IT8912599A1 - INTERMEDIATE OVEN. - Google Patents

Description

outlet (U) coaxial to the rolling line (L). The inlet tracks (PE, PEI, PE2) and the exit track are arranged inside the kiln, while means (15, 40) are provided inside the same kiln for the transfer of the slabs (B, Bl, B2) transversely to their longitudinal extension, one after the other from the inlet lane (PE, PEI, PE2) to the outlet lane (PU).

TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to an intermediate furnace intended to be interposed between one or more? continuous casting plants for particularly thin slabs, or the like, and a subsequent rolling line.

In plants of this kind, the slabs, in particular the thin slabs, produced by one or more? Continuous casting plants are fed one after the other to a rolling line. During the transfer of the slabs leaving the continuous casting plant or plants to the rolling line, they are subject to cooling. Consequently, before their rolling the slabs must be heated to a homogeneous rolling temperature.

Since? the capacity? production of continuous casting plants? normally considerably lower than that of the rolling lines there is also the tendency both to avoid a direct feeding of the rolling line with the slabs coming out of the continuous casting plant or plants, and to connect within the same production line more? continuous casting plants independent from each other with the rolling line itself.

The invention therefore has the purpose of realizing an intermediate kiln of the type described at the beginning which, with a simple, functionally safe and relatively inexpensive construction, allows to considerably limit the overall dimensions due both to the necessary means for transferring the slabs to the exit. from the continuous casting plant to the rolling line, both to the heating furnaces at the rolling temperature of the said slabs, reducing at the same time the influence of the capacity? production of the continuous casting plant (s) on that of the rolling line and thus ensuring optimal exploitation of the same.

The invention solves this problem with an intermediate furnace of the type described at the beginning which? intended to be interposed between one or more? continuous casting plants for the production of thin slabs in particular and a rolling line, being the longitudinal axis of the continuous casting plant (s) arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rolling line, but offset transversely with respect to the latter, and which intermediate furnace includes:

- on its inlet side facing the or the continuous casting plant, one or more? inlet openings each associated with a continuous casting plant coaxial with it;

an inlet track associated with each inlet opening and arranged predominantly inside the intermediate furnace as well as oriented coaxially to the respective continuous casting plant and on which track the outgoing slabs are fed one after the other, with their longitudinal axis parallel to said track;

- on the outlet side of the intermediate furnace, facing the rolling line, an outlet opening coaxial to said rolling line;

an outlet track inside the intermediate furnace, oriented parallel to the inlet track and coaxial to the longitudinal axis of the rolling line, and on which the slabs are arranged with their longitudinal axis oriented parallel to said track;

means for transferring the slabs inside the intermediate kiln, transversely to said inlet and outlet tracks, or to the longitudinal extension of the slabs themselves, from the inlet track to the output track.

Preferably, the means for transversal transfer of the slabs are made in such a way as to determine a transversal displacement in steps of the individual slabs. The length of the individual steps can? be any and can? possibly substantially correspond to the width of the individual slabs, while the outlet track and the inlet tracks are preferably made in such a way as to be able to accommodate only one slab at a time. Consequently, the slabs are fed to the exit lane, inside the kiln, one after the other. There? it allows to foresee residence times of the slabs in the intermediate furnace long enough to guarantee a homogeneous heating of the same at the desired rolling temperature. For this purpose ? Is it possible to foresee an appropriate sizing of the intermediate kiln in its transversal extension to the slabs that allows the execution of the quantity? transversal steps required and at the same time the housing in the furnace of a certain number of bramine.

The intermediate oven can? be interposed between a single continuous casting plant and a subsequent rolling line and therefore has an inlet track and an outlet track respectively arranged in correspondence with a longitudinal side of the furnace, i.e. parallel to the axis of the continuous casting plant and of the rolling line, while the exit track? arranged at the opposite side.

Preferably, the intermediate furnace is interposed between two continuous casting plants parallel to each other and which feed a single rolling line, so that it has two inlet tracks each arranged in correspondence with one of the two opposite longitudinal sides of the intermediate furnace, that is to say? parallel to the axis of the continuous casting plants, while the longitudinal axis of the output raceway is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the rolling line? coinciding with the median longitudinal axis of the furnace itself.

In this case, the bramine fed by the continuous casting plants and which enter one after the other along the respective inlet track of the intermediate kiln, are carried on the central outlet track alternately one after the other. There? allows to feed the lamination line in a way corresponding to its speed? operational and therefore to fully exploit its capacity? productive.

