WO2001059165A1

WO2001059165A1 - Device for servicing tap holes in a furnace wall

Info

Publication number: WO2001059165A1
Application number: PCT/EP2001/001102
Authority: WO
Inventors: Romain Clesen; Luc Richartz; Robert G. Goffin; André MERSCH
Original assignee: Paul Wurth SA
Current assignee: Paul Wurth SA
Priority date: 2000-02-09
Filing date: 2001-02-02
Publication date: 2001-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 2002-08-09
Also published as: LU90516B1; PE20020054A1; AU3373301A

Abstract

Device (10) for servicing several spaced tap holes (12) in a furnace wall (14), said device comprising at least one tap hole servicing machine (16, 18), and a suspended rail system (20) for moving said at least one tap hole servicing machine (16, 18) between said tap holes (12). The suspended rail system (20) comprises a main track (22) running alongside said furnace wall (14) at a certain distance therefrom, a secondary track (24) associated with each of said tap holes (12), each of said secondary tracks (24) being essentially parallel to a vertical plane containing the axis passing through its associated tap hole (12), and a switching segment (26) connecting said secondary track (24) to said main track (22).

Description

Device for servicing tap holes in a furnace wall

Introduction

The present invention relates to a device for servicing several spaced tap holes in a furnace wall.

State of the Art

It is well known that certain types of metallurgical furnaces use a plugging machine / drilling machine combination movable upon rails for drilling and plugging tap holes in a furnace wall. These plugging machines and drilling machines are mounted on a cradle, the cradle either being able to move on floor rails in the region surrounding the furnace, or else hang on overhead rails. The latter solution is much more favorable in terms of space since in this case the tapping platform remains substantially clear for the operating staff. The suspended rail systems generally comprise a pair of parallel rails close to the furnace wall, with the drilling and plugging machines being suspended from the parallel rails perpendicular thereto. This however has the disadvantage that these rail systems need a lot of clearance in the vicinity of the furnace wall and do hence severely limit the extend and accessibility of additional furnace equipment normally installed in the tap hole area near the furnace wall. Such equipment can for example be tap hole dedusting hoods and conducts, tap hole cooling water pipes, inspection doors or utilities feed pipes like e.g. compressed air, oxygen, etc. Especially in existing installations, it is difficult to add such a drilling and plugging device due to the existing infrastructure.

Object of the invention

The object of the present invention is hence to provide a device for servicing tap holes in a furnace wall, wherein said device requires less clearance in the immediate vicinity of the furnace wall. General description of the invention

The above-mentioned problem is solved by a device for servicing tap holes in a furnace wall according to claim 1.

A device according to the present invention comprises at least one tap hole servicing machine for servicing the tap holes and a suspended rail system for moving the at least one tap hole servicing machine between the tap holes. An important feature of the device is that the suspended rail system comprises a main track running alongside the furnace wall at a certain distance therefrom, a secondary track associated with each of the tap holes, each of the secondary tracks being essentially parallel to a vertical plane containing the axis passing through its associated tap hole, and a switching segment connecting the secondary track to the main track.

A device according to the present invention needs much less clearance in the vicinity of the furnace wall. In fact, the tap hole servicing machines are being moved out of the direct vicinity of the furnace wall before being moved laterally. This means, that only the region directly in front of the tap holes needs to stay clear of any additional equipment, so as to be able to move the servicing machines in a working position in front of the tap holes. By using a device according to the present invention, it is hence possible to install additional furnace equipment next to the furnace wall in the tap hole area. The tap hole servicing machine preferably comprises a support carriage moveable along the rail system, an auxiliary carriage slideably mounted on the support carriage and a tap hole servicing unit supported by the auxiliary carriage. The servicing machine is moved along the rail system by means of the support carriage. When the support carriage has reached the end of the secondary track, the slideable auxiliary carriage is used to place the servicing unit in a working position near the tap hole.

