Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
  • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
  • B22D11/00—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths
  • B22D11/12—Accessories for subsequent treating or working cast stock in situ
  • B22D11/128—Accessories for subsequent treating or working cast stock in situ for removing
  • B22D11/1281—Vertical removing
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
  • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
  • B22D11/00—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths
  • B22D11/04—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths into open-ended moulds
  • B22D11/0408—Moulds for casting thin slabs

Definitions

• the subject of the invention is a method and a machine for the continuous casting of thin metallic products in the form of strips, in particular of steel.
• various methods have been proposed allowing continuous casting of metallic products but by comparison with the casting of non-ferrous alloys, the continuous casting of steel is particularly difficult.
• the normally used method consists in casting the steel in a mold in the form of a bottomless mold with cooled walls limiting an internal tubular space in which the product is formed, the latter consisting of a liquid core surrounded by an envelope consisting of solidified surface skin.
• This product is continuously discharged through an orifice placed at the outlet of the ingot mold, the latter generally having a vertical axis, and the product then passes through a secondary cooling device in which the solidification of the product ends and which therefore comprises holding means and means for cooling the solidified faces of the product, the assembly being placed inside a frame which forms a sort of tubular corset surrounding the product until the solidification is completed.
• the metal, brought in the molten state into a ladle is poured into an intermediate container which makes it possible to ensure the continuity of the casting during the replacement of the ladle and which is itself provided with a tap hole, the flow rate of which is conventionally regulated by a nozzle and by which the metal is poured out.
• an immersion nozzle is used comprising a pouring tube which penetrates inside the ingot mold and plunges into the bath to protect the liquid steel from oxidation and to direct its flow in the 1 ingot.
• the internal tubular space of the mold has a rectangular shape limited by two wide walls and two narrow walls corresponding respectively to the large and the short sides of the product.
• the minimum width of industrially cast slab is of the order of 150 mm.
• the subject of the invention is a new method and a machine making it possible to produce thin products while retaining the advantages of conventional machines, that is to say, generally, the formation of the solidified crust in an ingot mold with cylindrical walls with generator parallel to the casting axis, and the maintenance of a core of molten metal at inside the product at the outlet of the mold, the complete solidification being carried out in a secondary cooling device comprising means for cooling and holding at least the large faces of the product until complete solidification.
• the latter comprises, as in the arrangements described above, an enlarged central portion narrowing towards the sides to a thickness equal to that of the thin product to be cast. This section is kept until the exit of the mold, the latter having wide cylindrical walls with generatrix parallel to the axis of casting and oscillations.
• the central part of the product there is a gradual flattening of the central part of the product to a thickness equal to that of the edges in a thickness reduction cage placed immediately after the outlet opening of the mold and comprising two guide and straightening surfaces, respectively of the two large faces of the product, the reduction profile of which is determined as a function of the casting speed and the cooling conditions so as to exert a pressure uniformly distributed over the entire surface, causing and by controlling on each of the large faces the symmetrical displacements • of two straightening zones from the edge towards the axis, at a speed whose components, respectively axial and radial are substantially constant and tuned to the casting speed so as to straighten the longitudinal walls of the product until complete solidification.
• the ingot is given an internal profile such that the large faces of the product are connected on their edge to the small faces, according to end portions placed in planes parallel to the casting line and perpendicularly cutting the small faces of the product and, in the thickness reduction cage, a straightening of the central part is carried out with progressive widening of the flat end parts while keeping these perpendicular to the small faces.
• the profile of the holding surfaces of the longitudinal faces of the product is determined as a function of the casting speed and the cooling conditions, so that each straightening zone moves towards the axis at a radial speed. substantially equal to the radial speed of widening of the already solidified end part of the product and that the complete solidification of the product and the straightening of the large faces are carried out substantially at the same time at the outlet of said reduction cage (2).
• the invention also covers a machine for the continuous casting of thin products, comprising an ingot mold with an enlarged central part narrowing towards both sides to a thickness of the order of that of the strip to be cast, and a secondary cooling device.
• a thickness reduction cage placed immediately below the Ingot re and ⁇ provided with holding means defining two substantially continuous surfaces for guiding the large faces of the product and limiting an internal space for product passage having on its sides a constant thickness equal to that of the sides of the ingot mold and in its central part , a thickness gradually decreasing in the direction of casting between an inlet orifice of cross section identical to that of the outlet orifice of the mold and an outlet orifice of rectangular section corresponding to that of the product to be cast.
• the strip product is left free to widen towards the sides as a function of the flattening of the central part, so that the perimeter, in cross section at the axis, remains preserved.
