Rolling Mill And Rolling Method For Metal Sheet Material
Abstract:
The present invention provides a rolling mill for metal sheet material comprising: a housing that accommodates roll chocks has a pair of first projecting blocks projecting inward toward each other and bearing the force in the direction of rolling that operates on a lower work roll and forms a housing window that bears the force in the direction of rolling that operates on an upper work roll; a first hydraulic cylinder provided on the pair of first projecting blocks and having a first piston rod that imposes a bending increasing force on the upper work roll; a second hydraulic cylinder provided on the pair of first projecting blocks and having a second piston rod that imposes a bending increasing force on the lower work roll; a third hydraulic cylinder provided on an upper reinforcing roll chock and having a third piston rod that imposes a bending decreasing force on the upper work roll or makes the upper work roll contact an upper reinforcing roll and generates a roll balance force; and a fourth hydraulic cylinder having a fourth piston rod that imposes a bending decreasing force on the lower work roll.
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Notices, Deadlines & Correspondence
c/o NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION 6 1 Marunouchi 2 chome Chiyoda ku Tokyo
1008071
2. NISHIYAMA Yasuhiro
c/o NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION 6 1 Marunouchi 2 chome Chiyoda ku Tokyo
1008071
3. WAKATSUKI Kunihiko
c/o NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION 6 1 Marunouchi 2 chome Chiyoda ku Tokyo
1008071
4. HIGO Tsuyoshi
c/o NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION 6 1 Marunouchi 2 chome Chiyoda ku Tokyo
1008071
5. OGAWA Shigeru
c/o NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION 6 1 Marunouchi 2 chome Chiyoda ku Tokyo
1008071
Specification
DEVICE FOR ROLLING METAL SHEET MATERIAL AND METHOD FOR
ROLLING METAL SHEET MATERIAL
Technical Field
[OOO 1 ]
The present invention relates to a device for rolling a metal sheet material and a
method for rolling a metal sheet material. In particular, the present invention relates to a
rolling device suitable for thick-plate rolling devices, or roughing rolling devices or
finishing rolling devices in a thin-sheet hot rolling device, and capable of increasing the
maximum gap between the top and the bottom work rolls and easily applying a strong roll
bending force, whereby it is possible to achieve high-response and strong plate,
strip-crown and shape controlling function, and a rolling method using this rolling device.
The present application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No.
201 1-066153 filed in Japan on March 24, 201 1, the disclosure of which is incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety.
Background Art
[0002]
Conventionally, rolling devices such as rolling devices 1A and 1 B illustrated in
FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are known, in which back up roll chocks cradle and hold work roll
chocks to obtain increased roller gap. However, an increase-bending device is
incorporated in an arm portion extending from the back up roll chock for holding the work
roll chock, and hence, it is difficult to employ a large-capacity hydraulic cylinder.
[0003]
For example, a rolling device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a four-high
rolling device having a structure type illustrated in FIG. 16. More specifically, a top
work roll chock 3-1 is held by an arm portion connected with a top back up roll chock 4-1.
Top increase-bending devices 6-1 and 6-2 that each work to a top work roll 1-1 are
assembled to the arm portion so as to achieve a large roller gap.
However, this type of rolling device has the following problems.
(1) The top increase-bending devices 6-1,6-2 are required to be incorporated in the
arm portion of the top back up roll chock 4-1 that cradles the top work roll chock 3-1.
Thus, it is difficult to assemble the large-capacity hydraulic cylinder.
[0005]
(2) If the strong increase-bending force is applied to the top work roll 1-1, the arm
portion connected to the top back up roll chock 4- 1 receives a moment acting in the
direction in which the arm portion opens outwards. In this case, it is highly possible that
the arm portion is pressed on the housing window, and the mill hysteresis increases,
causing deteriorated thickness accuracy, or a frictional force between the chock and the
window is not in symmetry in terms of right-left direction, which causes the metal sheet to
meander during rolling or increases instability of a rolling operation due to occurrence of
camber. Thus, it is substantially impossible to use the strong work roll bender.
[0006]
(3) The top work roll chock 3-1 is brought into contact with the inner surface of the
arm portion of the top back up roll chock 4- 1, and the side surface of the arm portion is
brought into contact with the inner surface of the housing window. Thus, the metal sheet
increasingly wobbles in the rolling direction, which increases the possibility of
meandering of the metal sheet or occurrence of camber during rolling.
[0007]
(4) Spaces are strictly limited, and in particular, complicated arrangement for wires
from the back up roll chock is required at the time of exchanging the back up roll. Thus,
it is difficult to install a mill stabilizer and load cell for measurement of the force in the
rolling direction.
[0008]
There exists a rolling device such as a rolling device 1 C illustrated in FIG. 14 in
which the increase-bending devices 6-1 and 6-2 are incorporated in the bottom work roll
chock 3-2 to achieve a large roller gap.
6 For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a rolling device in which the
increase-bending device of the work roll is incorporated in the work roll chock.
Similarly, Patent Document 3 discloses a rolling device with a roll-cross system.
In this rolling device, the increase-bending device is incorporated in the work roll chock.
[0009]
This type of rolling device has the following problems.
(5) At the time of exchanging the work roll, hydraulic pipes need to be detached.
To make the detachment easy, it is necessary to employ flexible pipes, which makes it
difficult to employ a servo valve for controlling high-response hydraulic pressure. Thus,
it is difficult to configure a bending device having high responsiveness.
[OO 101
Further, a rolling device is known having a configuration in which an
increase-bending device is provided to a project block to obtain a bending device having
high responsiveness.
