Patent EA-003507-B1 (EA)
Title: Strip-casting machine for producing a metal strip and a method for controlling same
Inventor: MARTI HEINRICH A
IPC: B22D11/06
Filed: 2000-09-19
Abstract: 1. Strip-casting machine for producing a metal strip with two rotatably supported casting rolls (22, 24) set up next to each other to form a casting gap, where the casting rolls (22, 24) can be shifted away from the casting position (G) to a servicing position (W) and back again, characterized in that the casting rolls (22, 24) can be shifted away from the casting position (G) by a distance sufficient to allow a second prepared set of casting rolls (22, 24) to be moved into the casting position (G). 2. Strip-casting machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that the casting rolls (22, 24) are supported rotatably on a structural frame (32); in that the structural frame can be shifted away from the casting position (G) by the cited distance; and in that a second structural frame provided with prepared casting rolls (22, 24) can be moved into the casting position (G). 3. Strip-casting machine according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that the structural frame (32) can be shifted together with a housing (30), which surrounds it. 4. Strip-casting machine according to Claim 1, Claim 2, or Claim 3, characterized in that the housing (30) has wheels (37), which travel over the rails (48, 48'), or in that it has skids, runners, or the like. 5. Strip-casting machine according to Claim 4, characterized in that the rails (48, 48') supporting the housing (30) have a section in the area of the casting position (G) which is separate from the remaining length of the rails, this section being designed to be raised and lowered by lifting cylinders (51), so that the housing (30) can be raised or lowered into the casting position (G) or so that the rails (48) can be lowered or raised to a position where they are aligned with the adjacent rails (48') so that the housing (30) can be moved away toward the side. 6. Strip-casting machine according to Claim 5, characterized in that the water feed lines (64) and/or other media lines to the casting rolls (22, 24) are connected and disconnected by lowering and raising the housing (30), where the water feed lines (64) are present in the structural frame (32) and a stationary water supply system (65) with the appropriate supply lines is installed underneath or outside the housing (30). 7. Strip-casting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (30) has a cover (35), which can be raised from the housing by lifting cylinders (71) or the like and lowered again independently of the housing. 8. Strip-casting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distance between the casting position (G) and the servicing position (W) is equal to several lengths of the housing or of the casting rolls, so that work can be performed in the servicing position without interference from the casting operation. 9. Strip-casting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the servicing position (W), servicing equipment is provided, so that the casting rolls (22, 24) can be cleaned, their outside diameters turned, and their surfaces renewed without the need to dismantle them. 10. Strip-casting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one manipulator (40), which can travel back and forth outside the housing (30), is provided on each side of the casting rolls (22, 24) to guide the lateral sealing elements (25) out of and into the housing (30), where these elements are set or pressed against the end surfaces of the casting rolls. 11. Strip-casting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the lateral sealing elements (25), one of which is on each side of the casting rolls (22, 24), is set or pressed against the end surfaces of the casting rolls by at least one manipulator (40), which travels along with the housing. 12. Strip-casting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the case of a multi-strand casting installation, at least two adjacent strip-casting machines (20) are provided, which are supplied with molten metal from a single tundish vessel, and in that one of the housings with its casting rolls can be replaced by a new housing with casting rolls of, for example, a different width, while the other housing remains in operation. 13. Strip-casting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the case of two independent casting strands, the exchanging and servicing position (W) located between the casting strands can be used for either one of the casting strands as desired. 14. Method for controlling the strip-casting machine for producing a metal strip with two rotatably supported casting rolls (22, 24) set up next to each other to form a casting gap, where the casting rolls (22, 24) can be shifted away from the casting position (G) to a servicing position (W) and back again, according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, when the casting rolls (22, 24) are to be replaced, a new housing with prepared casting rolls is pushed into the casting position (G) in place of the one being replaced, whereupon the lateral sealing elements (25) are set or pressed by means of the manipulators (40) against the end surfaces of the casting rolls (22, 24); protective enclosures (38), which surround the manipulators, and the cover (35) are connected tightly to the housing (30); and the interior of the housing is filled with a shielding gas, so that casting can proceed as soon as the required electrical or other lines have been connected. 15. Method according to Claim 14, characterized in that the casting rolls (22, 24) can be replaced without the need to empty the tundish vessel (18) containing the molten metal, where, for this purpose, the cover (35) is raised first before the replacement; the lateral sealing elements (25) are removed; the casting rolls (22, 24) are shifted horizontally away from the housing (30) in the direction of their rotational axes; and the new casting rolls, e.g., rolls with a different width, are brought up into position in a corresponding manner in such a way that the casting pipe again assumes a position between them without contact.