EP0114791A2

EP0114791A2 - Brake device for rolled bars

Info

Publication number: EP0114791A2
Application number: EP84830010A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Geremia Nonini
Original assignee: Danieli and C Officine Meccaniche SpA
Current assignee: Danieli and C Officine Meccaniche SpA
Priority date: 1983-01-24
Filing date: 1984-01-17
Publication date: 1984-08-01
Also published as: DE3464859D1; EP0114791A3; IT8383312A0; ATE28415T1; IT1175040B; EP0114791B1

Abstract

This invention concerns a device (10) to brake a rolled bar (20) leaving a rolling line and to deposit such bar (20) thereafter on a cooling plate, which device (10) comprises in coordinated cooperation:

- support means (11) having brake path means (12),
- brake panel means (13) which act at least momentarily on the rolled bar (20) with at least a component of the weight of the brake panel means (13), and
- actuation means (22).

Description

This invention concerns a device to brake rolled bars leaving a rolling line at high speed and thereafter to deposit such bars on a cooling plate.
It is known that bars leaving a rolling line have to be braked before they are deposited on a cooling plate.
The system for braking a rolled bar by friction against one or more surfaces is known, the friction being caused by the weight of the bar itself.
The increase in rolling speeds made possible by technological development, however, has caused this natural brake system to become insufficient.
Devices are also known that employ rollers between which the rolled product leaving the rolling line is made to pass. Such roller systems, however, entail constructional complications and also the necessity for considerable maintenance.
A purpose of the present invention is to provide a brake device which carries out the braking operations in a simple and reliable manner and which reduces maintenance work considerably.
Another purpose of this invention is to embody a device which obtains progressive braking of the rolled product and thereafter the discharge of the rolled product onto the cooling plate.
A further purpose of this invention is to provide a brake device advantageously having an action which can be graduated and adjusted to suit the type and speed of the rolled product.
According to the invention such purposes together with others again which will become obvious hereinafter in the description and drawings are fulfilled by arranging a series of brake panels rotatably secured to a support element.
Such brake panels are specifically shaped in such a way as to constrain the rolled product between a suitably shaped portion of the panels themselves and a flat slide path present on the side of the central support element.
The force of lateral friction to brake the rolled product is provided advantageously by a component of the weight of the panel itself; this component therefore presses the rolled product sideways against the brake path present on the central support element.
If a suitable conformation of the brake panels is adopted, the rolled product becomes constrained, according to the invention, between a substantially horizontal surface in the lower part of the panel and two substantially vertical surfaces.
One of these substantially vertical surfaces is formed by a surface of the panel,whereas the other is formed by a stationary brake path which is a part of the central support element.
The invention furthermore visualises means for coordinated actuation of the panels. Actuation of each panel can be performed, for instance, by a cam which actuates a cam follower means located at the end of an arm solidly fixed to the panel.
We shall refer hereinafter specifically to this particular method of actuation, but it is not intended in this way to restrict the invention to this type of actuation, for it remains within the concept of the invention itself to employ equivalent means, whether mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, electromagnetic or a combination of the same.
According to the invention the actuation is negative in the sense that the action of the cam located above the panel causes the panel itself to be moved away from the slide path. This causes the release of the rolled bar and the fall of the same onto the cooling bed, whereas the braking action is operated positively but is operated by the weight itself of the panel, it being possible for this weight to be graduated -perhaps by means of the cam or by appropriate means provided for the purpose.
According to its simplest formulation the invention envisages that, when braking takes place, the cam disengages itself fully from the cam follower means and frees the panel, which is thus free to press with a component of its own weight against the rolled product and to constrain the latter against the brake path.
In this simplest formulation of the invention the cam is so shaped that the panel can take up three positions substantially:

- a position for entry of the rolled product; in this position the rolled product rests on a substantially horizontal surface of the panel but is not pressed sideways;
- a braking position, in which the cam releases the panel, which, owing to its own weight, thrusts the rolled product sideways against a brake path;
- a released position, in which the cam causes the panel to move away from the brake path in such a way as to release the rolled product, which then falls onto the cooling plate.

