Patent Abstract:
A device for supporting a molten metal container is provided, wherein the device has first and second support units for supporting the weight of the molten metal container in connection with a ring member, taken alone or in combination according to a rotary position. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the device for supporting the molten metal container comprises: a ring member which encloses the outside of a rotatable molten metal container; and first and second support units which are configured to support the weight of said molten metal container in connection with said ring member, taken alone or in combination according to a rotary position of said molten metal container.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a device for supporting molten metal container including first and second support units which support the load of a molten metal container alone or together, in combination with a ring member, according to a rotary position. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A molten metal container “C”, such as a converter, containing molten metal therein, is rotatable. Such a molten metal container (C) may be rotated in one direction or the other direction, or alternately in both directions so as to release molten metal contained therein or so as to remove slag generated in the course of blowing where the molten metal container (C) is a converter. 
     For this purpose, as illustrated in  FIG. 9B , the molten metal container (C) may be rotated about a rotational shaft (A), together with a ring member  20  enclosing the molten metal container (C). The load of the molten metal container (C) should be supported even when the molten metal container (C) is rotated or stationary. 
     Thus, to support the load of the molten metal container (C) when the molten metal container (C) is rotated or stationary, the molten metal container (C) and the ring member  20  are fixed by disposing a connecting member (R) connected to the molten metal container (C) on the ring member  20 , and inserting a fixing member (F) into a connecting member (M) through connected to the ring member  20 , as illustrated in  FIG. 8A . However, this case needs a relatively large structure. 
     Also, as illustrated in  FIG. 8B , the ring member  20  is provided with a support member  41  of which one end is inserted into the molten metal container (C), and the molten metal container (C) is formed with an insertion hole  42  together with ribs (L) such that the support member  41  supports the load of the molten metal container (C). However, in this case, one-sided wearing of the support member  41  may occur due to a narrow clearance between the support member  41  and the insertion hole  42  and a difference in thermal expansion between the molten metal container (C) and the ring member  20  made of different materials, or cracks may be generated in the support member  41  or the insertion hole  42 . 
     Also, as illustrated in  FIG. 9A , the other side of the ring member  20  of which one side is connected to the molten metal container (C) is connected to the molten metal container (C) via a thin plate (S) to thus support the load of the molten metal container (C). However, in this case, when the thin plate (S) is subject to a bending load, the thin plate (S) may be very vulnerable to such a load, and may be damaged due to molten metal released while the molten metal contained in the molten metal container (C) is released to the outside. 
     In addition, as illustrated in  FIG. 9B , a first fixing member  31  provided on the ring member  20  is horizontally or vertically connected to a second fixing member  33  provided on the molten metal container (C) by a link member  32  to thus support the load of the molten metal container (C). However, in this case, when the molten metal container (C) is in a rotated location where the link member  32  connected horizontally is subject to the load of the molten metal container (C), cracks may be generated in a connecting part, especially the connecting part between the first fixing member  31  and the ring member  20 . For example, in the case where the molten metal container (C) is a converter, the molten metal container (C) may be alternately rotated in one and the other directions. In this case, since the link members  32  connected vertically are arranged at different intervals, an excessive load may be concentrated on only one of the link members  32 . Thus, cracks may be generated in the connecting part. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made in consideration of at least one of requirements or limitations generated in the conventional device for supporting molten metal container. 
     An aspect of the present invention is to provide a device for supporting molten metal container that may support the load of a molten metal container with a support unit alone or together with another support unit in combination with a ring member, according to a rotated location of the molten metal container. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a device for supporting molten metal container that may stably support the load of a molten metal container without leaning of the load of the molten metal container, regardless of the rotated location. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a device for supporting molten metal container that may prevent a crack from being generated in a connecting part or the like due to leaning of the load or a difference in thermal expansion between a molten metal container and a ring member. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a device for supporting molten metal container that may stably support a molten metal container even when the molten metal container is alternately rotated in one or the other direction. 
     A device for supporting molten metal container associated with an embodiment to achieve at least one of the foregoing objects may include the following features. 
     The present invention is based on including first and second support units that support the load of a molten metal container, alone or together in combination with a ring member enclosing an outside of the molten metal according to rotation of the molten metal container. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for supporting molten metal container including: a ring member enclosing an outside of a rotatable molten metal container; and first and second support units supporting the load of the molten metal container, alone or together in combination with the ring member. 
     The ring member may be provided with a rotational shaft, and the molten metal container may be rotated about the rotational shaft together with the ring member. 
