Patent Description:
In <CIT>, on which the preamble of claim <NUM> is based, the first sliding members and the second sliding members are slidable along the longitudinal axis of the cross piece, which means in the direction parallel across the traveling direction of the metal strip. Chocks are slidable in perpendicular direction to the plane of travel of the metal strip for pressing the entire scraper onto the metal strip. <CIT> also shows a system with features according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

Existing processing methods can use a wiper to contain viscous materials (e.g., liquid cleaners, lubricants, coolants, pretreatments, or the like, or any combination thereof) applied to a rolled material product (e.g., a metal article) during and/or after processing steps performed requiring application of a viscous material (e.g., cleaning, lubricating, cooling, pretreating, or the like, or any combination thereof). In some cases, the rolled material product is not completely flat (i.e., planar) and can have a curved cross-sectional shape along its width and/or length. Additionally, the rolled material product can have surface irregularities including projections, depressions, or any other non-planar surface characteristics. Thus, when applying, for example, a liquid coolant to control a temperature of a metal article, subsequent complete removal of the liquid coolant using a rigid and/or non-compliant seal is ineffective or impractical.

The term embodiment and like terms are intended to refer broadly to all of the subject matter of this disclosure and the claims below. Statements containing these terms should be understood not to limit the subject matter described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of the claims below. Embodiments of the present disclosure covered herein are defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various aspects of the disclosure and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this disclosure, any or all drawings and each claim.

The invention provides a system for removing a viscous material from a surface of a material article, according to claim <NUM>. In some examples, the system may further comprise the material article, wherein the material article is at least one of a moving material article or a metal article. Additionally, the flexible seal is movable in a direction normal to the material article along a width of the flexible seal between a first position and a plurality of other variable positions.

In some examples, the movable biasing mechanism includes a plurality of portions that move independently of each other, or that move in concert with each other. Here, the movable biasing mechanism includes a plurality of actuators, a plurality of springs, or a fillable bladder (e.g., a bladder fillable with a gas, a liquid, a gel, or any suitable fluid medium, any combination thereof or any suitable biasing mechanism). According to the invention, the system further includes a plurality of mounting devices, wherein an individual mounting device can be attached to an individual biasing mechanism (e.g., an individual actuator or an individual spring). Optionally, the plurality of mounting devices can be attached to the fillable bladder. In some examples, the plurality of actuators can be pneumatic actuators, electrical actuators, hydraulic actuators, mechanical actuators, magnetic actuators, thermal actuators, any combination thereof, or other suitable actuator. According to the invention, the plurality of mounting devices comprises clamps, and in some cases clips, pins, clasps, any combination thereof, or any other suitable mounting device.

In some non-limiting examples, the biasing mechanism can extend at least a first portion of the flexible seal beyond at least a second portion of the flexible seal. The flexible seal can have a width sufficient to traverse at least partially across a width of the material article, and, in some cases, the flexible seal can traverse wholly across the width of the material article.

In some non-limiting examples, the seal further includes a contacting edge, a mounting edge, and a body, wherein the body is positioned between the contacting edge and the mounting edge, and the mounting edge is disposed opposite the contacting edge. In some cases, the body, the contacting edge, and the mounting edge can have any suitable cross-sectional shape, including but not limited to a line, a rectangle, a square, a triangle, a circle, an ellipse, a knife blade, or the Greek capital letter omega. In some aspects, the seal is a flexible seal that has a degree of flexibility such that the contacting edge conforms to a surface topography of the material article and/or any cross-sectional shape of the material article that can occur during processing.

Also disclosed herein is a method of removing a viscous material from a material article according to claim <NUM>. In some examples, the seal is placed adjacent to an area having a viscous material applied to the material article and passing the material article across the seal. In some cases, the biasing mechanism can allow the seal to conform to a cross-sectional shape of the material article and/or a surface topography of the metal article. In some cases, the viscous material applied to the material article cannot pass the seal.

Certain aspects and features of the present disclosure relate to rolling mills for rolling a metal article in a hot rolling mode, a cold rolling mode, a warm rolling mode, or any combination thereof. Further aspects and features of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods of cooling metal articles and/or work rolls involved in the hot rolling, cold rolling, or warm rolling. Still further aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for removing viscous materials (e.g., coolants, cleaners, pretreatments, lubricants, or the like, or any combination thereof) applied to the metal article without damaging a surface of the metal article.

The terms "invention," "the invention," "this invention" and "the present invention" used herein are intended to refer broadly to all of the subject matter of this patent application and the claims below.

As used herein, the meaning of "a," "an," or "the" includes singular and plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

As used herein, the meaning of "room temperature" can include a temperature of from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, for example about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, or about <NUM>.

As used herein, a "plate" generally has a thickness of about <NUM> millimeters (mm) to about <NUM>. For example, a plate may refer to an aluminum product having a thickness of about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, or about <NUM>.

As used herein, a "sheet" generally refers to an aluminum product having a thickness of from about <NUM> to less than about <NUM>. For example, a sheet may have a thickness of less than <NUM>, less than <NUM>, less than <NUM>, less than <NUM>, less than <NUM>, less than <NUM>, or less than <NUM>.

As used herein, the term "foil" indicates an alloy thickness in a range of up to about <NUM> (i.e., <NUM> microns (µm)). For example, a foil may have a thickness of up to <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>.

In some non-limiting examples, a rolling mill can include at least one work stand, and in some examples, the rolling mill can include multiple stands. For example, the rolling mill may include two stands, three stands, four stands, five stands, six stands, or any other number of stands as needed or desired. Each stand can include a pair of work rolls that are vertically aligned. In some cases, each stand includes a pair of backup rolls that support the pair of work rolls. In some examples, each stand also includes a pair of intermediate rolls. During rolling of the metal article, the metal article is passed through a roll gap defined between the work rolls. Rolling the metal article reduces the thickness of the metal article to a desired thickness and imparts particular properties on the metal article depending on the composition of the metal article. Depending on the desired properties or other considerations for the final metal product, the rolling mill may be run in a hot rolling mode, a cold rolling mode, a warm rolling mode, or any combination thereof.

Hot rolling generally occurs at temperatures above a recrystallization temperature of the metal. For example, in some cases where the metal article is aluminum or an aluminum alloy, hot rolling may occur at a temperature greater than about <NUM>, such as from about <NUM> to about <NUM>. In other examples, various other temperatures for hot rolling may be used.

In contrast to hot rolling, cold rolling generally occurs at temperatures below the recrystallization temperature of the metal. For example, in some cases wherein the metal article is aluminum or an aluminum alloy, cold rolling may occur at a temperature less than about <NUM>, such as from about <NUM> to about <NUM>. In other examples, various other temperatures for cold rolling may be used.

In some cases, a metal article may be rolled through a warm rolling process, which occurs at a temperature below the recrystallization temperature of the metal but above the cold rolling temperature. For example, in some cases where the metal article is aluminum or an aluminum alloy, warm rolling may occur at a temperature from about <NUM> to about <NUM>. In other examples, various other temperatures for warm rolling may be used.

In some examples, the rolling mill includes a metal article cooling system that is configured to apply a coolant to the outer surface of the metal article to control a temperature of the metal article. In some non-limiting examples, the coolant is water, oil, gel, or any suitable heat transfer medium. In some cases, the coolant is an organic heat transfer medium, a silicone fluid heat transfer medium, or a glycol-based heat transfer medium (e.g., ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, any other polyalkylene glycol, or any combination thereof), or the like. Although this description is provided in the context of liquid coolants, the systems and methods described herein can be used for any viscous materials, including coolants, cleaners, pretreatments, lubricants (e.g., gels, sol-gels, and certain glasses), or the like.

In some examples, the metal article cooling system is configured to reduce a temperature of the metal article during processing. In various examples, the metal article cooling system includes a metal article cooling header that is configured to apply a coolant on at least one surface of the metal article to control the temperature of the metal article. In some examples, the metal article cooling system also includes a viscous material removal system for removing coolant or other viscous material (e.g., pretreatment, cleaner, lubricant, etc.) from a desired area on the metal article (i.e., drying the metal article), and/or for containing the coolant or other viscous material to a desired area on the metal article. In various examples, depending on the configuration of the rolling mill, any number of roll cooling headers and viscous material removal systems may be utilized. The metal article cooling system may be provided at various locations within the rolling mill such as below the metal article, above the metal article, beside the metal article in a vertical rolling mill, combinations thereof, or any suitable location where cooling is desired and the coolant or other viscous material is to be removed before the metal article enters a subsequent work stand or other processing equipment. In some non-limiting examples, the metal article can be metal coil, a metal strip, a metal plate, a metal sheet, a metal foil, a metal billet, a metal ingot, or the like.

In some further examples, the rolling mill includes a cleaning system that is configured to apply a cleaner to the outer surface of the metal article to remove contaminants that can collect on the metal article. In some examples, the cleaning system is configured to apply solvents, detergents, surfactants, acids, bases, any other suitable surface cleaning agent, or any combination thereof, onto at least a first surface of the metal article during processing. In various examples, the metal article cleaning system includes a metal article cleaning header that is configured to apply the cleaner on at least one surface of the metal article to remove oils and/or debris from the surface of the metal article. In some examples, the metal article cleaning system also includes a cleaner and/or a contaminant removal system for removing the cleaner and/or contaminants from a desired area on the metal article (i.e., drying and/or wiping the metal article), and/or for containing the cleaner and/or contaminants to a desired area on the metal article. In various examples, depending on the configuration of the rolling mill, any number of roll cleaning headers and cleaner and/or contaminant removal systems may be utilized. The metal article cleaning system may be provided at various locations within the rolling mill such as below the metal article, above the metal article, beside the metal article in a vertical rolling mill, combinations thereof, or any suitable location where cleaning is desired and the cleaner and/or contaminants are to be removed before the metal article enters a subsequent work stand or other processing equipment.

Likewise, in some further examples, the rolling mill includes a pretreating system that is configured to apply a pretreatment to the outer surface of the metal article to prepare the outer surface of the metal article for certain downstream processing. In some examples, the pretreating system is configured to apply adhesion promoters, corrosion inhibitors, aesthetic films, or any other suitable surface pretreatment agent onto at least a first surface of the metal article during processing. In various examples, the metal article pretreating system includes a metal article pretreating header that is configured to apply the pretreatment on at least one surface of the metal article. In some examples, the metal article pretreating system also includes a removal system for removing any excess pretreatment from a desired area on the metal article (i.e., drying the metal article), and/or for containing the pretreatment to a desired area on the metal article. In various examples, depending on the configuration of the rolling mill, any number of roll pretreating headers and excess pretreatment removal systems may be utilized. The metal article pretreating system may be provided at various locations within the rolling mill such as below the metal article, above the metal article, beside the metal article in a vertical rolling mill, combinations thereof, or any suitable location where pretreating is desired and the excess pretreatment is to be removed before the metal article enters a subsequent work stand or other processing equipment.

In certain aspects, the metal article can be a generally planar metal article. However, during certain processing steps performed at elevated temperatures (e.g., hot rolling, warm rolling, cold rolling, solutionizing, annealing, and/or homogenizing), the metal article or portions of the metal article can become non-planar. In certain examples, the metal article can be heated to temperatures that can provide a soft metal (e.g., heated to temperatures close to a liquidus temperature of the metal article). Heating the metal article can provide a metal article having a non-planar cross-sectional shape (e.g., a bowed shape along a width of the metal article). Such a non-planar cross-sectional shape can result, for example, from processing lines providing more tension along a center of the metal article than along a first edge and/or a second edge of the metal article as the metal article moves from a first work stand to a second work stand. Thus, in a processing line where the metal article is held substantially horizontal, the center of the metal article can be higher in a vertical direction than a first edge and/or a second edge of the metal article. Likewise, in some other examples, in processing lines providing a higher tension along the first edge and/or the second edge than along the center of the metal article as the metal article moves from a first work stand to a second work stand, the center of the metal article can sag and be lower in a vertical direction than the first edge and/or the second edge of the metal article. In some cases, tension in a processing line can vary providing variable vertical heights along a width of a metal article being processed in a processing line wherein the metal article is held substantially horizontal and moving in a direction along a length of the metal article. Such varying vertical heights can provide a dynamic horizontal profile across the width of the metal article. For example, as the metal article moves in a horizontal processing line, a profile of the width of the metal article at a particular processing point (e.g., a point where coolant is applied) can vary constantly.

In some cases, cooling the metal article after processing steps that require heating the metal article can provide a non-planar cross-sectional shape and/or surface irregularities in at least a portion of the metal article where the coolant can be applied. The surface irregularities can provide a surface topography comprising of various elevations across the surface (e.g., ridges and valleys). The non-planar cross-sectional shape and/or surface irregularities can pose challenges with uniformly removing the coolant from the metal article.

In some further examples, a roll cooling system can be provided in at least one work stand and can be configured to reduce a temperature of the roll during processing. In some examples, the roll can be a work roll, a backup roll, or the like. In some cases, the work roll can be stainless steel, steel, or made of any suitable material. In various examples, the roll cooling system includes a roll cooling header that is configured to apply a coolant on at least one surface of the roll to control the temperature of the roll. In some examples, the roll cooling system also includes a viscous material removal system for removing coolant from a desired area and/or for containing the coolant to a desired area on the roll. In various examples, depending on the configuration of the rolling mill, any number of roll cooling systems may be utilized. The roll cooling system may be provided at various locations within the rolling mill such as at a work stand, before a first work stand, after a last work stand, between work stands, etc. In some non-limiting examples, the metal article cooling system and the roll cooling system can be separate or combined systems.

As described herein, the viscous material removal system for removing a liquid coolant from a metal article and/or a roll can include a seal and a biasing mechanism. In some non-limiting examples, the seal can be a flexible seal. For example, the seal can be a polymer seal. Exemplary polymers for use in the polymer seal include, for example, synthetic rubber (styrene-butadiene), natural rubber, elastomers, cellulose, or the like, or any combinations thereof. In some examples, the seal can be a polysilicon seal, a fabric seal, or a seal made of any suitable material that will not damage the metal article and/or the roll when contacting the metal article and/or the roll. The seal can have ample flexibility such that the seal can conform or generally conform to any non-planar cross-sectional shape and/or surface irregularities (e.g., topography) as described above. In some examples, the seal can conform to any non-planar cross-sectional shape and/or surface irregularities by applying a force via at least one biasing mechanism to drive the seal toward the metal article.

These illustrative examples are given to introduce the reader to the general subject matter discussed here and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosed concepts. The following sections describe various additional features and examples with reference to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like elements, and directional descriptions are used to describe the illustrative embodiments but, like the illustrative embodiments, should not be used to limit the present disclosure. The elements included in the illustrations herein may not be drawn to scale.

<FIG> is a schematic of a viscous material removal system <NUM> as described herein. The viscous material removal system <NUM> can be employed to remove a viscous material (e.g., a coolant, a cleaner, a lubricant, a pretreatment or the like) from a roll processed material (e.g., a metal article, a polymer film, or any suitable roll processed material requiring application, optional containment, and removal of a viscous material) and/or contain the viscous material to a desired area on the metal article. In some examples, the metal article is aluminum, aluminum alloys, magnesium, magnesium-based materials, titanium, titanium-based materials, copper, copper-based materials, steel, steel-based materials, bronze, bronze-based materials, brass, brass-based materials, composites, sheets used in composites, or any other suitable metal or combination of materials. The article may include monolithic materials, as well as non-monolithic materials such as roll-bonded materials, clad materials, composite materials (such as but not limited to carbon fiber-containing materials), or various other materials. In some examples, the metal article is a metal coil, a metal strip, a metal plate, a metal sheet, a metal billet, a metal ingot, or the like. In some cases, the systems and methods described herein can be used with a non-metal article. As shown in <FIG>, the viscous material removal system <NUM> includes a flexible seal <NUM> having a width Wand a biasing mechanism. The biasing mechanism can be any desired biasing mechanism such as a plurality of actuators <NUM> in the example of <FIG>. The seal <NUM> can attach to the plurality of actuators <NUM> by any suitable mounting device, including but not limited to a clip, a pin, a clasp, or a clamp <NUM>. In other examples, the biasing mechanism comprises a plurality of springs, a fillable bladder as described below, a curved bar as described below, or any other biasing mechanism that allows a vertical height of the seal to change in a height direction H along the width W of the seal <NUM>. The seal <NUM> is flexible, and can have a degree of flexibility such that the seal <NUM> can conform to any non-planar cross-sectional shape and/or surface irregularities in the metal article. The seal <NUM> can be formed of any suitable material. For example, the seal <NUM> can be a polymer seal. Polymers for use in the polymer seal include, for example, synthetic rubber (styrene-butadiene), natural rubber, elastomers, cellulose, or the like, or any combinations thereof. In some examples, the seal can be a polysilicon seal, a fabric seal, or a seal made of any suitable material that will not damage the metal article and/or a work roll (e.g., in certain aspects wherein the viscous material removal system is employed to remove viscous material from a work roll).

The plurality of actuators <NUM> can include pneumatic actuators, electrical actuators, hydraulic actuators, mechanical actuators, magnetic actuators, thermal actuators, or other suitable actuator. In some cases, the plurality of actuators <NUM> can be attached to the seal <NUM> in any suitable manner including via a plurality of mounting devices <NUM> (see <FIG>). In some non-limiting examples, each mounting device <NUM> can include a mounting arm <NUM>, a pivoting base <NUM>, a pivot pin <NUM> and a clamp <NUM>. In some cases, each mounting device <NUM> can be attached to the mounting arm <NUM> by the pivot pin <NUM>, thus allowing the pivoting base <NUM> to pivot about the pivot pin <NUM>. Each mounting device <NUM> can be attached to a successive mounting device <NUM> by a ligature pin <NUM>, thus allowing each mounting device <NUM> to pivot with respect to each successive mounting device <NUM>. The succession of mounting devices <NUM> attached to the plurality of actuators <NUM> can provide (i) ample pressure to contact the metal article and (ii) ample flexibility to conform to any non-planar cross-sectional shapes and/or surface irregularities occurring in the metal article during processing. In some aspects, ample pressure is a force applied by the plurality of actuators <NUM> such that the seal <NUM> can exert a pressure onto the metal article. For example, the plurality of actuators <NUM> can apply pressure in a range of from about <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> pounds per square inch (psi)) to about <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), or up to the maximum air pressure available at a production facility. For example, the plurality of actuators <NUM> can apply a pressure of about <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM>) psi, <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM>) psi, <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi), <NUM>,<NUM> bar (<NUM> psi) or greater, or anywhere in between.

In some cases, air pressure supplied to the plurality of actuators <NUM> can provide a working pressure applied by the seal <NUM> onto the metal article. In some examples, the working pressure can be from about <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> pounds of force per linear inch (lb/in)) of the width W of the seal <NUM> to about <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> lb/in). For example, the working pressure can be about <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> lb/in), <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> lb/in), <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> lb/in), <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> lb/in), <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> lb/in), <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> lb/in), <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> lb/in), <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> lb/in), <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> lb/in), <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> lb/in), <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> lb/in), <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> lb/in), <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> lb/in), <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> lb/in), <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> lb/in), <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> lb/in), <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> lb/in), <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> lb/in), <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> lb/in), <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> lb/in), <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> lb/in), <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> lb/in), <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> lb/in), <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> lb/in), <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> lb/in), greater than <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> lb/in) or anywhere in between. In some aspects, applying the working pressure can allow the seal <NUM> to maintain contact with the metal article across its width W without buckling the seal <NUM> (e.g., applying a working pressure that is too high can drive the seal <NUM> into the metal article, thus deforming the shape of the seal <NUM> and creating areas where the seal <NUM> loses contact with the metal article and viscous material can pass beneath or around the seal <NUM>).

<FIG> is a schematic of one example of a seal <NUM> as described herein. In some cases, the seal <NUM> can have a triangular shape (though it need not) where one edge can be a contacting edge <NUM> and another edge can be a mounting edge <NUM>. For example, the mounting edge <NUM> can be held by the clamp <NUM> (see <FIG>). According to the invention, the clamp <NUM> holds the seal <NUM> such that the seal <NUM> can move in a lateral direction Z along the width W of the seal <NUM> while simultaneously being prevented from exiting the clamp <NUM> in a substantially vertical direction, as in the example of <FIG> (e.g., referring to <FIG>, the seal <NUM> can slide side-to-side in the lateral direction L within each clamp <NUM> without escaping vertically out of each clamp <NUM>). In some non-limiting examples, the seal <NUM> can be hollow, containing a void <NUM> in a cross-sectional center of the seal <NUM>. In some aspects, the void <NUM> can allow the seal <NUM> to compress when contacting the metal article. Allowing the seal <NUM> to compress can further allow the seal <NUM> to enter into/conform to irregularities and defects in the metal article surface as elasticity of the seal <NUM> drives the seal <NUM> to return to its uncompressed state, further driving the contacting edge <NUM> into the surface of the metal article. In some cases, the seal <NUM> is solid and does not contain a void.

When in a first position in the example of <FIG>, the contacting edge <NUM> of the seal <NUM> contacts the metal article <NUM>. The seal <NUM>, the mounting device <NUM> and the mounting arm <NUM> are positioned such that an angle <NUM> between the metal article <NUM> and a leading face of the seal <NUM> is from about <NUM>° to about <NUM>°. For example, the angle <NUM> can be an angle of about <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, or <NUM>°, or anywhere in between. In some further examples, the angle <NUM> can vary based on a shape of the seal <NUM> and can be apparent to a person of skill in the art. For example, a seal <NUM> having a knife blade shape can contact the metal article <NUM> at an angle <NUM> that is from about <NUM>° to about <NUM>° (e.g., <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, or anywhere in between). In still further examples, a seal <NUM> having a circular cross sectional shape and a round contacting edge can contact the metal article <NUM> at any suitable angle <NUM> such that the mounting device <NUM> does not contact the metal article <NUM>.

In some non-limiting examples, the metal article <NUM> can pass over the seal <NUM> in a direction <NUM> during a processing step as described above. Pressure can be applied by the plurality of actuators <NUM> such that the seal <NUM> can remain in constant contact with the metal article <NUM> across the width of the metal article <NUM>, even in areas where the metal article <NUM> is curved or has irregularities. The plurality of actuators <NUM> can apply pressure along the width W of the seal <NUM> such that the seal <NUM> can move into a plurality of second positions (i.e., each individual actuator can move a portion of the seal <NUM> attached to that individual actuator into an individual second position, see <FIG>) forcing the seal <NUM> to conform to a shape of the metal article <NUM> across the width of the metal article <NUM>. As described above, each clamp <NUM> is configured to allow the seal <NUM> to move in the lateral direction L (see <FIG>) along the width W of the seal <NUM> (e.g., each clamp <NUM> grasps the seal <NUM> sufficiently loosely to allow the seal <NUM> to slide side-to-side without exiting vertically from each clamp <NUM>). Allowing the seal <NUM> to move in the lateral direction L further allows the seal <NUM> to move in the height direction H into the plurality of second positions without stressing the seal <NUM> along the width W of the seal <NUM>. In this way, a vertical position of the seal <NUM> can vary across the width W of the seal <NUM>, as in the example of <FIG>. In some non-limiting examples, the plurality of actuators <NUM> can force the seal <NUM> to conform to a bowed shape, a concave shape, a convex shape, a sinusoidal shape, or any suitable shape a metal article <NUM> can assume during processing. In some examples, forcing the seal <NUM> to conform to the shape of the metal article <NUM> can prevent any viscous material <NUM> applied to the metal article <NUM> from passing the seal <NUM>, thus providing removal of the viscous material <NUM> from the metal article <NUM>.

