EP3626364B1 - Conduit section and mold device with the conduit section - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a mold device with a line section for the passage of a fluid, in particular water. In addition, the invention relates to a method for converting a mold device from a previous to a different casting width.

Line sections for the passage of a fluid also with several degrees of freedom are in the prior art, for. B. from the DE 10 2006 057 242 B4 and the US 6164570 basically known. These patents disclose in particular a ball joint for a sanitary outlet fitting. EP2321075 A1 describes a continuous casting mold for the continuous casting of a metal strand, in particular a steel strand, with broad side walls and narrow side walls lying opposite one another, at least the broad side walls being equipped with cooling channels.

As a particular application, the invention relates to the field of continuous casting technology and in particular to a continuous casting mold for casting liquid metal to form a cast strand, as is shown, for example, in FIG Figure 3 is shown. Specifically shows Figure 3 a mold device 400 known from the prior art with two opposite mold broadside plates 410 and two opposite broadside water tanks 420, each for supporting the mold broadside plates 410. At least one of the broadside water tanks is connected via a line section 100 to a water supply device (not shown). The other broadside water tank is either also connected to the water supply device via an analog line section or it is fluidly connected to the one broadside water tank.

In the Figure 3 The mold device shown can be set to different casting formats, ie to different cross-sections of the casting cavity 440 formed by the mold broad side plates 410 and the mold narrow side plates. To change the casting thickness d1, the latitudinal water tanks are traditionally first in the casting thickness direction D spread apart. Then the narrow side support devices 432, preferably with the mold narrow side plates 410 mounted thereon, are exchanged for other narrow side support devices with a mold narrow side plate defining a different casting thickness d2. The broad-side water tanks 420 are then moved towards the narrow-side support devices 432 with the now changed casting thickness d2; In this way, a new casting cavity 440 is created with a changed casting thickness.

The aforementioned opening and closing process of the broadside water tanks in the casting thickness direction D when converting the mold device 400 to a different casting thickness is accompanied by a lateral offset (lateral offset) of the inlet-side and the consumer-side end of the line section for supplying the broadside water tanks with water from the water supply device.

Traditional pipe sections and in particular traditional connections between the pipe section and the broadside water tanks could not compensate for these lateral offsets, or at least not to a sufficient extent. Traditionally, these pipe sections have been rigid pipe connections with O-rings, which can accommodate smaller angular deflections and also compensate for smaller displacements in axial directions in the event of lateral misalignments, but the pipe connections and compensators traditionally used to compensate for the larger lateral misalignments that actually occur in reality not suitable or not sufficient. It is therefore traditionally necessary to mount adapter pieces or to install several format-dependent parts. The entire process of changing the casting thickness traditionally costs a lot of money and time (set-up time) for the operator, because he has to provide a correspondingly large number of workshop personnel and the corresponding equipment.

Based on this prior art, the invention is based on the object of developing a known mold device with a line section and a known method for converting the mold device from a previous to a different casting width in such a way that the line section of the mold device is designed to compensate for larger lateral offsets and thereby the conversion of the mold device to a different casting width to be significantly simplified and made more cost-effective.

With regard to the mold device according to the invention with a line section, this object is achieved by the subject matter of claim 1. This is characterized in that the line section for the passage of a fluid has a line element with an inlet-side end and a consumer-side end and an inlet device for the fluid. The line section has an inlet-side ball joint arranged at the inlet-side end of the line element with a through-channel for the articulated and fluid-conducting connection of the inlet-side end of the line element with the inlet device for the fluid, with a consumer-side ball joint arranged at the consumer-side end of the line element with a through-channel for articulating and fluid-conducting connection of the consumer-side end of the line element is formed with a consumer. The inlet device corresponds to a pipe section which leads to the water supply device and the consumer corresponds to at least one of the broadside water tanks.

According to claim 1, corresponding ball joints, each with a passage channel, are thus arranged at both ends of the line element of the mold device. These two ball joints basically allow the fluid to be deflected within the line section in almost any direction, even if the consumer is laterally offset relative to an inlet device. This applies at least when the inlet device and the distance between the consumers can be varied in the event of a lateral offset.