     The first support unit may support the load of the molten metal container, alone in combination with the ring member from an upright location of the molten metal container to a first rotation location rotated by a predetermined angle from the upright location, the first and second support units may support the load of the molten metal container, together in combination with the ring member from the first rotation location to a second rotation location rotated by 90 degrees from the upright location, and the second support unit may support the load of the molten metal container, alone in combination with the ring member from the second rotation location to a third rotation location rotated from the second rotation location by a predetermined angle. 
     For this purpose, the first support unit may include a first fixing member provided on the ring member; a link member of which one side is connected to the first fixing member; and a second fixing member provided on the molten metal container, and connected with the other side of the link member. 
     Also, a spherical bearing may be provided in a connecting part between the first fixing member and the link member, or to a connecting part between the link member and the second fixing member. 
     The first fixing member and one side of the link member or the other side of the link member and the second fixing member may be connected by a pin member, and a taper member may be positioned between the first fixing member and the pin member or between the second fixing member and the pin member. 
     Also, the taper member may be formed integrally with a cover member connected to the first fixing member and the pin member or to the second fixing member and the pin member. 
     The second support unit may include a support member provided on the ring member; and an insertion hole formed in the molten metal container such that one side of the support member may be inserted, a first clearance and a second clearance formed at an opposite side to the first clearance may be formed between the support member and the insertion hole, and the first clearance and the second clearance may be positioned on an upper side and a lower side of the insertion hole, respectively. 
     Also, the first clearance may be greater than the second clearance. 
     As described above, according to the embodiments of the present invention, the device for supporting molten metal container may support the load of the molten metal container with a support unit alone or together with another support unit in combination with the ring member. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the device for supporting molten metal container may stably support the load of the molten metal container without leaning of the load of the molten metal container regardless of rotated location. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, the device for supporting molten metal container may prevent a crack from being generated in a connecting part due to leaning of the load of a molten metal container or a difference in thermal expansion between the molten metal container and a ring member. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the device for supporting molten metal container may stably support a molten metal container even when the molten metal container is alternately rotated in one or the other direction. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a device for supporting molten metal container according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom view of a device for supporting molten metal container according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view illustrating a connecting part between a first fixing member or a second fixing member and a link member in a device for supporting molten metal container according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view illustrating a connecting part between a first fixing member or a second fixing member and a link member in a device for supporting molten metal container according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged sectional view of a second support unit in a device for supporting molten metal container according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  are schematic views explaining operations of a device for supporting molten metal container according to an embodiment of the present invention; AND 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  are view illustrating a conventional device for supporting molten metal container. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     To help understanding of the present invention in relation to the foregoing features, a device for supporting molten metal container according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail. 
     Hereinafter, embodiments will be described on the basis of a best mode to understand the technical features of the present invention, and it will be understood that the described embodiments may exemplarily embody the present invention rather than limit the present invention. Therefore, it will be also understood that various modifications of the present invention will be made without departing from the scope of the present invention and such modifications are within the technical scope of the present invention. Further, to help understanding of the embodiments to be described, among elements illustrated on the accompanying drawings, like or similar elements are indicated by like or similar numerals. 
     The embodiments related to the present invention basically include first and second support units that support the load of a molten metal container alone or together in combination with a ring member enclosing the outside of the molten metal container according to rotation of the molten metal container. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a device for supporting molten metal container according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a ring member  200  and first and second support units  300  and  400 . 
     The ring member  200  may enclose the outside of the molten metal container (C), as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The molten metal container (C) enclosed by the ring member  200  may be rotated. For this purpose, a rotational shaft (A) is provided in the ring member  200  as illustrated in the drawings. The rotational shaft (A) may be connected to a rotation driving unit (not shown), including, for example, a motor, gears, and the like. 
     The ring member  200  may support the load of the molten metal container (C) in combination with the first and second support units  300  and  400 , as will be described later. As the ring member  200  is rotated about the rotational shaft (A) by an operation of the rotation driving unit, the molten metal container (C) may be rotated about the rotational shaft (A) together with the ring member  200 . However, the configuration for rotating the molten metal container (C) is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, but any configuration will be possible if it may rotate the molten metal container (C). 
     The ring member  200  is also not particularly limited to the illustrated configuration, but may have any configuration if it may support the load of the molten metal container (C) in combination with the first and second support units  300  and  400 , as will be described later. 
     The foregoing molten metal container (C) may be a converter. However, the molten metal container is not limited to the converter but may have any configuration if it may contain molten metal therein. 
