Sliding Nozzle Device and Pouring Device
A fixed plate (15) is provided in a fixed metal frame (14). An opening and closing metal frame (17) having a movable plate (21) is attached to the fixed metal frame (14) so as to be openable and closable. The fixed metal frame (14) is provided with a pressurizing mechanism (23) applying a pressure in a closing direction generated by a spring (25) to the opening and closing metal frame (17) in a closed state. An actuating member (29) is movably provided at a position facing the pressurizing mechanism (23). Cam surfaces (30d, 32a) are provided between the actuating member (29) and the pressurizing mechanism (23). The spring (25) is deformed against an urging force thereof on the basis of operations of the cam surfaces (30d, 32a) in accordance with a movement of the actuating member (29), and the pressure applied to the opening and closing metal frame (17) is strengthened.
This invention relates to a sliding nozzle apparatus attached to a molten metal container such as a ladle or the like, for example, used in a continuous casting line, and provided for controlling a pouring amount at a time of pouring a molten metal to a casting mold from the molten metal container, and a pouring apparatus provided with the sliding nozzle apparatus.
BACKGROUND ARTThis kind of sliding nozzle apparatus is provided with a fixed plate fixed to a molten metal container such as a ladle or the like, and a movable plate facing the fixed plate. A fixed nozzle is provided on the fixed plate, and a movable nozzle is provided on the movable plate, respectively. Further, when the nozzle or the like is replaced or maintained, the movable plate is rotated, and the movable plate and the movable nozzle are separated from the fixed plate and the fixed nozzle. Further, at a time of pouring, the movable plate and the movable nozzle are slid in a state of being brought into pressure contact with the fixed plate and the fixed nozzle, and an opening amount between the fixed nozzle and the movable nozzle is adjusted.
In this case, in an apparatus in Patent Document 1, the pressure contact of the movable plate with respect to the fixed plate is executed by a toggle mechanism, and the slide of the movable plate is executed by a cylinder. Further, a switching of the toggle mechanism to an operative state and an inoperative state is operated by a human power. Accordingly, the switching work of the toggle mechanism is forced to be executed as an agonizing work under a high-temperature environment.
In order to solve the problem, there has been proposed a sliding nozzle apparatus described in Patent Document 2. In the structure of the Patent Document 2, the structure is made such that it is possible to achieve both functions of a pressure contact of a movable plate with respect to a fixed plate and a cancellation thereof, and a slide of the movable plate, on the basis of a hydraulic cylinder.
In other words, in Patent Document 2, a switching mechanism is provided between an opening and closing metal frame and a fixed metal frame. On the basis of the switching mechanism, it is possible to switch to a state of inhibiting a relative movement of the opening and closing metal frame with respect to the fixed metal frame along a direction of a rotating axis, and a state of allowing the relative movement.
Further, in a state in which the movement of the opening and closing metal frame is inhibited on the basis of the switching of the switching mechanism, the toggle mechanism in the switching mechanism is in an operative state. When the hydraulic cylinder is actuated in this state, only a sliding metal frame within the opening and closing metal frame is moved, whereby a nozzle hole is opened and closed, and a matching degree between the movable nozzle and the fixed nozzle is changed. On the contrary, when the hydraulic cylinder is actuated in the state in which the relative movement of the opening and closing metal frame is allowed, the sliding metal frame and the opening and closing metal frame are integrally moved. On the basis of this movement, the operation of the toggle mechanism in the switching mechanism is cancelled, and a pressing member separates from an engagement portion. Accordingly, the pressing of the opening and closing metal frame to the plate side by a coil spring is cancelled.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-212064 Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-226430 DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTIONHowever, the sliding apparatus described in Patent Document 2 is structured such that in addition that the switching mechanism is arranged in a narrow space between the fixed metal frame and the opening and closing metal frame, the toggle mechanism having a complicated structure including the spring is provided inside of the switching mechanism, and the member constituting the toggle mechanism operates a complicated motion. Accordingly, the switching mechanism of the sliding apparatus described in Patent Document 2 lacks a reliability of the motion, and has not been put into practical use.
This invention is made by paying attention to a problem existing in the prior art mentioned above. An objective of this invention is to provide a sliding nozzle apparatus and a pouring apparatus which can reliably apply a pressing force to an opening and closing metal frame and cancel the pressure application on the basis of a simple structure.
