Safety system for a ladle tilting device

By integrating an energy storage system and multiple safety mechanisms, the safety hazards of the ladle tilting device in the event of hydraulic system failure or power outage have been resolved, achieving stable tilting and safe return of the ladle, and improving the safety and efficiency of metallurgical production.

CN224586941UActive Publication Date: 2026-08-04ANSTEEL HEAVY MACHINERY CO LTD
View PDF 1 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Utility models(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
ANSTEEL HEAVY MACHINERY CO LTD
Filing Date
2025-08-20
Publication Date
2026-08-04

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The existing ladle tilting device poses a significant safety hazard in the event of hydraulic system failure, electrical fault, or sudden power outage, which may lead to accidental tipping of the ladle, interruption of molten steel pouring, or falling, affecting production safety and efficiency.

Method used

An integrated design of an energy storage system, an O-type electromagnetic directional valve, a balance valve, a hydraulic cylinder, and a first and second unloading oil circuit is adopted to construct a three-level emergency protection system, including an accumulator, an unloading valve group, and a manual pump. Multiple safety guarantees are achieved through manual ball valves and throttle valves to ensure the ladle position is locked and tilted smoothly.

Benefits of technology

It significantly improves the safety and reliability of the ladle tilting device, increases emergency response efficiency by 80%, reduces maintenance time by 50%, ensures production continuity and safety under extreme working conditions, and adapts to the harsh environment of high temperature and heavy load in the metallurgical industry.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure CN224586941U_ABST
    Figure CN224586941U_ABST
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

The utility model relates to ladle technical field, concretely is a kind of safety system of ladle tilting device. Including energy storage system, O type electromagnetic reversing valve, balance valve, hydraulic cylinder, first unloading oil circuit and second unloading oil circuit;The energy storage system is connected with oil tank pipeline, and energy storage system, O type electromagnetic reversing valve are connected with balance valve pipeline;The balance valve is directly integrated in hydraulic cylinder oil port or connected with hydraulic cylinder pipeline;First unloading oil circuit one end is connected with the hydraulic cylinder rodless cavity oil port, and the other end is connected with main oil return pipeline;Second unloading oil circuit one end is connected with the hydraulic cylinder rod cavity oil port, and the other end is connected with main oil return pipeline. Solve the major safety hazard, such as ladle accidental tilting, molten steel pouring interruption or falling, caused by hydraulic system failure, electrical fault or sudden power failure in the prior art, ensure the continuity and safety of steel smelting process.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of ladle technology, specifically a safety system for a ladle tilting device. Background Technology

[0002] A ladle, also known as a steel ladle or casting ladle, is a key piece of equipment in the metallurgical industry (such as iron and steel smelting and casting) used for holding, transporting, and pouring high-temperature molten steel. It undertakes the task of transferring molten steel from the steelmaking furnace to the continuous casting machine or ingot casting stage, directly affecting production safety and efficiency. The molten steel yield of the ladle is an important process indicator in continuous casting design; a higher yield can increase the output of cast billets, thus reducing the production cost per unit billet. During use, due to ladle structure issues and molten steel erosion, approximately 2-5 tons of molten steel remain inside the ladle, preventing a significant increase in the molten steel yield. Currently, by using a ladle tilting device to change the ladle's placement angle, more of the remaining molten steel can be concentrated at the ladle nozzle, ultimately achieving excellent results in increasing molten steel yield, reducing the cost per ton of steel, and improving production efficiency.

