Modular spray bar system for selectively cooling and/or lubricating rolls

Abstract

A modular spray bar system (1) for selectively cooling and/or lubricating rolls, in particular roll barrels, in a rolling mill stand includes different types of blocks and a bracing element by which a spray bar (47) formed from the different blocks can be braced.

Claims

1. A modular spray bar system (1) for selectively cooling and/or lubricating rolls and/or rolled material in a rolling mill, comprising different blocks, including at least one central connection block (1) having at least one first fluid connection (3), wherein the at least one first fluid connection (3) opens into a first through bore (4) extending in the direction of a spray bar axis, wherein the first through bore (4) forms a part of a first fluid channel (45) of a spray bar (47), and wherein at least one first transverse bore (6) extends transversely from the first through bore (4) and opens into a first fluid outlet opening (10, 11); at least two central extension blocks (20) connectable to the central connection block (1), wherein each of the central extension blocks (20) has a first through bore (21) extending in the direction of the spray bar axis, the first through bore (21) forming a part of the first fluid channel (45) of the spray bar (47), and wherein at least one first transverse bore (23) extends transversely from the first through bore (21) and opens into a first fluid outlet opening (25); at least two outer extension blocks (30) connectable to the central extension blocks (20), wherein each of the outer extension blocks (30) has a first through bore (31) extending in the direction of the spray bar axis, the first through bore (31) forming a part of the first fluid channel (45) of the spray bar (47), and wherein at least one first transverse bore (33) extends transversely from the first through bore (31) and opens into a first fluid outlet opening (35); at least two outer connection blocks (40) connectable to the outer extension blocks (30), each having at least one second fluid connection (41), wherein the at least one second fluid connection (41) opens into a first blind bore (43) that is closed on one side and extends in the direction of the spray bar axis, the first blind bore (43) forming an end part of the first fluid channel (45) of the spray bar (47), and at least one brace by which the spray bar (47) formed from the blocks can be braced.

2. The modular spray bar system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one central connection block (1), the at least two central extension blocks (20), and the at least two outer extension blocks (30) each have a second through bore (5, 22, 32, 44) running parallel to the first through bore (4, 21, 31, 43), and wherein each second through bore (5, 22, 32, 44) forms a part of a second fluid channel (46) of the spray bar (47).

3. The modular spray bar system (1) according to claim 2, wherein the at least one central connection block (1), the at least two central extension blocks (20), and the at least two outer extension blocks (30) each comprise at least one second transverse bore (8, 9, 24, 34), which extends transversely from the respective second through bore (5, 22, 32) and opens into a second fluid outlet opening (12, 13, 26, 36).

4. The modular spray bar system (1) according to claim 2, wherein each of the at least two outer connection blocks (40) comprises at least one respective third fluid connection (42), which opens into a second blind bore (44).

5. The modular spray bar system (1) according to claim 4, wherein the second through bore (44) of each of the at least two outer connection blocks (40) is closed on one side.

6. The modular spray bar system (1) according to claim 2, wherein the second fluid channel (46) has a larger cross-section than the first fluid channel (45).

7. The modular spray bar system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one central connection block (1), the at least two central extension blocks (20), and the at least two outer extension blocks (30) each comprises at least one nozzle plate (15, 27, 37) for receiving spray nozzles.

8. The modular spray bar system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one central connection block (1), the at least two central extension blocks (20), and the at least two outer extension blocks (30) each comprises at least one integrated control valve via which individual and/or groups of spray nozzles can be controlled.

9. The modular spray bar system (1) according to claim 1, wherein each of the blocks (1, 20, 30, 40) has at least one connection bore for receiving a fastener on its contact surfaces directed towards a neighboring one of the blocks.

10. The modular spray bar system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least two outer connection blocks (40) each have at least one connector for connecting the spray bar (47) in a rolling mill stand.

11. The modular spray bar system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first through bores (4, 21, 31) of the at least one central connection block (1), the at least two central extension blocks (20), and the at least two outer extension blocks (30) are coaxially aligned, and wherein the first fluid channel (45) is a cylindrical channel that extends through the at least one central connection block (1), the at least two central extension blocks (20), the at least two outer extension blocks (30), and into the at least two outer connection blocks (40).

12. The modular spray bar system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first fluid connection (3) is arranged on a rear of the at least one central connection block (1) opposite the first fluid outlet opening (10, 11), and wherein the at least one second fluid connection (41) is arranged on a rear of each respective outer connection block (40).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a central connection block.

(2) FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a central extension block.

(3) FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of an outer extension block.

(4) FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of an outer connection block.

(5) FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a spray bar assembled from the blocks.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a central connection block 1 for a modular spray bar system 2, which is provided for selectively cooling and/or lubricating rolls (not shown). The central connection block 1 is substantially in the form of a cuboid building block, in order to allow individual and modular assembly. This and each of the other blocks can be made of metallic and/or non-metallic materials.

(7) In the present embodiment, the central connection block 1 comprises a fluid connection 3 at the rear side, which fluid connection opens into a first main bore 4. Parallel to the first main bore 4, the central connection block 1 comprises a second main bore 5, which has a larger cross-section. Both main bores 4, 5 extend along the spray bar axis, and thereby each form a part of the media supply to the respective spray nozzles (not shown). As can further be seen from the illustration in FIG. 1, the central connection block 1 has four transverse bores 6, 7, 8, 9, wherein the first two transverse bores 6, 7 extend transversely from the first main bore 4 and the second two transverse bores 8, 9 extend transversely from the second main bore 5 and each opens into a first or second fluid outlet opening 10, 11, 12, 13, as the case may be, which are arranged at the front side of the connection block 1.

