EP3883703B1 - Quickly changeable rolling stand - Google Patents

Description

technical field

The invention relates to an interchangeable rolling stand for a rolling installation, preferably for rolling cylindrical rolling stock such as rods, seamless tubes and/or wires, which can be moved along a maintenance direction between a working position and a maintenance position.

Background of the Invention

In the production of cylindrical rolling stock, such as rods, seamless tubes and wires, stretch-reducing and/or sizing mills are used, which have several rolling stands arranged one behind the other in the conveying direction of the rolling stock. The roll stands usually have three rolls which are arranged symmetrically around the cylindrical rolling stock at angular intervals of 120°. However, constructions with fewer or more rolls per roll stand are also known.

the WO 2017/068533 A1 describes a rolling mill with a first section, which has several roll stands and is set up for rolling over a mandrel introduced into the tube, and a second section, which has several roll stands and is set up for rolling without a mandrel. The roll stands each have three rolls. Rolling mills for rolling metal rods and wires with a plurality of roll stands arranged on a rolling line are also disclosed, for example, in US Pat DE 38 30 101 A1 which forms the basis for the preamble of claim 1, DE 39 40 736 A1 , DE 100 15 285 A1 such as DE 101 08 418 A1 described.

All or some rolling stands of a rolling train can be set up to be exchangeable in order to service them outside of the rolling train. A change in the dimensions to be rolled, for example when a roll stand is to be equipped with rolls of different caliber cross-sections, requires the relevant ones to be moved out Rolling mills from the rolling train or is thereby at least made considerably easier. This applies in particular to the last roll stands, seen in the rolling direction, since these, as “finishing roll stands”, may have to cover a large product range. Frequent changes in dimensions are the rule here. The fact that rolling stands can be replaced means that rolling operations can be maintained while rolling stands outside the rolling train are being prepared for use. In this way, interruptions in the rolling operation are kept to a minimum. According to the one cited above DE 100 15 285 A1 For this purpose, rolling stands are moved out of and into the rolling train via stand-changing carriages.

In order to extend a roll stand from the rolling train, it is necessary to separate the media supply lines required for the control and operation of the roll stand, for example for the operation of the hydraulics, the electrics, for the lubrication as well as the water and air supply, via media couplings from the roll stand and after to be reconnected to the roll stand after maintenance or roll changes.

However, media couplings are prone to wear and failure. Repeatedly mating the contacts or needles on the media couplers can cause contact problems; for example, the needles can bend, dirt and liquids can get caught in the media couplings, and the like. This can directly lead to electrical faults or dropouts during operation. Robust media couplings that are sealed against external influences, especially for hydraulic applications, are large and expensive. The elimination of any flow resistance also requires generous dimensioning. In addition, the media couplings are often difficult to access if they are arranged, for example, below the coupling between the gearbox and the changing unit of the roll stand. Due to the separation of the media lines, the roll stands outside the rolling line are also electrically and hydraulically unconnected. On the one hand, this means that preheating the roll stand outside of the rolling line requires special technical measures. On the other hand, for example, rotary encoders of adjustment motors can lose their position if the voltage is lost. Thus, the restart of the roll stand after maintenance or a change involves a not inconsiderable amount of effort.

the JP 2013-068303 A describes a mounting structure for attaching a cable protector for protecting and guiding a cable to a movable member.

Presentation of the invention

An object of the invention is to specify an improved interchangeable rolling stand for a rolling installation, preferably for rolling cylindrical rolling stock such as rods, seamless tubes and/or wires, which overcomes at least one of the technical problems set out above.

The object is achieved with an interchangeable roll stand with the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments follow from the dependent claims, the following general description of the invention and the description of preferred exemplary embodiments.

The interchangeable roll stand according to the invention is part of a rolling mill or is designed for such a mill. The rolling mill is preferably set up for rolling cylindrical rolling stock, such as rods, seamless tubes and/or wires. The roll stand preferably has at least two rolls. The rolls are preferably arranged symmetrically around the cylindrical stock to apply a rolling force to the outer periphery of the stock. The rolling mill preferably has a number of interchangeable roll stands. The rolling stock is transported through the rolling mill along the rolling direction on a route referred to below as the "rolling line".