[0003] Chinese patent application CN110102731A discloses "A method for reducing the amount of residual molten steel in a ladle." This method involves installing a lifting hydraulic cylinder at the bottom of the ladle weighing platform to give the ladle a tilting function, and determining the tilt angle based on the number of castings, thereby effectively reducing the amount of residual molten steel and lowering production costs. However, the ladle tilting device poses significant safety hazards. If key electrical components such as the lifting hydraulic cylinder or solenoid valve malfunction, or if a sudden power outage occurs, the following serious consequences may result: (1) incomplete molten steel pouring, affecting production quality; (2) the ladle may suddenly fall back, causing a major safety accident. Utility Model Content

[0004] In order to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, this utility model provides a safety system for a ladle tilting device, which solves the major safety hazards in the prior art such as accidental tipping of the ladle, interruption of molten steel pouring or falling caused by hydraulic system failure, electrical fault or sudden power outage, and ensures the continuity and safety of the steel smelting process.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] A safety system for a ladle tilting device includes an energy storage system, an O-type solenoid directional valve, a balance valve, a hydraulic cylinder, a first unloading oil circuit, and a second unloading oil circuit. The energy storage system is connected to an oil tank pipeline, and the energy storage system and the O-type solenoid directional valve are connected to the balance valve pipeline. The balance valve is directly integrated into the hydraulic cylinder port or connected to the hydraulic cylinder pipeline. One end of the first unloading oil circuit is connected to the rodless chamber port of the hydraulic cylinder, and the other end is connected to the main return oil pipeline. One end of the second unloading oil circuit is connected to the rod chamber port of the hydraulic cylinder, and the other end is connected to the main return oil pipeline.

[0007] Furthermore, the energy storage system includes an accumulator, an unloading valve group, and a manual pump, with the accumulator, the unloading valve group, and the manual pump connected by pipelines.

[0008] Furthermore, a throttle valve is provided on the pipeline connecting the O-type electromagnetic directional valve and the balance valve.

[0009] Furthermore, a first ball valve is provided on the first unloading oil line.

[0010] Furthermore, the first ball valve is a manual ball valve.

[0011] Furthermore, a second ball valve is provided on the second unloading oil circuit.

[0012] Furthermore, the second ball valve is a manual ball valve.

[0013] Furthermore, the O-type solenoid directional valve is a manual O-type solenoid directional valve.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has at least the following technical effects or advantages:

[0015] 1. This utility model establishes a first hydraulic anti-fall barrier through an integrated balance valve and an O-type electromagnetic directional valve locked in the neutral position; the energy storage system provides emergency power to the valve assembly during power failure, forming a second layer of protection; and the dual unloading oil circuit (differentiated design) serves as a third layer of pressure relief. In the event of a pipeline rupture during lifting: the balance valve instantly locks the rodless chamber, the O-type valve closes the oil circuit in the neutral position, and the system activates the first unloading oil circuit to relieve pressure after detecting the pressure peak. In the event of an emergency descent during power failure: the accumulator drives the hydraulic cylinder; if the valve assembly fails, the second ball valve is manually opened, allowing for a slow descent through the throttling unloading oil circuit, preventing the ladle from falling. The integrated design of the balance valve cylinder port shortens the response time; the accumulator power supply improves reliability; and the ball valve bypass circuit is physically isolated from the main system, eliminating the possibility of misoperation.

[0016] 2. The energy storage system of this utility model constructs a three-level emergency protection system through the coordinated design of "accumulator + unloading valve group + manual pump", which significantly improves the safety and reliability of the ladle tilting device. As the core emergency power source, the accumulator can instantly release pressure oil in the event of power failure or main pump failure, maintain the normal operation of the O-type solenoid directional valve and balance valve, ensure the ladle position is locked, and absorb hydraulic shock to protect the system pipeline; the unloading valve group realizes intelligent pressure management, and by automatically adjusting the charging and discharging of the accumulator, it can prevent system overpressure and ensure efficient energy utilization, and can quickly isolate the faulty branch when a leak is detected; the manual pump, as the ultimate redundancy backup, provides pure mechanical power supply in extreme conditions (such as long-term power failure and accumulator depletion), supporting manual operation to complete the safe lowering of the ladle.

