U.S. patent application number 11/219280 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-08 for reaction force expanding and clamping device.
Invention is credited to Mario Fabris.
Application Number | 20070051154 11/219280 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37828813 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070051154 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fabris; Mario |
March 8, 2007 |
Reaction force expanding and clamping device
Abstract
A method of clamping and locking a roll for a steel mill on a
driving pinion comprising applying a side thrust force against a
roller to clamp it against a shoulder on the pinion whilst applying
the reaction force produced by the side thrust force to cause a
plug located in a cavity in the pinion beneath the roll to move
sideways. The plug is provided with threads which when the plug is
moved sideways produces a wedging action which expands the mounting
surface on which the roll is mounted to lock the roll on the
driving pinion.
Inventors: |
Fabris; Mario; (Grimsby,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Edward H. Oldham
20 Jameson Drive
Dundas
ON
L9H 5A2
CA
|
Family ID: |
37828813 |
Appl. No.: |
11/219280 |
Filed: |
September 6, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
72/237 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B21B 31/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
072/237 |
International
Class: |
B21B 31/00 20060101
B21B031/00 |
Claims
1. An assembly for mounting and clamping a roll on a pinion
comprising: a pinion having a shoulder provided thereon adjacent a
roll mounting surface on said pinion; said pinion being provided
with a hollow cylindraceous cavity immediately below said roll
mounting surface, said cylindraceous cavity being threaded with a
shallow buttress type thread of a predetermined profile; plug means
being threaded into said cavity a predetermined distance, said plug
means being provided with matching type buttress threads
corresponding to said threads provided in said cavity; force means
for producing a first force in a transmission member to force said
roll against said shoulder; said force means also producing a
second force which is equal and opposite to said first force; said
second force being applied to said plug means to cause axial
movement of said plug means in said cavity said plug being moved
axially in a direction opposite to said first force a sufficient
distance to expand said roll mounting surface.
2. A method of clamping and locking a roll on a pinion comprising:
providing a pinion with a surface suitable for mounting a roll
thereon; providing said pinion with a shoulder having an annular
surface thereon for mounting a roll against said shoulder on said
pinion; providing a roll for mounting on said pinion; providing a
cylindraceous cavity beneath said mounting surface a predetermined
distance, providing a shallow sloped buttress thread of a
predetermined configuration on the interior surface of said cavity;
providing a threaded plug to engage the shallow buttress threads of
said cavity; a first force producing means engaging said roll to
force said roll against said shoulder; a reaction force produced in
said force producing means applied to said plug to cause lateral
motion of said plug in said cavity to ramp the buttress threads so
as to simultaneously expand said cavity as said force is being
applied to said roll.
3. An assembly for mounting and clamping a roll on the end of a
pinion comprising: a pinion having a roller mounting surface
provided thereon and wherein said pinion is provided with a roll
engaging shoulder adjacent said roll mounting surface, said pinion
being provided with a hollow cylindraceous cavity located
immediately below said roll mounting surface, said cylindraceous
cavity being threaded with a shallow buttress thread of a
predetermined profile, plug means being provided with matching
buttress threads threaded into said cavity a predetermined
distance, lock mans for said plug means to prevent further rotation
of said plug means once said predetermined distance is reached,
first force means being produced in said assembly for forcing said
roll against said shoulder, and reaction force being produced by
said first force means for moving said plug means laterally to
cause ramping of said buttress threads, to cause said cavity to
expand beneath said roll.
4. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lock means
comprises at least one bolt passing freely through said plug means
and secured to said cavity.
5. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first force means
comprises a series of compression bolts threaded into a collar
which engage said roll, said collar being attached to said plug
means so that when said compression bolts are torqued, a reaction
force is produced in said plug means moving said plug means
laterally and causing ramping of said threads.
6. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first force means
comprises a fluid pressure force forcing said roll against said
shoulder, and a reaction fluid force simultaneously producing an
equal and opposite force on said plug means causing lateral
movement of said plug to ramp said threads and expand said cavity
beneath said roll.
Description
[0001] This invention is an improvement on U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,233,
U.S. Pat. 6,526,795 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/338,670
filed Dec. 11, 2001.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The reduction of steel in a mill requires the presence of
very robust equipment. The reduction of a steel bar to wire is
usually accomplished by means of a series of reducing stands in
which a pair of mating rolls are mounted on stout pinions so as to
be able to exert sufficient force on a steel work product passing
between the mating rolls to enable the rolls to distort the work
product to a work product with a reduced cross sectional area.
[0003] It will be seen that not only do the mating rolls have to
produce great force on the work product, but the rolls must produce
a torque to pull the work through between the reducing rolls.
[0004] The reducing rolls are usually mounted at the end of a
driving shaft (usually referred to as a pinion) in such a manner as
to be able to exert substantial force in order to reduce the cross
section of the work as it passes between the rolls and the pinion
must transmit considerable torque from the pinion to each roll in
order to pull the work between the rolls.