In some examples the biasing mechanism can be a fillable bladder. The fillable bladder can be filled with any suitable fluid medium (e.g., water, air, gel, or the like, or any combination thereof). The seal <NUM> can be mounted to the fillable bladder by any suitable mounting device. The fillable bladder can be filled to apply a pressure such that the seal can remain in constant contact with the metal article <NUM> by conforming to a shape of the metal article <NUM> across the width of the metal article <NUM>. In some examples, the fillable bladder can act as a seal by contacting a contacting edge of the fillable bladder to the metal article <NUM>. In some aspects, the fillable bladder can compress when contacting the metal article <NUM>. Allowing the fillable bladder to compress can further allow the fillable bladder to enter into/conform to irregularities and defects in the metal article <NUM> surface as elasticity of the fillable bladder drives the fillable bladder to return to its uncompressed state, further driving the contacting edge of the fillable bladder into the surface of the metal article <NUM>.

In other not claimed examples, the biasing mechanism can be a curved bar. The seal <NUM> can be mounted to the curved bar by any suitable mounting device. The curved bar can be placed adjacent to the metal article <NUM> such that the seal <NUM> is pressed against the metal article <NUM> and can remain in constant contact with the metal article <NUM> during processing.

The biasing mechanism is not limited to the examples described above, but can be any structure that allows a seal to conform to a non-planar metal article or a metal article with surface irregularities across at least a portion of the width of the metal article.

The seal <NUM> can have any suitable cross-sectional shape. As shown in <FIG>, some non-limiting examples of the shape of the seal include a line <NUM>, a rectangle <NUM>, a square <NUM>, a triangle <NUM>, a circle <NUM>, an ellipse <NUM>, a knife blade <NUM>, or the Greek capital letter omega <NUM>.

The viscous material removal system <NUM> can be a compact system when compared to existing cooling and coolant containment systems. In some non-limiting examples, the viscous material removal system <NUM> can be positioned at any desired position adjacent to the metal article such that the coolant (or, for example, any viscous material applied to a metal article during roll processing) can be removed. In some examples, the viscous material removal system <NUM> can be positioned adjacent to any roll in a rolling mill, or may be positioned before or after any roll in a rolling mill. In some aspects, the viscous material removal system <NUM> can be positioned adjacent to any roll requiring cooling using a liquid coolant. The viscous material removal system <NUM> can be placed adjacent to an upper work roll, a lower work roll, an upper backup roll, a lower backup roll, a first work roll in a vertical rolling mill, a second work roll in a vertical rolling mill, a first backup roll in a vertical rolling mill, a second backup roll in a vertical rolling mill, or any roll requiring cooling using a liquid coolant (or, for example, application of any viscous material a roll may require).

As used below, any reference to a series of examples is to be understood as a reference to each of those examples disjunctively (e.g., "Examples <NUM>-<NUM>" is to be understood as "Examples <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>").

Claim 1:
A system for removing a viscous material (<NUM>) from a surface of a material article (<NUM>), comprising:
a flexible seal (<NUM>) that is movable in a direction (H) substantially normal to the surface along a width (W) of the flexible seal between a first position and at least one second position, wherein the flexible seal is configured to contact the surface along the width (W) of the flexible seal;
a movable biasing mechanism (<NUM>) configured to move portions of the flexible seal and comprising at least one of a plurality of actuators, a plurality of springs or a fillable bladder fillable with a fluid medium, and
a plurality of mounting devices (<NUM>) comprising clamps (<NUM>),
wherein an individual mounting device of the plurality of mounting devices is attached to at least one actuator (<NUM>) of the plurality of actuators, at least one spring of the plurality of springs (<NUM>), or the fillable bladder,
wherein
the biasing mechanism (<NUM>) is configured to move selected portions of the flexible seal (<NUM>) along the width (W) of the flexible seal to conform the flexible seal to the surface of the material article (<NUM>) across a width of the surface of the material article (<NUM>), and
the seal (<NUM>) can slide side-to-side in a lateral direction (L) along the width (W) of the seal within each clamp (<NUM>) without escaping vertically out of each clamp (<NUM>).