WET ROLL CHANGING MECHANISM

TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure, in general, relates to an electro-mechanical system which helps to pull out old and discarded rolls and push in new rolls in thin slab caster. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a WET roll changing mechanism for Thin Slab Caster & Rolling (TSCR) tunnel furnace.

BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed subject matter, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Inside Thin Slab Caster & Rolling (TSCR) tunnel furnace, there are series of multiple WET rolls (12) which are used to convey slabs from LD3 for further processing to mills (Refer FIG. 1).
[0004] These rolls 12 operate in a high-temperature zone, inside a closed tunnel furnace. The rolls 12 are directly coupled to the geared motor through chain coupling. The rolls 12 with the bearing block can be changed as a whole after removal of dowel pins attached to the bearing blocks with the foundation. There are multiple rolls 12 which require very frequent removal whenever rolls (12) get damaged.
[0005] Presently, the WET roll (12) changing is done by C-Type Tackle (17) with counter-weight. This requires the use of electric over-head crane (18) (FIG. 2). Hence the present process is very exhaustive and availability of the over-head crane (18) is of prime concern as the over-head crane (18) is involved in many other parallel activities. The entire roll changing process has lots of area of improvement like the elimination of the use of overhead crane (18), reduction of MTTR by introducing the mechanized way to change rolls and improvement of safety and productivity by reducing manpower. So, it is required to change the rolls (12) in a safe, fast and reliable way. This has to be done in such a way that the engagement of the electric over-head crane (18) will become zero, therefore ensuring higher availability of the electric over-head crane (18) for other plant activities.

OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0006] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed herein below.
[0007] It is a general object of the present disclosure to provide an electro-mechanical system which helps to pull out old and discarded rolls and push in new rolls in Thin Slab Caster & Rolling (TSCR) tunnel furnace.
[0008] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a WET roll changing mechanism for Thin Slab Caster & Rolling (TSCR) tunnel furnace.
[0009] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred form of the present invention is illustrated.

