EP0446130B1 - Installation for straightening - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject of the invention is an installation for straightening, under traction, metal strip, comprising, on the inside of a frame (10), at least two bending units (3, 3') which are longitudinally offset and placed respectively above and below the strip, carrying at least one working cylinder (4) mounted so as to rotate about a transverse axis (40). <??>According to the invention, the chassis (30) of at least one upper bending unit (3) is mounted so as to rotate on two aligned journals (33, 34), about which the bending unit (3) assembly may rotate between a working position for which the working cylinder (4) faces downwards and into a reverse position for which the working cylinder (4) faces upwards and may thus be easily maintained or replaced. <??>The invention relates especially to the manufacture and the finishing of metal strip and may be applied not only to the so-called planishers but also to any device acting by bending-traction, for example for the correction of tiles or of arches, or else for breaking off oxides in the descaling line. <IMAGE>

Description

The subject of the invention is an installation for leveling under tension of a metal strip and, more specifically, improvements facilitating the maintenance of such an installation.

The invention relates particularly to planing machines used in the various sectors of metallurgy in order to improve the mechanical characteristics and the flatness of the metal strips produced in a rolling installation.

Generally, a leveling machine comprises a number of rollers defining a corrugated path and which the strip passes and undergoes under tension deformations allowing leveling. For this purpose, the machine comprises, inside a frame, at least two flexion units offset longitudinally, respectively an upper unit and a lower unit, placed respectively above and below the strip.

• un ou plusieurs ensembles de planage proprement dit, constitués chacun d'une unité de flexion supérieure et d'une unité de flexion inférieure, réglables verticalement par des systèmes mécaniques ou hydrauliques ;
• une unité de flexion portant un rouleau "correcteur de tuile" réglable verticalement par un système mécanique ;
• une unité de flexion portant un rouleau "correcteur de cintre" ou de "décambrage" réglable verticalement par un système mécanique.

Each bending unit can slide, vertically, along guide means provided on the frame and is associated with means for controlling its vertical movements, transversely to the plane of travel of the strip, between an adjustable leveling position and a rest position away from the belt. Generally, such a machine comprises a number of successive bending units such as:

• one or more leveling assemblies proper, each consisting of an upper bending unit and a lower bending unit, vertically adjustable by mechanical or hydraulic systems;
• a bending unit carrying a roller "tile corrector" adjustable vertically by a mechanical system;
• a bending unit carrying a vertically adjustable "hanger corrector" or "reaming" roller by a mechanical system.

Different machine configurations can be used depending on the area of application.

Each flexure unit comprises a frame extending between two ends placed on either side of the strip and carrying a working cylinder mounted to rotate around an axis transverse to the direction of travel. Generally the working cylinder is of small diameter, in particular in the leveling units, and is supported on two rows spaced apart from support rollers or else on two intermediate cylinders which are themselves supported on three rows of rollers, l 'assembly forming a "leveling crew". But if the proportions allow it, for example for the hanger correction, the cylinder may only be supported and / or maintained at its ends.

During operation, production may require the replacement of working cylinders and / or intermediate cylinders or even the whole of a complete bending unit, for cleaning, maintenance, or installation of cylinders of different diameter.

To this end, each bending unit can engage in a removable manner on its means for guiding and controlling vertical movements and can be supported by a dismantling device integrated into the machine and comprising a support mounted to slide transversely in the machine frame, actuated manually or using an actuator such as a jack, and which makes it possible to remove the flexion unit requiring maintenance to spread it laterally on one side of the machine, the strip metal that can remain in the machine, either at a standstill or during scrolling. Generally, in such an installation, the different control means are placed on the same side of the strip, the operator being placed, with his control console, on the other side and it is on the operator side that can be separated the bending units in the disassembly position.

It may be necessary to carry out the dismantling of a single bending unit or of several units at the same time.

For example, Document US-A-4,745,788, on which the preamble of claim 1 is based, describes a disassembly device of this kind applicable to a leveling machine comprising several bending units, respectively upper or lower.

