Patent Abstract:
The present invention relates to an apparatus for turning steel products. The apparatus comprises a rotating shaft, a first turning plate, and a second turning plate. The first turning plate is fixedly mounted to the rotating shaft with a longitudinal axis of the first turning plate perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the rotating shaft. The second turning plate is movably mounted to the rotating shaft with a longitudinal axis of the second turning plate perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the rotating shaft.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/KR2011/005562 filed on Jul. 28, 2011, which claims priority to Korean Application No. 10-2010-0073142 filed on Jul. 29, 2010 and Korean Application No. 10-2011-0072967 filed on Jul. 22, 2011, which applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates, in general, to apparatuses for turning steel products and, more particularly, to apparatuses for turning a steel product such as equilateral L-shape, inequilateral L-shape, I-shape, or H-shape steel products. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0003]    Generally, in iron-foundry plants, rolling processes are conducted to produce rolled substances. A rolling process includes inserting a slab, a bloom, or a billet, etc., which has been formed by a continuous casting process, into a space between rollers, thus forming it into a variety of shapes. 
         [0004]    Shape steel is structural rolled steel, referring to a rod-shaped rolled substance having various shapes, and is mainly used to form a steel frame structure. Such shape steel is produced in such a way that molten steel is poured into a rectangular cylindrical mold to form a steel ingot, impurities are removed from the steel ingot to make it dense, the steel ingot is re-heated in a heating furnace and introduced into a rolling mill, and then processed by subjecting it to several steps of rolling. 
         [0005]    Shape steel is classified into equilateral L-shape steel, inequilateral L-shape steel, H-shape steel, I-shape steel, U-shape steel, Z-shape steel, T-shape steel, etc. 
         [0006]    Shape steel is placed onto a chain conveyor by a turning apparatus and transferred to a subsequent processing area while being cooled. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a steel product turning apparatus which can appropriately change its structure depending on the shape of a steel product (shape steel) so that the operation of turning the steel product can be effectively conducted. 
         [0008]    The object of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned object. Other objects of the present invention will be clearly understood by those skilled in this art from the following description. 
         [0009]    In order to accomplish the objects, the present invention provides an apparatus for turning steel products, including: a rotating shaft; a first turning plate fixedly mounted to the rotating shaft with a longitudinal axis of the first turning plate perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the rotating shaft, such that the first turning plate can rotate along with the rotating shaft; and a second turning plate movably mounted to the rotating shaft with a longitudinal axis of the second turning plate perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the rotating shaft, such that the second turning plate can move on the rotating shaft forwardly or backwardly in a longitudinal direction of the rotating shaft. 
         [0010]    One of the first turning plate and the second turning plate may be provided with one or more insert protrusions at a predetermined position or positions and the other of the first turning plate and the second turning plate may be provided with one or more insert holes at a position or positions corresponding to the predetermined position or positions such that the first turning plate can be coupled to or uncoupled from the second turning plate by engagement or disengagement between the one or more insert protrusions and the one or more insert holes. 
         [0011]    One of the first turning plate and the second turning plate may be provided with two insert protrusions spaced apart in a row and the other of the first turning plate and the second turning plate may be provided with four insert holes, first two of which insert holes may be spaced apart in a row, the other two of which insert holes may be spaced apart in a row perpendicular to the row of the first two, such that the first turning plate and the second turning plate can be coupled to be perpendicular or parallel to each other. 
         [0012]    The second turning plate may be rotatably installed on a movable member that is provided on the rotating shaft and can move on the rotating shaft forwardly or backwardly in a longitudinal direction of the rotating shaft, whereby the second turning plate can move on the rotating shaft forwardly or backwardly in the longitudinal direction of the rotating shaft. 
         [0013]    The movable member may be moved on the rotating shaft by at least one of a hydraulic force, a pneumatic force, and mechanical force. 
         [0014]    The first turning plate, the second turning plate, the insert protrusion, the insert hole and the movable member may form a set, wherein the set may comprise a plurality of sets provided on the rotating shaft. 
         [0015]    The rotating shaft may include multiple sections, each of the multiple sections configured to be rotated independently. 
         [0016]    The apparatus may further including a support for supporting the rotating shaft. 
