Non-contact magnetic steering

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11125271-B2
Application number	US-202016914871-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2020
Priority date	Jun 9, 2015
Publication date	Sep 21, 2021
Grant date	Sep 21, 2021

Abstract

A method of steering a moving metal strip by positioning one or more magnetic rotors near a metal strip. Each rotor includes one or more permanent magnets and rotates to impart a changing magnetic field on the metal strip passing nearby. The magnetic rotors can rotate around an axis of rotation that is parallel to the longitudinal direction of travel of the metal strip. The magnetic rotors can be positioned to impart forces on the strip in any combination of laterally, vertically, or longitudinally. A control mechanism can control the rotor speed, rotor direction, vertical position of the rotors, vertical spacing between rotors, and/or lateral position of the rotors. In some cases, the control mechanism can be coupled to sensors, such as a light curtain and a laser distance sensor, in order to provide closed loop feedback control of a metal strip passing through the non-contact magnetic rotor steering device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of steering a moving metal strip, comprising:
passing a metal strip in a direction of travel along a desired passline of processing equipment, the metal strip adjacent to first and second rotors laterally offset from a centerline of the metal strip and spaced apart from a surface of the metal strip;
rotating each of the first and second rotors about respective first and second axes of rotation to induce a changing magnetic field at the moving metal strip, the first and second axes of rotation being non-collinear and intersecting a plane perpendicular to the direction of travel of the metal strip; and
generating a force in the moving metal strip in response to the changing magnetic fields to steer the centerline of the metal strip towards a centerline of the desired passline of the processing equipment.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sensing a position of the metal strip; and
controlling an actuator coupled to at least one of the first and second rotors based on the sensed position, wherein controlling the actuator includes adjusting at least one of a horizontal or a vertical position of the at least one of the first and second rotors.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
accessing a pre-determined parameter of the strip; and
controlling an actuator coupled to at least one of the first and second rotors based on the pre-determined parameter, wherein controlling the actuator includes adjusting at least one of a horizontal or a vertical position of the at least one of the first and second rotors.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein accessing the pre-determined parameter of the strip includes accessing at least one selected from the group consisting of strip width, strip thickness, and location of the centerline of the desired passline.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sensing a position of the metal strip; and
controlling a speed of rotation of at least one of the first and second rotors based on the sensed position.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein passing the metal strip includes passing the metal strip at a tension at or below 40 Mpa.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein passing the metal strip includes passing the metal strip at a tension at or below 5 Mpa.

8. A metal processing system, comprising:
processing equipment for receiving a moving metal strip, the processing equipment having a desired passline; and
a magnetic rotor steering device positionable proximate the moving metal strip, the magnetic rotor steering device comprising first and second rotors that rotate about respective first and second axes of rotation, wherein the first and second axes of rotation are non-collinear, intersect a plane perpendicular to a direction of travel of the moving metal strip, and are laterally offset from a centerline of the moving metal strip at the plane, and wherein each of the first and second rotors are rotatable to induce a changing magnetic field at the moving metal strip to generate a force in the moving metal strip to steer the centerline of the moving metal strip towards a centerline of the desired passline of the processing equipment.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processing equipment is selected from a furnace zone and a cooling zone of a continuous annealing line.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the magnetic rotor steering device is positioned adjacent at least one of an entrance of the processing equipment and an exit of the processing equipment.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the magnetic rotor steering device is positioned between an entrance of the processing equipment and an exit of the processing equipment.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processing equipment includes an outer wall having a recessed section, wherein the magnetic rotor steering device is positioned at least partially within the recessed section.

13. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
one or more actuators coupled to at least one of the first and second rotors to adjust vertical, horizontal, or vertical and horizontal positioning of the at least one of the first and second rotors; and
a controller coupled to a sensor and the one or more actuators to adjust the vertical, horizontal, or vertical and horizontal positioning of the at least one of the first and second rotors in response to a signal from the sensor.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first and second rotors includes one or more permanent magnets.

15. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first rotor is adjacent a first edge of the moving metal strip and the second rotor is adjacent a second edge of the moving metal strip, wherein the first edge is located opposite the centerline of the moving metal strip from the second edge.

16. The system of claim 8 , wherein the moving metal strip is unsupported by a physically contacting support for a section of the processing equipment, and wherein the magnetic rotor steering device is positioned within the section.

Assignees

• Novelis Inc

Inventors

• Kosmicki Michael
• Bommarito Michael
• Gaensbauer David
• Wagstaff Robert Bruce
• Custers David Michael

Classifications

• H01F7/0247 Primary

  Orientating, locating, transporting arrangements · CPC title

• H02K7/09

  with magnetic bearings · CPC title

• B21C47/3483 Primary

  Magnetic field · CPC title

• F16C32/0406 Primary

  Magnetic bearings · CPC title

• H02N15/00

  Holding or levitation devices using magnetic attraction or repulsion, not otherwise provided for (electric or magnetic devices for holding work on machine tools B23Q3/15 {; monorail vehicle propulsion or suspension B60L13/00}; sliding or levitation devices for railway systems B61B13/08; material handling devices associated with conveyors incorporating devices with electrostatic or magnetic grippers B65G47/92; separating thin or filamentary articles from piles using magnetic force B65H3/16; delivering thin or filamentary articles from magnetic holders by air blast or suction B65H29/24; bearings using magnetic or electric supporting means F16C32/04; relieving bearing loads using magnetic means F16C39/06; magnets H01F7/00; dynamo-electric clutches or brakes H02K49/00 {; electric furnaces with simultaneous levitation and heating H05B6/32}) · CPC title