Each lower flexion unit is slidably mounted vertically in a lower frame which is itself slidably mounted vertically inside the machine frame and is supported by jacks allowing it to rest on rollers rolling on perpendicular rails. to the scroll direction. In this way, the entire lower chassis can be moved laterally outside the machine frame.

On the other hand, the lower chassis is provided, on the disassembly side, with individual support members of the corresponding end of each upper bending unit, the opposite end resting, by means of rollers, on rails which extend transversely to the direction of travel, over the entire width of the frame.

In this way, the movable lower chassis, which carries the lower bending units, can also be used to dismantle the upper bending units which roll on the corresponding rails of the frame. In addition, each individual support is provided with a removable fixing means for the corresponding flexion unit to allow selective disassembly.

When we want to replace a complete bending unit or several units, we remove them from the operator side using the dismantling device and then replace them. ment using an external handling means such as an overhead crane. The new bending unit (s) are then replaced by the dismantling device inside the machine, in the working position.

When it is desired to replace only one or more cylinders, the corresponding flexion unit (s) are removed from the operator side using the disassembly device and the cylinder (s) are replaced by hand or using handling means, the bending unit then being replaced inside the machine by the dismantling device.

The subject of the invention is improvements to the provisions usually used to facilitate maintenance and, in particular, the disassembly of the cylinder or cylinders of an upper bending unit.

According to the invention, the chassis of at least one upper bending unit of an installation according to the preamble of claim 1 is rotatably mounted on two aligned pins, rotating respectively in two support members placed respectively at the two ends of the chassis and defining a horizontal axis of rotation about which the whole of the upper bending unit can rotate between a working position where the working cylinder is turned down and an inverted maintenance and disassembly position where the cylinder work is facing up.

Preferably, the chassis of each upper bending unit is supported, at least at its end opposite to the dismantling side, on at least one running rail mounted in the frame and extending transversely at least over the entire width of the latter. ci, by means of at least one rolling roller connected to the support member of the corresponding end of the chassis, by a movable connecting piece between a raised position and a position lowered to an adjustable level, for which the upper bending unit is respectively in the rest position and in the working position.

The means for controlling the transverse movement of the flexion units advantageously comprise a transfer carriage movable transversely between a position for taking over at least one flexion unit and the disassembly position. In a particularly advantageous manner, the transfer carriage comprises at least one support part of the chassis of at least one bending unit, comprising a means for detachably fixing the support member of the end of the chassis turned to the side dismantling, and the machine frame is provided with rails and bearings extending transversely over its entire width and on which the support member of the opposite end of the chassis of the bending unit is supported, by l '' of rollers.

In a preferred embodiment, the support member of the chassis of each upper flexion unit placed on the disassembly side comprises a pin centered on the horizontal axis of rotation and rotating in a bearing mounted in an annular piece forming a bearing body and the removable fixing means of said support member comprises a jack mounted on the corresponding support piece of the transfer carriage and whose rod is provided with a stud capable of engaging in a corresponding housing of the bearing body, this the latter can rest on a support plate associated with said stud.

Furthermore, the support member for the chassis of the flexion unit, placed on the side opposite to the dismantling side, comprises a pin centered on the horizontal axis of rotation of the assembly and rotating in a bearing mounted in a flange support bearing on two corresponding running rails by means of two rollers. To allow the upper flexion unit to move between its rest position and the working position, the two support rollers of the support flange are each mounted at a free end of an arm, the opposite end of which is mounted pivoting about a horizontal axis on the support flange, the length of which is greater than the difference in height between the rest position and the extreme working position of the bending unit, the two arms being associated with an elastic means of return to the rest position.

However, the invention will be better understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment, given by way of example and shown in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows the whole leveling machine, seen from the operator side.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view along line II-II of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail view of a bending unit.

Figure 4 is an end view along arrow IV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail view, in cross section to the axis of rotation, of the support member on the disassembly side.

