Stand Housing Comprising Coupling Clamping Regions

The present invention relates to a stand housing for a stand for rolling metal rods, wires or pipes along a rolling axis, which housing is provided for attachment of a roller guide.

Stands for rolling rod-shaped material to be rolled are known in principle in the production of metal pipes, rods, or wires. In this case, material to be rolled can be rolled to desired diameters, in that the caliber is set accordingly. For example, a stand of the above technical field is known from DE 100 15 340 A1.

In general, a plurality of stands is arranged in succession in a rolling mill. As a result, the material to be rolled can be stretched in particular by a difference between the roller speeds of the individual stands, and rolled to a smaller diameter.

Furthermore, the roundness of the material to be rolled is generally not sufficient after passing through one stand, because the cross-section assumes a polygon-like shape on account of the typically star-shaped arrangement of the rollers and their relatively small number, the number of sides of the polygon corresponding to the number of rollers of the stand. For example, a material to be rolled that is rolled by a single three-roller stand has a cross-sectional shape which is not ideally round but rather approximately triangular.

The successive stands are preferably arranged, for improving the roundness of the material to be rolled, in such a way that in each case the corners of the cross section of the material to be rolled, of a material to be rolled that is leaving the stand, are contacted centrally by the rollers of the following stand, and the cross-section of the material to be rolled is rounded as a result.

Therefore, the three rollers in each case, for example of the first and of the third stand of a rolling mill having four stands, are typically located in what is known as a “Y-arrangement”, and the rollers of the stand arranged therebehind in each case, for example the second and fourth, are arranged in what is known as an “anti-Y-arrangement” (A). Due to the alternating arrangement of the rollers and stands in a Y-arrangement and anti-Y-arrangement, in each case the corners of the cross-section of the material to be rolled are rolled using the following stand, by a roller, and the cross-section of the material to be rolled is rounded as a result.

In the Y-arrangement, the lower roller is oriented in such a way that its roller shaft is positioned horizontally, i.e. the diameter of the lower roller extends vertically, in the viewing direction of the rolling axis. In contrast, in the anti-Y-arrangement it is the upper roller that has its roller shaft positioned horizontally, i.e. the diameter of the upper roller extends vertically, in the viewing direction of the rolling axis. In both cases, the roller shafts of the two further rollers are positioned tilted by 120° in each case, relative to the horizontal roller shaft. Of course, the arrangements relative to the horizontal are arbitrary overall, because it is only the relative arrangement of the rollers with respect to adjacent stands that is important for the effect described here.

Switching between the different arrangements of the previous cuboid stands is typically performed for example by rotation about a horizontal axis, about 180°. However, this switching results, in addition to other obstacles, in the inlet side, i.e. the end face of the stand through which the material to be rolled enters the stand, and the outlet side, i.e. the opposite end face, through which the material to be rolled leaves the stand, being swapped. In other words, the inlet side becomes the outlet side, and vice versa.

The arrangement of the stands one behind the other to form a rolling mill typically takes place using stand bases, into which the stands are introduced and by which they are held. This makes it possible to replace stands from the rolling mill, for example for the maintenance which is regularly required.

In order to prevent the material to be rolled from performing a torsional movement between successive stands and the point of action of the rollers along the periphery of the material to be rolled from being difficult to control, roller guides are known, which are typically attached to a stand on the inlet side of said stand. A configuration of this kind is known for example from CN 114 130 828 A.

Particularly effective roller guides exhibit the possibility of adjusting the caliber between the infeed rollers centrally, using a roller adjustment mechanism. For this purpose, for example a shaft, usually a universal shaft, is used for introducing a roller adjustment torque via a roller adjustment connector, i.e. a coupling for the shaft, which connection can be fastened to the stand.

