Design and Analysis of Hot Plate Lifting and Turning Mechanism for Rolling Operation

Abstract

The title of project “Hot Plate Lifting and Turning Mechanism for Rolling Operation”, itself indicates the outer theme of the project. The mechanism which has capacity to lift 40 MT hot plate at 960°C is being designed, analyzed, manufactured and installed as per the requirement of Larsen & Toubro Heavy Engineering Ltd, Hazira.

The core part of thesis includes top and bottom frame assembly design, gripper assembly design, slewing ring and gear motor selection and installation, bolting arrangement and it’s design to assemble slewing ring, winch selection and its mounting, linkage design etc. Materials of critical parts of mechanism are selected as per the requirement.

The main purpose of the project is to design a mechanism which can able to lift the hot plate and convey it from furnace to rolling machine. Hot plate width varying from 1.5 meter to 4.5 meter and thickness ranges from 100 to 300 mm. The working envelope of mechanism and shop floor space available is also considered during design of mechanism.

All parts of the mechanism are modeled and assembled using CAD software SOLID EDGE ST6. Rigid dynamic analysis is carried out using FEA software ANSYS WORKBENCH 14.5. Structural analysis of overall design model and major parts of mechanism are carried out with the help of FEA software NX 7.5.