A steel ingot pouring argon shield ring

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of steel ingot pouring argon protection ring, including annular outer tube, annular inner tube is connected with the annular outer tube inside front and rear two ends through connecting piece, multiple jet heads are equidistantly provided on the annular outer tube, and the jet head is obliquely inwardly arranged, multiple gas outlets are equidistantly provided on the annular inner tube, and gas inlet pipe for filling argon into the annular outer tube is connected on the annular outer tube;The utility model can realize forming uniform stable argon protection gas curtain, reduce the risk of molten steel exposure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to metal smelting technology, and more specifically, to an argon gas protective ring for casting steel ingots. Background Technology

[0002] In metal smelting, especially in the casting of high-quality alloy steel and special steel ingots, oxygen and nitrogen in the air pose a serious threat to the high-temperature molten steel. These gases react chemically with the molten steel, forming internal defects such as pores and inclusions, significantly reducing the mechanical properties of the ingot and the quality of the product. To effectively isolate the steel from air, argon protection technology is widely used in ingot casting. Its core principle is to inject inert argon into the ingot mold, the injection pipe, or the space around the molten steel surface to create a local gas curtain barrier, preventing secondary oxidation and gas absorption in the molten steel. However, existing argon protection devices have revealed several technical bottlenecks in practical applications. While the fixed single-ring gas supply structure is simple, its outlet design causes argon to be sprayed vertically or nearly vertically downwards, resulting in a single airflow direction and limited coverage, making it difficult to form a complete and uniform protective gas curtain. During casting, the impact of falling molten steel, thermal convection effects, and environmental airflow disturbances easily disrupt the stability of the local gas curtain, causing some areas of molten steel to be exposed to the air. While multi-nozzle distributed gas supply schemes attempt to expand the coverage area, the airflow from each nozzle interferes with each other, failing to collaboratively generate a dense and continuous air curtain. Furthermore, the system structure is complex, installation and commissioning are difficult, and maintenance costs are high. More critically, existing protective rings generally employ a single outer ring tube design, lacking internal support structures and exhibiting severely insufficient overall rigidity. Under high-temperature casting conditions, the outer ring tube is prone to thermal deformation, leading to misalignment of the gas outlet positions and airflow directions, further exacerbating uneven air curtain distribution and instability. These defects collectively result in low argon gas utilization, significant fluctuations in protective effectiveness, ultimately leading to increased internal quality defects in steel ingots and a decreased yield, failing to meet the stringent requirements of high-quality steel ingot production. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, the purpose of this utility model is to provide an argon gas protection ring for steel ingot casting that can form a uniform and stable argon gas protective curtain and reduce the risk of molten steel exposure.

[0004] This utility model is achieved by the following method: an argon gas protection ring for steel ingot casting, including an annular outer tube, an annular inner tube connected to the front and rear ends of the annular outer tube by a connector, a plurality of jet nozzles are arranged at equal intervals on the annular outer tube and the jet nozzles are inclined inward, a plurality of air outlet holes are opened at equal intervals on the annular inner tube, and an air inlet pipe for filling the annular outer tube with argon gas is connected to the annular outer tube.

[0005] Furthermore, the connector includes a first connecting pipe, with the first connecting pipe connected to both the front and rear ends of the inner side of the annular outer pipe. A U-shaped limiting block is provided on the inner side of the first connecting pipe. A second connecting pipe is connected to both the front and rear ends of the annular inner pipe and is embedded in the first connecting pipe. The second connecting pipe passes through the U-shaped limiting block and is embedded in the first connecting pipe. A sealing ring is provided between the second connecting pipe and the first connecting pipe. Limiting holes are provided on both vertical plates of the U-shaped limiting block, and limiting bolts for limiting the first connecting pipe within the U-shaped limiting block are provided in the limiting holes.

[0006] Furthermore, U-shaped fixing blocks are provided at both ends of the outer side of the annular outer tube. A connecting rod is provided between the two vertical plates of the U-shaped fixing block. A fixing ring is sleeved on the connecting rod, and a hook is connected to the fixing ring. The hook hangs the annular outer tube at the casting inlet of the steel ingot casting pipe.

[0007] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: This utility model, through the double-layer structure design of the annular outer tube and the annular inner tube, combined with the inwardly inclined jet head and the air outlet of the annular inner tube, forms an argon gas curtain covering layer that works in concert with the outside, effectively blocking air intrusion, while enhancing the overall structural rigidity to suppress high-temperature deformation. It has the advantages of forming a uniform and stable argon gas protective curtain, reducing the risk of secondary oxidation of molten steel, and improving structural rigidity to reduce the impact of thermal deformation. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model.

[0009] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0010] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0011] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, this utility model provides an embodiment: an argon gas protection ring for steel ingot casting, including an annular outer tube 1, an annular inner tube 3 connected to the front and rear ends of the annular outer tube 1 via connectors 2, a plurality of jet nozzles 4 are arranged at equal intervals on the annular outer tube 1, and the jet nozzles 4 are inclined inwards, a plurality of air outlet holes 31 are opened at equal intervals on the annular inner tube 3, and an air inlet pipe 5 for filling the annular outer tube 1 with argon gas is connected to the annular outer tube 1.

[0012] The annular outer tube can be understood as a hollow, ring-shaped structure, primarily serving as the basic channel for argon gas flow. In practical applications, the annular outer tube can be made of metallic materials, such as stainless steel or copper, with a cross-sectional shape that can be circular, elliptical, or other regular geometric shapes to meet installation requirements in different scenarios. Furthermore, the dimensions of the annular outer tube can be adjusted according to the specific specifications of the steel ingot casting equipment, and its diameter and thickness must ensure sufficient strength and stability under high-temperature conditions.

[0013] The inwardly tilted nozzle design aims to achieve directional injection of the argon gas flow. Specifically, the tilt angle of the nozzle can be achieved through machining or molding, for example, using a tilt angle between 30° and 60° to ensure that the argon gas flow is concentrated towards the molten steel surface. As a preferred embodiment, the nozzle outlet shape can be designed as circular, elliptical, or polygonal to accommodate different gas flow distribution requirements.

[0014] The inner and outer annular tubes are fixedly connected by connectors, and this double-ring structure significantly improves overall rigidity. In practical applications, the connectors can be made using bolts, welding, or snap-fit ​​connections to ensure that the relative position between the inner and outer annular tubes remains stable. Furthermore, the vent holes on the inner annular tube can be machined using drilling technology, and their diameter and spacing can be adjusted according to the required argon flow rate.

[0015] The function of the inlet pipe is to introduce argon gas into the annular outer pipe. It can be connected to an external gas supply system via flange connection, threaded connection, or quick coupling. Specifically, the inlet pipe can be made of high-temperature resistant and corrosion-resistant metal materials, such as stainless steel or titanium alloy, to withstand long-term use in high-temperature environments.

[0016] The innovation of this application lies in constructing a uniform and stable argon gas protective barrier through a dual-ring collaborative design and a directional jetting mechanism. Compared to the single-ring gas supply or multi-nozzle dispersed gas supply methods in existing technologies, this embodiment forms a double-layer airflow structure through the cooperation of the outer and inner annular pipes, effectively enhancing the density and continuity of the gas curtain. Simultaneously, the inclined design of the jetting heads allows the argon gas flow to directly target the molten steel surface, reducing the impact of thermal convection and molten steel falling disturbances on the gas curtain, thereby improving the stability of the protective effect. Furthermore, the dual-ring structure design significantly improves the overall rigidity of the device, avoiding the problem of airflow direction deviation caused by thermal deformation under high-temperature environments.

[0017] The working principle of this application embodiment is as follows: An argon protection ring for steel ingot casting achieves a uniform and stable argon protection barrier through a dual-ring synergistic design and a directional jetting mechanism. The annular outer tube serves as the main frame, providing a basic channel for argon flow and supporting key components, ensuring the initial stability of the overall structure under high-temperature conditions and preventing distortion and deformation of a single ring tube due to insufficient rigidity. The annular outer tube is connected to an annular inner tube at both ends via connectors. This dual-fixation method significantly enhances the overall rigidity of the annular structure, effectively resisting the impact of thermal deformation on the positional accuracy of the jetting head and outlet, and maintaining the accuracy of the airflow direction.

