Transport device

The invention relates to a transport device (10), in particular for transporting cooling blocks (12) in a caterpillar casting machine, comprising a guide rail (16), which forms an endless circulating track (U) for a caterpillar casting machine (14), and a support element (18) having a plurality of rollers (20), by means of which the support element (18) is guided on the guide rail (16) and rolls along same, wherein a cooling block (12) of a caterpillar casting machine (14) can be placed on the support element (18). The guide rail (16) has a first running surface (16.1) and a second running surface (16.2), wherein the running surfaces (16.1, 16.2) are provided on opposite sides of the guide rail (16). The support element (18) has at least three rollers (20.1, 20.2, 20.3), of which two rollers (20.1, 20.2) are in rolling contact with the first running surface (16.1) of the guide rail (16), and at least one further roller (20.3) is in rolling contact with the second running surface (16.2) of the guide rail (16), wherein at least one roller (20.1; 20.2; 20.3) is preloaded towards the guide rail (16).

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Phase application of International application PCT/EP2017/080378 filed Nov. 24, 2017 and claiming priority of German applications DE 10 2016 223 717.9 filed Nov. 29, 2016, both applications are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

The invention relates to a transport device, particularly for transporting cooling blocks in a caterpillar casting machine.

According to the prior art, particularly for the production of aluminum alloys, horizontal block casting machines are known, which function as a type of circulating caterpillar casting machine. Such a casting machine is known, for example, from EP 1 704 005 B1. In this case, the cooling elements of the casting machine form the wall of a moving casting mold on the straight sections and/or strands of casting caterpillars, which are arranged opposite one another. The casting caterpillars each consist of a plurality of cooling blocks endlessly connected to one another, which are transported along the circulating tracks of the caterpillar. For this purpose, the blocks consisting of block elements, which are spring-mounted on frames, are placed on chains. In doing so, the frames with the blocks are maintained there on the chains, where otherwise they would fall due to the force of gravity, by means of stationary magnets. The chain links are provided with rollers at their connection points, which roll off onto guide tracks. The casting machine according to EP 1 704 005 B1 has the disadvantage that significant friction losses are caused, particularly by the chain joints under load due to the caterpillar drive.

A further block casting machine, with which a moving mold is formed between circulating caterpillars, which are arranged opposite one another, is known from WO 95/26842. In this case, the dies and/or cooling blocks are each attached to support elements, which is illustrated in the side view ofFIG. 11for two adjacent support elements, which are guided along a guide rail with rollers. One of these support elements with a die attached thereto is shown again in the side view ofFIG. 12. For such a support element according to WO 95/26842, there is a disadvantage in that it tends to tip over. This is indicated inFIG. 12by the arrow K. Like dominoes which are in a row shortly before falling over, slanted surfaces with edges, at which height differences can form, thus form on the upper side of the adjacent cooling blocks with the block casting machine according to WO 95/26842. Such height differences disadvantageously result in marks on a surface of the casting material, which leads to losses in quality.

Accordingly, the object of the invention is to further develop a transport device, particularly for the transport of cooling blocks in a caterpillar casting machine, to the extent that the guidance of the cooling blocks is stabilized along a circulating track and thus the surface quality of the casting material is improved.

The above object is achieved by means of a transport device having the features indicated in claim1and further by a transport device having the features indicated in claim5. Advantageous further embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

A transport device according to the invention is used, in particular, for the transport of cooling blocks in a caterpillar or block casting machine, and comprises a guide rail, which forms an endless circulating track for a caterpillar casting machine, and a support element with a plurality of rollers, by means of which the support element is guided on the guide rail and rolls along same. A cooling block of a caterpillar casting machine can be attached to the support element. The guide rail has a first running surface and a second running surface, wherein the running surfaces are provided on opposite sides of the guide rail. The support element, to which a cooling block can be attached as mentioned, has at least three rollers, of which two rollers are in rolling contact with the first running surface of the guide rail, and at least one further roller is in rolling contact with the second running surface of the guide rail. At least one roller is preloaded towards the guide rail such that constant rolling contact, preferably of all three rollers, is thereby ensured with the running surfaces of the guide rail.

