U.S. patent application number 13/636892 was filed with the patent office on 2013-01-10 for stirring-roller for a continuous slab-casting machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to ROTELEC. Invention is credited to Siebo Kunstreich.
Application Number | 20130008624 13/636892 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42937245 |
Filed Date | 2013-01-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130008624 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kunstreich; Siebo |
January 10, 2013 |
STIRRING-ROLLER FOR A CONTINUOUS SLAB-CASTING MACHINE
Abstract
A split stirring roll including two half-rolls aligned at a
distance from one another, each incorporating a polyphase linear
inductor mounted fixedly a short distance from outer tubular bodies
of each half-roll to arrange between them an annular space for
circulation of a cooling fluid; each inductor can generate a
traveling magnetic field sliding along the width of a cast slab.
The two half-rolls are mounted externally in end rolling bearings
and internally in a common intermediate rolling bearing attached
between them, the inductors including narrowed-diameter hollow
terminal portions to rest in the three rolling bearings and
communicate with a cooling circuit including the annular spaces.
The split stirring roll is configured for continuous casting of
extra-wide slabs and can form a preferred tool for controlled
electromagnetic stirring of molten metal for optimized exchange of
material between a top and bottom of a casting machine.
Inventors: |
Kunstreich; Siebo; (Paris,
FR) |
Assignee: |
ROTELEC
Bagnolet
FR
|
Family ID: |
42937245 |
Appl. No.: |
13/636892 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
March 14, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FR11/00136 |
371 Date: |
September 24, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
164/468 ;
164/504 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B22D 11/115 20130101;
B22D 11/122 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
164/468 ;
164/504 |
International
Class: |
B22D 11/115 20060101
B22D011/115; B22D 11/06 20060101 B22D011/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 23, 2010 |
FR |
10/01129 |
Claims
1-7. (canceled)
8. A split stirring roll for a machine for continuous casting of
large cross section flat products or a slab, comprising: an element
in axial rotation configured to come into rolling contact with a
large surface of the cast slab, the element including at least one
cylindrical tubular body held at its ends by two spindles, of
generally frustoconical shape, small bases of which rest on two end
rolling bearings attached to rigid structures of the frame of the
casting machine; an electromagnetic stirring equipment filling up
an internal free space of the tubular body, coaxially with the
tubular body and at a short distance to arrange an annular space
between them; a cooling circuit, including the annular space, to
circulate a cooling liquid to secure a heat level of the tubular
body in contact with the slab and of the electromagnetic stirring
equipment; and electric connection terminals to ensure electric
connection of an item of the electromagnetic stirring equipment
with an external electricity supply, wherein the electromagnetic
stirring equipment includes two polyphase linear inductors placed
end-to-end and aligned, electrically independent and each capable
of generating a travelling magnetic field sliding independently of
the other.
9. A split stirring roll according to claim 8, wherein the item of
electromagnetic stirring equipment includes a magnetic core that is
common to the two inductors that form it.
10. A split stirring roll according to claim 8, wherein each of the
two inductors forming the item of electromagnetic stirring
equipment includes its own magnetic core distinct from that of the
other inductor.
11. A split stirring roll according to claim 8, wherein the element
in axial rotation, configured to come into rolling contact with the
surface of the cast slab on which it is resting, includes two
distinct aligned cylindrical tubular bodies and includes a third
intermediate rolling bearing between the two other end rolling
bearings and delimiting with the two other end roller bearings, two
half stirring rolls situated on either side of the intermediate
bearing and each formed by one of the two tubular bodies, each
tubular body being held at its ends by two spindles of generally
frustoconical shape, one of small bases of which rests in an end
rolling bearing and the other rests in the intermediate rolling
bearing.
12. A split stirring roll according to claim 10, wherein the
element in axial rotation, configured to come into rolling contact
with the surface of the cast slab on which it is resting, includes
two distinct aligned cylindrical tubular bodies and includes a
third intermediate rolling bearing between the two other end
rolling bearings and delimiting with the two other end roller
bearings, two half stirring rolls situated on either side of the
intermediate bearing and each formed by one of the two tubular
bodies, each tubular body being held at its ends by two spindles of
generally frustoconical shape, one of small bases of which rests in
an end rolling bearing and the other rests in the intermediate
rolling bearing.
13. A split stirring roll according to claim 12, wherein the
intermediate rolling bearing is situated in a middle of a width of
the slab.
