STORAGE ARRANGEMENT FOR A CONVERTER

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a bearing arrangement suitable for use in a converter according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] A bearing arrangement of this type is known, for example, from US 3,291,542 A. The known bearing arrangement comprises a rolling bearing designed as a double-row spherical roller bearing for supporting a journal of a converter. A housing part in which the rolling bearing is received is axially displaceable relative to another, outer housing part, thus providing the overall functionality of a floating bearing. According to US 3,291,542 A, the relative displaceability of the two housing parts is achieved by means of a double-row linear rolling bearing. Each row of rolling elements in the linear bearing is formed by barrel-shaped rolling elements, with the axes of rotation of the first row of rolling elements lying in a first plane and the axes of rotation of the second row of rolling elements lying in a second plane, and the two planes forming an obtuse angle of significantly less than 180°.This is equivalent to the fact that a radial line of one of the rolling elements belonging to the first row forms an acute angle with a radial line of one of the rolling elements belonging to the second row. According to US 3,291,542 A, the intersection point between the two radial lines should lie above the axis of rotation of the journal supported by the spherical roller bearing, thus ensuring a stable, self-aligning bearing arrangement.

[0003] A converter is generally understood to be a plant used in steel production in which liquid pig iron is refined. The pig iron is contained in a refractory-lined vessel, which is mounted on a tilting mechanism. Rolling bearings, particularly roller bearings, can be used to support the vessel, with one acting as a fixed bearing and the other as a floating bearing. Due to the temperature-related expansion that occurs during converter operation, it may be necessary to accommodate axial displacements of several tens of millimeters at the floating bearing.

[0004] In a bearing arrangement for tiltable converters described in DE 24 15 341 C3, a floating bearing function is provided by a pendulum support. Here, a pendulum support, which bears the bearing load, as well as a linkage rod arranged parallel to the pendulum support, are articulated to a support plate on which the bearing acting as the floating bearing, which can be a plain bearing or a rolling bearing, is located.

[0005] As an alternative to a linear roller bearing or a pendulum support, a sliding bushing can also be used to implement a floating bearing function, as described in principle, for example, in AT 274870 B. In this case, an anti-rotation device is provided between a sliding bushing and a so-called protective bushing. An outer ring of a floating bearing is mounted in the sliding bushing, with the corresponding inner ring rigidly arranged on a journal of a converter.

[0006] Other designs of converters suspended on pivot pins are disclosed, for example, in documents DE 1 583 302 B and DE 1 253 738 A.

[0007] In principle, a drive designed to tilt a converter can be located either on the fixed bearing side or on the floating bearing side. In the case of a drive for a converter described in DE 25 00 645 A1, the drive is located on the floating bearing side. Several crowned rollers are provided for transmitting torque to a journal of the converter. These rollers engage in recesses in the journal and simultaneously in recesses located in a driving machine part. According to DE 25 00 645 A1, the crowned rollers enable the drive device to accommodate both axial movements and angular deflections.

[0008] The invention is based on the objective of providing a bearing arrangement that is further developed compared to the aforementioned prior art, particularly suitable for the storage of a converter, especially robust, fulfilling the function of a loose bearing, and characterized by consistently stable operating properties over the long term.

[0009] This problem is solved according to the invention by a bearing arrangement with the features of claim 1. The bearing arrangement comprises, in a basic concept known per se, a rolling bearing, in particular in the form of a spherical roller bearing, which includes an inner ring and an outer ring, wherein the bearing rings may be formed in one or more parts. In any case, the outer ring is arranged in an inner housing, which is displaceable relative to an outer housing in the axial direction of the rolling bearing by means of a double-row linear rolling bearing arrangement. Here, the axes of rotation of all rolling elements of each row of the linear rolling bearing arrangement lie in a common plane, wherein the two planes are inclined relative to each other. According to the characterizing feature of claim 1, at least one anti-rotation element is connected to the inner housing, which engages in a counter contour on the side of the outer housing.

[0010] In addition to the self-centering effect provided by the double-row, V-shaped linear roller bearing, the separate anti-rotation device, which comprises at least one anti-rotation element on the side of the movable element (i.e., the inner housing) and a corresponding counter-contour, in particular in the form of a longitudinal groove, on the side of the outer housing, ensures a constant angular relationship between the inner and outer housings, even during long-term operation under high, fluctuating loads. This ensures, in particular, that the rolling elements, such as cylindrical or barrel rollers, of the linear roller bearing always roll in the same manner on their respective raceways, which are fixed in position relative to the inner and outer housings, respectively.

