EP0213389A2 - Method of operating a continuous casting plant and a billet-oxygen cutting machine for carrying out the same - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Method for operating a continuous casting plant with a flame-cutting machine for separating cast pieces, in which measurement data, such as billet width, billet thickness and cross-sectional billet shape, are acquired at the flame-cutting machine, while taking account of the pouring temperature, pouring speed, homogeneity over the moving billet length, billet surface defects and relative material density, and evaluated in a computing and control device, the values for an optimizing control of the continuous casting plant, on the one hand for immediate operation and on the other for long-term optimization, are made available and the values obtained are fed into the actual flame-cutting machine, for cutting off a workpiece of a desired length corresponding exactly or almost exactly to a certain workpiece weight, characterised in that, in order to divide the billet without wastage, a first billet piece, which is determined with conventional safety allowances, is measured and separated by the flame-cutting machine as a calibration workpiece and that the temperature, homogeneity and shape deviations, which are known from the latter, from a weight/length ratio which takes account of the ideal case, are fed into the flame-cutting machine as a calibration value for programming a new piece length for the purpose of separating a second billet piece.

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating a continuous casting plant with a flame cutting machine for separating continuous castings.

The operation of a continuous caster depends on a large number of operating data. In order to obtain workpieces with a certain weight, large and therefore uneconomical tolerances are often provided, since the determination of operating data is based on theoretical values, which in practice are caused by various circumstances, such as mold wear and mold setting tolerances, casting temperature, casting speed, wear and tear Adjustment of support or drive rollers, cooling conditions and other more, not insignificant deviations, so that - to safely get a workpiece of a certain material weight - there are often large safety tolerances, which thus lead to an unavoidable loss of material.

In contrast, the present invention is based on the object of making an optimizing strand cutting machine available which, in particular with a flame cutting machine, permits the cutting of a workpiece of a desired length which corresponds exactly or almost to a specific workpiece weight.

The invention has recognized that to achieve this goal it is necessary to start from the actual operating values of the continuous casting plants, and that these actual operating values can only be obtained at the moment when the values to be determined are no longer influenced, ie in Area of the flame cutting machine that cut the Performs casting strand to achieve the workpiece.

The invention accordingly consists in the fact that measurement data, such as strand width, strand thickness and strand cross-sectional shape, as well as casting temperature, casting speed, homogeneity over the running strand length, strand surface defects and specific material weight are recorded on the flame cutting machine, evaluated in a computing and control device and the values are optimized Control of the continuous caster on the one hand for direct operation and on the other hand for long-term optimization.

In its special embodiment, the invention proposes that the values obtained be entered into the flame cutting machine itself in order to cut a workpiece of a desired length which corresponds exactly or almost to a specific workpiece weight.

In its further development, the invention proposes that for a loss-free cutting of the flame cutting machine as a calibration workpiece, a first strand piece determined with conventional safety supplements is measured and separated, and that the known temperature, homogeneity and shape deviations from a weight that takes the ideal case into account / Length ratio can be entered as a calibration value in a new piece length specification for cutting off a second strand piece in the flame cutting machine.

According to its development, the invention proposes that a second strand piece produced on the basis of the calibration value is re-weighed and its weight / length ratio is used as a correction value for determining the piece length of the third piece, furthermore the correction values of the third for the fourth strand piece, etc.

Here, measuring devices for strand thickness, strand width, cross-sectional shape, temperature or other weight-determining properties are advantageously used in the area of the flame cutting machine to improve or confirm the measurement result.

The invention also makes a continuous cutting machine available for continuous casting plants for carrying out the method. The strand cutting machine is provided with a track arranged parallel to the strand, on which the machine can be moved by means of a machine carriage and a follower for hydraulic, pneumatic or motorized clamping or unclamping, and is characterized by the fact that on or in the area of the cutting machine Multiple measuring device is provided for recording a large number of measurement data, such as strand width, strand thickness and strand cross-sectional shape, as well as casting temperature, casting speed, homogeneity over the running strand length, strand surface defects and specific material weight.

An advantageous embodiment consists in that the computing and control device is used for long-term optimization for the entire continuous casting installation, in that the measured values are used to adjust the size of the casting mold, deform the strand support rollers in the rolling stand, the casting speed, the cooling conditions to reduce the convex and concave strand deformations and warning signals, for example to initiate the exchange of the mold or the rollers during a subsequent repair and for correction factors of the flame cutting machine.

Further designs of the strand cutting machine are characterized in the subclaims; in particular the development of the invention that a weighing device is assigned to the flame cutting machine or the multiple measuring device and that the weighing device passes on the weighing measurement data for controlling the flame cutting machine.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is that the weighing device consists of two to three or, depending on the length of the strand, more weighing rollers, which can be raised and lowered on pressure measuring devices in the outlet roller table behind the flame cutting machine and that the weighing device raises the currently cut strand piece at a standstill or run for weighing, based on a position, z. B. from a light barrier.

