ROLLING METHOD OF SHAPED STEEL, PRODUCTION LINE OF SHAPED STEEL, AND PRODUCTION METHOD OF SHAPED STEEL

Abstract

Regarding each rolling mill, a rolling torque Gi before biting into a downstream stand is stored, the peripheral velocity of a most downstream stand Rn is controlled to be Gn1=Gn1* after biting into Rn, and a rolling torque Gn** of Rn after tension is stabilized is stored. After that, the peripheral velocity of a rolling mill Ri is controlled to be Gi=Gi* toward an upstream side, and the peripheral velocity of a rolling mill Rk at a downstream side of the rolling mill Ri is controlled to keep Gk=Gk** (k=i+1 to n) so that a rolling torque of a most upstream rolling mill R1 becomes equal to a stored G1*. Stabilization of material passage and improvement in accuracy of a product dimension are enabled by controlling tension between stands with high accuracy by using a simple control system without using table values or the like by each rolling condition even under a condition where a distance between stands is short.

Claims

1. A rolling method of shaped steel which performs reduction between a horizontal roll side surface and a vertical roll peripheral surface by using one piece or more of rolling mill when tandem rolling is carried out in a rolling mill train formed of n-pieces of rolling mills of at least three pieces or more, the rolling method comprising: a first control step of fixing the peripheral velocity of a rolling mill Ri of the rolling mill train after a material to be rolled is bitten into the rolling mill Ri and before the material to be rolled is bitten into a rolling mill Ri+1 positioning at a downstream side of the rolling mill Ri, and storing a rolling torque Gi of the rolling mill Ri at that time as Gi* regarding each rolling mill Ri, and controlling the peripheral velocity of a most downstream rolling mill Rn of the rolling mill train after the material to be rolled is bitten into the rolling mill Rn so that a rolling torque Gn1 of a rolling mill Rn1 positioning at an upstream side of the rolling mill Rn becomes equal to Gn1* which is stored as a rolling torque of the rolling mill Rn1 before the material to be rolled is bitten into the rolling mill Rn; a second control step of storing a rolling torque Gn** of the rolling mill Rn after the first control step, and subsequently, controlling the peripheral velocity of the rolling mill Rn1 so that a rolling torque Gn2 of a rolling mill Rn2 positioning at an upstream side of the rolling mill Rn1 becomes equal to Gn2* which is stored as a rolling torque of the rolling mill Rn2 before the material to be rolled is bitten into the rolling mill Rn1, and controlling the peripheral velocity of the rolling mill Rn so that a rolling torque Gn of the rolling mill Rn becomes equal to the stored rolling torque Gn**, wherein the second control step is applied to all of the rolling mills Ri, and the peripheral velocity of each rolling mill Ri of the rolling mill train is controlled so that a rolling torque G1 of a most upstream rolling mill R1 becomes equal to G1* which is stored as a rolling torque of the rolling mill R1 before the material to be rolled is bitten into a rolling mill R2 positioning at a downstream side of the rolling mill R1, here, i is an arbitrary integer number from one to n, and n is an integer number of three or more.

2. The rolling method of the shaped steel according to claim 1, wherein the control is performed by using a torque arm coefficient (G/P) which is a value where a rolling torque of each rolling mill is divided by a rolling load of the rolling mill in place of a value of the rolling torque of each rolling mill of the rolling mill train.

3. The rolling method of the shaped steel according to claim 1, wherein after controlling all of the peripheral velocity of the respective rolling mills Ri of the rolling mill train, rolling is carried out by fixing a ratio of the peripheral velocity of the respective rolling mills Ri.

4. The rolling method of the shaped steel according to claim 3, wherein a rolling speed of the most downstream rolling mill Rn of the rolling mill train is increased to a desired speed under a state where the ratio of the peripheral velocity of the respective rolling mills Ri is fixed.

5. A production line of shaped steel having a constitution where a rolling mill train formed of n-pieces of rolling mills of at least three pieces or more and at least one piece or more of rolling mills or a rolling mill train are tandem arranged in this order and carrying out reduction between a horizontal roll side surface and a vertical roll peripheral surface by using one piece or more of rolling mill, wherein in the production line, no-tension control of a material to be rolled is performed at the upstream rolling mill train, the upstream rolling mill train and the downstream rolling mills or rolling mill train are arranged in a state where there is a sufficient distance for the material to be rolled to be bitten into the downstream rolling mills or rolling mill train after the no-tension control is completed, and the rolling method of the shaped steel according to claim 1 is independently performed at the upstream rolling mill train and the downstream rolling mills or rolling mill train.