[0005] In order to produce an acceptable work product in which the
cross section of the end work product is within an acceptable
range, the rolls must be very precisely and accurately mounted on
the pinion to reduce eccentricity to an acceptable value. Above all
the roll must never be allowed to slip on the driving pinion
(because of the possible introduction of eccentricity to the roll
rotation) because of the possibility of the rejection of the
resulting work product due to variations in gauge.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] This invention relates to a method of mounting a reducing
roll on a pinion in such a manner that the roll is tightly clamped
on the pinion by the production of a compressive force on the roll
(which presses the roll firmly against a shoulder on the driving
pinion) whilst a simultaneous is force expands the diameter of
pinion on which the roll is mounted. In this invention, the
production of these two forces is interdependent, thus as the force
causing the increase in diameter of the roll mounting surface of
the pinion is being produced, a simultaneous reaction force is
being produced which clamps the roll tightly against a shoulder on
the driving pinion. An increase in one of the above forces
automatically causes an increase in the other force.
PERTINENT PRIOR ART
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,526,795
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,233
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the roll and pinion of this
invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the roll and pinion of
FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 4 is an enlargement of a section of FIG. 3;
[0013] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the roll and pinion of FIG.
1;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of this
invention;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the invention illustrated in
FIG. 6;
[0016] FIG. 8 is an end view of the invention of FIG. 6;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the invention shown in
FIG. 8;
[0018] FIG. 10 is an enlarged detail illustration of the circled
portion of FIG. 9;
[0019] FIG. 11 is a sectional perspective of the invention of FIG.
1;
[0020] FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the device of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] FIG. 1 shows the general shape of the finished roll mounting
assembly 10. The assembly 10 comprises a pinion 12 having a
shoulder 14. A composite spacer assembly comprising a pair of rings
16 is mounted on pinion 12 against shoulder 14. A roll 18 is next
mounted on pinion 12. A seal ring 20 is mounted on pinion 12 next
to roll 18. A cap 22 is next mounted on the assembly 10.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 3 it will be necessary to describe the
interior of pinion 12. Pinion 12 is provided with a hollow chamber
24 which is threaded with a buttress type thread of a very shallow
slope (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,233). A plug 26 having a similar
mating shallow buttress thread is threaded into chamber 24 as shown
in FIG. 3. When plug 26 has been advanced a satisfactory distance
into cavity 24, three headless bolts 28 are threaded through
clearance holes 30 in plug 26 and into threaded holes 32 in pinion
12. Bolts 28 prevent plug 26 from twisting in pinion 12 once the
plug 26 has reached its "home" position.
[0023] Cap 22 is now threaded on to plug 26 at threaded portion 32
(See FIG. 4). Pinion 12 is provided with an annular flange 34 which
surrounds lip 36 of cap 22 with a clearance fit.
[0024] Cap 22 is provided with seal ring 38 to prevent the ingress
of foreign particles such as mill scale into the assembly 10. A
series of pressure bolts 40 are threaded into cap 22 at threaded
holes 42. Bolts 40 are provided with seal rings 44 to prevent the
ingress of foreign particles into the assembly 10.
[0025] Plug 26 is provided with shallow buttress type threads as
shown in inset drawing 45.
[0026] Cap 22 is provided with a series of holes 46 which permits
an operator to insert a tool therein to tighten or loosen cap 22 on
the threaded end 32 of plug 26.
[0027] In operation, plug 26 is first threaded into the chamber
which is provided with a surface threaded with threads 25. Plug 26
is threaded into the threaded chamber until the end of plug 26
nearly contacts the bottom of the chamber. Next bolts 28 are
inserted into the clearance holes 30 provided in plug 26 and bolts
28 are subsequently tightened into threaded holes 32 provided in
pinion 12. Bolts 28 prevent plug 26 from undergoing any rotational
motion during operation of the assembly 10.
[0028] Next, a spacer ring assembly 16 is placed on pinion 12
against shoulder 14. Roll 18 is next mounted on pinion 12 against
spacer ring assembly 16. Cap 22 carrying seal ring 38 is threaded
on to plug 26 at threads 32.
[0029] When the cap 22 has been tightened on plug 26 to a
predetermined torque, the tightening of pressure bolts 40 may
begin. Bolts 40 are tightened in succession to: (1) clamp roll 18
against shoulder 14 of pinion 12; and (2) to cause expansion of the
surface of the pinion beneath roll 18. Torquing bolts 40 will force
roll 18 to move slightly to the left as shown in FIG. 3 causing
plug 26 to move to the right by the reaction force produced by
torquing pressure bolts 40. The reaction force produced by bolts 40
on cap 22 urges plug 26 to the right ramping the buttress threads
25 and thus expanding cavity 24. As bolts 40 are torqued to the
predetermined limit, in sequence, the pinion surface beneath roll
18 is evenly expanded by the plug 26 which maintains the
concentricity of roll 18 on pinion 12. At the same time, bolts 40
assure that roll 18 is held firmly in place against spacer assembly
16 which in turn abuts shoulder 14 of pinion 12.
