JP6123644B2 - Pull-up type continuous casting apparatus and pull-up type continuous casting method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an up-drawing continuous casting apparatus and an up-drawing continuous casting method.

  In Patent Document 1, the inventors have proposed a free casting method as an innovative continuous casting method that does not require a mold. As shown in Patent Document 1, after the starter is immersed in the surface of the molten metal (molten metal) (that is, the molten metal surface), when the starter is pulled up, the molten metal follows the starter by the surface film or surface tension of the molten metal. Derived. Here, a casting having a desired cross-sectional shape can be continuously cast by deriving and cooling the molten metal through a shape determining member installed in the vicinity of the molten metal surface.

In a normal continuous casting method, the shape in the longitudinal direction is defined along with the cross-sectional shape by the mold. In particular, in the continuous casting method, since the solidified metal (that is, the casting) needs to pass through the mold, the cast casting has a shape extending linearly in the longitudinal direction.
On the other hand, the shape defining member in the free casting method defines only the cross-sectional shape of the casting, and does not define the shape in the longitudinal direction. And since a shape prescription | regulation member can move to the direction (namely, horizontal direction) parallel to a molten metal surface, the casting in which the shape of a longitudinal direction is various is obtained. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a hollow casting (that is, a pipe) that is formed in a zigzag shape or a spiral shape instead of being linear in the longitudinal direction.

JP 2012-61518 A

  The inventor has found the following problems. In the free casting method described in Patent Document 1, there is a problem in that the productivity of the casting cannot be improved because the starter must be replaced every time the casting is cast.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and is a pulling-up type capable of improving the productivity of castings by pressurizing a molten metal and passing the molten metal through a shape determining member without using a starter. An object of the present invention is to provide a continuous casting apparatus and a pull-up type continuous casting method.

  An up-drawing continuous casting apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention is installed in a holding furnace for holding a molten metal and in the vicinity of a molten metal surface of the molten metal, and defines a cross-sectional shape of a casting to be cast by passing the molten metal. A shape defining member and a pressurizing device for passing the molten metal through the shape defining member by pressurizing the molten metal held in the holding furnace. Thereby, since a casting can be cast without using a starter, the productivity of the casting can be improved.

  The pressurizing device preferably pressurizes the molten metal held in the holding furnace by moving the shape defining member into the molten metal held in the holding furnace.

  The pressurizing device includes a sealed container that seals the molten metal held in the holding furnace, and a pressurizing unit that pressurizes the molten metal held in the holding furnace by pouring a fluid into the sealed container. It is preferable to have.

  The pressurizing device further includes a stalk extending from the shape defining member to the molten metal surface of the molten metal held in the holding furnace, and the pressurizing device pressurizes the molten metal held in the holding furnace. Accordingly, it is preferable that the molten metal is passed through the shape defining member via the stalk.

  The apparatus further comprises a lead-out portion for guiding the molten metal held in the holding furnace through the shape determining member by gripping and lifting the casting formed by solidifying the molten metal that has passed through the shape determining member. Is preferred.

  In the up-drawing continuous casting method according to one aspect of the present invention, a shape-defining member that defines a cross-sectional shape of a casting to be cast by passing the molten metal is installed near the molten metal surface of the molten metal held in a holding furnace. And a step of passing the molten metal through the shape defining member by pressurizing the molten metal held in the holding furnace. Thereby, since a casting can be cast without using a starter, the productivity of the casting can be improved.

  It is preferable to pressurize the molten metal held in the holding furnace by moving the shape defining member into the molten metal held in the holding furnace.

  It is preferable to further provide a sealed container for sealing the molten metal held in the holding furnace, and pressurize the molten metal held in the holding furnace by pouring a fluid into the sealed container.

  A stalk extending from the shape defining member to the molten metal surface of the molten metal held in the holding furnace is further provided, and the molten metal held in the holding furnace is pressurized to thereby form the molten metal through the stalk. It is preferable to pass through the defining member.

  The method further comprises the step of deriving the molten metal held in the holding furnace through the shape defining member by grasping and pulling up the casting formed by solidifying the molten metal that has passed through the shape defining member. preferable.

