US3730256A

US3730256A - Apparatus for bending continuous cast slabs

Info

Publication number: US3730256A
Application number: US00104817A
Authority: US
Inventors: K Reinfeld; E Gouye
Original assignee: Koppers Co Inc
Current assignee: Raymond Kaiser Engineers Inc
Priority date: 1969-06-30
Filing date: 1971-01-07
Publication date: 1973-05-01
Anticipated expiration: 1990-05-01

Abstract

A slab emerging from a casting mold is supported by an articulated roller chain resiliently biased and mounted to a frame. Groups of rollers comprising such chain are mounted to equalizing brackets, and one group of rollers is secured to a piston-cylinder assembly. When the piston cylinder assembly is actuated, the rollers connected thereto exert a bending force on the slab which curves and is supported by the articulated roller chain.

Description

United States Patent 1 91 1 11 3,730,256 Reinfeld et al. 1 1 May 1, 1973 [5 APPARATUS FOR BENDING 3,257,691 6/1966 Krueger ..l64/282 x CONTINUOUS CAST SLABS 3,319,699 5/1967 [75] Inventors: Kurt Reinield; Emmanuel V. Gouye, Hess at al 164/282 both of Pittsburgh, Pa. [73] Assignee: Koppers Company, Inc. Pittsburgh, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,451,918 9/1966 France 164/282 Filed: Jan. 1971 234.932 7/1964 Austr a ..-...164/282 21 Appl. No.: 104,817

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 837,851, June 30, 1969, Pat. No.

[52] U.S. Cl .....l64/282 [51] Int. Cl. ..B22d ll/l2 [58] Field of Search ..164/282, 82

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,638,713 2/1972 Knell et a1. ..164/282 X 3,370,642 2/1968 Meier et a1. ..l64/282 3,495,651 2/1970 Rokop et a1. ..l64/282 X 3,542,117 11/1970 Lemper et a1. ..l64/282 X 3,314,115 4/1967 Saunders et a1. 164/282 Primary Examiner- 1. Spencer Overholser Assistant Examiner-John E. Roethel Attorney-Sherman H. Barber et a1.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A slab emerging from a casting mold is supported by an articulated roller chain resiliently biased and mounted to a frame. Groups of rollers comprising such chain are mounted to equalizing brackets, and one group of rollers is secured to a piston-cylinder as sembly. When the piston cylinder assembly is actuated, the rollers connected thereto exert a bending force on the slab which curves and is supported by the articulated roller chain.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented. May 1 1973 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented May 1, 1973 3,730,255

5 Sheets-Sheet APPARATUS FOR BENDING CONTINUOUS CAST SLABS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION In the art of continuous metal casting, it has been relatively easy heretofore to bend continuous cast and without fear of causing a break-out, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Apparatus for bending a continuous cast slab includes spaced apart groups of rollers mounted to equalizing brackets interconnected together and with other rollers as a slab-supporting chain. One group of rollers is fixed as a fulcrum about which the slab curves, and one other group of rollers is movable and exerts bending forces on the slab.

For a further understanding of the invention and for features and advantages thereof reference may be made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the drawing, which shows for the purpose of exemplification one embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the I drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational view of a continuous slab-casting machine including apparatus in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic elevational view, at a larger scale, of aportion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a doubleroll support bracket portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line lV-IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a proportioning bracket portion of the apparatus of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a detail of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION describedin application Ser. No. 812,979 filed Apr. 3,

Below the bottom of the mold 15, there are a plurality of vertically arranged slab-supporting rollers 2.1 arranged in opposite pairs. Such rollers 21 are located in the spray chamber zone wherein sprays'of water impinge upon and cool the outer surface of the cast slab 13.

Below the slab-supporting rollers 21, there is another group of rollers 23 that are arranged also in opposite pairs; such rollers being designated 23a, 23b, and there being several pairs of such rollers disposed vertically, as

shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Pairs of

rollers

23a, 23b, are

journaled in a suitable stationary fixed structure 27.

