U.S. patent application number 13/000725 was filed with the patent office on 2011-05-19 for modular strand guide roller.
This patent application is currently assigned to SMS SIEMAG AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT. Invention is credited to Erich Hovestadt, Peter Jonen.
Application Number | 20110114282 13/000725 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40974651 |
Filed Date | 2011-05-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110114282 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hovestadt; Erich ; et
al. |
May 19, 2011 |
MODULAR STRAND GUIDE ROLLER
Abstract
The invention is based on the object of creating a strand guide
roller being configured in a modular manner, which can be
retrofitted to different stand casting widths without any
substantial effort, and which has a cooling effect starting from
the core regions of the roller extending up to the region near the
surface thereof, thereby improving the life of the strand guide
roller and achieving a comparatively cost-effective maintenance.
The problem is solved according to the invention in that a first
centrally disposed, axially extending flow channel (11 and a second
centrally disposed, axially extending flow channel (12) are present
in each roller module (2, 3, 4), that flow channels (15, 16) are
disposed in the region near the surface of each roller module (2,
3, 4), and that connecting channels (17) connect the respective
flow channels (15) to the first separate flow channel (11), and
that connecting channels (18) connect the respective flow channels
(16) to the separate second flow channel (12).
Inventors: |
Hovestadt; Erich; (Rhede,
DE) ; Jonen; Peter; (Duisburg, DE) |
Assignee: |
SMS SIEMAG
AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Duesseldorf
DE
|
Family ID: |
40974651 |
Appl. No.: |
13/000725 |
Filed: |
June 18, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
June 18, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2009/004396 |
371 Date: |
February 4, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
164/448 ;
266/44 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28F 5/02 20130101; B22D
11/1287 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
164/448 ;
266/44 |
International
Class: |
B22D 11/12 20060101
B22D011/12; B22D 11/124 20060101 B22D011/124 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 26, 2008 |
DE |
10 2008 029 944.8 |
Claims
1-13. (canceled)
14. A modular strand guide roller for a strand guide unit of a
continuous casting plant, wherein the strand guide roller
comprises: at least a first and a second roller module, which are
disposed side by side in an axial direction, wherein the first
roller module has a centrally located roller journal at an end face
that faces the second roller module; a middle bearing, which is
positioned between the first and second roller modules for mounting
and supporting the roller journal of the first roller module; a
plug connection formed between the second roller module and the
roller journal for plug connection of the first and second roller
modules with each other; and a central flow channel that runs
axially in the roller modules for conveying a coolant, wherein the
centrally located and axially running flow channel consists of a
first separate flow channel and a second separate flow channel;
wherein flow channels are formed in the region near the surface of
an outer periphery of each roller module that guides and supports
the metal strand; wherein first connecting channels connect
respective flow channels with the first separate flow channel, and
second connecting channels connect further respective flow channels
with the second separate flow channel; and wherein the flow
channels are arranged in pairs.
15. The strand guide roller in accordance with claim 14, wherein a
chamber is formed at least at one end of each pair of flow channels
to deflect the coolant.
16. The strand guide roller in accordance with claim 15, wherein
the flow channels and the chambers are tightly sealed from outside
with detachable individual or common annular covers.
17. The strand guide roller in accordance with claim 14, wherein
the respective flow channels of the paired flow channels are
connected by the first connecting channels with the respective
first flow channel, and the further respective flow channels of the
paired flow channels are connected by the second connecting
channels with the respective second flow channel.
18. The strand guide roller in accordance with claim 17, wherein
the first connecting channel connects a supply-side outlet of the
first flow channel with a discharge-side inlet of the respective
flow channel of the paired flow channels.
19. The strand guide roller in accordance with claim 17, wherein
the second connecting channel connects a supply-side outlet of the
further respective flow channel of the paired flow channels with a
discharge-side inlet of the second flow channel.
