Title of Invention

A REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR MILL HOUSING SHIFTING IN ROLLING MILLS

Abstract

A remote control system for mill housing shifting in rolling mills, characterized in that said remote control system comprises : a base unit (2) for initiating communication for receiving and transmitting data over RF link; and a hand held terminal unit (10) for transmitting switch status to the base unit; said base unit interfaced with a control system (6) of a mill housing shifting mechanism (1) for processing the command received from the base unit (2) and activating the housing shifting mechanism.

Full Text

FIELD OF APPLICATION : The present invention relates to a remote control system for mill housing shifting in rolling mills. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION : Roll and pass changing are the process requirement in any rolling mill, as the roll grooves, which are deforming the bars, wear out with time due to frictional force generated during rolling in between roll groove surface and the bars undergoing the deformation. The rolls are shifted hydraulically from operating stations located at a distance from the mill stand. The housing shifting mechanism is a hydraulic controlled system, which is operated by an operator station mounted at a distance of 20 m from the pass line of the horizontal stands. The operator who is controlling the housing has to adjust movement of the stand from the panel at a distance of 20 meters from the roll stand based on the signal given by the person who is monitoring the alignment. This process causes lack of coordination and miscommunication resulting in misalignment and delay in roll/pass changing. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION : One object of the present invention is to reduce the housing shifting time. Another object of the invention is to make the shifting more ergonomic to the operator. Yet another object of the invention is to focus the operational ergonomics on achieving a fast response and smooth control, providing operator with all relevant controls and reduction in total cycle time of the roll change. These and other objects of the present invention can be achieved by providing a remote control system for mill housing shifting that reduces the cycle time and enhances operational ergonomics. The remote control station of the present invention reduces the cycle time and enhances operational ergonomics. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION: The remote control system for mill housing shifting of the present invention comprises a programmable logic controller controlled radio frequency control device. The device generates request for status of hand held terminal unit via a RF modem. In the hand held terminal, a data acquisition module interfaced to a radio modem collects commands. The signal transmitted by the radio modem is decoded by the programmable logic controller. Thus, (the present invention provides a remote control system for mill housing shifting in rolling mills comprising a base unit for initiating communication for receiving and transmitting data over RF link and a hand held terminal unit for transmitting switch status to the base unit, said base unit interfaced with a control system of a housing shifting mechanism for processing the command received from the base unit and activating the housing shifting mechanism. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS; Figure 1 shows a base unit interfaced with a housing shifting mechanism; Figure 2 shows a hand held terminal unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The remote control system of the present invention consists of two parts, a base unit interfaced with housing shifting mechanism and a hand held terminal. The system is provided with a base unit 2 comprising a programmable logic controller 3 with serial connectivity to a RF modem 4 over RS 232C serial port 5. The programmable logic controller 3 is responsible for initiating a communciation over RF link. The RF modem 4 transmits/receives data to its peer over RF network. The programmable logic controller consists of suitable logic initiating the communication and decoding data received from a hand held terminal 10 over RF network. The decoded data is then processed with interlocking logic of the programmable logic controller 3. Output of the programmable logic controller 3 is interfaced to a control system 6 of a housing shifting mechanism 1. The mill housing shifting mechanism 1 is a hydraulically operated system used to change the roll pass and align the same. It is provided with appropriate cylinders for clamping and unclamping the roll and to shift the roll to drives side or work side. The operator controls its movement from an operator station 7 having suitable control buttons. The operator station 7 and hydraulic actuator 8 are interfaced to the programmable logic controller control system 6 for effective contrl of the system. The housing shifting mechanism 1 is controlled by suitable programmable logic controller which receives operator inputs from operator control station 7 and generates output based on the interlocking and sequencing logic of the programmable logic controller. The base unit 2 is interfaced to the control system over digital input and outputs. Hence the command received from the base unit 2 is processed by the control system 6 to activate the housing shifting mechanism 1. The other part of the system of the present invention is a hand held terminal unit 10. It consists of two selector switches and various push buttons to control movement of the clamp and cylinders of the housing shifting mechanism 1. The selector switches and pushbuttons are connected to binary data acquisition modules 12 sitting over RS 485 network 14 in the hand held terminal. The data acquisition modules 12 pass on switch status to a RD modem 13 of the hand held terminal over RS 485 network. This RF modem 13 in turn sends these modem statuses to the base unit 2 when requested by the base unit for the same over wireless network. WE CLAIM: 1. A remote control system for mill housing shifting in rolling mills, characterized in that, said remote control system comprises : a base unit for initiating communication for receiving and transmitting data over RF link; and a hand held terminal unit for transmitting switch status to the base unit; said base unit interfaced with a control system of a mill housing shifting mechanism for processing the command received from the base unit and activating the housing shifting mechanism. 2. The remote control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base unit comprises a programmable logic controller with serial connectivity to a RF modem for decoding and processing data received from said hand held terminal. 3. The remote control system as claimed in preceding claims, wherein said hand held terminal comprises selector switches and push buttons connected to binary data acquisition modules for passing on switch status to a RF modem of said hand held terminal over RS 485 network. 4. A remote control system as claimed in preceding claims, wherein said mill housing shifting mechanism is a hydraulically operated mechanism. 5. The remote control system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said mill housing shifting mechanism is provided with cylinders for clmaping and unclamping rolls and for shifting said roll to drive side or work side. 6. The remote control system as claimed in claim i, wherein said base unit is provided with a programmable logic controller with serial connectivity to a RF modem for communicating over RF link with said hand held unit. 7. The remote control system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said programmable logic controller is interfaced with a control system and an operator control station for actuating hydraulic actuators of said mill housing shifting mechanism. 8. The remote control system as claimed in claims 6 and 7, wherein said programmable logic controller is configured for receiving a command from the base unit and for generating an output signal based on the interlocking and sequencing logic of said programmable logic a controller, thereby activating the housing shifting mechanism. 9. A remote control system for mill housing shifting in rolling mills substantially as herein described and illustrated. A remote control system for mill housing shifting in rolling mills, characterized in that said remote control system comprises : a base unit (2) for initiating communication for receiving and transmitting data over RF link; and a hand held terminal unit (10) for transmitting switch status to the base unit; said base unit interfaced with a control system (6) of a mill housing shifting mechanism (1) for processing the command received from the base unit (2) and activating the housing shifting mechanism.

Documents:

491-KOL-2004-(05-12-2011)-FORM-27.pdf

491-KOL-2004-CORRESPONDENCE 1.1.pdf

491-KOL-2004-FORM 15.pdf

491-kol-2004-granted-abstract.pdf

491-kol-2004-granted-claims.pdf

491-kol-2004-granted-correspondence.pdf

491-kol-2004-granted-description (complete).pdf

491-kol-2004-granted-drawings.pdf

491-kol-2004-granted-examination report.pdf

491-kol-2004-granted-form 1.pdf

491-kol-2004-granted-form 18.pdf

491-kol-2004-granted-form 2.pdf

491-kol-2004-granted-form 3.pdf

491-kol-2004-granted-gpa.pdf

491-kol-2004-granted-reply to examination report.pdf

491-kol-2004-granted-specification.pdf

491-KOL-2004-PA.pdf