INSTALLATION FOR COATING A RUNNING METAL PRODUCT

Abstract

An installation for coating a longitudinally-running, strip-shaped metal product includes a tank containing a coating in liquid form, into which the metal product is dipped, a wiping system disposed at a vertical outlet of the product from the tank and intended to wipe each face of the strip-shaped product, at least one ancillary device disposed at an outlet of the product from the wiping system in a manner facing one of the faces of the product, and a holding device holding the wiping system and the ancillary device. The holding device includes a securing unit forming a common lateral support for the wiping system and each ancillary device by using multiple securing points.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. An installation for coating a longitudinally-running, strip-shaped metal product, the installation comprising: a tank containing a coating in liquid form into which the metal product is dipped; a wiping system disposed at a vertical outlet of the product from said tank, said wiping system configured to wipe each face of the strip-shaped metal product; at least one ancillary device disposed at an outlet of the strip-shaped metal product from said wiping system, said at least one ancillary device facing at least one of the faces of the strip-shaped metal product; and a holding device holding said wiping system and said at least one ancillary device, said holding device including a securing unit forming a common lateral support and having a plurality of securing points for said wiping system and each said at least one ancillary device.

17. The installation according to claim 16, wherein each said ancillary device includes at least one of: a strip-stabilizing device, a measuring device, a hot gauge or a distance sensor, a coating quality control device, a cooling control device, or a spray device.

18. The installation according to claim 16, wherein said securing unit includes two lateral elements for supporting said wiping system and said at least one ancillary device, each of said two lateral elements having said plurality of lateral securing points being coupled to at least two lateral ends of said wiping system and of each said at least one ancillary device.

19. The installation according to claim 16, wherein said holding device includes a horizontal crossmember holding said securing unit.

20. The installation according to claim 19, which further comprises two supports formed as lateral pillars, disposed at sides of said tank and supporting said crossmember above said tank.

21. The installation according to claim 16, which further comprises a guide support disposed at a side of said tank and permitting said securing unit, as well as said wiping system and said at least one ancillary device attached to said securing unit, to be retracted horizontally out of a region of said tank.

22. The installation according to claim 16, which further comprises at least one lateral support disposed at a side of said tank and placed on a floor for supporting said securing unit above said tank.

23. The installation according to claim 22, which further comprises a crossmember, or a crossmember and at least two lateral supports forming a one-piece assembly, coupling each said at least one lateral support.

24. The installation according to claim 22, wherein said securing unit is retractable to a side of said tank by said at least one lateral support provided movably at said side of said tank.

25. The installation according to claim 16, wherein said securing points include a removable anchoring device disposed between said securing unit and each said at least one ancillary device or said wiping system.

26. The installation according to claim 25, wherein said removable anchoring device is a male/female anchoring device or a bearing anchoring device or a suspension support anchoring device adapted to hold each said at least one ancillary device or said wiping system.

27. The installation according to claim 16, wherein said securing points are disposed movably in said securing unit.

28. The installation according to claim 16, wherein said securing points are independently vertically movable.

29. The installation according to claim 16, wherein said securing points have movable 2D or 3D pivots.

30. The installation according to claim 27, wherein a position of said securing points is regulated with controlled movability governed by an operator or an automatic controller emitting control signals from at least one ancillary measuring device to a unit for moving said securing points.

31. The installation according to claim 28, wherein a position of said securing points is regulated with controlled movability governed by an operator or an automatic controller emitting control signals from at least one ancillary measuring device to a unit for moving said securing points.

32. The installation according to claim 29, wherein a position of said securing points is regulated with controlled movability governed by an operator or an automatic controller emitting control signals from at least one ancillary measuring device to a unit for moving said securing points.

Description

[0036] Exemplary embodiments and examples of advantageous applications of the invention are provided by way of the described figures:

[0037] FIG. 1 is an example of an installation for coating a running metal product of the strip type according to the invention, in a side view;

[0038] FIG. 2 is an example of the coating installation according to FIG. 1, in a front view;

[0039] FIG. 3 is a first option of the coating installation according to FIG. 2, in a front view;

[0040] FIG. 4 is a second option of the coating installation according to one of FIGS. 2 to 3, in a front view;

[0041] FIG. 5 is a third option of the coating installation according to one of FIGS. 2 to 4, in a front view;

[0042] FIG. 6 is a fourth option of the coating installation according to one of FIGS. 2 to 5, in a front view;

[0043] 1 FIG. 7 is a fifth option of the coating installation according to one of FIGS. 2 to 6, in a front view.

[0044] FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively depict a side view (plane X, Z) and a front view (Y, Z) of an exemplary embodiment of the installation for coating a running metal product (1) of strip type according to the invention.