6. A production method of shaped steel produced by carrying out reduction between a horizontal roll side surface and a vertical roll peripheral surface, the production method comprising: a first control step of fixing the peripheral velocity of a rolling mill Ri after a material to be rolled is bitten into the rolling mill Ri and before the material to be rolled is bitten into a rolling mill Ri+1 positioning at a downstream side of the rolling mill Ri, and storing a rolling torque Gi of the rolling mill Ri at that time as Gi* regarding each rolling mill Ri in a rolling mill train formed of n-pieces of rolling mills of at least three pieces or more, and controlling the peripheral velocity of a most downstream rolling mill Rn of the rolling mill train after the material to be rolled is bitten into the rolling mill Rn so that a rolling torque Gn1 of a rolling mill Rn1 positioning at an upstream side of the rolling mill Rn becomes equal to Gn1* which is stored as a rolling torque of the rolling mill Rn1 before the material to be rolled is bitten into the rolling mill Rn; a second control step of storing a rolling torque Gn** of the rolling mill Rn after the first control step, and subsequently, controlling the peripheral velocity of the rolling mill Rn1 so that a rolling torque Gn2 of a rolling mill Rn2 positioning at an upstream side of the rolling mill Rn1 becomes equal to Gn2* which is stored as a rolling torque of the rolling mill Rn2 before the material to be rolled is bitten into the rolling mill Rn1, and controlling the peripheral velocity of the rolling mill Rn so that a rolling torque Gn of the rolling mill Rn becomes equal to the stored rolling torque Gn**, wherein the shaped steel is produced by applying the second control step to all of the rolling mills Ri, and controlling the peripheral velocity of each rolling mill Ri of the rolling mill train so that a rolling torque G1 of a most upstream rolling mill R1 becomes equal to G1* which is stored as a rolling torque of the rolling mill R1 before the material to be rolled is bitten into a rolling mill R2 positioning at a downstream side of the rolling mill R1.

7. The rolling method of the shaped steel according to claim 2, wherein after controlling all of the peripheral velocity of the respective rolling mills Ri of the rolling mill train, rolling is carried out by fixing a ratio of the peripheral velocity of the respective rolling mills Ri.

8. A production line of shaped steel having a constitution where a rolling mill train formed of n-pieces of rolling mills of at least three pieces or more and at least one piece or more of rolling mills or a rolling mill train are tandem arranged in this order and carrying out reduction between a horizontal roll side surface and a vertical roll peripheral surface by using one piece or more of rolling mill, wherein in the production line, no-tension control of a material to be rolled is performed at the upstream rolling mill train, the upstream rolling mill train and the downstream rolling mills or rolling mill train are arranged in a state where there is a sufficient distance for the material to be rolled to be bitten into the downstream rolling mills or rolling mill train after the no-tension control is completed, and the rolling method of the shaped steel according to claim 2 is independently performed at the upstream rolling mill train and the downstream rolling mills or rolling mill train.

9. A production line of shaped steel having a constitution where a rolling mill train formed of n-pieces of rolling mills of at least three pieces or more and at least one piece or more of rolling mills or a rolling mill train are tandem arranged in this order and carrying out reduction between a horizontal roll side surface and a vertical roll peripheral surface by using one piece or more of rolling mill, wherein in the production line, no-tension control of a material to be rolled is performed at the upstream rolling mill train, the upstream rolling mill train and the downstream rolling mills or rolling mill train are arranged in a state where there is a sufficient distance for the material to be rolled to be bitten into the downstream rolling mills or rolling mill train after the no-tension control is completed, and the rolling method of the shaped steel according to claim 3 is independently performed at the upstream rolling mill train and the downstream rolling mills or rolling mill train.

10. A production line of shaped steel having a constitution where a rolling mill train formed of n-pieces of rolling mills of at least three pieces or more and at least one piece or more of rolling mills or a rolling mill train are tandem arranged in this order and carrying out reduction between a horizontal roll side surface and a vertical roll peripheral surface by using one piece or more of rolling mill, wherein in the production line, no-tension control of a material to be rolled is performed at the upstream rolling mill train, the upstream rolling mill train and the downstream rolling mills or rolling mill train are arranged in a state where there is a sufficient distance for the material to be rolled to be bitten into the downstream rolling mills or rolling mill train after the no-tension control is completed, and the rolling method of the shaped steel according to claim 4 is independently performed at the upstream rolling mill train and the downstream rolling mills or rolling mill train.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram regarding a production line of H-shaped steel.