According to a first exemplary embodiment, the line section of the mold device according to the invention is characterized by an inlet-side sliding pipe which fluidly connects the inlet-side end of the line element to the inlet device and in which the inlet-side ball bearing is axially displaceable. Additionally or alternatively, a sliding tube on the consumer side can also be provided which connects the consumer-side end of the line element to the consumer in a fluid-conducting manner and in which the consumer-side ball bearing is axially displaceable. The provision of such a sliding pipe at the inlet-side or the consumer-side end of the line section advantageously enables sufficient compensation capability of the line section even if the direct distance between the inlet device and the consumer changes as a result of a lateral offset between the inlet device and the consumer.

Explanation: With a pure pivoting movement of the line element relative to the inlet device with the aid of the ball element located in between, the opposite consumer-side end of the line element moves on a circular path with the consumer-side ball joint arranged thereon. The consumer-side end moves further and further away from the consumer. The resulting changing distance to the consumer is compensated for by the sliding tube, which is additionally stressed.

For said compensation, it is typically sufficient if such a displacement pipe is provided either at the inlet-side or the consumer-side end of the line element. It can only be done in special individual cases, for example when particularly large distances have to be bridged be useful to provide such a sliding tube at both ends of the line element.

To seal the ball bearings against the sliding tubes, it is advantageous to provide annular sealing elements.

A protective device, for example in the form of a cuff or in the form of a rubber bar, can be slipped over the ball joints to protect them from external influences, in particular dust or dirt, in order to maintain their functionality.

The above-mentioned object is also achieved by the method according to claim 13. This method is characterized in that the mold device is designed with a line section according to one of claims 1 to 12 and that the line section, which connects at least one of the broad-side water tanks to the water supply device, during all process steps according to claim 13, in a fluid-conducting manner with the at least one broad-side water tank and preferably also remains connected to the water supply system. The claimed configuration of the mold device with the line section according to the invention can advantageously significantly shorten the assembly and set-up times when converting the mold device to a different casting format. In particular, line connections no longer have to be rebuilt or relocated with the aid of compensators; the assembly work previously associated with this can be saved. In addition, undesirable restoring forces or from elastic deformations, as they occur, for. B. occur with stainless steel lateral expansion joints, advantageously avoided. With the embodiment of the mold device according to the invention, it can be converted to new casting thicknesses without the fluid connection between the water tank and the line section or the Line section and the consumer would have to be opened and without any screw connections having to be loosened. With the line section according to the invention and its installation between a water supply device and a mold device, lateral offsets of, for example, up to 450 mm can be bridged in a short time.

Further advantageous configurations of the mold device according to the invention with a line section, in particular the ball joints, as well as the claimed method according to the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

Figur 1a

den erfindungsgemäßen Leitungsabschnitt in einer Seitenansicht;

Figur 1b

den erfindungsgemäßen Leitungsabschnitt in einer Draufsicht;

Figur 2a

die erfindungsgemäße Kokilleneinrichtung in einer perspektivischen Ansicht mit einer schmalen Schmalseite für eine kleine Gießdicke;

Figur 2b

die Kokilleneinrichtung mit einer breiteren Schmalseite für eine größere Gießdicke; und

Figur 3

die Kokilleneinrichtung gemäß dem Stand der Technik in einer perspektivischen Ansicht

zeigt.The description is accompanied by a total of 3 figures, with

Figure 1a

the line section according to the invention in a side view;

Figure 1b

the line section according to the invention in a plan view;

Figure 2a

the mold device according to the invention in a perspective view with a narrow narrow side for a small casting thickness;

Figure 2b

the mold device with a wider narrow side for a greater casting thickness; and

Figure 3

the mold device according to the prior art in a perspective view

shows.

The invention is described below with reference to the said Figures 1 and 2 described in detail in the form of exemplary embodiments. In all figures, the same technical elements are denoted by the same reference symbols.

Figure 1a shows the line section 100 according to the invention for the passage of a fluid, in particular water, further in particular cooling water, in a side view. It comprises a line element 110 with an inlet-side end 112 and a consumer-side end 114. Arranged at the inlet-side end 112 of the line element 110 is an inlet-side ball joint 120 with a through channel for the articulated and fluid-conducting connection of the inlet-side end of the line element to an inlet device 130, in Figure 1a for example designed as an α = 90 ° elbow. According to the invention, a ball joint 140, also referred to as a consumer-side ball joint, is arranged at the consumer-side end 114 of the line element 110. It is also equipped with a through channel for the articulated and fluid-conducting connection of the consumer-side end of the fluid line element 110 to a consumer 200 (in Figure 1 Not shown).

