Measuring thermal expansion and the thermal crown of rolls
AssigneeNovelis Inc.
InventorAntoine Jean Willy Pralong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for measuring the thermal crown of rolls in-situ (e.g., at high temperature) either inside or outside the rolling mill can include sensors that measure propagation times of mechanical waves through the rolls. In some embodiments, one or more sensors are used to measure the propagation times of ultrasonic waves traveling inside the roll and normal to the roll's axis. These measurements can be taken when the roll is still hot and can be used to determine in real-time the thermal expansion at various points along the roll.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- transmitting an in situ mechanical wave through a body at an in situ temperature;
- measuring an in situ propagation time of the in situ mechanical wave through the body at a first location;
- and
- comparing the in situ propagation time with a reference propagation time of a reference mechanical wave through the body at a reference temperature to determine an amount of thermal expansion of the body between the reference temperature and the in situ temperature.
A system for dynamically measuring a parameter of a roll, comprising:
- a measurement system for calculating the parameter of the roll using an in situ propagation time and a stored reference propagation time comprising:
- a transmitter positioned with respect to the roll to generate a mechanical wave in the roll substantially normal to a longitudinal axis of the roll;
- and
- a receiver positioned with respect to the roll to measure a propagation time of the mechanical wave through the roll;
- wherein the parameter is selected from the group consisting of an average temperature of the roll at an in situ temperature of the roll and a change in diameter of the roll between a reference temperature and the in situ temperature.
A method for dynamically measuring thermal expansion, comprising:
- measuring a first propagation time of a first mechanical wave through a roll at a first temperature;
- measuring a second propagation time of a second mechanical wave through the roll at a second temperature;
- and
- calculating a parameter of the roll by comparing the first propagation time to the second propagation time;
- wherein the parameter of the roll is selected from the group consisting of:
- an average temperature of the roll at the second temperature;
- and
- a change in diameter of the roll between the first temperature and the second temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.