Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PILOT OPERATED COOLANT CONTROL VALVES
IN MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY
Backgroulld Or the Invention
Technical Field:
This invention relates -to rolling mills in general and
more particularly to rolling mills where aluminum is being
reduced to thin gauge sheets and still more particularly
to coolant applying devices -for said lolling mills.
Description of the Prior Art:
Prior coolant applying devices used on rolling mills
have arranged elongated maniiolds parallel with the work
and backup rolls oi the rolling mill and directed ~luids,
such as kerosene, through individual spray nozzles on the
mani~olds against the rolls o~ the mlll to provide temperature
control and lubrication during the rolling opera-tion. The
known prior art patents are Nos. 3,880,358, 4,4~7,047 and
4,400,961.
Several prior art pa-tents relate to pilot operated
con-trol valves including Nos. 3,145,967, 3,159,374 and
4,391,296. In each o-~ these pa-ten-ts, solenoicl operated
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valves are disclosed which theorectically control fluid
directed therethrough.
In Patent 3,145,967 an elastic sleeve is arranged in
spaced relation about a core positioned in a rluid passageway
to be controlled. An annular cavity in the valve around
the exterior sur-face Oe the elastic sleeve enables air
pressure to be introduced so as to distort -the plastic
sleeve inwardly against the core and thus close the -fluid
passageway. The air pressure is contro]led by a solenoid
opera-ted valve.
In Pa-tent 3,159,374, a f]exible diaphragm is positioned
to intercep-t a -f]uid passageway through the valve when
fluid pressure is applied to one side o-f the diaphragm
so as to distort the same into closing relation to the fluid
passageway controlled thereby. The fluid pressure -for
operating the diaphragm is controlled by a solenoid valve.
Paten-t 4,391,29~ discloses a valve in which a valve
plug moves into and out of closing relation with respect
to a -fluid passageway extending between an in]ct por-t
and an outle-t por-t wi-th the valve plug being urged to
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closed posi-tion in the fluid passageway by a spring and
moved to open position by a solenoid. A piston is
positioned in an extension of the fluid passageway and a
secondary inlet por-t is in communication with the -1uid
passageway below the pis-ton so that manual operation of
the valve can be achieved by introducing hydraulic pressure
into the second inlet port so as to move the piston in the
fluid passageway where it will engage and open -the valve
plug.
The present invention is dependent upon the positive
control of the coolan-t by each of the plurality of pilot
operated valves in the manifold assembly. These valves
must shut off instantly, as :Eor example when a -1ash ~ire
occurs and -the continued spraying of the coolan-t liquid,
such as kerosene, would feed the fire and destory -the rolling
mill. The prior art pilot operated control valves are unable
to e-ffect instantaneous posi-tive shut-off action and are
subject to faul-ty operation due to dir-t or particles of
foreign materials in the coolan-t supply.
The prior art coolan-t con-trol valves generally do not
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fail sa-fe whi.ch is extremely important when the cool.ant,
whi.ch is commonly kerosene, is -flammable. Generally~
-the prior ar-t coolant valves require complete disman-tling
of the valve bodies and the operab]e parts whereas in the
present inven-tion the va].ve bodies defining the valve
seats and the movab.Le valve elements -take -the -form of
quickly and easily removable cartridges and due to their
novel construction and opera-ting pa-tterns are able -to
operate successfully and close comp:Letely and quickly
despite the presence of dirt and/or foreign ma-terials in
the coolan-t supply.
This invention eliminates the problems tha-t here-tofore
existed in connection wi-th pilo-t operated coolan-t control
valves arranged in and supplied by manifold assemblies.
Summary of the Invention
A pilot operated coolant control valve assembly on
a coo].ant control manifold provides a plurality of fail-
safe valve elements in removable car-tri.dge-like assemblies con-trolling
the supply of coolan-t, such as kerosene to individual spray
nozzles direc-ted at rolling mill rolls and -the l:ike. Each
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of the multiple coolant control valves is operable to open
position by solenoids incorporated therein and operable -to
closed position by de-energization of the solenoids and the
resultan-t hydraulic actua-tion o-f the pilot valve elements
by the collant. Ins-tan-taneous shut-down o-f the coolan-t spray
means is therefore achieved by simple de-energiza-tion O e
the several solenoids controlling the pilo-t ~a~ves, which
in turn con-trol the coolant con-trol valves which control
the coolant supplied the spray nozzles o-f the manifold assembly.
