APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATIC STARTUP OF A CONTINUOUS CASTING LINE

Abstract

An apparatus for the automatic startup of a continuous casting line, including a vessel which is connected to a tip by means of a gate, the tip feeding a casting housing. The apparatus includes a laser device which measures the level of the metal within the vessel, a level control device, which adjusts the introduction of liquid metal into the vessel, a gate actuator to control the gate for providing a barrier between the vessel and the tip, a transducer for the temperature of the metal inside the vessel, and a PLC which receives data from the temperature transducer and from the laser device to control the level control device and the gate actuator, so as to adjust the vessel metal level to ensure a correct and continuous flow of metal toward the casting cylinders, in order to avoid poor diffusion of the metal inside the tip.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the automatic startup of a continuous casting line, comprising a vessel which is connected to a tip by means of a gate, said tip feeding a casting housing; said apparatus further comprising a laser device which measures the level of the metal within said vessel, a level control device, which adjust the introduction of liquid metal into said vessel, a gate actuator to control said gate for providing a barrier between the vessel and the tip, a transducer for the temperature of the metal inside said vessel, and an electronic management unit; said electronic management unit receiving data from said temperature transducer and from said laser device in order to control said level control device and said gate actuator, adjusting the level of said metal in said vessel in order to ensure a correct and continuous flow of metal toward said casting housing.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electronic management unit comprises a PLC.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said temperature transducer comprises a thermocouple.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gate comprises a refractory barrier.

Description

[0031] Further characteristics and advantages will become better apparent from the description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the invention, illustrated by way of nonlimiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0032] FIG. 1 is side view of the apparatus for the automatic starting of a continuous casting line, according to the present invention;

[0033] FIG. 2 is a side view of a continuous casting line, for the production of aluminum or zinc strips, provided with the automatic starting apparatus according to the present invention.

[0034] With reference to the cited figures, the automatic starting apparatus according to the invention, globally designated by the reference numeral 1, is inserted in a continuous casting line for the production of aluminum or zinc strips, known as caster, which is shown schematically in FIG. 2.

[0035] The apparatus 1 according to the present invention is installed in the caster to control the flow of metal with which the nozzle, or tip, 2 is fed.

[0036] The tip 2 distributes the molten metal in a casting housing which is constituted by two casting rollers 3 and 4, which are water-cooled by means of a spraying system 5, where the molten metal is cooled and solidified to form a strip 6.

[0037] The molten metal flows in a channel 8, until it reaches a vessel 9, known as head box, which reaches the tip 2.

[0038] The strip 6 then passes through a series of apparatuses which include shears 10 and a winding spool 11.

[0039] According to the present invention, the apparatus includes a laser device 12 for controlling the level of the metal inside the vessel 9, a level control device 7, which adjusts the introduction of the liquid metal in the vessel 9 and a gate actuator 13 for the control of the gate for providing a barrier between the vessel and the mouth of the tip.

[0040] The apparatus also has a temperature transducer, constituted by a thermocouple 14, for controlling the temperature of the metal in the vessel 9, and a PLC management unit with a corresponding operator panel.

[0041] The operation of the automatic control apparatus according to the present invention is as follows.

[0042] Initially, the molten metal is made to flow into the vessel 9, the end of which is blocked by the refractory barrier, i.e., the gate, which is not visible in the figures, connected to the motorized system constituted by the gate actuator 13, until the required parameters are reached.

[0043] Once the start temperature, measured by means of the thermocouple 14, has been reached, the electronic control system sends a command to the level control device 7, which reaches a set closure position, waiting to reach the preset level, through the drain channel, which is calibrated depending on the thickness of the strip, on the widths and on the alloys.

[0044] The level of the metal, previously established by a set point, is further confirmed by means of a reading performed by the laser device 12, which actuates the gate actuator 13 so that the motorized refractory barrier opens gradually and progressively, according to a positioning profile stored previously on a work recipe.

[0045] Once the filling of the tip 2 has been completed, the level of the metal in the vessel 9 is adjusted by means of an automatic system, in order to ensure a correct and continuous flow of metal toward the casting rollers 3 and 4, in order to avoid poor diffusion of the metal within the tip 2, avoiding so-called freezing.

[0046] During the entire starting step, the level control device 7, communicating with the laser device 12, maintains the previously entered set point, i.e. the optimum casting level.

[0047] Once the casting strip has formed, the automatic control system adjusts three other fundamental parameters: the speed of the rollers 3 and 4, the cooling water dispensed by the spraying system 5, and the release agent on the cylinders.

[0048] In practice it has been found that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, providing an apparatus for the automatic start of a continuous casting line that allows to obtain some important advantages with respect to traditional systems.

[0049] The present apparatus ensures an increase in startups performed successfully and a decrease in the waste of consumables (tip, end dam, fiber).

[0050] The apparatus according to the present invention furthermore offers an increase in productivity due to the higher percentage of startups completed successfully.

[0051] The apparatus according to the invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept; all the details may furthermore be replaced with technically equivalent elements.

[0052] The materials used, as well as the dimensions, may of course be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.

[0053] This application claims the priority of Italian Patent Application No. UA2016A002539 (corresponding to No. 102016000037889), filed on 13 Apr. 2016, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.