Sliding closure device for metallurgical vessels

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sliding closure device (10) for a metallurgical vessel having a tapping hole (1) for discharging a metal melt or slag. The sliding closure device is provided with a slider housing (3) that can be fixed to the vessel (2) and a closing plate (6) that is movable within the tapping hole (1) to open and close the tapping hole. The sliding closure device (10) does not have a stationary closing plate, but only the movable closing plate (6), which is preferably moved directly onto a sliding surface (7) of a casing block (9) of the vessel (2) that extends around the tapping hole and is pressed against it by a pretensioning element. In this way, the sliding closure device (10) offers a structurally simpler configuration and user-friendly handling.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sliding closure device for a metallurgical vessel, comprising a slider housing that can be fixed to the vessel and includes a tapping hole for discharging a metal melt or slag, and a closure plate that is movable within the tapping hole to open and close the tapping hole. [Background technology]

[0002] A typical sliding closure device according to the published European Patent Application No. 2318559 provides a fixed, slidable closure plate for a copper anode furnace for refining copper smelt. The tapping spout is aligned laterally within the furnace vessel wall so that copper casting takes place in the furnace in an inclined position close to horizontal. The sliding closure device is therefore aligned approximately perpendicular to the furnace's central axis. The furnace, configured as a drum, includes not only a cylindrical steel jacket but also a refractory cladding. Perforated refractory bricks and refractory sleeves connected to the perforated bricks are embedded in the casting or discharge area, forming an outlet opening in either case. A fixed-position refractory closure plate and a sliding refractory closure plate are connected to the outlet opening, and the sliding displacement of the sliding plate allows the outlet from the furnace drum to be blocked, i.e., closed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] European Patent Application Publication No. 2318559 Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention is based on the object of providing a sliding closure device of the type mentioned in the preamble, which has a structurally simple design and is highly reliable, allowing simple operation and maintenance.

[0005] This object is solved according to the invention in that the sliding closure device does not involve a closure plate in a fixed position, but only comprises this sliding closure plate in a slider housing.

[0006] Such sliding closure devices offer many advantages over conventional designs with two or more closure plates: on the one hand, they are cheaper to manufacture because they have fewer components and therefore the casing block, closure plates and even the cast sleeve can be made from less expensive metal materials such as copper or steel;

[0007] On the other hand, sliding closures are less prone to malfunction and require simpler maintenance. This configuration also eliminates the need for manual plugging to close tapping holes.

[0008] The sliding closure device according to the invention can be easily adapted to any tapped hole. It is self-evident that these advantages are not limited to the use of the sliding closure device for the evacuation of slag.

[0009] The invention further provides a closing plate of the sliding closing device, which is pressed against the sliding surface of the furnace by a tension element arranged on the slider housing, which is released from tension outside the effective area during closing of the closing plate, allowing the closing plate to pivot outside the closing device housing in an unloaded state. In this way, the closing plate can be easily inspected and replaced as needed without requiring complicated operations.

[0010] In order to carry out the replacement of the closure plate with the simplest possible construction, the invention provides that the closure plate, on which rollers, preferably in pairs, are mounted, is mounted on a slide trolley, the rollers running on guides on the carrier frame of the slider housing, which are loaded by the tension elements, and that outside the effective working area of ​​the closure plate, the guides are formed as ramps, the angle of which is dimensioned so that the guides descend to a height where they are relieved by the tension elements, so that the tension from the tension elements can be released by further movement of the slide trolley.

[0011] To simplify the monitoring and replacement of the closing plate, the present invention further provides that the front pair of rollers of the slide trolley can rotate at the end of the ramp within a cutout opening in the pivoting portion of the carrier frame, while the rear pair of rollers can pivot through an intermediate space left open between the guides.

[0012] In order to extend the service life of the closure plate, the aim is to provide replaceable insert elements of metal, graphite or refractory material in areas of higher wear stress.

[0013] The invention further provides a protruding cast or drain sleeve connected to the closure plate, preferably aligned perpendicular to the sliding movement of the closure plate or at an angle of, for example, 30° to a line perpendicular to this sliding direction.

[0014] This casting or discharge sleeve serves as a guide for the drill or lance for drilling or burning the tapping hole before and after the slag discharge. It also helps to prevent slag spillage, especially at the start of tapping. Furthermore, its suitable shape allows the slag flow to be specifically directed in the direction of the channel.

[0015] It is particularly advantageous if the sliding surfaces of the furnace are formed by casing blocks made of copper or refractory material. However, such blocks can also be easily integrated into the tapped hole area of ​​the furnace cladding, with or without cooling, such as with water, air, nitrogen, ionic fluids, etc.

