Apparatus for controlling time gaps between billets in rolling mills
OwnerJose A. C. Drummondinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and device for enabling the control of time intervals between billets in rolling mills of blocks or billets and/or similar equipments that allow such control is implemented using sensor controlled electronic circuits. The control system relies on a signal indicator which indicates to a mill operator the proper moment at which a billet has to be introduced in the first stand of the rolling mill. By observing a preset time interval and a real time interval indicator between billets, an effective time interval control technique for establishing an ideal spacing between billets minimizes the spacing gap guaranteeing, among other benefits, a significative increase in rolling mill productivity.
Claims5
Apparatus for enabling control of the time gap intervals between successive metal billets in a rolling mill by providing an indication of when to introduce subsequent billets, said mill having a drive motor for moving successive billets from a reheating furnace past a plurality of rolling stands arranged to include one or more strand paths, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) means for sensing predetermined changes in the current of said drive motor and for converting said sensed changes into entrance and exit signals corresponding to the entrance and exit of billets to and from a first stand of said mill;
- (b) at least one preset timer circuit for counting down a presetable time interval corresponding to a desired gap interval upon receipt of an exit signal of said sensing and converting means, and for producing an end of desired interval signal;
- (c) signalling means responsive to said end of desired interval signal for initiating an indication of the desired moment to introduce a billet into said rolling mill first stand;
- (d) a plurality of hot metal sensors for sensing the presence of billets at first and second locations along said plurality of mill stands and in said one or more strand paths for initiating a real time count in at least one chronometer, said count corresponding to the real time presence of said sensed billets within said locations;
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- (e) selector means responsive to said sensing means and to said hot metal sensors for selecting and enabling said at least one reset timer and said at least one chronometer consistent with billet presence in said one or more strand paths.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.