Claims:We claim:
1. A charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack (300) for rotary hearth furnace, the charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack (300) comprises:
a charging machine oil tank (301) and a discharging machine oil tank (302) to accommodate oil to facilitate charging and discharging operation of the machine;
characterized in that
the charging machine oil tank (301) and the discharging machine oil tank (302) are interconnected via a pipeline (307) with two gate valves (308a, 308b) to maintain oil level in both charging machine oil tank (301) and discharging machine oil tank (302);
an operating line (303) connected to the charging machine oil tank (301), having a gate valve (309) to introduce the oil in the operating line (303), an operating pump (310) in connection with an operating motor (311) to pump the oil and a non-return valve (312) to ensure oil flow in one direction only;
a standby line (304) connected to the charging machine oil tank (301), having a gate valve (313) to introduce the oil in the standby line (304), a standby pump (314) in connection with a standby motor (315) to pump the oil and a non-return valve (316) to ensure oil flow in one direction only;
a common delivery line (305) to charging machine and discharging machine to facilitate charging and discharging of billets into rotary hearth furnace; and
an unloading valve (306) to control the pressure in the common delivery line (305) by dumping excess oil in the common delivery line (305) into the charging machine oil tank (301).
2. The charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating line (303) and the standby line (304) is merged together before connecting to the common delivery line (305).
3. The charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein return oil from charging machine is drain to charging machine oil tank (301) via charging machine return line (317).
4. The charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein return oil from discharging machine is drain to discharging machine oil tank (301) via discharging machine return line (318).
5. The charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gate valve (309), in the operating line (303), is provided between charging machine oil tank (301) and the operating pump (310).
6. The charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gate valve (313), in the standby line (304), is provided between charging machine oil tank (301) and the standby pump (314).
7. The charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the non-return valve (312), in the operating line (303), is provided between the operating pump (310) and the common delivery line (305).
8. The charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the non-return valve (316), in the standby line (304), is provided between the standby pump (314) and the common delivery line (305).
9. The charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein both the charging machine and discharging machine is operated simultaneously.
10. The charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating pump (310) is a positive displacement pump having capacity discharge in the range of 88 to 92 lpm
11. The charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the standby pump (314) is a positive displacement pump having capacity discharge in the range of 88 to 92 lpm
12. The charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating motor (311) has input power in the range 23 to 26 kW
13. The charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating motor (315) has input power in the range 23 to 26 kW
, Description:A CHARGING AND DISCHARGING MACHINE HYDRAULIC POWERPACK FOR ROTARY HEARTH FURNACE
FIELD OF INVENTION:
[001] The present subject matter described herein, relates to rotary hearth furnace of seamless steel tube manufacturing plant. The present subject matter, in particular, relates to a charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack to facilitate charging and discharging of billets in rotary hearth furnace.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART AND PROBLEM IN PRIOR ART:
[002] Manufacturing of hot finished tubes involves metal deformation processes during which the raw material [bloom/billet] is converted into a finished tube. The type and number of deformation processes can vary from process to process based on final specification [Outside diameter, wall thickness and length] of the tube. The process used involves three major metal deformation processes namely cross piercing and elongation, pushing and rolling.
[003] Blooms manufactured through Concast casting are used as raw material for making finished tubes. These blooms are cut using gas cutting operation into billets. These billets are then charged to a rotary hearth furnace, which heats up the billets from room temperature to a temperature of 1250°C to 1300°C.
[004] Rotary hearth furnace is a kind of mechanize continuous furnace which transports the billets on the rotary hearth from the charging port to discharging port by rotating furnace hearth. The billets are charged inside Rotary Hearth Furnace by charging machine and discharged from furnace for further processing by discharging machine.
[005] Referring to Figure 1A illustrating charging machine powerpack for charging billets in rotary hearth furnace, according to prior art. The charging machine powerpack 100 comprises a charging machine oil tank 101 to accommodate oil to facilitate charging operation of the charging machine. An operating line 102 is connected to the charging machine oil tank 101. The operating line 102 has an operating pump 103 in connection with an operating motor 104 to pump the oil and a non-return valve 105 to ensure oil flow in forward direction only. A standby line 106 is connected to the charging machine oil tank 101. The standby line 106 has a standby pump 107 in connection with a standby motor 108 to pump the oil and a non-return valve 109 to ensure oil flow in forward direction only. Output of the operating line 102 and standby line 106 is merged together. A charging machine delivery line 110 is provided to connect the output from the operating line 102 and standby line 106 to the charging machine. An unloading valve 111 is provided to control the pressure in the charging machine delivery line 110 by dumping excess oil in the charging machine delivery line 110 into the charging machine oil tank 101.
