Method and casting/rolling mill for producing steel strips

The invention relates to a method and a casting/rolling mill for producing steel strips (1), in particular stainless steel strips, based on the allocation of a conventional strip rolling train (4) to a high-technology continuous casting installation (2). To achieve an improved coupling of a continuous casting installation (2) to a hot-rolling train (4), the invention provides different combinations for an interface between the continuous casting installation (2) and the hot-rolling train (4).

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Description

The invention concerns a process and a continuous casting and rolling mill for producing steel strip, especially high-grade steel strip, by casting and subsequent rolling in a hot wide-strip mill, at whose inlet continuously cast thick slabs (about 120 mm to 400 mm) are introduced from a reheating furnace in front of the hot wide-strip mill.

Conventional hot wide-strip mills have a walking-beam furnace at the inlet, into which thick slabs (thickness between about 120 mm and 400 mm) are conveyed, and in which they are heated to the temperatures necessary for the rolling process. A directly designed continuous casting and rolling process has always been regarded as impossible for technical, process-engineering, and/or economic reasons. However, the placement of a CSP continuous casting machine in front of a conventional hot wide-strip mill has resulted in advances, which make this development seem advantageous and economical to a previously unrecognized extent.

It is well known that to bridge a relatively short-term interruption of the rolling process, a length of strand produced in the uninterrupted casting process can be introduced into a suitably lengthened buffer zone of a soaking furnace, although long buffer zone lengths are uneconomical (DE 40 17 928 A1).

An interruption between a continuous casting process and a rolling process can then be minimized by coiling the continuously cast strip product after casting and bringing it to the required inlet temperature by intermediate heating after it is uncoiled and before it enters the hot wide-strip mill. However, precautionary measures for the resulting heat losses must be taken (DE 37 14 432 C2).

The casting rates of the continuous casting machine are brought approximately to the required rolling rates in a steel mill for a continuous casting and rolling process by successive operational steps, in which the solidified input stock is cut by a cutting device (shear) into initial strip lengths and, after descaling of the surface, brought to rolling temperature in a soaking furnace (DE 195 29 049 C1). Nevertheless, extensive energy losses must still be expected here.

It has also already been proposed that at least two continuous casting machines be placed before a hot-rolling group, to assign a furnace of great length to each continuous casting machine, to design the furnaces to be transversely movable, and to move them into the common pass line. Although this increases the number of continuous casting sections which are at rolling temperature, this process requires that whole furnaces be movable (EP 0 893 167 A2).

Furthermore, a process and an installation for producing hot wide strip, especially from thin slabs, are known (DE 198 39 370 A1), in which the separated thin slabs, homogenized in a soaking furnace, are brought into the finish rolling train via a storage furnace and a holding furnace. In this operation, the steel works, blast furnace, casting machine, soaking furnace, and hot-rolling mill should be logistically connected with one other in order to utilize the maximum capacity of the individual components. In this regard, the furnaces are interconnected by reversing swivel ferries.

In general, present efforts are limited by the fact that a continuous casting machine is adjusted to a hot-rolled strip train in such a way that strip-shaped input stock, after solidification, is cut into initial strip lengths, which are then heated to rolling temperature in a soaking furnace.

The objective of the invention is to propose measures for improved coupling of a continuous casting machine to a hot wide-strip mill which have advantageous consequences for the casting and rolling process from both the process engineering standpoint and the economic standpoint.

In accordance with the invention, this objective with respect to process engineering is achieved by introducing continuously cast thin slabs (about 30 mm to 70 mm) and continuously cast medium slabs (about 70 mm to 120 mm) into rolling mills intended for continuously cast thick slabs (about 120 mm to 400 mm) after (with respect to the rolling direction) reheating furnaces consisting of walking-beam furnaces. In this way, presently existing and future hot wide-strip mills can be retrofitted with continuous casting machines of the highest level of technology or vice versa. Consequently, thin slabs and thick slabs can be rolled in a strip rolling train of the same design.