         [0017]    As described above, the present invention can change its structure depending on the shape of a steel product. Therefore, the operation of turning the steel product can be effectively conducted. Thereby, the workability and productivity can be markedly enhanced. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a view illustrating a steel product turning apparatus installed in a roller table, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a view showing the steel product turning apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of portion A of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view showing a first turning plate and a second turning plate according to the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 5 through 7  are views successively showing the operation principle of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a view showing the operation of turning comparatively long H-shape steel using the steel product turning apparatus according to the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a view showing the operation of turning comparatively short H-shape steel using the steel product turning apparatus according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. Reference should now be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components. If, in the specification, detailed descriptions of well-known functions or configurations would unnecessarily obfuscate the gist of the present invention, the detailed descriptions will be omitted. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a view illustrating an apparatus for turning steel products according to an embodiment of the present invention. The steel product turning apparatus includes a rotating shaft  110 , first turning plates  120  and second turning plates  130 . 
         [0027]    The rotating shaft  110  is oriented in a direction in which a steel product  1  is transferred by a roller table  10 . The roller table  10  rotates rollers, which are provided in a table at positions spaced apart from each other, and transfers the steel product  1 , which has been rolled, such as equilateral L-shape steel, inequilateral L-shape steel, H-shape steel, I-shape steel, U-shape steel, Z-shape steel, T-shape steel, etc. in the longitudinal direction of the rotating shaft  110 . 
         [0028]    In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 2 , each first turning plate  120  and the corresponding second turning plate  130  may form one set S. A plurality of sets S are arranged along the rotating shaft  110  to effectively turn the steel product  1  having a predetermined length. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the first turning plates  120  are fixed on the rotating shaft  110  and rotated along with the rotating shaft  110 . The rotating shaft  110  passes through medial portions of the first turning plates  120  and is firmly fixed thereto. 
         [0030]    The second turning plates  130  are provided in the lateral direction of the rotating shaft  110  such that they are perpendicular to the rotating shaft  110 . Each second turning plate  130  moves to the left or the right along the rotating shaft  110 . Each second turning plate  130  is coupled to the corresponding first turning plate  120  and is rotated along with the first turning plate  120 . 
         [0031]    The first turning plate  120  and the second turning plate  130  have, at corresponding positions, insert holes  121 ,  122 ,  123  and  124  and insert protrusions  131  and  132  which are removably inserted into the insert holes  121 ,  122 ,  123  and  124 . The first turning plate  120  is coupled to the second turning plate  130  by inserting the insert protrusions  131  and  132  into the insert hole  121 ,  122 ,  123  and  124 . 
         [0032]    In some embodiments, for example, the insert holes  121 ,  122 ,  123  and  124  may be formed in the first turning plate  120 , and the insert protrusions  131  and  132  may be provided on the second turning plate  130 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0033]    Here, the four insert holes  121 ,  122 ,  123  and  124  are formed at positions corresponding to the four directions. The two insert protrusions  131  and  132  are disposed in a row. In detail, the four insert holes  121 ,  122 ,  123  and  124  are formed at positions spaced apart from each other at intervals of 90° around a through hole  125 , in which the rotating shaft  110  is disposed. The two insert protrusions  131  and  132  are provided in a row along the length of the second turning plate  130  on opposite sides of a through hole  133 , in which the rotating shaft  110  is disposed. 
         [0034]    When the insert protrusions  131  and  132  are respectively inserted into the insert holes  122  and  124  that are arranged in the lateral direction of the first turning plate  120 , the first turning plate  120  and the second turning plate  130  are coupled to each other to have a crisscross shape. When the insert protrusions  131  and  132  are respectively inserted into the insert holes  121  and  123  that are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the first turning plate  120 , the first turning plate  120  and the second turning plate  130  are coupled parallel to each other to have a shape of numeral 11. 
         [0035]    Each second turning plate  130  is installed on a corresponding cylindrical movable member  141  which is movably provided on the rotating shaft  110 , so that the second turning plate  130  can move relative to the rotating shaft  110 . Furthermore, the second turning plate  130  is rotatably provided on the cylindrical movable member  141  so that it can rotate along with the first turning plate  120 . For instance, a bearing may be interposed between the second turning plate  130  and the movable member  141  to enable the second turning plate  130  to rotate relative to the movable member  141 . The movable member  141  is moved to the left or the right along the rotating shaft  110  by hydraulic pressure, pneumatic pressure or rotational force of a motor. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , two arms  153  and  155  which are rotatably connected to each other by a hinge connect the movable member  141  to a cylinder  151  which is operated by pneumatic pressure or hydraulic pressure. The arms  153  and  155  are folded or stretched by extension or contraction of the cylinder  151 , whereby the movable member  141  is moved to the left or the right. 
         [0037]    In some embodiments, although it is not shown in the drawings, the movable member  141  may be connected to a motor by a gear train. In this case, when the motor rotates in the normal or reverse direction, the movable member  141  is moved to the left or the right. 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , conversion of the crisscross coupled state of the first and second turning plates  120  and  130  into the 11-shaped coupled state begins by stopping the rotating shaft  110  that is rotating to conduct the turning operation. 
