Rotational speed control system for rolling mill pouring reels

Abstract

A rolling mill pouring reel automated control system for dynamically regulating pouring reel rotational speed based at least in part on forward velocity of rolled stock product approaching the pouring reel. Product forward velocity is sensed by the control system that in turn uses the sensed forward velocity to adjust the pouring reel steady state rotational speed and/or wobble oscillation of the rotational speed. The control system preferably regulates the interrelationship between the product forward velocity and reel rotational speed in a closed feedback loop.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for coiling a rolled product in a rolling mill pouring reel, comprising:
 sensing forward velocity of the rolled product prior to entry into a pouring reel with a sensor system; and   dynamically varying pouring reel actual rotational speed based at least in part on the sensed forward velocity of the rolled product.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dynamically varying step is performed in a closed loop control system utilizing the forward velocity as an input and outputting a reference rotational speed that the pouring reel will utilize to adjust its actual rotational speed. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the closed loop control system utilizes a control function selected from the group consisting of proportional-integral-differential control, adaptive control and artificial neural network control. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the sensor system is selected from the group consisting of ultrasonic sensors, Doppler sensors, optical sensors, laser optical sensors, and correlation of rolling mill rolls rotational speed with the rolled product forward velocity that is passing through said rolls. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dynamically varying step is performed automatically based on the sensed forward velocity of the rolled product. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dynamically varying step is performed in real time based on the sensed forward velocity of the rolled product. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor system is a non-contact sensor system selected from the group consisting of ultrasonic sensors, Doppler sensors, optical sensors, laser optical sensors, and correlation of rolling mill rolls rotational speed with the rolled product forward velocity that is passing through said rolls. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dynamically varying step is performed automatically and in real time based on the sensed forward velocity of the rolled product. 
     
     
         9 . A computer software storage medium apparatus, comprising:
 non-transient software stored in a non-volatile storage medium for operating a rolling mill pouring reel actual rotational speed control system that is coupled to said pouring reel, the control system having a processor coupled to a memory device, the control system capable of retrieving and storing a copy of said software from said medium and causing said processor to execute said software to control the pouring reel actual rotational speed by:   determining forward velocity of the rolled product prior to entry into the pouring reel with a speed sensor coupled thereto; and   dynamically varying pouring reel actual rotational speed based at least in part on the forward velocity of the rolled product.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the software causes the processor to perform the dynamically varying step with a closed loop control system utilizing the forward velocity as an input therein and outputting a reference rotational speed that the pouring reel will utilize to adjust its actual rotational speed; the closed loop control function selected from the group consisting of proportional-integral-differential control, adaptive control, and artificial neural network control. 
     
     
         11 . A control system for a rolling mill pouring reel, comprising:
 a pouring reel controller adapted for operative coupling to a rolling mill pouring reel drive system, for dynamically varying pouring reel actual rotational speed by outputting a reference rotational speed to the drive system that causes said drive system to conform the actual rotational speed to the reference rotational speed; and   a sensor system, coupled to the pouring reel controller, adapted for sensing forward velocity of rolled product prior to entry into a pouring reel, for inputting forward velocity information to the controller;   wherein the pouring reel controller dynamically varies the reference rotational speed based at least in part on the sensed forward velocity.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the pouring reel controller further comprises a closed loop control system that utilizes the forward velocity as an input thereof and generates the reference rotational speed as an output thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the closed loop control system utilizes a control function selected from the group consisting of proportional-integral-differential control, adaptive control, and artificial neural network control. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the sensor system is selected from the group consisting of ultrasonic sensors, Doppler sensors, optical sensors, laser optical sensors, correlation of rolling mill rolls rotational speed with the rolled product forward velocity that is passing through said rolls. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the dynamically varying step is performed automatically based on the sensed forward velocity of the rolled product. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the dynamically varying step is performed in real time based on the sensed forward velocity of the rolled product. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11  operatively coupled to a rolling mill comprising:
 a plurality of rolling stands for rolling elongated product stock to a rolled shape; 
 a pinch roll downstream the rolling stands for advancing the rolled product to a pouring reel, wherein the sensor system is oriented proximal said pinch roll for sensing product forward velocity; 
 a pouring reel downstream the pinch roll for receiving and coiling rolled product therein; 
 a pouring reel drive system coupled to the pouring reel, for rotating the pouring reel to an actual rotational speed based on reference rotational speed outputs received from the pouring reel controller. 
 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the pouring reel controller further comprises a closed loop control system that utilizes the forward velocity as an input thereof and generates the reference rotational speed as an output thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the pouring reel controller dynamically varies the reference rotational speed automatically based on the sensed forward velocity of the rolled product. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the pouring reel controller dynamically varies at least one rolling stand roll parting gap based on the sensed forward velocity of the rolled product.