RU2614225C2 - Inclinable converter - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: metallurgy.

SUBSTANCE: invention can be used in design of suspension for tilting converter housing which comprises a housing defining the position of the first axis (X), a support ring with a common axis with the housing, set at a distance from the said housing, wherein the support ring has two supporting journals located diametrically opposite and determining the position of the second axis (Y), perpendicular to the first axis (X), and providing a converter rotation about the said second axis, the first and the second suspension devices connecting the said housing to the support ring. Each first suspension device comprises a central structure attached to the housing; the first side structure disposed at the first side of the said central structure and attached to the surface of support ring; the second side structure disposed at the second side of the said central structure opposite to the said first side and attached to the surface of support ring. The first and the second side structures comprise respectively two first stops located at a distance from each other, and a group of elastic cross pieces arranged next to each other and extending parallel to each other, the ends of which are supported by two first stops.

EFFECT: invention allows to create a suspension structure for housing of converter connecting said housing with a support ring to avoids shock and overload in these areas, and to compensate for thermal expansion and ensure reliability of said suspension in contaminated environment and high temperatures.

12 cl, 5 dwg

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a tiltable converter equipped with a converter housing suspension system connecting said housing with a support ring.

State of the art

Converters are tiltable metallurgical vessels used for the production or processing of liquid metals and metal alloys. The converter is supported by several suspension elements, which are located under or above the support ring of the converter and are attached at one end to the converter and at the other end to the support ring of the converter.

The main purpose of the oxygen converter is the processing of pig iron obtained in a blast furnace into liquid thermally untreated steel, which can be further processed in the workshop for the production of steel with narrow application. Converters can also be used, for example, to remove vanadium or phosphorus from a liquid hot metal to produce so-called semi-hot metal, which can be loaded into an oxygen converter for further processing.

The main functions of such converters, also known as B.O.F. (converter furnace with oxygen supply) are decarburization and removal of phosphorus, vanadium, silicon dioxide from cast iron, as well as achieving the optimum temperature of the steel to perform further processing before casting with minimal heating and cooling of the steel.

Exothermic oxidative reactions occurring in the converter produce a large amount of thermal energy, which exceeds the value required to achieve the set temperature of the steel. This additional thermal energy is used to melt the scrap and / or ferrous alloy metals.

Converter B.O.F. is a furnace that is subject to high thermal expansion. In this regard, a support ring with a set clearance is installed around the converter.

In addition to thermal loads, the connecting elements (suspension) are subject to high mechanical loads created by the weight of the equipment, and the degree of such mechanical loads varies depending on the angle of the converter. Therefore, the suspension elements must be located so that such elements do not experience overload at any angle.

In addition, these elements must be protected from the spill of liquid steel or slag from the neck of the converter.

Several types of converter suspension systems are known in the art. An example of a known oxygen converter is described in DE 1903685 B2.

The known converter comprises a housing or vessel forming a reaction chamber and having a substantially cylindrical shape, supported by a support ring or support belt surrounding the housing and installed at a required distance from it, and also having two support axles (support rollers) located diametrically opposed; while the entire structure is supported by two supports attached to the ground. The control device for turning the housing is fixed with wedges or fixed on one of the two support pins.

This converter has a suspension system that uses elements in the form of plates to create a vertical support for the converter installed in the support ring. These plates are located under the support ring when the converter is in a vertical position, and its loading neck is directed upwards.

The support of the converter in a horizontal position, when the converter is rotated +90 or -90 degrees from a vertical position, is provided by rigid supports attached to the vessel and rigid supports attached to the support ring.

Another embodiment of the converter suspension is disclosed in WO2008092488, where the plates are used as part of a suspension and a rigid shaft is connected as a plumb line. Such a suspension is too stiff and creates problems in the polluted environment with high temperatures in which the converter works.

The publication WO 2011069395 describes a suspension consisting of blocking mechanisms and plumb bob, which also creates difficulties when used in a polluted environment with high temperatures, and is also subject to rapid wear.

