EP0574729B1 - Shaft furnace taphole piercing machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a drilling and opening machine of a tap hole in a wall of a shaft furnace by a process in which, after closing the tap hole with a plugging mass, we push it in, before its complete hardening, a rod and we extract it, when needed, to open the tap hole. Such a machine includes an adjustable carriage in front of the wall of the shaft furnace in a working position in the extension of the axis of the tap hole, a first carriage movable along this carriage, a means of training for said first carriage driving this carriage along this lookout.

It is known to use for the application of the process of the lost rod of conventional drilling machines, that is to say designed to work with a drill for drill the tap hole. These machines then have a mandrel provided with a coupling means for the rod and a powerful bi-directional pneumatic striker to deploy the energy required to introduce and extract the drilling rod.

Now, a powerful striker, as used on these machines, is not without drawbacks. First it imposes significant stresses and vibrations on the equipment, in particular by means of coupling of the rod to the member of work, which is therefore subject to rapid wear. A striker is also extremely noisy and does not fill often not the increasingly stringent standards for a reduction of noise level in an industrial environment.

The disadvantages of the striker could encourage the removal of percussion during introduction and stem extraction.

For the rod extraction operation it is perfectly conceivable to use a powerful means drive, which is firmly coupled at the end free of the rod and removes the latter from the tap hole by a forceful recoil, that is to say without generate vibrations and in a completely silent. This extraction process has been tried in the meantime on multiple machines and it gives whole satisfaction. On these machines, we used as a medium for driving cylinders or hydraulic motors and as means of coupling of the drive means to the rod of special pliers.

Unfortunately such a silent solution "in force "does not seem possible for the operation introduction of the rod into the plugging mass in hardening course. Indeed, given the dimensions of the stem (a normal stem has a length of 4 m and a diameter 4 cm), a strong axial thrust may cause first a buckling of the rod and then its blocking definitive in a partially sunken position in the mass undergoing rapid hardening.

It has therefore been proposed to guide the metal rod, during the "force" introduction operation, by intermediate guides mounted on the carriage and surrounding circumferentially the rod in several places and put these guides successively, as you go advancement of the clamp towards the front of the carriage, in a position that does not interfere with the progress of the clamp. This idea was materialized for example by installing on the lookout for sliding guides which are pushed by advancement of the clamp into a position in front of the lookout. However, this solution has certain disadvantages manifestos. First, these sliding intermediate guides are very vulnerable elements. take in account the the harsh working conditions to which the drilling machine, the guides may indeed be block in their guide rails and thus constitute an obstacle to the advancement of the clamp. Then, the development of a garage position at the front of the lookout for said intermediate guides does not constitute only a problem of space at the front of the carriage, but also submits the intermediate guides to splashes from the cast iron jet coming out of the casting. In addition, practical experience has shown that buckling of the rod between two successive presses is not totally excluded.

Document US-A-5,069,430 describes a machine for drill a tap hole in the plugging mass completely hardened with a drill driven rotation. This drill includes a shank, which is formed of two coupled segments, and a cutting head with the front end of the rod. The drilling machine includes a carriage which supports an impact drill, coupled to the free end of the rod, and a front support, supporting the rod at the front of the lookout. Centering support for the drill is mounted between the front support and the drill. During the drilling operation, an endless chain advances the drill and centering support towards the end before the lookout. When the centering support reaches near the front support, it is decoupled from the chain endless, so that the drill can continue its forward run of the lookout.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a machine for drilling and opening a tap hole of a shaft furnace, which allows to insert said rod into the mass semi-hardened shutter by exerting a powerful push on the free end of the rod, without cause it to buckle, and that doesn't show the disadvantages mentioned above.

des moyens de guidage pour définir un canal de guidage de la tige, lesdits moyens de guidage présentant en position de travail au moins une ouverture longitudinale donnant accès à l'intérieur du canal de guidage perpendiculairement à l'axe de celui-ci;

par des moyens de support desdits moyens de guidage sur l'affût, lesdits moyens de support étant conçus de façon que l'axe longitudinal du canal de guidage soit coaxiale à l'axe du trou de coulée lorsque l'affût se trouve dans ladite position de travail devant la paroi du four à cuve pour enfoncer ladite tige métallique dans le trou de coulée, et

par un doigt solidaire dudit premier chariot, ledit doigt étant dimensionné pour pénétrer à travers ladite ouverture longitudinale à l'intérieur dudit canal de guidage et pour pouvoir exercer une poussée axiale sur une extrémité de la tige métallique lors de l'avancement du premier chariot en direction du trou de coulée, sans déplacer les moyens de guidage en translation.

To achieve this objective, the present invention proposes a machine for drilling a tap hole of the kind defined in the preamble, which is characterized by

guide means for defining a rod guide channel, said guide means having in the working position at least one longitudinal opening giving access to the interior of the guide channel perpendicular to the axis thereof;

by means for supporting said guide means on the carriage, said support means being designed so that the longitudinal axis of the guide channel is coaxial with the axis of the tap hole when the carriage is in said position working in front of the wall of the shaft furnace to push said metal rod into the tap hole, and

by a finger integral with said first carriage, said finger being dimensioned to penetrate through said longitudinal opening inside said guide channel and to be able to exert an axial thrust on one end of the metal rod during advancement of the first carriage direction of the tap hole, without moving the guide means in translation.

According to the present invention the drilling rod slides in the guide channel into which the finger can penetrate which is integral with the carriage driven along the carriage by the powerful means of training. We avoid by this guiding the drill rod in a channel any risk of buckling, when applied by finger entering the channel an appreciable axial thrust to one end of the rod to push its end opposite in the blocking mass, with which we have plugged the tap hole beforehand. It's obvious that the guide means must be dimensioned so as to not allow a radial escape of the rod of said channel. It will however also be noted that said channel guidance may have axial discontinuities and radial, as long as a radial exhaust from the metal rod subjected to the axial thrust force is not to fear.

The main advantage of this machine is ability to safely insert piercing rod in the blocking mass by a force exerted on its free end without having to use a noisy striker, imposing significant vibrations on the material and machine.

Unlike the solution of intermediate guides sliding, the present guide channel must not be removed as the finger advances, secured to the carriage which can be moved along the carriage. He will be as appreciated as the only element that must be movable according to the present invention is the carriage which supports the finger penetrating inside the canal. Indeed the means guide defining the rod guide channel metallic do not hinder the advancement of the finger secured to the movable carriage and can therefore remain in place during the whole operation of introducing the stem.

Said guide means could however still be troublesome during the rod extraction operation with classic pliers, or whenever you want work with a conventional drill that can be moved along the lookout to drill the tap hole with a drill. here why it is advantageous to support said means of support by means of arms articulated on the carriage. This solution allows to pivot laterally said guide means, releasing, if necessary, the template necessary along the carriage to extract the rod to using conventional pliers, or to work with a drill sliding along the carriage. This pivoting or folding of said guide means into a position lateral to the lookout has the added advantage to remove said guiding means from the most dangerous in front of the tap hole, which is naturally the one located directly in the extension of the axis of the jet when opening the tap hole.

According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the rod guide channel is defined by a tube, having a diameter slightly larger than that of the rod and being provided with at least one longitudinal slot which crosses a wall radially along its wall on its entire length. It is an achievement particularly simple and inexpensive of said means of guidance. The longitudinal slot allows the penetration of said finger inside the tube so that it can exert a axial thrust on the end of the rod during advancement of the carriage along the lookout towards the tap hole.

The loading of the metal rod into the channel guiding can naturally be done axially by pressing the rod through one end of the channel. The introduction of the rod is however facilitated when the guide means can be opened longitudinally to lay freely the rod in its guide channel. To this end said guide means can for example consist of longitudinal parts which are juxtaposed to define together said guide channel. In an execution preferential, the tube serving as guide means is split longitudinally into a first and second segment of tube. This way the tube can be opened longitudinally to put the metal rod and closed to form said guide channel. The first tube segment is then advantageously mounted on first arms articulated along a first lateral side of the carriage and the second tube segment is mounted on second arms articulated along the opposite lateral side of the lookout. This assembly makes it possible to pivot the first segment of tube and the second tube segment laterally in opposite directions to open said channel. In the open position of the channel we can then easily place the metal rod in one of the two tube segments, then reconstitute the guide channel by pivoting the two tube segments in their original position. It will be noted that this assembly also frees up a certain size between the two tube segments. This template can be necessary for the passage of a clamp or a drill which are movable on said carriage.

The pivotable support means are advantageously actuated by one or more cylinders. This or these cylinders maintain the guide channel in the axis of the tap hole during the driving-in operation of the rod and allow the guide means to be folded down when these are not used. They can be mounted in an area protected from the lookout and can be effectively protected against splashes.

Said means of driving the first carriage must be able to move the latter along the lookout tap hole direction, exerting by the intermediary of the finger sufficient force on the free end of the drill rod to pass the other end through the blocking mass in train to harden in the tap hole. In an achievement preferential of the drilling machine this means drive includes an endless chain which is driven by a hydraulic motor. It is a way particularly simple training which can however deliver significant training efforts. Moreover the chain is self-cleaning and does not require maintenance.

It will be noted that the drilling machine is advantageously provided with a working member comprising a drill and possibly a powerful striker. We are thus preserves on this machine the possibility of being able work with a normal drill. This can be useful for reform or move the tap hole, or to work with a conventional drill when the rod process lost cannot be used for any reason. In this case it is advantageous to provide means for coupling said working member to the drive means of the first cart. This avoids having to install a second drive system on the machine.

To extract the metal rod from said tap hole, when we want to open it, we can use advantageously the drive means of the first carriage. This means of training must then be able to exercise also a significant effort towards the extraction of the stem. The present machine in this case includes means for firmly coupling the free end of the rod to said drive means. The latter removes the rod of the tap hole by a forceful backward movement, that is to say without producing vibrations and in a way completely silent. The coupling means used for the extraction of the rod can for example include a hook which is mounted on said first carriage. This hook then engages through said opening longitudinal of the guide channel to support behind a machined shoulder in the free end of the rod. It allows to exert a traction force on the rod and remove it, as the carriage moves back on the lookout, through the guide channel outside the tap hole. We can also work with several hooks engaging through several openings longitudinal distributed around the guide channel. This variant reduces the contact pressure to support by the shoulder machined in the rod.

To release the rod from the tap hole you can however also fold down said guide means in a lateral position in relation to the lookout. In this case we has a sufficient gauge in the axis of the rod to use any means that allows mating firmly the end of the rod to said drive means to apply a significant tensile force to it. Of such means are for example jaw pliers such as described in British patent GB 2,116,898, chucks with a female thread that can be screwed onto a male thread machined in the free end of the rod, transverse key mandrels cooperating with a flat machined in the end of the rod etc.

It will also be appreciated that the present machine includes in a preferential execution an intermediate support sliding on and movable along the carriage, which allows to support a rod or a drill in the absence of the guidance.

A screen mounted at the front of the mount protects the machine effectively against splashes from jet coming out of the tap hole.

• la Figure 1 montre une vue de face de l'affût d'une machine de perçage selon l'invention;
• la Figure 2 montre une coupe longitudinale à travers l'affût de la Figure 1;
• la Figure 3 montre une coupe transversale à travers l'affût de la Figure 1;
• la Figure 4 montre une coupe longitudinale à travers le premier chariot supportant le doigt;
• la Figure 5 montre une coupe transversale à travers le premier chariot supportant le doigt;
• la Figure 6 montre une coupe à travers un chariot supportant un appui intermédiaire sur l'affût;
• la Figure 7 montre, dans une coupe transversale à travers la machine selon la Figure 1, le montage dans l'affût du chariot supportant l'appui intermédiaire;
• Les Figures 8 et 9 montrent, dans des vues semblables aux Figures 4 et 5, comment le premier chariot supportant le doigt peut être utilisé pour entraíner l'organe de travail;
• Les Figures 10 et 11, respectivement 12 et 13, montrent dans des vues semblables aux Figures 4 et 5, comment on peut intégrer une pince à mâchoires pour l'extraction de la tige dans ledit premier chariot supportant le doigt;
• Les Figures 14 et 15, respectivement 16 et 17, montrent dans des vues semblables aux Figures 4 et 5, une variante intéressante d'une pince à crochets pour l'extraction de la tige du trou de coulée.

Other advantages and characteristics will emerge from the detailed description of preferential embodiments, presented below, by way of illustration and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 shows a front view of the carriage of a drilling machine according to the invention;
• Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section through the carriage of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 shows a cross section through the carriage of Figure 1;
• Figure 4 shows a longitudinal section through the first carriage supporting the finger;
• Figure 5 shows a cross section through the first carriage supporting the finger;
• Figure 6 shows a section through a carriage supporting an intermediate support on the carriage;
• Figure 7 shows, in a cross section through the machine according to Figure 1, the mounting in the carriage of the carriage supporting the intermediate support;
• Figures 8 and 9 show, in views similar to Figures 4 and 5, how the first carriage supporting the finger can be used to drive the working member;
• Figures 10 and 11, respectively 12 and 13, show in views similar to Figures 4 and 5, how one can integrate a jaw clamp for the extraction of the rod in said first carriage supporting the finger;
• Figures 14 and 15, respectively 16 and 17, show in views similar to Figures 4 and 5, an interesting variant of a hook clamp for the extraction of the rod from the tap hole.

