Method and apparatus for controlling metal strip profile during rolling with direct measurement of process parameters
AssigneeNovelis Inc.
InventorsMATTHEW J. FAIRLIE, TIMOTHY F. STANISTREET, CARLOS EBOLI, HANSJUERG ALDER, LUIZ MURAD
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Abstract
A rolling mill control system and method includes use of sensors located between rolling mill stands to directly measure metal sheet or plate flatness, thickness profile, position, and the camber of the rolls in the mill. A feedback loop control system adjusts or adapts rolling mill control mechanisms to control the rolling process.
Claims20
A rolling mill comprising:
- a first work stand defining a first roll gap;
- a second work stand downstream from the first work stand and comprising an upper work roll, a lower work roll, and a roll tilt actuator, wherein the upper work roll and the lower work roll define a second roll gap, wherein the first work stand and the second work stand are adapted to receive a metal substrate moving along a pass line, and wherein the roll tilt actuator is configured to control an inclination of at least one of the upper work roll or the lower work roll relative to the pass line;
- a strip sensor at an interstand location along the pass line between the first work stand and the second work stand, wherein the strip sensor is configured to measure a parameter of the metal substrate at the interstand location;
- and
- a controller operably coupled to the roll tilt actuator and the strip sensor, wherein the controller is configured to receive sensor data from the strip sensor comprising the measured parameter of the metal substrate, compare the measured parameter to a target parameter, and actuate the roll tilt actuator such that the measured parameter is within a predefined tolerance of the target parameter.
The rolling mill of claim I, wherein the second work stand is a last work stand of the rolling mill, wherein the rolling mill further comprises an exit sensor downstream from the last work stand, wherein the exit sensor is operably connected to the controller and is configured to measure an exit parameter of the metal substrate after the last work stand, and actuate the roll tilt actuator based on the measured exit parameter.
The rolling mill of claim I, wherein the sensor comprises a tension sensor, a temperature sensor, a width sensor, or a thickness sensor.
A method comprising:
- receiving a metal substrate moving along a pass line in a first roll gap of a first work stand of a rolling mill;
- receiving the metal substrate moving along the pass line in a second roll gap of a second work stand of the rolling mill, wherein the second work stand is downstream from the first work stand and comprises an upper work roll, a lower work roll, and a roll tilt actuator, wherein the upper work roll and the lower work roll define the second roll gap, wherein the roll tilt actuator is configured to control an inclination of at least one of the upper work roll or the lower work roll relative to the pass line;
- measuring a parameter of the metal substrate with a strip sensor at an interstand location along the pass line between the first work stand and the second work stand;
- comparing the measured parameter to a target parameter;
- and
- actuating the roll tilt actuator such that the measured parameter is within a predefined tolerance of the target parameter.
A method comprising:
- measuring a thickness profile of a metal substrate with a thickness profile measurement sensor, wherein the thickness profile measurement sensor is disposed at an interstand location between work stands of a rolling mill;
- measuring a flatness of the metal substrate with a flatness measurement sensor, wherein the flatness measurement sensor is disposed downstream from a last work stand of the rolling mill;
- receiving data at a controller from the thickness profile measurement sensor and the flatness measurement sensor;
- and
- actuating, by the controller, a rolling mill control mechanism such that a work stand of the rolling mill provides a desired thickness profile and a desired flatness of the metal substrate within predefined tolerances, wherein the rolling mill control mechanism comprises roll tilting, and wherein actuating comprises actuating an inclination of at least work roll of the work stand relative to a pass line of the metal substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.