U.S. patent application number 15/051320 was filed with the patent office on 2016-07-14 for caster.
The applicant listed for this patent is SMS GROUP GMBH. Invention is credited to Joerg BAUSCH, Jochen WANS.
Application Number | 20160199905 15/051320 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40279626 |
Filed Date | 2016-07-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160199905 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BAUSCH; Joerg ; et
al. |
July 14, 2016 |
CASTER
Abstract
The invention relates to a caster (1) having a casting ladle
(2), a distribution device (4), and a horizontally moveable
transport belt (5) having side limitation elements (13, 14),
wherein liquid metal, preferably steel, can flow out of the casting
ladle (2) onto the distribution device (4), and from there can be
applied to the horizontal transport belt (5), the side limitation
elements (13, 14) of the horizontal transport belt (5) being
adjustable over the width of the horizontal transport belt. The
invention further relates to a corresponding method.
Inventors: |
BAUSCH; Joerg; (Duesseldorf,
DE) ; WANS; Jochen; (Meerbusch, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SMS GROUP GMBH |
Duesseldorf |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
40279626 |
Appl. No.: |
15/051320 |
Filed: |
February 23, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12733062 |
Feb 3, 2010 |
|
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PCT/EP2008/006731 |
Aug 15, 2008 |
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15051320 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
164/475 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B22D 11/066 20130101;
B22D 11/045 20130101; B22D 11/055 20130101; B22D 11/0685 20130101;
B22D 11/103 20130101; B22D 11/064 20130101; B22D 11/0631 20130101;
B22D 41/08 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B22D 11/045 20060101
B22D011/045; B22D 11/103 20060101 B22D011/103; B22D 41/08 20060101
B22D041/08; B22D 11/055 20060101 B22D011/055 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 16, 2007 |
DE |
102007038621.6 |
Jul 3, 2008 |
DE |
102008031476.5 |
Claims
1. A method of operating a caster having a horizontally
displaceable conveyor belt provided with side limitation elements,
and a tundish arranged at one end of the conveyor belt above a
plane of the conveyor belt for supplying molten metal onto the
conveyor belt, the method comprising the steps of providing a
distribution device having an adjustable width and located beneath
the tundish in the plane of the conveyor belt for horizontally
delivering the molten metal from the tundish onto the conveyor
belt; and variably adjusting a width between the side limitation
elements over a width of the conveyor belt at an angle of
90.degree. to a cast direction, while material is being cast
between the side limitation elements, in accordance with the width
of the distribution device and with a predetermined width of a cast
product.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing
the distribution device includes locating the distribution device
between the side limitation elements.
3. The method according to claim 1, including the step of providing
an inert gas hood over the conveyor belt for protecting the cast
product.
4. A caster (1), comprising: a horizontally displaceable conveyor
belt (5); a casting ladle (2) provided at one end of the conveyor
belt (5); a tundish (3) located beneath the casting ladle (2) and
above a plane of the conveyors belt (5) for feeding molten metal on
the conveyor belt (5); a distribution device (4) located beneath
the tundish (3) in the plane of the conveyor belt (5) with which
molten metal is horizontally delivered from the tundish (3) onto
the conveyor belt (5), the distribution device having an adjustable
width; side limitation means (13, 14) for variably adjusting a
width of a pre-strip displaceable on the conveyor belt (5) over the
width of the conveyor belt at an angle of 90.degree. to a cast
direction, while the pre-strip is being cast between side
limitation elements of the side limitation means, in accordance
with the width of the distribution device and a predetermined width
of a cast product; at least one cooling device (9) located beneath
the horizontal conveyor belt (5) and which cools a pre-strip
displaceable by the conveyor belt (5), the at least one cooling
device (9, 11) being adjustable in width in the cast direction of
the conveyor belt (5) while the pre-strip is being cast, the at
least one cooling device being divided in width thereof in
direction of the conveyor belt in cooling zones including at least
two edge zones which are turned on or off dependent on a width of a
to-be-cooled pre-strip; and an inert gas hood (8) located above the
horizontal conveyor belt for protecting the pre-strip.
