GB2171348A

GB2171348A - Attaching a pouring tube below a metallurgical vessel

Info

Publication number: GB2171348A
Application number: GB08604353A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rolf Waltenspuhl
Original assignee: Stopinc AG
Current assignee: Stopinc AG
Priority date: 1985-02-23
Filing date: 1986-02-21
Publication date: 1986-08-28
Also published as: FR2577829A1; DE3506427C2; ZA861327B; CA1261622A; DE3506427A1; FR2577829B1; GB8604353D0; GB2171348B

Abstract

Vessel (1) has an outlet passage (2) to which a pouring tube (6) is to be removably connected. The pouring tube (6) is carried by a carrier ring (7) which is mounted by means of e.g. bearing pegs (8), at the bifurcated end (9) of an actuating lever (10). The actuating lever (10) is supported by means of one or more support bodies (13) supported on one or more tracks (12) connected to the underside of the vessel. Support bodies (13) permit longitudinal and pivotal movement of the actuating lever (10) with respect to the vessel. The actuating lever (10) is further supported by one or more further support bodies (17) which are also supported by the track or tracks (12). The support bodies can move along the track to bring the pouring tube into the desired position horizontally and can then pivot about the support member(s) to bring it into the desired vertical position. In another embodiment, the further support bodies are formed by lateral extensions of the bearing pegs (8) which co-operate with extended tracks. End abutment means, which may be adjustable, determine the extent of horizontal movement of the lever (10) along the tracks. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Metallurgical vessels The invention relates to metallurgical vessels and is concerned with such vessels including apparatus for removably connecting a pouring tube to the outlet passage thereof of the type including a carrier ring supporting the pouring tube which is carried at the end of an actuating lever which in turn is pivotable about a horizontal axis at a lever support point spaced from the carrier ring in order to be able to pivot the pouring tube into contact with the outlet of the vessel.

In an apparatus of this type which is disclosed in DE-OS 2621557 a support bearing is secured to the outlet gate of the vessel which has a laterally open suspension recess for suspending the actuating lever in a vertical carrier mounted somewhat laterally and below the outlet gate. The lever is pivotable about a horizontal axis with respect to the carrier and carries the pouring tube at one end whilst the other end of the lever is loaded by weights so that the pouring tube is pressed against the outlet gate.

This known apparatus has the disadvantage that the actuating lever which is suspended in the support bearing in the vicinity of the outlet gate with the heavy pouring tube hanging from it can only be moved in a very limited manner back and forth in a radial direction with respect to the outlet gate. To suspend the lever the operative must work beneath the vessel containing the molten metal despite the fact that the space between the vessel and the distributor channel situated beneath it is in practice often very restricted. Exchanging the pouring tube whilst pouring is essentially not possible for reasons of safety. Furthermore it is absolutely necessary in this known apparatus that the operative has a clear view of the apparatus beneath the vessel in order to be able to centre the pouring tube precisely with respect to the vessel outlet.

It is an object of the present invention to provide in an apparatus of simple construction which may be simply manipulated and which renders it possible to be able to advance the pouring tube to the outlet opening of the vessel from a safe position whereby even without a clear view a centering of the pouring tube is automatically effected.

According to the present invention there is provided a metallurgical vessel including an apparatus for removably connecting a pouring tube to the outlet passage thereof, the apparatus including a carrier ring supporting the pouring tube and carried at the end of an actuating lever and a lever support spaced from the carrier ring and including at least one substantially horizontal track disposed below the vessel and at least one first support member which is connected to the actuating lever and which is movable along the track whilst supporting the actuating lever and which permits pivotal movement of the actuating lever with respect thereto about a substantially horizontal axis, the actuating lever being additionally supported on the said at least one track by at least one further support member which can move longitudinally with respect to the track and is connected to the lever at a position closer to the carrier ring than the said at least one first support member. The apparatus has the advantage that it is unnecessary for the operative to work beneath the metallurgical vessel in order to connect the pouring tube to the vessel outlet and that a precise centering of the pouring tube with respect to the vessel outlet is effected automatically.

