US3727805A

US3727805A - Mechanism for supporting a submerged pouring tube on a bottom-pour vessel and method of replacing tubes

Info

Publication number: US3727805A
Application number: US00220232A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Shapland
Original assignee: Steel Corp
Current assignee: United States Steel Corp
Priority date: 1972-01-24
Filing date: 1972-01-24
Publication date: 1973-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 1990-04-17
Also published as: IT958772B; RO58456A; ZA721929B; DE2219064A1; FR2169015A1; FR2169015B1; GB1382149A; NL7207660A; CA962822A; BE781940A

Abstract

A mechanism for supporting a submerged pouring tube on a bottompour vessel which has a slidable gate closure, and a method of replacing such tubes. The pouring tube is removably suspended from a holder. The holder is removable and replaceable independently of the gate without disturbing other parts. The replacement holder can be inserted into the mechanism from underneath, where it is temporarily supported in horizontal alignment with the old holder. The same mechanism used to move the gates then is operated to move the replacement holder into the position originally occupied by the old holder.

Description

United States Patent 91 Shapland Apr. 17, 1973 MECHANISM FOR SUPPORTING A SUBMERGED POURING TUBE ON A BOTTOM-POUR VESSEL AND METHOD OF REPLACING TUBES James T. Shapland, Wilkins Township, Allegheny County, Pa.

[75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: United States Steel Corporation,

Pittsburgh, Pa.

22 Filed: -J an.24, 1972 [21] Appl.No.: 220,232

[52] US. Cl. ..222/5l2, 164/281, 164/337, 222/561 [51 Int. Cl. ..B22d 37/00 [58] Field of Search ..l64/281, 337; 222/561, DIG. 7, DIG. 1, 512

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 ,459,346 8/1969 Tinnes ..222/ DIG. 7

3/1970 Shapland ..222/D1G. 7 H1960 Momm ..222/D1G. 7

Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-David A. Scherbel Att0mey-Wa1ter P. Wood ABSTRACT 20 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures MECHANISM FOR SUPPORTING A SUBMERGED POURING TUBE ON A BOTTOM-POUR VESSEL AND METHOD OF REPLACING TUBES This invention relates to an improved mechanism for supporting a submerged pouring tube on a bottom-pour vessel which has a slidable gate closure, and to an improved method of replacing tubes on such vessels.

Bottom-pour metal-teeming vessels often are equipped with slidable gate closures for controlling discharge of liquid metal therefrom. Such closures are widely used on tundishes from which metal is teemed into continuous-casting molds, but also may be used on ladies, degassing vessels and the like. For some purposes, such as casting aluminum-killed steel, it is desirable to confine the stream of metal against contact with air as it flows from the teeming vessel into a receiving vessel therebelow. One way of confining the stream is to pass it through a refractory pouring tube fixed to the teeming vessel and having its lower end submerged in liquid metal in the receiving vessel. Various arrangements are known for using a pouring tube in combination with a slidable gate. Reference can be made to my earlier US. Pat. No. 3,501,068 for an exemplary showing.

Slidable gate-pouring tube combinations used heretofore have a disadvantage that the pouring tube cannot readily be removed and replaced. The gate is pushed or pulled away from the vessel outlet each time the outlet is opened or closed. Although one tube can be used through several gate changes, eventually the tube becomes eroded or otherwise damaged and must be removed and replaced.

An object of the present invention is to provide, in a slidable gate-pouring tube assembly, an improved tubesupporting mechanism which enables me to remove and replace a pouring tube and/or its holder easily and without disturbing other parts.

A further object is to provide a tube-supporting mechanism which enables me to remove and replace the tube and/or holder independently of the gate.

A further object is to providea mechanism which supports a pouring tube on spring pressed members independently of a slidable gate above the tube, whereby the tube is readily removed and replaced.