The process can also be carried out in such a way that, when a thin slab enters the roughing train and/or the finish rolling train, its temperature is the same as or well below or above that of a medium slab on entrance into the roughing train and/or the finish rolling train, or the thickness of the thin slab is the same as or below or above the thickness of a medium slab on entrance into the roughing train and/or finish rolling train. This principle applies for the greatest thickness of a thin slab and the smallest thickness of a thick slab, so that a corresponding thickness can be present, specifically, between the medium slab and thick slab or the thin slab and medium slab. In this way, when it enters the roughing and finish rolling train, the hot strip obtains input thicknesses and temperatures comparable to those of the thick slab. At low thin slab temperature, the better temperature homogeneity of the thin slab can compensate the disadvantage of the temperature difference. The rolling stands can be adapted to the increased input thickness.

The casting and rolling plant for producing steel strip, especially high-grade steel strip, is equipped with a continuous casting machine and a shear, which is followed by a hot strip mill, before whose inlet for thick slabs (about 120 mm to 400 mm), a reheating furnace is provided, and in the further course of the rolling train, edge smoothing rolls, descaling equipment, coiling equipment, and the like are provided.

In accordance with the invention, the continuous casting machine is coupled with the rolling mill in such a way that the connection of the continuous casting machine with the hot strip mill consists of a shear installed at the outlet of the continuous casting machine, a tunnel:furnace, and a parallel or swivel ferry or, in its place, a coil box. In this way, the continuous casting machine is coupled with the strip rolling train more advantageously from the process-engineering standpoint and the economic standpoint. A virtually continuous operation from molten steel to hot strip without intermediate stages can be achieved, which results in cost savings. It is possible to expand the range of products by geometric and metallurgical properties, which it has not previously been possible to achieve in hot wide strip rolling trains. It is also possible to increase the capacity of previously constructed hot wide strip rolling trains.

In one embodiment of the invention, an in-line mill is provided within the continuous casting machine, followed by the shear, the tunnel furnace, and the coil box, and a coil handling system, which are connected with the strip rolling train.

A further development provides that two or more continuous casting machines with a parallel course of the casting strands, each of which passes through its own shear and tunnel furnace, are connected at the tunnel furnace outlet to the pass line of the roughing and finish rolling train by means of a parallel ferry.

Furthermore, it is advantageous for a tunnel furnace parallel ferry to be able to move back and forth between the casting strands.

Different variants of the coupling of a hot strip mill to a high-technology continuous casting machine are described below, which lead to the desired effects:

A first alternative provides that, in the pass line, following the tunnel furnace parallel ferry, one or more walking-beam furnaces are installed before the entrance of the strip into the roughing and finish rolling train.

Another, second alternative provides that, in the case of parallel arrangement of the casting strand of the continuous casting machine to the pass line, at least the continuous casting machine, the shear, the tunnel furnace, and the parallel ferry are installed in a rear parallel section, and at least the one or more walking-beam furnaces, a roughing train, the parallel ferry and the finish rolling train, a finishing stand or a Steckel mill, and a strip coiler are installed in a front parallel section.

A third alternative provides that, in the case of parallel arrangement of the casting strand of the continuous casting machine to the pass line, at least the walking-beam furnaces, the parallel ferry, roughing and finish rolling trains, a finishing stand or a Steckel mill, and a strip coiler are installed in succession in a rear parallel section, and at least the continuous casting machine, the tunnel furnace, and the parallel ferry are installed in a front parallel section.

A fourth alternative provides that, in the case of parallel arrangement of the casting strand of the continuous casting machine to the pass line, at least the continuous casting machine with a casting strand running in the same or opposite direction to the rolling direction, the tunnel furnace, and the parallel ferry are installed in a rear parallel section, and at least the one or more walking-beam furnaces, roughing and finish rolling trains, the parallel ferry, a finishing stand or a Steckel mill, and a strip coiler are installed in a front parallel section.

A fifth alternative provides that, in the case of parallel casting strands of two continuous casting machines installed some distance apart, each of which is followed by the shear and the tunnel furnace, a pass line is centrally arranged between the casting strands, on which pass line at least the one or more walking-beam furnaces, a center swivel ferry, roughing and finish rolling trains, a finishing stand or a Steckel mill, and a strip coiler are installed in succession.

Another, sixth alternative provides that, in the case of parallel casting strands of two continuous casting machines installed some distance apart, each of which is followed by the shear and the tunnel furnace, a pass line is centrally arranged between the casting strands, on which pass line at least the one or more walking-beam furnaces, a center parallel ferry, roughing and finish rolling trains, a finishing stand or a Steckel mill, and a strip coiler are installed in succession.

