Title of Invention

STRIP CASTING MACHINE CONSISTING OF TWO CASTING ROLLS

Abstract

Strip casting machine consisting of two casting rolls (1, 2, 21) which are arranged in parallel and which form a casting gap (6) bounded at both sides by means of narrow side parts (5), and a frame (3, 23) carrying the casting rolls (1, 2, 21), wherein the casting rolls (1,2,21) have cooled bodies consisting of a substantially cylindrical mantle (27), which form the settable casting gap (6) and are provided with bearing shafts (8, 9) for supporting the casting rolls (1,2,21) on the frame (3, 23), characterised in that the mantle (27) of the respective casting roll (1,2,21) is supported by way of at least one support element, particularly support elements (29, 29") arranged at both ends, rotatably arranged on a stationary axle (24) fixed at the frame (3, 23) or is supported on the axle (24) by way of at least one rotatably arranged support element, particularly support elements (29, 29") projecting at both ends into the mantle (27), wherein at least one support element (29) is drivable. Figure 1.

Full Text

The present invention relates to a strip casting machine consisting of two casting rolls which are arranged in parallel. It is known to produce by means of continuous casting devices continuous strips of a liquid metal, in particular of a molten steel. In this context, the liquid metal is supplied continuously to a casting gap which is defined by driven casting rolls. Before and in the casting gap the liquid metal solidifies, and an at least partially solidified strip is transported out by the casting rolls. This strip can be subjected to further continuous or discontinuous operations such as cooling, reheating, hot or cold rolling, profile transformation, surface finishing, trimming etc. It is furthermore known to delimit the casting gap in continuous casting devices comprising two substantially parallel arranged casting rolls by means of narrow side parts. Such narrow side parts rest against end faces of the casting rolls or can be inserted between mantle surfaces or roll barrels of the casting rolls and can be slidingly arranged, for example, for a format adjustment of the strip. The casting rolls are arranged on a frame and are movable or pivotable substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the casting rolls for adjusting the strip thickness. For cooling the liquid metal the casting rolls, especially the roll barrels of the casting rolls, are cooled intensively from the interior and/or exterior by means of a cooling medium. In general, the casting rolls are comprised of different materials wherein a material with high heat conductivity is selected for the cooled roll barrels and a high strength steel is selected for the bearing shafts and the roll core. The bearing shafts, the roll core, and the roll barrels form a roll unit which is driven in rotation by means of a drive. The drive moment is introduced into the roll shafts and transmitted by them onto the roll barrels. This configuration known from the classic rolling mill construction or the classic construction of drive rolls for continuous casting devices for billet or slab requires laterally of the casting device space for the drives and decreases accordingly the lateral accessibility of the casting gap and of the narrow side parts which delimit the casting gap in its length. This known casting roll construction affects furthermore also the frame construction, the space requirement for multi-strand devices, the exchange of casting rolls and narrow side parts, the oxidation protection of the liquid metal and of the cast strip, and the activities for operating or maintaining the device. It is an object of the invention to construct a continuous casting device which overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages and which in particular has an optimal ratio between device width and casting strip width, a simple configuration, and a better accessibility for the roll exchange as well as for advancing and exchanging the narrow side parts delimiting the casting gap, and ensures by means of its compact configuration a better oxidation protection of the metal feed and the cast product. Accordingly the present invention provides a strip casting machine consisting of two casting rolls which are arranged in parallel and which form a casting gap bounded at both sides by means of narrow side parts, and a frame carrying the casting rolls, wherein the casting rolls have cooled bodies consisting of a substantially cylindrical mantle, which form the settable casting gap and are provided with bearing shafts for supporting the casting rolls on the frame, characterised in that the mantle of the respective casting roll is supported by way of at least one support element, particularly support elements arranged at both ends, rotatably arranged on a stationary axle fixed at the frame or is supported on the axle by way of at least one rotatably arranged support element, particularly support elements projecting at both ends into the mantle, wherein at least one support element is drivable. With the invention it is possible to place the casting roll drive such that the requirements mentioned with respect to the object can be satisfied. Furthermore, the configuration of the roll can be better adjusted to the requirements of the casting roll in the sense of a cooled casting die, which can be taken from the further explanations. In addition to the oxidation protection of the metal feed, an oxidation protection of the cast product with a corresponding quality improvement is also more easily possible in the continuous casting device according to the invention. The support elements can be, on the one hand, a part of the mantle and/or, on the other hand, a part of the stationary axle. All support elements can also be a part of the cooled mantle of the casting roll so that the mantle is formed together with the support elements as a monolithic part and is supported on the stationary axle in a rotating manner. Advantageously, the support elements are formed as concentric support rings connectable to the mantle and are supported on the stationary axle. The drive can engage, for example, directly or indirectly on the mantle part of the casting roll. An advantageous solution is achieved when the first part of the length of the support ring projects into the mantle and has cooling water supply and removal bores for the cooling water circulation between the stationary axle and the mantle. A second part of the length of the support rings projects from the mantle and is provided with bearing and drive elements on at least one side for the purpose of a rotary movement of the mantle connected rigidly to the support rings on the stationary axle. A clamping ring with engaging wedges is provided between the support rings and the mantle. The cast roll drive can be realized in various ways according to the known solutions of the prior art. An advantageous and simple solution results when on the support ring a gear ring is fastened that engages operatively with a toothing of a stationary drive. A drive gearbox can, for example, be flanged to the stationary axle. In the sense of an alternative solution, it is suggested that one or more annular torque motors drive the mantle via the support rings. Especially advantageous is a drive of the casting rolls by means of a motor arranged on or at the axle, preferably in the form of a brushless annular torque motor. Different solutions are possible for supplying and removing the cooling medium through the stationary axle and the support rings toward the mantle of the casting roll. In the sense of an advantageous construction variant, it is suggested to provide the support rings preferably with radial bores and grooves for the supply of the cooling medium from the stationary axle into the mantle. In this context, the stationary axle can be provided on both sides with axial bores and in the end area of the axial bores with radial bores which are aligned with the grooves of the support rings. Cooling of the mantle itself can also be realized according to different solutions known in the prior art for circulation of the cooling medium. A simple and very cooling-effective solution results when the mantle is provided with bores extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the roll about its circumference for realizing a cooling medium circulation wherein the flow direction changes from bore to bore. The number of bores must therefore be an even number. In order to shorten the exchange time for the casting rolls, the stationary axle is provided with cooling medium supply and removal devices which, upon placement of the roll on or removal of the roll from the frame, couple or decouple simultaneously the cooling medium supply or removal lines and/or water clamping plates for supplying water and/or multi-couplings for grease, energy supply, gas connections for, for example, inert gas or air, and the control are provided. A simple and fast positioning and fixation of the casting rolls is achieved when the stationary axle on both sides of the mantle is provided with a stop and a support surface, respectively, and when support and stop surfaces are arranged on the frame for placing the casting rolls on the frame from above. For securing the stationary axle, a pivot arm as a securing device can be connected, for example, on each side of the stand. For calming the metal bath in the casting gap, an electromagnetic brake can be arranged. A special advantage with respect to placing and fastening such an electromagnetic brake is seen in that it can be stationarily arranged on the stationary axle. In the following the invention will be additionally explained with the aid of construction examples. It is shown in: Fig. 1 a schematic view of a partially illustrated continuous casting device; Fig. 2 a vertical section of a casting roll; Fig. 3 an enlarged'detail of a casting roll with cooled mantle and direct drive by means of an annular torque motor. In Fig. 1 two substantially parallel arranged casting rolls 1 and 2 with cylindrical mantles 4 are arranged on a frame 3 illustrated by dash-dotted lines. A casting gap 6 delimited by narrow side parts 5 on both sides of the casting rolls 1, 2 is illustrated by dimension lines. Such a casting gap 6 can be between 1-15 rom, preferably 1.5-5 rom. Bearing shafts 8, 9 of the casting rolls 1, 2 are squared at the support surfaces 10, 11. Stop surfaces 12, 13 of the bearing shafts 8, 9 are used as roll stops on the frame 3. At least one of the stop surfaces 12,13 of the bearing shafts 8, 9 is adjustable by means of position-controlled cylinders arranged on the frame 3 for selecting the desired casting gap. For reasons of simplification only a double arrow is illustrated in