INTRODUCTION
Basic components of a rotary vessel are rings and rollers, forming its support
system. The vessel's primary movement is rotation, being accompanied by axial
displacement. Resistance of both movements is closely dependent on the contact
conditions between the surfaces of rollers and rings. Correct contact between
the two is guaranteed only when the raceways of both components are cylindrical
in shape. Unfortunately, even during normal operation, the rotary vessel is
exposed to numerous factors, which in a long run will cause deformation of the
contact surfaces, making the rolling components lose their original shape to a
larger or smaller degree.
Such factors are:
- roller shafts misalignment /1/;
- ring axial run-out /2/;
and they result in excessive and unevenly distributed loads on the contact
surfaces of the ring and the rollers.
Total elimination of the
above-mentioned factors is difficult, and sometimes even impossible. Shape
errors (
/3/,
/4/) are therefore
inevitable, and their magnitude and rate of occurrence depends on the number and
values of faults.
Even the smallest errors disturb the correct distribution
of forces in the rotary vessel's support system, as points appear where the unit
loads exceed the permissible values
/5/.
In extreme cases, such errors can cause serious
disturbances in the vessel's movement, both rotary and axial.
Movement
resistance and incorrect distribution of forces can result in considerable
damage, such as:
- wear, breaks of the thrust stop blocks /6/;
- bearing bushing damage by excessive loads /7/;
- breaks of the roller shafts' thrust collars;
- further, hastened wear of the rollers and rings raceways
caused by increased unit loads in the contact areas /8/,
/9/.
Such a movement resistance has also a negative effect on the drive system, where
the teeth wear in the gear unit is faster
/10/.
This creates
a feedback which results in further deformation of the rings raceways, this time
as characteristic furrows
/11/.
Removal of such a damage entails significant
costs caused by both, production downtime and elimination of the failure
results.
Periodical checks and restoration of the correct shape of rings and
rollers raceways is desirable from the technical point of view and fully
justified business-wise.
TRADITIONAL MACHINING
The shape can be restored in a traditional way: by dismantling and machining on stationary
equipment. In such case, the downtime is inevitable: if the rollers are
refurbished, the downtime will be shorter (a few dozens of hours); in case of
the ring, the downtime will be fairly long (several weeks).
The costs of
restoration are also sizeable, and include amongst others:
- dismantling and re-assembly (in case of the ring, often the kiln's shell needs to be cut);
- transport (difficult, as the parts are usually oversize);
- machining (machine tools are few and expensive).
Machining without dismantling any parts of the facility, even during its normal
operation can significantly reduce such costs.
In case of the rollers, which
axis of rotation is relatively stable, the available machining operations
include turning and grinding on more or less adapted traditional machine tools.
In case of raceway rings, changing position of the axis necessitates much
more sophisticated and refined technology, unavailable on a day-to-day basis.
The machining requires also a deep knowledge and an extensive experience in
measurements and adjusting such facilities.
NEW SOLUTION
The ZMP engineers do have such knowledge and experience.
The company has
independently engineered, manufactured and successfully implemented the advanced
equipment to machine the rings and rollers raceways without dismantling.
The
equipment in question is a high-capacity, abrasive belt grinder with a
self-adjusting positioning system (
/12/).
The axial displacement of the machined piece,
occurring always in the rings and sometimes in rollers, is compensated by two
rotary articulated joints in the grinder's support structure, which allow the
follow-up change of the equipment position (
/13/).
A specially designed roller guiding system ensures the stability of the machined
diameter. The solution is based on the three-point method of determining the
circle diameter (
/14/).
SCOPE OF THE SERVICE
With such specialized equipment and necessary engineering expertise in rotary
vessels, we can offer you the comprehensive service of refurbishing the raceways
of rollers and rings.
The service includes:
- strength analysis to determine the usefulness and possibility of removing the material layer necessary to restore a correct shape;
- measuring assistance and supervision of rollers position adjustment, which is necessary during the process;
- raceway regeneration (/15/,
/16/,
/17/,
/18/)
with control of the generator's diameter and shape on the machined piece.
ADVANTAGES
- no need for costly and time-consuming dismantling and re-assembly;
- elimination of expensive transport to and from the machining facility;
- minimizing the production losses (high capacity machining);
- during machining, the reference line is actual axis of rotation of the piece (high accuracy, minimal shape errors);
- small surface roughness after regeneration.
APPLICATION
- grinding the raceways of rotary vessels' rings and rollers,
- grinding other large rotary pieces, without dismantling.