Furthermore, there are two basic configurations for the roller adjustment connector, specifically manual adjustment of the rollers and automatic adjustment, referred to as remote adjustment. While an arrangement of the roller adjustment connector on an operator side of the stand housing allows for good accessibility for manual operation of the roller adjustment connector from this side, the roller adjustment connector cannot be readily operated and actuated automatically, i.e. by what is known as remote adjustment, in this arrangement, because a motor that is required for this may not be provided on this side, in order not to block access to the stand for the operator.

In the prior art, modifying a stand, after switching between the Y-arrangement and anti-Y-arrangement, in such a way that the roller guide is correctly arranged and set is associated with significant effort, in particular in the case of a roller guide having a roller adjustment connector.

Against this background, an object of the present invention is that of providing a stand housing of the above technical field, which allows for more flexible use within a rolling mill, and in particular a more flexible selection both of a position in the rolling mill and also of a roller adjustment configuration, with a simultaneously compact design of the rolling mill.

In other words, the object is that of developing a stand housing of the above technical field in such a way that it can be arranged modularly, in as versatile a manner as possible, in a rolling mill, at different positions and in different locations in a stand base, a roller guide having central adjustment being able to be attached quickly and precisely for a plurality of different adjustment configurations, manual roller adjustment, and automatic remote adjustment of the rollers.

This object is achieved by a stand housing according to claim. Advantageous embodiments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims.

A stand housing for a stand for rolling metal rods, wires or pipes along a rolling axis has an outside which, viewed along the rolling axis, comprises at least six side surfaces that are arranged so as to be offset from one another about the rolling axis, about a 60° rotation in each case, and two end faces that are opposite one another, the side surfaces forming a regular hexagon, at least in an imaginary extension. The stand housing further comprises at least one pair of coupling clamping regions arranged in a corner of the hexagon, and each of the coupling clamping regions of the pair being designed to receive a coupling for a shaft of a roller guide for central adjustment of the roller guide. In this case, a coupling clamping region of the pair is arranged on one of the end faces of the stand housing, and the other coupling clamping region of the pair is arranged on the other of the end faces of the stand housing.

In the present context, the side surfaces are the surfaces of the stand housing which laterally define the two end faces, specifically a front surface referred to as an inlet side, and the rear surface referred to as an outlet side, through which end faces the rolling axis extends. The side surfaces together form, viewed along the rolling axis, the lateral outer surface of the stand housing. The side surfaces are arranged so as to be offset from one another about the rolling axis, about a 60° rotation in each case, i.e. adjacent side surfaces enclose an internal angle of 120°. The side surfaces thus form a regular hexagon, at least in an imaginary extension, which means that the projection of the stand housing along the rolling axis defines a polygon having at least six sides and corners. In this case, it is also possible that no sharp corners, but rather roundings, chamfers or similar transitions are provided between adjacent side surfaces, which transitions interconnect the straight side surfaces.

The side surfaces of the stand housing can serve as a contact surface, comprise a contact surface, or extend in parallel with a contact surface or a plurality of contact surfaces, for example formed by sliding rails, on which contact surface(s) the stand can stand in a stable manner, in particular in a stand base. The side surfaces do not have to be flat, but rather can also comprise steps, protrusions, or recesses, as well as openings, and can also be formed in multiple parts.

A corner in the sense of the arrangement of the coupling clamping regions according to the present invention extends from the point at which the side surfaces or, in the case of a non-sharp corner their imaginary extensions, meet, up to 25% of the peripheral spacing from the adjacent corner, in the direction thereof. The arrangement of the coupling clamping region, which itself has a peripheral extension corresponding to the size of the coupling, centrally in the corner of the regular hexagon formed by the side surfaces is particularly preferred.