One embodiment includes a single hollow track which extends radially with respect to the outlet passage, the first support member being supported on two track surfaces, afforded by two opposed, inwardly extending flanges which together define a longitudinal slot, the first support member being accommodated within the track and connected to the actuating lever by a connecting member which extends through the longitudinal slot. Preferably the end section of the hollow track closest to the outlet passage of the vessel has an abutment for engagement by the further support member and is open at the top, whereby when the actuating lever is pivoted about the substantially horizontal axis the further support member situated in the said end section of the track lifts away upwardly from the track.

An alternative embodiment includes two spaced parallel tracks, preferably of L shape or T shape, the actuating lever carrying two substantially horizontal opposed pegs supported on the tracks and adapted to slide with respect thereto which constitute the first support member and the tracks also supporting two further members adapted to slide relative thereto which support the actuating lever at the end carrying the pouring tube and constitute the further support members.Preferably each track has a first track surface extending over parts of its length ancl supporting a respective first support member and a second track surface supporting a respective further support member which is lower than the first track surface, the first track surfaces being associated with a recess or an abutment for limiting the travel of the first support members and defining the horizontal position at which the pouring tube is to be connected to the outlet passage. It is preferred that the carrier ring is pivotally connected by means of radially extending bearing pegs to a bifurcated end of the actuating lever, the bearing pegs constituting the further support members.The vessel preferably includes a vertical guide plate connected thereto on opposite sides of the outlet passage, which plates have an open-bottomed slot positioned to accommodate and guide the movement of the bearing pegs and to prevent further movement thereof when the pouring tube has reached its desired position with respect to the vessel outlet. The bifurcated end and the remainder of the actuating lever are conveniently separate components which are plug connected and including locking means which restrains relative longitudinal movement but permits relative rotation about the longitudinal axis of the lever.

Further features and details of the invention will be apparent from the following description of certain examplary embodiments of apparatus for connecting a pouring tube to a metallurgical vessel which is given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of an apparatus with a single track, partly in section; Figure 2 is a scrap elevation in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view, similar to Figure 1, of a further embodiment of the apparatus with two tracks; Figure 4 is a sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 3 on the line 4/4 in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 of an apparatus similar to that of Figure 3 but with modified locking means; and Figure 6 is a scrap view of a further modified construction of the locking means.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2, a metallurgical vessel 1, shown broken away in Figure 1, has an outlet passage 2 on its underside. The outlet is constituted in this case by the bore in a sliding gate valve 3, 4 communicating with a passage 5 in the base of the vessel 1. If such a valve is not provided the outlet passage may be constituted by the passage 5.

A pouring tube 6, which is shown broken away in Figure 1, is to be connected with the aid of the apparatus in accordance with the invention to the vessel outlet passage and is illustrated in the connected position in Figure 1. The pouring tube 6 is supported in a carrier ring 7 which is pivotally carried by the bifurcated end 9 of an actuating lever 10 with the aid of two radially opposed, inwardly extending bearing pegs 8 on the arms of the lever 10 which extend into holes in the ring 7. The lever 10 comprises the bifurcated end 9 and an arm 10' which in this case constitutes a tube, which are plug connected together and retained in their relative longitudinal position by a peg 11 which permits at least limited relative rotation about the longitudinal axis of the lever.By virtue of the articulated mounting by means of the bearing pegs 8 and by virtue of the described connection between the bifurcated end 9 and the arm 10' the pouring tube 6 thus has the freedom of movement in mutually perpendicular directions which is necessary for a precise and sealed connection of the pouring tube to the outlet passage 2.

Spaced from the carrier ring 7 is an actuating lever support in the form of a track 12 and a support body 13 supported thereby and connected to the actuating lever 10 for moving the latter into the position illustrated in Figure 1 in which the pouring tube 6 is connected to the outlet opening 2. The actuating lever 10 is pivotable about the horizontal axis of the support body 13 which is preferably round in cross-section and in this case comprises a roller.