The auxiliary carriage can comprise a linear actuator for linearly moving the tap hole servicing unit with respect to the support carriage. By means of this linear actuator, the tap hole servicing unit is placed in a working position before the tap hole. The linear actuator can e.g. be a pneumatic or hydraulic linear actuator.

The tap hole servicing machine preferably further comprises a driving carriage for moving the tap hole servicing machine along said rail system. The driving carriage is connected to the support carriage, so as to be capable of pushing resp. pulling the support carriage along the rail system.

The support carriage advantageously comprises clamping means for rigidly clamping the support carriage to a reinforced track segment of the secondary track so as to be capable of locking the tap hole servicing machine in a working position. During the servicing operation, an important counterforce is exerted onto the servicing machine. By means of the clamping means, the tap hole servicing machine can be safely locked in a working position.

The clamping means can e.g. comprise a lever pivotably mounted on the support carriage and a linear actuator for actuating the lever, the lever engaging with a pin mounted on the reinforced track segment of the secondary track. When the tap hole servicing machine is brought into its working position, the linear actuator actuates the lever so as to engage with the pin mounted on the reinforced track. The servicing machine is securely locked between a stopper at the end of the secondary track and the pin, and the servicing counterforce is transmitted to the reinforced track section, which is for example directly connected to a rigid support structure, thereby taking the load off the rail system itself.

The tap hole servicing unit is for example one of a tap hole drilling unit, a tap hole plugging unit, a tap hole poking unit or a tap hole lancing unit. The tap hole drilling unit preferably comprises a mount supported by the auxiliary carriage, a drifter slideably supported by the mount and a driving mechanism for linearly moving the drifter along the mount. The drifter transmits a rotational force and/or a percussion force to a drill rod supported on the mount. The driving mechanism produces the forward feed of the drifter during the drilling operation and retracts the drill rod from the tap hole when the drilling operation is completed. The tap hole plugging unit preferably¹ comprises a hydraulic cylinder, and the tap hole servicing machine having the tap hole plugging unit mounted thereon preferably comprises a hydraulic unit. This hydraulic unit, which is capable of pressurizing a hydraulic fluid for driving the hydraulic cylinder, can for example be located on the driving carriage of the tap hole servicing machine.

The tap hole poking unit preferably comprises a mount supported by the auxiliary carriage, a drifter slideably supported by the mount and a driving mechanism for linearly moving the drifter along the mount. The drifter transmits a force to a poking rod supported on the mount. The driving mechanism produces the forward feed of the drifter during the poking operation and retracts the poking rod from the tap hole when the poking operation is completed. The poking unit is e.g. used in case the inner diameter of the tap hole may be limited by accretions of the tapped material inside the tap hole.

The tap hole lancing unit preferably comprises a mount supported by the auxiliary carriage and a driving mechanism for linearly moving a lance into and out of a tap hole. An O₂-lancing unit is e.g. used to open the tap hole or part of the tap hole by melting solidified material inside the tap hole. This solidified material is usually very hard to drill.

The main track can comprise garage tracks and a switching segment connect- ing the garage tracks to the main track. When they are not being used, the tap hole servicing machines can be placed in a rest position on the garage tracks at a certain distance from the furnace. Whenever one of the machines is on its garage track, the other machine can be moved between its garage track and an operating position in front of any of the tap holes. According to a first embodiment, the device comprises a power cable and a flexible tube for supplying the tap hole drilling unit with electric power and pneumatic fluid and a power cable for supplying the tap hole plugging unit with electric power. The power cables and the flexible tube are supported by cable/tube supporting carriages and form a festoon system. According to a second embodiment, the device comprises a flexible tube for supplying the tap hole drilling unit with pneumatic fluid, tube supporting car- riages for supporting the flexible tube, and a conductor rail associated with the rail system for supplying the tap hole drilling unit resp. the tap hole plugging unit with electric power. The conductor rail supplies the driving carriages with the necessary power for moving the servicing machines. The conductor rail may further supply the plugging unit with the necessary power for driving the hydraulic unit. The tap hole drilling unit is supplied with pneumatic fluid via the flexible tube. As only one of the machines, i.e. the tap hole drilling machine, is connected to cables or tubes, a crossing-over of the machines is made possible. While one of the drilling or plugging machines is being used on a particular tap hole, the other machine can be used on any of the other tap holes and can be moved from any of the other tap holes to another. While for example the tap hole drilling machine is being used for opening a tap hole, the tap hole plugging machine can be moved from a position to the right of the drilling machine to a position to the left of the drilling machine and vice versa. According to a third embodiment, the device comprises a power cable and flexible tube for supplying the tap hole drilling unit with electric power and pneumatic fluid, tube supporting carriages for supporting the power cable and the flexible tube, and a conductor rail associated with the rail system for supplying the tap hole plugging unit with electric power. A crossing-over of the machines is made possible.