From the above the main advantages of the intermediate furnace according to the present invention are evident. In the first place, the means for transferring the bramine produced by or from the continuous casting plant to the rolling line are provided inside the furnace itself. There? considerably reduces the overall dimensions of the system. The movement of the slabs inside the intermediate kiln avoids their cooling and the need? their subsequent heating to a suitable rolling temperature. The period of permanence of the slabs in the kiln during their transversal displacement allows an optimal and perfectly uniform heating of the same, eliminating the drawbacks of lamination with an uneven heating. Expecting more? slabs inside the intermediate kiln a buffer function is ensured which allows to release the slab production phase with the continuous casting plants from the subsequent rolling phase. There? it allows for sufficiently long times to carry out any restoration or maintenance operations as regards both the continuous casting plants and the rolling line without causing both to stop. Furthermore, the intermediate furnace according to the invention allows the connection relatively simple and with little bulk. continuous casting plants operating independently with a single subsequent rolling line, thus ensuring? an optimal exploitation of its capacities? productive.

The invention also relates to other characteristics which further improve the intermediate furnace referred to above and which are the subject of the subordinate claims.

The particular characteristics of the invention and the resulting advantages will result in greater detail from the description of some preferred embodiments, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of a plant for the production and subsequent rolling of slabs comprising an intermediate furnace according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic top view of the plant according to fig. 1, with the intermediate furnace interposed between a single continuous casting plant and a subsequent rolling line. - Fig. 3 shows a top view of a plant according to fig. 1, with an intermediate furnace interposed between two continuous casting plants and a subsequent rolling line.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic top view of a first embodiment of the intermediate furnace according to fig. 2.

Fig. 5? a cross section of the intermediate furnace according to fig. 4.

Figs. 6 and 7 show two enlarged views of the rollers which constitute the inlet track of the intermediate furnace according to figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 8 shows a schematic top view of a second embodiment of the intermediate furnace, in particular according to fig. 3, being shown only a half? of the oven itself.

Fig. 9 shows a schematic cross section of the oven according to fig. 8.

Figs. 10 to 12 show construction details of the transversal transport means of the slabs from the inlet to the outlet tracks.

In accordance with fig. 1 the intermediate furnace F according to the invention? interposed between one or more? continuous casting plant C for the production of thin slabs and a subsequent rolling line L. The continuous casting plant C pu? be of any type and? illustrated indicatively by a basket 1 downstream of which? an ingot mold 2 is provided. The flat product which emerges vertically from the mold 2 is made to pass along an arched path 4, at the exit of which it is oriented in a horizontal direction. From the horizontal section, slabs B are cut one after the other with a certain length by means of shears 5. The illustrated executive examples concern in particular the continuous casting plants C for the production of thin slabs B destined to be fed to the lamination L. There? however, it does not constitute a limitation of the invention to this type of plant.

The thin slabs B leaving the continuous casting plant C are initially fed to the intermediate furnace F. In the said intermediate furnace they are heated uniformly to an optimal rolling temperature, and are subsequently fed one after the other to the rolling line. L itself. The lamination line L? shown indicatively with a pair of pick-up rollers 6 provided at the outlet side of the intermediate furnace F and with the reduction rollers 7.

With particular reference to fig. 2, according to a first executive example, the intermediate furnace? interposed between a single continuous casting plant C and a subsequent rolling line L. The longitudinal axis of the continuous casting plant C? oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rolling line L. However, said longitudinal axes are transversely offset from each other. The intermediate furnace F has an inlet opening E arranged coaxially to the axis of the continuous casting plant C and to the longitudinal axis of the drama B leaving said plant. At the entrance opening E? associated with an inlet track PE which is also coaxial to the axis of the continuous casting plant C and on which the slab B is fed with its longitudinal axis substantially parallel to that of the inlet track PE itself. The PE inlet track extends mainly inside the intermediate furnace F. On the opposite head side, i.e. on the side facing the rolling line L, the intermediate furnace F has an outlet opening U arranged coaxial to the axis longitudinal of the rolling line L. In the intermediate furnace F,? an outlet track PU coaxial to the outlet opening U and to the rolling line L. The braminates B which are fed one after the other on the inlet track PE of the intermediate furnace F are moved transversely to the their longitudinal axis and therefore to that of the PE, PU tracks by means of suitable transversal transfer devices. They are transferred one after the other onto the output track PU, on which they are arranged with their longitudinal axis parallel to that of the output track PU itself.

Preferably, the transfer is performed in steps. Each step can? be of any size and can? eventually correspond substantially to the width of the slabs B. As is evident from fig. 2, in the intermediate furnace F are therefore housed a plurality of of slabs B placed side by side and oriented parallel to each other, while at the act of each transversal transfer step each successive slab B can? assume the position of the slab B that precedes it. Is the slab at the exit track PU withdrawn from the intermediate furnace F before the execution of each side transfer step and the entry track PE? free to receive the next slab B leaving the continuous casting plant c.

