JP4025361B2 - Expandable retractable coiler mandrel - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an expandable and contractible winder (1), in particular for winding a metal strip. Said pin comprises: a rotatably mounted winder shaft (2), whose outer periphery comprises at least one wedge surface (3); a number of co-operating segments (4), whose outer periphery comprises a winding surface (5), in particular for the metal strip and whose end region (6) that faces away from the winding surface (5) has at least one counter wedge surface (7) that co-operates with the wedge surface (3) of the winder shaft (2); elements (8) for displacing the segments (4) in relation to the winder shaft (2) in the axial direction (A) of the latter; and a conduit system (9), which is used to conduct a lubricant, in particular a lubricating grease, to various points (10) on the winder (1) that require lubrication. To improve the lubrication of the winder, the conduit system (9) is connected to a lubricant pump (11), the latter (11) having an actuating element (12) for carrying out the pump operation. The lubricant pump (11) is connected to the elements (8) for displacing the segments (4) or to the winder (2) and the actuating element (12) is connected to the other element (2, 8) in such a way that the pumping operation is carried out when the elements (8) for displacing the segments (4) are actuated.

Description

The present invention relates to a rotatably supported coiler mandrel shaft having at least one wedge surface on the outer periphery and a coil strip winding surface particularly on the outer periphery, and the coiler mandrel shaft in a region located radially inward. A number of cooperating segments having at least one opposing wedge surface cooperating with the wedge surface of the coil, means for moving the segment axially relative to the coiler mandrel axis, and lubricant, particularly lubricating grease, within the coiler mandrel And an expandable retractable coiler mandrel that wraps a metal strip with a conduit system that requires lubrication.

  This type of coiler mandrel is required, for example, in the production of steel strips. In the coiler mandrel, the strip is rolled up or unrolled, for example, to perform another manufacturing process on the strip. The mandrel can expand and contract because the strip is rolled up or unrolled without slipping over the mandrel. That is, the mandrel winding surface provided for winding the strip can be changed in diameter. Also, because the coiler mandrel is expanded, for example, hydraulically during the winding process, a power transmission coupling occurs between the mandrel and the metal strip.

  In this case, for the stable and reproducible operation of the coiler mandrel, it is necessary that the coiler mandrel is sufficiently supplied with lubricant, in particular lubricating grease. The operating characteristics with respect to time remain the same. In addition, wear is prevented.

Various solutions are known for lubricating the coiler mandrel:
On the one hand, lubrication is performed manually over the lubrication gap, which is performed at predetermined time intervals. The charged grease must be in time for the next lubrication. Although unacceptable grease spills result in over-lubrication, it is considered particularly problematic because grease losses often occur in the coiler mandrel by fluid action.

  At least on the drive side, another lubrication possibility of the coiler mandrel with the free shaft end is lubrication by a rotary distributor rotating from a stationary grease pump. The grease is thereby guided to the coiler mandrel. In this case, a permanent supply with grease is contemplated in the range of central lubrication, which can be particularly contemplated in the case of a thermal coiler.

  In special steel coiler mandrels, a grease connection is often formed by a media joint that can be automatically inserted at the end of the operating shaft via a mandrel support bearing in a stopped state, thereby providing lubrication. For operation of the coiler mandrel, the grease connection is removed.

  Although permanent acting lubricant distributors are also known, the distributors often fail to apply the necessary grease pressure to ensure a good supply of all lubrication points.

  From EP-A-722791 (Patent Document 1), an expandable coiler mandrel lubrication device is known in which all lubrication points on the mandrel shaft can be refueled in the center. In this case, here, a cartridge is inserted into the central hole of the mandrel shaft and connected to the lubrication point to be supplied. Furthermore, this connection part is provided in the central grease distribution part, and this hole supplies grease into the cartridge.

  From German Offenlegungsschrift 20325542 (Patent Document 2), the supply of the coiler mandrel to the lubrication point is also conceived by means of a grease conduit system integrated in the mandrel, in which case this system comprises a pressure medium. Connected to source supply conduit. At this time, the lubricant is supplied to the coiler mandrel through such a conduit and a distribution member.

  Similar solutions are known from US Pat. No. 2,579,953 (Patent Document 3) and US Pat. No. 4,213,577 (Patent Document 4).

  The known solutions have the disadvantage that often too much or too little lubrication is supplied to the coiler mandrel, in particular at the point to be lubricated. In this case, deficient lubrication is a major drawback as is excess lubrication. With this deficient lubrication, the surfaces that slide on each other in the coiler mandrel can be polished down. Over-lubrication not only results in higher costs than necessary, but can also lead to environmental pollution that must be costly removed.

