U.S. patent application number 13/107757 was filed with the patent office on 2011-09-08 for method and production line for manufacturing metal strips made of copper or copper alloys.
This patent application is currently assigned to SMS SIEMAG AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT. Invention is credited to Rainer Link, Wolfheinrich Muller, Hartmut Pawelski, Hans-Peter Richter, Ludwig Weingarten.
Application Number | 20110214834 13/107757 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37055927 |
Filed Date | 2011-09-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110214834 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Richter; Hans-Peter ; et
al. |
September 8, 2011 |
METHOD AND PRODUCTION LINE FOR MANUFACTURING METAL STRIPS MADE OF
COPPER OR COPPER ALLOYS
Abstract
A production line for manufacturing metal strips made of copper
or copper alloys by means of casting and rolling. In order to lower
the investment cost and operating expenses therefore, the melt is
cast into a copper strip in a vertical and/or horizontal continuous
strip casting process, and the hot copper strip is cleaned by
milling the top and bottom face thereof, is subjected to a cold
rolling process, and is prepared for shipping, or is subjected to
an inspection and then prepared for shipping after being annealed,
pickled, washed, dried, and optionally temper rolled.
Inventors: |
Richter; Hans-Peter;
(Friedewald, DE) ; Weingarten; Ludwig;
(Dusseldorf, DE) ; Pawelski; Hartmut; (Ratingen,
DE) ; Link; Rainer; (Monchengladbach, DE) ;
Muller; Wolfheinrich; (Veitshochheim, DE) |
Assignee: |
SMS SIEMAG
AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Dusseldorf
DE
|
Family ID: |
37055927 |
Appl. No.: |
13/107757 |
Filed: |
May 13, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11988328 |
Jul 18, 2008 |
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PCT/EP2006/006590 |
Jul 6, 2006 |
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13107757 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
164/417 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B21B 2015/0021 20130101;
B21B 2015/0014 20130101; B21B 45/0203 20130101; B21B 45/0251
20130101; B21B 2003/005 20130101; B21B 45/0218 20130101; B21B
45/0242 20130101; B21B 15/005 20130101; B21B 13/22 20130101; B21B
45/06 20130101; B21B 2015/0057 20130101; B21B 2015/0064 20130101;
B21B 3/003 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
164/417 |
International
Class: |
B22D 11/12 20060101
B22D011/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 7, 2005 |
DE |
10 2005 031 805.3 |
Claims
1. A production line for producing metal strip from copper or
copper alloy with at least a melting installation, a casting
installation, and a rolling installation, preferably for cold
forming from 23 mm to 0.2 mm copper strip thickness, wherein the
melting installation is followed in succession in the direction of
production by at least one vertical continuous strip casting
installation and/or one horizontal continuous strip casting
installation, a milling installation immediately downstream, a
strip uncoiler, a cold rolling installation, a strip coiler, and an
annealing installation.
2. The production line in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cold
rolling installation consists of a reversing mill.
3. The production line in accordance with claim 2, wherein the
milling installation is located immediately downstream of the
vertical continuous strip casting installation.
4. The production line in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
vertical continuous strip casting installation, the milling
installation, and the reversing mill follow one another in
immediate succession.
5. The production line in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cold
rolling installation consists of a tandem mill.
6. The production line in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
vertical continuous strip casting installation, the milling
installation and the tandem mill follow one another in immediate
succession.
7. The production line in accordance with claim 1, wherein two
parallel upstream vertical continuous strip casting installations
and milling installations are assigned to the tandem mill.
8. The production line in accordance with claim 1, wherein one
vertical and one horizontal continuous strip casting installation,
each with a milling installation installed immediately downstream
of it, are installed upstream of the tandem mill.
9. The production line in accordance with claim 1, wherein with two
parallel-casting vertical continuous strip casting installations, a
reversing mill follows each milling installation.
10. The production line in accordance with claim 1, wherein
parallel-producing vertical and horizontal continuous strip casting
installations are each followed by a reversing mill.