[0018] Please continue reading. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, the connector 2 includes a first connecting pipe 21. The first connecting pipe 21 is connected to both the front and rear ends of the inner side of the annular outer pipe 1. A U-shaped limiting block 22 is provided on the inner side of the first connecting pipe 21. A second connecting pipe 23 is connected to both the front and rear ends of the annular inner pipe 3 and is embedded in the first connecting pipe 21. The second connecting pipe 23 passes through the U-shaped limiting block 22 and is embedded in the first connecting pipe 21. A sealing ring (not shown) is provided between the second connecting pipe 23 and the first connecting pipe 21. Limiting ports 24 are provided on both vertical plates of the U-shaped limiting block 22. A limiting bolt 25 for limiting the first connecting pipe in the U-shaped limiting block 22 is provided in the limiting port 24.

[0019] Specifically, an inlet pipe is connected to the annular outer tube to fill it with argon gas, ensuring a stable gas supply and supporting the continuous formation of the protective gas curtain, thus preventing protection failure due to gas supply interruption. Therefore, through the synergistic operation of these technical features, the device can construct a uniform, stable, and externally resistant argon gas protective barrier during steel ingot casting, while overcoming the problem of insufficient structural rigidity and easy deformation under high-temperature conditions, thereby improving the quality and reliability of steel ingot casting.

[0020] This application further proposes a connector including a first connecting pipe, with the first connecting pipe connected to both the front and rear ends of the inner side of the annular outer pipe, and a U-shaped limiting block provided on the inner side of the first connecting pipe. The front and rear ends of the annular inner pipe are connected to a second connecting pipe embedded in the first connecting pipe. The second connecting pipe passes through the U-shaped limiting block and is embedded in the first connecting pipe. A sealing ring is provided between the second connecting pipe and the first connecting pipe. Limiting ports are provided on both vertical plates of the U-shaped limiting block, and limiting bolts for limiting the first connecting pipe within the U-shaped limiting block are provided in the limiting ports.

[0021] Specifically, the first connecting pipe refers to the structure fixed to the inner side of the annular outer pipe as a basic support component. It can be made of metal, either round or square, to ensure uniform stress distribution and avoid torsional deformation caused by stress concentration on one side. The U-shaped limiting block can be understood as a limiting device with an open structure. It can be formed by stamping or casting steel plates, and its purpose is to provide precise insertion guidance for the second connecting pipe and prevent radial displacement caused by thermal expansion. The sealing ring is an elastic sealing element placed between the second and first connecting pipes. It can be made of high-temperature resistant rubber or silicone material, and its purpose is to isolate the argon gas leakage path to ensure the continuity of the protective gas curtain. The limiting port refers to the through-hole structure opened on the two vertical plates of the U-shaped limiting block. It can be formed by drilling or stamping, and its purpose is to provide an installation reference for the limiting bolt and achieve balanced pressure application.

[0022] In detail, this scheme ensures the stability of the overall structure through the symmetrical layout of the first connecting pipe, while the geometric constraint of the U-shaped limiting block automatically calibrates the second connecting pipe to the center position during the embedding process. The annular inner pipe forms a nested connection with the first connecting pipe through the second connecting pipe. This design, combined with the elastic limiting characteristics of the U-shaped limiting block, ensures that the second connecting pipe can only make slight axial adjustments during thermal deformation and cannot move laterally, thus maintaining the stability of the jet head tilt angle. In addition, after the limiting bolt is inserted into the limiting port, it can simultaneously apply balanced pressure to firmly press the U-shaped limiting block onto the first connecting pipe. This bolt limiting mechanism gives the connection structure adjustable rigidity and strength, which can dynamically adjust the tightening force according to high-temperature conditions, significantly suppressing the impact of thermal deformation on the relative position of the inner and outer pipes.

[0023] The above technical solution effectively solves the problem of airflow direction misalignment caused by connection deformation in high-temperature casting environment, ensuring that the argon gas injection direction always accurately points to the molten steel surface, forming a stable and uniform protective gas curtain.