According to the invention, the interchangeable roll stand can be moved between a working position and a maintenance position along at least one direction, which is referred to below as the “maintenance direction”. The working position is accordingly on the rolling line, with the rolling stand being arranged in the working position in such a way that a rolling stock which is transported along the rolling line can be rolled by the rolls of the rolling stand. In contrast, the maintenance position is outside the rolling line. In the maintenance position can For example, maintenance work is carried out on the roll stand. A change in the dimensions to be rolled, for example when the roll stand is to be equipped with rolls of changed caliber cross-sections, requires the relevant roll stand to be moved out of the rolling line or is at least made considerably easier as a result. This applies in particular to the last stands, seen in the rolling direction, since these, as "finishing rolling stands", may cover a large product range. Frequent changes in dimensions are the rule here. Because the roll stand can be replaced, rolling operations can be maintained while the roll stand is being prepared outside the rolling line for later use. In this way, interruptions in rolling operations can be kept to a minimum.

According to the invention, the roll stand has at least one media line, which transports a medium used for the operation of the roll stand, preferably electricity and/or a fluid. The term "media" includes, for example, electricity for powering electric actuators of the roll stand and/or for exchanging sensor signals, fluids, such as oil and/or water, for supplying hydraulic actuators, for lubrication, cooling and the like. It should be noted that the features, technical properties and effects described herein apply equally to the case of multiple media lines, even if the singular is mostly used for the sake of linguistic simplicity.

According to the invention, the roll stand also has a cable towing device that is set up in such a way that the roll stand can be moved along the maintenance direction by the distance between the working position and the maintenance position without having to separate the media line from the roll stand.

The cable towing device allows the roll stand to be transferred from the working position on the rolling line to the maintenance position without the use of media couplings. If the roll stand has a media coupler, the media line can remain connected for maintenance, stand replacement, and the like, thereby improving its durability. The electrical and/or hydraulic contacts are spared, none can Impurities, oil and dirt enter the media coupling, improving mill stand reliability both at start-up and during operation. In this way, potential sources of error are eliminated by the cable towing device. In addition, the electrical and/or hydraulic and/or other functions (lubrication, cooling, heating, etc.) are also available in the maintenance position of the roll stand. This makes it easier, for example, to preheat the roll stand outside the rolling line. Sensors such as rotary encoders, pressure transmitters, thermometers, etc., actuators and other electronic devices of the rolling mill do not have to be disconnected from the mains during maintenance or during changeover, which simplifies their restart.

The maintenance direction is preferably perpendicular to the rolling line, as a result of which the rolling stand can be moved in and out of the rolling line in a space-saving manner in a technically simple manner. It should be noted that the rolling line is clearly defined not only by the rolling mill, but also by the structure of the rolling stand itself, in particular by the location of the rolls. Likewise, terms of the spatial relationship, such as "above", "below", "horizontal", etc., are clearly defined by the usual arrangement of a rolling mill and its roll stands.

The roll stand is preferably located on a drag plate, for example firmly connected, which can be moved in the horizontal plane at least along the maintenance direction. The drag plate is a plate-shaped or frame-shaped beam that supports the roll stand in a movable manner. In the working position of the roll stand, the cable towing device is preferably located below the towing plate, for example in a shaft provided for this purpose. For reasons of space, the cable towing device can be installed below the hall floor in particular. The chute preferably extends substantially along the pass line. In this case, when the roll stand is in the working position, the relevant section of the shaft is at least partially covered by the drag plate. Outside the working position, the shaft can also be covered, for example by another towing plate or by a protective plate. The drive motor of the roll stand can be mounted on the drag plate or coupled in the foundation, for example via a shaft / gear coupling.