Figure 1 shows, in side view, a fairly complete leveling machine equipped with four bending units for leveling, two upper units A1, A2 and two lower units B1, B2, a bending unit C for tile correction and a bending unit D for the hanger correction. The metal strip M, driven by unrepresented means of travel control and of tensioning passes between the different bending units along a mean travel plane P, defined by deflection rollers E, placed at the two ends of the machine. Other deflector rollers F can be associated with the different bending units between which the strip follows an undulating path, the amplitude of which depends on the respective positions of the different bending units.

The whole machine is placed inside a rigid frame 1 comprising in particular two sides 10 and a base 11, and with which is associated a carriage 2 for dismantling the different bending units.

To fix the ideas, the following description refers to the bending units for leveling such as A₁, A₂, B₁, B₂ but the arrangements described would be directly applicable to the other bending units C and D.

In Figure 2, there is shown by way of example, and in the disassembly position, two bending units, respectively an upper unit 3 and a lower unit 3 '. As seen in more detail in Figures 3 4, each bending unit such as the upper unit 3 comprises an elongated frame consisting of a beam 30 extending between two end pieces 31, 31 'and carrying a working cylinder 4 which rests on two intermediate cylinders 41. The working cylinder 4 as well as the intermediate cylinders 41 are rotatably mounted around parallel axes 40 between stops 32 carried by the end pieces 31, 31 '. Furthermore, the two intermediate cylinders 41 are supported on three rows of rollers 42 rotatably mounted on the beam 30 around axes of rotation 43 parallel to the axes 40 of the cylinders.

Each flexure unit 3, 3 'is mounted to slide vertically in the frame along parallel guide faces 39 cooperating with corresponding faces 16 formed on the uprights 10 of the frame, and is associated with means 12, 12' for controlling the vertical movements allowing each flexion unit 3, 3 ′ to pass from a rest position separated from the strip M to a working position, the level of which is fixed by stops.

In known manner, the means 12 for moving the upper unit 3 are generally double-acting hydraulic cylinders to which the chassis 30 is attached. On the other hand, the means 12 'for moving the lower unit 3' can be simple mechanical jacks on which the unit 3 'is placed and which also make it possible to adjust the position of the latter, returning to the rest position. by gravity.

According to the essential characteristic of the invention, the chassis 3 of the upper bending unit is rotatably mounted on two support members 5 and 6, by means of two pins 33, 34 placed respectively at its two ends and centered on a horizontal axis 35 parallel to the axis 40 of the working cylinder 4.

The support member 5 placed on the dismantling side, that is to say on the operator side, comprises an annular part 51 constituting a bearing body in which the pin 33 is rotatably mounted.

The support member 6 placed on the opposite side, that is to say on the control side, itself comprises a flange 61 carrying a bearing body 62 in which the pin 34 is rotatably mounted.

Furthermore, the beam 3 is provided with suspension members 36 which can be removably engaged on jacks 12 fixed on the sides 10 of the frame and constituting the means for controlling the vertical movement of the bending unit 3. As seen in particular in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the rod of each cylinder 12 can be provided with an enlarged head 13 which can slide into a mortise 37 formed on the corresponding suspension part 36 of the chassis 30.

In the working position shown in Figure 1, the frame 30 of the upper flexion unit 3 is therefore fixed by the parts 36 to the rods 13 of the two support cylinders 12 which allow the flexion unit to be placed 3, either in a raised rest position for which the working cylinder 4 is moved away from the passage plane P of the strip, or in a lowered position, for which the working cylinder 4 is at a working level adjusted by stops and allowing to apply a determined flexion to the strip M.

It can be seen that the bending unit 3 can be detached from the jacks 12 by simple horizontal displacement parallel to the axes 40 of the cylinders.

For this purpose, the dismantling carriage 2 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is used.

As can be seen in particular in FIG. 2, the carriage 2 comprises a horizontal frame 21 bearing on the floor 15 by means of rollers 22 and being able to move horizontally and in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of travel under the action of a jack 23 whose body is articulated on the frame 10 of the machine and whose rod is articulated on the chassis 21 of the carriage 2. The latter can thus take two positions, respectively a position of support for which the frame 21 is threaded into the base 11 of the frame 10 of the machine and a disassembly position, shown in Figure 2, for which the frame 21 is spaced laterally on the operator side.

