US 6,640,691 B2 · Continuous casting ladle lift bearing system

Abstract

A bearing system for accommodating angular movements occurring during operation of a linear actuator in a lifting structure for a ladle containing liquid steel in a continuous casting installation. Annular bearings on a piston and in an end wall of a piston and cylinder assembly allow free rotation of the piston about a first axis during controlled excursions of translating motion by the piston along the cylinder. A first attachment shaft is joined by cylindrical bearings to the arms of a first clevis for only sliding rotational motion about a second axis. A second attachment shaft secured to a second clevis carries a cylindrical bearing between the clevis arms for only sliding rotational motion about a third axis parallel with the second axis. A saddle is secured to an attachment on the piston rod and having an elongated annular load-bearing surface defining a fourth axis extending along a force transmitting junction with the first attachment shaft. A second pivot block anchored for support by the actuator support base has an elongated annular load-bearing surface defining a fifth axis extending along a force transmitting junction with the cylindrical bearing of the second attachment shaft.

Claims42

Dependent claims

The combination of an actuator including an actuator shaft having annular bearing surfaces centered about a first axis for free rotation about said first axis during controlled excursions of translating motion by said actuator shaft along said first axis, and a bearing system comprising:

an attachment shaft joined by spaced apart cylindrical surfaces lying at opposite sides of said first axis to a clevis for only sliding rotational motion about a second axis centered along said cylindrical surfaces;
and an anchored pivot block with an elongated annular load-bearing surface intercepted by said first axis and joined in a force transmitting relation with said actuator to allow only rolling rotational motion from a third axis extending along said annular load-bearing surface.

The combination of:

an actuator support base;
an actuator including a piston having an annular piston bearing slidable in an elongated cylinder along a first axis, an actuator shaft extending from said piston along an annular cylinder bearing secured to said cylinder for free rotation of said piston and actuator shaft about said first axis during controlled excursions of translating motion by said piston along said cylinder;
and a bearing system comprising a first attachment shaft joined by spaced apart cylindrical bearings to spaced apart arms of a first clevis for only sliding rotational motion about a second axis centered along said cylindrical bearings, a first pivot block anchored for support by said actuator shaft and having an elongated annular load-bearing surface defining a third axis extending along a force transmitting junction with said first attachment shaft, a second attachment shaft secured to spaced apart arms of a second clevis, a cylindrical bearing mounted on said second attachment shaft between the spaced apart arms of said second clevis for only sliding rotational motion about a fourth axis centered along said cylindrical bearing and parallel with said second axis, and a second pivot block anchored for support by said actuator support base and having an elongated annular load-bearing surface defining a fifth axis extending along a force transmitting junction with said cylindrical bearing of said second attachment shaft, said third axis and said fifth axis being parallel and the elongated annular load-bearing surface of each of said first pivot block and said second pivot block allowing only simultaneous rolling rotational motion from each of said third axis and said fifth axis.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Continuous casting ladle lift bearing system

Life of this patent

Continuous casting ladle lift bearing system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims42