US3628597A

US3628597A - Extraction device for machines for casting continuous metal ingots

Info

Publication number: US3628597A
Application number: US860759A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ilario Properzi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-10-04
Filing date: 1969-09-24
Publication date: 1971-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 1988-12-21
Also published as: DE1948672A1; FR2019925A1; FR2019925B1

Abstract

This disclosure relates to an extraction device for continuous ingot casting machines, comprising an extraction unit for separating the ingot from the casting wheel of a casting machine and partially straightening such ingot, said separation unit being mounted on a support mounted by the side of the casting wheel for rotation therewith, transmission means being provided to cause a partial rotation of said support when it is desired to adjust the position of said extraction unit.

Description

United States Patent Ilario Properzi {72] Inventor Via V. Pisani 8, Milan, Italy [21] Appl. No. 860,759 [22] Filed Sept. 24, 1969 [45] Patented Dec. 21,1971 [32] Priority. Oct. 4, 1968 [33] Italy [31] 22096 M68 [54] EXTRACTION DEVICE FOR MACHINES FOR CASTING CONTINUOUS METAL INGOTS 1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 164/344, 164/278, 164/404 [51] Int. Cl. 822d 11/06 [50] Field of Search 164/401- 407,

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 379,137 3/1888 Stover 164/276 1,996,905 4/1935 Davis...... 164/263 X 2,139,215 12/1938 Wasson 2,206,930 7/1940 Webster 164/278x 2,393,213 1/1946 Willard..... 164/263 2,659,949 11/1953 Pl'OpBl'Zl... 164/278 2,710,433 6/1955 Pl'Opel'Zl... 164/278 2,749,584 6/1956 Fey 164/278 3,284,859 11/1966 COl'llOn. 164/268X 3,322,184 5/1967 COfel' 164/278X 3,351,126 11/1967 Richards 164/282x FOREIGN PATENTS 536,316 1/1957 Canada 164/278 Primary Examiner-J. Spencer Overholser Assistant Examiner-John S. Brown Attorneys-Guido Modiano and Albert .losif ABSTRACT: This disclosure relates to an extraction device for continuous ingot casting machines, comprising an extraction unit for separating the ingot from the casting wheel of a casting machine and partially straightening such ingot, said separation unit being mounted on a support mounted by the side of the casting wheel for rotation therewith, transmission means being provided to cause a partial rotation of said support when it is desired to adjust the position of said extraction unit. 1

15mm 0W SHEET NF 2 INVENTOR ILARIO PROPERZ' TENTEU nEm SHEET 2 [1F 2 INVENTOR ILAREO PROPERZI AGENT EXTRACTION IIIIEVICIE FOII MACHINES lfGIi GASTING CONTINUOUS li/IIE'IAL INGG'IS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for the extraction of continuous metal ingots, particularly of copper, aluminum, lead, zinc etc., produced by a continuous casting machine.

As is known a machine for casting continuous metal ingots comprises a wheel which peripherally carries a groove or mould having a profile corresponding to the section of the ingots which it is desired to obtain. Along slightly more than half of the periphery of this wheel there is wound a steel tape arranged to cover said groove and move in contact together with the wheel, said tape passing over transmission pulleys.

The molten metal is poured into the groove or mould, by means of a suitable crucible feeder, adjacent the point in which the steel tape begins to cover the mould. After adequate cooling, in its travel along the portion of the groove or mould covered by the steel tape, the metal is extracted in the form of a continuous ingot adjacent the point in which the steel tape leaves the casting wheel.

The extraction of the continuous ingot takes place with the aid of an expulsion unit which is secured adjacent the casting wheel and comprises a roller on which the ingot comes to rest as it is progremively produced. The ingot is thus carried away from the casting wheel and is subjected to a partial straightening due to the fact that the ingot is caused to pass on the roller of the expulsion unit which is arranged at a suitable distance from the point at which the tape leaves the casting wheel.

The position of the extraction unit must be accurately fixed so that the desired straightening takes place without the occurrence of cracks or other damage to the surfaces of the ingots formed. In reality it is extremely difficult to arrange the extraction unit in the most suitable position since sometimes a slight displacement from the ideal position is sufficient to cause even considerable imperfections in the ingots and consequent defects in the articles produced from these ingots. In fact the most suitable position of the extractor unit must be established on the basis of the type of metal or alloy employed to form the ingots, the cross section of the ingots, the temperature of the ingots at the moment in which they leave the casting wheel and the speed of advance of the ingots. Moreover, these conditions may vary during casting so that it is very difficult to find the exact adjustment. Usually trials are made, displacing the extraction unit from time to time, but this necessitates stopping the casting, slackening the locking means of the unit and the successive locking of the unit when the new position is reached.

In fact, considerable time losses are experienced and wastes and imperfections may take place in the production.

The main object of the present invention is that of eliminating the disadvantages indicated above by providing a device which readily enables an accurate adjustment of the extraction unit associated to the casting wheel, either when the casting machine is in operation or when it is stationary, and which does not necessitate the demounting of parts.