The transfer carriage 2 further comprises support pieces 24, 25 in the form of an easel, integral with the horizontal frame 21 and extending vertically on different levels corresponding respectively to the different bending units. In particular, as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the easel 24 for supporting the upper bending unit 3 extends to a level slightly lower than that of the axis of rotation 35 and is provided a removable fixing member of the support member 5, placed on the operator side, and which may be constituted by a jack 7. As shown in detail in FIG. 5, the jack 7 comprises a body 71 mounted on the easel 24 optionally by means of shims of adjustable thicknesses and a rod 72 which is provided with a support plate 73 and a stud 74.

When the transfer carriage 2 is placed in the take-up position, the easel 24 is aligned with the support member 5 and, by actuating the jack 7, the plate 73 comes to bear on the bearing body 51 which is provided with a housing 52 in which the stud 74 engages.

The support member 6 placed at the opposite end of the chassis 30 of the flexion unit 3 bears itself, by means of rolling rollers 63, on horizontal rails 14 extending transversely between the two 10 sides of the frame. To allow vertical movement of the chassis 30, each roller 63 is mounted at the free end of an arm 64, the other end of which is articulated, around a horizontal axis 65, on the flange 61 of the member support 6. Springs 66 stretched between each arm 64 and an attachment piece 67 secured to the flange 61 make it possible to maintain the chassis 30 in the raised position shown in FIG. 2 and for which the suspension pieces 36 are at the level heads 13 of the control cylinders 12. Screws 68 make it possible to adjust the upper position in which the chassis 30 is returned under the action of the springs 66 so that, in this position, the mortises 37 are located exactly at the desired level.

It can therefore be seen that, when the transfer carriage 2 is threaded into the frame 10 in the supported position and the actuator 7 has been actuated, the flexion unit 3 is carried, on the operator side, by the easel 24 and the jack 7, and on the opposite side by the rollers 63. If the transfer carriage 2 is then moved aside laterally by means of the jack 23, the support member 5, linked to the bridge 24 by the stud 74, drives moving the bending unit 3, the other of which end rolls on the rails 14 via the rollers 63.

Conversely, if the carriage 2 carrying the bending unit 3 is brought back inside the frame 1, the suspension parts 36 engage on the heads 13 of the jacks 12 which support the bending unit 3 The transfer frame 2 is then moved aside and the bending unit 3 can be lowered. The arms 64, which can rotate around their axes 65 with simple tensioning of the springs 66, do not oppose the vertical displacement of the unit 3.

When the upper unit 3 is in the disassembly position shown in Figure 2, it is possible to rotate it, for example manually, around the horizontal axis 35 defined by the pins 33 and 34, the assembly being able to be balanced to facilitate turning. Preferably, the unit 3 is locked in the inverted position by suitable means which will be described later.

In this inverted position, the working cylinder 4 is turned upwards by resting on the intermediate cylinders 41 and it is therefore easy to intervene on the cylinders, for example to clean, repair or replace them.

Such an intervention can be carried out either on site or in the workshop. The unit 3 can in fact be transported in its inverted position by means of hooks 48 placed at the level of the cylinders, or else of bars passing through holes 49 made in the chassis 30. In this way, it is avoided having to turn over unit 3 in the workshop, this operation being made more easily on site thanks to the arrangements according to the invention.

Of course, it is also possible to transport the upper unit 3 in its normal position, by means of hooks 38 fixed to the chassis 30 on the side opposite to the cylinders.

A means for locking the chassis 30 in the position reversed is shown in detail, by way of example, in Figure 5.

As can be seen, the support member 5 is provided with a fixing device 53 comprising a finger 54 which can engage in a bore 55 diametrically passing through the pin 33. The support member 6, placed on the opposite side , is fitted with a similar fixing device. The chassis 30 is thus fixed in the inverted position presented in FIG. 3. In this position, each working cylinder 4 is turned upwards and simply rests on the intermediate cylinders 41, the latter resting themselves on the three rows of rollers 42.

