Abstract:
A feedback control of a hot and/or cold rolling process by means of a process control system, which executes a predetermined rolling program containing the initial and final dimensions, material data, roll temperatures, etc., and has a master system for controlling the setpoint values of subordinate, preferably decoupled, individual control units for the variable functional variables of the individual roll stands, e.g. rolling force, rotational speed, screw-down position [setting], etc. The setpoint values of the control units are determined in a computational operation using model equations, in which prepared and statistically processed measured values of the process variables are substituted, with convergent adaptation of absolute parameters to the actual parameters. In the event of changes in the requirements of the rolling process, in particular in the event of a transition from manual to automatic operation, or of changes in the final thickness, and/or changes in temperature, a relative adaptation of the parameters is carried out on the basis of the set values used before the changes in requirements as initial values.
Abstract:
An apparatus and process for operating a rolling mill having at least two rolls rotating at different speeds to produce a continuous strip material having a substantially constant final thickness comprises a mechanism for controlling the magnitude of the compressive force between the rolls in response to the ratio of the incoming strip speed to the outgoing strip speed. A mechanism is provided for comparing the ratio of the strip speeds to a ratio of the roll speeds and for adjusting the compressive force magnitude until the two speed ratios are substantially equal. In this manner, the amount of off-stage strip material produced during mill start-up is reduced and process stability and gage control during steady state operation is enhanced.
Abstract:
An industrial production or other operational system is established by connecting apparatus which implements system operations to a digital computer system using an interface system. Machine readable definitions of events, of executable jobs, and of system variables are prepared for computer entry and ultimately for configuration of the system apparatus into an entity having operational characteristics corresponding to the entered definitions.The definitions of system variables may include definitions of signals which are coupled between the system apparatus and the computer through the interface system, and such signals may be put to system monitoring or control uses or both of these uses in the structured system. Some of the definitions may be computer programs, but most are preferably definitions of the system configuration written out in a language which a systems engineer can understand and use. Generally, definitions may include designators which are names or numbers.Any definition may refer to an event, a job, or a variable by making reference to the designator that is included in the definition of the event, the job or the variable. Executable job definitions may, by referring to event designators, specify specific events which are to trigger their execution--for example, variable scanning events or variable change-of-state events--or they may specify that they are to be periodically executed at a specified frequency or rate. The definitions are processed individually by an off-line preliminary processor which converts the systems engineer's language into a numeric language intelligible to processing programs within the computer system or to the computer system itself. The definitions are then fed into the computer system.Automatic programming means within the computer system establish all the necessary linkages between each new definition and previously entered definitions and other operative portions of the computer system so as to implement each definition relative to the system apparatus as soon as the definition is received and so as automatically to establish the desired system operating configuration through the controlled operation of the computer relative to the interfaced system apparatus.Definitions may be deleted from the computer system at any time and in any order by the automatic programming means without shutting down the system, and the system operating configuration may thus be modified whenever necessary or desirable. Following such deletions, the automatic programming means eliminates linkages which are no longer required and compresses the tables in which such linkages may be stored so as to maximize the storage space which is available for additional new definitions and their associated linkages.
Abstract:
An industrial production or other operational system is established by connecting apparatus which implements system operations to a digital computer system using an interface system. Machine readable definitions of events, of executable jobs, and of system variables are prepared for computer entry and ultimately for configuration of the system apparatus into an entity having operational characteristics corresponding to the entered definitions.The definitions of system variables may include definitions of signals which are coupled between the system apparatus and the computer through the interface system, and such signals may be put to system monitoring or control uses or both of these uses in the structured system. Some of the definitions may be computer programs, but most are preferably definitions of the system configuration written out in a language which a systems engineer can understand and use. Generally, definitions may include designators which are names or numbers.Any definition may refer to an event, a job, or a variable by making reference to the designator that is included in the definition of the event, the job or the variable. Executable job definitions may, by referring to event designators, specify specific events which are to trigger their execution--for example, variable scanning events or variable change-of-state events--or they may specify that they are to be periodically executed at a specified frequency or rate. The definitions are processed individually by an off-line preliminary processor which converts the systems engineer's language into a numeric language intelligible to processing programs within the computer system or to the computer system itself. The definitions are then fed into the computer system.Automatic programming means within the computer system establish all the necessary linkages between each new definition and previously entered definitions and other operative portions of the computer system so as to implement each definition relative to the system apparatus as soon as the definition is received and so as automatically to establish the desired system operating configuration through the controlled operation of the computer relative to the interfaced system apparatus.Definitions may be deleted from the computer system at any time and in any order by the automatic programming means without shutting down the system, and the system operating configuration may thus be modified whenever necessary or desirable. Following such deletions, the automatic programming means eliminates linkages which are no longer required and compresses the tables in which such linkages may be stored so as to maximize the storage space which is available for additional new definitions and their associated linkages.
