EP3354370B1 - Oscillation system for a contiunous casting mould and method for generating an oscillating movement of a continuous casting mould - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an oscillation system for a mold of a continuous casting plant, according to the preamble of claim 1, and a method for generating an oscillating movement of a mold of a continuous casting plant according to the preamble of claim 9.

In continuous casting, the mold is set in a periodic oscillation movement in order to reduce the friction between the mold and the strand by means of a relative movement between the strand and the mold. This reduces undesirably high friction of the strand against the mold wall.

Mechanical 4-eccentric oscillators are known in the prior art for continuous casting molds. Such mechanical oscillators have disadvantages in that there is only limited flexibility for varying or changing the lifting height and the curve shape of the oscillation generated, and that, as a result of wearing parts, a higher level of maintenance is required. In contrast, a greater technological variety of oscillation curve shapes can be generated with hydraulic, pneumatic or servo-electric oscillators, which enables the casting of a larger spectrum of steel types.

In many cases, hydraulic oscillation systems work with a hydraulic cylinder on each side of the lift table and generally have a relatively large overall height. That is why such oscillation systems can only be used in existing continuous casting plants in connection with major conversion work.

Out DE 43 41 719 C1 A device for the continuous casting of steel is known with a continuous casting mold which oscillates in the casting direction and which is connected to a hydraulic oscillation drive which, in addition to the usual sinusoidal oscillation curves, also permits differently shaped oscillation curves. In this case, the continuous casting mold is mounted on spring assemblies which extend transversely to the casting direction and are firmly clamped and prestressed at both ends and which are located on both sides of the continuous casting mold laterally next to the narrow side plates thereof. A fastening block is located in the middle between the spring assemblies arranged one above the other, under each of which is arranged the oscillation drive designed as a servo hydraulic cylinder and thus comprising two cylinders in total. The mounting blocks transmit the oscillation movement carried out by the hydraulic cylinders to the mold attached to them. The establishment according to DE 43 41 719 C1 suffers from the disadvantage of a relatively large overall height, because the servo hydraulic cylinders are arranged below the mounting blocks.

Out DE 198 17 701 C2 A device for the continuous casting of steel is known, consisting of a continuous casting mold which oscillates in the casting direction and is held in a lifting table and at least one oscillation drive acting on the lifting table. The lifting table has guide blocks below its table level, between which a stationary clamping block is arranged. Below the table level, two individual leaf springs are arranged along the narrow sides of the mold on both sides of the clamping block, which run parallel to one another and are arranged one above the other. Such a configuration of the leaf springs is subject to the disadvantage of a relatively large overall height and limits access to an area within the lifting table.

From the DE 199 06 886 A1 A device for oscillating a continuous casting mold is known, comprising an oscillatable continuous casting mold, the oscillation drive of which is arranged on a stationary base frame Hydraulic units is formed. The continuous casting mold is arranged on two individual lifting tables. The lifting table is connected to the upper part of each hydraulic unit and its lower part is articulated to the base frame. The lifting table is guided to the base frame by means of articulated links. The axes of the joints and the joints on the hydraulic units and the axes of the joints on the links are aligned parallel to one another. A longitudinal extension of the handlebars runs parallel to the casting direction of the continuous casting mold.

DE 10 2006 002 929 B4 shows a component for the articulated connection of an oscillating lifting table with a fixed lifting table, which consists of at least two levers arranged in parallel with a lever length, at each end of which a joint is arranged. The upper joint is connected to the oscillating lifting table and the lower joint is connected to the fixed lifting table. The joints have bearings, wherein at least one of the joints is formed with at least two spaced apart bearings for supporting the respective lever. The oscillating lifting table is set in motion by a total of four hydraulic cylinders, the levers with their longitudinal extension running in the casting direction of the mold.

The oscillation systems according to the prior art documents mentioned above each describe 4-cylinder systems, with the disadvantages that access to the oscillating lifting table frame is restricted and in particular there is no transverse guidance for the lifting table or lifting table frame. The result of this is that the bearings provided for the oscillating lifting table frame are comparatively large, and in addition the provided drive cylinders or actuators are arranged far outside of them in relation to the lifting table frame, as a result of which known 4-cylinder systems of this type require a large horizontal expansion.

