U.S. patent application number 11/791929 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-24 for continuous casting machine with a continuous casting die for casting liquid metals, particularly steel materials.
Invention is credited to Bujor Dumitriu, Christian Geerkens, Paul-Christian Hopp, Hans Esau Klassen, Ronald Wilmes.
Application Number | 20080093048 11/791929 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35677296 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080093048 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wilmes; Ronald ; et
al. |
April 24, 2008 |
Continuous Casting Machine With a Continuous Casting Die for
Casting Liquid Metals, Particularly Steel Materials
Abstract
A continuous casting machine (1) for steel materials has a
continuous casting die (6) with a casting mold (10) formed of
broad-side plates (11) and narrow-side plates (13) and at which
piston-cylinder units (16) are provided as actuators and support
bearings. The position of the piston-cylinder units (16) is
measured by field measurement devices (21), the measurement data
are stored in a control (23) of the continuous casting machine (1)
via fieldbus modules (22) as BUS signals and, after being
processed, are fed back to the actuators as control signals. In
order to acquire and process the measurement data locally at the
continuous casting die (6), it is proposed that a respective
hydraulic cylinder (16a) is connected to a valve stand (24) with a
stationary terminal box (25) for the measurement signal lines and
control signal lines (28) and that the terminal box (25) is
connected to an axis regulator (30) from which the fieldbus module
(22) supplies the signals to a memory-programmable control
(31).
Inventors: |
Wilmes; Ronald; (Solingen,
DE) ; Klassen; Hans Esau; (Willich, DE) ;
Dumitriu; Bujor; (Dusseldorf, DE) ; Hopp;
Paul-Christian; (Monchengladbach, DE) ; Geerkens;
Christian; (Juchen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ABELMAN, FRAYNE & SCHWAB
666 THIRD AVENUE, 10TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10017
US
|
Family ID: |
35677296 |
Appl. No.: |
11/791929 |
Filed: |
December 1, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
December 1, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP05/12818 |
371 Date: |
May 30, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
164/154.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B22D 11/168
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
164/154.1 |
International
Class: |
B22D 11/16 20060101
B22D011/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 3, 2004 |
DE |
10 2004 058 355.2 |
Claims
1. A continuous casting machine (1), comprising a continuous
casting die (6) for casting liquid metals, particularly steel
materials, with broad-side plates (11) forming the casting mold
(10), narrow-side plates (13) which are adjustable for forming the
casting strand width (12) while taking into account the shrinkage
of the casting strand (7) and are arranged on both sides between
the broad-side plates (11); and two piston-cylinder units (16),
which are spaced apart vertically, provided at the narrow-side
plates (13) as actuators and support bearings, the position of the
piston-cylinder units (16) being measured by field measurement
devices (21), the measurement data being transferred via fieldbus
modules (22) in a BUS line (22a) as BUS signals and stored in a
control (23) of the continuous casting machine (1) and, after being
processed, fed back to the actuators as control signals,
characterized in that the hydraulic cylinder (16a) of the
piston-cylinder units (16) is connected in each instance to a valve
stand (24) which is arranged in the area of the continuous casting
die (6) or the continuous casting control (23) and which has a
stationary terminal box (25) for the measurement signal lines and
control signal lines (28), and in that the terminal box (25) is
connected to an axis regulator (30) from which the fieldbus module
(22) supplies the signals to a memory-programmable control
(31).
2. A continuous casting machine according to claim 1, characterized
in that the memory-programmable control (31) is connected to the
fieldbus module (22) by means of a detachable plug-in connection
(29) with a corresponding quantity of contacts.
3. A continuous casting machine according to claim 1, characterized
in that position transmitters (21a) which are integrated in the
hydraulic cylinders (16a), are connected to the valve stand (24) at
the shop framework (27) by the plug-in connection (29).
4. A continuous casting machine according to claim 1, characterized
in that the interior of the terminal boxes (25) in the area of the
continuous casting die (6) is cooled.
5. A continuous casting machine according to claim 1, characterized
in that either air or cooling water which is tapped off from the
continuous casting die (6), is used as coolant.
6. A continuous casting machine according to claim 1, characterized
in that the BUS line (22a), the fieldbus module (22) and the
measurement signal lines and control signal lines (28) are
physically formed by light waveguides or wireless transmission or
infrared technology.
