Patent Publication Number: US-11040393-B2

Title: Transport device

Description:
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 of  FIG. 11  for 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 of  FIG. 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 in  FIG. 12  by 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 claim  1  and further by a transport device having the features indicated in claim  5 . 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. 
    
    
     
       The following is shown: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a support element of a transport device according to the invention in conjunction with a cooling block attached to the support element; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a guide rail of the transport device from  FIG. 1  and an endless circulating track thereby formed; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of two guide rails according to  FIG. 2 , with which two oppositely arranged endless circulating tracks are formed for a caterpillar casting machine; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the support element from  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a caterpillar casting machine, with which a transport device from  FIG. 1  is used; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the caterpillar casting machine from  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a support element of a transport device according to the invention according to a further embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a guide rail fixture of the transport device from  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of two guide rail fixtures according to  FIG. 8 , which may be provided jointly for a caterpillar casting machine according to  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of the support element from  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a side elevation view of a prior art roll support illustratively depicting adjacent support members having main rollers positioned on a track; and 
         FIG. 12  is a partial view of the prior art roll support of  FIG. 11  depicting a single support member illustratively prone to tipping over. 
     
    
    
     Preferred embodiments of a transport device  10  according to the invention, which is used particularly for the transport of cooling blocks  12  with a caterpillar casting machine  14 , are explained in the following with reference to  FIGS. 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 device  10  according to the invention is shown and explained in  FIGS. 1 to 4 . 
     As shown by the side view according to  FIG. 1 , the transport device  10  comprises a guide rail  16 , which has a first running surface  16 . 1  and a second running surface  16 . 2 . Said running surfaces  16 . 1 ,  16 . 2  are provided on opposite sides of the guide rail  16 . The transport device  10  further comprises a support element  18 , to the upper edge  19  thereof a cooling block  12  of a caterpillar casting machine  14  can be attached, e.g. by means of quick fasteners  13 , which are only indicated symbolically in  FIG. 1 . 
     At least three rollers,  20 . 1 ,  20 . 2 , and  20 . 3 , are mounted on the support element  18  so as to rotate. Two of these rollers, namely rollers  20 . 1  and  20 . 2 , are in rolling contact with the first running surface  16 . 1  of the guide rail  16 . In this case, rollers  20 . 1  and  20 . 2  are arranged spaced apart from one another by a distance A. The other roller  20 . 3  is attached to the support element  18  in the middle between rollers  20 . 1  and  20 . 2 , namely such that said roller  20 . 3  is in rolling contact with the second running surface  16 . 2  of the guide rail  16 . 
     The support element  18  is guided along the guide rail  16  by the rolling contact of rollers  20 . 1 ,  20 . 2 , and  20 . 3  and is transported in a transport device T of the guide rail  16  during operation of a caterpillar casting machine  14  (cf.  FIG. 5 ). 
     Roller  20 . 3 , which, as previously explained, is in rolling contact with the second running surface  16 . 2  of the guide rail  16 , is preloaded by a spring element, by a tension spring ZF in this case, towards the guide rail  16 . Thus, roller  20 . 3  is pulled against the guide rail  16  by the tension spring ZF. In the same manner, rollers  20 . 1  and  20 . 2  are hereby pulled against the guide rail  16 . The result is constant rolling contact of rollers  20 . 1 - 20 . 3  with the running surfaces  16 . 1 ,  16 . 2  of the guide rail  16 . 
     Deviating from the representation according to  FIG. 1 , it is also possible for the spring preloading to be provided for roller  20 . 1  and/or for roller  20 . 2 , or for all of the rollers  20 . 1 - 20 . 3 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a side view of the guide rail  16 . As is clear, an endless circulating track U is formed by this guide rail  16 . A plurality of support elements  18  is guided on the guide rail  16  such that a closed surface is formed in the area of the straight sections of the circulating track U by the cooling blocks  12  adjacent one another. For the purposes of a simplified representation, only two support elements  18  with the cooling blocks  12  attached thereto are shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a side view of two guide rails  16  according to  FIG. 2 , with which two oppositely arranged endless circulating tracks U are formed for a caterpillar casting machine  14  (cf.  FIG. 5 ). It is understood with respect to this that a plurality of support elements  18  with cooling blocks  12  attached thereto are guided along each guide rail  16  such that a continuous chain of support elements  18  forms, which are conveyed or transported in the transport direction T along the guide rails  16 . To illustrate the functional principle of the present invention, only two support elements  18 , with cooling blocks  12  attached thereto, are shown on the two guide rails  16  in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 3  shows that a casting mold  15  is formed between the cooling blocks  12 , which reach juxtaposition in the straight sections of the circulating track U of the guide rails  16 . In light of the transport device T of the support elements  18  along the guide rails  16 , this casting mold  15  is a moving casting mold. 
       FIG. 4  shows a front view of the support element  18  from  FIG. 1 . It is clear from this that the three rollers,  20 . 1 ,  20 . 2 , and  20 . 3 , are mounted, so as to rotate, on a left-hand side area  22  and on a right-hand side area  23  of the support element  18 . The axes of rotation of these rollers are indicated symbolically by the dashed lines “21.” 
     The front view of  FIG. 4  is understood to be the view from the left with reference to  FIG. 1 . Accordingly, only rollers  20 . 1  are seen in  FIG. 4  above the guide rail  16 , i.e. in rolling contact with their first running surface  16 . 1 , wherein rollers  20 . 2  are arranged underneath and cannot be seen in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a simplified side view of a caterpillar casting machine  14 , with which the transport device  10  according to the invention from  FIG. 1  is used. The caterpillar casting machine  14  has an upper caterpillar  14 . 1  and a lower caterpillar  14 . 2 , each of which is formed from a plurality of support elements  18  and cooling blocks  12  attached thereto, which are transported along the corresponding guide rails  16  in the transport direction T. Casting material  11  (cf.  FIG. 5 ) is produced by casting liquid metal into the moving casting mold  15  (cf.  FIG. 3 ). 