According to Figure 1b Both the inlet-side and the consumer-side ball joint 120, 140 each have an annular dome 122 with a spherical outer contour. The spherical cap is rotatably embedded in a spherical cavity which is spanned by two annular bearing half-shells 126, 126 'that can be braced against one another. The outside of the spherical cap 122 is sealed with the aid of (further) sealing elements 128, preferably with respect to each of the two bearing half-shells 126, 126 '.

In Figure 1b For example, the domes 122 are pushed onto the inlet-side end 112 and onto the consumer-side end 114 of the line element 110 and are preferably firmly connected to the line element. The calottes therefore perform a rotary or pivoting movement of the line element relative to the cavities in which they are mounted. The bearing half-shells 126, 126 'spanning the cavities are on the other hand non-rotatable - but not necessarily fixed in a translatory manner - on the bend or on the consumer or a pipe or on a displacement element which is in a Sliding tube is slidably mounted, attached. The bearing half-shells can also be designed as the sliding element themselves. Alternatively, the domes 122 could also be arranged on the elbow or on the displacement element within the displacement tube; however, the associated bearing half-shells would then have to be connected to the line element.

The in Figure 1 shown embodiment, in which the spheres 122 are placed on the ends of the line element, the inlet-side bearing shell 126 is non-rotatably screwed to the inlet device 130, here designed with the 90 ° elbow only as an example. Specifically, a first half of the bearing half-shell 126 of the entire bearing shell is screwed to the manifold, while the associated second bearing half-shell 126 'is or is displaced from the line element 110 outwards against the first bearing half-shell 126 and is braced or screwed to it. Analogously, a first bearing half-shell 126 for the spherical cap 122 is designed and arranged on the consumer side of the line element 110 as a displacement element for displacement within the displacement tube. A second bearing half-shell 126 ′ of the entire bearing shell is pushed from the side of the line element against the first bearing half-shell 126 and braced or screwed to it in order to span a cavity for the rotatable, articulated accommodation of the consumer-side dome 122.

The inner or line element-side bearing half-shells 126 'each have a ring diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of the spherical caps 122. Therefore, after the spherical caps have been mounted, these second bearing half-shells can no longer be pushed into the area of the line element between the two spherical caps. These two second or inner bearing half-shells 126 'would therefore have to be pushed onto the line element 110 before the last of the two domes 122 is installed, or they would each have to be made up of several parts, e.g. B. be formed in two parts. In the latter case, the second bearing half-shells then each consist of two ring segments. The said Ball joints are preferably each protected against contamination by a protective device 170. The protective device 170 can be, for example, a cuff or a rubber bar, which is slipped over the ball joints and is fastened on both sides of these joints, for example with clamps.

The line element 110 is typically a piece of pipe. The line section 100 according to the invention is used in particular to transfer a fluid, for example water, from a water supply device (not shown) to a consumer 200.

The Figures 2a and 2b show a particular application in which the line section 100 according to the invention is used for supplying water to a mold device 400 in a continuous casting plant for casting liquid metal into a cast strand. The one inlet device 130, which is arranged on the inlet side of the line section 100, can be designed in the form of a pipe section which, for example, leads to a water supply device. The consumer 200 connected to the consumer-side end 114 of the line section 100 is then at least one broad-side water tank 420 for cooling the mold.

1. a) Auffahren der Breitseitenwasserkästen 420 in Gießdickenrichtung D;
2. b) Ausbauen der bisherigen Schmalseitenträgereinrichtung 432 mit den die bisherige Gießdicke d1 definierenden bisherigen Kokillenschmalseitenplatten 430;
3. c) Einbauen von Schmalseitenträgereinrichtungen 432 mit einer die andere Gießdicke d2 definierenden Kokillenschmalseitenplatten 430; und
4. d) Zufahren der Breitseitenwasserkästen 420 in entgegengesetzter Gießdickenrichtung D auf die andere Gießbreite d2.

The configuration of the line section 100 according to the invention advantageously enables a lateral offset between the inlet device 130 and a consumer 200 in the form of the at least one broad-side water tank. This is particularly advantageous when converting the mold to a different casting width according to the method described below:
Accordingly, the conversion of the mold equipment from a previous d1 to a different casting width d2 requires the following steps:

1. a) opening the broadside water tanks 420 in the casting thickness direction D;
2. b) removing the previous narrow side support device 432 with the previous mold narrow side plates 430 defining the previous casting thickness d1;
3. c) installation of narrow side support devices 432 with a mold narrow side plate 430 defining the other casting thickness d2; and
4. d) Approaching the broadside water tanks 420 in the opposite casting thickness direction D to the other casting width d2.