[OOl 11
For example, Patent Document 4 discloses a rolling device having a work-roll
shift function. In this rolling device, as illustrated in FIG. 15, increase-bending devices
6-1 to 6-4 are incorporated in project blocks 5-1 and 5-2 formed integrally with a housing
9.
[OO 121
In the rolling device 1D illustrated in FIG. 15, bottom increase-bending devices
6-3 and 6-4 working to a bottom work roll 1-2 are incorporated in a project block
internally protruding from the housing 9.
[00 131
However, this type of rolling device has the following problems.
(6) This rolling device has a structure in which a force on the work roll acting in the
rolling direction is supported by a contact surface on which the project block and the work
roll chock are brought into contact with each other. Thus, with the increase in the roll
..*%
@, this contact surface becomes smaller. This makes it impossible to appropriately
support the work roll chock, and to obtain a large roller gap.
[00 141
(7) The capacity of the hydraulic cylinder in the increase-bending device depends on
the height of the project block. Thus, if the rolling device includes a project block not
having sufficient height, the hydraulic cylinder cannot provide sufficient stroke length,
which makes it impossible to obtain the large roller gap.
[00 1 51
It should be noted that the increase-bending device represents a hydraulic device
that applies a force acting on the work roll chock and in the direction in which the roller
gap increases, and is a generic name of a device including a hydraulic cylinder serving as
an actuator of the hydraulic device and a piston rod of the hydraulic device.
[00 1 61
However, in the present invention, for the sake of simplicity, the
increase-bending device represents the hydraulic cylinder serving as the actuator of the
increase-bending device and the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder unless otherwise
specified. A force applied to the work roll by the increase-bending device is referred to
as the increase-bending force.
[00 171
A hydraulic device that applies, to the work roll chock, a force acting in a
direction in which the roller gap decreases is referred to as a decrease-bending device.
Further, a force applied to the work roll by the decrease-bending device is referred to as
the decrease-bending force. Yet further, the decrease-bending device is a generic name
of the device including the hydraulic cylinder serving as the actuator of the device and the
piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder. In the present invention, for the sake of
simplification, the decrease-bending device represents the hydraulic cylinder serving as
+ the actuator of the decrease-bending device and the piston rod of the decrease-bending
device, unless otherwise specified.
[00 1 81
It should be noted that, in general, as illustrated in FIG. 12 to FIG. 16, the rolling
device for manufacturing the thick steel sheet does not have the decrease-bending device
(see Patent Documents 1 to 4).
This is because: (A) in the case of thick sheet rolling, a relatively large-diameter
work roll is used as compared with a case of thin sheet rolling, and hence, a change in
shape of the roll crown is smaller even when the same bending force is applied; and (B)
even if a small decrease-bending device is installed at a narrow portion in the vicinity of a
relatively large-diameter work roll chock as compared with the thin sheet rolling device,
the range of control is narrow, and the machine structure becomes complicated, which
results in a low cost performance.
Related Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0019]
Patent Document 1 : Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication
NO. HOB-8701 1
Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication
NO. S62-220205
Patent Document 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication
NO. H06-198307
Patent Document 4: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication
NO. H04-520 14
Disclosure of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0020]
As described above, conventionally, a rolling device having an increased roller
gap cannot achieve high responsiveness or accommodate a strong roll bending device.
A problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a rolling device
capable of increasing the maximum gap between the top and the bottom work rolls and
applying a strong roll bending force, and a rolling method using this rolling device.
More specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide a rolling
device including a decrease-bending device as with a thin sheet rolling device and capable
of: dealing with a steel sheet having a wide range of thickness; increasing the roller gap
between the top and the bottom work rolls; easily applying a strong roll bending force; and
overcoming the above-described drawbacks that the conventional rolling device has, and a
rolling method using this rolling device.
Means for Solving the Problems
[002 11
The following are the main points of the present invention.
(1) A first aspect of the present invention provides a device for rolling a metal sheet
material, which includes: a top work roll and a bottom work roll that roll a metal sheet
material; a top back up roll and a bottom back up roll that support the top work roll and
the bottom work roll, respectively; a top work roll chock and a bottom work roll chock
that support the top work roll and the bottom work roll, respectively; a top back up roll
chock and a bottom back up roll chock that support the top back up roll and the bottom
back up roll, respectively; a housing that accommodates the top work roll chock, the
bottom work roll chock, the top back up roll chock, and the bottom back up roll chock,
said housing including a pair of first project blocks protruding inwardly that bears a force
in a rolling direction acting on the bottom work roll, and further including a housing
window that bears a force in the rolling direction acting on the top work roll; a first
hydraulic cylinder provided to the pair of first project blocks and including a first piston
rod that applies an increase-bending force by way of the top work roll chock to the top
work roll; a second hydraulic cylinder provided to the pair of first project blocks and
including a second piston rod that applies an increase-bending force by way of the bottom
work roll chock to the bottom work roll; a third hydraulic cylinder provided to the top
a c k up roll chock and including a third piston rod that applies a decrease-bending force to
the top work roll or that brings the top work roll into contact with the top back up roll to
generate a roll balance force; and, a fourth hydraulic cylinder including a fourth piston rod
that applies a decrease-bending force to the bottom work roll.
(2) In the device for rolling a metal sheet material according to (1) described above,
the first hydraulic cylinder and the second hydraulic cylinder may be arranged in the pair
of first project blocks at positions different from each other in plan view.
(3) In the device for rolling a metal sheet material according to (1) or (2) described
above, the bottom back up roll chock may be provided with the fourth hydraulic cylinder.
