Patent Publication Number: US-7582046-B2

Title: Roll as well as a spacer ring therefor

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a combi roll that comprises a roll shaft having a rotationally symmetrical basic shape that is defined by a central axis, as well as a number of rings mounted on the roll shaft, each one of which has two planar end surfaces extending between outer and inner, circular limiting edges, and serving as friction contact surfaces for the transmission of torque to adjacent rings. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Frequently, combi rolls include two or more roll rings, which are kept separated by intermediate spacer rings, the entire set of rings being kept fixed on the shaft by way of, on one hand, a fixed stop ring, e.g., a shoulder of the roll shaft, and, on the other hand, a lock nut that via an internal thread may be tightened on a male thread of the shaft. Furthermore, between the lock nut and the set of roll rings, spring devices as well as additional spacer rings may be present. 
   In many cases, the roll rings are manufactured from cemented carbide, while the intermediate spacer rings are manufactured from a softer or more ductile material, preferably steel or cast iron. Considerable torque should be transmitted to the roll rings from the roll shaft. When the roll rings are made of solely cemented carbide, this usually takes place by an axial (cylindrical) train of forces from the lock nut to the fixed stop ring via the contact surfaces between the individual rings. More precisely, the torque is transmitted from the individual ring to an adjacent ring by a friction action in the interfaces, where an end surface of a ring is pressed against a co-operating end surface of the adjacent ring. In order to fulfil this task throughout the train of forces, the individual friction joints between the rings have to be powerful, i.e., be able to transfer torque without the rings slipping in relation to each other. 
   In previously known combi rolls (see, for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,788 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,685,611) the roll rings as well as the spacer rings are formed with end surfaces extending radially all the way from the inside to the outside, i.e., from the envelope surface of the roll shaft to the external cylinder surface of the individual ring. However, this fact has turned out to be detrimental for the ability of the friction joints to transmit a large torque between the rings. Thus, the described design results in the transmission of force in a zone situated about halfway between the inside and the outside of the spacer ring, i.e., as close to the envelope surface and the center axis of the roll shaft, respectively, as possible. Furthermore, the surface pressure in the interfaces between the contact surfaces becomes relatively low because the contact surfaces are comparatively large. For these reasons, it may happen that the rings slip in relation to each other, something which in turn may lead to production interruptions and in the worst case, roll breakdowns. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present invention aims at obviating the above-mentioned shortcomings of previously known combi rolls and at providing an improved roll. Therefore, a primary object of the invention is to provide a combi roll in which large torques may be transferred between adjacent rings via friction joints, which in a reliable way counteract slipping between the rings. In other words, the invention aims at providing powerful and efficient friction joints between the rings in the roll. It is also an object to provide the improved friction joints by simple elements and in a manner that even can be material-saving. 
   According to a first aspect, a roll comprises a roll shaft having a rotationally symmetrical basic shape that is defined by a center axis. A plurality of rings are mounted on the roll shaft, each one of the rings having two planar end surfaces extending between outer and inner, circular limiting edges, and serving as friction contact surfaces for the transmission of torque to adjacent rings. At least one of the end surfaces of one of the rings is limited by an inner edge, a diameter of the one of the rings being greater than an outer diameter of the roll shaft. 
   According to a second aspect, a spacer ring for rolls comprises external and internal, rotationally symmetrical limiting surfaces and two planar end surfaces axially spaced-apart and facing away from each other, that extend between outer and inner, circular limiting edgelines, and serve as force transmitting friction contact surfaces against other rings included in a roll. The individual, force transmitting end surface is limited by an inner edgeline, a diameter of the end surface being greater than an inner diameter of the ring, such as this is determined by the internal limiting surface. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a partly cut longitudinal view through a combi roll according to the invention, 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged cross section of a spacer ring included in the roll of  FIG. 1 , 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the spacer ring, and 
       FIG. 4  is a cross section schematically illustrating an alternative embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   In  FIG. 1 , a roll is shown, which includes a drivable roll shaft  1 , three roll rings  2 , and three spacer rings  3 . The roll shaft  1  has a rotationally symmetrical basic shape that is defined by a central axis C. 
   The set of rings  2 ,  3  is kept in place between a fixed stop ring  4 , which in the example is in the form of a ring-shaped shoulder, and a lock nut  5  at the opposite end of the shaft. The lock nut has an internal thread (not visible), which may be tightened on an external thread of the roll shaft. Between the lock nut  5  and the first roll ring  2 , there is, in this case, also a dynamic spring  6 , which is separated from the lock nut  5  via a tightening ring  7 . Furthermore, in the lock nut, there is a number of peripherally spaced-apart adjusting devices  8  by way of which the spring force in the spring  6  can be adjusted. 