14. A caster for continuous casting of metal slabs fitted with
stirring rolls, wherein at least two of the stirring rolls are
split stirring rolls according to claim 8.
15. A caster for continuous casting of metal slabs according to
claim 14, wherein the two split stirring rolls are placed facing
one another, either on either side of large faces of the cast slab,
or one above the other on one and a same large face, and wherein
the two polyphase linear inductors which each incorporates are
connected to electricity supplies to generate travelling magnetic
fields which slide in opposite directions on the two inductors of
one and a same split stirring roll and in a same direction on the
inductors facing one another in distinct split stirring rolls.
Description
[0001] The invention applies to the area of continuous casting of
flat metal products, such as slabs, particularly made of steel.
More precisely, it relates to the controlled electromagnetic
stirring of the molten metal still liquid in the solidification
pool by inductors housed coaxially in supporting and guiding rolls
of the secondary cooling zone of the continuous casting machine,
made hollow for this purpose.
[0002] The first embodiments of such rolls, called "stirring rolls"
already date from the state of the 1970s (FR No. 2185467).
Schematically, a stirring roll consists mainly of:
[0003] an element in axial rotation designed to come into rolling
contact with the large surface of the product being cast,
consisting of a tubular body (with a diameter which is in principle
equal to, in any case close to the diameter of the usual supporting
roll that it replaces), this tubular body being held at its ends by
two spindles, of generally frustoconical shape, the small bases of
which are housed in two end rolling bearings attached to the rigid
structures of the frame of the casting machine;
[0004] an electromagnetic stirring equipment consisting of a
polyphase linear inductor able to generate a magnetic field sliding
along its axis and lodged in the free internal space of the tubular
body, coaxially with the latter, means for immobilizing the
inductor in axial rotation being advantageously provided, as
proposed for example by FR No. 80/14487;
[0005] and a cooling circuit by circulation of a cooling liquid,
usually water, in order to secure the heat level of the tubular
body in contact with the hot slab and of the electromagnetic
stirring equipment.
[0006] It should be noted that the inductor is of the three-phase
or two-phase type with one or more pairs of magnetic poles per
phase of the external electricity supply to which its connection
means connect it, and that it therefore generates a movable
magnetic field travelling along the axis of the roll, either in one
direction or in the other, depending on the order of connection of
these windings to the phases of the electrical supply. The
travelling speed of the field depends, for its part, on the pole
pitch of the inductor (a parameter fixed by construction) and on
the frequency of the electric current that supplies it and which,
for its part, is the variable for the adjustment of this speed.
[0007] The application of the stirring rolls to a continuous
casting machine of slabs consists schematically in subjecting the
slab, in one or more zones of the machine situated downstream of
the ingot mould, to one or more travelling magnetic fields, sliding
horizontally along the width of the slab, each in a determined
direction. The still liquid portion of the molten metal situated in
the heart of the slab being cooled is therefore driven in a
direction that is identical to that of the sliding of the magnetic
field acting on it.
[0008] Therefore, depending on the circulation movements that it is
desired to impress on the liquid metal, the stirring rolls can be
placed in groups, face-to-face on either side of the large faces of
the slab at one and the same height level (see FIG. 1, coming from
the aforementioned No. 2185467), or superposed on one and the same
side of the slab, or distributed on either side of the slab at
different stages of the machine, etc.
[0009] A preferred use, still normal these days, of such stirring
rolls on a machine for the continuous casting of steel slabs is
clearly set out for example in EP-A-0 097 561 dating from 1982. By
conveniently distributing the stirring rolls over the metallurgical
length of the slab, the user thus manages to create within it
circulatory movements of the molten metal, the overall
configuration of which, called "in triple zero" shown in FIG. 2, is
developed in parallel with the large faces of the slab and tends to
homogenize the liquid metal pool, both thermally and chemically,
between the top and the bottom of the casting machine via loops of
metal streams which are established in parallel with the large
faces of the slab, with, along the two short lateral faces, an
ascending branch of one side and a descending branch of the other,
on either side of the stirring roll.
[0010] It is now well accepted that such a double homogenization of
the molten metal ensures that a cast product is obtained that has a
good internal health allied with a widened equiaxe solidification
structure favourable to a reduction or even a removal of the
central porosities and of the central segregation.
[0011] However, it is known today that this double homogenization
of the cast metal between the top and the bottom of the machine can
be substantially improved by installing within the liquid metal a
central main current, rising or descending, but located at
mid-width of the slab or in this vicinity, rather than only along
the short lateral faces where it is opposed by the roughness of a
solidification front of the cast product that is present virtually
in all parts in this location.