[0034] FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a universal rolling mill and an edger rolling mill.

[0035] FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a rolling mill train formed of three pieces of rolling mills of R1-R2-R3.

[0036] FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory diagram regarding tension control when a distance between stands is long.

[0037] FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory diagram in a case of applying conventional tension control when a distance between stands is extremely short.

[0038] FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory diagram in a case of applying tension control according to the present invention when a distance between stands is extremely short.

[0039] FIG. 7 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a combination of a rolling mill train formed of adjacent rolling mills R1 to R3 and a rolling mill at a downstream position which is sufficiently kept away from the rolling mill train.

[0040] FIG. 8 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a combination of a rolling mill train formed of adjacent rolling mills R1 to R3 and a second rolling mill train formed of adjacent rolling mills R4 to R6 at a downstream position which is sufficiently kept away from the rolling mill train.

[0041] FIG. 9 is a schematic explanatory diagram of universal intermediate rolling of H-shaped steel.

[0042] FIG. 10 is a graphic chart representing a torque change amount of each stand through numerical analysis when tension between stands changes.

EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0043] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are explained with reference to the drawings. Note that in this description and the drawings, components having substantially the same functional configurations are denoted by the same numerals to omit duplicated explanation. In this description, a universal rolling mill and an edger rolling mill used when an H-shaped steel product is produced are illustrated as an example of the rolling mill forming a continuous rolling mill, but an application range of the present invention is not limited thereto. Besides, the universal rolling mill in this description indicates a rolling mill which carries out rolling accompanied by large extension at a shaped steel rolling time by using a horizontal roll and a vertical roll, and the edger rolling indicates a rolling mill which carries out extremely soft rolling by being used together with the universal rolling mill, and these rolling mills are sometimes called a rolling stand or just a stand in this description.

[0044] Outline of Production Line and Conventional Point of Issue

[0045] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram regarding a production line L where a rolling method of shaped steel according to this embodiment is carried out. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a heating furnace 2, a rough rolling mill 4, two pieces of intermediate universal rolling mills 5, 6, and a finishing universal rolling mill 8 are sequentially arranged from an upstream side in the production line L. Further, an edger rolling mill 9 is provided between the two pieces of intermediate universal rolling mills 5, 6. Note that, in the following, a steel material in the production line L is collectively denoted as a material to be rolled S for explanation and its shape is sometimes illustrated using broken lines, oblique lines and the like in each drawing.

[0046] As illustrated in FIG. 1, in the production line L, the material to be rolled S such as, for example, a slab 11 extracted from the heating furnace 2 is subjected to rough rolling in the rough rolling mill 4. Then, the material to be rolled S is subjected to intermediate universal rolling in the intermediate universal rolling mills 5, 6. Under a state where reverse rolling with this intermediate universal rolling is possible, reduction is carried out for end portions or the like of the material to be rolled (flange corresponding portions 12) by the edger rolling mill 9. In a normal case, approximately four to six pieces of calibers in total are engraved on rolls of the rough rolling mill 4 (a plurality of rough rolling mills are sometimes provided), an H-shaped raw blank 13 in a dog-bone shape is shaped by reverse rolling in a plurality of passes through those calibers, and the H-shaped raw blank 13 is subjected to application of reduction in a plurality of passes using a rolling mill train formed of the first intermediate universal rolling mill 5-the edger rolling mill 9-the second intermediate universal rolling mill 6, whereby an intermediate material 14 is shaped. The intermediate material 14 is subjected to finish rolling into a product shape in the finishing universal rolling mill 8, whereby an H-shaped steel product 16 is produced.

[0047] In the production line L illustrated in FIG. 1, when the H-shaped raw blank 13 is subjected to application of reduction in a plurality of passes using the rolling mill train formed of the first intermediate universal rolling mill 5-the edger rolling mill 9-the second intermediate universal rolling mill 6 to shape the intermediate material 14, a flange tip portion becomes an unreduced portion (refer to a broken line portion in the drawing) as it is illustrated in FIG. 2(a) in each universal rolling mill, and therefore, rolling to shape and reduce the unreduced portion is carried out by the edger rolling mill as illustrated in FIG. 2(b).

