Method for maintaining a slide gate on a vessel containing a metal melt, and a slide gate

Abstract

A method is provided, in particular for maintaining a slide gate (10) of a vessel containing metal melts. The slide gate (10) comprises a housing (11), a slide unit guided longitudinally in this, a holding element (15), a linear drive (12) which can be located in this for adjusting the slide unit, at least one electrical line and/or a connection line (16, 17, 18) for a medium, such as gas or air. The connecting of the at least one electrical line and/or the connection line (16, 17, 18) for the medium takes place in this situation by means of a plugging action. This plugging action of the at least one connection line (16, 17, 18) takes place automatically with the moving of the linear drive (12) into the holding element (15), and/or the detachment takes place automatically when it is moved out of the holding element (15). As a result, handling is more easily achieved in particular at the maintaining of the slide gate by means of a robot, and, at the same time, the process stability and the operational safety are increased during the casting.

Claims

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, 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, characterized in that this 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, characterized in that 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, wherein the plugging of the connection lines take place in the same direction like with the movement of the linear drive into the holding element and/or the disconnection of the connection lines take place in the same direction like with the detachment of the linear drive from the holding element.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein respectively the plugging and the disconnection of the at least one connection line take place in the opposite direction.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein during the plugging action of the at least one electrical line and/or the connection line for the medium, first a centering action takes place, and then the plugging action as far as into the end position.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electrical connection line 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 for the medium serves as a gas seal or for cooling or a similar purpose, wherein the respective connection line 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, characterized in that 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), in such a way 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, characterized in that 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 free-standing end.

9. Slide gate according to claim 8, characterized in that 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, characterized in that 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 centering means are provided between these valve plugging components (27, 28, 37, 38) for centering the valve plugging components during the plugging action.

11. Slide gate according to claim 9, wherein the guide slots are formed in a C-shaped receiver part of the holding element, in the inside of which the valve plugging components and the centering means are secured.

12. Slide gate according to claim 8, wherein the at least one electrical plug component arranged above the linear drive and the corresponding plug component is arranged laterally above the receiver part at the holding element, such that these two plug components are plugged together when the linear drive is moved into the holding element.

13. Slide gate according to claim 8, wherein the at least one valve plug component and/or the one electrical plug component are held in a device mounted floating or on jointed bearings in the holding element or at the linear drive transverse to the longitudinal extension, in order to compensate for deviations in the corresponding valve plug components and/or the plug component.

14. Slide gate according to claim 8, wherein the connection lines are guided laterally at the holding element towards the slide gate, and along the rear side at the linear drive, wherein they are bundled through at least one sleeve, projecting away on the rear side at the linear drive, and at least one hose, to the external electric power, gas, or compressed air sources.

Description

[0015] The invention and further advantages are explained hereinafter on the basis of exemplary embodiments, making reference to the drawings. The figures show:

[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a holding element and, located in this, a removable linear drive, before the maintaining of the slide gate referred to;

[0017] FIG. 2 shows the holding element and the linear drive according to FIG. 1, in an opposing perspective view;

[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view and, respectively, a section of guide media during the movement of the linear drive into the holding element;

[0019] FIG. 4 is the perspective view and, respectively, the section of the guide media according to FIG. 3 in the situation with the linear drive moved into the holding element;

[0020] FIG. 5 is a view with a section of the electrical plug components during the movement of the linear drive into the holding element; and

[0021] FIG. 6 is the view with the section according to FIG. 5 of the electrical plug components in the situation with the linear drive moved into the holding element.

[0022] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a holding element 15, and a linear drive 12 which can be moved into it, of a slide gate 10 referred to, with a slide housing 11 and a slide element guided in this longitudinally, of which only the thrust rod 13 is visible, projecting into the holding element 15.

[0023] Such a slide gate 10 is inherently known with regard to its structure and manner of operation, and is therefore not explained in any greater detail. It is preferably well-suited for a ladle for casting steel melts as a vessel in a continuous casting plant. In principle, however, it could also be used for casting from other vessels, such as with a converter, a tundish, or also with furnaces in the non-ferrous metal sector.

[0024] In particular with the provision of the vessel in the form of a ladle, the linear drive 12 is usually first moved into this holding element 15 and coupled, then the ladle, filled with metal melts, is placed on a rotating tower on a casting floor of the continuous casting plant. This is carried out preferably by a robot arranged on the casting floor, which, in an automated manner, first detects, by means of a detection system mounted on this robot, the exact position of the holding element 15 of the slide gate 10, and then takes the linear drive 12, configured as a hydraulic piston/cylinder unit, from a holding location, by means of a corresponding gripper tool, guides it to the slide gate 10, and moves it into the holding element 15. When it is removed, this sequence is reversed.

