Patent Application
20230372997
Not Applicable
The present invention relates to an oscillating table, in particular a table used in plants for the production of billets, blooms, or other steel semi-finished products to allow the oscillation of the crystallizer inserted in an ingot mold in order to carry out the casting process.
The invention further relates to an assembly method of the oscillating table.
The oscillating table is an element, known in the steelworks industry, which sets the ingot mold in oscillating motion, and thus the crystallizer contained therein, into which the casting takes place.
The repetitive motion of the oscillating table serves to prevent the skin of the product from sticking to the walls of the crystallizer. Said skin is formed due to the heat exchange between the liquid steel and the walls of the crystallizer which is externally cooled. The lubricating effect can also be increased by the introduction of lubricating powders, which are inserted between the skin of the product and the walls of the crystallizer.
The oscillating table is characterized by the presence of one or more actuators which impose a determined stroke on the movable structure or oscillating stand of the table, based on a periodic, generally sinusoidal, oscillation. The required stroke and oscillation will vary according to the casting speed, the cast material, and other operating parameters.
Another fundamental parameter for the correct casting of different products is the casting radius of the machine, which is defined in the initial designing step according to the combination of geometries and dimensions of the set of products that the machine will have to cast.
Once identified, the initial definition of the casting radius remains fixed and thus limits the configuration of the system. For the installers of continuous casting machines, this configuration normally requires dedicated engineering for each of the possible casting radii, and thus requires several assemblies, BoM (Bill of Materials), and master records, in addition to complicating the management of finished parts in stock and spare parts which could significantly increase the supply time of these materials to customers and increase costs.
Indeed, continuous casting machines, installed at different customers' premises, may have different casting radii, requiring the installer and maintenance personnel to equip themselves with a combination of components adapted to the various casting radius types, with complications and associated costs.
Therefore, the need is felt to develop an oscillating table and an assembly method thereof to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks in order to simplify the work of installers and maintainers.
It is a purpose of the present invention to make an oscillating table for production plants of billets, blooms, or other steel semi-finished products, which allows a simple and quick initial configuration corresponding to a given casting radius within a range of different possible casting radii, using the same oscillating table that can be adapted during the first assembly step according to design requirements.
It is another purpose of the invention to make an assembly method of an oscillating table, which can be adapted to different casting radii, said method being more efficient and allowing to simplify the work of installers and maintainers.
Therefore, the present invention intends to achieve the objects discussed above by making an oscillating table comprising
Another aspect of the invention relates to an assembly method of the aforesaid oscillating table in which it is provided that each first elastic bar and each second elastic bar is housed within a respective hollow housing, the two ends of each first elastic bar and each second elastic bar being fixed in a pretensioned manner within corresponding ends of the respective hollow housing;
the method comprising the following steps:
In particular, if maintenance of the oscillating table is necessary, it is sufficient to release the central portion of the elastic bar, or of the elastic bars, from the oscillating structure and remove the two ends of the hollow housing containing the elastic bar from the support fixed frame for possible replacement or other maintenance operation.
Then, after maintenance, the first acute angle of inclination of the first elastic bars and the second acute angle of inclination of the second elastic bars are adjusted again, and finally the ends of the hollow housing of the first elastic bars and the ends of the hollow housing of the second elastic bars are fixed again to the fixed frame, and the central portion of each first elastic bar and each second elastic bar is fixed to the oscillating structure. Therefore, no dedicated construction parts are required for each casting radius.
Therefore, the central portion of the first and second elastic bars is maintained always at a respective portion of the oscillating structure, preferably at a respective locking device, only the inclination of said elastic bars being adjusted.
The solution of the invention which provides using pretensioned elastic bars or pretensioned tie-rods within respective hollow housings, having ends fixable in a removable manner to the support fixed frame, has the following advantages:
The ends of the hollow housing, containing the respective pretensioned elastic bar, can be removably fixed in fixed positions on the support fixed frame; this allows for quick assembly, even directly in the casting area, without the need for alignment in the tooling workshop.
In particular, predetermined holes can be provided on the fixed frame for fixing the ends of the hollow housings, said predetermined holes corresponding to different inclinations of the first and second elastic bars, and thus to different casting radii.
The fact that the hollow housings of the first and second elastic bars all have the same length, as well as the pretensioned elastic bars inside said hollow housings, makes it easy to arrange their fixing to the fixed frame.