All Figures have the same digits of reference to designate the same parts.

For the description of the whole machine, refer for example to Figures 1 and 2. These two figures show a lookout 10 of a drilling machine. This lookout 10 is for example supported at the end of a support arm (not shown) via a central part 12 secured to the carriage 10. This support arm can pivot so classic and known around a console (not shown) to move the carriage between a garage position and a working position and vice versa. In this position of work the lookout 10 can be oriented in front of the wall of the oven so that its longitudinal axis is located in the extension of the axis of the tap hole.

The carriage can for example be formed of several metal beams or profiles welded together for form a sort of box. This box 14 has two side walls 16, 18 connected by an upper plate 20 and defining a longitudinal opening 22 downwards. In the box 14 is mounted at least one chain without end 24. This endless chain 24 is stretched between a wheel driven gear 26 mounted at the front of the carriage 10 and a wheel driving gear 28 mounted at the rear of the carriage 10. The wheel driving 28 is driven by at least one motor 30 fixed on the lookout 10. It is preferably a hydraulic motor whose direction of rotation can be reversed by a system of suitable order.

In the box 14 slides a first carriage 32 which is driven by said endless chain 24. This first carriage 32 is shown in more detail in Figure 4. It has on each side a pair of rollers 34, 36 which are guided respectively in a first rail 38 and in a second rail 40. These rails 38, 40, which have a U-shaped section (see Figure 5), are an integral part of the walls side 16, 18 of box 14.

On the carriage 32 is mounted a finger 42 comprising a flat trunk 44 which extends the carriage 32 downwards through said longitudinal opening 22 in the box 14 forming the lookout 10. This finger 42 is preferably mounted in the carriage 32 using a pin cylindrical 46, housed in bores 48, 50 of the carriage 32 and passing through a bore 52 of the trunk 44, so as to ability to rotate in the vertical plane passing through the axis of movement of the first carriage 32.

In Figure 2 as well as in Figure 5, the finger 42 is shown in a position in which it is supported with its lower end on a rod drilling 54. The latter was installed in the drilling machine to be driven into a mass of plugging which has been previously injected into the casting. The lower end of the finger 42 which is supported on the rod 54 has the shape of a cylindrical bead 56 which extends in the extension of the axis of the rod 54. It it will be noted that finger 42 has an extension 58 of its trunk 44 on the other side of the cylindrical axis 46. This extension 58 is supported on a bearing surface 60 of the first carriage 32 when the cylindrical bead 56 of the finger exerts an axial thrust on the end of the rod 54. In the position shown in Figure 4 the finger 42 can therefore only rotate in the direction of clockwise, i.e. clockwise arrow marked with the reference 62.

The rod is guided in a channel 64 formed by a tube cylindrical 66. This tube 66 which has substantially the same length as the stem and an inner diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the rod, consists of preferably two tube segments 68, 70 which are almost symmetrical about a plane passing through the axis longitudinal of the tube. Each of the two segments 68, 70 is supported by several bent arms 72, 72 '. Arms bent 72 supporting the first tube segment 68 are axially spaced and fixed on a tube 74 running along the first side wall 16 of the box 14 forming the mount (cf. Figures 1 and 3). This tube 74 is mounted, for example at middle and at its two ends, via of cylindrical joints 76 on this first wall side 16, so that it can pivot around its longitudinal axis. The bent arms 74 'supporting the second tube segment 70 are mounted identically along from the opposite side wall 18 of the carriage 10. The elements involved in mounting the second segment of tube 70 are identified by the same reference numbers as the mounting elements of the first tube segment 68, provided however of an accent.

In Figure 5 we see the two tube segments 68, 70 in a position in which they are juxtaposed for form the guide channel 64. In this position the axis defined by said guide channel 64 is a straight line which is parallel to the rolling direction of the first carriage 32. This axis is more precisely located in the plane longitudinal median of the first carriage 32.

The tube 66 formed by juxtaposition of the two segments of tube 68, 70 is provided with a longitudinal slot 78 radially crossing its wall on its entire length. In Figure 5 we see that this slot 78 faces the longitudinal opening 22 in the lookout 10. In this way the finger can penetrate with its flat trunk 44 through slot 78 inside the tube 66, in which the bead 56 can slide freely when the first carriage 32 is moved along on the lookout 10. At the connection between the bead cylindrical 56 and the trunk 44 of the finger, the latter has advantageously a constriction 80. This constriction 80 allows the width of the slot 78 to be limited, so as to prevent the rod 54 from being able to get caught in the slot 78 when finger 42 exerts an axial thrust on the end of the latter.

