US3592031A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic control of rolling mills
Assignee: English Electric Co Ltd
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Filing: 1968-12-09
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Granted: 1971-07-13
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Expires: 1988-12-09
Abstract
Abstract The specification describes a multistage rolling process which is controlled by a computer to reduce the thickness of a piece of deformable material from a known initial thickness to a desired final thickness. Using the terminal thicknesses and other known or assumed characteristics of the material, the computer derives values for the rolls separations in the stages for achieving an optimum value for a parameter such as maximum throughput or minimum power for the process as a whole.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert William Sutton
- 👤 John Edward Sharp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 00:14
CPC Classifications
B; B21; B21B; B21B37/00; B21B37/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
The method of setting up a rolling mill for rolling a material of known rolling characteristics in a series of successive rolling stages to reduce its thickness from a known initial value to a desired final value comprising the steps of: i. storing in a digital computer data specifying the characteristics of the mill for each stage, the materialrolling characteristics, the initial thickness and final thickness; ii. systematically computing in the digital computer from the stored data and in accordance with an expression specifying a process parameter in terms of the reduction in material thickness in a rolling stage and other parameter values of the mill relevant to the stage to determine for different combinations of reductions in the successive stages the values of the process parameter for the whole rolling process; iii. selecting the combination of successive stage reductions giving the optimum value for the process parameter for the whole rolling process; iv. determining in the computer the values of roll gap and speed for the respective stages using the selected combination of successive stage reductions; and v. setting roll gap and speed-controlling devices of the mill for the respective rolling stages in accordance with the values determined in the preceding step and with the mill stretch characteristics.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
209 words
The method of setting up a rolling mill for rolling a material of known rolling characteristics in a series of successive rolling stages to reduce its thickness from a known initial value to a desired final value comprising the steps of: i. storing in a digital computer data specifying the characteristics of the mill for each stage, the materialrolling characteristics, the initial thickness and final thickness; ii. systematically computing in the digital computer from the stored data and in accordance with an expression specifying a process parameter in terms of the reduction in material thickness in a rolling stage and other parameter values of the mill relevant to the stage to determine for different combinations of reductions in the successive stages the values of the process parameter for the whole rolling process; iii. selecting the combination of successive stage reductions giving the optimum value for the process parameter for the whole rolling process; iv. determining in the computer the values of roll gap and speed for the respective stages using the selected combination of successive stage reductions; and v. setting roll gap and speed-controlling devices of the mill for the respective rolling stages in accordance with the values determined in the preceding step and with the mill stretch characteristics.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
156 words
The method according to claim 1 including the steps of: i. storing in the digital computer data specifying operating constraints for other process parameters within which the mill must operate during the respective stages so as not to damage the mill or material being rolled; ii. computing in the digital computer from the stored data and in accordance with expressions specifying the said other process parameters in terms of the reduction in material thickness in a stage and other parameter values of the mill relevant to the stage the values of the said other process parameters relevant to each rolling stage; III. comparing in the computer the values of the said other process parameters relevant to each rolling stage with the stored constraint data for the respective stages, and iv. eliminating any of the said combinations of stage reductions which would cause the mill to operate during any stage outside the operating constraints for that stage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein the first-mentioned process parameter comprises the mill throughout of rolled material, and the selected combination of stage reductions is that giving maximum throughput for the whole rolling process.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 3, wherein the said other process parameters are selected from the group comprising: i. the roll load in a rolling stage; and ii. the roll horse power in a rolling stage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein the first-mentioned process parameter comprises the mill horsepower, and the selected combination of stage reductions is that giving the minimum horsepower required for the whole rolling process.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein the said other process parameters are selected from the group comprising: i. the roll load in a rolling stage; and ii. the roll horsepower in a rolling stage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
86 words
The method according to claim 1, including the steps of i. altering the stored data in accordance with data signals provided by the mill during any rolling stage; and ii. repeating the steps specified in claim 1 so as to set the roll gap and speed-controlling devices for the remaining rolling stages of the rolling process so as to take account of the disparities between the initially stored data conditions and the relevant actual rolling conditions represented by the said data signals provided by the mill.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
397 words