[0011] The anti-rotation element can be arranged between the two rows of the linear rolling bearing, and in particular, it can be located centrally between the two rows of rolling elements. Instead of connecting the anti-rotation element to the inner housing, it can also be connected to the outer housing, in which case a corresponding mating contour must be provided on the inner housing. An integral formation of the anti-rotation element and / or the mating contour with the inner or outer housing is also possible. For example, contours of the anti-rotation element can be cast directly as contours of a housing component.

[0012] If the counter contour is not directly formed by the inner or outer housing, the counter contour can be formed, in particular, by sliding plates guiding the anti-rotation element. In an advantageous embodiment, the sliding plates are interchangeable elements of the bearing arrangement.

[0013] In this arrangement, each sliding plate can form a one-sided end of a plate located in the outer housing, with the plate being supported on its side opposite the sliding plate by a bearing element of the linear rolling bearing. A rolling element raceway for the rolling elements, in particular rollers, of the linear rolling bearing can be provided directly by this bearing element.

[0014] The aforementioned plates can be designed as one or more parts. In the case of a one-piece design, the sliding plate is an integral component of the plate, and a friction-reducing coating may be present in the area of ​​the plate that directly interacts with the anti-rotation element. If, on the other hand, the sliding plate is designed as a separate element, it contacts a base element of the plate, which is typically many times larger than the sliding plate and may differ from it in terms of materials and mechanical properties. The sliding surfaces formed by the sliding plates and contacting the anti-rotation element can lie in two parallel planes, with the central axis of the rolling bearing, i.e., the tilting axis of the bearing arrangement, located between these two planes.

[0015] The thickness of the base element is not uniform according to various possible configurations. For example, the thickness of each base element decreases outwards from the sliding plate, which is located near a vertical median plane that intersects the central axis of the bearing arrangement.

[0016] Regardless of the exact geometric design of the one- or multi-part plate providing a counter contour for the anti-rotation device, the bearing element belonging to the linear rolling bearing, which contacts the plate, can be supported on its side facing away from the plate against a contour of the outer housing.

[0017] Regarding the anti-rotation elements, a wide variety of geometric designs are possible. For example, the anti-rotation device can comprise a single bolt-shaped anti-rotation element or multiple such bolt-shaped elements. In the latter case, several pin-shaped anti-rotation elements can be arranged in a row, which means that the central axes of all anti-rotation elements lie in a common plane. In this case, all anti-rotation elements engage in a single groove, which forms the counter contour of the anti-rotation device.

[0018] A groove-shaped counter contour of the anti-rotation feature can also be present in designs where a single, rib-shaped anti-rotation element is used. In this case, in particular, the rib- or strip-shaped anti-rotation element can be formed directly either by the inner housing or by the outer housing of the bearing assembly.

[0019] The multi-part housing of the bearing assembly can be a pillow block housing in its entirety. For technical background information, reference is made to documents DE 401112 A and DE 10 2012 222 595 A1. The entire bearing assembly is particularly suitable for use as a floating bearing in a converter bearing arrangement. A further rolling bearing, especially a spherical roller bearing, can be used as the associated fixed bearing.

[0020] Several embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. This drawing shows: Fig. 1 shows a bearing arrangement of a converter in an end-face view, Fig. 2 shows a detail of the arrangement. Fig. 1 , Fig. 3 a schematic top view of an anti-rotation device for the converter bearing arrangement according to Fig. 1 , Fig. 4 an alternative design of an anti-rotation device for a bearing, namely a floating bearing, of a converter in a view according to Fig. 3 .

[0021] Unless otherwise stated, the following explanations refer to both embodiments. Corresponding or essentially equivalent parts are marked with the same reference numeral in all figures.

[0022] A bearing arrangement designated as reference numeral 1 is designed as a floating bearing and is intended for use in a converter not shown. Regarding the fundamental function of bearing arrangement 1, reference is made to the prior art cited at the beginning.

[0023] The bearing arrangement 1 comprises a multi-part housing 2 with an inner housing 3 and an outer housing 4. A rolling bearing 5, designed as a spherical roller bearing, whose rolling elements, i.e., barrel rollers, are designated 6, has an inner ring 7 which is fixedly mounted on a journal 8 of the converter. The central axis of the rolling bearing 5, and thus also of the journal 8, is designated as the tilting axis KA of the bearing arrangement 1.