The cable towing device preferably has a cable towing system, hereinafter referred to as “cable towing system in the maintenance direction”, which has a guide frame and at least one cable drag chain that can be rolled on the guide frame. The cable drag chain is preferably made up of a number of chain links which are pivotably connected to one another. The chain links have receiving sections that hold and guide the media line, allowing it to follow the winding and unwinding movement of the cable drag chain in a well-defined manner without kinking or tangling. The maximum deflection radii to which the media line is exposed are determined by the dimensions and properties of the chain links and/or the properties of the cables running in them.

Preferably, the rolling stand can also be moved along a changing direction that differs from the maintenance direction, for example perpendicular to it, with the cable towing device being set up in such a way that the rolling stand can be moved along the maintenance direction and the changing direction by the desired distance, without the Having to separate the media line from the roll stand. The ability to move along a second direction, referred to here as "changing direction", enables or simplifies the exchange of roll stands.

In this case, the cable towing device preferably has a further cable towing system, which is referred to as an "inverted cable towing system". Like the cable drag system, this can also have a guide frame and at least one cable drag chain that can be rolled on the guide frame in the maintenance direction. The cable drag chain of the cable drag system in the alternating direction is preferably made up of several Chain links constructed, which are pivotally connected to each other. The chain links have receiving sections that hold and guide the media line, allowing it to follow the winding and unwinding movement of the cable drag chain in a well-defined manner without kinking or tangling. The maximum deflection radii to which the media line is exposed are determined by the dimensions and properties of the chain links and/or the properties of the cables running in them.

While the guide frame of the cable towing system is preferably firmly anchored in the alternating direction, for example in the shaft below the rolling stand, the guide frame of the cable towing system is mounted so that it can be moved in the maintenance direction, preferably in the direction of the rolling line, in order to compensate for a movement of the rolling stand along the changing direction.

The roll stand preferably has at least two media lines, one media line being an oil supply line and the other being an electrical line, preferably a power cable. Potentially unsafe interruptions in the power supply can be prevented by taking into account one or more electrical lines in the cable towing device. In addition, the roll stand can be brought into an operating state or kept in such a state by means of a permanent oil supply "offline", i.e. outside the rolling line, for example kept at the right temperature. This means that the roll stand is ready for use more quickly.

The one or more media lines are preferably permanently connected to a section of the roll stand, "permanently" not meaning here that the media lines are in principle inseparably connected to the roll stand, but rather that no media couplings are required for frequent disconnection and release of the Media lines are designed, are available. On the other hand, the cable dragging device described is also useful in connection with installed media couplings, since in this case the wear of the media couplings can be reduced and thus the service life of the same can be extended.

Further advantages and features of the present invention can be seen from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments. The features described there can be implemented on their own or in combination with one or more of the features set out above, insofar as the features do not contradict one another. The following description of the preferred embodiments is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the character

the figure 1 is a three-dimensional view showing a section of a roll stand outside the rolling train of a wire rod rolling plant and the connection to a cable towing device.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Preferred exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to the figure.

the figure 1 is a three-dimensional view showing a detail of a roll stand 10 outside the rolling train of a rolling mill 1 and the connection to a cable towing device 20.

In the embodiment shown, the rolling plant 1 is a wire rod rolling plant, but it can also be a plant for rolling any cylindrical rolling stock, such as tubes or rods.

The technical details of the roll stand 10, in particular the construction and storage of the rolls, adjusting motors, etc., are in FIG figure 1 not shown, since the following is less about the rolling function and instead about the transport of the rolling stand 10 in and out of the rolling line and its media connection.

The roll stand 10 is located on a movable drag plate 11. The drag plate 11 can be moved in a horizontal plane in a direction Wa at an angle, preferably perpendicular, to the rolling line via rollers, a rail system or in some other way. The Wa direction is referred to herein as the "maintenance direction" because it indicates the direction from the pass line to a maintenance position (and back). In the figure 1 the roll stand 10 is in such a maintenance position outside the rolling line, on which maintenance of the roll stand 10, an exchange of rolls and the like can be carried out. In comparison, in the background is the figure 1 a roll stand 10' is shown which is in the working position, ie on the rolling line. It should be noted that a drive motor of the roll stand 10 can be mounted on the drag plate 11 . Alternatively, the drive motor can also be coupled in the foundation, for example via a shaft/curved gear coupling.