Out JP H05 28540 U an oscillation system for a continuous casting mold is known, in which guide elements formed by leaf springs are provided, which are fastened to clamping blocks and are fastened to both the longitudinal and the transverse sides of the lifting table frame. These guide elements are each designed as leaf spring assemblies.

Accordingly, the invention has for its object to provide an oscillation system for a mold of a continuous caster and a corresponding method in which a high-precision guidance of the oscillating lifting table frame is guaranteed in conjunction with at least four actuators and at the same time little space is required.

This object is achieved by an oscillation system with the features specified in claim 1 and by a method with the features according to claim 9. Advantageous developments of the invention are not defined in the dependent claims.

An oscillation system according to the present invention serves to set an ingot mold of an continuous caster in an oscillating motion and comprises an oscillating lifting table frame in which the ingot mold can be received. The lift table frame is articulated to a fixed base frame or to fixed bearings. The oscillation system comprises at least four actuators, which are arranged between the oscillating lifting table frame and the fixed base frame or the fixed bearings and are operatively connected to the lifting table frame, at least two actuators being arranged on a side edge of the lifting table frame. The oscillation system further comprises at least one stationary clamping block, and at least one guide element through which the oscillating lifting table frame is connected to the clamping block. The lifting table frame is connected to the clamping block by at least one longitudinal guide element extending in the casting direction of the mold and by at least one transverse guide element, the longitudinal guide element and the transverse guide element each being arranged laterally outside the lifting table frame and being aligned transversely to one another.

In the same way, the invention provides a method for generating an oscillating movement of a mold of a continuous casting installation, in which a lifting table frame in which the mold can be received is set into oscillating vibrations by at least four actuators. The lifting table frame is guided by guide elements parallel to the casting direction of the mold and transversely to the casting direction of the mold, the guide elements being arranged laterally outside the lifting table frame (12).

The invention is based on the essential finding that an oscillating lifting table frame which is set in vibration by at least four actuators is guided by suitable guide elements, these guide elements acting in two directions, namely in the casting direction of the mold and in a direction transverse to it. For this purpose, the guide elements are formed by at least one longitudinal guide element extending in the casting direction and by a transverse guide element oriented transversely to the longitudinal guide element. As a result, a particularly compact design is advantageously achieved for the oscillation system according to the present invention, in particular in height or in the vertical direction.

Another advantage for the present invention results from the fact that existing mechanical 4-eccentric oscillators can be converted with only a small investment. Instead of mechanical eccentric drives, hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical actuators are expediently used, which generate an approximately vertically operating actuator direction and thereby set the oscillating lifting table frame in vibration. Due to the number of at least four actuators per line, a smaller construction is achieved and thus a lower construction height of the oscillation system is achieved. Due to the design according to the invention, the oscillation system can also be made compact in its horizontal extent.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the articulated connections through which the oscillating lifting table frame is articulated to the fixed base frame or to the fixed bearings can each be formed by joints be provided on an actuating element of an actuator and on a bottom section of the actuator opposite the actuating element. The axes of the joints expediently run horizontally parallel to one another and transversely to the casting direction. Since the articulated connections - as explained - are provided on both sides of the actuators, an articulated connection of the oscillating lifting table frame to the fixed base frame is hereby ensured without additional additional articulated connections being required.

In an advantageous development of the invention, a longitudinal guide element is attached at one end to a stationary clamping block at a first connection point, and with its opposite end is attached to a side edge of the lifting table frame at a second connection point. Here, the first connection point with respect to a side edge of the lifting table frame, on which two actuators are attached, lies outside of these two actuators. Such a configuration of a longitudinal guide element and its attachment to the stationary clamping block or to the side edge of the lifting table frame can provide that the two actuators, which are attached to a side edge of the lifting table frame, each have the same distance from the second connection point, the longitudinal guide element being one has a predetermined length that is greater than the respective distance of the actuators from the second connection point. This ensures a compact design of the oscillation system, particularly in the horizontal direction.

In an advantageous further development of the invention, two longitudinal guide elements are provided, one longitudinal guide element being attached to each of the opposite side edges of the lifting table frame laterally outside of it. In other words, the longitudinal guides are present at least twice per frame lifting table or per oscillating lifting table frame, ie at least two longitudinal guide elements are provided. This ensures the inclusion of Loads in the casting direction or parallel to the casting direction of the mold. It may be sufficient here for the transverse guide to be simple, ie only one transverse guide element is provided.