The inlet track PE and the associated inlet opening E can be advantageously provided in correspondence with a longitudinal side of the furnace, while the outlet track PU as well as the the associated outlet opening U are arranged in correspondence with the opposite longitudinal side.

The extension of the furnace in the transverse direction can? be chosen of any size and determines, in addition to the quantity? of steps necessary to bring the slab B of the entry track PE of the intermediate kiln F onto the exit track PU and in addition to the number of slabs contained in the kiln, also the residence time of the same in the intermediate kiln F. Ci? it allows to dimension the intermediate furnace F in such a way as to obtain a uniform and optimal heating of the slabs B and its possible function as a buffer furnace.

The intermediate furnace F according to fig. 2 can be suitably enlarged so as to allow, with little expenditure and space-saving, the feeding of the rolling line L by means of two continuous casting plants operating simultaneously, independently of each other. In this case, it is advantageous to provide the intermediate furnace F itself with a modular type structure which allows the extension of the intermediate furnace F and the connection of the further continuous casting plant without having to interrupt the operation of the already planted part. existing.

This situation ? illustrated in the variant embodiment according to fig. 3. Two continuous casting plants Cl, C2 operating simultaneously and independently of each other feed the rolling line L by means of the intermediate furnace F '. The continuous casting plants Cl and C2 are oriented, with their longitudinal axes parallel to each other and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the next rolling line L. As described above, the longitudinal axis of each continuous casting plant Cl, C2? offset transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rolling line L. Each continuous casting plant Cl, C2 is associated respectively with an inlet opening E1, E2 and an inlet track PEI, PE2. Both the inlet openings El, E2 and the inlet tracks PEI, PE2 are arranged coaxial to the longitudinal axis of the respective continuous casting plant Cl, C2. Similarly to what has been described with reference to fig. 2, to the rolling line L? associated with an outlet opening U and an outlet track PU coaxial with said rolling line L. In this case, as is evident from fig? 3,? It is advantageous to provide an arrangement of the continuous casting plants Cl and C2 and of the rolling line L, in which each continuous casting plant Cl, C2 and therefore the associated inlet openings El, E2 and the inlet tracks PEI, PE2 of the intermediate furnace F 'are arranged at one of the two opposite longitudinal sides of the intermediate furnace F', while the outlet opening U, the outlet track PU and the associated rolling line L substantially coincide with the median longitudinal axis of the intermediate furnace F '. This arrangement allows an easy extension of the intermediate furnace F according to fig. 2 in the form described above according to fig. 3, without interrupting the production process of the part of the plant, possibly already? working. The intermediate furnace F 'according to fig. 3 in fact presents a symmetrical construction with respect to the median axis, each being met? made in a similar way to the intermediate furnace F according to fig. 2. Furthermore, the movement of the bramine B1 and B2 inside the intermediate furnace F ', for their feeding to the rolling line L, is extremely simple.

Each half? of the intermediate furnace F 'operates in the same way as described in the previous embodiment according to fig. 2. The slabs B1, B2 of each continuous casting plant Cl, C2 are transferred transversely to their longitudinal extension by means of suitable transfer means from the respective inlet track PEI, PE2 to the outlet track PU. Also in this case it is advantageous to carry out a transversal transfer in steps. The slabs B1 and B2 are brought alternately one after the other on the exit lane PU, while on the entry lane PEI, PE2, respectively freed, the following slab B1, B2 coming out of the associated casting plant is fed. continues Cl, C2.

The intermediate furnace F according to the invention can? be realized in any way whatsoever. Two preferred embodiments of said oven will be illustrated in the following description. The embodiment according to figs. 4 to 7 refers in particular to an arrangement according to fig. 2, while the embodiment according to figs. 8 to 12? illustrated according to the arrangement according to Figs. 3. Obviously, the two embodiments of the intermediate furnace according to the invention are not to be understood as being limited only to the arrangement (fig.

2 or fig. 3) to which they refer.

In both embodiments, the oven chamber 10? made with a length slightly greater than that of the slabs B, Bl, B2. There? it allows a great saving of space in the longitudinal direction of the system. The oven can? be equipped with burners of any type arranged according to. special needs. In the illustrated embodiments, the burners are provided in the longitudinal walls of the furnace associated with the inlet tracks PE, PEI, PE2 as? indicated with P in figs. 5 and 9. How? illustrated in figs. 9, in correspondence with the entrance slopes? It is possible to provide burners arranged above and possibly also below the said entry tracks PEI, PE2. In the remaining part of the chamber 10 of the kiln, the slabs are heated from above by means of burners A provided in the top of the kiln. According to a further improvement, the burners are divided into successive zones, in the longitudinal direction of the slabs, and are independently adjustable for each zone in relation to the distribution of the temperature on the longitudinal extension of the slab.