     The first and second support units  300  and  400  may support the load of the molten metal container (C) alone or together in combination with the ring member  200 , according to the rotated location of the molten metal container (C). Therefore, the first and second support units  300  and  400  may support the load of the molten metal container (C) without leaning of the load regardless of the rotated positions. Thus, a crack may be prevented from being generated in a connecting part due to leaning of the load of the molten metal container (C). 
     Of the first and second support units  300  and  400 , the first support unit  300  may support the load of the molten metal container (C) alone in combination with the ring member  200  from the upright location (D) to a first rotation location (D 1 ) rotated by a predetermined angle from the upright location (D 1 ), as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The first support unit  300  may support the load of the molten metal container (C) together with the second support unit  400  in combination with the ring member  200  from the first rotation location (D 1 ) to a second rotation location (D 2 ) rotated by 90 degrees from the upright location (D). The first support unit  300  may not support the load of the molten metal container (C) in combination with the ring member  200  from the second rotation location (D 2 ) to the third rotation location (D 3 ) rotated from the second rotation location (D 2 ) by a predetermined angle. From the second rotation location (D 2 ) to the third rotation location (D 3 ), the second support unit  400  may support the load of the molten metal container (C) alone in combination with the ring member  200  as will be described later. 
     As in an embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the first support unit  300  may be four, two disposed equidistantly on one side of the molten metal container (C) about the rotational shaft (A), and the remaining two disposed equidistantly on the other side of the molten metal container (C). Therefore, as previously mentioned, although the molten metal container (C) is rotated in any of the one side direction or the other side direction together with the ring member  200  about the rotational shaft (A), the first support unit  300  may support the load of the molten metal container (C) alone in combination with the ring member  200  from the upright location (D) to the first rotation location (D 1 ), and together with the second support unit  400  in combination with the ring member  200  from the first rotation location (D 1 ) to the second rotation position (D 2 ). Also, the second support unit  400  may support the load of the molten metal container (C) alone in combination with the ring member  200  from the second rotation location (D 2 ) to the third rotation location (D 3 ). Therefore, the molten metal container (c) may be stably supported even when the molten metal container (c) is alternately rotated in one or the other direction. Accordingly, a double slag work which rotates the molten metal container (c), for example, a converter in one side direction or the other side direction to remove slag during blowing may be stably performed. 
     As described above, to support the load of the molten metal container (C) according to the rotated location of the molten metal container (C), the first support unit  300  may include a first fixing member  310 , a link member  320 , and a second fixing member  330 , as in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3 . 
     As in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first fixing member  310  may be provided on the ring member  200 . The first fixing member  310  is provided on the ring member  200 , and it is not particularly limited. Thus, many embodiments are possible as long as the first fixing member  310  is provided on the ring member  200  and connected to the link member  320 , as will later be described. 
     One side of the link member  320  may be connected to the fixing member  310  as in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4 . As in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the first fixing member  310  and the link member  320  may be connected by a pin member (P). A spherical bearing (B) may be provided in a connecting part between the first fixing member  310  and the link member  320 . That is, as in the embodiment illustrated, by positioning the spherical bearing (B) between the pin member (P) and the link member  320 , the spherical bearing (B) may be provided in the connecting part between the first fixing member  310  and the link member  320 . Thus, when the spherical bearing (B) is provided in the connecting part between the first fixing member  310  and the link member  320 , although the link member  320  slightly moves in the left or right direction by the load of the molten metal container (C), it is possible to support the molten metal container (C). Also, when a single spherical bearing (B) is provided not between the pin member (P) and the first fixing member  310  but between the pin member (P) and the link member  320 , the link member  320  may be prevented from slightly moving to the left or right. In this case, a taper member (T) of which one surface is tapered may be positioned between the pin member (P) and the first fixing member  310 , as in the illustrated embodiment. 
     As in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a second fixing member  330  may be provided on the molten metal container (C). The other side of the link member  320  may be connected to the second fixing member  330  as in the illustrated embodiment. As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  and mentioned above, the second fixing member  330  and the link member  320  may be also connected by the pin member (P). Also, by positioning a spherical bearing (B) between the pin member (P) and the link member  320 , the spherical bearing (B) may be provided in the connecting part of the second fixing member  330  and the link member  320 . Further, a taper member (T) may be positioned between the pin member (P) and the second fixing member  330 , as in the illustrated embodiment. Thus, although the link member  320  slightly moves in the left or right direction by the load of the molten metal container (C), it is possible to support the molten metal container (C). The second fixing member  330  is not particularly limited, and many embodiments are possible as long as it may be provided on the molten metal container (C) and may be connected with the link member  320 . 