[0024] The outer ring of the rolling bearing 5, designated 9, is rigidly inserted into the inner housing 3, contacting both a lower inner housing part 13 and an upper inner housing part 14. In a manner fundamentally comparable to the inner housing 3, the outer housing 4 is composed of a lower outer housing part 15 and an upper outer housing part 16. A horizontal parting plane TE of the inner housing 3 and the outer housing 4 lies at the level of the tilting axis KA. In contrast to the one described in the Figure 1 and 2In the illustrated embodiment, designs are also possible in which a spherical roller bearing as rolling bearing 5 is only located in a lower part and the upper part is omitted.

[0025] Above the tilting axis KA, a contact area 10 exists between the upper inner housing part 14 and the upper outer housing part 16. A lubricant channel 11 traverses the contact area 10, through which lubricant can be supplied to the rolling bearing 5. An O-ring seal is installed in the contact area 10, ensuring that externally supplied grease does not flow into the gap between the inner housing 3 and the outer housing 4, but instead passes through the bore located at the 12 o'clock position, i.e., the lubricant channel 11, through the inner housing 11 and into the rolling bearing 5.

[0026] The inner housing 3 is displaceable within the outer housing 4 along the tilting axis KA by means of a linear rolling bearing 12, thus providing the desired floating bearing function of the bearing arrangement 1. The linear rolling bearing 12 is designed as a double-row rolling bearing, with two rows 17, 18 of rolling elements 19, namely rollers, arranged at the lower edge of the lower inner housing part 13. All central axes of the rolling elements 19 of the first row 17 lie in a common plane. The same applies to the rolling elements 19 of the second row 18. Each of the two planes is slightly inclined, which means that an acute angle is formed between the respective plane and the division plane TE. An obtuse angle is thus formed between the two aforementioned planes, defined by the position of the rolling elements 19, which intersect in a plane drawn vertically through the tilting axis KA. Overall, this results in a V-shape for the double-row linear roller bearing 12.This V-shape of the linear roller bearing 12 has a self-centering effect with regard to the position of the inner housing 3 relative to the outer housing 4.

[0027] Each row 17, 18 of rolling elements 19 rolls on a static bearing element 20, which is inserted into the lower outer housing part 15, and on a sliding bearing element 21, which is connected to the lower inner housing part 13. The contact angle at which loads are transmitted between the lower housing parts 13, 15 via the rolling elements 19 is determined by the shape and position of the various, strip-shaped bearing elements 20, 21. Cages in which the rolling elements 19 of the linear rolling bearing 12 are guided are designated 22.

[0028] The cages 22 are designed such that they are displaceable with minimal play relative to the bearing elements 20 in the axial direction of the rolling elements 19. This is achieved by overlapping each cage 22 with its corresponding bearing element 20. This also provides axial guidance for the rolling elements 19 on the bearing element 20. The rolling elements 19 are also guided by flanges on the bearing elements 20 and 21 of the linear rolling bearing 12.

[0029] To maintain the angular relationship between the inner housing 3 and the outer housing 4 constant, even under shock loads on the pin 8, regardless of whether and to what extent the inner housing 3 is displaced relative to the outer housing 4, an anti-rotation device 23 is provided. The anti-rotation device 23, which prevents rotation of the inner housing 3 about the tilting axis KA, comprises at least one anti-rotation element 23 arranged on the inner housing 3 – more precisely, on the lower inner housing part 13 – which interacts with a counter contour 25 located on the side of the outer housing 4.

[0030] In the exemplary embodiments, the counter contour 25 is formed by sliding plates 26 located in the lower outer housing part 16. Each sliding plate 26 flanking the anti-rotation element 23 corresponds to a plate 28, which is inserted into the lower outer housing part 16 and contacts one of the two static bearing elements 20 on its side facing away from the anti-rotation element 23. The static bearing element 20, in turn, is supported against a contour 29 of the outer housing 4, thus enabling the transmission of forces acting in the circumferential direction of the rolling bearing 5 between the inner housing 3 and the outer housing 4. Simultaneously, the rolling element raceways 30 of the static bearing elements 20, which are inclined in a V-shape as described, have a stabilizing effect.As regards the correct rolling of the rolling elements 19 on the bearing elements 20, 21 over the entire service life, the precise guidance of the inner housing 3 in the outer housing 4, realized by means of the anti-rotation device 23, ensures consistent geometric conditions.

