Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
  • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
  • B22D11/00—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths
  • B22D11/04—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths into open-ended moulds
  • B22D11/0401—Moulds provided with a feed head
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
  • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
  • B22D11/00—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths
  • B22D11/04—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths into open-ended moulds
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
  • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
  • B22D11/00—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths
  • B22D11/04—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths into open-ended moulds
  • B22D11/041—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths into open-ended moulds for vertical casting
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
  • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
  • B22D11/00—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths
  • B22D11/10—Supplying or treating molten metal
  • B22D11/103—Distributing the molten metal, e.g. using runners, floats, distributors

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a tool for manufacturing a metal product by pour casting, comprising a mold comprising:
• “Casting under load” for manufacturing a product such as a billet of metal or a metal plate: a liquid metal is brought in particular by gravity into an ingot mold, arranged for example in the lower part of the mold, cooled externally and provided with a movable bottom. During its stay in the mold, the metal performs its solidification and is evacuated using the movable bottom while the restocking is refilled, so as to maintain a level of liquid metal approximately constant.
• the casting under load one skilled in the art is familiar with vertical semi-continuous casting or "vertical casting” or horizontal semi-continuous casting or “horizontal casting”. These two names being special cases of casting under load.
• the mold comprises a graphite portion mounted internally in the support so as to be in contact with the liquid metal during its solidification.
• the transition ring in addition to ensuring the mechanical connection between the mold and the riser, has the essential function of sealing the mold in the junction zone between the mold and the riser. This problem is particularly essential given the very high fluidity at casting temperature of some aluminum alloys such as aluminum-silicon alloys. In addition, this technique induces a significant metallo-static pressure in this junction zone.
• the transition ring is held in place by a single clamping piece coming to apply an axial force during casting, the force resulting from an effort transmitted on this clamping piece by many bolt type clamping systems distributed around the main direction. Conventionally, the number of such systems is multiple, to ensure the application of a predetermined clamping force, uniform on the periphery and constant in light of temperature variations suffered even more for large molds.
• This clamping solution of the transition ring is reliable in practice but has the essential disadvantage of making particularly tedious and long any change of the transition ring. It is necessary to unscrew and disassemble all clamping systems to be able to remove the clamping ring, and perform the opposite operation when tightening the new transition ring, which is painful and takes a long time. In addition, poor tightening, especially due to fatigue or inattention, during the reassembly operation, may compromise the next casting.
• the present invention aims to solve all or part of the disadvantages listed above.
• a tool for manufacturing a metal product by pour casting comprising a mold comprising:
• the tool comprising a clamping ring adapted to transmit a clamping force to the transition ring oriented towards the mold in the main direction, a holding mechanism ensuring a positive locking of the ring clamping and able to exert a holding force on the clamping ring directed towards the transition ring in the main direction, and an axial unloading mechanism configured to vary between an inactive state in which the holding mechanism exerts said effort of holding on the clamping ring so that the clamping ring exerts said clamping force on the transition ring and an active state in which the axial load shedding mechanism opposes the action applied by the holding mechanism on the ring inactive state so as to release the clamping ring in the axial direction and to allow withdrawal of the clamping ring from the mold such that the transition ring can be removed in the main direction from the opposite side to the mold.
• the holding mechanism comprises a locking ring capable of transmitting said holding force to the clamping ring, and biasing means permanently biasing the locking ring in the main direction in the direction of the ring. clamping according to a compressive force such as in the inactive state of the axial shedding mechanism, the locking ring biased by the biasing means following said compressive force exerts said holding force on the clamping ring.
• the locking ring and the clamping ring are integral with each other, in particular by being formed in one and the same piece.
• the locking ring is a part independent of the clamping ring and in its active state, the axial load shedding mechanism temporarily biases the locking ring in the main direction in a direction opposite to the compressive force applied by the biasing means in a manner to remove the support of the locking ring on the clamping ring in the main direction, to allow said withdrawal of the clamping ring out of the mold.