Another object of the invention is that of providing a device of ready application and simple manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided an extraction device for continuous ingot casting machines, comprising an extraction unit for separating the ingot from the casting wheel and at least partially straightening said ingot as it is progressively formed, characterized in that said extraction unit is secured on a platelike support mounted at the side of said casting wheel for coaxial rotation with the latter, transmission means being provided to cause a partial rotation of said platelike support for positioning said extraction unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of an extraction device according to the invention for continuous ingot casting machines, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic side view of an embodiment of the extraction device according to the invention applied to a continuous casting machine;

FIG. 2 is an axial section of the same extraction device arranged adjacent the casting wheel of the casting machine;

FIG. 3 is a side view of an extraction unit forming part of the extraction device;

FIG. A is a plan view of an extraction unit forming part of the extraction device; and

FIG. 5 shows the control member of the extraction device.

With reference to such figures, the extraction device according to the embodiment comprises an extraction unit I secured cantilever-wise on a platelike support member 2 having a substantially circular sector shape and mounted for rotation coaxially to the casting wheel 3, by the side of the latter.

As is clearly shown in FIG. ll, the casting wheel 3 is provided with a peripheral groove or mould having a profile corresponding to the cross section of the ingot which it is desired to obtain, and a steel tape 5 is wound on said wheel so as to cover said groove t along slightly more than half the circumference of the wheel 3. By means of a known arrangement, the steel tape 3 leaves the casting wheel 3 adjacent transmission rollers ti and 7.

The extraction unit I fixed to the sectorlike plate support 2 comprises a stripper push-rod member 8 which is arranged inclined with its end portion in contact. with the bottom of the mould d (FIG. 3). The stripper member 3 is followed by a roller 9 which projects outward with respect to the member 3 and is mounted for idle rotation about a shaft parallel to the shaft of the casting wheel 3. Said roller 9 is designed to engage the ingot III (FIG. I) as the latter is progressively formed.

The extraction unit I further comprises a plurality of diaphragms II (indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 3) between which there are arranged lubricating buffers (not shown) which are arranged to contact the profile of the mould A.

The push-rod member ti has a profile which is shaped so as to mate with that of the mould I, for instance a tongue-shaped end, as is clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and A.

The platelike support 2 has a large hole adjacent the shaft of the wheel 3 and is secured, adjacent such hole, to an annular body 12 (FIG. 2) which is internally provided with a tapered portion 112a arranged to slidingly penetrate a circular groove I3a formed in a central fixed body I3. Through the body I3 there passes a hollow shaft lid on which there is keyed the casting wheel 3 while in the cavity of the hollow shaft M there is caused to pass a pipe I5 for supplying cooling water to radial pipes to.

In FIG. 2 there is also visible a gear I7 fast with the casting wheel 3 for the rotation of the latter, and roller bearings lid and 113.

On the side of the platelike support 2 there projects a peripheral arcuated portion 20 having a radially inner and a radially outer face. On this inner face there is provided a toothing Ell which extends therefore along a circular arc having its center on the axis of casting wheel 3 and a length corresponding to the peripheral length of the portion 20. Said toothing 2i meshes with a toothed pinion 22 which is rotated by an electric motor 23 through a reduction unit 23 (FIG. 5

In FIG. I there is also diagrammatically indicated in 23 a device for the casting metal to be transformed into continuous ingots.

The working of the extraction device will now be described.

When the casting wheel 3 rotates in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 1 and molten metal is poured into mould A by the device 25, a continuous ingot is formed which is continuously cooled by cooling devices associated to the casting wheel. In the initial phase the just formed ingot engages the push-rod member h which separates it from the wheel 3 and causes it to pass to the roller 9; from this moment the continuous ingot will pass onto the roller 9 without further touching the member 8, as diagrammatically indicated in FIG. 1.

The effect of the extraction unit 1 is that of suitably increasing the radius of curvature of the ingot 10 as it gradually forms, so that the ingot is subjected to a straightening action which is subsequently completed by other apparatus, not shown in the drawing.

The extraction unit 1 can rotate in either direction and actuate the motor 23, for example by means of a pushbutton ar ranged on the control board. The motor43 causes the rotation, through the reduction unit 24, of the pinion 22 which meshes with the toothing 21, so that the platelike support 2, and the unit 1 therewith, rotates about the shaft of the casting wheel 3.

In this way it is possible to continuously displace the extractor unit I, both when the machine is stationary and when it is in operation, until the most suitable position for a straightening of the desired extent is reached. It is also possible to intervene promptly during the working of the machine to eliminate possible cracks or other imperfections in the surface of the continuous ingot since such defects normally occur as a result of the incorrect positioning of the extraction unit 1.

The adjustment of the extraction unit can consequently be carried out very readily by the operator of the casting machine.

As may be noted, the extraction device according to the invention ensures the perfect working of the casting machine since it enables accurate rapid adjustments to be effected without necessitating the demounting or stoppage of the machine.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and variations may be effected within the scope of the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. An extraction device for continuous ingot casting machines for separating the ingot from the peripheral groove of the rotatable casting wheel and at least partially straightening said ingot leaving said peripheral groove, including an extraction unit with a stripper member having a tongue-shaped end penetrating into said groove and a roller mounted above said stripper member for engaging the ingot leaving said groove, and means for displacing said extraction unit around said peripheral groove, wherein according to the improvement said extraction unit further comprises a sectorlike plate element rigidly holding said stripper member and said roller arranged at least at one side of the casting wheel and pivotable around the axis of rotation thereof, an arcuated peripheral portion of said sectorlike plate element projecting sidewards thereof and having a radially inner and a radially outer face, a toothing provided on said radially inner face and extending for substantially the entire peripheral length of said peripheral portion and wherein said means for displacing said extraction unit comprise a toothed pinion engaging said toothing and means for rotating said pinion.