US3839606A

US3839606A - Conductor roll assembly for electrolytic strip tinning

Info

Publication number: US3839606A
Application number: US00229472A
Authority: US
Inventors: T Paradine
Original assignee: Steel Corp
Current assignee: United States Steel Corp
Priority date: 1972-02-25
Filing date: 1972-02-25
Publication date: 1974-10-01
Anticipated expiration: 1991-10-01

Abstract

A conductor roll assembly includes a roll body having aligned shaft sections extending outwardly from the roll body, one at each end thereof. A copper or other high electrical conducting material is applied over the roll body and over a portion of the shaft sections. A cylindrical seat and cylindrical bearing journal are provided on the copper of each roll section with the seat spaced outwardly from the journal. A split bearing surrounding each bearing journal rotatably supports the roll. A collector ring is mounted on each seat and welded to the shaft. The axis of the ring opening is offset with respect to the axis of its cylindrical body with the minimum thickness of one ring in alignment with the maximum thickness of the other so that the roll is substantially dynamically balanced.

Description

nited States Patent .1191

Paradine CONDUCTOR ROLL ASSEMBLY FOR ELECTROLYTIC STRIP TINNING [75] Inventor: Terry E. Paradine, Gary, Ind.

[73] Assignee: United States Steel Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa.

22 Filed: Feb. 25, 1972 211 Appl. No.: 229,472

[52] U.S. Cl. 191/1 A, 204/25, 339/5 [51] int. Cl B01k 3/02 [58] Field of Search 310/219, 231, 232; 191/1 A; 74/573; 339/5 R; 204/25;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,918,627 7 1933 Ballard 204 25 2,451,872 10/1948 Rodgers 310/232 x Willingham 191/1 A 14 1 Oct.1, 1974 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-George H. Libman Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Arthur J. Greif 57 ABSTRACT A conductor roll assembly includes a roll body having aligned shaft sections extending outwardly from the roll body, one at each end thereof. A copper or other high electrical conducting material is applied over the roll body and over a portion of the shaft sections. A

cylindrical seat and cylindrical bearing journal are provided on the copper of each roll section with the seat spaced outwardly from the journal. A split hearing surrounding each bearing journal rotatably supports the roll. A collector ring is mounted on each seat and welded to the shaft. The axis of the ring opening is offset with respect to the axis of its cylindrical body with the minimum thickness of one ring in alignment with the maximum thickness of the other so that th roll is substantially dynamically balanced.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures (Minimum nan I N\ NN H CONDUCTOR RoLL ASSEMBLY FOR ELECTROLYTIC STRIP TINNING This invention relates to a conductor roll assembly and more particularly to such an assembly for use in high speed electrolytic strip tinning lines. These lines travel at speeds up to 1,800 ft. per minute and generally travel at speeds of at least 1,000 ft. per minute. The electric power applied to the rolls has a low voltage (12 to 30 volts) and a high current which may be as much as 20,000 amperes and generally is at least 10,000 amperes. The face of rolls commonly used is in the neighborhood of 46 inches wide. The rolls which the rolls of my invention are replacing include a roll body with a shaft section at each end having a tapered portion with a collector ring having a matching tapered opening mounted thereon and secured thereto by means of a nut threaded on the shaft. The axis of the collector ring opening is offset with respect to the outer surface of the ring to provide eccentricity which prevents sticking of the brushes which contact the outer periphery of the collector rings. The roll is rotated on bearings located between the roll body and collector rings. This general type of conductor roll assemblies have been in use for over 30 years. The present cost of such rolls is approximately $8,000.00 and after approximately 3 to 4 months service they must be removed and repaired at a cost of approximately $4,000.00. Many problems are present in the use of this type of roll. The electrical contact between the ring and shaft is not too good and gets worse as time passes. Damage to the bearings occur, thus requiring frequent replacement. The nuts have to be tightened frequently and maintenance costs are high. 1 have found that a great deal of the difficulty arises because the roll is not dynamically balanced since no attempt has been made to position the collector rings with the thick portion of one aligned with the thin portion of the other. and because the tapered portions on the shaft and collector ring are seldom closely matched.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a conductor roll assembly which has substantially greater life than previous roll assemblies.

Another object is to provide such an assembly which has better conductivity betweenlhe collector rings and the roll surface.

Still another object is to provide such an assembly which requires little maintenance. I

A further object is to provide such an assembly which has increased bearing .life.

