Sliding closure for a container containing molten metal

Abstract

A slide closure for a vessel containing molten metal has a slider housing (12), a slide unit guided longitudinally therein, with a slide rod (13), a holder (15) on the slider housing (12) as well as a linear actuator (20) which can be fastened in this holder (15) with a drive rod (20) which can be coupled to the slide rod (13). The linear actuator (20) can be slid into the holder (15) on the slider housing (12), preferably transverse to its direction of adjustment, and can be removed from same and can be locked in the holder (15). At least one locking means (25, 30) is fastened to each of the linear actuator (20) and the holder (15), which locking means are developed to interact such that the linear actuator (20) locks automatically after or during being pushed into the holder (15). A permanently secure fastening of the linear actuator in the holder thus results.

Claims

1. A slide closure for a vessel containing molten metal, wherein the slide closure has a slider housing (12), a slide unit guided longitudinally therein, with a slide rod (13), a holder (15) on the slider housing (12) as well as a linear actuator (20) which can be fastened in this holder (15) with a drive rod (20) which can be coupled to the slide rod (13), wherein the linear actuator (20) can be slid into the holder (15) on the slider housing (12), preferably transverse to its direction of adjustment, and can be removed from same and can be locked in the holder (15), characterized in that at least one locking means (25, 30) is present, preferably fastened, to each of the linear actuator (20) and the holder (15), which locking means are developed to interact such that the linear actuator (20) locks automatically after or during being pushed into the holder (15), preferably at the end of the pushing-in process.

2. The slide closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the linear actuator (20) locked in the holder (15) can be unlocked, wherein for this unlocking an adjusting member (26), which can be actuated manually or by a manipulator, is provided in the at least one locking means (25, 30).

3. The slide closure according to claim 1, wherein the one locking means has a shiftable locking element with a front part which engages in a recess of the other locking means during locking, wherein the locking element is adjustably housed transverse to a pushing-in direction of the linear actuator.

4. The slide closure according to claim 3, characterized in that the locking means (25) of the linear actuator (20) has a guide housing (28), this locking element (27) shiftable therein, and a spring member (29), wherein the locking element (27) can be shifted with its front part (27) into a position projecting above the guide housing (28) by the spring member (29), while the locking means (30) of the holder (15) has a sliding shoe (31) provided with the recess (33), which sliding shoe is in sliding contact with the front part (27) of the locking element (27) when pushing the linear actuator (20) when being pushed in or pushed out.

5. The slide closure according to claim 4, characterized in that the sliding shoe (31) has a ramp-shaped sliding guide (32) running at least approximately in pushing-in direction of the linear actuator for sliding contact with the front part (27) and then this recess (33) for receiving the front part (27) of the locking element (27).

6. The slide closure according to claim 4, wherein the recess is positioned in the sliding shoe in the pushing-in direction such that the front part clicks into the recess when the linear actuator is against a stop in the holder at the end of the pushing-in process.

7. The slide closure according to claim 4, wherein when locked, the sliding shoe is in contact with one contact surface each in the recess and the front part reciprocally, wherein these contact surfaces run at least perpendicular to the pushing-in direction of the linear actuator, with the result that the front part is locked in place in the sliding shoe.

8. The slide closure according to claim 4, wherein the linear actuator has, on its front side, the drive rod and a projecting transverse flange and the holder has, on its rear side, a C-shaped guide groove for receiving the transverse flange and thus the linear actuator, wherein the guide housing of the locking means is arranged laterally at the transverse flange, while the sliding shoe is arranged adjacent to this C-shaped guide groove on the rear of the holder or vice versa, and that the guide housing is arranged adjacent to the guide groove and the sliding shoe laterally at the transverse flange.

9. The slide closure according to claim 1, wherein the actuatable adjusting member is fastened transverse to the locking element of the locking means at the linear actuator and pushes out of the guide housing, away from the linear actuator, through a longitudinal opening.

10. The slide closure according to claim 9, characterized in that for removing the transverse flange (22) of the linear actuator (20) out of the guide groove (18) of the holder (15), this adjusting member (26) can be actuated upwards at the guide housing (28), manually or by a manipulator, and thus this locking element (27) with the front part (27) can be disengaged out of the recess (33) in the sliding shoe (31) and the linear actuator (20) can be pulled out.