         [0039]    When the rotation of the rotating shaft  110  is stopped, hydraulic pressure, pneumatic pressure or rotational force of the motor is applied to the movable member  141 . Thereby, the movable member  141  moves away from the first turning plate  120 . Then, the insert protrusions  131  and  132  are removed from the insert holes  122  and  124 , so that the second turning plate  130  is separated from the first turning plate  120 . 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , after the second turning plate  130  is separated from the first turning plate  120 , the rotating shaft  110  is rotated so that the first turning plate  120  that has been vertically oriented enters a horizontal state. The rotating shaft  110  rotates until the first turning plate  120  and the second turning plate  130  form a shape of numeral 11. In other words, the rotating shaft  110  rotates until the insert protrusions  131  and  132  respectively face the insert holes  121  and  123 . 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , after the first turning plate  120  and the second turning plate  130  form a shape of numeral 11, hydraulic pressure, pneumatic pressure or rotational force of the motor is applied to the movable member  141 . Thereby, the movable member  141  is moved towards the first turning plate  120 . Then, the insert protrusions  131  and  132  are respectively inserted to the insert holes  121  and  123  so that the second turning plate  130  is coupled to the first turning plate  120 . 
         [0042]    In the process of  FIG. 6 , if the rotating shaft  110  is rotated to orient the first turning plate  120  in the vertical direction such that the insert protrusions  131  and  132  respectively face the insert holes  122  and  124 , the 11-shaped coupled state is converted into the crisscross coupled state. 
         [0043]    After the first turning plate  120  and the second turning plate  130  are coupled to each other in a crisscross shape or a shape of numeral 11, the rotating shaft  110  rotates to turn the steel product  1 . In the case where the steel product  1  is H-shape steel, the first turning plate  120  and the second turning plate  130  form the crisscross shape and turn the steel product  1 . 
         [0044]    In the case where the steel product  1  is inequilateral shape steel, such as inequilateral L-shape steel, or inequality-sign-shape steel which has a structure that makes the turning operation difficult, the first turning plate  120  and the second turning plate  130  form a shape of numeral 11 and stop to allow the steel product  1  to pass over the first turning plate  120  and the second turning plate  130 . 
         [0045]    As such, the structure which couples the first turning plate  120  and the second turning plate  130  to each other can be changed depending on the shape of the steel product  1  before the turning operation is conducted. Therefore, the turning operation can be effectively conducted, thus markedly enhancing the workability and productivity. 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , supports  161  are provided on a base surface and disposed on opposite sides of the first and second turning plates  120  and  130 . The rotating shaft  110  is installed in such a way that it passes through the supports  161 , thus being supported by the supports  161 . Each support  161  has a bearing in a portion through which the rotating shaft  110  passes, so that the rotating shaft  110  can be smoothly rotated. 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , chain conveyors  171  are installed among the sets S including the first and second turning plates  120  and  130 . The chain conveyors  171  transfer the steel product  1 , which has been transferred by the roller table  10 , to the first and second turning plates  120  and  130 . The chain conveyors  171  receive the steel product  1 , which has been turned by the first and second turning plates  120  and  130 , and transfer the steel product  1  to a target location. 
         [0048]    The roller table  10  is moved downwards before the chain conveyors  171  are operated, so that the steel product  1  can be smoothly placed onto the chain conveyors  171  and then be transferred by the chain conveyors  171 . 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the rotating shaft  110  is rotated by power of a drive unit  181  which includes a motor and is connected to an end of the rotating shaft  110 . The rotating shaft  110  may be divided into two parts. The two parts of the rotating shaft  110  may be respectively connected to two drive units  181  so that they are separately rotated by power of the two drive units  181 . 
         [0050]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , in the case where the steel product  1  is comparatively long, the two parts of the rotating shaft  110  are operated at the same time to turn the steel product  1 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , in the case where the steel product  1  is comparatively short, either of the two parts of the rotating shaft  110  is operated to turn the steel product  1 . Further, the two parts of the rotating shaft  110  may be independently operated to turn steel products  1 . 
         [0051]    As such, the rotating shaft  110  is divided into several parts and is operated in such a way that the several parts are selectively operated depending on the length of the steel product  1 , thus enhancing the work efficiency, thereby reducing energy consumption. 
         [0052]    Although embodiments of the present invention has been disclosed, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The scope of the present invention must be defined by the accompanying claims, and all technical spirits that are in the equivalent range to the claims must be regarded as falling within the scope of the present invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1