Sealing system for use with a dummy bar head of a continuous casting system and method for producing a metal product by means of continuous casting using the sealing system

Abstract

The invention relates to a sealing system for use with a dummy bar head of a continuous casting system and to a method for producing a metal product by means of continuous casting using the sealing system. It is possible to adapt the sealing system to different continuous casting formats by using plates which can be moved with respect to one another.

Description

[0001] Title:

[0002] Sealing system for use with a cold strand head of a continuous casting plant and method for producing a metallic product by continuous casting using the sealing system

[0003] Area:

[0004] The invention relates to a sealing system for use with a cold strand head of a continuous casting plant and to a method for producing a metallic product by means of continuous casting using the sealing system.

[0005] State of the art:

[0006] For the production of metallic products by continuous casting, it is known in the art to provide a seal on a dummy bar head at the beginning of the continuous casting process. This seal is used to suitably seal a gap between the dummy bar head and the inner walls of a mold of a continuous casting plant during the casting process. Corresponding sealing systems with such a seal are shown, for example, in EP 2 127 780 B1, DE 20 2005 001 310 U1, EP 0 234 299 B2, DE 44 01 825 A1, or DE 600 04 848 T2.

[0007] The sealing systems known from the prior art each have an upper component that is precisely adapted to the shape of the dummy bar head. This results in the disadvantage that such an upper part, to which the seal is already attached or which serves to secure a seal located underneath, always only fits a specific dummy bar head shape and is not suitable for use with other dummy bar heads. If different mold formats are cast or the mold is sufficiently worn, new sealing systems must always be used.

[0008] Object of the invention:

[0009] Accordingly, the object of the invention is to provide a sealing system which is suitable for use with a cold strand head of a continuous casting plant and with which the start of the continuous casting process can be carried out more easily and cost-effectively and the associated work preparations can be carried out more quickly.

[0010] Invention:

[0011] The object of the invention is achieved with a sealing system having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the sealing system are presented in claims 2 to 16.

[0012] A sealing system is claimed for use with a cold strand head of a continuous casting plant, wherein the cold strand head is designed as a plate-shaped head element, to the edge region of which a circumferential seal is attached. The sealing system has a metal adapter element, the underside of which can be fastened to an upper end face of the cold strand head. The head element can be fastened to an upper side of the adapter element and can thus be connected to the cold strand head. The head element has at least two plates that can move relative to one another, wherein the plates at least partially form the edge region of the head element. The plates are connected to one another by a clamping element, wherein the clamping element allows movement of the plates in a released state and fixes the position of the plates relative to one another in a clamped state.

[0013] Thanks to the plates that can be moved against each other, the head element can be easily adapted to different mold formats or different wear conditions of a mold.

[0014] Further preferred embodiments of the sealing system are presented in the dependent claims 2 to 15. The preferred embodiments of the sealing system fundamentally improve the functionality and handling of the system. Further advantages are additionally listed individually. The underside of the adapter element is preferably adapted to the upper end face of the cold strand head and can be fastened to the upper end face of the cold strand head by first fastening means. Adapted in the sense of the invention means that the end face of the cold strand head and the underside of the adapter plate have at least partially complementary surface areas. This makes it possible to achieve a partial positive connection between the cold strand head and the adapter plate.

[0015] A first fastening element is preferably designed to be form-fitting. The form-fitting connection of the fastening elements facilitates the connection of the two components.

[0016] The first fastening means preferably have at least one web which has a bead or hook at its free end. The bead or the hook preferably has at least one recess, wherein the bead or hook of the web and the recess can be brought into engagement with one another. Preferably, the web has a bead, in particular a mushroom-shaped bead, and the recess comprises a widened region complementary thereto. The bead, in particular a mushroom-shaped bead, and the widened region of the recess are designed to be complementary to one another. More preferably, the web is attached to an underside of the adapter element and the recess is designed in the cold strand head adjacent to its upper end face, wherein the recess opens into this end face.

[0017] The recess preferably comprises a narrow, bottleneck-like section that extends from the upper end face of the dummy bar head into the widened area of ​​the recess. The recess is preferably open on at least one side surface of the dummy bar head, so that the web with its bead can be inserted into the recess from this side surface.