11. The slide closure according to claim 1, wherein the linear actuator and the holder are each associated with, in pairs, at least one electric plug element, for an electric connection line and/or at least one plug element for at least one connection line for a gaseous medium, which are placed such that these are inserted automatically after being pushed in or during being pushed in, at the end of the pushing-in process of the linear actuator into the holder, and that the locking means are locked quasi-automatically.

12. The slide closure according to claim 11, characterized in that the coupling head (11) of the drive rod (20) of the linear actuator (12) can be coupled automatically to the slide rod (13) of the slide unit after being pushed in or during being pushed in, preferably at the end of the pushing-in process of the linear actuator (20) into the holder (15) by an axial adjustment.

13. The slide closure according to claim 11, wherein when removing the linear actuator from the holder, the locking means can be unlocked from one another by this actuatable adjusting member with a locking means and the plug elements associated in pairs with the linear actuator and the holder can be loosened automatically.

14. The slide closure according to claim 13, characterized in that the coupling head (11) of the drive rod (20) can be loosened automatically from the slide rod (13) when removing the linear actuator (20) from the holder (15) after unlocking the locking means (25, 30) by a lateral movement away.

Description

[0020] The invention, as well as further advantageous embodiments of same, are explained in more detail below by way of example using embodiment examples with reference to the drawings. There are shown in:

[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a holder of a suggested slide closure and a linear actuator which is slidable therein, each with exemplary locking means according to the invention;

[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view when pushing the linear actuator into the holder before the locking means are locked; and

[0023] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section through the locking means in locked state with the linear actuator pushed into the holder.

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a holder 15 and a linear actuator 20, shown apart from this, and slidable laterally into same, of a suggested slide closure 10 with a slider housing 12 and with a slide unit guided longitudinally into same, of which only a slide rod 13, penetrating into a side opening 16 of the holder 15, is illustrated. Additionally, a per se known insertable stroke limit bolt 14 is provided which engages in a longitudinal slot 19 in the slide rod 13 in order to serve as a stop for the stroke of the slide rod.

[0025] Such a slide closure 10 is known per se in configuration and functional operation, and therefore not substantiated in more detail. It is suitable preferably for a ladle for containing molten steel for founding as a vessel of a continuous casting line. However, it could also be used at the outlet of other vessels, such as for example in a converter, a tundish or even in furnaces in the non-ferrous metal field.

[0026] In particular when using the vessel as a ladle of a continuous casting line, the linear actuator 20 is usually firstly pushed into this holder 15 and fastened, once the ladle filled with molten metal is placed on a rotating tower on a casting platform of the continuous casting line. This can be done by hand or preferably by a manipulator or robot arranged on the casting platform, automatically ascertaining for the time being, by means of a recognition system mounted in same, the exact position of the holder 15 of the slide closure 10, and subsequently grasps the linear actuator 20 designed as a preferably hydraulic piston/cylinder unit from a storage position by means of a corresponding gripping device, guides it to the slide closure 10 and inserts it transversely into the holder 15.

[0027] After or during being pushed in, preferably at the end of the pushing-in process of the linear actuator 20, its drive rod 20 is coupled to the slide rod 13 of the slide unit. Expediently, this takes place automatically, by a pincer-shaped coupling head 11 being displaced, at the front, with the drive rod 20 against the coaxially arranged slide rod 13 of the slide unit and placed over the mushroom head-shaped coupling flange 13 at the end with the slide rod 13 by means of pivotable spring-loaded clamping jaws clamping jaws 21, and encompassing same in form and/or force-fitting manner. A slide closure with such a coupling is disclosed in document EP 0 875 320 B1 and therefore no further details on this are explained.

[0028] The holder 15 is composed of a housing 16 provided with a side opening 16, to the front a fastening flange 17 attached to the slider housing 12 and to the rear a C-shaped guide groove 18 designed in the housing 16, for receiving a transverse flange 22 of the linear actuator 20. The approximately rectangular transverse flange 22 and this C-shaped guide groove 18 with the two grooves arranged parallel one over the other are dimensioned such that the transverse flange 22 is slidable in pushing-in direction E with its guide surfaces 22 approximately play-free into the guide groove up to a stop 18, in which the drive rod 20 and the slide rod 13 are aligned coaxial to one another in the same direction of adjustment.