When the rod 54 is driven into the mass of capping, it is thus guided over its entire length, with the exception of the piece extending between the wall of the oven tank and the front of the carriage 10. Now, the length of this unguided piece is much less than the length critical for which a buckling is likely to occur. It is understood that axial interruptions of said channel guidance are also not bothersome, as long as the forced insertion of the rod 56 into the mass of capping can be done safely without having to fear buckling where the metal rod is not guided. We do not for example deviate from the teaching of the present invention by defining said guide channel 64 by several coaxial sleeves which are axially spaced a distance less than the critical length for which buckling may occur produce between two successive guide sleeves.

In Figure 3 the two tube segments 68, 70, defining channel 64 when they are juxtaposed one against each other, are shown separated from each other. This arrangement is obtained by pivoting the tube 74, supporting through the bent arms 72 the first segment of tube 68, and by pivoting of tube 74 ', supporting by through the bent arms 72 'the second segment of tube 70, around their respective axis and in opposite directions. This pivoting is advantageously produced by means of one or more jacks 82, 84.

In the execution shown in Figures 1 and 3 each of the tubes 74, 74 ′ is provided with its own jack 82, 84. These two cylinders 82, 84 are arranged laterally the carriage, at mid-length of the tubes 74, 74 'so as to be shelter from splashes of cast iron projected outside the tap hole when opened. They can also have a protective cage (not shown) which does not interfere at all with this location of the lookout 10. Each of the two cylinders 82, 84 is articulated according to the rules of the art with one of its ends on a support 86 integral with the lookout 10, and with the other end on an arm of lever 88, 88 ′ respectively secured to the first tube 74 or the second tube 74. In Figure 3 the arm of lever 88, 88 'is an extension of a bent arm 72, 72'. Note that an extension of the two cylinders 82, 84 causes a bringing together of the two segments of tubes 68, 70, up to their meeting at the level of the longitudinal median plane of the carriage 10. In this position, shown in Figure 5, the two cylinders push the two tube segments 68, 70 firmly against each other to define the channel of guide 64.

A retraction of the two cylinders 82, 84 causes a spacing of the two tube segments 68, 70 (cf. FIG. 3) and the longitudinal opening of channel 64 so that can easily install the rod 54 in one of the two tube segments. This one, in figure 3 it is about line segment 70, is then advantageously provided with claws 90 to support the rod 54. These claws 90 are axially spaced, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and penetrate during the assembly of the two segments of tube 68, 70 in corresponding notches 92 made in the other segment of tube 68.

It will be appreciated that the two tube segments 68, 70 are parts that can be produced at low cost, starting from longitudinally cut steel tubes. These segments of tube are preferably removably attached to the bent arms 72, 72 ′, for example using legs 94 welded onto the pipe segments and screwed onto the arms angled 72, 72 '. Such a tab 94 is shown in level of the left arm 72 of FIG. 3. This assembly allows easily replace the tube segments 72, 72 ' when accidentally damaged in front of the lookout 10 by the cast iron leaving the tap hole.

In Figure 3, we see that the spacing of the two tube segments 68, 70 releases a template below the lookout 10 which is sufficient to pass a body of work 100. This work member 100 usually comprises a drill and a striker. His presence is justified for ability to drill tap hole where appropriate classic drill. This can for example be the case when want to reform or move the tap hole, or when cannot use the lost rod process for a reason or for another. The working member 100 is provided a mandrel 102 which can be coupled to a drill. At this end, finger 42 is pivoted upwards, that is to say in direction of arrow 62 in Figure 4 to allow the introduction of the drill into the mandrel. The segments of tube 68, 70 are spread laterally to release the template required for the passage of the working member 100.

The working member 100 is mounted on a second carriage 104 which slides using two pairs of rollers 106, 108 in a pair of rails 110, 112. These the latter are fixed in the box 14, parallel below rails 38, 40 supporting the first carriage 32. They have U-shaped sections and are arranged to guide the second carriage vertically and laterally.

The working member 100 is advantageously driven by the same drive means as the first carriage 32. To this end, the second carriage 104 can for example be coupled by hooks (not shown) or any other means equivalent to the first carriage 32.