The number and the arrangement of the side surfaces of the present stand housing results in the advantage, compared with a rectangular stand housing having four side surfaces, as is known from the prior art, that the stand can be used in a modular manner in different locations at different positions in the rolling mill, and in different configurations with respect to the adjustability of the roller guide. In other words, the stand can be used in a plurality of different orientations, e.g. Y-arrangement and anti-Y-arrangement, having different assignments of the end faces as the inlet side or outlet side, with and without a roller guide or the like, and in different versions of the roller adjustment of a roller guide, e.g. manually or automatically. The number of stands to be kept available for an operator of a rolling mill is reduced thereby, because the same stand can be used universally in the entire rolling mill, even after modification of the rolling mill with respect to the adjustability of the roller guide between manual and automatic. Thus, the invention achieves a more flexible use within a rolling mill, and in particular a more flexible selection both of a position in the rolling mill and also of a roller adjustment configuration, with a simultaneously compact design of the rolling mill.

The invention in particular allows for flexible attachment of additional components arranged on or in the stand housing, in particular a centrally adjustable roller guide. Such components can in addition be, for example, operating connections, glide elements, bearing elements, and fastening elements or a funnel guide. However, in this respect too, the present invention allows for very marked modularization of the rolling mill.

The limitation of the complexity of the roller arrangement is additionally advantageous because the arrangement of drive devices for the roller shafts, in synergy with the arrangement of adjustment devices for not only the roller shafts but rather also a centrally adjustable roller guide, within the rolling mill is simplified as a result.

In a preferred embodiment, the stand housing comprises two pairs of coupling clamping regions, of which one is arranged in a corner of the hexagon, and the other is arranged in a corner of the hexagon that is offset about a 120° rotation about the rolling axis. In other words, one of the pairs of coupling clamping regions is arranged in a first corner, and the other of the pairs is arranged in a second corner of the hexagon, which is the next but one along the peripheral direction.

As a result, switching between two different arrangements, in particular in the case of a three-roller stand a Y-arrangement and an anti-Y-arrangement, can take place by tilting about a tilt axis which extends through the corner located between the first and the second corner, and the center of the stand housing, i.e. an oblique tilt axis compared with the conventional horizontal tilt axis in the case of rectangular stand housings. In this case, the first and the second corner swap their positions, upon switching, and an attachment of the roller adjustment connector, i.e. the coupling for central adjustment of the roller guide, can take place reliably, quicky and precisely at the respective correct end, via the coupling clamping region. This is particularly advantageous if the stand housing additionally comprises a bearing hole for an adjustment connector for the rollers of the stand, which hole is arranged in the region of the third corner. Switching between the two different arrangements along a tilt axis that extends through the corner, in the vicinity of which the adjustment connector for the roller adjustment is located, is particularly efficient for the entire rolling mill.

The stand housing preferably comprises three pairs of coupling clamping regions, of which one is arranged in a corner of the hexagon, and two are arranged at the corners adjacent thereto. In other words, in this preferred embodiment a pair of coupling clamping regions is also located in a third corner located between the above-mentioned first and second corner, such that three adjacent corners are each provided with a pair of coupling clamping regions.

This results in further flexibility, because in the case of switching between two different arrangements, in particular in the case of a three-roller stand a Y-arrangement and anti-Y-arrangement, by tilting about the tilt axis extending through the corner located between the first and the second corner, and the center of the stand housing, the third corner retains its position. An attachment of the roller adjustment connector, i.e. the coupling for central adjustment of the roller guide, can take place at the respectively suitable corner reliably, quickly, and precisely, by means of the coupling clamping region. This is particularly advantageous if the housing additionally comprises a bearing hole for an adjustment connector for the rollers of the stand, which hole is arranged in the region of the third corner. Switching between the two different arrangements along a tilt axis which extends through the corner and in the vicinity of which the adjustment connector for the roller adjustment is located is particularly efficient for the entire rolling mill.

Preferably, the coupling clamping regions comprise threaded holes for fastening the coupling for the shaft of the roller guide. As a result, the coupling, i.e. the roller adjustment connector, can be attached reliably and firmly to the stand housing.

In a preferred embodiment, the coupling clamping regions are formed in the end faces. This can ensure an even more reliable and installation space-saving attachment of the coupling.

Advantageously, the stand housing further comprises clamping rails which are screwed to the coupling clamping regions and by means of which the coupling can be oriented or mounted. This allows for simple and precise mounting and orientation of the coupling.

A preferred stand for rolling metal rods, wires or pipes along a rolling axis comprises a stand housing according to the above description, and three rollers which are each located on a roller shaft, surround the rolling axis in a star-shaped manner, and together form a caliber, the three roller shafts preferably being mounted by means of eccentric bushings, in bearing holes of the stand housing, in such a way that a radial spacing of the rollers from the rolling axis is adjustable. The above-described stand housing is particularly well suited for a stand of this kind because synergies of the geometries of the roller arrangement and of the stand housing occur as a result, which synergies are derived in particular from the similar symmetry of the star-shaped arrangement of three rollers on the one hand and of the regular hexagon of the outside of the stand housing on the other hand.

The star-shaped arrangement of the rollers around the rolling axis means that the rollers or their rotation planes are in each case arranged at an angle of 120° relative to the two adjacent rollers or their rotation planes. This also applies for the roller shafts of which the axes intersect other than in the rotation planes of the rollers, but not in the caliber. However, within the stand each roller shaft is at an angle of 120° in each case relative to the other two roller shafts.

In the case of this preferred stand, the spacings of the rollers from the rolling axis can be set for setting the caliber by rotating the eccentric bushing, i.e. an eccentric adjustment as is known for example from DE 100 15 340 A1.

The stand preferably further comprises an adjustment connector for introducing an adjustment torque in order to adjust a radial position of the roller shafts, with respect to the rolling axis, for setting the caliber. In this case, at least two adjustment configurations, i.e. both remote adjustment via an external motor, and also manual adjustment, are possible. For this purpose, the external motor, or a suitable tool, such as a wrench, must be brought into engagement with the adjustment connector in order to actuate this, i.e. to rotate it. The rotational movement can be transmitted to one of the eccentric bushings of the stand via a gearbox, for example. The rotational movement can be transmitted from said eccentric bushing to others of the eccentric bushings of the roller shaft in a manner that is known in principle. Thus, all the roller shafts can be adjusted synchronously via a single adjustment connector, and the caliber can be set correspondingly.

The adjustment connector is preferably arranged on the outside, i.e. on the lateral outside, of the stand housing, in a corner of the regular hexagon. “In a corner of the regular hexagon” means, in this connection, that the adjustment connector is arranged closer to a corner, i.e. to a transition between two adjacent side surfaces, than the center of a side surface. This arrangement of the adjustment connector makes it possible for the stand to be used more flexibly. The stand can thus be rotated about 180°, about an axis extending through the corner and the rolling axis, and thereby switched between the Y-arrangement and the anti-Y-arrangement, without substantially changing the position of the adjustment connector.

Further advantages and developments of the invention emerge from the following description of the figures, and all of the claims.

In the following description of the figures, identical or corresponding elements are provided with the same reference numbers, and a repeated description is largely avoided.

is a view along a rolling axis, extending in a Z-direction, of a preferred standfor rolling metal rods, wires, or pipes. The standcomprises a stand housingwhich, in the embodiment shown here, is in the shape of a regular hexagon, when viewed along the rolling axis. An outsideof the stand housingis provided with six side surfaces.-.of equal length, which are arranged around the rolling axisin a rotationally symmetrical manner. Adjacent side surfaces.-.merge into one another in a region referred to as a corner.-.. In this case, the corners.-.can be differently marked. They comprise an abutment edge between the adjacent side surfaces.-.that merge into one another in the corner.-., which edge can be sharp-edged but is preferably chamfered or rounded. A small intermediate surface between adjacent side surfaces.-.in the sense of a pronounced, relatively wide chamfer is also possible, and is still understood, in the present context, as a corner.-.. An inlet side(not shown inbut shown in), and an outlet side, shown in, of the stand housingthus, like the stand housingof the present embodiment, have a regular hexagonal shape overall, which is characterized inter alia by the fact that it has three pairs of side surfaces.,.,.,.,.,., which are positioned in parallel with one another in each case. The stand housingis manufactured as a monobloc.