In accordance with figs. 4 to 7, the intermediate furnace F has an inlet opening E on the head side facing the continuous casting plant at a longitudinal side of the chamber 10 of the furnace and an outlet opening U on the head side opposite of the furnace F at the opposite longitudinal side of the furnace chamber 10. The inlet track PE? made in the form of a roller way 11. The exit lane PU? constituted by a plurality? of rollers 12 arranged on pi? rows parallel to each other, the rollers of each row being coaxially aligned with those of the other rows. On the output side of the output track PU composed of the rollers 12 there are six pick-up rollers 6 (pich-roll) for extracting the slab from the furnace. On the head side facing the continuous casting plant, the inlet track PE has an initial lead portion 13 external to the chamber 10 of the furnace and also constituted by rollers 14. The part of the intermediate furnace F comprised between the entrance runway PE and the exit runway PU? consisting of movable side members 15 and fixed side members 16 oriented transversely to said PE and PU tracks. Preferably, how? illustrated in fig. 4, the longitudinal members 15, 16 are oriented inclined with respect to the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the tracks PE, PU. There? it ensures better heating of the slabs, avoiding that the movable longitudinal members 15 always come into contact with the same part of the slabs B during their residence period in the kiln. In particular, between each pair of rollers 11 of the inlet track PE? interposed a mobile side member 15, while on the opposite side, between each pair of mobile side members 15? arranged a group of coaxial rollers 12. The fixed support plane constituted by the fixed longitudinal members 16? coplanar with the support surface of the rollers 11 and rollers 12.

The movable side members 15 and the fixed side members 16 are advantageously provided with ridges 115, 116, on which the slabs B rest, thus reducing? the contact surface of the same with the side members 15, 16. The movable side members 15 are supported by means of uprights 17 on a bearing structure 18. Preferably the mobile side members 15 are cooled and for this purpose the uprights 17 are made of tubular of supply and exhaust pipes and present at their ends? lower part of the connection unions 117. The supporting structure 18 rests on wheels 119 rotatably mounted on the ends? free of angled oscillating levers 19 which are pivoted at 20, in correspondence with their corner zone to the oven frame F. The ends? of the levers 19 are connected together by a coupling rod 21 which is moved in its longitudinal direction by an actuator cylinder 22. The supporting structure 18 of the movable side members 15 has a lower extension 118, at which? connected a translation actuator cylinder 23 oriented horizontally and transversely to the furnace F itself. The actuation of the coupling rod causes the oscillation of the levers 19 and the consequent lifting and lowering of the mobile side members 15. In the lifting position, the support surface of the mobile side members is at a higher height than that of the side members fixed longitudinal members 16, by lifting the slabs B from the latter. In the lowered position, the movable longitudinal members 15 are arranged at a lower level than that of the fixed longitudinal members 16, so that the slabs B rest on the latter. The actuator cylinder for displacement of the movable longitudinal members 15 determines their displacement transversely to the longitudinal axis of the furnace F when these are in the lifting position and the return movement to the starting position when the said longitudinal members are in the lowered position. The slabs B are raised and moved by one step transversely to their longitudinal extension inside the furnace F, being placed again on the fixed longitudinal members 16 at the end of the transverse transfer step.

According to a further characteristic of this embodiment, the rollers 11 of the inlet track PE are made in the manner of cantilevered rollers and are driven by motors M arranged externally to the furnace F. With reference to figs. 6 and 7 said rollers 11 have a tubular support body 25 which extends inside the intermediate furnace F. The hole 26 of the tubular body of the rollers 11? conically flared towards the end? free of the same. On their side facing outwards, the rollers 11 are supported in correspondence with the outer wall of the furnace F by means of a disk 27 which? supported by a pair of rollers 28 rotatably fixed to the frame of the furnace F. Each roller 11 extends outside the furnace with a conical neck 29, the end of which? it is connected to a cylindrical pin 30 supported in the motor unit M of the roller and thanks to which the roller itself is driven.

The second embodiment of the intermediate furnace according to the example according to Fig. 3? illustrated in figs. 8 to 12.

In fig. 8? illustrated only one half? longitudinal section of the intermediate furnace F ', the missing part being made in a similar way.

The intermediate furnace F 'has at each longitudinal side an inlet track PEI, PE2 associated with the respective inlet opening E1, E2. The outlet track PU and the associated outlet opening U are arranged with their longitudinal axis coinciding with the median longitudinal axis of the furnace F '. Each inlet track PEI, PE2 has, on the head side facing the continuous casting plants C1, C2 and similarly to the furnace according to the previous embodiment, an initial lead section 31 arranged outside the chamber 10 of the furnace F '.

