U.S. patent application number 10/493583 was filed with the patent office on 2005-02-24 for method and casting/rolling mill for producing steel strips.
Invention is credited to Thomanek, Erik.
Application Number | 20050039320 10/493583 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7704583 |
Filed Date | 2005-02-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050039320 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Thomanek, Erik |
February 24, 2005 |
Method and casting/rolling mill for producing steel strips
Abstract
The invention relates to a method and a casting/rolling mill for
producing steel strips (1), in particular stainless steel strips,
based on the allocation of a conventional strip rolling train (4)
to a high-technology continuous casting installation (2). To
achieve an improved coupling of a continuous casting installation
(2) to a hot-rolling train (4), the invention provides different
combinations for an interface between the continuous casting
installation (2) and the hot-rolling train (4).
Inventors: |
Thomanek, Erik; (Dusseldorf,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FRIEDRICH KUEFFNER
317 MADISON AVENUE, SUITE 910
NEW YORK
NY
10017
US
|
Family ID: |
7704583 |
Appl. No.: |
10/493583 |
Filed: |
October 5, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
October 19, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP02/11727 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
29/527.7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B21B 1/46 20130101; B21B
45/004 20130101; Y10T 29/49991 20150115; B21B 3/02 20130101; B21B
2015/0057 20130101; B21B 1/26 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
029/527.7 |
International
Class: |
B21B 001/46 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 3, 2001 |
DE |
101 54 138.4 |
Claims
1. Process for producing steel strip (1), especially high-grade
steel strip, by casting and subsequent rolling in a hot wide strip
mill (4), at whose inlet continuously cast thick slabs (about 120
mm to 400 mm) are introduced from a reheating furnace (6) in front
of the hot wide strip mill (4), wherein continuously cast thin labs
(about 30 mm to 70 mm) and continuously cast medium slabs (about 70
mm to 120 mm) are introduced into rolling mills (3) intended for
continuously cast thick slabs (about 120 mm to 400 mm) after (with
respect to the rolling direction (3a)) reheating furnaces (6)
consisting of walking-beam furnaces (11).
2. Process in accordance with claim 1, wherein when a thin slab
enters the roughing train and/or the finish rolling train (10a;
10b), its temperature is the same as or well below or above that of
a medium slab on entrance into the roughing train and/or the finish
rolling train (10a; 10b), or the thickness of the thin slab is the
same as or below or above the thickness of a medium slab on
entrance into the roughing train and/or finish rolling train (10a;
10b).
3. Continuous casting and rolling mill for producing steel strip
(1), especially high-grade steel strip, with a continuous casting
machine (2) and a cutting device (5), which is followed by a hot
wide strip mill (4), before whose inlet for thick slabs (about 120
mm to 400 mm) a reheating furnace (6) is provided, and in the
further course of the rolling train (3), edge smoothing rolls,
descaling equipment, coiling equipment and the like are provided,
and in the further course of the rolling train, edge smoothing
rolls, descaling equipment, coiling equipment and the like are
provided, wherein the connection of the continuous casting machine
(2) with the hot strip mill (4) consists of a shear (5) installed
at the outlet (2a) of the continuous casting machine (2), a tunnel
furnace (6), and a parallel or swivel ferry (7a; 7b) or, in its
place, a coil box (9).
4. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3,
wherein an in-line mill (8) is provided within the continuous
casting machine (2), followed by the shear (5), the tunnel furnace
(6), and the coil box (9) and a coil handling system (9a), which
are connected with the hot strip mill (4).
5. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3,
wherein two or more continuous casting machines (2) with a parallel
course of the casting strands (2b), each of which passes through
its own shear (5) and tunnel furnace (6), are connected at the
tunnel furnace outlet (6a) to the pass line (3) of the roughing and
finish rolling train (10a; 10b) by means of a parallel ferr y
(7a).
6. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 5,
wherein a tunnel furnace parallel ferry (7a) can be moved back and
forth between the casting strands (2b).
7. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3,
wherein one or more walking-beam furnaces (11) are installed in the
pass line (3) after the tunnel furnace parallel ferry (7a) and
before the entrance of the strip into the roughing and finish
rolling trains (10a; 10b).
8. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3,
wherein, in the case of parallel arrangement of the casting strand
(2b) of the continuous casting machine (2) to the pass line (3), at
least the continuous casting machine (2), the shear (5), the tunnel
furnace (6), and the parallel ferry (7a) are installed in a rear
parallel section (12), and at least the one or more walking-beam
furnaces (11), a roughing train (10a), the parallel ferry (7a), and
the finish rolling train (10b), a finishing stand (14) or a Steckel
mill (15), and a strip coiler (16) are installed in a front
parallel section (13).
9. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3,
wherein, in the case of parallel arrangement of the casting strand
(2b) of the continuous casting machine (2) to the pass line (3), at
least the walking-beam furnaces (11), the parallel ferry (7a),
roughing and finish rolling trains (10a; 10b), a finishing stand
(14) or a Steckel mill, and a strip coiler (16) are installed in
succession in a rear parallel section (12), and at least the
continuous casting machine (2), the tunnel furnace (6), and the
parallel ferry (7a) are installed in a front parallel section
(13).
10. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3,
wherein, in the case of parallel arrangement of the casting strand
(2b) of the continuous casting machine (2) to the pass line (3), at
least the continuous casting machine (2) with a casting strand (2b)
running in the same or opposite direction to the rolling direction
(3a), the tunnel furnace (6) and the parallel ferry (7a) are
installed in a rear parallel section (12), and at least the one or
more walking-beam furnaces (11), roughing and finish rolling trains
(10a; 10b), the parallel ferry (7a), a finishing stand (14) or a
Steckel mill (15), and a strip coiler (16) are installed in a front
parallel section (13).
11. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3,
wherein, in the case of parallel casting strands (2b) of two
continuous casting machines (2) installed some distance apart, each
of which is followed by the shear (5) and the tunnel furnace (6), a
pass line (3) is centrally arranged between the casting strands
(2b), on which pass line (3) at least the one or more walking-beam
furnaces (11), a center swivel ferry (17), roughing and finish
rolling trains (10a; 10b), a finishing stand (14) or a Steckel mill
(15), and a strip coiler (16) are installed in succession.
12. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3,
wherein, in the case of parallel casting strands (2b) of two
continuous casting machines (2) installed some distance apart, each
of which is followed by the shear (5) and the tunnel furnace (6), a
pass line (3) is centrally arranged between the casting strands
(2b), on which pass line (3) at least the one or more walking-beam
furnaces (11), a center parallel ferry (7a), roughing and finish
rolling trains (10a; 10b), a finishing stand (14) or a Steckel mill
(15), and a strip coiler (16) are installed in succession.
13. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3,
wherein, in the case of parallel arrangement of the casting strand
(2b) of a continuous casting machine (2) to the pass line (3)
running in the same or opposite direction, at least the continuous
casting machine (2), the shear (5), the tunnel furnace (6), and a
first swivel ferry (7b) are installed in a rear parallel section
(12), and at least the one or more walking-beam furnaces (11), a
second swivel ferry (7b), which can be swung in on the first swivel
ferry (7b), roughing and finish rolling trains (10a; 10b), a
finishing stand (14) or a Steckel mill (15), and a strip coiler
(16) are installed in a front parallel section (13).
14. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3,
wherein, in the case of parallel arrangement of the casting strands
(2b) of two continuous casting machines (2) running in the same or
opposite directions, each of which is followed by the shear (5),
the tunnel furnace (6) and the swivel ferry (7b), a central pass
line (3) is installed, on which one or more walking-beam furnaces
(11), a roughing train (10a), a swivel ferry (7b) that can be
alternately connected to one of the swivel ferries (7b) of the
casting strands (2b), a finish rolling train (10b), a finishing
stand (14) or a Steckel mill (15), and a strip coiler (16) are
installed.
15. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3,
wherein, in the case of parallel arrangement of the casting strand
(2b) of the continuous casting machine (2) to a pass line (3)
running in the same or opposite direction (18), at least the
continuous casting machine (2) with an in-line mill (8), the shear
(5), the tunnel furnace (6) and a coil box (9) that can be
transversely displaced are installed in a rear parallel section
(12), and at least the one or more walking-beam furnaces (11), a
roughing train (10a), a coil box (9), the finish rolling train
(10b), a finishing stand (14) or a Steckel mill (15), and a strip
coiler (16) are successively installed in the front parallel
section.
16. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3,
wherein, in the case of parallel arrangement of the casting strand
(2b) of the continuous casting machine (2) to a pass line (3)
running in the same or opposite direction (19), at least the one or
more walking-beam furnaces (11), a transversely displaceable coil
box (9), a roughing train (10a), a finish rolling train (10b), a
finishing stand (14) or a Steckel mill (15), and a strip coiler
(16) are installed in a rear parallel section (12) on the pass line
(3), and at least an in-line mill (8), the shear (5), the tunnel
furnace (6), and the transversely displaceable coil box (9) are
installed in a front parallel section (13) on the casting strand
(2b) of the continuous casting machine (2).
17. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3,
wherein, in the case of parallel arrangement of the casting strand
(2b) of the continuous casting machine (2) to a pass line (3)
running in the same or opposite direction (18), at least an in-line
mill (8), the shear (5), the tunnel furnace (6) and a station (20)
for a transversely displaceable coil box (9) are installed in a
rear parallel section (12) in the casting strand (2b) of the
continuous casting machine (2), and at least the one or more
waIking-beam furnaces (11), the roughing and finish rolling trains
(10a; 10b), the station (20) for the transversely displaceable coil
box (9), a finishing stand (14) or a Steckel mill (15), and a strip
coiler (16) are installed in a front parallel section (13) of the
pass line (13).
18. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3,
wherein at least the one or more walking-beam furnaces (11), the
roughing and finish rolling trains (10a; 10b), one or more stations
(20) for a transversely displaceable coil box (9), a finishing
stand (14) or a Steckel mill (15), and a strip coiler (16) are
installed on a pass line (3), and that, before the station or
stations (20) for the transversely displaceable coil boxes (9), at
least the one or more casting strands (2b) of a continuous casting
machine (2) run perpendicularly to the pass line (3), on each of
which casting strands (2b) an in-line mill (8), the shear (5), and
the tunnel furnace (6) are connected to the station (20) for the
transversely displaceable coil box (9).
19. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3,
wherein casting strands (2b) of a continuous casting machine (2),
which run in the same or opposite directions, are installed
perpendicularly to a pass line (3), on which at least the one or
more walking-beam furnaces (11), a roughing train (10a), one or
more stations (20) for a transversely displaceable coil box (9), a
finish rolling train (10b) a finishing stand (14) or a Steckel mill
(15), and a strip coiler (16) are installed, and that at least an
in-line mill (8), the shear (5), and the tunnel furnace (6) are
installed on each casting strand (2b) before the respective station
(20) of the transversely displaceable coil box (9)
20. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3,
wherein casting strands (2b) of a continuous casting machine (2),
which run in the same or opposite directions (18), are installed
perpendicularly to a pass line (3), on which at least the one or
more walking-beam furnaces (11), a roughing train (10a), a station
(20) for a transversely displaceable coil box (9) that runs
transversely to the pass line (3), a finish rolling train (10b), a
finishing stand (14) or a Steckel mill (15), and a strip coiler
(16) are installed, such that at least the shear (5), an in-line
mill (8), and the tunnel furnace (6) are installed in each casting
strand (2b) before the station (20) for the transversely
displaceable coil box (9).
21. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3,
wherein at least several walking-beam furnaces (11), a roughing and
finish rolling train (10a, 10b), a station (20) for a transversely
displaceable coil box (9), a finishing stand (14) or a Steckel mill
(15), and a strip coiler (16) are installed on a pass line (3), and
that a casting strand (2b) that runs parallel to the pass line (3)
from a continuous casting machine (2) is provided at each terminal
station (20a) for the transversely displaceable coil box (9), such
that each casting strand (2b) has at least an in-line mill (8), the
shear (5), and the tunnel furnace (6), which is connected in front
of the respective terminal station (20a).
22. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim
21, wherein the two casting strands (2b) connected to their
respective terminal stations (20a) run in opposite directions.
Description
[0001] The invention concerns a process and a continuous casting
and rolling mill for producing steel strip, especially high-grade
steel strip, by casting and subsequent rolling in a hot wide-strip
mill, at whose inlet continuously cast thick slabs (about 120 mm to
400 mm) are introduced from a reheating furnace in front of the hot
wide-strip mill.
[0002] Conventional hot wide-strip mills have a walking-beam
furnace at the inlet, into which thick slabs (thickness between
about 120 mm and 400 mm) are conveyed, and in which they are heated
to the temperatures necessary for the rolling process. A directly
designed continuous casting and rolling process has always been
regarded as impossible for technical, process-engineering, and/or
economic reasons. However, the placement of a CSP continuous
casting machine in front of a conventional hot wide-strip mill has
resulted in advances, which make this development seem advantageous
and economical to a previously unrecognized extent.
[0003] It is well known that to bridge a relatively short-term
interruption of the rolling process, a length of strand produced in
the uninterrupted casting process can be introduced into a suitably
lengthened buffer zone of a soaking furnace, although long buffer
zone lengths are uneconomical (DE 40 17 928 A1).
[0004] An interruption between a continuous casting process and a
rolling process can then be minimized by coiling the continuously
cast strip product after casting and bringing it to the required
inlet temperature by intermediate heating after it is uncoiled and
before it enters the hot wide-strip mill. However, precautionary
measures for the resulting heat losses must be taken (DE 37 14 432
C2).