Descrip-tion of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a symbolic illustration of a pair o-f work
lol.ls and associa-ted backup rolls of a. rolling mill with a
fluid collecting trough -therebelow and several fluid spraying
mani-foldassembli.es therebeside;
Figure 2 is a perspective eleva-tion of a plurality of
coolant control valves on a manifold assembly;
Figure 3 is an exploded perspective eleva-tion of one O:e
the coolan-t control valves, a body member, a nozz.le plate,
a coolant valve body valve element for opera-tion therein
and a pair of solenoid opera-ted pilot valves wi-th par-ts
broken away and par-ts in cross section;
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Figure ~ is a perspective view of the reverse side o-f
the valve body seen in Figure 3 of the drawings;
Figure 5 is a cross sectional elevation transversely
of the control valve and manifold assembly of Figure 2
with parts broken away and parts in cross section;
Figure 6 is a side eleva-tion of one of the coolant
valve assemblies and opera-ting solenoids of Figure S wi-th
parts broken away and parts in cross section; and
Figure 7 is a side eleva-tion of one of the coolant
valves of Figure 5 with parts broken away and parts in cross
section and illus-trating the wiring for operating the solenoid
pilot valve thereof.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
By referring to Fi.gure 1 of the drawings, it will be
seen -that a diagramma-tic illustration of a rolling mill
discloses superimposed work rolls 10 and 11 engagcd on a
pass line 12 and having backup rolls 13 and 1~ as will be
understood by those skilled in the ar-t.
Means for driving the rolls is not illustrated. A
coolant collec-tion trough 15 is shown and :Eour.vertically
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spaced coolant con-trol valve manifold assemblies 16 are shown
positioned in spaced relation to the work rolls 10 and 11
and the backup rolls 13 and 1~. Means for circulating a
coolant fluid such as kerosene from the colleeting -trough
15 to the mani-folcl assembly 16 is indicated by broken lines
17.
By referring to Figure 2 o-f the drawings, a perspec-tive
elevation of one of the coolan-t control valve manifold
assemblies 16 may be seen and it is formed of an elollgated
housing 18 closed at i-ts ends 19 and 20 and provided with
end ex-tensions 21 and 22 including moun-ting and ad~jus-tment
plates 23 and 2~ by which the housing 18 is suppor-ted
adjacent a roll of a rolling mill as hereinbefore described
in connection.with Figure 1 of the drawings.
Inlet ports 25, see Figure 5, comprise means for deliver-
ing a coolant, such as kerosene -thereinto and a plurality
of body members 26 are sealingly at-tached to an open side
of the housing 18 ancl carry nozzle pla-tes 27, each of which
carries one or more spray nozzles 28 -through which coolan-t
is selectively directed to the rolls of -the rolling mill in
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desirable volume and spray pattern.
A horizontal section -through one of the elongated
housings 18 and one of -the pilot operated coolan-t
control valve assemblies secured thereto is seen in Figure
5 o-~ the drawings.
By referring now -to Figures 3,4 and 5 of the drawings,
it will be seen that each o-f the plurality of pilot operated
coolant control valves is moun-ted in apertures 29 in each
of -the body members 26 and -tha-t each of the coolant c-on-trol valves
comprises a cylindrical valve body 30 having several openings
32 circumferentially spaced therein. Several annular seals,
such as 0-rings 33 are carried in annular grooves in the
cylindrical valve body 30 which sealingly engage the apertures
29 in the bocly member 26 and a cross sectionally circular
cavity 34 in each of a plurali-ty of coil car-tridge bodies
35.
By referring to Figure 5 in particular, it will be
seen -that each of -the coil car-tridge bodies 35 has several
openings 36 therein which communicate with the cross
sectionally circular cavi-ty 34 therein and each of the bodies
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35 is provided with an annular ilange 37 on one end which
registers in an annular cavity 38 in the body member 26.
Annular seals such as 0-rings 39 are positioned be-tween
-the annular flanges 37 of the coil cartridge bodies 35 and
the open side of the elongated housing 18.
Re~erring again -to Figures 3,4 and 5 of the drawings,
it will be seen tha-t a cylindrical valve element 40 having
a closed conical end 41 is movably positioned in the
cylindrical valve body 30 so as to be movable therein
relative to the openings 32 in the area of reduced diameter
31 of -the cylindrical valve body 30. It will also be seen
that the inner diameter Or the cylindrical valve body 30
is increased in the area -thereof in which the cylindrical
valve element 40 is slidably moun-ted and that a portion of
the closed conical end 41 of the valve element 40 is posi-
tioned in the enlarged inner area when the valve element
40 is in closed rela-tion to the hollow interior of the
cylindrical val-ve body 30 as best shown in Figure 5 of
the drawings. A spri.ng 42 is positioned within -the
cy~indrical valve body 40 and engaged against the inner
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surface o-f -the closed end 41 thereof and agairlst a cen-trally
aper-tured disc 43 which is secured in one end of -the
cylindrical valve body 30.