According to a fourth embodiment, the device comprises a conductor rail associated with the rail system for supplying the tap hole servicing machines with electric power and a coupling station near each of the tap holes for supplying the tap hole drilling unit with pneumatic fluid. The conductor rail supplies the driving carriages with the necessary power for moving the servicing machines. The conductor rail further supplies the servicing machine comprising the plugging unit with the necessary power for driving the hydraulic unit. The tap hole drilling unit is supplied with pneumatic fluid via the coupling station. As none of the servicing machines is connected to cables, a crossing-over of the servicing machines is made possible. According to a fifth embodiment, the device comprises a conductor rail associated with the rail system for supplying the tap hole servicing machines with electric power and a coupling station near each of the tap holes for supplying the tap hole plugging unit with hydraulic fluid. The conductor rail supplies the driving carriages with the necessary power for moving the servicing machines. The tap hole plugging unit is supplied with hydraulic fluid via the coupling station. It is hence not necessary for the servicing machine comprising the plugging unit to comprise a hydraulic unit, thereby making the tap hole servicing machine lighter.

Detailed description with respect to the figures

The present invention will be more apparent from the following description of a not limiting embodiment with reference to the attached drawings, wherein

Fig.1 : shows a schematic top view of a device for servicing several spaces tap holes in a furnace wall; Fig.2: shows a schematic side view of a tap hole drilling unit mounted on a tap hole servicing machine;

Fig.3: shows a schematic side view of a tap hole plugging unit mounted on a tap hole servicing machine; Fig.4: shows a schematic side view of a tap hole poking unit; and Fig.5: shows a schematic side view of a tap hole lancing unit.

Fig.1 shows a device 10 for servicing several spaced tap holes 12 in a furnace wall 14 of a rectangular furnace. The device 10 comprises a tap hole servicing machine 16 with a mounted tap hole drilling unit 17, a tap hole servicing machine 18 with a mounted tap hole plugging unit 19 and a rail system 20. The rail system 20 comprises a main track 22 parallel to the furnace wall 14 and several secondary tracks 24 perpendicular to the main track 22, each secondary track 24 being associated with one tap hole 12 and being essentially parallel to a vertical plane containing the axis passing through its associated tap hole 12. The secondary tracks 24 are connected to the main track 22 by means of manual or motorized switching segments 26. The main track 22 further comprises two garage tracks 28, 30 for placing the tap hole servicing machines 16', 18' in a rest position. A switching segment 31 connects the garage tracks 28, 30 to the main track 22. The tap hole servicing machines 16, 18 are move- able along the rail system 20 from one tap hole 12 to another and can be placed in a rest position on their respective garage track 28, 30 when not needed.

Fig.2 shows a side view of a tap hole servicing machine 16 with a mounted tap hole drilling unit 17. The tap hole servicing machine 16 comprises a driving carriage 32 and a support carriage 34 supported by the rail system 20. The rail system 20 is supported by a supporting structure 36 by means of support links 38. At its end near the furnace wall 14, the secondary track 24 comprises a stopper 39 and a reinforced track segment 40 which is directly connected, e.g. welded, to the supporting structure 36 for increased rigidity.

