Method and an apparatus to control the lateral motion of a long metal bar being formed by a mechanical process such as rolling or drawing
- Ann Arbor, MI
An adjustable guide, includes two or more mechanisms each having a rotatable retaining element containing a retaining groove with a variable radius in its perimeter surface. The grooves form a guidance path to control the lateral, i.e. non-axial, motion of a long bar moving along a longitudinal axis during a production process.The diameter of the guidance path varies according to the variable radii of the grooves. The guidance path increases in size at a predetermined rate, from a point of origin to an end point on the retaining groove. Rotating the retaining elements causes the diameter of the retaining grooves to change so that the size of the guidance path can be changed to match the diameter of the bar being rolled, size of the guidance path can be changed to fit the diameter of a new bar rolled without having to exchange the guide for a different sized guide, reduce fiction between the bar and the guide, a media, such as compressed air, can be injected between the retaining elements via orifices.Each retaining element is attached to a mounting apparatus. The mounting apparatus can be fixed or flexible. The flexible mounting apparatus includes one or more springs and one or more shock absorbers. A force neutral position of the flexible mounting apparatus is designed to be located on the predetermined ideal bar path line. The flexible mounting apparatus dissipates kinetic energy from the bar thereby reducing the bar's lateral motion relative to the ideal bar path line.The damping ratio of the mounting apparatus can be adjustable to alter the product's vibration mode to enable better control of the bar's lateral motion.
- Research Organization:
- OG Technologies, Inc. (Ann Arbor, MI)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- FC36-95GO14003
- Assignee:
- OG Technologies, Inc. (Ann Arbor, MI)
- Patent Number(s):
- 7,275,404
- Application Number:
- 11/284,508
- OSTI ID:
- 917202
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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