In order to avoid shock loads between the supports on the vessel and on the support ring additional contact elements must be installed, the adjustment of which allows to avoid gaps. However, the temperature difference of the additional elements can create additional loads on the suspension elements.

Therefore, there is a need for a tiltable converter that eliminates these drawbacks.

Disclosure of invention

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a suspension device for the housing of the tiltable converter connecting the specified housing with the support ring, which will avoid both shock loads and overload in the areas between the part of the device attached to the case and the parts of the device attached to the support ring, and also compensate for thermal expansion, while the suspension device works reliably with low wear in a polluted environment and at high temperatures.

Another objective of the invention is the creation of a converter having a suspension system configured to absorb vibrations arising during the melting process.

Thus, the present invention provides a solution to achieve the above objectives by creating a tiltable converter, which contains:

a housing defining a position of a first X axis;

a support ring having a common axis with the housing and installed at a distance from the specified housing,

wherein the support ring has two support axles located diametrically opposite, defining the position of the second axis Y, which is perpendicular to the first axis X, and providing rotation of the converter around the specified second axis Y;

at least one pair of first suspension devices and several second suspension devices connecting said housing with a support ring,

moreover, the second suspension device is a built-in suspension elements in the form of plates attached by the first end to the housing (1), and the second end to the support ring,

and each first suspension device contains:

- a central structure attached to the housing or support ring,

- the first side structure located at the first side of the specified Central structure and attached to the surface of the support ring or housing, and

- a second side structure located on the second side of the specified Central structure opposite to the specified first side, and attached to the surface of the support ring or housing in the same manner as the first side structure,

moreover, the first side structure and the second side structure, respectively, contain two first stops located at a distance from each other, and a group of elastic elements located next to each other and running parallel to each other, the ends of which are supported by two first stops,

and the specified Central structure contains a second emphasis located across and between groups of elastic elements of the first side structure and the second side structure,

thereby, the elastic elements (cross members) act as an elastic support for the second stop in case of deviation from the initial position.

Suspension devices in accordance with the invention are intended to provide horizontal support for the converter, that is, for resistance to loads when the converter is in a horizontal position (for example, to drain the heat and so on). Due to the fact that part of the horizontal loads, about 20-30%, goes to the plates, which mainly withstand the load created by the converter in a vertical position, the horizontal suspension can be made of structural elements of a smaller size.

Due to the fact that the size of the gaps between the elastic cross members and the second stops, as well as the degree of flexibility of the elastic cross members, can be selected by the designer of the suspension system, it is possible to use various support options to support the loads, for example:

- with low flexibility (very rigid crossbars), as well as without gaps between the elastic crossbars and the second stop, while horizontal suspension devices will work almost like rigid supports;

- with high flexibility of elastic elements and large gaps between the elastic cross members and the second stops, while the suspension system will be non-rigid, and the load will fall mainly on the two sides of the first stops.

The greatest efficiency of the suspension system can be achieved if the design thermal expansion of the second stops attached to the shell of the housing corresponds to the gaps between the elastic cross members and the specified second stops. Thus, thermal expansion is compensated by the gap, which avoids overload and then full contact of all components with each other.

Furthermore, by varying the flexibility of the elastic cross members, it is also possible to vary the load distribution between the second side stops and the possible average side stop. Crossbars can also be in the form of rectangular or square plates with the corresponding calculated sizes.

In particular, the horizontal suspension devices of the converter in accordance with the invention have the following advantages:

- the thermal expansion of the converter can only be compensated by the flexibility of the elastic elements;

- ensuring thermal expansion of the structure, including asymmetric, without overloading the mechanical parts;

- effective absorption of vibrations generated during the supply of oxygen to the housing;

- effective absorption of forces created by the inertia of the housing at the beginning and end of rotation of the housing;

- ensuring the alignment of the housing relative to the support ring with high accuracy at any tilt;

- the most simple assembly;

- Applicability for converters of any sizes.