In order to achieve the objective mentioned above, in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sliding nozzle apparatus comprising: a fixed metal frame having a fixed plate in which a fixed nozzle hole is formed, and structured such as to be attached to a molten metal container; an opening and closing metal frame having a movable plate in which a movable nozzle hole is formed so as to be slidable in a state of being lapped over the fixed plate and correspond to the fixed nozzle hole, and being openable and closable with respect to the fixed metal frame; a pressurizing means provided in the fixed metal frame and applying a pressure in a closing direction by a spring to the opening and closing metal frame in a closed state; and a passage between both the nozzles being opened and closed by the movable plate being slid in the closed state of the opening and closing metal frame. An actuating member having a cam surface is provided between the pressurizing means and the opening and closing metal frame, the spring is deformed against an urging force thereof on the basis of an operation of the cam surface in accordance with the actuation of the actuating member in the closed state of the opening and closing metal frame, whereby the pressurizing force is strengthened.
In this case, the spring is deformed against the urging force on the basis of the operation of the cam surface in accordance with the movement of the actuating member, and the pressurizing force against the opening and closing metal frame is strengthened. Accordingly, the toggle mechanism is not necessary, the structure is simple, and it is possible to reliably apply the pressurizing force to the opening and closing metal frame, and cancel the force application.
It is desirable that the pressurizing means be provided with a rotating member rotatably supported by the fixed metal frame, and a holding member supported by the rotating member so as to move forward and backward and capable of moving between a position holding the opening and closing metal frame in accordance with the rotation of the rotating member and a position separated from the held position, and the spring is provided between the rotating member and the holding member.
In this case, the holding member is moved from the position holding the opening and closing metal frame to the position separated therefrom, by rotating the rotating member in the state in which the pressurizing force applied to the opening and closing metal frame is weakened, whereby it is possible to easily disconnect the opening and closing metal frame from the fixed metal frame.
It is desirable that the actuating member be arranged between the opening and closing metal frame and the holding member, the actuating member be exposed to the reaction force of the spring by deforming the spring against its elasticity on the basis of an operation of the cam, and the reaction force be applied as a force in a direction of closing the opening and closing metal frame.
In this case, it is possible to reliably hold the opening and closing metal frame to the closed position via the actuating member, by utilizing the reaction force in accordance with the elastic deformation of the spring.
It is desirable that the actuating member be constituted by a moving member arranged so as to be movable in the same direction as the forward and backward moving direction of the holding member between the opening and closing metal frame and the holding member, and a cam member arranged between the moving member and the opening and closing metal frame and pressing the opening and closing metal frame in the closing direction on the basis of the reaction force of the spring generated by moving the moving member in the direction against the elasticity of the spring due to the operation of the cam surface.
In this case, since the actuating member is constituted by two parts comprising the moving member and the cam member, the structure of the actuating member is simple, and it is possible to reliably regulate the pressurizing force applied to the opening and closing metal frame via the cam member on the basis of the movement of the moving member constituting the actuating member.
It is desirable that the apparatus be provided with a switching means for switching the cam member to a state in which the cam member is arranged at a position pressurizing the opening and closing metal frame on the basis of the cam operation and a position canceling the pressurization, by being integrally moved with the movable plate, and a state in which the cam member is fixed to the opening and closing metal frame in the pressurized position.
In this case, it is possible to easily selectively set and execute a control of regulating the pressurizing force applied to the opening and closing metal frame and a control of opening and closing the passage between the nozzle holes, by switching the cam member to the state of being moved integrally with the movable plate and the state of being fixed to the opening and closing metal frame.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pouring apparatus provided with the sliding nozzle apparatus mentioned above and a drive apparatus for sliding the movable plate.
In this case, it is possible to regulate the pressurizing force applied to the opening and closing metal frame, and open and close the passage between the nozzle holes, by one drive apparatus.
A description will be given below of an embodiment in accordance with this invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
(Entire Outline Structure)As shown in
A description will be given below of a structure of the sliding nozzle apparatus 12. First,
Further, in a state in which a fixing pin 43 is inserted to an engagement hole 32b of each cam member 32, and the cam member 32 is held at an upper position in
Next, a description will be given in detail of a structure of the sliding nozzle apparatus 12. First, a description will be given of the fixed metal frame 14, the opening and closing metal frame 17 and the relevant structure thereto. As shown in
The opening and closing metal frame 17 is attached to an outer surface of the fixed metal frame 14 in such a manner as to be openable and closable. In other words, a pair of support portions 17a having insertion holes 17b are provided in each of both sides of the opening and closing metal frame 17 in a protruding manner so as to correspond to the respective mounting portions 14a of the fixed metal frame 14. Further, the opening and closing metal frame 17 is attached in such a manner as to be openable and closable and rotatable around a support pin 18 between a closed position shown by a solid line in
In this case, if the support pin 18 is inserted to the insertion holes 17b and 14b of the support portion 17a and the mounting portion 14a positioned in the other side of both the metal frames 14 and 17 as occasion demands, it is possible to open and close and rotate the opening and closing metal frame 17 between the closed position and the open position on the other side.
