EP4337403B1 - Maintenance method of a sliding closure on a molten metal-containing vessel, and sliding closure - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for repairing a sliding closure on a vessel containing molten metal, which has a housing, a slide unit guided longitudinally therein, a holder, a linear drive insertable therein for adjusting the slide unit, at least one electrical and/or a connecting line for a medium, such as gas or air, wherein the linear drive can preferably be inserted and/or removed by a robot, and that the connection of the at least one electrical and/or the connecting line for the medium is carried out by a plug-in process, and a sliding closure.

A well-known sliding closure according to the publication EP-A-3 424 618 is provided with a slide housing, a longitudinally guided slide unit with a push rod, a bracket and a removably mounted linear drive with a drive rod in the latter. This drive rod is connected to the push rod of the slide unit Can be connected by a coupling which, when the linear drive is inserted into the holder, couples against the slide unit by moving the drive rod, while it uncouples when the linear drive is removed from the holder transversely to the direction of movement of the drive rod.

In the printed publication CN 110394621 an assembly and disassembly system for repairing a sliding lock is disclosed, in which an assembly seat with retaining grooves and a cylinder unit that can be inserted into this are provided for adjusting a slide, whereby the cylinder unit is held by a clamping device of a robot and can be inserted into the retaining grooves of the assembly seat. In addition, a plug connection for connecting lines is arranged on the one hand at the back in the assembly seat and on the other hand at the front below the cylinder unit, which can be plugged together after the cylinder unit has been assembled using a pressure lever. This pressure lever is also located below the cylinder unit and is movably attached to it. It can be moved by an adjustment drive that corresponds to the clamping device of the robot. However, this plugging and unplugging of the plug connection is a complex solution and is susceptible to manipulation because if operated improperly, this pressure lever or the adjustment drive can hit something and be damaged due to their protruding arrangement.

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

In the printed publication US 2005/242094 A1 Cables are disclosed, but these are used to drive the hydraulic unit and are not pluggable. The other cables are referred to as electrical cables, but nowhere is it indicated that they are connected by a plug-in process, nor that this plugging and/or unplugging should take place when the linear drive is inserted or removed.

In the printed publication EP 2 039 445 A1 discloses a sliding device for automatically exerting surface pressure, which consists of a fixed plate which is arranged in a base frame and is firmly connected to the underside of a vessel for molten metal. A sliding housing with a sliding plate is arranged displaceably under the fixed plate by means of an actuator. However, no connecting lines relating to this hot water inflow are disclosed.

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

This object is achieved according to the invention in that at least one electrical plug part and/or at least one valve plug part for the medium of the at least one connecting line are assigned to the linear drive and the holder in pairs, such that the plugging of the at least one connecting line takes place automatically when the linear drive is pushed into the holder and/or the release when it is removed from the holder.

Furthermore, the object is achieved by a sliding closure for the method, wherein at least one electrical plug part and/or at least one valve plug part for the medium of the at least one connecting line are assigned to the linear drive and the holder in pairs, such that these are automatically inserted when the linear drive is inserted into the holder and thus cause the connection of the respective connecting line or are automatically released when the linear drive is removed from the holder.

The connection of the at least one electrical and/or the connection line for the medium by means of a plug-in process is preferably carried out with at least one supply source. The at least one connection line is preferably connected to an external power, gas or air pressure source. An electrical connection line can be used to provide a power supply for at least one consumer unit, such as a measuring and evaluation device for early slag detection or for inductive heating or the like. A connection line for a medium can be used to gas seal the flowing metal melt or to cool mechanical components and/or refractory parts in the sliding closure.

This plugging of the at least one connecting cable when inserting the linear drive into the holder and/or the release when removing the same from the holder takes place automatically.

This makes handling considerably easier, especially when repairing the sliding lock with a robot and at the same time the process stability and operational safety during casting are increased.

In the case of a sliding closure, it is very advantageous if at least one electrical plug part and/or at least one valve plug part for the medium of the at least one connecting line is assigned to the linear drive and the holder in pairs. This means that these can be automatically plugged in when the linear drive is pushed into the holder, thereby connecting the respective connecting line, and/or can be automatically released when the linear drive is removed from the holder.

