GB2569642A

GB2569642A - Lubricating rollers while rolling steel profiles

Info

Publication number: GB2569642A
Application number: GB1721698.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Larkin Stephen; Duncan Brown Stuart
Original assignee: Sealpump Engineering Ltd
Current assignee: Sealpump Engineering Ltd
Priority date: 2017-12-21
Filing date: 2017-12-21
Publication date: 2019-06-26
Also published as: GB201721698D0

Abstract

Spray nozzles (405,509, Figure 5) are configured to spray a lubricating-mixture onto one or more rollers 101, 102 for rolling hot steel profiles 201. A control-system (501) activates the spray nozzles only when rolling is being performed, such as by operating solenoid valves, and a delivery-system supplies the lubricating-mixture with sufficient pressure to penetrate a cascade of cooling water 204, 205. Separate sets of nozzles may be provided to spray from above the profile and below the profile in both forward-feed rolling and reverse-feed rolling. The mixture may comprise oil and water dosed into a mixing tanks and sustaining valve may return excess mixture to the tank.

Description

Lubricating Rollers while Rolling Steel Profiles

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application represents the first application for a patent directed towards the invention and the subject matter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for lubricating rollers while rolling steel profiles. The present invention also relates to a method of lubricating rollers while rolling a hot metal bar into a required profile.

It is known to deploy a lubricating-mixture over a rolling area when rolling a steel-profile. This can be achieved by manually bending and locating copper supply pipes that in turn provide a continual flow of lubricatingmixture during a working shift. A problem arises in that the copper supply pipes must be positioned to avoid cascades of cooling water. Thus, significant manual interventions are required during set-up procedures and substantial quantities of cooling lubricating-mixture are used.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for lubricating rollers while rolling steel profiles as set out in claim 1. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is 20 provided a method of lubricating rollers while rolling a hot metal bar into a required profile as set out in claim 11.

Embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The detailed embodiments show the best mode known to the inventor and provide 25 support for the invention as claimed. However, they are only exemplary and should not be used to interpret or limit the scope of the claims. Their purpose is to provide a teaching to those skilled in the art.

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows an individual station of a rolling-mill;

Figure 2 shows a top view of the station identified in Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a side view of the station identified in Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows a cross-section of a forward-upper-spray-bar;

Figure 5 shows control-systems for the station identified in Figure 1;

Figure 6 illustrates the operation of an individual nozzle;

Figure 7 shows an enlarged view of the top view of Figure 2; and

Figure 8 illustrates a delivery-system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1

An individual station of a rolling mill is illustrated in Figure 1. Hot steel bar is rolled between an upper-roller 101 and a lower-roller 102 in order to define a profile. During the rolling process, the upper-roller 101 and the lower-roller 102 become hot, therefore it is known to provide a cascade 103 of cooling water to maintain the temperature of the upper-roller 101 and the

• · · • · · • · · • · · temperature of lower-roller 102 within operational limits.

It is known in the art to introduce a lubricating-mixture to provide lubrication between the rollers and the steel being rolled. The lubricatingmixture, usually in the form of oil mixed with water, may be introduced via bendable copper pipes, such that exits from said pipes may be located close to the rolling-area. However, a problem with such a configuration is that manual intervention is required in order to reposition the copper pipes when the upper-roller 101 and the lower-roller 102 are replaced in order to define a different profile. It is therefore possible for the copper pipes to be missaligned, such that the lubricating-mixture does not reach the required rollingarea; resulting in unnecessary wear to the rollers.

Figure 2

A top view of the station of Figure 1 is illustrated in Figure 2. Upperroller 101 is shown engaging with a steel profile 201. The steel-profile 201 moves in a first direction, as illustrated by arrow 202. In some embodiments, the steel profile 201 may also move in a reverse direction, as illustrated by arrow 203. It is therefore possible for the profile 201 to be acted upon by the same upper-roller 101 and lower-roller 102 in a reciprocating fashion, before the profile 201 is passed on to the next station.

