EP0498684B1 - Ejecting device for the supporting arrangement of a pouring stream protective tube in a continuous casting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject of the present invention is a support ejection device for a stream-protector tube (5), located between the pouring ladle (1) and the tundish (3) of molten metal of a continuous-casting installation. The device comprises a support member (20) of the protector tube (5) connected to a manipulator (12) intended to bring the protector tube (5) underneath the pouring ladle (1) and the pouring ladle (1) is equipped with means for temporary joining with the said protector tube, such as a nozzle providing a seal. The support member (20) comprises a first element (21) integral with the protector tube (5) and a second element (23) integral with the manipulator (12) and automatic means for mutually locking and unlocking the elements (21, 23), permitting the ejection of the stream-protector tube (5) from the pouring ladle (1) in the event of mishaps during casting.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for ejecting a jet protective tube support situated between the ladle and the liquid metal distributor of a continuous casting installation.

In continuous casting installations, the flow of liquid metal between the ladle and the distributor takes place by passage through a jet protective tube.

This tube fixed to the end of the ladle's pouring hole, is immersed in the dispenser in order to guide the jet, to avoid renitriding of the metal and its oxidation due to its contact with air, and to avoid entrainment of dross and slag present on the surface of the liquid metal contained in the distributor either towards the bottom, due to the emulsion generated by the fall of the metal from the ladle towards the distributor, or towards the outside from the dispenser due to possible splashes due to said fall.

The jet protective tube is integral with a support member which is itself connected to a manipulator allowing this protective tube to be brought below the ladle.

The ladle is provided at its bottom with a tap hole with a vertical axis comprising a shutter drawer and means of temporary attachment to the jet protective tube such as a nozzle ensuring sealing.

When the molten metal is poured, the protective tube is brought by the manipulator below the ladle and held with it in the axis of the tap hole.

In the event of incidents during casting, such as a resurgence of liquid metal at the connection neck of the jet protective tube with the nozzle or liquid metal infiltration at the obturator drawer creating a welding of the protective tube on this drawer, it is necessary to quickly separate the protective tube and to urgently evacuate the ladle and the manipulator of said protective tube.

GB-A-2 171 348 also discloses a device for supporting a jet protective tube situated between a ladle and a liquid metal distributor of a continuous casting installation. This device comprises a protective tube support member connected to a manipulator intended to bring the protective tube below the ladle.

However, these support devices do not allow rapid evacuation of the manipulator from the jet protective tube, which poses safety problems for the operator, in particular because of projections of liquid metal, and of rapidity of evacuation of the material.

The present invention therefore relates to a device for supporting the protective jet tube of a continuous casting installation overcomes these drawbacks and allowing, in the event of incidents, an automatic ejection of the protective tube in order to release the ladle and the manipulator for their emergency evacuation.

The present invention relates to a device for ejecting a support from the jet protective tube situated between the ladle and the liquid metal distributor of a continuous casting installation, said device comprising a member supporting the protective tube connected to a manipulator intended to bring the protective tube below the ladle, said ladle being equipped with means of temporary attachment to said protective tube, characterized in that the support member comprises a first tubular element integral with said protective tube and a second tubular element integral with said manipulator and automatic means for locking and unlocking said elements together allowing the ejection of said jet protective tube from the ladle in the event of casting incidents, said automatic locking and unlocking means being integral with the second element and comprising at least two latches articulated at the end of the second element intended to receive the first element.

• lesdits verrous sont entraînés en rotation sur un organe de commande entre une première position de blocage dudit premier élément avec ledit second élément et une seconde position de libération dudit premier élément,
• l'organe de commande est formé par une tige mobile supportée par ledit second élément solidaire du manipulateur,
• la tige mobile a une de ses extrémités reliées à un vérin de déplacement de ladite tige mobile,
• la tige mobile comporte une première partie de maintien desdits verrous dans la première position de blocage dudit premier élément avec ledit second élément et une seconde partie de basculement desdits verrous dans la seconde position de libération dudit premier élément, ladite seconde partie prolongeant ladite première partie du côté de l'extrémité libre de la tige mobile,
• ladite seconde partie est formée par un tronc de cône dont la pente est dirigée vers l'extrémité libre de la tige mobile,
• la tige mobile comporte à son extrémité libre une plaque de maintien desdits verrous dans la seconde position de libération dudit premier élément,
• l'extrémité du second élément destinée à recevoir le premier élément de l'organe support est pourvue d'au moins deux déflecteurs pour éviter l'accrochage dudit premier élément avec lesdits verrous au moment de l'éjection du tube protecteur de jet.