[0029] According to the invention, in each case a locking means 30 is associated with the holder 15 and a locking means 25 with the linear actuator 20, which interact such that the linear actuator 20 locks in the holder 15 automatically after or during being pushed into the holder 15, preferably at the end of the pushing-in process of the linear drive 20 into the holder 15.

[0030] Advantageously, an adjusting member 26 which can be actuated manually or by a manipulator is provided in a locking means 25 for unlocking.

[0031] As can be seen in particular from FIG. 3, the locking means 25 of the linear actuator 20 very advantageously has a guide housing 28 fastened laterally in the transverse flange 22, a locking element 27 shiftable therein, and a spring member 29, wherein this locking element 27 with its front part 27 is shiftable by the spring member 29 into a starting position projecting above the guide housing 28, as illustrated in FIG. 1 when the linear actuator 20 is uncoupled.

[0032] A sliding shoe 31 is provided as locking means 30 of the holder 15, which shoe is in sliding contact with the front part 27 of the locking element 27 when the linear actuator 20 is being pushed in or pushing out, as shown in FIG. 2, wherein the locking element 27 is adjustably housed in the guide housing 28 perpendicular to the pushing-in direction E of the linear actuator 20. Due to this approximately play-free guiding of the transverse flange 22 with its guide surfaces 22 in the guide groove 18 it is ensured that the front part 27 is guided correctly onto the sliding shoe 31. The sliding shoe 31 of this locking means 30 is fastened adjacent to this C-shaped guide groove 18 on the free end side 15 of the holder 15, with the result that it interacts with the locking element 27 of the locking means 25 when the linear actuator 20 is being pushed in and/or pushed out. This locking means 30 or its sliding shoe 31 and the holder 15 next to the guide groove 18 could be formed in one piece.

[0033] This sliding shoe 31 is designed with a ramp-shaped sliding guide 32 running at least approximately in pushing-in direction E of the linear actuator 20 with a connecting recess 33 for locking reception of the front part 27 of the locking element 27, at which point locking takes place. The recess 33 in the sliding shoe 31 is designed in such a position in the holder that the linear actuator 20 is locked at the end of the pushing-in process, when reaching the transverse flange 22 at the stop 18, and this front part 27 clicks into the recess 33.

[0034] According to FIG. 3, the sliding shoe 31 in the recess 33 and the front part 27 which can be clicked therein are each reciprocally in contact with a contact surface 27, 34, running approximately perpendicular to pushing-in direction E of the linear actuator 20, with the result that the front part 27 is closed in locking manner in the sliding shoe 31 by these contact surfaces 27, 34. In so doing, locking is ensured at all times even when there are operational vibrations or the slide closure is struck, and the linear actuator can be permanently prevented from coming loose from the holder.

[0035] This mentioned manually actuatable adjusting member 26 is fastened transverse to the locking element 27 of the locking means 25 at the linear actuator 20. It penetrates through a longitudinal opening 28 out of the guide housing 28, preferably perpendicular away from the linear actuator 20, and runs parallel to the transverse flange 20, with the result that it is easily accessible for actuation. After casting is finished, the linear actuator 20 can be pulled out of the holder 15 of the slide closure 10, once this bolt-shaped adjusting member 26 has been adjusted upwards, and thus this locking element 27 has been moved out of the recess 33. This adjusting member 26 can also be surrounded by a removable protective cap, so that it is not actuated unintentionally when the closure is in the operating state.

[0036] Expediently, when the linear actuator is manually removed, this transverse flange 22 provided with a handle 24 can be grasped by one hand, with the other hand grasping the handle lever 23 placed parallel thereto on the rear side of the hydraulic cylinder, and the linear actuator can be pulled out in this way. Easy unlocking and pulling out is thus made possible by a simple hand actuation.

[0037] There is also the advantage that after unlocking, the coupling head 11 is also uncoupled at the front in the drive rod 20 from the slide rod 13 of the slide unit by this lateral pushing out of the clamping jaws 21 from the mushroom head-shaped coupling flange 13.

[0038] Furthermore, a hanging element 24 is arranged at the top side in the linear actuator 20, where the linear actuator can be kept when not in use. At the top side of 1o the holder 15 there is also arranged a clip lever 46 of a handle mechanism 47, by means of which transport safety is ensured. Connection supports 39, 44 for supplying the medium for the purpose of controlling same are provided laterally at the hydraulic piston/cylinder unit as linear actuator 20, and these are connected to lines which are not shown.