(4) In the device for rolling a metal sheet material according to (1) or (2) described
above, the housing may further include a pair of second project blocks located below the
pair of first project blocks and protruding inwardly from the housing, and the pair of
second project blocks may be provided with the fourth hydraulic cylinder.
(5) In the device for rolling a metal sheet material according to any one of (1) to (4)
described above, the third piston rod may have a top end portion having a first
engagement portion, and the top work roll chock may have a second engagement portion
that engages with the first engagement portion through movement of the top work roll in a
roll axial direction.
(6) A second aspect of the present invention provides a method for rolling a metal
sheet material using the device for rolling a metal sheet material according to any one of
(1) to (5) described above, in which the third piston rod may perform a pull operation to
generate a roll balance force when rolling is performed with a roller gap exceeding a
stroke of the first hydraulic cylinder.
(7) A third aspect of the present invention provides a method for rolling a metal
sheet material using the device for rolling a metal sheet material according to any one of
(1) to (5) described above, in which, in a case where rolling is performed with a roller gap
that falls within a stroke of the first hydraulic cylinder, the method includes: a first process
of, prior to start of rolling, causing an increase-bending force and a decrease-bending force
to act on the top work roll and the bottom work roll to cause a roll bending force
&-responding to a roll balance force to act as a resultant force on the top work roll and the
bottom work roll; a second process of, after the first process, increasing the
increase-bending force while changing the decrease-bending force to be a
decrease-bending force during rolling so as to maintain the resultant force to be the roll
balance force; a third process of, at start of rolling, changing the increase-bending force
while maintaining the decrease-bending force to cause a roll bending force corresponding
to a roll bending force during rolling to act as a resultant force on the top work roll and the
bottom work roll; a fourth process of performing rolling while maintaining the roll
bending force during rolling; a fifth process of, at completion of rolling, changing the
increase-bending force while maintaining the decrease-bending force to cause a roll
bending force corresponding to the roll balance force to act as a resultant force on the top
work roll and the bottom work roll, and in this state, ending rolling of the metal sheet
material; and a sixth process of, thereafter, decreasing the decrease-bending force and the
increase-bending force so as to maintain the roll balance force.
(8) In the method for rolling a metal sheet material according to (7) described above,
continuous measurement may be performed on at least one of hydraulic pressure in the
third hydraulic cylinder, hydraulic pressure in a hydraulic pipe connected with the third
hydraulic cylinder, hydraulic pressure in the fourth hydraulic cylinder, and hydraulic
pressure in a hydraulic pipe connected with the fourth hydraulic cylinder, and based on a
measurement result, the increase-bending force may be controlled such that the roll
bending force acting as a resultant force on the top work roll chock and the bottom work
roll chock becomes a predetermined value.
(9) A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a method for rolling a metal
sheet material using the device for rolling a metal sheet material according to any one of
(1) to (5) described above, in which, a roll balance force for the top work roll is applied
through a pull operation performed by the third piston rod in a case where rolling is
performed with a roller gap exceeding a stroke of the first hydraulic cylinder during
rolling, and then, in a case where rolling is performed with a roller gap that falls within a
stroke of the first hydraulic cylinder, the method includes: a first process of, prior to start
@rolling, causing an increase-bending force and a decrease-bending force to act on the
top work roll and the bottom work roll to cause a roll bending force corresponding to a roll
balance force to act as a resultant force on the top work roll and the bottom work roll; a
second process of, after the first process, increasing the increase-bending force while
changing the decrease-bending force to be a decrease-bending force during rolling so as to
maintain a resultant force to be the roll balance force; a third process of, at the start of
rolling, changing the increase-bending force while maintaining the decrease-bending force
to cause a roll bending force corresponding to a roll bending force during rolling to act as
a resultant force on the top work roll and the bottom work roll; a fourth process of
performing rolling while maintaining the roll bending force during rolling; a fifth process
of, at completion of rolling, changing the increase-bending force while maintaining the
decrease-bending force to cause a roll bending force corresponding to the roll balance
force to act as a resultant force on the top work roll and the bottom work roll, and in this
state, ending rolling of the metal sheet material; and a sixth process of, thereafter,
decreasing the decrease-bending force and the increase-bending force so as to maintain the
roll balance force.
(10) In the method for rolling a metal sheet material according to (9) described above,
continuous measurement may be performed on at least one of hydraulic pressure in the
third hydraulic cylinder, hydraulic pressure in a hydraulic pipe connected with the third
hydraulic cylinder, hydraulic pressure in the fourth hydraulic cylinder, and hydraulic
pressure in a hydraulic pipe connected with the fourth hydraulic cylinder, and based on a
measurement result, the increase-bending force may be controlled such that the roll
bending force acting as a resultant force on the top work roll chock and the bottom work
roll chock becomes a predetermined value.
Effects of the Invention
[0022]
According to the rolling device and the rolling method according to (1) to (10)
described above, the maximum gap between the top and the bottom work rolls can be
&eased, and even in the case where the decrease-bending device having low
responsiveness is provided, this is compensated for by the increase-bending device having
high responsiveness and provided to the pair of first project blocks, whereby it is possible
to obtain a high-response and strong plate, strip-crown and shape controlling function.
Thus, it is possible to obtain favorable plate, strip crown and shapes even if there
exist external disturbances such as thickness of the material on the input side or
temperatures of the rolling material, which varies during rolling, whereby it is possible to
significantly improve product quality and production yield.
Further, the increase-bending force and the decrease-bending force are applied to
the top work roll to achieve the strong plate, strip-crown and shape controlling function,
and further, a multi-stage hydraulic cylinder is employed for the top-work-roll
decrease-bending device to achieve generation of the roll balance force, whereby it is
possible to largely increase the roll gap. In other words, with only one rolling device, it
is possible to deal with various applications ranging from blooming roll with a large
thickness to hot-roll thin sheet roll for which precise plate, strip crown and shape control
is required.
