ROLLING MILL ASSEMBLY FOR TRANSMITTING HIGH TORQUES

Abstract

A rolling mill assembly includes: a first cardan shaft including a first rolling mill-side joint and a first drive-side joint, a second working roller being connected to a second cardan shaft, which in turn is connected to a second drive device, the second cardan shaft including a second rolling mill-side joint and a second drive-side joint, the first rolling mill-side joint being located at a first distance to the first working roller, the second rolling mill-side joint being located at a second distance to the second working roller, the first distance and the second distance differing by 0.5 m to 4 m, the first cardan shaft further including a first device configured for length change between the first rolling mill-side joint and the first drive-side joint, the second cardan shaft further including a second device configured for length change between the second rolling mill-side joint and the second working roller.

Claims

1. A rolling mill assembly, comprising: a first working roller; a second working roller; a first cardan shaft; a second cardan shaft; a first drive device; and a second drive device, the first working roller being connected to the first cardan shaft, which in turn is connected to the first drive device, the first cardan shaft including a first rolling mill-side joint and a first drive-side joint, the second working roller being connected to the second cardan shaft, which in turn is connected to the second drive device, the second cardan shaft including a second rolling mill-side joint and a second drive-side joint, the first rolling mill-side joint being located at a first distance to the first working roller, the second rolling mill-side joint being located at a second distance to the second working roller, the first distance and the second distance differing by 0.5 m to 4 m, the first cardan shaft further including a first device configured for length change between the first rolling mill-side joint and the first drive-side joint, the second cardan shaft further including a second device configured for length change between the second rolling mill-side joint and the second working roller.

2. The rolling mill assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second cardan shaft is a lower cardan shaft, the second rolling mill-side joint being a lower rolling mill-side joint, the second working roller being a lower working roller, the second device configured for length change being a lower device configured for length change.

3. The rolling mill assembly according to claim 1, further including a support device, wherein at least one of the first device configured for length change and the second device configured for length change is supported by way of the support device.

4. The rolling mill assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first cardan shaft does not have a device configured for length change between the first rolling mill-side joint and the first working roller.

5. The rolling mill assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of: (a) the first rolling mill-side joint has a diameter that is 3% to 30% larger than a diameter of the first working roller which is connected thereto; and (b) the second rolling mill-side joint has a diameter that is 3% to 30% larger than a diameter of the second working roller which is connected thereto.

6. The rolling mill assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first rolling mill-side joint has a diameter that is within a range of 40 cm to 150 cm, wherein the second rolling mill-side joint has a diameter that is within a range of 40 cm to 150 cm, wherein the first cardan shaft is configured for transmitting a torque of 200 knm to 15.000 knm, and wherein the second cardan shaft is configured for transmitting a torque of 200 knm to 15.000 knm.

7. The rolling mill assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of: (a) the rolling mill assembly further includes at least one first support device, wherein the first cardan shaft is supported by way of the at least one first support device; and (b) the rolling mill assembly further includes at least one second support device, wherein the second cardan shaft is supported by way of the at least one second support device.

8. The rolling mill assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of: (a) the first device configured for length change includes a first inner shaft body and a first outer hub, wherein the first inner shaft body includes a first plurality of splines, and the first outer hub includes a first plurality of mating splines configured for mating with the first plurality of spines; and (b) the second device configured for length change includes a second inner shaft body and a second outer hub, wherein the second inner shaft body includes a second plurality of splines, and the second outer hub includes a second plurality of mating splines configured for mating with the second plurality of spines.

9. The rolling mill assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first cardan shaft includes a first plurality of cross joints, and the second cardan shaft includes a second plurality of cross joints.

10. The rolling mill assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first cardan shaft includes a first plurality of trunnion joints or a first plurality of gear coupling joints, and the second cardan shaft includes a second plurality of trunnion joints or a second plurality of gear coupling joints.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0032] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the state of the art; and

[0033] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation with aspects of the present invention.

[0034] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate at least one embodiment of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a rolling mill assembly 1 from the state of the art, which is not to scale. The rolling mill includes a first working roll 2 and a second working roll 3 which are suitable for rolling rolled stockin particular metal workpiecesin a roll gap. The roll gap is shown in the extension as a dashed line of the so-called pass line 21. Working rollers 2, 3 are connected to first drive device 13 and second drive device 14 by way of a first cardan shaft 4 and a second cardan shaft 5. The cardan shafts each include a rolling mill-side joint 6, 7, a device 12 for changing the length and a drive-side joint 8, 9. In both cardan shafts 4, 5, device for length change 12 is arranged between rolling mill-side joint 6, 7 and drive-side joint 8, 9. No part of cardan shaft 4, 5 can protrude beyond the pass line, since this would cause the cardan shafts to collide. All joints have a smaller diameter compared to the diameter of working rollers 2, 3.

[0036] FIG. 2 is a representation of a rolling mill assembly 1 which is not to scale, showing features of the present invention. The rolling mill includes a first working roller 2 and a second working roller 3 which are suitable for rolling rolled stockin particular metal workpiecesin a roll gap. The roll gap is shown in the extension as a dashed line of the so-called pass line 21. Work rollers 2, 3 are connected to first drive device 13 and second drive device 14 by way of a first cardan shaft 4 and a second cardan shaft 5. The cardan shafts each include a rolling mill-side joint 6, 7, a length change device 12 and a drive-side joint 8, 9. On first cardan shaft 4, first rolling mill-side joint 6 is connected to first working roller 2 at a first distance 10. Second working roller 3 is initially connected to a length-changing device 12 and then to second rolling mill-side joint 7. Rolling mill assembly 1 is arranged optionally relative to gravity g as shown in the illustration, with second cardan shaft 5 then being the lower cardan shaft 16. Analogously, second rolling mill-side joint 7 is then the lower rolling mill-side joint 17 and second working roller 3 is lower work roller 18. The device for length change, which is arranged between second working roller 3, 18 and rolling mill-side joint 7, 17, is supported in FIG. 2 by a support device 15. Support device 15 is shown here as only an active support roller, but can include at least one bearing arrangement, in particular by way of rolling bearings, and a mounting, in particular an adjustable mounting. The support device can also include several support rollers or support spindles which are not shown in the illustration, wherein the axes of rotation of support device 15 run parallel to the axis of rotation of the working roller or supported length-changing device 12. Second distance 11 is shown as the distance between second or lower working roller 3, 18 and rolling mill-side or lower joint 7, 17. The offset arrangement of the two rolling mill-side joints 6, 7 creates sufficient space so that rolling mill-side joints 6, 7 can protrude beyond pass line 21 without colliding with the other drive shaft.

COMPONENT IDENTIFICATION LISTING

[0037] 1 rolling mill assembly [0038] 2 first working roller [0039] 3 second working roller [0040] 4 first cardan shaft [0041] 5 second cardan shaft [0042] 6 first rolling mill-side joint [0043] 7 second rolling mill-side joint [0044] 8 first drive-side joint [0045] 9 second drive-side joint [0046] 10 first distance [0047] 11 second distance [0048] 12 device for changing length [0049] 13 first drive device [0050] 14 second drive device [0051] 15 support device [0052] 16 lower cardan shaft [0053] 17 lower rolling mill-side joint [0054] 18 lower working roller [0055] 19 shaft body [0056] 20 hub [0057] 21 pass line [0058] g gravity [0059] D.sub.G joint diameter [0060] D.sub.W roller diameter

[0061] While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.