20. The strand guide roller in accordance with claim 14, wherein
the first flow channel of the first roller module is connectable to
a coolant inlet, and the second flow channel of a respective roller
module is connectable to a coolant outlet.
21. The strand guide roller in accordance with claim 14, and
further comprising a coupling sleeve provided to connect the second
flow channel of the first roller module with the first flow channel
of the second roller module.
22. The strand guide roller in accordance with claim 1, wherein a
direction of flow of the coolant is reversible.
23. The strand guide roller in accordance with claim 14, wherein
the first and second separate flow channels are each formed as
sections of a common central flow channel and are separated from
each other only by a barrier.
24. The strand guide roller in accordance with claim 14, wherein
the flow channels are formed axially parallel, helically, or as an
annular gap in a region of the roller module that is near the
surface.
25. A strand guide unit for a metal strand emerging from a mold of
a continuous casting plant, wherein the strand guide unit has at
least one strand guide roller that consists of a first roller
module and a second roller module designed in accordance with the
features of claim 14.
26. A method for operating a strand guide unit in accordance with
claim 25, wherein the coolant flows in opposite directions in
adjacent strand guide rollers, adjacent roller segments, or in an
upper and lower frame of a segment.
Description
[0001] The invention concerns a modularly constructed strand guide
roller for the strand guide unit of a continuous casting plant in
accordance with the features of the preamble of claim 1, a strand
guide roller in accordance with the features of claim 13, and a
method for operating it in accordance with claim 14.
[0002] A strand guide roller is known from EP 1 485 218 B1, which,
however, proceeding from the objective of the invention, focuses on
a rotary leadthrough for a cooling water inlet and outlet of a
support and/or transport roller pivoted at least at the end with
journals in bearing blocks, especially in a continuous casting
plant. The outer region of the water-cooled support and/or
transport roller has axial channels and channels that run into or
out of these axial channels and to a central distribution system.
The central distribution system consists of a central bore in the
support and/or transport roller and of a tubular line arranged
therein, which has a central supply channel for the cooling water
and with the central bore forms an annular channel for the removal
of the cooling water.
[0003] The strand guide roller disclosed in the cited document
consists of two or more roller segments, each of which is supported
at its end. This type of end bearing of the individual roller
segments is expensive and entails considerable labor for the
assembly and disassembly of the bearing units during maintenance of
the strand guide unit.
[0004] Furthermore, as a result of this type of end bearing of the
roller segments, strand guide units cannot be changed over to other
casting machine widths without considerable labor.
[0005] WO 2007/121821 A1 discloses a strand guide roller of a
strand guide unit that consists of at least two roller sections, on
which a strand cast by a continuous casting machine is guided,
according to which a plug connection is formed between the two
roller segments, and only one bearing is provided, which is
designed as an undivided single bearing. Aside from a number of
advantages over the cited document, the sole cooling medium flow
channel, which runs centrally over essentially the whole width of
the strand guide roller, fails to develop a sufficient cooling
effect for the strand guide roller. Especially the region of the
strand guide roller near the surface does not experience sufficient
cooling to reduce the wear of the strand guide roller that results
from chemical and mechanical stress. Therefore, the centrally
running flow channel serves primarily to cool the inner rings of
the bearing in the area of the journal of the strand guide roller
or the roller segments.
[0006] The internally cooled strand guide roller additionally
disclosed by the documents WO 2004/094087 A1 and EP 1 646 463 B1
comprises a central rotatable shaft and several roller shells that
have integrated coolant channels and are secured against rotation
and supported on the shaft. Practical experience shows that these
strand guide rollers with roller shells slipped onto them not only
show unsatisfactory cooling of the roller barrels but also an
enormously high proportion of sealing elements and thus do not
represent a maintenance-friendly and operationally reliable
solution.
[0007] Therefore, the objective of the invention is to create a
modularly constructed strand guide roller which can be changed over
to different continuous casting widths without any great effort and
which has a cooling effect that extends from the core region to the
region near the surface and thus improves the service life of the
strand guide roller.
[0008] A further objective of the invention is to create a
modularly constructed strand guide roller that allows comparatively
low-cost maintenance. Yet another objective of the invention is to
create a strand guide unit with strand guide rollers that are
improved with respect to increased service life and easier
maintenance.
[0009] In accordance with the invention, the objective is achieved
by the features of claim 1 and the features of claims 13 and 14.
According to the features of claim 1, the modularly constructed
strand guide roller for the strand guide unit of a continuous
casting plant comprises [0010] at least a first roller module and a
second roller module, where the two roller modules are disposed
side by side in the axial direction, and the first roller module
has a centrally located roller journal at its end face that faces
the second roller module, [0011] a middle bearing, which is
arranged between the first and second roller modules for mounting
and supporting the roller journal of the first roller module, where
the middle bearing is an undivided single bearing, [0012] a plug
connection formed between the second roller module and the roller
journal for plug connection of the first and second roller modules
with each other, and [0013] a flow channel that runs centrally in
the roller modules for conveying a coolant, such that, in
accordance with the invention, the centrally running flow channel
consists of a first separate flow channel and a second separate
flow channel, and such that [0014] the first and second separate
flow channels of each roller module are connected by connecting
channels with flow channels formed in the region near the
surface.
[0015] In a further refinement of the invention, the flow channels
formed in the region near the surface of each roller module are
present in pairs. In this regard, in a first flow channel of the
paired flow channels, the coolant flows in the opposite direction
from the coolant that flows in the centrally running flow channels,
and in a second flow channel of the paired flow channels, the
coolant flows in the same direction as the coolant that flows in
the centrally running flow channels. An open coolant circulation is
thus formed in each roller module. At one end of the paired flow
channels, a chamber is formed, which serves to deflect the coolant
within the first roller module and the following roller module. The
chambers are tightly sealed from the outside with a cover, so that
no coolant can escape.
[0016] In addition, the first flow channel of each pair of flow
channels is connected by a corresponding first connecting channel
with the first centrally running flow channel, and the second flow
channel of each pair of flow channels is connected by a
corresponding second connecting channel with the second centrally
running flow channel.
[0017] In this regard, the connection is produced, for one thing,
in such a way that the first connecting channel connects the
supply-side outlet of the first centrally running flow channel with
the discharge-side inlet of the respective flow channel of the
paired flow channels, and, for another, in such a way that the
second connecting channel connects the supply-side outlet of the
second respective flow channel of the paired flow channels with the
discharge-side inlet of the second centrally running flow
channel.
[0018] As a result of this type of course of the flow channels
within the roller module in accordance with the invention, not only
are the core region and the region of the bearing cooled, as is
already known from the prior art, but also the region near its
surface.
[0019] In a further refinement of the invention, when the plug
connection between the first and second roller modules has been
effected, the second centrally running flow channel of the first
roller module and the first centrally running flow channel of the
second roller module are connected by a coupling sleeve, so that
the coolant can flow from the second centrally running flow channel
of the first roller module into the first centrally running flow
channel of the second roller module.
[0020] The second roller module and each additional roller module
of the strand guide roller is, where the totality of the
construction of the flow channels and connecting channels is
concerned, constructed identically to the first roller module. For
example, in the case of a strand guide roller with a first and a
second roller module, a first open coolant circulation is joined
with a second open coolant circulation to form a common open
coolant circulation, such that the first coolant circulation can be
connected to a coolant inlet, and the second coolant circulation
can be connected to a coolant outlet.
[0021] Advantageously, the modularly constructed strand guide
roller makes it possible for the first time to construct a strand
guide roller for different continuous casting widths, which is
adequately cooled both in the core region and in the region near
the surface.
[0022] Due to the small axial extent of the bearing gaps between
the individual roller modules, the advantageous result is obtained
that only greatly reduced or minimized bulging of the slab occurs
in the regions not supported by the strand guide rollers.
[0023] The design of the flow channels in accordance with the
invention allows overall improved cooling of the strand guide
roller with the result that the service life of the roller is
increased and that the spectrum of steel grades that can be cast is
expanded.
[0024] The provision of detachable covers for the peripheral flow
channels or the chambers has the advantage that these would now be
accessible and could be cleaned.
[0025] With a helical arrangement of the peripheral flow channels,
they can be arranged and operated in groups, e.g., as a multiple
thread. A first group could then be used for the forward movement
of the coolant and a second group for its return movement.
[0026] A variable or alternating flow direction of the coolant in
adjacent strand guide rollers, adjacent roller segments, or in
upper and lower frames of a segment helps to even out the cooling
effect on the strand or slab.
[0027] Further advantages and features of the present invention are
apparent from the dependent claims and the description of a
specific embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0028] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional drawing, along sectional line
A-A in FIG. 4, of a strand guide roller that consists of three
roller modules.
[0029] FIG. 2 shows detail "Z" in FIG. 1 with an enlarged view of
the flow channels and connecting channels that convey the stream of
coolant from the core region to the region near the surface.
[0030] FIG. 3 is a cross section of the strand guide roller in an
enlarged view along line D-D in FIG. 1.
[0031] FIG. 4 is a cross section of the strand guide roller in an
enlarged view along line B-B in FIG. 1.
[0032] FIG. 5 is a view of the second or middle roller module in
direction "A" in FIG. 6.
[0033] FIG. 6 shows the second or middle roller module of the
strand guide roller in the longitudinal section along line C-C in
FIG. 5.
[0034] FIG. 7 is a side view of the second or middle roller module
of the strand guide roller according to FIG. 6.
[0035] The strand guide roller 1 shown in FIG. 1 consists of a
first roller module 2, a second roller module 3, and a third roller
module 4. All of the roller modules are assembled into a strand
guide roller according to the prior-art document WO 2007/121821,
specifically, by a first plug connection between the second or
middle roller module 3 and the inner roller journal 2.1 of the
first roller module 2 and by a second plug connection between the
third roller module 4 and the inner roller journal 3.1 of the
second or middle roller module 3.
[0036] The inner roller journal 2.1 of the first roller module 2 is
mounted in an undivided middle bearing 5, and the inner roller
journal 3.1 of the second or middle roller module 3 is mounted in
an undivided middle bearing 6. Both of the middle bearings 5, 6 are
advantageously designed relatively short in their axial extent,
which means that the transition region 7 between the roller modules
2, 3 and 3, 4 are likewise designed relatively short, so that
advantageously a bulging of the cast metal strand (slab) is
minimized or greatly reduced.
[0037] The outer roller journal 2.2 of the roller module 2 and the
outer roller journal 4.1 of the roller module 4 of the strand guide
roller 1 are each mounted in an outer bearing 8 and 9,
respectively.
[0038] The second or middle roller module 3 is not mounted in the
middle bearing 5, and the third roller module 4 is not mounted in
the middle bearing 6. A plug connection, for example, is provided
as the means of connection between the respective roller modules 2,
3 and 3, 4. In this regard, as is seen best in FIG. 6, the roller
modules 3 and 4 have a recess 10 on their end face that faces the
first roller module 2 and the second roller module 3, respectively.
A component 23, for example, one with an annular design, is
inserted into this recess in such a way that it is secured against
rotation. An extension 2.1.1 or 3.1.1 of the respective roller
journal is machine-faced relative to the roller journal itself and
can be connected in a positive-locking way with the component 23.
Further details of the positive-locking connection or plug
connection will not be discussed here, since these are not objects
of the present invention.
[0039] As FIG. 1 also shows, each roller module 2, 3, 4 has a first
and second centrally running flow channel 11 and 12, respectively.
In this regard, the flow channel 11 of the roller module 2 can be
connected to a coolant inlet 13, and the flow channel 12 of the
roller module 4 can be connected to a coolant outlet 14.
[0040] To allow complete cooling of each roller module of the
strand guide roller 1, i.e., not only cooling of the core region
and bearing region but also cooling of the region near the surface,
each of the roller modules has additional flow channels and
connecting channels, which, together with the centrally running
flow channels 11, 12, form an open coolant circulation in each
roller module 2, 3, 4 and, ultimately, in each strand guide roller
1 designed in accordance with the invention.
[0041] To this end, as shown in FIG. 2, axially running flow
channels 15, 16 are formed in the region near the surface of the
outer periphery of each roller module 2, 3, 4 that guides and
supports the metal strand. First connecting channels 17 and second
connecting channels 18 connect the axially running flow channels
15, 16 with the centrally running flow channels 11, 12 to form an
open coolant circulation.
[0042] In this regard, the coolant circulation is formed in such a
way that, as FIG. 3 shows, the flow channels 15, 16 are arranged in
pairs in the region near the surface, and, specifically, are
preferably regularly distributed around the periphery, where one of
the flow channels of the paired flow channels 15, 16 is connected
by the connecting channel 17 with the supply-side outlet 11.1 of
the flow channel 11, and the other flow channel of the paired flow
channels 15, 16 is connected by the connecting channel 18 with the
discharge-side inlet 12.1 of the flow channel 12.
[0043] As is best seen in FIG. 2, the paired flowed channels 15, 16
are each sealed at the end, individually or together, by covers 19
and 27 in such a way that these ensure a change in the direction of
flow of the coolant in conjunction with corresponding chambers 20
formed at the end face in the given roller module.
[0044] A special advantage of a coolant circulation of this type is
that the connecting channels 17, 18 are placed in each roller
module 2, 3, 4 at the journal end in the direction of the coolant
inlet 13, and thus the peripheral surface of each roller module is
free of any machining process for forming connecting channels with
necessarily present sealing elements. In the mounted state of the
strand guide roller 1, each second centrally running flow channel
12 of the roller modules 2 and 3 is connected by a coupling sleeve
21 with the respective first centrally running flow channel 11 of
the roller module 3 and 4. As a result, the open coolant
circulation of each roller module is brought together to form an
open coolant circulation of the strand guide roller 1.
[0045] To provide better understanding of the coolant circulation
within the strand guide roller 1, the direction of flow of the
coolant 22 from the coolant inlet 13 to the coolant outlet 14 is
indicated by directional arrows.
[0046] The coolant 22 flowing into the flow channel 11 of the
roller module 2 flows at the end of the flow channel 11 into the
connecting channel 17 and enters flow channel 15 of the paired flow
channels 15, 16. At the end of flow channel 15, the coolant 22 is
carried into flow channel 16 of the paired flow channels 15, 16 and
enters the discharge-side inlet 12.1 of the second centrally
running flow channel 12, from which it is carried into the first
centrally running flow channel 11 of the roller module 3 via the
coupling sleeve 21.
[0047] The further course of the flow of the coolant 22 in the
roller modules 3 and 4 occurs analogously to the course of the flow
described for roller module 2, so that there is no need to provide
further details here.
[0048] FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail view of section "Z" in FIG. 1
and shows the relevant design of the flow channels and connecting
channels of roller module 2 and the direction of flow of the
coolant 2. The same parts in FIGS. 1 and 2 are identified by the
same reference numbers.
[0049] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line D-D in FIG. 1.
It shows the region of the plug connection between roller module 2
and roller module 3 as well as the axially running flow channels 15
and 16, which are arranged in pairs in the region of roller module
3 near the surface, with the cover 27 removed. Each pair of flow
channels 15, 16 comprises a flow channel 15 with coolant 22 flowing
in and a flow channel 16 with coolant 22 flowing out. The flow
channels in a paired set of flow channels 15, 16 are connected with
each other by a chamber 20 placed in the roller module. In
addition, the drawing shows the second centrally running flow
channel 12 in the roller journal 2.1 of the roller module 2.
[0050] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of roller module 3 along
line B-B in FIG. 1 with the paired flow channels 15 and 16 arranged
near the surface and with the centrally arranged, first flow
channel 11.
[0051] FIG. 5 is a side view of roller module 3 shown in FIG. 6.
The axially running flow channels 15, 16, which are arranged in
pairs in the region of the roller module 3 that is near the
surface, are tightly sealed at the end with a preferably detachable
individual or common cover 27. The drawing also shows the centrally
running flow channel 11, 12 of the roller module 3.
[0052] The flow channel 11 is connected with the respective flow
channels 15 of the paired flow channels 15, 16 by the connecting
channels 17, which run at an acute angle, while the flow channel 12
is connected with the respective flow channels 16 of the paired
flow channels 15, 16 by the connecting channels 18, which run at an
acute angle.
[0053] FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal section along line C-C in FIG.
5. The roller module 3 and roller journal 3.1 are shown once again
in a clearly understandable way. Also shown is the preferably
polygonally designed extension 3.1.1 of the roller journal 3.1.
[0054] In addition to the arrangement of the flow channels and
connecting channels that has already been described in detail
above, the roller module 3 has a recess 10, which is located on the
end face that faces away from the roller journal 3.1. The recess 10
holds an annular component 23, which is secured against rotation by
suitable securing means 24, for example, dowel pins. In this
regard, the inside of the annular component 23 has a cross section
that corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the extension
2.1.1 of the roller journal 2.1, for example, a polygonal shape. On
the inlet side of the central flow channel 11, the recess 10 is
followed by a mounting bore 25 for the coupling sleeve 21 (see also
FIG. 1). In this regard, the diameter of the mounting bore 25 is
greater than the diameter of the centrally running flow channel 11.
In addition, the extension 3.1.1 of the roller journal 3.1. of the
roller module 3 has a mounting bore 26 that serves the same
purpose.
[0055] FIG. 7 is another side view of the roller module 3 shown in
FIG. 6. As in the design according to FIG. 5, in the region near
the surface, the paired flow channels 15, 16 are arranged around
the flow channel 11 or 12 and are sealed by covers 19. A chamber
20, which is shown only in FIG. 6, joins the paired flow channels
15, 16, so that the flow of the coolant 22 is deflected in it.
[0056] The side view also shows the polygonal design of the
extension 3.1.1 as well as the mounting bore 26 for the coupling
sleeve 21 and the centrally running flow channel 12, 11.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0057] 1 strand guide roller [0058] 2 roller module [0059] 2.1
inner roller journal [0060] 2.1.1 extension [0061] 2.2 outer roller
journal [0062] 3 roller module [0063] 3.1 roller journal [0064]
3.1.1 extension [0065] 4 roller module [0066] 4.1 outer roller
journal [0067] 5 middle bearing [0068] 6 middle bearing [0069] 7
transition region [0070] 8 outer bearing [0071] 9 outer bearing
[0072] 10 recess [0073] 11 flow channel [0074] 11.1 supply-side
outlet [0075] 12 flow channel [0076] 12.1 discharge-side outlet
[0077] 13 coolant inlet [0078] 14 coolant outlet [0079] 15 flow
channel [0080] 15.1 discharge-side outlet [0081] 16 flow channel
[0082] 16.1 supply-side outlet [0083] 17 connecting channel [0084]
18 connecting channel [0085] 19 cover [0086] 20 chamber [0087] 21
coupling sleeve [0088] 22 coolant [0089] 23 component [0090] 24
securing means [0091] 25 mounting bore [0092] 26 mounting bore
[0093] 27 closure cover
* * * * *