In an advantageous further embodiment of the invention, the two rollers, which are in rolling contact with the first running surface of the guide rail, are arranged spaced apart from one another, wherein the roller in rolling contact with the second running surface of the guide rail is particularly arranged in the middle between the two first-mentioned rollers, which are in rolling contact with the first running surface of the guide rail. Expediently in this case, the roller, which is in rolling contact with the second running surface and which is thus arranged on the opposite side of the guide rail as compared to the two other rollers, is preloaded towards the guide rail. As previously explained, this leads to the advantageous effect that all three of these rollers are pulled in the direction of the running surfaces of the guide rail, which ensures a constant rolling contact of these rollers with the guide rail and prevents any potential play between the guide rail and the support element guided along same.

In an advantageous enhancement of the aforementioned embodiment of the present invention, it may be provided that the two rollers, which are in rolling contact with the first running surface of the guide rail, are arranged offset laterally to one another on the support element in reference to its upper edge. This results in the advantage that the distance between the center of gravity of the support element and the rollers attached thereto is less, which likewise contributes to reducing the tendency of the support element to tip over.

According to a further embodiment, which is given separate significance, the present invention provides for a transport device, which is provided, in particular, for the transport of cooling blocks in a caterpillar casting machine, wherein said transport device comprises a guide rail, which forms an endless circulating track for a caterpillar casting machine, and a support element with a plurality of rollers, by means of which the support element is guided on the guide rail fixture and rolls along same. A cooling block can be attached to the support element. The guide rail fixture has running surfaces, which are formed in the form of a first guide rail and a second guide rail arranged opposite and parallel thereto, wherein the guide rails form between them the endless circulating track. The support element, to which a cooling block of the caterpillar casting machine can be attached, has at least three rollers, of which two rollers are in rolling contact with the running surface of the first guide rail, wherein at least one further roller is in rolling contact with the running surface of the second guide rail. At least one roller is preloaded away from a guide rail, whereby constant contact of the at least three rollers with the guide rail fixture and/or its guide rails is ensured.

In an advantageous enhancement of the last-mentioned embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that the two rollers, which are in rolling contact with the running surface of the first guide rail, are arranged spaced apart from one another, wherein the roller in rolling contact with the running surface of the second guide rail is particularly arranged in the middle between the two first-mentioned rollers, which are in rolling contact with the running surface of the first guide rail. As previously explained for the first-mentioned embodiment of the invention, such positioning of the roller, which is in rolling contact with the running surface of the second guide rail, in the middle between the two other rollers leads to the advantage of reducing the tipping moment for the support element, and thus to smooth running along the support element along the guide rail fixture. In this case, it is appropriate that the roller, which is in rolling contact with the running surface of the second side rail and thus is arranged in the middle between the two other rollers, is preloaded away from the second guide rail. All three rollers are hereby pressed against the running surfaces of the assigned guide rails of the guide rail fixture, which ensures constant rolling contact and prevents potential play between the guide rails and the support element guided along same.

The invention is based on the essential knowledge that it is assured that a tipping moment is prevented by the aforementioned at least three rollers, which are provided on a support element, for said support element in reference to its guidance and/or movement along the guide rail, wherein, thanks to the preloading, which is provided for at least one of the rollers, play is removed from this component. For the present invention, it is hereby advantageously achieved that the height difference at the edges of adjacent cooling blocks, which are attached, along the circulating track of the guide rail or the guide rail fixture, to the support elements guided along same and, in doing so, form the moving casting mold, is at least reduced or completely eliminated as compared to the aforementioned prior art in the best-case scenario. The previously known problem of edge marks, which have formed between adjacent cooling blocks of a caterpillar casting machine, can hereby be effectively counteracted. In other words, the edge marks on the surface of the casting material are thus reduced, or prevented in the best-case scenario, which means a significant improvement in the casting strip quality.

