Sintering machine and method for controlling the same

Abstract

The application discloses a sintering machine and a control method thereof, and relates to the technical field of metallurgical sintering equipment. The sintering machine comprises a tail star wheel, a fixed pulley is arranged at each tooth end of the tail star wheel, the fixed pulley is installed on the tooth end through a shaft, a key capable of freely moving is arranged on the shaft, and a first groove is formed in the shaft; a second groove is arranged in the inner hole of the fixed pulley; the key can switch positions between the first groove and the second groove under the action of gravity, so that when the star wheel is in a return track position, the key falls into the first groove, and the fixed pulley can freely rotate; when the star wheel is in a progress track position, the key falls into the second groove, and the fixed pulley cannot rotate. The application can control the arching phenomenon from the essential cause of the arching phenomenon, ensure the continuous stability of sintering production, will not cause the track deformation by avoiding the transmission of a large load of the return track, and will not cause the intensified wear between the cars.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of metallurgical sintering equipment technology, and in particular to a sintering machine and its control method. Background Technology

[0002] One of the main pieces of equipment in sintering operations is the belt sintering machine. The entire process involves the continuous rotation of a star wheel, which generates power to lift the trolley from the lower track to the horizontal track. Under the action of the star wheel's toothed plates, the trolley's locking wheels are pushed, and through a series of thrusts, the locking wheels complete a series of movements. The trolley train continuously moves to the tail of the sintering machine. Once at the tail, the curved section and the star wheel's toothed plates work together to control the trolley to unload the sintered ore, completing the operation. Due to the weight of the sintered ore plus the weight of the trolley itself, a torque is generated at the center of the star wheel. Under this torque, the trolley moves towards the head of the machine. The main operating principle is: the tail star wheel's toothed plates generate a thrust between the locking wheels of the trolley as it passes through the tail curve and enters the return track. The frictional component of this thrust points upwards, thus propelling the trolley forward to catch up with the preceding trolley, and thus moving towards the head of the sintering machine via the return track. After the next trolley is leveled, it will be subjected to the thrust of the toothed plate due to the rotation of the star wheel. This process repeats, causing the sintering machine to move repeatedly. This is the entire working process and working principle of the sintering machine.

[0003] For current sintering machines, since the structure is a tail-mounted swing frame type, regardless of the trolley specifications, shoulder overlap will occur when entering the lower section from the upper return track, causing varying degrees of arching. The so-called arching phenomenon occurs when the rear wheels of the trolley leave the track at the top and fail to contact the lower track upon entering the return track. The typical arching height is between 1cm and 5cm. As the arching trolley moves towards the head, the compressive torque decreases. When it falls below the trolley's own weight, the arching trolley will suddenly fall (i.e., smash the track), generating a huge impact that damages the trolley bearings or causes cracks or breakage in the trolley body, leading to equipment accidents. It also causes uneven wear on the end faces, increases air leakage, reduces production efficiency, and causes burnt deformation of the side plates. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In response to the above phenomenon, the applicant discovered that among the existing main technologies for controlling bridging of sintering machine trolleys, one approach is to add an anti-bridging device with a slope above the trolley's return track. For example, patent publication number CN119022663A discloses a device installed on the return track that includes an uphill section, a horizontal section, and a downhill section, which has the advantages of simple structure, low manufacturing cost, and low maintenance cost. Another approach is to add a downward pressure device above the return trolley wheels. Patent publication number CN217504343U discloses a device installed on the moving funnel beam at the tail of the sintering machine, where the pressure roller abuts against the top of the trolley wheels. This device prevents bridging by changing the direction of the thrust between the star wheel and the trolley. While these two anti-bridging methods can alleviate the bridging problem to some extent, they essentially solve the problem by transmitting downward pressure or upward thrust. This approach places a large load on the return track, easily causing track deformation. Furthermore, the longitudinal thrust exacerbates wear between the trolleys, affecting their lifespan. Therefore, it is still necessary to develop a solution that can control the arching phenomenon at its root.

[0005] In order to overcome the above-mentioned defects of the prior art, the technical problem to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a sintering machine and its control method, which can start from the essential cause of the arching phenomenon, control the arching phenomenon from the root, ensure the continuous and stable sintering production, and will not transmit a large load to the return track, avoid track deformation, and will not cause increased wear between the trolleys.