The linear drive is expediently pushed into and/or removed from the holder preferably transversely to its adjustment direction. This transverse insertion results in excellent accessibility for handling due to the space available on the casting platform. The connecting cables are plugged in in the same direction as the linear drive is pushed into the holder and/or the connecting cables are removed in the same direction as the linear drive is removed from the holder. Preferably, the at least one connecting cable is plugged in and removed synchronously in opposite directions.

For a sliding closure of a vessel containing molten metal, wherein the sliding closure has a housing, a sliding unit guided longitudinally therein, a holder, a linear drive insertable therein for adjusting the sliding unit, and at least one connecting line, the connecting line for an electrical Contact or a liquid or gaseous medium is provided, wherein the linear drive can preferably be inserted and/or removed by a robot for repairs, a connection of the at least one connecting line can be carried out by a plugging process, wherein this plugging of the at least one connecting line takes place automatically when the linear drive is inserted into the holder and/or the release of the at least one connecting line takes place automatically when the linear drive is removed from the holder.

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

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a holder and a linear drive that can be accommodated in it before the indicated sliding closure is repaired;

Fig. 2

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

Fig. 3

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

Fig. 4

the perspective view or section of the guide means according to Fig. 3 when the linear drive is inserted into the holder;

Fig. 5

a view with a section of the electrical connector parts when inserting the linear actuator into the holder; and

Fig. 6

the view with the section according to Fig. 5 of the electrical plug parts when the linear actuator is inserted into the holder.

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

Such a sliding closure 10 is known in terms of its structure and operation and is therefore not described in further detail. It is preferably suitable for a ladle containing molten steel as a vessel in a continuous casting plant. In principle, however, it could also be used on the spout 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 rotating tower 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 using a detection system that can be mounted on it and then grasps the linear drive 12 designed as a hydraulic piston/cylinder unit from a storage location using an appropriate gripping tool, guides it to the sliding closure 10 and pushes it into the holder 15. When removing the latter, this takes place in the 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 conveniently done automatically by pushing a pincer-shaped coupling head 14 at the front of the drive rod 12' against the push rod 13 of the slide unit, which is arranged on the same axis, and by means of pivoting clamping jaws 14', it is slipped over the coupling flange 13' at the end of the push rod 13 and grips it in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner. A sliding closure with such a coupling is described in the publication EP 0 875 320 B1 disclosed and therefore no further details are provided.

Normally, as mentioned at the beginning, at least one electrical and/or connection line for media such as gas, air or similar is required for operation during pouring. The at least one electrical connection line 16 is used to provide a power supply for at least one consumer unit, such as a measuring and evaluation device for early slag detection or for inductive heating or similar. The connection lines 17, 18 of the media are used in the usual way to provide a gas seal for the flowing molten metal or to cool the mechanical components or the refractory parts in the sliding closure. These connection lines 16, 17, 18 are connected to an external power, gas or air pressure source with associated control devices and are coupled to the sliding closure 10 for maintenance by plugging in processes on the pouring platform.

With the method according to the invention, this repair of the sliding closure 10 for the subsequent pouring of the melt This plugging process of the connecting lines 16, 17, 18 from the pan takes place automatically when the linear drive 12 is pushed into the holder 15 or when it is released when it is removed from the holder 15. This considerably simplifies handling, particularly when servicing the sliding closure 10 with a robot, and this method simultaneously increases the process stability for automated pouring.

The linear drive 12 is pushed into or removed from the holder transversely to the adjustment direction A of its drive rod 12'. The connecting cables 16, 17, 18 are inserted in the same direction as the linear drive 12 is pushed into the holder and the connecting cables 16, 17, 18 are also released in the same direction as the linear drive is removed from the holder. The at least one connecting cable 16, 17, 18 is preferably inserted and released in opposite directions. When inserting the connecting cables, it is advantageous to first center them and then move them 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 inserted transversely into the holder 15 or removed from it. The guide means for the linear drive 12 is arranged at the front, where its drive rod 12' is located, and that for 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 linear drive 12 and as corresponding guide grooves 25' in a C-shaped receiving part 25 in the holder 15. This flange 22 can be pushed in and out of these guide grooves 25' of the receiving part 25, which are arranged parallel one above the other, and is held in a form-fitting manner during the casting process. For this purpose, the guide grooves 25' are arranged inclined inwards to the horizontal at a few degrees. This ensures that the linear drive remains securely in the holder without the need for an actuatable locking means. The flange 22 of the linear drive 12 also has a laterally extending holding element 20, which can be grasped by the gripping tool of the robot. The linear drive 12 can also be carried manually.

