ALIGNING THE POURING NOZZLE OF A CONTINUOUS CASTING INSTALLATION

Abstract: The alignment of the pouring nozzle (8) of a continuous casting installation having a plurality of mould blocks (1) connected together to form two endless tracks which cooperate to define the mould cavity (2) is carried out by connecting a dummy nozzle (8′) of the same size and shape as the nozzle (8) to the tundish mounting stand (30) and aligning the dummy nozzle (8′) with the mould cavity (2). The carriage (6) is then moved to a position remote from the casting machine (3) and the distances of the dummy nozzle (8′) from sensors (14, 17) are measured. The nozzle (8) is then connected to the tundish mounting stand (30) and the distances of the nozzle (8) from the sensors (14, 17) are again measured. The mounting stand (30) is then moved by actuators (9, 10, 11) with respect to the carriage until the position of the nozzle (8) is precisely the same as the previous position of the dummy nozzle (8′) whereby the nozzle (8) is then aligned with the mould cavity.

Description: The present invention relates to continuous casting installations and is concerned with aligning the pouring nozzle of such installations. In particular, the invention is concerned with a method of aligning the pouring nozzle of a continuous casting installation with the mould cavity of a continuous casting machine of the type comprising two endless tracks which cooperate to define the mould cavity, the pouring nozzle being connected to a tundish mounting stand and communicating with a tundish carried by the stand which is carried on a carriage so as to be movable with respect to the casting machine and which is movable longitudinally, laterally and vertically with respect to the carriage. Generally, in a continuous casting installation with a continuous casting machine of endless track type comprising moving mould blocks, a pouring nozzle secured to a tundish-mounting carriage is inserted, in operation, into the mould cavity defined by the two endless tracks. To this end, position adjustment means, such as screw jacks, acting on the tundish on the carriage are manually operated to adjust the position of the tundish, thereby aligning the pouring nozzle with the mould cavity. Thereafter the carriage is advanced to insert the nozle into the mould cavity. A method and an installation as set forth in the preamble of claim 1 and claim 5, respectively, are known from e.g. JP-A-62 577 47. The gaps between the nozzle and the opposing mould blocks must be very small, typically of the order of 0.1-0.2 mm, in order to prevent the leakage of melt, so that the alignment of the nozzle must be accomplished very accurately. Such accurate alignment is very time consuming. If the alignment is not completely accurate, the pouring nozzle may hit the mould block, resulting in damage and/or subsequent leakage of melt. It is thus the primary object of the invention to provide means by which the alignment of the nozzle can be effected automatically, easily and quickly in a continuous casting installation of the type referred to above. According to the present invention a method of the type referred to above is characterised by connecting a dummy nozzle of the same size and shape as the nozzle to the tundish mounting stand, aligning the dummy nozzle with the mould cavity, moving the carriage to a position remote from the casting machine, measuring the distances of the dummy nozzle from respective set points, connecting the nozzle to the tundish mounting stand, measuring the distances of the nozzle from the set points and moving the mounting stand with respect to the carriage until the said distances are equal to the corresponding distances obtained with the dummy nozzle. Thus in the method of the present invention a dummy nozzle is firstly precisely aligned with the mould cavity and is then moved to a remote position, e.g. on rails on which the carriage runs, at which the position of the dummy nozzle is precisely measured. The dummy nozzle is then replaced by the real nozzle whose position is then detected and adjusted until it is the same as that of the dummy nozzle. The nozzle can then be moved back to the casting machine in the knowledge that it will inherently be precisely aligned with the mould cavity. Thus the alignment process is conducted with a cheaper and thus more expendable dummy nozzle and need not be repeated for the real nozzle or any subsequent nozzles which are used to replace the real nozzle. The invention also embraces a continuous casting installation for carrying out such a method and such an installation is characterised in accordance with the invention by actuators positioned between the mounting stand and the carriage and arranged to move the former vertically, longitudinally and laterally with respect to the latter, position sensors arranged to detect the position of the pouring nozzle or a dummy nozzle, whose size and shape are the same as those of the nozzle, connected to the mounting stand, comparators arranged to detect the position of the nozzle and of the dummy nozzle when sequentially connected to the mounting stand, the actuators being responsive to the outputs from the comparators and arranged to move the mounting stand until the position of the nozzle connected to it is the same as that of the dummy nozzle when previously connected to it. Further features and details of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of one preferred embodiment thereof which is given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a view in the direction of the arrows II in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of a dummy nozzle used in the invention. The continuous casting machine, generally indicated by reference numeral 3, has upper and lower moving mould blocks 1 connected together to form respective endless tracks which have opposing surfaces which, in use, are moved in the same direction and define a mould cavity 2. The machine 3 and thus the mould cavity are downwardly inclined with respect to the horizontal from the inlet side in the direction D of withdrawal of the cast strand. A pair of rails 4 is positioned upstream of the continuous casting machine at the same angle of downward inclination as that of the machine 3 in the direction D. A carriage 6 rides on the rails 4 and may be moved towards and away from the machine 3 parallel to the direction D by means of a hydraulic cylinder 5. A tundish-mounting stand 30 carries a tundish 7 on the carriage 6 by way of vertical