11. The production line in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
annealing installation consists either of a box annealing
installation for coils or of a continuous annealing installation in
the form of a strip floating furnace.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a Divisional Application of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 11/988,328, filed Jul. 18, 2008, which
is a 371 of International application PCT/EP2006/006590, filed Jul.
6, 2006, which claims priority of DE 10 2005 031 805.3, filed Jul.
7, 2005, the priority of these applications is hereby claimed and
these applications are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention concerns a method and a production line for
producing metal strip from copper or copper alloys by casting and
rolling.
[0003] Until now, metal strip of this type made of soft metals,
such as copper or copper alloys, has been produced by casting in
slabs (DE 692 22 504 T2). After it has been cooled, the slab must
be reheated and rolled out to the required thickness in a hot
rolling process. The hot rolling is followed by milling of the
upper and lower surfaces, inspection, and coiling into a coil. The
metal strip is unwound from the coil and passed through a reversing
mill. After a cold rolling operation, it is coiled into a coil and
in this form is annealed in a box annealing installation for
microstructural refinement or is continuously annealed in uncoiled
form. It is then pickled, washed, dried, and temper rolled, and the
surface is reinspected before the strip is coiled.
[0004] The operating costs to be expended for this and the
investment costs for new construction and plant design with
available useful floor space are basically very high. Metal strip
made of copper or copper alloys are cast and rolled in horizontal
casting processes at, for example, 15-20,000 t/year and with
significantly lower investment costs.
[0005] Increased capacity, which is presently demanded by the
market (30,000 to 70,000 t/year), can no longer be economically
achieved with the present cost structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The objective of the invention is nevertheless to realize
the increased capacity that is being demanded in combination with
lower operating costs and reduced plant investment costs.
[0007] In accordance with the invention, the stated objective is
achieved by casting the melt into copper strip in a vertical and/or
horizontal continuous strip casting process, cleaning the copper
strip by milling its upper side and underside, subjecting it to a
cold rolling process, and preparing it for shipment, or first
annealing, pickling, washing and drying it, and possibly subjecting
it to a temper rolling step, and then inspecting it and preparing
it for shipment. The advantages are that a slab casting
installation, heating of the slab to rolling temperature, and hot
rolling are completely eliminated. Furthermore, it is advantageous
that the cold rolling process can be flexibly adapted to the
planned production amounts, for example, by virtue of the fact that
the cold rolling can be operated at optimum strip temperature on
the delivery side.
[0008] In one embodiment, stacks of sheets can be produced from
inspected coils by cutting the copper strip to length.
[0009] In another embodiment, coilable narrow copper strips can be
produced from inspected coils by slitting the copper strip.
[0010] It is advantageous to effect temperature control during cold
rolling by lubricating the copper strip with oil on the run-in side
and cooling it with cold or cryogenic inert gases on the runout
side. Various media can be used for cooling.
[0011] In this regard, it is advantageous if the set-point
assignment for the rolling parameters is set to a maximum strip
temperature of 120.degree. C. In this way, the parameters (actual
values) for casting and milling can be connected to the rolling
process.
[0012] The method can be still further improved if the coils of
copper strip that have been cold rolled under temperature control
to final strip thickness are further refined in their
microstructure either in a box annealing installation in the form
of a coil or in a continuous annealing operation and then pickled,
washed and dried, subjected to a surface inspection, and then
further processed in coil form.
[0013] The production line for producing metal strip from copper or
copper alloy with at least a melting installation, a casting
installation, and a rolling installation is preferably designed for
cold forming from 23 mm to 0.2 mm copper strip thickness.
[0014] To achieve the stated objective with respect to the
equipment, it is proposed that the melting installation be followed
in succession in the direction of production by at least one
vertical continuous strip casting installation and/or one
horizontal continuous strip casting installation, a milling
installation immediately downstream, a strip uncoiler, a cold
rolling installation, a strip coiler, and an annealing
installation. A casting installation for slabs, which cool and then
must be reheated to rolling temperature in a furnace, and a hot
rolling mill itself are completely eliminated. This means not only
lower capital expenditure for the construction of the production
line but also lower operating expenses (lower repair costs and
shorter repair times) and at the same time greater productivity of
the plant.