Fig. 1 in this respect. The alignment of the stationary roll can be realized with position-controlled cylinders. For this purpose, it is also possible to employ adjusting spindles or other identically acting adjusting means. The gear wheels for driving the casting rolls 1, 2 are schematically illustrated at 15, 15'. Such continuous casting devices can be used for different casting metals, preferably for the manufacture of steel strip. In Fig. 2 the numeral 21 illustrates a casting roll on an enlarged scale relative to Fig. 1. The casting roll 21 is supported on a frame 23 that is only partially illustrated. An axle 24 penetrating the entire roll 21 is supported with its square ends with approximately a length 25 on the frame 23. The dimension arrow 26 indicates the length of a roll barrel of the casting roll 21. This roll barrel is comprised essentially of a cylindrical mantle 27 which is connected rigidly by means of engaging wedges 28 with clamping ring to two support rings 29, 29'. The mantle 27 is cooled by a cooling medium, preferably water. The two support rings 29, 29' are supported by means of slide bearings, ball bearings or roller bearings 31 on the axle 24. A first part of the length of the support rings 29, 29' extends into the mantle 27 and is provided with radial supply and removal bores 32 for cooling water which lead into grooves 33. The grooves 33 are aligned with radial supply and removal bores 34, 42 of the stationary axle 24 and the mantle 27. Via further bores 30, 30' in the axle 24, the cooling water is supplied from the frame 23 into the support rings 29, 29' and the mantle 27. A second part of the length of the support rings 29, 29' projects from the mantle 27 and the support ring 29 is in operative connection with the drive, for example, with a gear drive 36 for the casting roll 21. The gear drive 36, if desired, can be flanged onto the stationary axle 24. It engages a gear ring 37 that is fixedly screwed onto the support ring 29. In the sense of an alternative solution, it is possible to drive the casting roll 21 with one or several annular torque motors in place of the illustrated gear wheel drive 36, 37. The cooling of the roll barrels of the casting roll or of the cylindrical mantles 27 can be ensured along its periphery by cooling water circulation in axially arranged bores 39. The coupling and decoupling of the cooling water supply to the casting rolls 21 is realized simultaneously with the placement of the roll 21 onto or the removal of the roll 21 from the frame 23 by water clamping plates for water and/or via multi-couplings for the grease, energy supply, the supply of gases, for example, inert gas or air, and the control. For securing the stationary axle 21, a pivot lever 40 is connected, for example, on each side of the support 23, respectively. The configuration of the roll allows an especially advantageous mounting of an electromagnetic brake 41 within the casting roll 21 between the stationary axle 24 and the rotating mantle 27. The electromagnetic brake can calm turbulences in the metal bath, especially in the bath level above the casting gap. The electromagnetic brake is arranged advantageously stationarily on the stationary axle. In the case of casting rolls 21 for wide strips, the cylindrical mantle 27 can have additional support rings, which are arranged between the two support rings 29, 29', for supporting the mantle 27 on the stationary axle 24. These additional support rings are also connected to the mantle 27 and are radially and axially supported on the axle 24 by means of ball bearings or roller bearings. In Fig. 2 the mantle 27 is illustrated as a cylindrical body. Without deviating from the gist of the invention, the mantle 27 can also have a slight crown bow or conical shape. Fig. 3 shows on an enlarged scale one side of the casting roll 1. Here, the cooled mantle is shown as a two-part embodiment. The mantle part 27', which contains the hot mantle roll barrel, is cooled by means of axially extending bores 39 carrying the cooling medium. The other mantle part 27 is provided as a single part with a support element 29'. Both mantle parts 27, 27' are preferably connected by electron beam welding. The mantle part 27 or its support element 29' is rotatably supported by means of the bearing element 31 on the stationary axle 24. The drive of the thus shaped casting roll is realized preferably by means of a brushless annular torque motor 35 directly arranged on the axle 24. Easily recognizable are also the cooling medium supply and removal devices 30 drilled into the axle 24. The other side of the casting roll, which is not illustrated, is of identical design, with or without drive. WE CLAIM : 1. Strip casting machine consisting of two casting rolls (1, 2, 21) which are arranged in parallel and which form a casting gap (6) bounded at both sides by means of narrow side parts (5), and a frame (3, 23) carrying the casting rolls (1, 2, 21), wherein the casting rolls (1,2,21) have cooled bodies consisting of a substantially cylindrical mantle (27), which form the settable casting gap (6) and are provided with bearing shafts (8, 9) for supporting the casting rolls (1,2,21) on the frame (3, 23), characterised in that the mantle (27) of the respective casting roll (1,2,21) is supported by way of at least one support element, particularly support elements (29, 29') arranged at both ends, rotatably arranged on a stationary axle (24) fixed at the frame (3, 23) or is supported on the axle (24) by way of at least one rotatably arranged support element, particularly support elements (29, 29') projecting at both ends into the mantle (27), wherein at least one support element (29) is drivable. 