EP2281166B1 - Furnace system - Google Patents

Abstract

The furnace system has a furnace (1), particularly an arc furnace, for melting metal, and a cleaning device (3) for removing or avoiding bulk goods from or in a furnace opening (2). The cleaning device has a movable thrust arm (4) for carrying out a thrust movement, and units (6) for moving the thrust arm between a parking level and an operating level (B). The work level (A) has a recess (8) through which the thrust arm is guided during the movement between the operating levels positioning above the work level.

Description

The invention relates to a furnace, with an oven, in particular an electric arc furnace, for melting metal, with a cleaning device for removing and / or avoiding bulky goods from or in a furnace opening, wherein the cleaning device comprises a movable push arm for performing a thrust movement and means for Procedure of the push arm between a parking level and an operating level includes.

Furnace plants are used, for example, in steel mills for the production of steel. Here, metallic scrap and / or reduced iron is fed to a furnace, such as an electric arc furnace, in which the metallic solid is converted into a liquid phase. The molten metal is then further conditioned until a desired quality of liquid steel is achieved.

A furnace for producing a molten metal often has a working door. The work door is typically the slag door for carrying out the slag before the metal melt is tapped out of the oven. The slag door is also used to blow oxygen onto the liquid metal bath by means of a lance positioned through the work door to condition the liquid metal.

During the smelting process steel and slag splashes form the "Bears", which must be removed after each melt.

From the European patent EP 0 663 061 A1 is a rail-driven impact machine for performing functions in the slag hole of electric steel melting furnaces, equipped with an extendable arm with a front-fitting head or shield of slightly smaller cross section than the slagstitch hole of the furnace. The invention has for its object to provide a furnace installation of the type mentioned, with which the use of a furnace opening can be further flexibilized.

The object is achieved by a furnace installation of the type mentioned above, wherein a work platform forming a working level is present, from which the furnace opening is accessible and which carries the cleaning device, wherein the working level has a recess through which the push arm in the process between the above Working levels and below the working level. By means of such a furnace installation, it is possible to flexibly create clearance in front of a furnace opening, which is preferably designed as a slag door opening.

The working level formed by the work platform is usually formed by the surface of the work platform near the furnace and is usually a level. The working platform can be designed for the commissioning of persons, in particular by operating personnel, with which in such cases also the working level can be walked on.

Preferably, the push arm at the park level is not located above the working level.

By the cleaning device is arranged such retractable on the work platform, the use of the oven opening, in particular a slag door opening, further flexibilized. Because after the oven opening by means of the cleaning device of bulky material, especially metallic deposits, is released and / or discontinuation of bulky material in the oven opening was avoided by the cleaning device can - after the method of Stoßarms the cleaning device to the park level - at the oven opening, for example Manipulator are used, such as Temperature measurement of the metal bath, for sampling or for blowing oxygen onto the metal bath, etc ...

The invention thus provides more and faster free space to be provided on the working platform for the operating personnel or process interventions on the furnace through the furnace opening. If necessary - i. with increasing clogging of the oven opening - the cleaning device can be provided quickly and flexibly. The space savings also lead to greater operating safety in the furnace area of the work platform. In particular, the furnace opening can also be kept free of charging material during the charging process for charging the furnace with charging material, through the cleaning device, in particular the push arm. In this case, the bumper arm is moved into the oven opening before charging the charge in the oven, thereby avoiding the deposition of scrap during charging in the region of the oven opening.

At the operating level, the push arm is moved in its longitudinal direction. The possibly repeated movement of the push arm in the longitudinal direction removes the bulky material from the region of the furnace opening and the furnace opening, in particular slag door opening, can be used, for example, for detecting parameters of the metal bath and / or the furnace and possibly for manipulating it.

At the park level, the cleaning device is advantageously arranged as compact as possible. So it is, for example, the push arm retracted to take up as little space as possible. The cleaning device is preferably shielded as possible by fireproof lining of the recess of the working platform of the thermal effects emanating from the furnace in the park level.

The recess of the working level, which is traversed during the process of the push arm between the park level and operating level, can be configured arbitrarily. Preferably, the Recess rectangular. However, it is essential that the push arm can reach the park level without hindrance or damage from the park level into the operating level and from the operating level. The work platform also has a recess corresponding to the recess, in which the cleaning device is completely embedded in the arrangement of the push arm on the park level. For the purposes of this application, therefore, the recess has a two-dimensional, ie areal extent, while the corresponding recess of the working platform has a three-dimensional, ie spatial extent.