A leading-cascade 204 of cooling water is shown, along with a trailingcascade 205 of cooling water. In previous configurations, cooling tubes would be arranged to pass through the leading-cascade 204 and the trailing5 cascade 205 in order to present the lubricating-mixture to the rolling-area 206. The rolling-area 206 may be identified as having a rolling-width 207 and a rolling-depth 208.

In the embodiment shown in in Figure 2, spray nozzles are provided to collectively spray lubricating-mixture over the rolling-area 206. The spray 10 nozzles are supported by spray bars. In Figure 2, a forward-upper-spray-bar 209 is shown, along with a reverse-upper-spray-bar 210. The forward-upperspray-bar 209 directs the lubricating-mixture towards the rolling-area 206 on the upper-surface of the steel-profile 201 during forward rolling in the direction of arrow 202. Thus, the forward-upper-spray-bar 209 supports a 15 first-group of nozzles for spraying above the steel-profile 201, when the profile approaches a roller in the forward direction. In addition, a forwardlower-spray-bar, described with reference to Figure 3, supports a secondgroup of nozzles for spraying below the profile.

For rolling in the reverse direction, the reverse-upper-spray-bar 210 is 20 activated. The reverse-upper-spray-bar 210 supports a third-group of nozzles for spraying above the profile, when the profile approaches the roller in the reverse direction, as indicated by arrow 203. In this embodiment, as described with reference to Figure 3, a reverse-lower-spray-bar support a fourth-group of nozzles for spraying below the profile when rolling in the 25 reverse direction as indicated by arrow 203.

Figure 3

A side view of the station of Figure 1 is shown in Figure 3. This shows the steel-profile 201 being shaped by the upper-roller 101 and the lowerroller 102. Cooling water is received from a cooling-water-supply 301 to 30 provide water for the leading-cascade 204 and the trailing-cascade 205. The forward-upper-spray-bar 209 is shown along with the reverse-upper-spraybar 210. In addition, below the steel-profile 201, there is provided a forwardlower-spray-bar 302 and a reverse-lower-spray-bar 303. When rolling in the forward direction, as illustrated by arrow 202, nozzles in the forward-upper5 spray-bar 209 and nozzles in the forward-lower-spray-bar 302 are activated.

To conserve lubricating-mixture, these nozzles are only activated when rolling in the direction arrow 202 is actually occurring.

Similarly, when reverse-rolling in the direction of arrow 203, nozzles in the reverse-upper-spray-bar 201 are activated, along with nozzles in the 10 reverse-lower-spray-bar 303. At other times, all nozzles are closed and no lubricating-mixture is dispensed.

Thus, a control-system, described with reference to Figure 5, only activates the spray nozzles when rolling is actually being performed.

In previous systems, it is necessary for psychical pipes to penetrate • · · ·*··* 15 the leading-cascade 204 and possibly the trailing-cascade 205, in order to ·*”ί introduce the lubricating-mixture where it is required. The present invention is provided with a delivery-system that supplies the lubricating-mixture with sufficient pressure so has to penetrate the leading-cascade 204 or the trailing-cascade 205. To achieve this, a higher volume of the lubricating20 mixture may be required during a dispensing operation. However, overall, the total usage of the lubricating-mixture is reduced because the lubricatingmixture is only dispensed when rolling operations are actually being performed, either in the forward direction, as indicated by arrow 202, or in the reverse direction as indicated by arrow 203.

Figure 4

A cross-section of the forward-upper-spray-bar 209 is illustrated in Figure 4. An internal-cavity 401 is defined by a housing 402 and is enclosed by a housing-lid 403. A supply-conduit 404 supplies lubricating-mixture, under pressure, to a first-spray-nozzle 405. The first-spray-nozzle 405 may 30 be activated, to produce a spray of the lubricating-mixture, or may be de··· activated, and thereby effectively closed, by means of a solenoid-valve 406. The solenoid-valve 406 is in turn controlled by a control-cable 407, running the length of the forward-upper-spray-bar 209 to provide an individual control wire to each solenoid-valve within the spray bar. In an embodiment, each 5 spray bar may include, for example, thirty solenoid-valves each with a respective spray nozzle. Spray from the spray nozzle 405 is directed towards the rolling-area via an outlet-orifice 408.