[0006] The specific technical solution of this invention is as follows: A sintering machine includes a tail star wheel, each tooth end of the tail star wheel is provided with a fixed pulley, the fixed pulley is mounted on the tooth end via a shaft, the shaft is provided with a freely movable key, and the shaft is provided with a first groove; the inner hole of the fixed pulley is provided with a second groove; Under the influence of gravity, the key can switch positions between the first slot and the second slot, such that when the tail star wheel is in the return track position, the key falls into the first slot and the fixed pulley can rotate freely; when the tail star wheel is in the progress track position, the key falls into the second slot and the fixed pulley cannot rotate.

[0007] Preferably, the sintering machine further includes a return curved rail, wherein the spacing between the upper rails of the return curved rail is greater than the spacing between the lower rails of the return curved rail.

[0008] Preferably, the difference between the spacing of the upper track of the return curved rail and the spacing of the lower track of the return curved rail is between 7 and 13 mm.

[0009] Preferably, the sintering machine further includes a tail star wheel control system, the tail star wheel control system including an arching height detection device disposed at the return position, an actuator for driving the tail star wheel to move up and down, and a controller, the controller being used to control the actuator to raise or lower the tail star wheel within a predetermined range according to the arching height detected by the detection device.

[0010] Preferably, the controller divides the arching height into at least three levels, including a first arching height range, a second arching height range, and a third arching height range that increase sequentially; and correspondingly divides the lifting height of the tail star wheel into at least three levels, including a first lifting height range, a second lifting height range, and a third lifting height range that increase sequentially; the first arching height range corresponds to the first lifting height range, the second arching height range corresponds to the second lifting height range, and the third arching height range corresponds to the third lifting height range; The controller controls the tail star wheel to raise to the corresponding raising height level based on the detected arching height level.

[0011] Preferably, the first arching height range is 0-10mm, the second arching height range is 10-30mm, and the third arching height range is 30-50mm; the first elevation height range is 0-1mm, the second elevation height range is 1-3mm, and the third elevation height range is 3-5mm.

[0012] Preferably, the actuator includes a hydraulic cylinder driven by a servo motor, and the servo motor controls the feed distance of the hydraulic cylinder through pulses.

[0013] Preferably, the tooth surface of the tail star wheel and the pulley surface of the fixed pulley maintain a smooth transition.

[0014] A control method for using the above-mentioned sintering machine, the control method comprising: S101: The arching height of the return trolley is detected in real time by the arching height detection device; S102: Control the actuator according to the arching height to raise or lower the tail star wheel within a predetermined range.

[0015] Preferably, step S102 includes: The gear level is determined based on the arch height. The corresponding gear for raising the tail star wheel is determined based on the gear position; The actuator adjusts the lifting height of the tail star wheel based on the lifting height setting of the tail star wheel.

[0016] The technical solution of the present invention has the following significant beneficial effects: Through an automatic switching mechanism under gravity, the sintering machine of this application features a fixed pulley that is locked and cannot rotate during the process track section where the trolley needs to move, allowing the star wheel teeth to stably transmit driving force like a conventional star wheel toothed plate. During the return track section where the trolley needs to smoothly transition into the return track, the fixed pulley automatically unlocks and rotates freely, reducing the frictional resistance between the tooth tip and the trolley's retaining wheel. This fundamentally eliminates the trolley arching phenomenon caused by jamming between the tooth tip and the retaining wheel. Compared to existing technologies that passively suppress arching by applying external downward or upward pressure, this invention addresses the mechanical root of the interaction between the trolley and the star wheel, eliminating the need to transmit additional loads to the return track. Therefore, it does not cause track deformation or increased wear between trolleys due to longitudinal thrust.

[0017] Specific embodiments of the invention are disclosed in detail below with reference to the description and accompanying drawings, indicating how the principles of the invention can be employed. It should be understood that the embodiments of the invention are not therefore limited in scope. Features described and / or shown for one embodiment may be used in the same or similar manner in one or more other embodiments, combined with features in other embodiments, or substituted for features in other embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The accompanying drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. Furthermore, the shapes and proportions of the components in the drawings are merely illustrative to aid in understanding the invention and do not specifically limit the shapes and proportions of the components. Those skilled in the art, guided by the teachings of this invention, can select various possible shapes and proportions to implement the invention according to specific circumstances.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the tail star wheel in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a fixed pulley in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a partial side view of the fixed pulley in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the shaft of the fixed pulley in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the spacing of the return curved rails in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] The reference numerals in the above figures are as follows: 1. Tail star wheel; 11. Gear; 21. Fixed pulley; 211. Second groove; 22. Shaft; 221. First groove; 23. Key; 3. Return curved rail; 4. Trolley. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The details of the present invention can be more clearly understood by referring to the accompanying drawings and the description of specific embodiments. However, the specific embodiments of the present invention described herein are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the invention in any way. Under the teachings of this invention, those skilled in the art can conceive of any possible modifications based on the invention, all of which should be considered within the scope of the invention. It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. When an element is referred to as being "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. The terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" should be interpreted broadly, for example, they can refer to mechanical or electrical connections, or internal communication between two elements, and can be direct or indirect connections through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms according to the specific circumstances. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only embodiments.