A further object is to provide an improved method of replacing a pouring tube and/or holder in a simple operation independently of the gate.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of a bottom-pour vessel which is equipped with a slidable gate-pouring tube combination and a tube-supporting mechanism in accordance with one embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross section on line IIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross section on line IV-IV of FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross section showing a modification; and

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section similar to FIG. 1, but showing another modification.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 show a portion of a conventional bottom-pour vessel which includes a shell 10 and a refractory lining 12. The bottom wall of the vessel has an outlet 13. The vessel is equipped with a slidable gate closure which may be any one of several known forms.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section on line III-III of FIG. 7

The closure illustrated comprises a mounting plate 14 fixed to the bottom wall of the vessel, a frame 15 removably attached to the mounting plate with support pins 16, and a stationary refractory top plate 17 removably resting in a recess in the upper face of the frame. The frame and parts carried thereby form an assembly installed on the mounting plate or removable therefrom as a unit. A gate 20 is slidably supported under the top plate on two series of rocker arms 21, the inboard ends of which contact the gate along its opposite side edges. In this embodiment the gate may be either a nozzle gate, as illustrated, to permit metal to discharge through the outlet 13, or a blank to prevent such discharge. Whenever the outlet is to be opened or closed, one type of gate is replaced by the other. As shown in FIG. 2, each series of rocker arms is pivoted to frame 15 on a respective pivot pin 22. Spring housings 23 are mounted within the frame along opposite sides of the gate, and each contains a respective compression spring 24 and a plunger 25 above the outboard end of a different rocker arm. Retainer plugs 26 are threadedly engaged with the upper ends of the spring housings. Springs 24 bear downwardly against the outboard ends of the rocker arms, while the inboard ends press the gate 20 finnly against the top plate 17.

For operating and changing gates, I have illustrated a pull-through mechanism which is the invention of Earl P. Shapland and one form of which is shown and claimed in his application Ser. No. 74,785, filed Sept. 23, 1970, now abandoned. As shown in FIG. 1, this mechanism comprises a double-acting fluid-pressure cylinder 29 mounted in frame 15 and containing a reciprocable piston and piston rod 30. The end of the piston rod carries a ram block 31. Pull rods 32 are attached to opposite sides of the ram block and extend through bores 33 in the spring housings 23 (FIGS. 2 and 4). A puller block 34 is attached to the ends of rods 32 remote from the ram block (FIG. I Frame 15 carries a fixed rest 35 at the end of the series of rocker arms 21 nearer the puller block 34. The puller block has a ledge 36, the upper face of which is substantially coplanar with the upper gate-engaging faces of rocker arms 21 and rest 35. When the piston rod 30 is fully extended as shown in FIG. 1, a new gate (shown in phantom) can be inserted from above into the space between the old gate 20 and the puller block 34, where it is supported temporarily on the rest 35 and ledge 36. Cylinder 29 then may be operated to retract its piston rod 30 and pull the new gate into the position originally occupied by the old, which is displaced simultaneously and drops from the vessel.

A tube holder, which includes a rectangular refractory block 37 and a metal frame 38, is supported beneath gate 20. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the metal frame has circumferentially spaced arcuate flanges 39 spaced below the refractory block. The tube holder carries a downwardly extending refractory pouring tube 40. The upper end of the tube has circumferentially spaced arcuate lugs 41 which are supported on flanges 39. To remove the tube from the holder, it is only necessary to rotate it a quarter-turn to free the lugs from the flanges, and it can be installed by a similar motion.

In accordance with my invention and as shown in FIG. 4, the supporting mechanism for the tube holder comprises a pair of yieldable grids 44 which extend beyond the length of the

tube holder

37,38 at each end and have lips 45 at their inboard edges underlying opposite side edges of the tube holder. Each grid has an upstanding integral rounded button 46 located centrally of its length near the outboard edge. The buttons are received in corresponding sockets or grooves in the underface of frame to serve as pivots for the grids. Frame 15 has respective integral spring housings 47 overlying each end of each grid. Each housing 47 contains a respective vertically movable plunger 48 and a compression spring 49 urging the plunger upwardly. The lower end of each plunger carries a removable downwardly extending bolt 50 which is connected to a respective block 51 fixed to the grid. Thus the springs 49 act through the plungers 48 and bolts 50 to urge the grids 44L upwardly about the buttons 46 and press the refractory block 37 of the tube holder firmly against the gate 20. Frame 15 has integral depending stops 52 which the ends of the respective grids abut to steady the grids and prevent accidental displacement.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the mounting plate 14 has air ducts 53 above the