It will be noted that the working member 100 may also be used for force extraction of the rod, when fitted with adequate coupling means 102 to mate at the end of the rod 54 leaving the tap hole. Preferably the first carriage 32 is then provided with a member which transmits the tensile force directly on said coupling means, so as to avoid transmission of the tractive effort through the mechanics of the working organ. This organ may for example be a fork 105 integral with said extension 58 of finger 42 articulated on the first carriage 32 (see Figure 4). When extracting the rod 54, the fork 105 then rests on a shoulder 106 of the coupling 102 mounted on the work 100 to exert an axial thrust on the latter in the direction of extraction of the rod 54. It will be noticed that in this position, the articulated finger 42 abuts against a bearing surface 108 of the first carriage 32. The carriage 104 is simply pushed in front of the first carriage 32. The working member 100 must not transmit no tensile force and only serves as a support sliding for the coupling means 102.

An interesting variant for training the working member 100 is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In Figure 8 we see that the fork 105, integral with the finger 42 articulated on the first carriage 32, is blocked by a transverse rod 132 in a vertical position between the shoulder 106 at the rear of the coupling 102 and a second shoulder 130 at the front of the coupling 102. In this way the fork 105 is supported on the shoulder before 130 to drive the working member 100, when the first carriage 32 is moved towards the front of the carriage, in the same direction, and on the rear shoulder 106 to push the working member 100 in front of you, when the first carriage is moved to the rear of the carriage.

In Figure 8 we also see that the coupling 102 comprises a cage 134 integral with a end of the chassis of the working member 100. In this cage can rotate freely a rotary member 136 integral a drive spindle 138 of the working member 100. This cage 134 defines at the front, that is to say on the side of its free end, said shoulder 130, on which takes support the fork 105 during the training of the organ of 100 work forward from the lookout. Shoulder 106, on which the fork 105 is supported during the extraction of the rod, for its part, is machined in the rotary member 136, so as to free the spindle 138 from any tensile force when disengaging the drill rod 54 from the hole casting.

Note that the means shown in Figure 8 to secure the piercing rod 54 of coupling 102, include male thread 140, machined in the free end of the piercing rod 54, and a corresponding female thread, machined in the front end of the rotary member 136.

Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13 show a variant using for the extraction of the drilling rod 54 a jaw clamp 150. This jaw clamp 150 is integrated in the first carriage 32, on which is articulated finger 42. Note that the pliers jaws 150 must have a passage channel 152 for the drilling rod 54, which is dimensioned so as to allow the passage of said guide means during the operation of introducing the piercing rod 54 to using finger 42 (see Figures 10 and 11). In this way, the jaw clamp 150 can remain in place on the carriage 32 during the insertion operation of the rod drilling 54 in the plugging mass. During extraction of the piercing rod 54, the guide means 68, 70 are of course moved away from the gripper path, and the finger 42 is folded up (see Figures 12 and 13). The rod can now be gripped firmly by pairs of jaws 154 disposed along said channel of passage 152.

Figures 14, 15, 16 and 17 show a variant using for the extraction of the drilling rod 54 a clamp 160 formed by two hooks 162 and 164 juxtaposed and both articulated around a transverse axis 166 in said first carriage 32. Before describing the operation of the drill rod 54 using the two hooks 162 and 164, it will be noted that the hook 162 comprises at its lower end a bead 56 ', equivalent said cylindrical bead 56 of finger 42. This bead 56 'can penetrate the guide channel 64 to rest on the free end of the rod hole 54 in order to push it into the mass of capping. The hook 162 fills accordingly, when the operation of inserting the piercing rod 54 into the blocking mass, the role of finger 42 represented on the Figures 4 and 5. In Figure 16, we can also see that, for the rod insertion operation, both hooks 162 and 164 are locked by a removable stop 168 in a folded position. In this position, said cylindrical bead 56 'is aligned with the guide channel 64, and the hook 164 is completely folded back into the first carriage 32. The removable stop 168 at the same time constitutes a counter-support for the hook 162, when the cylindrical bead 56 'of this last rests on the end of the rod drilling 54 to exert an axial thrust on this last.

For the release of the drilling rod 54, the means defining the guide channel 64 are folded down (cf. Figure 14) and the removable stop 168 is removed, so that hooks 162 and 164 can be engaged behind a shoulder 170 secured to the free end of the rod drilling 54. It will be noted that the hook 164 is blocked in this position by a removable transverse rod 172.

