PRESSES FOR THE PRESSING OF SCRAP IN SKIPS AND METHOD TO MOVE SKIPS BELOW THE PRESSES

Abstract: Improvements to presses for the pressing of scrap in skips which charge furnaces in steelworks, whereby a skip (l2) is borne on a support with legs (l5) by means of a vehicle with a vertically movable platform (l6) and is then rested on a press cradle (l7), the press (ll) comprising hooks (l0) suitable to cooperate momentarily with support pins (l3) included on the skip (l2) so as to support the skip itself (l2) momentarily below the press (ll); presses thus improved; and also method to move skips below the presses in presses thus improved.

Description: This invention concerns improvements to presses for the pressing of scrap in skips used to charge furnaces for steelworks. The invention concerns also the presses which employ such improvements for the pressing of scrap in skips. The invention refers also to a method to move skips below the presses. At the present time the skips employed to charge scrap into furnaces for steelworks are moved by means of appropriate supports having legs and a substantially square floor plan or another shape. Such supports with legs make possible the use of vehicles which comprise a raisable platform and, being introduced below the supports themselves, lift the supports and convey them wherever so required. The pressing of scrap in skips to improve the filling of the latter and to reduce the time employed in charging the furnace is a common practice nowadays. Such pressing is carried out with appropriate presses, the skips being rested on suitable cradles which accommodate and support them. At the present time the skips are rested on their own supports with legs and are then conveyed to the press zone, where a crane lifts them from their support and places them on a cradle. The cradle is then moved under the press for the pressing operation and, when the pressing has been performed, is brought back to the neighbourhood of the support with legs, onto which the skip is reloaded. This known system requires a high capacity crane with heavy investment costs and high movement and running costs. It also entails considerable space and downtimes. US 4,470,580 discloses a press for scrap in which the die consists of two elements of different diameters, the outer element being fitted when required. US 3,4l6,436 discloses a press for scrap which cooperates with a skip having a vertically movable bottom to discharge the scrap when pressed. EP 0.035.568 discloses a press for briquettes in which the press mould can be moved on an appropriate truck and can be positioned vertically by plungers included in the structure of the press so as to discharge the briquettes. The present applicant has therefore designed and embodied the invention according to this application. According to the invention the skip with its relative support with legs is brought by a vehicle with a raisable platform directly below the press. When the skip is below the press, appropriate hooks are secured to anchorage pins comprised on the skip. As soon as the skip is aligned with the hooks and is substantially on the same axis as the ram of the press, the vehicle lowers its platform and thus lowers the skip, which thus is hung on the hooks. The hooks themselves may also be moved vertically. When the platform of the vehicle is lowered, the support with legs is thus released from the skip without having touched the ground with its legs and thus can be removed by the vehicle itself. When the support with legs has been removed, the cradle is introduced below the skip so that, when the hooks are lowered, the skip itself is upheld by the cradle, the hooks are freed and removed and the pressing operation can take place. When the pressing operation has taken place, the cycle is repeated in the reverse order and the skip is removed by the vehicle with the movable platform. The invention is therefore obtained with a press for the pressing of scrap in skips which charge furnaces in steelworks, whereby a skip is borne on a support with legs by means of a vehicle with a vertically movable platform and is then rested on a press cradle; the press comprises hooks suitable to cooperate momentarily with support pins included on the skip so as to support the skip itself momentarily below the press. The invention is also obtained with a method whereby the skip is supported momentarily by hooks for the withdrawal or introduction of a support with legs and for the introduction or withdrawal of a cradle. The figures, which are given as a non-restrictive example, show the following: - Fig.l gives a three-dimensional view of an improved press; Fig.2 gives a front view of the press of Fig.l; Figs.3 and 4 show a variant. In the figures the same parts or parts having the same functions bear the same reference numbers. A vehicle l6 having a vertically movable platform and bearing a support with legs l5 on which is positioned a skip l2 filled with scrap, places such skip l2 under the portal of a press ll. Hooks l0 are caused to cooperate with support pins l3 comprised on the skip l2 so that, when the hooks l0 are raised or the skip l2 is lowered slightly, the hooks l0 support the skip l2 by securing themselves to the support pins l3. Such pins l3 may be located at the side of or at the top of the skip l2. When the skip l2 is secured to the hooks l0 by means of the support pins l3, the platform of the vehicle l6 is lowered until the support with legs l5 is disengaged from the skip l2. When the support with legs l5 has been disengaged from the skip l2, the vehicle with the movable platform l6 removes the support with legs l5, and a cradle l7 is introduced instead of such support and, being empty, can be moved easily. When the cradle l7 has been introduced, the skip l2 is lowered until it rests on the cradle l7. When the skip l2 is supported on the cradle l7, the hooks l0 are freed and removed by devices l9 which move such hooks. Such devices l9 to move the hooks may be fitted to the plate of the ram of the press (Figs.l and 2) or to the cross member l8 of the press ll (Figs.3 and 4). These devices l9 may also be fitted to the upright side members of the press. In either case lifting jacks 22 may be provided. The devices l9 to move the hooks in the example shown comprise a lever support 23, levers 20 to rotate the hooks l0 and jacks 2l to withdraw the hooks from the working zone. In the example of Figs.3 and 4 the lever supports 23 are secured to a jack 22, whereas in the example of Figs.l and 2 the lever support 23 is anchored to the plate l4 of the ram and the ram itself of the press acts as a jack 22 if so required.

Claims: Press for the pressing of scrap in skips which charge furnaces in steelworks, whereby a skip (12) is borne on a support with legs (15) by means of a vehicle with a vertically movable platform (16) and is then rested on a press cradle (17), characterized in that it comprises hooks (10) suitable to cooperate momentary with support pins (13) included on the skip (12) so as to support the skip itself (12) momentary below the press (11). Press as claimed in Claim 1, in which the hooks (10) can be moved vertically. Press as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which the hooks (10) are displaced by a device (19) which moves the hooks. Press as claimed in any claim hereinbefore, in which the devices (19) which move the hooks are anchored to an upper cross member (18) of the press (11). Press as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3 inclusive, in which the devices (19) which move the hooks are anchored to the plate (14) of the ram of the press. Press as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3 inclusive, in which the devices (19) which move the hooks are anchored to the upright side members of the press (11). Press as claimed in any Claim hereinbefore, in which the devices (19) which move the hooks comprise a lifting jack (22). Press as claimed in any Claim hereinbefore, in which the hooks (10) are removed upwards (Fig. 3). Press as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7 inclusive, in which the hooks (10) are removed sideways (Fig. 1). Method to move skips in the zone where scrap is pressed in the skips, characterized in that the skip (12) is supported momentarily by hooks (10) for the withdrawal or introduction of a support with legs (15) and for the introduction or withdrawal of a cradle (17).

Inventors: NONINI, GEREMIA
Applicants: DANIELI & C. OFFICINE MECCANICHE S.P.A.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B30B9
IPC codes: B30B9