FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved higher capacity hot metal ladle car
to facilitate the transportation of hot metals. More particularly, the invention
relates to an improved higher capacity Torpedo Ladle car for carrying liquid hot
metal employed in transportation of hot metal from blast furnace to LD furnace
in order to enhance productivity of the plant by delivering hot metal into two
shorter capacity charging ladle kept on Torpedo reladling car running in the pit at
the LD shops via transferring the charging ladles to LD converter through
desulphurisation / deslagging station.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In typical steel plant the liquid hot metals produced from the blast furnace are
generally transported by a hot metal carrying car to other places for working
subsequent operations. The existing 200 ton capacity hot metal carriage was
unable to meet the growing demand of the plant due to increasing capacity of
steel plant. As a consequence transportations of hot metal in steel plant impart
a bottleneck in manufacturing floor. 200 ton capacity Torpedo Ladle will require
many to and fro movement and result time loss for this. All these factors are
causing interruptions and hampers the productivity of the plant. Due to the
increased capacity of steel plant and subsequently the ladle size, capacity of
Torpedo Ladle Car should be a multiple of Ladle capacity to have minimum to
and fro movements.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to propose an improved 320t ton Torpedo
Ladle car for transportation of liquid hot metal which eliminates the practical
problems and transportation bottleneck of the existing 200 ton Torpedo Ladle car
of the plant (Prior Art).
Another object of the present invention is to propose an improved high capacity
Torpedo Ladle car for transportation of liquid hot metal which is employed to
meet the growing demand of the steel plant by transporting 1.6 times of the
capacity of the existing 200 ton Torpedo Ladle car in a single movement.
A further object of the present invention is to propose an improved high capacity
Torpedo Ladle car for transportation of liquid hot metal which increases the
productivity of the plant.
A still further object of the present invention is to produce an improved high
capacity Torpedo Ladle car for transportation of liquid hot metal which reduces
too many to and fro movements of the ladle car and saves time.
A yet another object of the present invention is to propose an improved higher
capacity Torpedo Ladle car for transportation of liquid hot metal which is very
compact and its construction is adapted to use existing re-ladling car pits at LD
furnace as well as existing available infra-structure.
A still yet another object of the invention is to develop an improved higher
capacity capacity Torpedo Ladle car adapted with tilting drive arrangement for
the high capacity ladle.
A still yet further object of the invention is to develop improved Torpedo Ladle
car being adapted with a roller support assembly for the high capacity ladle.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, to meet the enhanced growing demand for transportation of higher
capacity ladle carrying car is developed by meeting the necessity of space
reduction providing appropriate shape for maintenance, ensuring strength
characteristics and easy operation. The Torpedo Ladle carrying hot metal rests
on an under frames which are rigidly mounted over a plurality of rail wheels.
The rail wheels can move freely over the rails permanently placed in the steel
plant.
The car has couplers means on both sides to be fastened with locomotive engine
which draw the ladle car from Re-ladling car pit at LD shop to desulphurisation /
deslagging station and finally transport to LD converter for steel making.
The ladle is a cylindrical shape vessel placed horizontally along rails. The ladle
has a refractory lining and the torpedo shaped vessel is supported on roller
bearing on both the sides such that the vessel can be rotated about its axis in
either direction to pour out the hot metal into the ladle. The Torpedo Ladle car
is comprising of the upper car and the under carriage. The torpedo vessel is
constructed within restricted height and length for optimized utilization of metal
to be poured in the ladle stationed at LD shop.
According to the invention there is provided high capacity Torpedo Ladle car for
transportation of hot metal from blast furnace to LD furnace floor comprising of a
torpedo shaped vessel (V) of a upper car and an undercarriage, the upper car
consisting of a rotatable and tiltable torpedo shaped vessel (V) with pouring
spout (39) and closing covers (41), two hardened races (42) provided at both
the ends of the vessel, four sets of roller assemblies consisting of plurality of
rollers (44) with care and girth gear (59), two driving pinion shafts (55) driven by
motor (M), gear boxes (46) and protection covers (11) for the races and drives,
the vessel (V) being supported pair wise on a roller support (7) with spherical
seat (3) underneath.