[0025] After the linear drive 12 has been moved in, its drive rod 12 is coupled to the thrust rod 13 of the slide unit. To the purpose, this takes place automatically, in that a coupling head 14 in the form of tongs is moved on the front side at the drive rod 12 against the coaxially-arranged thrust rod 13 of the slide unit, and, by means of pivoting clamping chucks 14, is inverted over the coupling flange 13 at the end side, at the thrust rod 13, and engages around this in positive and/or non-positive fit. A slide gate with such a coupling is disclosed in the printed publication EP 0 875 320 B1, and therefore no further details will be explained in this respect.

[0026] Normally, as referred to heretofore, for operation during casting at least one electrical and/or connection line for media, such as gas, air, or the like is required. With the at least one electrical connection 16, a power supply for at least one consuming component is established, such as, for example, a measuring and evaluation device for early slag recognition or for an inductive heating unit or the like. With the connection lines 17, 18 for the media, usually a gas seal is provided for the flowing metal melts, or cooling of the mechanical components or of the refractory parts in the slide gate. These connection lines 16, 17, 18 are connected to an external electrical power, gas, or compressed air source, with associated control devices, and for maintenance purposes are coupled by plugging procedures on the casting floor to the slide gate 10.

[0027] With the method according to the invention for the maintenance of the slide gate 10, for the subsequent casting of the melts from the ladle, this plugging action of the connection lines 16, 17, 18 takes place automatically with the movement of the linear drive 12 into the holding element 15, or, respectively, at the detachment of it from the holding element 15, again automatically.

[0028] Accordingly, this substantially easier handling, in particular with the maintenance of the slide gate 10, is achieved with a robot, and, at the same time, with this method the process stability for automated casing is also increased.

[0029] In this situation, the linear drive 12 is moved into the holding element, or taken out of it respectively, transversely to the adjustment direction A of its drive rod 12. The plug connection or detachment of the connection lines 16, 17, 18 takes place in the same direction like the movement of the linear drive 12 into the holding element and also the disconnection of the connection lines 16, 17, 18 take place in the same direction like the direction with the detachment of the linear drive from the holding element. The plugging or detachment of the at least one connection line 16, 17, 18 takes place preferably in opposite directions. Advantageously, during the plugging action of the connection lines, first a centering movement takes place, and then a transfer into the plugging position.

[0030] To the purpose, the linear drive 12 and the holding element 15 are each provided with guide means, which are configured in such a way that the linear drive 12 can be transversely moved into the holding element 15 or taken out of it. The guide means with the linear drive 12 are arranged on the front side, where its drive rod 12 is located, and those at the holding element 15 are arranged with the free-standing end on the rear side.

[0031] Preferably, these guide means are formed at the linear drive 12 as an approximately rectangular flange 22, and at the holding element 15 as corresponding guide slots 25 in a C-shaped receiver part 25. In this situation, this flange 22 can be moved into and out of these guide slots 25 of the receiver part 25, arranged parallel above one another, and, during the casting process, are held in place by positive fit. For this purpose, the guide slots 25 for the horizontal plane are arranged inclined inwards by a few degrees of angle. The effect of this is the secure retention of the linear drive in the holding element, without the need for an actuatable locking means. In addition, the flange 22 of the linear drive 12 also comprises a holding element 20 which can be extended laterally, and which can be taken up by the gripper tool of the robot. The linear drive 12 can, however, also be carried manually.

[0032] The connection lines 16, 17, 18 are guided on the front laterally at the holding element 15 to the slide gate 10, and along the rear side at the linear drive 12 configured as a cylinder 19. The holding element 15 is configured on the one longitudinal side with a wall 15, along which the connection lines are guided, and is configured on the other longitudinal side as open, so that the drive rod 12, with the coupling head 14, can be moved into it. From the linear drive 12, these connection lines are led in bundles form through a sleeve 21, projecting away on the rear side at the cylinder 19, and through at least one hose, not shown in any greater detail, to these external supply sources. This results, as a further advantage, in a compact and secure guide arrangement of these connection lines 16, 17, 18.

[0033] As can be seen from FIG. 3 to FIG. 6, according to the invention, allocated to the linear drive 12 and to the holding element 15, in pairs, are in each case an electrical plug component 26, 36, and in each case two valve plug components 27, 28 37, 38 for the medium of the connection lines 16, 17, 18, in such a way that, when the linear drives 12 is moved into the holding element 15, they are plugged in automatically, and therefore establish the connection of the connection lines 16, 17, 18, and, respectively, when the linear drive 12 is taken out of the holding element, they are automatically detached.

[0034] The one electrical plug component 26 is arranged above the cylinder 19, and the corresponding plug component 36 is arranged laterally freestanding above the receiver part 25 at the holding element 15, while the valve plug components 27, 28 for the medium are secured projecting on the face side at this flange 22, and the two corresponding valve plug components 37, 38 are secured on the inside in the receiver part 25, such that the plug components 26, 36, and the valve plug components 27, 28 37, 38 respectively, are plugged into one another when the flange 22 is moved into these guide grooves 25 in the receiver part 25.

