EP0320841B2 - Device for coupling a metallurgical ladle to the gas supply - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for coupling a metallurgical ladle to a gas supply is presented wherein gas is used for the treatment of molten metal contained in the ladle. The gas is injected through the bottom of the ladle into the liquid metal. The ladle rests on a support located at a treatment station. The apparatus comprises a base mounted on the bottom of the ladle support in a manner as to be slidable in two directions at right angles to one another against the action of springs. The apparatus is provided with a male connection head which has an axial through passage that communicates with the gas supply. This apparatus also includes a foot fixed on the ladle which is provided with a female connection member for engagement on the connection head when the ladle is placed in its support.

Description

The present invention relates generally to a automatic pocket connection device metallurgical to a gas network. The pocket is inserted for this purpose in a reception structure and said device comprises in a manner known per se an element of male connection axially engaging in an element of female connection so as to establish communication between the gas network and a pipe secured to the poached.

It is for example known to treat steel for metallurgical needs by injecting a gas into the pockets containing the liquid metal. This injection is performed in a treatment station through part porous from the bottom of the pocket, allowing gas to pass but retaining the liquid metal. Connection to the gas is generally carried out manually. Useless say that, given the environment, this is an operation to risk of accident and also constitutes a loss of time.

To avoid manual connection, we have already proposed a semi-automatic coupling, in which a head coupling is connected, under the action of a jack, to one of the side hanging pins of the pocket, this trunnion being connected by an internal passage and a external pipe to the porous brick from the bottom of the pocket. Since the journal must be specially designed for connection to this coupling head, this system cannot be adapted to existing pockets. In Besides, depending on the design of the treatment station, lateral access to the pocket can be difficult or even impossible.

In the review "STAHL- und EISEN", vol. 107, No 25-26 December 14, 1987, page 1213, we present in a article entitled "Automatisches Ankuppeln der Spülgasleitung an Giesspfannen "a coupling station avoiding manual connection of the bag to the gas distribution network. Said station coupling includes a first pneumatic cylinder of translation, to which a second pendulum is suspended pneumatic coupling cylinder. The latter supports axially a female connection element which is connected to said gas distribution network. This element female can be engaged under the action of two cylinders tires on a male connection element which is fitted on the metallurgical ladle and connected to a gas line installed thereon. The man of art will understand that this mating station, which is necessary to connect the male and female element, is a rather bulky mechanism, for which it is in practice often impossible to find, on the structure receiving the pocket, the space necessary for its installation.

Document AT-B-365 985 discloses a device for connection of a metallurgical ladle to a gas network which makes this connection automatically, by simple introduction of the bag into a receiving structure. This device includes a male connection element cantilevered by a coil spring on the receiving structure, as well as a foot secured to the pocket fitted with a female connection element. The element male connection is crossed by an axial passage communicating with said gas network, and the element of female connection is crossed axially by a passage connected to a pipe secured to the pocket. The male connection element and the female connection have a location and a orientation which are defined so that the element female connection is axially engaging on the male connection element by the single movement of introduction of the pocket into said structure of reception.

The device according to claim 1 allows obtain better mating conditions than the device known from document AT-B-365 985.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the male connection element has the form of a cone with a rounded top, while the element female connection in the form of a bowl conical open in the coupling direction. The bottom of the bowl is rounded to match the curvature of the top of the connection head. he will be noted that this particular form of the elements connection promotes self-alignment and a self-centering of the male and female element during their mutual engagement. Thanks to two degrees of freedom of the male element we arrive thus automatically compensate for small faults alignment.

The rounded top of the male element is advantageously fitted with an O-ring ensuring the tightness of the fitting.

In a preferred embodiment the element of male connection has a communicating passage with said gas distribution network and opening axially from the male element at the level from its rounded top, a valve mounted in this passage so as to cut communication with the gas network under the action of a spring, and an axially sliding plunger in this passage so as to open, by axial penetration in the male element, said valve against action of its jurisdiction. Said diver advantageously leads with one end of the rounded top, so that its penetration into the male element is done automatically during the engagement axial of the female element on the male element. In other words, the engagement of the female element on the connection head opens the valve against the action of its jurisdiction.