The preferred standis designed in such a way that the inlet side(not shown in) resembles the outlet sideshown in, such that all the features that are described below for the outlet sideare found on the opposite side of the stand housingat the same or corresponding locations, as is also shown in the following with reference to other figures.

The standfurther comprises three rollers.,.,.that surround the rolling axisin a star-shaped manner. The rollers.-.in each case define a rotational plane, which planes are at an angle of 120° relative to one another and intersect in the rolling axis. The rotational planes of the rollers.-.are arranged orthogonally to one pair of side surfaces.-.of the stand housingin each case. In the region of the rolling axis, the rollers.-.form a caliberbetween them. The caliberis in particular surrounded by a roll surfaceof each of the rollers.-., the roll surfacesof the rollers.-.being formed centrally along the periphery of the respective roller.-., as a concave groove, in order to provide the material to be rolled with as round an outer contour as possible. Depending on the material to be rolled, the roll surfacecan also be designed differently, however, in particular as a flat surface or as a convex surface. In, it can be seen that the rollers.-.are arranged in an anti-Y-arrangement, because the upper roller.is positioned vertically and the two remaining lower rollers.,.are in each case positioned at an angle of 120° relative to the vertical orientation of the upper roller..

The rollers.-.are in each case positioned fixedly on a roller shaft, via which the rollers.-.are driven. Axes of rotation of the roller shafts extend in parallel with one pair of side surfaces.,.,.,.,.,.in each case. The axes of rotation are furthermore arranged transversely to the rolling axisand are arranged around said axis in a rotationally symmetrical or star-shaped manner. The axis of rotation of the roller shaft of the upper roller.inis oriented in the X-direction. The axes of rotation of the two other roller shafts are angled accordingly at an angle of 120° and 240°, respectively, with respect to the axis of rotation of the upper roller shaft. Of the roller shafts, in each case only a drive-side end.,.,.is shown in, which end protrudes towards the outside, at one of the side surfaces.,.,.of the stand housing. As a result, the roller shafts can each adjoin an external drive, which can thus transmit its rolling torque to the roller shafts, and thus the rollers.-., via a coupling.

The roller shafts extend in the interior of the stand housing, in which an eccentric adjustment means (not shown) for adjusting the rollers.-.via their roller shafts is also located. The eccentric adjustment means makes it possible for a spacing between the roller shafts and thus the rollers.-.on the one hand, and the rolling axison the other hand, in the X-Y plane of, to be changed. As a result, different sizes of the calibercan be set, and also wear of the rollers.-.can be compensated, for a constant caliber. The eccentric adjustment means forms an adjustment mechanism of the rollers.-..

The adjustment mechanism of the rollers.-.can be actuated from the outside, in that an adjustment connectorthat protrudes to the outside in the vicinity of the corner.is rotated. In the embodiment shown in, the adjustment connectoris designed in such a way that it is both manually actuatable and can also be actuated automatically by a motor. The adjustment connectoris preferably connected to a rotatably mounted gear shaft, which extends in the interior of the stand housing, and to a bevel gear which engages in a tooth segment of an eccentric bushing of the eccentric adjustment means, the eccentric bushing being able, in turn, to transmit to the two other eccentric bushings a rotational movement transmitted to it via the bevel gear, and thus being able to allow a synchronous adjustment of the rollers. The adjustment mechanism is not shown in detail inbeyond the adjustment connector.