hydraulic cylinders 9 by which the height of the tundish may be adjusted. A melt pouring nozzle 8, which is detachably mounted on the front surface of the stand 30 and communicates with the tundish 7, extends towards the mould cavity 2 of the casting machine 3. The longitudinal position of the tundish-mounting stand 30 may be adjusted with respect to the carriage 6 by means of horizontal hydraulic cylinders 10 extending parallel to the direction D. The lateral position of the tundish-mounting stand 30 can be adjusted with respect to the carriage 6 by means of horizontal hydraulic cylinders 11 extending transversely of the direction D. For the alignment operation, a dummy nozzle 8′, as shown in Figure 3, is attached to the front surface of the tundish-mounting stand 30 in place of the pouring nozzle 8. The dummy nozzle 8′ is manufactured to have the same size and shape as those of the pouring nozzle 8 with a high degreeof accuracy. A frame 13 is disposed upstream of the inlet end of the mould cavity 2 of the casting machine 3 so as to be movable in the widthwise direction of the carriage 6. Two or more position sensors 14, such as eddy-current or potentiometric type position sensors, are mounted on the frame 13 in opposed relationship with the nozzle 8 or 8′ and arranged to measure the gaps or distances of the nozzle 8 or 8′ from the position sensors 14. An upwardly extending frame 16 is securely anchored to a foundation adjacent the rails 4 upstream of the casting machine 3. Two or more position sensors 17, e.g. of eddy-current or potentiometric type, are mounted on the frame 16 alongside the dummy nozle 8′ and arranged to measure the gaps or distances of the dummy nozzle 8′ from the position sensors 17. The output signals from the position sensors 14 and 17 are delivered through converters 18 and 19, respectively, to comparators 20 and 21 and to stores or indicators 22 and 23, to which the comparators 20 and 21 are respectively connected. The outputs from the comparators 20 and 21 are delivered through adjustment devices 24 and 25 to servo valves 26 and 27 and to a servo valve 28, respectively, which in turn control the flow rate or pressure of the liquid flowing into or out of the hydraulic cylinders 9 and 10 and 11, respectively. The mode of operation of the embodiment described is as follows:- The carriage 6 is moved to its uppermost limit position on the rails 4 by actuating the hydraulic cylinder 5 and is then stopped. The dummy nozzle 8′ is attached to the front surface of the stand 30, and the carriage 6 is moved down the rail by the cylinder 5 to insert the dummy nozzle 8′ into the mould cavity 2 of the casting machine 3. The dummy nozzle 8′ is accurately aligned and centred by means of the servo valves 26, 27 and 28 such that the nozzle 8′ is centrally positioned between the upper and lower surfaces and between the side surfaces defining the mould cavity. Such accurate alignment may be carried out by an operator while he or she measures the distances of the dummy nozzle 8′ from the surfaces defining the mould cavity. Thereafter, the carriage 6 is moved again to the uppermost limit position on the rails 4 and is stopped. In that state, the distances of the dummy nozzle 8′ from the position sensors 14 and 17 are detected by the sensors 14 and 17 and signals representative of the detected gaps or distances are delivered to the stores or indicators 22 and 23. The dummy nozzle 8′ is then detached and the actual pouring nozzle 8 is attached to the carriage 30. The distances of the pouring nozzle 8 from the position sensors 14 and 17 are detected by them. The signals representative of the sensed distances are delivered through the convertors 18 and 19 to the comparators 20 and 21 where the detected gaps are compared with the set gaps delivered from the stores or indicators 22 and 23 to obtain difference signals. The differences thus obtained are adjusted by the adjustment devices 24 and 25 into instruction signals whose magnitude is proportional to the differences and then delivered to the servo valves 26, 27 and 28 as control signals. The flow of liquid into or out of the hydraulic cylinders 9, 10 and 11 is controlled by the servo valves 26, 27 and 28 to extend or retract the rods of the hydraulic cylinders 9, 10 and 11 in dependence on the control signals. The position of the tundish-mounting stand 30 in the vertical direction, the longitudinal direction and the widthwise direction is thus adjusted and the pouring nozzle 8 thus aligned with the mould cavity. When the detected gaps between the pouring nozzle 8 and the position sensors become equal to those set with respect to the dummy nozzle 8′, no difference signal is derived by the comparators 20 and 21 and the servo valves 26, 27 and 28 are closed. The alignment operation of the pouring nozzle 8 is then completed. The frame 13 is then moved out of the way and the hydraulic cylinder 5 is energized to move the carriage 6 down the rails 4 to insert the pouring nozzle 8 into the mould cavity 2 of the casting machine 3. If a damaged nozzle 8 is to be replaced the gaps or distances of the newly attached nozzle 8 from the position sensors 14 and 17 are detected by the latter. The detected gaps or distances of the new nozzle 8 are then adjusted in the manner described above so as to eliminate all differences from the previously detected gaps of the dummy nozzle 8′. The pouring nozzle alignment operation is thus carried out automatically, quickly and correctly with no operators, so that the down time of the production line is shortened. There is no risk of the pouring nozzle hitting the moulds, which would otherwise result in breakdown thereof. Operational safety is enhanced. It will be understood that the present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment described above and that various modifications may be effected. In the above description, the adjustment of the pouring nozzle 8 is effected on the basis of the signals from the stores or indicators 22 and 23 produced with reference to the dummy nozzle 8′. However, it is also possible to set the positions or gaps of the aligned dummy nozzle 8′ by setting means 31 and 32 which provide inputs for the comparators when subsequently aligning the nozzle 8. Instead of hydraulic cylinders for adjusting the position of the nozzle, screw jacks driven through worms and worm wheels may be used. The present invention may be applied not only to an inclined continuous casting machine but also to a horizontal continuous casting machine.

Claims: 1. A method of aligning the pouring nozzle (8) of a continuous casting installation with the mould cavity (2) of a continuous casting machine (3) of the type comprising two endless tracks which cooperate to define the mould cavity, the pouring nozzle (8) being connected to a tundish mounting stand (30) and communicating with a tundish (7) carried by the stand (30) which is carried on a carriage (6) so as to be movable with respect to the casting machine (3) and which is movable longitudinally, laterally and vertically with respect to the carriage (6), the method being characterised by connecting a dummy nozzle (8′) of the same size and shape as the nozzle (8) to the tundish mounting stand (30), aligning the dummy nozzle (8′) with the mould cavity (2), moving the carriage (6) to a position remote from the casting machine (3), measuring the distances of the dummy nozzle (8′) from respective set points (14, 17), connecting the nozzle (8) to the tundish mounting stand (30), measuring the distances of the nozzle (8) from the set points (14, 17) and moving the mounting stand (30) with respect to the carriage (6) until the said distances are equal to the corresponding distances obtained with the dummy nozzle (8′). 2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 characterised in that the carriage (6) includes actuators (9, 10, 11) arranged to move the mounting stand (30) vertically, longitudinally and laterally with respect to the carriage (6) and that the actuators (9, 10, 11) are operated automatically until the measured values of the distance of the nozzle (8) are equal to those obtained with the dummy nozzle (8′). 3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterised in that the set points comprise sensors (14, 17) arranged to measure the distance between themselves and the nozzles (8) or dummy nozzle (8′). 4. A method as claimed in Claim 3 characterised in that the sensors (14, 17) are connected to respective comparators (20, 21) and to respective stores (22, 23) and that the distances measured with the dummy nozzle (8′) are stored in the stores and then provided as an input to a respective comparator at the same time as the corresponding distance measured with the nozzle (8). 5. A continuous casting installation for carrying out the method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a continuous casting machine (3) comprising two endless tracks which cooperate to define a mould cavity (2) and pouring apparatus comprising a tundish (7) mounted on a tundish mounting stand (30) carried on a carriage (6) which is movable with respect to the casting machine (3) and a pouring nozzle (8) which may be connected to the mounting stand (30) in communication with the tundish and whose free end may be inserted into the inlet end of the mould cavity, characterised by actuators (9, 10, 11) positioned between the mounting stand (30) and the carriage (6) and arranged to move the former vertically, longitudinally and laterally with respect to the latter, position sensors (14, 17) arranged to detect the position of the pouring nozzle (8) or a dummy nozzle (8′), whose size and shape are the same as those of the nozzle (8), connected to the mounting stand (30), comparators (20, 21) arranged to detect the position of the nozzle (8) and of dummy nozzle (8′) when sequentially connected to the mounting stand (30), the actuators (9, 10, 11) being responsive to the outputs from the comparators (20, 21) and arranged to move the mounting stand (30) until the position of the nozzle (8) connected to it is the same as that of the dummy nozzle (8′) when previously connected to it. 6. An installation as claimed in Claim 5 characterised by adjustment means (24, 25) connected between the comparators (20, 21) and the actuators (9, 10, 11) and arranged to convert the output signals from the comparators into command signals to the actuators. 7. An installation as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6 characterised by stores (22, 23) arranged to store the position of the dummy nozzle (8′) when connected to the mounting stand (30) and subsequently to supply that position as an input to the comparators (20, 21) when the nozzle (8) is connected to the mounting stand.

Inventors: HASEBE, NOBUHISA, NAKADA, MASAYUKI, OSADA, SHIRO, SATO, HISASHI, TAKAHASHI, SHUZO, TSUCHIDA, YUTAKA
Applicants: ISHIKAWAJIMA-HARIMA  JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NIPPON KOKAN KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B22D11
IPC codes: B22D11