• the two wide walls of the mold and the two guide surfaces which follow it, in the thickness reduction cage comprise a curved central part of concave shape inwards, extended laterally by two convex tangential connection parts, on one side to the concave central part and on the other, to an extreme flat part parallel to the casting axis and perpendicularly cutting the narrow walls of the mold and the small faces of the product , said concave central parts and of convex connection progressively straightening in the thickness reduction cage, so as to be aligned with the flat end portions at the outlet of said thickness reduction cage.
• the means for holding the product in the reduction cage for real thickness provide continuous support and without friction of the large faces of the product, by forming along said faces a film of support fluid under a pressure at least equal to the ferro-static pressure in the product.
• the thickness reduction cage is limited by two wide walls each consisting of a plurality of adjoining boxes, for injecting pressurized fluids, distributed so that their edges are aligned in two perpendicular directions and form on each wall a product support grid.
• the support grid consists of longitudinal and transverse bars placed .. d_.n.
• the means for holding the product, in the thickness reduction cage consist of, on each face, a plurality of rollers whose spacing and diameter are determined as a function of the thickness of the skin solidified at this location, and the strain of the product. Said rollers are limited by an external surface of revolution generated by an enveloping line, in the plane passing through the axis of the roller and perpendicular to the casting axis, the cross section to be given to the internal space of the cage.
• Fig. 1 shows a diagram that ent, in longitudinal section through the median plane, the upper part of a continuous casting installation according to the invention.
• FIG. 8 is a view in longitudinal section of the thickness reduction cage in an embodiment with rollers; - Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view on two levels, along the line IV-IV of FIG. 8; Fig. 10 shows, in axial section, another embodiment of the thickness reduction cage; Fig. 11 is a detailed view showing part of the thickness reduction cage in cross section, along the line V-V in FIG. 10.
• FIG. 1 there is shown schematically the upper part of a continuous casting installation represented in section by the median plane P2 perpendicular to the longitudinal walls and passing through the casting axis 10.
• the installation comprises a mold 1 constituting a mold without bottom opening into a secondary cooling device comprising, in a conventional manner, a first cage 2 placed immediately at the outlet of the ingot mold 1 and a cooling and guiding corset 3 in which ends 1 a so1 i di fi cation.
• the ingot mold 1 is made up, in the usual way, of two wide walls 11 and two narrow walls 12 respectively forming the large and small sides of an internal tubular space 13 symmetrical with respect to the two median planes, longitudinal PI and transverse P2 and mounted inside a frame 14, itself fixed on a table 15 which is connected to a casting floor 20 by means of guidance and oscillation, not shown well known in the art and which allow the ingot mold to animate oscillating movements along the casting axis 10.
• the two wide walls 11 have a cylindrical profile with generatrix parallel to the axis and curved in cross section so as to limit an internal tubular space 13 in the form of a spindle symmetrical with respect to two planes, respectively longitudinal PI and transverse P2 passing through the axis 10 and comprising a convex central part 17 tapering progressively, in the direction transverse to the axis, towards two short sides 18 limited by the two narrow walls 12 interposed, conventionally, between the two wide walls 11, and having a narrow width (1), substantially equal to the thickness of the strip product to be formed.
• the longitudinal walls 11 of the ingot comprise a central part 17 convex inwards and connecting, by two median parts 19, to two flat lateral parts 18 parallel to the longitudinal plane of symmetry PI.
• the product leaving the mold through the lower orifice 16 therefore has a central portion 55 thicker than the edges 57.
• the product 5 immediately passes into the first part 2 of the secondary cooling device, the latter being, conventionally, constituted by a cage provided with means for holding the large faces of the product, the constitution of which is adapted to the small thickness of the skin solidified at this location.
• the means for holding the two large faces of the product consist of two grid-shaped walls 4 comprising longitudinal bars 41 placed in planes parallel to the median plane and transverse bars 42 orthogonal to the axis 10.
• the longitudinal bars 41 placed facing one another in the same vertical plane form two by two in the central part, a V open upwards by an angle A which gradually closes when one approaches the sides of such so that the extreme longitudinal bars 410 are parallel and spaced apart by a distance 1 corresponding to the thickness of the strip leaving the ingot mold.
• the cross bars. 42 the shape of which is adapted to that of the product, form, at the inlet 43 of the holding cage 2, an open curve of an obtuse angle B and the radius of curvature of which gradually increases when one descends in the direction of casting, the lower bars 420 placed at the outlet of the cage being practically rectilinear.
• the two wide walls .4 limit an internal space 40 for the passage of the product having on the sides 48 a constant thickness (1) equal to that of the sides of the mold and, in its central part 47, a thickness which decreases progressively, in the direction of casting, between the inlet orifice 48 of the holding cage 2, of section identical to that of the outlet orifice 16 of the ingot mold and an outlet orifice 44 placed at the bottom of the cage 2 and having a rectangular section corresponding to that of the thin product to be formed.