[0022] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used herein in the specification of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0023] In order to address the root cause of arching and control it at its source, ensuring continuous and stable sintering production, preventing excessive load on the return track and thus avoiding track deformation and accelerated wear between sintering trolleys, this application proposes a sintering machine. Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the tail star wheel in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a fixed pulley in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 This is a partial side view of the fixed pulley in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the shaft of the fixed pulley in an embodiment of the present invention, as shown below. Figures 1 to 4As shown, the sintering machine may include a tail star wheel 1. Each tooth 11 of the tail star wheel 1 is provided with a fixed pulley 21 at its end. The fixed pulley 21 is mounted on the tooth end via a shaft 22. The shaft 22 is provided with a freely movable key 23, and a first groove 221 is formed on the shaft 22. The inner hole of the fixed pulley 21 is provided with a second groove 211. Under the action of gravity, the key 23 can switch positions between the first groove 221 and the second groove 211, so that when the tail star wheel 1 is in the return track position, the key 23 falls into the first groove 221, and the fixed pulley 21 can rotate freely; when the tail star wheel 1 is in the progress track position, the key 23 falls into the second groove 211, and the fixed pulley 21 cannot rotate.

[0024] Specifically, the shaft 22 can be fixedly mounted on the base, and the shaft 22 and the base remain fixed and do not rotate, thereby ensuring that the key 23 can switch positions between the first groove 221 and the second groove 211 under the action of gravity. The first groove 221 of the shaft 22 is opened towards the center of the tail star wheel 1. In addition, so that when the tail star wheel is in the progress track position, the key 23 falls into the second groove 211 and the fixed pulley 21 cannot rotate; when the tail star wheel 1 is in the return track position, the key 23 falls into the first groove 221 and the fixed pulley 21 can rotate freely. The depth of the second groove 211 is less than the thickness of the key 23, and the depth of the first groove 221 is greater than or equal to the thickness of the key 23.

[0025] When the tail star wheel 1 is in the return track position (i.e., the section where the star wheel rotates to the point where the trolley 4 enters the lower return track after unloading), the key 23 is oriented towards the ground due to the spatial posture of the star wheel. Under its own gravity, the key 23 falls into the first groove 221 on the shaft 22. At this time, the key 23 disengages from the second groove 211 in the inner hole of the fixed pulley 21. The fixed pulley 21 and the shaft 22 are no longer circumferentially fixed by the key 23, and the fixed pulley 21 can rotate freely relative to the shaft 22. When the fixed pulley 21 is in a free-rotating state, when the trolley 4's retaining wheel contacts the tooth end, the original sliding friction is transformed into rolling friction. The trolley 4 can pass through the tail star wheel 1 more smoothly into the return curved track 3, greatly reducing the possibility of the trolley 4 arching due to excessive frictional resistance at this point.

[0026] When the tail star wheel 1 is in the process track position (i.e., the tail star wheel 1 rotates to the section where the drive trolley 4 enters the upper horizontal working track of the sintering machine), due to the change in the spatial posture of the tail star wheel 1, the key 23, under its own gravity, disengages from the first groove 221 on the shaft 22 and falls into the second groove 211 of the inner hole of the fixed pulley 21. At this time, the key 23 is simultaneously engaged between the shaft 22 and the fixed pulley 21, so that the fixed pulley 21 and the shaft 22 are circumferentially fixed by the key 23, and the fixed pulley 21 cannot rotate. In this state, the teeth of the tail star wheel 1 apply a stable driving force to the trolley 4's locking wheel through the non-rotatable fixed pulley 21, ensuring that the trolley 4 can be pushed normally and move forward along the process track to complete the feeding and operation of the sintering operation.

