METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A COOLING LUBRICANT MIXTURE, FORMING PLANT FOR FORMING SEMI-FINISHED PRODUCTS AND USE OF A COOLING LUBRICANT MIXTURE

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a cooling lubricant mixture (2) for cooling and lubricating a working region (8) of a forming apparatus (5) for forming semi-finished products, in particular semi-finished products and forming tools, in which the cooling lubricant mixture (2) is mixed from at least two liquids (27, 29), and in which at least one of the liquids (27, 29) is preheated prior to the mixing with the other of the liquids (27, 29), wherein, for the preheating of the at least one of the liquids (27, 29), thermal energy (44) inherent to a used cooling lubricant mixture (2A) is at least partially transmitted to the at least one of the liquids (27, 29).

Claims

1. A method for producing a cooling lubricant mixture (2) for cooling and lubricating a working region (8) of a forming apparatus (5) for forming semi-finished products, in particular for cooling and lubricating semi-finished products and forming tools, in which the cooling lubricant mixture (2) is mixed from at least two liquids (27, 29) and in which at least one of the liquids (27, 29) is preheated before the mixing with other one of the liquids (27, 29), characterized in that before mixing the at least two liquids (27, 29), a thermal energy (44) present in a used cooling lubricant mixture (2A) is transferred at least partially to the at least one of the liquids (27, 29) for preheating the at least one of the liquids (27, 29).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooling lubricant mixture (2) is mixed from a base oil (27) and water (29), wherein the thermal energy (44) present in the used cooling lubricant mixture (2A) is transferred at least partially to the water (29) and/or to the base oil (27).

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the thermal energy (44) present in the used cooling lubricant mixture (2A) is transferred at least partially to an operationally ready cooling lubricant mixture (2) stored in a preparation container (25).

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that liquids (27, 29) for mixing the operationally ready cooling lubricant mixture (2) and/or the operationally ready cooling lubricant mixture itself (2) are differently heated.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a transfer of the thermal energy (44) in the used cooling lubricant mixture (2A) takes place after a workup of the used cooling lubricant mixture (2A).

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that liquids (27, 29) for mixing the operationally ready cooling lubricant mixture (2) and/or the operationally ready cooling lubricant mixture itself (2) are exclusively heated by the thermal energy (44) present in the used cooling lubricant mixture (2A).

7. An apparatus (1) for producing a cooling lubricant mixture (2), in particular an emulsion plant (12), for cooling and lubricating a working region (8) of a forming apparatus (10) for forming semi-finished products with a preparation container (25) for preparing operationally ready cooling lubricant mixture (2), with a base oil storage container (26), with a water storage container (28) and with a catch container (31) for the temporary collecting of used cooling lubricant mixture (2A), wherein the catch container (31) is actively connected to the preparation container (25) in such a manner that during the dwell time of the used cooling lubricant mixture (2A) flowing through the catch container (31) the thermal energy (44) in the used cooling lubricant mixture (2A) can be transferred at least partially to the operationally ready cooling lubricant mixture (2) present in the preparation container (25) characterized in that the catch container (31) and the base oil storage container (26) and/or the water storage container (28) are arranged in such a manner that to each other that the thermal energy (44) present in the used cooling lubricant mixture (2A) can be transferred to the base oil (27) stored in the base oil storage container (26) and/or to the water (29) stored in the water storage container (28).

8-10. (canceled)

11. The apparatus (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the catch container (31) and the preparation container (25) are fluidically connected to one another by means of a cooling lubrication mixture line (48), wherein a preparation apparatus (32) is fluidically integrated in this cooling lubrication mixture line (48), and wherein this cooling lubrication mixture line (48) is actively connected to the base oil storage container (26) and/or to the water storage container (28) in such a manner that the thermal energy (44) present in the used and/or the prepared cooling lubricant mixture 2A; 2B) can be transferred at least partially to the base oil (27) stored in the base oil storage container (26) and/or to the water (29) stored in the water storage container (28).

12. The apparatus (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the cooling lubricant mixture line (48) is run through a base oil storage container (26) and/or the water storage container (28).

13. The apparatus (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the cooling lubricant mixture line (48) and the base oil storage container (26) and/or water storage container (28) form at least one other heat transmitter (49, 50) of the apparatus (1) by means of which the thermal energy (44) present in the used cooling lubricant mixture (2A) can be transferred at least partially to the base oil (27) and/or to the water (29).