• This reduction in thickness is possible due to the fact that the cast product consists, at the outlet of the mold, of a liquid core 51 surrounded by a solidified skin 52 and consequently, deformable.
• the griTle for holding the longitudinal faces of the product in the thickness reduction cage constitutes a practically continuous bearing surface and as much as possible, without friction.
• the holding surfaces of the two large faces of the product in the thickness reduction cage are each constituted by a plurality of adjoining boxes which can be delimited by the longitudinal bars 41 and transverse bars 42, or else made as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.
• Each box is closed towards the outside by a bottom 61 and on the sides by edges 62, limiting, on the product side, a wide opening orifice 63 into which opens a conduit 64 connected to a circuit not shown pressurized fluid supply.
• the fluid pressure is determined according to the location of the box, that is to say the height of liquid steel there and the shape and thickness of the solidified wall, so as to balance the ferro-static pressure at this level, with a leakage rate along the edges 62 making it possible to provide a space of width (e) between the product and the grid to avoid contact (Fig. 4).
• the boxes are arranged in successive stages 65 (Fig. 6) whose height is determined on the one hand, so as not to excessively multiply the number of stages and on the other hand, so that the ferro-static pressure on the height of the box is relatively constant.
• each stage 65 may comprise a single box extending over the entire width of the product and preferably supplied by several nozzles 66 for injecting fluid connected to a single supply channel 64. But it is also possible , as shown in the part right of Fig. 7, to distribute in a single stage, over the entire width of the product, a certain number of boxes 60 connected separately to a single pipe 65 for supplying pressurized fluid.
• Figs. 4 and 5 there is shown schematically the recovery process.
• Fig. 5 shows, in perspective, the evolution inside the thickness reduction cage (not shown) of the product 5 comprising a liquid metal core 51 surrounded by a solidified skin 52 whose thickness increases in the direction of progression of the product, that is to say in the oz direction, the figure being related to an Oxyz trihedron.
• the planar end part 57 which goes from the angle A to the point Bl must have a width (d) such that the righting effort of the face 53 does not make the solidified product undergo any effect on edge A.
• d width
• the flat part 57 extends, at this level, substantially -up to point c2, which, at level zl, was in cl.
• the tangent plane P to the large face 53 at point cl forms an angle U with the axis Ox and an angle V with the axis Oz and these two angles close progressively from point cl to point c2, during the progression of the product and of the straightening of the face 53.
• the profile of the wide walls 4 of the straightening cage is determined so that the speed d / dt of transverse displacement of the point cl and the speeds of rotation dU / dt and dV / dt of the tangent plane P respectively in the horizontal and vertical directions, are compatible with the pouring speed dz / dt of the product and sufficiently low so that the resulting elongations between points cl and c2 do not create any defect in the solidified skin, account given its thickness and the quality of the metal.
• the current knowledge of a technician specialized in continuous casting which is based on several years of operation of casting machines, indeed allow to define with a certain precision, the resistance to deformation of the solidified skin 52.
• this skin retains, until complete solidification, sufficient flexibility to allow the progressive straightening which s '' by means of a uniformly distributed thrust with pivoting of the solidified wall around the connection zone 58 with the flat part 57 which constitutes a fulcrum for the recovery effort, since solidification progresses faster on the lateral edges of the heart 1 liquid 51.
• the effort to develop to deform the envelope 52 during solidification is composed of two values: the force necessary to overcome the ferro-static pressure that is in line with the volume element to be moved and which depends on the height of metal in this location; the force necessary to deform the metal surfaces which link this volume element to its environment.
• the fluid used is not a cooling agent or at least is as little as possible, which leads to choosing air or a neutral gas, preferably water.
• the perimeter of the product in cross section is kept during its descent and its flattening in the holding cage 2. The latter does not will therefore include, as indicated in FIG. 3, only wide walls 4 so as to allow the product to widen slightly on the sides. Because of the small width of the product on its sides, this absence of retaining walls of the small faces 54 has no disadvantage, the solidified skin being sufficiently thick at the outlet of the mold.
• the profile of the support faces 4 being determined so that the liquid core 51 remains practically up to the outlet orifice 44 of the straightening cage, there is therefore no need to fear that the product will be blocked at this point by corner effect.
• the product is then fully solidified, the lower part 3 of the secondary cooling device placed below the straightening cage 2 can consist, quite conventionally, of a series of rollers 31. All the conventional arrangements can moreover be used in this part and it should be noted that the thin thickness of the product formed 53 makes it possible to direct it horizontally more quickly than in installations for casting relatively thick slabs.
• the second part 3 of the secondary cooling device can therefore be shortened, or even in certain cases, supp imed and, even if the first cage 2 has to be lengthened, the total height of the installation should, finally be diminished.
