Strip casting plant

Details Strip casting plant Strip casting plant

1999-03-04

2001-02-27

Batten, Jr., J. Reed (Department: 1722)

Metal founding

Means to shape metallic material

Continuous or semicontinuous casting

C164S447000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06192973

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a strip casting plant, particularly for the casting of metal strips, especially steel strips.
The steel strips produced with the casting plant preferably have thicknesses of up to 10 mm.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
A casting plant for the casting of steel melts, in particular, is described in DE 34 23 834 C2. The molten steel passes from a supply container through a nozzle onto a continuously revolving, cooled and roller-supported belt. The solidified strip is conveyed by conveyance devices to a downstream unit for further processing, particularly rolling. The solidified strip is still relatively soft and, in any case, should not be bent immediately after casting, i.e., after leaving the revolving belt of the casting machine. In addition, considerable temperature differences between the strip interior and the strip surface still exist.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to reduce thermal and mechanical stresses in the cast strip. According to the invention, a flexible support element is therefore located in an arrangement connected to the casting plant. Specifically, the flexible support element is held between the casting plant and a downstream conveyance device. The flexible support element serves to absorb the vertical forces caused by gravity. To this end, the length of the support and guidance element is adjustable. The flexible element can consist, for example, of clamped steel strips, which can be mounted on rollers, in particular, whereby the rollers can be driven rotating with or synchronously to the conveyance devices. Advantageously, in the case of a support element that rotates with the conveyance devices, the strip tension forces can be minimized. The drive is controlled for this purpose.
In a preferred embodiment, the flexible support element consists of a link chain in the manner of a bicycle chain, whereby multiple chains are arranged next to one another in the direction of the strip width or are interwoven with one another in such a way as to provide an adequately large supporting surface.
In a further preferred embodiment, the flexible support element, i.e., specifically, the chain, has rolling elements. These rolling elements can be embodied as rolls rotating in the strip conveyance direction or as spherical elements. In these embodiments, it is again crucial to absorb the vertical forces and ensure that the transport of the cast strip in the conveyance direction is as free of friction as possible. The rolling elements are preferably driven in a simultaneously rotating fashion and/or in sections in the strip longitudinal direction, so as to avoid tension and pressure stresses in the supported area.
In a further preferred embodiment, adjustment devices are arranged on the flexible support element, i.e., the supporting belt or the preferred chain with rolling elements for the purpose of adjusting the tension of the flexible support element in its longitudinal direction. This permits adjustment of the suspension curve and thus of the length of the line segment supported by the flexible support element. As a result, along with supporting the belt and reducing stresses in the cast strip, it is advantageously possible to balance different rotation speeds of the conveyance devices (conveyance rolls). The flexible support element thus also functions as a buffer/for the adjustment of strip tension. If a particular conveyance device has a higher speed than the previous conveyance device, it is possible, by shortening the flexible support element and simultaneously reducing the speed of the downstream conveyance rolls, to balance the strip tension. Conversely, if the speed of the downstream conveyance rolls is too low, the stress on the flexible support element can be reduced, so as to enlarge the support length and at the same time increase the speed of the downstream conveyance rolls.
Preferably, in conjunction with suitable measurement and processing devices, the supported length of the flexible support element can be changed by adjustment devices, which are adjustable in a controlled fashion, in accordance with the torque of the simultaneously rotating roll in the casting plant.
In the case of an endless, revolving belt or chain, tensions rollers can be used, for example, as adjustment elements.
In the case of a finite belt or chain, hydraulic clamping cylinders are preferably arranged at the belt ends or at one belt end. In particular, a combination of a revolving belt with a supporting chain can be provided.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3283368 (1966-11-01), Homan
patent: 3446270 (1969-05-01), Michelson
patent: 3627591 (1971-12-01), Pfeuffer et al.
patent: 3797557 (1974-03-01), Tseitlin et al.
patent: 5350009 (1994-09-01), Mizoguchi et al.
patent: 588616 (1933-11-01), None
patent: 3423834 (1987-10-01), None
patent: 0526886 (1993-02-01), None
patent: 60-36855 (1985-08-01), None
patent: 5-200493 (1993-08-01), None
patent: 1002087 (1983-03-01), None
Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 017, No. 635 (M-1514), Nov. 25, 1993 and Japanese Patent Publication 5-200492 Published Aug. 10, 1993.
Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 014, No. 367 (M-1008), Aug. 9, 1990 and Japanese Patent Publication 2-133150 Published May 22, 1990.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Strip casting plant does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Strip casting plant, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Strip casting plant will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2604060