[0027] Through the automatic switching mechanism of the aforementioned key 23 under gravity, in the process track section where the sintering machine of this application needs to drive the trolley 4, the fixed pulley 21 is locked and cannot rotate, and the teeth 11 of the tail star wheel 1 can stably transmit driving force like a conventional star wheel toothed plate; in the return track section where the trolley 4 needs to smoothly transition into the return track, the fixed pulley 21 automatically unlocks and can rotate freely, reducing the frictional resistance between the tooth end and the trolley 4's locking wheel, thereby essentially eliminating the arching phenomenon of the trolley 4 caused by the jamming between the tooth end and the locking wheel. Compared with the prior art's method of passively suppressing arching by applying external downward pressure or upward thrust, this invention starts from the mechanical root of the interaction between the trolley 4 and the tail star wheel 1, without needing to transmit additional load to the return track, thus not causing track deformation, nor causing accelerated wear between the trolleys 4 due to longitudinal thrust.

[0028] In one feasible implementation, the tooth surface of the tail star wheel 1 and the pulley surface of the fixed pulley 21 maintain a smooth transition. Specifically, when manufacturing the teeth 11 of the tail star wheel 11 and the fixed pulley 21, it is essential to ensure a smooth transition surface between the tooth surface and the pulley surface of the fixed pulley 21. There should be no steps or sharp edges, and the overall shape should be consistent with the conventional tooth profile without a fixed pulley 21; that is, the height, thickness, and contour line of the tooth profile should all remain continuous and smooth. This structure ensures a smooth transition of contact force between the teeth 11 of the tail star wheel 1 and the trolley 4's locking wheel during the switching between the progress and return tracks, avoiding impact loads caused by structural abrupt changes, and further improving the stability of the trolley 4's operation and the equipment's service life.

[0029] In one feasible implementation, the sintering machine may include a return curved rail 3. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the spacing of the return curved rail 3 in an embodiment of the present invention, as shown below. Figure 5As shown, the return curved rail 3 is located at the tail return section of the sintering machine, used to guide the trolley 4, after unloading, from the tail curve into the lower return track. In conventional return curved rails 3, the distance between the upper and lower rails is relatively large, and the trolley 4 is prone to the rear wheels detaching from the lower rail when passing through the curve, i.e., arching. In this embodiment, the distance between the upper rails of the return curved rail 3 is greater than the distance between the lower rails. Specifically, the vertical distance between the upper and lower rails of the return curved rail 3 is shortened by a certain value compared to the corresponding distance of a conventional curved rail. By reducing the distance between the upper and lower rails, the upper rail can provide a downward constraint force on the trolley 4 when it enters the return curved rail 3, limiting the space for the rear wheels of the trolley 4 to detach, thereby preventing the trolley 4 from arching. Preferably, the difference between the distance A of the upper rails and the distance B of the lower rails of the return curved rail 3 can be controlled between 7-13 mm. The spacing between the lower rails of the return curved rail 3 gradually increases to the spacing between the upper rails. In a more preferred embodiment, this difference can be set to 10mm. By shortening the spacing between the upper and lower rails of the return curved rail 3, the arching space of the trolley 4 in the curved section can be effectively limited without significantly increasing the difficulty and cost of rail manufacturing. This works in conjunction with the fixed pulley 21 structure of the tail star wheel 1 to suppress arching from both structural and frictional characteristics perspectives. The beneficial effects of this curved rail structure combined with the fixed pulley 21 structure are as follows: on the one hand, the shortened curved rail spacing directly limits the geometric space for arching of the trolley 4, which is a hard constraint; on the other hand, the rotatable fixed pulley 21 reduces the frictional resistance between the tooth tip and the chuck, which is a soft mechanical guide. The two complement each other, eliminating the conditions for arching from the root and ensuring the smoothness and stability of the trolley 4's operation in the return section of the sintering machine.

[0030] In one feasible embodiment, the sintering machine may include a tail star wheel 1 control system. As mentioned above, although the arching phenomenon can be effectively suppressed in terms of physical structure and friction characteristics by setting a switchable fixed pulley 21 and shortening the distance of the return curved rail 3, in actual production, due to the influence of complex working conditions such as load fluctuations of sintered ore, varying degrees of wear on the trolley 4, and thermal expansion of the rails, the arching phenomenon may still occur to varying degrees. Therefore, this application further provides a tail star wheel 1 control system to achieve active detection and dynamic elimination of the arching phenomenon. The tail star wheel 1 control system includes an arching height detection device set at the return position, an actuator for driving the tail star wheel 1 to move up and down, and a controller.

[0031] The arching height detection device is used to detect the arching height of the return trolley 4 in real time. Specifically, the detection device can be set at the beginning of the return track, that is, at the position where the trolley 4 just enters the return curved track 3 from the tail star wheel 1, to measure the height of the rear wheel of the trolley 4 leaving the lower track. The detection device can use commonly used measuring elements in the field, such as laser rangefinders, ultrasonic sensors, or mechanical displacement sensors. Laser rangefinders have the advantages of being non-contact, having a fast response speed, and high accuracy, and can accurately acquire the arching height data of the trolley 4 in real time under the condition of high-speed operation of the sintering machine. The detection device feeds back the measured arching height to the controller in the form of an electrical signal. The controller is used to control the actuator to raise or lower the tail star wheel 1 within a predetermined range according to the arching height detected by the detection device. The controller can be a PLC programmable logic controller, which has preset control logic and parameters. When the controller receives the arching height data fed back by the detection device, it determines the control level corresponding to the current arching height according to the preset control strategy and outputs the corresponding control command to the actuator. The actuator is used to drive the tail star wheel 1 to move up and down according to the controller's instructions, thereby changing the position height of the tail star wheel 1 relative to the return track and realizing dynamic adjustment of the arching height.

[0032] Through the aforementioned tail star wheel 1 control system, this application can adjust the lifting height of the tail star wheel 1 in real time according to the actual detected arching height, thereby changing the relative positional relationship between the tail star wheel 1 and the return track. This optimizes the stress state of the trolley 4 when entering the return curved track 3, thus eliminating the arching phenomenon that has already occurred or preventing its further aggravation. The advantage of this control system is that it can adapt to changes in the degree of arching under different working conditions, realizing intelligent and dynamic arching control without manual intervention, greatly improving the automation and reliability of the sintering machine operation.

[0033] As a feasible approach, the controller can divide the arching height into at least three levels, including a first arching height range, a second arching height range, and a third arching height range that increase sequentially; and correspondingly divide the lifting height of the tail star wheel 1 into at least three levels, including a first lifting height range, a second lifting height range, and a third lifting height range that increase sequentially; the first arching height range corresponds to the first lifting height range, the second arching height range corresponds to the second lifting height range, and the third arching height range corresponds to the third lifting height range; the controller controls the tail star wheel 1 to lift to the corresponding lifting height level based on the detected arching height level.

[0034] By setting a multi-level hierarchical control strategy, the control system can take corresponding adjustment measures at different degrees of arching severity, avoiding over-adjustment or under-adjustment and achieving precise control. When the arching height is small, the tail star wheel 1 is raised slightly, which is sufficient to eliminate mild arching; when the arching height is large, the tail star wheel 1 is raised significantly to effectively eliminate severe arching. In addition, there is a positive correlation between the arching height level and the lifting height level, that is, the higher the detected arching height, the greater the increase in the tail star wheel 1 controlled by the controller. The two are positively correlated, thus ensuring the rationality and effectiveness of the control logic.

[0035] In a specific preferred embodiment, the first arching height range is 0–10 mm, the second arching height range is 10–30 mm, and the third arching height range is 30–50 mm; the first lifting height range is 0–1 mm, the second lifting height range is 1–3 mm, and the third lifting height range is 3–5 mm. These values ​​are based on empirical data summarized from the applicant's long-term research and field practice in sintering machine equipment. According to actual measurements, the arching height of the sintering machine trolley 4 is generally between 1 cm and 5 cm, i.e., between 10 mm and 50 mm. Dividing the detection height into three ranges—0–10 mm, 10–30 mm, and 30–50 mm—covers the entire range from slight to severe arching. Simultaneously, the lifting height of the tail star wheel 1 is correspondingly set to three ranges: 0–1 mm, 1–3 mm, and 3–5 mm. This ensures sufficient adjustment range to eliminate arching phenomena of varying severity while keeping the adjustment range within a reasonable range, avoiding other equipment problems caused by excessive lifting of the tail star wheel 1. In practical applications, the values ​​of each of the above gears can be continuously adjusted. For example, the controller can linearly interpolate within the range based on the detected arching height value to calculate the corresponding lifting height value, thereby achieving more precise stepless adjustment and maximizing the arching elimination effect.