Other advantages of the oscillating table of the invention are:
The dependent claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention.
Further features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent in light of the detailed description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of an oscillating table illustrated by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The same reference numbers in the figures identify the same elements or components.
The figures show an oscillating table, object of the present invention, comprising:
Said elastic means comprise, in all embodiments of the invention, two first elastic bars 5, 5′ and two second elastic bars 6, 6′, defining a respective axis, having two respective ends fixed indirectly to the support fixed frame 1, and having a respective central portion 7 constrained to the oscillating structure 2.
The two first elastic bars 5, 5′ are arranged parallel to each other, being positioned at a first side and at a second side of said support fixed frame 1, respectively, said first side and said second side being parallel to each other and equally spaced apart from said casting direction X. Also, the second elastic bars 6, 6′ are arranged parallel to each other, being respectively positioned at said first side and at said second side, below the first elastic bars 5, 5′ (
Advantageously, the first elastic bars 5, 5′ are inclined, in an adjustable manner, by a first acute angle with respect to a horizontal plane, while the second elastic bars 6, 6′ are inclined, in an adjustable manner, by a second acute angle, different from said first acute angle, with respect to said horizontal plane, whereby the two ideal intersection points between the axes of the first elastic bars and the corresponding axes of the underlying second elastic bars define an ideal oscillation axis Y about which the oscillating structure 2 can oscillate (
Preferably, both the first elastic bars 5, 5′ and the second elastic bars 6, 6′ are arranged symmetrically with respect to a plane containing the casting direction X (
In a first variant, the first acute angle of inclination of the first elastic bars 5, 5′ and the second acute angle of inclination of the second elastic bars 6, 6′ have the same sign with respect to the horizontal plane containing the ideal oscillation axis Y (
Instead, in a second variant (not shown), the first acute angle and the second acute angle are of opposite sign with respect to the horizontal plane containing the ideal oscillation axis Y.
In an embodiment of the oscillating table of the invention, the oscillating structure 2 is provided with a plurality of locking devices 20, one locking device 20 for each of the first elastic bars 5, 5′ and the second elastic bars 6, 6′.
Preferably, each locking device 20 comprises, preferably consists of (
In a first variant of the locking device 20, the first part 21, e.g. in the form of a protruding pin, is fixed to the oscillating structure 2 so that said first part can rotate about its own axis Z. The end face of the pin, distal from the oscillating structure 2, is provided with a groove 23 in which the central portion 7 of the respective elastic bar 5, 5′, 6, 6′ can be fitted. The rotation, by an operator, of the protruding pin and of the elastic bar fitted therein, allows adjusting the inclination angle of the elastic bar. Once the acute angle of inclination of the elastic bar has been adjusted, the second part 22 of the locking device, e.g., in the form of a fixing flange, is applied to the first part 21, locking in position both the central portion 7, and thus the elastic bar, and the first part 21 of the device. The second part 22 can be fixed to the first part 21 of the locking device 20 and to the oscillating structure 2 by means of a plurality of fixing means, such as screws, which cross the first part 21 completely.
Alternatively, as shown in
In a second variant of the locking device 20, the first part 21, e.g., in the form of a protruding pin, is integrally fixed to the oscillating structure 2. The end face of the pin, distal from the oscillating structure 2, is provided with a groove 23 in which the central portion 7 of the respective elastic bar 5, 5′, 6, 6′ can be inserted. A clearance is provided between the groove 23 and said central portion 7 which allows the operator to adjust the angle of inclination of the elastic bar. Once the acute angle of inclination of the elastic bar has been adjusted, and the clearance has possibly been eliminated by inserting at least one shim, the second part 22 of the locking device, e.g., in the form of a fixing flange, is applied to the first part 21, locking in position the central portion 7, and thus the elastic bar. As shown in
Advantageously, in all the embodiments of the invention, each first elastic bar 5, 5′ and each second elastic bar 6, 6′ are housed within a respective hollow housing, or longitudinal shell or box 30, defining a longitudinal axis either coinciding with or parallel to the axis of the respective elastic bar contained therein. In other words, each elastic bar 5, 5′, 6, 6′ is housed in a respective hollow housing 30. Therefore, there are as many hollow housings 30 as there are elastic bars 5, 5′, 6, 6′.
The two ends 31, 32 of each first and second elastic bar are fixed and advantageously pretensioned within corresponding ends 33, 34 of the respective hollow housing 30.
The elastic bar within the respective hollow housing 30 is previously pretensioned in the workshop according to known techniques, e.g., by locking the tie-rod in the central stretch and then tensioning the two ends one by one using torque wrenches to the desired values.
The two ends 33, 34 of each hollow housing 30 are removably fixed to the support fixed frame 1, e.g., by means of a series of screw 35.
Therefore, the elastic bar is indirectly fixed to the support fixed frame 1.
The central portion of the hollow housing 30 has at least one through-hole 36, preferably only one through-hole 36, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the hollow housing, at which the central portion 7 of the respective elastic bar 5, 5′, 6, 6′ is arranged, which can thus be easily constrained to the oscillating structure 2, e.g., in the manners described above.
Such a through-hole 36 is, for example, suitable for being crossed by a respective fixing device 20, such as those described above.
Regarding the table oscillation actuation system, an embodiment provides a body 11 hinged to the support fixed frame 1, e.g., by one or two pins, and adapted to oscillate about said one or two pins by means of at least one actuator 14, preferably a single actuator. The oscillating structure 2 rests on said body 11, thus being able to oscillate together with the body 11. The body 11 can be hinged directly on the support fixed frame 1 or indirectly on one or two protrusions 27 of said support fixed frame 1, as shown in
Preferably, the body 11 is provided with two arms 12 arranged at said first side and said second side, respectively, of the support fixed frame 1, and the oscillating structure 2 rests on said two arms 12.
In an embodiment of the table of the invention, both the support fixed frame 1 and the oscillating structure 2, inserted therein, have four side walls, thus four sides, substantially perpendicular to the ground. In particular, the four side walls of the support fixed frame 1 have at least one large opening so that the side walls of the oscillating structure 2 are accessible. Therefore, the locking devices 20 described above are accessible to the operator through these openings.
In a variant of the table, two third elastic bars 8, 9 are provided having both ends fixed to the support fixed frame 1 and a central portion 10 constrained to the oscillating structure 2.
These two third elastic bars 8, 9 are arranged parallel to each other and transverse to the first elastic bars 5, 5′ and to the second elastic bars 6, 6′, and positioned at a third side of the support fixed frame 1, which is transverse to said first side and said second side.
The two third elastic bars 8, 9 are preferably arranged horizontally.
The function of said two third elastic bars 8, 9 is to contain the lateral skidding of the table during the oscillation.
The body 11, on which the oscillating structure 2 rests, can be hinged to the support fixed frame 1, either directly or indirectly, at a fourth side thereof, opposite said third side.
At least one fourth elastic bar 13 can also be provided, preferably only one fourth elastic bar, having both ends fixed to the support fixed frame 1 and a central portion thereof constrained to the oscillating structure 2.
This fourth elastic bar 13 is arranged parallel to the third elastic bars 8, 9 at the fourth side of the support fixed frame 1. Therefore, said fourth elastic bar 13 is also preferably arranged horizontally.
The function of said fourth elastic bar 13 is again to contain the lateral skidding of the table during the oscillation.
Preferably, the fourth elastic bar 13 can be arranged either above or below the arms 12 of the body 11, or simply either above or below the body 11, at one end of the second elastic bars 6, 6′.
Preferably, the central portions of the two third elastic bars 8, 9 and of the fourth elastic bar 13 can also be constrained to the oscillating structure 2 by means of a respective locking device 20, such as that described above.
The aforementioned hollow housing 30 (
In this case, the third elastic bars 8, 9 are housed within a respective hollow housing 30 defining a longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of the respective third elastic bar contained therein. The two ends 31, 32 of each third elastic bar 8, 9 are fixed and pretensioned within corresponding ends 33, 34 of the respective hollow housing 30, whereas the two ends 33, 34 of each hollow housing 30 are removably fixed to the support fixed frame 1. The central part of each hollow housing 30 also has at least one through-hole 36, preferably a single through-hole, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the hollow housing, at a central portion 10 of the respective third elastic bar allowing to either constrain or release said central portion 10 with respect to the oscillating structure 2.
Similarly, also the fourth elastic bar 13 is housed within a corresponding hollow housing 30 defining a longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of the fourth elastic bar. The two ends 31, 32 of the fourth elastic bar 13 are fixed and pretensioned within corresponding ends 33, 34 of the hollow housing 30, while the two ends 33, 34 of the hollow housing 30 are removably fixed to the support fixed frame 1. The central part of the hollow housing 30 also has at least one through-hole 36, preferably a single through-hole, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the hollow housing, at the central portion of the fourth elastic bar 13 to allow either constraining or releasing said central portion to or from the oscillating structure 2.
An assembly method of an oscillating table according to the invention is described below, wherein it is provided that each first elastic bar 5, 5′ and each second elastic bar 6, 6′ are housed within a respective hollow housing 30, the two ends 31, 32 of each first elastic bar 5, 5′ and each second elastic bar 6, 6′ being fixed and pretensioned within corresponding ends 33, 34 of the respective hollow housing 30. Such a method comprises the following steps:
After step e), the insertion of the ingot mold 3, equipped with the crystallizer 4, into the oscillating structure 2, can be provided.
The steps (d) and (e) can be reversed.
In step d), the ends 33, 34 of the hollow housings 30 of the first elastic bars 5, 5′ and of the second elastic bars 6, 6′ can be fixed to the support fixed frame 1 with any reversible fixing means, i.e., adapted to allow said ends 33, 34 to be loosened, when necessary, from the support fixed frame 1 and fixed to said support fixed frame 1 again.
In a first variant of the assembly method, it is provided that
In step b), for example, the central portion 7 of each first elastic bar 5, 5′ and each second elastic bar 6, 6′ is fitted in a groove 23 of said first part 21 of the respective locking device 20.
In particular, in step b) the central portion 7 of each first elastic bar 5, 5′ and each second elastic bar 6, 6′ is fitted in the first part 21 of the fixing device 20 thanks to the presence of the through-hole 36 provided in the central part of the hollow housing 30. The first acute angle and the second acute angle are adjusted by rotating the respective first part 21 about its own axis, because the operator can rotate the first part 21 through said through-hole 36. The application of the second part 22 on the first part 21 to fix the respective central portion 7 to the oscillating structure 2 is also performed through the through-hole 36 of the hollow housing 30.
Instead, in a second variant of the assembly method, it is provided that
In particular, in step b) the central portion 7 of each first elastic bar 5, 5′ and each second elastic bar 6, 6′ is inserted in the first part 21 of the fixing device 20 by virtue of the presence of the through-hole 36 provided in the central part of the hollow housing 30. The first acute angle and the second acute angle are adjusted by fixing the respective central portion 7 within the corresponding groove 23, e.g., by inserting, using said through-hole 36, at least one shim to eliminate the clearance between said groove 23 and the central portion 7. The application of the second part 22 on the first part 21 to fix the respective central portion 7 to the oscillating structure 2 is also performed through the through-hole 36 of the hollow housing 30.
Preferably, the following is also provided:
and optionally
Advantageously, with the solution of the invention, if maintenance of the oscillating table is necessary, it is sufficient to release the central portion 7 of each elastic bar 5, 5, 6, 6′ from the oscillating structure 2 and remove the two ends 33, 34 of the hollow housing 30 containing the elastic bar from the support fixed frame 1 for possible replacement or other maintenance operation.
Then, after maintenance, the first acute angle of inclination of the first elastic bars 5, 5′ and the second acute angle of inclination of the second elastic bars 6, 6′ are adjusted again, and finally the ends 33, 34 of the hollow housings 30 of the first elastic bars 5, 5′ and the ends 33, 34 of the hollow housings 30 of the second elastic bars 6, 6′ are fixed again to the support fixed frame 1, and the central portion 7 of each first elastic bar 5, 5′ and each second elastic bar 6, 6′ is fixed to the oscillating structure 2.
Therefore, the central portion 7 of the first and second elastic bars is maintained at a respective portion of the oscillating structure 2, preferably at a respective locking device 20, only the inclination of said elastic bars 5, 5′, 6, 6′ being adjusted.
Similarly, it is possible to proceed with the possible third elastic bars 8, 9, and the possible fourth elastic bar 13, although no angle of inclination with respect to the horizontal has to be adjusted for these elastic bars.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102020000022390 | Sep 2020 | IT | national |
This application claims priority to PCT International Application No. PCT/IB2021/058667 filed on Sep. 23, 2021, which applications claims priority to Italian Patent Application No. 102020000022390 filed on Sep. 23, 2020, the entire disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2021/058667 | 9/23/2021 | WO |