The same provisions can be applied to the de-camber unit D. In this case, the de-camber cylinder must have a larger diameter and can possibly resist bending alone by resting on its bearings 32, the support rollers 42 then being deleted.

The invention therefore makes it possible to intervene very easily on the bending unit 3 in order to maintain or replace one or the other of the cylinders 4 and 41 as well as the support rollers 42, if necessary. Then, it suffices to remove the two pins 54 and rotate the frame 30 to bring it back to the working position for which the working rolls are turned downwards.

It will be noted that, if the whole of the bending unit 3 is well balanced around the axis 35, the pins 54 do not have to undergo a significant force for maintaining the bending unit in one either of the two positions. In service, the support members 5 and 6 and, consequently, the pins 54, do not have to undergo any effort, the chassis 30 being guided by plane faces 39 sliding along corresponding faces 15 formed on the uprights 10 of the machine frame.

The provisions which have just been described may be applied to all the flexion units higher, that is to say, in the case of FIG. 1, the units A1 and A2 as well as the unit D for bending or bending. On the other hand, the lower units such as B1 and B2 as well as the tile correction unit C do not need to be pivotally mounted since the working rolls are directed upwards. In addition, the internal flexion unit can be returned to the rest position under the action of its own weight. This is why, as can be seen in FIG. 2, each lower bending unit 3 ′ will be mounted in a simpler manner, the support members being eliminated.

Therefore, the end plate 311 turned on the operator side is provided with a simple console portion 350 which can rest on a jack 75 mounted on the bridge 25 and whose rod is provided, as before, with a stud. coming to engage in a corresponding housing of the console 350 so that the chassis 30 ′ is driven by the transfer carriage 2 for disassembly.

At the other end of the chassis 30 ', the opposite plate 312 bears directly on rails 14' by means of rollers 63 '.

In its lower part, the chassis 30 'can be provided with hooking members 37' which engage on the actuator rods 12 'for controlling the movement which, in the example shown, are mechanical jacks.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the details of the embodiment which has just been described by way of example, the arrangements provided for dismantling or turning over the bending units can be modified without departing from the scope. protection defined by the claims, in particular to adapt to other embodiments of the bending units or to other types of leveling machines.

In particular, the arrangements described with reference to an upper leveling unit such as A₁ or A₂, also apply to any other bending unit such as, for example, in Figure 1, the decambrage unit D.

Furthermore, a conventional installation has been described in which the anti-tile crew C is below the product and the stripping crew D, above. For convenience of construction or by necessity of process, this provision could, however, be reversed, the anti-tile crew being placed in the upper part. The arrangements described for the upper leveling units could then advantageously be applied to an anti-tile bending unit thus placed.

Claims (13)