According to other characteristics of the invention:

• said latches are driven in rotation on a control member between a first position for blocking said first element with said second element and a second position for releasing said first element,
• the control member is formed by a movable rod supported by said second element integral with the manipulator,
• the movable rod has one of its ends connected to a displacement cylinder of said movable rod,
• the movable rod comprises a first part for holding said latches in the first position for blocking said first element with said second element and a second part for tilting said latches in the second position for releasing said first element, said second part extending said first part of the side of the free end of the movable rod,
• said second part is formed by a truncated cone, the slope of which is directed towards the free end of the movable rod,
• the movable rod comprises at its free end a plate for holding said latches in the second position for releasing said first element,
• the end of the second element intended to receive the first element of the support member is provided with at least two deflectors to prevent the attachment of said first element with said latches when the jet protective tube is ejected.

• la Fig. 1 est une vue schématique d'une installation de coulée continue,
• la Fig. 2 est une vue en coupe longitudinale de l'organe support du tube protecteur de jet en position connectée,
• la Fig. 3 est une vue en coupe longitudinale de l'organe support de tube protecteur de jet en position déconnectée.

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, given solely by way of example, and in which:

• Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a continuous casting installation,
• Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section of the support member of the jet protective tube in the connected position,
• Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal section of the jet protection tube support member in the disconnected position.

As shown in Fig. 1, a continuous casting installation is composed of a ladle 1 supported for example by a gantry not shown, and containing liquid metal 2.

The ladle 1 is arranged above a distributor or distributor 3 supported by a casting floor 4 by suitable means. Between the ladle 1 and the distributor 3, the metal is guided by a jet protective tube 5.

The ladle 1 is of known type and provided at its bottom with a tap hole 6, of circular vertical axis and comprising, on the one hand, a shutter drawer 7 and, on the other hand, means 8 for momentary attachment of the protective tube 5 such as a nozzle ensuring sealing.

The distributor 3, located under the ladle 1, is filled with a bath of liquid metal 9 and is provided at its bottom with a hole 10 connected in known manner to a continuous casting line 11.

The jet protective tube 5 is a vertical tube of axis coincident with the axis of the tap hole 6 of the bag 1 and its lower end plunges into the bath 9 of liquid metal of the distributor 3 in order to avoid in particular the renitriding of the metal and its oxidation due to its contact with air.

The jet protective tube 5 is connected to a support member designated as a whole by the reference 20 which is itself supported by a manipulator 12 intended to bring said protective tube below the tap hole 6 of the bag 1.

The manipulator 12 moves in a direction perpendicular to the tap hole 6 on a floor 13 located at the top of the distributor 3.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the support member 20 of the jet protective tube 5 will be described in more detail.

This support member 20 consists of a first tubular element 21, integral with the protective tube 5 by fixing lugs 22 and a second tubular element 23 integral with the manipulator 12.

The face of the first element 21 opposite the protective tube 5 is provided with a crown 24 intended to come to be applied in a groove 25 provided on the end 23a of the second element 23.

On the other hand, the support member 20 is provided with automatic means for locking and unlocking the elements 21 and 23 between them allowing the separation of said elements and the ejection of the jet protective tube 5 from the ladle 1 in case casting incidents.

These locking and unlocking means comprise at least two latches 25 mounted articulated on the end 23a of the second element 23.

The number of latches 25 is preferably three or four uniformly distributed over the end 23a.

The latches 25 are rotated by a control member 26 between a first position for blocking the first element 21 with the second element 23 (Fig. 2) and a second position for releasing the first element 21 (Fig. 3).

The control member 26 is formed by a movable rod 27 supported by the second element 23 and by a jack 28 for moving said rod.