spring housings

23 and 47, the center lines of which lie in the same vertical planes. The mounting plate supports downwardly directed nozzles 54 above the

spring housings

23 and 47. The retainer plug 26 and plunger 48 have bores 55 and 56 respectively affording communication between the nozzles and the interior of the spring housings. Air is blown into the spring housings via the ducts, nozzles and bores to prevent the parts, including the

springs

24 and 49, from overheating.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lower edge of the puller block 34 carries an angle iron 59 to which is pivoted a dog 60. The dog can swing freely in the upward direction, but the flange of the angle iron prevents it from swinging downwardly from its normal position shown. When the dog is in its normal position, its upper face is substantially coplanar with the holder-engaging upper faces of lips 45. When the piston rod 30 is fully extended as shown in FIG. I, I can insert a replacement pouring

tube holder

37,38 from underneath into the space between the angle iron 59 and the grids 44. The dog 60 swings out of the way to permit the holder to be inserted in this fashion and thereafter temporarily supports one edge of the holder. The grids have cooperating ramps 63 for temporarily supporting the opposite edge of the holder. Thus the replacement holder is horizontally aligned with the

old holder

37,38. The pouring tube 40 may be attached to the holder at the time the holder is inserted, or it may be removed and attached later.

Next I operate cylinder 29 to retract the piston rod 30 and pull the replacement holder, with or without the tube attached, into the position originally occupied by the old. The old holder is displaced simultaneously and drops from the vessel in a manner similar to the gate. Preferably the exterior of the pouring tube has a circumferential notch 62 near its upper end to create a plane of weakness. Consequently the old tube can break off if it is suspended into a receiver when I change tubes.

The mechanism preferably includes stops 63 which the left edge of the tube holder abuts to prevent accidental displacement of the tube holder when gates are changed. As shown in FIG. 1, the stops 63 project inwardly from grids 44 at the ends nearer the cylinder 29, the left as viewed in FIG. 1. They are fixed to rods 64 which extend through bores 65 in the grids (FIGS. 2 and 4). The other ends of rods 64 have handles 66 for rotating the rods and thus moving the stops outwardly from the path of the tube holder for changing tube holders. Stops 63 fit within notches 67 formed in the upper faces of ramps 61 and inboard faces of grids 44. To standardize the grids and avoid need for making them of opposite hand, I show a notch 67 also at the entry end, the right as viewed in FIG. I. The second notch also enables the same form of grid to be used in constructions which have stops located at both ends of the tube holder, as in the modification shown in FIG. 6 hereinafter described.

FIG. 5 shows a modification in which I have eliminated the dog on the pull block and instead use rail sections 68 pivoted to the frame 15a at opposite sides. I insert the

replacement tube holder

37,38 from underneath as before. The rail sections 67 swing outwardly to permit the tube holder to pass, and thereafter swing inwardly to provide temporary support for the holder.

FIG. 6 shows a modification in which I apply my holder-supporting mechanism to a reversible gate 70. The gate has a nozzle 71 and an area 72 which serves as a closure for the outlet 13b of the vessel. I have illustrated a porous plug 73 in the closure area for admitting gas to the vessel, but this feature is optional. The modified construction includes a puller block 74 attached to pull rods 32b similar to the pull rods of the embodiment already described. The puller block 74 has a vertical slot 76 in which I mount a vertically movable bar 77. The right or entry ends of grids 44b carry respective rails 78 which extend toward the puller block and are substantially coplanar with the holderengaging faces of lips 45b of the grids.