According to a first embodiment, the base supporting the male element is provided on the opposite side to the male element of a cavity having the form of a parallelepiped. The bottom of this cavity defines a sliding plane perpendicular to the axis of connection, which rests and can slide on a support block secured to the structure receiving the poached. This block is crossed by two sets of rods superimposed on the cross and sliding in the block. The ends of these rods are provided with skids which are in sliding support along walls opposite of said cavity. Self-centering of the element male in female element, during action coupling, is done accordingly by sliding from the base to the support block.

At least one rod from each set of rods is surrounded by two springs mounted between the pads and the support block, to ensure central position of the base in relation to the block support.

According to a second embodiment, the base is mounted in a housing in which it is sliding in a first direction defined by guide rods which pass through it and which are fixed in the housing. This housing is sliding following a second direction in a chassis integral with the structure receiving the pocket. Said second direction is perpendicular to said first direction and is defined by guide rods fixed in the chassis. Pedestal and its housing are preferably maintained in a central position relative to the chassis under the action of springs mounted between the base and its housing on the one hand, and between the housing and the chassis on the other hand.

• la Figure 1 présente une vue, partiellement en coupe verticale, d'un premier mode de réalisation d'un dispositif d'accouplement;
• la Figure 2 montre une vue partielle en plan de l'agencement de ce dispositif sur une poche de coulée;
• la Figure 3 représente une vue, partiellement en coupe verticale, d'un second mode de réalisation; et
• la Figure 4 montre une vue partiellement en plan et partiellement en coupe horizontale du mode de réalisation de la Figure 3.

Other particularities and characteristics will emerge from the detailed description of two preferred embodiments, presented below by way of illustration, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 shows a view, partially in vertical section, of a first embodiment of a coupling device;
• Figure 2 shows a partial plan view of the arrangement of this device on a ladle;
• Figure 3 shows a view, partially in vertical section, of a second embodiment; and
• Figure 4 shows a partially plan view and partially in horizontal section of the embodiment of Figure 3.

Figure 1 shows a connection element female telescopically mounted in a foot 12, which is in turn attached to the part bottom of the outer wall of a metallurgical ladle 14 as shown in Figure 2. Element 10 can be pushed in from a certain distance in foot 12 against the action of a spring helical 16 arranged around the body 18 of the element 10 and based respectively on a inner shoulder of foot 12 and a shoulder outside of the body 18. The element 10 is crossed axially by a passage 20 which communicates with an external pipe 22, connecting the foot 12 to the hollow part of the bottom of the pocket 14. The part bottom of the connection element 10 comprises a bowl 24 of generally conical shape, open at the bottom and the bottom is rounded.

This bowl 24 is used to receive a head of male connection 26 also conical in shape, but at a greater inclination than the taper of the bowl 24. This connection head 26 comprises a rounded top conforming to the curvature from the bottom of the bowl 24 so as to match the form of it. An O-ring 28 provided on the top 26a of head 26 seals when the elements are coupled as shown in figure 1.

The head 26 is mounted on a base 30 which is carried by the bottom 32 of the pocket 14 support. According to one of the features of the proposed device the base 30 has two horizontal degrees of freedom relative to the support 32.

In the first embodiment according to the Figure 1, the base 30 comprises, for this purpose, a lower cavity 34 with open bottom, of rectangular section or square and with vertical interior walls. The base 30 is engaged by this cavity 34 on a support block 36, integral with the bottom 32 of the support. The upper surface of this block 36 is, preferably provided with an upper layer of sliding 38 which carries the base 30 while allowing relatively easy sliding of it on block 36.

To provide the necessary stability for the base 30, there is provided in its cavity 34 a system of guide which holds it in relation to the block of support 36. A first set of rods 40 is housed with sliding way in block 36 and includes its opposite ends two sliding shoes 42, 44 on the opposite vertical walls of the base 30. The pads 46 and 48 play the role of stop, preventing untimely lifting of the base 30. This base can slide in the perpendicular direction in the plane of Figure 1 by relative movements between pads 42, 44 and guide surfaces 46, 48 of the base.