Yet further, the force in the rolling direction acting on the top work roll chock is
always borne by the housing window, whereby it is possible to stably support the top work
roll chock.
Yet further, the top and the bottom increase-bending devices can be incorporated
in the pair of first project blocks. This makes it possible to achieve the strong bending
device having the large capacity and large stroke.
Yet further, the increase-bending device is incorporated in the pair of first
project blocks, which makes it possible to fix the hydraulic pipes and employ servo valves.
With this configuration, it is possible to control the increase-bending force in a high
response manner.
Yet further, even if the decrease-bending device having low responsiveness is
used, it is possible to control the roll bending force in a high response manner with
bperation of the increase-bending device having high responsiveness. This makes it
possible to largely improve the product quality and yield in terms of rolling.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0023]
FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a structure of a rolling device according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a connection structure between a top work roll
chock and a top decrease-bending device.
FIG. 3A is a sectional view illustrating a first mode of an engagement
relationship between a first engagement portion of a third piston rod of a third hydraulic
cylinder and a second engagement portion of a top work roll chock.
FIG. 3B is a sectional view illustrating a second mode of an engagement
relationship between a first engagement portion of a third piston rod of a third hydraulic
cylinder and a second engagement portion of a top work roll chock.
FIG. 3C is a sectional view illustrating a third mode of an engagement
relationship between a first engagement portion of a third piston rod of a third hydraulic
cylinder and a second engagement portion of a top work roll chock.
FIG. 4 is a perspective plan view illustrating an example of arrangement of top
and bottom increase-bending devices.
FIG. 5 is a perspective plan view illustrating an example of arrangement of top
and bottom increase-bending devices.
FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating another example of a structure of a rolling
device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation flow of a rolling
method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a change in time series of a roll bending force
and other parameters associated with the operation flow in FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a change in time series of a roll bending force
and other parameters in the case where the responsiveness of a decrease-bending device is
significantly low.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example of an operation flow of a
rolling method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a change in time series of a roll bending force
and other parameters associated with the operation flow in FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 is a side view illustrating a structure of a rolling device 1A according to
a conventional art.
FIG. 13 is a side view illustrating a structure of a rolling device 1B according to
a conventional art.
FIG. 14 is a side view illustrating a structure of a rolling device 1 C according to
a conventional art.
FIG. 15 is a side view illustrating a structure of a rolling device 1D according to
a conventional art.
FIG. 16 is a side view illustrating a structure of a rolling device 1E according to
a conventional art.
Embodiments of the Invention
[0024]
Hereinbelow, a rolling device according to the present invention based on the
findings described above and a rolling method using this rolling device will be described
with reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 16.
FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating an example of a structure of a rolling device 1
according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the rolling
device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a top work roll
chock 3-1, a bottom work roll chock 3-2, a top back up roll chock 4-1, a bottom back up
roll chock 4-2, and a housing 9 containing these roll chocks. The housing 9 has a pair of
first project blocks 5-1 and 5-2 (in other words, a first project block provided on the side
*ere a metal sheet material is inputted and a first project block provided on the output
side) formed integrally with the housing, thereby forming a housing window 12.
The top work roll chock 3- 1 supports a top work roll 1-1 for rolling a metal sheet
material, and the bottom work roll chock 3-2 supports a bottom work roll 1-2 for rolling
the metal sheet material.
Further, the top back up roll chock 4-1 supports a top back up roll 2-1 disposed
above the top work roll 1-1, and the bottom back up roll chock 4-2 supports a bottom back
up roll disposed below the bottom work roll 1-2.
[0025]
The pair of the first project blocks 5-1 and 5-2 are formed integrally so as to
protrude inwardly from the housing 9. The pair of the first project blocks 5-1 and 5-2 are
provided with top increase-bending devices 6-1 and 6-2 that each apply an
increase-bending force through the top work roll chock 3-1 to the top work roll 1-1, and
are provided with bottom increase-bending devices 6-3 and 6-4 that each apply an
increase-bending force through the bottom work roll chock 3-2 to the bottom work roll
1-2.
More specifically, the top increase-bending devices 6-1 and 6-2 are each formed
by a first hydraulic cylinder serving as an actuator of the device 6-1,6-2 and a piston rod
(first piston rod) of the first hydraulic cylinder. The first hydraulic cylinder is
incorporated in the pair of the first project blocks 5-1 and 5-2, and is provided such that an
end portion of the first piston rod protrudes from the top surface of each of the pair of the
first project block 5-1,5-2 and comes into contact with the top work roll chock 3-1.
Further, the bottom increase-bending devices 6-3 and 6-4 are each formed by a
second hydraulic cylinder serving as an actuator of the device 6-3,6-4 and a piston rod
(second piston rod) of the second hydraulic cylinder. The second hydraulic cylinder is
incorporated in the pair of the first project blocks 5-1 and 5-2, and is provided such that an
end portion of the second piston rod protrudes from the bottom surface of each of the pair
of the first project blocks 5-1 and 5-2 and comes into contact with the bottom work roll
chock 3-2.
16261
Further, the rolling device 1 according to this embodiment includes top
decrease-bending devices 7-1 and 7-2 provided in the top back up roll chock 4-1 and
having a function of applying the decrease-bending force through the top work roll chock
3-1 to the top work roll 1-1 and a function of causing a pulling-up force (roll balance
force) for bringing the top work roll 1-1 into contact with the top back up roll 2-1.