1. An installation for the stretch-levelling, of strip metal, comprising means for controlling the displacement of the strip in a longitudinal direction with retention under tension, and a temper rolling machine (1) comprising, inside a stand (10), at least two bending units (3, 3') offset in the travelling direction of the strip, respectively an upper unit (3) and a lower unit (3') which are placed respectively above and below the strip, each bending unit (3, 3') being mounted vertically sliding inside the stand (10) along guiding means (16,39) and associated with means (12, 12') for the separate control of vertical displacements, transversely to the plane in which the strip runs, between a working position and a rest position spaced apart from the strip, each bending unit (3, 3') comprising a frame (30) extending transversely between two ends (31,31',311,312) placed on either side of the strip and carrying at least one work cylinder (4) mounted rotatably about a transverse axle (40) said frame (30) being able to engage removably on said guiding means (16) and control means (12,12') for the vertical displacements of the corresponding bending unit, characterized in that the frame (30) of at least one upper bending unit (3) is mounted rotatably on two aligned journals (33, 34) rotating respectively in two support members (5, 6) placed respectively at the two ends of the frame (30) and defining a horizontal axis of rotation (35) about which the whole of the upper bending unit (3) can rotate between a working position in which the work cylinder (4) points downwards and an inverted maintenance and disassembly position in which the work cylinder (4) points upwards.
2. The levelling installation according to claim 1, in which the bending units (3,3') are mounted on a carriage (2) displaceable transversely to the running direction between a working position inside the stand (10) of the machine (1) and a disassembly and maintenance position spaced apart of the outside of the stand (10) on a side thereof, each upper bending unit (3) bearing at its opposed end (31) by means of at least one roller (63) on at least one rolling track (14) mounted in the stand (10) and extending transversely at least on the whole width thereof, characterized in that each roller (63) is linked to the support member (6) of the corresponding end (31) of the frame (30) of the bending unit (3) by a connecting element (64) moveable between an upper position and a lower position at an adjusting level for which the upper bending unit (3) is respectively in the rest position and in the working position.
3. The levelling installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the support member (5) of the end (31') of the frame (30) of each upper bending unit (3) provided towards the disassembly side comprises an annular piece (51) forming a bearing body in which is rotatably mounted the corresponding journal (33) of the frame (30) and resting on a bearing piece (24) transversely movable with respect to the direction of displacement and provided with a removable fastening means (7) of the support member (5) for the selectively control of the bending unit (3) between the work position and the disassembly position.
4. The levelling installation according to claim 3, characterized in that the removable fastening means (7) of the support member (5) comprises a jack (71) mounted on the corresponding bearing piece (24) of the transfer carriage (2) and the rod (72) of which is equipped with a stud (74) capable of engaging in a corresponding receptacle (52) of the bearing body (51), it being possible for the latter to rest on a support plate (73) associated with said stud (74).
5. The levelling installation according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the support member (6) of the frame (30) of the upper bending unit (3) placed on the side opposite the disassembly side comprises an end block (61) carrying a bearing body (67) in which is rotatably mounted a journal (34) integral with the end (31) of the frame (30) and centered on the horizontal axis of rotation (35), said end block (61) bearing on the two corresponding running rails (14) via two rollers (63).
6. The levelling installation according to claim 5, characterized in that the two bearing rollers (63) of the support end block (61) are each mounted at one free end of an arm (64), the opposite end of which is mounted pivotably about a horizontal axle (65) on the support end block (61) and the length of which is greater than the difference in height between the rest position and the extreme working position of the bending unit (3), the two arms (64) being associated with an elastic means (66) for returning the frame (30) into its rest position.
7. The levelling installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the two support members (5, 6) is equipped with a member (54) for locking the frame (30) of the bending unit (3) at least in the inverted position.
8. The levelling installation according to claim 7 characterized in that the member for locking the frame (30) comprises a stud (54) mounted so as to slide on the support member (5,6) transversely to the journal (33,34) and engaging detachably in a bore (55) formed in said journal (33,34).
9. The levelling installation according to claim 8, characterized in that the bore (55) in which the locking stud (54) engages passes diametrally through the journal (33,34) so as to create two locking positions of the frame (30), in the working position and in the inverted maintenance position respectively.
10. The levelling installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (30) of the upper bending unit (3) is equipped with hooking means (48,49) for transporting the unit (3) in the inverted position.
11. The levelling installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stand (10) is provided at the level of each bending unit respectively upper (3) or lower (3') with at least one rail (14,14') extending transversely at least on the whole width of the stand and on which bears the corresponding frame (30,30') at least at its end (31 ,312) opposite the disassembly side by means of at least one roller (63,63').
12. The levelling installation according to claim 11, characterized in that each bending unit respectively upper (3) or lower (3') rests at its end (31',311) provided towards the disassembly side on a bearing piece (24,25) movable transversely with respect to the direction of displacement and equipped with a removable fastening means of the corresponding end (31',311) of the frame (30) for the selective control of the corresponding bending unit (3,3') between the working position and the disassembly position, the opposite end (31,312) of the frame (30) rolling on the rails (14).
13. The levelling installation according to claim 12, characterized in that it is provided with transfer carriage (2) movable transversely between a first take up position of at least one bending unit (3,3') and a second disassembly position, said carriage (2) comprising a frame (21) liable in the take up position to engage the base (11) of the stand (10) and bearing at its end provided towards the disassembly side, a plurality of bearing pieces (24,25) extending vertically on different levels corresponding to the different bending units (3,3').

Images