[0039] Additionally, several plug elements 35, 37 are associated with the holder 15 and corresponding plug elements 35 with the linear actuator 20, and to these connected connection lines for electric current and/or for media, for example gas or air, are guided from a respective external electricity, gas or compressed air source, in particular to slide closure 10. These connection lines serve to supply current to at least one consumer unit, such as for example a measuring and evaluating device for early detection of slag or as inductive heating, while the at least one connection line for a medium serves as gas seal or for cooling or the like.

[0040] Thus, an electric male plug element 35 is arranged at the rear end side 15 of the holder 15 and a corresponding female plug element 35 at the linear actuator 20 on the top side of the cylinder. These two plug elements 35, 35 are positioned relative to one another such that they can be inserted into one another in pushing-in direction E of the linear actuator. A connection line 36 from outside leads to plug element 35 via a curved muffle 36. At least one connection line, not shown in more detail, leads from the plug element 35 via a connecting muffle 40 along the holder 15 into the slide closure and/or to the discharge into the ladle. Self-opening protective caps 38 are illustrated at the opening of the plug element 35 into which the female plug element 35 can be inserted, which caps are closed when the plug element is not in inserted state, preventing ingress of contaminant particles.

[0041] Additionally, according to FIG. 1 two plug elements 37 are provided at the inside of stop 18 of the guide groove 18 in the holder 15, which elements can be inserted in pairs with plug elements, not shown in more detail, on the front side 42 of transverse flange 22 when the transverse flange is pushed in. On the one hand, connection lines at the linear actuator 20 not illustrated in more detail are guided from these plug elements 37 to external sources, and on the other hand connection lines 41, 43 are guided into the slide closure 10. These plug elements 37 are designed preferably as valve plug-in parts which serve to allow through a gaseous medium, for example air.

[0042] The invention has a further considerable advantage that, as can be seen in FIG. 2, when pushing in or during pushing in, preferably at the end of the pushing-in process, of the linear actuator 20 into the holder 15, these locking means 25, 30 lock automatically and equally these plug elements 35, 35, 37 are automatically inserted, thus establishing the connection of connection elements 36, 41, 43. Moreover, after or during pushing in, preferably at the end of the pushing-in process, the drive rod 20 can be pushed forwards against the coaxially arranged slide rod 13 of the slide unit and the coupling head 11 likewise coupled automatically.

[0043] On the contrary, when pulling the linear actuator 20 out, these plug elements 35, 35, 37 are loosened from one another after being unlocked by this actuation of the adjusting member 26, manually or by a manipulator, and moreover the coupling head 11 is automatically loosened by a lateral movement away by the slide rod 13.

[0044] This automated coupling of the linear actuator 20 in the holder 15 which has become possible results in an extremely easy handling, which is suitable for robot-controlled assembly and/or disassembly of the linear actuator 20, in which faulty manipulations by incorrect insertion and/or incomplete locking can be largely ruled out.

[0045] The invention is sufficiently displayed with the above embodiment examples. However, it can be illustrated by other variants.

[0046] In principle, the locking means could also be arranged in reverse, by the guide housing being arranged with the locking element shiftable therein, this adjusting member fastened to the locking element and the spring member being arranged at the holder, while the sliding shoe would be arranged at the linear actuator such that likewise locking and/or unlocking could take place in the same direction. For reasons of space, the guide housing can be fastened projecting out from the underside of the exposed end side 15 towards the holder and the locking element can be moved from bottom to top in the locking position. With the sliding shoe at the linear actuator, the recess would be pointed downwards.

[0047] The locking means could self-evidently be designed differently to how it is shown. The front part could thus be receivable in form-locking manner in the recess of the sliding show as a wedge with corresponding self-locking contact surfaces. The adjusting member could also for example be placed above the guide housing and instead be designed to be bolt-shaped, valvular, hook-shaped or otherwise.

[0048] Likewise, instead of a transverse flange at the linear actuator and a C-shaped guide groove in the holder, other guide means could be provided, such as for example slot nuts or guide rollers. Additionally, instead of being transverse to the direction of adjustment of its drive rod, the pushing-in direction of the linear actuator could for example be in the direction of adjustment, or instead, be pushed into the holder from bottom to and/or removed. The locking means would then have to be placed accordingly, in order to fulfil the function of the automatic locking and preferably manual unlocking.