U.S. patent application number 10/496463 was filed with the patent office on 2005-02-24 for tightening device for a refractory plate of sliding closure on the spout of a vessel for molten metal.
Invention is credited to Keller, Werner, Tuerkoglu, Selcuk.
Application Number | 20050040572 10/496463 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32831739 |
Filed Date | 2005-02-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050040572 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Keller, Werner ; et
al. |
February 24, 2005 |
Tightening device for a refractory plate of sliding closure on the
spout of a vessel for molten metal
Abstract
A clamping device (2") is provided for a refractory plate (3) of
a slide closure at the outlet of a container for metal melt. The
plate (3) has two pairs of side faces (10, 11), disposed
mirror-symmetrically with respect to its longitudinal center plane
(L), at which a clamping element (22", 23", 43) disposed in a
slider housing (1) engages with its clamping faces. The side faces
(10, 11) disposed at one side of the longitudinal center plane (L)
form an obtuse angle (.gamma.). Three of the clamping elements are
developed as binding fittings (22", 23") pivotably supported in the
slider housing (1) and the fourth clamping element has a binding
jaw (43, 30) displaceable in the direction toward the corresponding
side face (10 or 11). Therewith results a simple and optimal
bracing of this plate (3) stress-loaded by the high-level heating
generated during operation.
Inventors: |
Keller, Werner;
(Steinhausen, CH) ; Tuerkoglu, Selcuk;
(Steinhausen, CH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WENDEROTH, LIND & PONACK, L.L.P.
2033 K STREET N. W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20006-1021
US
|
Family ID: |
32831739 |
Appl. No.: |
10/496463 |
Filed: |
September 15, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
November 23, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP02/13183 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
266/271 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B22D 41/34 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
266/271 |
International
Class: |
C21C 005/46 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 23, 2001 |
CH |
2177/01 |
Claims
1. Clamping device for a refractory plate (3) of a slide closure at
the outlet of a container for metal melt, the plate (3) comprising
two pairs of side faces (10, 11), disposed mirror-symmetrically
with respect to its longitudinal center plane (L), at which engage
clamping elements (22", 23", 43) disposed in a slider housing (1)
with their clamping faces, the side faces (10, 11) disposed at one
side of the longitudinal center plane (L) forming an obtuse angle
.gamma., characterized in that three of the clamping elements are
developed as binding fittings (22", 23") pivotably supported in the
slider housing (1), and the fourth clamping element comprises a
binding jaw (43; 30) displaceable in the direction of the
corresponding side face (10 or 11).
2. Clamping device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the
binding jaw (43) is supported under articulation in the slider
housing (1) and is displaceably guided by a bracing means (45)
against the side face (10 or 11).
3. Clamping device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the
binding jaw (30) is disposed displaceably in a base body (26) fixed
to the housing, and for the displacement of the binding jaw (30) a
rotationally displaceable cam (37) is provided, whose rotational
axis (e) runs transversely to the displacement direction of the
binding jaw (30).
4. Clamping device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the
binding jaw (30) is disposed longitudinally displaceably in a
recess (27) of the clamping element base body (26) and includes an
opening (40) for the displacement disposed transversely with
respect to the displacement direction, at whose inner face the
rotationally displaceable cam (37) engages.
5. Clamping device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the
clamping jaw (30) is disposed with clearance in the recess (27) and
is guided slidably via two pins (34) projecting into two
longitudinal grooves (35) in a bottom face (28) of the recess
(27).
6. Clamping device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the
inner face of the opening (40) includes a circular portion (40a)
cooperating with the eccentric face (38) of the cam (37) and, in a
region facing away from a binding jaw clamping face (32), a flat
portion (40b), and through the cooperation of an edge (39),
terminating the eccentric face (38), with the flat portion (40b)
the binding jaw (30) can be displaced away from the side face (10
or 11) of the plate (3).
7. Clamping device for a refractory plate (3) of a slide closure at
the outlet of a container for metal melt, the plate (3) being
provided with at least two side faces (10 or 11), disposed
mirror-symmetrically with respect to its longitudinal center plane
(L) and forming an angle (.alpha. or .beta.), at which clamping
elements (22, 23; 22', 23') disposed in a slider housing (1),
engage with their clamping faces (24, 32; 24', 32'), characterized
in that a clamping element (22; 22') comprises a base body (26)
fixed to the housing and a binding jaw (30) displaceable in the
base body (26) in the direction toward the corresponding side face
(10 or 11), and for the displacement of the binding jaw (30) a
rotationally displaceable cam (37) is provided, whose rotational
axis (e) runs transversely to the displacement direction of the
binding jaw (30).
8. Clamping device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the
inner face of the opening (40) includes a circular portion (40a)
cooperating with the eccentric face (38) of the cam (37) and, in a
region facing away from a binding jaw clamping face (32), a flat
portion (40b), and through the cooperation of an edge (39),
terminating the eccentric face (38), with the flat portion (40b)
the binding jaw (30) can be displaced away from the side face (10
or 11) of the plate (3).
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a clamping device for a refractory
plate of a slide closure at the outlet of a container for metal
melt according to the preamble of claim 1 or 7.
[0002] A clamping device of this type is disclosed for example in
EP B 0 920 361. At two side faces of a refractory slide closure
plate, which are disposed mirror-symmetrically relative to the
longitudinal center plane of the plate and form with one another an
angle, with their clamping faces engage clamping elements pivotably
supported in a slider housing. The plate is fastened in with a
further pair of side faces, on which either two movable parts of a
frame included in the slider housing or two further clamping
elements, which are each braced by means of a bracing device. The
use of a braceable frame, which can be set into the slider housing,
as well as also the use of further clamping elements, which are
actuated by means of a common bracing device, is relatively
complicated and requires high technical and assembly expenditures,
and, in addition, the clamping device requires a great deal of
space.
[0003] The aim of the present invention is providing a space-saving
clamping device simple in terms of production and assembly of the
type described in the introduction as well as a slide closure
comprising the clamping device, which makes possible a simple and
rapid fastening in of the plate, and in which optimum compressive
stress conditions are ensured for the plate in the braced and
heated operating state.
[0004] The aim is attained according to the invention through a
clamping device with the characteristics of claim 1 or 7.
[0005] The clamping device according to the invention is simple,
cost-effective and permits the space-saving installation of the
plate in the slide closure.
[0006] Further preferred embodiments of the clamping device form
the subject matter of the dependent claims.
[0007] The invention will be explained in further detail in the
following in conjunction with the drawing. Therein depict:
[0008] FIG. 1 in a first embodiment in top view a slide closure
housing with a refractory plate fastened in by means of a clamping
device,
[0009] FIG. 2 in a second embodiment in top view a slide closure
housing with a refractory plate fastened in by means of a clamping
device,
[0010] FIG. 3 the detail marked by circle A in FIG. 1 at an
enlarged scale,
[0011] FIG. 4 the detail marked by circle B in FIG. 1 at an
enlarged scale,
[0012] FIG. 5 the detail marked by circle C in FIG. 2 at an
enlarged scale,
[0013] FIG. 6 the detail marked by circle D in FIG. 2 at an
enlarged scale,
[0014] FIG. 7 an embodiment of a clamping element in perspective
exploded view, and
[0015] FIG. 8 in top view a slide closure housing with a refractory
plate fastened in by means of a clamping device in a third
embodiment.
[0016] A slide closure at the outlet of a container for metal melt
according to FIG. 1 has a housing 1, in which by means of a
clamping device 2 a refractory plate 3 with a throughflow opening 4
is fastened in. The structure and operational function of the slide
closure, which in particular is used for ladles containing steel
melts provided in continuous casting machines, is known per se (for
example from EP B1 0 277 146) and is therefore not further depicted
or described. The plate 3 can optionally be a slider plate of the
slide closure, however, a stationary bottom plate of the same could
also be fastened in by means of the clamping device 2 according to
the invention. The refractory plate 3 is comprised of a
heat-resistant ceramic material; it can be developed integrally or
be comprised of a basic material and be provided with a refractory
insert forming the throughflow opening 4, through which, under
operating conditions with the slide closure open, the steel melt
flows.
[0017] Plate 3 has an elongated symmetric shape; the longitudinal
center plane of plate 3 is denoted by L in FIG. 1. With a plate 3
fastened in in housing 1, the longitudinal center plane L extends
in the actuation direction of the slide closure. Plate 3 has two
pairs of side faces 10, 11, disposed mirror-symmetrically with
respect to the longitudinal center plane L, each of which forms an
angle .alpha. or .beta., respectively, with the longitudinal center
plane L, and which serve as bracing faces. The two side face pairs
10, 11 are of different length and disposed at a different angle
.alpha., .beta. with respect to the longitudinal center plane L,
and the shorter side faces 10 form a greater angle .alpha. with the
longitudinal center plane L than the longer side faces 11. Both of
the side faces 10, 11 at one side of the longitudinal center plane
L form an obtuse angle .gamma.. They are each connected via a side
face 15 parallel to the longitudinal center plane L. The side faces
10 or 11, opposite with respect to the longitudinal center plane L,
are each connected with one another across rounded transverse faces
16.
[0018] The clamping device 2 for detachably securing in the
refractory plate 3 comprises four clamping elements 22, 23 disposed
in housing 1, and in each instance one displaceable clamping
element 22 and one or two clamping elements 23 supported under
articulation are provided for each side face pair 10, 11 of plate
3. They are disposed in housing 1 oppositely with respect to the
longitudinal center plane L.
[0019] In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 the clamping elements
23, associated with the longer side faces 11 forming a smaller
angle .beta. with the longitudinal center plane L, are developed as
shown in FIG. 4 and supported in housing 1 pivotably about an axis
a such that when bracing plate 3 they can automatically adapt to
the effective angle .beta. of side faces 11 and consequently the
contact upon the entire area of their clamping faces 24 is ensured,
which causes a uniform pressure distribution of the clamping force
onto the plate 3 and is of advantage for the service life
(durability) of plate 3.
[0020] The bracing proper takes place with the clamping element 22,
associated with the shorter side faces 10 forming a greater angle
.alpha. with the longitudinal center plane L, whose development is
evident in FIG. 3. FIG. 7 also illustrates the structure of such a
clamping element, however, the clamping element shown in FIG. 7
differs minimally from that according to FIG. 3.
[0021] Clamping element 22 includes a base body 26 which, according
to FIG. 3, is attached by means of three bolts 25 on housing 1 of
the slide closure (in the embodiment example according to FIG. 7
two bolts 25 are provided). The base body 26 is provided with a
recess 27 having a U-shaped cross section as well as a bottom face
28 evident in FIG. 7. Into the recess 27 is set a binding jaw 30,
which has a peripheral face with a shape corresponding to the
recess 27 as well as a clamping face 32. Between the peripheral
face 31 and the recess 27 clearance exists. The binding jaw 30 is
disposed in recess 27 by means of two pins 34 evident in FIG. 7,
which project into longitudinal grooves 35 fabricated in the bottom
face 28 of the base body 26, such that it is longitudinally
displaceable. For the longitudinal displacement of the binding jaw
30 in the direction toward the side face 10 of plate 3 to be
fastened in, a cam 37 is provided, whose rotational axis e (FIG. 7)
extends transversely to the displacement direction of the binding
jaw 30, and whose eccentric face 38 developed with self-locking
gradient cooperates with the inner face of an opening 40 in the
binding jaw 30. The termination edge of eccentric face 38 is
denoted by 39 in FIG. 3. Apart from the circular portion 40a
cooperating with the eccentric face 38, in the embodiment example
according to FIG. 3 the opening 40 of the binding jaw 30 has a flat
portion 40b in the region facing away from the clamping face
32.
[0022] The rotatable support of cam 37 as well as engaging faces
for a tool for its rotational displacement are not evident in the
drawing (cam 37 can for example comprise a head developed as a
four-cornered shaft). To fasten in plate 3, the cam 37 of clamping
element 22 according to FIG. 3 is rotated clockwise and therein the
binding jaw 30 is braced with its clamping face 32 with the side
face 10 of plate 3. Here also the binding jaw 30 can automatically
adapt via pins 34 and longitudinal grooves 35 to the particular
effective angle .alpha. of side face 10, such that contact over the
entire area is ensured.
[0023] To detach plate 3, the cam 37 of clamping element 22
according to FIG. 3 is rotated counterclockwise. As soon as the
termination edge 39, disposed at a maximum distance from the
rotational axis e, of the eccentric face 38 has reached the flat
portion 40b of opening 40, the binding jaw 30 is displaced away
from the side face 10 of plate 3.
[0024] In the same manner the other clamping element 22, opposite
with respect to the longitudinal center plane L, is braced or
detached, each rotational direction during the positioning of the
cam 37 of both clamping elements 22 being opposite.
[0025] The embodiment depicted in FIG. 2 differs from that
according to FIG. 1 thereby that the displaceable clamping elements
22' which, for fastening in the plate 3 via cam 37, are associated
with the longer faces 11 forming a lesser angle .beta. with the
longitudinal center plane L, while the clamping elements 23',
pivotably supported in housing 1, are provided for the shorter
faces 10 forming a greater angle .alpha. with the longitudinal
center plane L.
[0026] FIG. 8 depicts a further variant of a clamping device 2" for
fastening in plate 3. This comprises again four clamping elements,
of which three clamp fittings pivotably supported in the slider
housing 1 are developed similarly to those according to FIG. 4 or
6. Two of these clamping elements 22" are optionally associated
with the two side faces 10 disposed mirror-symmetrically to the
longitudinal center plane L and forming the greater angle .alpha..
The third clamping element 23 also developed as a pivotable clamp
fitting is provided for bracing of the side faces 11 disposed at
the lesser angle .beta..
[0027] The other opposite side face 11 forms the contact face for a
clamping element 43 in the form of a binding jaw supported under
articulation in housing 1 and displaceable in housing 1 by means of
a bracing means (for example a bracing bolt 45) in housing 1. For
the articulated support a longitudinal groove 46 is provided, in
which a bolt 47, fixed to the housing, is centered approximately
free of tolerance. The clamping elements 22", 23", 43 consequently
automatically adapt during the bracing of plate 3 to the particular
effective angle .alpha. or .beta. of the corresponding side faces
10 or 11, and consequently ensure the contact over the entire area,
which yields a uniform pressure distribution of the clamping force.
The durability of plate 3 is thereby maximized.
[0028] It is understood that clamping element or binding jaw 43,
operationally connected to the bracing means 45, can be disposed at
another site, i.e. can be associated with another side face 10 or
11 than that shown in FIG. 8.
[0029] Instead of the above described binding jaw 43, it would also
be entirely possible to utilize, at this site the clamping element
22 (or the clamping element 22' according to FIGS. 2 and 5) known
from FIGS. 1 and 3 with the binding jaw disposed in the base body,
fixed to the housing, displaceable by means of a rotationally
displaceable cam. Both solutions are especially simple due to the
disposition of a single bracing means.
* * * * *