In an advantageous further development of the invention, two transverse guide elements can be provided, one transverse guide element being attached to the opposite side edges of the lifting table frame laterally outside of each. This ensures that an improved absorption of loads is also ensured in a direction transverse to the casting direction.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the lifting table frame can be designed as a closed frame which - in a horizontal plane - preferably has a rectangular cross section.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the guide elements, i.e. a longitudinal guide element and / or a transverse guide element, each in the form of a leaf spring. Such a leaf spring can preferably also be provided with a coating which leads to improved stability of the leaf spring. The design of the guide elements in the form of leaf springs has the advantage that this ensures both guidance of the oscillating lifting table frame - with respect to the stationary clamping block - and at the same time suspension for the oscillating lifting table frame.

According to an alternative embodiment, it is possible to design the guide elements in the form of a preferably narrow link element.

The present invention is suitable for use in a continuous caster and for an associated oscillation system for slab, thin slab and bloom block.

• Kompakte Bauweise eines Oszillationssystems insbesondere in vertikaler Richtung, wobei ein Ersatz von 4-Exzenteroszillatoren mit nur geringem Umbauaufwand möglich ist.
• Verringerung des Wartungsaufwandes durch Eliminierung von Einstellarbeiten und Verschließteilen.
• Durch die Aufteilung der auftretenden Kräfte auf mindestens vier Aktuatoren und mindestens zwei Längsführungselemente und ein Querführungselement können diese kompakt gehalten werden und energieeffizient eingesetzt werden.

Further advantages of the present invention consist in the following aspects:

• Compact design of an oscillation system, especially in the vertical direction, whereby a replacement of 4 eccentric oscillators is possible with only a small conversion effort.
• Reduction of maintenance costs by eliminating adjustment work and wearing parts.
• By dividing the occurring forces into at least four actuators and at least two longitudinal guide elements and a transverse guide element, these can be kept compact and used in an energy-efficient manner.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described in detail below on the basis of a schematically simplified drawing.

Fig. 1

eine Perspektivansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Oszillationssystems,

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht des Oszillationssystems von Fig. 1, und

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht auf das Oszillationssystem von Fig. 1.

Die vorliegende Erfindung sieht vor, dass ein Hubtisch für eine Stranggießkokille bzw. ein zugehöriger Hubtischrahmen in eine oszillierende Bewegung versetzt wird. Zu diesem Zweck sind ein Oszillationssystem 10 und ein entsprechendes Verfahren vorgesehen.Show it:

Fig. 1

2 shows a perspective view of an oscillation system according to the invention,

Fig. 2

a side view of the oscillation system of Fig. 1 , and

Fig. 3

a plan view of the oscillation system of Fig. 1 .

The present invention provides that a lifting table for a continuous casting mold or an associated lifting table frame is set into an oscillating movement. An oscillation system 10 and a corresponding method are provided for this purpose.

Below is with reference to the Figures 1-3 a preferred embodiment for an oscillation system 10 according to the invention is shown. Same features in the Figures 1-3 are each provided with the same reference numerals. It is understood that the oscillation system 10 is only simplified in the drawing and is shown without a scale.

Fig. 1 shows a simplified perspective view of the oscillation system 10 according to the invention, of which in Fig. 2 a side view and in Fig. 3 a plan view are shown.

The oscillation system 10 comprises an oscillating lifting table frame 12 with a recess 13 (cf. Fig. 3 ). A mold (not shown) in a continuous casting plant can be received in the recess 13. The lifting table frame 12 is articulatedly connected to a fixed base frame 16.

Four actuators 18 are provided between the oscillating lifting table frame 12 and the fixed base frame 16, which actuators can be designed in the form of hydraulic cylinders. In the following, these actuators 18 are always referred to as hydraulic cylinders, without any restriction being limited to hydraulic cylinders.

The lifting table frame 12 and the base frame 16 are each formed as a closed frame and have a rectangular cross section in the horizontal plane. Two hydraulic cylinders 18 are arranged on the side edges 20 of the lifting table frame 12, namely on the transverse side thereof.

