Casting/rolling installation and method for dismantling and installing rolls in a reducing stand of the casting/rolling installation

Abstract

A casting/rolling installation for producing hot-rolled strip. In order to save investment costs for the roll changing device in a corresponding installation with two parallel casting lines, without a roll change taking place in the process in a less operationally reliable and more complicated manner, the roll changing device is configured in the form of a rotary table and arranged in the intermediate space between the two casting lines.

Claims

1. A casting/rolling installation for producing hot-rolled strip, with: a first casting line comprising a first mold for producing a first cast strand; a first roller apron downstream, with respect to a casting direction, from the first mold for deflecting the cast strand from the vertical to a horizontal plane; a first reducing stand for reducing the thickness of the first cast strand; and a first casting platform, which at least partial covers the first roller apron and at least parts of the first reducing stand; a second casting line comprising a second mold for producing a second cast strand; a second roller apron downstream, with respect to the casting direction, from the second mold for deflecting the second cast strand from the vertical to a horizontal plane; a second reducing stand for reducing a thickness of the second cast strand; and a second casting platform, which at least partially covers the second roller apron and at least parts of the second reducing stand; at least one distributor device for supplying the first and second molds with liquid metal; and a roll-changing device for changing the rolls of the first and second reducing stands; wherein the two casting lines are arranged parallel to, and a certain distance away from, each other; wherein the first and second reducing stands are installed in such a way that their operating sides are located in an intermediate space between the two casting lines; and the roll-changing device is configured in the form of a turntable and is arranged in the intermediate space between the two casting lines at a level of and between the two reducing stands.

2. The casting/rolling installation according to claim 1, comprising a casting bay, in which the molds, the roller aprons, the reducing stands of the two casting lines, and a casting hall crane are arranged; and by an adjacent bay, also with a crane, adjacent to the casting bay in the casting direction.

3. The casting/rolling installation according to claim 2, wherein the turntable is located between the two casting lines so that at least a partial area of the turntable is accessible to the casting bay crane or to the crane of the adjacent bay.

4. The casting/rolling installation according to claim 2, wherein an intermediate holding station for the rolls of the first and second reducing stands is provided in the adjacent bay between the two casting lines and, with respect to the casting direction, downstream from the turntable, which holding station is accessible to the crane of the adjacent bay, wherein the crane serves to deliver new or reprocessed rolls to the intermediate holding station and to carry away worn-out rolls from the holding station.

5. The casting/rolling installation according to claim 1, wherein the turntable is configured to rotate around a stationary rotational axis.

6. The casting/rolling installation according to claim 5, wherein the first and second reducing stands are each arranged at the same level in the first and second casting lines in such a way that their vertical center planes coincide; and in that the turntable is arranged between the two casting lines in such a way that its rotational axis lies in the coinciding center planes of the first and second reducing stands.

7. The casting/rolling installation according to claim 1, wherein the radius of the turntable is sized so that the periphery of the turntable extends all the way to the first and second reducing stands.

8. The casting/rolling installation according to claim 1, wherein the first reducing stand is arranged directly downstream, with respect to the casting direction, from the outlet of the first roller apron, and the second reducing stand is arranged directly downstream, with respect to the casting direction, from the outlet of the second roller apron.

9. The casting/rolling installation according to claim 1, wherein a pushing and pulling device in the form of a roll-changing locomotive or a hydraulic cylinder is provided to move the rolls out of the first or second reducing stand and onto the turntable, to move the rolls from the turntable into the first or second reducing stand, or to move the rolls between the turntable (130) and the intermediate holding station, wherein the pulling and pushing device is arranged on the turntable.

10. The casting/rolling installation according to claim 9, wherein the turntable comprises an opening in the area of its rotational axis or has a tubular configuration there to allow a passage of power or media lines to the pushing and pulling device.

11. The casting/rolling installation according to claim 1, wherein the turntable comprises an upper level with positions for receiving the work rolls and a lower level with positions for receiving additional rolls from at least one of the two reducing stands.

12. The casting/rolling installation according to claim 1, wherein the first and second casting platforms are configured as a common casting platform, which stretches across the first and second casting lines transversely to the casting direction.

13. The casting/rolling installation according to claim 1, wherein the first and second casting lines are each configured as a compact strip production installation.

14. A method for removing at least one of the worn-out work rolls from one of the two reducing stands of the casting/rolling installation according to claim 1, with the following steps: 14a) turning the turntable so that a free second position on the turntable for receiving the worn-out work roll is positioned opposite the first or second reducing stand; 14b) pulling the at least one worn-out work roll by means of the pushing and pulling device out of the first or second reducing stand and onto the turntable in the second position; 14c) turning the turntable so that the second position, which is holding the at least one worn-out work roll, is opposite the intermediate holding station; 14d) pulling or pushing the at least one worn-out work roll from the turntable onto the intermediate holding station; and 14e) transporting the worn-out work roll away from the intermediate holding station by means of the crane of the adjacent bay to a roll workshop; or alternatively to steps 14d) and 14e), when a partial area of the turntable is accessible to the casting bay crane or the crane of the adjacent bay: 14d) transporting the worn-out work roll away from the turntable by means of the casting bay crane or the crane of the adjacent bay.

15. A method for installing at least one new work roll in the reducing stand of the casting/rolling installation according to claim 14, with the following steps: 15a) performing at least steps 14a) and 14b), and optionally also 1) steps 14c)-14e) or 2) steps 14c) and 14d); 15b) setting the at least one new work roll by means of the crane of the adjacent bay onto the intermediate holding station; 15c1) turning the turntable so that a first position for receiving the at least one new work roll is opposite the intermediate holding station; and 15c2) pulling or pushing the at least one new work roll by means of the pushing and pulling device from the intermediate holding station until it lies completely in the first position on the turntable; 15d) turning the turntable so that the first position, which is occupied by the at least one new work roll, is opposite the first or second reducing stand, from which the at least one worn-out work roll had been previously removed; 15e) pushing the at least one new work roll by means of the pushing and pulling device into the reducing stand; or alternatively to steps 15b)-15c2), when a partial area of the turntable is accessible to the casting bay crane or to the crane of the adjacent bay: 15b) turning the turntable so that a first position on the turntable for receiving the at least one new work roll is accessible to the crane of the adjacent bay; 15c) setting the at least one new work roll by means of the casting bay crane or the crane of the adjacent bay onto the first position on the turntable.

16. A method for removing worn-out backup rolls from a reducing stand of a casting/rolling installation according to claim 1, with the following steps: 16a) optionally: positioning, in advance, a backup roll-change stand on the turntable; 16b) turning the turntable so that a free third position on the turntable for receiving the worn-out backup rolls is opposite the first or second reducing stand; 16c) pulling out the lower backup roll from the reducing stand and into the third position on the turntable; 16d) setting the backup roll-changing stand onto the worn-out lower backup roll in the third position; 16e) moving the worn-out lower backup roll together with the backup roll-changing stand set on top into the reducing stand; 16f) in the reducing stand: setting the worn-out upper backup roll onto the backup roll-changing stand; 16g) pulling out the upper and lower backup rolls by means of the backup roll-changing stand from the reducing stand and into the third position on the turntable; 16h) turning the turntable so that the third position is opposite the intermediate roll holding station; 16i) pushing or pulling the backup roll-changing stand with the two backup rolls from the turntable onto the intermediate holding station; and 16j) carrying away the upper backup roll, the backup roll-changing stand, and the lower backup roll in succession by means of the crane of the adjacent bay from the intermediate holding station; or alternatively to steps 16h)-16i), when a partial area of the turntable is accessible to the casting bay crane or to the crane of the adjacent bay: 16j) carrying away the upper backup roll, the backup roll-changing stand, and the lower backup roll in succession by means of the casting bay crane or the crane of the adjacent bay to the roll workshop.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein step 16c) and the following steps are carried out only after the two work rolls have been removed from the reducing stand.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein if the backup roll-changing stand has already been placed in the third position on the turntable during the course of step 16a), it is lifted prior to the performance of step 16c), and after completion of step 16c), is lowered onto the worn-out lower backup roll during the course of step 16d).