A pneumatic cylinder 174, integral with the first carriage 32 pushes hook 162 against the rod drilling 54 and thus closes the clamp 160 behind the shoulder 170. The second hook 164 is pushed against the transverse rod 172 which consequently serves as a counter-support or reaction element to the clamp 160. We will note that the ends of the two hooks 162 and 164 have advantageously the shape of annular segments matching circumferentially the piercing rod 54, so that increase the contact surface between the clamp 160 and the drill rod 54, and thereby reduce the risk tearing off of the shoulder 170 when the drilling rod 54 of the tap hole.

To be able to work without guide channel 64, the lookout 10 advantageously includes a support intermediate 110. This intermediate support consists of a hook 112 mounted on a third carriage 114 sliding using two pairs of rollers 116, 118 in the same rails 110, 112 as the working tool 100 (cf. Figures 6 and 7). This third carriage 114 is preferably linked to the first carriage 32 via two rods 120, 122 which are fixed to the third carriage 114 and slide in guide bushings 124, 126 of the first carriage 32 and the working member 100. The purpose of these rods 120, 122 is to automatically remove the support intermediate 110 from the front of the carriage towards the middle of the lookout, that is to put it in safety before the drilling rod 54 is not completely removed from the hole casting. This intermediate support 110 is used to support the drill rod removed from the tap hole. This same support 110 can however also be useful for assembly / disassembly of a drill on the working member. When working with the guide channel, the hook 112 of the intermediate support 110 is advantageously folded up so as not to interfere the establishment of said guide means 68, 70. At this end the hook 112 is mounted on the carriage 114 using a cylindrical joint 128 and can be immobilized in the position folded down by a pin 129, respectively by equivalent means.

A fixed support 130 at the front of the carriage is preferably a screen support of the type proposed in the request of European patent EP 0 064 644. This comprises two flaps mounted at the front of the carriage 10, i.e. opposite of the tap hole when the carriage is in position operative. These flaps can rotate between a position open, facilitating the gripping of the drilling rod 54 in view of its release from the tap hole and a closed position, in which they define a support rod 54 and a protective shield against splashes from the jet coming out of the tap hole when opening it.

It will be noted that the drilling machine according to the present invention can also be carried out with other drive means that a hydraulic motor driving an endless chain. We can for example use different types of cylinders, including a cylinder telescopic or a stroke cylinder C which acts on the carriage 32 via a multiplier race to move it over a distance 2C along the lookout. Another possible training system is a screw-nut system, in which the nut is fixed in rotation and the screw which extends along the carriage, is fixed in translation. A rotation of the screw results accordingly the translation of the nut. This nut can directly support finger 42 or train the first carriage 32 supporting finger 42.

It is indeed obvious that the finger 42 must not necessarily be mounted on a carriage 32 which slides in rails in the box 14 forming the carriage 10. All guide means for holding finger 42 in the axis of the rod when moved along the carriage is to be considered in the sense of the present invention as a means perfectly equivalent to the carriage / rail system. In some cases it is even perfectly conceivable that finger 42 is directly mounted on the means even training. In these cases it is perfectly in the spirit of the present invention to assimilate to said first carriage 32 the means used to make the finger 42 of said drive means. Within the meaning of this invention the term "trolley" therefore designates most generally a piece of machine that supports and moves another machine element.

It will also be noted that the execution of the means of guidance, as described above, is only an execution preferential. It is perfectly possible to plan other solutions that define a channel guide 64 of the metal rod 54 coaxial with the axis of the hole casting and into which finger 42 can penetrate for push the rod 54 into the plugging mass, without depart from the teaching of this invention. The same is true of the means of support for supporting said guide means.

Claims (17)

1. Machine for piercing and opening a taphole in a wall of a shaft furnace by a method in which, after having closed the taphole with taphole clay, a rod is driven into it before it is completely hard and the said rod is withdrawn, at the desired moment, with the aim of opening the taphole, the said machine comprising a mounting (10) capable of orientation in front of the wall of the shaft furnace in a working position along the extension of the axis of the taphole, a first carriage (32) moveable along this mounting (10), a means of driving the said first carriage (32) driving this carriage along this mounting (10), and the said machine being characterised

   by guidance means (68, 70) in order to define a guide channel (64) for the piercing rod (54), the said guidance means (68, 70) having in the working position at least one longitudinal opening (78) giving access to the inside of the guide channel (64) in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the latter,

   by means (72, 74, 72', 74') for supporting the said guidance means (68, 70) on the mounting (10), the said supporting means being designed in such a way that the longitudinal axis of the guide channel (64) is coaxial with the axis of the taphole when the mounting (10) is in the said working position in front of the wall of the shaft furnace in order to drive the said metallic rod (54) into the taphole, and

