Balancing furnace in steel rolling mill compact strip production plant - moves steel slabs from casting to rolling line by tipping action reducing the size of the heated holding zone by size of one slab

摘要

A balancing and/or holding furnace, which is part of an extrusion casting machine in a continual steel rolling mill with compact strip production (CSP) plant, conveys and heats slabs to rolling temperature from an endless cast extrusion and passes them to the rolling line. The novelties are that: (a) the multi-sectioned furnace (1) is built with a relatively short inlet section (2) having the width of a slab (20), with a centre section (4) at least as long as the slab length and a short outlet section having the width of a slab (3); (b) the inlet section (2) and the outlet section (3) are each secured firmly to a foundation (30); the centre section (4) can be tipped, raised or lowered relative to these using jacks (36, 36; 26, 27); and (c) the centre section (4) has two levels (14, 15) along which slabs (20) are conveyed such that, when the inlet (5) and outlet (6) are at different heights, a path is created from one inlet (2) to a centre section level, or from a centre section level to an outlet (3). USE/ADVANTAGE - The arrangement facilitates the direct transfer of the slabs within the furnace from the casting line to the rolling line. The size of the holding zone required within the furnace is shortened by the length of one slab and reduces costs.