[0012] However, stirring rolls do not allow it. Through their
design, they are capable of making only circulation loops that
occupy the whole width of the slab, therefore with vertical
branches, which are only laterally localised, along and against the
short faces.
[0013] The question that arises therefore is that of producing a
new item of equipment for the controlled electromagnetic stirring
of the liquid metal which can produce a central vertical
circulation of the molten metal in the core of the cast slab,
without harming or overly disrupting existing slab casting
machines.
[0014] The present invention proposes to achieve this by converting
a conventional stirring roll into a double stirring roll or, in
other words, into a "split stirring roll".
[0015] As the mechanical rolls on a slab caster that are divided
are commonly called "split rolls", that's why, in this technical
specification, they are called "split stirring rolls".
[0016] Accordingly, the subject of the invention is a split
stirring roll designed to be mounted on a machine for the
continuous casting of flat products with a wide cross section, such
as a steel slab, as a replacement of a usual supporting and guiding
roll, the said split stirring roll comprising:
[0017] an element in axial rotation designed to come into rolling
contact with the large surface of the cast slab, the said element
consisting of at least one tubular body held at its ends by two
spindles, of generally frustoconical shape, the small bases of
which rest in two end rolling bearings;
[0018] an electromagnetic stirring equipment occupying the internal
free space of the tubular body, coaxially with the latter;
[0019] and a cooling circuit by circulation of a cooling liquid,
usually water, in order to secure the heat level of the tubular
body in contact with the hot slab and of the electromagnetic
stirring equipment,
characterized in that said electromagnetic stirring equipment
consists of two polyphase linear inductors (40, 50) placed
end-to-end and aligned, electrically independent and each capable
of generating a travelling magnetic field sliding independently one
of the other.
[0020] As will be undoubtedly understood, nothing visible will
change on the continuous casting machine relative to an
installation fitted with usual stirring rolls. However, simply by
conveniently connecting the windings of the two internal inductors
to the external electricity power supply so that they produce
magnetic fields sliding in opposite directions, for example
convergent directions, a main rising circulation of the molten
metal will necessarily be generated within the cast slab in the
middle region of the slab beginning where the two inductors meet.
If the two inductors are of identical size, the sought rise of the
molten metal towards the ingot mould will naturally locate itself
just in the portion located at the middle of the large faces of the
slab.
[0021] The multi-purpose nature of the electromagnetic stirring
equipment in this regard should be emphasized here: the desired
homogenization of the molten metal within the liquid pool in the
slab can be obtained in the same way if the two inductors are
adjusted to produce travelling magnetic fields sliding in opposite
divergent directions, that is to say moving away from one another
from the middle joining position of the inductors. The main central
circulation of the liquid metal will then flow down towards the
point of junction of the two inductors on the upper side and
upwards on the lower side (see FIG. 6b)
[0022] According to a variant embodiment, the electromagnetic
stirring equipment has a magnetic core (or yoke) common to the two
inductors.
[0023] According to another embodiment, each inductor has its own
magnetic core, distinct from and distant from that of the other
inductor.
[0024] In the latter case, and according to a particularly
advantageous variant embodiment, the split stirring roll with two
inductors at a distance according to the invention comprises an
element of rolling contact with the surface of the slab on which it
rests, consisting of two distinct aligned tubular bodies, and a
third rolling bearing that separates them, preferably situated in
the middle of the width of the slab, and delimiting, with the end
bearings, two half stirring rolls, this intermediate bearing
receiving the small abutted bases of two other spindles, of
generally frustoconical shape similar to those of the spindles
engaged in the end bearings and of which the large bases are
attached to the ends facing the two tubular bodies.
[0025] As will also be understood here, this variant with an
intermediate bearing is totally appropriate for satisfying a new
nascent requirement in the field of the continuous casting of
slabs, namely that of the casting of wide slabs, greater than 2 m
wide, that can now exceed 50% and more of the conventional widths,
which are of the order of 1.6 m.
[0026] Moreover, the known stirring rolls conventionally have
diameters of 300 mm and more. But nowadays rolls of smaller
diameter (of the order of 240 mm) are increasingly used that can be
easily used in conjunction with small-diameter supporting rolls
which have the advantage of being able to be more numerous on one
and the same machine height portion and, therefore, perform their
function better.
