US3528488A - Hinged guide-roller banks for confining continuously cast slabs - Google Patents

Description

c. H. BoDE, .JR 3,528,488 HINGED GUIDE-ROLLER BANKS FOR CONFINING CONTINUOUSLY CAST SLABS .4 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 15, 1970 Filed Feb. 27, 1968 w.. C d mw Mw 9 4.www wm w INM mm -if-f--fv U 1 Allume! Sept. l5, 19,70 c. H. BoDE, JR

HINGED GUIDE-ROLLER BANKS FOR CONFINING GONTIN'UOUSLY GAST sLABs .4 Sheets-Sheet' 2 Filed Feb. 27, 1968 Sept. l5, 1970 c. H. BODE, JR

HINGED GUIDE-ROLLER BANKS FOR CONFINING CONTINUOUSLY CAST SLABS Filed Feb. 27 1968 .4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Char/as H. Bade Ja Sept. 15, 1970 c. H. BODE, JR

HINGED GUIDE-ROLLER BANKS FOR CONFINING coNTmuousLY CAST sLABs .4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 27, 1968 INVENTOR Char/as H. 60de Jn Arme.

United States Patent O 3,528,488 HINGED GUIDE-ROLLER BANKS FOR CONFININ G CONTINUOUSLY CAST SLABS Charles H. Bode, Jr., Upper St. Clair Township, Allegheny County, Pa., assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 27, 1968, Ser. No. 708,684 Int. Cl. B22d 11/12 U.S. Cl. 164-282 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Guide rollers between the mold and pinch rolls of a continuous slab-casting apparatus are journaled on spaced box frames hinged to and extending between a pair of supporting columns. Back-up rollers are mounted on the frames to prevent deection of the guide rollers. Nozzle frames hinged to the outer faces of the box frames mount manifolds from which cooling-spray nozzles extend between adjacent guide rollers. The hinge pins of the box frames fit eccentrically in cylinders rotatable in suitable bearings which may be adjusted to change the clear space between opposed banks of guide rollers. Manually releasable latch means on the side of the box frames opposite the hinges, normally holds the frames in closed or operative position. The frames when closed abut stops which may be changed to vary the clear space between the opposed banks of guide rollers.

This invention relates to apparatus for continuously casting slabs of steel and, in particular, to the mounting of the guide rollers for confining the cast slab as it descends below the tubular, flow-through mold usually employed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the continuous casting of slabs, it is customary to employ, below the tubular flow-through mold, a molddischarge rack having rollers thereon to conne the casting skin against break-out under the ferrostatic head of the molten center. A guide roller rack below the molddischarge rack serves a similar function while cooling water is sprayed on the casting. Maintenance and adjustment of these portions of the apparatus have been difticult and time-consuming. It is accordingly the object of my invention to provide a guide-roller rack capable of opening up for easy access which is quickly removable if replacement should be indicated. Ease of adjustment to slabs of different dimensions is a further objective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a preferred embodiment, I provide horizontally spaced supporting columns with vertically spaced box frames extending therebetween. The frames are hinged to one of the columns and have banks of guide rollers journaled thereon to engage the sides of the slab. Nozzle frames are hinged to the box frames and are provided with headers from which spray nozzles extend between the guide rollers. Back-up rollers for the guide rollers are also journaled on the box frames. Manually operable latch means normally hold the box frames in closed or operating position but may be retracted to permit them to swing out for easy access. The hinge pins are journaled eccentrically in adjustable bearings. Adjustment of the bearings varies the clear space between the rollers of spaced opposed banks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description and explanation which refer to the accompanying drawings illustrating the present preferred embodiment. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation showing the general arrangement of a continuous slab-casting facility;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of my improved structure showing the casting in horizontal section;

FIG. 3 is an elevation of a portion of the columns showing the box frames hinged thereto;