The drag plate 11 can preferably be moved not only in the maintenance direction Wa, but also outside the rolling line along a further direction We, preferably parallel to the rolling line. This further direction is referred to herein as "alternating direction". The ability to move along the changing direction We enables or at least simplifies the replacement of the roll stand 10.

The roll stand 10 is connected to media lines 12 which transport media for the operation of the roll stand 10 . The term "media" includes, for example, electricity for the power supply of electrical actuators and/or for the exchange of sensor signals, fluids such as oil and/or water for the supply of hydraulic actuators, for lubrication, cooling and the like. The media lines 12 are preferably permanently connected to the roll stand 10, whereby "permanently" here does not mean that the media lines 12 are in principle inseparably connected to the roll stand 10, but rather that no media couplings, which are necessary for frequent disconnection and release of the media lines 12 are designed, are present. On the other hand, the cable towing device 20 described below is also in connection with installed media couplings useful because in this case the wear of the media couplings can be reduced and thus the service life of the same can be extended.

The media lines 12 are held and guided by the cable towing device 20 . The media lines 12 and the cable towing device 20 are set up in such a way that the roll stand 10 can be moved along the required distance along the maintenance direction Wa and optionally the alternating direction We without the media lines 12 having to be separated from the roll stand 10 . In other words, it must be possible for the cable towing device 20 to compensate for the mobility of the roll stand 10 via the towing plate 11 along the directions of movement Wa, We.

The cable towing device 20 is preferably located below the hall floor 13 in a shaft 14 provided for this purpose, which extends below the rolling line essentially along the same. In the working position of the roll stand 10, the relevant section of the shaft 14 is covered by the drag plate 11. Outside of the working position, the shaft 14 can also be covered, for example by another drag plate 11 or by a protective plate.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the cable towing device 20 has a first cable towing system 30, also referred to as "cable towing system in the alternating direction", and a second cable towing system 40, also referred to as "cable towing system in the maintenance direction", which are respectively used to realize the movement along the alternating direction We and the Maintenance direction Wa are set up.

The first cable drag system 30 has a guide frame 31 and one or more cable drag chains 32 . The guide frame 31 is firmly anchored in the shaft 14, while the cable drag chain 32 can be rolled on the guide frame 31, ie along the alternating direction We. For this purpose, the cable drag chain 32 has several chain links 33, which are similar to a bicycle chain are movably, in particular pivotably, connected to one another. Furthermore, the chain links 33 have receiving sections 34 with openings through which the media lines 12 pass. In this way, the media lines 12 are held and guided by the cable drag chain 32, thereby following the rolling and unrolling movement of the same in a well-defined manner without becoming kinked or becoming tangled. The deflection radii to which the media lines 12 are maximally exposed are determined by the dimensioning and nature of the chain links 33 and/or by the nature of the cables running therein.

The second cable drag system 40 is constructed similarly to the first cable drag system 30, wherein the unwinding direction of the cable drag chain 42 is perpendicular to the unwinding direction of the cable drag chain 32 to realize the movement along the maintenance direction Wa. For this purpose, the second cable drag system 40 has a guide frame 41 and one or more cable drag chains 42 . The guide frame 41 is movably mounted in the shaft 14 in order to compensate for a movement of the roll stand 10 along the changing direction We. The cable drag chain 42 can be rolled on the guide frame 41, i.e. along the maintenance direction Wa. For this purpose, the cable drag chain 42 has, as in the case of the first cable drag system 30, a plurality of chain links 43 which are movably, in particular pivotably, connected to one another in a manner similar to a bicycle chain. Furthermore, the chain links 43 have receiving sections 44 with openings through which the media lines 12 pass. In this way, the media lines 12 are supported and guided by the cable drag chain 42, thereby following the rolling and unrolling movement of the same in a well-defined manner without becoming kinked or tangling. The maximum deflection radii to which the media lines 12 are exposed are determined by the dimensioning and nature of the chain links 43 and/or by the nature of the cables running therein.