[0005] The casting rates of the continuous casting machine are
brought approximately to the required rolling rates in a steel mill
for a continuous casting and rolling process by successive
operational steps, in which the solidified input stock is cut by a
cutting device (shear) into initial strip lengths and, after
descaling of the surface, brought to rolling temperature in a
soaking furnace (DE 195 29 049 C1). Nevertheless, extensive energy
losses must still be expected here.
[0006] It has also already been proposed that at least two
continuous casting machines be placed before a hot-rolling group,
to assign a furnace of great length to each continuous casting
machine, to design the furnaces to be transversely movable, and to
move them into the common pass line. Although this increases the
number of continuous casting sections which are at rolling
temperature, this process requires that whole furnaces be movable
(EP 0 893 167 A2).
[0007] Furthermore, a process and an installation for producing hot
wide strip, especially from thin slabs, are known (DE 198 39 370
A1), in which the separated thin slabs, homogenized in a soaking
furnace, are brought into the finish rolling train via a storage
furnace and a holding furnace. In this operation, the steel works,
blast furnace, casting machine, soaking furnace, and hot-rolling
mill should be logistically connected with one other in order to
utilize the maximum capacity of the individual components. In this
regard, the furnaces are interconnected by reversing swivel
ferries.
[0008] In general, present efforts are limited by the fact that a
continuous casting machine is adjusted to a hot-rolled strip train
in such a way that strip-shaped input stock, after solidification,
is cut into initial strip lengths, which are then heated to rolling
temperature in a soaking furnace.
[0009] The objective of the invention is to propose measures for
improved coupling of a continuous casting machine to a hot
wide-strip mill which have advantageous consequences for the
casting and rolling process from both the process engineering
standpoint and the economic standpoint.
[0010] In accordance with the invention, this objective with
respect to process engineering is achieved by introducing
continuously cast thin slabs (about 30 mm to 70 mm) and
continuously cast medium slabs (about 70 mm to 120 mm) into rolling
mills intended for continuously cast thick slabs (about 120 mm to
400 mm) after (with respect to the rolling direction) reheating
furnaces consisting of walking-beam furnaces. In this way,
presently existing and future hot wide-strip mills can be
retrofitted with continuous casting machines of the highest level
of technology or vice versa. Consequently, thin slabs and thick
slabs can be rolled in a strip rolling train of the same
design.
[0011] The process can also be carried out in such a way that, when
a thin slab enters the roughing train and/or the finish rolling
train, its temperature is the same as or well below or above that
of a medium slab on entrance into the roughing train and/or the
finish rolling train, or the thickness of the thin slab is the same
as or below or above the thickness of a medium slab on entrance
into the roughing train and/or finish rolling train. This principle
applies for the greatest thickness of a thin slab and the smallest
thickness of a thick slab, so that a corresponding thickness can be
present, specifically, between the medium slab and thick slab or
the thin slab and medium slab. In this way, when it enters the
roughing and finish rolling train, the hot strip obtains input
thicknesses and temperatures comparable to those of the thick slab.
At low thin slab temperature, the better temperature homogeneity of
the thin slab can compensate the disadvantage of the temperature
difference. The rolling stands can be adapted to the increased
input thickness.
[0012] The casting and rolling plant for producing steel strip,
especially high-grade steel strip, is equipped with a continuous
casting machine and a shear, which is followed by a hot strip mill,
before whose inlet for thick slabs (about 120 mm to 400 mm), a
reheating furnace is provided, and in the further course of the
rolling train, edge smoothing rolls, descaling equipment, coiling
equipment, and the like are provided.
[0013] In accordance with the invention, the continuous casting
machine is coupled with the rolling mill in such a way that the
connection of the continuous casting machine with the hot strip
mill consists of a shear installed at the outlet of the continuous
casting machine, a tunnel:furnace, and a parallel or swivel ferry
or, in its place, a coil box. In this way, the continuous casting
machine is coupled with the strip rolling train more advantageously
from the process-engineering standpoint and the economic
standpoint. A virtually continuous operation from molten steel to
hot strip without intermediate stages can be achieved, which
results in cost savings. It is possible to expand the range of
products by geometric and metallurgical properties, which it has
not previously been possible to achieve in hot wide strip rolling
trains. It is also possible to increase the capacity of previously
constructed hot wide strip rolling trains.
[0014] In one embodiment of the invention, an in-line mill is
provided within the continuous casting machine, followed by the
shear, the tunnel furnace, and the coil box, and a coil handling
system, which are connected with the strip rolling train.