[0018] The head element and the adapter element preferably each have a rectangular cross-section with a long side and a short side in a plane running orthogonal to the transport direction of the dummy bar head, wherein a longitudinal extent of the long side is many times greater than a longitudinal extent of the short side. More preferably, the head element and the adapter element, with their cross-section in the plane orthogonal to the transport direction of the dummy bar head, are each adapted to a cross-section of a mold of a continuous casting plant. Adapted in the sense of the invention means that at least the geometric dimensions of the inside of a mold and the cross-section of the head element with the associated adapter plate are similar, and any existing deviations can be compensated for by the movement possibilities of the adapter element.

[0019] A short side of the rectangular cross-section of the adapter element or the head element preferably has a length of at least 100 mm, more preferably of at least 120 mm, even more preferably of more than 150 mm.

[0020] The head element is preferably designed as a standardized component. A standardized component, as defined by the invention, is one that can be used with a variety of different mold formats. To achieve this, the head element's dimensions and adjustment ranges must be adapted to all the different mold formats used in a continuous casting plant.

[0021] The head element and the adapter element can preferably be connected to one another by second, in particular form-fitting, fastening means.

[0022] The second fastening means preferably comprise a plurality of through-openings formed in the particularly plate-shaped head element. The second fastening means also comprise a plurality of bolts, screws, or the like, which are attached to the top side of the adapter element and can be inserted through the through-openings formed in the head element.

[0023] A slotted hole is preferably formed at or adjacent to a free end of each bolt. A wedge can be driven through the slotted hole, which wedge rests on the upper side of the head element when its through-holes are attached to the bolts.

[0024] Preferably at least one elevation, more preferably a plurality of such elevations, is formed on an upper side of the head element.

[0025] The seal is preferably made of plastic. More preferably, the outer dimensions of the seal are slightly larger than a cross-section of a mold of a continuous casting plant in a plane orthogonal to the transport direction of the dummy bar head.

[0026] The head element preferably has at least three plates, with a first plate forming a central plate. The second and third plates are arranged on opposite sides of the central plate.

[0027] The second and third plates are preferably each connected to the central plate by a clamping element.

[0028] Furthermore, the object of the invention is achieved by a method having the features of claim 17. A metallic product is produced by continuous casting using a sealing system according to one of claims 1 to 16, wherein at least the following steps are carried out:

[0029] - introducing a cold strand, comprising a cold strand head with the sealing system, into a mold with the clamping element (38) released;

[0030] - Moving the plates towards each other to set a uniform gap between the inside of the mold and the edge area of ​​the head element;

[0031] - Tighten the clamping element to fix the panels together.

[0032] At the beginning of the process, the molten metal is sufficiently cooled as it is poured into the mold of a continuous casting machine through contact with the top of the head element and the protrusion(s) provided there, allowing this initial phase of the process to be carried out without the use of cooling scrap. The following six figures are attached to the description:

[0033] Fig. 1 - 3 Head element with different positions of the plates and states of the clamping element

[0034] Fig. 4: Central plate

[0035] Fig. 5: first plate

[0036] Fig. 6: Sealing system

[0037] Fig. 7: Length to width sealing system

[0038] Fig.: 8 - Details of Fig. 6

[0039] 13

[0040] Fig.: 14 Insert into narrow mold

[0041] The invention is described in detail below with reference to the figures in the form of exemplary embodiments. In all figures, identical technical elements are designated by identical reference numerals. The figures show different views and individual components of the sealing system 10 according to the invention and the connection of the cold strand head 1 to the sealing system 10.

[0042] Figures 1 to 3 show different partial views of a head element 12 of the sealing system 10 according to the invention, wherein the plates 37, in conjunction with the clamping elements 374, assume different positions in the figures. The first central plate 371 is fixedly connected to the cold strand head 1 by an adapter element 18, and the second plate 372 is movable relative to the first plate 371. A third plate 373 (not shown) can be attached in a mirror image to the opposite side of the central plate 371. A seal 14 (not shown) can be attached circumferentially to the edge in the edge region 13 of the head element 12. The clamping element 374 is formed by a screw and corresponding counterbearings or webs on the plates 37. The screw of the clamping element can limit the movement of the plates 371, 372, 373 relative to one another.In Figure 1, the movable second plate 372 of the head element 12 is shown in a central position. This means that the second plate 372 can be moved in both directions relative to the first plate 371. The clamping screw limits the range of motion B of the second plate 372 relative to the maximum range of motion B. ma x of the second plate 372. If the head element 12 is arranged in the mold, the head element 12 can be clamped within the mold by screwing in the screw further.

[0043] In Figure 2, the clamping screw is retracted far enough to maximize the range of motion Bist of the movable second plate 372. This allows the width of the head element to be reduced. The head element, and thus the entire sealing system 10, can thus be more easily inserted into a mold.