The top decrease-bending devices 7-1 and 7-2 having the two hctions are
formed by a third hydraulic cylinder serving as an actuator of the device 7-1,7-2 and a
piston rod (third piston rod) of the third hydraulic cylinder. The third hydraulic cylinder
is provided in the top back up roll chock 4-1. The third piston rod includes a top end
shaped so as to engage with the top work roll chock 3-1.
[0027]
Further, the rolling device 1 according to this embodiment includes bottom
decrease-bending devices 7-3 and 7-4 that each apply the decrease-bending force through
the bottom work roll chock 3-2 to the bottom work roll 1-2.
The bottom decrease-bending devices 7-3 and 7-4 are each formed by a fourth
hydraulic cylinder serving as an actuator of the device 7-3,7-4 and a piston rod (fourth
piston rod) of the fourth hydraulic cylinder. The fourth hydraulic cylinder is provided to
the bottom back up roll chock 4-2, or is incorporated in a pair of second project blocks 5-3
and 5-4, which will be described later. The fourth piston rod is provided such that a top
end thereof is brought into contact with the bottom work roll chock 3-2.
[0028]
The configuration in which a project block has an increase-bending device, and
top and bottom back up roll chocks each have a decrease-bending device is commonly
found in hot-rolling finish rolling devices. However, with this configuration, the force
acting in the rolling direction and occurring during rolling has to be supported by the
contact surface on which the surface on the top stream side of the project block provided
on the output side of the metal sheet material is brought into contact with the work roll
chock. Thus, with the increase in the roller gap, the center of the rotational moment of
& top work roll deviates upward from the contact surface, and the area of the contact
surface that supports the force in the rolling direction decreases. For these reasons, in the
top work roll chock, even if the height of the pair of the project blocks is increased, the
contact surface between the surface on the top stream side of the project block and the
work roll chock decreases with the increase in the roller gap, and the position of the top
work roll chock becomes unstable, which makes it impossible to increase the roller gap.
[0029]
A rolling device 1E illustrated in FIG. 16 improves the above-described points,
and is frequently found in thick-sheet finishing rolling devices. In the rolling device 1 E,
the top back up roll chock 4-1 includes an arm that cradles the top work roll chock 3-1.
With this type of rolling device, the top back up roll chock 4-1 cradles the top work roll
chock 3-1, and hence, the top work roll 1-1 ascends as the top back up roll 2-1 elevates,
which makes it possible to increase the roller gap.
[0030]
However, the rolling device having this structure does not have sufficient space
for the increase-bending device and the decrease-bending device used for the top work roll
1 - 1. Thus, in general, as illustrated in FIG. 16, for the top work roll 1 - 1, only the
small-capacity increase-bending devices 6-1 and 6-2 are provided between the top back up
roll chock 4-1 and the top work roll chock 3-1, and no decrease-bending device is
provided for the top work roll 1 - 1. This results in a drawback of limited
shape-controlling ability.
[003 11
Further, the force in the rolling direction acting on the top work roll 1-1 is
received by the contact surface on the downstream side in the rolling direction between
the top back up roll chock 4-1 and the top work roll chock 3-1. Further, this force is
finally received by the contact surface between the outer surface of the arm on the
downstream side in the rolling direction of the top back up roll chock 4-1 and the inner
side of the housing window 12. However, the contact surface on the downstream side in
the rolling direction has limited space, and it is difficult to install a load cell that can
jh,iciently support the top work roll chock 3-1. Further, a wobble remains on the
contact surface between the top back up roll chock 4- 1 and the housing window 12. Yet
further, a stabilizer or load cell is required for each back up roll chock, and arrangement of
wires necessary for activating these units significantly deteriorates workability.
[0032]
In view of the circumstances described above, the rolling device 1 according to
this embodiment includes the pair of the first project blocks 5-1 and 5-2 protruding
inwardly from the housing 9 and disposed at positions shifted downward with respect to a
pass line, as illustrated in FIG. 1. More specifically, unlike the conventional
configuration illustrated in FIG. 15, the pair of the first project blocks 5-1 and 5-2 are
disposed at positions that are not vertically symmetric with respect to the pass line.
Further, the top work roll chock 3-1 is shaped such that a base portion adjacent to the
portion located between the pair of the first project blocks 5-1 and 5-2, in other words, the
top side portion corresponding to the width of the housing window 12 (housing window
width) is set higher instead of increasing the height of the portion located between the pair
of the first project blocks 5-1 and 5-2.
[0033]
With the rolling device 1 according to this embodiment having such a shape, the
force in the rolling direction such as a component of the offset force acting on the top
work roll 1-1, in other words, the force in the rolling direction acting on the body portion
of the top work roll 1-1 from the metal sheet (plate) material 10 or top back up roll 2-1 is
borne by the contact surface between the top side portion of the top work roll chock 3-1
corresponding to the housing window width and the housing window 12 located above the
pair of the first project blocks 5-1 and 5-2.
[0034]
With this structure, the area of the surface on which the top work roll chock 3-1
is brought into contact with the housing window 12 remains unchanged even if a drafting
device 1 1 of the rolling device 1 is operated to increase the roller gap. Thus, the position
&the top work roll chock 3-1 can be stably maintained regardless of the amount of the
roller gap.
[0035]
Further, the rolling device 1 according to this embodiment includes the pair of
the first project blocks 5-1 and 5-2 inwardly protruding fiom the housing 9 and including
the top increase-bending devices 6-1 and 6-2 that apply the increase-bending force to the
top work roll 1-1, and the bottom increase-bending devices 6-3 and 6-4 that apply the
increase-bending force to the bottom work roll 1-2.