Various clamping blocks 22.1-22.4 (cf. Fig. 3 ) attached, the oscillating lifting table frame 12 being connected to these clamping blocks by guide elements. In detail, the lifting table frame 12 with the clamping blocks 22.1 and 22.3 (cf. Fig. 2 + Fig. 3 ) connected by longitudinal guide elements 24, which are in the casting direction of the mold - in the Fig. 2 and 3rd each designated by "GR" - extend. Furthermore, the lifting table frame 12 with the clamping blocks 22.2 and 22.4 (cf. Fig. 3 ) connected by transverse guide elements 26, each of which extends transversely to the longitudinal guide elements 24. Correspondingly, the lifting table frame 12 is attached to the base frame 16 attached clamping blocks connected by a total of two longitudinal guide elements 24 and two transverse guide elements 26 (see. Fig. 3 ).

Through the perspective view of Fig. 1 It is further clarified that the longitudinal guide elements 24 and the transverse guide elements 26 are each arranged outside the lifting table frame 12 and on one side edge thereof. In this way, the holding of a mold within the recess 13 of the lifting table frame 12 is not impaired.

According to the representation of Fig. 2 the articulated connections through which the oscillating lifting table frame 12 is articulated to the fixed base frame 16 are each formed by joints 28. These joints 28 are provided on the one hand on a free end of an actuating element 30 in the form of a piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder 18, and on the other hand on a bottom-side section 32 of a hydraulic cylinder 18 opposite the piston rod 30. The axes of these joints 28 are shown in FIG Fig. 2 each designated "X", and run horizontally and parallel to each other, and each transverse to the pouring direction GR. Such a configuration of the hydraulic cylinders 18 and the joints 28 at their two ends accordingly ensures an “integrated articulated connection” of the lifting table frame 12 with the base frame 16.

At this point, it is pointed out separately that the piston rods 30 of the hydraulic cylinders 18 are each operatively connected to the lifting table frame 12. When the hydraulic cylinders 18 are actuated, the lifting table frame 12 is thus excited in the vertical direction and correspondingly set into an oscillating movement.

The representation of Fig. 2 further clarifies that a longitudinal guide element 24 on the clamping block 22.1 at a first connection point AP1, and with its opposite end on a side edge 20 of the lifting table frame 12 a second connection point AP2 is attached. The two hydraulic cylinders 18, which are attached to the side edge 20 of the lifting table frame 12, are each spaced apart by a distance A from the second connection point AP2. Here, a length L of the longitudinal guide element 24 is dimensioned such that this length is in each case greater than the distance A by which the two hydraulic cylinders 18 are each spaced apart from the second connection point AP2. As a result, the first connection point AP1, with which the longitudinal guide element 24 is fastened to the clamping block 22.1, lies outside the two hydraulic cylinders 18.

The above-described attachment of the longitudinal guide element 24, which is attached to the clamping block 22.1 and in the foreground of Fig. 2 is shown applies in the same way to the longitudinal guide element 24, which on the clamping block 22.3 (cf. Fig. 1 + Fig. 3 ) is attached.

The guide elements for connecting the lifting table frame to the clamping blocks attached to the base frame, namely in the form of the longitudinal guide elements 24 and the transverse guide elements 26, are preferably designed as leaf springs. Advantageously, these leaf springs can also be provided with a suitable coating in order to improve their stability and / or to achieve a predetermined spring characteristic. In this context, it should also be pointed out that the connection axes - in the top view of Fig. 3 each with "34" - with which the leaf springs in the form of the longitudinal guide elements 24 and the transverse guide elements 26 are each attached to the associated clamping blocks and the lifting table frame 12, each run transversely or perpendicular to the casting direction GR of the mold.

In deviation from the representation according to the Fig. 1-3 For the purposes of the present invention, it may be sufficient if a single transverse guide element 26 is provided for connecting the oscillating lifting table frame 12 to the fixed base frame 16.

The method according to the invention is carried out in that the hydraulic cylinders 18 act on the lifting table frame 12 in the vertical direction with their piston rods 30 when they are actuated and thus set the lifting table frame in an oscillating movement. As explained, the lifting table frame 12 is guided parallel to the casting direction GR by the longitudinal guide elements 24, and transverse to the casting direction GR by at least one transverse guide element 26.