[0044] Figure 3 shows a state of the sealing system 10 according to the invention in which the movable plate 372 is extended to its maximum extent relative to the first plate 371. The clamping screw is screwed in so far that no further movement of the plates 371, 372 relative to each other is possible.

[0045] Figure 4 shows the first central plate 371 of Figures 1 to 3. This is firmly connected to the cold strand head by an adapter element 18 (not shown). The two vertically upward-standing plates on the surface of the plate, in conjunction with a screw (not shown), form a clamping element 374. The second movable plate 372, 373 is shown in Figure 5. A movable connection to the first plate 371 can be established through the elongated hole in the movable plate 372, 373 and the T-shaped formation of the plate on the central plate 371. The small plate on the surface of the movable plate 372, 373 forms the counterbearing for the clamping screw.

[0046] Figure 6 shows the sealing system 10 according to the invention in conjunction with a cold strand head 1. The first fastening means 22 connects the cold strand 1 to the underside 19 of the adapter element 18. An exemplary embodiment of the first fastening means 22 is shown in Figure 11. The first fastening means 22 consists of a straight web 24 and a bead 25 attached thereto across the entire width K of the adapter element 18.

[0047] The complementary receptacle in the cold strand 1 is shown in Figure 12. The receptacle consists of a recess 26 complementary to the web 24 and bead 25. This forms a widened area 27 and a bottleneck-like section 28 in the recess 26. The sealing system in connection with the cold strand and inserted into a mold is shown in Figure 13.

[0048] Raised surfaces of the head element are provided. These allow the head element to be connected to the hot strand. The movable plates shown in Figures 1 to 3 are not shown. The head element itself is connected to the adapter element by means of several screw connections. The raised surfaces can also be provided on the movable plates.

[0049] The figure shows an example of a length-to-width ratio of a sealing system according to the invention. Here, length K is 160 mm and length L is 1440 mm.

[0050] Figures 8 to 13 show detailed views of Figure 8. The adapter element enables an easy connection between the cold leg and the head element through various positive-locking connections. These fastening elements are designed to transfer the necessary tensile forces from the cold leg to the hot leg. For example, the head element can be attached to the adapter element using a wedge connection, as shown in Figure 12.

[0051] Figure 14 shows the device according to the invention in conjunction with a narrow mold 4. The longitudinal side L is shortened to such an extent that the width of the sealing system is minimized. The cold strand is pulled out of the lower opening 5 of the mold 4 in the direction of the arrow (T).

[0052] List of reference symbols:

[0053] Reference symbol meaning

[0054] 1 cold strand head

[0055] 2 upper end face (of the cold strand head 1)

[0056] 4 mold

[0057] 5 lower opening (of the mold 4)

[0058] 10 Sealing system

[0059] 12 head element

[0060] 13 Edge area (of the head element 12)

[0061] 14 Seal

[0062] 15 Top side (of head element 12)

[0063] 16 elevation(s) (on the top 15 of the head element 12)

[0064] 18 Adapter element

[0065] 19 Bottom side (of adapter element 18)

[0066] 20 Top side (of adapter element 18)

[0067] 21 Window or opening (in the adapter element 18)

[0068] 22 first fasteners

[0069] 24 jetty

[0070] 25 bulge

[0071] 26 Recess

[0072] 27 widened area (of the recess 26)

[0073] 28 bottleneck-like narrow section (of the recess 26)

[0074] 30 second fasteners

[0075] 31 passage opening

[0076] 32 bolts or screws

[0077] 33 Mother

[0078] 34 slot

[0079] 36 wedge

[0080] 37 plates

[0081] 371 central plate

[0082] 372 second plate

[0083] 373 third plate

[0084] 374 clamping element

[0085] L long side

[0086] K Short side T Transport direction (of the cold strand head 1)

[0087] Bmax Maximum range of motion of the movable plate

[0088] Range of motion of the movable plate

Claims

Patent claims:

1. Sealing system (10) for use with a cold strand head (1) of a continuous casting plant, wherein - the cold strand head has a plate-shaped head element (12), on the edge region (13) of which a circumferential seal (14) is attached; and wherein - the sealing system (10) comprises an adapter element (18) made of metal, which can be fastened with its underside (19) to an upper end face (2) of the cold strand head (1); - the head element (12) can be fastened to an upper side (20) of the adapter element (18) and can thereby be connected to the cold strand head (1); - the head element (12) has at least two plates (37) which are movable relative to one another, the plates at least partially forming the edge region (13) of the head element (12); and - the plates (37) are connected to one another by a clamping element (374), wherein the clamping element (374) allows movement of the plates (37) in a released state and the position of the plates (37) relative to one another can be fixed in a clamped state.