[0036]
This configuration eliminates the need for detaching the hydraulic pipes of the
increase-bending device every time the work roll is exchanged, and allows using fixed
pipes. This makes it possible to employ accurate servo valves, thereby obtaining a
high-responsive increase-bending device.
[0037]
Further, the top decrease-bending devices 7-1 and 7-2 are formed by the third
hydraulic cylinder incorporated in the top back up roll chock 4-1 and the third piston rod
of the third hydraulic cylinder. The top end of the third piston rod of the third hydraulic
cylinder is operated to move in the roll axis direction at the time of exchanging the roll so
as to be able to be connected with the top work roll chock 3-1, thereby applying the roll
balance force.
[003 81
With this configuration, the roller gap can be increased regardless of the stroke
of the increase-bending device, and it is possible to apply the strong decrease-bending
force in the case where a plate, strip crown control is necessary for a steel plate with a
thickness of approximately 100 rnrn or less. This makes it possible for only one rolling
device 1 to deal with various rolling applications ranging from rolling of a roll material
with a thickness of over 800 mm to rolling with a precise plate, strip crown control during
the thick-sheet rolling with a thickness of 100 mm or less.
[0039]
& Next, an example of a structure of the connection portion will be described in
detail. This example shows merely one embodiment, and does not limit the specific
structure of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the top work roll 1 - 1 and the top work roll chock 3- 1,
and in the drawing, the near side shows the drive side, while the far side shows the work
side. At each of the right and the left on the top surface of the roll chock 3-1 for the top
work roll 1-1, there is formed a groove 3 1 having a reversed T-shape in cross-section and
engaged with the top end of the third piston rod of the third hydraulic cylinder constituting
the top decrease-bending device 7-1,7-2 as a first engagement portion. The groove 3 1
opens on the drive side, and extends up to the vicinity of the center of the chock.
When a roll set is inserted into the rolling device 1, the work roll having both
ends each set with the roll chock from the operation side is delivered through a rail or
other tool to a predetermined position in the housing of the rolling device 1. At this time,
the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder serving as the decrease-bending device is retracted
in the top back up roll chock 4-1, so that this piston rod does not obstruct the delivery.
Next, the groove 3 1 of the top work roll chock 3-1 is positioned immediately in
front of an expanded portion (second engagement portion) of the third piston rod of the
third hydraulic cylinder to be engaged with the groove 3 1. At this position, the piston
rod is descended to a predetermined position. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 3C, the inner
surface of the groove 3 1 is kept in a position where it does not come into contact with the
external surface of the third piston rod, and the expanded portion of the third piston rod is
moved into the groove 3 1 from the groove opening portion on the drive side. Through
these procedures, the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion are
engaged with each other.
[0040]
FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a state where the expanded portion formed at
the top end of the third piston rod of the third hydraulic cylinder of the top
decrease-bending device 7-1,7-2 is engaged with the groove 3 1. More specifically, FIG.
3A illustrates a state where, with the pulling-up operation made by the third hydraulic
ainder, the third piston rod is pulled upward and is brought into contact with the top
surface of the groove 3 1 of the top work roll chock 3- 1, thereby applying a lifting force
~RB.
[004 11
The lifting force fRB acts as the roll balance force. Thus, without relying on the
stroke of the first piston rod of the top increase-bending devices 6-1 and 6-2 provided to
the pair of the first project blocks 5-1 and 5-2, it is possible to raise the top work roll 1-1
together with the top back up roll 2- 1. This makes it possible to easily obtain the large
roller gap.
[0042]
FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a state where the top decrease-bending force is
applied in the case of controlling plate, strip crown and shapes in such a case as finishing
rolling in the thin-sheet hot rolling.
More specifically, with the third hydraulic cylinder of the top decrease-bending
device 7-1,7-2, the third piston rod extends downward to apply a pressing force fDc to the
bottom surface of the groove 3 1 of the top work roll chock 3- 1, thereby applying the
decrease-bending force.
[0043]
FIG. 3C is a diagram illustrating a non-contact state where the groove 3 1 is
brought into engagement with the third piston rod at the time of exchanging rolls as
described above, or this engagement is canceled.
[0044]
In the example described above, the groove 3 1 is formed in the top work roll
chock 3-1, and the expanded portion to be engaged with the groove 3 1 is formed in the top
decrease-bending device 7-1,7-2. However, the present invention is not limited to this
mode. For example, it may be possible that the groove 3 1 is formed in the top
decrease-bending device 7-1,7-2, and the expanded portion to be engaged with the groove
3 1 is formed in the top work roll chock 3-1.
[0045]
j) It should be noted that, in the rolling device 1 according to this embodiment, the
force in the rolling direction applied to the body portion of the bottom work roll 1-2 is
borne by the contact surface between the bottom work roll chock 3-2 and the project block
(5-1 or 5-2) provided on the output side. Thus, in the rolling device 1 according to this
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, a portion of the bottom work roll chock 3-2 located
between the pair of the first project blocks 5-1 and 5-2 is raised.
[0046]
Further, since the roller gap is adjusted mainly by moving upward and
downward the top work roll chock 3-1, the amount of travel of the bottom work roll chock
3-2 is small in the vertical direction. Thus, the positions of the bottom work roll 1-2
remain stable even if the roller gap is increased.
[0047]
FIG. 4 is a plan sectional view illustrating an example of arrangement of the top
and bottom increase-bending devices 6-1 to 6-4. In other words, FIG. 4 is a sectional
view at the height of the pass line of the pair of the first project blocks 5-1 and 5-2.
