METHOD AND RESPECTIVE HOT ROLLING-MILL PLANT FOR THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION OF BARS, RODS OR WIRE

Abstract: Method and respective hot rolling plant for the continuous production of bars, iron rods or wire, of the type in which the rolled section is cut longitudinally in which: the result is a thin flat bloom (A) with large flat (B) with a thickness close to that of the maximum section of the bar, iron rod or wire to be obtained and with a width equal to at least one multiple of said maximum section; said large flat (B) is further rolled by opposite annularly grooved rolls (23), to shape in contra-opposition the opposite buckled surfaces and recesses in order to bring the section of large flat to the shape of ovals or lozenges one connected to the other for a very thin rolling thickness between the section of one and the section of the other in correspondence of the minimum of said opposite recesses (C); said sections are longitudinally separated in correspondence of the respective thickness minimum, creating a bed of rod sections (D) in continuous advancement, in which each rod section makes up the bar or iron rod to be obtained (E); the rolling of the single rod sections (D) continues up to the obtainment of the shape of the finished products (E).

Description: DESCRIPΗON METHOD AND RESPECTIVE HOT ROLLING-MILL PLANT FOR THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION OF BARS. RODS OR WIRE Technical Field This invention has for object a method and respective hot rolling plant for the continuous production of bars, iron rod or wire. The innovation finds particular even if not exclusive application in the field of the production of bars, iron rods or wire by the hot- rolling of metals particularly steel. Background Art In prior art different production methods are known, among which the one mostly used relates to the rolling of billets from a continuous casting plant, to progressively thin them in the section, until reaching the diameter of the bar, iron rod or wire that must be obtained. In case of small rolled sections, it is clear that the processing is remarkably expensive both in terms of time, complexity and cost, so much so that in order to be productive the rolling speed was constantly and continuously increased, greatly exceeding 30 mt/sec. for straight bars and 100 mt/sec. for bars to be wound in a bobbin . The speed increase involves limits not easily surmountable, therefore when the maximum limit is almost reached, it is no longer possible to obtain appreciable increases if not at prohibitive costs of plant, production and maintenance. Attempts are proposed for parallel rolling, starting from continuous casting in billet. Parallel rolling has never been successful and notwithstanding the numerous projects and patents, in prior art, it has never found large application due to its complexity. The need for intervention on a single line, for example due to jamming, makes rolling on the other line practically impossible. At present "split" rolling is greatly used which consists in producing two iron rods from a previous shaping. It is also possible to make four iron rods with two successive splits, simultaneously on the same rolling stand, starting from the same billet. This rolling always starts from a billet coming from the heating furnace, not directly connected to the continuous casting, because the casting speed for billets of sizes conveniently productive (ex.160x160 mm) is very slow, about 3 m./sec. max., equal to an hourly production of 37 Ton./h. (theoretic), i.e. low. Such rolling speed (3 mt./min. - 0,05 mt/sec.) is not supported by the rolling stands and would cause cracks and failures to the rolls because of excessive heating of the latter. Additionally, starting from a 160x 160 mm billet , to obtain an iron rod with 8,5 mm of diameter, approximately 18 stands are necessary . To be productive, these plants must have an entrance speed of the billet in the first rolling stand, higher than the casting speed (about three times). Consequently the rolling stands must be fed by more than one continuous casting line (at least 2 or 3 lines). Another disadvantage is the increase in waste as a result of head and tail discard necessary for each wire produced. The aim of this invention is to avoid the above-mentioned drawbacks and also with a not too high rolling speed, and to allow to produce considerably greater quantities of rolled sections. This and other aims are reached as claimed by a method and respective hot rolling plant for the continuous production of bars, iron rods or wire, of the type in which the rolled section, coming from a continuous casting, is rolled and cut longitudinally to form bars, characterised in that: - it starts from a continuous casting for the production of thin s labs - said thin slabs are rolled by crushing flat rolls until same are large flat with a thickness close to that of the maximum section of the final bar section to be obtained, while the width of the large flat is equal to at least one multiple of said maximum section of the bar section to be obtained, more than two in number; - said large flat is further rolled by opposite annularly grooved cylinders, to shape in contra-position the opposite buckled surfaces and recesses in order to bring the section of the large flat to the shape of ovals or lozenges, one connected to the other for its entire width; - said ovals or lozenges are longitudinally separated, in correspondence to said respective minimum thicknesses, creating a bed of bar sections in continuous advancement, each one making up the next bar or iron rod to be obtained; - thereafter, the rolling of the single rod sections continue until obtaining the shape of the finished product. Advantageously, even after the longitudinal separation of the large flat, the whole group of rod sections will continue to be rolled by rolling stands with multiple rolling channels, in quantity as many as the rod sections in the rolling until the definitive section is reached. In the case that round sections are to be obtained, it will be possible to obtain at first an oval squashed section with Iongitudinal opposite cut burrs, then their 90° rotation and subsequent opposite rotation will be provided for bringing them to a definitive round section. In this way there is the advantage of also removing the burrs. At the bottom, the rod sections so obtained may be cut into bars, normalized, cooled, packed and tied as in common practice, or previous discarding, directly sent to respective winding machines (production of wire rod or wire). The longitudinal separation cutting of the shaped large flat, will be carried out by any means of the known techniques. Advantageously said longitudinal cutting will be carried out by means of opposite rolls with staggered grooves, or by fixed separating cutters also opposite, not excluding the disk rotating ones . The support of shares, also rotating (disks) or separating blades, in said separation could be useful. As an alternative to the continuity of the line connected to the casting, or for the shortening of the same line, some winders/unwinders of large flat can be provided. In this way there is the immediate advantage of: - direct and advantageously productive connection, of the rolling mill to the continuous casting, because the casting speed of the thin flat bloom is compatible with the speed of the first rolling stand; - increase in the production with an advancement speed not necessarily high ; - simplification of the plant and reduction of the spaces occupied with obvious reduction also in the infrastructure costs and invested capital; - reduction of the energy utilized and of energy wastes; - reduction of the maintenance costs due to the simplification of the plant; - reduction of the use of cooling means; - reduction in personnel also equal to production; - higher control assurance. These and other advantages will appear from the following description of preferred solutions with the aid of the enclosed drawings, whose details are not to be considered as limitative but only given as an example. Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of the transformation process of the roiled section during its rolling, where the final indicative section is shown as round, but it could obviously be square, rectangular, or of any other desired shape. Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of an example of a continuous cycle rolling plant starting from the continuous casting to obtain a bar packed and tied in bundles or optionally in a bobbin. Fig. 3 shows a schematic plan view of the plant shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents a schematic front view of a couple of rolls used for the rolling comprising a plurality of opposite grooves for the formation of the preparatory ovals, which subsequently separated will become rod sections, iron rods, or small iron rods. Fig. 5 represents an alternative way of separating said ovals one from the other, for the formation of said rod sections, iron rods or small iron rods. Fig. 6 schematically represents a single-spindle winding group with a plurality of bobbins in winding. Referring to the figures it can be noticed that: 1 indicates the continuous casting plant. 10 indicates the continuous casting line to obtain a continuous thin flat bloom (approximately 50x800 mm.) ref. A. 1 1 indicates an induction furnace to bring the continuous flat bloom again at the suitable rolling or equalizing temperature; 12 indicates a descaling machine to eliminate the scales from the flat bloom in continuous advancement (speed of about 0, 1 meters/sec); 2 indicates the series of rolling stands with opposite rolls in a suitable and proper number, which will progressively provide for: - the first rolling stand (21 ) with vertical rolls, has the function of face rolling the flat bloom, to ensure a constant width; - all stands (22) have squashing flat rolls, and have the function of pressing down the flat bloom, from the casting thickness up to a thickness close to the final product. - the stands (23) by means of rolling with opposite annularly recessed rolls, form the shaping of the large flat in preparatory ovals or adjacent longitudinal lozenges one attached to the other as claimed (C). 24 indicates the means for separating said ovals to form said rough rod sections (D), in this particular case with co-penetrating opposite cutting disks (24 Fig.5). 