The support carriage 34 comprises clamping means 42 for clamping the support carriage 34 to the reinforced track segment 40. The clamping means 42 comprises a linear actuator 44 for actuating a lever 46 which can engage with a pin 48 connected to the reinforced track segment 40 when the tap hole servicing machine 16 is placed against the stopper 39, thereby firmly locking the support carriage 34 between the pin 48 and the stopper 39. Supporting wheels 50 are used for supporting the driving and support carriages 32, 34 and for moving them along the rail system 20. The driving carriage 32 is connected to the support carriage 34 by means of a connecting rod 51 and comprises a driving wheel 52 for moving the tap hole servicing machine 16 along the rail system 20. The support carriage 34 further comprises a rail guide 54 for slideably supporting an auxiliary carriage 56 on which the tap hole drilling unit 17, which comprises a drill mount 58, is mounted. A linear actuator 60 is used for linearly moving the auxiliary carriage 56 with respect to the rail guide 54.

The mount 58 supports a drifter 62 and a drill rod 64. The mount 58 also comprises a driving mechanism 66 for linearly moving the drifter 62 with respect to the mount 58. The driving carriage 32 further comprises a pneumatic valve bank 68 for feeding the drifter 62 with a pneumatic fluid, e.g. through a flexible tube (not shown). The driving carriage 32 is supplied with electric power by means of a power cable 70 and with pneumatic fluid by means of a flexible tube 72. Both the power cable 70 and the flexible tube 72 are supported by cable/tube supporting carriages 74 supported by the rail system 20.

The driving carriage 32 brings the tap hole servicing machine 16 into a working position in front of a tap hole 12. Once in the working position, the linear actuator 44 of the clamping means 42 actuates the lever 46 so as to firmly couple the support carriage 34 to the reinforced track segment 40. The linear actuator 60 is then used to move the auxiliary carriage 56 so as to bring the tip 75 of the drill rod 64 in front of the tap hole 12 to be opened. The pneumatic valve bank 68 feeds pneumatic fluid to the drifter 62, which applies a rotating force and a percussion force to the drill rod 64. The drifter 62 is moved along the mount 58 by means of a driving mechanism 66. During the drilling operation, the driving mechanism 66 applies a forward force to the drill rod 64, whereby a corresponding counterforce is being exerted on the tap hole servicing machine 16. As the support carriage 34 is firmly clamped to the reinforced track segment 40, this counterforce is transmitted to the supporting structure 36 via the reinforced track segment 40. The counterforce is not being transmitted to the main or secondary tracks 22, 24 of the rail system 20, which can hence be configured significantly more compactly. When the tap hole 12 is open, the driving mechanism 66 retracts the drill rod 64, the linear actuator 60 simultaneously retracts the auxiliary carriage 56 so that the drill rod 64 and the mount 58 are rapidly drawn back from the tap hole 12. The clamping means 42 release the support carriage 34, and the driving carriage 32 moves the tap hole servicing machine 16 either back to its garage position or to another tap hole.

Fig.3 shows a side view of a tap hole servicing machine 18 with a mounted tap hole plugging unit 17. The tap hole servicing machine 18 comprises a driving carriage 32 and a support carriage 34 supported by the rail system 20. The rail system 20 is supported by a supporting structure 36 by means of support links 38. At its end near the furnace wall 12, the secondary track 24 comprises a reinforced track segment 40 which is directly connected, e.g. welded, to the supporting structure 36 for increased rigidity.

The support carriage 34 comprises clamping means 42 for clamping the support carriage 34 to the reinforced track segment 40. The clamping means 42 comprises a linear actuator 44 for actuating a lever 46 which can engage with a pin 48 connected to the reinforced track segment 40 when the tap hole servicing machine 18 is placed against the stopper 39, thereby firmly locking the support carriage 34 between the pin 48 and the stopper 39.