The invention envisages advantageously that a timing component is embodied in the cams which actuate the various panels in succession, so that the action of the panels is synchronized with the entry and the sliding of the rolled product into the braking zone.
The start of the braking is governed by a sensor which senses the passage of the rolled product; such sensor can be, for instance, of an optoelectronic type or other equivalent type.
As we said earlier, it is possible according to the invention to provide actuation means of a different type, whether pneumatic, electromagnetic, mechanical or a combination of the same, which carry out in every case the three phases of entry, braking and discharge respectively, it being possible in such a case for braking to be graduated or to be capable of being graduated.
The invention envisages advantageously the ability to equip each panel with one or more counterweights which can be suitably adjusted so as to be able to regulate the force of friction due to the weight of the panel itself, depending on the type of rolled product and its speed of sliding.
The invention is therefore embodied with a device to brake a rolled bar leaving a rolling line and to deposit such bar thereafter on a cooling plate, which device comprises in coordinated cooperation:

- support means having brake path means,
- brake panel means which act at least momentarily on the rolled bar with at least a component of the weight of the brake panel means, and
- actuation means.

We shall describe hereinafter, as a non-restrictive example, a preferred embodiment of the invention with the help of the attached figures, in which:-

Fig.1 shows a view of the device of the invention in the direction in which the rolled bar slides;
Fig.2 gives an overall view of the device itself, in which the arrangement of the brake panels and of the actuation means is made clear.

In the figures the device of the invention bears the reference number 10. A central support element 11 has on its sides two substantially vertical brake paths 12.
Fig.1 shows a brake panel 13 positioned at one side of the central support element 11. This panel 13 includes a portion 14 for constrainment of rolled bars, the portion 14 being shaped in such a way as to face the brake path 12.
The brake panel 13 is pivoted at 15 on the central support element 11. In the figure the pivot 15 is shown with a knife-edge suspension but could also consist of a pivot pin or other equivalent means.
To ensure the stability of the panel 13, the pivot 15 is envisaged as being multiple, for instance double as in Fig.2. In fact it is advantageous that the panel should be suspended at least at two points spaced apart lengthwise.
An arm 16, which may be single or multiple, is provided in the upper portion of the panel 13 and is operated by actuation means 22.
In the example shown the actuation means 22 consist of a cam follower 17, constituted substantially of a wheel or roller, and of a suitably shaped cam 18 supported on a shaft 19 moved by appropriate means not shown here.
In the example shown in Fig.2 the arm 16 is envisaged as being double so as to obtain a two-point suspension in a simple manner and so as to provide constructional simplicity. The arms 16 extend so as to form ribs 116 solidly fixed to the constrainment portion 14.
Rotation of the cam 18 causes displacement of the arm 16 and therefore of the constrainment portion 14 in relation to the brake path 12.
The positions of the panel 13, depending on the rotation of the cam 18, are as follows:-

a) entry of the rolled bar: the cam 18 in position 18A keeps the-panel 13 in position 13A. The rolled bar 20 enters the space between the substantially vertical inner surface 114 of the constrainment portion 14 and the brake path 12. Such space is slightly greater than the width of the rolled bar 20. The rolled bar 20 slides and is supported on a lower horizontal surface 214 of the constrainment portion 14.
b) braking action: a sensor, which is not shown here, actuates rotation of the cam 18, which at position 18B releases the cam follower 17 fully. The panel 13 at position 13B constrains the rolled bar 20 between the surface 114 of the constrainment portion 14 and the path 12 arranged on the central support element 11.