     Meanwhile, as in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a cover member (CV) may be connected to the first fixing member  310 , the taper member (T) and the pin member (P), or to the second fixing member  330 , the taper member (T), and the pin member (P). Thus, the taper member (T) and the pin member (P) may be fixed to normal locations thereof. 
     Also, the cover member (CV) may be formed integrally with the taper member (T), as in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Thus, when the cover member (CV) and the taper member (T) are formed in a single body, the taper member (T) may be easily positioned between the pin member (P) and the first fixing member  310  or between the pin member (P) and the second fixing member  330 . Also, it is possible to separate the taper member (T) from the location between the pin member (P) and the first fixing member  310 , or between the pin member (P) and the second fixing member  330 . 
     Thus, the connection and separation between the first fixing member  310  and the link member  320  and between the second fixing member  330  and the link member  320  may be easily performed. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the second support unit  400  may not support the load of the molten metal container (C) in combination with the ring member  200  from the upright location (D) to the first rotation location (D 1 ) rotated by a predetermined angle from the upright position (D). From the upright location (D) of the molten metal container (C) to the first rotation location (D 1 ), the first support unit  300  may support the load of the molten metal container (C) in combination with the ring member  200  as described above. The second support unit  400  may support the load of the molten metal container (C) together with the first support unit  300  in combination with the ring member  200  from the first rotation location (D 1 ) to the second rotation location (D 2 ) rotated by 90 degrees from the upright location (D). Also, from the second rotation location (D 2 ) to the third rotation location (D 3 ) rotated from the second rotation location (D 2 ) by a predetermined angle, the second support unit  400  may support the load of the molten metal container (C) in combination with the ring member  200 . 
     For this purpose, the second support part  400  may include a support member  410  and an insertion hole  420 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 , the support member  410  is provided on the ring member  200 . As in the illustrated embodiment, the support member  410  may be provided on an opposite side to the rotational shaft (A) provided on the ring member  200 , i.e., within the ring member  200 . Also, like the rotational shaft (A), the ring member  200  may be provided with two support member  410 . The support member  410  is not particularly limited, and anything will be possible if it may be provided on the ring member  200 . 
     The insertion hole  420  may be formed in the molten metal container (C) as in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 . One side of the foregoing support member  410  may be inserted into the insertion hole  420  as in the illustrated embodiment. Therefore, as previously mentioned, the load of the molten metal container (C) may be supported by one side of the support member  410  inserted into the insertion hole  420  according to the rotated location of the molten metal container (C). 
     Meanwhile, as in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 , a first clearance (G 1 ) and a second clearance (G 2 ) may be formed between the support member  410  and the insertion hole  420 . The second clearance (G 2 ) may be formed on an opposite side to the first clearance (G 1 ) as in the illustrated example. The first clearance (G 1 ) and the second clearance (G 2 ) may be positioned above and below the insertion hole  420  at the upright location of the molten metal container (C), as in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Therefore, at the upright location (D) of the molten metal container (C), the load of the molten metal container (C) is not supported by the support member  410  of the second support unit  400 . Thus, as previously mentioned, the first support unit  300  may support the load of the molten metal container (C) alone in combination with the ring member  200 . Also, from the upright location (D) of the molten metal container (C) to the first rotation location (D 1 ), i.e., a rotation location where the support member  410  first contacts the insertion hole  420  by rotation of the molten metal container (C) and the ring member  200  as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the first support unit  300  may support the load of the molten metal container (C) alone in combination with the ring member  200 , as described above. The first support unit  300  and the second support unit  400  may support the load of the molten metal container (C) together in combination with the ring member  200  from the first rotation location (D 1 ) to the second rotation location (D 2 ). That is, according to the rotation of the molten metal container (C), the load of the molten metal container (C) may be transferred from the first support unit  300  to the second support unit  400 . Also, since the load of the molten metal container (C) is not supported by the first support unit  300  from the second rotation location (D 2 ) to the third rotation location (D 3 ), the second support unit  400  may support the load of the molten metal container (C) alone in combination with the ring member  200 . 
