Patent Application
20060131796
The invention concerns a vessel for the metallurgical treatment of pig iron, steel melts, and the like, especially a converter vessel, which is supported on a trunnion ring spaced some distance from the vessel, which trunnion ring can be tilted by means of trunnions in rocker bearings on both sides, wherein claws distributed along the circumference of the vessel wall rest on the upper flange of the trunnion ring, and wherein a support is designed to be releasably mounted on the upper flange of the trunnion ring by means of additional mounting fixtures.
The creation of a converter vessel of more or less the design described above, whose individual parts can be replaced by simple means and, to this end, the creation of a releasable connection between the vessel claws and the trunnion ring and between guide pieces and additional mounting fixtures is a well-known problem (DE 199 28 195 A1). However, there is a lack of suitable means for carrying out this detachment and reattachment of a vessel to be changed under the conditions of a hot converter vessel.
In practice, due to the relatively intense wear of the vessel lining, metallurgical treatment vessels require quick replacement to minimize production downtime.
Replacement has previously been based on mounting fixtures, for example, clamping screws, hinged screws, and suitably operated clamping mechanisms, in addition to the claws that are positioned in guides that are open at the top, all of which have the aforementioned disadvantages and are difficult to handle, and whose handling takes too much time. Furthermore, due to the operationally related heating of the vessels, thermal expansion occurs in the individual parts, which makes it difficult to release the mounting fixtures. Moreover, there is the additional problem that the release and replacement operation must be carried out by the operating personnel in the immediate vicinity of the vessel at the high ambient temperatures. With the relatively restricted accessibility, the loosening of tightening nuts with a suitable tool takes a great deal of effort.
The objective of the invention is to propose means that are fast and easy and can be handled at a sufficient distance and that do not have the disadvantages specified above.
In accordance with the invention, this objective is achieved by providing that the support on the upper flange of the trunnion ring consists of opposing vessel brackets and trunnion ring brackets, which can be tensioned together in a closing direction by means of a hinged closure until a secure closed position is achieved and which can be easily released in the opposite operating direction. In the closed state, an operating device is moved over so-called dead center and can be brought into a self-locking and securely locked position. The brackets distributed along the periphery can be arranged symmetrically or asymmetrically, depending on the shape of the trunnion ring, and serve as points of engagement for a quick-attachment device of this type. The resulting compound lever arrangement is adjusted to the clamping intervals and ensures secure support of the vessel even in tilted positions. In addition, the hinged closure can be easily and safely pushed into the closed position or the release position with a manually applied hydraulic handling device. Accordingly, the same auxiliary device can be applied for opening. In this regard, it is first moved out of the dead-center position until the open position is reached.
In particular, it is provided that the hinged closure consists of a clamp, which embraces the vessel bracket and is rotatably supported on an operating lever, such that the upper end of the operating lever is rotatably supported on the trunnion ring bracket. This also results in only slight expense per mounting point.
This design is further developed in such a way that the clamp embraces the vessel bracket in the closing direction and rests against the outer peripheral surface of the trunnion ring and in such a way that the operating lever is locked with lock bolts mounted on the clamps on both sides. Pushing the operating lever back on the trunnion ring causes swinging away from the trunnion ring and releases the vessel bracket to allow dismounting of the vessel. An operating mechanism of this type saves the need for the otherwise customary supporting elements with a spherical seat and the corresponding handling of the parts. As far as the operating personnel are concerned, only a small amount of effort and relatively brief access to the quick-change mounting system are necessary.
The release of the vessel can be accomplished in a simple way by virtue of the fact that, during an opening movement of the operating lever from the peripheral surface of the trunnion ring towards the outside, the clamp can be rotated over the vessel bracket until an open position is reached.
In this regard, the arrangement is designed in such a way that, in the side profile, the vessel bracket forms a lower recess, in which the trunnion ring bracket finds space with clearance. In this way, very little space is used.
The number of vessel brackets and trunnion ring brackets depends on the shape of the trunnion ring (whether it is a full ring or partial ring). Furthermore, the hinged closure can be mounted on the upper flange on the outside or spaced between the trunnion ring and the vessel.
In a first alternative embodiment, the vessel bracket consists of two bracket plates arranged laterally with fixed spacing.
In a second alternative embodiment, the vessel bracket consists of a single, correspondingly thickly dimensioned bracket plate.
Analogously to these two embodiments, the trunnion ring bracket consists of a single, correspondingly dimensioned bracket plate.
In accordance with a refinement, the associated lever systems are designed in such a way that the clamp consists of two spaced, parallel clamping cover plates, which are connected at their ends by a transverse spacer element, or are rotatably connected with spaced trunnion ring bracket plates, such that in a middle, thick trunnion ring bracket, the spacer element holds lever cover plates for the operating lever and forms its pivot bearing.
Analogously to the design of the clamp, the operating lever consists of two spaced, parallel lever cover plates, which are connected by transverse spacer elements and form the pivot bearing.
In another embodiment, a clamping element consists of a tension lever arm, which runs between the spaced, parallel vessel brackets and between spaced trunnion ring bracket plates, is connected to the pivot bearing connecting the two lever cover plates, runs between two trunnion ring bracket plates, and has a hammerhead that rests on the bracket plates.
In accordance with other features, the tension lever arm runs between two trunnion ring bracket plates and forms an oval, closed clamp that embraces the vessel bracket.
Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and explained in greater detail below.
A vessel 1, which consists, for example, of a converter vessel 1a, is used for the metallurgical treatment of melts, e.g., the decarburization of pig iron or steel melts. The vessel 1 is supported on a trunnion ring 3, with some spacing 2 between the vessel and trunnion ring, by means of claws 6 mounted along the circumference of the vessel wall 1b and between these claws or supports 4 assigned to the claws. The supports 4 consist of additional mounting fixtures. The trunnion ring 3, which forms an upper flange 3a and a lower flange 3b, supports the claws 6 of the vessel 1. The claws 6 are open at the top and are positioned laterally between guide walls 5a, which form vessel guides 5.
The additional mounting fixtures are located between each two adjacent claws 6. Several vessel brackets 7 are located there on the vessel wall 1b, suitably distributed along the periphery. Analogous trunnion ring brackets 8 are mounted on an upper flange 3a of the trunnion ring 3.
Each support (
The hinged closure 9 (
As shown in
To achieve a compact arrangement and lever paths as small as possible, the vessel bracket 7 in the side profile 7a forms a lower recess 7b, in which the trunnion ring bracket 8 finds space with clearance.
FIGS. 5 to 8 show various alternatives for the vessel bracket 7, the trunnion ring bracket 8, and the clamp 13.
In
In
In
The clamp 13 (
In
As shown in
In
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10251964.1 | Nov 2002 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP03/10760 | 9/26/2003 | WO | 10/24/2005 |