[0027] Usually, machines for the continuous casting of steel slabs
are designed for casting products the width of which is
conventionally between approximately 0.9 and 1.6 m, and even
sometimes up to 2.0 m. But, in a constant search to increase the
productivity of steel-works, the current trend is to hope to have
machines that can cast products of greater width, for example of
2.4 m. This would involve having stirring rolls that are
correlatively longer (let us say 2.5 m and more in order to give an
idea).
[0028] However, the structure of current stirring rolls of
relatively small diameter would not make it possible to prevent
them from sustaining more or less quickly a prohibitive bend
because of the distance that is too great between the bearings, due
to the forces to which the rolls would be subjected in contact with
the cast product.
[0029] It is therefore a supplementary object of the invention to
be able thus to propose a new design of stirring rolls, with three
rolling bearings that flank two half-rolls, and that could be used
on machines for the continuous casting of very wide slabs, because
they would not sustain deformations in service which would make
them ineffective and would compromise their mechanical
strength.
[0030] It should be understood that "half-roll" includes both the
case in which two aligned tubular bodies forming the stirring roll
in its entirety have equal lengths and the case in which they would
have unequal lengths for reasons indicated below.
[0031] Each half-roll has its own electricity supply terminals for
supplying the inductor that it encloses, preferably all grouped at
the end of the half-roll concerned facing the outside of the
machine.
[0032] On the other hand, the circulation of the cooling fluid is
common to the two half-rolls, and the means that provide the
circulation of the fluid in each half-roll are connected to one
another inside the central bearing.
[0033] These features make it possible to produce a compact device
that can easily find its place on the casting machine, because it
is not necessary to place electric connections and fluid-supply
ducts in the central zone of the segment supporting the stirring
rolls and the usual rolls providing the support and the guidance of
the slab when it descends in the casting machine.
[0034] A clarification must be made here on the subject of the
terminology "split stirring roll" chosen to qualify the stirring
rolls according to the invention. This terminology applies both to
the embodiment with two half-rolls and to that with a single
tubular body. The adjective "split" specifically relates to the
qualifier "stirring" which precedes it in order to express the fact
that the two internal inductors are electrically independent,
without, for all that, necessarily being physically distant from
one another. This technological option with separated inductors at
a distance however remains, as has been said, designed and hence
suited to the casting of extra-wide slabs, because of the presence
of an additional intermediate rolling bearing that it
underlies.
[0035] The invention will be better understood on reading the
following description, making reference to the attached drawings of
figures in which:
[0036] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the prior art
represented by document FR No. 2185467 already cited to create a
stirring of the liquid metal in the secondary cooling zone of the
casting machine according to a configuration with a double loop,
called "butterfly wings";
[0037] FIG. 2 is a schematic view similar to the preceding figure,
but illustrating the prior art represented by document EP-A-0 097
561 already cited also in order to install a stirring of liquid
metal according to a configuration with three loops, called "triple
zero";
[0038] FIG. 3 is an overview, in a plane perpendicular to the large
faces of the cast slab, of an embodiment of a split stirring roll
according to the invention with three rolling bearings, one of
which is intermediate, and two tubular bodies;
[0039] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but illustrating an
embodiment of a split stirring roll according to the invention with
a single tubular body and with no intermediate rolling bearing;
[0040] FIG. 5 illustrates a first stirring mode with central
circulation of cast liquid metal that can be achieved with the
split stirring roll according to the invention, the portion 5a
being a view in a plane perpendicular to the large faces of the
cast slab, the corresponding portion 5b being a view in the plane
of the large faces;
[0041] FIG. 6, in its two portions 6a and 6b, is a figure similar
to FIG. 5 illustrating a second stirring mode with central
circulation of cast liquid metal that can be achieved with the
split stirring roll according to the invention;
[0042] FIG. 7, in its two portions 7a and 7b, is a figure similar
to FIG. 6 illustrating another mode of stirring liquid metal, of
the type rotating about the casting axis, that can also be achieved
with the split stirring roll according to the invention.
[0043] FIGS. 1 and 2 have already been mentioned in the
introduction of the present specification as representative of the
prior art.