Description
[0001] The invention is directed to a continuous casting machine
with a continuous casting die for casting liquid metals,
particularly steel materials, with broad-side plates which form the
casting mold and between which are arranged at both sides
narrow-side plates which can be adjusted to form the continuous
casting width so that the shrinkage of the cast strand is taken
into account and at which two piston-cylinder units, which are
spaced apart vertically, are provided as actuators and support
bearings whose position is measured by field measurement devices,
with the measurement data being conveyed in a BUS line as BUS
signals by fieldbus modules and stored in a control of the
continuous casting machine and are fed back to the actuators as
control signals after processing.
[0002] A continuous casting machine of the type mentioned above is
known from WO 01/94052 A1, which describes a continuous casting
machine for localized casting data processing of the measurement
data obtained at a continuous casting die by sensors. The
processing of the casting data is carried out in a process computer
of the control system of the continuous casting installation.
Localized reception of measurement data increases the efficiency of
the measuring path and simplifies the measuring devices in that the
measurement data and control data are collected directly on the
continuous casting die in cooled fieldbus modules, transferred as
BUS signals in a BUS line, and stored and/or processed at least in
the control system of the continuous casting installation.
[0003] In order to adjust a piston rod that is articulated at the
narrow-side plate or to adjust a hydraulic cylinder, different
signals which occur and must be converted in the vicinity of the
hydraulic cylinder must be electrically connected to a regulating
circuit. The valve stand which is required for adjusting the
hydraulic components is generally arranged at the shop framework in
the area of the casting platform or below the latter (on so-called
solid ground). The control equipment is usually installed in the
area of the casting platform in the control room. It is important
that there is a separation for the field devices in the area of the
continuous casting die because the continuous casting die must be
dismantled and reassembled quickly. Therefore, the measurement data
can be supplied to the control circuit in the control cabin by the
field measurement devices only from the continuous casting die or
from the valve stand. The distance to the control circuit in the
control cabin is still very great and data from four position
transmitters, four regulating valves in four synchronous serial
interfaces and twelve analog signals must be processed for each
continuous casting die.
[0004] It is the object of the invention to acquire the measurement
data in the area of the continuous casting die in cooled field
devices and to process this data locally.
[0005] According to the invention, the above-stated object is
achieved by connecting the respective hydraulic cylinder of the
piston-cylinder units to a valve stand which is arranged in the
area of the continuous casting die or the continuous casting
control and which has a stationary terminal box for the measurement
signal lines and control signal lines, and by connecting the
terminal box to an axis regulator from which the fieldbus module
supplies signals to a memory-programmable control. In this way,
cabling is advantageously reduced and the distances between the
component assemblies are shorted. But the chief advantage consists
in the axis regulators. The axis regulators are circuits which are
based on special microprocessors and are used for controlling
servo-axes. The standard software in the movement control adds a
real-time control for the axis adjustment. For example, the
movement control includes interfaces for:
[0006] machine transducers or incremental position transducers,
[0007] digital or analog inputs or outputs,
[0008] a PROFIBUS,
[0009] a network.
[0010] The movement control used for the application comprises a
remote control and a data display device. The application software
is standard and is stored in a retrievable memory. The movement
control is capable of controlling a plurality of axes (hydraulic
piston-cylinder units). On the basis of a graphic menu, the
movement control is adapted to the type of axis and to the type of
position feedback by parameters. Programming is not necessary. The
movement control receives the required reference values and
starting movement via the fieldbus line connection and feeds them
back to the master system with the position and a status reading.
Further advantages consist in that the transmission of data between
the memory-programmable control and the axis regulator is
non-critical with respect to time and is reliable.
[0011] Application software modules can be standardized. The cost
of material, installation costs and the time spent on placing cable
can be reduced. Susceptibility to electrical interference is
reduced. Maintenance costs are likewise reduced. The time required
for assembly and operation startup is reduced.
[0012] Assembly and maintenance of the electronics are simplified
in that the memory-programmable control is connected to the
fieldbus module by means of a detachable plug-in connection with a
corresponding quantity of contacts.
[0013] According to another embodiment, the same advantages are
achieved in that position transmitters which are integrated in the
hydraulic cylinders are connected to the valve stand at the shop
framework by the plug-in connection.
[0014] Assemblies located in the vicinity of the heating zone are
protected according to further features in that the interior of the
terminal boxes in the area of the continuous casting die is
cooled.
[0015] Generally, for purposes of cooling, either air or cooling
water which is tapped off from the continuous casting die is used
as coolant.
[0016] In a further development, the BUS line, fieldbus module and
measurement signal lines and control signal lines are physically
formed by light waveguides or wireless transmission or infrared
technology.
[0017] Embodiment examples of the invention are shown in the
drawings and described more fully below.
[0018] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a continuous casting machine of
any type, including the shop framework;
[0019] FIG. 2 shows a vertical cross section through a continuous
casting die with narrow-side plate adjusting device; and
[0020] FIG. 3 shows a simplified block diagram of the continuous
casting die with circuits.
[0021] The continuous casting machine 1 according to FIG. 1 has a
supporting roll stand 2. The casting strand 7 of liquid steel
material 3 which flows from a casting ladle 4 through a tundish 5
and a continuous casting die 6 and which is cooled on the outside
is supported and further cooled in the supporting roll stand 2. The
supporting roll stand 2 comprises a plurality of roll segments 8,
often up to fifteen roll segments 8, the first roll segment 8a
being enclosed by a steam chamber 9. The continuous casting die 6
is located in front of the steam chamber 9. The casting mold 10 of
the continuous casting die 6 according to FIG. 2 comprises two
broad-side plates 11 which are located opposite one another at a
distance corresponding to the thickness of the strand 7 to be cast.
Narrow-side plates 13 which are adjustable for forming the casting
strand width 12 while taking into account the shrinkage of the
casting strand 7 are arranged on both sides between the broad-side
plates 11 and, for example, two parallel fastening blocks 14 which
are spaced apart vertically are provided at the narrow-side plates
13. The adjusting devices 15 having hydraulic piston-cylinder units
16 are arranged between the fastening blocks 14 on both sides. The
fastening blocks 14 comprise springs 17 within a clamping block 18
and are supported on arms 19 carried by a supporting frame 20. The
piston-cylinder unit 16 is an actuator and a support bearing
simultaneously. The position of the two piston-cylinder units 16
with their hydraulic cylinders 16a is determined by field
measurement devices 21 which comprise, for example, integrated
position transmitters 21a, synchronization devices for the left
side or right side, for top or bottom, for the status of the
sensors, a die code, maintenance cycles, and the like. The
measurement data obtained are transferred by the respective
fieldbus modules 22 in a BUS line 22a as BUS signals, conducted in
a continuous casting control 23 of the continuous casting machine 1
through a valve stand 24 with a stationary terminal box 25, stored
and, after being processed, fed back to the actuators, i.e., for
example, the hydraulic cylinders 16a, as control signals. The
control is located in a control room 26 of a control cabin which is
fixedly connected to the shop framework 27.
[0022] The hydraulic cylinders 16a are connected to the valve stand
24 in the vicinity of the continuous casting die 6 or the
continuous casting control 23. The valve stand 24 can also be
located in the vicinity of the control room 26 (FIG. 1). The valve
stand 24 contains the terminal box 25 to which the measurement
signal lines and control signal lines 28 are fed. The measurement
signal lines and control signal lines 28 are provided with plug-in
connections 29. The signals arriving from the valve stand 24 are
processed in a connected axis regulator 30 and conveyed by the
fieldbus module 22 to a memory-programmable control 31 located in
the control room 26.
[0023] The circuit blocks are shown once again in a simplified
manner in FIG. 3 for a modified embodiment form of the actuators
and support bearings (hydraulic cylinders 16a). The separating line
32 expresses the proximity of the valve stand 24 and terminal box
25 to the axis regulator 30. The measurement data obtained from the
hydraulic cylinders 16a are conducted via the plug-in connections
29 into the axis regulator 30 and via the fieldbus module 22 to the
memory-programmable control 31, no longer far away, in the control
room 26.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0024] 1 continuous casting machine [0025] 2 supporting roll stand
[0026] 3 steel material [0027] 4 casting ladle [0028] 5 tundish
[0029] 6 continuous casting die [0030] 7 casting strand [0031] 8
roll segments [0032] 8a first roll segment [0033] 9 steam chamber
[0034] 10 casting mold of the continuous casting die [0035] 11
broad-side plate [0036] 12 casting strand width [0037] 13
narrow-side plate [0038] 14 fastening block [0039] 15 adjusting
device [0040] 16 piston-cylinder unit [0041] 16a a hydraulic
cylinder [0042] 17 springs [0043] 18 clamping block [0044] 19 arm
[0045] 20 supporting frame [0046] 21 field measurement device
[0047] 21a integrated position sensor [0048] 22 fieldbus module
[0049] 22a BUS line [0050] 23 continuous casting control [0051] 24
valve stand [0052] 25 terminal box [0053] 26 control room [0054] 27
shop framework [0055] 28 measurement signal line and control signal
line [0056] 29 plug-in connection [0057] 30 axis regulator [0058]
31 memory-programmable control [0059] 32 separating line
* * * * *