The adjustment connectoris located in the vicinity of the corner., and the gear shaft connected to the adjustment connectorextends in parallel with the upper roller shafts in, i.e. in the X-direction, the drive-side end.of which protrudes out of the stand housingon the opposite side. The adjustment connectoris thus located substantially opposite the drive-side end.of a roller shaft that extends in parallel with the gear shaft. This relative arrangement implies that the adjustment connectoris not covered by a roll motor that is arranged flush with the drive-side end.of one of the roller shafts, because the drive-side ends.,.of the roller shafts that are adjacent to the adjustment connectorare oriented upwards and downwards by approximately 60° in each case with respect to the adjustment connectorand its gear shaft, such that the motors coupled thereto form a large free space between them, which leaves the adjustment connectorfreely accessible.

In, the adjustment connectoris arranged close to the corner.and so as to be offset slightly upwards with respect to an imaginary horizontal central plane of the stand housing. In this case, a spacing along the Y-axis in, between the adjustment connectorand the central plane extending in parallel with the gear shaft, i.e. in the X-direction in, is less than 10% of the extension of the stand housingin the Y-direction, i.e. between two opposite side surfaces.,.of the stand housing.

shows three mounting elements.,.,.for a guide (not shown in) for the material to be rolled. The guide can be mounted on the outlet sideof the stand housing, which is shown in. The mounting elements.,.,.can also be arranged on the inlet side(not visible in), so that a guide for the material to be rolled can be mounted there.

The guide for the material to be rolled can for example be a roller guide, in particular a roller guide, as is shown by way of example in, or a funnel guide. The mounting elements.,.,.are positioned in a star-shaped manner around the rolling axisand so as to be opposite one of the rollers.,.,.in each case, with respect to the rolling axis. The three mounting elements.,.,.are in each case arranged around the rolling axisat an angular spacing of 120°.

Furthermore, three coupling clamping regions.,.,.are arranged on the outlet sideof the stand housing, shown in, in adjacent corners.,.,.of the stand housing. The coupling clamping regions.,.,.are in each case delimited by two clamping rails. The three adjacent corners.,.,.in which the coupling clamping regions.,.,.are arranged are the corner.in which the adjustment connectoris also arranged, and the two corners.,.adjacent thereto. The coupling clamping regions.,.,.serve to fasten a roller guide adjustment connector(not shown inbut shown in) securely on the stand housing. This relative arrangement of the coupling clamping regions.,.,.in the corner.of the adjustment connectorand the two corners.,.surrounding these makes it possible for the particular flexibility of the arrangement and configuration of the standto be combined with a roller guide and thus to be transferred to the entire system consisting of the standand roller guide.

shows that the stand housingcomprises four sliding rails.,.,.,.on the outlet side, which rails are arranged in parallel with four neighboring side surfaces.,.,.,.. The sliding rails.-.adjoin one another and extend along the periphery of the hexagonal stand housing, from the corner.comprising the coupling clamping region.to the corner.comprising the coupling clamping region.. In the illustration of, the sliding rails.-.are not arranged on the side surfaces.-., but rather so as to be offset inwards in the direction of the rolling axis. The sliding rails.-.form glide surfaces which extend on the one hand in the peripheral direction along the side surfaces.-., and on the other hand out of the sheet plane in parallel with the rolling axisand the side surfaces.-., i.e. in the Z-direction in. Thus, the sliding rails.-.can serve as contact surfaces in four orientations of the standand are intended in particular for facilitating receiving of the standin a stand base (not shown), in that the standcan be pushed into the stand base on the sliding rails.-.and in this case the sliding rails.-.can also be used as sealing elements. On the opposing inlet side(not shown in) four sliding rails.-.are also located, opposite the sliding rails.-.that are shown, such that in each case a pair of the sliding rails.-.on opposing sides can be used for stable mounting of the standin a stand base.

The standfurther comprises three water outlet openings.,.,.on the outlet sideshown in. Cooling water, which is intended to be used for a roller guide for example, can thus be introduced into the stand housingat one of the side surfaces.,.,.through water feed openings (not shown in), conducted through the stand housing, and conducted out through one of the water outlet openings.,.,.and fed from there to the roller guide.