[0017] 3. This utility model incorporates first and second ball valves on the first and second unloading oil lines. These ball valves are manual, and the O-type solenoid directional valve is also manual, creating a multi-layered safety mechanism. The manual ball valves feature a full-bore metal hard seal design, enabling rapid oil circuit isolation or controlled pressure relief under extreme conditions (such as system power failure, solenoid valve jamming, or hydraulic failure), ensuring the ladle is safely locked or slowly lowered. The response time is reduced by more than 60% compared to traditional solutions. The manual O-type solenoid directional valve has electro-mechanical dual-mode operation, supporting both automatic control and manual forced switching, significantly improving operational convenience during equipment commissioning and maintenance. This design is particularly suitable for the harsh environment of the metallurgical industry, characterized by high temperatures and dust. The ball valves can withstand temperatures exceeding 300℃, and the risk of electrical interference is completely eliminated. Actual measurements show that this solution improves the system's emergency handling efficiency under fault conditions by 80% and reduces maintenance time by 50%, completely solving the industry problem of traditional systems' over-reliance on automatic control and insufficient emergency response capabilities under extreme conditions.

[0018] 4. The O-type electromagnetic directional valve of this invention is equipped with a throttle valve on the pipeline connecting it to the balance valve. This throttle valve enables precise control of the oil flow rate, ensuring the hydraulic cylinder's movement speed remains stable within a precise range and guaranteeing a smooth and controllable ladle tilting process. Simultaneously, its excellent hydraulic shock suppression capability reduces system pressure peaks, significantly extending the service life of hydraulic components and reducing pipeline vibration. It provides emergency flow restriction in case of sudden balance valve failure and enhances system stability through damping characteristics during emergency braking, forming a complete safety redundancy in conjunction with other safety components. It is particularly suitable for the harsh working conditions of high temperature and heavy load in the metallurgical industry, achieving a perfect balance between safety and economy while improving production efficiency, and has significant value for widespread application. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model.

[0020] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A magnified view of a portion of the image.

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the working principle of this utility model.

[0022] In the diagram: 1. Energy storage system; 2. Manual O-type solenoid directional valve; 3. Balance valve; 4. Throttle valve; 5. Hydraulic cylinder; 6. First unloading oil circuit; 7. Second unloading oil circuit; 8. First manual ball valve; 9. Second manual ball valve; 10. Unloading valve assembly; 11. Manual pump; 12. Accumulator; 13. Oil tank; 14. Main return oil pipeline; 15. Steel ladle. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The embodiments of this utility model are described in detail below. To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this utility model clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this utility model, and not all embodiments. The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative and is in no way intended to limit this utility model or its application or use. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0024] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model.

[0025] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0026] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to this utility model. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular form is also intended to include the plural form. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0027] Unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement, numerical expressions, and values ​​of the components and steps described in these embodiments do not limit the scope of this invention. It should also be understood that, for ease of description, the dimensions of the various parts shown in the drawings are not drawn to actual scale. Techniques, methods, and devices known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, such techniques, methods, and devices should be considered part of the specification. In all examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values ​​should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not as limitations. Therefore, other examples of exemplary embodiments may have different values. It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters in the following drawings denote similar items; therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, it need not be further discussed in subsequent drawings.

[0028] Furthermore, it should be noted that the use of terms such as "first" and "second" to define components is merely for the purpose of distinguishing the corresponding components. Unless otherwise stated, the above terms have no special meaning and therefore cannot be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0029] like Figure 1-3 As shown, a safety system for a ladle tilting device includes an energy storage system 1, a manual O-type solenoid directional valve 2, a balance valve 3, a throttle valve 4, a hydraulic cylinder 5, a first unloading oil circuit 6, a second unloading oil circuit 7, a first manual ball valve 8, and a second manual ball valve 9.

[0030] Energy storage system 1 is connected to oil tank 13 via pipeline. Energy storage system 1, manual O-type solenoid directional valve 2, and balance valve 3 are connected via pipeline. Balance valve 3 is directly integrated into the hydraulic cylinder port or connected to the hydraulic cylinder pipeline. One end of the first unloading oil circuit 6 is connected to the rodless chamber port of hydraulic cylinder 5, and the other end is connected to the main return oil pipeline 14. One end of the second unloading oil circuit 7 is connected to the rod chamber port of hydraulic cylinder 5, and the other end is connected to the main return oil pipeline 14.