I can insert a replacement tube holder 79 from underneath, as before, into the space between the bar 77 and the grids 44b. Bar 77 moves upwardly to permit the holder to be inserted in this fashion and thereafter drop back behind the edge of the holder. Rails 78 provide temporary support for the replacement holder in horizontal alignment with the old holder. Next I can move the puller block 74 to the left, as before, to pull the replacement holder into the position originally occupied by the old holder.

Since the gate is reversible, it is pushed to the right to move it from a position in which its closure area 72 is aligned with the vessel outlet to a position in which its nozzle 71 is thus aligned. To prevent accidental displacement of the holder 79 when the gate is pushed to the right, preferably the mechanism includes a second pair of pivoted stops 63b which the right edge of the holder abuts. The stop at the left, as well as other parts of the mechanism, are similar to the embodiment already described.

From the foregoing description it is seen that my invention affords a supporting mechanism and method which enable a pouring tube to be removed and replaced in one simple operation. The operator normally is stationed on the same side of the vessel as the pull block. Hence he can insert a new gate or a new tube holder in the mechanism with little inconvenience. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, either the gate or the tube holder can be changed without disturbing the other, or both can be changed at once. In all embodiments the gate can be moved to open or close the vessel outlet without disturbing the tube, and the tube holder can be changed while the gate remains on the assembly. In the event the pouring tube is not needed, I remove bolts 50 from plungers 48 and thus take off the entire tube-supporting mechanism.

I claim:

1. In a slidable gate-pouring tube assembly for use on a vessel which has an outlet in its bottom wall, which assembly comprises:

a frame adapted to be mounted on the bottom wall of the vessel;

supporting and operating mechanisms for a slidable gate carried by said frame; and

a holder for mounting a pouring tube beneath the gate; the combination therewith of an improved supporting mechanism for'said holder comprising:

yieldable support means carried by said frame independently of said gate-supporting mechanism and having holder-engaging faces underlying opposite side edges of said holder; and

spring means acting against said yieldable means for pressing said holder against the gate;

.said holder being removable from the assembly and replaceable while said gate remains thereon.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1 comprising in addition means located below said gate-supporting mechanism and substantially coplanar with said holderengaging faces for providing temporary support for a replacement holder in horizontal alignment with said first-named holder, said replacement holder being insertable from underneath into its temporarily supported position and movable therefrom into the position originally occupied by said first-named holder.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1 comprising in addition means located below said gate-supporting mechanism and substantially coplanar with said holderengaging faces for providing temporary support for a replacement holder in horizontal alignment with said first-named holder, and means carried by said gateoperating mechanism and engageable with said replacement holder for moving said replacement holder from its temporarily supported position into the position originally occupied by said first-named holder and simultaneously displacing said first-named holder from said yieldable support means.

4. A combination as defined in claim 3 in which the means providing temporary support for said replacement holder is carried in part by said yieldable support means, and includes cooperating additional means spaced from said yieldable support means, said replacement holder being insertable from underneath into its temporarily supported position independently of the gate.

5. A combination as defined in claim 4 in which said cooperating additional meansis mounted on said gateoperating mechanism.

6. A combination as defined in claim 4 in which said cooperating additional means includes a dog pivoted to said gate-operating mechanism for movement upwardly from its normal position but prevented from movement downwardly.

7. A combination as defined in claim 4 in which said gate-operating mechanism is of the pull-through type and includes a puller block adapted to contact a new gate and pull it into the position originally occupied by said first-named gate, and in which said cooperating additional means includes a flanged member fixed to said block and depending therebelow, and a dog pivoted to said flanged member for movement upwardly from its normal position but prevented by the flange from swinging downwardly therefrom.

8. A combination as defined in claim 4 in which said cooperating additional means includes rail sections pivoted to said frame at opposite sides thereof.

9. A combination as defined in claim 3 in which the means providing temporary support for said replacement holder includes rails carried by said yieldable support means.

10. A combination as defined in claim 3 in which the means providing temporary support for said replace ment holder includes rails carried by said yieldable support means, and in which said gate operating mechanism is of the pull-through type and includes a puller block and vertically movable means carried by said puller block engageable with said replacement holder while supported on said rails.