It also provides excellent centering between the housing and the support ring, which allows thermal expansion of the housing caused by high temperatures during the conversion process, without any interference between the housing and the support ring.

An additional advantage is that the entire design of the converter, including the protrusions, is positioned so as to fit into a circle whose radius is determined by the requirements of the layout of the equipment containing the converter.

The dependent claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Additional distinguishing features and advantages of the invention are described in the detailed description of a preferred, but not exclusive embodiment of an oxygen converter, described as a non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

in FIG. 1a is a side view of a first embodiment of a converter in accordance with the invention in an upright position during a melting process;

in FIG. 1b is a partially cutaway plan view of the converter of FIG. 1a;

in FIG. 2a is a side view of a second embodiment of a converter in accordance with the invention in an upright position during a melting process;

in FIG. 2b is a partially cutaway plan view of the converter of FIG. 2a;

in FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the converter in accordance with a plane defined by line BB of FIG. 1b and FIG. 2b;

in FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway side view of a portion of the converter of FIG. 2b;

in FIG. 5 is a partial sectional side view of a portion of the converter of FIG. four.

The implementation of the invention

Preferred embodiments of an oxygen converter are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The converter contains:

- a housing or vessel 1 that determines the position of the X axis and has a loading neck 7 for scrap metal and liquid metal or molten iron and a side outlet (not shown) for molten steel obtained at the end of the processing process;

- a support ring 2 to support the housing 1, and this ring 2 is mounted on the same axis with the housing 1 and is located at a certain distance from it;

- two supporting or tilting pins 3, 4, known as supporting rollers of said supporting ring 2, located diametrically opposite to each other and determining the position of the Y axis perpendicular to the X axis; wherein at least one of said support pins is connected to a tilt mechanism (not shown);

- the first and second suspension devices that connect the housing 1 to the support ring 2 and which also perform the function of centering the housing relative to the ring.

The first suspension devices are configured to provide horizontal support for the converter when the converter is rotated to +90 or -90 degrees relative to the position of FIG. 1a or 2a.

The second suspension device is made with the ability to withstand the load of the Converter in a vertical position, that is, when the neck 7 of the housing is directed upwards (Fig. 1A or 2A). Due to the design and arrangement, the second suspension devices can also withstand part of the loads created by the converter when it is rotated +90 or -90 degrees relative to the position of FIG. 1a or 2a, which reduces the size of the first suspension devices.

We define the additional Z axis as the axis perpendicular to the X-Y plane and passing through the intersection point of the X and Y axes, the Y-Z plane, which can be considered the equatorial plane of the converter, and the X-Z plane, both of which are perpendicular to the X-Y plane.

The housing 1 contains a cylindrical central region and two regions in the form of a truncated cone, each of which is located on the side of the specified cylindrical central region. The first region in the form of a truncated cone is welded or otherwise attached to one end of the cylindrical central region, and at the other end it contains a loading neck 7 of the housing. The second region in the form of a truncated cone is welded or otherwise attached to one end of the cylindrical central region on the opposite side relative to the first region in the form of a truncated cone, and on the other end it contains the bottom of the housing 1. Other examples of the housing may include the specified second region having the form different from the shape of a truncated cone, for example, a spherical cup-shaped shape or other suitable geometric shape.

The support ring 2 located on the central region of the housing 1 is hollow and preferably has a rectangular cross section. Ring 2 has a first surface 20 directed to a part of the housing containing the loading neck 7; a second surface 21 located on the opposite side from the first surface 20 and directed to the part of the housing 1 containing the bottom of the housing; a third inner surface directed toward the central part of the housing; and a fourth outer surface located on the opposite side of the inner surface.

Preferably, the converter is provided with at least two first suspension devices configured to provide horizontal support for the converter. The first suspension devices are located almost parallel to the YZ plane, which is almost perpendicular to the YX plane, while the first suspension devices are located almost symmetrically relative to the XZ plane under (Fig. 1a) or above (Fig. 2a) support ring 2. According to an embodiment of the invention (not shown) the converter contains two pairs of the first suspension devices: the first pair of the first suspension devices is located on the first side of the YZ plane, and the second pair of the first suspension devices is located on the second side of the plane and Y-Z.

