EP2986404A1

EP2986404A1 - Transport device

Info

Publication number: EP2986404A1
Application number: EP13718078.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Martin Lauener; Heinrich Lauener
Original assignee: Lamec AG
Current assignee: Lamec AG
Priority date: 2013-04-16
Filing date: 2013-04-16
Publication date: 2016-02-24
Anticipated expiration: 2033-04-16
Also published as: US9849503B2; EP2986404B1; EP2986404B9; JP6220445B2; BR112015025588A2; CA2908615A1; US20170157666A1; RU2015148774A; JP2016516586A; CN105209193B; CN105209193A; WO2014169397A1; ZA201507720B; RU2627827C2; BR112015025588B1; MX2015014253A; KR20160005711A; AU2013386808A1; HK1217469A1

Abstract

The invention relates to transport device, particularly for transporting cooling blocks (5) in a caterpillar-type mould casting machine, wherein the transport device comprises: a plurality of rolling elements (4) which circulate continuously on a circulating path U in the manner of a caterpillar tack and can be driven by a driving device (33); at least two parallel guide paths (20), each of which comprises one or more roller running surfaces (12a, 12b) and each of which extends over the entire orbit U; wherein each rolling element (4) comprises a rolling element body (34), which has a first end (35) and a second end (36) in the circulation direction; each rolling element (4) comprises at least one roller (10) in the area of the first end (35) and in the area of the second end (36); and the rollers (10) arranged in the area of the first end (35) of the rolling element bodies (34) roll over roller running surfaces (12a, 12b) different from those of the rollers (10) arranged arranged in the area of the second end (36) of the rolling element bodies (34).

Description

transport device

The invention relates to a transport device, in particular for the transport of cooling blocks in a crawler casting machine according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Transporters with endless belts or chains are often used in the art as conveyors. Another application of such transport devices can be found in foundry technology, where, for example, the rolling elements of the device can comprise a rolling element body with one or more cooling blocks, so that the rolling elements form the cooling elements of a casting caterpillar.

Casting devices of this type are known as so-called crawler casting machines and are called "machine with caterpillar mold" and also "block caster" according to American terminology.

By means of a drive, the blocks circulate as endless tracks around a machine body, one type having two opposing machine bodies positioned so that the distance between the walls facing each other in the mold, taking into account the shrinkage of the melt as it solidifies Thickness of the strand to be cast corresponds.

Another type of construction differs in that the machine has only one machine body, which is bypassed by a bead, wherein the melt is poured onto the bead and solidifies thereon consecutively into a strand. The solidifying strand is preferably covered with a protective gas to prevent inadmissible oxidation on the free top of the solidifying melt.

Related methods and devices have been developed since the penultimate and last century. Reference is made to the books by E. Hermann, "Handbook of Continuous Casting", 1958, and "Handbook on Continuous Casting", 1980 (Aluminum Verlag, Dusseldorf). In addition to other types of casting machines were thus designed, in which the casting mold in which the solidification of the Melt is made by, over the width of the mold reaching, lined up metal blocks are formed.

In order to minimize the friction between the solidifying foundry material and the mold, the blocks move with the resulting strand at the same speed to the end of the mold, where they stand out from the strand and, for example, sprockets or arcuate raceways on the back of the Machine body and be led back to the entrance of the mold after a repeated deflection.

A casting machine whose cooling elements form the wall of a casting mold on the straight sections of the casting crawlers is known from WO 2005/068108 LAMEC. This known casting machine comprises two casting casters, each of the two casting caterpillars forming a wall of the casting mold and each casting caterpillar consisting of a multiplicity of endlessly connected cooling blocks. The cooling blocks are mounted on support elements, which are mounted on chains and thus articulated like links of a chain. The support elements are held with the cooling blocks by means of stationary magnets there on the chains, where they would fall down because of gravity. The chain links are provided at their joints with rollers which roll on guideways. However, this known casting machine has the disadvantage that in particular caused by the caterpillar drive under load chain joints significant friction losses.

The invention aims to remedy this situation. The invention has for its object to provide a transport device, the rolling elements allows a low-friction, undisturbed running on the entire orbit and in particular on the deflector and in the transitions between straight lines and deflecting.

The invention solves the problem with a transport device, which has the features of claim 1.

The advantages achieved by the invention are essentially to be seen in that: - Since each rolling element is guided by means of rollers individually in the guideways on the orbit and thus can not fall down by gravity from the guideways, the rolling elements in the direction of the circulation movement must not be coupled to each other. This allows a low-friction, undisturbed running of the rolling elements on the orbit, in particular in the transitions and on the Umlenkbögen; and

- The lifted rolling elements can be stored or stacked on specially designed for receiving the roller carrier shelves without them tilt.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention can be commented on as follows:

In a specific embodiment, the rolling elements are loose relative to each other in the direction of the circulation movement. As a result, the advantage is achieved that the application and removal of the rolling elements can be done individually or in associations, without having to be solved between the individual rolling elements compounds, because in the orbit following rolling elements are not coupled together like the links of a chain. In particular, when using the transport device in crawler casting machines designed as cooling elements rolling elements can thus be placed with minimal expenditure of time on the machine and removed.

In another embodiment, in the region of the first end and / or in the region of the second end of the rolling element body hinge supports are arranged, wherein at least two rollers are fixed to a joint support.

Preferably, the joint supports are rotatably mounted by means of hinge axes on the rolling element body, wherein the hinge axes are arranged perpendicular to a defined by the orbit U center plane of the transport device.

In a further embodiment, the rollers each comprise a roller axle, wherein the roller axles are fixedly secured to the rolling element body. In another embodiment, the rolling element bodies measured in the circulation direction each have a maximum length "L" and immediately adjacent rolling elements are positioned on the first and second guide track so that the geometric axes of the roller axes or the joint axes of the rollers arranged in the region of the first ends or joint support of two adjacent rolling elements can be brought substantially to a distance which corresponds to the maximum length "L".

In yet another embodiment, the geometrical axes of the roller axes or the articulation axes of the rollers or articulated supports arranged in the region of the first ends lie in a plane orthogonal to the direction of the circulation movement, which plane is defined by the first end of the respective rolling element body.

In a further embodiment, the geometric axes of the roller axes or the joint axes of the arranged in the region of the second ends rollers or Gelenkauflager lie in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the circulation movement, which has a distance to the plane defined by the first ends of the respective rolling element body, which in As a result, the advantage can be achieved that the center distance substantially corresponds to the cooling block length measured in the direction of circulation, thereby enabling a kinematically optimum running of the cooling elements over the entire orbit.

Preferably, the geometric axes of the roller axes or the hinge axes, which are arranged at the mutually facing first and second ends of two in the direction of the circulation movement of adjacent rolling elements, substantially coaxial. The coaxial arrangement of the geometrical axes of the arranged at the facing ends of the rolling elements rollers of two adjacent rolling elements together with the geometry of the guideways results in a kinematically optimal run of the rolling elements on the orbit U. In particular, when using the transport device in caterpillars penetrate the edges of the cooling blocks at the transition to the bends not in the casting level. In another embodiment, each rolling element body comprises at least one cooling block, so that a casting bead is formed, which is suitable as a wall of a casting mold. The cooling blocks can be made according to the required operating conditions of non-magnetic or ferromagnetic material, preferably copper or aluminum, as well as cast iron or steel.

In yet another embodiment, the cooling blocks have a bottom side facing the rollers and opposite a flat cooling surface and the two parallel planes containing the geometric axes of the roller axes or the joint axes are perpendicular to the cooling surface. In the case of curved cooling block flanks, the two planes are defined by the perpendicular to the cooling surface standing solders of lying in the casting level edges of the cooling blocks.

In a further embodiment, each rolling element comprises at least four rollers, wherein two rollers are respectively arranged at the first and second end of each rolling element body, and wherein the rollers arranged at the first end are offset with respect to the rollers arranged at the second end orthogonal to the median plane. This has the advantage that the rear rollers of a cooling element in the lateral direction relative to the front rollers of the adjacent cooling element are offset so that the cooling elements in the direction of travel (in the direction of the circulation movement) can be pushed together until the flanks of the cooling elements touch. Preferably, the two rollers arranged at the first end have a distance A and the two rollers arranged at the second end a distance BA to each other, wherein the distances A and B are dimensioned such that the two rollers arranged at the first end between the two at the second End arranged rollers of the adjacent rolling element fit. This provides the advantage that the geometric axes of the rollers of a cooling element arranged at the first end are co-linear with the geometric axes of the rollers of the adjacent cooling element arranged at the second end.

In a further embodiment, the guideways on at least a part of the orbit U, where the rolling elements due to gravity of the Guideways would fall, first and second roller treads, which face each other.

In a further embodiment, the guideways on Umlenkbögen, wherein the guideways in the region of the Umlenkbögen each other in the radial direction opposite to comprise first and second roller treads, so that the rollers roll depending on the loading direction on the first or second roller tread. The advantage of this embodiment is that the cooling elements can not tip over or fall off the guideways due to gravity.

Preferably, the guideways each comprise a first and / or second roller rolling surface directed against the median plane and a first and / or second roller rolling surface directed away from the median plane.

In another embodiment, the rolling element bodies of the rolling elements are designed as cooling blocks and the rollers are fastened to the cooling blocks.

In yet another embodiment, the rolling element bodies of the rolling elements comprise a roller carrier.

In a further embodiment, a plurality of cooling blocks are arranged on each roller carrier perpendicular to the center plane. Thus, a minimization of the effects of thermal expansion and stress of cooling blocks and roller carriers (transport carrier) can be achieved to ensure the flatness of the cast carpet and to reduce the thermal stresses caused by wear of the machine elements. By nature, the unilaterally heat-affected machine elements, such as the cooling blocks and the roll supports placed beneath them, tend to bend as a result of thermal expansion. In order to counteract this fact, in the past, the beam-like cooling blocks extending across the width of the casting mold were clamped down on very rigid supports. In another solution, the cooling blocks are divided into relatively small pieces (cooling block segments), as described in US 3,570,586. Since in the second solution mentioned above, the requirement for a flexural rigidity of the carrier over the entire width of the casting surface is eliminated, the casting level can also laterally from provided with cooling block segments or a number of individual, with cooling block segments equipped and provided with rollers cooling block carrier elements are constructed by juxtaposing the same in the respective required width, their heat-related distortions are kept as a result of their relatively small lateral extent even in light construction in tolerable for the casting process limits. The roller carrier elements can carry one or more cooling blocks. Roller carrier and gapless laterally pushed together cooling blocks thus form the width of the casting level. In addition to the fact that the subdivision of the roll carrier over the width of the casting level in individual short roll carrier elements possible faults of the same are minimized, thus also the modular structure of the casting width is given.

In a further embodiment, the drive device comprises at least one Mitnehmerrad.

Preferably, the guideways each comprise two Umlenkbögen, wherein in the region of each Umlenkbogens on both sides of the median plane depending on a Mitnehmerrad is arranged. As a result, the advantage can be achieved that in the region of the orbit in which the roller carriers are guided on a straight line, the cooling blocks touch each other on their flanks and push themselves on their journey.

In another embodiment, the rollers of a rolling element, whose geometric axes lie on a common straight line, or the mechanical axes of these rollers perpendicular to the center plane projections and the driving wheels have on their periphery recesses, which are engageable with the projections in engagement. An advantage of this embodiment is that each roller carrier is driven individually in each of the two deflecting curves of the guideways by a Mitnehmerrad, so that on the straight sections of the guideways, where the Mitnehmerräder are not engaged with the roller carriers, the trailing cooling block to the leading cooling block their joint contact surface pushes forward.

In another embodiment, each guideway, in a vertical direction parallel to the local gravity vector, includes upper and lower guideway sections, at least the upper guideway section having only one or more first roller tracks. As a result, the advantage is achievable that the cooling elements in horizontally arranged caterpillars on the upper straight track section, respectively in vertically arranged caterpillars on the upper deflecting bow individually or in associations can be lifted from the guideways or applied to this. In this area of the orbit where the roller carriers naturally do not tip or fall off the rails due to gravity, the guideways need not have an opposing roller tread.

In yet another embodiment, each guideway comprises a diverter arch having in a vertically parallel to the vertical direction in the upper region a first opening in the directed against the center plane second roller tread and a second opening in the direction away from the median plane second roller tread, the distance between the first opening and the second opening in the direction of the circulation movement of the rolling elements measured corresponds to the measured in the direction of the circulation movement distance of the geometric axes of the arranged on a rolling element rollers. The rollers of the cooling element located in this region of the deflection arc can thus be passed through the openings, so that the cooling element can be removed from or inserted into the guideway. This allows easy removal or attachment of the cooling elements.

In a further embodiment, the transport device has a longitudinal axis and the guide tracks are telescopic in the direction of this longitudinal axis, so that between adjacent rolling elements, a gap can be produced, which allows the removal of a rolling element of the guideways.

The roller rolling surfaces of each guide track preferably have first and second sections that are displaceable relative to one another and that overlap in the direction of the circulation movement.

In another embodiment, the guideways each comprise a rotatably mounted deflecting bow, wherein the rotatably mounted deflecting bow are arranged symmetrically to the median plane and are rotatable about an axis of rotation orthogonal to the median plane. Preferably, the axis of rotation connects the edges of the second roller rolling surfaces at the junction between the rotatably mounted Umlenkbögen and the adjacent lower straight guide track sections.

In a further embodiment, in the region of the deflecting arc of the guideways, a respective driver wheel is fastened on each side of the median plane in a rotationally rigid manner on a drive axle, one drive axle being arranged coaxially to a geometrical axis of the deflecting arcs. Thus, the advantage can be achieved that the cooling elements are driven individually in the region of the Umlenkbögen by the driving wheels and therefore not compressed in the direction of the circulation movement.

In another embodiment, the rolling elements are not coupled to each other in the direction of the circulation movement.

Preferably, the inventive transport device is used as a casting caterpillar. In particular, a transport device according to the invention can be used as the basic module of a modular caterpillar of a casting machine. As a result, the advantage is achieved that the width of the casting surface can be built laterally by juxtaposing structurally identical modules.

The invention and further developments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the partially schematic representations of several embodiments.

Show it:

1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the inventive transport device, wherein each transport device forms a basic module of a casting caster of a casting machine;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a plurality of rolling elements according to the embodiment of the transport device according to the invention shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a rolling element designed as a cooling element according to another embodiment of the transport device according to the invention;

4 shows a perspective view of the guideways according to a further embodiment of the transport device according to the invention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the detail A in Fig. 4;

6 shows a perspective view of a module of a caterpillar according to the embodiment of the transport device according to the invention shown in FIG. 1;

7 shows an exploded perspective view of a caterpillar comprising three modules according to the embodiment of the transport device according to the invention shown in FIG. 1; FIG.

8 shows a perspective view of a module of a casting crawler according to the embodiment of the transport device according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 with partially removed cooling blocks and two tilted roll carriers;

9 shows a perspective view of a module of a casting crawler according to yet another embodiment of the transport device according to the invention;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of the detail C in Fig. 9;

11 is a perspective view of the guideways of a caterpillar according to still another embodiment of the inventive transport device with closed guideways.

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the guide tracks of the caterpillar according to the embodiment of the transport device according to the invention with open guide tracks shown in FIG. 11; FIG. and

13 is a side view of a rolling element according to another embodiment of the inventive transport device. The transport device 1 according to the invention is described here by way of example in its use in a crawler casting machine. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the transport device 1 is equipped with rolling elements 4 whose roller element body 34 comprises, for example, a cooling block 5, so that the rolling elements 4 form the cooling elements 40 of a casting caterpillar 2, 3. Trained as cooling elements 40 rolling elements 4 form on the straight sections of the casting caterpots 2, 3, the wall of a mold. Furthermore, the transport device 1 comprises a drive device 33, which has driving wheels 23 for moving the rolling elements 4.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 comprises two casting crawlers 2, 3, which are arranged horizontally and one above the other. Alternatively, casting machines can be produced, the casting caterpillars 2, 3 are arranged vertically or inclined. Each of the two casting crawlers 2, 3 comprises by way of example six transport devices 1 arranged next to one another, each transporting device 1 forming a basic module 32 of a modular casting machine. Each transport device 1 comprises two guideways 20 which extend over an oval orbit U and which are arranged symmetrically to a median plane 9. On the guideways 20 several rolling elements 4 circulate like a caterpillar. Each rolling element 4 comprises a rolling element body 34 which has a first end 35 and a second end 36 in the direction of the circulation movement. Furthermore, four rollers 10 are attached to each rolling element 4 by way of example. The rolling elements 4 are arranged loosely in the direction of the circulation movement, i. not connected. The circulation movement of the rolling elements 4 on the orbit U can take place in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, wherein the rolling elements 4 circulate on the first and second caterpillars 2, 3 with opposite sense of direction.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the cooling blocks 5 are fixed to individual, ie not coupled transport carriers, which are provided with rollers 10 and hereinafter referred to as roller carrier 6. The rollers 10 run on and in guides which are designed as guide tracks 20, so that the roller carrier 6 and the cooling blocks 5 fixed thereon are guided and move in a low-friction manner on the revolving path U. The cooling blocks 5 can, for example by means of , "

12

Screw connections on the Roilträgern 6 releasably secured. Alternatively, the cooling blocks 5 themselves may be provided with rollers 10 (FIG. 3), so that no separate roller carriers 6 are required.

In order to ensure a uniform undisturbed running of the cooling blocks 5, the wheels 10 mounted on each roller carrier 6 are arranged in the direction of travel such that their geometric axes lie on two parallel straight lines 11a, 11b. In this case, the first straight line 11a in the region of the first end 35 of a rolling element body 34 and the second straight line 11b in the region of the second end 36 are arranged. Preferably, each of a straight line 11a, 11b lie in a plane which are defined by the first and second ends 35, 36 of each cooling block 5. The cooling blocks 5 have a bottom side facing the rollers 10 and a flat cooling surface 37 opposite them (FIG. 2). In the case of block-shaped cooling blocks 37, therefore, the first straight line 11a lies in the plane defined by the front cooling block flank 7 and the second straight line 11b is in the plane defined by the rear cooling block flank 8. In the case of cooling blocks 5 tapering against the rollers 10, the two planes are defined by the edges delimiting the cooling surface 37 of a cooling block 5 in the direction of circulation and the respective solders to the cooling surface 37.

The axial distance of the rollers 10 thus corresponds to the cooling block length measured in the direction of the circulation movement. Furthermore, the rolls 10 of the roll carriers 6 arranged at the second end 36 are offset in the axial (lateral direction) to the casting machine 1 in relation to the rolls 10 of the roll carriers 6 arranged at the first end 35 such that the roll carriers 6 can be pushed together in the direction of travel until the Flanks of the cooling blocks 5 touch and thus the second straight line 11b, on which the geometric axes of the second end 36 arranged rollers 10 of a roller carrier 6, coincides with the first straight line 11a, on which the geometric axes of the arranged at the first end 35 Rolls 10 of the adjacent roller carrier 6 are. Each roller 10 of a roller carrier 6 moves on its own guideway. This arrangement together with the guideway geometry results in a kinematically optimal run of the cooling blocks 5 via the orbit U. Each roller carrier 6 has on a straight line 11a, 11b the geometric axis of at least one roller 10. In a further embodiment (FIG. 13), the rolling elements 4 are designed such that articulated supports 41 are arranged in the region of the first end 35 and in the region of the second end 36 of the rolling element body 34 and at least two rollers 10 are fastened to the articulated supports 41. The articulated supports 41 are rotatably mounted on the rolling element body 34 by means of articulation axes 42, wherein the articulation axes 42 are arranged perpendicular to a center plane 9 (FIG. 1) of the transport device defined by the revolving path U. The geometric axes of the articulation axes 42 of the articulated supports 41 arranged in the region of the first ends 35 are each in a first plane which is orthogonal to the direction of the circulation movement and which is defined by the first end 35 of the respective rolling element body 34. The geometric axes of the articulation axes 42 of the articulated supports 41 arranged in the region of the second ends 36 each lie in a second plane orthogonal to the direction of the circulation movement, which has a distance to the first plane defined by the first end 35 of the respective rolling element body 34, which here for example is equal to the maximum length "L" of the rolling element body 34. Again, the axial distance of the pivot axes 42 substantially corresponds to the measured in the circulation direction cooling block length L, whereby a kinematically optimal run of the rolling elements 4 is made possible on the entire orbit.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the roller guides formed as guideways 20 are configured in the regions of the deflecting arches 21 where the roller carriers 6 tilt and fall away from them as a result of gravity, so that they are opposite first and second roller rolling surfaces 12a, 12b whose spacing is tolerated so that the rollers 10 depending on the direction of loading on the first or second roller bearing surface 12a, 12b come into contact and roll on her.

Guideways 20 that meet these conditions are preferably designed as profiled rails. The pairs of rollers 10 whose geometrical axes are located on the same straight lines 11a, 11b are mounted offset from one another and run on mutually parallel first or second roller rolling surfaces 12a, 12b. The guideways 20 may be formed on one or more profile rails. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, each of the two parallel guideways 20 comprises a separate rail and one each against the Center plane 9 directed first and / or second roller tread 12a, 12b and directed away from the center plane 9 first and / or second roller tread 12a, 12b. Suitable profiled rails are: U profile for each runway, U-profile with two adjacent raceways, double-T profile, each with a roller tread 12a, 12b left and right of the center bar. Each guide track 20 thus comprises at least one roller running surface 12a, 12b for the rollers 10 arranged at the first end 35 of a rolling element body 34 and for the rollers 10 arranged at the second end 36 of the same rolling element body 34 relative to the center plane 9. Alternatively, a profile rail can be both of the two include parallel guideways 20. These are, for example, rails, which are designed as a double-L profile, double-U profile or double-T profile.

In this case, the two rollers 10 arranged at the first end 35 have a distance A (FIG. 3) from one another and the two rollers 10 arranged at the second end 36 have a distance B> A from one another, wherein the distances A and B are dimensioned. the two rollers 10 arranged at the first end 35 fit between the two rollers 10 of the adjacent cooling element 40 arranged at the second end 36.

In the region of the Umlenkbögen 21 of the guideways 20 driving wheels 23 are mounted whose axis of rotation coincides with the geometric axis of the Umlenkbögen 21. Each two drive wheels 23 are mounted symmetrically to the central plane 9 rotationally rigid on a drive axle 25, wherein each one drive shaft 25 is arranged coaxially to the geometric axis of the Umlenkbögen 21. The roller carriers 6 have lateral extensions 14 on one or more of their rollers 10 or roller axles, which engage as carriers, for example in the form of rollers mounted on the corresponding axle, into the recesses 24 of the driving wheels 23, which engage the roller carriers 6 with their cooling blocks 5 drive.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, each guide track 20 in an axis parallel to gravity vertical direction, an upper and a lower straight guideway 27a, 27b, wherein the upper straight guideway portion 27a in the vertical direction at the same height with respect to the median plane 9 side by side arranged a directed against the median plane 9 first roller tread 12a and a directed away from the median plane 9 first Rollenlauffiäche 12a may have. In this case, the juxtaposed first roller bearing surfaces 12a only on a guide track 20 with a side guide 44 (Fig. 5) provided guideway portion 27a, so that the cooling elements 40 can extend in the region of the mold transverse to the median plane 9.

The application and removal of the cooling blocks 5 together with the roller carriers 6 can be done individually or in associations. This happens in the area of the orbit where the roller carriers 6 naturally do not tip or fall off the guideways 20 as a result of gravity and do not require an opposing second roller tread 12b.

A complication arises, however, from the kinematic requirement that the distance of the straight lines 11a, 11b containing the geometric axes of the rollers 10 are set equal to one cooling block length. The first cooling element 40 to be lifted out remains hanging at the locations between the remaining and the cooling block 5 to be removed, because the rollers 10 of the cooling element 40 to be removed project half a diameter below the cooling blocks 5 of the remaining cooling elements 40. The removal of a first cooling element 40 can be carried out according to one of the following methods:

1) In the case that the cooling blocks 5 are fixed on roller carriers 6 (FIG. 2), it is sufficient to remove the cooling blocks 5 on two or three consecutive cooling elements 40, whereupon the roller carriers 6 can be tilted, pushed together and taken out (FIG ).

2) In the upper region of the deflecting bend 21 (FIGS. 4 and 5), where the cooling blocks 5 are spread apart, a first opening 28 in the second roller rolling surface 12b and in the region of the roller located further down becomes in the region of the higher roller 10 10, a second opening 29 is provided in the second roller rolling surface 12b, each of at least the length of a roller diameter. The rollers 10 of the corresponding cooling element 40 pass through the first and second openings 28, 29 of the two guideways 20 and allow removal of the entire cooling element 40. In the embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5, the first openings 28 are for the second end 36 arranged rollers 10 with the smaller distance A to the against the median plane. 9 directed second roller bearing surfaces 12b and the second openings 29 arranged for the arranged at the first end 35 rollers 10 with the greater distance B to the directed away from the median plane 9 second roller bearing surfaces 12b. If the rolling elements 4 are arranged reversely and the rollers 10 arranged at the first end 35 have the smaller spacing A, the first and second openings 28, 29 are arranged in a reversed order.

3) By opening and pushing apart telescopic guideways 20 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 30 of the transport device 1 creates a gap in the series of cooling elements 40. If the extent of the gap at least the diameter of a roller 10, the rollers 10 can be sufficiently far below their neighboring Cooling elements 40 are pushed out, so that when lifting a snagging of the rollers 10 with the neighboring cooling elements 40 is avoided.

The separation of the guideways 20 can be arranged in the straight guide sections 27a, 27b (FIGS. 9 and 10). The roller treads 12a, 12b of each guide track 20 have first and second sections 38, 39 displaceable relative to one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis 30 of the transport device 1, so that the first and second sections 38, 39 of the roller treads 12a, 12b overlap in the direction of the circulation movement , The rollers 0 of the rolling elements 4 are then in the direction of the longitudinal axis 30 of the transport device 1 pushed apart guideways 20 in the region of the separation point of the guideways 20 on one of the first or second sections 38, 39 of the roller treads 12a, 12b.

Alternatively, the transition point between straight guide track sections 27a, 27b and deflecting 21 can be opened by moving away a Umlenkbogens 21 correspondingly wide to create the desired gap. In this case, the deflection curves 21 can be moved away from the straight guide track sections 27a, 27b in a translatory manner, or

the deflecting bends 21 can be rotatably mounted on a rotation axis 31 (FIGS. 11 and 12) connecting the points at which the second roller running surfaces 12b of the deflecting bends 21 meet the lower second roller rolling surfaces 12b of the straight guide track sections 27b. By tilting the Umlenkbögen 21 by a corresponding angle creates the desired path gap at the top Junction, ie where the upper straight guideway sections 27a meet the downwardly leading Umlenkbögen 21. Since the axis of rotation is located in the connection point of the second roller treads 12b between the deflecting bend 21 and the lower straight guide track sections 27b, the lower guide track connections remain without gaps during tipping, so that no cooling elements 40 can fall off the guide tracks 20.

The requirements for the width of the products to be cast are variable, ranging from less than 200 mm to more than 2 m. The modular design of the casting machines, which meet the various respective casting product width requirements, simplifies both the design, assembly and stocking of spare parts and provides equal functionality of the mechanics and operating conditions across the entire width of the casting level. In order to set up casting machines of different widths, a basic module 32 (FIGS. 6 and 7) is designed so that casting machines with different casting widths are created by laterally juxtaposing one another.

A basic module 32 (FIG. 6) is characterized in that it has a roller element 10 provided with cooling elements 40, for example, provided with one or more cooling blocks 5 roller carrier 6, Umlenkbögen 21 and straight track sections 27a, 27b with the number of roller treads 12a, 12b, which corresponds to the number of rollers 10 of the cooling element 40. Right and left of the outermost Umlenkbogen guides are each a Mitnehmerrad 23 arranged concentrically with the Umlenkbogen guides. The Mitnehmervertiefungen 24 are aligned parallel to the axes of the Umlenkbogen guides. Umlenkbogen guides and driving wheels 23 have in the region of their axes an opening through which a drive shaft 25 can be pushed, the length of which is dimensioned so that they can accommodate the Giessbreite determining number of basic modules 32. A concentric and conclusive connection of the drive shaft 25 with the drive wheels 23 ensures their drive. The driving wheels 23, in turn, drive the roller carriers 6 and cooling blocks 5 in their orbit. While various embodiments of the present invention are described above, it should be understood that the various features may be used both individually and in any combination.

This invention is therefore not limited to the above-mentioned, particularly preferred embodiments.

Claims

claims

1. Transport device, in particular for the transport of cooling blocks (5) in a crawler casting machine, wherein the transport device comprises: a plurality of rolling elements (4) endlessly circulating in an orbit U like a caterpillar and can be driven by a drive device (33); at least two parallel guideways (20) each comprising one or more roller treads (12a, 12b) and each extending over the entire orbit U; each rolling element (4) comprising a rolling element body (34) having a first end (35) and a second end (36) in the direction of circulation; and each rolling element (4) in the region of the first end (35) and in the region of the second end (36) each comprise at least one roller (10), characterized in that in the region of the first end (35) of the rolling element body (34) arranged rollers (10) on opposite the in the region of the second end (36) of the rolling element body (34) arranged rollers (10) different roller rolling surfaces (12a, 12b) roll.

2. Transport device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rolling elements (4) are loose relative to each other in the direction of the circulation movement.

3. Transport device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the region of the first end (35) and / or in the region of the second end (36) of the rolling element body (34) Gelenkauflager (41) are arranged and at least two Rollers (10) on a joint support (41) are attached.

4. Transport device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the Gelenkauflager (41) by means of hinge axes (42) on the rolling element body (34) are rotatably mounted, wherein the hinge axes (42) perpendicular to a defined by the orbit U center plane (9 ) of the transport device are arranged.

5. Transport device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rollers (10) each comprise a roller axle (43), wherein the roller axles (43) are fixedly secured to the rolling element body (34).

6. Transport device (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the rolling element body (34) measured in the circulation direction each have a maximum length "L" and immediately adjacent rolling elements (4) on the first and second guide track (20) so positionable in that the geometric axes of the roller axes (43) or the joint axes (42) of the rollers (10) or joint supports (41) of two adjacent rolling elements (4) arranged in the region of the first ends (35) are substantially at a distance, which corresponds to the maximum length "L".

7. Transport device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the geometric axes of the roller axes (43) or the joint axes (42) in the region of the first ends (35) arranged rollers (10) or joint support (41 ) lie in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the circulation movement, which is defined by the first end (35) of the respective rolling element body (34).

8. Transport device (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the geometric axes of the roller axes (43) or the joint axes (42) in the region of the second ends (36) arranged rollers (10) or articulated support (41) in a plane orthogonal to the direction of the circulation movement, which at the plane defined by the first ends (35) of the respective rolling element body (34) has a distance substantially equal to or greater than the length "L".

9. Transport device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the geometric axes of the roller axes (43) or the joint axes (42) which at the mutually facing first and second ends (35, 36) of two in the direction the circulation movement of adjacent rolling elements (4) are arranged, are substantially coaxial.

10. Transport device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that each rolling element body (34) comprises at least one cooling block (5), so that a caterpillar (2, 3) is formed, which is suitable as a wall of a mold ,

11. Transport device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the cooling blocks (5) have a roller (10) facing bottom and opposite a flat cooling surface (37) and the two parallel the geometric axes of the roller axes (43) or the Joint axes (42) containing planes perpendicular to the cooling surface (37).

12. Transport device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that each rolling element (4) comprises at least four rollers (10), wherein each two rollers (10) at the first and second ends (35, 36) of each rolling element body (34) are arranged, and wherein the rollers (10) arranged at the first end (35) are offset with respect to the second end (36) arranged rollers (10) orthogonal to the median plane (9).

13. Transport device (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the two at the first end (35) arranged rollers (10) have a distance A to each other and the two at the second end (36) arranged rollers (10) a distance BA to each other wherein the distances A and B are dimensioned such that the two rollers (10) arranged at the first end (35) fit between the two rollers (10) of the adjacent rolling element (4) arranged at the second end (36).

14. Transport device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the guide tracks (20) at least on a part of the orbit U, where the rolling elements (4) because of gravity of the Guideways (20) would fall, first and second roller bearing surfaces (12a, 2b) which face each other.

15. Transport device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the guide tracks (20) Umlenkbögen (21), and that the guide tracks (20) in the region of the Umlenkbögen (21) in the radial direction opposite one another and second roller running surfaces (12a, 12b), so that the rollers (10) depending on the loading direction on the first or second roller rolling surface (12a, 12b) roll.

16. Transport device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the guideways (20) each directed against the median plane (9) first and / or second roller tread (12a, 12b) and one of the median plane (9th ) comprise directed first and / or second roller treads (12a, 12b).

17. Transport device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the rolling element body (34) of the rolling elements (4) as cooling blocks

(5) are formed and the rollers (10) are attached to the cooling blocks (5).

18. Transport device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the rolling element body (34) of the rolling elements (4) has a roller carrier

(6).

19. Transport device (1) according to claim 18, characterized in that on each roller carrier (6) perpendicular to the median plane (9) a plurality of cooling blocks (5) are arranged.

20. Transport device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the drive device (33) comprises at least one driving wheel (23).

21. Transport device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that the guide tracks (20) each comprise two Umlenkbögen (21) and a respective Mitnehmerrad (23) is arranged in the region of each deflection arc (21) on both sides of the median plane (9).

22. Transport device (1) according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that the rollers (10) of a rolling element (4) whose geometric axes lie on a common straight line (a, 1b), or the mechanical axes of these rollers (10). perpendicular to the median plane (9) have projections (14) and the driving wheels (23) on their periphery recesses (24), which can be brought into engagement with the projections (14).

23. Transport device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that each guideway (20) in an in parallel to the local gravity vector vertical direction considered an upper and a lower guideway portion (27 a, 27 b), and at least the upper guideway portion ( 27a) has only one or more first roller rolling surfaces (12a).

24. Transport device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that each guide track (20) comprises a deflecting bend (21) which in a direction parallel to gravity vertical direction in the upper region of a first opening (28) in the against Center plane (9) directed second roller bearing surface (12b) and a second opening (29) in the from the center plane (9) directed away second roller bearing surface (12b), wherein the distance between the first opening (28) and the second opening (29) measured in the direction of the circulation movement of the rolling elements (4) measured in the direction of the circulation movement measured distance of the geometric axes of a rolling element (4) arranged rollers (10).

25. Transport device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 24, characterized in that the transport device (1) has a longitudinal axis (30) and the guide tracks (20) in the direction of this longitudinal axis (30) are telescopic, so that between adjacent rolling elements (4) a gap can be produced, which allows the removal of a rolling element (4) from the guideways (20).

26. Transport device (1) according to claim 25, characterized in that the roller running surfaces (12a, 12b) of each guide track (20) have relative to one another displaceable first and second sections (38, 39) which overlap in the direction of the circulation movement.

27. Transport device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 26, characterized in that the guide tracks (20) each comprise a rotatably mounted deflecting bow (21), wherein the rotatably mounted deflecting bow (21) to the median plane (9) are arranged symmetrically and about an axis of rotation (31) orthogonal to the median plane (9) are rotatable.

28. Transport device (1) according to claim 27, characterized in that the axis of rotation (31) connects the edges of the second roller rolling surfaces (12b) at the junction between the rotatably mounted Umlenkbögen (21) and the adjoining lower straight guide track sections (27b).

29. Transport device (1) according to any one of claims 15 to 28, characterized in that in the region of the deflecting bend (21) of the guide tracks (20) depending on a Mitnehmerrad (23) on each side of the median plane (9) rotationally rigid on a drive axle ( 25) is fixed, and each a drive axis (25) is arranged coaxially to a geometric axis of the Umlenkbögen (21).

30. Transport device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 29, characterized in that the rolling elements (4) are not coupled to each other in the direction of the circulation movement.

31. Use of a transport device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 30 as a casting caterpillar (2, 3).

32. Use of a transport device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 30 as a basic module (32) of a modular crawler (2, 3) of a casting machine.