   by a finger (42) attached to the said first carriage (32), the said finger being of such a size as to penetrate through the said longitudinal opening (78) to the inside of the said guide channel (64) and so as to be capable of exerting an axial thrust on one end of the piercing rod (54) when the first carriage (32) advances in the direction of the taphole, without moving the guidance means in translational.
2. Machine according to Claim 1, characterised in that the said support means comprise arms (72, 72') articulated on the mounting (10) so as to be capable of pivoting the said guidance means (68, 70) laterally outside a clearance space defined along the mounting (10).
3. Machine according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the said guide channel (64) for the piercing rod (54) is defined by a tube (66) having a diameter slightly greater than that of the piercing rod (54) and being provided with at least one longitudinal slit (78) traversing its wall radially along a generating line over its whole length.
4. Machine according to Claim 3, characterised in that the said tube (66) is divided longitudinally into a first and second segment of tube (68, 70), and in that the said means of support comprise first arms (72) articulated along a first side wall (16) of the mounting, which support the said first segment of tube (68), and second arms (72) articulated along the opposite side wall (18) of the mounting, which support the second segment of tube (70), the said first and second arms enabling the first segment of tube (68) and the second segment of tube (70) to pivot laterally on the mounting (10) in opposite directions.
5. Machine according to Claim 2 or 4, characterised by at least one jack (82, 84) actuating the said support means in order to pull back the said guidance means into a lateral position with respect to the mounting (10).
6. Machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the finger (42) attached to the first carriage (32) is capable of pivoting about an axis (46) perpendicular to the direction of movement of the said first carriage (32), and in that a stop (60), which is attached to the first carriage (32), forms a counter-support for the finger (42) when the latter bears against the end of the piercing rod (54) to exert an axial thrust on the latter.
7. Machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the said drive means comprises an endless chain (24) stretched along the mounting (10) and in that this chain (24) is driven by a hydraulic motor (30).
8. Machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised by a working unit (100) sliding on and moveable along the mounting (10) and by means for coupling the said working unit (100) to the means for driving the first carriage (32).
9. Machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised by means for extracting the piercing rod (54) from the taphole which comprise means for coupling the end of the piercing rod (54) to the said driving means.
10. Machine according to Claim 8, characterised in that the working unit (100) is provided with means for coupling (102) making it possible to transmit a tractive force to the free end of the piercing rod (54) engaged in the taphole, and in that the said driving means is provided with a support bearing directly against the said means of coupling attached to the piercing rod (54) in order to push the working unit towards the rear of the mounting (10) and in this way to extract the piercing rod (54) from the taphole.
11. Machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised by means for extracting the piercing rod (54) from the taphole which comprise at least one hook engaged behind a shoulder machined in the end of the rod (54).
12. Machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, characterised by an intermediate support (110) sliding on and moveable along the mounting (10), which makes it possible to support a piercing rod or drill in the absence of the guide channel (64).
13. Machine according to Claim 12, characterised in that the intermediate support comprises a hook (110) mounted on a carriage (114) using a cylindrical articulation (128) so that it can be folded back.
14. Machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 13, characterised by a screen (130) mounted in front of the mounting facing the taphole, the said screen 130 being formed from panels capable of pivoting between an open position facilitating the gripping of the piercing rod (54) with the aim of extracting it from the taphole and a closed position in which they define a support for the piercing rod (54) in front of the mounting and a shield for protection against splashes of molten metals.
15. Machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the first carriage (32) comprises a clamp (160) provided with two juxtaposed hooks, which are capable of pivoting about a transverse axis and of engaging behind a shoulder (56) attached to the end of the piercing rod (54), and at least one pneumatic jack (174), positioned between the first carriage (32) and one of the two hooks (162, 164) so that it can close and open the clamp (160) pneumatically.
16. Machine according to Claim 15, characterised in that the finger (42) is formed by one of the two hooks (162, 164), which carries a flange (56') capable of engaging in the guide channel (64), and in that the first carriage (32) is provided with a detachable stop (168) forming, during the operation of introducing the rod into the taphole clay, a counter-support for the hook (162) carrying the flange (56').
17. Machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the first carriage comprises a clamp (150) with jaws (154), and in that this clamp (150) is provided with a passage channel (152) for the piercing rod (54), the said passage channel (152) being of such a size as to allow the passage of the said guidance means during the operation of introducing the piercing rod (54) into the taphole using the finger (42).

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