[0016] The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments and by making reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of a sliding closure device according to the invention in the closed position. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is a perspective longitudinal section of the sliding closure device according to FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sliding closure device of FIG. 1 with the slide trolley pivoted outward. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective longitudinal section of a variant of the sliding closure device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The sliding closure device 10 shown in Figures 1 to 3 is partially shown and serves to discharge slag through a tapping hole 1 in a metallurgical vessel 2 provided with a spout for discharging the metal melt. Such a metallurgical vessel is particularly suitable for casting or discharging non-ferrous metals such as copper or ferroalloys, but can also be used in converters, electric furnaces, etc., where steel is melted and slag is cast or discharged.

[0019] The sliding closure device 10 essentially consists of a slider housing 3, which can be fixed to the container 2, with a carrier frame 4 and a slide trolley 5 for the interchangeable reception of a closure plate 6. The latter closure plate is movable in the carrier frame 4 by means of a hydraulic cylinder 13, which can be coupled to the latter closure plate, the stroke length of which is specified during casting or unloading between the open and closed positions. The carrier frame 4 is in this situation provided with a hollow profile cross section on its four sides.

[0020] Connected to the closure plate 6 is a protruding casting or discharge sleeve 16 which, together with the tapping hole 1, runs at an angle of 30° to the perpendicular to the sliding direction of the closure plate 6. In the upright position of the furnace 2, its upper wall, on which the sliding closure device 10 is mounted together with its base plate 8, is likewise formed at an angle of 30° to the outside. The tapping hole 1 is therefore aligned so as to run approximately horizontally in this upright furnace position.

[0021] According to the present invention, the sliding closure device 10 comprises only the movable closure plate 6, without one or more other fixed closure plates. The closure plate 6 is movable by pressing directly against the sliding surface 7 of the casing block 9 in the container 2, which extends around the tapped hole 1. The casing block 9 is made of copper and / or a refractory material. In principle, it can also be made multi-layered or multi-component. The closure plate 6 can be provided in the area of ​​the passage hole with a replaceable insert made of metal, graphite, or a refractory material.

[0022] As a result, a crucial advantage of the present invention is derived, namely that the casing block 9, the closure plate 6, and / or the discharge or cast sleeve 16 can be made from inexpensive metallic materials such as steel, copper, etc. This simple formation of separate discharge or cast structures allows these elements to be very easily integrated into the furnace wall and to be operated with low maintenance.

[0023] The slide trolley 5 comprises two rollers 14a, 14b arranged laterally in pairs as slide elements that run along guides 15a, 15b on the carrier frame 4, so that they are subjected to the tension of the tension element 11 in the slider housing 3, and thus the pressing force of the tension element 11 is uniformly transmitted to the slide trolley 5 and to the closure plate 6. Of course, it is also possible to configure the slide elements as slide shoes, or conversely, to form the guides on the slide trolley and the slide elements on the frame 4. These guides 15a, 15b have their ends formed as ramps 19a, 19b, the inclination of which is dimensioned so that the guides descend to a height that relieves stress on the spring bolt 10. When the rollers 14a, 14b of the slide trolley 5 slide along the guides 15a, 15b and then slide down these ramps 19a, 19b, the tension is dissipated.

[0024] The slider trolley 5 with the closure plate 6 can be swiveled after the sliding movement outside the effective working range, outside the carrier frame 4, outside the frame or inside the frame by means of a swiveling device 20. This swiveling device 20 can be tilted from both sides of the carrier frame 4 and consists of swiveling parts 23 corresponding to the front roller pair 14a. These two swiveling parts 23 can be rotated in both cases to two positions.

[0025] In one position according to FIG. 1, these swivel parts 23 of the swivel device 20 each form, on the one hand, an upper limit stop 23a on the end side in one of the guides 15a so that, when in the operating state, the slide trolley 5 cannot be released from tension.

[0026] On the other hand, according to Fig. 2, in the swivel part 23, a notched opening 21 extending away from the furnace 2 allows the roller 14a to be introduced into such opening 21, as shown, so that by rotation of the swivel part 23, the roller 14a, and therefore the slide trolley 5, is carried onto the guide 15a and placed under tension. Similarly, the other roller pair 14b of the slide trolley is pushed through the corresponding intermediate space 22 between the guides 15a, 15b and then into the guide 15b.

[0027] When the slide trolley 5 is removed or swung, the swiveling parts 23 of the swiveling device 20 are rotated from the position with the raised boundary on the contrary, and the rollers 14a can be introduced into these notched openings 21 by means of the hydraulic cylinders 13 with a corresponding adjustment of the slide trolley 5, after which the slide trolley can be swung, as shown in Figure 3. When it is intended to move the slide trolley 5 away from the carrier frame 4, these swiveling parts 23 can be rotated downwards, as shown in Figure 2. As a result, monitoring or replacement of the closing plate 6 can be performed in a very user-friendly manner.

[0028] The sliding closure device 30 according to Figure 4 has essentially the same construction as the one according to Figures 1 to 3, so that in the following only the differences will be referred to, and the same reference numerals as those of the sliding closure device 10 described according to Figure 1 will be used.