14. The apparatus (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the base oil storage container (26) and/or the water storage container (28) is/are fluidically arranged between the preparation apparatus (32) and the preparation container (25).

15. The apparatus (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the apparatus (1) comprises a heating and/or cooling apparatus (36) for heating or cooling the operationally ready cooling lubricant mixture (2) present in the preparation container (25).

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that the apparatus (1) comprises another cooling lubricant mixture heating and/or cooling circuit (53) by means of which the operationally ready cooling lubricant mixture (2) present in the preparation container (25) can be rotated through the heating and/or cooling apparatus (36).

17. The apparatus (1) according to claim 7 characterized in that the components (18) of the apparatus (1) are arranged in such a manner relative to each other that a waste thermal energy given off by the components (18) of the apparatus (1)) can be transferred to the cooling lubricant mixture (2) and/or to its components (27, 29) so that the cooling lubricant mixture (2) and/or its components (27, 29) are heated as a result.

18. The apparatus (1) according to claim 7 characterized in that the preparation container (25), the catch container (31), the base oil storage container (26) and/or the water storage container (28) can be constructed as chambers with an active connection of a single, higher-order container apparatus so that a thermal energy (44) can be made more intense in a cumulative or alternating manner.

19. The apparatus (1) according to claim 7 characterized in that the apparatus (1) comprises speed-regulated pumps (38, 39, 40, 41, 42) for delivery as needed.

20. The apparatus (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the apparatus (1) has a container unit (15) with at least two levels (16, 17) so that the components (18) of the apparatus (1) are arranged on at least two levels (16, 17).

21. The apparatus (1) according to claim 7 characterized in that the apparatus (1) has a modular construction (20).

22. The apparatus (1) according to claim 21, characterized in that the apparatus (1) has a plurality of module places (19) at which the components (18) of the apparatus (1) can be mounted with an exact fit.

23-24. (canceled)

25. A forming plant (6) for forming semi-finished products, in particular a rolling mill (9), with a forming apparatus (5) for forming the semi-finished products and with an apparatus (1) for producing a cooling lubricant mixture (2), characterized by an apparatus (1) for producing a cooling lubricant mixture (2) comprising a preparation container for preparing operationally ready cooling lubricant mixture (2), with a base oil storage container (26), with a water storage container (28) and with a catch container (31) for the temporary collecting of used cooling lubricant mixture (2A), wherein the catch container (31) is actively connected to the preparation container (25) in such a manner that during the dwell time of the used cooling lubricant mixture (2A) flowing through the catch container (31) the thermal energy (44) in the used cooling lubricant mixture (2A) can be transferred at least partially to the operationally ready cooling lubricant mixture (2) present in the preparation container (25).

Description

[0105] Other features, effects and advantages of the present invention are explained using the attached drawings and the following description in which an apparatus for producing and preparing a cooling lubricant mixture for a forming apparatus in a forming plant is shown and described by way of example.

[0106] In the drawings:

[0107] FIG. 1 schematically shows a perspective view of a two-level and modularly constructed apparatus for producing and preparing a cooling lubricant mixture; and

[0108] FIG. 2 schematically slows a fluid circuit diagram of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

[0109] The cooling lubricant mixture 2 that is operationally ready for a forming apparatus 5 (see FIG. 2) of a forming plant 6 is mixed with the apparatus 1 schematically shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for producing and preparing an operationally ready cooling lubricant mixture 2 (see FIG. 2).

[0110] The forming apparatus 5 comprises forming tools 7 with which a workpiece and/or a semi-finished product (not shown) can be formed in an appropriate working region 8. More precisely, the material from which the workpiece and/or the semi-finished product consist(s) is worked and therefore formed in the working region 8 of the forming apparatus 5.

[0111] The forming plant 6, which is supplied with the cooling lubricant mixture 2 with the aid of the present apparatus 1, is in particular a rolling mill 9; accordingly, the forming apparatus 5 is a rolling apparatus 10 for rolling in particular a material strip or material band (not shown). To this end the forming apparatus 5 or the rolling apparatus 10 comprises in is working region 8 a plurality of rollers 11 (numbered only by way of example) which interact with the material strip or the material band.

