DIE FOR A CONTINUOUS CASTING INSTALLATION

Abstract

A die (for a continuous casting installation) that includes a movably mounted frame having a first subframe and a second subframe; a first broad-side insert which is positioned on the first subframe; and a second broad-side insert which is positioned on the second subframe. Narrow sides each having a narrow-side copper plate and abuting the two broad-side inserts are positioned between the two broad-side inserts. The die also has: a clamping device which is designed to exert, on the subframes, a clamping force that acts between the subframes; and an oscillation drive which is designed to make the frame oscillate in and counter to a horizontal width direction (H) relative to the narrow sides. A spring band assembly which guides the subframes is positioned on each subframe on sides which are opposite one another in the width direction (H).

Claims

1. A mold for a continuous casting installation, the mold comprising a movably mounted frame with a first subframe and a second subframe which is spaced apart from the first subframe, a first broad-side insert which is arranged on a side of the first subframe facing the second subframe, a second broad-side insert which is arranged on a side of the second subframe facing the first subframe, narrow sides which are arranged between the two broad-side inserts and each have a narrow-side copper plate, which lies against the two broad-side inserts, a clamping device which is designed to exert, on the subframes, a clamping force acting between the subframes, and an oscillation drive which is designed to move the frame in an oscillating manner in and counter to a horizontal width direction (H) relative to the narrow sides, wherein a respective spring band assembly which guides the subframe is arranged on each subframe on opposite sides in the width direction (H), wherein each narrow-side copper plate has two end faces which each lie against a broad-side insert and have a lubrication reducing the friction with the broad-side insert.

2. The mold as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first oscillation drive has, preferably in the form of a hydraulic cylinder, which is arranged on a first longitudinal frame of the mold, on a side of the first subframe facing away from the second subframe, and is coupled to the first subframe, and a second oscillation drive, preferably in the form of a hydraulic cylinder, which is arranged on a second longitudinal frame of the mold, on a side of the second subframe facing away from the first subframe, and is coupled to the second subframe.

3. The mold as claimed in claim 2, wherein broad-side foot rollers are arranged on the underside of each longitudinal frame, the roller axles of which in each case run in the width direction (H) and which are designed for guiding a metal casting strand emerging from the mold.

4. The mold as claimed in claim 1, wherein each end face grooves in which a lubricant as the lubrication can be supplied to the end face.

5. The mold as claimed in claim 1, wherein each end face has, as the lubrication, a wear strip, preferably made of sintered metal, with an integrated lubricant, preferably a solid lubricant.

6. The mold as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one, preferably each, narrow-side copper plate has a rounding or a chamfer at the edges which are in contact with the broad-side copper plates and are substantially at a right angle to the horizontal width direction (H), wherein the rounding has a radius of between 0.1 mm and 3 mm, preferably between 0.3 mm and 1 mm, and the chamfer has a dimension of between 0.1 mm and 3 mm, preferably between 0.3 mm and 1 mm.

7. The mold as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first broad-side insert has a support plate arranged on the first subframe and a broad-side copper plate arranged on the support plate and the second broad-side insert has a support plate arranged on the second subframe and a broad-side copper plate arranged on the support plate.

8. The mold as claimed in claim 1 with two compensators for each subframe, through which cooling water can be supplied to the subframe and cooling water can be dissipated from the subframe and horizontal movements of the subframe can be compensated for.

9. The mold as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clamping device has two clamping units which are arranged on the frame on opposite sides in the width direction (H) and are designed to exert, on the subframes, a respective clamping force acting between the subframes.

10. The mold as claimed in claim 9, wherein the clamping units each have a pivoting unit allowing movements of the subframes in the horizontal width direction at least temporarily in a different direction.

11. The mold as claimed in claim 9, wherein each clamping unit has a hydraulic cylinder for producing the clamping force.

12. The mold as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clamping force is set by a control and/or regulating device in such a way that a contact pressure between each narrow side and the broad-side copper plates in contact therewith is set in such a way that the contact pressure immediately before the start of the oscillation and during the oscillation, by the oscillation drive, has a value of between 0 and 1 N/mm.sup.2, preferably 0 and 0.5 N/mm.sup.2.

Description

[0033] The above-described properties, features and advantages of this invention, and the manner in which these are achieved, will become clearer and more clearly understandable in conjunction with the following description of an exemplary embodiment, which will be explained in more detail in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

[0034] FIG. 1 shows an upper-side perspective illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a mold of a continuous casting installation,

[0035] FIG. 2 shows an underside perspective illustration of the mold shown in FIG. 1,

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a perspective sectional illustration of the mold shown in FIG. 1,

[0037] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a mold of a continuous casting installation,

[0038] FIG. 5 shows a detailed illustration of a narrow-side plate with a radius.