A seventh alternative provides that, in the case of parallel arrangement of the casting strand of a continuous casting machine to the pass line running in the same or opposite direction, at least the continuous casting machine, the shear, the tunnel furnace and a first swivel ferry are installed in a rear parallel section, and at least the one or more walking-beam furnaces, a second swivel ferry, which can be swung in on the first swivel ferry, roughing and finish rolling trains, a finishing stand or a Steckel mill, and a strip coiler are installed in a front parallel section.

An eighth alternative provides that, in the case of parallel arrangement of the casting strands of two continuous casting machines running in the same or opposite directions, each of which is followed by the shear, the tunnel furnace, and the swivel ferry, a central pass line is installed, on which one or more walking-beam furnaces, a roughing train, a swivel ferry that can be alternately connected to one of the swivel ferries of the casting strands, a finish rolling train, a finishing stand or a Steckel mill, and a strip coiler are installed.

A ninth alternative provides that, in the case of parallel arrangement of the casting strand of the continuous casting machine to a pass line running in the same or opposite direction, at least the continuous casting machine with an in-line mill, the shear, the tunnel furnace, and a coil box that can be transversely displaced are installed in a rear parallel section, and at least the one or more walking-beam furnaces, a roughing train, a coil box, the finish rolling train, a finishing stand or a Steckel mill, and a strip coiler are successively installed in the front parallel section.

A tenth alternative provides that, in the case of parallel arrangement of the casting strand of the continuous casting machine to a pass line running in the same or opposite direction, at least the one or more walking-beam furnaces, a transversely displaceable coil box, a roughing train, a finish rolling train, a finishing stand or a Steckel mill, and a strip coiler are installed in a rear parallel section on the pass line, and at least an in-line mill, the shear, the tunnel furnace, and the transversely displaceable coil box are installed in a front parallel section on the casting strand of the continuous casting machine.

An eleventh alternative provides that, in the case of parallel arrangement of the casting strand of the continuous casting machine to a pass line running in the same or opposite direction, at least an in-line mill, the shear, the tunnel furnace, and a station for a transversely displaceable coil box are installed in a rear parallel section in the casting strand of the continuous casting machine, and the one or more walking-beam furnaces, the roughing and finish rolling trains, the station for the transversely displaceable coil box, a finishing stand or a Steckel mill, and a strip coiler are installed in a front parallel section of the pass line.

A twelfth alternative provides that at least the one or more walking-beam furnaces, the roughing and finish rolling trains, one or more stations for a transversely displaceable coil box, a finishing stand or a Steckel mill, and a strip coiler are installed on a pass line, and that, before the station or stations for the transversely displaceable coil boxes, at least the one or more casting strands of a continuous casting machine run perpendicularly to the pass line, on each of which casting strands an in-line mill, the shear, and the tunnel furnace are connected to the station for the transversely displaceable coil box.

A thirteenth alternative provides that casting strands of a continuous casting machine, which run in the same or opposite directions, are installed perpendicularly to a pass line, on which at least the one or more walking-beam furnaces, a roughing train, one or more stations for a transversely displaceable coil box, a finish rolling train, a finishing stand or a Steckel mill, and a strip coiler are installed, and that an in-line mill, the shear, and the tunnel furnace are installed on each casting strand before the respective station of the transversely displaceable coil box.

A fourteenth alternative provides that casting strands of a continuous casting machine, which run in the same or opposite directions, are installed perpendicularly to a pass line, on which at least the one or more walking-beam furnaces, a roughing train, a station for a transversely displaceable coil box that runs transversely to the pass line, a finish rolling train, a finishing stand or a Steckel mill, and a strip coiler are installed, such that at least the shear, an in-line mill, and the tunnel furnace are installed on each casting strand before the station for the transversely displaceable coil box.

The fifteenth alternative provides that at least several walking-beam furnaces, a roughing train and finish rolling train, a station for a transversely displaceable coil box, a finishing stand or a Steckel mill, and a strip coiler are installed on a pass line, and that a casting strand running parallel to the pass line from a continuous casting machine is provided at each terminal station for the transversely displaceable coil box, such that each casting strand has at least an in-line mill, the shear, and the tunnel furnace, which is connected in front of the respective terminal station.

