Tiltable exchangeable metallurgical vessel and method for fixing and releasing a tiltable metallurgical vessel

Abstract

The invention relates to the subject area of metallurgical systems, in particular a metallurgical vessel which is fixed on a support ring. The object of the invention is to provide a metallurgical vessel having a support ring and a method for fixing and releasing, which prevents constraint forces. The tiltable metallurgical vessel having a round cross-section is at least partially surrounded by a support ring. The support ring is at a distance from the metallurgical vessel in the radial direction. The metallurgical vessel has at least three brackets, each having a respective pin. The support ring has at least three receiving openings which receive the pins. These receiving openings permit a shifting of the pin in the radial direction. The pins are secured against falling out of the receiving opening and the bracket by at least three locking devices floatingly mounted and arranged inside the support ring.

Claims

1. A tiltable metallurgical vessel comprising: a round cross section; and at least three brackets, each having a respective pin; wherein the metallurgical vessel is at least partially surrounded by a support ring, and the support ring is at a distance from the metallurgical vessel in the radial direction, the support ring having at least three receiving openings suitable for receiving the pins; and wherein the receiving openings permit shifting of the pin in a radial direction of the support ring, and there are at least three locking devices arranged entirely inside the support ring and floatingly mounted to allow the locking devices movement at least in the radial direction, the locking devices securing the pins against falling out of the receiving opening and the bracket.

2. The tiltable metallurgical vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the pin has a wedge pressure surface; the floatingly mounted locking devices have a wedge; and the floatingly mounted locking device is adapted to bring the wedge into connection with the wedge pressure surface to secure the pin against falling out of the receiving opening and the bracket.

3. The tiltable metallurgical vessel as claimed in claim 2, wherein the wedge pressure surface is one of a lateral passage opening or at least one lateral groove.

4. The tiltable metallurgical vessel as claimed in claim 2, wherein the floatingly mounted locking device comprises: a main body with a main body opening, through which the pin can penetrate; and a cylinder mounted on the main body, the cylinder being connected directly to the wedge.

5. The tiltable metallurgical vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving openings of the support ring are elongate holes.

6. The tiltable metallurgical vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pin has a dimension in the radial direction of the metallurgical vessel, and the receiving opening is at least twice as large in the radial direction as the dimension of the pin in the radial direction.

7. The tiltable metallurgical vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein a distance sleeve, through which the pin projects, is mounted on the bracket.

8. The tiltable metallurgical vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the floatingly mounted locking device has a position monitoring device.

9. The tiltable metallurgical vessel as claimed in claim 8, wherein the position monitoring device is implemented by means of a pressure measuring device and of a further position monitoring device of the cylinder.

10. The tiltable metallurgical vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metallurgical vessel has four brackets with pins, the support ring has four receiving openings, and there are four floatingly mounted locking devices inside the support ring.

11. The tiltable metallurgical vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metallurgical vessel is an argon oxygen converter and has a holding capacity of up to 180 t.

12. A method for fixing the tiltable metallurgical vessel on the support ring claimed in claim 1, comprising: connecting the metallurgical vessel to the support ring in such a way that the pins penetrate into the receiving openings as soon as the metallurgical vessel is resting on the support ring; and securing the metallurgical vessel against falling out of the bracket and of the receiving opening by the floatingly mounted locking devices of each pin.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising continuously monitoring the floatingly mounted locking device by means of a position monitoring device.

14. The method ring as claimed in claim 13, wherein the floatingly mounted locking device has a wedge for securing the pin, and the wedge is pressed in with a maximum of 75% of the available maximum force that is possible for removing the wedge.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising: releasing the fixing of pins by the floatingly mounted locking devices; and lifting the metallurgical vessel off the support ring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of non-limitative illustrative embodiments, wherein reference is made to the following figures, which show the following:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a converter with a support ring.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a metallurgical vessel with a closed support ring and four brackets and pins arranged on the circumference.

(4) FIG. 3 shows an enlarged schematic view of a floatingly mounted locking device and of a pin.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the floatingly mounted locking device.

(6) FIGS. 5a-5d show various embodiments of pins with wedge pressure surfaces and associated wedges.

(7) FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of a metallurgical vessel with an open support ring with four brackets and pins arranged on the circumference.

(8) FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration of a metallurgical vessel with an open support ring in the cold and in the hot state.

(9) FIG. 8 shows an enlarged schematic view of a metallurgical vessel with an open support ring in the cold and in the hot state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) FIG. 1 shows a metallurgical vessel 1 and a support ring 2. The metallurgical vessel 1 has three brackets 12 and is connected to the support ring 2, which has three receiving openings 14, by three pins 10. The pins 10 are each secured against falling out of the bracket and of the receiving opening 14 of the support ring by means of a floatingly mounted locking device 20. The floatingly mounted locking device 20 has a cylinder 22 and a wedge 21. The pin 10 is fixed by the wedge 21.