Reference list

10th

Oscillation system

12th

(Oscillating) lifting table frame

13

Recess

16

(Fixed) base frame

18th

Actuator (s)

20

Side edge (of the lifting table frame 12)

22.1 - 22.4

Clamping block

24th

Longitudinal guide element

26

Transverse guide element

28

Joints

30th

Actuator (of an actuator)

32

Bottom section (of an actuator)

34

Link axis

AP1

First connection point

AP2

Second connection point

A

Distance (of an actuator to the second connection point AP2)

GR

Pouring direction

L

Predetermined length (of a longitudinal guide element 24)

X

Axes (of joints 28)

Claims (10)

1. Oscillation system (10) for a mould of a continuous casting plant, comprising an oscillatory lifting table frame (12) in which the mould is mountable, wherein the lifting table frame (12) is articulated by joint connections to a stationary base frame (16) or to fixed bearings,
   at least four actuators (18) which are arranged between the oscillatory lifting table frame (12) and the stationary base frame (16) or the fixed bearings and which is operatively connected with the lifting table frame (12), wherein at least two actuators (18) are arranged at a side edge (20) of the lifting table frame (12),
   a stationary clamping block (22.1; 22.2; 22.3) and
   at least one guide element by which the oscillatory lifting table frame (12) is connected with the clamping block (22),
   characterised in that
   the lifting table frame (12) is connected with the clamping block (22) by at least one longitudinal guide element (24), which extends in the casting direction (GR) of the mould, and by at least one transverse guide element (26), wherein the longitudinal guide element (24) and the transverse guide element (26) are each arranged laterally outside the lifting table frame (12) and are oriented transversely relative to one another.
2. Oscillation system (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the joint connections by which the oscillatory lifting table frame (12) is articulated to the stationary base frame (16) or to the fixed bearings are each formed by joints (28) which are respectively provided at an actuating element (30) of an actuator (18) and at a section (32), which is opposite the actuating element (30) and is at the base, of the actuator (18), preferably in that the axes (X) of the joints (28) respectively extend horizontally and parallel to one another and transversely to the casting direction (GR).
3. Oscillation system (10) according to claim 2, characterised in that the longitudinal guide element (24) is secured by one end to the stationary clamping block (22.1; 22.23) at a first coupling point (AP1) and by its opposite end to a side edge (20) of the lifting table frame (12) at a second coupling point (AP2), wherein the first coupling point (AP1) lies -with respect to a side edge (20), at which two actuators (18) are mounted, of the lifting table frame (12) - outside these two actuators (18).
4. Oscillation system (10) according to claim 3, characterised in that the two actuators (18) mounted at a side edge (20) of the lifting table frame (12) respectively have the same spacing (A) from the second coupling point (AP2), wherein the longitudinal guide element (24) has a predetermined length (L) greater than the respective spacing (A) of the actuators (18) from the second coupling point (AP2).
5. Oscillation system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that two longitudinal guide elements (24) are provided, wherein a respective longitudinal guide element (24) is mounted at each of opposite side edges of the lifting table frame (12) laterally outside thereof.
6. Oscillation system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that two transverse guide elements (26) are provided, wherein a respective transverse guide element (26) is mounted at each of opposite side edges of the lifting table frame (12) laterally outside thereof.
7. Oscillation system (10) according to any one of the proceeding claims, characterised in that a longitudinal guide element (24) and/or a transverse guide element (26) is or are respectively constructed in the form of a leaf spring, preferably in that the leaf spring is provided with a coating.
8. Oscillation system (10) according to any one of the proceeding claims, characterised in that a longitudinal guide element (24) and/or a transverse guide element (26) is or are respectively constructed in the form of a guiding member.
9. Method of producing an oscillating movement of a mould of a continuous casting plant in which a lifting table frame (12), in which the mould can be mounted, is set into oscillating swing movements by at least four actuators (18),
   characterised in that
   the lifting table frame (12) is guided by guide elements parallel to the casting direction (GR) of the mould and transversely to the casting direction (GR), wherein the guide elements (24, 26) are each arranged laterally outside the lifting table frame (12).
10. Method according to claim 9, characterised in that the guide elements are formed by a longitudinal guide element (24) extending in casting direction (GR) and by a transverse guide element (26) oriented transversely to the longitudinal guide element (24).

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