[0048] An example of a continuous rolling mill train carrying out rolling of a material to be rolled in a tandem state includes a constitution of the first intermediate universal rolling mill 5-the edger rolling mill 9-the second intermediate universal rolling mill 6 as stated above. In the rolling mill train having the constitution where a plurality of rolling stands are continuously arranged, when shaped steel is rolled as the material to be rolled S, tension control between rolling stands using a looper (tension control device) which is used when a steel strip is rolled or the like is difficult because stiffness of the material to be rolled is large. Besides, it has been general when the shaped steel is rolled to set the peripheral velocity so that tension between stands tends to be drawn at a biting time to secure stable material passage by preventing poor material passage such as turning up of the material to be rolled between the rolling stands. That is, it is required to suitably control the tension between stands after the material to be rolled is bitten to keep a product dimension good in the rolling of the shaped steel.

[0049] Further, a distance between stands of the plurality of stands is sometimes set to be short aiming at energy-saving, cost-saving, and downsizing of equipment in the continuous rolling mill train. However, if the distance between stands is shortened when the tandem rolling of the shaped steel is carried out, there is a possibility that the material to be rolled is bitten into a downstream stand before the tension between rolling stands at an upstream side is controlled into a no-tension state, resulting in that the conventional control to make the tension between stands tend to be drawn cannot be stably performed.

[0050] In consideration of such circumstances, there has been demanded a technique capable of controlling the tension between stands with high accuracy even in a constitution where the distance between stands is short, and enabling stable material passage, and improvement in product dimension accuracy in the continuous rolling mill train carrying out the tandem rolling of the shaped steel.

Application Example of Tension Control Method

[0051] In the production line L illustrated in FIG. 1, the constitution of the first intermediate universal rolling mill 5-the edger rolling mill 9-the second intermediate universal rolling mill 6 (refer to FIG. 2) was exemplified as the continuous rolling mill train, but the tension control method according to the present invention is applicable to any rolling mill as long as it has a constitution where a plurality of rolling mills (stands) are continuously arranged in the equipment carrying out the tandem rolling of the shaped steel. Hereinafter, cases, when the conventional tension control method and the tension control method according to the present invention are each applied to a rolling mill train where three pieces of stands of R1 to R3 are continuously arranged, are exemplified to be explained. This constitution is an example, and the tension control method according to the present invention is applicable to a rolling mill train of shaped steel where a plurality of rolling mills of at least three pieces or more are arranged in a tandem rolling state.

[0052] FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a rolling mill train 30 formed of three pieces of rolling mills R1-R2-R3, and for example, reverse rolling is carried out in this rolling mill train 30 as illustrated by a broken arrow in the drawing. Each distance between stands of the three pieces of rolling mills (rolling stands) of R1, R2, R3 is shorter than a longitudinal direction length of the material to be rolled S, and the rolling of the material to be rolled S is carried out in, what is called a tandem rolling state. When the tension control method according to the present invention is applied, superiority of the present invention to the conventional art is exhibited when the distance between these stands is a sufficiently short distance compared to a rolling speed of the material to be rolled S, that is, tension between respective stands cannot be made into a no-tension state before the material to be rolled S is bitten into a downstream stand. Note that the present invention can be applied also to a case when the distance between stands is long where, for example, Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Publication No. S53-34586) is applicable.

Conventional Tension Control and Problem Thereof

[0053] First, the tension control when the distance between stands is sufficiently long in the rolling mill train 30 formed of three pieces of rolling mills R1-R2-R3 is explained. Here, the constitution where the distance between stands is sufficiently long indicates that there is a sufficient distance to carry out and stabilize the no-tension control of the material to be rolled S between stands.

[0054] FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory diagram regarding the tension control when the distance between stands is long, and is a schematic diagram illustrating a change of a rolling torque (solid line) and a change of the peripheral velocity (dot and dash line) of each of the rolling mills R1 to R3. In the following, respective rolling torques of R1 to R3 are defined as G1 to G3 as values which change with time, and each rolling torque value at a specific moment is denoted by an individual value such as G1*. In FIG. 4, schematic diagrams each illustrating a position of the material to be rolled S in each of statuses A, B in the schematic diagram (FIG. 4) are also illustrated. The tension control when the distance between stands is long is explained with reference to FIG. 4. [0055] 1) At a preliminary stage of the status A illustrated in FIG. 4, a rolling torque G1* of R1 is stored just before the material to be rolled S is bitten into R2. After the material to be rolled S is bitten into R2 in the status A, the peripheral velocity of R1 is controlled so that G1=G1* to put the tension between R1-R2 into a no-tension state (stable state), and a rolling torque G2* of R2 at that state is stored. [0056] 2) In the status B illustrated in FIG. 4, after the material to be rolled S is bitten into R3, the peripheral velocity of R2 is controlled so that the rolling torque G2 of R2 becomes G2=G2*. Both tensions between R1-R2 and between R2-R3 are thereby controlled into the no-tension states.

