OSCILLATING TABLE FOR CONTINUOUS CASTING

Abstract

The invention relates to an oscillating table for continuous casting, intended for manufacturing longitudinal elements which enables greater precision in the guiding of the mobile structure, reduces maintenance and provides the mobile structure with stability in the oscillation movement thereof. The table comprises a supporting structure (1), a mobile structure (3) defining a first direction (X), at least one actuating element (6) transmitting alternating oscillations in the first direction (X), two pairs of torsion axles (7, 8, 9, 10) which extend in planes transverse to the first direction (X) wherein at least the ends thereof work in torsion and at least four longitudinal joining elements (11, 12), wherein each joining element (11, 12) is joined to at least one end of the pair of axles (9, 10), wherein the joining elements guide the mobile structure (3) in the movement thereof.

Claims

1. An oscillating table for continuous casting, intended for manufacturing longitudinal metal elements comprising: a supporting structure (1) equipped with a base (2) intended to be linked to a floor in an assembly situation; a mobile structure (3) resting on the base (2) and comprising a cavity (4) intended to house a mould (5) wherein the cavity (4) defines a first casting direction (X) perpendicular to the base (2); at least one actuating element (6) linked to the mobile structure (3) and transmitting alternating oscillations in the first direction (X); characterised in that it comprises: at least two pairs of torsion axles (7, 8, 9, 10) which extend in planes transverse to the first direction (X), wherein at least the ends thereof work in torsion, comprising a first pair of axles (7, 8) arranged in planes parallel to each other and linked to the mobile structure (3) and a second pair of axles (9, 10) arranged in planes parallel to each other and linked to the supporting structure (1); at least four longitudinal joining elements (11, 12) which are transverse to the pairs of torsion axles (7, 8, 9, 10) and to the first direction (X), arranged two by two on each side of the mobile structure (3), wherein each joining element (11, 12) is joined to one end of an axle of the first pair of axles (7, 8) and to one end of an axle of the second pair of axles (9, 10), wherein the joining elements guide the mobile structure (3) in the oscillation movement thereof, and wherein the joining elements (11, 12) are leaf springs (11) and the torsion axles (7, 8, 9, 10) are torsion bars (7, 9).

2. The oscillating table for continuous casting of claim 1, wherein the first pair of axles (7, 8) is directly joined to the mobile structure (3) and the second pair of axles (9, 10) is directly joined to the supporting structure (1).

3. The oscillating table for continuous casting of claim 1, comprising two pairs of bending elements (11) on each side and the leaf springs (11) are joined at one end to the mobile structure (3) and at the other end to torsion bars (7, 9), wherein the torsion bars (7, 9) are in turn directly joined to the supporting structure (1) and to the mobile structure (3) through the leaf springs (11).

4. The oscillating table for continuous casting of claim 2, comprising clamps (15), which perform the direct joint between the torsion axles (7, 8, 9, 10) and the mobile structure (3) or the supporting structure (1), wherein the clamps (15) are joined to the mobile structure (3) or to the supporting structure (1) and surround and retain the torsion axles (7, 8, 9, 10) in a central area thereof.

5. The oscillating table for continuous casting of claim 1, wherein the distance between the axles of the first pair of axles (7, 8) is smaller than the distance between the axles of the second pair of axles (9, 10).

6. The oscillating table for continuous casting of claim 1, wherein the rigidity of the joining elements (11, 12) is the same.

7. The oscillating table for continuous casting of claim 1, wherein the rigidity of the bending elements (11) of one same pair is different.

8. The oscillating table for continuous casting of claim 1, comprising at least one pair of damping elements (13, 14) linked to the base (2) and to the mobile structure (3).

9. The oscillating table for continuous casting of claim 1, comprising a single actuating element (6) facing the first pair of torsion axles (7, 8).

10. The oscillating table for continuous casting of claim 1, wherein it comprises two actuating means (6), facing each pair of bending elements (11) respectively on each side of the mobile structure (3).

11. The oscillating table for continuous casting of claim 1, wherein the actuating element (6) is a mechanical or hydraulic cylinder equipped with at least one bending bar (24).

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] As a complement to the description provided herein, and for the purpose of helping to make the features of the invention more readily understandable, in accordance with a preferred practical exemplary embodiment thereof, said description is accompanied by a set of drawings constituting an integral part of the same, which by way of illustration and not limitation, represent the following:

[0020] FIG. 1A shows a first perspective view of a first embodiment of an oscillating table.

[0021] FIG. 1B shows a second perspective view of a first embodiment of an oscillating table.

[0022] FIG. 1C shows a profile view of a first embodiment of an oscillating table.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of an oscillating table.

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of an oscillating table.

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of an oscillating table.

[0026] FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional detailed view of a first embodiment.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0027] FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C show several perspectives of a first embodiment of an oscillating table, according to the present invention, wherein the table comprises a supporting structure (1) equipped with a base (2) linked to a floor in a situation of use such that it extends horizontally with respect to the same and additionally comprises a vertical frame (19) which extends perpendicular to the base (2), wherein it comprises a single vertical frame (19) in the embodiment shown, the supporting structure (1) describing an L shape in the profile view.

[0028] Resting on the base (2) is a mobile structure (3) comprising a cavity (4), not visible in the figure, which houses a continuous casting mould (5) through which the metal is introduced in liquid state into the upper portion thereof and a semi-finished product (20) comes out through the lower portion of the oscillating table. The cavity defines a first casting direction (X) perpendicular to the base (2). Additionally, a stirrer (23) is seen surrounding the mould (5).