It should be pointed out that the cable towing systems 30 and 40 can also be implemented in other technical ways. For example, the guide frames 31, 41 interact with corresponding carriages which Holding / leading media lines 12 and are movably mounted by means of a slide rail system or rollers.

The cable towing device 20 allows the rolling stand 10 to be transferred from the working position on the rolling line to a maintenance or replacement position without media couplings. If the mill stand 10 has media couplers, the media lines can remain coupled for maintenance or replacement of the mill stand 10, thereby improving their durability. Any electrical and hydraulic contacts are not affected, no dirt, oil and dirt penetrate into the media couplings, which improves the reliability of the roll stand 10 both during commissioning and during operation. Potential sources of error can be eliminated in this way. In addition, the electrical, hydraulic and/or other functions are also available in the maintenance or changing position of the roll stand 10 . This makes it easier, for example, to preheat the roll stand in the offline position. Sensors such as rotary encoders, pressure transmitters, thermometers, etc., actuators and other equipment of the roll stand 10 do not have to be taken off the grid during maintenance or during changeover, which simplifies their restarting.

As far as applicable, all individual features that are presented in the exemplary embodiments can be combined with one another and/or exchanged without departing from the protective scope of the invention defined by the claims.

Reference List

1

rolling mill

10

mill stand

10'

mill stand

11

drag plate

12

media line

13

hall floor

14

shaft

20

cable towing device

30

Cable drag system in reverse direction

31

guide frame

32

cable drag chain

33

chain link

34

recording section

40

Cable drag system in maintenance direction

41

guide frame

42

cable drag chain

43

chain link

44

recording section

wha

maintenance direction

we

change direction

Claims (10)

1. Exchangeable roll stand (10) for a rolling installation, preferably for rolling cylindrical rolling materials, such as, for example, rods, seamless tubes and/or wires, which stand is movable along a maintenance direction (Wa) between a work position and a maintenance position and comprises:

   at least one media line (12) which transports a medium, preferably electricity and/or a fluid,

   used for operation of the roll stand (10);

   characterised by

   a cable drag device (20) which is so arranged that the roll stand (10) is movable along the maintenance direction (Wa) over the distance between the work position and the maintenance position without the media line (12) separating from the roll stand (10).
2. Roll stand (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the maintenance direction (Wa) is perpendicular to the rolling line defined by the rolling installation.
3. Roll stand (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that this is disposed on a drag plate (11), which is movable in horizontal plane at least along the maintenance direction (Wa), and the cable drag device (20) in the work position of the roll stand (10) is disposed below the drag plate (11), preferably in a shaft (14).
4. Roll stand (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cable drag device (20) comprises a cable drag system (40) in maintenance direction, which comprises a guide frame (41) and at least one cable drag chain (42), which can unwind on the guide frame (41).
5. Roll stand (10) according to claim 4, characterised in that the cable drag chain (42) comprises a plurality of chain links (43), which are pivotably connected together and have receiving sections (44) which hold and guide the media line (12).
6. Roll stand (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that this is additionally movable along an exchange direction (We), which differs from the maintenance direction (Wa) and is preferably perpendicular thereto, and the cable drag device (20) is so arranged that the roll stand (10) is movable along the maintenance direction (Wa) as well as the exchange direction (We) without the media line (12) separating from the roll stand (10).
7. roll stand (10) according to claim 6, characterised in that the cable drag device (20) comprises a cable drag system (30) in exchange direction, which comprises a guide frame (31) and at least one cable drag chain (32), which can unwind on the guide frame (31).
8. Roll stand (10) according to claim 7, characterised in that the cable drag chain (32) of the cable drag system (30) in exchange direction comprises a plurality of chain links (33) which are pivotably connected together and have receiving sections (34) which hold and guide the media line (12).
9. Roll stand (10) according to claim 4 and 7, characterised in that the cable drag system (40) in maintenance direction is movable relative to the cable drag system (30) in exchange direction, preferably parallel to the rolling line.
10. Roll stand (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that this comprises at least two media lines (12), wherein one media line (12) is an oil supply line and the other is an electrical line, preferably a power cable.

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