[0044] One will therefore self-limit in this instance to indicate
that: [0045] a) FIG. 1 shows the circulation loops (in dashed
lines) of the stirred molten metal, with main rises and falls along
the short faces 1 and 2 which form over the whole width of the cast
slab 3 under the action of two conventional stirring rolls 4 and 5
mounted facing one another, on either side of the large faces 6 and
7 of the slab being cast in the secondary cooling zone of the
casting machine, the two stirring rolls producing magnetic fields
which slide longitudinally in the same direction shown by the solid
horizontal arrows 8 and 9; [0046] b) and FIG. 2 shows the
circulation loops (in dashed lines) of the stirred molten metal,
with main rises and falls along the short faces 1 and 2 which form
over the whole width of the cast slab 3 under the action of two
conventional stirring rolls, separated from one another, on one and
the same large face 6 of the slab (in this instance on the
intrados) and represented here only by the solid horizontal arrows
10 and 11 showing that the magnetic fields that they produce slide
longitudinally in opposite directions.
[0047] In the FIGS. 3 and 4, to which reference is now made, the
identical or equivalent elements are indicated with identical
reference numbers, so that the following description can be read
considering these two figures jointly.
[0048] In these figures, the tubular splited stirring roll 1 is
attached to a rigid support 2 incorporated into the frame of the
machine for the continuous casting of continuous-cast slabs and
enclosing the usual supporting and guide rolls.
[0049] The cast slab 3 progresses perpendicularly to the plane of
the figure from the ingot mould (not shown) to the bottom of the
casting machine, and the split stirring roll 1 covers the whole
width while remaining in rolling contact with its surface via a
generatrix of the element in axial rotation that forms it.
[0050] According to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG.
3, this element in rotation is formed by two cylindrical tubular
bodies 6 and 12 at a distance from one another, therefore forming
two stirring half-rolls 4 and 5 that are tubular, contiguous and
aligned and of equal length in the example shown.
[0051] Three rolling bearings attached to the support 2 ensure the
alignment and retention in axial rotation of these two half-rolls:
two end bearings, the left bearing 9 and right bearing 15, and an
intermediate bearing 10, in the central position here, facing the
middle of the slab 3.
[0052] Each half-roll 4 or 5 incorporate a polyphase linear
inductor, mounted coaxially with it, capable of generating a
magnetic field sliding longitudinally. The left half-roll 4
contains the inductor 40; the right half-roll 5 contains the
inductor 50.
[0053] In the rest of the description, the terms "left" and "right"
will be used with reference to the device as it is seen in FIG. 3
or 4. Moreover, it is specified that everything that will be said
concerning the left half-roll 4 and concerning its appendages will
be exactly transposable to the right stirring half-roll 5, the
design and the production of one being identical to that of the
other, although, in certain cases, the user could opt for different
lengths between them.
[0054] The cylindrical body 6, forming the left stirring half-roll
4, is held at its ends by two spindles, of the same general
frustoconical shape, a left spindle 7 and a right spindle 8. Each
spindle is mounted at one end of said body via its large base 7a,
8a, the small base 7b, 8b being, for its part, engaged in an end
rolling bearing, respectively left 9 and intermediate 10, secured
to the support 2 of the rigid frame of the casting machine.
[0055] As is usual, these rolling bearings 9 and 10 allow the
stirring roll 4 to rotate freely about its longitudinal axis B
under the effect of the rolling contact of its tubular body 6 with
the slab 3 progressing towards the lower portion of the continuous
casting machine.
[0056] However, the inductor 40 with a travelling magnetic field,
centred in the tubular body 6 and taking up virtually the whole of
the volume available inside the roll (except for an annular space
60 which separates it by a few mm, let us say 4 or 5 mm, from said
body in order to allow the circulation of cooling water) is, for
its part, prevented from rotating.
[0057] Accordingly, its left terminal extension 40a and right
terminal extension 40b, of a smaller diameter than that of the
inductor, form supporting shafts which rest, one in a flange with
keys 11, placed on the outside of the left bearing 9, therefore
after having traversed this bearing via the inside of the small
base 7b of the spindle 7, and, the other, after having likewise
traversed the small base 8b of the right spindle 8, in the
intermediate bearing 10 in order to fit onto the facing extension,
coming from the right inductor 50, via a male-female coupling (not
shown) with splines and therefore removable simply by
translation.
[0058] Similarly, the right stirring half-roll 5 comprises a
cylindrical body 12 engaged between two spindles, a left spindle 13
and right spindle 14 (similar to the spindles 7 and 8) via their
respective large bases 13a and 14a. The small base 14b of the right
spindle 14 is inserted into a right end rolling bearing 15 secured
to the support 2, and the small base 13b of the left spindle 13 is
inserted into the central intermediate rolling bearing 10.