[0029] The oscillating table in the figure comprises an actuating element (6) linked to the mobile structure (3) and transmitting alternating oscillations in a first direction (X) to the mobile structure (3) causing the oscillation movement thereof.

[0030] The oscillating table is equipped with two pairs of torsion axles (7, 8, 9, 10) arranged in a plane transverse to the first direction (X) wherein at least the ends thereof work in torsion and comprise a first pair of axles (7, 8) arranged in planes parallel to each other and directly linked to the mobile structure (3) through the central area thereof by means of clamps (15) and a second pair of axles (9, 10) arranged in planes parallel to each other and directly linked to the supporting structure (1) through the central area thereof by means of clamps (15).

[0031] Likewise, the oscillating table comprises four longitudinal joining elements (11, 12), transverse to the pairs of torsion axles (7, 8, 9, 10), arranged two by two on each side of the mobile structure (3), and to the first direction (X). Specifically, one end of each joining element (11, 12) is joined to one end of an axle of the first pair of torsion axles (7, 8) and the other end of the joining element is joined to one end of a second torsion axle (9, 10).

[0032] In the embodiment shown, the torsion axles (7, 8, 9, 10) are torsion bars (7, 9), specifically first torsion bars (7) and second torsion bars (9) and the joining elements (11, 12) are bending elements (11). The second torsion bar (9) further from the base (2) is linked to an upper area of the vertical frame (19) of the supporting structure (1) and the other second bar (9) is linked to the vertical frame (19) in the area closest to the base (2).

[0033] The first torsion bars (7) are joined directly to the mobile structure (3) and the second torsion bars (9) directly to the supporting structure (1), by means of clamps (15) which are joined to the torsion bars (7, 9) through a central area of the latter, the torsion bars (7, 9) being retained in the clamps (15). As seen in the profile view, the distance between the first torsion bars (7) is smaller than the distance between the second torsion bars (9). This configuration is especially suitable when the extraction of the product in solidification follows a curved trajectory, while for tables with a vertical trajectory the first torsion bars (7) and the second torsion bars (9) have the same distance.

[0034] The rigidity of the bending elements (11) in the embodiment shown is the same, being able to be different in another alternative embodiment. The first torsion bars (7) are arranged in a front area of the oscillating table and the second torsion bars (9) are arranged in a rear area of the oscillating table such that the mobile structure (3) and the cavity (4) thereof are arranged between them, the pairs being arranged equidistant with respect to the first direction (X).

[0035] Specifically, in the embodiment shown, a single actuating element (6) is shown facing the first torsion bars (7), which is responsible for generating the movement of the mobile structure (3). Preferably, the actuating element (6), which is a hydraulic or electromechanical cylinder, is equipped with a bending bar (24) like the one shown in the figures.

[0036] The table further comprises connecting parts (21) intended to be connected to a cooling system. The oscillating table comprises a pair of damping elements (13, 14) on each side of a longitudinal axle of the mobile structure (3), linked to the base (2) and to the mobile structure (3), which are pneumatic supports (13).

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of an oscillating table wherein the joining elements (11, 12) are rigid elements (12) and the torsion axles (7, 8, 9, 10) are torsion tubes (8, 10), having first torsion tubes (8) directly linked by means of clamps (15) to the mobile structure (3) and second torsion tubes (10) directly linked by means of clamps (15) to the supporting structure (1).

[0038] The oscillating table comprises a pair of damping elements (13, 14), which in the embodiment shown are pneumatic supports (14), one on each side of the longitudinal axle of the mobile structure (3) and which are linked to the base (2) and to the mobile structure (3).

[0039] The table of the embodiment shown comprises a single actuating element (6) facing the first torsion tubes. The torsion tubes (8, 10) comprise helical slots (22) extending from the proximities of the ends thereof which enable a partial torsion of the torsion tubes (8, 10).

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of an oscillating table, according to the present invention, wherein there are two bending elements (11) on each side of the mobile structure (3) and two torsion bars (7, 9), the first torsion bars (7) being joined to the mobile structure (3) and the second bars (9) being joined to the supporting structure (1), by means of clamps (15). In this embodiment, there are two actuating elements (6), one on each side of the mobile structure (3) facing the bending elements (11). Likewise, the oscillating table comprises four damping elements (13, 14) which are helical supports (13).

[0041] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of an oscillating table, according to the present invention, wherein the supporting structure (1) comprises two vertical frames (19) which extend in the front and rear sides of the oscillating table, the supporting structure (1) describing a U shape.

[0042] The oscillating table comprises first torsion bars (7) joined to the mobile structure (3) through the bending elements (11). The torsion bars (7, 9) are retained by means of clamps (15) directly joined to the vertical frames (19) of the supporting structure (1), wherein the first torsion bars (7) are joined to the mobile structure (3) through the bending elements (11). Specifically, the oscillating table comprises two pairs of bending elements (11) on each side, which are joined at one end to the mobile structure (3) and at the other end to torsion bars (7, 9).

[0043] FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an oscillating table, according to the present invention, wherein it shows clamps (15) linked to the supporting structure (1), specifically to the vertical frame (19), wherein in the figure shown the clamps (15) are surrounding the first torsion bars (7), the same type of mechanism being able to be used with all types of torsion elements (7, 8, 9, 10). The clamps (15) are equipped with a joining protrusion (16), which is a part which is housed in a channel of the inner surface of the clamps and which protrudes from the same, and the torsion axles (7, 8, 9, 10) comprise a keyway (18) which houses the joining protrusion (16) such that the first torsion bars (7) are retained.