Below the pairs of

rollers

23a, 23b there are other pairs of

rollers

29a, 29b which are horizontally arranged on opposite sides of the cast slab 13. The

rollers

29a, 29b of each pair are journaled in a double-roll bracket 31 having the form shown generally in FIG. 3. Each roll-bracket 31 is pin connected to another double-roll bracket to form an articulated roller chain 32 for supporting the cast slab 13. The uppermost doubleroll bracket 31 is pin connected to a link 33 on each side of a support frame 35 that carries two anchors .37, about as shown in FIG. 4.

The support frame 35 may have any suitable shape such as a truss type of a structure comprising upper 39 and lower 41 chord members, with vertical side plates 43 of angular cross section and intermediary diagonal tie members 45. The side plate members 43 may, of .course, also be truss-type structures if preferred. The support frame 35 extends arcuately, as shown in FIG. 1, from a location just below the structure that supports the casting mold 15 to a lower terminus adjacentbending and straightening rolls 47.

Each double-roll bracket 31 is a generally rectangular-shaped member that has a elongate slot 49 in one end and a shorter'slot 51 in the opposite end. A bearing 53 is fixedly mounted as by pins 55 in the slot 51, and the roller 29a is journaled in this bearing 53. A similar bearing 57 is disposed in the elongate slot 49 and is cooperative with grooves 59 that permit the bearing 57 to move laterally toward-and away from the fixed hearing 53. The roller 2% is journaledl in the bearing 57.

A screw jack 6] is fixed to the double-roll bracket 31 where shown, and is connected to the bearing 57. The

screw jack may be operated either manually or by a power tool to move the bearing 57 and roller 29b nearer to, or further away from the roll 29a, which remains in a fixed position. The .cast slab 13 is located between the

rollers

29a, 29b, and by means of the screw jack 61 the

rollers

29a, 29b may be spaced apart a distance equal to the thickness of the slab 13.

The top and the bottom surfaces of the double-roll support bracket3l have perforated ears or

lugs

63, 65

respectively and, the lug 65 coacts with the lug 63 of an adjacent bracket above and below so thatwhen a pivot pin 67 is inserted into the hole in each cooperating lug, the double-roll supporting brackets are pivotally connected together as the articulated chain 32.

The uppermost group of rollers 29b are also journaled individually in

arms

69, 71 of a proportioning bracket 73. The proportioning bracket 73 (FIG. 5) has a channel shaped housing 75 to which the

arms

69, 71

are pivotally connected as by pins 77. The housing 75 itself is pivotally connected as by pin 79 to an elongate The lower end of the elongate member 76 is fixed to a rectangular shaped block-like portion 83 that is secured to the free end of a piston rod 85 that cooperates with a fluid-actuated cylinder 87. The fluidactuated cylinder is pivotally secured as by pin 89 to the side plate member 43, about where shown in FIG. 2.

A pair of channel shaped

housings

91, 93 are pivotally connected together and to the block-like portion 83 by means of a common pivot pin 95. To the housing 91, there is pivotally connected, as by pivot pin 97, an equalizing arm 99, and in like manner an equalizing arm 101 is pivotally connected as by pivot pin 103 to housing 93.

At a point about midway along the length of the articulated roller support chain 32, one end of an arm 105 is connected to the slab-supporting chain 68 by means ofa connecting link 106 and the arm is pivotally mounted, as by pivot pin 107, to the side wall 43 of the supporting frame 35. The free other end of the arm 105 is secured to one end of a tension spring 109 that is also secured to the side wall 43 by a pin 111.

Below the arm 105, pairs of double-roller brackets 113 (FIG. 6) are mounted to rods 115 that have a tee-. head 117 at one end. The tee-head of each rod 115 cooperates with a slot 119 in a bottom flange portion 121 of the side wall 43 of support frame 35.

The double-roller brackets 113 are similar to the double-roller brackets 31 except that rod 115 is fixedly secured to the bracket 113. The upper end of the interconnected double-roller brackets 113, forming a roller chain portion 123, are also pivotally connected to the lower end of the roller chain 32 and to the arm 105. The lower end of the roller chain portion 123 is connccted to another pivoted arm 125 by means of a connecting link 127. The arm 125, like arm 105, is resiliently biased by a spring 129, like spring 109, to the side wall 43.

