Patent ID: 8187526

Claim:
Method of operating a changing converter unit ( 1 ) of a converter steel plant, wherein alternatingly the converter ( 4 a ) which has become useless because of wear of the refractory material is removed from a converter stand for repairs and a converter ( 4 b ) newly lined with refractory material is placed in the converter stand in an exchange, wherein, when the exchange procedure is carried out, the worn converter ( 4 a ) is moved including the entire complete converter unit ( 3 a ) composed, in addition to the converter ( 4 a ), of an integrated converter carriage ( 7 ), support ring ( 6 ), tilting drive ( 5 ), floor rinsing device ( 9 ) and a possibly present support ring cooling device ( 10 ), from the converter stand ( 2 ) for repairs into a free lining and holding stand ( 12 a ) and simultaneously another structurally identical complete converter unit 3 b , which contains a repaired useful converter ( 4 b ), is moved from another lining and holding stand ( 12 b ) into the converter stand ( 2 ), wherein the transport of the complete converter unit ( 3 a , 3 b ) is carried out by means of the integrated converter carriage ( 7 ) constructed with its own drive on a converter carriage track ( 17 ), wherein, after separating the complete converter unit ( 3 a , 3 b ) from an energy and media station ( 11 ) which is used jointly by both complete converter units ( 3 a , 3 b ), for providing an energy supply for the transport a self-propelled energy supply carriage ( 14 ) is moved in and coupled to the converter carriage ( 7 ) through the converter carriage track ( 17 ).