[006] Referring to Figure 2 illustrating discharging machine power pack for discharging billets from rotary hearth furnace, according to prior art. The discharging machine power pack 200 comprises a discharging machine oil tank 201 to accommodate oil to facilitate discharging operation of the discharging machine. An operating line 202 is connected to the discharging machine oil tank 201. The operating line 202 has an operating pump 203 in connection with an operating motor 204 to pump the oil and a non-return valve 205 to ensure oil flow in forward direction only. A standby line 206 is connected to the discharging machine oil tank 201. The standby line 206 has a standby pump 207 in connection with a standby motor 208 to pump the oil and a non-return valve 209 to ensure oil flow in forward direction only. Output of the operating line 202 and standby line 206 is merged together. A discharging machine delivery line 210 is provided to connect the output from the operating line 202 and standby line 206 to the discharging machine. An unloading valve 211 is provided to control the pressure in the discharging machine delivery line 210 by dumping excess oil in the discharging machine delivery line 210 into the discharging machine oil tank 201.
[007] The different hydraulic powerpack for charging and discharging machine makes it difficult to maintain. From a maintenance point of view, two set of operating pump and two set of standby pump is difficult to maintain in healthy condition. Further, the energy consumption of different hydraulic powerpack for charging and discharging machines are high.
[008] The information disclosed in this background of the disclosure section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
[009] It is therefore the object of the invention to overcome the aforementioned and other drawbacks in prior method/product/apparatus.
[0010] The principal objective of the present invention is to develop a charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack for rotary hearth furnace.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to develop a charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack having only one operating line and one standby line.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to develop a charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack which is easy to maintain in healthy condition.
[0013] Yet another object of the present invention is to develop a charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack which uses less no. of components from the existing charging machine hydraulic powerpack and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack.
[0014] Yet another object of the present invention is to develop a charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack which is economical.
[0015] These and other objects and advantages of the present subject matter will be apparent to a person skilled in the art after consideration of the following detailed description taken into consideration with accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present subject matter are illustrated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[0016] One or more drawbacks of conventional charging machine hydraulic powerpack and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack, and additional advantages are provided through the charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack as claimed in the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the technicalities of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered to be a part of the claimed disclosure.
[0017] The present subject matter relates to a charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack for rotary hearth furnace. The charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack includes a charging machine oil tank and a discharging machine oil tank to accommodate oil to facilitate charging and discharging operation of the machine; The charging machine oil tank and the discharging machine oil tank are interconnected via a pipeline with two gate valves to maintain oil level in both charging machine oil tank and discharging machine oil tank; An operating line connected to the charging machine oil tank is provided having a gate valve to introduce the oil in the operating line, an operating pump in connection with an operating motor to pump the oil and a non-return valve to ensure oil flow in forward direction only; A standby line connected to the charging machine oil tank is provided having a gate valve to introduce the oil in the standby line, a standby pump in connection with a standby motor to pump the oil and a non-return valve to ensure oil flow in forward direction only; A common delivery line connected to charging machine and discharging machine to facilitate charging and discharging of billets into rotary hearth furnace; and An unloading valve to control the pressure in the common delivery line by dumping excess oil in the common delivery line into the charging machine oil tank.
[0018] In an aspect, the operating line and the standby line is merged together before connecting to the common delivery line.
[0019] In an aspect, return oil from charging machine is drain to charging machine oil tank via charging machine return line.
[0020] In an aspect, return oil from discharging machine is drain to discharging machine oil tank via discharging machine return line.
[0021] In an aspect, the gate valve, in the operating line, is provided between charging machine oil tank and the operating pump.
[0022] In an aspect, the gate valve, in the standby line, is provided between charging machine oil tank and the standby pump.
[0023] In an aspect, the non-return valve, in the operating line, is provided between the operating pump and the common delivery line.
[0024] In an aspect, the non-return valve, in the standby line, is provided between the standby pump and the common delivery line.
[0025] In an aspect, both the charging machine and discharging machine is operated simultaneously.
[0026] In an aspect, the operating pump is a positive displacement pump having capacity discharge in the range of 88 to 92 lpm.
[0027] In an aspect, the standby pump is a positive displacement pump having capacity discharge in the range of 88 to 92 lpm
[0028] In an aspect, the operating motor has input power in the range 23 to 26 kW
[0029] In an aspect, the operating motor has input power in the range 23 to 26 kW
[0030] It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.
[0031] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system or methods or structure in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0033] Fig. 1 illustrates a charging machine hydraulic powerpack for rotary hearth furnace according to the prior art;
[0034] Fig. 2 illustrates a discharging machine hydraulic powerpack for rotary hearth furnace according to the prior art; and
[0035] Fig. 3 illustrates a charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack for rotary hearth furnace according to one of the embodiment of present subject matter.
[0036] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
[0037] While the embodiments of the disclosure are subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof have been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the scope of the disclosure.
[0038] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof used in the disclosure, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a device, system, assembly that comprises a list of components does not include only those components but may include other components not expressly listed or inherent to such system, or assembly, or device. In other words, one or more elements in a system or device proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or device.
[0039] It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate the principles of the present subject matter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present subject matter. It should also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that by devising various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter. Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the present subject matter and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present subject matter, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.
[0040] These and other advantages of the present subject matter would be described in greater detail with reference to the following figures. It should be noted that the description merely illustrates the principles of the present subject matter. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its scope.