• Fig. 1 in schematischer Darstellung die Strang­gießanlage mit Brennschneidmaschine und zugeordneter Mehrfachmeßvorrichtung, Wiegeeinrichtung und Rechen- und Steuereinrichtung,
• Fig. 2 das der Erfindung zugrunde liegende Wiege-, Meß- und Schneidsystem in schema­tischer Darstellung,
• Fig. 3 in schematischer Darstellung die Arbeits­weise der Rechen- und Steuereinrichtung,
• Fig. 4 eine Wiegeeinrichtung,
• Fig. 5 eine andere Ausführungsform einer Wiege­einrichtung mit zusammenwirkenden Meßarmen,
• Fig. 6 die Seitenansicht einer Brennschneidmaschine
• Fig. 7 die Seitenansicht einer Brennschneid­maschine entsprechend der nach Fig.3, jedoch in einer abgewandelten Ausführungsform,
• Fig. 8 eine Seitenansicht einer anderen Ausfüh­rungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Brenn­schneidmaschine,
• Fig. 9 eine Vorderansicht der Brennschneidmaschine nach Fig. 8,
• Fig. 10 eine Draufsicht auf die Brennschneidma­schine nach den Fig. 8 und 9,
• Fig. 11 eine Meßrolle in vergrößerter Darstellung, teilweise im Schnitt.

The invention will be explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show:

• 1 is a schematic representation of the continuous casting machine with flame cutting machine and associated multiple measuring device, weighing device and computing and control device,
• 2 shows the weighing, measuring and cutting system on which the invention is based in a schematic illustration,
• 3 is a schematic representation of the operation of the computing and control device,
• 4 a weighing device,
• 5 shows another embodiment of a weighing device with interacting measuring arms,
• Fig. 6 is a side view of a flame cutting machine
• 7 shows the side view of a flame cutting machine corresponding to that of FIG. 3, but in a modified embodiment,
• 8 is a side view of another embodiment of the flame cutting machine according to the invention,
• 9 is a front view of the flame cutting machine of FIG. 8,
• 10 is a plan view of the flame cutting machine according to FIGS. 8 and 9,
• Fig. 11 is a measuring roller in an enlarged view, partly in section.

1 shows a flame cutting machine 2, the term “flame cutting machine” being understood to mean the entire flame cutting machine system is, with the conventional support structures, rails and other parts for travel movements, supply devices and a multiple measuring device, to which a computing and control device 16 and a weighing device 8 is assigned.

The multiple measuring device 21 goes far beyond the previous devices for piece length measurement. Rather, it is used to record a large number of measurement data, such as strand width, strand thickness and strand cross-sectional shape, as well as casting temperature, casting speed, homogeneity over the running strand length, strand surface defects and specific material weight. With the help of the computing and control device 16, to which a mainframe 19 can be assigned via the line 18, the flame cutting machine 2 with its multiple measuring device 21 is used for long-term optimization for the entire continuous casting installation 10, 11, 12 by using the measured values via the connecting line 20 can find for adjusting the size of the mold 12, deforming the strand support rollers in the rolling stand, the casting speed, the cooling conditions to reduce the convex and concave strand deformations and warning signals, for example to initiate the replacement of the mold 12 or the rollers during a subsequent repair and for Corrections on the flame cutting machine 2.

The multiple measuring device 21 has a width and strand thickness measuring device 21e, so that it is fundamentally possible to determine the weight of the workpiece to be cut by means of the specific weight. The multiple measuring device 21, 21e is designed such that scanning operations take place at several points with respect to the width and thickness of the workpiece, as well as from both sides, ie to the right and left of the casting strand 1 and above and below, to determine the exact shape of the Workpiece, in particular a possible concave or convex formation.

In particular, the measurement of the strand width can be carried out by means of pulse generators which are firmly connected to the pinion and rack drive on burner transverse travel drives and a pulse counter to determine the distances from predetermined and repeatable zero points to the two strand edges. Edge sensors are installed between the control of the torch travel and the cutting cycles so that the actual width of strand 1 can be measured for further processing and creation of correction factors or signals.

It is also possible to mount pulse generators on the clip arm system for pincer-like clamping on the string sides and to provide a pulse counter, the distances from the predetermined and repeatable, fully open zero positions to the clamped string sides being measured by touch, so that the actual string width for the Further processing for creating correction factors or signals can be passed on.

Another option is to install pulse generators with pulse counters on two specially installed probe rod systems, which can be moved from specific and repeatable zero-starting positions to contact on the string sides at appropriate times and thus give the actual string width for further processing to create correction factors and signals .