The means for moving the push arm between a park level and an operating level may be realized mechanically, hydraulically, pneumatically, electrically, or otherwise. For example. Lifting scissors may be provided.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the recess can be covered with arranged on the park level push arm with a closing element. This is possible in particular if the cleaning device is not completely arranged above the working level when the arm is arranged at park level. The closing element may be formed as part of the cleaning device, for example by a housing of the push arm, or as a separate, possibly independent of the cleaning device component. The closing element can, for example, be operated manually and / or automatically. By such a closing element, the safety on the work platform is further increased, since the recess can be closed, if the cleaning device is not needed. By closing or covering the recess of the working level additional space on the work platform can be used, since the work platform can be fully utilized by the operating personnel or movable robots. Preferably, the closure element has stiffening ribs. On the one hand the safety on the one hand Increased working platform, further, the furnace can be operated improved.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the working platform and / or the closing element are formed fireproof. This protects the cleaner at the park level from excessive heat, thereby increasing the service life of the cleaner.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the closing element before or during the process of the push arm of the parking level to the operating level automatically, the recess is opening movable. This is, for example, particularly easy to achieve by the closing element arranged on the cleaning device, or connected to this is. However, the closing element may also be part of, for example, the work platform. In any case, it requires no additional measures of the operator - such as a manual opening of the closing element - to drive the push arm of the cleaning device to the operating level, whereby the safety for the operating personnel is increased. Furthermore, collisions of the push arm are avoided with the closing element, thereby increasing the life of the cleaning device.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the closing element during or after the method of the push arm of the operating level to the parking level automatically, the recess is closing movable. It is thus achieved that the recess is covered at an early stage after the cleaning device has been moved to the parking level. This increases the safety on the work platform for the operating personnel. Operators are not required to manually cover the recess, nor are they exposed to the adverse temperature conditions associated with such a process near the furnace.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a charging device for conveying charging material to the furnace opening by means of a guide device is feasible with arranged on the park level push arm. As a result, the use of the furnace opening and thus also the operation of the furnace or the entire furnace system is further flexibilized and improved. It can now be done with "sunken" cleaning device, a charge of pig iron. As a charging device, chutes, conveyor belts, charging containers or charging robots and other charging devices can be used. For example, guide rails, guide channels or other suitable guide devices are used as guide devices.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the work platform on at least two guide rails for guiding a charging device to the working door, wherein the recess between two, in particular a pair of, guide rails is arranged. Such an embodiment is advantageous for particularly heavy-duty charging devices, since here the weight forces of the charging device and of the charge material taken up by the latter can be discharged directly into the working platform, in particular well distributed. A derivative of forces is possible in particular with a plurality of approximately parallel guide rails. As a result, a cleaning device having a thrust arm arranged on the parking level is not loaded by high forces. This increases the life of the cleaning device.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, supply lines of the cleaning device are at least partially arranged below the working level. Preferably, the supply lines are at least partially disposed within the work platform. As a result, the supply line, eg. For electrical and media, such as gas for pneumatic cylinders or Liquid for hydraulic cylinders, well protected from the thermal influences in the production of molten metal at least in those areas in which they are below the working level, preferably located within the working platform.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the means for the method comprise at least one rotatable, arranged on the work platform, the push arm leading guide member and a lifting device for raising and lowering the push arm. Such a design of the means for the method, a particularly simple, cost-effective and safe way to process the push arm of the cleaning device can be provided. Preferably, the lifting device engages directly on the push arm or on a housing of the push arm and the at least one guide element moves the push arm on a circular ring-shaped trajectory between the park level and operating level. As a result, it can be achieved that the retractable and extendable thrust arm reaches a furnace opening particularly close to and / or particularly deep. This improves the efficiency of cleaning.

FIG 1

eine Seitenansicht einer Ofenanlage mit einer Arbeitsplattform, einer Chargiereinrichtung in Parkposition und einer Reinigungseinrichtung mit Stoßarm auf Betriebsniveau,

FIG 2

eine Seitenansicht einer Ofenanlage mit einer Arbeitsplattform, einer Chargiereinrichtung in Chargierposition und einer Reinigungseinrichtung mit Stoßarm auf Parkniveau,

FIG 3

eine Draufsicht auf eine zwischen zwei Führungsschienen angeordnete durch ein Schließelement abgedeckte Aussparung.

Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from an embodiment which is explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1

a side view of a furnace with a working platform, a charging device in parking position and a cleaning device with push arm at the operating level,

FIG. 2

a side view of a furnace with a working platform, a charging device in charging position and a cleaning device with arm on park level,

FIG. 3

a plan view of a arranged between two guide rails by a closing element covered recess.

FIG. 1 shows a furnace with an electric arc furnace designed as furnace 1 for producing a molten metal of solid metal. The furnace 1 has a plurality of furnace openings, such as an opening for the introduction of electrodes for forming an arc, an opening for dedusting / degassing of the furnace, a tapping opening and a slag door opening.

In the following, we consider the slag door opening as a furnace opening 2. At the slag door opening 2 arise during operation of the electric arc furnace 1 metallic, solidifying deposits, which may hinder the access of the melt through the slag door. Such deposits fall, inter alia, under the term bulky goods. The bulky goods are in FIG. 1 not shown.

To remove the bulky goods, a cleaning device 3 is present. This has a push arm 4, which is arranged in a housing 5. The push arm 4 is movable in its longitudinal direction, preferably horizontally. The push arm 4 has a resistant head, by means of which the bulky material can be removed with little wear. The movement of the push arm 4 in its longitudinal direction is effected in the embodiment by hydraulic cylinder 18. However, alternative means for moving the push arm 4 longitudinally may be provided, such as pneumatic cylinders, motorized adjustment, etc.

The cleaning device 3 further comprises means 6 for moving the push arm 4, preferably at least in sections in the vertical direction. By means of these means 6, the thrust arm 4 between a parking level P, see. FIG. 2 , and an operating level B are moved. At the parking level P, cf. FIG. 2 , and the operating level B are usually at different height levels. At the park level P, cf. FIG. 2 , is the push arm 4 below the operating level B, while it is at the operating level B above the parking level P.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the means 6 for the method comprise a first guide element 15 and a second guide element 16 and a lifting device 17. The push arm 4 together with the housing 5 can thus be raised from the park level P to the operating level B and from the operating level B to the park level P, cf. , FIG. 2 to be lowered. As a rule, all intermediate levels between park level P and operating level B are passed through. The lifting device 17 is preferably operated hydraulically and therefore has a hydraulic cylinder 19. The lifting device 17 is configured such that the force for lifting and lowering the push arm 4 is transmitted directly to the push arm 4 or the housing 5. The guide elements 15 and 16 are designed such that the push arm 4 in the process between park level P, see. FIG. 2 , and operating level B moves on a circular segment-shaped trajectory. This is a particularly simple and advantageous embodiment of the means 6 for moving the push arm 4.

The furnace layer 1 comprises a working platform 7, which forms a working level A through its accessible surface. The working level A lies between park level P, cf. FIG. 2 , and operating level B. If the push arm 4 is at the parking level P, cf. FIG. 2 , so this is not arranged above, preferably below, the working level A in the embodiment. In particular, in this state preferably no part of the cleaning device 3 exceeds the working level A.

The cleaning device 3 is mounted on the work platform 7. In particular, the working platform 7 has a recess, within which the means 6 for moving the push arm 4 are arranged. With the recess corresponds to a recess 8 at the working level A. The recess 8 of the working level A is in the process between park level P and operating level B from the push arm 4 drive through.

On the housing 5 of the cleaning device 3, a closing element 9 is further arranged. The closing element 9 is rigidly connected to the housing 5 of the push arm 4 in the present embodiment. The closing element 9 can, for example, also be realized by a part of the housing 5. If the push arm 4 between park level P, see. FIG. 2 and operating level B, the closing element 9 is moved along. The closing element 9 is dimensioned such that the recess 8 is preferably substantially completely coverable. The closing element 9 is thus designed such that during the process of the push arm 4 from the operating level B to the parking level P, cf. FIG. 2 , automatically moves the recess 8 closing, while the closing element 9 in the process of the push arm 4 from the parking level P, see. FIG. 2 , is moved to the operating level B, the recess 8 opening. In such an embodiment, additional means for automatically covering and uncovering the recess 8 can be dispensed with. The embodiment of the closure element 9 shown here is technically particularly simple and less error-prone.