• the clamping ring and the locking ring can cooperate together in a locking / unlocking system.
• the locking / unlocking system is a bayonet system, the relative angular variation between the two rings around the main direction to vary between a first angular configuration in which the clamping ring can pass through the ring in the opposite direction to the transition ring and a second angular configuration in which the clamping ring is locked by the locking ring in the main direction in the opposite direction to the transition ring.
• the locking ring is integral with a piston and the axial load shedding mechanism comprises on the one hand a chamber defined between said piston and the support of the mold, on the other hand a management system allowing to vary the pressure in the room.
• the management system may comprise, on the one hand, a device for controlled supply of the chamber in a fluid such as air or oil, having a pressure making it possible to apply to the piston a force greater than the compression force applied to the locking ring by the biasing means and secondly a controlled exhaust device of said fluid out of the chamber.
• a device for controlled supply of the chamber in a fluid such as air or oil
• the biasing means comprise a plurality of elastic compression devices angularly distributed around the main direction, each resilient compression device being interposed between the support of the mold and the piston.
• Each elastic compression device may comprise a stack of a plurality of Belleville washers parallel to the main direction.
• the mold and the clamping ring are configured so that the withdrawal of the clamping ring from the mold is practiced in the main direction.
• clamping ring and the transition ring are integral with one another.
• Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view, along a section plane passing through the main direction, of an exemplary manufacturing system according to the invention, the axial shedding mechanism is in the inactive state.
• FIG. 2 is a generally perspective view from above of the locking ring, the clamping ring, the transition ring and the mold when the clamping ring and the locking ring are in their second relative angular configuration.
• Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view, along a section plane passing through the main direction, of the manufacturing system of Figures 1 and 2, when the axial shedding mechanism is in the active state.
• Figure 4 is a generally perspective view from above of the locking ring, the clamping ring, the transition ring and the mold when the clamping ring and the locking ring are in their first relative angular configuration.
• the invention relates essentially to a tool for manufacturing a metal product by casting under load, this tool being partially shown in the figures.
• the tool comprises a mold suitable for casting a molten metal in charge, in particular a very large quantity of metal (typically several tons) in a single casting.
• This mold includes:
• load casting suitable for making a metal product such as a billet of metal or a metal plate.
• a "billet" is a cylindrical piece of circular section, then intended to be sliced along its length, each slice can then be used in a subsequent extrusion operation via a die.
• the section of the billet is a function of the section of the mold in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction.
• the mold 10 may also comprise a graphite portion mounted in the integrated cooling medium to be in contact with the liquid metal.
• the transition ring 11 then presses on the graphite portion of the mold 10 along the main direction X and seals with respect thereto.
• the main direction X is oriented substantially parallel to the main axis of the mold.
• the main direction X is oriented substantially vertically, allowing in this case a gravitational flow of the liquid metal to pass from the riser to the mold 10, the movable bottom then also moving in the direction of gravity.
• the main direction X is oriented substantially horizontally, allowing in this case a gravitational flow of the liquid metal to pass from the riser to the mold 10, the movable bottom then moving on a horizontal axis.
• the means for the integrated cooling of the support of the mold 10 may be arbitrary, such as for example internal conduits in which circulates a cooling liquid such as water.
• the riser is arranged in the upper part of the mold and the mold 10 is located in the lower part of the mold.
• the movable bottom is situated below the mold 10, on the side opposite the riser and the transition ring 11. The moving bottom moves vertically downwards as the course of the solidification of the liquid metal in the ingot mold 10.
• the movable bottom can be controlled, in particular according to a controlled speed and stroke.
• the tool also includes an axial unloading mechanism configured to vary between:
• the holding mechanism ensures the function of holding the clamping ring 12 automatically, even when no action on the tool is applied.
• positive security we also speak of positive security: as long as no action is performed, the clamping ring 12 is locked in position and it is instead necessary to perform an action dedicated to that to unlock and release the clamping ring 12.
