GB1562231A - Semi-continuous casting machines - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO SEMI-CONTINUOUS CASTING MACHINES (71) We, WELLMAN MECHAN ICAL ENGINEERING LIMITED, a British Company of Willenhall Road, Darlaston, Wednesbury, West Midlands, WS10 8LG, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to semi-continuous casting machines in which the cast material forms one or more strands to be removed.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved machine of this kind.

In accordance with the invention, a semi-continuous casting machine comprises a starter for supporting the end of a strand of cast material, means for moving the starter with the strand along a predetermined path during casting, means for moving the starter and strand in the reverse direction after casting has been interrupted and for deflecting the strand away from said path during this movement with accompanied pivotal movement of the starter so as to bring the strand into a position in which it extends laterally of said path, and means for pivoting the starter back into alignment with said path in preparation for casting a further strand.

Where several strands are to be cast simultaneously, a common starter in the form of a bar may be provided for supporting all of the strands and for following the above mentioned movements simultaneously in connection with all of the strands.

One presently preferred embodiment of the invention is more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is an elevation of a machine in one position; Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation showing parts of the machine in a second position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary slde elevation of the machine shown in Figure 1, and Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view.

Referring to the drawing, the semi-continuous casting machine comprises a mould 10 which may be supported on wheels 12 to run on a track 14 extending over a pit 16. The mould may be of the vibrating type, and is associated with a crucible and furnace (not shown) so that molten metal may be poured into the mould to emerge as a series of cast strands 18. In the machine illustrated, three such strands are formed.

The pit accommodates a main hydraulic ram 20 and the free end of the piston rod of the same carries a support structure 22 which provides a pivotal axis 24 for starter bar 26, Figures 3, 4. The latter carries a series of separate starter rods 28, one for each strand to be cast. The starter rods carry spigot members 30 at their free ends and these are arranged to be received within the mould 10 to form a closure for each of the mould cavities at the beginning of an operational cycle, as described later in this specification.

Also carried on the pivotal axis 24 is a carriage 32 provided with rollers 34 and with lugs 36 supporting guide wheels 38 which run in curved tracks 40.

The starter bar incorporates a crank 42 which is coupled to small hydraulic cylinders 44 carried on support structure 22.

The support structure 22 is guided in its movement by a pair of guide rods 46, Figure 3, having their axes lying in the plane of feed of the strands 18. A further ram 48, provided with a roller 50 at its free end, is mounted towards the top of the pit for extension transversely of the axis of the feed of the strands.

One cycle of operations, starting from the Figure 1 position, will now be described. In the Figure 1 position. the strands 18 have been cast and extend from the mould to a point towards the bottom of the pit and are supported hy and engaged with the spigots 30. the strands also lying against the rollers 34 of the carriage 32. It is assumed that at this point casting has been interrupted, and the mould assembly is moved in the direction of arrow B Figure 1 to create a clear area generally bounded by the dotted line 52 of Figure 2. Ram 20 is then extended so that the cast strands and carriage 32 are lifted, the latter by the starter bar, and at the same time ram 48 is extended to take the roller 50 into contact with the strands to prevent them tilting in the wrong direction and ensure that they lie against the carriage in its movement. As the movement continues, the roller 38 runs around track 40 so as to pivot the carriage on the axis 24.

This takes the upper end of the strands 18 laterally, along the path indicated by the dotted line 52 of Figure 2, until the carriage with the strands resting thereon terminates in the Figure 2 position. It will be noted that the starter rods 28 remain parallel to the length of the carriage 32 during this movement and hence also turn through 900 (in this example) during this complete stroke of the ram 20. This turning of the starter bar with the starter rods and spigots is accompanied by angular movement of the crank 42 from the Figure 1 position to the Figure 2 position. The strands may then be removed, for example by a power runway aligned with the carriage in the Figure 2 position, by a crane or by any other desired mechanical handling means.

During the movement from the Figure 1 to the Figure 2 position, the piston rod of starter cylinder 44 (pinned to the crank 42) has become fully extended, and this is now retracted by appropriate application of hydraulic fluid to this cylinder 44 to swing the starter bar, starter rods, and spigots to the vertical position. At the same time ram 48 may be contracted to return to the Figure 1 positioned.

Depending upon the constructional details, the mould 10 may then be returned to the Figure 1 position, or may be necessary to retract the support structure 22 slightly before the mould can be returned, and then the structure 22 carrying the starter bar may be extended fully to locate the starter parts within the mould cavities.

The arrangement is then ready for a casting operation.

During the casting operation, the support structure 22 is lowered by contraction of the main ram, and the strands supported on the starter arrangement are lowered within the pit. During this time the contraction of the main ram 20 draws the carriage back to the starting position of Figure 1 engaging the rollers 34 with the fresh cast strands.

The arrangement described enables particularly rapid and convenient transfer of the cast strands to a delivery position, with a comparatively simple structure. Moreover, at the conclusion of the delivery of the strands, the apparatus, is rapidly readied for a repeat operation.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A semi-continuous casting machine.

comprising a starter for supporting the end of a strand of cast material, means for moving the starter with the strand along a predetermined path during casting, means for moving the starter and strand in the reverse direction after casting has been interrupted and for deflecting the strand away from said path during this movement with accompanied pivotal movement of the starter so as to bring the strand into a position in which it extends laterally of said path, and means for pivoting the starter back into alignment with said path in preparation for casting a further strand.

2. A casting machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the starter comprises a bar adapted to support a plurality of strands during simultaneous casting of the same.

3. A casting machine as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said deflecting means comprises a curved track and a support structure guided by said track, the support strucutre pivotally mounting said starter at one end of the structure.

4. A casting machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein the starter is coupled to a crank connected to a hydraulic cylinder arranged so that in delivery movement of the strand the crank is free to turn, the hydraulic cylinder being adapted to return the starter to said position for receiving a further strand.

5. A casting machine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a further hydraulic ram is provided for extension to tilt a cast strand or strands in a desired direction during delivery.

6. A casting machine substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. this point casting has been interrupted, and the mould assembly is moved in the direction of arrow B Figure 1 to create a clear area generally bounded by the dotted line 52 of Figure 2. Ram 20 is then extended so that the cast strands and carriage 32 are lifted, the latter by the starter bar, and at the same time ram 48 is extended to take the roller 50 into contact with the strands to prevent them tilting in the wrong direction and ensure that they lie against the carriage in its movement. As the movement continues, the roller 38 runs around track 40 so as to pivot the carriage on the axis 24. This takes the upper end of the strands 18 laterally, along the path indicated by the dotted line 52 of Figure 2, until the carriage with the strands resting thereon terminates in the Figure 2 position. It will be noted that the starter rods 28 remain parallel to the length of the carriage 32 during this movement and hence also turn through 900 (in this example) during this complete stroke of the ram 20. This turning of the starter bar with the starter rods and spigots is accompanied by angular movement of the crank 42 from the Figure 1 position to the Figure 2 position. The strands may then be removed, for example by a power runway aligned with the carriage in the Figure 2 position, by a crane or by any other desired mechanical handling means. During the movement from the Figure 1 to the Figure 2 position, the piston rod of starter cylinder 44 (pinned to the crank 42) has become fully extended, and this is now retracted by appropriate application of hydraulic fluid to this cylinder 44 to swing the starter bar, starter rods, and spigots to the vertical position. At the same time ram 48 may be contracted to return to the Figure 1 positioned. Depending upon the constructional details, the mould 10 may then be returned to the Figure 1 position, or may be necessary to retract the support structure 22 slightly before the mould can be returned, and then the structure 22 carrying the starter bar may be extended fully to locate the starter parts within the mould cavities. The arrangement is then ready for a casting operation. During the casting operation, the support structure 22 is lowered by contraction of the main ram, and the strands supported on the starter arrangement are lowered within the pit. During this time the contraction of the main ram 20 draws the carriage back to the starting position of Figure 1 engaging the rollers 34 with the fresh cast strands. The arrangement described enables particularly rapid and convenient transfer of the cast strands to a delivery position, with a comparatively simple structure. Moreover, at the conclusion of the delivery of the strands, the apparatus, is rapidly readied for a repeat operation. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A semi-continuous casting machine.

comprising a starter for supporting the end of a strand of cast material, means for moving the starter with the strand along a predetermined path during casting, means for moving the starter and strand in the reverse direction after casting has been interrupted and for deflecting the strand away from said path during this movement with accompanied pivotal movement of the starter so as to bring the strand into a position in which it extends laterally of said path, and means for pivoting the starter back into alignment with said path in preparation for casting a further strand.

2. A casting machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the starter comprises a bar adapted to support a plurality of strands during simultaneous casting of the same.

3. A casting machine as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said deflecting means comprises a curved track and a support structure guided by said track, the support strucutre pivotally mounting said starter at one end of the structure.

4. A casting machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein the starter is coupled to a crank connected to a hydraulic cylinder arranged so that in delivery movement of the strand the crank is free to turn, the hydraulic cylinder being adapted to return the starter to said position for receiving a further strand.

5. A casting machine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a further hydraulic ram is provided for extension to tilt a cast strand or strands in a desired direction during delivery.

6. A casting machine substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.