[0024] Please continue reading. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, U-shaped fixing blocks 11 are provided at both the left and right ends of the outer side of the annular outer tube 1. A connecting rod 12 is provided between the two vertical plates of the U-shaped fixing block 11. A fixing ring 13 is sleeved on the connecting rod 12. A hook 14 is connected to the fixing ring 13. The hook 14 hangs the annular outer tube 1 at the casting inlet of the steel ingot casting pipe.

[0025] Specifically, the U-shaped fixing block refers to a fixing component with a U-shaped structure, which can be made of metal materials such as stainless steel or high-temperature alloys. Its purpose is to provide a stable support point and prevent the device from twisting during thermal deformation. The connecting rod can be understood as a rod-shaped structure used for connection and positioning. It can be fixed between the two vertical plates of the U-shaped fixing block by threaded connection or welding, aiming to maintain the reliability of the overall connection. In practical applications, the fixing ring is a sliding ring structure that can be installed on the connecting rod by sleeve and allows for position adjustment according to actual needs, aiming to improve the flexibility of on-site operation. Furthermore, the hook is a connector for quick positioning. It can be connected to the fixing ring by bolt connection or snap-fit, aiming to simplify the hanging process and reduce installation time.

[0026] Specifically, this technical solution effectively solves the problem of unstable fixation of the protective ring in high-temperature casting environments by designing an adjustable hanging mechanism. U-shaped fixing blocks are symmetrically arranged at both ends of the outer surface of the annular outer tube, utilizing the structural characteristics of the annular outer tube to provide balanced support points, thereby ensuring consistent airflow direction. A connecting rod is embedded between the two vertical plates of the U-shaped fixing block, forming a stable limiting structure to prevent displacement under casting vibration. The fixing ring is fitted onto the connecting rod and can be finely adjusted according to the actual size of the casting pipe inlet, adapting to the installation requirements of different equipment specifications. The hook design simplifies the hanging process, allowing for quick positioning of the protective ring without additional tools, while ensuring precise alignment of the protective ring with the molten steel inlet, enabling the argon gas curtain to uniformly cover the casting area. This hanging method not only improves the stability and uniformity of the gas curtain but also effectively reduces the impact of external airflow disturbances on the stability of the gas curtain, thus maintaining a continuous protective effect. Based on this, the above-mentioned hanging mechanism, together with the annular outer tube, jet nozzle, and other structures, further optimizes the formation and maintenance effect of the argon protective gas curtain, significantly improving the quality and yield of steel ingot casting.

[0027] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model. All equivalent changes and modifications made within the scope of the patent application of the present utility model shall be covered by the present utility model.

Claims

1. An argon gas protective ring for steel ingot casting, characterized in that: It includes an annular outer tube, and an annular inner tube is connected to the front and rear ends of the annular outer tube by connectors. Multiple jet heads are arranged at equal intervals on the annular outer tube and the jet heads are inclined inward. Multiple air outlets are opened at equal intervals on the annular inner tube. An air inlet pipe for filling the annular outer tube with argon gas is connected to the annular outer tube.

2. The argon gas protective ring for steel ingot casting according to claim 1, characterized in that: The connector includes a first connecting pipe. The inner side of the annular outer pipe is connected to the first connecting pipe at both the front and rear ends. A U-shaped limiting block is provided on the inner side of the first connecting pipe. The inner side of the annular inner pipe is connected to a second connecting pipe embedded in the first connecting pipe at both the front and rear ends. The second connecting pipe passes through the U-shaped limiting block and is embedded in the first connecting pipe. A sealing ring is provided between the second connecting pipe and the first connecting pipe. Limiting holes are provided on both vertical plates of the U-shaped limiting block. Limiting bolts for limiting the first connecting pipe in the U-shaped limiting block are provided in the limiting holes.

3. The argon gas protective ring for steel ingot casting according to claim 1, characterized in that: U-shaped fixing blocks are provided at both ends of the outer side of the annular outer tube. A connecting rod is provided between the two vertical plates of the U-shaped fixing block. A fixing ring is sleeved on the connecting rod. A hook is connected to the fixing ring. The hook hangs the annular outer tube at the casting inlet of the steel ingot casting pipe.

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