Figure 5

The rolling-assembly described with reference to Figure 1 includes a 10 main-control-system 501 for supplying control signals to the rollers and other operational equipment via main-control-lines 502. In addition, the embodiment includes a lubrication-control-system 503. The lubricationcontrol-system 503 receives a control signal via a forward-control-line 504 indicating that forward rolling is being performed. Similarly, a reverse-control15 line 505 supplies a control signal from the main-control-system 501 to the lubrication-control-system 503 indicating that reverse rolling is being performed.

Upon receiving an indication that forward rolling is being performed, the lubrication-control-system 503 activates the forward-upper-spray-bar 209 20 via the control-cable 407. In addition, a second-control-cable 506 supplies control signals to the forward-lower-spray-bar 302.

When reverse rolling is being performed, a control signal is received on the reverse-control-line 505, resulting in the activation of a third-controlcable 507, activating the reverse-upper-spray-bar 210, along with an 25 activation signal on a fourth-control-cable 508 activating the reverse-lowerspray-bar 303

On the forward-upper-spray-bar 209, the first-spray-nozzle 405 is shown, along with additional spraying nozzles 509. In this embodiment, spray nozzles 405/509 cover the full rolling width 207. Thus, when activated, it is 30 possible for the whole rolling-area to receive the lubricating-mixture.

Figure 6

An individual nozzle 601, of the additional-spray-nozzles 509, is shown in Figure 6, attached to the forward-upper-spray-bar 209. When activated, nozzle 601 produces a spray 602 of lubricating-mixture. This strikes the rolling-area 206 over a region-of-spray 603. Furthermore, the nozzles 504 are distributed upon the forward-upper-spray-bar 209 in such a way that adjacent regions-of-spray slightly overlap, to ensure that the whole of the rolling-area 206 may be covered. Thus, there is a degree of overlap with upper-spray 604 from an upper-nozzle and overlap with a lower-spray 10 605 from a lower-nozzle. In an embodiment, all nozzles are activated when a spray-bar is activated, thereby providing lubricating-mixture over the fullrolling-width 207. However, lubricating-mixture is conserved because activation only occurs when actual rolling is taking place.

···

Figure 7

An enlarged version of the view of Figure 2 is shown in Figure 7, with the upper-roller 101 removed for illustrative purposes. The steel-profile 201 is shown moving in the forward-direction as indicated by arrow 202. Thus, the forward-upper-spray-bar 209 is activated, along with the forward-lower-spraybar, but the reverse-upper-spray-bar 210 and the reverse-lower-spray-bar are not activated. However, each nozzle 405/509 includes an independent solenoid-valve controlled by a respective wire within the control-cable 407.

Thus, it is possible for the lubrication-control-system 503 to control each of these valves independently.

During a set up procedure, the main control-system 501 is aware of a profile-width 701. This information is also conveyed to the lubrication-controlsystem 503. Thus, in an embodiment, the lubrication-control-system 503 activates solenoid-valves when the rolling is being performed at region-ofspray positions of the actual profile-width 701. Thus, in this embodiment, nozzles 702 in an active region are activated but nozzles outside the active region 702 remain de-activated. Thus, in this way, further conservation of lubricating-mixture is achieved while at the same time ensuring that the lubrication-mixture is supplied to locations where rolling is actually taking place.

In an embodiment, a similar approach is adopted for the forward5 lower-spray-bar, such that the control-system activates solenoid-valves in the spray-bars when rolling is being performed at a region-of-spray for the valve, within the rolling-area and the control-system de-activates each solenoidvalve when rolling is not being performed at a region-of-spray for that valve.

Thus, in an embodiment, the lubrication-control-system conserves 10 lubricating-mixture by firstly restricting the flow of the lubricating-mixture in the temporal domain. That is to say, lubricating-mixture is only supplied during times when actual rolling is taking place. When the rolling-operation is de-activated, the supply of lubricating-mixture is also de-activated, thereby conserving the mixture. Furthermore, in an embodiment, the lubrication15 control-system 503 is also responsible for conserving lubricating-mixture in the spatial domain. In particular, spraying is restricted to the profile-width 701, with nozzles outside the profile-width 701 being de-activated. Furthermore, it should also be appreciated that only the forward-upper-spraybar 209 and the forward-lower-spray-bar 302 are activated when rolling in the 20 forward-direction and the reverser-upper-spray-bar 210 on the reverse-lowerspray-bar 303 are only activated when rolling in the reverse direction.

Figure 8

The system described herein provides a method of lubricating-rollers while rolling a hot metal bar into a required profile. Spray nozzles are 25 arranged to collectively spray a lubricating-mixture over rolling-area. The lubricating-mixture is delivered to the spray nozzles at sufficient pressure to penetrate a cascade of cooling water and each spray nozzle is activated only when rolling is being performed.

As illustrated in Figure 8, the delivery of a lubricating-mixture to the 30 spray nozzles with sufficient pressure to penetrate the cascading cooling water is achieved by the provision of a first centrifugal-pump 801.

The delivery-system includes a water-tank 802 that receives water from a mains-water-supply 803. A second centrifugal-pump supplies water from the water-tank 802 to a dosing-unit 805 that also receives oil from an oil-tank 806.

In an embodiment, the dosing-unit 805 produces a lubricating-mixture that is 95% water/5% oil a high shear-mixer 807 creates an emulsion of the water/oil mixture that is received within a mixer-tank 808.

The first centrifugal-pump 801 receives lubricating-mixture from the mixer-tank 808 and supplies it to the spray-bars (shown generally at 809) via 10 a pressure-sustaining-valve 810. The pressure-sustaining-valve 810 returns excess lubricating-mixture to the mixer-tank 808. This is particularly relevant when working with active-regions 702 of variable size, given that the demand for the lubricating-mixture will vary depending upon the size of the activeregion 702. Thus, in this way, with the first centrifugal-pump 801 working in 15 combination with the pressure-sustaining-valve 810, the lubricating-mixture continues to be delivered to the spray nozzles at the required pressure, thereby penetrating the cascade of cooling water while providing an optimised degree of lubricating-mixture to the required rolling-area.

Claims

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for lubricating rollers while rolling steel profiles, comprising:

5 a plurality of spray nozzles configured to spray a lubricating-mixture onto one or more rollers, wherein:

said spray nozzles collectively spray said lubricating-mixture over a rolling-area;

a control-system activates said spray nozzles only when rolling is

10 being performed; and a delivery-system supplies said lubricating-mixture with sufficient pressure to penetrate a cascade of cooling water.

• ·· • · · • ·· • ·
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

a forward-upper-spray-bar supports a first-group of said nozzles for spraying above a profile, upon said profile approaching a roller in a forward direction; and a forward-lower-spray-bar supports a second-group of said nozzles for spraying below said profile.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein rolling is performed in a forward direction and rolling is also performed in a reverse direction.

25 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

a reverse-upper-spray-bar supports a third-group of said nozzles for spraying above a profile, upon said profile approaching a roller in a reverse direction; and a reverse-lower-spray-bar supports a fourth-group of said nozzles for

30 spraying below said profile.

5. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein:

said delivery-system includes a water-tank, an oil-tank and a dosingunit;

5 said dosing-unit receives water from said water-tank and oil from said oil-tank; and said dosing-unit provides said lubricating-mixture as a mixture of oil and water.

10 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said lubricating-mixture from said dosing-unit is supplied to a mixer-tank.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein: a pump supplies said lubricating-mixture from said mixer-tank to said

15 nozzles; and a pressure-sustaining-valve sustains said sufficient pressure to , penetrate said cascade of cooling water.

• ·

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said pressure sustaining valve returns excess lubricating-mixture to said mixer-tank.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 or claim 8, including a pressure reducing valve between said pressure-sustaining-valve and said nozzles.