The PEI and PE2 inlet tracks each consist of a roller way. The rollers 32 can be of any type, for example of the motorized and cooled type or they can also have the construction of the rollers according to the previous embodiment. The exit lane PU? consisting of a movable side member 33 which? housed in a corresponding cutout 34 of the bottom 35 of the oven F '. The mobile spar 33? arranged coaxial to the median longitudinal axis of the furnace F 'and d? made slightly more? short of the associated housing cutout 34. The cutouts 34? made of a width smaller than that of the slats B. The said movable side member 33 rests on pairs of coaxial wheels 36. The wheels 36 of each pair are rotatably mounted on the ends? of the two upper arms 137 of an angled fork lever 37. The angled lever a? fork 37? pivoted to the frame of the furnace F 'at 38, in correspondence with its corner zone, so as to be able to oscillate around an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the furnace and therefore of the mobile side member 33. It has a single lower arm 237 that ? coupled with that of the other fork levers 37 by means of a coupling rod 39. The coupling rod 39? controlled by an actuator cylinder (not shown) Similarly to the previous embodiment, the mobile side member 33 has a lower extension (not shown), at which? connected a second actuator cylinder (also not shown). Thanks to this construction, the slab B at the exit track PU rests with its longitudinal edges on the part of the bottom 35 of the furnace F 'which delimits the opening 34. The actuation of the mobile side member 33 causes the slab B to be raised from the bottom of the furnace F 'and moving forward in the direction of the outlet opening U. of the slab B facing the rolling line L and which protrudes slightly beyond the leading edge of the movable side member 33 itself is thus fed to the pick-up rollers 6 which extract the slab from the furnace F1, feeding it to the rolling line.

In this embodiment, the transversal transfer means of the braminae B1 and B2 produced by the continuous casting plant Cl, C2, alternatively from the respective inlet track PEI, PE2 on the outlet track PU, consist of distributed push rods 40 along each longitudinal side of the oven F 'and oriented transversely thereto. Each push rod 40? housed in a transverse groove 135 of the bottom 35 of the oven. It? provided with a section substantially internal to the furnace F 'which has a radially elongated cross section, that is substantially oval, or of similar shape (see Figs? H and 12). On the side at the apex in the direction of elongation, the push rod carries a plurality of of spacer teeth 41. The spacer teeth 41 are equidistant from each other to an extent substantially corresponding to the width of the slabs B1, B2. A tooth 41? expected at the end? free of the push rod 40. The radial elongation of the push rods 40 and the depth? of the associated grooves 135 of the oven floor 35 are dimensioned so that when the rod? rotated in its upright position, its side in correspondence with the apex of the radial elongation and the teeth 41 protrude above the supporting surface of the bottom of the oven 35, thus determining? a lifting of the slabs B1, B2 from the latter (fig. 12). When, on the other hand, the pushing rods 40 are in their lying position, they remain completely inside the grooves 135, so that the slabs B1, B2 rest on the bottom 35 of the furnace F '. The rotation of the pushing rods 40 around their longitudinal axis is controlled on each side of the furnace F 'by a common coupling rod 44 controlled by an actuator cylinder 45, in the direction of a displacement in the direction of its longitudinal axis. The control arms 46 of the same number of bushings 47 are articulated to the coupling rod 44, each of which engages in a non-rotatable way but slides axially on an associated pusher rod 40.

The terminal portion 140 external to the furnace F 'of each pusher rod 40? connected by means of a swivel joint 240 with the remaining part of the pusher rod 40. The end? free of said terminal section 140? engaged in a slot 142 of the end? free of a lever 42. Lever 42? fulcrum at the end? opposite so as to oscillate around an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the furnace F '. Each lever 42 is actuated by an actuator cylinder 43 which determines cos? the sliding of the pusher rods in both directions transversely to the longitudinal direction of the furnace F? and therefore of the slabs B1, B2 inside the associated grooves 135 of the bottom 35 of the furnace F '. Thanks to this construction, the slabs B1 and B2 which are fed to the intermediate furnace F 'on the inlet tracks PEI and PE2 by the continuous casting plants Cl, C2, are transferred transversely to their longitudinal extension alternatively on the outlet track PU. In fig. 9 the pusher rods on both sides of the furnace F 'are shown in their position of maximum extraction from the furnace F' itself. In this position, they are brought into their upright position (see left side of fig. 9) and thus lift them. the slabs B1 from the bottom of the kiln 35 except for the slab arranged directly adjacent to the exit track PU. Subsequently, thanks to the actuator cylinders 43, the pushing rods 40 are moved in the direction of the output track PU and move the slabs B1 in the direction thereof. The slab B1 immediately adjacent to the exit track PU is not raised by the sole 35 of the furnace but is simply pushed onto the exit track PU by the teeth 41 provided on the end. of the pushing rods 40. At the end of the displacement step, the pushing rods are rotated into their lying position, causing the slabs to rest on the bottom 35 of the furnace and are then moved again in the direction of extraction from the furnace F '.