The strand thickness measuring device 21e, with which the multiple measuring device 21 of the flame cutting machine 2 is provided, consists either of a pulse counter and a pulse generator, which meshes with a pinion in a toothed rack, which either has a predetermined and repeatable zero position with the machine parts for placement on the strand 1 for synchronization to the strand 1 and to the flame cutting machine 2 until the contact when placed on the strand 1 with down and thus the actual thickness of the strand that runs on a roller table or the like is supported, which has a certain level, as well as the flame cutting machine 2, which travels on rails with a certain level, for further processing to create correction factors or signals, signals for the further processing to create correction factors be given, or a pulse counter and pulse generator is installed, which is moved by a swinging down, by a compressed air driven arm for friction synchronization of the cutting machine 2 with the upper strand surface, thus the actual strand thickness for further processing and creation of correction factors and / or signals are given.

It is also possible to arrange a pulse counter and a pulse generator on a special height probe rod, which moves from a predetermined and repeatable zero position on the appropriate occasion until the strand surface is touched. This gives the actual strand thickness for processing and creating correction factors and / or signals.

A pulse counter with a pulse generator can also be provided on the burner height adjustment buttons, with predetermined, repeatable zero positions for moving the burner downwards for the appropriate nozzle spacing after scanning the exact strand surface. This determines the actual strand thickness for further processing to create correction factors and signals. A pulse counter and a pulse generator can also be provided on a lever or slide in a slide guide on or in the area of the flame cutting machine. A measuring roller 7 moves from a specific and repeatable zero position to measure the length or another probe is lowered onto the strand surface and thus the actual strand thickness is determined for further processing and for creating correction factors and / or signals.

In particular for thickness measurement, two or more thickness measuring devices can be provided, which work from bottom to top against the lower strand surface. Existing devices or special drives and probing mechanisms with pulse generators are used to create the thickness measurement results more precisely by forming the difference against the surface measuring pulse measurement and counting device.

So it is fundamentally advantageous to provide two or more independent pushbutton and pulse generators, as already described above, in order to measure the thickness of the center of the upper or lower surface as well as further thicknesses at a certain, suitable distance from it, to determine and measure convex and concave strand shapes. In this way, the strand cross section can be determined very precisely to generate appropriate correction factors and signals, e.g. B. for the length measuring device or strand speed measuring device 21f. In this context, temperature and cooling measures can also play a role, for the control of which the signals are used. In order to be able to determine the temperatures in detail or to use corresponding signals, the multiple measuring device 21 also includes a temperature measuring device 21d. It consists, for example, of a thermometer installed inside or on parts that touch the strand for synchronous operation. Wearing plates of the clamping arms or ride-on runners are to be mentioned here, from which temperature measurements can be carried out at certain times. H. especially for a correction shortly before determining the length of the next workpiece. For this purpose, corresponding signals are input into the length measuring device 21f.

Means for measuring the line speed also belong to the said multiple measuring device. These are with a pulse speed counter equipped to determine the number of pulses emanating from the usual length measuring device 21f, which is driven by a measuring wheel from the strand by friction and rotates a pulse generator. Within a predetermined time, e.g. B. 1 minute, the pulses are counted and the actual strand speed in the vicinity of the strand cutting machine 2 is measured in order to process this speed in comparison with empirically determined correction factors or speed ratios and to forward improved correction factors into the length measuring device 21f or at other points in the continuous casting installation.

As explained, the multiple measuring device 21 consists of a multiplicity of measuring devices 21a to g, the most important of which have been explained, ie, if the need to collect special data arises, the multiple measuring device 21 can be expanded accordingly. The multiple measuring device is assigned a computing and control device 16, which processes the measured values obtained and transmits corresponding signals not only for the operation of the continuous cutting machine 2, but also for the entire continuous casting installation 10, 11, 12. For this purpose, corresponding connections 17, 18, 20 and circuits are provided so that, for example, the size of the casting mold 12 can be set on the basis of the signals obtained and emitted or the deforming position of the strand support or transport rollers in the rolling stand of the casting system can be set. The casting speed and - as already mentioned - the cooling conditions for reducing convex or concave strand deformations can also be set on the basis of the signals obtained. Warning signals can also be emitted by the computing and control device 16 of the flame cutting machine 2 in order to indicate, if necessary, the need to replace the mold 12 and the rollers in the event of a future repair.

A marking device 21a is also provided on the flame cutting machine for stamping or for labeling or signals to be applied in some other way in the form of letters and / or numbers on the upper sides or front surfaces of the strand 1. This marking takes place with the movement of the flame cutting machine 2 when cutting during the synchronous operation or with a device 21a attached to the flame cutting machine 2, which can also be arranged directly in its vicinity. In this way, the future strand pieces are marked while the strand passes at the casting speed or with the aid of a device 21a attached to the flame cutting machine 2, the future strand piece passing at a speed which results from the casting speed and the flame cutting speed while the flame cutting machine is standing or back runs to the starting or starting position. The strand speed pulse generator or counter is used to calculate the necessary relative speed, which corresponds to the marking speed.

It is also possible to work with a combined marking device 21a, which uses the aforementioned systems to mark the future or shortly cut strand workpiece at any time within the casting-flame cutting cycles.