If the broadside water tanks 420 of the mold device 400 are connected to the water supply device (not shown) via the line section 100 according to the invention, the configuration of the line section according to the invention makes it possible to convert the mold device to a different casting width while performing the steps a) to d) mentioned the water tanks 420 can advantageously remain connected to the water supply device in a fluid-conducting manner. This saves the operator of the mold device both a lot of time and a lot of money in contrast to traditional retrofitting of the mold device, because many otherwise necessary work steps and pipe components can be saved with the design of the line section according to the invention.

When carrying out method step a) for retrofitting the mold, there is a lateral or lateral displacement of the broadside water tanks 420 in relation to the supply device 130 while maintaining their perpendicular spacing from one another. The line section designed according to the invention enables this said lateral displacement to be compensated, so that dismantling of the line section 100 from the broadside water tanks 420 and / or from the inlet device 130 is unnecessary. This is made possible on the one hand by the fact that the ball joints 120, 140 provided according to the invention allow or enable a pivoting of the line element 110 by an angle β with respect to an initial direction R. In addition, the displacement tube 150 enables compensation for the lateral displacement increasing direct distance between the at least one broadside water tank 420 and the supply device 130 by allowing an axial displacement of the consumer-side end of the line element by a distance x in the displacement pipe 150; please refer Figure 1b .

In method step d), the broadside water tanks 420 initially opened in accordance with method step a) are again moved or pushed together in the opposite casting thickness direction D to the now changed casting width. Because the casting thickness d2 is now different, ie it can be greater or smaller than the previous casting thickness d1, the broadside water tanks 420 are in any case no longer brought together to the original casting thickness d1 in step d). Rather, the line element 110 is now pivoted back in the direction of the starting direction by an angle deviating from the angle β with the aid of the ball joints 120, 140 during method step d) and pushed back again in the displacement tube by a path deviating from the path x. In the event that the previous casting thickness d1 was smaller than the new, changed casting thickness d2, the deviating angle is smaller than the angle β and the deviating path is smaller than the path x according to method step a). In the event that the new casting thickness d2 should be greater than the previous thickness d1, the deviating angle is greater than the angle β and the deviating path x in the sliding tube 150 is greater than the path x.

List of reference symbols

100

Line section

110

Line element

112

inlet end of the line element

114

consumer-side end of the line element

120

ball joint on the inlet side

122

annular dome

125

annular sealing element

126, 126 '

annular bearing half-shells

128

further sealing element

130

Inlet device

140

consumer-side ball joint

160

sliding pipe on the consumer side

170

Protective device

200

consumer

400

Mold device

410

Mold broadside plates

420

Broadside water tanks

430

Mold narrow side plates

432

Narrow side support device

440

Casting cavity

D.

Casting thickness direction

R.

Exit direction

β

angle

x

Displacement distance

Claims (15)

1. Mould device (400) in a continuous casting plant for the casting of liquid metal to form a cast strip, comprising:

   - two opposite mould wide-side plates (410);

   - two opposite wide-side water tanks (420) each for supporting one of the mould wide-side plates (410), wherein at least one of the wide-side water tanks is connected with a water supply device by way of a conduit section (100);

   - two mould narrow-side plates (430), which are arranged between the mould wide sides (410) and opposite one another; and

   - two narrow-side support devices (432) for supporting the mould narrow-side plates (430),

   characterised in that

   - the conduit section (100) comprises, for conducting through a liquid: a conduit element (110) with an inflow-side end (112) and a consumer-side end (114); an inflow device (130) for the fluid; an inflow-side ball joint (120), which is arranged at the inflow-side end (112) of the conduit element (110), with a passage channel for articulated and fluid-conducting connection of the inflow-side end of the conduit element with the inflow device (130) for the fluid, wherein a consumer-side ball joint (140) arranged at the consumer-side end (114) of the conduit element (110) is formed with a passage channel for articulated and fluid-conducting connection of the consumer-side end of the conduit element with a consumer (200), wherein the inflow device (130) corresponds with a pipe length, which leads to the water supply device and the consumer (200) corresponds with at least one of the wide-side water tanks (420).
2. Mould device (400) with a conduit section (100) according to claim 1, characterised by

   - an inflow-side displacement pipe, which fluid-conductively connects the inflow-side end (112) of the conduit element (110) with the inflow device (130) and in which the inflow-side ball bearing (120) is mounted to be axially displaceable; and/or

   - a consumer-side displacement pipe (160), in which the consumer-side ball bearing (140) is mounted to be axially displaceable.
3. Mould device (400) with a conduit section (100) according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterised by

   - at least one annular sealing element (125) for sealing the inflow-side ball bearing (120) relative to the inflow-side displacement pipe (150); and/or

   - at least one annular sealing element for sealing the consumer-side ball bearing relative to the consumer-side displacement pipe.
4. Mould device (400) with a conduit section (100) according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that

   - the inflow-side and/or the consumer-side ball joint (120, 140) each comprise:

   i an annular dome (122) with a spherical outer contour; and

   ii two annular bearing half shells (126, 126'), which are tightenable relative to one another and which together span a cavity for pivot reception of the dome (122).
5. Mould device (400) with a conduit section (100) according to claim 4, characterised in that

   - at least one further sealing element (128) is provided for sealing the dome (122) relative to, for preference, each of the two bearing half shells (126, 126').
6. Mould device (400) with a conduit section (100) according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that

   - the annular dome (122) of the inflow-side ball joint (120) is mounted at the inflow-side end (112) of the conduit element (110) or at the inflow device (130); and

   - one of the bearing half shells (126) of the inflow-side ball joint (120) is connected, preferably detachably, to the inflow-side end (112) of the conduit element (110) or to the inflow device (130); and

   - the other one of the two bearing half shells (126') of the inflow-side ball joint (120) is tightened against the bearing half shell (126) with inclusion of the dome (122) in the cavity.
7. Mould device (400) with a conduit section (100) according to any one of claims 4 to 6,
   characterised in that

   - the annular dome (122) of the consumer-side ball joint (140) is mounted on the consumer-side end (114) of the conduit element (110) or on the consumer (200); and

   - one of the two bearing half shells of the consumer-side ball joint (140) is connected, preferably detachably, with the consumer-side end (114) of the conduit element (110) or with the consumer (200); and

   - the other one of the two bearing half shells of the consumer-side ball joint (140) is tightened against the connected bearing half shell with inclusion of the dome (122) in the cavity.
8. Mould device (400) with a conduit section (100) according to any one of claims 4 to 7,
   characterised in that

   - at least one of the bearing half shells (126, 126') is constructed in the form of at least two ring segments.
9. Mould device (400) with a conduit section (100) according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that

   - a protective device (170), for example in the form of a collar or a rubber seal, is provided for pulling over at least one of the ball joints (120, 140).
10. Mould device (400) with a conduit section (100) according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that

    - the fluid is water; and

    - the inflow device (130) is a pipe length, for example the inflow-side displacement pipe, which is connected at its end remote from the conduit section (110) directly or indirectly with a water supply device; and

    - the consumer (200) is a water tank of a mould device (400) of a continuous casting plant.
11. Mould device (400) with a conduit section (100) according to claim 10, characterised in that

    - the pipe length is constructed in the form of an elbow for diverting the water from the water supply device through an angle α, for example α = 90°, into the conduit element (110).
12. Mould device (400) with a conduit section (100) according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that

    - the conduit element (110) is constructed as a pipe length.
13. Method for converting a mould device (400) from a previous to a different casting width, comprising the following steps:

    a) opening the wide-side water tanks (420) in casting thickness direction (D);

    b) demounting the previous narrow-side support devices (432) together with the previous mould narrow-side plates (430) defining the previous casting thickness (d1);

    c) installing narrow-side support devices (432) together with mould narrow-side plates (410) defining the different casting thickness (d2); and

    d) closing the wide-side water tanks (420) in opposite casting thickness direction (D) to the different casting width (d2);

    characterised in that

    - the mould device (400) is constructed according to any one of claims 1 to 12; and

    - the conduit section (100), which connects at least one of the wide-side water tanks (420) with the water supply device, remains fluid-conductively connected with the at least one wide-side water tank (420) and preferably also with the water supply device during all steps a) to d).
14. Method according to claim 13,
    characterised in that

    - the conduit element (110) during the method step a) is pivoted with the help of the ball joints (120, 140) through an angle β relative to an outlet direction (R) and is displaced into the displacement pipe (150) through a travel x.
15. Method according to claim 14,
    characterised in that

    - the conduit element (110) during the method step d) is pivoted with the help of the ball joints (120, 140) through an angle, which differs from the angle β, back again in direction of the outlet direction (R) and is pushed back again by a travel, which differs from the travel x, into the displacement pipe (150).

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