  According to the present invention, a pulling-up-type continuous casting apparatus and a pull-up-type continuous casting method capable of improving the productivity of a casting by pressurizing a molten metal and passing the molten metal through a shape determining member without using a starter. Can be provided.

It is sectional drawing which shows the structural example of the free casting apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a shape defining member 102 provided in the free casting apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the free casting apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the free casting apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the free casting apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the free casting apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the free casting apparatus according to Embodiment 1. It is sectional drawing which shows the structural example of the free casting apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the structural example of the free casting apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 3. FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the other structural example of the free casting apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a top view of the shape determination member 102 provided in the free casting apparatus shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment. In addition, for clarity of explanation, the following description and drawings are simplified as appropriate.

<Embodiment 1>
First, with reference to FIG. 1, the free casting apparatus (pull-up type continuous casting apparatus) according to Embodiment 1 will be described. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration example of a free casting apparatus according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a free casting apparatus according to Embodiment 1 includes a molten metal holding furnace (holding furnace) 101, an external shape defining member 102a, a support rod 103, an actuator 104, a cooling nozzle (cooling section) 105, and A derivation unit 106 is provided.

  The molten metal holding furnace 101 accommodates a molten metal M1 such as aluminum or an alloy thereof and holds it at a predetermined temperature. In the example of FIG. 1, since the molten metal M1 is not replenished to the molten metal holding furnace 101 during casting, the surface of the molten metal M1 (that is, the molten metal surface) is lowered with the progress of casting. On the other hand, the molten metal may be replenished to the molten metal holding furnace 101 at any time during casting to keep the molten metal surface constant. As a matter of course, the molten metal M1 may be a metal or alloy other than aluminum.

  The external shape defining member 102a is made of, for example, ceramics or stainless steel, and is disposed in the vicinity of the molten metal surface. In the example of FIG. 1, the external shape defining member 102a is disposed at a position lower than the hot water surface. Further, in the example of FIG. 1, the side wall W extending vertically upward from the outer edge of the external shape defining member 102a is the outer shape defining member 102a so that the molten metal M1 does not flow from the outer edge of the external shape defining member 102a to the upper main surface. And is integrally formed.

  The external shape defining member 102a defines the external shape of the casting M3 to be cast. The casting M3 shown in FIG. 1 is a cylindrical casting in which the shape of a horizontal section (hereinafter referred to as a transverse section) is circular. That is, more specifically, the external shape defining member 102a defines the outer diameter of the cross section of the casting M3.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view of the external shape defining member 102a. Here, the cross-sectional view of the external shape defining member 102a of FIG. 1 corresponds to the II cross-sectional view of FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the external shape defining member 102a has, for example, a rectangular planar shape, and has a circular opening at the center. This opening becomes a molten metal passage portion 102b through which the molten metal passes. As described above, the shape defining member 102 is configured by the external shape defining member 102a and the molten metal passage portion 102b.

  The support rod 103 supports the external shape defining member 102a. The support rod 103 is connected to the actuator 104.

  The actuator 104 has a function of moving the external shape defining member 102 a in the vertical direction (vertical direction) and the horizontal direction via the support rod 103. Thereby, the external shape defining member 102a can be moved downward as the molten metal surface is lowered due to the progress of casting. Further, since the external shape defining member 102a can be moved in the horizontal direction, the shape of the casting M3 in the longitudinal direction can be freely changed.

  Furthermore, in the example of FIG. 1, the actuator 104 also has a function as a pressurizing device that pressurizes the molten metal M1. Specifically, the actuator 104 pressurizes the molten metal M1 by moving the external shape defining member 102a into the molten metal M1 (downward). When the external shape defining member 102a moves to a position lower than the molten metal surface of the molten metal M1, the molten metal M1 is pushed up from the molten metal surface via the molten metal passage portion 102b (the molten metal M1 passes through the molten metal passage portion 102b). In addition, the molten metal M1 that has been pushed up from the molten metal surface by pressurizing the molten metal M1 (or subsequently pulled up by the outlet 106) is referred to as a retained molten metal M2. The interface between the retained molten metal M2 and the casting M3 formed by solidifying the retained molten metal M2 is referred to as a solidified interface.