All of these data applied to the strand with the use of a one, two or more line marking serve to control the operation of the continuous casting installation 10, 11, 12 or flame cutting machine 2 by using data or corresponding signals that relate to material composition, the underlying cutting temperature of the material, the underlying cross-section and workpiece shape, the originally required piece length and more. So it is possible, including more information, e.g. B. strand weight measurement to determine the final cold length or a statistical system for the end result of a Adjust long-term optimization.

Finally, a scale removal device 21b also serves for the proper working of a flame cutting machine with the devices described above. It serves for a perfect marking, a better error detection and also a better measurement. It preferably consists of a high-performance heating burner for melting and blowing away the scale in front of and in the area of the marking, preferably on the side surfaces. The removal of the scale ensures a clean and reliable marking result that conveys the necessary information at least until the strand piece enters the reheating furnace. But also in the area of measuring probes or sensors, it is important that scale is removed to ensure an accurate temperature, thickness, width or shape measurement.

In the further embodiment, the scale removal device 21b can be provided with a flame burner in order to clean parts of the outer sides or surfaces for fault finding and to carry out selection error elimination by means of flames. At the same time, the weight of the removed material is to be entered into the computing and control device 16 by measuring and calculating the length, width and depth of flame paths, in order to determine a piece length correction factor for optimization. The return speed of the flame cutting machine 2 is predetermined in order to determine, together with the continuous casting speed, a relative speed which corresponds to the flame speed.

A fault location device 21c, which is also arranged on the flame cutting machine, is used for an "in-line" test of hot, warm and cold strand surfaces by means of optical, induction heat or eddy current devices. The device works at casting speed, internal combustion engine travel speed or corresponding relative speeds.

Correction factors are obtained by the fault finder 21c, which - based on the fault size - influence the piece length measurement.

In the manner described above, an optimizing continuous cutting machine 2 is made available which, with its facilities, enables a continuous casting installation 10, 11, 12 to be operated under optimal operating conditions. Above all, the necessary tolerances when cutting off workpieces are significantly reduced, which means that the production or output of the continuous caster is optimized. It is possible to cut a workpiece in a desired length in such a way that it corresponds exactly or almost to a certain workpiece weight. An unmistakable strand piece identification enables quality control and quality improvement, especially for the recommended, energy-saving use of hot strand pieces in pusher furnaces.

The strand cutting machine 2 together with conventional piece measuring devices for indicating the start of cutting is the first device which is not used to produce a continuous strand, but rather to produce strand pieces. With a number of movements, partly independent of the strand movement and in particular with the devices 21e for measuring the strand thickness and strand width, as well as further devices of the multiple measuring device 21, which belongs to the flame cutting machine 2, enable in particular an optimized piece length preselection with precise marking of data for piece identification and further processing.

2 shows a casting strand 1, from which the cropping or composite piece 1 is separated, and a first strand piece or calibration piece 1.1, which is provided with conventional safety supplements. Furthermore, a second strand section 1.2 to be separated, a third strand section 1.3 and a fourth strand section 1.4 are shown. These strand pieces are separated by a strand cutting machine 2, which is cut burner 3 is provided. The strand cutting machine 2 with the cutting torch 3 can be moved along the strand 1 on a flame cutting machine track 4. With the flame cutting machine 2, a measuring wheel 5 runs on a correspondingly arranged rack 6. In addition, a stationary measuring roller 7 is arranged under the strand 1. There is a schematically illustrated weighing device 8 below the run-out roller table, which will be explained in more detail below.

The strand pieces 1.1 to 1.4 to be separated must have a certain amount of material so that during subsequent operations e.g. Roll pieces with a certain dimension are guaranteed. Too little material leads to rejects, so that in practice considerable safety surcharges are made.

In practice, it cannot be assumed that the casting strand 1 is not subject to any changes. The molds, for example, wear out and the geometry of the systems is subject to mechanical changes due to temperature influences. Damage to the rollers, the strand guide setting and the narrow side setting on the mold also lead to changes in cross-section. In addition to these diverse machine influences, casting technology influences are also of great importance. So changes to the strand result from a pan change, a tundish change, application of casting powder, to name just a few. Above all, however, the casting speed and the casting temperature or the type of cooling also play a major role. The latter in particular is responsible for the formation of the casting strand, ie its spatial deformation. In addition, convex or concave side surfaces can occur and, in addition to changing homogeneity, subsequent shrinkage must be taken into account. This large number of possible influences on the length of a strand piece to be cut leads in practice to the need for considerable safety supplements, since it must be expected that all of them In extreme cases, add or subtract parameters. In practice, this leads to losses of up to 10%. The benefits that can be achieved on the other hand by avoiding these unnecessary safety surcharges in connection with optimizing the remaining length are obvious. Nevertheless, this problem has so far not been satisfactorily solved, since the risk was too great for all measures to cut a piece with an insufficient amount of material, which then leads to a too great loss as unusable.