The upper end of the support frame 35 is connected to a cable 131 that passes over sheaves 133, 135 mounted to the structural support for the casting mold and the cable 131 is wound onto the drum portion ofa powered hoisting winch 137 that is mounted to the other horizontal supporting structure 139. The lower end of the support frame 35 is provided with a pair of fixed

legs

141, 143 having a common shaft 145 that cooperates with a pivotable fulcrum 147. The fulcrum 147 is pivotable about a base 149 by means of a fluidactuated cylinder 151.

The support frame 35 also has two other

fixed legs

153, 155; the leg 153 being located adjacent the lower supporting leg 141, and the leg 155 being located adjacent the upper end of the support frame 35. These

legs

153, 155 coact with a horizontally movable car 157 on which is mounted a support cradle 159.

In operation, molten metal 17 is continually poured into mold which is cooled in a normal manner, and a cast slab l3 emerges continually from the bottom of the mold. The cast slab is straight as it descends, and the leading edge of the strand 13 first engages the rolls 29a in the region A shown in FIG. 2. The slab at first flexes the roller chain 32 so that the upper portion of it is vertically straight; the arm 105 pivoting clockwise against the tension spring 109.

As soon as the leading edge of the strand passes-zone A, the pistomcylinder 87 is actuated so that the rollers 29a in the the group of rollers linked to the equalizing

arms

99, 101, exert forces F against one surface of the slab 13. These forces F are resisted by reactionary forces P exerted by rollers 29b against the opposite surface of the slab, and other fulcrum reactionary forces Q are exerted against the one surface of the slab by the fixed group of rollers 23a.

As the rollers 29a urge the leading edge portion of the slab 13 toward the right, as viewed in FIG. 2, the slab curves toward the right and finally, after the leading straight portion of the slab has passed through the straightener rolls, the slab follows the arcuate path shown in dotted outline in FIG. 2.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that, when the upper portion of the roller supporting chain 32, is in the position shown in FIG. 2, the lower portion of the chain moves upwardly and to the left, as viewed in FIG. 1. The tee-headed bolts slide in the slots provided in the lower horizontal flange of the support frame. The lower portion of the roller chain is also resiliently biased by an arm, wherefore, the chain assumes a curve that follows the dotted outlines of the slab shown in FIG. 2.

Those skilled in the art will recognize several significant features and advantages of the present invention A among which are:

That the apparatus for-bending slabs is effective to bend slabs of various thickness and width, the roller brackets including one roller that is adjustably positionable;

That the equalizing brackets and the rollers journaled thereto equally distribute the bending forces exerted on the slab by each roller;

That a plurality of rollers is used in each group or cluster so that the force exerted by each roller does not cause distortion or a break-out to the thin skin of the cast slab, but yet the cumulative forces of all of the rollers in any group is effective;

That the equalizing bracket directly connected to the piston-cylinder assembly is articulated so that each pair of rollers adjust to the changing curvature of the slab; and

That the roller supporting chain can move out from its normal curved slab supporting line, when forced out by the descending straight portion of the slab, but the chain being resiliently biased supports the slab in an arcuate path.

What is claimed is:

1. In a continuous casting machine having a vertically reciprocable mold wherein molten metal partly solidifies and from which a cast slab is continually withdrawn, the improved apparatus comprising:

a. a frame situated below said mold;

b. a plurality of vertically spaced apart groups of pairs of rollers comprising a first grouping of rollers coacting with opposite sides of said slab and being pivotally connected together as a chain and pivotally connected to said frame, one of each pair of rollers being fixed relative to said slab and the other one of each pair of rollers being movable relative to such slab and to said one fixed roller;

0. a second gr0uping,'like said first grouping, of pairs of rollers that are situated in spaced apart vertical relation to said first grouping and coacting with opposite sides of such slab; and

d. means to urge said first and said second groupings of pairs of rollers against said slab to bend said slab. I

2. The invention of claim 1 including:

a. pivot means connecting one end of said chain to said frame at a point adjacent to the bottom of said mold; and

b. means connected to said frame and to said chain for linearly extending said chain.

3. The invent-ion of claim 1 including:

a. a third group of rollers contacting said strand and arranged in pairs similarly to the pairs of rollers of said first group; and

b. means maintaining said pairs of rollers of said third group in preselected spaced apart relation to said frame.

4. The invention of claim 3 including:

a. means pivotally connecting together adjacent pairs of rollers of said third group of rollers;

b. means connecting said third group of rollers to the chain of rollers of said first and second groups; and

c. means connected to said frame and to said third group of rollers for linearly extending said chain.