(8) Furthermore, the central connection block 1 comprises two nozzle plates 14, 15, which are screwed at the front side of the connection block 1. Each of the nozzle plates 14, 15 is provided with two openings 16, 17, 18, 19, which are aligned with the respective fluid outlet openings 10, 11, 12, 13 and are provided to receive spray nozzles (not shown).

(9) FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a central extension block 20, which is connectable to the central connection block 1. The central extension block 20 also has a first main bore 21 extending in the direction of the spray bar axis along with a second main bore 22 arranged parallel thereto, each of which forms a part of the media supply to the spray nozzles. At the front side, the central extension block 20 comprises a first and a second transverse bore 23, 24, each of which extends transversely from the first main bore 21 or the second main bore 22, as the case may be, and each of which opens into a first and a second fluid outlet opening 25, 26, which fluid outlet openings are arranged at the front side of the central extension block 20. In contrast to the connection block 1, the extension block 20 comprises a nozzle plate 27, which is also attached at the front side of the central extension block 20 via screw connections (not shown). Since all nozzle plates of the spray bar system 2 have the same design, the nozzle plate 27 also has two openings 28, 29, which are aligned with the respective fluid outlet openings 25, 26.

(10) FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of an outer extension block 30 that is connectable to the central extension block 20. Like the central extension block 20, the outer extension block 30 has a first main bore 31 extending in the direction of the spray bar axis along with a second main bore 32, each of which forms a part of the media supply to the spray nozzles. At the front side, the outer extension block 30 comprises a first and a second transverse bore 31, 32, each of which extends transversely from the first main bore 31 or the second main bore 32, as the case may be, and each of which opens into a first or a second fluid outlet opening 35, 36, as the case may be, which fluid outlet openings are arranged at the front side of the outer extension block 30. At the front side, the outer extension block 30 comprises a nozzle plate 37 having two openings 38, 39, which are aligned with the respective fluid outlet openings 35, 36.

(11) FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of an outer connection block 43, which is connectable with the outer extension blocks 33 to the modular spray bar system 2 and forms distal terminal elements of the spray bar 22. The outer connection block 43 has, at the rear side, two fluid connections 44, 45 that open into a main bore 46 or a secondary bore 47, as the case may be. Thereby, the two bores 46, 47 each form a closing part of the channel for the media supply to the spray nozzles of the spray bar 22 and are therefore closed on one side. In contrast to blocks 1, 23, 33, the outer connection block 43 in the present embodiment does not have any transverse bores or a nozzle plate. Further, the outer connection block 43 comprises a fastening element, which is used to secure the spray bar 22 in a stand (not shown).

(12) FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of an outer connection block 40, which is connectable to the outer extension blocks 30 to form the modular spray bar system 2 and forms distal terminal elements of the spray bar. The outer connection block 40 has second and third fluid connections 41, 42 at the rear side, wherein the second fluid connection 41 opens into a first main bore 43 and the third fluid connection 42 opens into a second main bore 44. Thereby, the two main bores 43, 44 each form a closing part of a first or a second main fluid channel 45, 46, as the case may be, of the spray bar, and are therefore closed on one side. In contrast to blocks 1, 20, 30, the outer connection block 40 in the present embodiment does not have any transverse bores or a nozzle plate. Further, the outer connection block 40 comprises a connection element 47, which is used to secure the spray bar in a stand (not shown).

(13) FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a spray bar 47 composed of blocks 1, 20, 30, 40, which are braced together in a fluid-tight manner by one or more bracing element(s) (not shown). The number of central and outer extension blocks 20, 30 shown here refers to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 and may vary depending on the desired width of the rolled material. As can be seen from the illustration, the spray bar 47 comprises a central connection block 1, three central extension blocks 20 arranged on each side of the connection block 1, followed by three outer extension blocks 30 arranged on each side of the central extension blocks 20, along with an outer connection block 40 arranged at each of the two distal ends of the spray bar 47.

(14) The main advantage of the modular spray bar system 2 is that it provides a solution tailored to the respective requirements of the rolling mill stand and/or the changing rolling task. As shown in FIG. 5, the respective blocks 1, 20, 30, 40 may be individually assembled to form the spray bar 47. Due to the fact that there are only four different types of blocks 1, 20, 30, 40, the system 2 can also be produced particularly cost-effectively and does not require the respective customer to keep any spare parts, such that additional storage costs can be avoided. Furthermore, in the event of wear, the system 2 allows rapid maintenance in that the respective blocks 1, 20, 30, 40 can be replaced without the entire spray bar 47 having to be removed at great expense. The main advantage of the structure described here is that, in the event of wear, it is not necessary to refabricate the entire spray bar, but only the affected components. In addition, the advantage is that, depending on the rolling task, a spray bar can be assembled from prefabricated modules.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(15) 1 Central connection block 2 Spray bar system 3 First fluid connection 4 First main bore 5 Main bore 6 First transverse bore 7 First transverse bore 8 Second transverse bore 9 Second transverse bore 10 First fluid outlet opening 11 First fluid outlet opening 12 Second fluid outlet opening 13 Second fluid outlet opening 14 Nozzle plate 15 Nozzle plate 16 Opening 17 Opening 18 Opening 19 Opening 20 Central extension block 21 First main bore 22 Second main bore 23 First transverse bore 24 Second transverse bore 25 First fluid outlet opening 26 Second fluid outlet opening 27 Nozzle plate 28 Opening 29 Opening 30 Outer extension block 31 First main bore 32 Second main bore 33 First transverse bore 34 Second transverse bore 35 First fluid outlet opening 36 Second fluid outlet opening 37 Nozzle plate 38 Opening 39 Opening 40 Outer connection block 41 Second fluid connection 42 Third fluid connection 43 First main bore 44 Second main bore 45 First main fluid channel 46 Second main fluid channel 47 Spray bar