EP2737092A1

EP2737092A1 - Roller changing apparatus for furnaces

Info

Publication number: EP2737092A1
Application number: EP12738469.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Robert Ebner; Andreas Sauschlager
Original assignee: Ebner Industrieofenbau GmbH
Current assignee: Ebner Industrieofenbau GmbH
Priority date: 2011-07-25
Filing date: 2012-07-25
Publication date: 2014-06-04
Anticipated expiration: 2032-07-25
Also published as: KR20140039335A; EP2737092B1; TW201323813A; BR112014001632A2; DE102011079771B4; CN103764855A; US20140165404A1; CA2843033A1; DE102011079771A1; WO2013014201A1; RU2014106618A; JP2014523972A

Abstract

The invention relates to a roller changing apparatus (1) for changing a roller (6) from a multiplicity of rollers (6) in a furnace (10) for the thermal treatment of components (50), wherein the roller changing apparatus (1) has a housing (2) which can be closed off and in which a first protective gas atmosphere can be formed, and a roller handling device (4) which is arranged at least partially in the housing (2), and which is designed to remove the roller (6) to be exchanged from the furnace (10) and to fit a replacement roller (6) in the furnace (10) while maintaining a high temperature and a second protective gas atmosphere in the furnace (10) during the roller change.

Description

Roller changing device for ovens

The invention relates to a roll changing device and a method for changing a roll of a furnace for heat treating components and relates to an arrangement of a

Roller changing device and a furnace.

A roller hearth furnace is used for heating and / or

Temperature compensation of continuous casting or other

Components that consist in particular of steel or steel materials or other materials such as copper or aluminum and are transported through rollers on the furnace chamber. Such roller hearth furnaces are very long and are filled inside with gas of a very high temperature. For example, in a roller hearth furnace

on the order of one hundred to two hundred rolls along a furnace, for example one hundred meters long, which may, for example, be brought to a temperature of 1000 ° C. Inside the furnace, for example, a hydrogen protective gas atmosphere (or a hydrogen-nitrogen mixture) may be formed.

Conventionally, if a single roll of the plurality of rolls is defective, the entire furnace must be shut down, purged with nitrogen, the furnace cooled, the roll changed, and the furnace re-filled with hydrogen prior to reconnection. Such a procedure can take one to three days, for example, and is very expensive.

It is an object of the present invention to make it easy to change roles of a furnace for heat treating components.

This object is solved by the objects with the features according to the independent claims. Further

Embodiments are shown in the dependent claims. According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a roll changing apparatus for changing a roll from a plurality of rolls of a furnace for heat-treating components. The roll changing device has a lockable (ie sealable to the outside) housing in which a first

Protective gas atmosphere can be formed. The roll changing device further has a roll handling device, which is at least partially disposed in the housing (but can also be moved out of the housing and, for example, can be retracted into the oven). The

Roller handling device is to dismantle the

to be replaced role of the oven and to mount a

Replacement role set on the furnace while maintaining a high temperature and a second inert gas atmosphere in the furnace during the roll change.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the

Invention, an arrangement is provided which is a

Roll change device having the features described above and the furnace for heat treating components.

According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method for changing a roll from a plurality of rolls of a furnace for heat treating components is provided. In the method, a first inert gas atmosphere in a lockable housing of a roll changing device

formed, the role to be replaced by the furnace with an at least partially disposed in the housing

Roll handling device of the roll changing device disassembled and mounted a spare roll on the furnace with the roller handling device. During disassembly and during mounting, one or both will remain or remain high temperature

Protective atmosphere in the furnace maintained. Under a protective gas atmosphere in the furnace chamber is a

To understand gas atmosphere, which is suitable for heat treating the components as Glühgut at a corresponding high temperature. A corresponding protective gas should have good thermal conductivity, for example hydrogen or helium, in order to heat the annealed material efficiently.

Under a high temperature in the furnace chamber is opposite to an ambient temperature of the furnace or against a

Normal temperature to understand significantly elevated temperature, which is within the range of an operating temperature of the furnace during the

Heat treatment of annealed material can go. For example, the

High temperature, which is maintained during a roll change or could at least be maintained due to the design of the roll changing device, in a range between 500 ° C and 1200 ° C, i. in the range of an operating temperature of the furnace, lie.