• the width (L) of the central part of the internal space 13 is determined so as to allow the introduction into the ingot mold of the pouring tube 55 extending the outlet nozzle of the intermediate container. In this way, it is possible to carry out the casting in a completely conventional manner with, in particular a regulation of the flow of liquid steel and the level of the latter inside the mold.
• the wide walls 4 of the reduction cage 2 are each mounted on a support frame 21 provided at its upper part with suspension ears 46 articulated around horizontal axes on a fixed frame 22 or directly on the casting floor 20.
• two identical cylinders 23 placed on either side of the cage and fed and / or controlled simultaneously are articulated at their two ends, respectively on the two chassis 21 for supporting the walls 4.
• the double-acting cylinders 23 it is possible to control the opening or tightening of the support walls 4. It is thus possible to quickly open the reduction cage 2 for example to release the product in the event of a breakthrough or blockage for any reason.
• the two chassis 21 for supporting the walls 4 can be articulated one on the other or, as shown in the figure, be provided at their lower part with rollers 25 which bear directly on the strip 53 to the output holding cage 2.
• the retaining and deformation elements constituting the wide wall 4 must provide a practically continuous support for the product around the entire periphery of its large faces and it is desirable, as described above, to produce the wall 4 in the form of a grid.
• the qualities of the metal give the solidified skin sufficient strength, it would not be excluded, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, to carry out the support of the large faces and their straightening, by means of rollers 7 with horizontal axes or in any case orthogonal to the axis 10 of casting, the centers and diameters of the rollers being determined as a function of l thickness
• each roll must then be determined so as to correspond, at each level, to the shape of the product and therefore, the latter preferably having a spindle shape, the outer surface of the roll will be constituted by a surface of revolution generated by an enveloping line, in the plane passing through the axis of the roll perpendicular to the casting axis 10, the cross section to be given to the product so that the set of rollers defines a wall for " holding and straightening" Therefore, as shown in Fig.
• the profile of the rollers will depend on their level inside the straightening cage 2 and it may be necessary, given the width of product, to have an intermediate support in the median plane of the product so that each roll extends only over half the width of the product.
• the holding members of the large faces of the product consist, on each face, of a series of bars 8 extending over the entire height of the holding cage 2 and slightly spaced from one another.
• Each bar has, on its face turned towards the product, a profile determined as a function of its distance from the median plane passing through the casting axis 10 so as to pass, as previously, from an inlet orifice 43 of section identical to that of the outlet orifice 16 of the mold with an outlet orifice 44 of rectangular section corresponding to that of the product to be formed.
• the bars are individually animated with pilgrim steps in two longitudinal and transverse directions which allow them, when in contact with the product, to move with it in the direction of casting, then to move away from it ' to return to the upper position and finally- get in contact with the product.
• each bar 8 is associated with a pair of cams mounted respectively on two rotation shafts 8 and placed at two levels, respectively upper and lower of the holding cage 2.
• One of the two cams for example the cam upper 80, engages in a housing 83 formed at the upper part of the bar 8 and comprising a vertical face 84 and two horizontal faces 85, respectively upper and lower.
• one of the horizontal faces 85 is provided with a pad 25 applied by a spring against the corresponding cam 80.
• the latter preferably has a circular profile ' so as to bear, at all times, simultaneously on the three faces and is eccentric with respect to its shaft 82 to determine a periodic movement comprising a horizontal movement of the bar inwards until it comes into contact with the product, a downward movement at the speed of the product while remaining in contact with the latter, a horizontal spacing movement and an upward movement which brings the Barre-in position 'high excluded of the Product.
• Fig. 11 which is a detail view in section along the line VV of FIG. 10, and on which only a few bars 8 have been shown, it can be seen that, at the same instant, certain bars 8 are in contact with the product while the alternating bars 86 are moved away from it. In this way, if the width and spacing of the bars 8 " are determined correctly, it is possible to maintain the large faces of the product by arranging for them to be supported at all times on bars 8 in
• the invention is not limited to the details of the embodiments which have just been described, and which could be further modified or improved while remaining within the protective framework defined by the claims. could use in the cage reduction in thickness of other means for holding the large faces of the product allowing a gradual flattening of the product with continuous support of its large faces over their entire width.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Continuous Casting (AREA)
• Metal Rolling (AREA)

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• 1985
  • 1985-06-25 FR FR8509661A patent/FR2583662B1/fr not_active Expired
• 1986
  • 1986-06-24 WO PCT/FR1986/000222 patent/WO1987000099A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 1986-06-24 DE DE8686903444T patent/DE3674186D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1986-06-24 EP EP86903444A patent/EP0230433B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1986-06-24 ES ES556528A patent/ES8707437A1/es not_active Expired
  • 1986-06-24 JP JP61503488A patent/JPH0692020B2/ja not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1988
  • 1988-11-22 US US07/274,554 patent/US4926930A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

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