WO2001079565A1

WO2001079565A1 - Device for manoeuvring elements of a blast furnace casting launder

Info

Publication number: WO2001079565A1
Application number: PCT/EP2001/004122
Authority: WO
Inventors: Guy Thillen; Severino Venturini; Claude Meisch
Original assignee: Paul Wurth S.A.
Priority date: 2000-04-18
Filing date: 2001-04-10
Publication date: 2001-10-25
Also published as: EP1274867A1; LU90566B1; AU2001260195A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for manoeuvring elements of a blast furnace casting launder (14), in particular an upstream launder. Said device comprises a support structure (20) arranged beside the casting launder (14). A main bearing arm (26) is connected by a cylindrical articulation (O) to the support structure (20). A secondary arm (28) is connected by a cylindrical articulation (A) to the main bearing arm (26) and a bearing element (30) connected by a cylindrical articulation (B) to the main bearing arm (26). The upstream launder cover to be removed is suspended to the bearing element (30). With the triple articulation mechanism of the device, numerous set-off positions can be achieved wherein the launder cover can be set down.

Description

Handling device for elements of a pouring channel of a blast furnace

Introduction

The present invention relates to a handling device for elements of a pouring channel of a blast furnace.

State of the art

In order to reduce the emission of smoke and the radiation of heat in the pouring hall of a blast furnace, it is known to cover the pouring channel. For this purpose, we use funny covers. These are metal boxes provided with a refractory lining which can have a length of several meters and a weight well above ten tonnes.

However, in order to be able to drill, respectively plug, the tap hole, it is necessary to remove the upstream channel cover, that is to say the one which covers the channel directly downstream of the tap hole. It is known to use for this purpose a handling device comprising a support arranged on the pouring floor next to the pouring channel and a support arm connected by means of a cylindrical articulation to this support, so as to that this support arm can pivot around a substantially vertical axis. With the help of this arm, the upstream channel cover is raised and it is transported, by a simple pivoting movement of the support arm, in a garage position next to the channel. It should be noted that in many blast furnace halls it is not easy to find a place on the casting floor for such a garage position.

Problem underlying the invention

A problem underlying the present invention is to provide a handling device of the type described above, which in many cases solves the problem of space with regard to the garage position for the cover. upstream laughs.

General description of the claimed invention with its main advantages.

According to the invention, this objective is achieved by a handling device for elements of a pouring channel of a blast furnace comprising a support structure arranged next to the casting channel, a main support arm connected to the using a cylindrical articulation O to the support structure, a secondary support arm connected using a cylindrical articulation A to said main support arm and a supporting element connected using a cylindrical articulation B to the arm main carrier. The upstream channel cover to be removed is then suspended from the support element and is raised. Thanks to the three-hinge mechanism of the device according to the invention, it is known to reach numerous garage positions in which the upstream channel cover can be deposited. It is also known to impose on the channel cover suspended from the device different trajectories and orientations to reach its garage position, which makes it easier to avoid obstacles in the congested space of the casting floor. It will be more particularly appreciated that the device according to the invention makes it possible to move the upstream channel cover raised axially downstream of the channel, to deposit it on the directly adjacent downstream channel cover. In this case, it is no longer necessary to reserve a garage position on the pouring floor. Transporting the upstream channel cover above the downstream channel cover can be carried out very simply by pulling the upstream channel cover suspended from the device in the axis of the pouring channel on the downstream channel cover. To this end, for example, a winch can be used, the cable of which is fixed to the downstream end of the upstream channel cover. The replacement of the upstream channel cover above the channel can then be done using a winch whose cable is fixed to the upstream end of the upstream channel cover.

It will also be appreciated that a device according to the invention, which makes it possible to move an object in the axis of the pouring channel, can also be used for the installation of channel molds in the immediate vicinity of the furnace, that is to say in a space which is generally not accessible to a crane with an overhead crane.

In more advanced embodiments, the device according to the invention is designed so that the cylindrical articulation B automatically follows a path defined in advance and / or the carrier element automatically has an orientation defined in advance when the main support arm pivots around its cylindrical articulation O.