By the term "while maintaining a high temperature and a second inert gas atmosphere in the furnace during the roll change" is meant that for the roll change a prior flushing of the furnace chamber or a complete pumping out of the second inert gas atmosphere as well as a complete cooling of the furnace from an operating temperature Nevertheless, according to the invention, a certain mixing of the first protective atmosphere with the second protective atmosphere can certainly occur if an outwardly fluid-tight connection between the two

Interior of furnace and housing is created during the roll change. Likewise, it may well according to the invention also to a certain cooling of the interior of the furnace during the roll change, for example, because a heater

is switched off or even a certain cooling is performed. Rather, it is important that the conventionally required complex Logistics (with a time of, for example, two days) to completely cool the furnace and to completely purge the H ₂ shielding gas (or a hydrogen-nitrogen mixture)

is at least partially avoided according to the invention. Further is

According to the invention, an expansion of the components, that is, the annealing, from the oven for the period during the roll change unnecessary.

According to the invention, a roller changing device is thus provided which has a gas-tight lockable housing with a

Inert gas filling has, which harmless for a furnace or

can be selected safely, such as nitrogen. To roll change the roll changing device can be connected to the oven at a position of the role to be replaced. It can be done through an opening in the housing through a replacement of the roll. This procedure makes it possible to maintain the protective gas atmosphere in the oven as well as the temperature in the oven, since during the entire changing process the oven interior is only in

Fluid communication with the inert gas atmosphere of the lockable housing and is gas-tight decoupled from an environment with harmful oxygen-containing atmosphere. One

Contacting the open interior with oxygen, resulting in a

Fire hazard could thus be avoided according to the invention. By these measures, it is possible to perform the replacement of roles with a greatly reduced time of, for example, one hour. This can be done by a mechanism that allows removal of a defective roll and installation of a new roll while maintaining the protective gas and the temperature inside the furnace.

In addition, additional exemplary

Embodiments of the roll changing device described. These also apply to the arrangement and the procedure. According to one embodiment, the

Roller changing device having a movable stage, which is arranged for moving the roller handling device together with the housing relative to the furnace to position the roller handling device relative to the role to be replaced. Such a movable stage allows the roller handling device to be moved to any one of the plurality of rollers of the oven and

to position in this regard.

According to one embodiment, the

Roller handling device at least partially extendable through a lock in a wall of the housing from the housing to handle the role to be replaced. Such a sealable and selectively disclosed lock in the housing wall allows, from the inside of the housing assembly and

Disassembly procedures to be carried out on individual roles of the furnace.

According to one embodiment, the lock on the wall of the housing may have an outer housing attachment piece, which is formed attachable to the furnace, thereby a dense, in particular a gas-tight environment, connection between an interior of the housing and an interior of the furnace can be formed , The neck nozzle can include a furnace outside cover of the role to be replaced or record in its interior when this cover is removed before disassembly of the actual reel body. The attachment piece can be flange-mounted on the furnace, in particular screwed thereto. This necking can advantageously on a corresponding counterpart to the furnace (for example, a corresponding

Counterflange in the area of the roll to be replaced) gas-tight, in order to be able to process this role specifically, without the risk of loss of the protective gas atmosphere inside the furnace or the ingress of oxygen.

According to one embodiment, the

Roller handling device along one, two or three

Dimensions or spatial directions to be translationally movable.

Alternatively or additionally, the roller handling device can be tilted about one or more axes. The

Roller handling means may, for example, comprise a lance which may be arbitrarily aligned relative to a roller in terms of both translational and rotational degrees of freedom.

This is a precise mechanical coupling to the

allows to be replaced role.

According to one embodiment, the

Roller handling device be adapted to exert a sealing pressure on the lid sealing the oven, while at least one fastener (for example, screws) is removed manually or machine controlled by a cover of the roll to be replaced for separating the lid of the oven. If

Fixing screws or the like are removed from a lid and thus the seal is repealed, by the

Contact pressure of the roller handling device, which acts on the lid, despite the absence of fasteners in the lid a gas-tight connection in the interior of the furnace are maintained, which prevents the ingress of undesirable gases in the

Furnace space is of paramount importance.

According to one embodiment, the

Roll handling device to be adapted to remove a cover of the roll to be replaced from the oven, in particular by means of a driver take off. Furthermore, the

Roll handling device be set up, the removed Carry cover into the interior of the housing and store it there. In particular, the roll handling device may be arranged to remove the lid of the roll to be replaced from the oven and to convey it through the attachment piece attached to the oven into the housing. In other words, prior to removal of the cover, the contact pressure of the roller handling device can initially be maintained and the attachment piece can be gas-tightly flanged to the furnace at the corresponding point. As a result, gas tightness between the oven and housing is ensured throughout. Now the lid can be removed, transported into the housing interior and stored there, for example, in a shelf. All this can be machine or robot controlled.

According to one embodiment, the

Roll handling device to be set up after removing a cover of the role to be replaced in the role to be replaced in the oven and first raise the role to be replaced in the furnace against a movable bearing (provided for geometrically compensating thermal expansion effects). For example, the lance of the roll handling device can retract into an internal cavity of the tubular roll, while the roll may engage, for example, three

Support points of the floating bearing is still connected to the latter. In order to disassemble the floating bearing of the oven, a release of the movable bearing is first required by the role, which can be done by lifting the role relative to the floating bearing.

According to one embodiment, the

Roller handling device to be set up after entering the role to be replaced to move the floating bearing in the interior of the housing and store there, in particular by means of a driver. Such a driver can, for example, on a lance of

Roller handling device can be installed and can Promote the floating bearing in the interior of the housing effect. In this state, too, the docking connection of the housing preferably remains gas-tightly connected to a counterflange of the furnace, so that the removal of the floating bearing does not affect the protective gas atmosphere in the interior of the furnace.

According to one embodiment, the

Roll changing device having a component support means, in particular at least partially disposed inside the housing, for supporting the components (for example, a heat-treated belt) in the furnace at least during a part of the change of the role. The role change can be made according to the invention, while the component (for example, a band or other Glühgut) still remains in the interior of the furnace at a high temperature of for example 1000 ° C. If the role is to be replaced, on which the component rests, it should be done before replacing the role first, a support of the component. This task is fulfilled by the component supporting device, which extends from the interior of the housing into the furnace, preferably through the

Andockstutzen of the housing through, is movable and takes over in the meantime the function of the role to be replaced in terms of support function.

According to one embodiment, the component support device may be designed to be translationally movable and / or pivotable. Thus, the component support device selectively in an active (the component supporting) or in a passive (not supporting the component)

Be brought state, so that component support device and

Roller handling device do not interfere with each other.

According to one embodiment, the component support means may comprise a tube segment which is retractable into the oven and is pivotable about the roller to be replaced so as to support the components. A diameter of the pipe from which the pipe segment is formed is, should this be greater than a diameter of the roller, so that the pipe segment can swing the role. The component support device should already take over the support function of the roller, while the roller to be removed is still arranged in the interior of the furnace. Thus, for example, the component support means may be mounted concentrically or partially concentrically around the roll to be replaced, and may only be swung around inside the furnace so as to support the component from below. This allows a particularly space-saving configuration. For example, the pipe segment may have one-sixth or one-fourth of the pipe, that is, one-fourth of the pipe. a 60 ° or 90 ° piece of a full - circumference pipe. after the

Component support device has taken over the support function, the role to be replaced is free to be removed from the oven.

According to one embodiment, the

Roll handling device be set up, after releasing the role to be replaced on a floating bearing and a fixed bearing of the furnace and after entering the role to be replaced the

herauszubefördern role to be replaced out of the oven and hineinzubefördern into the interior of the housing and store there. Each roll may be mounted on the furnace on one side by means of a fixed bearing and on another side by means of a floating bearing. When storing a pin of the roller, the bearing holds the pin in its position, the movable bearing allows thermal expansion in the longitudinal direction. In the case of furnace rolls, a loose bearing is / can be attached to one side and a fixed bearing to the other side, so that thermal expansions can be compensated. Before removing the role to be replaced from the oven is thus still the second camp, usually a fixed bearing, for example, to solve by hand. It is important to ensure that after releasing the floating bearing of the role of this part of the furnace gas-tight remains, for which purpose, for example, a sealing screw or the like can be used.

According to one embodiment, the

Roll handling device to be set up after the

To bring in the role to be replaced in the interior of the housing to mount a stored inside the housing spare role in the oven. This procedure is substantially inverse to the previously described disassembly procedure of the roll to be replaced.

First, the role to be attached to the fixed bearing. Then, the attachment of the roller to the movable bearing, before the lid can be placed on the replaced roller from the outside. These steps can be carried out with the same roller handling device, in particular by means of the same lance, as disassembling the roller to be replaced.

For example, it is possible to have two to eight spare rolls in the

Store housing. Also, in corresponding shelves or the like space for receiving a corresponding number of defective roles. Also, bearing components or covers of the rollers can be stored in the interior of the housing in order to be able to maintain the protective gas atmosphere even for the replacement of a plurality of rollers.

According to one embodiment, the first

Protective gas atmosphere and the second inert gas atmosphere are both substantially free of oxygen. In particular, the first

Inert gas atmosphere an inert gas atmosphere, in particular a nitrogen atmosphere, and the second inert gas atmosphere a

Fuel gas atmosphere, in particular a hydrogen atmosphere, be. These measures significantly increase the operational safety, as a contact of the example, combustible gas inside the oven to be avoided especially with oxygen. A heater for heating the furnace may be, for example, an electric heating unit or a gas heating unit for directly heating the inside of the oven, in particular the protective gas contained therein. It is also a heating unit using electromagnetic radiation as the heating medium possible. During the replacement of a roll, a corresponding heating unit may be selectively shut down or left on.

In addition, additional exemplary

Embodiments of the method described. These also apply to the roll changing device and the arrangement.

According to one embodiment, during the rotation of the roll, a high temperature in the furnace may be maintained that is in a range between about 500 ° C and about 1200 ° C. Thus, a time-consuming and associated with energy losses cooling the furnace is avoided, since quasi operating temperature or at least in the still warm or still hot oven state the

Changing the role can be done.

According to one embodiment, during the entire change of the role of an interior of the furnace opposite to a

Keep closed environment, in particular remain only in fluid communication with an interior of the roll changing device, further remain oxygen-free in particular. Thus, the oven remains gas tight to the laboratory environment and is only in gas communication with the roll changing device. However, since these can be equipped with a freely selectable inert gas atmosphere, this can be chosen so that there is no negative effect for the oven.

According to one embodiment, before removing the roll from the furnace on a fixed bearing side of the furnace a

Drive unit are removed and the role to be replaced are pressed by means of a gas-tight screw. Such Drive unit can be arranged on the outside of the oven and be provided separately for each role. But it is also possible to provide a drive unit for a part of the rollers together or even for all roles together.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the following figures. Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of an arrangement of a roll change device and a furnace for heat treating components according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a spatial view of a

Roller removal device according to an exemplary

Embodiment of the invention in combination with a roller furnace.

Fig. 3 shows the arrangement of FIG. 2 in a different spatial view.

4 shows an exploded view of the arrangement according to FIG. 2, in which some components are omitted and how to position the assembly relative to a roll of furnace to be replaced is shown.

Fig. 5 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 2 in one

Operating state in which a lid of the roller to be replaced is pressed to meanwhile release connecting screws.

Fig. 6 shows the arrangement of FIG. 2, wherein the housing is gas-tight screwed to the furnace and is purged with nitrogen.

7 shows a detailed view of a docking piece of the

Housing and a lid of the roll to be replaced of the arrangement of FIG. 2. Fig. 8 shows the arrangement of FIG. 2 after the removal of the disassembled from the roll lid.

Fig. 9 shows the arrangement of FIG. 2 when lifting the

Role before expanding a floating bearing.

Fig. 10 shows the structure of the floating bearing in the arrangement according to FIG

Fig. Second

Fig. 11 shows how a tray for supporting a tape support is inserted from the housing into the oven.

Fig. 12 shows the arrangement according to Fig. 2 in a state in which the shell is already located in the interior of the furnace.

Fig. 13 shows a fixed bearing side outer wall of the furnace and a drive shaft mounted thereon for driving the roller in front of

Removal of the drive shaft.

FIG. 14 shows a fixed-side end view of FIG

roll to be removed, which can be pressed by means of a gas-tight screw.

Fig. 15 shows the arrangement according to Fig. 2 during the picking up of the roll.

Fig. 16 shows the arrangement of FIG. 2 after the removal of the removed from the oven roll in the housing.

Fig. 17 shows how the dismantled roll is stored on a shelf.

FIG. 18 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 2 during installation of a replacement roller.

FIG. 19 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 2 during rotation of a belt support.

FIG. 20 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 2 during extension of the belt support. Fig. 21 shows the arrangement of FIG. 2 during replacement of the movable bearing.

FIG. 22 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 2 before fetching the lid before its re-installation on the stove.

Fig. 23 shows how the lid is positioned and pressed.

Fig. 24 shows how the neck nozzle of the housing is released from the oven and the lid is screwed.

FIG. 25 shows a detailed view of the fixed bearing of the arrangement according to FIG. 2.

The same or similar components in different figures are provided with the same reference numerals.

Fig. 1 shows a plan view of an arrangement according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, which consists of a

Roller changing device 1 and from a furnace 10 for

Heat treatment of bands 50 is formed of metal.

The oven 10 is a roller hearth furnace, in which in a

Continuous process (see arrows in Fig. 1) a band 50 made of metal or other components to be subjected to a heat treatment through the hermetically sealed oven 10 to the outside

be passed and heated while doing so. The band 50 can for

Example before being introduced into the oven 10 by a reel (not shown) are unwound and after leaving the oven 10 again on another reel (not shown) to be wound up. The furnace 10 has along its longitudinal axis a plurality of rollers 6 for transporting the metal strip 50. A length of the furnace 10 from the left to the right end may be, for example, 20 m, 50 m or 100 m. While the belt 50 is in the furnace 10, it is kept at a high temperature of, for example, 1000 ° C. This is accomplished by a schematically illustrated heating unit 60, which is the Oven inside heats. The heating unit 60 may be, for example, an electric heating unit or a gas heating unit. Inside the furnace 10 there is a hydrogen protective gas atmosphere. Hydrogen as a good heat conductive gas can efficiently transfer heat from the heating unit 60 to the belt 50. The hydrogen can by means of a

Inert gas atmosphere control unit 40 via a valve 42 in the

Interior of the furnace 10 are initiated. The

Inert gas atmosphere control unit 40 may be the hydrogen

if necessary, rinse out of the interior of the oven 10 and replace it with, for example, another purge gas.

Each of the rollers 6 of the oven 10 is at one end by a

Fixed bearing 19 and rotatably supported at the other end by a floating bearing 15 on a respective wall of the furnace 10. A cover 7 closes on the side of the movable bearing 15, the respective roller 6 gas-tight. Also, the fixed bearing 19 is gas-tight, so that in the operation of the furnace 10 from the inside no hydrogen escape from the furnace 10 and from the ambient atmosphere, no oxygen in the furnace 10th

can penetrate. In the embodiment shown, each of the rollers 6 has a separate drive unit 17 which drives the respective roller 6 to rotate thereby to convey the belt 50. Alternatively, several or all rollers 6 can be driven by means of a common drive unit (not shown).

According to the invention, the oven 10 is now operated together with the roll changing device 1, which serves to replace individual rolls 6 of the oven 10, for example, if they are defective or in need of maintenance. According to the invention, such a change can be carried out without the temperature inside the furnace 10 having to be substantially reduced or the protective gas atmosphere having to be flushed out of hydrogen inside the furnace 10 and replaced by another protective gas. This represents a significant Save time over conventional systems where this is required.

In order to accomplish the efficient roll change, the roll changing device 1 has a lockable housing 2, in which a protective gas atmosphere of, for example, nitrogen can be formed. The housing 2 is hermetically lockable, but can still be controlled from the environment. Fig. 1 shows that the housing 2 has a protective gas control interface 52 for supplying and removing inert gas. Furthermore, the housing 2 has an electrical interface 54 for the supply and removal of electrical signals (for example

Control or monitoring purposes) or for supplying the roll changing device 1 with electrical energy. The interfaces 52, 54 are configured to provide a gas-tight insulation between the interior of the housing 2 and the environment, i. E. that the nitrogen protective gas atmosphere in the interior of the housing. 2

is maintained.

Furthermore, a roller handling device 4 in the interior of the housing 2 is translationally movable and arranged tiltable, as indicated by arrows in FIG. 1 indicated. Referring to FIG. 2 to FIG. 25 is described in more detail, can by means of such

Roller handling device 4 a certain of the rollers 6 of the furnace 10 are dismantled and housed inside the housing 2. Further, the roll handling device 4 is capable of having a replacement roll 6 stored inside the housing 2, while maintaining the high temperature in the furnace 10 continuously and maintaining the oxygen-free throughout

Protective gas atmosphere in the oven 10 to mount. However, during the roll change, certain amounts of the non-hazardous nitrogen for the operation of the furnace 10 from the interior of the housing 2 can get into the interior of the furnace 10. What against it throughout Reel change is reliably avoided, is the external penetration of oxygen into the oven interior, since the entire change process of the roll 6 to be replaced takes place to form a gas-tight connection between the furnace 10 and housing 2.

In the following, referring to FIG. 2 to FIG. 25 the

Operation of the inventive arrangement shown there first overview and then described in detail. FIGS. 2 and 3 show two spatial views of the arrangement.

The role-changing device 1 shown there is of a cuboid, gas-tight housing 2 with various fluid and

Electrical connections and a docking connection 3 including flange, wrapped. Within the housing 2 are, among other things:

- A longitudinal, transverse and height movable lance 4 as

Roller handling device with tilt function for

Deflection compensation

a longitudinally displaceable and pivotable belt support device 26

- Shelves 5 for storing rolls 6 and furnace covers 7th

- various monitoring and control devices

The roll changing device 1 is positioned with a platform 8 along a furnace longitudinal axis 9 at the corresponding alternating position and moved up to the furnace 10 (FIGS. 2 to 4). The various connections to the furnace 10 are completed. The lance 4 moves out of the housing 2 and presses the closure lid 7 of the roller 6, in order to maintain tightness, then the lid screws can be solved (Fig. 5). Thereafter, the nozzle 3 moves fully to a furnace flange 12 and over the lid 7 over. The Deckelanpressung remains upright by way and pneumatic force balance. The

Flange connection is screwed (Fig. 6). The housing 2 is purged with nitrogen (N ₂ ). The lance 4 pulls over a driver, the lid 7 including an insulation plug 13 and puts it on the shelf 5 (Fig. 7 and Fig. 8). Subsequently, the lance 4 moves into the hollow roller 6 inside (FIG. 9) and pulls the floating bearing 15 off via a pneumatic catch at the rearmost end (FIG. 10). The roller 6 is now supported by the lance 4. To make room for one

To get band support shell 26, the lance 4 is extended to the maximum possible support position and then the

Tape support tray 26 is positioned (Figure 11), retracted into oven 10, and then pivoted to support the belt in oven 10 (Figure 12). An expanding device in the lance 4 fixes the roller 6 on the lance 4. Now, the furnace outer-side roller drive 17 is decoupled on the opposite furnace side (FIG. 13) and the gas-tight fixing screw 30 of the fixed bearing 19 is released (FIGS. 14 and 25). The roller 6 is extended out of the oven 10 and placed on the shelf 5 (FIGS. 15 to 17). A new roll 6 is picked up, inserted into the furnace 10 and fixed to the fixed bearing 19 (Figure 18). The lance 4 moves back to the outermost support position to get space to extend the tape support tray 26 (Fig. 19, Fig. 20). Now the lance 4 moves fully into the oven 10 to position the floating bearing 15 (Figure 21). Then the cover 7 can be retrieved from its storage position (Fig. 22) and re-inserted and pressed (Fig. 23). The oven 10 is now tight again, and the

Flange screw can be tightened again. The housing 2 is moved away a bit, but the cover 7 still remains pressed (FIG. 24). The cover screw is tightened and the housing 2 is moved back to the stage 8. The connections can be re-connected to the oven 10. The heartwheel change process is

completed.

This procedure will now be detailed again

described: In Fig. 4 it is shown how the roll changing device 1 is positioned relative to the roll 6 to be replaced in the oven 10. This is done with appropriate movement of the stage 8 to the desired position.

Fig. 5 shows how the lance 4 of the roll changing device 1 is extended through a lock in a wall of the housing 2 through from the housing 2 to handle the role to be replaced 6 in the oven 10.

For this purpose, the lock on the wall of the housing 2 on the housing outer side neck 3, which - a furnace outer side cover 7 of the role to be replaced 6 enclosing or receiving - can be sealingly attached to the furnace 10. The latter is shown in Fig. 6, where the neck nozzle 3 is screwed gas-tight to the corresponding flange 12 of the furnace 10. There is still no fluid connection between the interior of the housing 2 and the interior of the furnace 10 in this state, since the cover 7 of the roller 6 is still attached to the housing

Oven 10 is mounted. In this state, for example, a flushing of the housing 2 can be carried out with nitrogen.

Fig. 7 now shows the mandrel of the lance 4, as this is pressed against the cover 7 of the roller 6. The spine can be water cooled. The actual roller 6 is designed as a hollow cylindrical component 80 between an insulating plug 13 and an outer wall 82 in FIG. 7.

Fig. 8 shows the arrangement in a state in which the lid 7 together with the insulating plug 13 by an inner lumen of the

Andockstutzens 3 gas-tight from the interior of the furnace 10 has been transferred to the interior of the housing 2 and in a shelf 5 has been stored (for example, robotically controlled). A driver of the lance 4 has deducted this cover 7 from the oven 10 and transferred into the interior of the housing 2. Already at this point, reference is made to a pneumatic spreader 90, in the form of annular circumferential grooves on the mandrel 4 can be seen in Fig. 8 and at a later time from the inside the roller 6 engages to pull them out of the oven 10. For this purpose, by the annular circumferential slots Verspreizungsstrukturen can then be extended.

In Fig. 9 it is shown how the lance 4 is operated by means of slight tilting to raise the roller 6. As a result, a relief of the roller 6 take place on the floating bearing 15 on which the roller 6 previously rests. This prepares the subsequent removal of the outer plug. 9, a drive unit 17 of the roller 6, which is positioned outside the furnace 10 and acts on the side of the fixed bearing 19, is shown schematically. A conical end portion 74 of the roller 6 is embedded in a corresponding counterpart of the fixed bearing 19.

Fig. 10 shows how the outer wall 82 of the roller 6 is expanded together with floating bearing 15 after the shaft 6 has been raised by lifting the shaft 6 by means of the lance 4 and thus has been relieved against the movable bearing 15.

Fig. 11 now shows how the shell 26, clearly a bent sheet with water cooling (for example, a quarter or a sixth segment of a tube) is handled. By means of a trolley 84 which can run along a guide 86 and by means of a

Swivel element 16, the tape support tray 26 can be translated and rotated. The band support shell 26 engages around the mandrel of the lance 4 on the outside.

FIG. 12 shows how the rotating device 16 is pivoted when the belt support 26 has been inserted into the interior of the furnace 10. Clearly, by means of the rotation device 16, the shell 26 is pivoted upward from an underside of the shaft 6 (not shown in FIG. 12). As a result, a likewise in Fig. 12 not shown tape as a thermally treated component on the underside of the as Tube piece trained band support tray 26 are supported. This then allows a subsequent roll removal, without the tape would have to be removed from the oven 10.

Fig. 13 shows a drive shaft 17 for driving the

corresponding roller 6. Also, in Fig. 13 to see an outer wall of the furnace 10 with fixed bearing 19 attached thereto. To remove the drive shaft 17, screws can be unscrewed, as indicated by reference numeral 66, manually or by machine control.

14 shows an enlarged view of the roller 6 in the region of the fixed bearing 19. The roller 6 can be pressed off by means of a gas-tight screw 30. Furthermore, a lateral locking element 18 is shown.

Fig. 15 shows how the roller 6, which is now also free on the fixed bearing side, is received. The roller 6 is connected to the in Fig. Spreader 90 shown attached to the lance 4, and the roller 6 is then retracted from the oven 10 into the housing 2 and stored in shelf 5. FIGS. 16 and 17 show how the roller 6 is in the housing 2.

From Fig. 18, the installation of a new roller 6 begins in the oven 10. It is initially the fixed bearing 19 to the new roller 6 to

mount before the belt support 26 according to FIG. 19 and FIG. 20

is handled.

Fig. 21 then shows how the floating bearing 15 is installed. Then, as shown in FIG. 22, the lid 7 is picked up, as shown in FIG. 23, the lid 7 is positioned and pressed, the case 2 is released from the oven 10 and the lid 7 is screwed (FIG. 24).

Finally, in Fig. 25, the bearing 19 is shown again in detail. On the screw 30, two O-rings 77 are provided, which improve the seal. Further, a locking ring 78 is provided which allows the expressions of the roller 6. A bowling seat is with

Reference numeral 79 provided. A spherical roller bearing 81 is also shown. In addition, shaft seals 83 can be seen.

Cooling fins 85 are also shown.

In addition, it should be noted that "having" does not exclude other elements or steps and "a" or "an" does not exclude a multitude. "It should also be noted that features or steps described with reference to one of the above embodiments also can be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above, and reference signs in the claims are not intended to be limiting.

Claims

Patent claims

A roll changing device (1) for changing a roll (6) of a plurality of rolls (6) of a furnace (10) for heat treating components (50), said roll changing device (1) comprising:

a lockable housing (2) in which a first

Protective gas atmosphere can be formed;

roller handling means (4) disposed at least partially within the housing (2) and for disassembling the reel (6) to be replaced from the furnace (10) and mounting a replacement roller (6) to the furnace (10) substantially under

Maintain a high temperature and a second

Inert gas atmosphere in the oven (10) is set during the roll change.

A roll changing apparatus (1) according to claim 1, comprising a stage (8) arranged to move the roll handling device (4) together with the housing (2) relative to the furnace (10) to move the roll handling device (4) with respect to the one to be replaced Position roller (6).

3. roll changing device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the roller handling device (4) at least partially by a

Lock in a wall of the housing (2) through the housing (2) is extendable to handle the role to be replaced (6).

4. roll changing device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the

Sluice in the wall of the housing (2) has a housing-side neck nozzle (3) which is formed attachable to the furnace (10) such that thereby a dense, especially one opposite an environment gas-tight, connection between an interior of the housing (2) and an interior of the furnace (10) can be formed.

5. roll changing device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the roller handling device (4) along one, two or three dimensions is formed translationally movable and / or tiltable.

6. roll changing device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the roll handling device (4) is arranged, during a manual or machine controlled removal of at least one fastener from a cover (7) of the roll (6) to be replaced for separating the lid (7 ) from the oven (10) to exert a sealing pressure on the lid (7) sealing the oven (10).

7. roll changing device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the roller handling device (4) is adapted to a cover (7) of the roll (6) to be replaced by the furnace (10).

decrease, in particular by means of a driver take off.

8. roll changing device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the

Roller handling device (4) is arranged to convey the removed cover (7) in the interior of the housing (2) and to store there.

A roll changing apparatus (1) according to claims 4 and 7, wherein the roll handling means (4) is arranged to remove the lid (7) of the roll (6) to be replaced from the oven (10) and through the nozzle attached to the oven (10) (3) through the housing (2) to convey.

10. roll changing device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the roller handling device (4) is adapted to retract into a cavity of the roller (6) to be replaced in the oven (10) and the role to be replaced (6) in the oven ( 10) with respect to a movable bearing (15) to raise.

11. roll changing device (1) according to claim 10, wherein the roller handling device (4) is arranged, after retraction into the cavity of the roller to be replaced (6) the floating bearing (15) in the

Inside of the housing (2) to convey and store there, in particular by means of a driver.

12. roll changing device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, comprising a component support means (26), in particular at least partially disposed inside the housing (2), for supporting one of the components (50) in the furnace (10) at least during a Part of the change of role (6).

13. roll changing device (1) according to claim 12, wherein the component support device (26) relative to the housing (2) is translationally movable and / or pivotable.

14. roll changing device (1) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the component support means (26) has a pipe segment which in the

Oven (10) is retractable and is pivotable about the role to be replaced (6) around so as to support one of the components (50).

15. roll changing device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the roll handling device (4) is arranged, according to Releasing the role to be replaced (6) of a floating bearing (15) and of a fixed bearing (19) of the furnace (10) and after retraction into a

Cavity of the roller to be replaced (6) herauszubefördern the role to be replaced (6) from the oven (10) hineinzubefördern into the interior of the housing (2) and store there.

The roll changing device (1) according to claim 15, wherein the roll handling device (4) is arranged after

To bring in the role to be replaced (6) in the interior of the housing (2) mounted in the interior of the housing (2) spare roller (6) in the oven (10) to assemble.

17. roll changing device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the first inert gas atmosphere and the second

Protective gas atmosphere are oxygen-free, especially the first

Fuel gas atmosphere, in particular a hydrogen atmosphere, is.

18. Arrangement comprising:

a roll changing device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 17;

the oven (10) for heat treating components (50).

A method of changing a roll (6) from a plurality of rolls (6) of a furnace (10) for heat treating components (50), the method comprising:

Forming a first inert gas atmosphere in one

Lockable housing (2) of a roll changing device (1); Dismounting the roller (6) to be replaced from the oven (10) with one at least partially disposed in the housing (2)

Roller handling device (4) of the roll changing device (1);

Mounting a spare roller (6) on the furnace (10) with the

Roller handling device (4);

wherein during demounting and during mounting, a high temperature and a second inert gas atmosphere in the furnace (10) are substantially maintained.

A method according to claim 19, wherein during the rotation of the roller (6) a high temperature is maintained in the furnace (10), which lies in a range between 500 ° C and 1200 ° C.

21. The method according to claim 19 or 20, wherein during the change of the role (6) an interior of the furnace (10) relative to an environment of the furnace (10) and against an environment of

Reel change device (1) remains completed, in particular only in fluid communication with an interior of the roll changing device (1) remains, in particular remains oxygen-free.

22. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein before removing the roller (6) from the furnace (10) from a fixed bearing side of the furnace (10), a drive unit (17) is removed and the role to be replaced (6) by means of a gas-tight screw is pressed off.