The method of setting up a rolling mill for rolling a material of known rolling characteristics in a series of successive rolling stages to reduce its thickness from a known initial value to a desired final value comprising the steps of: i. storing in a digital computer data specifying the characteristics of the mill for each stage, the material rolling characteristics, the initial thickness and the final thickness; ii. computing (in the computer) for a pair of successive stages including one of the terminal stages an input/output characteristic (limited within the operating constraints of the mill) of an equivalent single rolling stage relating, for the predetermined terminal material thickness at the terminal stage, optimum values of a rolling process parameter to the value of the material thickness at the nonterminal side of the said equivalent single rolling stage; iii. computing (in the computer) for a second pair of successive rolling stages including the said equivalent single rolling stage an input/output characteristic (limited within the operating constraints of the mill) of a second equivalent single rolling stage relating, for the said predetermined terminal material thickness, optimum values of the rolling process parameter to the value of the material thickness at the nonterminal side of the said second equivalent single rolling stage; iv. computing (in the computer) in turn for successive pairs of successive rolling stages each of which includes the equivalent single rolling stage deduced in the preceding step an input/output characteristic (limited within the operating constraints of the mill) of a next equivalent single rolling stage relating, for the said predetermined terminal material thickness, optimum values of the rolling process parameter to the value of the material thickness at the nonterminal side of the said next equivalent single rolling stage; v. selecting from data derived in producing an ultimate equivalent single rolling stage for the whole rolling process the values of the nonterminal thickness equal to the other of the two terminal material thicknesses of the rolling process; vi. computing (in the computer) from data representing the said input/output characteristics deduced and stored during the course of carrying out the earlier steps the values of the material thickness and speed in the respective stages of the rolling process; and vii. setting roll gap and speed-controlling devices in dependence upon the computed values of material thickness and speed determined in the preceding step, and the mill stretch characteristics.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
397 words
The method of setting up a rolling mill for rolling a material of known rolling characteristics in a series of successive rolling stages to reduce its thickness from a known initial value to a desired final value comprising the steps of: i. storing in a digital computer data specifying the characteristics of the mill for each stage, the material rolling characteristics, the initial thickness and the final thickness; ii. computing (in the computer) for a pair of successive stages including one of the terminal stages an input/output characteristic (limited within the operating constraints of the mill) of an equivalent single rolling stage relating, for the predetermined terminal material thickness at the terminal stage, optimum values of a rolling process parameter to the value of the material thickness at the nonterminal side of the said equivalent single rolling stage; iii. computing (in the computer) for a second pair of successive rolling stages including the said equivalent single rolling stage an input/output characteristic (limited within the operating constraints of the mill) of a second equivalent single rolling stage relating, for the said predetermined terminal material thickness, optimum values of the rolling process parameter to the value of the material thickness at the nonterminal side of the said second equivalent single rolling stage; iv. computing (in the computer) in turn for successive pairs of successive rolling stages each of which includes the equivalent single rolling stage deduced in the preceding step an input/output characteristic (limited within the operating constraints of the mill) of a next equivalent single rolling stage relating, for the said predetermined terminal material thickness, optimum values of the rolling process parameter to the value of the material thickness at the nonterminal side of the said next equivalent single rolling stage; v. selecting from data derived in producing an ultimate equivalent single rolling stage for the whole rolling process the values of the nonterminal thickness equal to the other of the two terminal material thicknesses of the rolling process; vi. computing (in the computer) from data representing the said input/output characteristics deduced and stored during the course of carrying out the earlier steps the values of the material thickness and speed in the respective stages of the rolling process; and vii. setting roll gap and speed-controlling devices in dependence upon the computed values of material thickness and speed determined in the preceding step, and the mill stretch characteristics.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
146 words
In combination: a rolling mill for carrying out a multistage rolling process on material supplied to it and including roll gap and speed setting means for setting the roll gap and speed for each stage of the process in accordance with command signals received; storage means for storing data signals specifying the characteristics of the mill for each stage, the material rolling characteristics, the initial thickness of the material at entry to the mill, and the desired final thickness at exit from the mill; and digital computing means for computing in accordance with the stored data signals and an expression specifying a rolling process parameter the combination of material thickness reductions at each stage to give an optimum value over the whole rolling process of the rolling process parameter, and for supplying the said command signals in accordance with the said combination of material thickness reductions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
146 words
In combination: a rolling mill for carrying out a multistage rolling process on material supplied to it and including roll gap and speed setting means for setting the roll gap and speed for each stage of the process in accordance with command signals received; storage means for storing data signals specifying the characteristics of the mill for each stage, the material rolling characteristics, the initial thickness of the material at entry to the mill, and the desired final thickness at exit from the mill; and digital computing means for computing in accordance with the stored data signals and an expression specifying a rolling process parameter the combination of material thickness reductions at each stage to give an optimum value over the whole rolling process of the rolling process parameter, and for supplying the said command signals in accordance with the said combination of material thickness reductions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, including process monitoring means for providing feedback data signals to the storage means whereby to alter the stored data in accordance with the actual rolling process conditions, and means for causing the digital computing means to compute a new combination of stage reductions which will provide an optimum value for the rolling process parameter for the stages of the process yet to be performed, and to provide appropriate new command signals for the stages yet to be performed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3332263A
Cited
US3328987A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-12 | 1975-01-11 | 1975-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-12 | 1979-01-11 | 1979-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-12 | 1983-01-11 | 1983-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |