EP4088837A1 - Method, in particular for repairing a sliding closure on a vessel containing molten metal, and sliding closure - Google Patents

Abstract

A method is provided, in particular for repairing a sliding closure (10) from a vessel containing molten metal. The slide closure (10) has a housing (11), a slide unit guided longitudinally therein, a holder (15), a linear drive (12) that can be inserted in this for adjusting the slide unit, at least one electrical and/or one connecting line (16, 17, 18) for a medium such as gas or air. The at least one electrical line and/or the connection line (16, 17, 18) for the medium is connected by a plug-in process. The at least one connection line (16, 17, 18) is plugged in automatically when the linear drive (12) is pushed into the holder (15) or released when it is removed from the holder (15). This makes handling easier, especially when repairing the sliding closure with a robot, and at the same time process stability and operational safety during casting are increased.

Description

The invention relates to a method, in particular for repairing a slide closure on a vessel containing molten metal, and to a slide closure according to the preamble of claim 1 or claim 5.

A known sliding closure according to the publication EP-A-3 424 618 is equipped with a slide housing, a slide unit guided longitudinally therein with a push rod, a bracket and an in the latter removably attached linear drive provided with a drive rod. This drive rod can be connected to the push rod of the slide unit by a coupling, which, when the linear drive is pushed into the holder, is coupled by moving the drive rod against the slide unit, while when the linear drive is removed from the holder, it is uncoupled transversely to the direction of movement of the drive rod.

When repairing the sliding closure before casting, for example from a ladle on a casting platform in a continuous casting plant, in addition to coupling the hydraulic cylinder as a linear drive, at least one electrical line and/or media, such as gas or air, conveying connecting lines must be connected to supply sources away from the platform. This is usually done by manually plugging in the connection lines on the casting platform at the slide closure.

The invention is based on the object of creating a method for repairing a sliding closure, in which, in a structurally simple manner, improved handling for the assembly of the linear drive and the connection of plug-in connections for at least one electrical and/or one line connection for the supply of media , Such as gas or air, is made possible, and this should preferably be designed for execution by means of a robot or manipulator.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the features of claim 1 and claim 5, respectively.

This plugging of the at least one connection line with the insertion of the linear drive into the holder or the release with the removal of the same from the holder takes place automatically.

This considerably simplifies handling, in particular when repairing the sliding closure with a robot, and at the same time process stability and operational safety during casting are increased.

In a sliding closure, at least one electrical plug part and/or at least one valve plug part for the medium of the at least one connection line is assigned to the linear drive and the holder in pairs. In this way, when the linear drive is pushed into the holder, they can be automatically inserted and thus cause the connection of the respective connecting line or be automatically released when the linear drive is removed from the holder.

Expediently, the linear drive is preferably inserted or removed from the holder transversely to its adjustment direction, and the connection lines are inserted or removed synchronously in the same direction. Due to the space available on the casting platform, this transverse insertion results in excellent accessibility for handling.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Halterung und eines in diese aufnehmbaren Linearantriebs vor der Instandstellung des angedeuteten Schiebeverschlusses;

Fig. 2

die Halterung und den Linearantrieb gemäss Fig. 1 in einer gegenüberliegenden perspektivischen Ansicht;

Fig. 3

eine Ansicht perspektivisch bzw. einen Schnitt von Führungsmitteln beim Einschieben des Linearantriebs in die Halterung;

Fig. 4

die perspektivische Ansicht bzw. den Schnitt der Führungsmittel nach Fig. 3 im eingeschobenen Zustand des Linearantriebs in die Halterung;

Fig. 5

eine Ansicht mit einem Schnitt der elektrischen Steckerteile beim Einschieben des Linearantriebs in die Halterung; und

Fig. 6

die Ansicht mit dem Schnitt nach Fig. 5 der elektrischen Steckerteile im eingeschobenen Zustand des Linearantriebs in die Halterung.

The invention and other advantages thereof are explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing. It shows:

1

a perspective view of a holder and a linear drive that can be accommodated in this before the repair of the indicated sliding closure;

2

the bracket and the linear drive according to 1 in an opposite perspective view;

3

a perspective view or a section of guide means when inserting the linear drive into the holder;

4

the perspective view or the section of the guide means 3 when the linear drive is pushed into the holder;

figure 5

a view with a section of the electrical connector parts when inserting the linear drive in the holder; and

6

the view with the cut after figure 5 of the electrical connector parts in the pushed-in state of the linear drive in the holder.

1 and 2 show a holder 15 and a linear drive 12, which can be inserted laterally into this, of an indicated slide closure 10 with a slide housing 11 and a slide unit guided longitudinally in this, of which only one push rod 13 projecting into the holder 15 can be seen.

Such a sliding closure 10 is known per se in terms of structure and mode of operation and is therefore not shown in further detail. He suits preferably for a ladle containing for pouring molten steel as a vessel of a continuous casting plant. In principle, however, it could also be used at the outlet of other vessels, such as in a converter, a distributor or even in furnaces in the non-ferrous metal sector.

In particular when the vessel is provided as a ladle, the linear drive 12 is usually only pushed into this holder 15 and coupled after the ladle filled with molten metal has been placed on a turret on a casting platform of the continuous casting plant. This is preferably done by a robot arranged on the casting platform, which automatically determines the exact position of the holder 15 of the sliding closure 10 by means of a detection system that can be mounted on it and then grasps the linear drive 12, which is designed as a hydraulic piston/cylinder unit, from a storage location using a corresponding gripping tool. leads to the sliding closure 10 and pushes it into the holder 15. When removing the same, this is done in reverse order.

After the linear drive 12 has been pushed in, its drive rod 12' is coupled to the push rod 13 of the slide unit. This is expediently done automatically by sliding a pliers-shaped coupling head 14 at the front of the drive rod 12' against the coaxially arranged push rod 13 of the slide unit and by means of pivotable clamping jaws 14' slipping it over the coupling flange 13' at the end of the push rod 13 and locking it positively and/or non-positively embraces. A sliding shutter with such a clutch is in the pamphlet EP 0 875 320 B1 disclosed and therefore no further details are explained.

Normally, at least one electrical and/or connection line for media such as gas, air or the like is required for operation during casting, as mentioned at the beginning. With the at least one electrical connecting line 16, a power supply is produced for at least one consumer unit, such as a measuring and evaluating device for early slag detection or for inductive heating or the like. With the connection lines 17, 18 of the media, a gas seal of the outflowing molten metal or a cooling of the mechanical components or the refractory parts in the slide closure is intended in the usual way. These connection lines 16, 17, 18 are connected to an external power, gas or air pressure source with associated control devices and are coupled for repair by plugging operations on the casting platform at the slide closure 10.

With the method according to the invention of this repair of the sliding closure 10 for the subsequent pouring of the melt from the ladle, this plugging process of the connecting lines 16, 17, 18 takes place with the insertion of the linear drive 12 into the holder 15 or, when loosening, with the removal of the same from the holder 15 automatically.

In this way, this considerable simplification of handling is achieved in particular when repairing the sliding closure 10 with a robot and with this method, the process stability for automated casting is increased, so to speak.

The linear drive 12 is inserted or removed from the holder transversely to the adjustment direction A of its drive rod 12', and the connection lines 16, 17, 18 are inserted or removed in the same direction. Advantageously, when the connection lines are plugged in, they are centered first and then move into the plugged-in position.

The linear drive 12 and the holder 15 are expediently each provided with at least one guide means which are designed in such a way that the linear drive 12 can be pushed transversely into the holder 15 or removed from it. The guide means for the linear drive 12 is at the front, where its drive rod 12' is located, and that at the holder 15 is arranged at the rear at the free-standing end.

These guide means are preferably designed as an approximately rectangular flange 22 in the case of the linear drive 12 and as corresponding guide grooves 25 ′ in a C-shaped receiving part 25 in the case of the holder 15 . This flange 22 can be pushed in and out of these guide grooves 25', which are arranged parallel one above the other, of the receiving part 25 and is held in a form-fitting manner during the casting process. For this purpose, the guide grooves 25' are arranged inclined inwards at a few degrees to the horizontal. This ensures that the linear drive remains securely in the holder, without an operable locking means having to be used. Further the flange 22 of the linear drive 12 also has a laterally extending holding element 20 which can be gripped by the gripping tool of the robot. However, the linear drive 12 can also be carried manually.

The connection lines 16 , 17 , 18 are guided along the front side of the holder 15 to the sliding closure 10 and at the rear along the linear drive 12 designed as a cylinder 19 . The holder 15 has a wall 15' on one longitudinal side, along which the connecting lines are routed, and is open on the other longitudinal side, so that the drive rod 12' with the coupling head 14 can be inserted therein. From the linear drive 12 these connecting lines are routed in bundles through a sleeve 21 protruding at the rear of the cylinder 19 and at least one hose (not shown in detail) to these external supply sources. This results in a further advantage of a compact, secure routing of these connection lines 16, 17, 18.

How out Figures 3 to 6 shows, according to the invention, one electrical plug part 26, 36 and two valve plug parts 27, 28 37, 38 for the medium of the connecting lines 16, 17, 18 are assigned in pairs to the linear drive 12 and the holder 15 in such a way that when the linear drive 12 automatically plugged into the holder 15 and thus bring about the connection of the connection lines 16, 17, 18 or the same are automatically released when the linear drive 12 is removed from the holder.

One electrical connector part 26 is above the cylinder 19 and the corresponding connector part 36 is laterally above the receiving part 25 are arranged free-standing in the holder 15, while the plug-in valve parts 27, 28 for the medium protrude at the front of this flange 22 and the two corresponding plug-in valve parts 37, 38 are fastened on the inside in the receiving part 25, so that the plug-in parts 26, 36 or the plug-in valve parts 27 , 28, 37, 38 are plugged into one another in the receiving part 25 when the flange 22 is pushed into these guide grooves 25'.

Preferably, between these male valve parts 27, 28 at the flange 22 and on the inside at the receiving part 25, a centering means is provided for the prior centering of the pairs of corresponding male valve parts 27, 28, 37, 38 when plugging. On the one hand, a protruding centering pin 29 is arranged on the flange 22 and, on the other hand, a receiving sleeve 29' is arranged in the receiving part 25 as a centering means. The centering pin 29, which is approximately pointed at the front, is dimensioned longer than the valve plug parts 27, 28, so that when the flange 22 is pushed in, it reaches the receiving sleeve 29' before the valve plug parts 27, 28, 37, 38 are pushed into one another. The plug-in valve parts 37, 38 with the receiving sleeve 29' are advantageously held in a plate-like device 34, which is mounted floating in the holder 15 transversely to its longitudinal extension, in order to compensate for deviations from the plug-in valve parts 27, 28 in the flange 22. This ensures that this plug-in process can be carried out correctly and with tolerances that conform to steelworks standards.

According to 3 is the flange 22, which is also provided with bevels 22' on the side at the front as a centering aid, is pushed into the guide grooves 25' of the receiving part 25. The centering pin 29 comes in first this receiving sleeve 29', so that the valve plug-in parts 27, 28, 37, 38 are already pre-centered with respect to one another as they are pushed in further. The valve plug-in parts consist of known sleeve and closing elements with seals, which are not explained in detail.

4 consequently shows the flange 22 in the end position in the receiving part 25, in which the valve plug parts and the centering means are plugged in.

A ratchet lever 24 of a ratchet mechanism 23 can also be seen, by means of which automatic transport security is ensured. In addition, a plug-in stroke limiting pin 33 is shown, which engages in a longitudinal groove in the push rod 13 in order to serve as a stop for the stroke of the latter.

In 5 and 6 the two positions of the electrical connector parts 26, 36 when the flange 22 is pushed in and in the end position in the receiving part 25 are illustrated. A socket 31 is included in one plug part 26, while the corresponding plug pins 37 protrude in the other plug part 36. These plug parts 26, 36 are also centered with the centering via this centering pin 29 in the receiving sleeve 29. Advantageously, however, one plug part 26 is articulated or floating on the cylinder 12' by means of an indicated device 39, so that it avoids inaccuracies during the plugging process can compensate. A hinged cover 32 is also preferably provided for the plug part 36, by means of which the opening in this plug part is closed in the unplugged state in order to prevent contamination in the same.

As a further advantage, the connecting lines 17, 18 are arranged on the side of the flange 22 next to the cylinder 19 on the side near the valve plug-in parts 27, 28 placed on the face side of the flange 22, with which they are connected.

Both these electrical plug parts 26, 36 and the valve plug parts 27, 28, 37, 38 are also designed in pairs in relation to one another such that they each reach the plugged state before the end position of the flange 22 has been reached in the holder 15 and over the remaining insertion path in the plugged condition are. This has the advantage that if the flange cannot be inserted into the end position due to contamination or the like, the electrical or media connection is still provided over a certain distance of, for example, 10 to 15 millimeters before the end position.

The invention is sufficiently demonstrated with the exemplary embodiments explained above. However, it could also be explained by further variants.

Depending on requirements, only one connection line, be it electrical or for a medium, or more than three of them can be provided. The plug parts 26, 36 for the electrical connection line could also be arranged like the valve plug parts on the side of the flange or on the inside of the receiving part, in which such and at least one valve plug part could also be provided. Conversely, the valve plug parts could be arranged above the cylinder 19 like the plug parts.

These guide means in the case of the linear drive 12 as a flange 22 and in the case of the holder 15 as corresponding guide grooves 25' in a C-shaped receiving part 25 could be designed differently, for example that the guide grooves were formed in the flange 22 and the receiving part 25 would engage in them . As mentioned, the linear drive 12 usually uses a hydraulic piston/cylinder unit, but it could also be an electric drive.