[0031] The energy storage system 1 includes an accumulator 12, an unloading valve assembly 10, and a manual pump 11. The accumulator 12, the unloading valve assembly 10, and the manual pump 11 are connected by pipelines. A throttle valve 4 is installed on the pipeline connecting the manual O-type solenoid directional valve 2 and the balance valve 3. A first manual ball valve 8 is installed on the first unloading oil circuit 6, and a second manual ball valve 9 is installed on the second unloading oil circuit 7.

[0032] The working principle and process of this utility model are as follows:

[0033] (1) Dangerous situation 1: When the hydraulic cylinder 5 is lifted, the oil inlet pipe suddenly bursts. The balance valve 3 integrated in the hydraulic cylinder port immediately locks the hydraulic cylinder 5 in the current position, avoiding the danger of the ladle 15 falling suddenly due to the burst oil inlet pipe, causing the ladle 15 to vibrate greatly and splash out molten steel.

[0034] (2) Dangerous Situation 2: Power outage occurs suddenly in the plant during the tilting pouring of molten steel. The hydraulic cylinder 5 is raised and lowered by the accumulator system 1 to ensure that the ladle of molten steel can be poured smoothly.

[0035] (3) Dangerous situation 3: When the manual O-type solenoid directional valve 2 is damaged and cannot switch the operation, open the second manual ball valve 9 so that the return oil circuit does not pass through the manual O-type solenoid directional valve 2 but directly passes through the second unloading oil circuit 7 to unload to the main return oil line 14.

[0036] (4) Dangerous situation 4: When the power suddenly fails in the plant and the hydraulic cylinder 5, balance valve 3, and manual O-type solenoid valve 2 cannot operate due to malfunction, or when the ladle 15 must be lowered in an emergency, the first manual ball valve 8 is opened so that the oil pressure in the rodless chamber of the hydraulic cylinder is directly unloaded to the main return oil line 14 through the first unloading oil line 6, without having to go through the path of balance valve 3, return oil line, and manual O-type solenoid valve 2.

[0037] This invention utilizes an integrated balance valve and an O-type electromagnetic directional valve locked in the neutral position to form the first hydraulic anti-fall barrier; the energy storage system 1 provides emergency power to the valve group during power failure, forming the second layer of protection; and the dual unloading oil circuit (differentiated design) serves as the third layer of pressure relief. In the event of a pipeline rupture during lifting: the balance valve 3 instantly locks the rodless chamber, the O-type valve closes the oil circuit in the neutral position, and the system activates the first unloading oil circuit 6 to relieve pressure after detecting the pressure peak. In the event of an emergency descent during power failure: the accumulator 12 drives the hydraulic cylinder 5; if the valve group fails, the second ball valve 9 is manually opened, allowing for a slow descent through the throttling unloading oil circuit, preventing the ladle 15 from falling. The integrated design of the balance valve cylinder port shortens the response time; the accumulator 12 provides power, improving reliability; and the ball valve bypass circuit is physically isolated from the main system, eliminating the possibility of misoperation.

[0038] The energy storage system 1 of this utility model constructs a three-level emergency protection system through the coordinated design of "accumulator 12 + unloading valve group 10 + manual pump 11", which significantly improves the safety and reliability of the ladle tilting device. As the core emergency power source, the accumulator 12 can instantly release pressure oil in the event of power failure or main pump failure, maintain the normal operation of the O-type solenoid directional valve and balance valve 3, ensure the ladle position is locked, and absorb hydraulic shock to protect the system pipeline. The unloading valve group 10 realizes intelligent pressure management, which prevents system overpressure and ensures efficient energy utilization by automatically adjusting the charging and discharging of the accumulator. It can quickly isolate the faulty branch when a leak is detected. The manual pump 11 serves as the ultimate redundancy backup, providing pure mechanical power supply in extreme conditions (such as long-term power failure and accumulator depletion), supporting manual operation to safely lower the ladle.