In this regard, in one embodiment, the two casting strands connected to their respective terminal stations run in opposite directions.

The drawings show several embodiments of the invention, which are described in greater detail below.

FIG. 1 shows a layout for a continuous casting and rolling mill with two casting strands and an in-line strip rolling train.

FIG. 2A shows a casting strand with a pass line running parallel to it and a parallel ferry between the roughing and finish rolling trains.

FIG. 2B shows a casting strand with a pass line running parallel to it and a parallel ferry before the roughing and finish rolling trains.

FIG. 2C shows the same parallel arrangement with the parallel ferry after (in the direction of rolling) the roughing and finish rolling trains.

FIG. 3A shows a layout for two casting strands arranged some lateral distance apart and a pass line, which is located between them and is coupled with the casting strands by means of center swivel ferries.

FIG. 3B shows a continuous casting and rolling mill with two casting strands arranged some lateral distance apart, between which a parallel pass line runs, which is coupled with the casting strands by a parallel ferry.

FIG. 4A shows a casting strand that runs parallel to the pass line, with which it is coupled by swivel ferries.

FIG. 4B shows two oppositely directed casting strands and a central pass line, which are coupled to each other by means of swivel ferries.

FIG. 5A shows parallel casting strands and a pass line, which are coupled by a transversely movable coil box, which runs between the roughing and finish rolling trains.

FIG. 5B shows the same configuration as FIG. 5A, but in this case the coil box runs in front of the roughing and finish rolling trains with respect to the direction of rolling.

FIG. 5C shows the same configuration as FIG. 5A or 5B, but here the coil box operates behind the roughing and finish rolling trains.

FIG. 6 shows two parallel casting strands with coil boxes, which can be swiveled 90° towards the pass line, which runs perpendicularly to the casting strands.

FIG. 7 shows laterally offset casting strands that run in opposite directions and interact with a perpendicularly running pass line by means of coil boxes.

FIG. 8 shows casting strands that run in opposite directions along a straight line and are operated on the basis of coil boxes that can be swiveled 90°, such that the pass line runs perpendicularly to the casting strands and centrally between them.

FIG. 9 shows parallel casting strands that run in opposite directions and deliver the strip stock in coil boxes to a parallel pass line running centrally between them

The process for producing steel strip 1, especially high-grade steel strip, by casting and subsequent rolling in a hot wide-strip mill, at whose inlet continuously cast thick slabs (about 120 mm to 400 mm) are introduced from a reheating furnace in front of the hot strip mill 4, is carried out in such a way that continuously cast thin slabs (about 30 mm to 70 mm) and continuously cast medium slabs (about 70 mm to 120 mm) are introduced into rolling mills that are intended for continuously cast thick slabs (about 120 to 400 mm) behind (in the direction of rolling 3a) reheating furnaces in the form of walking-beam furnaces 11.

The process can also be carried out in such a way that, when a thin slab enters the roughing train and/or the finish rolling train, its temperature is the same as or well below or above that of a medium slab on entrance into the roughing train 10a and/or the finish rolling train 10b, or the thickness of the thin slab is the same as or below or above the thickness of a medium slab on entrance into the roughing and/or finish rolling train 10a, 10

The continuous casting and rolling mill for producing steel strip 1, especially high-grade steel strip, in which the outlet 2a of the continuous casting machine 2 lies in-line with a soaking furnace of the hot strip mill 4 or offset from the pass line 3, has in succession a shear 5, the tunnel furnace 6, and, behind the soaking furnace (in the direction of rolling 3a), at least the rolling stands of the roughing and finish rolling train, edge smoothing rolls, descaling equipment, strip coilers 16, and the like.

Inside the continuous casting machine 2, an in-line mill 8 may be provided, followed by the shear 5 and the tunnel furnace 6, and the hot strip mill 4 may be followed by a coil box 9 and a coil handling system 9a.