[0041] Referring to Figure 2, illustrating a charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack for rotary hearth furnace according to one of the embodiment of present subject matter. The charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack 300 comprises a charging machine oil tank 301, a discharging machine oil tank 302, an operating line 303, a standby line 304, a common delivery line 305 and an unloading valve 306.
[0042] The charging machine oil tank 301 and the discharging machine oil tank 302 are used to accommodate oil which facilitates charging and discharging operation of the machine. The charging machine oil tank 301 and the discharging machine oil tank 302 are interconnected with each other via a pipeline 307. The pipeline 307 has two gate valves 308a, 308b to maintain oil level in both charging machine oil tank 301 and discharging machine oil tank 302. By interconnecting the charging machine oil tank 301 and discharging machine oil tank 302 in present embodiment, the need for operating line and standby line for discharging machine oil tank 302 is completely eliminated.
[0043] The operating line 303 is connected to the charging machine oil tank 302. The operating line 303 comprises a gate valve 309, an operating pump 310 in connection with an operating motor 311 and a non-return valve 312. The gate valve309 is provided between the charging machine oil tank 301 and the operating pump 310. The gate valve 309 introduces the oil in the operating line 303. The operating pump 310 is used to pump the oil coming from the charging machine oil tank 301 to the common delivery line 305. The non-return valve 312 is provided between the operating pump 310 and the common delivery line 305 to stop backflow of oil and ensure only forward flow towards the common delivery line 305.
[0044] The standby line 304 is connected to the charging machine oil tank 301. The Standby line 304 comprises a gate valve 313, a standby pump 314 in connection with a standby motor 315 and a non-return valve 316. The gate valve 313 is provided between the charging machine oil tank 301 and the standby pump 314. The gate valve 313 introduces the oil in the standby line 304. The standby pump 314 is used to pump the oil coming from the charging machine oil tank 301 to the common delivery line 305. The non-return valve 316 is provided between the standby pump 314 and the common delivery line 305 to stop backflow of oil and ensure only forward flow towards the common delivery line 305.
[0045] The operating line 303 and the standby line 304 is merged together before connected to the common delivery line 305.
[0046] The common delivery line 305 connects the output of the charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack 300 with the charging machine and discharging machine. Since no operating line and standby line is provided for discharging machine oil tank 302, the need for a separate delivery line to discharging machine is completely eliminated. Due to elimination of separate delivery line or presence of common delivery line 305, the charging machine and the discharging machine is operated simultaneously.
[0047] The unloading valve 306 is connected to the common delivery line 305 to control the pressure in the common delivery line 305, by dumping excess oil of the common delivery line 305 into the charging machine oil tank 301.
[0048] The oil supplied to the charging machine via common delivery line 305 is returned to the charging machine oil tank 301 via a charging machine return line 317 for reuse. Similarly, the oil supplied to the discharging machine via common delivery line 305 is returned to the discharging machine oil tank 302 via a discharging machine return line 318 for reuse.
[0049] The operating pump 310 used in the operating line 303 and the standby pump 314 used in the standby line 304 are both positive displacement type pump. The capacity discharge of the operating pump 310 and the standby pump 314 is in the range of 88 to 92 lpm.
[0050] The operating motor 311 connected to the operating pump 310 and the standby motor 315 connected to the standby pump 314 has input power in the range 23 to 26 kW
WORKING OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT
Hydraulic oil is delivered to both charging and discharging machine from the proposed interconnected charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack 300. The return oil from charging machine drains into charging tank 101 and return oil from discharging machine drains into discharging tank 201. Oil level is maintained in both the tanks as they are interconnected with pipeline 307.
ADVANTAGES
[0051] In the proposed charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack, the operating line and the standby line for discharging machine oil tank is eliminated. Instead of providing a separate operating line and standby line, the discharging machine oil tank is connected with the charging machine oil tank. Due to lack of separated operating line, the need for separate delivery line to the discharging machine is also eliminated. The elimination of operating line, standby line and the separate delivery line to the discharging machine results in better and easier maintenance requirements. Further, due to less number of components in the proposed charging and discharging machine hydraulic powerpack, the manufacturing of the same is economical.
[0052] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
[0053] It will be further appreciated that functions or structures of a plurality of components or steps may be combined into a single component or step, or the functions or structures of one-step or component may be split among plural steps or components. The present invention contemplates all of these combinations. Unless stated otherwise, dimensions and geometries of the various structures depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of the invention, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. In addition, while a feature of the present invention may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, for any given application. It will also be appreciated from the above that the fabrication of the unique structures herein and the operation thereof also constitute methods in accordance with the present invention. The present invention also encompasses intermediate and end products resulting from the practice of the methods herein. The use of “comprising” or “including” also contemplates embodiments that “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the recited feature.
[0054] Although embodiments for the present subject matter have been described in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the present subject matter is not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as embodiments for the present subject matter. Numerous modifications and adaptations of the system/component of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and thus it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and adaptations which fall within the scope of the present subject matter.