• This unlocking is practiced by temporarily placing the axial shedding mechanism in its active state. Its inactive state, automatically occupied when no action is applied to the tooling, allows on the contrary the holding mechanism to lock in position the clamping ring 12, and therefore the transition ring 11, even in the case of breaking of the load-shedding mechanism or of an electrical power cut or of the power dedicated to the transition to the active state of the shedding mechanism.
• the clamping ring 12 is an independent part of the transition ring 11.
• the clamping ring 12 is in particular configured so as to bear against the transition ring 11 in the main direction X in a direction opposite to the support against the mold 10.
• the transmission of the clamping force Fl of the clamping ring 12 to the transition ring 11 is practiced at the level of this zone of support between the two rings 11, 12, for example in the form of an external shoulder formed at the periphery of the transition ring 11.
• clamping ring 12 and the transition ring 11 are integral with each other.
• the holding mechanism comprises a locking ring 13 adapted to transmit the holding force F2 to the clamping ring 12 and the biasing means 14. continuously urging the locking ring 13 in the main direction X towards the clamping ring 12 according to a compressive force F3 such that in the inactive state of the axial shedding mechanism, the locking ring 13 requested by the locking means stress 14 following this compression force F3 exerts the holding force F2 on the clamping ring 12.
• the locking ring 13 is an independent part of the clamping ring 12.
• the axial load shedding mechanism temporarily biases the locking ring 13 in the main direction X in a direction opposite to the compressive force F3 applied by the biasing means 14 in a manner to eliminate the support of the locking ring 13 on the clamping ring 12 along the main direction X.
• FIGS. and 4 represent this situation, in contrast to Figures 1 and 2 where the support of the locking ring 13 is in progress on the clamping ring 12.
• the temporary biasing of the locking ring 13 by the shedding mechanism means here that the axial shedding mechanism transmits a temporary force to the locking ring 13 (Figure 3), this force having a component along the main direction X having an intensity greater than the intensity of the compression force F3 permanently applied by the biasing means 14 on the locking ring 13.
• the clamping ring 12 and the locking ring 13 cooperate together by a locking / unlocking system configured such that in the idle state of the shedding mechanism the locking / unlocking system can not be activated to a unlocking state of the ring 12 and is on the contrary blocked in a locking state of the rings 12,13.
• the load shedding mechanism is active, the passage of the locking / unlocking system from the lock state to the unlocking state is, on the contrary, possible.
• the locking / unlocking system is a bayonet system.
• the relative angular variation between the two rings 12, 13 around the main direction X makes it possible to vary between a first angular configuration (FIG. 4) in which the clamping ring
• the bayonet system comprises any suitable means arranged on the locking ring 13 and / or on the clamping ring 12.
• the bayonet system is in particular provided with one or more lugs 16, in particular integral with the clamping ring 12, which engage in rotation about the main direction X in notches 17 provided for this purpose delimited at least partially by the locking ring
• the locking ring 13 delimits a plurality of openings 18 distributed angularly around the main direction X, in particular arranged on an inner edge of the locking ring 13. In a plane perpendicular to the main direction X, each of these openings 18 has dimensions greater than that of the lug 16 which is intended to cross axially.
• the lugs 16 are here angularly distributed around the main direction X while being arranged, in particular projecting, on an inner edge of the clamping ring 12.
• the transition from the first angular configuration to the second angular configuration and vice versa is possible only when the axial shedding mechanism is in its active state. It is, however, inhibited as long as the axial shedding mechanism is in its inactive state, also participating in the positive blocking function conferred by the holding mechanism.
• the passage from the first angular configuration to the second angular configuration and vice versa is obtained by a rotational movement ⁇ of the clamping ring 12 with respect to the mold around the main direction X over a predetermined angular stroke, the locking ring 13 remaining fixed relative to the mold during this movement ⁇ of the clamping ring 12.
• locking ring 13 has been presented as an independent part of the clamping ring 12, it remains possible to provide alternately that the locking ring 13 and the clamping ring 12 are integral with each other, in particular by being formed in one and the same room.
• the locking ring 13 is integral with a piston 19 adapted to move in the main direction X on a determined stroke delimited between two abutments integral with the mold 10.