In Fig. 3, the computing and control device is shown schematically, which in connection with the weighing device 8 makes it possible to cut strand pieces 1.2 to 1.4 which correspond exactly or almost exactly to the desired requirements.

The invention is based on the fact that regardless of the shape of the strand and its homogeneity, the desired amount of material for further processing can be determined by a weighing process.

As shown in FIG. 3, the casting strand 1 is cast from a ladle 10 via a distributor groove 11 through the mold 12 and moves in the direction of arrow 13 into the area of the flame cutting machine 2 with the measuring roller 7. This strand, which - as explained - can have a different shape in its shape and change during the casting process and, in addition to changing homogeneity, is also subject to shrinkage, can only be cut into strand pieces that meet the requirements, taking into account a kerf width f for the subsequent processing operations when the amount of material of the cut strand piece reaches a certain value. The amount of material of a casting 1.1 to 1.4, which corresponds to a certain length x₁ to x₄, can be determined by means of the weighing device 8 by the weight of the corresponding strand piece. For this purpose, after a cropping or composite piece 1.0 with the length y has been cut off, a calibration piece 1.1 with the conventional safety supplements separated and weighed by the weighing device 8. The corresponding value is introduced via a transmission line 15 to a process computer 16 for controlling the flame cutting machine. The process computer 16 further receives the measured values from the measuring wheel 5 of the flame cutting machine 2 and from the stationary measuring roller 3 via the transmission line 17 and thus controls the cut or the length x 2 for the second strand piece 1.2 on the basis of the calibration piece 1.1 already cut off. After the second strand piece 1.2 is cut off with the length x₂, it is also weighed by the weighing device 8 and the measured value is fed back to the process computer 16 via the transmission line 15. If necessary, this determines a correction value for the following third strand section 1.3, so that an optimized length x 3 is also cut off by the flame cutting machine 2. In the same way, the weight of the strand section 1.3 is used to optimize the subsequent fourth strand section 1.4 and the corresponding length x₄ is determined, which is to be taken into account when cutting this strand section 1.4 by the flame cutting machine 2. The process computer 6 is connected via a transmission line 8 to a mainframe computer. In addition to the operation of the flame cutting machine 2 for cutting off the strand pieces 1.1 to 1.4, an optimizing control of the entire continuous casting installation is possible in that control or control data can be given to the casting device via the transmission line 20, and vice versa from the casting device 10, 11 , 12 measurement data can be given via the transmission line 20 to the process computer 16 or the mainframe system 19. In addition to the control for direct operation, long-term optimization of the continuous caster can also be made possible.

The entire casting process can be mastered in an optimal manner by using a multiple measuring device 21 of the flame cutting machine 2, which is only indicated schematically, to provide data of the strand thickness, strand width, cross-sectional shape, Temperature and other cross-sectional properties are detected by means known per se, such as scanning devices, and passed on to the process computer 16.

4 shows a workpiece 101 which has been cut from a strand with the aid of a strand cutting machine, not shown. The workpiece 101 is located above a weighing device 102, which is arranged under the workpiece 101. In addition to the roller table rollers 103, weighing rollers 104 are provided which rest on pivot levers 105 in a pivot bearing 106 which is arranged in a stationary manner and is preferably arranged on the supports 107 for the roller table rollers 103. The weighing rollers 104 on their swivel levers 105 are supported by force or weight measuring devices, which consist of load cells 108 which act on the pressure cylinder 109. The weighing rollers 104 can be raised and lowered, so that in the raised state the workpiece 101 is no longer supported by the roller table rollers 103, but rests solely on the weighing rollers 104, so that a weighing process with respect to the workpiece 101 is carried out via the pressure cells 108 can. The weighing process is initiated when the workpiece 101 has reached a certain position, which is determined, for example, by a light barrier. The weighing process can be carried out at a standstill or continuously, in the latter case additional damping devices (not shown) can be provided for the movement of the workpiece 101. The pressure measurement results with workpiece weight, as well as without workpiece weight, ie the dead weight of the weighing device 102, are forwarded to a length measuring and control device of the flame cutting machine. Starting from a net weight of the measured workpiece 101, a new piece length is converted for each subsequent workpiece to be cut from the strand on the basis of the workpiece weight specification and this is entered as a piece length preselection for the flame cutting machine control. In this way, the flame cutting machine with an associated weighing device enables the end of the casting strand to be optimized regarding the content of ladles and tundish. In addition, the loss due to inaccurate workpiece lengths is minimized, and in the case of sequence castings, adjustment to the most varied changing operating parameters is made possible by the flame cutting machine cutting off workpieces 101 which exactly or almost correspond to a specific workpiece weight.