  The cooling nozzle 105 is for blowing and cooling cooling gas (air, nitrogen, argon, etc.) on the retained molten metal M2 that has passed through the molten metal passage portion 102b and the casting M3 formed by solidifying the retained molten metal M2. is there. The retained molten metal M2 that has passed through the molten metal passage portion 102b by pressurizing the molten metal M1 is solidified by being cooled with a cooling gas to form a casting M3.

  The derivation unit 106 includes a gripping unit 1061, a connecting member 1062, and a pulling machine 1063. The gripping part 1061 grips a casting M3 formed by solidifying the retained molten metal M2 that has passed through the molten metal passage part 102b. The connecting member 1062 connects the grip portion 1061 and the pulling machine 1063. The pulling machine 1063 drives the grip part 1061 in the vertical direction (vertical direction).

  When the lead-out part 106 pulls up the casting M3 formed by solidifying the retained molten metal M2, the molten metal M1 is also lifted up and passes through the molten metal passage part 102b as the retained molten metal M2.

  As described above, the free casting apparatus according to the present embodiment passes the retained molten metal M2 through the molten metal passage portion 102b by pressurizing the molten metal M1. The free casting apparatus according to the present embodiment grips and pulls up the casting M3 formed by solidification of the retained molten metal M2 that has passed through the molten metal passage portion 102b, so that the molten metal M1 that follows it is pulled from the molten metal surface. Raised. That is, the free casting apparatus according to the present embodiment uses a casting M3 formed by solidifying the retained molten metal M2 as a starter. As a result, the free casting apparatus according to the present embodiment eliminates the need to replace the starter each time a casting is cast, thereby reducing the time required to replace the starter and reducing costs. . That is, the free casting apparatus according to the present embodiment can improve casting productivity.

  Next, the free casting method according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3A to 3E. 3A to 3E are diagrams for explaining the operation of the free casting apparatus according to the first embodiment.

  First, the external shape determining member 102a is installed near the molten metal surface of the molten metal M1 held in the molten metal holding furnace 101 (FIG. 3A).

  Next, the molten metal M1 is pressurized by moving the external shape defining member 102a into the molten metal M1 (FIG. 3B). When the external shape determining member 102a moves to a position lower than the surface of the molten metal M1, the molten metal M1 passes through the molten metal passage portion 102b as the retained molten metal M2.

  Next, the retained molten metal M <b> 2 that has passed through the molten metal passage portion 102 b is cooled by the cooling gas blown out from the cooling nozzle 105. Thereby, the retained molten metal M2 is solidified to form a casting M3 (FIG. 3C).

  The casting M3 grows by moving the external shape determining member 102a further into the molten metal M1 and cooling the retained molten metal M2 that has passed through the molten metal passage portion 102b (FIG. 3D). Then, when the casting M3 grows to such an extent that it can be gripped by the gripping portion 1061, the movement of the external shape defining member 102a into the molten metal M1 (that is, pressurization to the molten metal M1) is stopped. Thereafter, the external shape defining member 102a may remain fixed in the molten metal M1, or may move to the vicinity of the molten metal surface of the molten metal M1. However, when the external shape defining member 102a is fixed in the molten metal M1, since the molten metal M1 is always pressurized, the derivation of the molten metal M1 is improved.

  Next, the casting M3 is pulled up by the outlet 106 (FIG. 3E). Here, even if the casting M3 is separated from the molten metal surface, the molten metal M1 is pulled up from the molten metal surface by the surface film or surface tension to form the retained molten metal M2. As shown in FIG. 1, the retained molten metal M2 is formed in the molten metal passage portion 102b. In other words, a shape is imparted to the retained molten metal M2 by the external shape defining member 102a.

  The retained molten metal M <b> 2 pulled up by the derivation unit 106 is cooled by the cooling gas blown out from the cooling nozzle 105. Thereby, the retained molten metal M2 pulled up by the lead-out part 106 is solidified in order from the upper side to the lower side, and the casting M3 grows. In this way, the casting M3 can be continuously cast.