       FIG. 6  shows the caterpillar casting machine  14  again in a simplified perspective view. Here it is shown that drive devices  24  with drive wheels  26 , with which a transport of the support elements  18  and the cooling blocks  12  attached thereto takes place in the transport direction T, are provided in the deflection areas of the upper and lower caterpillar  14 . 1 ,  14 . 2 . 
     A second embodiment of the transport device  10  according to the invention is shown and explained in  FIGS. 7 to 10 . 
     As shown by the side view according to  FIG. 7 , the transport device  10  according to this embodiment comprises a guide rail fixture  17 , which has a first guide rail  17 . 1  and a second guide rail  17 . 2 . A total of three rollers  20 . 1 ,  20 . 2 , and  20 . 3 , which are each positioned between the two guide rails  17 . 1 ,  17 . 2 , are mounted on the support element  18  of the transport device  10 . Specifically, two rollers, namely rollers  20 . 1  and  20 . 2 , are each in rolling contact with the running surface L 1  of the first guide rail  17 . 2 , wherein the third roller, namely roller  20 . 3 , is in rolling contact with the running surface L 2  of the second guide rail  17 . 2 . Expediently, roller  20 . 3  is preloaded against the guide rail  17 . 2  by means of a spring element, which is by means of a compression spring DF in this case. In other words, roller  20 . 3  is pressed against the second guide rail  17 . 2  by means of the compression spring DF. In the same manner, rollers  20 . 1 ,  20 . 2  are hereby pressed against the running surface L 1  of the first guide rail  17 . 1 . As a result, play-free guidance of the support element  18  is hereby ensured along the guide rail fixture  17  in the transport device T. 
     In the same manner as with the embodiment from  FIG. 1 , it is possible, for the embodiment from  FIG. 7 , to attach a cooling block  12 , e.g. by means of quick fasteners  13 , to an upper edge  19  of the support element  18 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a side view of a guide rail fixture  17 , on which a plurality of support elements  18  and cooling blocks  12  attached thereto are guided along a circulating track U, which is formed by said guide rail fixture  17 . For the purposes of a simplified representation, only two such support elements  18  with cooling blocks  12  attached thereto are shown in  FIG. 8 . In the same manner as previously explained regarding  FIG. 2 , a closed surface is formed in the straight sections of the circulating track U by means of cooling blocks  12  adjacent to one another, said circulating track being formed by the guide rail fixture  17 . 
       FIG. 9  shows a side view of two guide rail fixtures  17  according to  FIG. 8 , with which two oppositely arranged endless circulating tracks U are formed for a caterpillar casting machine  14  of  FIG. 5 . For reasons of simplification, only two support elements  18 , with cooling blocks  12  attached thereto, are shown on the two guide rail fixtures  17  in  FIG. 9 . In the same manner as explained with  FIG. 3 , a moving casting mold  15 , which is used to produce a casting material  11  (cf.  FIG. 5 ), is formed between the cooling blocks  12 , which reach a juxtaposition in the straight sections of the circulating track U. 
       FIG. 10  shows the support element of  FIG. 7  in a front view. It is clear from this that the three rollers,  20 . 1 ,  20 . 2 , and  20 . 3 , are mounted in a rotatable manner in both the left-hand side area  22  and in the right-hand side area  23  of the support element  18 . The axes of rotation of the rollers are indicated symbolically by dashed lines “21,” namely in the left-hand side area  22  of the support element  18  for roller  20 . 1  and in the right-hand side area  23  of the support element  18  for roller  20 . 2 . 
     The left-hand side area  22 , as shown in  FIG. 10 , corresponds to a view from the left with reference to  FIG. 7 . In this case, roller  20 . 1 , which is in rolling contact with the running surface L 1  of the first guide rail  17 . 1 , is shown in the image foreground. A part of roller  20 . 3 , which is in rolling contact with the running surface L 2  of the second guide rail  20 . 3 , is positioned behind (i.e. underneath roller  201 .) 
     The representation of the rollers on the right-hand side area  23  of  FIG. 10  corresponds to a view of the middle roller  20 . 2  from the left. In this regard, the representation of  FIG. 10  shows roller  20 . 2  in the image foreground in the right-hand side area  23  of the support element  18 . A part of roller  20 . 3 , which is in rolling contact with the running surface L 1  of the first guide rail  17 . 1 , is positioned behind (and above roller  20 . 2  in the image plane from  FIG. 10 ). 
     Deviating from the representations in  FIGS. 7 and 10 , it may also be provided for this embodiment of the transport device  10  that the middle roller  20 . 2  is in rolling contact with the running surface L 1  of the first guide rail  17 . 1 , wherein the two other rollers,  20 . 1  and  20 . 3 , are both in rolling contact with the running surface L 2  of the second guide rail  17 . 2 . Furthermore, it is also possible for the spring preloading to be provided for roller  20 . 1  and/or for roller  20 . 3 , or for all of the rollers  20 . 1 - 20 . 3 . 
     The two embodiments of the transport device  10  according to  FIGS. 1 and 7  have in common that the cooling blocks  12 , which can be attached to the respective support element  18 , extend, in one piece, over the entire width B of the mold gap  15  of the caterpillar casting machine of  FIG. 5 . Accordingly, the support elements  18  are 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 fasteners  13  or similar means suitable for this. 
     For both of the previously explained embodiments of the transport device  10 , it is significant that the guidance of the support element  18  along the guide rail  16  and/or the guide rail fixture  17  is implemented by means of a total of at least six rollers due to the provision of the rollers  20 . 1 ,  20 . 2 , and  20 . 3  on both the left-hand side area  22  and the right-hand side area  23  of the support element  18 . Particularly in the event that a cooling block  12  should have a large width B (cf.  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 7 ), the attachment of the rollers  20 . 1 ,  20 . 2  to the side areas  22 ,  23  of the support element  18  has a positive effect on the smooth running behavior along the guide rail(s). The previously explained preloading, to which at least roller  20 . 3  is subject and thereby pulled in the direction of the guide rail  16  (cf.  FIG. 1 ) and/or pressed against the second guide rail  17 . 2  (cf.  FIG. 7 ), also contributes to this. 
     A cooling device, by means of which the cooling blocks  12  are intensively cooled during operation of the caterpillar casting machine  14 , is not shown in the drawing. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
     