Abstract:
Rolling mill computer control system includes an operator update program which accepts requests from a mill operator to modify computer setups for speed and screwdown presets. When under computer control and abnormal mill conditions arise, the computer programs will accept operator updates from the same presetting devices which are used in manual operation. The operator update program calculates speed and draft coefficients which are used to update the basic computer schedule calculations so as to accommodate the abnormal mill conditions. Additional presetting devices, such as load distribution switches, are eliminated so as to minimize operator confusion and simplify operator panel layout.
Abstract:
The roll gap is feedback controlled in that the actual gap is detected, compared with a reference for formation of an error signal which in turn controls the relative position of the rolls. That feedback system is supplemented by augmenting the error by a signal that is directly proportional to the time derivative of the rolling force and of the stock width and inversely proportional to the force itself.
Abstract:
Automated control system for a steel rolling operation which comprises the cooperation of a means for calculating the steel rolling temperature, a means for preparing a pass schedule for the rolling based upon the temperature calculated, a means for setting up a roll pass in each individual rolling pursuant to the schedule prepared, and a means for effecting the rolling of the steel rolling section.
Abstract:
A programmed computer control system provides on line roll force gauge control for a tandem hot steel strip rolling mill. An automatic gauge control system including a programmed digital computer calculates screwdown movement required for correction of determined gauge error on the basis of measured roll force and screwdown position values and on the basis of calculated gauge deviation corrections for the provided roll opening settings for the roll stands. To compensate for gauge error conditions, a gauge error correcting screwdown movement value is determined to establish the total amount of corrective screwdown movement required at any particular point in time. The control system operates the mill screwdowns in accordance with the program calculations.
Abstract:
In a method of controlling a continuous hot rolling mill including a plurality of mill stands during acceleration thereof, variations in the screw down pressure (i.e., rolling load), in the speed of the material on the delivery side and in the thickness of the oil film of the back-up roll bearing of each mill stand at the time of acceleration, are anticipated, the width of the finished plates, types and compositions of the materials being rolled, plate gauges on the entrance side, pass speeds of the plates, the instants at which the accelerations are initiated, and accelerations are classified into a plurality of groups, an acceleration controlling schedule for each group that satisfies a relation that the product of the volume and speed of the material is constant is computed by an electronic computer associated with the rolling mill, and the roll gap and roll peripheral speed are controlled in accordance with the schedule for each mill stand so as to maintain the tension of the material between adjoining stands at a constant value.
Abstract:
A computer controlled rolling mill is described wherein the force (or power) model in the computer is stored as dual curves, i.e., (a) shaping curves wherein the ratio of the force required for actual rolling conditions relative to the force required for a chosen draft is plotted against elongation, and (b) magnitude curves wherein the force required for the chosen draft is plotted against inverse output thickness from the mill with each point of the magnitude curves having an associated stored temperature value. The arithmetic produce of the force ratio required for a desired elongation and the force magnitude for a desired output thickness (when corrected for width, hardness and temperature of the metal being rolled) provides the force required for the stand. Because the force ratio is normalized with respect to a chosen percentage draft, accurate adaptive updating of the process representation can be achieved conveniently by altering only the magnitude curves.