(11) A further embodiment of the connection of a metallurgical vessel 1 to a support ring 2 is shown in FIG. 2. This embodiment differs in that the support ring 2 is closed. Another difference is that a distance sleeve 13 is mounted between the pin 10 and the bracket 12. This distance sleeve 13 serves to enable the pin 10 and the distance sleeve 13 to be severed, by means of a flame cutter for example, if the floatingly mounted locking device 20 fails. The receiving openings 14—which are designed as elongate holes—extend in the radial direction in order to allow a relative movement of the bracket and the pin in relation to the support ring. A position monitoring device 28 ensures that the wedge 21—pin 10 joint is always maintained in order to prevent the pin from falling out of the bracket 12 and of the receiving opening 14. All other reference signs have already been explained in the description of FIG. 1.

(12) In FIG. 3, the connection between the pin 10 and the floatingly mounted locking device 20 is illustrated on an enlarged scale. The cylinder 22 is mounted on a main body 23. The cylinder 22 is connected directly to a wedge 21. This main body 23 has a main body opening 24, which has an end position limit 25, and an end position limit for release 29 is likewise illustrated. The pin has a wedge pressure surface 11, which serves to press the pin 10 in firmly—via the wedge 21—and thereby to fix the connection between the support ring 2 and the metallurgical vessel. The pin 10 and the main body opening 24 each have insertion chamfers. These insertion chamfers 27, 15 serve to ensure that the floatingly mounted locking devices 20 are centered as the pins 10 are inserted. These insertion chamfers 27, 15 are just one possibility, and it is also conceivable to use different insertion aids. When the wedge 21 is not pressing on the wedge pressure surfaces 11, the floatingly mounted locking device 20 is held in position by holding devices 26. It is also conceivable, for example, for the holding device 26—as illustrated—to be a surrounding guide 26 and simultaneously to act as an end position limit if the main body 23 does not have a main body opening 24.

(13) FIG. 4 is a plan view of the floatingly mounted locking device 20. In this illustration, the essential components, such as the cylinder 22, the wedge 21, the main body 23 with the main body opening 24 and the end position limit 25 are illustrated. The reference signs in FIG. 4 have already been explained in FIG. 3.

(14) Possible embodiments of the pin 10 and of the wedge pressure surface 11 are illustrated in FIGS. 5a and 5b. A passage opening 16 through the pin 10 is illustrated in FIG. 5a. In FIG. 5b, the wedge pressure surfaces 11 are two lateral grooves 17. These are intended to represent just two examples of the way in which these wedge pressure surfaces 11 are embodied. It is also conceivable for the pin 10 to have just one lateral groove 17. One possible embodiment of a wedge 21—for the passage opening 16 in FIG. 5a—is illustrated in FIG. 5c. One possible embodiment of a wedge 21—for the two lateral grooves 17 in FIG. 5b—is illustrated in FIG. 5d.

(15) One embodiment of a metallurgical vessel 1 with a support ring 2 and four brackets 12 is illustrated in FIG. 6. This variant embodiment has the advantage that, if a bracket 12, pin 10 or the floatingly mounted locking device (not illustrated) fails, safe operation of the metallurgical vessel 1 fixed on the support ring 2 is still ensured.

(16) FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 illustrate schematically the expansion of the metallurgical vessel 1. During operation, the hot metallurgical vessel 3 has a larger diameter—represented by the chain-dotted lines.

(17) The shape of the open support ring 2 also changes due to heat radiation from the hot metallurgical vessel 3—from a U shape to a V shape. FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 illustrate the change in the support ring as a hot support ring 4. As a consequence, the position of the pin 10 relative to the receiving opening 14 also changes. This relative movement is illustrated on an enlarged scale in FIG. 8, as is the movement of the floatingly mounted locking device 20—schematically in the lower area. It can also be seen in FIG. 8 that the relative movement of the pin 10 and the receiving opening 14 can be less in the region of the open side than, for example, in the lower area, where the locking device 20 is illustrated. FIG. 8 illustrates the radial shifting of the pin 10 in the receiving opening 14. The movement of the floatingly mounted locking device 20 to follow this radial shift is likewise visible in FIG. 8.

(18) Although the invention has been illustrated and described more specifically in detail by means of the preferred illustrative embodiments, the invention is not restricted by the examples disclosed, and other variations can be derived therefrom by a person skilled in the art without exceeding the scope of protection of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(19) 1 metallurgical vessel 2 support ring 3 hot metallurgical vessel 4 hot support ring 10 pin 11 wedge pressure surface 12 bracket 13 distance sleeve 14 receiving opening 15 insertion chamfer 16 lateral passage opening 17 groove 20 floatingly mounted locking device 21 wedge 22 cylinder 23 main body 24 main body opening 25 end position limit 26 holding device 27 insertion chamfer 28 position monitoring unit 29 end position limit for release