   In the example, the roll rings  2  are assumed to be composed of solid cemented carbide, while the spacer rings  3  are made from a more ductile or softer metal, e.g., steel. Each individual roll ring  2  is delimited by external and internal cylinder surfaces  9 ,  10  as well as opposite end surfaces  12 , each one of which is planar and extends perpendicularly to the center axis C. Each end surface  12  is limited outwardly by a circular limiting edge line  13  and inwardly by an inner, likewise circular edge line  14 . 
   In an analogous way, the individual spacer ring  3  (see  FIG. 3 ) is delimited by an external cylinder surface  11 , which defines the outer diameter of the spacer ring, an internal cylinder surface  10 , which defines the inner diameter of the spacer ring, as well as two opposite planar end surfaces  15 , which extend perpendicularly to the center axis C. 
   In previously known spacer rings, the planar end surfaces  15  have extended radially all the way from the internal cylinder surface  10  to the external cylinder surface  11 . In other words, the spacer rings have had the same general design as the tightening ring  7  shown to the right in  FIG. 1 . 
   According to an aspect of the present invention, the individual end surface  15  of the spacer ring  3  has been shaped in such a way that the inner limiting edge line  17  of the surface is greater than the outer diameter of the roll shaft, which in the example according to  FIG. 4  corresponds to the inner diameter of the ring. (Outwardly the end surface  15  is limited by the circular edge line  16 ). In such a way, the total area of the end surface  15  for a given outer diameter is reduced, whereby the surface pressure against an adjacent roll ring is increased. Furthermore, the force transmission zone (i.e., an imaginary circular line halfway between the limiting edge lines  16  and  17 ) of the surface is moved out in comparison the corresponding force transmission zones in previously known spacer rings. In other words, the efficient torque arm is increased, such as this is determined by the radial distance between the center axis C and the force transmission zone. 
   In the example shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , the desired reduction of the area of the end contact surface  15  has been provided by the fact that the ring has been formed with, on one hand, an outer rim part  18 , which has a thickness measured as the distance between the opposite end surfaces  15  that is greater than the thickness of an inner rim part  19 , in which the hole of the ring delimited by the cylinder surface  10  is formed. By way of the inner rim part  19 , the ability of the spacer ring to be centered is retained, when it is put on to the roll shaft  1 . As is seen in  FIG. 3 , the outer rim part  18  has a radial extension (the radial distance R 1  between the limiting edge lines  16 ,  17 ) which is smaller than the radial extension of the inner rim part  18 , such as this is represented by the radial distance R 2  between the limiting line  17  and the hole edge surface  10 . In practice, R 1  may amount to 50-80%, suitably 60-70% of R 2 , i.e. R 2  may be 25 to 100%, or 42 to 66% greater than R 1 . 
   In  FIG. 4 , an alternative embodiment of a roll is shown in which the spacer ring  3 A lacks the centering inner rim part according to the embodiment described above. Thus, in this case, a rotationally symmetrical hole edge surface  10 A extends axially between the opposite inner edge lines  17  of the end surfaces  15 . Centering of this spacer ring may either be effected by way of externally applied centering devices, or by way of an inner, ring-shaped core of another material, e.g., cellular plastic, wood or the like, which may be destroyed after mounting. 
   A layer of a large number of uniformly distributed grains may be applied to the interfaces between the end surfaces of the roll rings  2  and of the spacer rings  3 , which grains are made from a material that is harder than the hardest material in anyone of the rings. If the roll rings are manufactured of cemented carbide, grains of, for instance, diamond, cubic boron nitride, ceramics or the like, may be used. The grains should have a size that is at least somewhat greater than the microscopic irregularities that decides the surface finish of the contact surfaces. When the roll rings and the spacer rings are urged towards each other by full force, the grains will then penetrate into the respective end surface and to a large extent increase the friction between the surfaces. Such grains do not make the separation of the rings from each other materially more difficult. In practice, the grains may be included in a paste or another viscous fluid, which may be provided onto the comparatively narrow, ring-shaped end contact surfaces of the spacer rings. Alternatively, the grains may be applied by plating technique. 
   The invention is not limited merely to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings. Thus, it is feasible to form the radially reduced end contact surface on a roll ring, instead of on a spacer ring, although the exemplified embodiment is preferred in practice. 
   The presently disclosed embodiments are considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope is indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing description, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalents thereof are intended to be embraced.