In response to a multi-industry need, Winkle Engineering has designed a system which accurately oils or coats a moving metal strip: the patented "Precision Oil Application System".
While oil is most commonly applied, other liquid coatings may also benefit from the use of this system. It alone addresses every one of the specifications listed below:
Prototype Design
A multi-segmented pump driven by a single shaft supplies oil evenly across the strip (even down to minute oil flow amounts) precisely and without plugging. There are no valve seats or check valves to wear or malfunction and basic flow paths are large. To vary the application rate, simply vary the speed of the pump shaft. This can be done by a variable speed motor drive or by a driven roll mounted to the device driving the pump through appropriate gearing. The variable speed motor drive can receive a signal from the line speed tachometer or other device to vary the application rate based on line speed. The pressure on the pads can be varied to further control oil application.
To adjust strip width, valves (solenoid or pneumatically controlled) are internally ported to divert oil, not needed for coverage of narrower strip, back to the inlet side of the pump. Accurate width control is achieved with no exposure of oil to the atmosphere nor loss of oil.
The oil or coating solution is delivered to special wear-resistant applicator pads with apply oil to the strip. The applicator pads which are spring loaded will conform to the shape of the strip so even rippled steel is uniformly coated. Winkle Roll Force Assemblies are used to position the Precision Oiler. There are no rotating applicators to sling oil and no excess oil discharged into the environment. All oil is coated onto the strip.
Maintenance is simple. All wearing parts in the oil delivery system are easily and economically replaced. The pad holders are reusable and only the pad material is discarded. Should rough edges damage a series of pads, only those pads damaged need be replaced. This is done at a fraction of the cost of replacing or resurfacing rolls.
High and low surface speed applications are handled equally well. The delivery-system pump RPM is slow (under 60 RPM), even at high strip speeds. The surface of applicator pads in contact with the strip is much greater than offered by any roll application method. The air build up in the boundary layer is broken since air can move through the space between applicator pads (like tread grooves on a tire) to avoid hydroplaning. The result...excellent coverage at high speeds.
The complexity of this problem may be underestimated. Please note the problems listed and proposed solutions which follow.
Add to these problems, the need to change strip width or the need to change oil or coating product for various customer specifications and the equipment provider starts to understand the complexity. Note, I said equipment providers, you, the operators, live with the problems and complexities daily.