5. In a continuous casting machine having a vertically reciprocable mold wherein molten metal partly solidifies and from which a cast slab is continually withdrawn, the improved apparatus comprising:

a. an arcuate frame; b. means pivotally supporting one end of said frame; c. means connected to the other end of said frame for holding said frame in operative relation to and below said mold;

d. a flexible chain for supporting said slab after it emerges from said mold including:

i. a plurality of pivotally interconnected pairs of rollers disposed on opposite sides of said. slab with i i ii. means for adjustably moving one roller of each pair of such rollers with respect to the other roller of each pair and to said slab;

e. means connecting one end of said flexible chain to said frame at a location adjacent the bottom of said mold; V

f. means connected to said frame and to said chain for linearly extending said chain; and

g. means coacting with at least one pair of said rollers for exerting a bending force on said slab' as it emerges from said mold whereby 'said slab bends and is supported by the rollers of said chain. 6. The invention of claim 5 including: a. an equalizer arm pivotally mounted to said frame;

' b. means pivotally mounted to said equalizer arm and to a first group of pairs of said rollers; and c. means pivotally mounted to said equalizer arm and to a second group of pairs of rollers. 7. The invention of claim 6 including: a. a plurality of other rollers engaging said slab that are fixed and exert reactionary forces on said slab. 8. The invention of claim 5 wherein: a. said arcuate frame comprises members interconnected together as a truss. i V

k a k l

Claims

1. In a continuous casting machine having a vertically reciprocable mold wherein molten metal partly solidifies and from which a cast slab is continually withdrawn, the improved apparatus comprising: a. a frame situated below said mold; b. a plurality of vertically spaced apart groups of pairs of rollers comprising a first grouping of rollers coacting with opposite sides of said slab and being pivotally connected together as a chain and pivotally connected to said frame, one of each pair of rollers being fixed relative to said slab and the other one of each pair of rollers being movable relative to such slab and to said one fixed roller; c. a second grouping, like said first grouping, of pairs of rollers that are situated in spaced apart vertical relation to said first grouping and coacting with opposite sides of such slab; and d. means to urge said first and said second groupings of pairs of rollers against said slab to bend said slab.

2. The invention of claim 1 including: a. pivot means connecting one end of said chain to said frame at a point adjacent to the bottom of said mold; and b. means connected to said frame and to said chain for linearly extending said chain.

3. The invention of claim 1 including: a. a third group of rollers contacting said strand and arranged in pairs similarly to the pairs of rollers of said first group; and b. means maintaining said pairs of rollers of said third group in preselected spaced apart relation to said frame.

4. The invention of claim 3 including: a. means pivotally connecting together adjacent pairs of rollers of said third group of rollers; b. means connecting said third group of rollers to the chain of rollers of said first and second groups; and c. means connected to said frame and to said third group of rollers for linearly extending said chain.

5. In a continuous casting machine having a vertically reciprocable mold wherein molten metal partly solidifies and from which a cast slab is continually withdrawn, the improved apparatus comprising: a. an arcuate frame; b. means pivotally supporting one end of said frame; c. means connected to the other end of said frame for holding said frame in operative relation to and below said mold; d. a flexible chain for supporting said slab after it emerges from said mold including: i. a plurality of pivotally interconnected pairs of rollers disposed on opposite sides of said slab with ii. means for adjustably moving one roller of each pair of such rollers with respect to the oTher roller of each pair and to said slab; e. means connecting one end of said flexible chain to said frame at a location adjacent the bottom of said mold; f. means connected to said frame and to said chain for linearly extending said chain; and g. means coacting with at least one pair of said rollers for exerting a bending force on said slab as it emerges from said mold whereby said slab bends and is supported by the rollers of said chain.

6. The invention of claim 5 including: a. an equalizer arm pivotally mounted to said frame; b. means pivotally mounted to said equalizer arm and to a first group of pairs of said rollers; and c. means pivotally mounted to said equalizer arm and to a second group of pairs of rollers.

7. The invention of claim 6 including: a. a plurality of other rollers engaging said slab that are fixed and exert reactionary forces on said slab.

8. The invention of claim 5 wherein: a. said arcuate frame comprises members interconnected together as a truss.