[0015] A further development provides that two or more continuous
casting machines with a parallel course of the casting strands,
each of which passes through its own shear and tunnel furnace, are
connected at the tunnel furnace outlet to the pass line of the
roughing and finish rolling train by means of a parallel ferry.
[0016] Furthermore, it is advantageous for a tunnel furnace
parallel ferry to be able to move back and forth between the
casting strands.
[0017] Different variants of the coupling of a hot strip mill to a
high-technology continuous casting machine are described below,
which lead to the desired effects:
[0018] A first alternative provides that, in the pass line,
following the tunnel furnace parallel ferry, one or more
walking-beam furnaces are installed before the entrance of the
strip into the roughing and finish rolling train.
[0019] Another, second alternative provides that, in the case of
parallel arrangement of the casting strand of the continuous
casting machine to the pass line, at least the continuous casting
machine, the shear, the tunnel furnace, and the parallel ferry are
installed in a rear parallel section, and at least the one or more
walking-beam furnaces, a roughing train, the parallel ferry and the
finish rolling train, a finishing stand or a Steckel mill, and a
strip coiler are installed in a front parallel section.
[0020] A third alternative provides that, in the case of parallel
arrangement of the casting strand of the continuous casting machine
to the pass line, at least the walking-beam furnaces, the parallel
ferry, roughing and finish rolling trains, a finishing stand or a
Steckel mill, and a strip coiler are installed in succession in a
rear parallel section, and at least the continuous casting machine,
the tunnel furnace, and the parallel ferry are installed in a front
parallel section.
[0021] A fourth alternative provides that, in the case of parallel
arrangement of the casting strand of the continuous casting machine
to the pass line, at least the continuous casting machine with a
casting strand running in the same or opposite direction to the
rolling direction, the tunnel furnace, and the parallel ferry are
installed in a rear parallel section, and at least the one or more
walking-beam furnaces, roughing and finish rolling trains, the
parallel ferry, a finishing stand or a Steckel mill, and a strip
coiler are installed in a front parallel section.
[0022] A fifth alternative provides that, in the case of parallel
casting strands of two continuous casting machines installed some
distance apart, each of which is followed by the shear and the
tunnel furnace, a pass line is centrally arranged between the
casting strands, on which pass line at least the one or more
walking-beam furnaces, a center swivel ferry, roughing and finish
rolling trains, a finishing stand or a Steckel mill, and a strip
coiler are installed in succession.
[0023] Another, sixth alternative provides that, in the case of
parallel casting strands of two continuous casting machines
installed some distance apart, each of which is followed by the
shear and the tunnel furnace, a pass line is centrally arranged
between the casting strands, on which pass line at least the one or
more walking-beam furnaces, a center parallel ferry, roughing and
finish rolling trains, a finishing stand or a Steckel mill, and a
strip coiler are installed in succession.
[0024] A seventh alternative provides that, in the case of parallel
arrangement of the casting strand of a continuous casting machine
to the pass line running in the same or opposite direction, at
least the continuous casting machine, the shear, the tunnel furnace
and a first swivel ferry are installed in a rear parallel section,
and at least the one or more walking-beam furnaces, a second swivel
ferry, which can be swung in on the first swivel ferry, roughing
and finish rolling trains, a finishing stand or a Steckel mill, and
a strip coiler are installed in a front parallel section.
[0025] An eighth alternative provides that, in the case of parallel
arrangement of the casting strands of two continuous casting
machines running in the same or opposite directions, each of which
is followed by the shear, the tunnel furnace, and the swivel ferry,
a central pass line is installed, on which one or more walking-beam
furnaces, a roughing train, a swivel ferry that can be alternately
connected to one of the swivel ferries of the casting strands, a
finish rolling train, a finishing stand or a Steckel mill, and a
strip coiler are installed.
[0026] A ninth alternative provides that, in the case of parallel
arrangement of the casting strand of the continuous casting machine
to a pass line running in the same or opposite direction, at least
the continuous casting machine with an in-line mill, the shear, the
tunnel furnace, and a coil box that can be transversely displaced
are installed in a rear parallel section, and at least the one or
more walking-beam furnaces, a roughing train, a coil box, the
finish rolling train, a finishing stand or a Steckel mill, and a
strip coiler are successively installed in the front parallel
section.
[0027] A tenth alternative provides that, in the case of parallel
arrangement of the casting strand of the continuous casting machine
to a pass line running in the same or opposite direction, at least
the one or more walking-beam furnaces, a transversely displaceable
coil box, a roughing train, a finish rolling train, a finishing
stand or a Steckel mill, and a strip coiler are installed in a rear
parallel section on the pass line, and at least an in-line mill,
the shear, the tunnel furnace, and the transversely displaceable
coil box are installed in a front parallel section on the casting
strand of the continuous casting machine.