  The problem is further exacerbated by causing lubricant passage centrifuges where lubrication is required due to the flow forces in the coiler mandrel.

In other solutions, handling operations are very disadvantageous when the media system must be connected to the coiler mandrel at predetermined time intervals in order to supply lubricating grease.
European Patent No. 722791 German Patent Application No. 2032542 US Pat. No. 2,579,953 US Pat. No. 4,213,577

  The object of the present invention is to form a coiler mandrel of the kind described so that the drawbacks are avoided. Thereby, an improved lubrication of the mandrels with excellent economic and ecological advantages should be achieved.

The solution to this problem according to the invention is that the conduit system is connected to a lubricant pump, the lubricant pump having an operating element for performing the pumping action , the means for the lubricant pump to move the segment Alternatively, it is connected to the coiler mandrel shaft and the operating element is connected to cause one of the elements to perform a pumping action when operating the means for moving the segment.

  This inventive idea is further activated only in the axial movement movement in which the lubricant pump expands or contracts the coiler mandrel, and lubrication is carried out at places where lubrication is required. In this case, since the operation of the lubricant pump is derived from a moving motion in the coiler mandrel, no external control, motion or supply is needed for lubrication.

  The first embodiment contemplates that the lubricant pump is connected to the lubricant storage container. This storage container is later filled or replaced at relatively large time intervals as needed. Further, the lubricant pump is disposed inside the lubricant storage container. Furthermore, it is advantageous when the lubricant storage container is arranged in the axial end region of the coiler mandrel.

For supplying lubricant any lubrication points arranged on the mandrel in width ensures lubricant pump, lubricant pump can be particularly convey lubricating pressure of at least 150 bar.

  The operating element can be formed as a pin aligned in the axial direction of the coiler mandrel.

  The means for moving the segment with respect to the coiler mandrel shaft comprises a tension rod disposed in the central hole of the coiler mandrel shaft and a pressure table connected to the tension rod. In this case, the pin-like operating element is passed through at least the axial end region of the pressure table and contacts the axial end of the coiler mandrel shaft. In this case, the lubricant pump is arranged in the lubricant storage container and is firmly fixed to the pressure table; the operating element of the lubricant pump is passed through the axially aligned hole in the pressure plate and the coiler Abuts against the axial end of the mandrel shaft. During axial movement between the coiler mandrel shaft and the pressure table, the lubricant pump is activated.

  In another embodiment, the conduit system between the lubricant pump and the point to be lubricated is provided with at least one lubricant distributor to branch the lubricant to different points to be lubricated in different conduit paths. Contemplate. In particular, the first lubricant distributor branches the lubricant from the lubricant pump into each segment, where a second lubricant distributor is arranged in each segment, and the lubricant is disposed on the wedge surface and the reverse wedge. Guide to each contact point on the surface.

The fact that the lubricant pump including the operating element and the lubricant storage container are arranged on the coiler mandrel as a unit that can be reinforced ( i.e. can be additionally installed) has particular advantages. It is thereby possible to convert an existing coiler mandrel system into the solution proposed by the present invention.

  The proposal of the present invention is very simple, so it is possible to reliably lubricate a large number of lubrication points, for example 20 or more, with a relatively large grease conduit length, without the need for high equipment costs in a valuable form. It is possible to supply. This necessary grease pressure can be transmitted without problems in order to reliably overcome the relatively wide conduit distance.

  In the case of the proposal according to the invention, lubrication transport is always carried out when the coiler mandrel is actually used. Even if the coiler mandrel is not expanded or contracted, no lubrication is performed because this lubrication is not necessary in this operating state. Only when expansion or contraction occurs is the lubrication system activated. This provides permanent lubrication when necessary, i.e., during each mandrel operation. Thereby a minimum amount of lubrication is possible over a long period of time. The coiler mandrel automatically supplies grease according to the mandrel movement frequency. Therefore, the sliding surface of the mandrel movable member always has a sufficient lubricant supply, thereby ensuring a substantially constant friction value, which is particularly preferred in operation. That is, the resistance to movement never changes during the operating time during expansion or contraction of the mandrel.

  Since the contemplated grease storage container provides a self-sufficient lubrication point, it is unnecessary to connect the coiler mandrel to the external media supply system. This significantly reduces operating costs. In addition, the connection to other necessary energy supply (flow) sources is omitted. At large time intervals, the grease storage container is filled or replaced later.