5. The caster according to claim 2, wherein the distribution device
is located between the side limitation elements.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
12/733,062 filed Feb. 3, 2010 which is a national stage application
of PCT application PCT/EP2008/006731 filed Aug. 13, 2008 which
claims priority of German applications DE 10 2007 038 621.6 filed
Aug. 16, 2007 and DE 10 2008 031 476.5 filed Jul. 3, 2008, all of
the above-mentioned applications are incorporated herein by
reference thereto.
DESCRIPTION
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The invention relates to a caster for casting, in
particular, a liquid steel on a horizontal conveyor belt according
to preamble of claim 1 and to a method of operating a caster
according to preamble of claim 8.
[0004] 2. State-of-the-Art
[0005] In state-of-the art, known are casters in which liquid steel
flows from a casting ladle in a distribution device and therefrom
on a horizontal conveyor belt on which the liquid metal solidifies
to a pre-strip and simultaneously is carried away and is cooled.
This method is also known as a horizontal casting.
[0006] Corresponding casters are known in the state-of-the art and
are disclosed in DE 198 52 275 or WO 97/06906.
[0007] The casters for a horizontal casting described above have a
drawback that consists in that their width is fixed, and that a
substantial modification of the installation is required in order
to change the cast width of the horizontal conveyor belt and, thus,
of the pre-strip, in case such modification is economically
justified at all. To this end, typically a very extensive assembly
and disassembly is necessary, and expensive components are needed,
so that such change of an installation in width in any event, has
little appeal. Correspondingly, for different cast widths,
different horizontal casting installations are produced which then,
on close examination, can be used to their full capacity.
[0008] This drawback results in that a change in an installation is
relatively expensive and idle time is increased, or requires
producing a second, third, or several installations, with an
increased costs factor.
[0009] All in all, these solutions up to now are associated with
increased costs and loss of time, which leads to an inflexible
operation or to production losses of such casting
installations.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION, OBJECT, SOLUTION, ADVANTAGES
[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
casting installation for casting, in particular, steel onto a
horizontal conveyor belt, with which difficult requirements with
regard to dimensions of to-be-cast pre-strips can be realized
quickly and without large expenses.
[0011] According to the invention, this object is achieved, with
respect to a caster, by providing a caster having a casting ladle,
a distribution device and a horizontally displaceable conveyor belt
having side limitation elements, in which liquid metal, preferably,
steel flows from the casting ladle in the distribution and
therefrom onto the horizontal conveyor belt, wherein the side
limitation elements of the horizontal conveyor belt are adjustable
over the width of the horizontal conveyor belt. Thereby, it can be
advantageously achieved that the pre-strip, relevant for the
casting process, can be formed variable in width. The adjustment
can be effected advantageously mechanically or hydraulically with a
corresponding servo element. Advantageously, the adjustment is
reversible.
[0012] Advantageously, the distribution device is adjustable in
width in direction of the width of the conveyor belt. Thereby,
advantageously, the casting behavior and distribution behavior of
the liquid metal on the conveyor belt can be controlled.
[0013] It is further expedient, when beneath the horizontal,
conveyor belt stand/or above the horizontal conveyor belt, at least
one tempering, e.g., cooling device is arranged and which serves
for cooling a pre-strip displaceable with speed on the conveyor
belt.
[0014] It is particularly advantageous when the at least one
cooling device is variably adjustable in width in direction of the
width of the conveyor belt.
[0015] It is further advantageous when the at least one cooling
device is divided in width in cooling zones in direction of the
width of the conveyor belt.
[0016] It is particularly advantageous when the cooling device has
a plurality of cooling zones, of which at least two zones are edge
zones which are turned on or off dependent on a to-be-cooled
width.
[0017] According to the invention, the object of the invention,
with respect to a method, is achieved with a method of operating a
caster, in particular a caster having a distribution device and, in
particular, a horizontally displaceable belt with side limitation
elements, wherein a width of a cast product is determined and
adjusted with side limitation elements adjustable in width at an
angle of 90.degree. to a cast direction.