25 10. The apparatus of any of claims 11 to 17, wherein:

each said nozzle includes a solenoid valve;

said control-system activates a said solenoid valve when said rolling is being performed at a region-of-spray for said valve, within said rolling-area; and

30 said control system de-activates each said solenoid valve when rolling is not being performed at said region-of-spray.

11. A method of lubricating rollers while rolling a hot metal bar into a required profile, comprising the steps of:

arranging a plurality of spray nozzles to collectively spray a lubricating5 mixture over a rolling-area;

delivering a lubricating-mixture to said spray nozzles at sufficient pressure to penetrate a cascade of cooling water; and controlling each said spray nozzle to activate only when rolling is being performed.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein rolling is performed in a forward direction and in a reverse direction.

13. The method of claim 11 or claim 12, wherein said delivering

15 step includes pumping said lubricating-mixture via a pressure-sustainingvalve, to sustain said sufficient pressure.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

said pumping step includes pumping said lubricating-mixture from a

20 mixer-tank; and said pressure-sustaining-valve returns excess lubricating-liquid to said mixer-tank.

15. The method of any of claims 11 to 14, wherein said controlling

25 step only activates nozzles that produce a region-of-spray at positions within said rolling-area where rolling is being performed.

AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS

1. An apparatus for lubricating rollers while rolling steel profiles, comprising:

a plurality of spray nozzles configured to spray a lubricating mixture onto 5 one or more rollers, wherein:

said spray nozzles collectively spray said lubricating mixture over a rolling area;

a control system activates said spray nozzles only when rolling is being performed and only activates spray nozzles that produce a region-of-spray at 10 positions within said rolling area where rolling is being performed; and ·*/*; a delivery system comprising a centrifugal-pump and a pressure·;···· sustaining valve configured to supply said lubricating mixture at a pressure sufficient to penetrate a cascade of cooling water.

• · · • ··

15 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

a forward-upper spray bar supports a first group of said nozzles for • ··· ,··* ; spraying above a profile, upon said profile approaching a roller in a forward direction; and a forward-lower spray bar supports a second group of said nozzles for 20 spraying below said profile.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

a reverse-upper spray bar supports a third group of said nozzles for spraying above a profile, upon said profile approaching a roller in a reverse 25 direction; and a reverse-lower spray bar supports a fourth group of said nozzles for spraying below said profile.
4. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein:

30 said delivery system includes a water tank, an oil tank and a dosing unit;

said dosing unit receives water from said water tank and oil from said ··· · ··« oil tank; and said dosing unit provides said lubricating mixture as a mixture of oil and water.
5 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said lubricating mixture from said dosing unit is supplied to a mixer tank.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

a pump supplies said lubricating mixture from said mixer tank to said

10 nozzles; and ·*’·’; a pressure-sustaining valve sustains said sufficient pressure to penetrate said cascade of cooling water.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said pressure sustaining valve 15 returns excess lubricating mixture to said mixer tank.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 or claim 7, including a pressure reducing valve between said pressure-sustaining valve and said nozzles.

20
9. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein:

each said nozzle includes a solenoid valve;

said control system activates a said solenoid valve when said rolling is being performed at a region-of-spray for said valve, within said rolling area; and

25 said control system de-activates each said solenoid valve when rolling is not being performed at said region-of-spray.
10. A method of lubricating rollers while rolling a hot metal bar into a required profile, comprising the steps of:

30 arranging a plurality of spray nozzles to collectively spray a lubricating mixture over a rolling area;

·· • · •···

4·· •· · delivering a lubricating mixture by means of a centrifugal pump and pressure-sustaining valve to said spray nozzles at a sufficient pressure to penetrate a cascade of cooling water; and controlling each said spray nozzle to activate only when rolling is being

5 performed and that produce a region-of-spray at positions within said rolling area.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein rolling is performed in a forward direction and rolling is also performed in a reverse direction.
12. The method of claim 10 or claim 11, wherein:

said delivering step includes pumping said lubricating-mixture from a mixer-tank; and said pressure-sustaining-valve returns excess lubricating-liquid to said
15 mixer-tank.