19. A method for installing new backup rolls in a reducing stand of a casting/rolling installation according to claim 1, with the following steps: 19a) transporting a new lower backup roll to the intermediate holding station by means of the crane of the adjacent bay; 19b) setting the backup roll-changing stand onto the new lower backup roll on the intermediate holding station by means of the crane of the adjacent bay; 19c) placing a new upper backup roll onto the backup roll-changing stand by means of the crane of the adjacent bay; 19d) pulling or pushing the backup roll-changing stand together with the lower and upper backup rolls from the intermediate holding station to the third position on the turntable; 19e) turning the turntable so that the third position is opposite the first or second reducing stand; 19f) pushing the backup roll-changing stand together with the lower and upper backup rolls into the reducing stand; 19g) lifting the upper new backup roll from the roll-changing stand and suspending the upper backup roll in the reducing stand; 19h) pulling the lower backup roll together with the backup roll-changing stand resting on top out of the reducing stand; 19i) lifting the backup roll-changing stand from the lower backup roll and depositing it on the turntable; 19j) pushing the new lower backup roll into the reducing stand and installing it there; or alternatively to steps 19a)-19d), when a partial area of the turntable is accessible to the casting bay crane or to the crane of the adjacent bay: 19a) transporting a new lower backup roll onto the turntable by means of the casting bay crane or the crane of the adjacent bay; 19b) setting a backup roll-changing stand onto the new lower backup roll on the turntable by means of the casting bay crane or the crane of the adjacent bay; and 19c) setting a new upper backup roll onto the backup roll-changing stand by means of the casting bay crane or the crane of the adjacent bay.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the installation of the new backup rolls is carried out only after the worn-out work rolls and the worn-out backup rolls have been removed from the reducing stand.

Description

(1) Four figures in all are attached to the description, wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(2) FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal cross section through the turntable between two lines of the casting/rolling installation according to the invention, with a view toward a casting line;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a top view of the casting/rolling installation according to the invention with first and second casting lines (other possible casting lines are not shown);

(4) FIG. 3 shows a cross section through the casting/rolling installation according to the invention at the level of the center planes of the two reducing stands; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows a casting/rolling installation according to the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) The invention is described in detail below in the form of exemplary embodiments with reference to figures cited above. The same technical elements are designated by the same reference numbers in all of the figures.

(7) FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal cross section through the casting/rolling installation 100 according to the invention. It is a part of the general casting/rolling installation previously described with reference to FIG. 4, but supplemented by the turntable 130 according to the invention. Specifically, FIG. 1 shows a casting bay 138, to which, seen in the casting direction R, an adjacent bay 140 is connected. The boundary between the two bays coincides in FIG. 1 with the outer edge of the first casting platform 118-1; this boundary is indicated in FIG. 1 by the reference number 139. On the casting platform, the tundish device 120 in the form of a movable distributor can be seen. On the left edge of the figure, furthermore, the tail of a roller apron 114-1 can be seen, downline from which, in the casting direction R, a first reducing stand 116-1 is located. Downstream in turn from the reducing stand is a device 145 for removing the cold strand. This cold strand-removing device 145, as shown in FIG. 1, is also located, like the first roller apron 114-1 and the first reducing stand 116-1, underneath the first casting platform 118-1. All these devices are therefore inaccessible to a casting bay crane, which is typically located above the casting platform. Again looking in the casting direction we can see, downstream from the cold strand-removal device, the shears 192 and a tunnel furnace 194 in the adjacent bay 140. The shears 192 are provided with a scrap box 193. FIG. 1 also shows, in longitudinal cross section, the roll-changing device according to the invention in the form of a turntable 130. Its stationary rotational axis 134 preferably coincides, as shown in FIG. 1, with the vertical center plane M1 of the first reducing stand 116-1. It is also possible to see that the turntable is held and rotatably supported by a turntable bearing 129 on a foundation 126. The rotational movement of the turntable 130 around its vertical rotational axis 134 is accomplished by means of a turntable drive 127. Locking devices or indexing devices 128 are provided to lock the turntable 130 in predetermined rotational positions.