• the locking ring 13 and the piston 19 are held at a predetermined distance by means of a set of spacers 21 and screws 23. It is therefore understood that in this case, the mechanism of holding comprises the locking ring 13, the piston 19, spacers 21 and screws 23, which make this assembly integral.
• the axial shedding mechanism comprises on the one hand a chamber 20 defined between the piston 19 and the support of the mold 10, on the other hand a management system (not shown) for varying the internal pressure inside the chamber. room 20.
• the management system comprises, on the one hand, a controlled supply device for the chamber 20 in a fluid such as air or oil, having a pressure making it possible to apply to the piston 19 a force F4 greater than the compressive force F3 applied to the locking ring 13 by the biasing means 14, the introduction of this fluid to place the shedding mechanism in the active state, and secondly a controlled exhaust device this fluid out of the chamber 20 when it is desired to place the shedding mechanism in its inactive state.
• a controlled supply device for the chamber 20 in a fluid such as air or oil having a pressure making it possible to apply to the piston 19 a force F4 greater than the compressive force F3 applied to the locking ring 13 by the biasing means 14, the introduction of this fluid to place the shedding mechanism in the active state, and secondly a controlled exhaust device this fluid out of the chamber 20 when it is desired to place the shedding mechanism in its inactive state.
• the biasing means 14 are interposed between the mold 10 and the piston 19.
• the forces generated by the biasing means 14 are transmitted to the piston 19, the latter driving the locking ring. 13 solidarity with him, so as to apply to him the effort of F3 compression.
• the biasing means 14 thus apply the compression force F3 to the locking ring 13.
• the total effort is therefore equal to the compressive force F3
• the total force corresponds to an effort opposite to the direction of the effort F3 and having an intensity equal to the difference between the intensity of the force F4 applied in the chamber 20 and the intensity of the compressive force F3.
• the forces F4 are transmitted only in the active state of the shedding mechanism.
• the biasing means 14 have an ability to deform in the same direction as the forces to which they are subjected; from the idle configuration (in their natural state) to the idle occupied configuration of the shedding mechanism and the inactive configuration of the active configuration shedding mechanism.
• the biasing means 14 are compressed according to a force F3, less than the maximum force allowed by said means.
• the intensity of the force F4 is between the force F3 and the maximum allowable force of the biasing means.
• the displacement of the retention system induced by the force F4 makes it possible to eliminate the contact between the parts 12 and 13.
• the piston 19 comprises a plurality of spacers 21 oriented parallel to the main direction X and whose upper end coincides with the locking ring 13.
• the number of spacers 21 is for example greater than or equal to 3 or more preferably greater or equal to 10.
• the spacers 21 are distributed angularly around the main direction X, at regular pitch. These spacers 21 serve to transmit the forces experienced by the piston 19 to the locking ring 13, namely the forces permanently coming from the biasing means 14 and the forces applied by the shedding mechanism via the fluid in the chamber 20 only to the active state of the shedding mechanism. Their number and their distribution make it possible to transmit very high forces while having a good distribution of these over the entire periphery of the locking ring 13.
• the spacers 21 are also slidably mounted in the mold 10, in particular when passing through the mold. thickness of support of the mold 10 in its upper part. In this way, they also provide the sliding mounting function of the locking ring 13 relative to the mold 10 in the main direction X.
• the biasing means 14 comprise a plurality of elastic compression devices 22 angularly distributed around the axial direction X, each elastic compression device 22 being interposed between the support of the mold 10 and the piston 19.
• the number of elastic compression devices 22 is, for example, greater than or equal to 3 or more preferably greater than or equal to 10.
• the elastic compression devices 22 are distributed angularly around the axial direction X, with a regular pitch or not. Their number and their distribution make it possible to transmit very high forces while having a good distribution of these over the entire periphery of the locking ring 13.