1 l. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said yieldable support means includes a pair of grids pivotally related to said frame and extending the length of said holder at opposite sides thereof.

12. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said yieldable support means includes a pair of grids having lips at their inboard edges engaging said holder, and rounded buttons at their outboard edges engaging said frame to act as pivots, and in which said spring means includes compression springs acting upwardly on said grids intermediate said lips and said buttons.

13. A combination as defined in claim 12 in which said frame has spring housings receiving said springs, and including vertically movable plungers in said housings and means connecting said plungers to said grids, said springs acting upwardly against said plungers.

14. A combination as defined in claim 13 in which said gate-supporting mechanism also includes compression springs, the springs at each side of said holder for the gate-supporting mechanism and the holder-supporting mechanism lying in common vertical planes, whereby common air ducts can supply cooling air thereto.

15. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which the supporting mechanism for said holder comprises in addition a stop abutting the edge of said holder, and means accessible from the opposite edge of said holder for moving the stop out of the path of said holder when a replacement holder is to be installed.

16. A combination as defined in claim 1 comprising in addition a submerged pouring tube carried by said holder and depending therefrom, and being removable from said holder when said holder is beneath said gate.

17. The combination, with a vessel which has an outlet in its bottom wall, of a slidable gate-pouring tube assembly mounted on the underside of the bottom wall of the vessel, said assembly being constructed as defined in claim 1.

18. A method of replacing a holder for a submerged pouring tube used on a bottom-pour vessel which has a 19. A method as defined in claim 18 in which the gate-operating mechanism provides temporary support for one edge of the replacement holder.

20. A method as defined in claim 19 in which the holder-supporting mechanism provides temporary support for the opposite edge of the replacement holder.

Claims

1. In a slidable gate-pouring tube assembly for use on a vessel which has an outlet in its bottom wall, which assembly comprises: a frame adapted to be mounted on the bottom wall of the vessel; supporting and operating mechanisms for a slidable gate carried by said frame; and a holder for mounting a pouring tube beneath the gate; the combination therewith of an improved supporting mechanism for said holder comprising: yieldable support means carried by said frame independently of said gate-supporting mechanism and having holder-engaging faces underlying opposite side edges of said holder; and spring means acting against said yieldable means for pressing said holder against the gate; said holder being removable from the assembly and replaceable while said gate remains thereon.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1 comprising in addition means located below said gate-supporting mechanism and substantially coplanar with said holder-engaging faces for providing temporary support for a replacement holder in horizontal alignment with said first-named holder, said replacement holder being insertable from underneath into its temporarily supported position and movable therefrom into the position originally occupied by said first-named holder.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1 comprising in addition means located below said gate-supporting mechanism and substantially coplanar with said holder-engaging faces for providing temporary support for a replacement holder in horizontal alignment with said first-named holder, and means carried by said gate-operating mechanism and engageable with said replacement holder for moving said replacement holder from its temporarily supported position into the position originally occupied by said first-named holder and simultaneously displacing said first-named holder from said yieldable support means.

5. A combination as defined in claim 4 in which said cooperating additional means is mounted on said gate-operating mechanism.

10. A combination as defined in claim 3 in which the means providing temporary support for said replacement holder includes rails carried by said yieldable support means, and in which said gate operating mechanism is of the pull-through type and includes a puller block and vertically movable means carried by said puller block engageable with said replacement holder while supported on said rails.

11. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said yieldable support means includes a pair of grids pivotally related to said frame and extending the length of said holder at opposite sides thereof.

18. A method of replacing a holder for a submerged pouring tube used on a bottom-pour vessel which has a slidable gate closure, said method comprising inserting a replacement holder from beneath into a position between the gate-operating mechanism and the old holder in horizontal alignment with the old holder, temporarily supporting the replacement holder in said position, and operating the gate-operating mechanism to move the replacement holder into the position originally occupied by the old holder.

19. A method as defined in claim 18 in which the gate-operating mechanism provides temporary support for one edge of the replacement holder.