         
           10  Transport device 
           11  Casting material 
           12  Cooling block 
           13  Quick fastener(s) 
           14  Caterpillar casting machine 
           14 . 1  Upper caterpillar 
           14 . 2  Lower caterpillar 
           15  Casting mold 
           16  Guide rail 
           16 . 1  First running surface (of the guide rail  16 ) 
           16 . 2  Second running surface (of the guide rail  16 ) 
           17  Guide rail fixture 
           17 . 1  First guide rail (of the guide rail fixture  17 ) 
           17 . 2  Second guide rail (of the guide rail fixture  17 ) 
           18  Support element 
           19  Upper edge (of the support element  18 ) 
           20 . 1 .- 20 . 3  Roller(s) 
           21  Axes (of rollers  20 . 1 ,  20 . 2 , and  20 . 3 ) 
           22 ,  23  Side areas (of the support element  18 ) 
           24  Drive device 
           26  Drive wheel (of a drive device  24 ) 
         A Distance between rollers  20 . 1  and  20 . 2   
         B Width (of a cooling block  12 ) 
         DF Compression spring 
         L Running surfaces (of the guide rail fixture  17 ) 
         L 1  Running surface (of the first guide rail  17 . 1 ) 
         L 2  Running surface (of the second guide rail  17 . 2 ) 
         T Transport device (of a support element  18  along the guide rail  16  and/or the guide rail fixture  17 ) 
         U Circulating track (of the guide rail  16  and/or the guide rail fixture  17 ) 
         ZF Tension spring