[0036] As a feasible embodiment, the actuator includes a hydraulic cylinder driven by a servo motor, the servo motor controlling the feed distance of the hydraulic cylinder via pulses. In a specific implementation, the tail star wheel 1 is mounted on a vertically sliding bracket, and the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder is connected to the bracket of the tail star wheel 1. The servo motor is connected to the hydraulic pump or control valve of the hydraulic cylinder, and controls the feed amount of the hydraulic cylinder by receiving pulse signals from the controller. The servo motor has the advantages of fast response speed and high control accuracy. Through pulse control, it can achieve precise control of the extension or retraction distance of the hydraulic cylinder piston rod, thereby precisely controlling the lifting or lowering height of the tail star wheel 1. For example, after the controller calculates the required lifting height based on the detected arching height, it sends a corresponding number of pulse signals to the servo motor, and the servo motor drives the hydraulic cylinder to feed the corresponding distance, thereby achieving precise adjustment of the height of the tail star wheel 1. In another feasible embodiment, the actuator can also use a stepper motor in conjunction with a lead screw and nut mechanism to drive the tail star wheel 1 to move up and down, which can also achieve precise position control.

[0037] This application also proposes a control method for using the above-mentioned sintering machine, the control method comprising: S101: The arching height of the return trolley 4 is detected in real time by the arching height detection device.

[0038] During actual operation, the camber height detection device installed at the beginning of the return track continuously operates. This device, which can employ a laser rangefinder or an ultrasonic sensor, measures the lifting height of the trolley's fourth rear wheel relative to the lower track in real time using a non-contact method. The detection device transmits the measured camber height signal to the controller in real time as an input parameter for the control system. This step ensures that the control system can promptly obtain the current camber status, providing an accurate data basis for subsequent dynamic adjustments.

[0039] S102: Control the actuator according to the arching height to raise or lower the tail star wheel 1 within a predetermined range.

[0040] After receiving the arching height signal, the controller calculates according to its internal preset control logic, generates corresponding execution commands, and drives the actuator (such as a hydraulic cylinder driven by a servo motor) to change the installation height of the tail star wheel 1 accordingly. This adjusts the relative position between the tail star wheel 1 and the return track, thereby eliminating or suppressing arching. This step achieves active closed-loop control of the arching phenomenon, ensuring the smooth operation of the sintering machine's return section trolley 4.

[0041] Furthermore, step S102 may specifically include the following sub-steps: First, the corresponding gear is determined based on the arching height. The controller pre-stores the gear division rules for the arching height, for example, dividing the arching height into three progressively increasing intervals: 0-10mm, 10-30mm, and 30-50mm. The controller compares the detected real-time arching height value with each gear interval to determine the gear to which the current arching height belongs.

[0042] Next, the corresponding lifting height setting of the tail star wheel 1 is determined based on the specified gear. The controller simultaneously stores the correspondence between the lifting height of the tail star wheel 1 and the camber height settings. For example, the first camber height range (0-10mm) corresponds to the first lifting height range (0-1mm), the second camber height range (10-30mm) corresponds to the second lifting height range (1-3mm), and the third camber height range (30-50mm) corresponds to the third lifting height range (3-5mm), and the two are positively correlated. The controller finds the corresponding lifting height setting of the tail star wheel 1 based on the determined camber height setting.

[0043] Finally, the actuator adjusts the lifting height of the tail star wheel 1 based on the lifting height setting. The controller converts the determined lifting height setting into a corresponding control signal (such as the number of pulses) and sends it to the servo motor of the actuator. The servo motor drives the hydraulic cylinder to advance the corresponding distance, so that the tail star wheel 1 is precisely raised to the target height. This process can be performed continuously. When the arching height changes, the controller updates the setting judgment in real time and adjusts the height of the tail star wheel 1, thereby achieving dynamic elimination of the arching height.

[0044] Through the aforementioned control method, this application can automatically and precisely adjust the lifting amount of the tail star wheel 1 according to the actual severity of arching on the return trolley 4. This avoids both over-adjustment causing additional load on the equipment and under-adjustment causing persistent arching. This control method, together with the aforementioned gravity switching structure of the fixed pulley 21 and the shortened return curved rail 3, forms a comprehensive arching control solution integrating physical guidance, geometric constraint, and active adjustment. This ensures that the sintering machine can operate stably for a long time under various working conditions and effectively extends the service life of the trolley 4 and the rail.