Supporting wheels 50 are used for supporting the driving and support carriages 32, 34 and for moving them along the rail system 20. The driving carriage 32 is connected to the support carriage 34 by means of a connecting rod 51 and comprises a driving wheel 52 for moving the tap hole servicing machine 18 along the rail system 20.

The support carriage 34 further comprises a rail guide 54 for slideably support- ing an auxiliary carriage 56 on which the tap hole plugging unit 19 is mounted. A linear actuator 60 is used for linearly moving the auxiliary carriage with respect to the rail guide 54. The linear actuator 60 must be a hydraulic cylinder due to the required force by which the plugging unit has to be held against the tap hole to avoid spillage of the plugging clay. The plugging unit 19 comprises a hydraulic cylinder 78, a clay chamber 80 containing plugging clay and a nose 82 through which the plugging clay is pushed by a clay piston 84 movable in¹ the clay chamber 80.

The driving carriage 32 further comprises a hydraulic unit 86 and a hydraulic valve bank 88 for feeding the hydraulic cylinders 60, 78 with hydraulic fluid e.g. through flexible tubes (not shown). The driving carriage 32 is supplied with electric power by means of a power cable 70 which is supported by cable supporting carriages 74 supported by the rail system 20.

The driving carriage 32 brings the tap hole servicing machine 18 into a working position in front of a tap hole 12. Once in the working position, the linear actuator 44 of the clamping means 42 actuates the lever 46 so as to firmly couple the support carriage 34 to the reinforced track segment 40. A linear actuator 60 is then used to move the auxiliary carriage 56 so as to firmly press the nose 82 of the plugging unit 18 against the border of the tap hole 12 to be closed. The hydraulic valve bank 88 feeds the hydraulic cylinder 78 with hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic cylinder 78 acts on the clay piston 84, which pushes tap hole clay from the clay chamber 80 through the nose 82 of the plugging unit 18 into the tap hole 12. During the plugging operation, a considerable force is being applied against the furnace wall 14, whereby corresponding counterforces are being exerted on the tap hole servicing machine 18. As the support carriage 34 is firmly clamped to the reinforced track segment 40, these counterforces are transmitted to the supporting structure 36 via the reinforced track segment 40. The counterforces are not being transmitted to the main and secondary tracks 22, 24 of the rail system 20, which can hence be configured significantly more compactly. When the tap hole 12 is closed, the linear actuator 60 retracts the auxiliary carriage 54, the clamping means 42 release the support carriage 34, and the driving carriage 32 either moves the tap hole servicing machine 18 back to its garage position or to another tap hole.

Fig.4 shows a side view of a tap hole poking unit 90 comprising a mount 92. The mount 92 supports a drifter 94 and a poking rod 96. The mount 92 also comprises a driving mechanism 98 for linearly moving the drifter 94 with respect to the mount 92.

Fig.5 shows a side view of tap hole lancing unit 100 comprising a mount 102. The mount 102 supports a driving mechanism 104 for supporting and linearly moving a lance 106 with respect to the mount 102.

Claims

1. Device (10) for servicing several spaced tap holes (12) in a furnace wall (14), said device comprising: at least one tap hole servicing machine (16, 18); and a suspended rail system (20) for moving said at least one tap hole servic- ing machine (16, 18) between said tap holes (12), characterized in that said suspended rail system (20) comprises: a main track (22) running alongside said furnace wall (14) at a certain distance therefrom; a secondary track (24) associated with each of said tap holes (12), each of said secondary tracks (24) being essentially parallel to a vertical plane containing the axis passing through its associated tap hole (12); and a switching segment (26) connecting said secondary track (24) to said main track (22).

2. Device according to claim 1 , wherein said tap hole servicing machine (16, 18) comprises a support carriage (34) moveable along said rail system (20); and an auxiliary carriage (56) slideably mounted on said support carriage (34); and a tap hole servicing unit (17, 19, 90, 100) supported by said auxiliary car- riage (56).