The closing element 9 is made fireproof, i. For example, lined with refractory material. As a result, a good temperature insulation of the cleaning device 3 is achieved.

FIG. 2 shows the cleaning device 3 from FIG. 1 , wherein the push arm 4 of the cleaning device 3 is arranged on the parking level P. The arranged on the housing 5 of the push arm 4 closing element 9 covers the recess 8 substantially completely, ie up to negligible hazard causing gaps between the working platform 7 and the closing element 9 or preferably completely.

Characterized in that the top of the closing element 9 in the covering state is substantially flush with that of the Surface of the work platform 7 completed working level A, it is possible to introduce a charging device 10 to the slag door 2 in order to charge it batching, preferably pig iron, through the liberated from the bulky slag door 2 in the furnace 1.

In order to ensure a targeted introduction of the charging device 10 to the slag door 2, this is by means of a guide device 11, preferably automatically, movable. The charging device 10 is preferably remotely controlled by means of the guide device 11 to the slag door 2 and away from it. For this purpose, the charging device 10 has a corresponding operable, not shown drive means.

By the mobility of the push arm 4 of the cleaning device 3 between park level P and operating level B, see. FIG. 1 , Thus, quickly and flexibly operating room for example. A charging robot or a manipulator can be provided. An automated method of the push arm 4 between the parking level P and the operating level B, cf. FIG. 1 It also frees up human resources, which can reduce start-up times for measurements by means of manipulators, charging and cleaning the slag door through parallel workflows.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a section of the working platform 7 FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 with a guide device 11. The closing element 9 or the cleaning device 3 is arranged between a first guide rail 12 and a second guide rail 13. The guide rails 12 and 13 are included in the present embodiment of the guide means 11 and serve to guide on the slag door to be operated devices, such as a Charger. By such an arrangement of the cleaning device 3 relative to the two guide rails 11 and 12 it is avoided that the weight of the device leading to the slag door device is introduced into the cleaning device 3. The weight is absorbed by the working platform 7, which is also designed for such loads. By such an arrangement of the cleaning device 3 and the recess relative to a pair of guide rails 12 and 13 mechanical stress peaks of the cleaning device 3 can be avoided, whereby the cleaning device 3 can be realized more cost-effective yet high life.

Claims (9)

1. Furnace installation comprising a furnace (1), in particular an arc furnace, for melting metal, comprising a cleaning device (3) for the removal and/or avoidance of bulk material from or in a furnace opening (2), wherein the cleaning device (3) comprises a movable thrust arm (4) for performing a thrust movement and means (6) for moving the thrust arm (4) between a parking level (P) and an operating level (B), comprising a working platform (7), which forms a working level (A) and from which the furnace opening (2) is accessible and which bears the cleaning device (3), wherein the working level (A) has a cutout (8), through which the thrust arm (4) can be guided as it moves between the operating level (B) situated above the working level (A) and the parking level (P) situated below the working level (A).
2. Furnace installation according to Claim 1,
   characterized in that the cutout (8) can be covered with a closing element (9) when the thrust arm (4) is arranged on the parking level (P).
3. Furnace installation according to Claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that the working platform (7) and/or the closing element (9) are refractory.
4. Furnace installation according to Claim 2 or 3,
   characterized in that the closing element (9) can be moved automatically so as to open the cutout (8) before or during the movement of the thrust arm (4) from the parking level (P) to the operating level (B).
5. Furnace installation according to one of Claims 2 to 4,
   characterized in that the closing element (9) can be moved automatically so as to close the cutout during or after the movement of the thrust arm (4) from the operating level (B) to the parking level (P).
6. Furnace installation according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that a charging device (10) for conveying charging material can be guided by means of a guide device (11) to the furnace opening (2) when the thrust arm (4) is arranged on the parking level (P).
7. Furnace installation according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the working platform (7) has at least two guide rails (12, 13) for guiding a charging device (10) to the furnace opening (2), the cutout (8) being arranged between a pair of guide rails (12, 13).
8. Furnace installation according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that supply lines for the cleaning device (3) are arranged at least in certain portions underneath the working level (A).
9. Furnace installation according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the means (6) for moving the thrust arm comprise at least one rotatable guide element (15, 16), which is arranged on the working platform (7) and guides the thrust arm (4), and also a lifting device (17) for lifting and lowering the thrust arm (4).

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