[0045] The working principle and operation process of the sintering machine and its control method of the present invention will be fully explained below in conjunction with specific application scenarios: First, the tail star wheel 1 of the sintering machine and its matching curved rail are manufactured and supplied by the equipment manufacturer according to the above design requirements. Servo motors, hydraulic cylinders, detection and control components, as well as matching cables, control boxes, and electrical cabinets are also provided. During manufacturing, the teeth 11 and fixed pulley 21 of the tail star wheel 1 are machined according to the drawings, ensuring a smooth transition between the tooth surface and the pulley surface of the fixed pulley 21, maintaining consistency with the conventional tooth profile without fixed pulley 21 in height, thickness, and tooth surface profile. When manufacturing the return curved rail 3, the vertical distance between the upper and lower rails is shortened by 10mm compared to a conventional curved rail (with a manufacturing tolerance of ±3mm allowed), effectively limiting the arching space of the trolley 4 when it enters the curved rail after exiting the tail star wheel 1.

[0046] When the sintering machine is operating normally, the tail star wheel 1 rotates continuously, and the teeth 11 of the tail star wheel 1 sequentially enter the progress track position and the return track position. When the teeth of the tail star wheel 1 are in the progress track position, the key 23 installed on the shaft 22 falls into the second groove 211 of the inner hole of the fixed pulley 21 under the action of gravity, so that the fixed pulley 21 and the shaft 22 are circumferentially fixed by the key 23, and the fixed pulley 21 cannot rotate. The teeth 11 of the tail star wheel 1 can stably drive the trolley 4 to lock the wheel, pushing the trolley 4 to move forward along the upper horizontal track for sintering. When the trolley 4 reaches the tail of the sintering machine and completes unloading, the trolley 4 enters the tail curve to prepare to return to the lower return track. At this time, the teeth 11 of the tail star wheel 1 rotate to the return track position, and the key 23 disengages from the second groove 211 of the fixed pulley 21 under the action of gravity and falls into the first groove 221 on the shaft 22, and the fixed pulley 21 is unlocked and can rotate freely. When the end of the teeth of the tail star wheel 1 contacts the locking wheel of the trolley 4, the friction between the tooth end and the locking wheel is significantly reduced because the fixed pulley 21 can rotate. This allows the trolley 4 to slide more smoothly into the return curved rail 3, effectively preventing camber caused by jamming. Simultaneously, the shortened distance between the upper and lower rails of the return curved rail 3 further restricts the space for the rear wheels of the trolley 4 to mount on the curved section. Even if a slight cambering tendency occurs due to fluctuations in operating conditions, the shortened rail distance can promptly apply a downward constraint force to the trolley 4 through the upper rail, suppressing the development of camber.

[0047] During continuous operation of the sintering machine, an arching height detection device located at the return position monitors the arching height of the return trolley 4 in real time. When the detected arching height of trolley 4 is in the range of 0-10mm, the controller determines the arching degree to be slight and controls the actuator to drive the tail star wheel 1 to rise by 0-1mm (the two are positively correlated, the larger the arching height, the greater the corresponding rise), thus fine-tuning the height of the tail star wheel 1 to eliminate slight arching. When the detected arching height of trolley 4 is in the range of 10-30mm, the controller determines the arching degree to be moderate and controls the actuator to drive the tail star wheel 1 to rise by 1-3mm. When the detected arching height of trolley 4 is in the range of 30-50mm, the controller determines the arching degree to be severe and controls the actuator to drive the tail star wheel 1 to rise by 3-5mm. In actual control, the controller continuously adjusts the rise of the tail star wheel 1 according to the real-time detected arching height, so that the arching height is always controlled within the allowable range, achieving dynamic elimination of arching phenomenon at all times and under all working conditions.

[0048] Through the combined effects of the above structural improvements, curved rail coordination, and intelligent control, the sintering machine in this application can effectively control arching from its root cause, addressing the fundamental reasons for arching. Specifically, the gravity switching structure of the fixed pulley 21 transforms the sliding friction between the tooth end and the chuck wheel into rolling friction in the return section, eliminating the arching inducement caused by friction jamming; the shortened distance of the return curved rail 3 physically restricts the occurrence of arching; and the control system of the tail star wheel 1 enables real-time detection and dynamic elimination of arching. These three aspects work together in a progressive manner, ensuring the smoothness and continuity of the sintering machine's return section trolley 4 from three dimensions: mechanical guidance, geometric constraints, and active adjustment. Compared with the prior art, this application does not require the addition of an additional pressing or pushing device above the return track, and will not transmit a large load to the return track, thus avoiding track deformation. At the same time, since it is not necessary to suppress arching through longitudinal thrust, the wear between the trolleys 4 will not be aggravated by the longitudinal thrust, thereby effectively extending the service life of the trolleys 4, reducing equipment maintenance costs, and ensuring the long-term continuous and stable operation of sintering production.