[0045] As known in the prior art, the coating is provided in a tank (B) forming a coating bath in the form of liquid metal for example consisting of zinc, magnesium, aluminum or other elements for forming specific alloys. The running strip-type metal product is then dipped into said bath at its liquid metal surface (S), passes over a bottom roller (2) in the bath and then passes between correcting rollers (3) in order to leave the bath generally vertically (=longitudinal direction Z) to the surface of the bath in order to pass through a wiping system (4) arranged at a first height (h4) from the upper surface of the liquid coating in the tank—that is to say at the outlet of the product from said tank—and dedicated to wiping each face of the strip-type product, for example in the form of two air knives arranged transversely (=horizontal direction Y) on either side of the strip while facing each of its faces. In the case of FIGS. 1 and 2, a crossmember (T) for holding the wiping system is arranged in the upper part of the coating installation. This crossmember is here composed of two beams each arranged above each of the two air knives in order to hold them at a desired horizontal distance from the strip during wiping. These beams are secured to the periphery of the tank, for example by means of lateral pillars (T1, T2) to the side of the tank.

[0046] According to this embodiment, the installation for coating a longitudinally (Z) running metal product (1) of the strip type according to the invention thus comprises: [0047] a tank (B) containing said coating in the form of liquid metal into which the metal product is dipped; [0048] a wiping system (4) arranged at the vertical outlet (=longitudinal direction Z) of the product from said tank and dedicated to wiping each face of the strip-type product, [0049] at least one ancillary device (5) arranged at the outlet of the product from the wiping system and facing at least one of the faces of the product; [0050] a holding means (6, T) holding the wiping system and the ancillary device; [0051] the holding means comprising a securing unit (6) forming a common lateral support for the wiping system and each ancillary device by means of multiple securing points (64, 65).

[0052] The ancillary device (5) is here arranged above the wiping system (4) at a second height (h5) from the surface (S) of the liquid metal bath in the tank. As explained above, the securing points (64, 65) can be provided movably such that the first and the second height (h4, h5) can be flexibly and independently modified according to the parameters required by the coating process, of the type of coating and of the product to be coated. Pivots—here with horizontal axes—can also be provided in order, for example, to vary an orientation of the vertical blowing point from the wiping system toward the vertical running strip. For the same purposes of optimizing the operation of the installation according to the invention, such 2D or 3D pivot means can also be provided so as to ensure degrees of freedom of the wiping system (for example for a correction of horizontal inclination according to an inclined strip profile) but also of the ancillary devices (for example for a correction of inclination of the intended measuring point on a strip).

[0053] For the example of the installation according to FIG. 1 or 2 (and of the other described FIGS. 3-7 below), the securing unit (6) more specifically comprises two lateral elements for supporting the wiping system (4) and the ancillary device (5), each of said lateral elements having the multiple lateral securing points (64, 65, 67, 68) being coupled to at least two lateral ends of the wiping system and of each ancillary device (5, 7, 8).

[0054] Since the wiping system is the first item of equipment as the strip leaves the tank, it is also possible to provide two securing points (64) formed by a suspended anchoring of said wiping system below each of the lateral elements (6) on either side of the strip.

[0055] In the example of the installation according to FIG. 1 or 2, the holding means simply comprises a horizontal crossmember (T) holding the securing unit formed by its two lateral elements (6) for supporting the wiping system (4) and the ancillary device (5). The crossmember (T) is here supported above the tank by two lateral supports in the form of lateral pillars (T1, T2) to the side of the tank. The lateral supports may comprise means for raising the crossmember, but these require a more powerful and costly drive than a plurality of drives dedicated to each positioning of certain securing points (64, 65). For a complete maintenance of the wiping system and of the ancillary device, it is possible to detach the crossmember from its lateral pillars (T1, T2) and then to remove with a bridge crane. However, if a more specific maintenance is only required on one module such as the wiping system (4) or one of the ancillary devices (5), it is advantageously possible to unlock the removable anchorings at the securing points of said module to be maintained and to remove said module without demounting the crossmember and the remaining equipment. Such a removal can ideally take place by a simple forklift, instead of a bridge crane.

[0056] FIG. 3 depicts a first option of the coating installation according to FIG. 2, in a front view, in that it comprises a guide support (T0, R) arranged to the side of the tank (B), and to the securing unit (6) in the working position above said tank, in order that said securing unit (6) and the attached wiping system and ancillary device (4, 5) equipment can be retracted horizontally out of the region of the tank. By way of example, the guide support very simply comprises a support pillar (T0) holding a horizontal rail (R) and coupled to a lateral pillar (T1), said rail being arranged at a height dedicated to ensuring sliding of the securing unit (6) holding the attached wiping system and ancillary device (4, 5) equipment from its position below the crossmember (T) toward a parking position outside the region of the tank (B). Thus, a maintenance of the equipment can also be carried out without danger for an operator and without complex lifting means.