This cylinder 28 comprises, in a conventional manner, a body 28a in which a piston 27b moves, providing two chambers in said body, said piston being integral with a cylinder rod 29, the free end of which is connected to the end 27a of the movable rod 27.

This movable rod 27 comprises a first part 27c for holding the locks 25 in the first position for blocking the first element 21 on the second element 23 and a second part 27c for tilting said locks in the second position for releasing the first element 21.

The second part 27c extends the first part 27b on the side of the free end of the movable rod 27 and is formed for example by a truncated cone whose slope is directed towards said free end.

The movable rod 27 also includes, at its free end, a plate 30 for holding the latches 25 in the second position for releasing the first element 21 relative to the second element 23.

Furthermore, the end 23a of the second element 23 intended to receive the first element 21 is provided with at least two deflectors 31 to prevent the hooking of this first element 21 with the latches 25 when the elements 21 and 23 are separated and the protective tube is ejected jet 5.

The device operates as follows.

During the pouring of the liquid metal, the protective tube 5 is hung under the ladle 1 at the level of the tap hole 6, and the two elements 21 and 23 of the support member 20 are joined together by the latches 25.

For this, the rod 27, under the action of the jack 28, is in the extended position as shown in FIG. 2.

Thus, each end 25a of the latches 25 cooperates with the first part 27b of the movable rod 27, so that each opposite end 25b of the said latches blocks the first element 21 on the second element 23.

In the event of casting incidents, a pressurized fluid is sent into the jack 28 on the side of the jack rod 29, which has the effect of driving the movable rod 27.

Therefore, each end 25a of the latches 25 slides on the second conical part 27c of the movable rod 27 and the plate 30 rotates the latches 25 in a retracted position, thus releasing the first element 21 and causing the automatic ejection of the protective tube 5 which allows rapid evacuation of the ladle.

The desired objective is therefore achieved effectively and by particularly simple and inexpensive means.

Claims (8)

1. Support ejection device for a stream-protector tube (5), located between the pouring ladle (1) and the tundish (3) of molten metal of a continuous-casting installation, the said device comprising a support member (20) of the protector tube (5) connected to a manipulator (12) intended to bring the protector tube (5) underneath the pouring ladle (1), the said pouring ladle (1) being equipped with means for temporary joining with the said protector tube (5), characterised in that the support member (20) comprises a first element (21) integral with the said protector tube (5) and a second tubular element (23) integral with the said manipulator (12) and automatic means (25, 26, 27, 28) for mutually locking and unlocking the said elements (21, 23), permitting the ejection of the said stream-protector tube (5) from the pouring ladle (1) in the event of mishaps during casting, the said automatic locking and unlocking means being integral with the second element (23) and comprising at least two locks (25) mounted in an articulated manner at the end (23a) of the second element (23) intended to receive the first element (21).
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the said locks (25) are driven in rotation by a control member (26) between a first blocking position of the first element (21) with the said second element (23) and a second release position of the said first element (21).
3. Device according to Claim 2, characterised in that the control member (26) is formed by a moveable rod (27) supported by the said second element (23) integral with the manipulator (12).
4. Device according to Claim 3, characterised in that the moveable rod (27) has one of its ends connected to an actuator (28) for displacing the said moveable rod (27).
5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the moveable rod (27) comprises a first part (27b) for holding the said locks (25) in the first blocking position of the said first element (21) with the said second element (23) and a second part (27c) for tilting the said locks (25) into the second release position of the first element (21), the said second part (27c) extending the said first part (27b) on the side of the free end of the moveable rod (27).
6. Device according to Claim 5, characterised in that the said second part (27c) is formed by a truncated cone whose slope faces the free end of the moveable rod (27).
7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the moveable rod (27) comprises, at its free end, a plate (30) for holding the said locks (25) in the second release position of the said first element (21).
8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the end (23a) of the second element (23) intended to receive the first element (21) of the support member (20) is provided with at least two deflectors (31) in order to prevent the engagement of the said first element (21) with the said locks (25) at the moment of the ejection of the stream-protector tube (5).

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