Annular heating furnace for avoiding material jamming of steel balls
By installing inclined guide plates and collection frames at the inlet and outlet of the annular heating furnace, the problem of steel ball jamming was solved, refractory material damage was avoided, maintenance costs were reduced, and production continuity and safety were improved.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN Β· China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- HUBEI ZHONGYE FURNACE CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-07-25
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-14
AI Technical Summary
In an annular heating furnace, when a robotic arm picks up steel balls, vibration or dimensional deviation can cause some steel balls to fall and become stuck in the annular gap between the furnace bottom and the furnace wall, resulting in damage to refractory materials and equipment shutdown, and high maintenance costs.
A guide plate is installed at the inlet and outlet of the ring furnace. The guide plate is inclined towards the inside of the furnace and its inner end is lower than the bottom of the ring furnace. The distance between the inner end and the bottom of the furnace is less than the minimum steel ball radius. A collection frame is also provided. The guide plate is detachable and reinforced with ribs to prevent the steel balls from falling into the ring gap.
This effectively prevents steel balls from getting stuck in the circumferential joint, protecting the refractory materials, reducing maintenance costs, and improving the continuity and safety of production.
Smart Images
Figure CN224499055U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of stainless steel pipe processing technology, specifically to a ring-shaped heating furnace that avoids steel balls getting stuck. Background Technology
[0002] Steel balls require heating in an annular furnace during heat treatment. With technological advancements, some annular furnaces are now equipped with robotic arms at the inlet and outlet, enabling automated feeding and unloading, completely replacing manual labor, improving production efficiency, and reducing labor intensity. However, the following problems exist in actual production: when the robotic arm grabs multiple steel balls at once and feeds them into and out of the furnace, due to vibration or dimensional deviations, some steel balls may fall through the gaps in the robotic arm. Figure 3 , Figure 4 As shown, a falling steel ball may become stuck in the annular gap 9 between the furnace bottom and the furnace wall. When the furnace bottom rotates, the high-temperature steel ball compresses the refractory material of the furnace body, causing local crushing and cracking of the refractory layer at the furnace bottom. In severe cases, it may even jam the furnace bottom drive mechanism, forcing a shutdown for maintenance. Each shutdown for maintenance costs more than 50,000 yuan, directly causing economic losses. Summary of the Invention
[0003] The purpose of this invention is to solve the problems existing in the prior art and provide a ring-shaped heating furnace that avoids steel ball jamming.
[0004] The specific solution of this utility model is: an annular heating furnace for avoiding steel ball jamming, including an annular furnace chamber and an annular furnace bottom. The annular furnace chamber is constructed by furnace walls. An annular gap is provided between the annular furnace bottom and the annular furnace chamber. An inlet and outlet are provided at a certain point on the outer ring of the annular furnace chamber. A robotic arm is provided at the inlet and outlet for conveying or removing steel balls from the furnace. The furnace wall has an outward inclined surface at the bottom corresponding to the inlet and outlet. The height of the inclined surface towards the furnace chamber is greater than the height towards the outside. A guide plate is installed on the inclined surface. The height of the inner end of the guide plate is lower than that of the annular furnace bottom. The horizontal distance between the inner end of the guide plate and the annular furnace bottom is less than the radius of the smallest steel ball.
[0005] Furthermore, the guide plate is detachably installed with respect to the corresponding furnace wall.
[0006] Furthermore, the bottom surface of the guide plate is provided with several reinforcing ribs.
[0007] Furthermore, the horizontal distance between the inner end of the guide plate and the annular furnace bottom is 10-20mm.
[0008] Furthermore, a steel ball collection frame is provided on the ground outside the inlet and outlet.
[0009] Furthermore, the width of the guide plate is matched with the inlet and outlet.