[0057] Next, in the rolling mill train 30 formed of the three pieces of rolling mills R1-R2-R3, a case when the conventional tension control is applied to the constitution where the distance between stands is extremely short is explained. Here, the constitution where the distance between stands is extremely short indicates a constitution where the material to be rolled S is bitten into a downstream stand before the tension between upstream rolling stands is controlled into the no-tension state.

[0058] FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory diagram when the conventional tension control is applied to the case when the distance between stands is extremely short, and is a schematic diagram illustrating a change of a rolling torque (solid line) and a change of the peripheral velocity (dot and dash line) of each of the rolling mills R1 to R3. Also in FIG. 5, schematic diagrams each showing a position of the material to be rolled S in each of statuses A, B in the schematic diagram (FIG. 5) are also illustrated. The case of applying the conventional tension control to the constitution where the distance between stands is extremely short is explained with reference to FIG. 5. [0059] 1) At a preliminary stage of the status A illustrated in FIG. 5, the rolling torque G1* of R1 is stored just before the material to be rolled S is bitten into R2. After the material to be rolled S is bitten into R2 in the status A, the peripheral velocity of R1 is controlled so that G1=G1*, but the material to be rolled S is bitten into R3 before the control is completed. Even if a rolling torque G2* of R2 is stored under this state, the stored G2* is a value of a state where backward tension is applied. [0060] 2) In the status B illustrated in FIG. 5, even if the control to be G2=G2* and G1=G1* is performed, the tension between R2-R3 does not become the no-tension state because the stored G2* is the value of the state where the backward tension is applied as stated above, and the suitable tension control is not enabled.

[0061] As it has been explained with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, there is a problem that though the suitable tension control is possible by applying the conventional tension control technique when the distance between stands is sufficiently long (refer to FIG. 4), the suitable tension control cannot be enabled through the conventional tension control technique in the constitution where the distance between stands is extremely short (refer to FIG. 5) in the rolling mill train 30 formed of the three pieces of rolling mills R1-R2-R3.

[0062] In consideration of the above-stated problem, the present inventors invented a tension control method and a rolling method using the tension control method of fixing the peripheral velocity under a state where forward tension is zero (before the material to be rolled S is bitten into a downstream rolling mill), and sequentially setting the tension between stands to be zero by tracing back after the material to be rolled S is bitten into all of the rolling mills to be objects when tension control is performed in a rolling mill train formed of a plurality of rolling mills. Hereinafter, the rolling method according to the present invention is explained.

[0063] Rolling Method and Tension Control According to the Present Invention

[0064] Here, a case is explained when a tension control technique according to the present invention is applied to the constitution where the distance between stands is extremely short in the rolling mill train 30 formed of the three pieces of rolling mills R1-R2-R3. The tension control technique according to the present invention is applicable to a case when tandem rolling is carried out in a rolling mill train formed of an arbitrary n-pieces (n is an arbitrary integer number of three or more) of rolling mills, and here, it is explained by using the rolling mill train 30 formed of the three pieces of rolling mills R1-R2-R3 to simplify the explanation.

