Segment exchanger apparatus for a continuous casting installation and method of operating the same
AssigneeConcast AG
InventorHans Streubel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A segment exchanger apparatus for a continuous casting installation and a method of operating the same is disclosed, wherein there is provided an at least partially curved strand guide or roller apron subdivided into segments. The segments are mounted in stationary, straight guides. It is possible to pull any selected segment, by means of a flexible traction element operated by a stationary crane or equivalent structure, out of its stationary guide and through an inner pivotable track section. A replacement segment can be introduced, through the inner track section, into the stationary guide.
Claims10
A segment exchanger apparatus for a continuous casting installation comprising:
- at least partially curved roller apron means subdivided into segments;
- support frame means for mounting the segments, said support frame including stationary guide means for each segment;
- an inner track section;
- means for mounting said inner track section to be pivotal about a substantially horizontal axis so as to selectively be positionally adjustable with respect to any predetermined one of said stationary guide means;
- displaceable arresting means provided to cooperate with said pivotable inner track section for the aligned positioning and supporting of the track section at any of the stationary guide means for each segment dismantling position of the pivotable inner track section;
- said segments being provided with dismantling guide elements;
- said track section having guide surface means near the track section mounting means which, upon passage of any segment upon said track section, cooperates with the dismantling guide elements of the throughpassing segment for pivoting said segment during its throughpassage.
A method of operating a segment exchanger apparatus for a continuous casting installation comprising the steps of:
- providing at least partially curved roller apron means subdivided into segments, support frame means for mounting the segments, said support frame including stationary guide means for each segment, an inner track section mounted for pivotable movement about a substantially horizontal pivot axis so as to be selectively positionally adjustable with respect to any predetermined one of the stationary guide means, displaceable arresting means provided to cooperate with said pivotable inner track section for the aligned positioning and supporting of the track section at any one of the stationary guide means for each segment dismantling position of the pivotable inner track section, said segments being provided with dismantling guide elements, and
- said track section having guide surface means near the track section mounting means which, upon passage of any segment upon said track section, cooperates with the dismantling guide element of the throughpassing segment for pivoting said segment during its throughpassage;
- engaging the pivotable inner track section by means of a powering means arranged above the roller apron means;
- moving the engaged pivotable inner track section selectively into a position for coaction with a given one of the segments which is to be exchanged;
- inserting the arresting means in order to positionally fix said pivotable inner track section so as to coact with the stationary guide means of the segment to be exchanged;
- moving a flexible traction element by means of said powering means so as to be capable of engaging with the segment to be exchanged and connecting the flexible traction element with the segment;
- and
- then drawing the segment to be exchanged out of its stationary guide means and through said inner track section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.