Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
  • C25C—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
  • C25C3/00—Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts
  • C25C3/06—Electrolytic production, recovery or refining of metals by electrolysis of melts of aluminium
  • C25C3/14—Devices for feeding or crust breaking
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F15—FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
  • F15B—SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F15B15/00—Fluid-actuated devices for displacing a member from one position to another; Gearing associated therewith
  • F15B15/20—Other details, e.g. assembly with regulating devices
  • F15B15/26—Locking mechanisms
  • F15B15/261—Locking mechanisms using positive interengagement, e.g. balls and grooves, for locking in the end positions

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for controlling a pneumatic cylinder.
• the context of the invention is that of pneumatic automatisms for the manufacturing industry and the process industries, in particular for aluminum smelters.
• the invention relates to a control device of a jack and more particularly to a control device of a crusher breaking cylinder.
• Such crush-breakers are used in steel and aluminum plants to break the surface crust formed on the surface of a molten metal, the break crusher cylinder is then used to form a hole in this crust allowing incorporate additives.
• the efforts involved can be significant, depending on the thickness and stiffness of the crust formed, it is the same during the ascent of the cylinder to "unhook" the slag and residues glued to the chisel, which requires the use of a large cylinder. If the crust formed is less thick or more friable the maximum breaking stress, or cleaning, will not be reached. As a result, the maximum pressurization will not be necessary in this case and a lower pressure will allow a reduction in consumption and thus a significant source energy saving.
• AU 27128/84 describes such a control device using a 5/2 distributor, a pressure reduction valve and a 3/2 valve controlled directly by a programmable industrial controller.
• a sensor can detect the end of the thrust and inform the controller.
• the present invention aims in particular to provide a control device of a cylinder for achieving energy savings, including the adaptation of the feed pressure to the effort just needed to break the crust and back up the cylinder by cleaning the chisel.
• a device for controlling a crusher-breaking pneumatic cylinder comprising a distributor and a valve, the jack being arranged vertically, above the surface of a molten metal, the rod of the jack equipped with a pointerolle being arranged facing the surface of the metal, is characterized in that it comprises a mechanical locking means of the cylinder rod in the upper position, allowing maintenance of the rod of the cylinder without the use of pneumatic energy.
• the mechanical locking means may comprise a bolt adapted to cooperate with a stop means provided on a finger integral with the rod of the jack.
• the stop means may be a groove or a shoulder.
• the bolt may include an orifice in which can penetrate the finger.
• the device also comprises a valve equipped with a mechanical sensor.
• the mechanical sensor may be a feeler.
• the probe can cooperate with an inclined surface provided on a trigger adapted to cooperate with the rod.
• the device is integrated in the cylinder body.
• the device can allow the adaptation of the supply pressure to the force just needed to break a resistance and reassemble the cylinder by breaking any friction forces of the application.
• the device may comprise means for detecting the low position of the rod by electrical contact between the chisel and the metal.
• the exhaust valve can include a flow limiter.
• Fig. 1 is a diagram of the connections of the elements of a device according to the invention.
• Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the bottom of a cylinder according to one embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 3 is a cross-section along the line III-III of FIG. 2 illustrating an embodiment of the locking device according to the invention.
• Fig. 4 is a cross-section along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2 illustrating an embodiment according to the invention of a 3/2 valve and its mechanical trigger finger, and
• Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the cylinder bottom of FIG. 2.
• the control device is shown schematically in FIG. 1. It is possible to see the jack 1 comprising a rod 2 integral with a piston 3.
• the jack comprises in the lower part an orifice 4 and in the upper part an orifice 5.
• the lower end 2 of the rod is integral with a chisel 6.
• the upper part of the piston 3 comprises a finger 7 provided with a groove 7a.
• the groove 7a is adapted to cooperate with the bolt 8a mu by the spring 15 of a locking device 8.
• the chisel is above the surface M of the molten metal.
• the surface M of the molten metal is electrically connected to the control part of a control device 10 via an automaton A.
• the control device also comprises a 5/2 type distributor 9.
• a 5/2 type distributor 9 In the position shown in FIG. 1, where the slide is in the position 9b, the pressure inlet of the distributor 9 feeds a 3/2 valve 11, whereas the orifice 5 of the cylinder 1 is connected to the exhaust valve of the distributor 9 In the other position 9a of the distributor 9, the pressure inlet supplies the orifice 5, the orifice 4 being exhausted.
• the valve 11 is shown in a position where the slide is in a position 11c allowing the exhaust of the lower chamber of the cylinder 1 through the orifice 4
• the distributor 9, the locking device 8 and the valve 11 are controlled by the control device 10.
• the cylinder is then at rest in the high position.
• the control device is shown in FIG. 1 with its drawer in a position 10b where the pressure supply is blocked while the pipe to the locking device 8, the distributor 9 and the valve 11 is exhausted. In another position 10a, the pipe towards the locking device 8, the distributor 9 and the valve 11 is connected to the pressure inlet.
• valve 11 can also be controlled mechanically by means of a probe 11a.
• the control device 10 makes it possible to cause the slide of the valve 11 to be lowered, but the probe 11a is able, in contact with the piston 3, to control the raising of the slide of the valve 11.
• the piston 3 is represented at the end of the upward stroke and therefore actuates the probe 11a causing the displacement of the slide of the valve 11 towards the position 11c.
• the orifice 4 is connected to the exhaust valve 11 and the pressure from the distributor 9 is blocked.
• unlocking causes the lowering of the rod 2 and the chisel 6 under the action of their own weight;
• valve spool 9 passes to position 9a which allows the upper chamber of the cylinder 1 to be pressurized via the orifice 5.
• the cylinder 1 is exhausted through the valve 11, the drawer goes to position 11b, connected to the atmosphere by the distributor 9;
• a second step when the chisel 6 comes into contact with the molten aluminum M, the jack in contact with the aluminum behaves as an electrical contact.
• the cylinder 1 is made in such a way that there is electrical continuity between the chisel 6 and the rear bottom of the cylinder.
• a metal bearing not shown, is used and when the chisel 6 comes into contact with the aluminum M, an electrical signal can feed a controller A and cause the shutdown of the control device 10 and its passage in position 10b .
• the orifice 4 is then connected to the supply of the distributor 9 through the valve 11.
• the rod 2 and the chisel 6 then begin their ascent.
• the piston 3 causes the probe 11 to come back in. Arriving at the top, during the rise, the piston 3 and the rod 7 slightly exceed the engagement of the bolt 8a to ensure the complete tilting of the valve 11 in the position 11 c. This change of state causes the atmosphere of the lower chamber of the breaker cylinder to be vented.
• control device can be integrated with the cylinder 1.
• Figures 2 to 5 illustrate an embodiment of the bottom of the cylinder 1, modified to accommodate the control device according to the invention.
• Fig. 3 have can see the finger 7, slidably mounted in a housing 13 provided in the bottom of the cylinder 1, which has a thread in its upper part for attachment to the piston 3.
• the lower part of the finger 7 has a shoulder 7b which makes as a means of arrest.
• the bolt 8a is made in the form of a slide guided in translation, orthogonal to the direction of movement of the finger 7, in a second housing 14 provided in the bottom of the cylinder 1 and made in the form of a blind cylindrical orifice.
• a spring 15 is interposed between the wall of the housing 14 and the bolt 8a while the housing 14 is closed by a plug 16.
• the bolt 8a comprises an orifice 8b in which can penetrate the finger
• the orifice 8b has an inner lip 8c adapted to cooperate with the shoulder 7b.
• Fig. 4 one can see the valve 11 integrated in the bottom of the cylinder 1.
• the slide valve 20 of the valve 11 and the probe 11a are slidably mounted in a housing provided in the bottom of the cylinder 1 and closed by a plug 21. The probe is not in direct contact with the piston 3 here.
• a trigger 12 is installed in a housing provided in the bottom of the cylinder 1 and closed by a plug 19 having an orifice allowing the passage of one end of the trigger 12.
• a spring 18 exerts a force on the trigger 12 tending to maintain the trigger 12 against the plug 19 so that the end of the trigger 12 slightly exceeds the plug 19.
• the displacement of the trigger is a translational movement along an axis parallel to the direction of movement of the piston 3.
• the trigger 12 comprises an inclined surface 12a adapted to cooperate with the rounded end of the probe 11a. In this way, when the piston 3 comes into contact with the end of the trigger 12 and causes the trigger 12 to come into its housing, the surface 12a exerts a force on the probe 11a which causes the slide 20 to move. valve 11.
• This mechanism thus allows the detection of the arrival of the piston 3 in the high position and thus causes the change of state of the valve 11 and the depressurization of the inlet 4 of the piston 1.
• the exhaust cylinder 1 is oversized.
• the pressure inlet has a low flow rate so as to avoid a too high pressure rise in the drive chambers. In this way, full pressure can be reached in about 7 seconds. The maximum pressure is about 7 bars. Nevertheless, during the ascent and following the degree of soiling of the chisel, this pressure is often not necessary. Indeed, 1 bar is sufficient for the lift of the cylinder given the weight hitched to the rod. In the descent phase, the rise in pressure takes place only if the resistance of the crust requires it.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Electrochemistry (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Metallurgy (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Percussive Tools And Related Accessories (AREA)
• Actuator (AREA)
• Preliminary Treatment Of Fibers (AREA)

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Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Cited By (23)

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Citations (11)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 2009
  • 2009-07-21 FR FR0903581A patent/FR2948426B1/fr active Active
• 2010
  • 2010-07-19 AU AU2010274613A patent/AU2010274613B2/en active Active
  • 2010-07-19 EP EP10740381.8A patent/EP2456986B2/fr active Active
  • 2010-07-19 IN IN556DEN2012 patent/IN2012DN00556A/en unknown
  • 2010-07-19 CN CN2010800328340A patent/CN102472302A/zh active Pending
  • 2010-07-19 CN CN201611078753.XA patent/CN106835198B/zh active Active
  • 2010-07-19 WO PCT/IB2010/053276 patent/WO2011010274A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2010-07-19 CA CA2767588A patent/CA2767588C/fr active Active
• 2012
  • 2012-01-18 ZA ZA2012/00414A patent/ZA201200414B/en unknown

Patent Citations (11)

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