  As described above, the free casting apparatus according to the present embodiment passes the retained molten metal M2 through the molten metal passage portion 102b by pressurizing the molten metal M1. The free casting apparatus according to the present embodiment grips and pulls up the casting M3 formed by solidification of the retained molten metal M2 that has passed through the molten metal passage portion 102b, so that the molten metal M1 that follows it is removed from the molten metal surface. Raised. That is, the free casting apparatus according to the present embodiment uses a casting M3 formed by solidifying the retained molten metal M2 as a starter. As a result, the free casting apparatus according to the present embodiment eliminates the need to replace the starter each time a casting is cast, thereby reducing the time required to replace the starter and reducing costs. . That is, the free casting apparatus according to the present embodiment can improve casting productivity.

<Embodiment 2>
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration example of the free casting apparatus according to the second embodiment. The free casting apparatus shown in FIG. 4 includes a pressurizing apparatus having a different configuration compared to the free casting apparatus shown in FIG.

  Specifically, as compared with the free casting apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the free casting apparatus shown in FIG. 4 has a lid 107 for sealing the molten metal M <b> 1 and a fluid supply unit (in which fluid flows into the sealed region ( Pressurizing unit) 108. In the example of FIG. 4, a cylindrical stalk S extending from the inner edge of the external shape defining member 102a (that is, the molten metal passage portion 102b) to the molten metal surface of the molten metal M1 is provided. In the example of FIG. 4, since the molten metal M1 does not flow from the outer edge of the external shape defining member 102a to the upper main surface, the side wall W extending vertically upward from the outer edge of the external shape defining member 102a may not be provided. . The other configuration of the free casting apparatus shown in FIG. 4 is the same as that of the free casting apparatus shown in FIG.

  The lid 107 closes the opening of the molten metal holding furnace 101. That is, the molten metal holding furnace 101 and the lid 107 constitute a sealed container for sealing the molten metal M1. However, the lid 107 is provided with an opening that allows the stalk S to pass therethrough. The stalk S is provided so as to extend from the inner edge of the external shape defining member 102a (that is, the molten metal passage portion 102b) to the molten metal surface of the molten metal M1 through the opening of the lid 107.

  The fluid supply unit 108 pressurizes the molten metal M <b> 1 by flowing a fluid (such as air) into the sealed container. Thereby, the molten metal M1 passes through the molten metal passage portion 102b via the stalk S. Thereby, the free casting apparatus shown in FIG. 4 can have the same effect as the free casting apparatus shown in FIG.

<Embodiment 3>
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration example of the free casting apparatus according to the third embodiment. The free casting apparatus shown in FIG. 5 includes a pressure device having a different configuration as compared with the free casting apparatus shown in FIG.

  Specifically, the free casting apparatus shown in FIG. 5 further includes an object 109 and a drive unit 110 that drives the object 109 in the vertical direction (vertical direction) as compared to the free casting apparatus shown in FIG. . The other configuration of the free casting apparatus shown in FIG. 5 is the same as that of the free casting apparatus shown in FIG.

  The object 109 is a solid formed of a material having a melting point higher than that of the molten metal M1. The drive unit 110 pressurizes the molten metal M1 by moving the object 109 from outside the molten metal M1 into the molten metal M1. Thereby, the free casting apparatus shown in FIG. 5 can have the same effect as the free casting apparatus shown in FIG.

  As described above, the free casting apparatus according to the first to third embodiments pressurizes the molten metal M1 and passes the molten metal M1 through the shape defining member 102 without using a starter. As a result, the free casting apparatus according to the first to third embodiments eliminates the need to replace the starter every time the casting is cast, thereby reducing the time required for replacing the starter and reducing the cost. be able to. That is, the free casting apparatus according to the first to third embodiments can improve casting productivity.

  In the said embodiment, although the case where a cylindrical casting (cylindrical casting) was cast was demonstrated to the example, it is not restricted to this. The present invention can also be applied to casting of other shapes such as a cylindrical shape, a prismatic shape, and a rectangular tube shape. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG.6 and FIG.7, the case where a cylindrical casting is cast is demonstrated easily.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing another configuration example of the free casting apparatus according to the present invention. The free casting apparatus shown in FIG. 6 further includes an internal shape defining member 102c in addition to the external shape defining member 102a.

  The internal shape defining member 102c defines the internal shape of the casting M3 to be cast, and the external shape defining member 102a defines the external shape of the cast M3 to be cast. The casting M3 shown in FIG. 6 is a hollow casting (that is, a pipe) having a horizontal cross section (hereinafter referred to as a transverse section) having a tubular shape. More specifically, the inner shape defining member 102c defines the inner diameter of the cross section of the casting M3, and the outer shape defining member 102a defines the outer diameter of the cross section of the casting M3.