As shown in
Further, in a state in which the opening and closing metal frame 17 is arranged at the closed position, the movable plate 21 is arranged so as to be lapped over the fixed plate 15. In this state, the movable plate 21 is slid in a vertical direction in
As shown in
In other words, between the mounting portions 14a in both sides of the fixed metal frame 14, an approximately box-like rotating member 24 constituting a pair of spring cases are rotatably supported by support shaft portions 24a. As shown in
A holding member 27 having a holding portion 27a and a pair of rod portions 27b is inserted into and supported by each of the rotating member 24 and the lid body 26 at the rod portions 27b so as to be movable forward and backward in an axial direction of the coil spring 25. A nut 28 is screwed with a leading end thread portion of each of the rod portions 27b of the holding member 27, and is joined to an outer surface of the lid body 26. Accordingly, an urging force of each of the coil springs 25 is always applied in a direction in which the holding member 27 moves close to the rotating member 24 with respect to the holding member 27, via the lid body 26 and the nut 28. Further, as shown in
As shown in
In other words, each actuating member 29 is constituted by a moving member 30 arranged in one side the opening and closing metal frame 17 so as to be movable in the same direction as the moving direction of the holding member 27 of the pressurizing mechanism 23 via a pair of guide members 31, and a cam member 32 arranged between the moving member 30 and the opening and closing metal frame 17 so as to be movable in an orthogonal direction to the moving direction of the moving member 30. As shown in
As shown in
Further, when the cam member 32 is moved from a position shown by a two-dot chain line in
On the contrary, when the cam member 32 is moved from the position shown by the solid line to the position shown by the two-dot chain line in
As shown in
As shown in
In other words, a pair of engagement projections 37a capable of supporting lower ends of both the cam members 32 are formed in both sides of a lower end of the interlocking frame 37. A switching member 40 is attached to each side of an upper end of the interlocking frame 37 so as to be rotatable between two positions via a rotating shaft 41, and is elastically held to two positions by a plunger 42. Further, as shown in
An engagement hole 32b is formed in the upper end of each cam member 32. In order to correspond to the engagement hole 32b in a freely engaging and disengaging manner, a pair of fixing pins 43 are arranged in the support portions 17a in each side of the opening and closing metal frame 17 so as to rise and set, and is elastically held at a protruding position and an insertion position by the fixing plunger 44. Further, as shown in
In this case, in
Next, a description will be given of an operation of the sliding nozzle apparatus 12 structured as mentioned above.
At a time of a normal use of the sliding nozzle apparatus 12, the opening and closing metal frame 17 is arranged at the closed position with respect to the fixed metal frame 14, and the holding members 27 of the pressurizing mechanisms 23 are rotated and arranged at the held position with respect to the opening and closing metal frame 17, as shown in
Further, as shown by a solid line in
In this state, if the hydraulic cylinder 13 is retracted in a state in which the sliding nozzle apparatus 12 is arranged downward so as to face the casting mold or the like, as shown in
Next, a description will be given of an operation in the case of cleaning the molten metal attached to the nozzle holes 15a and 21a of the fixed plate 15 and the movable plate 21 or replacing the plates 15 and 21, by opening the opening and closing metal frame 17. In this case, as shown in
In this state, the fixing pins 43 are separated from the engagement holes 32b of the cam members 32 by the worker, and the cam members 32 are canceled from the fixed state with respect to the opening and closing metal frame 17. Subsequently, as shown by the two-dot chain line in
Thereafter, if the hydraulic cylinder 13 is actuated so as to protrude, the sliding metal frame 19 is slid to the lower side in
Next, if each regulating member 34 is rotated to an allowing position shown by a chain line from a regulating position shown by a solid line in
Further, after cleaning and replacing the plates 15 and 21, the sliding nozzle apparatus 12 is returned to the original state by operating in the inverse order to the case mentioned above. In other words, the rotating members 24 of the pressurizing mechanisms 23 are rotated to a position in
Thereafter, if the hydraulic cylinder 13 is actuated so as to retract, the sliding metal frame 19 is slid to the upper side in
Subsequently, if the switching members 40 are switched and rotated to the retracting position shown by the solid line from the engaging position shown by the two-dot chain line in
Thereafter, if the hydraulic cylinder 13 is actuated so as to protrude, the movable plate 21 is slid to the lower side from the position in
As mentioned above, in this embodiment, in the state in which the cam members 32 are each arranged at the position shown by the solid line in
In this case, the embodiment can be embodied by being changed as follows.