As may be seen from Figure 2, the track 12 is constructed as a hollow profile trackwhich has a horizontal, inwardly extending track surface 15 on each side of a longitudinal slot 14which together support the roller 13. A connecting member 16 extends between the roller 13 and the actuating lever 10 and through the longitudinal slot4 of the track 12.

The track 12 is secured to the base of the vessel centrally with respect to the outlet passage 2 and extends substantially horizontally below the vessel 1.

In addition to supporting the actuating lever during pivoting of the same for connecting the pouring tube 6 to the outlet passage 2, the track 12 serves also to advance the pouring tube 6 into its final position. For this purpose the lever 10 is additionally supported by the track by means of a further support member 17 which is longitudinally movable along the track 12. This support member 17, which is constructed as a slider or as a roller is connected to the actuating lever 10, in this case between the bifurcated end 9 and support body 13, by means of a connecting member 18 that extends through the longitudinal slot 14 of the track 12.The support member 17 normally engages the surfaces 15 but the end section 19 of the track 12 closest to the outlet passage 2 is open at the top so that when the actuating lever 10 is pivoted the support member 17, which is situated in the track end section 19, can lift away upwardlyfrom the track 12, as shown in Figure 1.An abutment 20 at the end of the track limits the movement of the support member 17 during its advance and determines the correct position for pivoting the lever and connecting the pouring tube to the outlet opening.

In the modified embodiment of Figures 3 and 4, two tracks 22 are connected to and disposed below the vessel 1 on either side of the outlet passage 2 extending substantially horizontally and generally tangentially from the latter. The further support members which serve to take the weight of the pouring tube 6 during its advance into the final position are constituted by two sliders 8' which are longitudinally movable on the two tracks 22 and which in this case comprise the bearing pegs 8 which extend radially outwardly through the carrier ring 7 and which pivotally connect the carrier ring 7 and the bifurcated end 9 of the actuating lever 10.

The actuating lever 10 and its connection to the pouring tube 6 by means of the carrier ring 7 is similar to that ofthe embodiment of Figures 1 and 2.

In both embodiments a different articulated mounting can be provided instead of the bearing pegs 8 by replacing the latter by transverse sliders to take the weight of the pouring tube 6 on the actuating lever 10 which are longitudinally movable on the tracks 12 or 22 in order to advance the pouring tube 6 into the final position. In the embodiment with two tracks 22 the two bearing pegs 8 are, however, very suitable for this purpose.

The tracks 22 have an L-shaped or T-shaped cross-section whereby a horizontal track surface 23, along which the sliding bodies or bearing pegs 8 move, is defined on its outer edge by a respective upstanding surface 24 for the purpose of lateral guiding.

The two tracks 22 are each secured to the vessel 1 by means of a mounting 25. Directly above each track 22 a track surface 26 is provided on each mounting 25 externally engaging the track 22, which track surface is higher than the track surface 23 of the associated track and extends parallel to the track surface 23. The two track surfaces 26 serve as a supportfortwo pegs 27 which are horizontally disposed on the actuating lever 10 in opposition to one another transverse to the lever and which constitute the support bodies and about whose horizontal axes the actuating lever 10 is pivotable.

The bearing pegs 8 slide on the track surface 23 from the right-hand end of the track as seen in the drawing to the left for the purpose of advancing the pouring tube 6 into the position for connection to the outlet passage 2 of the vessel 1. Shortly before the end of this movement the pegs 27 come into sliding contact with the two upper track surfaces 26, at the end of each of which there is an abutment 28. When the pouring tube has reached the desired position its movement is terminated by engagement of the pegs 27 with the abutments 28. Each abutment can be adjusted by means of a set screw 29.

The locking or abutment means for establishing the final position of the pouring tube 6 can be differently constructed, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

In the apparatus of Figure 5 a vertical guide plate 30 is disposed on each side of the outlet passage 2 which have a vertical slot 31 for the guiding of and abutment by the bearing pegs 8 which are secured to the carrier ring 7 and which move upwardly on pivoting of the actuating lever 10. The slot 31 guides the bearing pegs 8 into the correct position in order to connect the pouring tube 6 to the outlet passage 2 of the vessel 1. Such guiding means can also be used in the apparatus of Figure 1.