[0018] This is particularly advantageous when the distribution
device is arranged between the side limitation elements.
[0019] With another embodiment, it is also advantageous when the
distribution device is located, in the cast direction upstream of
the side limitation elements and the liquid metal flows head-first
against the side limitation elements and narrows to a casting width
by the side limitation elements.
[0020] Further advantages are disclosed in subclaims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] Below, the invention will be explained based on an
embodiment shown in the drawings.
[0022] The drawings show:
[0023] FIG. 1 a cross-sectional schematic view of a caster;
[0024] FIG. 2 a plan schematic view of a cooling device with an
adapted or adjustable width;
[0025] FIG. 3 a plan schematic view of a cooling device with an
adapted or adjustable width;
[0026] FIG. 4 a plan schematic view of a cooling device with an
adapted or adjustable width;
[0027] FIG. 5 a plan schematic view of a cooling device with an
adapted or adjustable width;
[0028] FIG. 6 a plan schematic view of a cooling device with an
adapted or adjustable width; and
[0029] FIG. 7 a plan schematic view of a cooling device with an
adapted or adjustable width.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0030] FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a caster 1
in which the liquid steel or a liquid metal is poured from a
casting ladle 2 into a tundish 3 and runs therefrom via a
distribution device 4 onto a horizontal conveyor belt 5. The
horizontal conveyor belt 5 is a driven belt that conveys further
the metal solidified on the conveyor belt, such as a pre-strip 7,
with a predetermined speed. To this end, there are provided rollers
6 about which the driven belt 5 circulate as a continuous belt.
[0031] Preferably, beneath the conveyor belt 5 and/or also above
the conveyor belt 5 there are provided cooling devices 9 which
serve for controlled and precise cooling of a cooled and solidified
pre-strip 7 displaceable on the conveyor belt 5 with a certain
speed. The cooling devices 9 are formed as, e.g., spray devices for
spraying a cooling medium such as, e.g., water that is sprayed on
or is applied to the conveyor belt and/or the pre-strip. The
cooling device 9 can, e.g., can cool the heat-transmitting belt 5
itself, so that a solidified metal deposited on the conveyor belt 5
is cooled. Thereby, the heat of the pre-strip 7 is removed from the
pre-strip by the sprayed or applied cooling medium.
[0032] Above the conveyor belt 5, there is provided an inert gas
hood 8 that protects the pre-strip from the external atmospheric
air. The inert gas hood 8 can also be positively supported on side
limiting elements 13, 14 to prevent loss of heat.
[0033] The side limiting elements are shown only schematically.
[0034] FIGS. 2 through 7 show schematically a plan view of a caster
10 and in which essentially only the cooling device 11 located
above and/or below the horizontally displaceable conveyor belt, the
distribution device 12, and two side limiting elements 13, 14 are
shown. The conveyor belt and the side limiting elements are shown
only schematically.
[0035] In FIG. 2, it can be seen that the two side limiting
elements 13 and 14 are located relatively closer to each other in
comparison with the arrangement in FIG. 3. The distribution device
12 has, at its outlet, a width that corresponds approximately to
the distance between the two side limitation elements. Thus, FIG. 2
shows an arrangement for a small strip width and in which the width
of the outlet of the distribution device 12 approximately
corresponds to the width of the conveyor belt.
[0036] Contrary to this, in the caster of FIG. 3, the width is
adjusted to a greater width so that the width of the produced
pre-strip, i.e., the distance between the side limitation elements
13, 14 is greater than the width of the distribution device 12 of
the liquid metal at its outlet. The width of the distribution
device 12 at its outlet is not changed in FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0037] In FIG. 4, both side limitation elements again are arranged
relatively closer to each other in comparison with the arrangement
of FIG. 5. The distribution device 12 has a width greater than the
distance between the both side limitation element 13, 14. The
caster in FIG. 4 shows an arrangement for a small strip width.