A second set of rods 50 is arranged perpendicularly to the set of rods 40 in block 36 and also, like these, skates not shown, resting on the vertical walls not visible in the figure of the base 30. The pads of these rods allow movement of the base 30 to the left and right in Figure 1 by sliding the rods 40 in the block of support 36.

To ensure a central position of the base 30 at least one rod from each set of rods 40 and 50 is surrounded by two coil springs 52, 54 building respectively on block 36 and each of the two outer pads 42, 44. Otherwise said, the sliding of the base 30 in the plane of Figure 1 is made against the action of one of springs 52, 54 while sliding in the direction perpendicular to the plane of Figure 1 is against the action of the springs in the rod set 50.

The combination of these two possibilities of movement allows the base 30 to occupy any which position in a quadrilateral whose surface is defined by the amplitude of freedom of movement. Figure 2 schematically illustrates these degrees of freedom by arrows defining a freedom of movement rectangle whose sides are 50 by 100 mm.

The base 30 further comprises a pipe internal 56 for the intake of process gases liquid metal contained in the bag 14 and which is connected to an articulated or flexible pipe 59 of the gas distribution network. In the embodiment shown this pipe 59 has revolving fittings 61 to allow the movements of the base 30 on the bottom 32 of the pocket support

Channel 56 opens into a chamber 58 provided in the upper part of the base 30 and inside the connection head 26 and which is extended by an axial passage 60 towards the vertex 26a of this head. In this room 58 there is an automatic valve to cut or automatically establish communication with line 59 of the gas network. This valve consists of a piston 62 sliding axially in a guide sleeve 64 which is surrounded a spring 66. This spring 66 applies the piston 62, which is provided with an O-ring 68, against a shoulder defined between chamber 58 and the passage 60 to close the valve. The opening of the valve, against the action of the spring 66 is carried out using a plunger 70 arranged in the passage 60 and resting freely on the piston 62. The plunger 70 has an appropriate section so as not to not block the passage of gas, for example a cross-shaped section as shown in medallion. The length of the plunger 70 is slightly greater than that of passage 60 so that its upper end protrudes from the top of the head 26 when the valve is closed and it can be depressed by the placement of the element of female connection 10 to open this valve as shown in figure 1.

The proposed device uses the movement of pocket for automatic connection to the gas network. The descent of foot 12 towards the base 30 ensures, from the penetration of the head 26 into the bowl 24 a self-centering of these connection elements by sliding the base 30 on its support. The complementary curvatures of the vertex 26a of the head 26 and the bottom of the bowl 24 allow, in in addition, to compensate for small misalignments. Before reaching the mating position shown in Figure 1, the automatic valve is opened by pressing the plunger 70 as soon as that it is activated by the bottom of the bowl 24. The connection finally ends with a slight penetration of the connection element female 10 in foot 12 against spring action 16.

Similarly, when the pocket 14 is out of its support, the release of the element 24 of head 26 releases piston 62 and exposes it to the action of its spring 66 to close the valve and automatically cut communication with the gas network.

In the embodiment represented by the Figures 3 and 4, the coupling elements are the same as those of the embodiment of the Figure 1, except that the coil spring 16 has been replaced by a disc spring 80 and that the flat-headed piston 62 of the valve automatic has been replaced by a conical piston 82. What differs in the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4 is the mounting of the base 84 of the male connection element 26 in order to ensure two degrees of freedom from the support. AT for this purpose, the base 84 is carried by two rods 86, 88 which cross it and which are integral with a housing 92 surrounding the base 84. This base can slide axially on these rods 86, 88 thanks to the presence of ball bearings 90 around each of these rods 86, 88. The central position of the base 84 in the housing 92 is provided by springs 94, 96 arranged on either side of the base 84 and bearing on the housing 92.

The assembly formed by the base 84 and the housing 92 is carried, in turn, by two rods superimposed 98, 100 crossing this set and which are integral with a frame 102 fixed on the pocket support floor. This shift in base 84 and housing 92 to the left and towards the right in figure 3 is facilitated by sockets ball 104, provided around rods 98 and 100 at level of the passage through the housing 92. The central position of the housing 92 relative to the chassis 102 is provided by springs 106 provided at least on one of the 98 or 100 stems and other of the housing 92 and bearing on the chassis 102. The mounting device according to Figures 3 and 4 therefore allows the base 84 to slide in two perpendicular directions as in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, that is to say in a first direction by relative to its housing 92 and in one direction perpendicular to it with its housing by compared to chassis 102.