[0015] Additional advantages are realized in the further course of
the production line:
[0016] The cold rolling installation consists of a reversing
mill.
[0017] The milling installation is located immediately downstream
of the vertical continuous strip casting installation. It is
advantageous that the copper strip runs directly into the next
installation.
[0018] The vertical continuous strip casting installation, the
milling installation, and the reversing mill follow one another in
immediate succession. The copper strip runs into the following
installation without interruption.
[0019] The cold rolling installation consists of a tandem mill.
[0020] The vertical continuous strip casting installation, the
milling installation, and the tandem mill follow one another in
immediate succession. The copper strip runs from installation to
installation without interruption.
[0021] To realize higher rolling capacities, it is advantageous for
two parallel upstream vertical continuous strip casting
installations and milling installations to be assigned to the
tandem mill.
[0022] To realize a higher casting capacity relative to the rolling
installation, one vertical and one horizontal continuous strip
casting installation, each with a milling installation installed
immediately downstream of it, are installed upstream of the tandem
mill.
[0023] When there are two casting installations, the production
line is designed in such a way that with two parallel-casting
vertical continuous strip casting installations, a reversing mill
follows each milling installation.
[0024] In another combination for casting/milling and rolling,
parallel-producing vertical and horizontal continuous strip casting
installations are each followed by a reversing mill.
[0025] For all combinations of the production line, it is provided
that the annealing installation consists either of a box annealing
installation for coils or of a continuous annealing installation in
the form of a strip floating furnace.
[0026] The various features of novelty which characterize the
invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed
to and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better understanding
of the invention, its operating advantages, specific objects
attained by its use, reference should be had to descriptive matter
in which there are described preferred embodiments of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0027] In the drawing:
[0028] FIG. 1 shows a modular view of the entire production line
with the individual units.
[0029] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a production line with a
combination based on local conditions that consists of a continuous
strip casting installation with a milling installation.
[0030] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a production line with a
combination that consists of a continuous strip casting
installation/milling installation/reversing mill.
[0031] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a production line with a
combination that consists of a continuous strip casting
installation/milling installation/and tandem mill.
[0032] FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a production line with a
combination that consists of a continuous strip casting
installation/milling installation and tandem mill.
[0033] FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of a production line with two
parallel continuous strip casting installations, each of which is
combined with a milling installation, and a tandem mill.
[0034] FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of a production line with one
vertical and one horizontal continuous strip casting installation,
each of which is immediately followed by a milling installation,
and a tandem mill.
[0035] FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of a production line with
parallel vertical continuous strip casting installations, followed
by parallel milling installations and parallel reversing mills.
[0036] FIG. 9 shows a production line with a parallel pair of
vertical and horizontal continuous strip casting installations,
each of which is followed by a reversing mill.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0037] To produce a metal strip 1 from a soft material (FIG. 1),
molten metal 2, e.g., copper or a copper alloy, is cast from a
melting furnace (not shown in detail) in a continuous strip casting
process, and the copper strip 4 is descaled by milling 5 with
support rollers arranged obliquely opposite each other on the upper
side 5a and the underside 5b of the copper strip 4, subjected to a
cold rolling process 6, subjected to a surface inspection 12,
coiled into a coil 13, and then prepared for shipment.
[0038] A coil 13 can also be returned to the cold rolling process 6
for further reduction of the thickness 18 of the copper strip. The
microstructure, which is thus very strongly compressed, is coiled
into an inspected coil in a treatment by annealing 7, pickling 8,
washing 9, drying 10 and possibly a temper rolling step 11,
followed by an inspection 12.
[0039] Stacked sheets 14 are then produced from the coils 13, whose
surfaces have been inspected, by cutting the copper strip 4 to
length. The sheets are then sent for shipment. Alternatively,
coilable narrow copper strips 17 are produced from the inspected
coils 13 by slitting 16 the copper strip and are then sent for
shipment (in the arrow direction).