5 shows the modified embodiment of a measuring device, in which the workpiece 101 in turn rests on weighing rollers 104 which are arranged between the roller table rollers 103. The weighing rollers 104 can also be designed as webs. The weighing rollers 104 are fastened to balance levers 105, which rest in an articulated manner in balance lever bearings 116. A one-sided piston cylinder arrangement 117 engages the balance lever 105 and is supported on the measuring arm 118 of a force or Weight measuring device 119. The measuring arm 118 rests in a measuring arm bearing 120 and is connected at its opposite end to a pull rod 121 at 122. A further measuring arm 124, which rests in a measuring arm bearing 125 and on which a one-sided cylinder piston arrangement 117 is supported in the same way, acts on the pull rod 121 at 123.

The pull rod 121 engages on a central scale 126 which is suspended on a scale suspension bearing 127. It is important for the force or weight measuring device that the measuring arm parts are in an equal ratio, i. H. a: b = d: c. For good measuring accuracy, it is important that the measuring device is as light as possible and that the measuring elements carry out an exact gross weighing (workpiece weight + carriage weight) and an exact tare weighing (only carriage weight) to achieve an exact net weight.

The weighing measurement data are passed on from the weighing device, ie from the central scale 126, for controlling the flame cutting machine, which is not shown in detail.

For shorter workpieces or workpieces that can be retracted exactly in the middle, the weighing device, as shown in FIG. 5, can work with at least two interacting weighing part devices consisting of weighing roller 104, balance lever 105 and support 117. For very long workpieces, two or more weighing component devices 104, 105, 117 are provided, it being practical if there are no side-by-side interactions. More weighing rollers 104 are then provided than are shown in FIG. 5. The corresponding measuring arms must then also be connected to the pull rod 121 of the central scale 126.

The force or weight measuring device can also consist of a known, driven gyroscope in a gimbal, which converts a vertical force = weighing lever support force into a rotation.

6 shows an internal cutting machine 130, which is located above the strand or the workpiece 101. A synchronization lever 133 is mounted on the machine body 131 at the rear end in a bearing 132, which can be raised or lowered by a pneumatic cylinder 134 on the machine body 131. At the front end of the synchronizing lever 133, this carries a shield 135 with a runner 136 in front of the machine body. With the runner 136, the flame cutting machine 130 is placed on the line 101, which results in a synchronized movement. With 137 a burner track is designated on which the burner carriage 138 sits. The burner carriage 138 carries a burner boom 139 which carries the burner 140 with the nozzle 141 at the lower end. The burner carriage 138 with the burner 140 can be moved across the strand 101 by a water-cooled motor on the burner track 137 so as to separate a workpiece 101 from the strand. Below the burner track 138, a water-permeable heat protection plate 142, which extends below the machine body 131, is fastened to the shield 135. The heat protection plate 142 has a slot 143 through which the burner arm 139 protrudes. On the back of the machine body 131, a measuring roller lever 144 is fastened, which carries at its lower end a measuring roller 145 which runs laterally along the strand 101.

7 shows a flame cutting machine 130 with a modified lever system for producing the synchronous movement of the flame cutting machine with the strand. The flame cutting machine corresponds in principle to that explained in FIG. 6, and in this respect the reference numerals refer to the same parts. However, a parallelogram lever system is suspended from the machine body 131 in bearings 132a and 132b. A lever 133a is articulated on the bearing 132a, and a lever 133b is articulated on the bearing 132b. At the end facing away from the machine body 131, the levers 133a and 133b carry a main link 133c which runs parallel to the machine body 131 and is raised or lowered by the pneumatic cylinder 134. At its front end, the main link 133c carries the shield 135 with a skid 136 which is placed on the strand 101 to produce a synchronous movement.

8 to 10, a flame cutting machine 2 is shown above the casting strand 1. This consists of a machine frame 23 with wheels 24. These roll on the track 25, which rests on a support 26. The machine frame carries a torch track 27 with a torch carriage 28, to which the cutting torch 3 is attached via a torch arm 29. Lowering rockers 31 are attached in bearings 30, which make it possible for a lifting and lowering cylinder 32 to lower the burner track 27 via a lifting lowering arm 33 until the skid 34, which is attached to a support frame 35, comes to rest on the casting strand 1. Arranged under the burner track 27 is a heat protection plate 36 through which water flows, which has an angled shape and protects the flame cutting machine 2 against heat radiation from below and in front. A slot 37 is provided in the front part of the heat protection plate 36, through which the burner cantilever arms 29 pass chen and carry the burner 3. In front of the burners 3 there is a supply pipe 38 for pelletizing water. This supply tube 38 is formed from square tubes and carries burner alignment stops 39 for precisely aligning the burners 3 with one another in order to achieve cuts which are exactly aligned in one plane on the casting strand 1.

The machine frame 23 is welded together from hollow profiles and is flowed through by water for cooling purposes. This machine frame 23, consisting of transverse and longitudinal profiles, is a torsion-resistant construction and therefore also ensures accurate guidance of the burners 3 and thus an exact cut on the casting strand 1.

