Patent ID: 7665339
Filing Date: 2010-02-23
Classification: B21B

Abstract:
1. Method for increasing the range of production of an installation for cold rolling of a strip-shaped product having an ultimate tensile stress ranging from less than 160 MPa to at least 1000 MPa, said method comprising operating at least two rolling stands in tandem for gradually reducing the thickness of product, each stand being associated with means for applying a rolling force between two work rolls, allowing, for a given stand configuration, a certain percentage of thickness reduction to be achieved, taking into account the dimensional, mechanical and metallurgical properties of the product, whereby said properties are related to a given production range, equipping at least one of the stands with means for converting the configuration of the stand, hence convertible, while keeping the same means for applying the rolling force, in order to have at least three configurations each suited for one production range, including respectively a six-high arrangement comprising two work rolls two first intermediate rolls and two back-up rolls and an eight-high arrangement comprising two work rolls supported respectively, via a pair of second intermediate rolls, on the same first intermediate rolls and the same back-up rolls, and reversely and, for rolling a product, selecting the configuration of at least one of the stands of the rolling mill depending on the mechanical and metallurgical properties of the product.