[0035] Preferably, provided in each case between these valve plug components 27, 28, at the flange 22, and on the inside at the receiver part 25, is a centering means for the centering during the plugging procedure of the paired corresponding valve plug components 27, 28 37, 38. On the one hand, provided at the flange 22 is a projecting centering pin 29, and, on the other, arranged in the receiver part 25 is a receiver sleeve 29, as the centering means. The front centering pin 29, shaped as approximately pointed to a tip, is dimensioned as longer than the valve plug components 27, 28, such that, when the flange 22 is moved into the receiver sleeve 29, it passes into the receiver sleeve 29 before the valve plug components 27, 28, 37, 38 are moved into one another. The valve plug components 37, 38, with the receiver sleeve 29, are advantageously held in a plate-shaped device 34, mounted on floating bearings transverse to the holding element 15, transverse to its longitudinal extension, in order to compensate for deviations in the valve plug components 27, 28 at the flange 22. This therefore ensures that this plugging procedure can be carried out without any problems and in conformity with steel plant tolerances.

[0036] According to FIG. 3, the flange 22, which is likewise provided on the front side with oblique elements 22 as centering aids, are moved into the guide slots 25 of the receiver part 25. First, the centering pin 29 moves into this receiver sleeve 29, such that, as the valve plug components 27, 28 37, 38 are moved further, they are already pre-centered in relation to one another. The valve plug components consist of known sleeve and closure elements with seals, which are not explained in any greater detail.

[0037] FIG. 4 shows the flange 22 subsequently in the end position, in the receiver part 25, in which the valve plug components and the centering means are plugged in place.

[0038] Also shown is a ratchet lever 24 of a ratchet mechanism 23, by means of which automatic securing during transport is ensured. In addition, a pluggable lift delimiting bolt 33 is shown, which engages in a longitudinal groove in the thrust rod 13, in order to serve as a stop for the lifting movement of the rod.

[0039] Shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are the two positions of the electrical plug components 26, 36 at the inwards movement of the flange 22 and in the end position in the receiver part 25. One plug component 26 contains a plug socket 31, while the other plug component 36 the corresponding plug pins 37 project. With the centering by means of these centering pins 29 into the receiver sleeve 29, a centering of these plug components 26, 36 also takes place. Advantageously, however, the one plug component 26 is mounted at the cylinder 12 restricted in joint movement by means of a device 39, indicated, or mounted in a floating manner, such that, during the plugging procedure, any imprecisions can be corrected. Moreover, preferably provided at the plug component 36 is a hinged cover 32, by means of which the opening is closed when this plug component is in the unplugged state, in order to prevent any dirt contamination.

[0040] As a further advantage, the connection lines 17, 18 are arranged laterally at the flange 22, next to the cylinder 19, on the side, with the valve plug components 27, 28, placed on the face side at the flange 22, to which they are connected.

[0041] Both these electrical plug components 26, 36 as well as the valve plug components 27, 28 37, 38 are, in addition, configured in pairs in relation to one another in such a way that in each case they already reach the plugged state before the end position of the flange 22 is reached in the holding element 15, and they are in the plugged state over the remaining insertion path. This has the advantage that if, due to dirt contamination or similar causes, the flange cannot be introduced as far as the end position, the electrical connection or media connection can nevertheless still already be provided over a certain distance, for example of 10 to 15 millimetres before the end position.

[0042] The invention has been adequately described by the exemplary embodiments explained heretofore. It could however be explained further by way of variants.

[0043] Depending on the requirement, only one connection line may be provided, be it for electric connection or for a medium, or even for more than three media. The plug components 26, 36 for the electrical connection line, as well as the valve plug components, could be arranged laterally at the flange, or on the inside of the receiver part, where likewise such a line and at least one valve plug component could be provided. Conversely, the valve plug components as well as the plug components could be arranged above the cylinder 19.

[0044] These guide means, at the linear drive 12 as a flange 22 and at the holding element 15 as corresponding guide slots 25 in a C-shaped receiver part 25, could also be configured differently, for example by the guide slots being formed in the flange 22, and the receiver part 25 would then engage in them. As mentioned, the linear drive 12 is usually a hydraulic piston/cylinder unit, but it could also be an electric drive.

[0045] Theoretically, the guide means, and therefore the insertion direction of the linear drive 12 and the plugging action, could be inserted or removed, for example, instead of transversely to the adjustment direction A of the drive rod 12, in the adjustment direction, or, instead of from the side, upwards from below into the holding element. The guide means and the plug components and valve plug components respectively would then have to be arranged accordingly, such that, according to the invention, this plugging action of the at least one connection line can take place automatically with the insertion of the linear drive into the holding element, and, respectively, the detachment can take place automatically when it is removed from the holding element.