In an advantageous further embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that the aforementioned preloading of the at least one roller is formed by a spring element. This leads to the advantage that the preloading is formed by a passive element, namely by a tension spring (with the embodiment, according to which the roller, which is in rolling contact with the second running surface of the guide rail, is preloaded towards said guide rail), or in the form of a compression spring (with the embodiment, according to which the roller, which is in rolling contact with the running surface of the second guide rail of the guide rail fixture, is preloaded away from said guide rail). With such a passive element in the form of a spring, a separate energy supply to ensure the aforementioned preloading in order to ensure constant rolling contact between the rollers and the guide rail(s) is not necessary.

In an advantageous further embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that the aforementioned at least three rollers each are provided on the support element on two opposite side areas thereof—when viewed in its transport direction along the guide rail and/or the guide rail fixture. This means that, per support element, a total of at least six rollers are provided, with which the support element is in rolling contact with the running surfaces of the guide rail and/or the guide rail fixture and is guided along same. The provision of at least three rollers each on the two opposite side areas of the support element ensures stable guidance of a support element along the guide rail and a cooling block attached thereto when viewed over its width. This is particularly advantageous in the event that a width of cooling blocks and/or dies, which are attached to respective support elements, achieves a width of up to 2 m or even exceeds this value.

The transport device according to the present invention is provided for the use of a caterpillar casting machine and/or block casting machine and enables the casting of a plurality of alloys with a broad product spectrum. In this case, even a large casting strip width of, for example, more than 2 m can be realized without negatively impacting the casting quality.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the following in detail by means of schematically simplified drawings.

Preferred embodiments of a transport device10according to the invention, which is used particularly for the transport of cooling blocks12with a caterpillar casting machine14, are explained in the following with reference toFIGS. 1 to 10. Equivalent features in the drawing are each provided with the same reference numbers. At this juncture, particular reference is made to the fact that the drawing is merely simplified and particularly not shown to scale.

A first embodiment of the transport device10according to the invention is shown and explained inFIGS. 1 to 4.

As shown by the side view according toFIG. 1, the transport device10comprises a guide rail16, which has a first running surface16.1and a second running surface16.2. Said running surfaces16.1,16.2are provided on opposite sides of the guide rail16. The transport device10further comprises a support element18, to the upper edge19thereof a cooling block12of a caterpillar casting machine14can be attached, e.g. by means of quick fasteners13, which are only indicated symbolically inFIG. 1.

At least three rollers,20.1,20.2, and20.3, are mounted on the support element18so as to rotate. Two of these rollers, namely rollers20.1and20.2, are in rolling contact with the first running surface16.1of the guide rail16. In this case, rollers20.1and20.2are arranged spaced apart from one another by a distance A. The other roller20.3is attached to the support element18in the middle between rollers20.1and20.2, namely such that said roller20.3is in rolling contact with the second running surface16.2of the guide rail16.

The support element18is guided along the guide rail16by the rolling contact of rollers20.1,20.2, and20.3and is transported in a transport device T of the guide rail16during operation of a caterpillar casting machine14(cf.FIG. 5).

Roller20.3, which, as previously explained, is in rolling contact with the second running surface16.2of the guide rail16, is preloaded by a spring element, by a tension spring ZF in this case, towards the guide rail16. Thus, roller20.3is pulled against the guide rail16by the tension spring ZF. In the same manner, rollers20.1and20.2are hereby pulled against the guide rail16. The result is constant rolling contact of rollers20.1-20.3with the running surfaces16.1,16.2of the guide rail16.

Deviating from the representation according toFIG. 1, it is also possible for the spring preloading to be provided for roller20.1and/or for roller20.2, or for all of the rollers20.1-20.3.

FIG. 2shows a side view of the guide rail16. As is clear, an endless circulating track U is formed by this guide rail16. A plurality of support elements18is guided on the guide rail16such that a closed surface is formed in the area of the straight sections of the circulating track U by the cooling blocks12adjacent one another. For the purposes of a simplified representation, only two support elements18with the cooling blocks12attached thereto are shown inFIG. 2.