[0029] The main difference with this sliding closure device 30 consists in the fact that the tapping holes 31, and with them the cast or discharge sleeve 36, are aligned with their axis perpendicular to the displacement direction of the closure plate 6. As a result, the use of this sliding closure device leads to a somewhat simpler structural design than that according to Figure 1. With the container 2 shown partially, the casing block 32 is shown on the inside of the wall of the container 2, extending up to the sliding surface 7 in contact with the closure plate 6. Therefore, a simple construction can then be achieved by tightly and sealingly connecting the container to the closure plate 6.

[0030] The sliding closure device according to the invention has the advantage, compared to conventional fixed-position and movable closure plates, that it requires fewer components and is therefore very user-friendly.

[0031] The described embodiment relates to a sliding closure device used for discharging slag. The sliding closure device according to the invention can also be used without further ado for casting metal melts.

[0032] The present invention has been adequately explained by the above exemplary embodiments. Other variants are also possible. In principle, instead of these rollers on the slide trolley, conventional guide rails could also be used, and the carrier frame 4 could be released from or fixed to the cast housing by other fixing means.

[0033] The casing block, closure plate and / or cast sleeve can also, in principle, be made of refractory material. The casing block can also be fitted with an insert on the sliding surface that contacts the closure plate.

Claims

1. A sliding closure device for a metallurgical vessel (2), comprising a slider housing (3) that can be fixed to the vessel (2), a tapping hole for casting a metal melt or slag, and a closure plate (6) that is movable in the slider housing (3) for opening and closing the tapping hole (1), The sliding closure device (10) does not have a fixed position closure plate, but has this movable closure plate (6), The movable closing plate (6) is pressed directly against a sliding surface (7) of a casing block (9, 32) in the metallurgical vessel (2) that extends around the tapped hole (1) by a tension element (11) arranged on a slider housing (3).

2. 2. The sliding closure device according to claim 1, wherein the slide trolley (5) is movably guided within the carrier frame (4) of the slider housing (3) provided with the closure plate (6), can be released from tension when moved outside the effective working area, and can be pivoted in and out of the carrier frame (4) by a pivoting device (20).

3. 3. The sliding closing device according to claim 2, characterized in that the sliding elements arranged laterally in the sliding trolley (5) run along guides (15a and 15b, respectively) of the carrier frame (4) of the slider housing (3) and are loaded by tension elements (11), the guides (15a, 15b) being formed as ramps (19a and 19b, respectively) outside the effective working area of ​​the closing plate (6), the inclination angle of which is dimensioned so that the guides there descend to a height at which they are relaxed by the tension elements.

4. 4. The sliding closing device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that one (14a) of the roller pair of the sliding trolley (5) formed as a sliding element can be received in a corresponding cutout opening (21) of the swiveling part (23) of the swiveling device (20) on the carrier frame (4), in either case at the end of a ramp (19a) formed outside the effective working area of ​​the closing plate (6), while the other (14b) of the roller pair formed as a sliding element can be swiveled through an intermediate space (22) remaining free between the guides (15a, 15b) of the carrier frame (4).

5. 5. The sliding closing device according to claim 4, characterized in that the swivel portion (23) of the swivel device (20) can be rotated to two positions, and in one of the positions, the swivel portion each forms an ascending boundary stop (23a) on the end side of one set (15a) of the guides so that the slide trolley (5) cannot be released from tension when the slide trolley (5) is in an operating state, while in the other position, the roller pair (14a) of the slide trolley (5) formed as a slide element can be received in these notched openings (21) to swivel the slide trolley outward and inward, respectively.

6. 6. A sliding closure device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the closure plate (6) is provided with a replaceable insert made of metal, graphite or refractory material.

7. 7. The sliding closing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the sliding surface (7) of the closing plate (6) is formed by a casing block (9), integrated into the housing cladding, and made of copper or a refractory material.

8. 8. The sliding closure device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the tapping hole (1), the closure plate (6) and the protruding casting or discharge sleeve (16) are aligned vertically or at an angle of 60° to the closure plate (6).

9. 9. The sliding closing device according to claim 1, wherein the tension element (11) is in each case formed and associated on parallel axes in the slider housing (3) by two symmetrically arranged carrier frames (4), and has the effect of tensioning the carrier frames (4) relative to the slide trolley (5).

10. 10. Use of the sliding closure device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 for a metallurgical vessel provided with a tapping hole, by means of which the sliding closure device (10, 30) is provided with a slider housing (3) that can be fixed to the metallurgical vessel (2), and a closing plate (6) that is movable in the tapping hole for opening and closing the tapping hole (1, 31), characterized in that the sliding closure device (10, 30) is used for discharging slag, and in this situation only this sliding closing plate (6) is provided without a closing plate in a fixed position.

11. The use described in claim 10, characterized in that the closing plate (6), made of copper plate, can slide directly on a sliding surface (7) extending around the tapping hole (1) of the casing block (9, 32) in the metallurgical vessel (2).

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