[0031] In the embodiment according to Fig. 1 exist, as in Fig. 3As illustrated, three bolt-shaped anti-rotation elements 24 are inserted into the lower inner housing part 13. In this case, each anti-rotation element 24 contacts sliding plates 26, which are attached as separate elements to base elements 27, which are also part of the plates 28. Embodiments with only two pin-shaped anti-rotation elements 24 or with more than three anti-rotation elements 24 are also possible. In all cases, the central axes of the cylindrical anti-rotation elements 24 intersect the tilting axis KA, whereby the anti-rotation elements 24 can also be formed directly by the lower inner housing part 13. In a modified design, not shown, the sliding plates 26 could bear directly against a contour of the lower outer housing part 15, whereby the sliding plates 26 would also be interchangeable in this case. In all cases, the two sliding plates 26 lie in mutually parallel, vertical planes.

[0032] In contrast to the exemplary embodiment according to the Figures 1 to 3 is in the exemplary embodiment according Fig. 4 A single, strip-shaped anti-rotation element 24 is present, which in this case forms an integral contour of the lower inner housing part 13. Likewise, the anti-rotation element 24 could also be connected to the lower housing part 13 as a separate element, in particular by being positively inserted into a recess of the lower housing part 13. The sliding plates 26 are located in the Fig. 4 In the sketched case, the bearing is formed directly by the plates 28. In a modified design, separate sliding plates 26 could also be provided in this case, which are supported outwards, i.e. in the tangential direction of the rolling bearing 5, on a plate 28 each. Reference symbol list

[0033] 1 Bearing arrangement 2 Housing 3 Inner housing 4 Outer housing 5 Rolling bearing, spherical roller bearing 6 Rolling element, barrel roller 7 Inner ring 8 Pin 9 Outer ring 10 Contact area 11 Lubricant channel 12 Linear rolling bearing 13 Lower inner housing part 14 Upper inner housing part 15 Lower outer housing part 16 Upper outer housing part 17 Row 18 Row 19 Rolling element 20 Static bearing element 21 Sliding bearing element 22 Cage 23 Anti-rotation device 24 Anti-rotation element 25 Counter contour 26 Sliding plate 27 Base element 28 Plate 29 Supporting contour of the outer housing 30 Rolling element raceway KAK Tilting axis TE Pitch plane

Claims

1. A bearing assembly comprising a rolling bearing (5) having an outer ring (9), which is arranged in an inner housing (3), the inner housing (3) being movable with respect to an outer housing (4) in the axial direction of the rolling bearing (5) by means of a two-row linear rolling bearing structure (12), the axes of rotation of all the rolling elements (19) in each row (17, 18) of the linear rolling bearing structure (12) lying in a common plane, and the two planes being at an oblique angle to one another, characterised in that at least one anti-rotation element (24), which engages in a mating contour (25) in the outer housing, is connected to the inner housing (3).

2. The bearing assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the anti-rotation element (24) is arranged centrally between the two rows (17, 18) of the linear rolling bearing structure (12).

3. The bearing assembly according to claim 2, characterised in that the mating contour (25) cooperating with the anti-rotation element (24) is formed by sliding plates (26).

4. The bearing assembly according to claim 3, characterised in that each sliding plate (26) represents a one-sided end of a plate (28) located in the outer housing (4), which is supported on the other side on a bearing element (20) of the linear rolling bearing structure (12), a rolling element track (30) of the linear rolling bearing structure (12) being provided by said bearing element (20).

5. The bearing assembly according to claim 4, characterised in that each sliding plate (26) adjoins a base element (27) of the plate (28).

6. The bearing assembly according to claim 4, characterised in that each sliding plate (26) is an integral part of the plate (28).

7. The bearing assembly according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterised in that the bearing element (20) of the linear rolling bearing structure (12) is supported on a contour (29) of the outer housing (4) on its side facing away from the plate (28).

8. The bearing assembly according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that a plurality of bolt-shaped anti-rotation elements (24) are provided.

9. The bearing assembly according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that a single rib-shaped anti-rotation elements (24) is provided.

10. Use of a bearing assembly according to claim 1 in a converter.