Claims (9)

1. Automatic connecting device for a metallurgical ladle to a gas supply, said ladle being placed for this purpose by an insertion movement into a receiving structure, and said device comprising

   a male connecting element (26) attached to a base (30, 84) borne by said receiving structure, said male connecting element (26) being traversed by an axial passage (60) communicating with said gas supply (59), and

   a stand (12) forming one piece with the ladle (14) provided with a female connecting element (10), which is axially traversed by a passage (20) connected to a pipe (22) forming one piece with the ladle,

   said male connecting element (26) and said female connecting element (10) having a location and an orientation which are defined so that the female connecting element (10) can be axially engaged on the male connecting element (26) by the single insertion movement of the ladle into said receiving structure, so as to form a connection between said gas supply (59) and said pipe forming one piece with the ladle,

      characterised

   in that the base (30, 84) bearing the male connecting element (26) is mounted on said receiving structure with the help of a guiding system which for the base (30, 84) defines two degrees of play in a plane perpendicular to said insertion movement,

   in that centring springs (52, 54), (94, 96, 106) are combined with this guiding system so as to define a central position of the base (30, 84) in relation to the amplitude of its degrees of play, and

   in that said female connecting element (10) is mounted in its stand (12) so as to be able to slide there against the action of a spring (16, 80) parallel to said insertion movement.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the male connecting element (26) has the shape of a cone with a rounded vertex (26a) and in that the female element (10) has the shape of a conical bowl (24) which can be engaged on this cone and whose bottom is rounded in order to take the exact curvature of the vertex (26a) of the male connecting element (26).
3. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that the vertex (26a) of the male element (26) is provided with an O-ring (28).
4. Device according to claim 2 or 3 characterised in that the male connecting element (26) comprises a passage communicating with said gas distribution supply (59) and axially exits from the male element (26) at its vertex (26a), a valve mounted in this passage so as to cut off the connection to the gas supply (59) through the action of a spring (66), a plunger (70) which can slide axially in this passage so as to open by axial penetration into the male element (26) the said valve against the action of its spring (66), said plunger exiting with one extremity out of the vertex (26a), so that the penetration into the male element (26) is achieved by axial engagement of the female element (10) on the male element (26).
5. Device according to any one of the claims 1 to 4 characterised in that the base (30) is provided on the side opposite the male element (26) with a cavity (34) which has the shape of a parallelepiped, in that the bottom of this cavity (34) defines a flat surface perpendicular to the axis of connection, in that the base (30) slidingly rests on the flat surface on a supporting block (36) forming one piece with the structure that receives the ladle, and in that this block (36) is traversed by two sets of rods (40, 50) superimposed crosswise, the said rods being able to slide in the block (36) and their extremities being provided with runners (42, 44) slidingly resting on opposite side walls of said cavity (34).
6. Device according to claim 5 characterised in that at least one rod of each set of rods (40, 50) is surrounded by two springs (52, 54) mounted between the exterior runners (42, 44) and the block (36) for ensuring a central position of the base (30) in relation to the block (36).
7. Device according to any one of the claims 1 to 4 characterised in that the base (84) is mounted in a seating (92) in which it is slidable in a first direction defined by guiding rods (86, 88) which traverse the base (84) and which are attached in the seating (92), and in that the seating (92) is slidable in a chassis (102), forming one piece with the structure that receives the ladle, in a second direction perpendicular to the said first direction, the said second direction being defined by guiding rods (98, 100) attached in the chassis (102).
8. Device according to claim 7, characterised in that the base and its seating (92) are held in a central position in relation to the chassis (102) through the action of springs (94, 96, 106) mounted between the base (84) and its seating (92) on the one hand, and between the seating (92) and the chassis (102) on the other hand.
9. Device according to any one of the claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the said female connecting element (10) is mounted telescopically in its stand (12).

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