25 indicates possible means for the rotation of rough sections (D) of at least 90°. 26 indicates a finishing rolling stand in order to give the definitive shape to said ovals or lozenges to obtain said rod sections (bars, iron rods etc. as desired (E). These transformation phases are indicated as examples in Fig. 1 in relation to Fig. 3 with references to A,B,C,D,E. (A) indicates the thin flat bloom; (B) indicates the large flat; (C) indicates the shaped flat, (D) indicates the separated ovals or lozenges; (E) indicates the finished rod sections (bars or iron rods etc.). At the bottom of the rolling as explained above, there may be a continuous winding line with a corresponding plurality of bobbins, one for each wire, as a multi-wire winding machine (8, 8 1 -82). The discarding will be ensured by a flying shear (3) with a couple of rotating cutters for the opposite cutting of the wire groups. Equally advantageously may be installed at the bottom, in alternative, a bars forming line, by using: a flying shear (3), a system for transferring the bars transversally (4) for depositing them on an underlying cooling bed (plate 5), from where they will be, as in the known art, sent to the packing (bundles forming machine 51 ), tying (6) and storing (61 ). This group is also indicated by EBD in Fig. 3. Obviously the details may vary in many forms of embodiments, though remaining within the field of invention which consists in operating on a single large flat, by shaping it into preparatory ovals and cutting it in longitudinal bands as rod sections which, always rolled in the parallel group will reach the desired final section before the discarding and eventual cropping in length of the bar, or sent, directly in continuous, to the winding. Advantageously at the end of the last rolling phase, it is possible to continue in a thermic treatment continuous tunnel (7). The longitudinal cutting or separation to obtain the separate rod sections can also be obtained by using shaping-separating rolls (Fig. 4) by using edges for severing the respective grooves, very sharp, in such a way that only one engraving or movement or bending to sever the single sections from one another will be necessary; or with co-penetrating disks (Fig. 5). The advancement speed parameters will be considerably lower with respect to the rolling speeds of a single bar. For example, the casting advances with a large and thin flat bloom (50x800 mm.) at a speed of 0,1 m/sec. For example, at the final rolling stand may be obtained for iron rods with an 8,5 mm diameter: 54 iron rods with an advancement speed of 1 ,25 m/sec, with a productivity of about 1 10 Tons/hour. This means that the series of iron rods (or square ones, etc.) thus produced, may be cut to obtain bars having commercial measurement (6- 12 mt), directly from the flying shear (3) coming out from the last stand. As mentioned, the layer of bars having the finished measurement could be unloaded directly on the cooling plate (4-5). It will also be possible to provide a forced cooling before the cutting (3), or also afterwards. When coming out from the cooling bed (plaque 5), bundles or packs of straight bars will be formed, which after fastening (6), will be sent to the storage benches (61). For the wire-rod production, as previously mentioned, the layer of bars coming out from the last finishing stand, after discarding (3), will be sent directly to the winding machines (8, 81 -82) which will wind simultaneously all the iron rods in a continuous wire. This means that in case of iron rods of a 8,5 mm diameter as above mentioned, there will be 54 winding bobbins (8) which instead of staying on two winding machines (81 -82), could all stay on a single winding machine with a single spindle, that is one close to the other and separated by suitable annular separators. The bobbins will then be transferred with known technique by bobbin conveyers 5. If the weight of the casting were, for example of 50 tons, 54 bobbins each weighing 925 Kg. will be formed, each being on the same winding machine. Otherwise one half of the layer could be sent to one winding group and the other half on the other, each group having 27 bobbins (81 -82). With reference to Figure 6 it can be clearly seen that the horizontal spindle can wind a multiple number of wires in order to form a number of bobbins one close to the other which will be equal to the number of wires (E). The possible rotation of the rod sections (D) before the final shape rolling (E) will be properly carried out simultaneously by suitable rotatory means of known technique. The shaping rolls of the flat (23) can be in a multiple number to obtain a progressive deformation of the large flat in the deformation area "C". Advantageously at the end of said continuous casting ( 1 ) and at the beginning of the rolling by said flat rolls (22) and/or in the rolling by said flat rolls (22), is installed at least one winding/unwinding system for winding and unwinding the large flat during the rolling for reducing its thickness in small spaces or also for the parking (not shown because it belongs to the known art) .