FIG. 4 is a vertical central section through the box frames and the banks of guide rollers;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 to enlarged scale showing further details;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of one of the hinges for the guide-roller frames;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the plane of line VII-VII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of details showing the mounting of the nozzle headers on the nozzle frames with a part in section;

FIG. 9 is an end view of FIG. 7 with parts broken away; and

FIG. 10 is a section through the door latch taken along the plane of line X-X of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in detail to the drawings and, for the moment, patricularly to FIG. l, a continuous casting plant for producing slabs, incorporating my invention, comprises a mold 10, supported on reciprocating means 11, and a ladle or tundish (not shown) supported thereabove for teeming molten metal into the mold. Below the mold, roller racks 12 confine the descending casting C and deliver it into guide-roller racks 13 which perform a similar function while the casting is being cooled by water sprays. It is these racks and sprays to which my invention relates. After leaving the racks 13, the casting proceeds through pinch rolls 14, bending rolls 15 and a curved guide-roller rack or conveyor 16, from which the casting is delivered on the horizontal for further processing.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-5, each guide roller rack 13 comprises a pair of spaced opposed fabricated box frames 17 extending between spaced columns 18 and hinged to one of them as shortly to be described in detail. The columns have shoulder 18a by which they are carried on building girders G. Each frame 17 includes a face plate and spray shield 19 and horizontal stitfener ribs 20 welded thereto. A bank of casting-confining rollers 21 is mounted on plate 19, the rollers being journaled in bearings 22 secured to the plate. A plurality of back-up rollers 23 are mounted in spaced relation across plate 19 for each adjacent pair of rollers 21. Rollers 23 are journaled in bearings 24, also secured to plate 19.

Hinge brackets 25 are spaced along opposite sides of columns 18. Hinge blocks 26 project laterally of frames 17 and coact with the brackets by virtue of hinge `bolts 27 extending therethrough and through bearing bushings 28 fitting in a bore in the blocks 26. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, bolts 27 extend through eccentric holes in cylinders 28a fitted in bushings 28. Thus, by rotating the cylinders in the bearings, the spacing of the hinge axis from columns 18 is thereby adjusted.

On the side of frames 17 opposite blocks 26, latch jaws 29 are secured. The columns 18 are slotted as at 30 (see FIG. 10) to admit a portion of the jaws. On opposite sides of the slots, spacer blocks 31 are replaceably mounted, adapted to be engaged by the outer portion of the jaws. Similar spacer blocks 32 on the other side of the columns are adapted to be engaged by lugs 33 projecting the frames. The thickness of the spacer blocks is correlated with the adjustment of eccentric bearings 28.

Locking dogs 34 verticaly bridging slots 30 are actuable on columns 18 toward and from jaws 29 for wedging engagement therewith, when the frames are in closed or operating position, by screws 35 extending through bearings 36 afiixed to the webs of the columns and provided with adjusting nuts. When dogs 34 are retracted as shown in dot-and-dash lines, frames 17 may lbe swung wide like a door or Casement, as shown in dot-and-dash lines, for inspecting or maintenance. By removal of bolts 27, furthermore, any frame may be completely removed and a replacement frame installed.

Screws 37 threaded vertically through blocks 38 attached to columns 18 engage jaws 29 from below to raise and level the frame 17 and take up any sag permitted by clearances in the hinges when the frame is in closed position. Proper thickness shims are inserted between the jaws 29 and the blocks 38 and the bolt 37 is then lowered. Bolts 39 extending through a flange of columns 18 are threaded into lugs 40 projecting from lugs 33. These bolts must be removed to open up frames 17 and serve to take up any looseness when they are closed.