[0039] The first unloading oil circuit 6 is equipped with a first manual ball valve 8, and the second unloading oil circuit 7 is equipped with a second manual ball valve 9. The O-type solenoid directional valve is a manual O-type solenoid directional valve 2, forming a multi-layered safety mechanism. The manual ball valve adopts a full-bore metal hard seal design, which can quickly achieve oil circuit isolation or controllable pressure relief under extreme conditions (such as system power failure, solenoid valve jamming, or hydraulic failure), ensuring the safe locking or slow return of the ladle 15. The response time is shortened by more than 60% compared to traditional solutions. The manual O-type solenoid directional valve 2 has an electro-mechanical dual-mode operation function, supporting both automatic control and manual forced switching, significantly improving operational convenience during equipment commissioning and maintenance. This design is particularly suitable for the harsh environment of high temperature and dust in the metallurgical industry; the ball valve can withstand temperatures up to 300℃ and completely avoids the risk of electrical interference. Actual tests show that this solution improves the emergency handling efficiency of the system under fault conditions by 80% and reduces maintenance time by 50%, completely solving the industry problem of traditional systems over-reliance on automatic control and insufficient emergency measures under extreme conditions.

[0040] This utility model features a throttle valve 4 on the pipeline connecting the manual O-type electromagnetic directional valve 2 and the balance valve 3. This throttle valve 4 allows for precise control of the oil flow rate, ensuring the hydraulic cylinder 5's movement speed remains stable within a precise range and guaranteeing a smooth and controllable tilting process for the ladle 15. Simultaneously, its excellent hydraulic shock suppression capability reduces system pressure peaks, significantly extending the service life of hydraulic components and reducing pipeline vibration. It provides emergency flow restriction in case of a sudden failure of the balance valve 3, and enhances system stability through damping characteristics during emergency braking, forming a complete safety redundancy in conjunction with other safety components. It is particularly suitable for the harsh working conditions of high temperature and heavy load in the metallurgical industry, achieving a perfect balance between safety and economy while improving production efficiency, and has significant application value.

[0041] This invention addresses the significant safety hazards in the prior art, such as accidental tipping of ladles, interruption or fall of molten steel pouring caused by hydraulic system failure, electrical faults or sudden power outages, thereby ensuring the continuity and safety of the steel smelting process.

[0042] The scope of protection of this utility model is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this utility model, based on the technical solution and inventive concept of this utility model, should be included within the scope of protection of this utility model.

Claims

1. A safety system for a ladle tilting device, characterized in that, It includes an energy storage system, an O-type solenoid directional valve, a balance valve, a hydraulic cylinder, a first unloading oil circuit, and a second unloading oil circuit; the energy storage system is connected to the oil tank pipeline, and the energy storage system, the O-type solenoid directional valve, and the balance valve pipeline are connected. The balance valve is directly integrated into the hydraulic cylinder port or connected to the hydraulic cylinder pipeline. One end of the first unloading oil circuit is connected to the oil port of the rodless chamber of the hydraulic cylinder, and the other end is connected to the main return oil line; One end of the second unloading oil circuit is connected to the oil port of the rod chamber of the hydraulic cylinder, and the other end is connected to the main return oil line.

2. The safety system for a ladle tilting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The energy storage system includes an accumulator, an unloading valve group, and a manual pump, with the accumulator, unloading valve group, and manual pump connected by pipelines.

3. The safety system for a ladle tilting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, A throttling valve is installed on the pipeline connecting the O-type electromagnetic directional valve and the balance valve.

4. The safety system for a ladle tilting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first unloading oil line is equipped with a first ball valve.

5. The safety system for a ladle tilting device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first ball valve is a manual ball valve.

6. The safety system for a ladle tilting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, A second ball valve is provided on the second unloading oil line.

7. The safety system for a ladle tilting device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The second ball valve is a manual ball valve.

8. The safety system for a ladle tilting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The O-type solenoid directional valve is a manual O-type solenoid directional valve.