(8) FIG. 2 shows a top view of the casting/rolling system 100. The first casting line 110-1 and, parallel to that, a second casting line 110-2 can be seen. The casting lines are spaced a certain distance apart. The casting direction R proceeds in FIG. 2 from right to left. The first mold 112-1, the first roller apron 114-1, the first reducing stand 116-1, the first shears 192-1, and the first tunnel furnace 194-1 of the first casting line 110-1 are shown schematically. In the first shears 192-1, the incoming cast strand 210-1 is cut into slabs 220-1. The parallel second casting line 110-2 is built analogously with like components being indicated with the same reference numerals followed by -2.

(9) Between the two casting lines, the turntable 130 according to the invention can be seen The stationary rotational axis 134 of the turntable 130 lies in the vertical center planes M1 and M2 of the first and second reducing stands 116-1, 116-2; because of the symmetric arrangement of the individual components of the casting lines, these two planes coincide. In concrete terms, the two center planes M1 and M2 coincide because the first and second reducing stands 116-1, 116-2 are on the same level in the casting direction R. it can be seen that the turntable 130 comprises various positions P1, P2, P3 for accepting the rolls of the first or second reducing stand 116-1, 116-2. A pushing and pulling device 160 in the form of, for example, a roll-changing locomotive or a hydraulic cylinder can be arranged in the center of the turntable to move the rolls. It is also possible to see an opening 136 in the center of the turntable; this opening can serve to allow the passage of media lines or power lines for supplying the pushing and pulling device. The boundary between the casting bay 138 and the adjacent bay 140 is also designated in FIG. 2 by the reference number 139. It can be seen that, in the case of the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, a partial area, more precisely a segment, of the turntable always projects into the adjacent bay 140. This segment is designated in FIG. 2 by the reference number 132. Because this segment projects into the adjacent bay 140, it is accessible to the crane of the adjacent bay, so that this crane can carry away worn-out rolls from the segment-shaped area of the turntable 130 to, for example, a roll workshop or can set down new rolls from the roll workshop onto the segment area 132 of the turntable. A pushing and pulling device 160 can be seen. on the turntable 130; it is supported on rails above the opening 136.

(10) FIG. 2 also shows the intermediate holding station 150, which, with respect to the casting direction R, is preferably located right at the periphery of the turntable. The intermediate holding station 150 preferably comprises for its own part rail spurs 152 oriented toward the rotational axis 134 of the turntable, on which rail spurs the rolls of the two reducing stands 116-1, 116-2 can be stored on an intermediate basis. The radial orientation of the rail spurs to the center of rotation 134 of the turntable offers the advantage that the rolls can be pushed from the turntable onto the intermediate holding station and vice versa.

(11) FIG. 3 shows by way of example a cross section through the casting/rolling installation 100 according to the invention at the level of the common center planes M1, M2 of the first and second four-roll reducing stands 116-1, 116-2. It can be seen that the two reducing stands 116-1, 116-2 comprise, by way of example, two work rolls 310, an upper backup roll 320-1, and a lower backup roll 320-2. Between the two reducing stands, the turntable 130 according to the invention can be seen in cross section, on which, by way of example, sets of work rolls 310 have been laid. In the center of the turntable 130 is the previously mentioned pushing and pulling device 160.

