DEVICE FOR GUIDING METAL STRIPS WITH WEAR BODIES IN A FINISHING TRAIN

Abstract

A device for laterally guiding a metal strip (1, 13) running over a loop lifter (4, 12) between two roll stands (2, 3, 8, 9) of a finishing train. The device includes at least one main member module (14) extending in a direction between the roll stands. The module has a guiding plane (15), and also supports a number of wear members (18, 19, 20), each with a wear surface (21, 22, 23). Those wear members can be turned to a number of rotational positions. At least two wear members (18, 19, 20) are respectively arranged between one of the roll stands (2, 3, 8, 9) and the loop lifter, wherein, seen in the direction of the loop lifter (4, 12), the surface area of the wear surface (21, 22, 23) of adjacent wear member bodies (18, 19, 20) increases. During the operation of the device, at least one of the wear members is rotated while the metal strip (1, 13) is running to expose another area of the wear surface to the side of the strip.

Claims

1. A finishing train for a metal strip, the train having at least two roll stands and at least one loop lifter which is disposed between two neighboring ones of the roll stands; the loop lifter is adjustable to various positions for changing a lifted position of metal strip passing the loop lifter at a respective path of the strip; at least one device for laterally guiding a moving metal strip past the loop lifter which is between the two roll stands, the at least one device for lateral guiding comprising at least one main member module extending in a direction toward one of the roll stands and in a direction toward the loop lifter; the at least one main member module having a substantially vertically oriented guiding plane; a plurality of wear members, each wear member is rotatable to a plurality of rotary positions for the respective wear member; each wear member having a wear face, the wear faces of the wear members are substantially planar and are substantially parallel to the guiding plane; and at least two of the wear members are disposed between one of the roll stands and the loop lifter, wherein the surface area of the wear of neighboring ones of the wear members increases, when viewed in the direction of the respective loop lifter away from the one roll stand.

2. The finishing train as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wear members are disposed such that each path of the strip caused by the loop lifter leads across each wear face.

3. A method for operating a finishing train as claimed in claim 1 the method comprises rotating at least one of the wear members for presenting a different respective area of the wear face of the at least one of the wear members to an edge of the strip passing by the wear faces while the metal strip is running between the roll stands.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising laterally guiding the strip by each wear member is performed on each path of the strip past each wear face.

5. The finishing train as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the wear members are supported at the main member module.

6. The finishing train as claimed in claim 1, wherein in all rotary positions of the wear members, the wear members are substantially parallel to the guiding plane.

7. A device for laterally guiding a metal strip that travels on different paths as the strip runs across a loop lifter; the device comprising: first and second roll stands spaced apart from each other and configured for directing the metal strip from the first roll stand and past the loop lifter to be guided on a path by the loop lifter and then to the second roll stand; the loop lifter between the roll stands is adjustable to various positions between the two roll stands of a finishing train; a plurality of wear members are arrayed in a direction from one of the roll stands toward the loop lifter; each wear member is rotatable to a respective plurality of rotary positions thereof, each wear member having a wear face, wherein the wear faces of the wear members are substantially planar and are substantially parallel to a guiding plane; and the surface areas of at least two of the wear faces of neighboring ones of the wear members are of dissimilar sizes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] The present invention will be described in an exemplary manner hereunder by means of schematic figures in which:

[0045] FIG. 1 schematically shows a conventional device for laterally guiding a metal strip running across a loop lifter between two roll stands of a finishing train; and

[0046] FIG. 2 schematically shows an embodiment of a device according to the invention as said device is in operation when installed in a finishing train according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Exemplars

[0047] FIG. 1 in a lateral view of a conventional device shows in fragments how a metal strip 1 runs in the direction indicated by an arrow runs across a loop lifter 4 between two roll stands 2, 3 of a finishing train in a conventional device. Plate-shaped wear strips 5a, 5b are present to the right and the left of the loop lifter 4 in order for the running metal strip 1 to be laterally guided. The loop lifter 4 is adjustable to various positions in height, which is illustrated by a double arrow. Depending on the position of the loop lifter, the metal strip 1 follows a different path from the roll gap 6 of the first roll stand 2 in the running direction of the strip into the roll gap 7 of the second roll stand 3 in the running direction of the strip. Only one path associated with the illustrated position of the loop lifter 4 is illustrated, but other paths of the loop lifter will occur as the loop lifter is adjusted vertically. The plate shaped wear strips are not rotatable.

