Conveying And Cooling Lengths Of Semi-finished Products

Abstract

In conventional continuous casting plants and heavy rolling mills, there is a run-out table at the end of the plant or mill, and a cooling bed running at right angles to the run-out table. The invention improves the utilization of factory space by having the cooling bed parallel to the run-out table and by turning the lengths of semi-finished products through about 90.degree. while transferring them from the run-out table to the cooling bed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Semi-finished products in continuous casting plant or on heavy rolling mills are discharged onto conveyors such as roller run-out tables and cut into lengths (sections) for further transport. In conventional arrangements, a cooling bed is located at right angles to the run-out table and conveys the sections of semi-finished product transversely to the axis of the table. This conventional arrangement in which the cooling bed extends transversely to the run-out table has the disadvantage of taking up a great deal of space at the side of the run-out table since cooling beds for heavy semi-finished products have to be of considerable length. The space required is, in particular, not available in cases where the run-out tables for a number of continuous casting plants are arranged close to one another, and this disadvantage is all the more marked when output is high and cooling beds have to be provided on either side of one or two run-out tables.

It is an object of the invention to provide a means for reducing the space required at the sides of conveyors such as run-out tables, so as to enable better use to be made of the space available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an arrangement for cooling lengths of semi-finished products, the arrangement having

At least one conveyor for conveying the lengths in a direction of conveyance which is generally axial with respect to the lengths,

At least one cooling bed for conveying the lengths in a direction of conveyance which is generally transverse with respect to the lengths and generally parallel to the direction of conveyance of the conveyor, while the lengths cool,

And means for transferring the lengths from the conveyor to the cooling bed and for turning the lengths through about 90.degree..

The invention extends to transferring and turning means for the arrangement of the invention, the transferring and turning means having means for lifting the lengths off the conveyor, transporting the lengths to the cooling bed and releasing the lengths onto the cooling bed, and means for turning the lengths through about 90.degree. between the moment the lengths leave the conveyor and the moment said lengths reach the cooling bed.

The length of the cooling bed may thus be planned without regard to the width of the factory building and in accordance with cooling or further transport requirements, since the amount of space required at the side of the run-out table is only slightly more than the length of material to be transported. Where one cooling bed is not sufficient for the output of a given plant, it is possible to provide a cooling bed on either side of the conveyor, both cooling beds having a direction of conveyance which is generally parallel to that of the conveyor, the transferring and turning means being for transferring the lengths from the conveyor to either cooling bed and being for turning the lengths through about 90.degree. in either direction from the direction of conveyance on the conveyor, i.e. the turning means may be capable of pivoting through 180.degree..

Particularly when a number of continuous casting plants are arranged in parallel, the invention may advantageously be further developed by locating one or more cooling beds beside at least two parallel conveyors. It is very advantageous in this connection to make it possible for the lengths of semi-finished product to be pushed, without the use of a hoist, from the cooling beds onto a roller conveyor adjacent thereto, which roller conveyor continuously conveys the lengths to following treatment stations such as inspection stands, scarfing machines, stackers or transport trolleys or bogies.

The lengths of semi-finished product may be pivoted from the roller conveyor on to the cooling bed by means of an overhead travelling crane, a cross-piece being mounted on the crane beam or crab so that it is able to rotate and move up and down and being provided with members for picking up the lengths. An additional travelling crane of this type might, however, restrict the freedom of movement of the main crane. In addition, such special cranes are relatively costly. It is therefore preferred that the transferring and turning means has a pivotal arm mounted for pivoting about a vertical axis, means for picking up the lengths being mounted on the pivotal arm, and means being provided for pivoting the pivotal arm; in such an arrangement, the pivotal arm can be pivoted to a member which is arranged to be secured to the factory floor. An arrangement of this type is simpler than a special crane with a rotary cross-piece and the main crane is then able to move over the arrangement without hindrance.

To make it possible to use the arrangement for pivoting even the heaviest slab lengths, the end of the pivotal arm may, in a further embodiment of the invention, have mounted thereon means for supporting the arm, which supporting means moves in an arcuate track above the cooling bed. Drive means may be arranged at the end of the pivotal arm and be in driving connection with the supporting means for pivoting the arm.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a support wheel and a gear wheel may be mounted on a shaft on the end of the pivotal arm, the support wheel moving on an arcuate track (say a rail) and the gear wheel moving along a toothed track parallel to the arcuate track, drive means being connected to the gear wheel.

Normally one transferring and turning means will be provided for each conveyor. However, it is also possible to use one transferring and turning means for a number of conveyors. This may be effected by making the pivot axis able to slide between the conveyors and the arm pivotal through 180.degree..

The pivot axis may be above the conveyor. It is, however, also possible to have the pivot axis arm by the side of the conveyor if the pivotal arm (when in a position for picking up a said length off the conveyor) has a part extending over the conveyor and a further part extending in the direction of the conveyor, generally at right angles to the first part.

The pivot axis may be located a distance in front of a buffer associated with the conveyor for stopping the lengths on the conveyor, which distance is equal to the length of the longest length of material, the pivot axis thus being upstream of the buffer and normally intersecting the axis of the conveyor. However, alternatively, the pivot axis may directly follow such a buffer, i.e., being "downstream" of the buffer.

A cross-piece with members for gripping the lengths may be suspended from the pivotal arm by lifting means, the lifting means preferably being formed of rams (for instance hydraulic rams) which are arranged between the pivotal arm and the cross-piece. The picking up members may be pressure-fluid-operated, preferably hydraulically operated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows two run-out tables with their associated cooling beds and pivoting devices; and

FIG. 2 shows a side view of a pivoting device.

Two run-out tables 1, arranged side by side, are each provided with an end buffer 2. A cooling bed 3 is arranged beside each run-out table 1 in such a manner as to convey products in a direction parallel to the direction of travel of the run-out table 1. A pivot 5 is mounted vertically on a frame 4 which bridges the run-out 1. A pivotal arm 6 is mounted on each pivot 5. The free end of each pivotal arm 6 is supported on an arcuate track formed by supports 7 and resting on mounts 8 on either side of the cooling bed 3. The supports 7 are additionally supported in the middle by a supporting bridge 9. A rail 10 and a toothed track 11 are arranged on the supports 7. A bogie wheel 12 and a gear wheel 13 are mounted on a shaft 14 at the end of the pivotal arm 6 and are able to move on the rail 10 and track 11, respectively. The shaft 14 is driven by a motor 17 through a clutch 15 and gear 16. Hydraulic cylinders 18 are articulated to the underside of each pivotal arm 6, a cross-piece 20 being suspended from the piston rods 19 of the cylinders 18. The cross-piece 20 is laterally guided by means of two pairs of toggle levers 21 located between the pivotal arm 6 and the cross-piece 20.

The cross-piece 20 has laterally mounted thereon grab arms 22 which are connected above the cross-piece 20 by means of hydraulic cylinders 23. The lengths 24 (billets or slabs) which are conveyed along the run-out table 1 come to rest against the buffer 2. The cross-piece 20 is now lowered by releasing the fluid from the lower side of the pistons of the cylinders 18, in order to receive the length 24, the cross-piece being lowered sufficiently to bring the gripper surfaces of the grab arms 22 close to the side faces of a length 24. When the length has been gripped by actuating the cylinder 23, the cross-piece 20 is raised by pressurizing the lower side of the pistons of the cylinders 18. The lengths 24 are then pivoted over the cooling bed 3 by means of the motor 17 which acts through the gear wheel 13 to move the pivotal arm 6 along the toothed track 11. The sections are deposited on the cooling bed 3 in a similar manner. The billets are transported along the cooling bed by means of pushers 25.

Claims

I claim

1. An arrangement for cooling and conveying hot lengths of semi-finished metal products coming from a hot forming or hot working process, which arrangement more efficiently utilizes floor space, comprising:

at least one run-out table for conveying at least one said length in a direction of conveyance which is substantially parallel with respect to the major axis of said length, and having an end stop for stopping said lengths;

at least one cooling bed for conveying said length while it cools in a direction of conveyance which is substantially transverse to said major axis and substantially parallel to the direction of conveyance of the run-out table and downstream thereof, one end of said cooling bed being located adjacent to and upstream said run-out table;

and transferring and pivoting means for transferring said length from the run-out table to said one end of the cooling bed while pivoting said length about its major axis approximately 90.degree., said transferring and pivoting means comprising a pivotal arm normally having its longitudinal axis above and approximately parallel to said run-out table, means mounted on said pivotal arm for picking up said length, and drive means for pivoting said pivotal arm about a vertical axis pivot means at one end thereof which pivot means is located above and upstream said end stop of the run-out table a distance equal to the length of the longest length of semi-finished metal product, so that by the placement of said one end of the cooling bed adjacent to and upstream said run-out table the overall length of the arrangement is minimized and the floor space is utilized more efficiently.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, including an arcuate track above the cooling bed and supporting means mounted on the end of the pivotal arm for supporting the pivotal arm, said supporting means moving on the arcuate track.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein said drive means is arranged at the end of the pivotal arm and is in driving connection with said supporting means, for pivoting the arm.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising an arcuate track for a support wheel and a toothed track parallel to the arcuate track, and a support wheel and a gear wheel mounted on a shaft on the end of the pivotal arm, the support wheel moving on the arcuate track and the gear wheel moving along the toothed track, said drive means being connected to the gear wheel.

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means for picking up said length comprises a cross-piece, lifting means suspending the cross-piece from the pivotal arm, and two spaced means on the cross piece for independently gripping and picking up said length.

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein said lifting means comprises rams arranged between the pivotal arm and the cross-piece.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein each spaced means has an independent pressure-fluid actuating mechanism.