[0112] In this embodiment the cooling lubricant mixture 2 is a rolling emulsion 12 by means of which on the one hand the semi-finished product and the rollers 11 interacting with it in the working region 8 are lubricated and on the other hand in particular the rollers 11 are cooled. To this extent the apparatus 1 showing here is especially designed as an emulsion plant 13.

[0113] The forming apparatus 5 and/or the rolling apparatus 10 is fluidically connected to a connection apparatus 14 of the apparatus 1, wherein a roller cooling line 14A and a roller lubricating line 14B run from this connection apparatus 14 to the forming apparatus 5 and/or to the rolling apparatus 10.

[0114] The apparatus 1 showing here is distinguished in particular by a modularly constructed container unit 15 which comprises two levels 16 and 17 at least in this exemplary embodiment on which the very different components 18 of the apparatus 1 are arranged in a distributed manner.

[0115] The modularly constructed container unit 15 makes a plurality of modular places 19 available which are designed in such a manner that each of the components 18 can be mounted with an exact fit on the particularly provided modular place 19. To this extent the apparatus 1 can be assembled significantly more rapidly.

[0116] Due to its modular construction 20, a rapid and error-free assembly of the individual components 18 to each other can take place even by untrained personnel.

[0117] The apparatus 1 is distinguished in particular by a preparation container 25 for making the operationally ready cooling lubricant mixture 2 available by a base oil storage container 26 for storing base oil 27 and by a water storage container 28 for storing water 29, wherein the operationally ready cooling lubricant mixture 2 is produced in particular by a mixing of the base oil 27 with the water 29 in an agitating and/or mixing apparatus 30.

[0118] In addition, the apparatus 1 also comprises a catch container 31 for the temporary collecting and furthering of used cooling lubricant mixture 2A returning from the working region 8.

[0119] Furthermore, the apparatus 1 also comprises a preparation apparatus 32 for preparing and filtering and cleaning the cooling lubricant mixture 2A returning from the working region 8, wherein the preparation apparatus 32 comprises in particular a scooping unit 33, a magnetic separating unit 34 and a magnetic separating tank 35.

[0120] Moreover, the apparatus 1 also comprises a heating and/or cooling apparatus 36 for heating and/or cooling the operationally ready cooling lubricant mixture 2 present in the preparation container 25.

[0121] In addition to the container unit 15, a few auxiliary units 37 are also placed at the level of the lower level 16, of which two delivery pumps 38 and 39 for delivering the operationally ready cooling lubrication mixture 2, a heating apparatus pump 40, a filter pump 41 and a basal pump 42 can be seen by way of example.

[0122] It is understood that in particular the previously cited components 18 of the apparatus 1 are fluidically connected to each other by an appropriately placed piping 43, wherein this piping 43 is also very compactly constructed on account of the two-level container unit 15 which is therefore extremely compactly constructed.

[0123] An especially energy-effective method for producing the cooling lubricant mixture 2 for cooling and lubricating the working region 8 of the forming apparatus 5 can be carried out with the apparatus 1 constructed in this manner, in which the operationally ready cooling lubricant mixture 2 is mixed from at least two liquids, namely, the base oil 27 and the water 29, and in which at least one of the liquids is preheated prior to the mixing with the other one of the liquids, wherein in order to preheat the at least one of the liquids a thermal energy 44 (indicated and designated only by way of example, see FIG. 2) present in the used cooling lubricant mixture 2 is transferred at least partially to the at least one of the liquids.

[0124] In the present exemplary embodiment the thermal energy 44 present in the used cooling lubricant mixture 2A is transferred to the base oil 27 and to the water 29 in such a manner that further heating units for heating the base oil 27 and the water 29 can dispensed with.

[0125] Furthermore, the apparatus 1 and the arrangement of the storage container 25 and of the catch container 31 are arranged in such a manner that the thermal energy 44 present in the used cooling lubricant mixture 2A is transferred at least partially to the operationally ready cooling lubricant mixture 2 stored in the preparation container 25.

[0126] As can be readily recognized from the view according to FIG. 2, the catch container 31 and the preparation container 25 comprise to this end a common separating wall 45 through which the thermal energy 44 present in the used cooling lubricant mixture 2A is transferred to the operationally ready cooling lubricant mixture 2, so that the catch container 31 and the preparation container 25 together form a heat transmitter 46 with which the thermal energy 44 present in the used cooling lubricant mixture 2A can be transferred to the operationally ready cooling lubricant mixture 2.