[0048] FIG. 2 shows a lateral view of a fragment of a finishing train according to the invention having an embodiment of a device according to the invention for lateral direction guiding of the metal strip, such as occurs when the device is installed in a finishing train according to the invention. A metal strip 13 runs on a respective different illustrated path 10 and 11 across a loop lifter 12 that is adjustable to various height positions between two roll stands 8, 9 of a finishing train. The running direction of the metal strip is from the roll stand 9 toward the roll stand 8 illustrated by an arrow.

[0049] A main member module 14 has a substantially vertical guiding plane 15 for guiding the module 14 toward an edge of the metal strip. The main member module 14 is disposed between the loop lifter 12 and the last roll stand 8 when viewed in the running direction of the strip. The main member module extends in a direction toward the roll stand and in a direction toward the loop lifter.

[0050] The loop lifter 12 across which the metal strip 13 runs can be set to various vertical positions. This is illustrated for two positions of the loop lifter roller by a solid outline 16 for one path and a dash outline 17 for the other path. The path 10 followed by the metal strip 13 across the topmost potential position of the loop lifter is illustrated with a solid lines. The path 11 followed across the lower potential position of the loop lifter is illustrated with a dashed line.

[0051] The loop lifter 12 across which the metal strip 13 runs can be set to various vertical positions. This is illustrated for two positions of the loop lifter roller by a solid outline 16 for one path and a dash outline 17 for the other path. The path 10 followed by the metal strip 13 across the topmost potential position of the loop lifter is illustrated with a solid lines. The path 11 followed across the lower potential position of the loop lifter is illustrated with a dashed line.

[0052] The device also comprises three rotatable wear members 18, 19, 20 that are each individually rotatable to a plurality of rotary positions. The wear members may be at the main member module and may rotate there. The axially inward facing wear faces 21, 22, 23 of the wear members 18, 19, 20 are substantially planar and, in all of the rotary positions of the wear members, the wear faces are parallel to the guiding plane 15 of the main member module 14. The wear members may be at the main member module and may rotate there. The three wear members 18, 19, 20 are disposed between the loop lifter 12 and the last roll stand 8, when viewed in the running direction of the strip. When viewed from the roll gap 24 at the roll stand 8 in the direction of the loop lifter 12, the surface areas of the wear faces 21, 22, 23 of neighboring wear members 18, 19, 20 increase since the diameters of the three round wear members 18, 19, 20 increase. In the embodiment illustrated, each path of the strip, when it is at a selected vertical position, leads across each wear face 21, 22, 23. All wear members 18, 19, 20 contribute to the lateral guiding of the strip independently of the spacings illustrated between the loop lifter roller and the pass line 25, which pass line is illustrated by a dashed line. The wear members 18, 19, 20 are rotated during the operation of the plant illustrated, as illustrated by curved arrows Different rotation directions of the wear members are possible, while the metal strip 13 is running and is guided by the wear members 18, 19, 20. Illustration of parts for lateral guiding that are optionally present between the loop lifter 12 and the roll stand 9 are not shown for clarity. This can, for example, be an assembly that is mirror-symmetrical in relation to the assembly illustrated.

[0053] While the invention has been illustrated and described in more detail by way of the preferred exemplary embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed exemplars and other variations can be derived therefrom by the person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0054] 1 Metal strip [0055] 2 Roll stand [0056] 3 Roll stand [0057] 4 Loop lifter [0058] 5a, 5b Wear strips [0059] 6 Roll gap [0060] 7 Roll gap [0061] 8 Roll stand [0062] 9 Roll stand [0063] 10 Path [0064] 11 Path [0065] 12 Loop lifter [0066] 13 Metal strip [0067] 14 Main member module [0068] 15 Guiding plane [0069] 16 Outline of loop lifter roller [0070] 17 Outline of loop lifter roller [0071] 18 Wear member [0072] 19 Wear member [0073] 20 Wear member [0074] 21 Wear face [0075] 22 Wear face [0076] 23 Wear face [0077] 24 Roll gap [0078] 25 Pass line