(12) A change of rolls, more precisely, the removal of work and backup rolls from, and the installation of such rolls in, the reducing stands 116-1, 116-2 cited by way of example is carried out in the casting/rolling installation according to the invention just described according to the following method:

(13) The method for removing at least one of the worn-out work rolls 310 from one of the two reducing stands 116-1, 116-2 of the casting/rolling installation 100 comprises the following steps: 14a) turning the turntable 130 so that a free second position P2 on the turntable for receiving the worn-out work roll is positioned opposite the first or second reducing stand 116-1, 116-2; 14b) pulling the at least one worn-out work roll 310 by means of the pushing and pulling device 160 out of the first or second reducing stand and onto the turntable 130 in the second position P2; 14c) turning the turntable so that the second position P2, which is holding the at least one worn-out work roll 310, is opposite the intermediate holding station 150; 14d) pulling or pushing the at least one worn-out work roll 310 from the turntable 130 onto the intermediate holding station 150; and 14e) transporting the worn-out work roll 310 away from the intermediate holding station 150 by means of the crane 142 of the adjacent bay 140 to a roll workshop;

(14) or alternatively to steps 14(d) and 14(e), when a partial area of the turntable 130 is accessible to the casting bay crane or the crane of the adjacent bay: 14d) transporting the worn-out work roll 310 away from the turntable by means of the casting bay crane or the crane of the adjacent bay.

(15) At least one new work roll 310 is installed in the reducing stand 116-1, 116-2 of the casting/rolling installation by means of the following steps: 15a) performing at least steps 14(a) and 14(b), optionally also steps 14(c) and 14(d); 15b) setting the at least one new work roll 310 by means of the crane of the adjacent bay 140 onto the intermediate holding station 150; 15c1) turning the turntable 130 so that a first position P1 for receiving the at least one new work roll 310 is opposite the intermediate holding station 150; and 15c2) pulling or pushing the at least one new work roll 310 by means of the pushing and pulling device 160 from the intermediate holding station until it lies completely in the first position P1 on the turntable; 15d) turning the turntable so that the first position, which is occupied by the at least one new work roll 310, is opposite the first or second reducing stand 116-1, 116-2, from which the at least one worn-out work roll had been previously removed; 15e) pushing the at least one new work roll 310 by means of the pushing and pulling device 160 into the reducing stand 116-1, 116-2;

(16) or alternatively to steps 15b)-15c2), when a partial area of the turntable is accessible to the casting bay crane or to the crane of the adjacent bay: 15b) turning the turntable 130 so that a first position P1 on the turntable for receiving the at least one new work roll 310 is accessible to the crane 142 of the adjacent bay; 15c) setting the at least one new work roll 310 by means of the casting bay crane or the crane 142 of the adjacent bay 140 onto the first position on the turntable.

(17) The method for removing additional worn-out rolls such as backup rolls 320-1, 320-2 from a reducing stand 116-1, 116-2 of the casting/rolling installation comprises the following steps: 16a) positioning a roll-change stand on the turntable 130; 16b) turning the turntable so that a free third position P3 on the turntable for receiving the worn-out backup rolls is opposite the first or second reducing stand 116-1, 116-2; 16c) pulling out the lower backup roll 320-1 from the reducing stand and into the third position P3 on the turntable 130; 16d) setting the backup roll-changing stand onto the worn-out lower backup roll 320-1 in the third position P3; 16e) moving the worn-out lower backup roll 320-1 together with the backup roll-changing stand set on top into the reducing stand 116-1, 116-2; 16f) in the reducing stand: setting the worn-out upper backup roll 320-2 onto the backup roll-changing stand; 16g) pulling out the upper and lower backup rolls by means of the backup roll-changing stand from the reducing stand and into the third position P3 on the turntable 130; 16h) turning the turntable 130 so that the third position is opposite the intermediate roll holding station 150; 16i) pushing or pulling the backup roll-changing stand with the two backup rolls from the turntable onto the intermediate holding station 150; and 16j) carrying away the upper backup roll 320-2, the backup roll-changing stand, and the lower backup roll 320-1 in succession by means of the crane 142 of the adjacent bay from the intermediate holding station;
or alternatively to steps 16h)-16i), when a partial area of the turntable 130 is accessible to the casting bay crane or to the crane of the adjacent bay: 16j) carrying away the upper backup roll 320-2, the backup roll-changing stand, and the lower backup roll 320-1 in succession by means of the casting bay crane or the crane of the adjacent bay to the roll workshop.