[0057] FIG. 4 depicts a second option of the coating installation according to FIGS. 2 and 3, in a front view, in that the installation according to the invention provides that the securing unit (6′, 6″)—here in the same form as the lateral elements (6) of FIGS. 1 and 2—is supported above the tank by at least one lateral support (T′, T″) to the side of the tank and placed on the floor (G), either at the very least on one side of the tank or ideally on either side of the tank by means of the two lateral supports (T′, T″) as shown here. This type of lateral supports makes it possible to save on a relatively bulky crossmember such as the crossmember (T) in FIGS. 1 and 2 or at least two provide one or two such less bulky crossmembers (T′″, T″″) connected to the upper and/or lower parts of the lateral elements (6′, 6″) in order to strengthen the securing unit (6′, 6″), since, in the operating mode of the coating installation, the lateral elements securing the wiping system (4) and each ancillary device (5) are stably wedged between the two lateral supports (T′, T″).

[0058] Another advantage of this installation according to FIG. 4 lies in the fact that the securing unit (6′, 6″) can be provided such that it can be retracted to the side of the tank, ideally by means of at least one of the lateral supports (T′, T″) provided movably to the side of the tank. The movable lateral support (T′) can, for example, comprise a horizontal pivot or else, alternatively, a means for translation on the floor as shown in FIG. 4. Here, in FIG. 4, in the right-hand part, the coating installation in active coating operation mode is shown, the lateral elements (6′, 6″) securing the wiping system (4) and each ancillary device (5) being stably wedged between the two lateral supports (T′, T″). In the left-hand part of FIG. 4 and in dotted line, the coating installation in maintenance mode is shown, the lateral elements (6′, 6″) securing the wiping system (4) and each ancillary device (5) having been offset on the floor (G) by means of the lateral support (T′) initially arranged in the vicinity of and to the left of the tank. Here again, it is thus easy to remove the coating installation (apart from the tank) or one of its modules (4, 5) by means of a simple forklift to bring it into a maintenance region.

[0059] FIG. 5 depicts a third option of the coating installation according to one of FIGS. 2 to 4, in a front view, in that the installation according to the invention provides that the holding means (6′, 6″)—here in the same form as the two lateral elements (6) of FIGS. 1 and 2 on one side of the strip—is supported above the tank by at least one lateral support (T′, T″) to the side of the tank, here each of the two said lateral supports (T′, T″) being themselves coupled by a crossmember (T) according to FIG. 2 in order to make the holding means more rigid (for anti-vibration retention) over the whole width of the tank or at least of the strip. In this sense, the crossmember (T) (or the two beams on each side of the strip faces) and at least the two lateral supports (T′, T″) can also ideally form a one-piece assembly. Each of the lateral elements of the holding means (6, 6″) is fastened laterally to each of the lateral supports (T′, T″) in a way that is thus also very robust.

[0060] Finally, said lateral supports (T′, T″), or the one-piece assembly, are held by lateral pillars (T1, T2) arranged in the vicinity of the tank as in FIG. 2, this holding arrangement being able to be movable transversely with respect to the tank in order to compensate for offsets in widths of welded strips succeeding one another while running continuously at the outlet of the tank.

[0061] FIGS. 6 and 7 respectively depict a fourth and a fifth option of the coating installation according to one of FIGS. 2 to 5 (and 6 for FIG. 7), in a front view, in order to better show the advantageous aspect of increased and flexible modularity of the coating installation according to the invention. Specifically, as described above, the lateral elements (6, 6′, 6″) form lateral supports to the side of the wiping system (4) and to one or more ancillary devices (5, 7, 8) by simply providing a number (=double the number) of securing points dedicated to each of these modules (4, 5, 7, 8).

[0062] By way of example, FIG. 6 thus depicts the fourth option of installation according to the invention comprising lateral elements (6) provided successively, at the vertical outlet of the strip (1) from the tank (B): [0063] with two lateral securing points (64) for holding the wiping system (4); [0064] with two lateral securing points (67) for holding the device (7) for measuring the transverse distance of the strip profile; [0065] with two lateral securing points (65) for holding the electromagnetic strip-stabilizing device (5); [0066] all the securing points (64, 65, 67) being arranged on the lateral elements (6) held below the crossmember (T) according to FIG. 1 or 2.

[0067] Finally, again by way of example, FIG. 7 depicts the fifth option of the installation according to the invention comprising lateral elements (6) provided successively, at the vertical outlet of the strip (1) from the tank (B): [0068] with two lateral securing points (64) for holding the wiping system (4); [0069] with two lateral securing points (65) for holding the electromagnetic strip-stabilizing device (5); [0070] then with the crossmember (T) below which are held the two lateral elements (6) comprising the aforementioned four securing points (64, 65).

[0071] Unlike FIG. 6, in FIG. 7, the crossmember (T) also holds two other lateral elements (6) arranged (or extended) above the crossmember, the latter successively comprising: [0072] two lateral securing points (68) for holding a device for measuring the quality or thickness of the coating by a so-called hot gauge (8); [0073] two lateral securing points (67) for holding the device (7) for measuring the transverse distance of the strip profile.