[0028] An eleventh alternative provides that, in the case of
parallel arrangement of the casting strand of the continuous
casting machine to a pass line running in the same or opposite
direction, at least an in-line mill, the shear, the tunnel furnace,
and a station for a transversely displaceable coil box are
installed in a rear parallel section in the casting strand of the
continuous casting machine, and the one or more walking-beam
furnaces, the roughing and finish rolling trains, the station for
the transversely displaceable coil box, a finishing stand or a
Steckel mill, and a strip coiler are installed in a front parallel
section of the pass line.
[0029] A twelfth alternative provides that at least the one or more
walking-beam furnaces, the roughing and finish rolling trains, one
or more stations for a transversely displaceable coil box, a
finishing stand or a Steckel mill, and a strip coiler are installed
on a pass line, and that, before the station or stations for the
transversely displaceable coil boxes, at least the one or more
casting strands of a continuous casting machine run perpendicularly
to the pass line, on each of which casting strands an in-line mill,
the shear, and the tunnel furnace are connected to the station for
the transversely displaceable coil box.
[0030] A thirteenth alternative provides that casting strands of a
continuous casting machine, which run in the same or opposite
directions, are installed perpendicularly to a pass line, on which
at least the one or more walking-beam furnaces, a roughing train,
one or more stations for a transversely displaceable coil box, a
finish rolling train, a finishing stand or a Steckel mill, and a
strip coiler are installed, and that an in-line mill, the shear,
and the tunnel furnace are installed on each casting strand before
the respective station of the transversely displaceable coil
box.
[0031] A fourteenth alternative provides that casting strands of a
continuous casting machine, which run in the same or opposite
directions, are installed perpendicularly to a pass line, on which
at least the one or more walking-beam furnaces, a roughing train, a
station for a transversely displaceable coil box that runs
transversely to the pass line, a finish rolling train, a finishing
stand or a Steckel mill, and a strip coiler are installed, such
that at least the shear, an in-line mill, and the tunnel furnace
are installed on each casting strand before the station for the
transversely displaceable coil box.
[0032] The fifteenth alternative provides that at least several
walking-beam furnaces, a roughing train and finish rolling train, a
station for a transversely displaceable coil box, a finishing stand
or a Steckel mill, and a strip coiler are installed on a pass line,
and that a casting strand running parallel to the pass line from a
continuous casting machine is provided at each terminal station for
the transversely displaceable coil box, such that each casting
strand has at least an in-line mill, the shear, and the tunnel
furnace, which is connected in front of the respective terminal
station.
[0033] In this regard, in one embodiment, the two casting strands
connected to their respective terminal stations run in opposite
directions.
[0034] The drawings show several embodiments of the invention,
which are described in greater detail below.
[0035] FIG. 1 shows a layout for a continuous casting and rolling
mill with two casting strands and an in-line strip rolling
train.
[0036] FIG. 2A shows a casting strand with a pass line running
parallel to it and a parallel ferry between the roughing and finish
rolling trains.
[0037] FIG. 2B shows a casting strand with a pass line running
parallel to it and a parallel ferry before the roughing and finish
rolling trains.
[0038] FIG. 2C shows the same parallel arrangement with the
parallel ferry after (in the direction of rolling) the roughing and
finish rolling trains.
[0039] FIG. 3A shows a layout for two casting strands arranged some
lateral distance apart and a pass line, which is located between
them and is coupled with the casting strands by means of center
swivel ferries.
[0040] FIG. 3B shows a continuous casting and rolling mill with two
casting strands arranged some lateral distance apart, between which
a parallel pass line runs, which is coupled with the casting
strands by a parallel ferry.
[0041] FIG. 4A shows a casting strand that runs parallel to the
pass line, with which it is coupled by swivel ferries.
[0042] FIG. 4B shows two oppositely directed casting strands and a
central pass line, which are coupled to each other by means of
swivel ferries.
[0043] FIG. 5A shows parallel casting strands and a pass line,
which are coupled by a transversely movable coil box, which runs
between the roughing and finish rolling trains.
[0044] FIG. 5B shows the same configuration as FIG. 5A, but in this
case the coil box runs in front of the roughing and finish rolling
trains with respect to the direction of rolling.
[0045] FIG. 5C shows the same configuration as FIG. 5A or 5B, but
here the coil box operates behind the roughing and finish rolling
trains.
[0046] FIG. 6 shows two parallel casting strands with coil boxes,
which can be swiveled 90.degree. towards the pass line, which runs
perpendicularly to the casting strands.