The first suspension devices comprise (see, in particular, Figs. 4 and 5):

- a central structure attached, for example, by welding, to the housing 1 of the Converter;

- the first side structure located on the first side of the specified Central structure and attached, for example, by welding, to the surface 20 or 21 (Fig. 1A or 2A) of the support ring 2 of the housing 1;

- a second side structure located on the second side of the specified Central structure, opposite the first side, and attached, for example, by welding, to the surface 20 (Fig. 2A) or 21 (Fig. 1A) of the support ring 2.

The first and second side structures are arranged almost symmetrically with respect to the central structure.

Preferably, each side structure comprises two first stops 14, 15 located at a distance from each other, and a group of elastic cross members 11 located adjacent to each other and running parallel to each other, while the ends of the cross members are supported by two first stops 14, 15. In addition , the central structure comprises a second stop 12 located across or between two groups of elastic cross members 11 of said side structures, and thereby the elastic cross members 11 act as an elastic support or shock absorber for the second stop 12 in the event of a deviation from the initial position determined by the position of the converter with the neck pointing upward (Figs. 1a, 2a). The elastic cross members can, if necessary, be in the form of plates, for example, rectangular, whose thickness is less than their length and height.

Each first suspension device (horizontal suspension device) is located at the corresponding support journal 3, 4 and runs transversely relative to the X-Y plane.

The second stop 12 of each first suspension device is almost parallel to the surfaces 20, 21 of the support ring 2 and is practically perpendicular to the corresponding groups of elastic cross members 11. Therefore, the cross members 12 are perpendicular to the surfaces 20, 21 of the support ring 2. In a preferred embodiment, the elastic cross members 11 are shaped metal plates.

The elastic cross members 11 of each group are located on the same line and are freely placed between the first stops 14, 15 and the mechanical stops 16 and 17. The mechanical stops 16 and 17 are located, for example, at the ends and / or on the upper part of the elastic cross members 11 and partially overlap the outer surfaces stops 14 and 15.

The cross members 11 are arranged more or less freely in order to make possible any deformation. Thus, the cross members 11 are not rigidly fixed, but simply held in position by mechanical stops 16 and 17. This creates maximum flexibility and avoids the additional stress created by limiting thermal expansion. This feature creates an additional advantage in that these elastic cross members 11 can be replaced or adjusted after a certain period of operation in order to change or adjust the mechanical characteristic of the shock absorber.

When the converter is in the position in which the neck 7 is directed upward, a gap is provided between the elastic cross members 11 of each group and the corresponding second stop 12, or they are in direct contact. In both cases, the thermal expansion of the stops 12 attached to the shell of the housing is compensated by the elastic deformation of the elastic cross members 11.

As shown in FIG. 5, it is preferable that the second stop 12 has a base 22 next to the converter shell and a head 23 of such a shape that it can be inserted into the space between two groups of elastic cross members 11.

The sides of the head 23 of the second stops 12 have a convex shape 24, which allows you to come into contact with at least one of the corresponding groups of elastic cross members 11. In order to ensure three-coordinate movement of the stops 12 attached to the converter vessel, in operating conditions, the contact area of the stops of the stops 12 with cross members 11 has a spherical, preferably spherical, cup-shaped shape. Therefore, the stops 12 can move in directions parallel to the three axes X, Y, and Z.

The support on the support ring 2 is made of two stops 14, 15, one at each end of the elastic cross members 11, which are constantly in contact with the specified elastic cross members 11.

In the embodiments of the invention of FIG. 4 and 5, the third stop 12 is located in both side structures and between the two first stops 14, 15. It is preferable that the third stop 13 is parallel and central to the respective two first stops 14, 15.