In the rolling device 1 according to this embodiment, it is desirable to arrange
the top and bottom increase-bending devices 6-1 to 6-4 so as to be positionally shifted to
each other on the plan sectional view of the pair of the first project blocks 5-1 and 5-2.
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, it is desirable to arrange the top increase-bending
devices 6-1 and 6-2 and the bottom increase-bending devices 6-3 and 6-4 so as to be
positionally shifted in the axial direction of the work roll 1-2. With this arrangement, the
top and bottom increase-bending devices 6-1 to 6-4 do not interfere with each other within
the pair of the first project blocks 5-1 and 5-2.
In other words, the first hydraulic cylinder and the second hydraulic cylinder,
which are incorporated in each of the first project blocks 5-1 and 5-2, do not interfere with
each other. This makes it possible to increase the capacity of the first hydraulic cylinder
and the second hydraulic cylinder, increase the stroke of each of the first piston rod and
the second piston rod, and increase the amount of operation of the increase bending.
[0048]
& It should be noted that, in FIG. 4, the bottom increase-bending devices 6-3 and
6-4 are formed by two second hydraulic cylinders located on the input side and the output
side. However, a similar effect can be obtained by using one second hydraulic cylinder
for each of the bottom increase-bending devices 6-3 and 6-4 and arranging them at
different positions in the axial direction of the bottom work roll 1-2 to prevent the second
hydraulic cylinder fiom interfering with the first hydraulic cylinder.
[0049]
FIG. 5 is a plan sectional view illustrating an example of arrangement of the top
and bottom increase-bending devices 6-1 to 6-4. In other words, FIG. 5 is a sectional
view at the height of the pass line of the pair of the first project blocks 5-1 and 5-2. As
illustrated in FIG. 5, the first hydraulic cylinder and the second hydraulic cylinder may be
arranged so as to be positionally shifted in the rolling direction. With this arrangement,
the first hydraulic cylinder and the second hydraulic cylinder do not interfere with each
other. Thus, it is possible to increase the capacity of the first hydraulic cylinder and the
second hydraulic cylinder, increase the stroke of each of the first piston rod and the second
piston rod, and increase the amount of operation of bending.
These are descriptions of the structure of the rolling device 1 according to this
embodiment mainly fiom the viewpoint of increasing the roller gap, which is one of the
problems to be solved.
[0050]
Next, with this structure, a description will be made showing that the strong roll
bending force can be easily applied, which is another problem to be solved.
FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 illustrate rolling devices 1 A and 1 B according to
conventional arts, each of which has an increased roller gap.
However, these rolling devices 1A and 1B cannot apply a strong roll bending
force. This is because these rolling devices have a structure in which the top
increase-bending devices 6-1 and 6-2 are incorporated in the arm portion protruding
downward from the top back up roll chock 4-1, which prevents the large-capacity and
large-stroke top increase-bending devices 6-1 and 6-2 from being installed. Further,
dhese rolling devices 1A and 1B have the arm portion extending from the top back up roll
chock 4-1, and hence, the top decrease-bending devices 7-1 and 7-2 are required to be
installed at the space shifted to the axial center of the roll. Thus, interference with the
bearing for the top back up roll 2-1 occurs, which makes it impossible to dispose the
large-capacity and large-stroke top decrease-bending devices 7-1 and 7-2.
[005 11
Further, as illustrated in FIG. 1, in the rolling device 1 according to this
embodiment, the large-capacity and large-stroke top increase-bending devices 6-1 and 6-2
can be disposed in the pair of the first project blocks 5-1 and 5-2 protruding inwardly from
the housing 9 of the rolling device 1.
Further, unlike the rolling devices 1A and 1B illustrated in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13,
in the rolling device 1 according to this embodiment, the top back up roll chock 4-1 does
not have the arm portion. This allows the large-capacity and large-stroke top
decrease-bending devices 7-1 and 7-2 to be disposed at positions of the top back up roll
chock 4-1 that do not interfere with the bearing for the top back up roll 2-1, whereby it is
possible to apply the large decrease-bending force to the top work roll 1-1.
[0052]
More specifically, according to the rolling device 1 of this embodiment having a
structure in which, together with the positions of the pair of the first project blocks 5-1 and
5-2, the force in the rolling direction applied to the body portion of the top work roll 1-1 is
received by the contact surface between the top work roll chock 3-1 and the housing
window 12, it is possible to increase the roller gap and apply the strong roll bending force.
Further, with this structure, it is possible to eliminate the need for detaching the
hydraulic pipes of the increase-bending device every time the work rolls are exchanged.
This makes it possible for the increase-bending devices 6-1 to 6-4 to be connected with
hydraulic control valves through fixed hydraulic pipes and employ servo valves used for
high-response hydraulic control. Thus, it is possible to obtain the high-response
increase-bending device.
[0053]
FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating a rolling device 1 ' according to a modification
example of this embodiment. The rolling device 1 ' illustrated in FIG. 6 has the same top
roll systems as those illustrated in FIG. 1 and different bottom roll systems from those
illustrated in FIG. 1. In the rolling device illustrated in FIG. 1, the bottom back up roll
chock 4-2 has the bottom decrease-bending devices 7-3 and 7-4 that apply the
decrease-bending force to the bottom work roll 1-2. On the other hand, in the rolling
device 1 ' illustrated in FIG. 6, the bottom decrease-bending devices 7-3 and 7-4 are
disposed to a pair of second project blocks 5-3 and 5-4 located below the pair of the first
project blocks 5-1 and 5-2.