  The internal shape defining member 102 c is supported by the support rod 111. The support rod 111 is connected to the actuator 104. The actuator 104 has a function of moving the external shape defining member 102a and the internal shape defining member 102c in the vertical direction (vertical direction) and the horizontal direction via the support rods 103 and 111.

  FIG. 7 is a plan view of the inner shape defining member 102c and the outer shape defining member 102a. Here, the sectional view of the inner shape defining member 102c and the outer shape defining member 102a in FIG. 6 corresponds to the II-II sectional view in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the external shape defining member 102a has, for example, a rectangular planar shape, and has a circular opening at the center. The internal shape defining member 102c has a circular planar shape and is disposed at the center of the opening of the external shape defining member 102a. A gap between the inner shape defining member 102c and the outer shape defining member 102a becomes a molten metal passage portion 102b through which the molten metal passes. As described above, the shape defining member 102 is configured by the internal shape defining member 102c, the external shape defining member 102a, and the molten metal passage portion 102b. With such a configuration, a cylindrical casting is cast.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the above-described configuration examples may be used in combination.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Molten metal holding furnace 102 Shape defining member 102a External shape defining member 102b Melt passage portion 102c Internal shape defining member 103 Support rod 104 Actuator 105 Cooling nozzle 106 Deriving portion 1061 Holding portion 1062 Connecting member 1063 Lifting machine 107 Lid 108 Fluid supply portion 109 Object 110 Drive unit 111 Support rod M1 Molten metal M2 Holding molten metal M3 Casting W Side wall S Stoke

Claims (10)

A holding furnace for holding molten metal;
A shape defining member that is installed in the vicinity of the molten metal surface and that defines the cross-sectional shape of a casting to be cast by passing the molten metal,
A pressurizing device for passing the molten metal through the shape defining member by pressurizing the molten metal held in the holding furnace ,
The said shape prescription | regulation member is a pulling-up-type continuous casting apparatus comprised so that a movement in a horizontal direction is possible .   The pulling-up-type continuous apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressurizing device pressurizes the molten metal held in the holding furnace by moving the shape defining member into the molten metal held in the holding furnace. Casting equipment. The pressure device is
A sealed container for sealing the molten metal held in the holding furnace;
The pulling-up-type continuous casting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a pressurizing unit that pressurizes the molten metal held in the holding furnace by pouring a fluid into the sealed container. The pressure device is
A stalk extending from the shape determining member to the molten metal surface of the molten metal held in the holding furnace;
The pulling-up-type continuous casting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the pressurizing device pressurizes the molten metal held in the holding furnace to pass the molten metal through the stalk through the shape defining member.   The apparatus further comprises a lead-out portion for guiding the molten metal held in the holding furnace through the shape defining member by grasping and pulling up the casting formed by solidifying the molten metal that has passed through the shape defining member. The pulling-up-type continuous casting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. In the vicinity of the molten metal surface of the molten metal held in the holding furnace, a step of locating a shape defining member that defines the cross-sectional shape of the casting to be cast by passing the molten metal , horizontally movable ,
And a step of passing the molten metal through the shape defining member by pressurizing the molten metal held in the holding furnace.   The pulling-up-type continuous casting method according to claim 6, wherein the molten metal held in the holding furnace is pressurized by moving the shape defining member into the molten metal held in the holding furnace. Further provided a sealed container for sealing the molten metal held in the holding furnace,
The pulling-up-type continuous casting method according to claim 6, wherein the molten metal held in the holding furnace is pressurized by pouring a fluid into the sealed container. A stalk extending from the shape determining member to the molten metal surface of the molten metal held in the holding furnace;
The pulling-up-type continuous casting method according to claim 8, wherein the molten metal held in the holding furnace is pressurized to pass the molten metal through the stalk through the shape defining member.   Further comprising the step of deriving the molten metal held in the holding furnace through the shape defining member by grasping and pulling up the casting formed by solidifying the molten metal that has passed through the shape defining member. The pulling-up-type continuous casting method according to any one of claims 6 to 9.

Images