Process and apparatus for strip flatness and tension measurements
AssigneeKaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation
InventorYu-Wen Hsu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process and apparatus for on-line measurement of unflatness of hot or cold rolled strip products, wherein the longitudinal bending of a shape roll over which the strip passes provides a measure of the unflatness of the strip. Actual values of force, displacement or bending moment near the ends of the shape roll may be compared to theoretically predicted values for a flat product and for product having various out-of-flatness conditions. Preferably, the shape roll is supported at its ends by two pairs of supports, and the measurements at the supports are used in determining roll bending and then strip unflatness. Other conditions such as off-center strip and asymmetric operation of the rolling mill may also be determined from the measurement.
Claims18
A process for monitoring a continuously moving metal strip in a rolling mill comprising the steps of selecting a first and second pair of load-sensing positions, continuously supporting the moving strip under tension on an endless unitary surface rotatable about an axis and intermediate the first and second pair of load-sensing positions with the individual positions of a given pair being located at a different end of said axis and the locations of the positions of one pair of load-sensing positions being disposed in opposed relationship on an opposite side of said axis with respect to the other pair of load-sensing positions, continuously and simultaneously measuring a reaction characteristic for at least three of the load-sensing positions relative to theoretically calculated flat strip values and continuously making determinations of the unflatness of the strip from the measured reaction characteristics.
An apparatus for measuring flatness of a length of metallic strip comprising a roll rotatable about a longitudinal axis and having a unitary body portion for supporting the strip, a first pair of load-sensing elements with the individual elements thereof being disposed at opposite ends of said roll, a second pair of load-sensing elements wherein the individual elements thereof are also disposed at the opposite ends of said roll, and in opposed relationship on opposite sides of said axis with respect to the load-sensing elements of said first pair of load-sensing elements, and said load-sensing elements being preset to simultaneously measure the reaction characteristics for at least three of said load-sensing elements relative to those theoretically calculated for flat strip.
A dual-support shape roll, comprising:
- a roll having a cylindrical roll body for supporting a length of strip and a pair of roll necks for supporting the roll body extending axially from the roll body along the cylindrical axis thereof;
- a pair of inner bearings at the opposite ends of said roll and receiving the respective roll necks therein;
- a pair of pivot plates at the opposite ends of said roll, said pivot plates having means for respectively mounting said pair of inner bearings;
- first pivot means for pivotably supporting said pivot plates to allow said pivot plates to pivot about an axis parallel to the axis of said cylindrical roll;
- a pair of tension load cells in contact with said pivot plates to measure the respective loads imposed thereon;
- a pair of outer bearings at the opposite ends of said roll and receiving the respective roll necks therein, each of said pair of outer bearings being disposed further from said roll body than the respective inner bearings;
- a pair of pivot arms at the opposite ends of said roll, said pivot arms having means for respectively mounting said pair of outer bearings;
- second pivot means for pivotably supporting said pivot arms on the respective said pivot plates to allow said pivot arms to pivot about an axis parallel to the axis of said cylindrical roll;
- and
- a pair of flatness load cells in contact with said pivot arms to measaure the respective bending loads imposed upon said outer bearings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.