FIG. 11 shows a measuring roller 7 which runs on the strand 1 with its measuring wheel 41. The measuring wheel 41 sits at the end of a hollow measuring shaft 42 through which a centrally arranged, rotating cooling water pipe 43 extends. The hollow measuring shaft 42 is mounted in the measuring roller housing 45 with the aid of measuring shaft bearings 44. The measuring shaft housing 45 can be pivoted about a tilting bearing 47 by means of a reciprocating piston 46. The measuring shaft housing 45 with the reciprocating piston 46 and the tilting bearing 47 is mounted on a sliding carriage 48 which can be displaced at right angles to the casting strand movement by means of a sliding drive 49, so that the measuring wheel 41 can be displaced transversely to the strand axis for twin or triple casting. At the end of the measuring hollow shaft 42 opposite the measuring wheel 41 there is a drive wheel 50 which is connected via a drive chain or a toothed belt 51 to a drive wheel 52 which is connected to a pulse generator 53. A water supply pipe 54 leads to a rotating water feedthrough 55, from which the cooling water pipe 43 in the hollow measuring shaft 42 is fed. With 56 a water channel is designated, which is attached to the transfer carriage 48. The stationary measuring roller 3 can also not be designed to be displaceable or it can not be mounted stationary on the flame cutting machine 2. An overhead tilting bearing can be provided, from which the measuring wheel runs hanging on the strand, which is not shown.

The method described with the flame cutting machine described for its implementation not only enables the end of the casting strand 1 to be optimized with regard to the content of the casting ladles 10 and the distributor trough 11, but also minimizes the loss due to inaccurate casting piece lengths and, in the case of sequence castings, enables adjustment to a wide variety of changing operating parameters, so that with it the entire casting process is completely manageable.

Claims (15)