2. Sealing system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that - the underside (19) of the adapter element (18) is adapted to the upper end face (2) of the cold strand head (1); and - can be fastened to the upper end face (2) of the cold strand head (1) by a first fastening means (22).

3. Sealing system (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the first fastening means (22) is designed to be form-fitting in order to produce a form-fitting connection with the cold strand head (1).

4. Sealing system (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the first fastening means (22) have at least one web (24) which has a bead (25) or hook at its free end and at least one recess (26), wherein the bead (25) or hook of the web (24) and the recess can be brought into engagement with one another, preferably that the web (24) has a bead (25), in particular a mushroom-shaped bead, and the recess (26) comprises a widened region (27), and the bead (25), in particular a mushroom-shaped bead, and the widened region (27) of the recess (26) are designed to be complementary to one another, further preferably that the web (24) is attached to an underside (19) of the adapter element (18), and the recess (26) is designed in the cold strand head (1) adjacent to its upper end face (2) and opens into this end face (2).

5. Sealing system (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that - the recess (26) has a narrow bottleneck-like section (28) which, starting from the upper end face (2) of the cold strand head (1), leads into the widened region (27) of the recess (26).

6. Sealing system (10) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that - the recess (26) is open on at least one side surface of the cold strand head (1), so that the web with its bead (25) can be introduced into the recess (26) from this side surface.

7. Sealing system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the head element (12) and the adapter element (18) each have a rectangular cross-section with a long side (L) and a short side (K) in a plane running orthogonally to the transport direction of the cold strand head (1), wherein a longitudinal extent of the long side (L) is many times greater than a longitudinal extent of the short side (K), preferably that the head element (12) and the adapter element (18) with their cross-section in the plane orthogonal to the transport direction of the cold strand head (1) are each adapted to a cross-section of a mold (3) of a continuous casting plant.

8. Sealing system according to claim 7, characterized in that a short side (K) of the rectangular cross-section of the adapter element (18) or of the head element (12) has a length of at least 100 mm, preferably of 120 mm, more preferably of more than 150 mm.

9. Sealing system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the head element (12) is designed as a standardized component.

10. Sealing system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the head element (12) and the adapter element (18) can be connected to one another by second, in particular form-fitting, fastening means (30). Sealing system (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that - the second fastening means (30) comprise a plurality of through-openings (31) which are formed in the head element (12), in particular a plate-shaped one, wherein the second fastening means (30) also comprise a plurality of bolts, screws or the like (32) which are attached to the upper side (20) of the adapter element (18) and can be inserted through the through-openings (31) formed in the head element (12).Sealing system according to claim 11, characterized in that at a free end of a bolt (32) or adjacent thereto, an elongated hole (34) is formed through which a wedge (36) can be driven, which wedge sits on an upper side (15) of the head element (12) when it is plugged onto the bolts (32) with its through openings (31). Sealing system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one elevation (16), preferably a plurality of such elevations (16), is or are formed on an upper side (15) of the head element (12). Sealing system (10) according to one of the preceding claims. characterized in that the seal (14) is made of plastic, preferably in that the outer dimensions of the seal (14) are slightly larger than a cross-section of a mold (3) of a continuous casting plant in a plane orthogonal to the transport direction of the cold strand head (1).

15. Sealing system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the head element (12) has at least three plates (37); and - and a first plate (371) forms a central plate; and - the second and third plates (372, 373) are arranged on opposite sides of the central plate (371).

16. Sealing system (10) according to claim 15, characterized in that the second and third plates (372, 373) are each connected to the central plate (371) by a clamping element (38).

17. A method for producing a metallic product by continuous casting using a sealing system (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein at least the following steps are carried out: - introducing a cold strand, comprising a cold strand head (1) with the sealing system (10) into a mold with the clamping element (38) released; - moving the plates (37) towards each other to set a uniform gap between the inside of the mold and the edge region (13) of the head element (12); - clamping the clamping element (38) to fix the plates (37) to each other; and - wherein at the beginning of the process, the molten metal is sufficiently cooled when being filled into the mould (3) of a continuous casting plant by contact with the upper side (15) of the head element (12) and the elevation(s) (16) provided there, so that this beginning of the process can be carried out without Cooling scrap is carried out.

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