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

As from Fig. 3 to Fig. 6 According to the invention, an 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 to the linear drive 12 and the holder 15 in pairs, such that these are automatically plugged in when the linear drive 12 is pushed into the holder 15 and thus cause the connection of the connecting lines 16, 17, 18 or they are automatically released from the holder when the linear drive 12 is removed.

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

Preferably, a centering means is provided between these valve plug parts 27, 28 on the flange 22 and on the inside of the receiving part 25 for the prior centering of the paired valve plug 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 almost pointed at the front, is longer than the valve plug parts 27, 28 so that when the flange 22 is pushed in, it enters the receiving sleeve 29' before the valve plug parts 27, 28, 37, 38 are pushed into one another. The valve plug parts 37, 38 with the receiving sleeve 29' are advantageously held in a plate-shaped device 34 which is mounted in the holder 15 in a floating manner transversely to its longitudinal extension in order to compensate for deviations from the valve plug parts 27, 28 at the flange 22. This ensures that this plugging process can be carried out perfectly and with tolerances that conform to steelworks standards.

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

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

A latch lever 24 of a latch mechanism 23 is also visible, by means of which automatic transport locking is ensured. In addition, a plug-in stroke limiting bolt 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 Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 The two positions of the electrical plug parts 26, 36 are illustrated when inserting the flange 22 and in the final position in the receiving part 25. In one plug part 26, a Socket 31 is included, while the corresponding plug pins 37 protrude from the other plug part 36. Centering via this centering pin 29 in the receiving sleeve 29 also results in centering of these plug parts 26, 36. Advantageously, however, one plug part 26 is mounted on the cylinder 12' in a limitedly articulated or floating manner by means of an indicated device 39, so that it can compensate for inaccuracies during the plugging process. Furthermore, a hinged cover 32 is preferably provided on the plug part 36, by means of which the opening in this plug part is closed when not plugged in, in order to prevent contamination in the same.

As a further advantage, the connecting lines 17, 18 are arranged laterally at the flange 22 next to the cylinder 19 on the side near the valve plug parts 27, 28 placed at the front of the flange 22, to 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 such a way that they each reach the plugged state before the flange 22 reaches the end position in the holder 15 and remain in the plugged state for the rest of the insertion path. This has the advantage that if the flange cannot be inserted into the end position due to contamination or similar, the electrical or media connection is still present over a certain distance of, for example, 10 to 15 millimeters before the end position.

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

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

These guide means in the linear drive 12 as flange 22 and in 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 would be formed in the flange 22 and the receiving part 25 would engage in them. As mentioned, a hydraulic piston/cylinder unit is usually used in the linear drive 12, 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 from bottom to top instead of across the adjustment direction A of its drive rod 12', for example in the adjustment direction or instead of from the side. 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 cable can take place automatically when the linear drive is pushed into the holder or the release when it is removed from the holder.

Claims (14)