[0039] Parts that correspond to one another are provided with the same reference signs in the figures.

[0040] The figures show an exemplary embodiment of a mold 1 for a continuous casting installation. FIG. 1 (FIG. 1) shows an upper-side perspective illustration of the mold 1. FIG. 2 (FIG. 2) shows an underside perspective illustration of the mold 1. FIG. 3 (FIG. 3) shows a perspective sectional illustration of the mold 1.

[0041] The mold 1 comprises, inter alia, a movably mounted frame 2, two broad-side inserts 3, 4, two narrow sides 7, 8, a clamping device 11, an oscillation drive 13, two longitudinal frames 14, 15, spring band assemblies 17 and compensators 18.

[0042] The frame 2 comprises a first subframe 2.1 and a second subframe 2.2 which is spaced apart from the first subframe 2.1.

[0043] Each broad-side insert 3, 4 comprises a support plate 5 and a broad-side copper plate 6. A first broad-side insert 3 is arranged on a side of the first subframe 2.1 facing the second subframe 2.2. In this case, the support plate 5 of the first broad-side insert 3 is arranged on the first subframe 2.1. The broad-side copper plate 6 of the first broad-side insert 3 is arranged on a side of the support plate 5 of the first broad-side insert 3 facing the second broad-side insert 4. For example, the support plate 5 of the first broad-side insert 3 is bolted to the first subframe 2.1 and the broad-side copper plate 6 of the first broad-side insert 3 is bolted to the support plate 5 of the first broad-side insert 3.

[0044] Accordingly, the second broad-side insert 4 is arranged on a side of the second subframe 2.2 facing the first subframe 2.1. In this case, the support plate 5 of the second broad-side insert 4 is arranged on the second subframe 2.2. The broad-side copper plate 6 of the second broad-side insert 4 is arranged on a side of the support plate 5 of the second broad-side insert 4 facing the first broad-side insert 3. For example, the support plate 5 of the second broad-side insert 4 is bolted to the second subframe 2.2 and the broad-side copper plate 6 of the second broad-side insert 4 is bolted to the support plate 5 of the second broad-side insert 4.

[0045] Therefore, the broad-side copper plates 6 of the two broad-side inserts 3, 4 face each other and are spaced apart from each other. The narrow sides 7, 8 of the mold 1 are arranged between the two broad-side inserts 3, 4. Each narrow side 7, 8 has a narrow-side copper plate 9 which lies on the broad-side copper plates 6 of the two broad-side inserts 3, 4, with the narrow-side copper plates 9 facing each other. Therefore, the broad-side copper plates 6 and the narrow-side copper plates 9 form the inner walls of the mold 1.

[0046] The clamping device 11 has two clamping units 11.1, 11.2 which are arranged on the frame 2 on opposite sides in the horizontal width direction H and are designed to exert, on the subframes 2.1, 2.2 of the frame 2, a respective clamping force acting between the subframes 2.1, 2.2. For this purpose, each clamping unit 11.1, 11.2 has a hydraulic cylinder 12 for producing the clamping force.

[0047] The oscillation drive 13 is designed to move the frame 2 in an oscillating manner in the width direction H relative to the narrow sides 7, 8 and the longitudinal frames 14, 15 of the mold 1. For this purpose, the oscillation drive 13 has two hydraulic cylinders 13.1, 13.2. A first hydraulic cylinder 13.1 is arranged on the first longitudinal frame 14, on a side of the first subframe 2.1 facing away from the second subframe 2.2, and is coupled to the first subframe 2.1. The second hydraulic cylinder 13.2 is arranged on the second longitudinal frame 15, on a side of the second subframe 2.2 facing away from the first subframe 2.1, and is coupled to the second subframe 2.2.

[0048] By means of the two hydraulic cylinders 13.1, 13.2, the frame 2 is thus movable in the width direction H and counter to the width direction H relative to the longitudinal frames 14, 15 and the narrow sides 7, 8. During these movements of the frame 2, the broad-side copper plates 6 rub against end faces 9.1 of the narrow-side copper plates 9 which lie on them. In order to reduce this friction, the end faces 9.1 of the narrow-side copper plates 9 lying on the broad-side copper plates 6 each have a lubrication 10. For example, each end face 9.1 has grooves in which a lubricant as the lubrication 10 can be supplied to the end face 9.1. The lubricant used is, for example, a grease or oil. Alternatively, each end face 9.1 has, for example, as the lubrication 10, a wear strip with an integrated lubricant. For example, graphite is used as the lubricant.

