When point A reaches the second stand 8,
AL
2 is applied. In the same manner, point A is tracked at each stand and the roll gap leveling control amount is applied. Finally, AL, is applied to the seventh stand 13.
When point A reaches the second wedge meter 14 on the finishing mill outlet side, the second wedge measurement starts. After completion of the second wedge measurement, the same control is exercised as the first one. Control is repeatedly exercised until the plate entirely passes through the finishing mill.
The second method provides simultaneous control. As the first control, the roll gap leveling control amounts ALj (i 1 to which are determined by Equations (15-1) to are simultaneously applied to the first to seventh stands 7 to 13. Point B, which exists at the first stand 7 at the time of the first control, is tracked. When point B reaches the second wedge meter 14 on the finishing mill outlet side, the wedge is measured again.
Calculations are performed in the same manner as for the first control. The roll gap leveling control amounts ALl (i 1 to 7) are then simultaneously applied to the finishing mill stands. In the same manner as mentioned above, control is repeatedly exercised until the plate entirely passes through the finishing mill.
Fifth Embodiment [0018] A fifth wedge setup/control method according to the present invention uses the second wedge meter 14 on the finishing mill outlet side, which is shown in Fig. 2, and the third controller 15. This method provides bar-to-bar learning setup and is used when the fourth embodiment of the present invention is not implemented.
Wedge measurements are made over the whole length with the second wedge meter 14 and then averaged. The obtained average value is referred to as AW 7 AVERAGE. The following equation is obtained in relation to AW 7
MEA
s which is used with the method according to the fourth embodiment:
AW
M E A s
=AW
V A GE Equation (16) The same calculations are then performed as described in conjunction with the method according to the fourth embodiment to determine the finishing mill roll gap leveling control amounts ALi (i 1 to 7) for the whole length. The values ALi (i 1 to 7) are set to the first to seventh stands 7 to 13 before rolling of the next plate.
In other words, this provides bar-to-bar setup.
Industrial Applicability [0019] As described above, the wedge setup/control method according to the present invention, which is used for rolling of metal or the like, ensures that the rolled plate 00 21 0 O thickness on the work side is equal to the one on the drive side. Thus, rolling operations are normally Sperformed because no plate camber or plate skew occurs during rolling. In addition, subsequent processes such as a cold rolling process can be smoothly performed because the plate thickness in the direction of the plate width is c uniform. Further, the accuracy of a product made of a plate material produced by the use of the present C\ invention is increased because a uniform plate thickness is provided in the direction of the plate width.
Cl In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.
It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.
N:\Melboume\Cases\Patent\60000-60999\P60427.ALSpecis\P60427 AU Specification 2008-3-11 doc 13103/08