The Three-Roll Six-Arm Assembly is an essential component for galvanizing lines, including hot-dip galvanizing, aluminum-zinc-silicon coating, zinc-aluminum-magnesium coating, and aluminizing lines. This assembly consists of wear-resistant and heat-resistant steel castings such as the sinking roll (or bottom roll), stabilizing rolls, support arms, shaft sleeves, and arm sleeves.
(1) Sinking Roll (Bottom Roll)
The sinking roll is a device positioned inside the zinc pot. The strip steel enters the pot through the furnace snout, passes under the sinking roll to be coated, and then exits the pot, proceeding through the stabilizing rolls and air knives to the alloying furnace or cooling section. The sinking roll is constantly immersed in molten aluminum-zinc solution. It has no drive mechanism of its own, functioning as a passive deflection roll. It is driven by the friction between the moving strip and the roll surface, and its primary function is to maintain tension in the strip.
(2) Stabilizing Rolls
Like the sinking roll, stabilizing rolls are also immersed in the zinc pot. They provide tension and guidance to the strip by adjusting their lateral position, ensuring the strip passes stably through the air knife system. Typically, two stabilizing rolls are arranged alternately on either side of the strip. They can be either driven or non-driven and are categorized as front and rear stabilizing rolls. Both are immersed in the molten aluminum-zinc bath. Their main function is to provide effective tension and guidance to the strip as it leaves the sinking roll, ensuring it passes continuously and stably through the air knives, thereby preventing strip vibration and helping to control the strip profile.
(3) Support Arms
The support arms hold the sinking roll and stabilizing rolls in place as they rotate. The lower part of the arms is immersed in the molten aluminum-zinc bath; therefore, the material for support arms must possess not only corrosion resistance but also sufficient high-temperature strength.
(4) Shaft Sleeves and Arm Sleeves
Shaft sleeves protect the roll shaft ends, while arm sleeves protect the support arms. These sleeves primarily function as sliding bearings. They are subjected to high contact stress and severe wear from the corrosive liquid aluminum-zinc environment, demanding high-performance materials. Shaft sleeves and arm sleeves are key consumable parts in continuous hot-dip aluminum-zinc coating lines. The quality of these components directly impacts the output and efficiency of the entire production line.