[0030] FIGS. 6-12 show an alternative form of the invention in
which the roll is clamped in the pinion assembly 110 by hydraulic
pressure.
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 6-9 and FIG. 6 in particular, it will be
seen that pinion assembly 110 comprises a pinion 112 on which is
provided a shoulder 114 against which spacer rings 116 are located.
A roll 118 is shown mounted on pinion 112. A thrust ring 120 is
next shown mounted adjacent to and abutting roll 118 of assembly
110. Cap 122 is mounted adjacent thrust ring 120 of the assembly
110.
[0032] Referring now to FIGS. 7-10, it will be seen that a plug 126
(identical to previously shown plug 26) is threaded into cavity 124
of pinion 112 and bolts 128 which are threaded into holes 132 in
pinion 112 to prevent plug 126 from rotating during operation of
this device.
[0033] A piston plate 150 is threaded onto plug 126 at threads 133.
Piston plate 150 is somewhat disc shaped and is provided with
threads 133 to engage plug 126. Piston plate 150 is probably best
illustrated in FIG. 12 and is provided with flange 152 (FIG. 10) to
fit within flange 134 of pinion 112 (FIG. 10). Piston plate 150 is
provided with a cylindraceous surface 154 which mates with the
surface of the thrust ring 120 and an annular recess 156 which is
provided for seal ring 158. At a larger diameter, piston plate 150
is provided with a cylindraceous surface 160 in which a sealing
ring groove 162 is provided for seal ring 164.
[0034] A hydraulic fluid pressure adapter 170 is threaded into
piston plate 150 at threads 172. Pressure adapter 170 is provided
to the assembly 110 to provide ready connection to an external
source of hydraulic pressure. An internal pressure duct 174 in
adaptor 170 is shown in communication with radially extending
distribution ducts 176. A pair of seal rings 178 are installed on
adapter 170 at the surface which mates with piston plate 150.
[0035] Duct 174 is provided with a pair of ball checks 184 and 186
to maintain the internal pressure in the system when the external
source of hydraulic pressure is removed.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 9 it will be seen that pressure release
channels 180 are provided in piston plate 150 to bleed hydraulic
fluid from the assembly 110. Pressure release channels 180 are
normally closed by bleeder plugs 182.
[0037] It will be seen in FIGS. 7 and 9 that piston plate 150 and
thrust ring 120 form an annular pressure chamber 190 which is in
communication with ducts 176 and 180 bormed in piston plate
150.
[0038] Assembly and operation of this pinion assembly is as
follows:
[0039] Roll 118 and spacer rings 116 are first placed on pinion
112. Plug 124 is next threaded into cavity 124 until a
predetermined "home" position is reached. Headless bolts 128 are
next threaded into pinion 112 to secure plug 126 against any
further rotation of plug 126.
[0040] Next thrust ring 120 is fitted onto piston plate 150 and the
assembly comprising piston plate 150, thrust ring 120 are threaded
onto plug 126 at threads 133. Final torquing of piston plate 150 on
plug 126 may be accomplished by means of hexagonal head 192 (FIG.
12) provided thereon.
[0041] When the assembly (150, 120) is in place, adapter 170 may be
threaded into piston plate 150. Bleeder plugs 182 will have to be
removed to permit bleeding of the assembly 110. When the unit is
ready for pressurization bleeder plugs 182 are replaced.
[0042] A source of external hydraulic pressure is applied to
adaptor 170. This pressure is applied to chamber 190 by means of
ducts 174 and 176. As soon as chamber 190 becomes pressurized,
thrust ring 120 is forced to the left whilst the reaction force
which is applied to piston plate 150 tends to pull the plug 126 to
the right. As with the previous version of this assembly, these two
forces are equal and opposite. When a predetermined pressure is
reached in chamber 190, the pressure source is removed from adaptor
170 (ball checks 184 and 186 maintain the pressure) and cap 122 is
installed on pressure plate 150 at threads 192.
[0043] When it is desired to remove roll 118 from the pinion
assembly 110, cap 122 is unscrewed from piston plate 150 and one or
all bleeder plugs 182 are removed from piston plate 150 to release
the hydraulic pressure in chamber 190.
[0044] The piston plate 150, thrust collar 120 assembly is next
removed by unscrewing piston plate 150 from plug 126 and it will be
seen that the roll mounting surface of pinion 112 will have
contracted sufficiently that the roll may be easily removed from
pinion 112.
* * * * *