When the converter is in a position in which the neck 7 is directed upward, a gap is preferably provided between each third stop 13 and the corresponding group of elastic cross members 11. When the elastic cross members 11 are deformed as a result of the load created by the converter housing when tilted, the middle stops 13 come into contact with the elastic cross members 11 at a certain angle, limiting the deformation of the elastic cross members 11 and taking on part of the load.

According to an embodiment of the invention, every third emphasis 13, also in its initial position, is in direct contact with the corresponding group of elastic cross members 11. In this case, a more or less rigid or non-rigid structure can be obtained depending on the particular project.

Another embodiment of the invention (not shown in detail), suitable, for example, for converters of reduced dimensions, does not require a third stop 13, and therefore, these stops 13 can be eliminated.

In all shown embodiments of the invention, groups of vertical suspension devices are provided that are located almost at the same distance from each other on the support ring 2 and containing suspension elements 9 in the form of embedded plates 10 attached by the first end to the housing 1 and the second end to the support ring 2.

These groups of vertical suspension devices may contain built-in elastic bars (not shown) attached by the first end to the housing 1, and the second end to the support ring 2.

Each horizontal suspension device is located between the respective groups of vertical suspension devices directly below the support ring 2 (Fig. 1a, 1b) or between two corresponding groups of vertical suspension devices in the protruding region above the support ring 2 (Fig. 2a, 2b).

Two support pins 3, 4 can be set in motion by at least one tilt mechanism, allowing the converter to rotate around the Y axis.

The converter, as a rule, moves from the first position in which it is in a vertical position, while its loading neck 7 is directed upward (Fig. 1a or 2a), into the second position in which it is inclined approximately 30 ° relative to the vertical, by turning the support pins 3, 4 in the first direction of rotation. In this second position, the loading of molten iron and scrap metal through the neck 7.

After loading, the converter is returned to the first position shown in FIG. 1a. Using one or more tuyeres introduced into the housing through the neck 7, oxygen is supplied for a predetermined period of time in such a way as to significantly reduce the carbon content and also reduce the concentration of impurities such as sulfur and phosphorus.

Upon completion of processing to a state of liquid thermally raw steel, the converter is moved from the first position of FIG. 1a to a third position in which the converter is tilted to +90 or -90 ° with respect to the vertical by rotating the support pins 3, 4 in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction. In this third position, liquid steel is released, usually through a drain hole in the converter housing.

In all embodiments of the invention, the load, determined by the total weight of the housing 1, molten iron and scrap metal, is directed to the ground using the support ring 2, horizontal and vertical suspension devices, tilt pins 3, 4 and the corresponding supports.

In particular, the design of horizontal and vertical suspension devices allows you to absorb weight at any tilt of the housing 1.

Vertical suspension devices act practically as, for example, connecting rods at an angle of inclination of the converter relative to the vertical equal to 0 °, at the same time they act exclusively as spacers at an angle of inclination equal to 180 °, and in series act together as connecting rods and struts at various angles from 0 ° to 180 °.

The position at an angle of inclination of 180 °, when the filler neck 4 is directed downward, is intended for draining slag, cleaning the casing after emptying it, or for other purposes (for example, keeping the converter hot).

Horizontal suspension devices provide optimal support, stability and rigidity of the body. The main purpose of horizontal suspension devices is to support the weight of the body in the direction crossing the Y axis when the body is tilted by +90 or -90 ° (the position of the outlet of the heat) and to support the load component perpendicular to the X axis of the converter in all other cases.

In general, in this way, the load on the vertical suspension devices gradually transfers from the maximum value when the converter is in the vertical position to the minimum value when the converter is in the horizontal position, while the load on the horizontal suspension devices gradually moves from the level, practically equal to zero, to the maximum value as the converter moves from horizontal to vertical position.

The torques that occur when the converter rotates around the Y axis can be completely absorbed by horizontal and vertical suspension devices.