These and other objects will be more apparent after referring to the "following specification and attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, of the assembly of my invention; and

FIG. 2 is a view taken on the line 11-11 of FIG. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 2 indicates a conductor roll having a roll body 4 mounted on a shaft 6 extending from each end of the roll body. The body 4 includes a main steel portion 8 and an outer layer 10 made of a high electrical conducting material such as copper or aluminum bronze. The layers 10 also extend over the sides of the roll body and around each end section of the shaft. A thin coating of chromium or the like (.not shown) is applied to the outer surface of layer 10. The parts so far -that the ring has a maximum thickness 22 described exce t for the shape of the outer sections of the shaft are 0 d.

Accordingto my invention 1 provide a cylindrical seat 12 on the layer 10 of each end section of shaft 6 and a cylindrical bearing journal 14 coaxial with seat 12 and located between seat 12 and the roll body 4. A collector ring 16 made of high conductive material such as copper or the like is mounted on each seat 12. Like the rings of the prior art the material of ring 16 is harder than the layer 10. The outer periphery 18 of the n h fi is... y .i.nd. l b ts a i pff (P r l/32 inch) with respect to the axis of its opening 20 so spaced approximately from its minimum thickness 24 as best shown in FIG. 2. Welds or solder 26 are provided between the sides of collector ring 16 and the shaft adjacent thereto. As used hereinafter the term welds includes both welds and solder. The maximum thickness portion 22 of one ring is positioned in general alignment with the minimum thickness portion 24 of the other ring 16. The rolls are mounted in split bearings 28 which are preferably a Cooper split bearing No. EX MC 508 which is distributed by Berry Bearing Company of Chicago, Illinois. The outer surfaces of rings 16 contact brushes 30 in the usual manner.

The conductor roll assembly is made up in the following manner. The roll 2 is made in'the usual manner. Collector rings 16 are provided having the diameter of their openings 20 essentially the same as or slightly less than the diameter of seats 12. The rings 16 are pressed onto the seats 12 of shaft 6 by means of a 50 ton press with the rings being aligned with the thick portion 22 of one in alignment with the thin portion 24 of the other. The rings are then welded to the shaft as shown. If the completed roll is not in dynamic balance it is balanced in any suitable-manner such as by adding and/or removing weld metal. The roll with the rings attached are then mounted in split bearings 28 and the brushes 30 positioned to contact the outer periphery of the rm s.

\%'hile one embodiment of my invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a conductor roll assembly which includes a cylindrical roll body, mounted on aligned shaft sections extending outwardly from said roll body, one at each end thereof, said roll body and shaft sections having an outer layer composed of a metal with a high electrical conductivity, collector rings mounted so as to encircle and be in tight engagement with a circumferential portion of each shaft section, means for securing each collector ring to the outer layer of its respective shaft section, bearing brushes adapted to contact the outer peripheries of said collector rings and means-for rotatably supporting said assembly,

the improvement wherein each collector ring is weldably secured to said outer layer of its respective shaft section so as to cause each ring and its respective shaft to operate as an integral unit, thereby ma- Lerially enhancing the service life of said roll assem- 2. The roll assembly of claim 1, wherein each said collector ring is eccentric with respect to the axis of its respective shaft, so that each ring has a maximum thickness spaced 180 from its minimum thickness, the

ring on one shaft section positioned so that its maximum thickness is in general alignment with the minimum thickness of the ring on the other shaft section.

Claims

1. In a conductor roll assembly which includes a cylindrical roll body, mounted on aligned shaft sections extending outwardly from said roll body, one at each end thereof, said roll body and shaft sections having an outer layer composed of a metal with a high electrical conductivity, collector rings mounted so as to encircle and be in tight engagement with a circumferential portion of each shaft section, means for securing each collector ring to the outer layer of its respective shaft section, bearing brushes adapted to contact the outer peripheries of said collector rings and means for rotatably supporting said assembly, the improvement wherein each collector ring is weldably secured to said outer layer of its respective shaft section so as to cause each ring and its respective shaft to operate as an integral unit, thereby materially enhancing the service life of said roll assembly.

2. The roll assembly of claim 1, wherein each said collector ring is eCcentric with respect to the axis of its respective shaft, so that each ring has a maximum thickness spaced 180* from its minimum thickness, the ring on one shaft section positioned so that its maximum thickness is in general alignment with the minimum thickness of the ring on the other shaft section.