According to a further characteristic of this embodiment, the push rods are cooled at least for a partial portion of their extension. In particular, the cooled portion of the push rods 40 illustrated in fig. 10? preferably consisting of the portion adjacent to the longitudinal walls of the oven F '. In correspondence with this cooled portion, the push rods 40 are made tubular and are provided with a feed union 50 for the cooling liquid. Inside the tubular section of the pusher rod 40? a second coaxial tube 51 of smaller diameter is housed and opens to the outside of the pusher rod 40 with a radial discharge union 151. The portion of the pusher rods 40 not cooled and inside the furnace F '? preferably made with a particular alloy resistant to high temperatures and? suitably supported at the bottom by the housing groove 135 in the bottom 35 of the oven.

The advantages of the intermediate furnace according to the invention are evident from the foregoing and from the figures. The intermediate furnace according to the invention makes it possible to integrate in a single machine of very limited dimensions, in particular as regards its dimensions in the direction of the longitudinal axis of a plant, the heating devices and the devices for transporting the slabs produced by one or more? continuous casting plants to a subsequent rolling line. The intermediate furnace and the associated transport means can be made in a relatively simple and inexpensive way from the construction point of view. Thanks to the particular movement of the slabs inside the kiln? It is possible to ensure uniform and optimal heating of the slabs at the desired rolling temperature. There? can be obtained thanks to a corresponding dimensioning in width of the intermediate furnace and to the speed? and the width of the transverse transfer steps from the kiln inlet tracks to the output track. The intermediate furnace according to the invention also has a function in the form of a buffer furnace, allowing to store a certain number of slabs inside it and thus guaranteeing a release of the continuous casting plants from the rolling line. There? guarantees, depending on the size of the intermediate oven, more times? or shorter, in which? It is possible to carry out maintenance operations without completely interrupting the operation of the system.

Of course, the invention is not? limited to executive forms tests? described and illustrated but can? be widely varied and modified, especially constructively. The construction of the intermediate furnace according to the invention can? be made in any way whatsoever, in particular as regards the inlet tracks, the outlet tracks and the transversal transfer means of the slabs. In addition, the lamination line can? also be powered by pi? continuous casting plants, providing downstream of each continuous casting plant or of each pair of continuous casting plants an intermediate furnace according to the invention or a transfer device, while the slabs leaving each pair of intermediate furnaces can be fed to them time in a further intermediate furnace which feeds the lamination line. All this without abandoning the guiding principle set out above and claimed below.

Claims (26)

CLAIMS 1. Intermediate oven intended to be interposed between one or more? continuous casting plants (C, Cl, C2) for slabs (B) in particular thin, or similar, and a subsequent rolling line (L), characterized by the fact that the longitudinal axis of the continuous casting plant (s) (C , Cl, C2)? arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rolling line (L) but? transversely offset with respect to the latter, and said intermediate furnace comprises:. - on its inlet side facing the or the continuous casting plant (C, Cl, C2), one or more? inlet openings (E, E1, E2) each associated with a continuous casting plant (C, Cl, C2) and coaxial with it; - an entry track (PE, PEI, PE2) associated with each entry opening (E, E1, E2) and arranged mainly inside the intermediate furnace (F, F1) as well as? oriented coaxially to the respective continuous casting plant (C, Cl, C2) and on which track (PE, PEI, PE2) the slabs (B, B1, B2) leaving the respective continuous casting plant (C, Cl, C2) they are fed one after the other, with their longitudinal axis parallel to said track (PE, PEI, PE2) itself; - on the outlet side of the intermediate furnace (F, F ') facing the rolling line, an outlet opening (U) coaxial to said rolling line (L); - an outlet track (PU) inside the intermediate furnace (F, F '), oriented parallel to the inlet track (PE, PEI, PE2) and coaxial to the longitudinal axis of the rolling line (L) and on which the slabs (B, B1, B2) are arranged with their longitudinal axis oriented parallel to said track (PU) itself; - means (15, 40) for transferring the slabs (B, B1, B2) inside the intermediate kiln (F, F '), transversely to the said inlet tracks (PE, PEI, PE2) and exit (PU), i.e. the longitudinal extension of the slabs (B, B1, B2) themselves, from the entry lane (PE, PEI, PE2) to the exit lane (PU). 2. Intermediate kiln according to claim 1, characterized in that the transversal transfer means (15, 40) of the slabs are made in such a way as to determine a transversal displacement in steps of the single slabs (B, B1, B2), alternatively one after the other towards the exit lane (PU). 3. Intermediate furnace according to claim 2, characterized in that the length of the individual steps can? be any and can? eventually correspond substantially to the width of the single slabs (B, B1, B2), while the exit track (PU) and the inlet tracks (PE, PEI, PE2) are preferably made in such a way that they can accommodate only one slab (B, B1, B2) at a time. 4. Intermediate furnace according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that the length of the chamber (10) of the intermediate furnace (F, F ') parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rolling line (L)? slightly greater than the longitudinal extension of the slabs (B, Bl, B2), while the width? made in such a way as to simultaneously accommodate a pi? slabs (B, Bl, B2) side by side and to ensure a residence time of said slabs (B, Bl, B2) sufficient for their optimal heating to the rolling temperature. 5. Intermediate furnace according to one or more? of the previous claims, characterized by the fact that the entrance runway (PE, PEI, PE2)? provided at a longitudinal side of the furnace (F, F ') and d? spaced from the outlet track (PU) by an intermediate furnace part, to which the transversal transfer means (15, 40) of the slabs (B, Bl, B2) are associated, being the longitudinal axes of the continuous casting plants ( C, Cl, C2) offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rolling line (L) corresponding to the distance between the inlet lanes (PE, PEI, PE2) and the outlet lane (PU) and corresponding the said distance to pi? transversal transfer steps of the slabs (B, Bl, B2). 6. Intermediate furnace according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that in correspondence with the inlet tracks (PE, PEI, PE2) the dramas (B, Bl, B2) are heated by means of d? side burners (P) provided above and possibly also below said tracks, while in the remaining part of the furnace (F, F ') the bramine (B, Bl, B2) are preferably heated from above, burners (A) being provided in correspondence with the top of the chamber (10) of the furnace (F, F '). 7. Intermediate furnace according to claim 6, characterized in that the burners (P, A) are divided into successive zones, in the longitudinal direction of the slabs and are independently adjustable for each zone in relation to the distribution of the temperature on the longitudinal extension of the slabs (B, Bl, B2). 8. Intermediate furnace according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inlet tracks (PE, PEI, PE2) and the outlet track (PU) preferably consist of transport means in the longitudinal direction of the furnace (F, F '). 9. Intermediate furnace according to claim 8, characterized in that the inlet tracks (PE, PEI, PE2) consist of roller ways, the rollers (11, 32) being preferably motorized and / or cooled, in particular synchronized with the speed? of the slabs (B, Bl, B2) leaving the respective continuous casting plant (C, Cl, C2). 10. Intermediate furnace according to claim 9, characterized in that the inlet tracks (PE, PEI, PE2) have, on the side facing the respective continuous casting plants (C, Cl, C2), an initial section of invitation (13, 31) outside the oven chamber and what? consisting of rollers (14). 11. Intermediate furnace according to claim 9, characterized in that the rollers (11) consist of cantilevered rollers supported in correspondence with the side wall of the furnace (F, F '). 12. Intermediate furnace according to claim 11, characterized in that the rollers (11) are composed of a cylindrical tubular support body (25) which extends inside the chamber (10) of the furnace (F) and has a hole (26) tapering towards its extremity? free, while at the other end, outside the oven chamber (10), they are provided with a disk (27) supported on rotating wheels (28) integral with the external wall of the oven (F) and are connected with a conical neck (29) to a cylindrical drive pin (30) supported in the motor unit (M). 13. Intermediate furnace according to claim 10, characterized in that the outlet track (PU) can be made up of a plurality? of rollers (12) aligned in pi? parallel rows, being associated with pick-up rollers (6) (pich-rolls) external to the intermediate oven (F) at the end? of the exit lane (PU) itself. 