An embodiment in which the carrier element automatically has an orientation defined in advance when the main carrier arm pivots about its cylindrical articulation O is as follows. A positioning motor (for example a stepping motor) is associated with the cylindrical joint B, so that the angle between the secondary support arm and the support element can be precisely adjusted. A controller then determines a set value for the positioning motor, as a function of the position of the two carrying arms which is continuously sensed. If, for example, it is desired to transport the upstream channel cover above the downstream channel cover, this set value will be determined so that the carrier element remains substantially parallel to itself when the carrier arm pivots. main around the cylindrical joint O.

A similar result can be obtained by integrating into the device according to the invention a system of guide rods. (It will be noted that in the present application the expression "guide rod" is intended to cover any rigid element connected between two joints). This system of guide rods is designed so as to form with the main support arm, the secondary support arm and the support element, an articulated mechanism which ensures that the support element remains parallel to itself during a pivoting of said main support arm around said cylindrical joint O.

Such a mechanism can for example be executed in the following manner. A lever comprising a first lever arm and a second lever arm is connected to the intersection of the two lever arms by means of a hinge A 'at main support arm, said articulation A 'being centered on said articulation A. A first guide rod is connected by means of an articulation H to the first lever arm and by means of an articulation I to the structure of support, so that the joints O, A ", H and I are centered on the four corners of a parallelogram. A second guide rod is connected using a joint J to the second lever arm and using a hinge K on the support element, so that the hinges A ', J, B and K are centered on the four corners of a parallelogram.

An embodiment in which the cylindrical articulation B automatically follows a trajectory defined in advance when the main support arm pivots around its cylindrical articulation O is as follows. A positioning motor (for example a stepping motor) is associated with the cylindrical joint A, so that the angle between the secondary support arm and the main support arm can be precisely adjusted. A controller then determines, as a function of the position of the main support arm which is continuously sensed by a sensor, a set value for this positioning motor and this so that the articulation B follows a determined trajectory. If it is desired, for example, to transport the upstream channel cover above the downstream channel cover, this set value will be determined so that the joint B follows a rectilinear trajectory parallel to the casting channel.

A similar result can be obtained by integrating into the device according to the invention a system of guide rods forming, with the support structure, the main support arm and the secondary support arm, an articulated mechanism which transforms a pivoting of the main support arm around of its cylindrical articulation O in a translation of the articulation B along said channel.

In a first embodiment, such a mechanism is designed as follows. A first guide rod is connected using a hinge E to the main support arm. A second guide rod is connected by means of an articulation F to the secondary support arm. A joint G connects the first guide rod to the second guide rod and is arranged so that the joints A, E, F and G are centered on the four corners of a parallelogram. A guide rail then imposes on the articulation G, during a pivoting of the main support arm around its cylindrical articulation O, a predefined trajectory which results in the trajectory required for the articulation B. If one wants for example that the joint B follows a straight line parallel to the axis of the pouring channel, then the guide rail must be a straight rail parallel to the axis of the pouring channel. It will be noted that in this case it is also possible to replace the guide rail with a linear motor (such as for example a hydraulic cylinder) which is mounted so as to be able to move the articulation G parallel to the axis of the pouring channel . In this case, a motor is not required to drive the main support arm in rotation around its cylindrical articulation O.

In a second embodiment, such a mechanism is designed as follows. A first guide rod is connected by means of a joint O 'to the support structure, so that this joint is centered on the axis of rotation of the cylindrical joint O. A second guide rod is connected by means of a joint B 'to the secondary support arm, so that this joint B' is centered on the axis of rotation of the cylindrical joint B. A joint U connects the first guide rod to the second guide rod. A third guide rod is connected by means of a joint A 'to the secondary support arm, so that this joint A' is centered on the axis of rotation of the cylindrical joint A. A fourth rod guide is provided with a joint U 'centered on the joint U. A joint V connects the third guide rod to the fourth guide rod. A fifth guide rod has a hinge V centered on the hinge V. A hinge W connects the fifth guide rod to the support structure. In this mechanism, the joints must check the following conditions: a) the distance from the O joint to the A joint is equal to the distance from the O joint to the U joint; b) the joints A, B, U and V are centered on the four corners of a rhombus; and c) the distance from the O joint to the W joint is equal to the distance from the W joint to the V joint.

Description using Figures

Other features and characteristics of the invention will emerge from the detailed description of some advantageous embodiments presented below, by way of illustration, with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show:

Fig.1: a sectional view showing very schematically in front of a tap hole a pouring channel, an upstream and downstream channel cover and a device according to the invention in two different positions; Fig.2: a plan view very schematically showing a first embodiment of a device according to the invention;

Fig.3: a plan view very schematically showing a second embodiment of a device according to the invention;

Fig.4: a plan view very schematically showing a third embodiment of a device according to the invention;

Fig.5: a plan view very schematically showing a fourth embodiment of a device according to the invention;

Fig.6: a plan view very schematically showing a fifth embodiment of a device according to the invention. In the figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

In Fig. 1 is seen drawn in section, a blast furnace wall at a tap hole 12 and a tap channel 14 associated with this tap hole. Reference 16 identifies an upstream channel cover, that is to say which covers the channel directly downstream of the tap hole. The reference 18 identifies a downstream channel cover, that is to say which covers the channel downstream of the upstream channel cover 16.

A device according to the invention is generally identified by the reference 10. It comprises a support structure 20 arranged on the casting floor at side of the runner 14. In FIG. 1 also shows a handling arm 22, which is supported by the support structure 20 so that it can be moved in height, as indicated by the arrow 24, and so as to be able to rotate around an axis of rotation "O" substantially vertical. According to an important aspect of the present invention, the device 10 makes it possible to transport the upstream channel cover 16 from its operating position, in which it covers the channel 14, in a garage position located above the downstream channel cover 18 (this garage position is indicated in Fig. 1 using dotted lines), and of course also to bring it back from its garage position to its service position.

In Fig. 2, it can be seen that the handling arm 22 more precisely comprises a main support arm 26, which is connected by means of a cylindrical articulation O to the support structure; a secondary support arm 28, which is connected by means of a cylindrical articulation A to the main support arm 26; and a support element 30, which is connected by means of a cylindrical articulation B to said secondary support arm 28. The upstream channel cover 16 is suspended from the support element 30.

A positioning motor 32 (for example a stepping motor) is associated with the cylindrical joint B, so that the angle 34 between the secondary support arm 28 and the support element 30 can be precisely adjusted. 36 then determines a set value for the positioning motor 32, as a function of the position of the two carrying arms 26, 28 which is sensed continuously. If it is desired, for example, to transport the upstream channel cover 16 above the downstream channel cover 18, this set value will be determined so that the carrier element 30 remains substantially parallel to itself during pivoting. the main support arm 26 around the cylindrical joint O.

A positioning motor 40 (for example a stepping motor) is associated with the cylindrical articulation A, so as to be able to precisely adjust the angle 42 between the secondary support arm 28 and the main support arm 26. A controller 44 then determines, depending on the position of the arm main carrier 26, a set value for this positioning motor 40 and this so that the articulation B follows a determined trajectory. The position of the main support arm 26 is sensed continuously, for example by an angular sensor capturing the angle 46. If it is desired, for example, to transport the upstream channel cover 16 above the downstream channel cover 18, this set value will be determined so that the joint B follows a straight path parallel to the pouring channel.

In the execution of FIG. 3, it can be seen that the secondary support arm 28 comprises a lever arm 50 which is connected by means of a hinge C to a guide rod 52, which is connected by a hinge D to a lever 54. The latter can be rotated about the axis "O" by a positioning motor 56 controlled by a controller 58 which determines, depending on the position of the main support arm 26, a set value for the positioning motor 56 and this of so that joint B follows a determined trajectory. It will be appreciated that in this embodiment, the positioning motor 56, which determines the angle 42 between the main support arm 26 and the secondary support arm 28, can be mounted in the support structure 10.

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment which does not need a positioning motor 32 to ensure parallel movement of the carrier element 30. In this device of FIG. 4, a lever comprising a first lever arm 70 and a second lever arm 72 is connected to the intersection of the two lever arms 70, 72 by means of an articulation A 'to the main support arm 26, said articulation A 'being centered on said articulation A. A first guide rod 74 is connected by means of an articulation H to the first lever arm 70 and by means of an articulation I to the support structure 20, of so that the joints O, A ', H and I are centered on the four corners of a parallelogram. A second guide rod 76 is connected by means of a joint J to the second lever arm 72 and by means of a joint K to the support element 30, so that the joints A ', J, B and K are centered on the four corners of a parallelogram. The positioning motor 40 associated with the cylindrical articulation A serves to adjust the angle 42 between the arm main carrier 26 and the secondary carrier arm 28 so that the articulation B follows a determined trajectory (cf. description of FIG. 2). It should be noted that the execution of FIG. 4 could also be advantageously combined with the execution of FIG. 3. Fig. 5 shows a first embodiment which does not need a positioning motor 40 to make the articulation B follow a rectilinear trajectory, parallel to the axis of the pouring channel 14. A first guide rod 80 is connected to the 'using a joint O' to the support structure 20, so that this joint O 'is centered on the axis of rotation of the cylindrical joint O. A second guide rod 82 is connected to the using a joint B 'on the secondary support arm 28, so that this joint B' is centered on the axis of rotation of the cylindrical joint B. A joint U connects the first guide rod 80 to the second guide rod 82. A third guide rod 84 is connected by means of an articulation A ′ to the secondary support arm 28, so that this articulation A ′ is centered on the axis of rotation of the articulation cylindrical A. A fourth guide rod 86 is m united with a joint U 'centered on the joint U. A joint V connects the third guide rod 82 to the fourth guide rod 84. A fifth guide rod 88 is provided with a joint V centered on the joint V. A joint W connects the fifth guide rod 88 to a fixed arm 90 of the support structure 20. If the joints satisfy the following conditions: a) the distance from the joint O to the joint A is equal to the distance from joint O to joint U; b) the joints A, B, U and V are centered on the four corners of a rhombus; and c) the distance from the O joint to the W joint is equal to the distance from the W joint to the V joint; then the articulation B follows a rectilinear trajectory perpendicular to the straight line OW, if the carrying arm 26 pivots about the axis "O". As described above, the positioning motor 32 associated with the cylindrical joint B serves to precisely adjust the angle between the secondary support arm 28 and the support element 30, for example so that the support element 30 remains parallel to itself during the rectilinear movement of the cylindrical articulation B. It it will be noted that the positioning motor 32 could of course be replaced by the device of FIG. 4.

Fig. 6 shows a second embodiment which does not need a positioning motor 40 to make the joint B follow a straight path, parallel to the axis of the pouring channel 14. In this embodiment, a first guide rod 100 is connected using a hinge E to the main support arm 26. A second guide rod 102 is connected using a hinge F to the secondary support arm 28. A hinge G connects the first guide rod 100 to the second guide rod 102 and is arranged so that the joints A, E, F and G are centered on the four corners of a parallelogram. A hydraulic cylinder 104 is mounted so as to be able to move the articulation H parallel to the axis of the pouring channel 14. An actuation of the hydraulic cylinder 104 causes a displacement of the articulation B according to a rectilinear trajectory parallel to the axis of the pouring channel 14. The mechanism also fulfills the function of a stroke amplifier of the cylinder 104. It will be noted that no motor is required to drive the main support arm 26 in rotation around its cylindrical articulation O .

In an alternative embodiment not shown of the device of FIG. 6, the cylinder 104 is replaced by a guide rail for the articulation G and the main support arm 26 is fitted with a motor capable of driving it in rotation about the "O" axis. If the guide rail is rectilinear and parallel to the axis of the pouring channel 14, then the rotation of the main support arm 26 causes a displacement of the articulation B according to a rectilinear trajectory parallel to the axis of the casting channel 14. It will be appreciated that the solution with guide rail makes it possible to impose on the joint B a more complicated trajectory, for example to avoid an obstacle during the transport of the upstream channel cover 16 in its garage position. As in the device of FIG. 5, the positioning motor 32 associated with the cylindrical articulation B serves to precisely adjust the angle between the secondary support arm 28 and the support element 30, by example so that the carrier element 30 remains parallel to itself during the rectilinear movement of the cylindrical articulation B. It remains to note that the positioning motor 32 could of course be replaced by the device of FIG. 4. It remains to be noted that there is no description of a preferred system for raising and lowering the channel cover 16. Such a system could include means for raising / lowering the joint O in the support 20, that is to say -to say to subject the main support arm to a vertical translation parallel to itself, or else means for raising / lowering the secondary support arm 28 relative to the main support arm 26, or else means for raising / lowering the element carrier 30 relative to the secondary carrier arm 28, or else lifting means fixed on the carrier element 30. Such a system for raising and lowering the channel cover 16 could however also include means for pivoting either the support structure 20 either one of the two carrying arms 26, 28 around a horizontal axis.

Claims

claims

1. A handling device for elements of a pouring channel (14) of a blast furnace comprising: a support structure (20) arranged next to the casting channel (14); and a main support arm (26) connected by means of a cylindrical articulation O to said support structure (20); characterized by a secondary support arm (28) connected by means of a cylindrical articulation A to said main support arm (26); and a support element (30) connected by means of a cylindrical articulation B to said secondary support arm (28), said channel element (16) to be manipulated being suspended from said support element (30).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized by: a positioning motor (32) associated with said cylindrical articulation B so as to be able to precisely adjust the angle (34) between said secondary support arm (28) and said carrier element (30); and a controller (36) determining a set value for said positioning motor (32) as a function of the position of the position of the two support arms (26, 28).

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said set value is determined so that said carrier element (30) remains parallel to itself during a pivoting of said main support arm (26) around said cylindrical joint O.

4. Device according to claim 1, characterized by a system of guide rods forming with said main support arm (26), said secondary support arm (28) and said support element (30), an articulated mechanism which ensures that said carrier element (30) remains parallel to itself during pivoting of said main carrier arm (26) around said cylindrical articulation O.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized by: a lever comprising a first lever arm (70) and a second lever arm (72), said lever being connected to the intersection of the two lever arms (70, 72) by means of an articulation A 'to said main support arm (26), said articulation A' being centered on said articulation A; a first guide rod (74) connected using a hinge H to said first lever arm (70) and using a hinge I to said support structure (20), so that the joints O, A ', H and I are centered on the four corners of a parallelogram; and a second guide rod (76) connected using a hinge J to said second lever arm (72) and using a hinge K to said support element (30), so that the joints A ', J, B and K are centered on the four corners of a parallelogram.

6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by: a positioning motor (40) associated with said cylindrical articulation A so as to be able to precisely adjust the angle (42) between said main support arm and said secondary support arm (28); and a controller determining a set value for said positioning motor as a function of the position of said main support arm, so that said articulation B follows a determined trajectory.

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said set value is determined so that said articulation B follows a straight path parallel to the pouring channel (14).

8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by a guide rod connected using a joint C to said secondary support arm (28) and using a joint D to said structure support (20), so that a pivoting of said main support arm (26) around said articulation O imposes on said secondary support arm (28) a well-defined trajectory. θ. Device according to claim 8, characterized by a system of guide rods forming, with said main support arm (26), said secondary support arm (28) and said support element (30), an articulated mechanism which transforms a pivoting of the main support arm (26) around said cylindrical joint O in a translation of said joint B along said pouring channel (14).

10. Device according to claim 9, characterized by a first guide rod (100) connected using a hinge E to said main support arm (26); a second guide rod (102) connected by means of an articulation F to said secondary support arm (28); a joint G connecting said first guide rod (100) to said second guide rod (102) and arranged so that the joints A, E, F and G are centered on the four corners of a parallelogram. 11. Device according to claim 10, characterized by a guide rail for imposing on said articulation G, during a pivoting of the main support arm (26) around its cylindrical articulation O, a trajectory which results in a determined trajectory of said joint B.

12. Device according to claim 10, characterized by a linear motor (104) which is mounted so as to be able to move the joint H parallel to the axis of the pouring channel (14).

13. Device according to claim 9, characterized by: a first guide rod (80) connected by means of a hinge O 'to said support structure (20), so that this hinge O' is centered on the axis of rotation of said cylindrical joint O; a second guide rod (82) connected by means of a joint B 'to said secondary support arm (28), so that this joint B' is centered on the axis of rotation of said cylindrical joint B; a U joint connecting said first guide rod (80) to said second guide rod (82); a third guide rod (84) connected by means of an articulation A 'to said secondary support arm (28), so that this articulation A' is centered on the axis of rotation of said cylindrical articulation A; a fourth guide rod (86) provided with a hinge U 'centered on said hinge U; a hinge V connecting said third guide rod (84) to said fourth guide rod (86); a fifth guide rod (88) provided with a V joint centered on said V joint; a hinge W connecting said fifth guide rod (88) to said support structure (20); in which these articulations satisfy the following conditions: a) the distance from the articulation O to the articulation A is equal to the distance from the articulation O to the articulation U; b) the joints A, B, U and V are centered on the four corners of a rhombus; c) the distance from the O joint to the W joint is equal to the distance from the W joint to the V joint.