Steering, tensing and driving a revolving casting belt using an exit-pulley drum for achieving all three functions
US6026887A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 4, 1997 |
| Grant date | Feb 22, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 4, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB22D11/0677
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Steering, tensioning and driving a revolving metallic casting belt in continuous casting machines wherein the belt travels along a generally straight casting plane P. Two two-axis robotic mechanisms are positioned at opposite ends of an exit-pulley drum, each including a "floating" housing carrying a bearing rotatably supporting a journal at the respective drum end. A drive shaft connected to one of the journals rotates the drum for revolving the belt. The robotic mechanisms adjustably position opposite ends of a rotating drum in X--X plane parallel with plane P for tensioning the belt and in Y--Y plane perpendicular to plane P for steering the revolving belt. These robotic mechanisms are controlled to operate in any of several modes: (1) "Walking-tilt" steering keeps the belt much closer to an exiting product than prior art, the belt being flatter and in better contact with the product for improving casting speed and quality. Mode (2) provides a "virtual squaring shaft" causing a drum to simulate being constrained by a rigid mechanical squaring shaft for synchronizing downstream movements of both drum ends for regularizing tension fully across a "cylindrical" casting belt. In mode…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.