1. Method for operating a continuous casting system with a flame cutting machine for separating continuous castings, measurement data such as rod width, strand thickness and strand cross-sectional shape being recorded on the flame cutting machine, taking into account the casting temperature, casting speed, homogeneity over the running strand length, strand surface defects and specific material weight, in one Computing and control device are evaluated and the values for optimizing control of the continuous casting system are made available on the one hand for direct operation and on the other hand for long-term optimization, the values obtained are entered into the flame cutting machine itself, for cutting off a workpiece of a desired length that corresponds exactly or almost to a certain workpiece weight,
characterized by
that for a loss-free cutting of the flame cutting machine as a calibration workpiece, a first strand piece determined with conventional safety supplements is measured and separated and
that the known temperature, homogeneity and shape deviations from a weight / length ratio taking the ideal case into account are entered as calibration values in a new piece length specification for cutting off a second strand piece into the flame cutting machine. 2. The method according to claim 1,
characterized in that a second strand piece produced on the basis of the calibration value is weighed again and its weight / length ratio is used as a correction value for determining the piece length of the third piece, the correction values of the third for the fourth strand piece and so on. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that measuring devices for strand thickness installed in the area of the flame cutting machine, Strand width, cross-sectional shape, temperature or other weight-determining properties can be used to improve or confirm the measurement result. 4. strand cutting machine for continuous casting plants for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 3 with a track arranged parallel to the strand, on which the machine can be moved by means of a machine carriage and a follower device for hydraulic, pneumatic or motorized clamping or clamping,
characterized in that a multiple measuring device (21) is provided on the flame cutting machine (2) or in its area, for recording a large number of measurement data, such as strand width, strand thickness and strand cross-sectional shape, as well as casting temperature, casting speed, homogeneity over the running strand length, strand surface defects and specific Material weight. 5. strand cutting machine according to claim 4,
characterized in that the multiple measuring device (21) comprises a strand speed measuring device (21f) and further devices (21g) for acquiring special specific data and preferably comprising a measuring roller (7) with pulse generator (53) for measuring the strand throughput and a flame cutting machine measuring wheel (5) There is a pulse generator for cutting the strand and for measuring the travel of the flame cutting machine (2) and an associated weighing device (8) for precisely determining the weight of the strand pieces (1.1) just cut off during the run or during a short standstill, the measuring roller ( 7) stationary for measuring the length of the strand in front of and under the flame cutting machine (2) on its career or career support and from a horizontally displaceable transverse to the axis of the strand (1) for twin or triple casting (49) pivot bearing (47) for high or Swiveling down the hollow measuring shaft (42) with measuring wheel (41) on the ob surface of the casting strand (1). 6. strand cutting machine according to claim 4 or 5,
characterized in that the flame cutting machine (2) or the multiple measuring device (21) is assigned a weighing device (8; 102) and in that the weighing device (8; 102) passes on the weighing measurement data for controlling the flame cutting machine (2), preferably the weighing device ( 8; 102) consists of two to three or, depending on the length of the strand, more weighing rollers (61), which can be raised and lowered (66) on pressure measuring devices (65) in the outlet roller table (60) with the flame cutting machine (2) and that the weighing device ( 8) the strand section (1.1) just cut off at a standstill or passes through for weighing, based on a position indication, for example a light barrier, the weighing device (102) being provided with the lowest possible weight and having one or two pressure measuring devices (108, 109) which can carry out gross weighing (scale weight and workpiece weight) in addition to tare weighing (scale weight only). 7. strand cutting machine according to claim 6,
characterized in that the weighing device (102) consists of at least two interacting weighing part devices (104, 105, 117) for short workpieces (101) and for very long workpieces (101) from further weighing part devices (104, 105, 117) and that at least two do not interact side by side. 8. strand cutting machine according to one of claims 4 to 7,
characterized in that the weighing device (102) feeds the determined data into an existing multiple measuring device or length measuring and control device of the flame cutting machine (2). 9. strand cutting machine according to one of claims 4 to 8,
characterized in that the weighing device (102) has two or more supports (104, 105, 116) for the workpiece (101), all of which act as smoothly as possible on a common force or weight measuring device (119), which the sum of all tare and all gross weighings determined,
that preferably the supports of the weighing device (102) Support struts or rollers (104) exist in gaps in the workpiece transport roller table (103) which, for example by means of levers (105), pivotally raise the workpiece (101) for weighing, which are moved by hydraulic lifting elements (117), which in turn are moved by the weighing device (117) are moved, which in turn are supported by the weighing device (119),
that it can be provided for each support strut or roller (104) to provide a measuring arm (118) at one point along the transport roller table, which carries the support (117) in the vicinity of a fulcrum (120) and is attached at the long end to the Central scale (126) supports, the measuring arm parts (a, b, c, d) on the measuring arm lever (118; 124) between bearings (120, 125), support point and connection point (122; 123) with the central scale (121, 126) exactly can be fixed and their length ratio on the measuring arm levers (128, 124) is the same. 10. strand cutting machine according to one of claims 4 to 9,
characterized in that the central scale (121, 126) consists of a known, driven gyroscope in a gimbal suspension which converts a vertical force = weighing lever support force into rotation. 11. strand cutting machine according to one of claims 4 to 10,
characterized in that a lever (133) is mounted below a cylindrical or box-shaped machine body (131) with three or four impellers, which lever can be raised or lowered by a pneumatic cylinder (134) in the machine body (131) and at the front end the machine body (131) carries a shield (134) with a runner (136) for placement on the strand for synchronization and
that on the shield (135) there is a track (137) transversely to the strand (101), on which a burner carriage (138) with a water-cooled motor, burner arm (139) and burner (140) are arranged to be movable, with below the burner track (137 ) a water-permeable heat protection plate (142) reaching under the machine body (131) is attached to the shield (135) and has a slot (134) through which the burner arm (139) projects. 12. strand cutting machine according to one of claims 4 to 11,
characterized in that a parallelogram lever system (133a, 133b, 133c) is suspended below the machine body (131), the main link (133c) parallel to the machine body can be raised or lowered by a pneumatic cylinder (134) in the machine body (131) and on the latter front end carries a shield (135) with runner (136) for placement on the strand (101) for synchronization. 13. strand cutting machine according to one of claims 4 to 12,
characterized in that a frame (23) welded together from two longitudinal and two cross members made of hollow profiles is provided, the protruding longitudinal profiles of the running and guide wheel bearings (24), the rear cross member an accessible platform with a railing and the front cross member two swivel arms (31 ) and carry a compressed air cylinder,
that a water-cooled burner track (27) can be lifted and lowered on the swivel arms (31), on which, in addition to the burner carriage (s) (28), there is a water-permeable tubular construction as a skid (34),
that a heat protection plate (36) located under the burner track (27) is provided in an angled form against heat radiation from below and at the front with a slot (37) in the front part, pass through the burner cantilever arms (29) to the burner carriage (28) and the burners (3 ) wear,
that preferably a supply pipe (38) for granulating water is arranged in front of the burners (3), which, for. B. designed as a square tube, stop-like alignment devices (39) carries, for exact alignment of the burner (3) to each other to achieve exactly aligned cuts on the casting strand (1). 14. strand cutting machine according to one of claims 4 to 13,
characterized in that the flame cutting machine (2) is provided with a holding or braking device which allows the greatest possible or full frictional force to be synchronized with the strand (1) shortly before the exact length (x) in front of the burners is reached (3) to apply and then by loosening an immediate slip-free driving for synchronous operation. 15. strand cutting machine according to one of claims 4 to 14,
characterized in that a stationary measuring device (7) is arranged on the burner track (27) or its support (26) at the smallest possible distance to the burners (3) in the casting direction, said measuring device (7) consisting of a measuring wheel (41) through which water flows on a hollow measuring shaft (42 ) with a closed coolant system (43, 55) in the casting strand area and with a one-sided actuating cylinder (46) for lowering the measuring wheel (41) on the casting strand and
that the associated pulse generator (53) sits in a protected position and is connected to the hollow measuring shaft end (50) via a toothed belt drive (51).

Images