In the further embodiment which is illustrated in part in Figure 6, recesses 32 are provided at the end of somewhat upwardly inclined track surfaces 26 which are afforded by the track mountings 25.

Movement of the lever 10 is terminated when the pegs 27 are engaged in the recesses 32.

In all the embodiments of the invention the actuating lever 10 is loaded after connection of the pouring tube 6 to the outlet passage 2 of the vessel 1 at the end opposite to the pouring tube by a weight or an appropriate downward force, which is not shown in the drawings, so that the pouring tube is only held against the vessel by this force and is thus only indirectly connected thereto.

When determining the distance between the outlet passage 2 and the abutment 20 or 28 of Figure 1 or 3 it is advantageous if this is a few millimetres smaller than the theoretical distance necessary for a precise alignment of the pouring tube at the outlet passage so that the changes in length which may occur as a result of the extreme operating conditions do not result in the pouring tube not being movable up to the full height of the outlet passage.

Claims

1. A metallurgical vessel including apparatus for removably connecting a pouring tube to the outlet passage thereof, the apparatus including a carrier ring supporting the pouring tube and carried at the end of an actuating lever and a lever support spaced from the carrier ring and including at least one substantially horizontal track disposed below the vessel and at least one first support member which is connected to the actuating lever and which is movable along the track whilst supporting the actuating lever and which permits pivotal movement of the actuating lever with respect thereto about a substantially horizontal axis, the actuating lever being additionally supported on the said at least one track by at least one further support member which can move longitudinally with respect to the track and is connected to the lever at a position closer to the carrier ring than the said at least one first support member.

2. A vessel as claimed in claim 1, including a sngle hollow track which extends radially with respect to the outlet passage, the first support member being supported on two track surfaces afforded by two opposed, inwardly extending flanges which together define a longitudinal slot, the first support member being accommodated within the track and connected to the actuating lever by a connecting member which extends through the longitudinal slot.

3. A vessel as claimed in claim 2, in which the end section of the hollow track closest to the outlet passage of the vessel has an abutment for engagement by the further support member and is open at the top, whereby when the actuating lever is pivoted about the substantially horizontal axis the further support member situated in the said end section of the track lifts away upwardly from the track.

4. A vessel as claimed in claim 1, including two spaced parallel tracks, the actuating lever carrying two substantially horizontal opposed pegs supported on the tracks and adapted to slide with respect thereto which constitute the first support members and the tracks also supporting two further members adapted to slide relative thereto which support the actuating lever at the end carrying the pouring tube and constitute the further support members.

5. Avessel as claimed in claim 4, in which each track has a first track surface extending over part of its length and supporting a respective first support member and a second track surface supporting a respective further support member which is lower than the first track surface, the first track surfaces being associated with a recess or an abutment for limiting the travel of the first support members and defining the horizontal position at which the pouring tube is to be connected to the outlet passage.

6. A vessel as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, in which the carrier ring is pivotally connected by means of radially extending bearing pegs to a bifurcated end of the actuating lever, the bearing pegs constituting the further support members.

7. A vessel as claimed in claim 6, including a vertical guide plate connected thereto on opposite sides of the outlet passage, which plates have an open-bottomed slot positioned to accommodate and guide the movement of the bearing pegs and to prevent further movement thereof when the pouring tube has reached its desired position with respect to the vessel outlet.

8. A vessel as claimed in claim 6, in which the bifurcated end and the remainder of the actuating lever are separate components which are plug connected and include locking means which restrains relative longitudinal movement but permits relative rotation about the longitudinal axis of the lever.

9. A metallurgical vessel including apparatus for removably connecting a pouring tube to the outlet passage thereof substantially as specifically herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 3 and 4, optionally as modified by Figure 5 or Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.