Spray-nozzle frames 41 of angle-iron construction are hinged to frames 17 at 42 for swinging movement outwardly therefrom. Manually releasable latch pins 43 normally hold frames 41 in closed-up position relative to frames 17. Cooling fluid manifolds 44 are mounted on frames 41 and are fitted with a plurality of spray nozzles 45 of sufiicient length to project through holes in plate 19 and between rollers 22 so as to discharge cooling jets between rollers 21 on to the casting C. Plates 19 confine the cooling water between opposed frames 17. Spray-nozzles 46 extend through holes in the webs of columns 18 spaced along the height thereof and have connections to a cooling-water supply. These nozzles discharge sprays on the edges of slab C.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 8 and 9, the vertical pipes 48 of manifolds 44 have bars 49 welded thereto. Plates 50 welded to bars 49 have rollers 50a journaled thereon. These rollers travel in ways 51 mounted on lengths of channel section 52 extending normal to the plane of frames 41 and secured to the side members thereof. Thus the manifolds 44 may be moved away from frames 17 to retract the nozzles sufficiently to permit swinging frames 41 on their hinges. The manifolds are held in normal position by locking dogs 53 having notches 53a adapted to engage the flanges of angle bars 54 secured to channel sections S2. Dogs 53 are liftable relative to bars 49 by virtue of pins 55 on the dogs riding in slots 56 in the bars. Lift rods 57 connect the dogs at opposite sides of each frame 41. Dogs S3 also have notches 53b to engage angle =bars 54 when the manifolds have been retracted.

Roller-s 50a are confined in ways 51 by plates 58 bridging the ends thereof and removably secured by screws. On removal of these screws and plates, the manifold 44 may be freely withdrawn from its supporting frame 41.

It will be evident that my improved construction of guide-roller rack provides adequate strength to resist the larger forces applied thereto yet permits easy opening and ready access for adjustment and maintenance.

Although I have disclosed herein the preferred embodiment of my invention, I intend to cover as well any 4 change or modification therein which may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for guiding a casting descending from a flow-through mold comprising spaced columns standing on two opposite sides of the path of the casting, hinge brackets spaced vertically along the columns, a pair of opposed box frames substantially filling the space between the columns on the other two opposite sides of the path, respectively, hinge brackets spaced vertically on said columns, hinge blocks projecting laterally from one side of each frame and pivotally connected to said brackets, whereby said frames are swingable from closed to open position, cooperating latch means on said columns and frames on the sides thereof opposite the hinge blocks, and a plurality of horizontal casting-confining rollers journaled in verticaly spaced relation on the adjacent faces of said frames, defining said path.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, characterized by said latch means including a keeper block on the other side of each frame having a notch in its outer face, a latch bar on the other column reciprocable from a position in which it enters said notch to a position where it clears said frame on swinging movement thereof, and manually operable means effective to actuate said bar from one position to another.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, characterized by back-up rollers journaled on said frames engaging adjacent pairs of casting-confining rollers.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, characterized by nozzle frames hinged to the outer side of said box frames, manifolds mounted on said nozzle frames and nozzles extending from said manfiolds between adjacent castingconfining rollers.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, characterized by said nozzle frames each having a pair of ways extending normal to the plane thereof, said manifolds having means movable on said ways permitting bodily movement of the manifolds relative to the nozzle frames.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, characterized by lugs projecting laterally from the side edges of said box frames and abutments on said columns adapted to be engaged by said lugs when said frames are latched in closed position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,064,453 12/ 1936 Wheeler 72-238 X 3,318,368 5/1967 Lemper 164-283 X 3,438,425 4/ 1969 Butkevich et al. 164-282 X FOREIGN PATENTS 680,036 2/ 1964 Canada. 719,632 10/ 1965 Canada.

R. S. ANNEAR, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3,528 ,488 September 15 1970 Charles H. Bode, Jr.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column Z, lines 12 to 15, Cancel "FIG. 6 is a plan View of one of the hinges for the guide-roller frames FIG. 7 is a sectional View taken along the plane of line VII-VII of FIG. 6;" and insert FIG` 6 is a vertical section taken along the plane of line VI-VI of PIG. 7;

FIG 7 is a plan View of one of the hinges for the guide-roller frames;

Signed and sealed this 6th day of April 1971 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

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