The rolled bar 20 thus begins to slide with friction on three surfaces 114, 214 and 12 respectively; the force of friction against the lower surface 214 is caused substantially by the weight of the rolled bar 20, whereas the force of friction against the surfaces 114 and 12 at the sides of the rolled bar 20 is caused by the weight of the panel 13.
The invention envisages the possibility of applying a counterweight 21 to the panel 13, as shown on a panel 113 in Fig.2, for instance. Such counterweight 21 will be advantageously adjustable or movable so as to vary as necessary the sideways braking force applied to the rolled bar 20 according to requirements.
The embodiment illustrated shows, for the sake of clarity, only panels 13-113 positioned on one side of the central support element 11, but it is to be understood that according to the invention two rows of panels 13 can be provided, one on each side of the central support element 11, and be arranged alternately.
The actuation cams 18 are located on the upper side of the device 10 and are operated by one single shaft 19 in the example shown.
These cams 18 can be suitably disposed out of phase with each other so as to obtain a desired succession of actuations of the panels 13 in such a way that the panels 13 are released and the rolled bar 20 is thus braked progressively, depending on the position of the rolled bar 20; that is to say, by regulating suitably the timings of the release of the panels 13 it is possible to prevent a panel 13 from pressing against a rolled bar 20 if the end of the latter 20 has not already moved to a position corresponding with the panel 13 itself.
We have described here a preferred embodiment of the invention but variants are possible without departing thereby from the scope of the invention itself.
For instance, it is possible to position the actuation means, such as the cams 18, differently by locating them at the sides of the panels 13 rather than above the panels 13.
It is also possible to arrange for more than one cam 18-cam follower 17 pair for each panel 13.
It is also possible to change the shapes and sizes of the parts and also to vary the inclination of the surfaces 114, 214 and 12 on which the rolled bar 20 slides. ;
In the same way the actuation cam means 18 can be replaced with mechanical equivalents such as electromagnets, jacks, levers or other equivalent means. It is also possible to employ the device 10 in cooperation with other known brake means.
Further variants are possible for a person skilled in this field without departing thereby from the scope of the basic idea of the invention.

INDEX

10 - brake device
11 - central support element
12 - brake path
13 - brake panel
13A - panel position for entry of rolled bar
13B - panel position to brake rolled bar
13C - panel position to discharge rolled bar
113 - panel with counterweight
14 - portion to constrain rolled bar
114 - brake surface
214 - brake surface
15 - pivot
16 - arm
116 - rib
17 - cam follower
18 - cam
18A - cam position for entry of rolled bar
18B - cam position to brake rolled bar
18C - cam position to discharge rolled bar
19 - shaft
20 - rolled bar
21 - counterweight
22 - actuation means.

Claims

1 - Device (10) to brake a rolled bar (20) leaving a rolling line and to deposit such bar (20) thereafter on a cooling plate, which device (10) comprises in coordinated cooperation:

- support means (11) having brake path means (12),

- brake panel means (13) which act at least momentarily on the rolled bar (20) with at least a component of the weight of the brake panel means (13), and

- actuation means (22).

2 - Device (10) to brake a rolled bar (20) as claimed in Claim 1, in which the brake panel means (13) are pivoted (15) on the support means (11).

3 - Device (10) to brake a rolled bar (20) as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which the brake panel means (13) can take up at least three distinct stable positions (13A-13B-13C).

4 - Device (10) to brake a rolled bar (20) as claimed in any claim hereinbefore, in which the brake panel means (13) include at least one surface (114) substantially facing the brake path means (12), and one substantially horizontal surface (214).

5 - Device (10) to brake a rolled bar (20) as claimed in any claim hereinbefore, in which the actuation means (22) comprise cam means (18) acting on cam follower means (17) provided on an arm (16) of the brake panel means (13), and in which the arm (16) can be single or multiple.

6 - Device (10) to brake a rolled bar (20) as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 5 inclusive, in which the pivot (15) is of a knife-edge type.

7 - Device (10) to brake a rolled bar (20) as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 6 inclusive, in which the pivot (15) is a pin- wise pivot.

8 - Device (10) to brake a rolled bar (20) as claimed in any claim hereinbefore, in which the cam means (18) actuating successive panels (13) embody mutually out-of-phase timings arranged as required.

9 - Device (10) to brake a rolled bar (20) as claimed in any claim hereinbefore, in which the brake panel means (13) include counterweight means (21) which can be regulated advantageously.