1. Method for the maintaining of a slide gate (10) of a vessel containing a metal melt, which comprises a housing (11), a slide unit guided longitudinally in the housing, a holding element (15), a linear drive (12) which can be inserted into this for the adjustment of the slide unit, at least one electrical line and/or a connection line (16, 17, 18) for a medium, such as gas or air, wherein the linear drive (12) can preferably be moved in and/or taken out by a robot, wherein a connection of the at least one electrical line and/or the connection line (16, 17, 18) for the medium takes place by a plugging action, wherein assigned in each case to the linear drive (12) and to the holding element (15), in pairs, are at least one electrical plug component (26, 36) and/or in each case at least one valve plug component (27, 28, 37, 38) for the medium of the at least one connection line (16, 17, 18), characterized in that the plugging action of the at least one connection line (16, 17, 18) takes place automatically with the movement of the linear drive (12) into the holding element (15), and/or the detachment of the at least one connection line (16, 17, 18) takes place automatically when removed the linear drive (12) from the holding element (15).
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the linear drive (12) can be inserted into the holding element (15) and/or removed from the holding element transverse to its adjustment direction.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plugging of the connection lines (16, 17, 18) take place in the same direction like with the movement of the linear drive (12) into the holding element and/or the disconnection of the connection lines (16, 17, 18) take place in the same direction like with the detachment of the linear drive (12) from the holding element.
4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein respectively the plugging and the disconnection of the at least one connection line (16, 17, 18) take place in the opposite direction.
5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein during the plugging action of the at least one electrical line and/or the connection line (16, 17, 18) for the medium, first a centring action takes place, and then the plugging action as far as into the end position.
6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one electrical connection line (16) for the power supply of at least one consuming unit, such as a measuring and evaluation device for early slag recognition or inductive heating, and the at least one connection line (17, 18) for the medium, such as gas or air, serves as a gas seal or for cooling or a similar purpose, wherein the respective connection line (16, 17, 18) is connected to an external electrical power, gas, or compressed air source.
7. Slide gate for a vessel containing a metal melt, which comprises a housing (11), a slide unit guided longitudinally in the housing, a holding element (15), a linear drive (12) which can be inserted into this for the adjustment of the slide unit, at least one electrical line and/or a connection line (16, 17, 18) for a medium, such as gas or air, wherein the linear drive (12) can preferably be moved in and/or taken out by a robot, and the connection of the at least one electrical line and/or the connection line (16, 17, 18) for the medium takes place by a plugging action, wherein assigned in each case to the linear drive (12) and to the holding element (15), in pairs, are at least one electrical plug component (26, 36) and/or in each case at least one valve plug component (27, 28, 37, 38) for the medium of the at least one connection line (16, 17, 18), characterized in that
   they are plugged in automatically when the linear drive (12) is moved into the holding element (15), and therefore create the connection of the respective connection line (16, 17, 18), and/or are automatically detached when the linear drive (12) is removed from the holding element (15) and accordingly the disconnection of the respective connection line (16, 17, 18) takes place.
8. Slide gate according to claim 7, wherein the linear drive (12) and the holding element (15) are in each case provided with at least one guide means, which interact in such a way, that the linear drive (12) can preferably be moved transversely into the holding element (15) and removed from it respectively, wherein the guide means are arranged so as to project on the front side at the linear drive (12), project at its drive rod (12'), and at the holding element (15) on the rear side by their freestanding end.
9. Slide gate according to claim 8, wherein the guide means are configured at the linear drive (12) as a flange (22), and the at least one valve plugging component (27, 28) for the medium extends laterally at this flange (22) in the insertion direction, while the guide means at the holding element (15) are configured as guide slots (25') and the at least one valve plugging component (27, 28) runs projecting between them, such that the valve plugging components (27, 28), corresponding in pairs, are plugged into one another when the flange (22) is moved into these guide slots (25').
10. Slide gate according to claim 9, wherein two valve plugging components (27, 28, 37, 38) are assigned to the flange (22) and two to the holding element (15), running parallel to one another, which in each case can be plugged in pairs, wherein preferably centring means are provided between these valve plugging components (27, 28, 37, 38) for centring the valve plugging components during the plugging action.
11. Slide gate according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the guide slots (25') are formed in a C-shaped receiver part (25) of the holding element (15), in the inside of which the valve plugging components (37, 38) and the centring means are secured.
12. Slide gate according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the at least one electrical plug component (26) is arranged above the linear drive (12) and the corresponding plug component (36) is arranged laterally above the receiver part (25) at the holding element (15), such that these two plug components (26, 36) are plugged together when the linear drive (12) is moved into the holding element (15).
13. Slide gate according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the at least one valve plug component (37, 38) and/or the one electrical plug component (26) are held in each case in a device (34, 39) mounted floating or on jointed bearings in the holding element (15) or at the linear drive (12) transverse to the longitudinal extension, in order to compensate for deviations in the corresponding valve plug components (27, 28) and/or the plug component (36).
14. Slide gate according to any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein the at least one connection line (16, 17, 18) are guided laterally at the holding element (15) towards the slide gate (10), and along the rear side at the linear drive (12), wherein they are bundled through at least one sleeve (21), projecting away on the rear side at the linear drive (12), and at least one hose, to the external electric power, gas, or compressed air sources.

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