  Since lubrication is performed only when the mandrel moves, monitoring is not required, for example, by a monitoring device.

  Overall, the cost of operating the coiler mandrel is avoided, and monitoring means such as pressure monitoring or end switch position when connecting the supply system are redundant. Automation of lubrication is possible in a simple form.

  The drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention.

  The figure shows a coiler mandrel 1 that can expand or contract, the expansion or contraction of which relates to the winding surface. The coiler mandrel 1 has a coiler mandrel shaft 2 having a large number of wedge surfaces 3 in the axial direction. This coiler mandrel shaft 2 is surrounded by four segments 4 in the exemplary embodiment (see in particular FIG. 3), each of which forms approximately a quarter of a circular ring. On the radially outer surface, the segments 4 each have one winding surface 5 that is used to wind up the metal strip. The end region 6 of each segment 4 facing away from this winding surface 5 has a reverse wedge surface 7 which coincides with the wedge surface 3 from the wedge angle.

  As can be taken immediately in FIGS. 1 and 2, this means that during this axial movement of the segment 4 relative to the coiler mandrel shaft 2 in the axial direction A, the expansion of the segment 4, ie the outward movement, or the segment 4 contraction is performed.

  This axial movement of the segment 4 relative to the coiler mandrel shaft 2 is performed by means 8 having a tension rod 15 arranged in the central hole 14 of the coiler mandrel shaft 2. The tension rod 15 includes a pressure table 16 at an axial end. In the case of movement of the tension rod 15 in the axial direction A within the central hole 14, the pressure table 16 moves in unison. The pressure table has an operating member 19 that extends radially outward, and the operating member engages in a cavity 20 in the segment 4. As a result, the segment 4 is moved in the axial direction A by the movement value of the tension rod 15.

  The wedge surfaces 3 and 7 mean points 10 where contact grease must be supplied with lubricating grease during expansion or contraction for good operation of the coiler mandrel 1. The lubrication point 10 is therefore supplied with lubricating grease by the conduit system 9 when the coiler mandrel 1 is expanded or contracted.

  For this purpose, a lubricant pump 11 is used which is arranged in a lubricant storage container 13 which is screwed into the axial end region of the coiler mandrel 1. In this case, the pump 11 and the container 13 are arranged so that they are firmly connected to the pressure table 16.

  The pressure table 16 has a hole 21 in which the operating element 12 for the lubricant pump 11 is arranged. In this case, the hole axis is directed in the axial direction A. Further, the operation element 12 formed in a pin shape comes into contact with the axial end of the coiler mandrel shaft 2 by its axial end.

  In the relative axial movement between the coiler mandrel shaft 2 and the segment 4 including the lubricant pump 11 with the pressure table 16 and the lubricant storage container 13, this means that the operating element 12 abutting against the coiler mandrel shaft 2 This means that this grease is sent from the container 13 to the conduit system 9 as it is moved and thus the pump 11 is activated. Since this transportation is performed exclusively when the members 2 and 4, 16, 11 are moved relative to each other, the lubricating portion 10 is supplied with lubricating grease only at this time. Therefore, an accurate and correct amount of grease is supplied to the lubrication point 10. Neither deficient lubrication nor excessive lubrication occurs. The transportation output of the lubricant pump 11 can be appropriately selected.

  First of all, the lubricating grease present in the lubricant storage container 13 is sucked by the pump 11 through the suction pipe 22 during the pumping process, and is supplied to the pipe 24 via the pipe 23 and to the pipe 24 via this pipe. It is transported to the lubricant distributor 17. This first lubricant distributor 17 divides the grease capacity into four paths and guides it as a whole to four second lubricant distributors 18; each second lubricant distributor 18 is attached to the segment 4. ing. Lubricating grease from each second lubricant distributor 18 reaches a distribution hole 25, where each segment 4 has such a distribution hole. As best seen in FIG. 1, the distribution holes 25 to the feed holes 26 diverge at individual points 10 to be lubricated.

  Suitably, the lubricating grease can be guided through the conduit 27 in the coiler mandrel shaft 2 to the feed hole 28 of the lubrication point 10.

  Based on the configuration of the lubrication system, the coiler mandrel 1 lubricates automatically and depending on the frequency of movement of the mandrel for expansion or contraction. There is no need for an external connection by an external media joint with a rotary distributor or possibly an electrical position monitoring part by an end switch. The high grease pressure required for the large conduit length and the four lubrication points is generated arbitrarily high and can be determined by the design or selection of the pump 11.

