Method and apparatus for discharging a controlled amount of cryogen onto work surfaces in a cold roll mill

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for adjusting the amount of cryogen delivered to a mill stand ( 1 ) using a non-optical sensor ( 16 a ) to measure at least one operating parameter selected from the group consisting of roll stand parameters, rolled product parameters, and cryogen parameters. Output signals, are generated by the non-optical sensor and a controller ( 17 ) calculates numeric values based on the signals. When the calculated numeric values reach a predetermined set point value that correlates with mill stand temperature, the flow of cryogen is adjusted to disperse a desired amount of cryogenic fluid to said mill stand ( 1 ) to control rolling temperature.

1 . A method comprising:
 measuring at least one operating parameter of a cold rolling process, each of the at least one operating parameter being correlated to the thermal conditions of a rolled material of the cold rolling process; and   controlling operation of a cryogenic cooling device based at least in part on measurements of the at least one operating parameter.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the controlling step comprises setting a cryogenic discharge intensity of the cryogenic cooling device based at least in part on measurements of the at least one operating parameter. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising associating a value with each measurement of the at least one operating parameter, wherein the controlling step further comprises adjusting the cryogenic discharge intensity of the cryogenic cooling device to bring the value into a predetermined range if the value falls outside of the predetermined range. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measuring step comprises measuring the at least one operating parameter of the cold rolling process, each of the at least one operating parameter being correlated to the thermal conditions of a surface of the rolled material. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measuring step comprises measuring the at least one operating parameter of the cold rolling process, each of the at least one operating parameter being selected from the group consisting of electrical resistance on a surface of a roll, stress on the surface of the roll, and roughness of the surface of the roll. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measuring step comprises measuring the at least one operating parameter of the cold rolling process, each of the at least one operating parameter being selected from the group consisting of electrical resistance on a surface of a rolled material, stress on the surface of the rolled material, thickness of the rolled material, and flatness of the rolled material. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measuring step comprises measuring a temperature of a rolled material using a non-optical sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the controlling step comprises controlling operation of a cryogenic spray device based at least in part on measurements of the at least one operating parameter. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the controlling step comprises controlling operation of a cryogenic cooling device based at least in part on averaged numerical values calculated from measurements of the at least one operating parameter. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measuring step comprises continuously measuring at least one operating parameter of the cold rolling process. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for use with a cold rolling process, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one sensor, each of the at least one sensor being adapted to measure an operating parameter of the cold rolling process, the operating parameter being correlated to the thermal conditions of an element of the cold rolling process;   a cryogenic cooling device having an adjustable discharge intensity; and   a controller that is configured to receive output signals received from the at least one sensor and is programmed to adjust the discharge intensity of the cryogenic cooling device based at least in part on the output signals received from the at least one sensor.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the controller is programmed to convert the output signals into values and is programmed to adjust the cryogenic discharge intensity of the cryogenic device to bring the values into a predetermined range if the values fall outside of the predetermined range. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the operating parameter is selected from the group consisting of a rolled material and a work roll. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the operating parameter is selected from the group consisting of electrical resistance on a surface of a roll, stress on the surface of the roll, and roughness of the surface of the roll. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the operating parameter is selected from the group consisting of electrical resistance on a surface of a rolled material, stress on the surface of the rolled material, thickness of the rolled material, and flatness of the rolled material. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the operating parameter comprises load force on a work roll used in the cold rolling process. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is programmed to calculate average values from the output signals and adjust the discharge intensity of the cryogenic cooling device based at least in part on the average values. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one sensor is adapted to continuously measure the operating parameter. 
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 measuring a load force acting on a roll of a cold rolling process;   controlling operation of a cryogenic cooling device based at least in part on measurements of the load force.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the measuring step comprises measuring a load force acting on a roll of a cold rolling process based on an output signal of at least one load cell.