     As in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the first clearance (G 1 ) and the second clearance (G 2 ) formed between the support member  410  and the insertion hole  420  may prevent generation of a crack at the connecting part, such as the support member  410 , the insertion hole  420 , and the like due to a difference in thermal expansion between the molten metal container (C) and the ring member  200  made of different materials. Also, the first clearance (G 1 ) may be greater than the second clearance (G 2 ) as in the illustrated example. Thus, when the first clearance (G 1 ) is greater than the second clearance (G 2 ), the support member  410  may be easily assembled into the insertion hole  420 . The sizes of the first clearance (G 1 ) and the second clearance (G 2 ) are not particularly limited, and any size thereof may be possible if as described above, the first support unit  300  supports the load of the molten metal container (C) alone in combination with the ring member  200  from the upright location (D) to the first rotation location (D 1 ), the first support unit  300  and the second support unit  400  support the load of the molten metal container (C) in combination with the ring member  200  from the first rotation location (D 1 ) to the second rotation location (D 2 ), the second support unit  400  support the load of the molten metal container (C) in combination with the ring member  200  from the second rotation location (D 2 ) to the third rotation location (D 3 ), and such sizes may prevent generation of a crack at the support member  410  and the insertion hole  420  due to a difference in thermal expansion between the molten metal container (C) and the ring member  200  made of different material. 
     Meanwhile, as in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 , ribs (L) may be provided by the insertion hole  420  so as to support the load of the molten metal container (C). 
     Hereinafter, operations of the device for supporting molten metal container  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
     First, as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , at the upright location (D) of the molten metal container (C), the first clearance (G 1 ) and the second clearance (G 2 ) between the support member  410  of the second support unit  400  and the insertion hole  420  are positioned at the upper side and the lower side of the insertion hole  420 , respectively. Thus, in this case, the first support unit  300  supports the load of the molten metal container (C) alone in combination with the ring member  200 . 
     Also, the support member  410  does not contact the insertion hole  420  thanks to the first clearance (G 1 ) and the second clearance (G 2 ) to the first rotation location (D 1 ) where the molten metal container (C) and the ring member  200  are rotated in one direction or the other direction and thus the support member  410  of the second support unit  400  first contacts the insertion hole  420 . Therefore, from the upright location (D) of the molten metal container (C) to the first rotation location (D 1 ), the first support unit  300  supports the load of the molten metal container (C) alone in combination with the link member  200 . 
     Further, the molten metal container (C) is further rotated together with the ring member  200  in one direction or the other direction from the first rotation location (D 1 ), and as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the rotated angle of the molten metal container (C) is less than 90 degrees to the second rotation location (D 2 ) even while the support member  410  contacts the insertion hole  420 . Therefore, as described above, the first support unit  300  and the second support unit  400  support the load of the molten metal container (C) together in combination with the ring member  200 . That is, the load of the molten metal container (C) applied to the first support unit  300  is transferred to the second support unit  400 . 
     When the molten metal container (C) is rotated to the second rotation location (D 2 ), the first support unit  300  does not support the load of the molten metal container (C) in combination with the ring member  200 . Thus, in this case, the second support unit  400  supports the load of the molten metal container (C) in combination with the ring member  200 . 
     Also, to the third rotation location (D 3 ) where the molten metal container (C), for example, a converter is further rotated together with the ring member  200  in one direction or the other direction, and molten metal contained in the converter is released, the rotated angle of the molten metal container (C) from the upright location (D) exceeds 90 degrees. Thus, in this case, the first support unit  300  does not support the load of the molten metal container (C) in combination with the ring member  200 . However, in this case, the support member  410  of the second support unit  400  contacts the insertion hole  420  by self weight of the molten metal container (C), as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Therefore, from the second rotation location (D 2 ) to the third rotation location (D 3 ), the second support unit  400  supports the load of the molten metal container (C) alone in combination with the ring member  200 . 
     Meanwhile, although the molten metal container (C) is rotated about the rotational shaft (A) alternately in one direction or the other direction, the first support unit  300  and the second support unit  400  stably support the load of the molten metal container (C) alone or together in combination with the ring member  200  according to the rotated location (D, D 1 , D 2 , D 3 ), as described above. 
     As described above, by using the device for supporting molten metal container according to the present invention, the load of the molten metal container may be supported by a single support unit or two support units in combination with the ring member according to the rotated location, and thus the load of the molten metal container may be stably supported without leaning of the load of the molten metal container regardless of the rotated location of the molten metal container, and leaning of the load of the molten metal container or a crack may be prevented from being generated in a connecting part or the like due to a difference in thermal expansion between the molten metal container and the ring member, and although the molten metal container is alternately rotated in one direction or the other direction, the molten metal container may be stably supported. 
     The aforementioned device for supporting molten metal container is not limited to the configurations of the aforesaid embodiments, but all or parts of the embodiments may be selectively combined with each other so as to form various modifications. 
     While the present invention has been shown and described in connection with the exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5