Continuous casting apparatus and continuous casting method

Abstract

A continuous casting apparatus having a pair of drums rotating in opposite directions, and bearing housings for rotatably supporting drum shafts protruding from opposite end surfaces of the drums, the continuous casting apparatus comprising, on a side of at least one of the drums: a base portion; an arm having an end portion on which the bearing housing is installed fixedly, and having an opposite end portion pivotably supported by the base portion; and an adjusting device for pivoting the arm to move the pair of drums toward or away from each other.

1 . A continuous casting apparatus having a pair of drums rotating in opposite directions, and bearing housings for rotatably supporting drum shafts protruding from opposite end surfaces of the drums,
 the continuous casting apparatus comprising, on a side of at least one of the drums:   a base portion;   an arm having an end portion on which the bearing housing is installed fixedly, and having an opposite end portion pivotably supported by the base portion; and   an adjusting device for pivoting the arm to move the pair of drums toward or away from each other.   
   
   
       2 . A continuous casting apparatus having a pair of drums rotating in opposite directions, and bearing housings for rotatably supporting drum shafts protruding from opposite end surfaces of the drums,
 the continuous casting apparatus comprising, on a side of at least one of the drums:   a base portion;   an arm having an end portion on which the bearing housing is installed fixedly, and having an opposite end portion pivotably supported by the base portion;   an adjusting device for pivoting the arm to move the pair of drums toward or away from each other; and   a ring-shaped rolling bearing disposed in a part of the base portion where the arm is pivotably supported by the base portion.   
   
   
       3 . A continuous casting apparatus having a pair of drums rotating in opposite directions, and bearing housings for rotatably supporting drum shafts protruding from opposite end surfaces of the drums,
 the continuous casting apparatus comprising, on a side of at least one of the drums:   a base portion;   an arm having an end portion on which the bearing housing is installed fixedly, and having an opposite end portion pivotably supported by the base portion;   an adjusting device for pivoting the arm to move the pair of drums toward or away from each other; and   a ring-shaped rolling bearing disposed in a part of the base portion where the arm is pivotably supported by the base portion,   wherein the arm is provided with a jutting portion which extends from a center of the part of the base portion, where the arm is pivotably supported by the base portion, in a direction opposite to the bearing housing installed on the one end portion of the arm, and   the adjusting device pivots the jutting portion to move the pair of drums toward or away from each other.   
   
   
       4 . The continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting device is an expanding and contracting device which pushes or pulls the arm to pivot the arm. 
   
   
       5 . The continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising pushing force detecting means for detecting a force generated by the adjusting device. 
   
   
       6 . The continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising a control section for controlling an operation of the adjusting device such that a pushing force detected by the pushing force detecting means becomes a force within a predetermined range. 
   
   
       7 . The continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising distance detecting means for detecting a distance between the drums which have been moved toward or away from each other by the adjusting device. 
   
   
       8 . The continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising a control section for controlling an operation of the adjusting device such that the distance detected by the distance detecting means becomes a distance within a predetermined range. 
   
   
       9 . The continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting device is a device which generates a rotating force for rotating a rotating shaft of the arm rotatably supported by the base portion. 
   
   
       10 . The continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising rotating force detecting means for detecting the force generated by the adjusting device. 
   
   
       11 . A continuous casting method for a continuous casting apparatus having a pair of drums rotating in opposite directions, and bearing housings for rotatably supporting drum shafts protruding from opposite end surfaces of the drums,
 the continuous casting apparatus including, on a side of at least one of the drums,   a base portion,   an arm having an end portion, on which the bearing housing is installed fixedly, and being pivotably supported by the base portion,   an adjusting device for pivoting the arm to move the pair of drums toward or away from each other, and   pushing force detecting means for detecting a force generated by the adjusting device,   the continuous casting method comprising:   controlling an operation of the adjusting device such that a pushing force detected by the pushing force detecting means becomes a force within a predetermined range.   
   
   
       12 . A continuous casting method for a continuous casting apparatus having a pair of drums rotating in opposite directions, and bearing housings for rotatably supporting drum shafts protruding from opposite end surfaces of the drums,
 the continuous casting apparatus including, on a side of at least one of the drums,   a base portion,   an arm having an end portion, on which the bearing housing is installed fixedly, and being pivotably supported by the base portion,   an adjusting device for pivoting the arm to move the pair of drums toward or away from each other, and   distance detecting means for detecting a distance between the drums moved toward or away from each other by the adjusting device,   the continuous casting method comprising:   controlling an operation of the adjusting device such that a distance detected by the distance detecting means becomes a distance within a predetermined range.   
   
   
       13 . The continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the adjusting device is an expanding and contracting device which pushes or pulls the arm to pivot the arm. 
   
   
       14 . The continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the adjusting device is an expanding and contracting device which pushes or pulls the arm to pivot the arm. 
   
   
       15 . The continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising pushing force detecting means for detecting a force generated by the adjusting device. 
   
   
       16 . The continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 14 , further comprising pushing force detecting means for detecting a force generated by the adjusting device. 
   
   
       17 . The continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising a control section for controlling an operation of the adjusting device such that a pushing force detected by the pushing force detecting means becomes a force within a predetermined range. 
   
   
       18 . The continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 16 , further comprising a control section for controlling an operation of the adjusting device such that a pushing force detected by the pushing force detecting means becomes a force within a predetermined range. 
   
   
       19 . The continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising distance detecting means for detecting a distance between the drums which have been moved toward or away from each other by the adjusting device. 
   
   
       20 . The continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 14 , further comprising distance detecting means for detecting a distance between the drums which have been moved toward or away from each other by the adjusting device. 
   
   
       21 . The continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 19 , further comprising a control section for controlling an operation of the adjusting device such that the distance detected by the distance detecting means becomes a distance within a predetermined range. 
   
   
       22 . The continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 20 , further comprising a control section for controlling an operation of the adjusting device such that the distance detected by the distance detecting means becomes a distance within a predetermined range. 
   
   
       23 . The continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the adjusting device is a device which generates a rotating force for rotating a rotating shaft of the arm rotatably supported by the base portion. 
   
   
       24 . The continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the adjusting device is a device which generates a rotating force for rotating a rotating shaft of the arm rotatably supported by the base portion. 
   
   
       25 . The continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 23 , further comprising rotating force detecting means for detecting the force generated by the adjusting device. 
   
   
       26 . The continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 24 , further comprising rotating force detecting means for detecting the force generated by the adjusting device.