SUMMARY
[0010] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a WET roll changing mechanism for Thin Slab Caster & Rolling (TSCR) tunnel furnace. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0011] The present disclosure relates to a WET roll changing mechanism for Thin Slab Caster & Rolling (TSCR) tunnel furnace. The WET roll changing mechanism includes a cross travel (CT) car movable across the width and above the surface of a long travel (LT) car, wherein the CT car includes an extended fixed arm on the extreme end of which a hydraulic jack and a lifting mechanism are mounted, and wherein lifting mechanism consists of a hydraulic jack “U” type clamp, a pivot arm, and a fulcrum point. The WET roll changing mechanism further includes a wire-rope pulley drive including a wire rope drum coupled to a bi directional geared motor mounted on one end of the LT car, wherein the geared motor is connected to wire rope drum, with one end of the wire rope is being fixed to one end of the CT car and wrapped around the drum while another one of the wire ropes are being fixed to other end of the CT car through a pulley mounted on other end of the LT car, and wherein the CT car is connected to the wire ropes by a bulldog grip.
[0012] In an aspect, the hydraulic jack is a hand-operated device which will lift the roll vertically, the “U” type clamp is used to tie the roll properly, and the pivot arm is used to lift the roll by operating the hydraulic jack with respect to fulcrum point.
[0013] In an aspect, the roll changing mechanism further includes a main structural frame consisting of a rigid structural frame mounted on electric or manual four wheels electric power driven LT car.
[0014] In an aspect, the CT car is an electro-mechanical car which facilitates the removal and insertion of rolls.
[0015] In an aspect, the CT car has the four wheels which move between fixed rails of the main structural frame.
[0016] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
[0017] It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.
[0018] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a series of multiple WET rolls which are used to convey billets from the tunnel furnace;
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the operation of a C-Type Tackle and an electric over-head crane for WET roll changing;
[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a Thin Slab Casting and Rolling (TSCR) tunnel furnace showing the roll position;
[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates a WET roll changing mechanism, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0024] FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the WET roll changing mechanism, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0025] FIG. 6 illustrates clamping and lifting mechanism of the WET roll changing mechanism, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0026] FIG. 7 illustrates a top view of a wire-rope pulley drive of the WET roll changing mechanism, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0027] FIG. 8 illustrates a front view of the WET roll changing mechanism, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0028] FIG. 9 illustrates a top view of the WET roll changing mechanism, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0029] FIG. 10 illustrates a side view of the WET roll changing mechanism, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0030] The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0032] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0033] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
[0034] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0035] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0036] Embodiments explained herein pertain to mechanization in changing WET rolls for Thin Slab Casting and Rolling (TSCR) tunnel furnace area. The WET roll changing mechanism proposed herein consists of engaging and lifting the roll from its original position and changing the roll using a wire-rope pulley drive. The wire-rope pulley drive can be mounted on an electric power driven car. This car will move on a fixed rail along the roll position.
[0037] The WET roll changing mechanism proposed herein can indeed save a lot of time in changing the rolls. Also, it can increase the availability of overhead crane of TSCR for other functions. It can also reduce the number of workmen required in the roll changing process (FIG. 3). Hence, in both way, WET roll changing mechanism proposed herein will reduce mean time to repair, and increase the availability of the overhead crane ensuring improvement in productivity and safety.
[0038] FIG. 4 illustrates a WET roll changing mechanism, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The WET roll changing mechanism shown in FIG. 4 is able to pull-out old and damaged rolls and push-in new rolls into the tunnel furnace. The WET roll changing mechanism shown in FIG. 4 can be mounted on an electric/manual driven rail car and can be moved along the rolls location parallel to the tunnel furnace. By using this WET roll changing mechanism, roll changing can be done mechanized way which is much faster than the current practice at TSCR.
[0039] The WET roll changing mechanism has three main units:
1. Main structural frame (4) (FIG. 5),
2. Cross travel (CT) car (5) (FIG. 5), and
3. Wire rope and pulley drive (FIG. 7).
[0040] The WET roll changing mechanism is represented by following three views:
• FIG. 8 represents the front view,
• FIG. 9 represents the top view, and
• FIG. 10 represents the side view.
[0041] The main structural frame (4) consists of a rigid structural frame (FIG. 5) which can be mounted on any electric/manual four wheels driven car. The structural frame (4) is the main part of the WET roll changing mechanism which bears the movable part.
[0042] The CT car (5) is an electro-mechanical car which facilitates the removal and insertion of rolls (12). It has four wheels (14) which move between fixed rails (19) of the main structural frame (4). In an aspect, the CT car (5) has an extended fixed arm (15) (FIG. 6). On the extreme end of the arm (15), a hydraulic jack (1) and a lifting mechanism would be mounted. The lifting mechanism consists of a hydraulic jack “U” type clamp (3), a pivot arm (2) and a fulcrum point (11) attached to the arm (15). The hydraulic jack (1) is a hand-operated device which will lift the roll vertically. The “U”-clamp (3) will be used to tie the roll properly. The pivot arm (2) will lift the roll operating the hydraulic jack (1) with respect to fulcrum point (11).
[0043] Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the wire rope and pulley drive (FIG. 7) is the main driving mechanism to drive the CT car (5). Cross travel movement of the CT car (5) happens when an electric bi directional geared motor (13) of the wire rope and pulley drive is energized.
[0044] In an aspect, a wire rope drum (9) is coupled to the geared motor (13). The geared motor (13) is connected to two numbers of wire ropes (8). A wire rope (8) end is fixed to one end of the CT car (5) and wrapped around the drum (9) while another wire rope (8) is fixed to the other end of the CT car (5) through the pulley (6) and a spring (7). In the said aspect, the CT car (5) is connected to the wire rope (8) by a bulldog grip (10) (FIG. 8).
[0045] In operation, once the CT car (5) is positioned along the center line of the roll (12), the cross travel movement will start. To start the operation, the geared motor (13) needs to be energized. The wire-rope and pulley drive will pull the CT car (5) along the fixed rails of the main structural frame (4). The CT car (5) moves and positioned at its desired place, and then the old and damaged roll (12) will be tied up with the “U” type clamp (3). Thereafter, the hydraulic jack (1) is required to be energized to lift the roll (12) with respect to the pivot arm (2). Once the roll (12) is lifted and rotated from its position with respect to pivot arm (2), the cross travel movement of the CT car (5) starts with the energization of the geared motor (13) to pull the old and damaged rolls (12) out of the tunnel furnace.
[0046] The new rolls (12) can be pushed into the tunnel furnace using similar operation vice-versa.
[0047] Furthermore, those skilled in the art can appreciate that the above description does not provide specific details of the manufacture or design of the various components. Those of skill in the art are familiar with such details, and unless departures from those techniques are set out, techniques, known, related art or later developed designs and materials should be employed. Those in the art can choose suitable manufacturing and design details.
[0048] It should be understood, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the discussion herein, it is appreciated that throughout the description, discussions utilizing terms such as “oxidizing,” or “cutting,” or “purifying,” or “dialyzing,” or the like, refer to the action and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.
[0049] Further, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. It will be appreciated that several of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into other systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may subsequently be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as encompassed by the following claims.
[0050] It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

We claim:

1. A WET roll changing mechanism, comprising:
a cross travel (CT) car (5) movable across the width and above the surface of a long travel (LT) car, wherein the CT car (5) includes an extended fixed arm (15) on the extreme end of which a hydraulic jack (1) and a lifting mechanism are mounted, and wherein lifting mechanism consists of a hydraulic jack “U” type clamp (3), a pivot arm (2), and a fulcrum point (11); and
a wire-rope pulley drive including a wire rope drum (9) coupled to a bidirectional geared motor (13) mounted on one end of the LT car, wherein the geared motor (13) is connected to wire ropes (8), with one end of the wire ropes (8) is being fixed to one end of the CT car (5) and wrapped around the drum (9) while other one of the wire ropes (8) is being fixed to other end of the CT car (5) through a pulley (6) mounted on other end of the CT car (5), and wherein the CT car (5) is connected to the wire ropes (8) by bulldog grip (10).

2. The WET roll changing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hydraulic jack (1) is a hand-operated device which will lift the roll vertically, the “U” type clamp (3) is used to tie the roll properly, and the pivot arm (2) is used to lift the roll by operating the hydraulic jack (1) with respect to fulcrum point (11).

3. The WET roll changing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, comprising a main structural frame (4) consists of a rigid structural frame mounted on electric or manual four wheels (14) electric power driven CT car (5).

4. The WET roll changing mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein the CT car (5) is an electro-mechanical car which facilitates the removal and insertion of rolls.

5. The WET roll changing mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein the CT car (5) has the four wheels (14) which move between fixed rails of the main structural frame (4). ,