[0010] This invention has the following advantages: it effectively prevents steel balls falling from the robotic arm from getting stuck in the circumferential seam, avoids damage to refractory materials due to compression, and reduces maintenance costs. Attached Figure Description
[0011] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model;
[0012] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Enlarged view of point V;
[0013] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a robotic arm handling material in an existing ring furnace;
[0014] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of steel balls falling into the annular seam of an existing ring furnace;
[0015] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the guide plate structure of Embodiment 2 of this utility model;
[0016] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 AA view;
[0017] In the diagram: 1. Robotic arm; 2. Furnace wall; 3. Furnace chamber; 4. Annular furnace bottom; 5. Inlet and outlet; 6. Guide plate; 7. Reinforcing rib; 8. Collection frame; 9. Annular gap; 10. Rod A; 11. Rod B; 12. Ear plate. Detailed Implementation
[0018] Example 1
[0019] See Figure 1-2 This embodiment is an annular heating furnace to avoid steel ball jamming, including an annular furnace chamber 3 and an annular furnace bottom 4. The annular furnace chamber 3 is constructed by furnace walls 2. An annular gap 9 is provided between the annular furnace bottom 4 and the annular furnace chamber 3. An inlet / outlet 5 is provided at a certain point on the outer ring of the annular furnace chamber 3. A robot arm 1 is provided outside the inlet / outlet 5. The robot arm 1 is used to transport or remove steel balls into or from the furnace. The furnace wall 2 has an outward inclined surface corresponding to the bottom of the inlet / outlet 5. The height of the inclined surface towards the inside of the furnace chamber 3 is greater than the height towards the outside. A guide plate 6 is installed on the inclined surface. The height of the inner vertex of the guide plate 6 is lower than that of the annular furnace bottom 4. The horizontal distance between the inner end of the guide plate 6 and the annular furnace bottom 4 is less than the radius of the smallest steel ball.
[0020] The tilt angle of the guide plate 6 described in this embodiment is 10Β°.
[0021] Furthermore, the guide plate 6 and the corresponding furnace wall 2 can be detachably installed, specifically, by means of bolt connection.
[0022] Furthermore, the bottom surface of the guide plate 6 is provided with several reinforcing ribs 7 to prevent the guide plate 6 from deforming. At the same time, the guide plate 6 itself is made of heat-resistant alloy 310S to improve the durability of the guide plate 6.
[0023] Furthermore, the horizontal distance between the inner end of the guide plate 6 and the annular furnace bottom 4 is 10-20mm. Furthermore, a steel ball collecting frame 8 is provided on the ground outside the inlet / outlet 5.
[0024] Furthermore, the width of the guide plate 6 matches the inlet / outlet 5, and is approximately 60mm wide.
[0025] Example 2: This example is basically the same in structure as Example 1, except for the specific structure of the guide plate 6, as follows: Figure 5 , Figure 6 As shown, in this embodiment, the guide plate 6 is composed of several longitudinally arranged rods A10 and several transversely arranged rods B11 welded together to form a grid-like structure. The distance between two adjacent rods A10 is about 30mm, and the diameter of the steel ball is about 50mm. When the steel ball falls onto the guide plate 6, it automatically rolls down along the gaps between the rods A10. Two ear plates 12 are provided on both sides of the guide plate 6. The ear plates 12 have bolt holes and are fixedly connected to the furnace wall 2 below by bolts. When the guide plate 6 needs to be replaced, the bolts are loosened, the old guide plate 6 is removed, and the new guide plate 6 is replaced.
[0026] The working principle of this utility model is as follows: When the robot arm 1 picks up or feeds materials from the inlet / outlet 5, if a steel ball falls into the annular gap 9, since part of the annular gap 9 at the inlet / outlet 5 is covered by the guide plate 6, the steel ball will not fall down from the gap but will be blocked by the guide plate 6 and will automatically roll outward along the inclined surface of the guide plate 6, and finally fall into the collection frame 8, thereby preventing the steel ball from getting stuck in the annular gap 9.
Claims
1. An annular heating furnace for preventing steel balls from jamming, comprising an annular furnace chamber and an annular furnace bottom, the annular furnace chamber being constructed of furnace walls, an annular gap being provided between the annular furnace bottom and the annular furnace chamber, and inlet and outlet ports being provided on the outer ring of the annular furnace chamber, with robotic arms provided at the inlet and outlet ports for conveying or removing steel balls from the furnace, characterized in that: The furnace wall has an outward-sloping surface at the bottom corresponding to the inlet and outlet. The height of the slope towards the furnace is greater than the height towards the outside. A guide plate is installed on the slope. The height of the inner end of the guide plate is lower than the annular furnace bottom. The horizontal distance between the inner end of the guide plate and the annular furnace bottom is less than the radius of the smallest steel ball.
2. The annular heating furnace for avoiding steel ball jamming according to claim 1, characterized in that: The guide plate is detachably installed on the corresponding furnace wall.
3. The annular heating furnace for avoiding steel ball jamming according to claim 2, characterized in that: The bottom surface of the guide plate is provided with several reinforcing ribs.
4. The annular heating furnace for avoiding steel ball jamming according to claim 1, characterized in that: The horizontal distance between the inner end of the guide plate and the annular furnace bottom is 10-20mm.
5. The annular heating furnace for avoiding steel ball jamming according to claim 1, characterized in that: A steel ball collection frame is provided on the ground outside the inlet and outlet.
6. The annular heating furnace for avoiding steel ball jamming according to claim 1, characterized in that: The width of the guide plate is matched with the inlet and outlet.