[0065] FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory diagram when the tension control according to the present invention is applied to the case when the distance between stands is extremely short, and is a schematic diagram illustrating a change of a rolling torque (solid line) and a change of the peripheral velocity (dot and dash line) of each of the rolling mills R1 to R3. In FIG. 6, schematic diagrams each showing a position of the material to be rolled S in each of statuses A to C in the schematic diagram (FIG. 6) are also illustrated. The case applying the tension control according to the present invention to the constitution where the distance between stands is extremely short is explained with reference to FIG. 6. [0066] 1) At a preliminary stage of the status A illustrated in FIG. 6, the rolling torque G1* of R1 is stored just before the material to be rolled S is bitten into R2. [0067] 2) In the status A illustrated in FIG. 6, that is, just before the material to be rolled S is bitten into R3, the rolling torque G2* of R2 is stored, and the peripheral velocity of R1 is fixed in this stage. [0068] 3) In the status B illustrated in FIG. 6, that is, after the material to be rolled S is bitten into R3, the peripheral velocity of R3 is controlled so that the rolling torque G2 of R2 becomes equal to the stored G2* (G2=G2*). After the control is stabilized, tension between R2-R3 becomes no-tension. A rolling torque G3** of R3 under this state is stored. [0069] 4) The peripheral velocity of R2 is controlled so that G1=G1* (that is, the tension between R1-R2 becomes no-tension) between the status B and the status C illustrated in FIG. 6. By controlling the peripheral velocity of R2 (the peripheral velocity changes), tension or compressive force acts between R2-R3, and at that time, the peripheral velocity of R3 is controlled so that G3=G3** is kept. [0070] 5) In the status C illustrated in FIG. 6, the rolling torque G2** of R2 is stored at a timing when the tensions between R1-R2 and R2-R3 are stabilized. [0071] 6) Since the stored G1*, G2**, G3** during the above-stated processes are the rolling torques when forward tension and backward tension are zero, it is possible to keep the no-tension state over a whole length of the rolling mill train by controlling the peripheral velocity of the respective rolling mills so that G1=G1*, G2=G2**, and G3=G3**.

[0072] As mentioned above, the tension control is performed with high accuracy between respective rolling stands (between R1-R2 and between R2-R3) and it becomes possible to carry out the rolling while keeping the no-tension state by applying the tension control method explained by 1) to 6) with reference to FIG. 6 to the tandem rolling at the rolling mill train 30. A material passing property of the material to be rolled between rolling stands thereby improves, and deterioration of dimensional accuracy, slip, turning up due to the compressive force, and so on are prevented.

[0073] In the present embodiment, table values or the like by each rolling condition are not used, the rolling torques which can be measured are stored, and the tension control over the whole length of the rolling mill train 30 formed of R1-R2-R3 can be performed with high accuracy by using a simple control system.

[0074] Application to Rolling Mill Train Formed of Arbitrary Plurality of Mills

[0075] In the explanation with reference to FIG. 6, there is explained the case when the tension control according to the present invention is applied to the rolling mill train 30 formed of three pieces of rolling mills R1-R2-R3, but an application range of the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the technique of the present invention is applicable to a rolling mill train formed of three pieces or more of arbitrary plurality of rolling mills. Hereinafter, there is explained the tension control method when the tandem rolling is carried out by using a rolling mill train formed of arbitrary n-pieces of rolling mills of three pieces or more. In the following, respective rolling mills forming the rolling mill train formed of the n-pieces rolling mills are set as R1, R2, . . . Rn, an i-th rolling mill is set as Ri, and a rolling torque of Ri is defined as Gi for the sake of explanation. That is, i is an arbitrary integer number from one to n, and n is an integer number of three or more. [0076] 1) In each of the rolling mills Ri other than the most downstream rolling mill Rn, a rolling torque Gi* of Ri after the material to be rolled is bitten into Ri and just before bitten into the downstream rolling mill Ri+1 is stored and the peripheral velocity of Ri is fixed in this stage. [0077] 2) After the material to be rolled is bitten into the most downstream rolling mill Rn, the peripheral velocity of the most downstream rolling mill Rn is controlled so that the rolling torque Gn1 of the rolling mill Rn1 just before the most downstream rolling mill becomes equal to the rolling torque Gn1* which is stored before biting into Rn (first control step). A tension state of Rn1 becomes an equal state to a tension state just before the material to be rolled is bitten into the most downstream rolling mill Rn (forward tension=0) by the control. [0078] 3) The rolling torque Gn** of the rolling mill Rn after the tension control by the first control step is stabilized is stored. [0079] 4) The peripheral velocity of the rolling mill Rn1 is controlled so that the rolling torque Gn2 of the rolling mill Rn2 positioning at an upstream side of the rolling mill Rn1 becomes equal to Gn2* which is stored as the rolling torque of the rolling mill Rn2 before the material to be rolled is bitten into the rolling mill Rn1, and the peripheral velocity of the rolling mill Rn is controlled so that the rolling torque Gn of the rolling mill Rn keeps the rolling torque Gn** which is stored by the 3) step (second control step). Here, the rolling torque Gn1** of the rolling mill Rn1 is stored after the tension control is stabilized. [0080] 5) Subsequently, the second control step is sequentially performed for each of the rolling mills toward an upstream side so as to trace back through a similar method. That is, the no-tension state is similarly enabled between respective rolling mills after control by controlling the peripheral velocity of each rolling mill so that the rolling torque Gi of the rolling mill just before the rolling mill becomes equal to the rolling torque Gi* which is stored before biting into the rolling mill, and controlling the peripheral velocity of Ri+1 to Rn so that the rolling torques Gi+1 to Gn of the rolling mills Ri+1 to Rn at the downstream side of the rolling mill keep the rolling torques Gi+1** to Gn** which are stored after tension is stabilized, regarding each of the rolling mills Rn1, Rn2, . . . R1. [0081] 6) Finally, the peripheral velocity of each rolling mill Ri of the rolling mill train is controlled so that the rolling torque G1 of the most upstream rolling mill R1 becomes equal to G1* which is stored as the rolling torque of the rolling mill R1 before the material to be rolled is bitten into the rolling mill R2 positioning at a downstream side of the rolling mill R1.