[0047] FIG. 7 shows laterally offset casting strands that run in
opposite directions and interact with a perpendicularly running
pass line by means of coil boxes.
[0048] FIG. 8 shows casting strands that run in opposite directions
along a straight line and are operated on the basis of coil boxes
that can be swiveled 90.degree., such that the pass line runs
perpendicularly to the casting strands and centrally between
them.
[0049] FIG. 9 shows parallel casting strands that run in opposite
directions and deliver the strip stock in coil boxes to a parallel
pass line running centrally between them
[0050] The process for producing steel strip 1, especially
high-grade steel strip, by casting and subsequent rolling in a hot
wide-strip mill, at whose inlet continuously cast thick slabs
(about 120 mm to 400 mm) are introduced from a reheating furnace in
front of the hot strip mill 4, is carried out in such a way that
continuously cast thin slabs (about 30 mm to 70 mm) and
continuously cast medium slabs (about 70 mm to 120 mm) are
introduced into rolling mills that are intended for continuously
cast thick slabs (about 120 to 400 mm) behind (in the direction of
rolling 3a) reheating furnaces in the form of walking-beam furnaces
11.
[0051] The process can also be carried out in such a way that, when
a thin slab enters the roughing train and/or the finish rolling
train, its temperature is the same as or well below or above that
of a medium slab on entrance into the roughing train 10a and/or the
finish rolling train 10b, or the thickness of the thin slab is the
same as or below or above the thickness of a medium slab on
entrance into the roughing and/or finish rolling train 10a, 10
[0052] The continuous casting and rolling mill for producing steel
strip 1, especially high-grade steel strip, in which the outlet 2a
of the continuous casting machine 2 lies in-line with a soaking
furnace of the hot strip mill 4 or offset from the pass line 3, has
in succession a shear 5, the tunnel furnace 6, and, behind the
soaking furnace (in the direction of rolling 3a), at least the
rolling stands of the roughing and finish rolling train, edge
smoothing rolls, descaling equipment, strip coilers 16, and the
like.
[0053] Inside the continuous casting machine 2, an in-line mill 8
may be provided, followed by the shear 5 and the tunnel furnace 6,
and the hot strip mill 4 may be followed by a coil box 9 and a coil
handling system 9a.
[0054] In accordance with FIG. 1, two or more continuous casting
machines 2 have casting strands 2b running parallel to each other
and are each followed by the cutting device 5 (e.g., a
cut-to-length shearing device) and the tunnel furnace 6, and at the
tunnel furnace outlet 6a, each is coupled with the pass line 3 of
the roughing and finish rolling trains 10a, 10b by a parallel ferry
7a. A tunnel furnace parallel ferry 7a is moved back and forth
between the casting strands 2b. One or more walking-beam furnaces
11 are installed in the pass line 3 after the tunnel furnace
parallel ferry 7a and before the entrance of the strip into the
roughing and finish rolling trains 10a, 10b. The walking-beam
furnaces 11 precisely determine the entry temperature of the hot
strip mill 4. The steel strip 1 is rolled to the final thickness
and/or flatness in a finishing stand 14 or a Steckel mill 15 and
coiled into a strip coil on the strip coiler 16.
[0055] In FIG. 2A, casting strands 2b of the continuous casting
machine 2 run parallel to the pass line 3. At least the continuous
casting machine 2, the shear 5, the tunnel furnace 6 and the
parallel ferry 7a are installed in a rear parallel section 12. One
or more walking-beam furnaces 11, a roughing train 10a, the
parallel ferry 7a, the finish rolling train 10b, the finishing
stand 14 or a Steckel mill 15, and the strip coiler 16 are
installed in a front parallel section 13. The parallel ferry 7a is
thus located between the roughing train 10a and the finish rolling
train 10b. The directions of conveyance are parallel.
[0056] The arrangement of the casting strand 2b parallel to the
pass line 3 is retained in FIG. 2B. However, the parallel ferry 7a
is now placed before (in the direction of rolling 3a) the roughing
and finish rolling trains 10a, 10b. Accordingly, the walking-beam
furnaces 11 are shifted by the length of the parallel ferry 7a.
[0057] FIG. 2C shows another modification of the configuration, in
which the casting strand 2b of the continuous casting machine 2
runs parallel to the pass line 3. The continuous casting machine 2,
whose casting strand 2b runs in the opposite direction from the
direction of rolling 3a, the shear 5, the tunnel furnace 6, and the
parallel ferry 7a are installed in the rear parallel section 12.
The parallel ferry 7a is installed behind the roughing and finish
rolling trains 10a, 10b. Accordingly, the parallel ferry 7a is
positioned in front of the finishing stand 14 or the Steckel mill
15 on the pass line 3.
