Steam-blocking apparatus

Abstract

A steam-blocking apparatus includes: a rolling mill configured to roll a material; a transfer roller disposed at a rear side of the rolling mill and configured to transfer the material from the rolling mill; a descaler disposed above the transfer roller and configured to spray wash water toward the transfer roller; a width-measuring part disposed at a rear side of the descaler and configured to measure the width of the material; and a shield disposed between the descaler and the width-measuring part and configured to prevent steam, generated from evaporation of the wash water, from being introduced into the width-measuring part.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A steam-blocking apparatus comprising:
 a rolling mill configured to roll a material;   a transfer roller disposed at a rear side of the rolling mill and configured to transfer the material from the rolling mill;   a descaler disposed above the transfer roller and configured to spray wash water toward the transfer roller;   a width-measuring part disposed at a rear side of the descaler and configured to measure the width of the material; and   a shield disposed between the descaler and the width-measuring part and configured to prevent steam, generated from evaporation of the wash water, from being introduced into the width-measuring part.   
     
     
         2 . The steam-blocking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shield includes:
 a body fixed to an external device; and   a rotating part rotatably coupled to the body.   
     
     
         3 . The steam-blocking apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the shield further includes:
 a fluid sprayer disposed at a bottom of the rotating part and configured to spray a fluid toward the transfer roller.   
     
     
         4 . The steam-blocking apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the fluid sprayer includes:
 a connection pipe that communicates with an external supply source to supply a fluid;   a diverging pipe that diverges from the connection pipe; and   a nozzle disposed at the diverging portion to spray the fluid toward the transfer roller.   
     
     
         5 . The steam-blocking apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an elevating part coupled to the shield and configured to lift or lower the shield; and   a controller configured to operate the elevating part.   
     
     
         6 . The steam-blocking apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the elevating part includes:
 a driving motor fixed to an external device;   a rotating gear connected to the driving motor and rotated using power provided from the driving motor;   a rack gear engaged with the rotating gear and lifted or lowered by the rotation of the rotating gear; and   a connection plate having one side coupled to the rack gear and the other side coupled to the shield.   
     
     
         7 . The steam-blocking apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a displacement sensor installed on the connection plate and configured to sense a distance from the material, wherein the controller is configured to operate the driving motor based on the distance from the material, measured using the displacement sensor.   
     
     
         8 . A steam-blocking apparatus comprising:
 a rolling mill configured to roll a material;   a transfer roller disposed at a rear side of the rolling mill and configured to transfer the material from the rolling mill;   a descaler disposed above the transfer roller and configured to spray wash water toward the transfer roller;   a width-measuring part disposed at a rear side of the descaler and configured to measure the width of the material; and   a shield disposed between the descaler and the width-measuring part, and configured to suction air in the width-measuring part and spray the suctioned air toward the transfer roller to block steam, generated from evaporation of the wash water, from being introduced into the width-measuring part.   
     
     
         9 . The steam-blocking apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the shield includes:
 a body fixed to an external device; and   an air-curtain rotatably coupled to a bottom of the body, configured to suction the air in the width-measuring part and spray the suctioned air toward the transfer roller.   
     
     
         10 . The steam-blocking apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the air-curtain includes:
 a case having an inlet formed at a side facing the width-measuring part and an outlet formed at a side facing the transfer roller;   a fan rotatably installed within the case; and   a fan motor disposed within the case and configured to rotate the fan.   
     
     
         11 . The steam-blocking apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 an elevating part coupled to the shield and configured to lift or lower the shield; and   a controller configured to operate the elevating part.   
     
     
         12 . The steam-blocking apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the elevating part includes:
 a driving motor fixed to an external device;   a rotating gear connected to the driving motor and rotated using power provided from the driving motor;   a rack gear engaged with the rotating gear and lifted or lowered by the rotation of the rotating gear; and   a connection plate having one side coupled to the rack gear and the other side coupled to the shield.   
     
     
         13 . The steam-blocking apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a displacement sensor installed on the connection plate and configured to sense a distance from the material, wherein the controller is configured to operate the driving motor based on the distance from the material, measured by the displacement sensor.   
     
     
         14 . The steam-blocking apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the shield includes:
 a body fixed to the connection plate; and   an air-curtain rotatably coupled to a bottom of the body and configured to suction air in the width-measuring part and spray the suctioned air toward the transfer roller.