[0059] As shown in FIG. 3, the internal spindles 8 and 13 engaged
in the intermediate bearing 10 but against one another. But this is
not an absolute obligation, provided that their connection is
sealed, because these parts form the cooling circuit of the
assembly as will be seen below.
[0060] Each stirring half-roll 4, 5 has its own electric circuit
providing the electric power supply to its inductor. The left
stirring half-roll 4 therefore comprises, mounted on the end of the
end bearing 9, a panel 16 with two pairs of connecting terminals
16' and 16'', having two pairs of terminals in order to provide the
connection to the electricity network for the two-phase windings of
the inductor 40.
[0061] It should be noted that the polyphase linear inductor used
by the invention, which may be of two- or three-phases type, may
use different numbers of electrical terminals, namely four (as two
pairs) or three with a common neutral for a two-phases type, and
six (as three pairs), or four with a common neutral for a
three-phases type, it being nevertheless emphasized that, in the
case of an electrical star connection of the inductor, its number
of terminals will be reduced
[0062] To be noted also that an inductor of this type can
schematically be made up of an alternating series of windings 41,
51 and of apparent circular magnetic poles 42, 52 coming from the
internal magnetic core of the inductor, which also serves as a
winding support for the windings in the reception spaces between
two contiguous magnetic poles. All that protrudes from this ordered
assembly are the electric connecting wires, or cables, 41a, 41b;
51a, 51b which exit and enter each series of windings that are
interconnected in series-opposition (therefore connected to the
same phase), and meet as close as possible the terminals of the
connection panel.
[0063] It will be noted that, usually in the case of a single
two-phase inductor covering the width of the slab, that is an
inductor of approximately 1.6 to 2.0 m, the number of windings
interconnected in series-opposition is four, that is having two
pole pitches over the active length of the inductor.
[0064] Note also that, in the known case of a single stirring roll
covering the entire width of the slab, the latter comprises a panel
with electrical connection terminals at each of its ends, one
receiving the wires of phase one, the other receiving the wires of
phase two, or one receiving the input wires of the interconnected
phase windings, the other receiving the output wires. On the other
hand, in the case of a split stirring roll according to the
invention, it is preferable to combine within one and the same
panel all of the connection terminals relating to one and only one
of the two inductors and to dedicate a given panel to the inductor
that is closest to it.
[0065] This gives only one connection panel per inductor. In the
case shown of a split stirring roll with an intermediate bearing
10, therefore with two distinct inductors at a distance from one
another, it is understood that in this manner, it is not necessary
to provide connection through the essential bearing 10, which would
complicate the design and the mounting of the installation.
[0066] The right stirring half-roll 5 comprises, at the right end
of the assembly, a connection panel 17 furnished with two pairs of
terminals 17' and 17'', similar to the panel 16 which, dedicated to
the left stirring half-roll 4, is on the left side of the
installation.
[0067] As for the cooling of the stirring half-rolls 4, 5, this is
provided, according to the invention, by a common circuit,
comprising the following elements taken in an order corresponding
to the direction of circulation of the cooling water: [0068] a
first inlet waterbox 18, mounted (in the example shown) externally
on the left rolling bearing 9 and in which the water for cooling
the stirring rolls enters through a supply duct 19 connected to a
pressurized source of treated water not shown; [0069] an axial
passageway 20 of the bearing 9 connecting the waterbox 18 to the
blind hole 21 drilled in the left terminal extension 40a of the
left inductor 40, this drilled blind hole comprising a radial
daughter drilled duct 22 which emerges in the annular space 60
already mentioned, arranged between the tubular body 6 and its
concentric inductor 40 in order to be capable of providing a water
circulation in the vicinity of the periphery of the stirring roll 4
and cool it during and after its contact with the hot slab 3;
[0070] a second radial drilled duct 23 which collects the water
that has circulated in the annular space 60 in order to bring it
into a second blind axial hole 24, symmetrical with the blind hole
21, but provided in the right terminal extension 40b of the engaged
left inductor 40, as already mentioned, via a sealed male-female
fitting, with the left terminal extension 50a of the right inductor
50 within the intermediate bearing 10; [0071] a third drilled blind
hole 25 arranged axially in this left terminal extension 50a and
from which is tapped a third radial daughter drilled duct 26,
similar to the daughter ducts above, and which emerges in the
annular space 61 arranged between the tubular body 12 of the right
stirring roll 5 and its concentric internal inductor 50 in order to
be capable of providing a circulation of water in the vicinity of
the stirring roll periphery 5 and to cool it during and after its
contact with the hot slab 3; [0072] a fourth radial drilled
daughter duct 27 opening into a fourth blind drilled axial hole 28
in the right terminal extension 50b of the stirring roll 5, a
second axial passageway 29, equivalent to the left axial passageway
20, arranged in the axis of the right end bearing 15 in order to
connect an outlet waterbox 31 furnished with a water discharge duct
30.