[0082] The first control step in the above-stated tension control method is a step of controlling the peripheral velocity of the rolling mill Rn so that Gn1=Gn1*, and it is an independent control step of Rn. Besides, the second control step is an interlocking control step where the peripheral velocity of the rolling mill Ri is controlled so that Gi=Gi*, and the peripheral velocity is controlled so that Gk=Gk** (k=i+1 to n) is kept for the rolling mill Rk at a downstream side of the rolling mill Ri. The tension state among all rolling mills can be controlled by sequentially applying this second control step from the rolling mill Rn1 toward the upstream side.

[0083] It becomes possible to perform the tension control so that the tensions between respective rolling mills become the no-tension state over the whole of the rolling mill train by sequentially performing the tension control so as to trace back toward the upstream side after the material to be rolled is bitten into the most downstream rolling mill Rn to finally control up to the most upstream rolling mill R1.

[0084] One example of the embodiment of the present invention has been explained above, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. It should be understood that various changes and modifications are readily apparent to those skilled in the art within the scope of the spirit as set forth in claims, and those should also be covered by the technical scope of the present invention.

[0085] In the rolling method according to the present invention explained in the above embodiments, temperature change at the rolling time of the material to be rolled S is not particularly mentioned. However, when a dimension of the material to be rolled S is long in a longitudinal direction, there is a possibility that the temperature of the material to be rolled S changes with time and the rolling torque of each rolling mill fluctuates in accordance with the temperature change when tandem rolling is carried out with a rolling mill train formed of a plurality of rolling mills such as, for example, R1-R2-R3. There is a possibility that error in accordance with the fluctuation may occur if the tension control method is applied without taking the fluctuation of the rolling torque due to the temperature change into consideration.

[0086] In consideration of such circumstances, a torque arm coefficient (G/P) being a value where a rolling torque (G) is divided by load (P) may be used in place of a value of the rolling torque (G) when the tension control technique described in the above embodiment is applied. It is possible to exclude an effect of the rolling torque change in accordance with the temperature change of the material to be rolled S and perform the control of the tension between stands by performing the tension control method according to the present invention by using the torque arm coefficient (G/P) instead of the rolling torque.

[0087] When mill rigidity of the rolling mill train is sufficiently large with respect to the temperature change and a dimensional change of a whole length of the rolling mill train is small when the no-tension state (stable state) in the rolling mill train is enabled by the rolling method explained in the above embodiment, a ratio of the peripheral velocity of the respective rolling mills under the stable state may be fixed. For example, when the rolling speed is increased after the stable state, the rolling speed of the whole of the rolling mill train is necessary to be increased. At this time, the no-tension state (stable state) can be kept by increasing the speed under the state where the fixed ratio of the peripheral velocity is kept as it is. At this time, the most downstream rolling mill at the rolling downstream is set to be a desired speed, and the rolling speeds of other rolling mills may be defined such that the ratio of the peripheral velocity becomes as it is in accordance with the rolling speed of the most downstream rolling mill.

[0088] Modification Example of the Present Invention

[0089] FIG. 7 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a combination of the rolling mill train 30 formed of adjacent rolling mills (stands) R1 to R3 and a rolling mill F1 which is at a downstream position sufficiently kept away from the rolling mill train 30. In a constitution illustrated in FIG. 7, the tension control method explained in the above embodiment is applied to the rolling mill train formed of R1 to R3 to stabilize the tensions from R1 to R3, and then, after the material to be rolled S is bitten into F 1, the peripheral velocity of F1 may be controlled so that a value of the rolling torque G3 of R3 becomes G3=G3** (the rolling torque of R3 after stabilization). It is thereby also possible to enable the no-tension state between R3-F1.