In accordance with FIG. 1, two or more continuous casting machines 2 have casting strands 2b running parallel to each other and are each followed by the cutting device 5 (e.g., a cut-to-length shearing device) and the tunnel furnace 6, and at the tunnel furnace outlet 6a, each is coupled with the pass line 3 of the roughing and finish rolling trains 10a, 10b by a parallel ferry 7a. A tunnel furnace parallel ferry 7a is moved back and forth between the casting strands 2b. One or more walking-beam furnaces 11 are installed in the pass line 3 after the tunnel furnace parallel ferry 7a and before the entrance of the strip into the roughing and finish rolling trains 10a, 10b. The walking-beam furnaces 11 precisely determine the entry temperature of the hot strip mill 4. The steel strip 1 is rolled to the final thickness and/or flatness in a finishing stand 14 or a Steckel mill 15 and coiled into a strip coil on the strip coiler 16.

In FIG. 2A, casting strands 2b of the continuous casting machine 2 run parallel to the pass line 3. At least the continuous casting machine 2, the shear 5, the tunnel furnace 6 and the parallel ferry 7a are installed in a rear parallel section 12. One or more walking-beam furnaces 11, a roughing train 10a, the parallel ferry 7a, the finish rolling train 10b, the finishing stand 14 or a Steckel mill 15, and the strip coiler 16 are installed in a front parallel section 13. The parallel ferry 7a is thus located between the roughing train 10a and the finish rolling train 10b. The directions of conveyance are parallel.

The arrangement of the casting strand 2b parallel to the pass line 3 is retained in FIG. 2B. However, the parallel ferry 7a is now placed before (in the direction of rolling 3a) the roughing and finish rolling trains 10a, 10b. Accordingly, the walking-beam furnaces 11 are shifted by the length of the parallel ferry 7a.

FIG. 2C shows another modification of the configuration, in which the casting strand 2b of the continuous casting machine 2 runs parallel to the pass line 3. The continuous casting machine 2, whose casting strand 2b runs in the opposite direction from the direction of rolling 3a, the shear 5, the tunnel furnace 6, and the parallel ferry 7a are installed in the rear parallel section 12. The parallel ferry 7a is installed behind the roughing and finish rolling trains 10a, 10b. Accordingly, the parallel ferry 7a is positioned in front of the finishing stand 14 or the Steckel mill 15 on the pass line 3.

FIG. 3A shows parallel casting strands 2b of two continuous casting machines 2 installed some lateral distance apart. Each continuous casting machine is followed by the shear 5 and the tunnel furnace 6. The pass line 3 is centrally arranged between the casting strands 2b. The coupling at the beginning of the pass line 3 consists of a center swivel ferry 17, which alternately swivels the rolling stock from the two continuous casting machines 2 into the pass line 3.

FIG. 3B shows parallel casting strands 2b from two continuous casting machines 2 arranged some lateral distance apart and a pass line 3 that runs centrally between the casting strands 2b. Each casting strand 2b is associated with a center parallel ferry 7a installed in front of the roughing and finish rolling trains 10a, 10b for delivering the continuously cast products from the two continuous casting machines 2 to the pass line 3.

In accordance with FIG. 4A, the casting strand 2b runs parallel to and is spaced some lateral distance from the pass line 3. In this case, the coupling consists of one swivel ferry 7b on the line of the casting strands 2b and another on the pass line 3. The continuously cast product is delivered in the illustrated angular position of the two swivel ferries 7b.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 4B is again designed for two parallel casting strands 2b running in opposite directions. Each casting strand 2b is equipped with a swivel ferry 7b. A swivel ferry 7b is also installed on the central pass line 3 and serves one or the other of the casting strands 2b, depending on its swivel position. In this embodiment, the center swivel ferry is located between the roughing train 10a and the finish rolling train 10b. The two casting strands 2b occupy essentially the entire length of the pass line 3.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5A, the casting strands and the pass line 3 run in opposite directions. Within the continuous casting machine 2, an in-line mill 8 is installed in the section in front of the shear 5. A transversely displaceable coil box 9 is installed at the end of the casting strand 2b, so that the coiled continuously cast product can be delivered in a coil to the pass line 3.

The configuration shown in FIG. 5A is further developed in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5B. The casting strand 2b runs differently from FIG. 5A; in accordance with FIG. 5B, it runs, for example, in the same direction 19 as the pass line 3. In the direction of rolling 3a, a transversely displaceable coil box 9 is installed in front of the roughing and finish rolling trains 10a, 10b.