[0058] FIG. 3A shows parallel casting strands 2b of two continuous
casting machines 2 installed some lateral distance apart. Each
continuous casting machine is followed by the shear 5 and the
tunnel furnace 6. The pass line 3 is centrally arranged between the
casting strands 2b. The coupling at the beginning of the pass line
3 consists of a center swivel ferry 17, which alternately swivels
the rolling stock from the two continuous casting machines 2 into
the pass line 3.
[0059] FIG. 3B shows parallel casting strands 2b from two
continuous casting machines 2 arranged some lateral distance apart
and a pass line 3 that runs centrally between the casting strands
2b. Each casting strand 2b is associated with a center parallel
ferry 7a installed in front of the roughing and finish rolling
trains 10a, 10b for delivering the continuously cast products from
the two continuous casting machines 2 to the pass line 3.
[0060] In accordance with FIG. 4A, the casting strand 2b runs
parallel to and is spaced some lateral distance from the pass line
3. In this case, the coupling consists of one swivel ferry 7b on
the line of the casting strands 2b and another on the pass line 3.
The continuously cast product is delivered in the illustrated
angular position of the two swivel ferries 7b.
[0061] The embodiment shown in FIG. 4B is again designed for two
parallel casting strands 2b running in opposite directions. Each
casting strand 2b is equipped with a swivel ferry 7b. A swivel
ferry 7b is also installed on the central pass line 3 and serves
one or the other of the casting strands 2b, depending on its swivel
position. In this embodiment, the center swivel ferry is located
between the roughing train 10a and the finish rolling train 10b.
The two casting strands 2b occupy essentially the entire length of
the pass line 3.
[0062] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5A, the casting strands and
the pass line 3 run in opposite directions. Within the continuous
casting machine 2, an in-line mill 8 is installed in the section in
front of the shear 5. A transversely displaceable coil box 9 is
installed at the end of the casting strand 2b, so that the coiled
continuously cast product can be delivered in a coil to the pass
line 3.
[0063] The configuration shown in FIG. 5A is further developed in
the embodiment shown in FIG. 5B. The casting strand 2b runs
differently from FIG. 5A; in accordance with FIG. 5B, it runs, for
example, in the same direction 19 as the pass line 3. In the
direction of rolling 3a, a transversely displaceable coil box 9 is
installed in front of the roughing and finish rolling trains 10a,
10b.
[0064] In FIG. 5C, the casting strand 2b runs in the opposite
direction from the running direction 18 of the pass line 3, and the
coil box 9 with the coil handling system 9a is installed behind the
roughing and finish rolling trains 10a, 10b.
[0065] In accordance with FIG. 6, two parallel casting strands 2b
are arranged perpendicularly to the pass line 3 behind the roughing
and finish rolling trains 10a, 10b. The coupling of the casting
strands 2b requires 90.degree. swiveling of the coil in the pass
line 3. The parallel arrangement of two casting strands 2b is
connected with the arrangement of two adjacent stations 20 for the
coil box 9.
[0066] The configuration of FIG. 6 is modified by the design in
FIG. 7 in that the two casting strands 2b are arranged
perpendicularly to the pass line 3 from opposite directions.
[0067] FIG. 8 shows casting strands 2b running perpendicularly to
the pass line 3 and in opposite directions from each other with an
in-line arrangement of the two oppositely directed casting strands
2b with coil boxes 9. 90.degree. swiveling of the coils is also
required here.
[0068] In accordance with FIG. 9, the oppositely directed casting
strands 2b can be connected to a terminal station 20a of the coil
box 9 in such a way that 90.degree. swiveling of the coils in the
pass line 3 is not necessary.
List of Reference Numbers
[0069] 1 steel strip
[0070] 2 continuous casting machine
[0071] 2b outlet
[0072] 2b casting strand
[0073] 3 pass line
[0074] 3a rolling direction
[0075] 4 hot strip mill
[0076] 5 cutting device
[0077] 6 tunnel furnace
[0078] 6a tunnel furnace outlet
[0079] 7 parallel ferry
[0080] 7a swivel ferry
[0081] 8 in-line mill
[0082] 9 coil box
[0083] 9a coil handling system
[0084] 9a roughing train
[0085] 10b finish rolling train
[0086] 11 walking-beam furnace
[0087] 12 rear parallel section
[0088] 13 front parallel section.
[0089] 14 finishing stand
[0090] 15 Steckel mill
[0091] 16 strip coiler
[0092] 17 center swivel ferry
[0093] 18 opposite direction
[0094] 19 same direction
[0095] 20 station for the coil box
[0096] 20a terminal station
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