[0049] In order to further reduce the friction between the broad-side copper plates 6 and the narrow-side copper plates 9, the clamping force exerted on the subframes 2.1, 2.2 by the clamping units 11.1, 11.2 during the horizontal oscillation of the frame 2 is reduced, for example, in relation to a start of the continuous casting of a metal casting strand.

[0050] The spring band assemblies 17 are used to guide the frame 2 during its horizontal movements or oscillations. A respective spring band assembly 17 is arranged on each subframe 2.1, 2.2 of the frame 2, on opposite sides in the width direction H. The spring bands run vertically and are respectively connected at their ends to a longitudinal frame 14, 15. In order to avoid excessive tensions in the spring bands, the spring bands each extend substantially over the entire vertical extent of the mold 1 in order to realize a greatest possible length of the spring bands.

[0051] Broad-side foot rollers 16 are arranged on the underside of each longitudinal frame 14, 15, the roller axles of which in each case run in the width direction H and which are designed for guiding a metal casting strand emerging from the mold 1. This means that forces exerted on the mold 1 by the casting strand act only on the longitudinal frames 14, 15 and not on the frame 2.

[0052] In order to cool the subframes 2.1, 2.2 and the broad-side inserts 3, 4 when casting a casting strand, each subframe 2.1, 2.2 is connected to two compensators 18, by which cooling water from a longitudinal frame 14, 15 can be supplied to the subframe 2.1, 2.2 and cooling water from the subframe 2.1, 2.2 can be conducted away into the longitudinal frame 14, 15.

[0053] Guide strips, not illustrated in the figures, are arranged on the upper side of the mold 1, said guide strips serving to suspend and guide the narrow sides 7, 8 and each being bolted externally to the longitudinal frames 14, 15, but being spaced apart from the frame 2 in order not to obstruct the horizontal movements of the frame 2.

[0054] In addition to the components described, the mold 1 has further components, which are not relevant to the invention, however, and are therefore not described and illustrated here. For example, the mold 1 may have a further oscillation drive, which is designed to move the mold in an oscillating manner in the vertical direction.

[0055] FIG. 4 schematically shows a mold 1 with clamping units 11.1, 11.2, each having a pivoting unit 20. By means of the pivoting units 20, movements of the subframes 2.1, 2.2, by the oscillation drive 13, in the horizontal width direction can be carried out at least temporarily in a different direction. The clamping unit is in the form of a hydraulic cylinder 12.

[0056] The subframes 2.1, 2.2 are each connected to a support plate 5 and the broad-side copper plate 6 is mounted on the support plate. The narrow sides 8, 9 are mounted between the broad-side copper plates 6, the clamping units 11.1, 11.2 are controlled or regulated by a control or regulating device 24 in such a manner that a contact pressure between the broad-side copper plate 6 and the narrow side 7, 8 is kept at a predetermined value. The control or regulating device 24 receives as an input variable, inter alia, pressures which are measured by the pressure measuring devices 22, and transmits corresponding signals to a hydraulic station 23. During the oscillation movement, the contact pressure should be between 0 and 1 N/mm.sup.2.

[0057] FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of a broad-side insert 3, 4, which consists of the support plate 5 and the broad-side copper plate 6, and the narrow side 8, 9. The narrow side 8, 9 also has a narrow-side copper plate 9. A radius 21 is formed on both sides of the narrow-side copper plate 9.

[0058] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in more detail by a preferred exemplary embodiment, the invention is not restricted by the disclosed example and other variations may be derived therefrom by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0059] 1 Mold [0060] 2 Frame [0061] 2.1, 2.2 Subframe [0062] 3, 4 Broad-side insert [0063] 5 Support plate [0064] 6 Broad-side copper plate [0065] 7, 8 Narrow side [0066] 9 Narrow-side copper plate [0067] 9.1 End face [0068] 10 Lubrication [0069] 11 Clamping device [0070] 11.1, 11.2 Clamping unit [0071] 12 Hydraulic cylinder of a clamping unit [0072] 13 Oscillation drive [0073] 13.1, 13.2 Hydraulic cylinder of the oscillation drive [0074] 14, 15 Longitudinal frames [0075] 16 Broad-side foot roller [0076] 17 Spring band assembly [0077] 18 Compensator [0078] 20 Pivoting unit [0079] 21 Radius [0080] 22 Pressure measuring device [0081] 23 Hydraulic station [0082] 24 Control or regulating device [0083] H Width direction