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein said auxiliary carriage (56) comprises a linear actuator (60) for linearly moving said tap hole servicing unit (17, 19, 90, 100) with respect to said support carriage (34).

4. Device according to claims 2 to 3, wherein said tap hole servicing machine (16, 18) further comprises 5

a driving carriage (32) for moving said tap hole servicing machine (16, 18) along said rail system (20).

5. Device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein said support carriage (34) comprises clamping means (42) for rigidly clamping said support carriage (34) to a reinforced track segment (40) of said secondary track (24) so as to be capable of locking said tap hole servicing machine (16, 18) in a working position.

6. Device according to claim 5, wherein said clamping means (42) comprises a lever (46) pivotably mounted on said support carriage (34); and a linear actuator (44) for actuating said lever (46); said lever (46) engaging with a pin (48) mounted on said reinforced track segment (40) of said secondary track (24).

7. Device according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein said tap hole servicing unit (17, 19, 90, 100) is one of a tap hole drilling unit (17), a tap hole plug- ging unit (19), a tap hole poking unit (90) or a tap hole lancing unit (100).

8. Device according to claim 7, wherein said tap hole drilling unit (17) comprises a mount (58) supported by said auxiliary carriage (56) a drifter (62) slideably supported by said mount (58); and a driving mechanism (66) for linearly moving said drifter (62) along said mount (58).

9. Device according to claim 7, wherein said tap hole plugging unit (19) comprises a hydraulic cylinder (78), and wherein said tap hole servicing machine (18) comprises a hydraulic unit (86) for driving said hydraulic cyl- inder (78).

10. Device according to claim 7, wherein said tap hole poking unit (90) comprises a mount (92) supported by said auxiliary carriage (56) 9165

a drifter (94) slideably supported by said mount (92); and a driving mechanism (98) for linearly moving said drifter (94) along said mount (92).

11. Device according to claim 7, wherein said tap hole lancing unit (100) comprises a mount (102) supported by said auxiliary carriage (56); a driving mechanism (104) for linearly moving a lance (106).

12. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 , wherein said main track (22) comprises garage tracks (28, 30) for placing said tap hole servicing machine (16, 18) in a rest position, and a switching segment (31) for connecting said garage tracks (28, 30) to said main track (22).

13. Device according to any of one claims 1 to 6 and to claims 8 and 9, characterized by a power cable (70) and a flexible tube (72) for supplying said tap hole drilling unit (17) with electric power and pneumatic fluid, a power cable (70) for supplying said tap hole plugging unit (19) with electric power; and cable/tube supporting carriages (74) moveable along said rail system (20) for supporting said power cables (70) and said flexible tube (72).

14. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and to claims 8 and 9, characterized by a flexible tube (72) for supplying said tap hole drilling unit (17) with pneu- matic fluid, a conductor rail associated with said rail system (20) for supplying said tap hole drilling unit (17) resp. said tap hole plugging unit (19) with electric power, and 59165

tube supporting carriages (74) moveable along said rail system (20) for supporting said flexible tube (72).

15. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and to claims 8 and 9, characterized by a power cable (70) and flexible tube (72) for supplying said tap hole drilling unit (17) with electric power and with pneumatic fluid, a conductor rail associated with said rail system (20) for supplying said tap hole plugging unit (19) with electric power, and tube supporting carriages (74) moveable along said rail system (20) for supporting said flexible tube (72).

16. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and to claims 8 and 9, characterized by a conductor rail associated with said rail system (20) for supplying said tap hole drilling unit (17) resp. said tap hole plugging unit (19) with electric power, and a coupling station for supplying said tap hole drilling unit (17) with pneumatic fluid.

17. Device according to claim 16, characterized by a conductor rail associated with said rail system (20) for supplying said tap hole drilling unit (17) resp. said tap hole plugging unit (19) with electric power, and a coupling station for supplying said tap hole plugging unit (19) with hydraulic fluid.