• Each elastic compression device 22 comprises in particular a stack of a plurality of so-called “Belleville” washers parallel to the main direction X, which allows a very high efficiency while maintaining a good simplicity and reliability over time. It remains however that an elastic compression device 22 may optionally comprise a coil spring or any other compressible element capable of playing an elastic role under the effect of very high compressive forces F3.
• a washer “Belleville” is a slightly conical washer stamped sheet, used to play a role of compression spring.
• the withdrawal of the clamping ring 12 from the mold is practiced when the load shedding mechanism is in the active position by unlocking the locking / unlocking system.
• the removal of the clamping ring 12 from the mold is practiced, when the unloading mechanism is in the active position, by the combination of the main direction X with a movement rotation ⁇ , until an alignment in the main direction X between the lugs 16 of the clamping ring 12 with the openings 18 of the locking ring 13.
• a liquid metal is brought in particular by gravity into the mold 10, cooled externally and provided with a movable bottom.
• the metal performs its solidification and is evacuated along the main direction X using the mobile bottom while that the refill located in the upper part of the mold is refilled so as to maintain a level of liquid metal almost constant malde the descent of the movable bottom.
• the metal product that can be manufactured can be a metal billet or a metal plate, which metal can be an aluminum alloy for example.
• the holding mechanism biases the clamping ring 12 by applying to it the holding force F2. Under the effect of this holding force F2, the clamping ring 12 applies the clamping force Fl to the transition ring 11 which fulfills its role of sealing vis-à-vis the mold 10.
• the forces transmitted to the piston 19 by the shedding mechanism 14 permanently apply the compression force F3 to the locking ring 13.
• the axial shedding mechanism is in the inactive state (figure 1).
• the piston 19 does not undergo a force F4 by the fluid contained in the chamber 20.
• the locking ring 13 is lowered and bears against the clamping ring 12 and transmits thereto the holding force F2, which is substantially equal to the compression force F3.
• the clamping ring 12 and the locking ring 13 are locked by the locking / unlocking system.
• the rings 12 and 13 are axially locked to ensure the transmission of forces from one room to another ( Figure 2) and prevent removal of the clamping ring 12.
• the axial shedding mechanism is placed temporarily and voluntarily in its active state ( Figure 3).
• the fluid contained in the chamber 20 transmits to the piston 19 the force F4, the piston 19 already undergoing the compressive force F3 from the biasing means 14.
• This force F4 is opposite and greater than the compression force F3.
• the holding force F2 is no longer transmitted to the clamping ring 12, so the clamping force Fl is no longer transmitted to the transition ring 11.
• the clamping ring 12 becomes axially free.
• the locking ring 13 becomes axially free.
• the clamping ring 12 becomes axially free.
• the clamping ring 12 becomes free angularly around the main direction X.
• the clamping ring 12 is then removed in the main direction X by passing through the locking ring 13 by means of a suitable extraction tool not shown. Once the clamping ring 12 thus removed, the transition ring 11 can be extracted along the main direction X on the opposite side to the mold 10, in particular by passing through the opening in the center of the locking ring 13.
• the reassembly of the new transition ring 11 is carried out according to a procedure implementing the preceding steps in a reverse order.
• the tooling that has just been described has the advantage of being particularly user-friendly during a transition ring change 11. It also reduces the time required for the operation of changing the transition ring 11 and make it very simple to implement. These advantages are obtained without compromising either the good quality or the good distribution of the seal between the transition ring 11 and the mold 10.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Continuous Casting (AREA)
• Molds, Cores, And Manufacturing Methods Thereof (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=55862982

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Family Cites Families (14)

• 2016
  • 2016-01-29 FR FR1650763A patent/FR3047188B1/fr active Active
• 2017
  • 2017-01-27 US US16/069,224 patent/US10814378B2/en active Active
  • 2017-01-27 WO PCT/FR2017/050196 patent/WO2017129922A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2017-01-27 EP EP17706583.6A patent/EP3408042B1/de active Active
  • 2017-01-27 CA CA3012726A patent/CA3012726A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 2017-01-27 CN CN201780008786.3A patent/CN108602114B/zh active Active

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