[0090] FIG. 8 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a combination of the rolling mill train 30 formed of the adjacent rolling mills R1 to R3 and a second rolling mill train 50 formed of rolling mills F1 to F3 adjacent with each other which are at a downstream position sufficiently keep away from the rolling mill train 30. In a constitution illustrated in FIG. 8, the tension control method explained in the above embodiment is applied to the rolling mill train 30 formed of R1 to R3 to stabilize each tension from R1 to R3, and the peripheral velocity of R1 to R3 are fixed before the material to be rolled S is bitten into F1. Under the state where the peripheral velocity of R1 to R3 are fixed, the tension control method explained in the above embodiment is similarly applied to the second rolling mill train 50 to stabilize the tension states of F1 to F3. The tension control between the rolling mill train 30 and the second rolling mill train 50 may be controlled through an arbitrary control method, and for example, the peripheral velocity of F1 may be controlled so that G3=G3** (the rolling torque of R3 after stabilization).

EXAMPLES

[0091] When tandem rolling with a total reduction ratio of 40% and a rolling speed on a rolling mill train exit side of 4.0 m/s was performed at a rolling mill train formed of four mills (R1 to R4 from an upstream side) with each distance between the rolling mills of 2.0 m, there were compared a case when tension between stands was controlled by using the present invention (Example) and a case when it was controlled by using the conventional arts (Comparative Examples 1, 2).

[0092] In Comparative Example 1, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Publication No. S53-34586) was used as the conventional art, the rolling torque was stored at 0.1 seconds before biting into a downstream stand, and the peripheral velocity was controlled so that the rolling torque became a value which was stored before the biting into the downstream stand after 0.5 seconds have passed since the biting into the downstream stand. Here, a reason why the timing when the rolling torque was stored was set at 0.1 seconds before the biting into the downstream stand was that a rolling speed was estimated from a distance between stands and a roll speed and an estimation error was taken into consideration to estimate the time required for the material to be rolled to be bitten into the downstream stand, to avoid that the storing timing of the rolling torque was after the biting into the downstream stand. A reason why the start of the control was set as 0.5 seconds after the biting into the downstream stand is that it was the time necessary to avoid a transient state such as recovery from lowering of the peripheral velocity due to the biting (impact drop).

[0093] Besides, in Comparative Example 2, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Publication No. S61-3564) was used as the conventional art, arithmetic operation of a no-tension torque Gj0 of a stand was performed at 0.1 seconds before biting into a downstream stand, and control was performed so that tension between stands becomes zero after a material to be rolled was bitten into all of the stands. Here, a reason why the arithmetic operation timing of the no-tension torque Gj0 was set at 0.1 seconds before the biting into the downstream stand was that a rolling speed was estimated from a distance between stands and a roll speed and an estimation error was taken into consideration to estimate the time required for the material to be rolled to be bitten into the downstream stand, to avoid that the storing timing of the rolling torque was after the biting into the downstream stand.

[0094] When the present invention was applied (Example), the rolling without turning up of the material to be rolled was possible. On the other hand, in Comparative Example 1, there were only 0.07 seconds to perform the tension control of R1-R2 until the rolling torque of R2 was stored, and the rolling torque G1 of R1 could not be stabilized into a value which was stored before biting into R2. Further, regarding R3, the storing timing of the rolling torque was overlapped with the transient state after biting, and the material to be rolled was bitten into R4 without controlling the tension between R2-R3. As a result, significant comparative force was generated between R3-R4, resulting in that the material to be rolled was turned up between stands.

[0095] In Comparative Example 2, though a steady portion could be rolled without occurrence of turning up or the like, the rolling torque of R3 decreased rapidly just after ejection from R2, then a control command to increase the speed of R3 was issued, resulting in that the material to be rolled was turned up between R3-R4.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0096] The present invention is applicable to a rolling method of shaped steel which produces the shaped steel such as, for example, H-shaped steel, T-shaped steel, or I-shaped steel, a production line of the shaped steel, and a production method of the shaped steel.

EXPLANATION OF CODES

[0097] 2 . . . heating furnace [0098] 4 . . . rough rolling mill [0099] 5 . . . (first) intermediate universal rolling mill (U1) [0100] 6 . . . (second) intermediate universal rolling mill (U2) [0101] 8 . . . finishing universal rolling mill [0102] 9 . . . edger rolling mill (E) [0103] 30 . . . rolling mill train [0104] 50 . . . second rolling mill train [0105] S . . . material to be rolled [0106] L . . . production line