[0049] All articles and references disclosed herein, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated herein by reference for various purposes. The term “substantially constitutes…” used to describe a combination should include the identified element, component, part, or step, as well as other elements, components, parts, or steps that do not substantially affect the essential novelty of the combination. The use of the terms “comprising” or “including” to describe combinations of elements, components, parts, or steps herein also contemplates embodiments substantially constituted by such elements, components, parts, or steps. The use of the term “may” herein is intended to indicate that any described attribute “may” include is optional. Multiple elements, components, parts, or steps can be provided by a single integrated element, component, part, or step. Alternatively, a single integrated element, component, part, or step can be divided into multiple separate elements, components, parts, or steps. The disclosure of “a” or “an” used to describe an element, component, part, or step does not imply exclusion of other elements, components, parts, or steps.

[0050] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, with each embodiment focusing on its differences from other embodiments. Similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to interchangeably. The above embodiments are only for illustrating the technical concept and features of the present invention, and are intended to enable those skilled in the art to understand the content of the present invention and implement it accordingly. They should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention. All equivalent changes or modifications made according to the spirit and essence of the present invention should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A sintering machine, characterized in that, The sintering machine includes a tail star wheel, each tooth end of which is provided with a fixed pulley. The fixed pulley is mounted on the tooth end via a shaft, the shaft is provided with a freely movable key, and the shaft is provided with a first groove; the inner hole of the fixed pulley is provided with a second groove. Under the influence of gravity, the key can switch positions between the first slot and the second slot, such that when the tail star wheel is in the return track position, the key falls into the first slot and the fixed pulley can rotate freely; when the tail star wheel is in the progress track position, the key falls into the second slot and the fixed pulley cannot rotate.

2. The sintering machine according to claim 1, characterized in that The sintering machine also includes a return curved rail, wherein the spacing of the upper rail of the return curved rail is greater than the spacing of the lower rail of the return curved rail.

3. The sintering machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, The difference between the spacing of the upper track and the spacing of the lower track of the return curve is between 7 and 13 mm.

4. The sintering machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sintering machine further includes a tail star wheel control system, which includes an arch height detection device located at the return position, an actuator for driving the tail star wheel to move up and down, and a controller. The controller is used to control the actuator to raise or lower the tail star wheel within a predetermined range according to the arch height detected by the detection device.

5. The sintering machine according to claim 4, characterized in that, The controller divides the arching height into at least three levels, including a first arching height range, a second arching height range, and a third arching height range that increase sequentially; and correspondingly divides the lifting height of the tail star wheel into at least three levels, including a first lifting height range, a second lifting height range, and a third lifting height range that increase sequentially; the first arching height range corresponds to the first lifting height range, the second arching height range corresponds to the second lifting height range, and the third arching height range corresponds to the third lifting height range; The controller controls the tail star wheel to raise to the corresponding raising height level based on the detected arching height level.

6. The sintering machine according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first arching height range is 0-10mm, the second arching height range is 10-30mm, and the third arching height range is 30-50mm; the first elevation height range is 0-1mm, the second elevation height range is 1-3mm, and the third elevation height range is 3-5mm.

7. The sintering machine according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The actuator includes a hydraulic cylinder driven by a servo motor, and the servo motor controls the feed distance of the hydraulic cylinder through pulses.

8. The sintering machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tooth surface of the tail star wheel and the pulley surface of the fixed pulley maintain a smooth transition.

9. A control method for the sintering machine as described in claim 4, characterized in that... The control method includes: S101: The arching height of the return trolley is detected in real time by the arching height detection device; S102: Control the actuator according to the arching height to raise or lower the tail star wheel within a predetermined range.

10. The control method according to claim 9, characterized in that, Step S102 includes: The gear level is determined based on the arch height. The corresponding gear for raising the tail star wheel is determined based on the gear position; The actuator adjusts the lifting height of the tail star wheel based on the lifting height setting of the tail star wheel.

Images