[0054]
If the bottom decrease-bending devices 7-3 and 7-4 are disposed to the bottom
back up roll chock 4-2 as in the rolling device 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, the hydraulic pipes
of the decrease-bending device are required to be detached when the bottom back up roll
2-2 is exchanged. In other words, it is highly likely that small foreign substances enter
the hydraulic pipes at the time of detachment.
Thus, in general, it is difficult to employ a servo valve for the high-response
hydraulic control, and further, it may be necessary to partially employ flexible pipes.
Accordingly, the roll bending device has reduced responsiveness as compared
with the case where the fixed pipes or servo valves are employed.
[0055]
On the other hand, according to the rolling device 1' illustrated in FIG. 6, it is
possible to overcome the above-described problem occurring at the time of exchanging the
bottom back up roll 2-2. This is because servo valves for high-response hydraulic
control can be used for the hydraulic pipes of the bottom decrease-bending devices 7-3
and 7-4 provided to the pair of the second project blocks 5-3 and 5-4, whereby it is
possible to eliminate the need for using the flexible pipes. Thus, the bottom back up roll
2-2 can be easily exchanged, and the high-response roll bending device can be obtained.
[0056]
Next, a rolling method according to this embodiment will be described.
In the case where the top decrease-bending devices 7-1 and 7-2 are provided to
the top back up roll chock 4-1 as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6, the hydraulic pipes of
the top decrease-bending devices 7-1 and 7-2 are required to be detached at the time of
exchanging the top back up roll 2-1, and hence, it is highly likely that small foreign
substances enter the hydraulic pipes at the time of exchange.
Thus, in general, it is relatively difficult to employ the servo valve for
high-response hydraulic control. Further, in order to easily detach the pipes, it is
necessary to connect the hydraulic-control valves through detachable hydraulic pipes
having flexibility such as flexible pipes. However, in the case where the detachable
hydraulic pipes having flexibility such as flexible pipes are employed, this flexibility may
absorb or alleviate the variation of the hydraulic pressure.
[0057]
Thus, in the case where the top decrease-bending devices 7-1 and 7-2 are
provided to the top back up roll chock 4-1, the responsiveness of the roll bending device
reduces as compared with the case where the fixed pipes or servo valves are used.
Incidentally, the decrease-bending force cannot be applied at idle time when the
rolling load is not applied. Thus, when the decrease-bending force is applied, it is
necessary to rapidly complete setting the decrease-bending force by the start of rolling
from the idle state in which the roll balance force is applied, and rapidly turn back into the
roll balance state at the time of completion of the rolling.
Thus, if the change in the roll bending force is controlled by the
decrease-bending device having reduced responsiveness, a predetermined
decrease-bending force is not applied at the tail end of the roll material, possibly causing
malformation of the roll material.
[OOSS]
The rolling method according to this embodiment solves the above-described
problems.
More specifically, the rolling method uses the rolling device 1, 1 ' according to
this embodiment including the top back up roll chock 4-1 provided with the top
&crease-bending devices 7-1 and 7-2, and solves the above-described problems that may
occur in the rolling device 1, 1 ' .
As described above, in the rolling device 1, 1 ' including the top back up roll
chock 4-1 provided with the top decrease-bending devices 7-1 and 7-2, the responsiveness
of the decrease-bending device may deteriorate.
However, the rolling device 1, 1 ' according to this embodiment has a structure in
which the pair of the first project blocks 5-1 and 5-2 protruding inwardly from the housing
9 includes the top increase-bending devices 6-1 and 6-2, thereby obtaining the top
increase-bending device having the large capacity and large stroke.
[0059]
It is not necessary to detach the hydraulic pipes of the increase-bending device
every time the rolls are exchanged, and hence, the fixed hydraulic pipes or servo valves
can be used, which makes it possible to obtain the increase-bending device having the
high-responsiveness.
The rolling method according to this embodiment uses the increase-bending
device having high responsiveness for changing the roll bending force at the time of
starting rolling and at the time of finishing rolling, in the case where the decrease-bending
force is applied to the work roll to control the plate, strip crown and shapes, thereby
compensating for the responsiveness of the decrease-bending device.
[0060]
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation flow of the rolling
method according to this embodiment. More specifically, FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating
an operation flow performed by the increase-bending device having the high
responsiveness and an operation flow performed by the decrease-bending device having
relatively low responsiveness as compared with the increase-bending device.
FIG. 8 illustrates a change in time series of the roll bending force to one roll
material or other parameters in this rolling method. FIG. 8 indicates, from top to bottom,
a change in time series of rolling load, output from the increase-bending device, output
from the decrease-bending device, and work-roll bending force serving as the resultant
a r c e of these forces. Below, a description will be made with reference to FIG. 7 and
FIG. 8.
[006 11
First, prior to start of rolling, calculation is made to obtain a setting value FR of
the work-roll bending force during rolling that corresponds to a roll material to be next
rolled. In this example, it is assumed that the FR is a negative value, in other words, is
calculated as the decrease-bending force. Note that, in this embodiment, it is assumed
that the increase-bending force (force acting in the increase direction in which roll is
opened) is a positive value and the decrease-bending force (force acting in the decrease
direction in which the roll is pressed) is a negative value.
[0062]
[First Step]
Prior to the start of rolling, both the increase-bending force and the
decrease-bending force are activated, so that a roll bending force on the increase side
corresponding to a roll balance force FB acts as a resultant force on the work roll chock.
In other words, at the idle time before rolling, IB + DB acts as the roll balance
force FB (>O), where IB (>O) is the output from the increase-bending device and DB (O) to the roll bending force FR (O), where IB (>O) is the output from the increase-bending device and DB (O) to the roll bending force FR (