[0073] Note that, in the exemplary embodiment in question, it is a
face of the wall of the waterbox, the inlet box 18 and outlet box
31, that forms the connection terminal panel 16 and 17
respectively, the connecting wires 42a, 42b; 51a, 51b for the
inductors naturally being insulated in order to be able to join
them while passing through the waterboxes, as is the case here.
[0074] For the slabs 3 of very great width (for example 2 400 mm),
the split stirring roll 1 according to the exemplary embodiment
that has just been described makes it possible to prevent
deformations, particularly a bend, which would inevitably occur in
the absence of the central bearing 10. The latter makes it possible
to dispense with these deformations by providing each stirring roll
forming the assembly with a relatively short length, comparable to
or even less than that of the conventional stirring rolls used on
machines for continuous casting of slabs of normal widths (up to 2
m and more frequently 1 600 mm).
[0075] The design of the split stirring roll 1 in its embodiment in
two stirring half-rolls 4 and 5 that has just been described is not
substantially modified relative to the usual design, except for:
[0076] the fact that the electrical connections of a given inductor
are all on the same side of the half-roll that incorporates this
inductor; [0077] and the fact that it is necessary to provide means
of communication between the cooling circuits of each stirring
half-roll, for example by placing end-to-end and sealingly the two
end spindles facing one another inside the intermediate central
bearing in order to form a single sealed duct.
[0078] This solution consisting in providing a cooling circuit
common to the two stirring half-rolls 4, 5 prevents having to place
inlet and/or outlet water ducts in the central bearing 10, in the
same manner as it is not necessary to install therein electrical
connection terminals, as already mentioned above.
[0079] But the invention also recommends another embodiment of the
split stirring roll, that is simpler than the previous one. Shown
in FIG. 4, it is characterized by a single tubular body 6, as in
the case of a conventional stirring roll, therefore without an
intermediate rolling bearing.
[0080] This single tubular body encloses, mounted axially with it
and a short distance away in order to arrange the annular
separating space 60, two polyphase linear inductors, a left
inductor 45 and right inductor 55, electrically separate from one
another, but produced in a single piece, that is to say not at a
distance because they have a single and common magnetic core (not
shown) therefore without requiring a removable mechanical
connection between them, nor any particular cooling circuit in this
magnetic core.
[0081] Such an assembly of "left-right" inductors coupled
mechanically does not differ visually from a single inductor.
Simply, the connecting wires of the windings of one to the
electrical supply phases will all preferably be directed to an
electrical connection panel present at an end of the roll and the
connecting wires of the second inductor all directed to the other
connection panel mounted at the other end. In this instance, the
connecting wires 45a, 45b of the left inductor 45 are directed to
the closest panel 16 mounted on the left rolling bearing 9, and the
connecting wires 55a, 55b of the right inductor 55 are directed to
the closest panel 17 mounted on the right rolling bearing 15.
[0082] The split stirring rolls according to the invention, both in
their embodiment with intermediate bearing and without, can be
incorporated without particular difficulties in a segment of the
structure of the caster conventionally also supporting other usual
rolls for supporting and guiding the slab. The reader will have
understood that the split stirring rolls with single tubular body,
therefore without an intermediate bearing according to one
embodiment of the invention, must be preferably reserved for the
casting of slabs of conventional width, that is to say up to 1 600
mm just for giving idea. Beyond that, it would be preferable to opt
for split stirring rolls with two tubular bodies and an
intermediate bearing. As a example, for the casting of wide slabs,
namely 2 400 mm wide, it is possible to provide split stirring
rolls consisting of two half-rolls, such as 4 and 5, which are of
1150 mm length each, with an intermediate rolling bearing that is
approximately 200 mm wide. The diameter of the stirring rolls 4, 5
can, for its part, be of the order of 230 mm.