[0040] To produce a desired microstructure and analogous properties
for the protection of the work rolls, the cold rolling process 6
can be carried out in such a way that the copper strip 4 is
lubricated with oil on the run-in side (FIG. 1, left) or cooled and
cleaned with cold or cryogenic inert gases, e.g., nitrogen, on the
runout side (FIG. 1, right). The set points for the rolling
parameters are set to a maximum strip temperature of 120.degree. C.
on the runout side.
[0041] The final strip thickness 18 is obtained under temperature
control on the basis of an advantageous process of this type, and
the coils 13 of copper strip are treated either in a box annealing
installation 31 with the strip in coil form 13 (upper part of FIG.
1) or by a continuous annealing process 7 in order to refine the
microstructure and to make the copper strip soft again. This is
followed by pickling 8, washing 9, drying 10, and coiling into
coils 13 that have been subjected to a surface inspection 12.
[0042] A melting installation 20 (e.g., an electric furnace)
supplies melt to a casting installation 21, which consists of a
vertical continuous strip casting installation 24a or may also
consist of a horizontal continuous strip casting installation 24b
in special cases or in cases in which such an installation is
already present.
[0043] Cold deformation from 23 mm to 0.2 mm copper strip thickness
18 preferably takes place in a rolling installation 22 immediately
downstream of the casting installation 21 and the milling 5.
[0044] The melting installation 20 is followed in succession in the
direction of production 23 by at least the vertical continuous
strip casting installation 24a or in exceptional cases an existing
horizontal continuous strip casting installation 24b, an
immediately downstream milling installation 25, a strip uncoiler
26, the cold rolling installation 22, a strip coiler 27, and an
annealing installation 28, all of which are arranged in succession
in the direction of production 23.
[0045] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the cold rolling
installation 22 is a reversing mill 29. It is an essential part of
the invention that the milling installation 25 immediately follows
the vertical continuous strip casting installation 24a (or the
horizontal continuous strip casting installation 24b). The milling
installation 25 is followed by a reversing mill 29, the box
annealing installation 31, a strip floating furnace 32a, together
with the temper rolling step 11 and, if desired, a step in which
the strip is cut to length 15 with a flying shear and in which the
strip is slit 16 into narrow copper strips.
[0046] In the production line according to FIG. 3, the vertical
continuous strip casting installation 24a, the milling installation
25, and the reversing mill 29 form a functionally interacting
unit.
[0047] In FIG. 4, the cold rolling unit 22 consists of a tandem
mill 30. The milling installation 25 again follows directly after
the vertical continuous strip casting installation 24a.
[0048] In accordance with FIG. 5, which illustrates an arrangement
similar to that of FIG. 3, the vertical continuous strip casting
installation 24a, the milling installation 25, and now a tandem
mill 30 form the interacting unit. The box annealing installation
31, the strip floating furnace 32a, the temper rolling step 11, and
possibly the cutting to length 15 and/or the slitting 16 follow
this unit in the same way as in the preceding FIGS. 2 to 4.
[0049] In FIG. 6, the casting capacity is increased. To this end,
two parallel upstream vertical continuous strip casting
installations 24a, 24a and their associated milling installations
25 are assigned to the tandem mill 30.
[0050] According to FIG. 7, one vertical continuous strip casting
installation 24a and one horizontal continuous strip casting
installation 24b, each with its own functionally connected milling
installation 25, are arranged upstream of the tandem mill 30.
[0051] In FIG. 8, two parallel vertical continuous strip casting
installations 24a, 24a and their respective milling installations
25 are each followed by a reversing mill 29 at a customary fixed
distance.
[0052] FIG. 9 shows an arrangement in which vertical and horizontal
continuous strip casting installations 24a, 24b in parallel
production are each followed at the customary distance by a
reversing mill 29.
[0053] The annealing installation 28 consists either of a box
annealing installation 31 for coils 13 or a continuous annealing
installation 32 in the form of a strip floating furnace 32a.
[0054] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown
and described in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it
will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise
without departing from such principles.
* * * * *