  The supply by the minimum amount of lubricant at the lubrication point can be performed by a self-sufficiency without an external supply means. The grease type is professionally selected based on the requirements of each coiler mandrel.

It is an advantage that the lubricant storage container 13 including the pump 11 can be reinforced to the existing system, i.e. it can be additionally installed . This provides a reasonable possibility of cost of minimum amount lubrication of the movable member. The friction and the internal resistance of the coiler mandrel 1 due to the constant grease film at the lubrication point 10 are kept constant. Changes due to deficient lubrication and the risk of automatic blocking of the mandrels are thereby avoided. A straight coiler mandrel requires an approximately constant friction value whose segments support the strip weight and load from the strip press in an adjustable manner across the wedge surface and can be ensured during movement only by permanent lubrication.

The expandable coiler mandrel is shown in cross-section in a side view. FIG. 2 shows an enlarged end region in the right axis direction of the coiler mandrel according to FIG. A front view of the coiler mandrel (seen in the axial direction A) is shown.

Explanation of symbols

1. . . . Coiler mandrel . . . 2. Coiler mandrel shaft . . . 3. Wedge surface . . . Segment 5. . . . 5. Winding surface . . . End region 7. . . . Reverse wedge surface 8. . . . 8. Means for moving the segment . . . 9. Conduit system for lubricant . . 10. Lubrication location . . Lubricant pump 12. . . Operation element 13. . . Lubricant storage container 14. . . Central hole 15. . . Tension rod 16. . . Pressure table 17. . . First lubricant distributor 18. . . Second lubricant distributor 19. . . Operation member 20. . . Void 21. . . Hole 22. . . Suction pipe 23. . . Conduit 24. . . Conduit 25. . . Distribution hole 26. . . Feed hole 27. . . Conduit 28. . . Feed hole A. . . . Axis (line) direction

Claims (11)

A rotatably supported coiler mandrel shaft (2) having at least one wedge surface (3) on the outer circumference;
At least one opposite wedge cooperating with the wedge surface (3) of the coiler mandrel shaft (2) in the area (6) radially inward with a winding surface (5) for the metal strip in particular on the outer periphery A number of cooperating segments (4) having a face (7);
Means (8) for moving the segment (4) in the axial direction (A) relative to the coiler mandrel axis (2);
In an expandable retractable coiler mandrel (1) in which a lubricant, in particular lubricating grease, is guided to a point (10) in the coiler mandrel (1) and a metal strip with a conduit system (9) in need of lubrication is wound. The conduit system (9) is connected to the lubricant pump (11), the lubricant pump (11) having an operating element (12) for performing the pumping action , the lubricant pump (11) Is connected to the means (8) for moving the segment (4) or to the coiler mandrel shaft (2) and the operating element (12) performs the pumping action during the operation of the means (8) for moving the segment (4) A coiler mandrel characterized in that it is connected to one of the two elements (2, 8) .   The coiler mandrel according to claim 1, characterized in that the lubricant pump (11) is connected to a lubricant storage container (13). Lubricant pump (11) is coiler mandrel according to claim 1, characterized in that it is arranged within the lubricant reservoir (13).   The coiler mandrel according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the lubricant storage container (13) is arranged in the axial end region of the coiler mandrel (1). 5. Coiler mandrel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lubricant pump (11) is capable of transmitting a lubricating pressure of at least 150 bar.   Coiler mandrel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating element (12) is formed as a pin aligned in the axial direction (A).   The means (8) for moving the segment (4) relative to the coiler mandrel shaft (2) includes a tension rod (15) disposed in the central hole (14) of the coiler mandrel shaft (2) and a pressure table coupled to the tension rod. The coiler mandrel according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising (16). The coiler mandrel according to claim 7 , characterized in that the pin-like operating element (12) penetrates at least the axial end region of the pressure table (16) and abuts against the axial end of the coiler mandrel shaft (2).   In the conduit system (9) between the lubricant pump (11) and the point to be lubricated (10), at least one lubricant distributor (17, 18) is arranged, which distributes the lubricant. Coiler mandrel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it branches off at different points (10) to be lubricated into different conduits.   The first lubricant distributor (17) branches the lubricant from the lubricant pump (11) to each segment (4), and one second distributor (18) is arranged in each segment (4). The coiler mandrel according to claim 9, characterized in that the distributor guides the lubricant to the respective contact points (10) of the wedge surface (3) and the reverse wedge surface (7). 11. The lubricant pump (11) including the operating element (12) and the lubricant storage container (13) are arranged as one unit on the coiler mandrel (1). The coiler mandrel according to item.

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