[0038] Contrary to the arrangement in FIG. 4, the caster in FIG. 5
is adjustable to a greater width so that the width of reproduced
pre-strip, i.e., the distance between the side limitation elements
13, 14 is as wide or smaller than the width of the distribution
device 12 of the liquid metal at its outlet. The width of the
distribution device 12 at its outlet is not changed in FIGS. 13 and
14. The width of the distribution device 12 can, alternatively, be
changeable in another embodiment.
[0039] All in all, FIG. 2-5 show, respectively, a caster 10 with
side limitation elements 13, 14 with an adjustable distance
therebetween. The distribution device 12 for distributing the
liquid metal on the conveyor belt of the caster can be formed with
an outlet having an adjustable width. The width of the pre-strip
between the side limitation elements 13, 14 can be smaller, equal
to, or wider than the width of the distribution device 12 at its
outlet. By adjustment of the width of the distribution device 12,
streams with different mass can be brought onto the conveyor belt
of the caster in which, the width of the distribution device 12
with respect to the stream mass can be adjusted, taking into
account the width of the pre-strip.
[0040] If the distance between the side limitation elements 13, 14
is greater than the width of the distribution device 12 at its
outlet, the distributed liquid metal also flows in the width
direction on the conveyor belt, being distributed to the strip
width of the pre-strip determined by the distance between the side
limitation elements 13, 14.
[0041] If the distance between the side limitation elements 13, 14
is smaller than the width of the distribution device 12, the
exiting liquid metal that flows in the width direction strikes
against the side limitation elements 13, 14 on the conveyor belt
and spreads over the entire strip width determined by the width of
the side limitation elements 13, 14.
[0042] If the distance between the side limitation elements 13, 14
is essentially equal to the width of the distribution device 12,
the exiting fluid metal flows essentially parallel to the belt
width on the conveyor belt and spreads over the entire belt width
determined by the width of the side limitation elements.
[0043] In addition to the adjustment of the width of the side
limitation elements 13, 14 of the conveyor belt and/or the
distribution device 12, the cooling device 11 can also be
adjustable to a variable width, so that the cooling device 11 can
be adjusted to a variable width with regard to its cooling capacity
or cooling temperature. The cooling device 11 can be divided in
different cooling zones over the width of the belt of the caster so
that, e.g., edge cooling zones 15 at the edges of the cooling
device 11 can be turned on or off in case they are needed or not,
based on a selected width of a to-be-cast pre-strip. FIGS. 6 and 7
show such an embodiment in which the cooling device 11 is adjusted
to different active widths. In FIG. 6, the edge zones 15 are,
respectively, turned off, and in FIG. 7, the edge zones of the
cooling device 11 are activated, i.e., they are used for cooling
the pre-strip. Activation and deactivation of the edge cooling
zones 15 is effected, preferably, dependent on the adjusted width
of the pre-strip, i.e., dependent on the distance between the side
limitation elements 13, 14.
[0044] According to the invention, it is particular advantageous
when the adjustment of the width of a to-be-cast material can be
reversibly carried out. To this end, the adjustment of the distance
between the side limitation elements 13, 14 is reversibly carried
out. Advantageously, in one of the embodiments, the cooling with
the cooling device with cooling zones is also adjustable to the
necessary width. In addition, it is advantageous when the
adjustment of the width of the distribution device 12 is reversibly
carried out. According to a particular advantageous embodiment, all
three, the width of spacing of the side limitation elements 13, 14,
the width of the distribution device 12, and the width of the
coding device 12, 15 are reversibly adjustable. It is particularly
advantageous that this reversible adjustment can be effected and
changed during operation, i.e., on line.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0045] 1 Caster [0046] 2 Casting ladle [0047] 3 Tundish [0048] 4
Distribution device [0049] 5 Conveyor belt [0050] 6 Roller [0051] 7
Pre-strip [0052] 8 Inert gas hood [0053] 9 Cooling device [0054] 10
Caster [0055] 11 Cooling device [0056] 12 Distribution device
[0057] 13 Side limitation element [0058] 14 Side limitation element
[0059] 15 Cooling zone, edge zone
* * * * *