[0083] As a variant, it is possible to provide that, for at least
some of the split stirring rolls with two half-rolls and
intermediate bearing fitted to a continuous caster of slab, the
lengths of the two tubular bodies are unequal. Specifically, the
absence of contact between the central bearing and the slab means
that the portion of the slab passing opposite this bearing is not
cooled and not supported. Therefore, providing split stirring rolls
having contiguous stirring rolls of unequal length and having their
intermediate bearing offset between two successive split stirring
rolls will make it possible to ensure that it is not always the
same portion of the width of the slab that is affected by this
absence of cooling and support. This will, as required, improve the
evenness of cooling of the slab and prevent local bulges.
[0084] Now, with reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, some examples will
be given illustrating the new possibilities offered to controlled
electromagnetic stirring in the secondary cooling zone of a machine
for the continuous casting of slabs by the split stirring rolls
according to the invention when several of them are used in a
coordinated manner.
[0085] In this instance, they will be, in the three examples
currently being considered, used as pairs 70a and 70b, placed at
the same level on the metallurgical height, facing one another, on
either side of the large faces of the cast slab.
[0086] In order to simplify, suppose that they are split stirring
rolls of the type with a single tubular body, therefore without
intermediate rolling bearing, each incorporating two monolithic
inductors 71 and 72 in the roll 70b, and 73 and 74 in the paired
roll 70a. The two inductors facing one another on distinct rolls
will be connected to one and the same polyphase electric power
supply. In this instance, via their respective connection boxes not
shown, the inductors 71 and 73 are connected to the power supply 78
and the inductors 72 and 74 are connected to the power supply 79.
The latter will preferably be identical to the power supply 78, but
nevertheless separate in order to be able to easily ensure the
various desired adjustments concerning the direction of sliding of
the magnetic fields, as will be seen.
[0087] The slab 3 is first formed in a continuous casting ingot
mould 75 with the aid of an immersion nozzle 76 centred on the
casting axis A and bringing the molten metal to the ingot mould via
lateral outlet openings. The slab leaves the ingot mould to join,
below, the secondary cooling zone while progressing towards the
bottom of the casting machine at a controlled speed so as to keep
at a controlled level the height position of the liquid meniscus 77
within the ingot mould. It is in this secondary cooling zone of the
casting machine that the retention and guide rolls are found,
including the two split stirring rolls 70a and 70b of the
invention.
[0088] If the operator wishes to produce a stirring configuration
ensuring the establishment of a vertical circulation of the liquid
metal in the middle of the liquid pool, all he has to do is to
connect the two inductors in each split stirring roll so that they
produce traveling magnetic fields sliding in opposite directions in
one and the same roll and sliding in the same direction in the two
facing rolls on either side of the large faces of the slab (or
which are facing one above the other on the same side of the slab,
according to a configuration not shown here).
[0089] More precisely, as shown in FIG. 5a, if he wishes to obtain
above the stirring rolls a rising circulation of the molten metal
at the centre of the slab, the operator will give the travelling
fields converging opposite directions, namely sliding on a given
inductor 71 (and 73) while going towards its companion inductor 72
(and 74 respectively) of the same roll 70b (and 70a).
[0090] Conversely, as shown in FIG. 6a, if he wishes to produce
above the stirring rolls a go dawn circulation of the molten metal
at the centre of the slab, the operator will give the travelling
magnetic fields divergent opposed directions, namely sliding on a
given inductor 71 (and 73) while moving away from its companion 72
(and respectively 74) of the same roll 70b (and 70a).
[0091] Moreover, he can switch from one configuration to the other,
even during the same casting, simply by reversing one phase via a
flip-flop provided in each of the electrical power supplies 78 and
79.
[0092] In the case of thick slabs in particular, the operator might
also wish, permanently or temporarily, to impose a rotary stirring
in a plane perpendicular to the casting axis A. In order to achieve
his objective, he will then simply have to modify the electrical
connections so that, as shown in FIG. 7a, the two magnetic fields
slide in the same direction on the two inductors of one and the
same roll and in the opposite direction between the two rolls.
[0093] It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to
the exemplary embodiments described, but that it extends to many
variants or equivalents to the extent that its definition given by
the following claims is respected. For example, it will have been
understood that the term "spindle" used to qualify the supporting
elements mounted at the ends of the or both tubular bodies forming
a split stirring roll will have to be understood to cover any
transmission member capable of providing a sealed rigid connection
between the tubular bodies and the rolling bearings that support
them in free axial rotation.
* * * * *