In an embodiment of the invention (not shown), the only difference from the above embodiments is that the first suspension devices comprise:

- a central structure attached, for example, by welding, to the surface 20 or 21 of the support ring 2 of the housing 1;

- the first side structure located on the first side of the specified Central structure and attached, for example, by welding, to the housing 1 of the Converter; and

- a second side structure located at the second side of the specified Central structure, opposite the first side, and attached, for example, by welding, to the housing 1.

In this case, the first and second side structures are also located almost symmetrically with respect to the central structure.

Claims (22)

1. Tiltable Converter, which contains: a housing (1) defining a position of a first axis (X); support ring (2), having a common axis with the housing (1) and installed at a distance from the specified housing, equipped with two support trunnions (3, 4), located diametrically opposite, defining the position of the second axis (Y), perpendicular to the first axis (X) , and providing rotation of the converter around the specified second axis; at least one pair of first suspension devices and several second suspension devices connecting said housing (1) with a support ring (2); the second suspension device is a built-in suspension elements (9) in the form of plates attached by the first end to the housing (1), and the second end to the support ring (2), and each first suspension device contains: - a central structure attached to the housing (1) or the support ring (2), - the first side structure located on the first side of the specified Central structure and attached to the surface of the support ring (2) or the housing (1), - a second side structure located on the second side of the specified Central structure, opposite the specified first side, and attached to the surface of the support ring (2) or the housing (1) in the same manner as the first side structure, moreover, the first side structure and the second side structure, respectively, contain two first stops (14, 15) located at a distance from each other, and a group of elastic elements (11) located next to each other and running parallel to each other, the ends of which are supported by the first two stops (14, 15), and the specified Central structure contains a second stop (12) located across and between the groups of elastic elements (11) of the first side structure and the second side structure, the elastic elements (11) of each group are located on the same line and are freely placed between the two first stops (14, 15) and the mechanical stops (16, 17) and, when the converter is in the position in which the neck is directed upwards, between the elastic elements (11) each group and the corresponding second emphasis (12) provides clearance; and thus, the elastic elements (11) act as an elastic support for the second stop (12) in case of deviation from the initial position. 2. The tiltable converter according to claim 1, wherein each of the first suspension devices is located at the corresponding support pin (3, 4) and extends in the transverse direction relative to the first X-Y plane. 3. The tiltable converter according to claim 2, in which the elastic elements are elastic cross members (11), and the second stop (12) of each first suspension device is located almost parallel to the indicated surface of the support ring (2) and almost perpendicular to the corresponding groups of elastic cross members (11) ) 4. Tiltable converter according to any one of the preceding paragraphs, in which in the first and second side structures between the two first stops (14, 15) there is a third stop (13). 5. The tiltable converter according to claim 4, in which the third stop (13) is located parallel and centrally relative to the first two stops (14, 15). 6. The tiltable converter according to claim 5, wherein, when the converter is in a position in which the throat is directed upward, a gap is made between the third stop (13) and the corresponding group of elastic cross members (11) or they are in direct contact. 7. Tiltable converter according to one of paragraphs. 1-3, in which every second stop (12) has convex sides with the possibility of this stop to come into contact with at least one of the corresponding groups of elastic cross members (11). 8. The tiltable converter according to claim 7, wherein the contact area of said sides with elastic cross members (11) has a spherical cup-shaped shape. 9. Tiltable converter according to one of paragraphs. 1-3, in which these first suspension devices are parallel to the second YZ plane perpendicular to the first X axis, the Z axis being perpendicular to the first XY plane and passing through the intersection point of the first X axis and the second Y axis, and are located symmetrically relative to the third XZ plane under or over the support ring (2). 10. The tiltable converter according to claim 9, which contains two pairs of the first suspension devices, the first pair of the first suspension devices located on the first side of the second Y-Z plane, and the second pair of the first suspension devices located on the second side of the second Y-Z plane. 11. Tiltable converter according to one of paragraphs. 1-3, in which the second suspension device is arranged in groups at almost the same distance from each other along the support ring (2). 12. The tiltable converter according to claim 11, wherein each first suspension device is located between respective groups of second suspension devices under the support ring (2) or in a protruding region above the support ring (2).

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