(18) Step 16c) and the following steps are not carried out until after the two work rolls 310 have been removed from the reducing stand 116-1, 116-2.

(19) If, during the course of step 15a), the backup roll-changing stand has already been moved into the third position P3 on the turntable 130, it is raised prior to the performance of step 16c) and, after the completion of step 16c), lowered during the course of step 16d) onto the worn-out lower backup roll.

(20) The method for installing new backup rolls 320 into a reducing stand 116-1, 116-2 of the casting/rolling installation 100 is carried out by means of the following steps: 19a) transporting a new lower backup roll 320-1 to the intermediate holding station 150 by means of the crane 142 of the adjacent bay; 19b) setting the backup roll-changing stand onto the new lower backup roll 320-1 on the intermediate holding station 150 by means of the crane 142 of the adjacent bay; 19c) placing a new upper backup roll 320-2 onto the backup roll-changing stand by means of the crane 142 of the adjacent bay; 19d) pulling or pushing the backup roll-changing stand together with the lower and upper backup rolls from the intermediate holding station to the third position P3 on the turntable 130; 19e) turning the turntable so that the third position P3 is opposite the first or second reducing stand 116-1, 116-2;

(21) 19f) pushing the backup roll-changing stand together with the lower and upper backup rolls 320-1, 320-2 into the reducing stand 116-1, 116-2; 19g) lifting the upper new backup roll from the roll-changing stand and suspending the upper backup roll in the reducing stand; 19h) pulling the lower backup roll 320-1 together with the backup roll-changing stand resting on top out of the reducing stand 116-1, 116-2; 19i) lifting the backup roll-changing stand from the lower backup roll and depositing it on the turntable 130; 19j) pushing the new lower backup roll into the reducing stand and installing it there;

(22) or alternatively to steps 19a)-19d), when a partial area of the turntable is accessible to the casting bay crane or to the crane of the adjacent bay: 19a) transporting a new lower backup roll 320-1 onto the turntable by means of the casting bay crane or the crane of the adjacent bay; 19b) setting a backup roll-changing stand onto the new lower backup roll on the turntable by means of the casting bay crane or the crane of the adjacent bay; and 19c) setting a new upper backup roll 320-2 onto the backup roll-changing stand by means of the casting bay crane or the crane of the adjacent bay.

(23) When any of the methods described above is carried out, the sequence of the individual method steps can, in principle, be varied in any way desired; it is necessary only that the sequence make technical sense. All of the pulling or pushing movements of the work rolls or backup rolls can be carried out by means of the pulling and pushing device.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

(24) 100 casting/rolling installation 110-1 first casting line 110-2 second castling line 112-1 first mold 112-2 second mold 114-1 first roller apron 114-2 second roller apron 116-1 first reducing stand 116-2 second reducing stand 118-1 first casting platform 118 common casting platform 120 distributor device 126 foundation 127 turntable drive 128 locking or indexing device 129 turntable bearing 130 roll-changing device, turntable 132 partial area, e.g. a segment 134 rotational axis 136 opening 138 casting bay 140 adjacent bay 142 crane of the adjacent bay 145 cold strand removal device 150 intermediate holding station 152 rail spur on the intermediate holding station 160 pulling and pushing device 180 tundish 190 casting hall crane 192-1 first shears 192-2 second shears 193 scrap box 194 tunnel furnace 194-1 first tunnel furnace 194-2 second tunnel furnace 195 finishing mill 196 cooling section 197 reel device 198 control stand 210-1 first cast strand 210-2 second cast strand 220-1 slabs of the first casting line 220-2 slabs of the second casting line 230-1 hot-rolled strip of the first casting line 300 intermediate space 310 work roll 320-1 upper backup roll 320-2 lower backup roll BS1, BS2 operating sides d distance R casting direction r radius M1, M2 center planes P1, P2, P3 positions