FIG. 3shows a side view of two guide rails16according toFIG. 2, with which two oppositely arranged endless circulating tracks U are formed for a caterpillar casting machine14(cf.FIG. 5). It is understood with respect to this that a plurality of support elements18with cooling blocks12attached thereto are guided along each guide rail16such that a continuous chain of support elements18forms, which are conveyed or transported in the transport direction T along the guide rails16. To illustrate the functional principle of the present invention, only two support elements18, with cooling blocks12attached thereto, are shown on the two guide rails16inFIG. 3.

FIG. 3shows that a casting mold15is formed between the cooling blocks12, which reach juxtaposition in the straight sections of the circulating track U of the guide rails16. In light of the transport device T of the support elements18along the guide rails16, this casting mold15is a moving casting mold.

FIG. 4shows a front view of the support element18fromFIG. 1. It is clear from this that the three rollers,20.1,20.2, and20.3, are mounted, so as to rotate, on a left-hand side area22and on a right-hand side area23of the support element18. The axes of rotation of these rollers are indicated symbolically by the dashed lines “21.”

The front view ofFIG. 4is understood to be the view from the left with reference toFIG. 1. Accordingly, only rollers20.1are seen inFIG. 4above the guide rail16, i.e. in rolling contact with their first running surface16.1, wherein rollers20.2are arranged underneath and cannot be seen inFIG. 4.

FIG. 5shows a simplified side view of a caterpillar casting machine14, with which the transport device10according to the invention fromFIG. 1is used. The caterpillar casting machine14has an upper caterpillar14.1and a lower caterpillar14.2, each of which is formed from a plurality of support elements18and cooling blocks12attached thereto, which are transported along the corresponding guide rails16in the transport direction T. Casting material11(cf.FIG. 5) is produced by casting liquid metal into the moving casting mold15(cf.FIG. 3).

FIG. 6shows the caterpillar casting machine14again in a simplified perspective view. Here it is shown that drive devices24with drive wheels26, with which a transport of the support elements18and the cooling blocks12attached thereto takes place in the transport direction T, are provided in the deflection areas of the upper and lower caterpillar14.1,14.2.

A second embodiment of the transport device10according to the invention is shown and explained inFIGS. 7 to 10.

As shown by the side view according toFIG. 7, the transport device10according to this embodiment comprises a guide rail fixture17, which has a first guide rail17.1and a second guide rail17.2. A total of three rollers20.1,20.2, and20.3, which are each positioned between the two guide rails17.1,17.2, are mounted on the support element18of the transport device10. Specifically, two rollers, namely rollers20.1and20.2, are each in rolling contact with the running surface L1of the first guide rail17.2, wherein the third roller, namely roller20.3, is in rolling contact with the running surface L2of the second guide rail17.2. Expediently, roller20.3is preloaded against the guide rail17.2by means of a spring element, which is by means of a compression spring DF in this case. In other words, roller20.3is pressed against the second guide rail17.2by means of the compression spring DF. In the same manner, rollers20.1,20.2are hereby pressed against the running surface L1of the first guide rail17.1. As a result, play-free guidance of the support element18is hereby ensured along the guide rail fixture17in the transport device T.

In the same manner as with the embodiment fromFIG. 1, it is possible, for the embodiment fromFIG. 7, to attach a cooling block12, e.g. by means of quick fasteners13, to an upper edge19of the support element18.

FIG. 8shows a side view of a guide rail fixture17, on which a plurality of support elements18and cooling blocks12attached thereto are guided along a circulating track U, which is formed by said guide rail fixture17. For the purposes of a simplified representation, only two such support elements18with cooling blocks12attached thereto are shown inFIG. 8. In the same manner as previously explained regardingFIG. 2, a closed surface is formed in the straight sections of the circulating track U by means of cooling blocks12adjacent to one another, said circulating track being formed by the guide rail fixture17.

FIG. 9shows a side view of two guide rail fixtures17according toFIG. 8, with which two oppositely arranged endless circulating tracks U are formed for a caterpillar casting machine14ofFIG. 5. For reasons of simplification, only two support elements18, with cooling blocks12attached thereto, are shown on the two guide rail fixtures17inFIG. 9. In the same manner as explained withFIG. 3, a moving casting mold15, which is used to produce a casting material11(cf.FIG. 5), is formed between the cooling blocks12, which reach a juxtaposition in the straight sections of the circulating track U.