Theoretically, the guide means and thus the insertion direction of the linear drive 12 and the plugging process could be inserted or removed from the holder in the adjustment direction or from the side from the bottom up instead of transversely to the adjustment direction A of its drive rod 12′. The guide means and the plug parts or valve plug parts would then have to be arranged accordingly, so that according to the invention this plugging of the at least one connecting line can take place automatically when the linear drive is pushed into the holder or released when it is removed from the holder.

Claims (12)

Method, in particular for repairing a slide closure (10) from a vessel containing molten metal, which has a housing (11), a slide unit guided longitudinally therein, a holder (15), a linear drive (12) which can be used in this for adjusting the slide unit, at least one electric and/or a connecting line (16, 17, 18) for a medium such as gas or air, in which case the linear drive (12) can preferably be inserted or removed by a robot, and that the connection of the at least one electrical and/or or the connection line (16, 17, 18) for the medium takes place by a plug-in process, characterized in that
this insertion of the at least one connection line (16, 17, 18) takes place automatically when the linear drive (12) is pushed into the holder (15) or released when the same is removed from the holder (15). Method according to claim 1, characterized in that
the linear drive (12) can be inserted or removed from the holder (15) preferably transversely to its direction of adjustment, and that the connection lines (16, 17, 18) are inserted or removed in the same direction. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that
when the at least one electrical line and/or the connecting line (16, 17, 18) for the medium is plugged in, it is first centered and then plugged into the end position. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that
the at least one electrical connection line (16) for the power supply of at least one consumer unit, such as a measuring and evaluation device for early slag detection or inductive heating, and the at least one connection line (17, 18) for the medium, such as gas or air, for a gas seal or for cooling or the like, the respective connection line (16, 17, 18) being connected to an external power, gas or air pressure source. Sliding closure for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that
the linear drive (12) and the holder (15) in pairs at least one electrical plug part (26, 36) and/or at least one valve plug part (27, 28, 37, 38) for the medium of the at least one connecting line (16, 17, 18) are assigned in such a way that they are automatically inserted when the linear drive (12) is pushed into the holder (15) and thus cause the connection of the respective connection line (16, 17, 18) or when the linear drive is removed (12) can be released automatically from the holder (15). Sliding closure according to claim 5, characterized in that
the linear drive (12) and the holder (15) are each provided with at least one guide means, which interact in such a way that the linear drive (12) can preferably be inserted transversely into the holder (15) or removed from it, the guide means in the linear drive (12) at the front with its drive rod (12') protruding and that at the bracket (15) at the rear at its exposed end. Sliding closure according to claim 6, characterized in that
the guiding means for the linear drive (12) is designed as a flange (22) and the at least one plug-in valve part (27, 28) for the medium extends laterally at this flange (22) in the direction of insertion, while the guiding means for the holder (15) are designed as guide grooves (25') and the at least one valve plug-in part (27, 28) protrudes between them, so that the valve plug-in parts (27, 28) that correspond in pairs are plugged into one another when the flange (22) is pushed into these guide grooves (25'). Sliding closure according to claim 7, characterized in that
two valve plug-in parts (27, 28, 37, 38) running parallel to one another are assigned to the flange (22) or two to the holder (15), which can be plugged in pairs, with preferably between these valve plug-in parts (27, 28, 37, 38) a centering means is provided for the previous centering of the plug-in valve parts when plugging in. Sliding closure according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that
the guide grooves (25') are formed in a C-shaped receiving part (25) of the holder (15), in which the valve plug parts (37, 38) and the centering means are fastened on the inside. Sliding closure according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that
the at least one electrical connector part (26) is arranged above the linear drive (12) and the corresponding connector part (36) is arranged laterally above the receiving part (25) on the holder (15), so that these two connector parts (26, 36) are connected when the Linear drive (12) are plugged into the holder (15). Sliding closure according to one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that
the at least one plug-in valve parts (37, 38) and/or the one electrical plug part (26) are each held in a floating or articulated device (34, 39) in the holder (15) or in the case of the linear drive (12) transverse to the longitudinal extent are to compensate for deviations from the corresponding plug-in valve parts (27, 28) and/or the plug-in part (36). Sliding closure according to one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that
the connecting lines (16, 17, 18) are routed laterally at the holder (15) to the sliding closure (10) and at the rear along the linear drive (12), where they are bundled by at least one sleeve (21) protruding at the rear of the linear drive (12) and at least one hose are routed to these external power, gas or air pressure sources.

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