[0127] Furthermore, even the base oil storage container 26 and the water storage container 28 are arranged in such a manner that relative to one another and to the catch container 31, but also to the preparation container 25 that the thermal energy 44 present in the used cooling lubricant mixture 2A can be transferred to the base oil 27 stored in the base oil storage container 26 and to the water stored in the water storage container 28. In addition to an overflow 47, the catch container 31 and the preparation container 25 are also fluidically connected to one another by a cooling lubricant mixture line 48, wherein the preparation apparatus 32 is fluidically integrated in this cooling lubricant mixture line 48.

[0128] The cooling lubricant mixture line 48 is actively connected to the base oil storage container 26 and to the water storage container 28 in such a manner that the thermal energy 44 present in the used cooling lubricant mixture 2A and in a prepared cooling lubricant mixture 2B can be transferred at least partially to the base oil 27 stored in the base oil storage container 26 and to the water 29 stored in the water storage container 28.

[0129] Therefore, in the present case a first section of the cooling lubricant mixture line 48 together with the base oil storage container 26 forms another thermal transmitter 49 of the apparatus 1 and another section of the cooling lubricant mixture line 48 together with the water storage container 28 forms yet another thermal transmitter 50 of the apparatus 1.

[0130] The base oil 27 preheated in this manner can be supplied to the agitating and/or mixing apparatus 30 and to the preparation container 25 by a base oil line 51, whereas the preheated water 29 is supplied to the agitating a mixing apparatus 30 and/or to the preparation container 25 by a water line 52.

[0131] The heating apparatus 36 is integrated in a heating-cooling circuit 53 for the cooling lubricant mixture in which the operationally ready cooling lubricant mixture 2 is rotated if it should be necessary to additionally heat or cool the latter.

[0132] If it is not necessary to heat the cooling lubricant mixture 2 stored in the preparation container 25 by the thermal energy present in the used cooling lubricant mixture 2A, the used cooling lubricant mixture 2A can be conducted past it, for example, via a bypass, which is not shown here, on the catch container 31, so that the thermal energy present in the cooling lubricant mixture 2A can be available substantially entirely to the base oil storage container 26 and/or to the water storage container 28.

[0133] It is explicitly pointed out at this point that the features of the previous solutions and of those described in the claims can optionally also be optionally combined in order to be able to convert them into effects and advantages in an appropriately cumulative manner.

[0134] It is understood that the previously explained exemplary embodiment is only a first embodiment of the apparatus of the invention for producing and preparing cooling lubricant mixtures. To this extend the design of the invention is not limited to this exemplary embodiment.

[0135] All features disclosed in the application documents are claimed as essential for the invention in as far as they are novel individually or in combination over the prior art.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0136] 1 apparatus [0137] 2 cooling lubricant mixture [0138] 2A used cooling lubricant mixture [0139] 2B used and prepared cooling lubricant mixture [0140] 5 forming apparatus [0141] 6 forming plant [0142] 7 forming tools [0143] 8 working region [0144] 9 rolling mill [0145] 10 rolling apparatus [0146] 11 rollers [0147] 12 roller emulsion [0148] 13 emulsion plant [0149] 14 connection apparatus [0150] 14A roller cooling line [0151] 14B roller lubrication line [0152] 15 container unit [0153] 16 bottom layer [0154] 17 upper layer [0155] 18 components [0156] 19 module places [0157] 20 modular construction [0158] 25 preparation container [0159] 26 base oil storage container [0160] 27 base oil [0161] 28 water storage container [0162] 29 water [0163] 30 agitating and/or mixing apparatus [0164] 31 catch container [0165] 32 preparation apparatus [0166] 33 scooping unit [0167] 34 magnetic separating unit [0168] 35 magnetic separating tank [0169] 36 heating and/or cooling apparatus [0170] 37 auxiliary units [0171] 38 first delivery pump [0172] 39 second delivery pump [0173] 40 heating apparatus pump [0174] 41 filter pump [0175] 42 base oil pump [0176] 43 piping [0177] 44 thermal energy [0178] 45 common separating wall [0179] 46 heat transmitter [0180] 47 overflow [0181] 48 cooling lubrication mixture line [0182] 49 other heat transmitter [0183] 50 another heat transmitter [0184] 51 base oil line [0185] 52 water line [0186] 53 heating and/or cooling circuit for the cooling lubrication mixture