In FIG. 5C, the casting strand 2b runs in the opposite direction from the running direction 18 of the pass line 3, and the coil box 9 with the coil handling system 9a is installed behind the roughing and finish rolling trains 10a, 10b.

In accordance with FIG. 6, two parallel casting strands 2b are arranged perpendicularly to the pass line 3 behind the roughing and finish rolling trains 10a, 10b. The coupling of the casting strands 2b requires 90° swiveling of the coil in the pass line 3. The parallel arrangement of two casting strands 2b is connected with the arrangement of two adjacent stations 20 for the coil box 9.

The configuration of FIG. 6 is modified by the design in FIG. 7 in that the two casting strands 2b are arranged perpendicularly to the pass line 3 from opposite directions.

FIG. 8 shows casting strands 2b running perpendicularly to the pass line 3 and in opposite directions from each other with an in-line arrangement of the two oppositely directed casting strands 2b with coil boxes 9. 90° swiveling of the coils is also required here.

In accordance with FIG. 9, the oppositely directed casting strands 2b can be connected to a terminal station 20a of the coil box 9 in such a way that 90° swiveling of the coils in the pass line 3 is not necessary.

List of Reference Numbers

  • 1 steel strip
  • 2 continuous casting machine
  • 2b outlet
  • 2b casting strand
  • 3 pass line
  • 3a rolling direction
  • 4 hot strip mill
  • 5 cutting device
  • 6 tunnel furnace
  • 6a tunnel furnace outlet
  • 7 parallel ferry
  • 7a swivel ferry
  • 8 in-line mill
  • 9 coil box
  • 9a coil handling system
  • 9a roughing train
  • 10b finish rolling train
  • 11 walking-beam furnace
  • 12 rear parallel section
  • 13 front parallel section.
  • 14 finishing stand
  • 15 Steckel mill
  • 16 strip coiler
  • 17 center swivel ferry
  • 18 opposite direction
  • 19 same direction
  • 20 station for the coil box
  • 20a terminal station

Claims

1. Process for producing steel strip (1), especially high-grade steel strip, by casting and subsequent rolling in a hot wide strip mill (4), at whose inlet continuously cast thick slabs (about 120 mm to 400 mm) are introduced from a reheating furnace (6) in front of the hot wide strip mill (4), wherein continuously cast thin labs (about 30 mm to 70 mm) and continuously cast medium slabs (about 70 mm to 120 mm) are introduced into rolling mills (3) intended for continuously cast thick slabs (about 120 mm to 400 mm) after (with respect to the rolling direction (3a)) reheating furnaces (6) consisting of walking-beam furnaces (11).

2. Process in accordance with claim 1, wherein when a thin slab enters the roughing train and/or the finish rolling train (10a; 10b), its temperature is the same as or well below or above that of a medium slab on entrance into the roughing train and/or the finish rolling train (10a; 10b), or the thickness of the thin slab is the same as or below or above the thickness of a medium slab on entrance into the roughing train and/or finish rolling train (10a; 10b).

3. Continuous casting and rolling mill for producing steel strip (1), especially high-grade steel strip, with a continuous casting machine (2) and a cutting device (5), which is followed by a hot wide strip mill (4), before whose inlet for thick slabs (about 120 mm to 400 mm) a reheating furnace (6) is provided, and in the further course of the rolling train (3), edge smoothing rolls, descaling equipment, coiling equipment and the like are provided, and in the further course of the rolling train, edge smoothing rolls, descaling equipment, coiling equipment and the like are provided, wherein the connection of the continuous casting machine (2) with the hot strip mill (4) consists of a shear (5) installed at the outlet (2a) of the continuous casting machine (2), a tunnel furnace (6), and a parallel or swivel ferry (7a; 7b) or, in its place, a coil box (9).

4. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3, wherein an in-line mill (8) is provided within the continuous casting machine (2), followed by the shear (5), the tunnel furnace (6), and the coil box (9) and a coil handling system (9a), which are connected with the hot strip mill (4).

5. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3, wherein two or more continuous casting machines (2) with a parallel course of the casting strands (2b), each of which passes through its own shear (5) and tunnel furnace (6), are connected at the tunnel furnace outlet (6a) to the pass line (3) of the roughing and finish rolling train (10a; 10b) by means of a parallel ferr y (7a).

6. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 5, wherein a tunnel furnace parallel ferry (7a) can be moved back and forth between the casting strands (2b).

7. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3, wherein one or more walking-beam furnaces (11) are installed in the pass line (3) after the tunnel furnace parallel ferry (7a) and before the entrance of the strip into the roughing and finish rolling trains (10a; 10b).

8. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3, wherein, in the case of parallel arrangement of the casting strand (2b) of the continuous casting machine (2) to the pass line (3), at least the continuous casting machine (2), the shear (5), the tunnel furnace (6), and the parallel ferry (7a) are installed in a rear parallel section (12), and at least the one or more walking-beam furnaces (11), a roughing train (10a), the parallel ferry (7a), and the finish rolling train (10b), a finishing stand (14) or a Steckel mill (15), and a strip coiler (16) are installed in a front parallel section (13).

9. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3, wherein, in the case of parallel arrangement of the casting strand (2b) of the continuous casting machine (2) to the pass line (3), at least the walking-beam furnaces (11), the parallel ferry (7a), roughing and finish rolling trains (10a; 10b), a finishing stand (14) or a Steckel mill, and a strip coiler (16) are installed in succession in a rear parallel section (12), and at least the continuous casting machine (2), the tunnel furnace (6), and the parallel ferry (7a) are installed in a front parallel section (13).

10. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3, wherein, in the case of parallel arrangement of the casting strand (2b) of the continuous casting machine (2) to the pass line (3), at least the continuous casting machine (2) with a casting strand (2b) running in the same or opposite direction to the rolling direction (3a), the tunnel furnace (6) and the parallel ferry (7a) are installed in a rear parallel section (12), and at least the one or more walking-beam furnaces (11), roughing and finish rolling trains (10a; 10b), the parallel ferry (7a), a finishing stand (14) or a Steckel mill (15), and a strip coiler (16) are installed in a front parallel section (13).

11. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3, wherein, in the case of parallel casting strands (2b) of two continuous casting machines (2) installed some distance apart, each of which is followed by the shear (5) and the tunnel furnace (6), a pass line (3) is centrally arranged between the casting strands (2b), on which pass line (3) at least the one or more walking-beam furnaces (11), a center swivel ferry (17), roughing and finish rolling trains (10a; 10b), a finishing stand (14) or a Steckel mill (15), and a strip coiler (16) are installed in succession.

12. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3, wherein, in the case of parallel casting strands (2b) of two continuous casting machines (2) installed some distance apart, each of which is followed by the shear (5) and the tunnel furnace (6), a pass line (3) is centrally arranged between the casting strands (2b), on which pass line (3) at least the one or more walking-beam furnaces (11), a center parallel ferry (7a), roughing and finish rolling trains (10a; 10b), a finishing stand (14) or a Steckel mill (15), and a strip coiler (16) are installed in succession.

13. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3, wherein, in the case of parallel arrangement of the casting strand (2b) of a continuous casting machine (2) to the pass line (3) running in the same or opposite direction, at least the continuous casting machine (2), the shear (5), the tunnel furnace (6), and a first swivel ferry (7b) are installed in a rear parallel section (12), and at least the one or more walking-beam furnaces (11), a second swivel ferry (7b), which can be swung in on the first swivel ferry (7b), roughing and finish rolling trains (10a; 10b), a finishing stand (14) or a Steckel mill (15), and a strip coiler (16) are installed in a front parallel section (13).

14. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3, wherein, in the case of parallel arrangement of the casting strands (2b) of two continuous casting machines (2) running in the same or opposite directions, each of which is followed by the shear (5), the tunnel furnace (6) and the swivel ferry (7b), a central pass line (3) is installed, on which one or more walking-beam furnaces (11), a roughing train (10a), a swivel ferry (7b) that can be alternately connected to one of the swivel ferries (7b) of the casting strands (2b), a finish rolling train (10b), a finishing stand (14) or a Steckel mill (15), and a strip coiler (16) are installed.

15. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3, wherein, in the case of parallel arrangement of the casting strand (2b) of the continuous casting machine (2) to a pass line (3) running in the same or opposite direction (18), at least the continuous casting machine (2) with an in-line mill (8), the shear (5), the tunnel furnace (6) and a coil box (9) that can be transversely displaced are installed in a rear parallel section (12), and at least the one or more walking-beam furnaces (11), a roughing train (10a), a coil box (9), the finish rolling train (10b), a finishing stand (14) or a Steckel mill (15), and a strip coiler (16) are successively installed in the front parallel section.

16. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3, wherein, in the case of parallel arrangement of the casting strand (2b) of the continuous casting machine (2) to a pass line (3) running in the same or opposite direction (19), at least the one or more walking-beam furnaces (11), a transversely displaceable coil box (9), a roughing train (10a), a finish rolling train (10b), a finishing stand (14) or a Steckel mill (15), and a strip coiler (16) are installed in a rear parallel section (12) on the pass line (3), and at least an in-line mill (8), the shear (5), the tunnel furnace (6), and the transversely displaceable coil box (9) are installed in a front parallel section (13) on the casting strand (2b) of the continuous casting machine (2).

17. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3, wherein, in the case of parallel arrangement of the casting strand (2b) of the continuous casting machine (2) to a pass line (3) running in the same or opposite direction (18), at least an in-line mill (8), the shear (5), the tunnel furnace (6) and a station (20) for a transversely displaceable coil box (9) are installed in a rear parallel section (12) in the casting strand (2b) of the continuous casting machine (2), and at least the one or more waIking-beam furnaces (11), the roughing and finish rolling trains (10a; 10b), the station (20) for the transversely displaceable coil box (9), a finishing stand (14) or a Steckel mill (15), and a strip coiler (16) are installed in a front parallel section (13) of the pass line (13).

18. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3, wherein at least the one or more walking-beam furnaces (11), the roughing and finish rolling trains (10a; 10b), one or more stations (20) for a transversely displaceable coil box (9), a finishing stand (14) or a Steckel mill (15), and a strip coiler (16) are installed on a pass line (3), and that, before the station or stations (20) for the transversely displaceable coil boxes (9), at least the one or more casting strands (2b) of a continuous casting machine (2) run perpendicularly to the pass line (3), on each of which casting strands (2b) an in-line mill (8), the shear (5), and the tunnel furnace (6) are connected to the station (20) for the transversely displaceable coil box (9).

19. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3, wherein casting strands (2b) of a continuous casting machine (2), which run in the same or opposite directions, are installed perpendicularly to a pass line (3), on which at least the one or more walking-beam furnaces (11), a roughing train (10a), one or more stations (20) for a transversely displaceable coil box (9), a finish rolling train (10b) a finishing stand (14) or a Steckel mill (15), and a strip coiler (16) are installed, and that at least an in-line mill (8), the shear (5), and the tunnel furnace (6) are installed on each casting strand (2b) before the respective station (20) of the transversely displaceable coil box (9)

20. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3, wherein casting strands (2b) of a continuous casting machine (2), which run in the same or opposite directions (18), are installed perpendicularly to a pass line (3), on which at least the one or more walking-beam furnaces (11), a roughing train (10a), a station (20) for a transversely displaceable coil box (9) that runs transversely to the pass line (3), a finish rolling train (10b), a finishing stand (14) or a Steckel mill (15), and a strip coiler (16) are installed, such that at least the shear (5), an in-line mill (8), and the tunnel furnace (6) are installed in each casting strand (2b) before the station (20) for the transversely displaceable coil box (9).

21. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 3, wherein at least several walking-beam furnaces (11), a roughing and finish rolling train (10a, 10b), a station (20) for a transversely displaceable coil box (9), a finishing stand (14) or a Steckel mill (15), and a strip coiler (16) are installed on a pass line (3), and that a casting strand (2b) that runs parallel to the pass line (3) from a continuous casting machine (2) is provided at each terminal station (20a) for the transversely displaceable coil box (9), such that each casting strand (2b) has at least an in-line mill (8), the shear (5), and the tunnel furnace (6), which is connected in front of the respective terminal station (20a).

22. Continuous casting and rolling mill in accordance with claim 21, wherein the two casting strands (2b) connected to their respective terminal stations (20a) run in opposite directions.

Patent History
Publication number: 20050039320
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 19, 2002
Publication Date: Feb 24, 2005
Inventor: Erik Thomanek (Dusseldorf)
Application Number: 10/493,583
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: 29/527.700