14. Intermediate furnace according to claim 10, characterized in that the outlet track (PU) can be made up of one or more? movable longitudinal members (33) oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the furnace (F, F ') and housed in a corresponding opening (34) of the bottom (35) of the furnace (F?), with alternative means of moving in the vertical direction being provided (36, 37, 39) and horizontal displacement in the longitudinal direction of the furnace (F '). 15. Intermediate furnace according to claim 14, characterized in that? provided a single movable longitudinal member (33) whose width and length are less than the width and length of the slabs (B, B1, B2) and the slots (34) in the bottom (35) of the furnace (F ')? made slightly smaller than that of the slabs (B, Bl, B2). 16. Intermediate furnace according to uria or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transversal transfer means of the slabs (B, B1, B2) consist of mobile longitudinal members (15) and fixed longitudinal members (16) arranged alternately and transversely to the longitudinal axis of the furnace ( F) means (19, 119, 21, 22) being provided for their vertical displacement alternately above and below the support surface (116) of the mobile side members (16) and means (118, 23) of displacement transversal to the longitudinal axis of the oven (F) of the said movable longitudinal members (15). 17. Intermediate furnace according to claim 16, characterized in that the longitudinal members (15, 16) are oriented inclined with respect to the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the furnace (F). 18. Intermediate furnace according to claims 16 and 17, characterized in that the movable longitudinal members (15) are arranged with one end thereof. between two adjacent rollers (11) of the inlet track (PE, PEI, PE2) and with their ends? opposite between two groups of coaxial wheels (12) of the output track (PU) and are preferably water-cooled. 19. Intermediate furnace according to one or more? of the preceding claims 1 to 15, characterized by the fact that the transverse transfer means consist of pushing rods (40) partially extending inside the furnace and slidably housed in grooves (135) of the bottom (35) of the furnace (F '), means (43, 42) being provided for their transversal displacement alternatively from the output track (PU) towards the input track (PEI, PE2) and towards the output track (PU). 20. Intermediate furnace according to claim 19, characterized in that each pusher rod (40) has: - a section substantially internal to the chamber (10) of the furnace (F '), the cross section of which? elongated radially in one direction so as to assume a substantially oval shape and at the apex of the elongation, the pusher rod has teeth (41) projecting radially from it and equidistant from each other, while the housing grooves ( 135) of the bottom of the oven (35) have a depth? such that in its upright angular position, the pusher rod (40) protrudes beyond the upper surface of the furnace and in its lying position extends below the upper surface of the floor (35) of the furnace (F '); a section external to the furnace (F '), on which common means (44, 45) engage for the simultaneous rotation of the pushing rods (40) around their longitudinal axis alternately in their upright position and in their lying position; - a terminal section (140) external to the furnace (F ') which is connected with one end? the push rod (40) by means of a revolving joint (240) and with the end? free to the actuation means (42, 43) of the pusher rod (40). 21. Intermediate kiln according to claims 19 and 20, characterized in that in their upright position the pushing rods (40) support by lifting them from the bottom of the kiln (35) all the slabs (Bl, B2) with the exception of the slab (Bl, B2 ) arranged directly adjacent to the output track (PU), so that during the lifting step the latter is pushed only by the head surfaces of the push rods (40) themselves. 22. Intermediate furnace according to claims 19 to 21, characterized in that each push rod? cooled, preferably only in correspondence with an intermediate tubular portion thereof, while the terminal portion inside the chamber (10) of the furnace (F ')? made of a melt-resistant alloy. 23. Intermediate furnace according to one or more? of the previous claims, characterized by the fact that? interposed between a single continuous casting plant (C) and a subsequent rolling line (L) and therefore has an inlet track (PE) and an inlet opening (E) in correspondence with a longitudinal side, i.e. parallel to the axis of the continuous casting plant (C) and to the rolling line (L), while the outlet track (PU) and the associated outlet opening (U) are arranged on the opposite side. 24. Intermediate furnace according to one or more? of the preceding claims 1 to 22, characterized in that? interposed between two continuous casting plants (Cl, C2) parallel to each other and which feed a single rolling line (L) and has two inlet tracks (PEI, PE2) with the associated inlet openings (El, E2) each arranged at one of the two opposite longitudinal sides of the intermediate furnace (F '), that is? parallel to the axis of the continuous casting plants (Cl, C2), while the longitudinal axis of the exit lane (PU) and of the exit openings (U) which? coaxial to the longitudinal axis of the rolling line (L)? coinciding with the median longitudinal axis of the kiln (F ') itself and the slabs (Bl, B2) fed by the continuous casting plants (Cl, C2) are brought to the exit lane (PU) alternately one after the other. 25. Intermediate furnace according to one or more? of the previous claims, characterized by the fact that it can? be interposed between pi? of two continuous casting plants (C) and a subsequent rolling line (L), in particular between four continuous casting plants (C) and a subsequent rolling line (L), being provided downstream of each pair of continuous casting (Cl, C2) a first intermediate kiln (F1) or a transfer, while the slabs (Bl, B2) leaving each pair of intermediate furnaces (F1) or transfer units can in turn be fed to a second furnace intermediate which feeds the rolling line (L) alternatively with a slab of one pair of continuous casting plants or of the other pair of said plants. 26. Intermediate furnace, in whole or in part as described, illustrated and for the purposes set out above.