FIG. 10shows the support element ofFIG. 7in a front view. It is clear from this that the three rollers,20.1,20.2, and20.3, are mounted in a rotatable manner in both the left-hand side area22and in the right-hand side area23of the support element18. The axes of rotation of the rollers are indicated symbolically by dashed lines “21,” namely in the left-hand side area22of the support element18for roller20.1and in the right-hand side area23of the support element18for roller20.2.

The left-hand side area22, as shown inFIG. 10, corresponds to a view from the left with reference toFIG. 7. In this case, roller20.1, which is in rolling contact with the running surface L1of the first guide rail17.1, is shown in the image foreground. A part of roller20.3, which is in rolling contact with the running surface L2of the second guide rail20.3, is positioned behind (i.e. underneath roller201.)

The representation of the rollers on the right-hand side area23ofFIG. 10corresponds to a view of the middle roller20.2from the left. In this regard, the representation ofFIG. 10shows roller20.2in the image foreground in the right-hand side area23of the support element18. A part of roller20.3, which is in rolling contact with the running surface L1of the first guide rail17.1, is positioned behind (and above roller20.2in the image plane fromFIG. 10).

Deviating from the representations inFIGS. 7 and 10, it may also be provided for this embodiment of the transport device10that the middle roller20.2is in rolling contact with the running surface L1of the first guide rail17.1, wherein the two other rollers,20.1and20.3, are both in rolling contact with the running surface L2of the second guide rail17.2. Furthermore, it is also possible for the spring preloading to be provided for roller20.1and/or for roller20.3, or for all of the rollers20.1-20.3.

The two embodiments of the transport device10according toFIGS. 1 and 7have in common that the cooling blocks12, which can be attached to the respective support element18, extend, in one piece, over the entire width B of the mold gap15of the caterpillar casting machine ofFIG. 5. Accordingly, the support elements18are adapted such that a cooling block with such a width B (cf.FIG. 4,FIG. 10) can be attached thereto, e.g. by means of the quick fasteners13or similar means suitable for this.

For both of the previously explained embodiments of the transport device10, it is significant that the guidance of the support element18along the guide rail16and/or the guide rail fixture17is implemented by means of a total of at least six rollers due to the provision of the rollers20.1,20.2, and20.3on both the left-hand side area22and the right-hand side area23of the support element18. Particularly in the event that a cooling block12should have a large width B (cf.FIG. 4,FIG. 7), the attachment of the rollers20.1,20.2to the side areas22,23of the support element18has a positive effect on the smooth running behavior along the guide rail(s). The previously explained preloading, to which at least roller20.3is subject and thereby pulled in the direction of the guide rail16(cf.FIG. 1) and/or pressed against the second guide rail17.2(cf.FIG. 7), also contributes to this.

A cooling device, by means of which the cooling blocks12are intensively cooled during operation of the caterpillar casting machine14, is not shown in the drawing.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10Transport device11Casting material12Cooling block13Quick fastener(s)14Caterpillar casting machine14.1Upper caterpillar14.2Lower caterpillar15Casting mold16Guide rail16.1First running surface (of the guide rail16)16.2Second running surface (of the guide rail16)17Guide rail fixture17.1First guide rail (of the guide rail fixture17)17.2Second guide rail (of the guide rail fixture17)18Support element19Upper edge (of the support element18)20.1.-20.3Roller(s)21Axes (of rollers20.1,20.2, and20.3)22,23Side areas (of the support element18)24Drive device26Drive wheel (of a drive device24)A Distance between rollers20.1and20.2B Width (of a cooling block12)DF Compression springL Running surfaces (of the guide rail fixture17)L1Running surface (of the first guide rail17.1)L2Running surface (of the second guide rail17.2)T Transport device (of a support element18along the guide rail16and/or the guide rail fixture17)U Circulating track (of the guide rail16and/or the guide rail fixture17)ZF Tension spring