By again rererring -to Figure 5 of the drawings, it will
be observed that a passageway 45 establishes communication
between -the inner end Oe the cross sectionally circular
cavity 34 in the cartridge carrying body 35 and a pilo-t
valve chamber 46 therein. A solenoid plunger 47 is movably
disposed in a sleeve 48 which de-fines part of the pilot valve
chamber 46 and which sleeve 48 is positioned within a solenoid
coil 49 which is encapsulated by a suitable resin 50 which holds
-the solenoid coil 49 in an enlarged cavity 51 in the coil
cartridge body 35. The sleeve 48 has a collar 52 posi-tioned
on -the end thereof opposite the pilo-t valve chamber 46 therein
and a passageway 53 in the sleeve ~8 communicates with the
opening defined by the collar 52 which thereby es-tablishes
communication with the in-terior of the elonga-ted housing 18
forming the manifold of -the device.
S-till referring to Figure 5 O:e the drawi.ngs, it
will be seen tha-t -the plunger 47 has secondary valve
elements comprising resilient seals in each of its
opposi-te ends, one of which will engage and close -the
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passageway 53 when the plunger 47 moves -to the right
responsive to energization o~ the coil 49. The seal in the
opposite end of the plunger 47 engages and closes an opening
in a pilot valve seat 54 when the coil 49 is de-energized and
a spr:ing and fluld pressure of the coolant in the e]ongated
housing 18 moves the plunger 47 to the left as illus-tra-ted
in Figure 5 oE the drawings. When -this occurs, the fluid
pressure extends through the pilo-t valve chamber 46, the
passageway 45, and communicates wi-th the in-terior of the
cylindrical valve body 30 and the in-terior o-f the cylindrical
valve element 40 therein and with the added urging oi the
spring 42 moves the conical end closure 4~ oi the valve
element 40 into closed rela-tion with -the valve seat -~ormed
by the di-Eferen-t inner diameters of the cylindrical valve
body 30 thereby closing a fluid passageway 55 defined by
-the cylindrical valve body 30 and which passageway 55
communicates with an extension -thereof in the nozzle plate
27 and the spray nozzle 28 engaged therein.
It will thus be seen that -the coolant fluid in the
elongated housing 18 which has been -flow:ing through -the
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openings 36 in -the coil cartri.dge bodies 35 and through the
interior of the cylindrical valve body 30 and the ~luid pass-
ageway 55 de-fined -thereby is ins-tantly stopped by -the over-
balancing O r the urging o~ -the spring 42 against the
cylindrical valve element 40 by the iluid pressure o-~ the
coolan-t fluid in the elonga-ted housing 18 which extends
inwardly o~ the passageway 53 and -through the pilot valve
chamber 46 around the smaller diameter plunger 47 -therein
and through the passageway 45 and into the interior o~ the
cylindrical valve body 30.
The opening o~ the ~luid passageway comprising the
openings 36 in the coil. cartridge bodies 35 and the fluid
passageway 55 in -the cylindrical. valve body 30 is equally
rapid because, as bes-t illus-tra-ted in Figure 6 of the drawings,
energiza-tion o~ the solenoid coil 49 moves the plunger 47
to the right closing -the inner end o~ the -~luid passageway
53 and simultaneously moving away irom the pilot valve seat
54 and the opening therein which communlca-tes wi-th a vent pas
sageway 75 in the coil cartri.dge body 35 and which vent
passageway 75 extends through -the body member 26
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and the nozzle pia-te 27 -to atmosphere. Thus fluid in the
interior of the cylindrical valve body 30 and -the interior
oE -the cylindrical ~alve element 40 is ven-ted -to atmosphere
by way of -the pilot valve chamber ~6 and the passageway
~5 and the over-ba:Lancing of -the spring ~2 ends. The
pressure of -the coolan-t fluid in the elonga-ted housing
18 can thus extend through the openings 36 into the cross
sectionally circular cavi-ty 34 and -through -the openings
32 where it will engage the conical closed end ~1 of
the valve element 40 and move the same to -the right as
seen in Figure 6 to full open position and against the
urging of the spring ~2. The coolant -Eluid -thus ins-tantly
f]ows through -the openirlgs 36 and 32 and in-to the passageway
55defined by -the cylindrical valve body 30 and through -the
spray nozzles 28 engaged in the extension -thereof.
The circuit for energizing the solenoid coil ~9 is
carried by conductors 57 and 58 positioned in -the cavity
51 and ex-tensions thereof and extend from -the coil ~9
to terminal pins 59 and 60 as seen in Figure 3 o:E -the
drawings and which pins 59 and 60 project :Erom the base
of the coil cartridge body 35 inwardly of -the annular flange
37 thereon. Th~ cavities 51 and the passageways in l~
co:il cartridge bodies 35 through which conducto:rs ext.erld
to -the terminal pins 58 and 59 are filled with an epoxy
resin used for erlcapsu~La-ting -the conduc-tors 57 and 58 and
the solenoid coil ~9 and as heretofore referred to and
indicated in ~igures 5 and 6 o-l -the drawings by -the
reference numerals 50.
By referring to Figure 4 of the drawings, i-t will be
seen that receptacles 61 and 62 are formecl in -the recessed
area 38 of -the body members 26 around the aper-tures 29
for the reception of the terminal pins 59 and 60 and by
again re:~erring -to ~igure 3 of -the drawings, it will be
seen that each of -the coil cartridge bodies 35 and the base
thereof has at least a pair of alignment pins 63 which
projec-t ~rom the base o -the coil car-tridge body 35 in
spaced relation to -the terminal pins 59 and 60 and are
arranged to register with match:ing socke-ts 64 in the recessed
area 38 of the body mernber 26 as seen in Figure ~ of the
drawings. This cons-truc-tiorl prevents rotation of the coil
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cartridge bodies 35 wi-th respect to -the body members 26
and insures sa-tisiactory electrical contact between the
terminal pins 59 and 60 and the receptacles 61 and 62.
By re-~erring -to Figure 7 Or the drawings, it will be
seen that the body member 26 is provided with -two vertical
bores 65 which ex-tend upwardly -therein rrom the bottom
thereo~ and communica-te with horizontal bores 66 in which
-the electrical receptacles 61 and 62 are positioned.
Conduc-tors 67 and 68 extend :Crom the receptacles 61 and 62
into the vertical bores 65 and downwardly therethrough to
points inwardly o~ the lower end o~ the body member 26
and as illustrated in Figure ~ connect with an electrical
connection plug 69 which is positioned in a cylindrical
body 70 having exteriorly arranged threads ~or the reception
and engagemen-t o~ a matching elec-trical connection plug
(not shown). The electrical connection plug 69 and its
mounting are secured to -the body member 26 by :ras-teners
71.
In completed assembly, -the elec-trical connection plugs
Z0 69 irl their cylindrical bodies extend ~rorn the back sur~aces
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of the body members26 and below -the elongated horizon-tal
housing 18. A wiring harness (not shown) carrying a
plurality o-E -the matching electrical connection plugs
enables electrical connection to be made -Erom a control
means (not shown) to each o:E the electrical connection plugs
69 on each oE the body members 26 thus providing for the
simultaneous con-trol oE -the pilot operated coolant control
valvesthrough which the coolant is delivered to the rolls
oE the rolling mill.
The body members oE the device oE the invention are
pre:Eerably s-tainless steel and as hereinbe;Eore described, .
it will be recognized -that the ac-tual coolant controlling
valves are formed as readily replaceable poppet cartridges
which can be readily removed and inspected and/or replaced
i-~ necessary by simply removing the noæzle plate 27 which is
attached -to -the body member 26 by Eastener 72.
The coi:L car-tridge bodies 35 are similarly a-ttached to
-the body member 26 by -fasteners 73.
The so]enoidcoils baing sealed and held in place by encapsula-
tion in the epoxy resin are pro-tec-ted Erom damage which might
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otherwise occur from the coolant in which -the coil cartridge
bodies 35 are submerged. The solenoid coils 49 are
designed to opera-te at 24 volts DC and draw a maximum of
.30 amps. The plungers 47 and the coils 49 are so designed
tha-t the same are fully opera-tional at 85% of the indicated
voltage and thus evidence small power requirements which
substantially improve the device, both with resPect to
automa-tic and manual imput signals for operation.
Those skilled in the art of rolling mill reduction of
metals will be familiar with the fact that tbe continuous
direction of a su.itable coolant such as kerosene as
specified herein on the work and back up rolls of the
rolling mill, in effect controls-thetemperature o~ -the
work rolls and thereby -the -thlckness of the metal being
rolled. ~ desirable coolant temperature easily maintained
with the presen-t sys-tem is between 90F.and 160F. with coolant
pressure supplied -the plurali-ty of sp.ray nozzles 28 a-t
varying, desired pressures be-tween 10 and 100 p.s.i. The
nozzles 28 are preferably arranged for indexing a-t 15 from
a -transverse center line so as to insure complete coverage
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of -the work and backup rolls of the rolling mill on whic
the device is used.
A typical pilot operated coolant valve assembly as
disclosed herein will opera-te successfully for several
million cycles and consis-tently avoid leakage when
in closed or non-operati.ng status.
It will thus be seen -that substantia]ly improvecl
pilot operated coolan-t control va~.vesin manifold assembly
have been disclosed and -that although but one embodimen-t
1~ of the present invention has been illustrated and
described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the
art tha-t various changes and modifica-tions may be made
-therein withou-t departing from the spirit O:e the invention
or from the scope of -the appended claims and having thus
described my invention what I claim is: ,
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