Claims: Claims 1 Hot-rolling method for the continuous production of bars, iron rods or wire, of the type in which the rolled section, coming from a continuous casting, is longitudinally rolled and cut to form bars, characterized in that - it starts from a continuous casting for the production of thin flat blooms ( 1 -A), - flat pressing rolls (22) roll said thin flat bloom (A) until it is a large flat with a thickness (B) close to that of the largest section of the final rod section to be obtained (E), while the width of the large flat (B) will be equal to at least a multiple of said largest section of the rod section to be obtained (E) more than two in number, - said large flat (B) is further rolled by opposite annularly grooved rolls (23-24), to shape in contra-position the opposite buckled surfaces and recesses in order to bring the section the large flat to have the shape of ovals or lozenges, one attached to the other (C), - said ovals or lozenges must be longitudinally separated, in correspondence to said respective minimum of thickness, creating a bed of rod sections (D) in continuous advancement, each of them making up the bar or iron rod or wire to be obtained (E), - possibly, the rolling of the single rod sections (D) continues until the shape of the finished product is obtained (E) 2 A method, according to claim 1 , characterized in that said minimum thicknesses between said ovals or lozenges are brought to the allowable rolling minimum with a tendency to the cut n i cki ng 3 A method according to claim 1 , characterized in that after the separation of said rod sections (D) and before the final or finishing rolling (E), they are simultaneously rotated by 90°. 4. A method according to the previous claims, characterized in that, at the beginning of the rolling by said flat rolls (22) and at the end of said continuous casting ( 1 ), on a continuous line with no interruptions the following operations are carried out : - the thin flat bloom (A) is brought again to the rolling temperature ( 1 1 ); - said thin flat bloom (A) is subjected to continuous descaling; - face roiling by vertical stand (21) is provided for to bring it to a constant and exact width. 5. A method according to claims 1 to 3; characterized in that, at the end of said continuous casting ( 1) and at the beginning of the rolling by said flat rolls (22) and/or in the rolling area with said flat rolls (22), is installed at least one winding/unwinding system for winding and unwinding the large flat during the rolling for reducing its thickness. 6. A method according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that at the end of the last phase or finishing stand (26), according to claim 1 , the process continues with the discarding by flying shear (3) and the wire winding (8). 7. A method according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that at the end of the last phase according to claim 1 , the process continues with the discarding and cutting at a commercial length by a flying shear (3), unloading of the bars (4) on a cooling bed (5) and advancement for the packing, and fastening (6). 8. A method according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that at the end of the last phase according to claim 1 , the process continues with a treatment in a continuous tunnel for thermic treatment (7). 9. A method according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that at the end of the last phase according to claim 1 , the process continues with a forced cooling treatment. 10. A method according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that at the end of the last phase according to claim 1 , the process continues with discarding by flying shear (3) and wire winding by means of separate bobbins on the same spindle (8) . 1 1. Hot-rolling plant for the continuous rolling of bars, iron rods or wire, of the type in which the rolled section is cut longitudinally, according to the method of any of the previous claims, characterized in that, it has on line at least one stand of rolls for the plane rolling, in which said rolls are equipped with a plurality of opposite annular grooves (C-23). 12. A plant according to claim 10, characterized in that at the end of said rolls with a plurality of opposite annular grooves (C-23), it comprises means for the longitudinal separation of the rolled section (24) into a plurality of bands for the forming of said rod sections (D-E). 13. A plant according to the previous claim, characterized in that, said means for the longitudinal separation of the rolled section (24), consist of a series of co-penetrating or at least coinciding rotating disks. 