2. Strip casting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support elements (29, 29') are concentric support rings connectible with the mantle (27). 3. Strip casting machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the cylindrical mantle (27) is supported between the two support rings (29, 29') on the stationary axle (24) by additional support rings. 4. Strip casting machine as claimed in claim 1 or 3, wherein the support elements (29, 29') are part of the mantle (27). 5. Strip casting machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a first part of the length of the support elements or the support rings (29, 29') projects into the mantle and has feed and removal bores (32) for circulation of a coolant between the stationary axle (24) and the mantle (27) and a second part of the length of the support elements or the support rings (29, 29') projects out a the mantle (27) and is provided with bearing (31) and drive elements (37) for rotational movement of the mantle (27), which is provided with the support elements, or of the mantle (27), which is rigidly connected with the support rings (29, 29'), on the stationary axle (24). 6. Strip casting machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a gear ring (37), which is disposed in operative connection with a toothing of a stationary drive (36), is fastened to the support ring (29). 7. Strip casting machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein a drive gear (36) is flange-mounted on the stationary axle (24). 8. Strip casting machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein one or more annular torque motors drive the mantle (27) by way of the support rings (29). 9. Strip casting machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the support rings (29, 29') are preferably provided with radial bores (32) and grooves (33) for the feed of coolant from the stationary axle (24) to the mantle (27). 10. Strip casting machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein the stationary axles (24) are provided at both ends with axial (30') and radial bores (34), which are aligned with the grooves (33) of the support rings (29, 29'). 11. Strip casting machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the mantle (27) is provided along the circumference thereof with axially arranged bores (39) for circulation of coolant. 12. Strip casting machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein engaging wedges (28) with a clamping ring are provided between the support rings (29,29') and the mantle (27). 13. Strip casting machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the stationary axle (24) is provided with coolant feed and removal bores (30), which simultaneously couple or uncouple coolant feed and removal lines (35) in the frame (23) when the casting roll (21) is placed on and lifted off the frame (23). 14. Strip casting machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the stationary axle (24) is provided at both ends of the mantle (27) with a respective stop surfaces (12, 13) and contact surface (10,11) and that stop and contact surfaces are arranged at the frame for laying on of the castinng rolls from above. 15. Strip casting machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein for fixing the stationary axle (24) a respective securing device (40) is provided at each of the two sides of the frame (23). 16. Strip casting machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein an electromagnetic brake (41) for the metal bath between the rollers is arranged between the rotating mantle (27) and the stationary axle (24). 17. Strip casting machine as claimed in claim 16, wherein the electromagnetic brake (41) is arranged within the casting rolls (21) to be stationary on the stationary axle (24). 18. Strip casting machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the drive (36) of the casting rolls (1,2,21) is carried out by way of a motor, preferably a brushless annular torque motor, arranged on or at the axle. 19. Strip casting machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the casing (27) is of unitary or multi-part construction. 20. Strip casting machine as claimed in claim 19, wherein the connection of the mantle parts (27, 27') is preferably an electron beam weld connection. 21. Strip casting machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the mantle shell (27) is constructed from two or more sleeves of different materials. 22. Strip casting machine consisting of two casting rolls, substantially as hereinabove described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

abstract in-pct-2002-249-che.jpg

in-pct-2002-249-che abstract.pdf

in-pct-2002-249-che claims.pdf

in-pct-2002-249-che correspondence others.pdf

in-pct-2002-249-che correspondence po.pdf

in-pct-2002-249-che description (complete).pdf

in-pct-2002-249-che drawings.pdf

in-pct-2002-249-che form-1.pdf

in-pct-2002-249-che form-19.pdf

in-pct-2002-249-che form-3.pdf

in-pct-2002-249-che form-5.pdf

in-pct-2002-249-che pct.pdf

in-pct-2002-249-che petitions.pdf

in-pct-2002-249-che power of attorney.pdf