(19)
(11) EP 0 998 992 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
13.11.2002 Bulletin 2002/46

(43) Date of publication A2:
10.05.2000 Bulletin 2000/19

(21) Application number: 99202359.8

(22) Date of filing: 19.07.1999
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7B21B 37/62
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 25.09.1998 GB 9820787

(71) Applicant: VAI Industries (UK) Limited
Sheffield S9 4EX (GB)

(72) Inventors:
  • Glasby, Ian
    Hood Green, Barnsley S75 3EY (GB)
  • Grocock, Peter
    Walkeringham, Nr. Doncaster DN10 4LF (GB)

(74) Representative: Harman, Michael Godfrey 
Hillgate Patent Services, No. 6 Aztec Row, Berners Road
Islington, London N1 0PW
Islington, London N1 0PW (GB)

   


(54) Roll position control in cluster mills


(57) A dynamic position control means for a cluster mill which has a two-part pre-stressed housing in which the two parts are joined by hydraulic cylinders and associated columns. It comprises an actuating means located between the housings of the mill, so as to vary the relative separation or the relative orientation or both of the two halves of the housing during rolling. The actuating means includes at least one hydraulic lifting ram disposed substantially between the two halves of the housing, and ideally four hydraulic lifting rams each ram disposed at the corner position of a rectangular housing. The hydraulic lifting rams are of the doughnut type, encompassing each of the hydraulic cylinder's columns. The dynamic position control means includes position monitoring means, in particular, four position transducers mounted between the four respective corners of the housings. Control means then adjust the actuating means in response to the position monitoring means or other measured data.







Search report