14. A plant according to the previous claim, characterized in that, said means for the longitudinal separation of the rolled section, consist of a couple of longitudinal rolls with opposite grooves having coinciding separating sharp edges (23). 15. A plant according to any or more combinations of claims from 1 1 , characterized in that, at the top of said grooved rolls there is at least one rolling stand with vertical rolls (21 ), having the function of face rolling the flat bloom, for ensuring a constant width. 16. A plant according to any or more combinations of claims from 1 1 , characterized in that, at the top of said grooved rolls there is at least one stand of rolls for a flat plane rolling (22). 17. A plant according to any or more combinations of claims from 1 1 , characterized in that, at the top of the rolling stands (21-22) there is at least one descaling machine (12). 18. A plant according to any or more combinations of claims from 1 1 , characterized in that, at the top of the rolling stands (21-22) there is at least one equalizing furnace (1 1 ). 19. A plant according to any or more combinations of claims from 1 1 , characterized in that, at the top of the rolling stands (21 -22) there is at least one continuous casting plant ( 1 ) directly connected to the rolling mill. 20. A plant according to any or more combinations of claims from 1 1 , characterized in that, at the end of said means for the Iongitudinal cutting or separation of the rolled section (24), there is at least one stand of rolls for multiple rolling, in which said rolls are equipped with a plurality of opposite annular grooves (26). 21. A plant according to any or more combinations of claims from 1 1 , characterized in that, at the end of said means for the longitudinal cutting or separation of the rolled section (24), there is at least one device for the rotation of the separated rolled sections in advancement (25) for a value of 90°. 22. A plant according to any or more combinations of claims from 1 1 , characterized in that, at the end of said respective rolling means (26) there is a cutting shear (3) 23. A plant according to any or more combinations of claims from claim 1 1 , characterized in that, at the end of the respective rolling means (26) there is a cutting shear with rotating opposite rotating cutters for the group of rolled sections on the bed for advancement in plane (3). 24. A plant according to any or more combinations of claims from claim 1 1 , characterized in that at the end of said cutting shear (39 there is a thermic treatment tunnel. 25. A plant according to any or more combinations of claims from claim 1 1 , characterized in that at the end of said cutting shear there is at least one winding machine (8). 26. A plant according to any or more combinations of claims from claim 1 1 , characterized in that at the end of said cutting shear (3) there is at least one multi-wire winding machine (8). 27. A plant according to any or more combinations of claims from claim 1 1, characterized in that it has at least one winding machine (8) with a single winding spindle which involves an axial plurality of winding locations. 28. A plant according to any or more combinations of claims from claim 1 1 , characterized in that at the end of said cutting shear (3) there is at least one movable guide groove (4) for making the cut bars fall on an underlying cooling bed (5). 29. A plant according to any or more combinations of claims from claim 1 1 , characterized in that at the end of said cutting shear (3) there are means for the conveying to the packing and fastening in bundles of the bars (6). 30 A plant according to any or more combinations of claims from claim 1 1, characterized in that said rolls for pressing down the flat (22) are in a multiple number to obtain a progressive pressing down of the large flat (C) 31 A plant according to any or more combinations of claims from claim 1 1 , characterized in that it comprises at the beginning a feeding continuous casting ( 1 ) which produces thin flat blooms (A) substantially having a thickness lower than 80 mm preferably about 50 mm 32 A plant according to any of previous claims from claim 1 1 , characterized in that it comprises at the end of the respective continuous casting plant (1 ) and before said shape rolling (23), at least one group for the winding/unwinding of the flat bloom or large flat

Inventors: DORIGO ALESSANDRO, DORIGO, ALESSANDRO
Applicants: DORIGO ALESSANDRO, SIMAC SPA, DORIGO, ALESSANDRO, S.I.M.A.C. S.P.A.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B21B1
IPC codes: B21B1, B21B15, B22D11