The structure may be made such that the moving members 30 are omitted, the cam members 32 are directly brought into contact with the holding members 27 of the pressurizing mechanisms 23, and the holding members 27 are moved against the spring force of the coil springs 25 on the basis of the cam operation.
The structure may be made such that the sliding metal frame 19 and the interlocking frame 37 are integrated, and the sliding metal frame 19 is provided with a means such as the engagement projection 37a or the like for supporting the cam member 32.
The structure may be made such that the cam surfaces 30d and 32a are provided in any one of the moving member 30 and the cam member 32.
Claims
1. A sliding nozzle apparatus comprising:
- a fixed metal frame having a fixed plate in which a fixed nozzle hole is formed, and structured such as to be attached to a molten metal container;
- an opening and closing metal frame having a movable plate in which a movable nozzle hole is formed so as to be slidable in a state of being lapped over said fixed plate and correspond to said fixed nozzle hole, and being openable and closable with respect to the fixed metal frame; and
- a pressurizing means provided in said fixed metal frame and applying a pressure in a closing direction by a spring to the opening and closing metal frame in a closed state,
- wherein a passage between both nozzles is opened and closed by the movable plate being slid in the closed state of the opening and closing metal frame, the sliding nozzle apparatus further comprising:
- an actuating member having a cam surface is provided between the pressurizing means and the opening and closing metal frame, the spring is deformed against an urging force thereof on the basis of an operation of the cam surface in accordance with the actuation of the actuating member in the closed state of the opening and closing metal frame, whereby the pressurizing force is strengthened.
2. A sliding nozzle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressurizing means is provided with a rotating member rotatably supported by the fixed metal frame, and a holding member supported by the rotating member so as to move forward and backward and capable of moving between a position holding the opening and closing metal frame in accordance with the rotation of the rotating member and a position separated from the held position, and said spring is provided between the rotating member and the holding member.
3. A sliding nozzle apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said actuating member is arranged between said opening and closing metal frame and the holding member, the actuating member is exposed to the reaction force of the spring by deforming said spring against its elasticity on the basis of an operation of the cam, and the reaction force is applied as a force in a direction of closing the opening and closing metal frame.
4. A sliding nozzle apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said actuating member is constituted by a moving member arranged so as to be movable in the same direction as the forward and backward moving direction of the holding member between said opening and closing metal frame and the holding member, and a cam member arranged between the moving member and the opening and closing metal frame and pressing the opening and closing metal frame in the closing direction on the basis of the reaction force of the spring generated by moving the moving member in the direction against the elasticity of the spring due to the operation of the cam surface.
5. A sliding nozzle apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the apparatus is provided with a switching means for switching the cam member to a state in which said cam member is arranged at a position pressurizing the opening and closing metal frame on the basis of the cam operation and a position canceling the pressurization, by being integrally moved with said movable plate, and a state in which the cam member is fixed to the opening and closing metal frame in said pressurized position.
6. (canceled)
7. A pouring apparatus comprising:
- a fixed metal frame having a fixed plate in which a fixed nozzle hole is formed, and structured such as to be attached to a molten metal container;
- an opening and closing metal frame having a movable plate in which a movable nozzle hole is formed so as to be slidable in a state of being lapped over said fixed plate and correspond to said fixed nozzle hole, and being openable and closable with respect to the fixed metal frame;
- a pressurizing means provided in said fixed metal frame and applying a pressure in a closing direction by a spring to the opening and closing metal frame in a closed state,
- wherein a passage between both nozzles is opened and closed by the movable plate being slid in the closed state of the opening and closing metal frame, the sliding nozzle apparatus;
- an actuating member having a cam surface is provided between the pressurizing means and the opening and closing metal frame, the spring is deformed against an urging force thereof on the basis of an operation of the cam surface in accordance with the actuation of the actuating member in the closed state of the opening and closing metal frame, whereby the pressurizing force is strengthened; and
- a drive apparatus for sliding said movable plate.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 14, 2005
Publication Date: Nov 6, 2008
Inventors: Tsuneo Kondo (Tokyo), Hideto Takasugi (Kawasaki-shi), Mitsuo Umemura (Tajimi-shi), Yoshinobu Kawai (Tajimi-shi), Tomohiro Yotabun (Tajimi-shi), Hisamori Ikeda (Tajimi-shi), Hisao Inubushi (Tokyo)
Application Number: 10/592,793
International Classification: B22D 41/50 (20060101);