The undercarriage consisting of upper bolster fitted with the centre buffer
coupler (48) being supported on two lower bolsters (9) through spherical seats
(2, 3 & 4), each lower bolster being supported on two bogies assemblies (1),
each bogie consisting of bogie frame (91), one spherical seat (92), two wheels
(W) on both sides, axle sets (93) and plurality of springs (95), and a tilting drive
assembly mounted on the roller support consisting of two each of motors, brake
drum (47), flexible coupling, electro hydraulic thruster brake (96) planetary gear
base (46) with toothed coupling and pinion mounted on pinion shaft driving the
girth gear to rotate and tilt the vessel for pouring out hot metal to deliver into
two shorter capacity charging ladle and finally to transporting to LD converter via
desulphurisation/deslagging station.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention will be better understood with the help of the description with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 relates to an elevational view showing general constructional
features of the higher capacity Torpedo Ladle car according
to the present invention.
Figure 2 shows a sectional view taken on A-A of figure 1.
Figure 3 shows to a sectional view taken on D-D of Figure 1.
Figure 4 shows to a sectional view taken on C-C of Figure 1.
Figure 5 shows a sectional view taken on E-E of Figure 1
Figure 6 shows a sectional view taken on F-F of Figure 1.
Figure 7A shows a sectional view taken on G-G of Figure 1
at opposite end and shows the tilting drive arrangement
of the Torpedo Ladle car according to the invention.
Figure 7B shows sectional elevational view partly taken on H of Figure 7A.
Figure 8 shows a view of the Torpedo Ladle car on 3-3
of Figure 7B showing the details of vessel assembly
and tilting drive arrangement.
Figure 9 shows a sectional view of motor arrangement
taken on Y-Y of Figure 8.
Figure 10 shows a sectional view taken on X-X of Figure 8
representing further details of tilting drive arrangement.
Figures 11A
& 11B represents elevational and end view respectively
showing details of Roller support assembly of the
Topedo Ladle car according to the invention.
Figures 11C
& 11D are sectional view taken on P-P and Q-Q of
Figures 11B and 11A respectively.
As shown in the Figures the higher capacity Torpedo Ladle car consist of two
integrated features namely the upper car carrying a vessel (V) and an
undercarriage. The Torpedo shaped vessel (V) consists of a central cylindrical
part (CP) and two identical conical parts (CP1) attached to both sides of the
central cylindrical conical part (CP) by one end and the other end of each
cylindrical conical part (CP1) are attached to one end side of cylindrical end parts
(11).
The vessel (V) carries hot metal. The vessel can be rotated about its axis (X) in
either direction to pour out the hot metal into the charging ladles. The upper car
comprises a vessel (V) with pouring spout (39) for unloading the liquid metal into
charging ladles, an opening (40) at the centre of top of the vessel for delivering
hot liquid metal from Blast Furnace into the vessel, closing covers (41) provided
with castable refractory at the ends for ease of relining of the vessel. The end
parts (11) are of removable type and are fastened to the vessel near the conical
section (CP1) by T head bolts (45). On both the ends of the cylindrical end parts
(11) of the vessel two races (42) (see Figure 2) are rigidly fixed. Each race way
(42) are provided with a roller assembly consisting of plurality of rollers (44)
fitted at both the ends of the vessel. The vessel is supported on two roller
supports (7) through four sets of roller assemblies. This arrangement enables
the vessel to rotate freely on rollers. The two sets of rollers on either side of
vessels are supported pair wise on the roller support (7) with spherical seat (3)
underneath which prevents edge pressure and ensure constant linear contact
between rollers and races and over full roller width.
The vessel is rotated by a girth gear (59) provided at one end of the vessel. The
drivers are mounted on the left and right side parallel to the vessel on roller
support frame (7). Each drive arrangement consists of a 3 phase AC motor (M),
a planetary gear box (46) with toothed complying (48), an electro hydraulic
thruster operated brake (47) and pinion shaft (55) driving the girth gear. The
electric power is fed to the motors through cable, terminated at plugs (20) on
both side of the drive end of the car.
The vessel supports i.e. the rollers (44) and the two tilting drivers are properly
protected by protection hoods (11) of welded steel plate construction. To ensure
that the vessel is safely held on the car in the event of derailment, steel straps
(SS) acting as lift-off preventers are arranged over the vessel races. These steel
straps are mounted pair wise on the roller support frames (7).
Either side of the undercarriage consists of upper bolster (8) fitted with centre
buffer coupler (48). The upper bolsters (8) is supported on two lower bolsters
(9) through spherical seats (2, 3 and 4). Each lower bolster is supported on two
bogie assemblies (1) through the spherical seats. The load of the upper car is
transferred from the roller supports (7) to the upper bolsters (8 and 12) through
spherical seats. Each upper bolster (8) rests on two lower bolsters via spherical
seats and each lower bolsters (9) rests on two bogies assemblies (1). One each
manually operated parking brake (27) is provided on either side of the bolsters
on drive side at extreme end bogie assembly (1). The drive side is braked and
the bogie assembly rests on rail. Each bogie (1) consists of a bogie frame (91),
one spherical seat (92), two wheels (W) on both sides and axle sets (93) fitted
with spherical rollers bearing boxes (94) and plurality of helical springs (25).
Tilting drive assembly is aligned and mounted on the roller support. Tilting drive
assembly comprises of two each of motor, brake drum, flexible coupling,
electrohydraulic thruster brake, planetary gear box with toothed coupling and
pinion mounted on pinion shaft driving the girth gear.
Girth gear is fitted on the gear-supporting ring through fitted bolts. Gear
supporting ring is welded on one end of the vessel. The mating pinion is integral
part of pinion shaft, which is supported in bearing housings. These bearing
housings are bolted to the roller support frames. One number Electro hydraulic
thruster brake with manual release facility is mounted on either side of vessel to
stop the vessel at any position in case of power failure.
Tilting angle is limited on either side by limit switches, which are mounted below
the vessel on the brackets bolted to pinion shaft bearing housings.
The various integrated implements and parts as adapted and arranged in the
Torpedo Ladle car (TLC) is scheduled as below:

The assembled integrated constituents are to be provided with proper lubrication arrangement.
The advantages and inventive features of the invention as herein narrated and defined will be
best understood by a comparative chart as below distinguishing different integer characteristics
of the present high capacity TLC (320 ton) with 200 ton (TLC).
Torpedo ladle cars are used to transport hot metal from Blast furnaces to Steel melting shops.
These Torpedo ladle cars are hauled by diesel driven standard locomotives. Torpedo vessels
receive hot metal from Blast furnaces and deliver it into the hot metal charging ladles kept on
Hot metal transfer cars in the re-ladling pits at the Steel melting shop. Charging Ladle with hot
metal is then taken to hot metal de-sulphurisation station / de-slagging station and finally
charged to the LD converter for making steel.
The 200t capacity Torpedo ladle cars were introduced in 1994 in Tata Steel for the transportation
of hot metal from blast furnace to LD. Shop. Then, now a higher capacity of 320t Torpedo ladle
car has been invented. A 320 t Torpedo ladle car is shown in Fig.l. The vessel is of fabricated
design having cylindrical - conical - cylindrical configuration, duly lined with refractory bricks.
The Torpedo vessel assembly can be rotated about its axis in either direction to take out the hot
metal. The Torpedo lade car, as shown in Fig. 1 mainly consists of the Torpedo vessel assembly,
the under carriage assembly, the tilting drive assembly and the roller support arrangement.
The invention illustrated hereinabove with respect to an embodiment should not
be construed in a restrictive manner as many modifications, adaptations,
alterations and changes are possible within the scope and limit of the invention
as defined and encampussed within the appended claims.
WE CLAIM
1. A high capacity Torpedo Ladle car for transportation of hot metal from
blast furnace to LD furnace floor comprising of a torpedo shaped vessel
(V) of a upper car and an undercarriage, the upper car consisting of a
rotatable and tiltable torpedo shaped vessel (V) with pouring spout (39)
and closing covers (41), two hardened races (42) provided at both the
ends of the vessel, four sets of roller assemblies consisting of plurality of
rollers (44) with cage and girth gear (59), two driving pinion shafts (55)
driven by motor (M), gear boxes (46) and protection covers (11) for the
races and drives, the vessel (V) being supported pair wise on a roller
support (7) with spherical seat (3) underneath; the undercarriage
consisting of upper bolster fitted with the centre buffer coupler (48) being
supported on two lower bolsters (9) through spherical seats (2, 3 & 4),
each lower bolster being supported on two bogie assemblies (1), each
bogie consisting of bogie frame (91), one spherical seat (92), two wheels
(W) on both sides, axle sets (93) and plurality of springs (95); and a
tilting drive assembly mounted on the roller support consisting of two
each of motors, brake drum (47), flexible coupling, electro hydraulic
thruster brake (96), planetary gear box (46) with toothed coupling and
pinion mounted on pinion shaft driving the girth gear to rotate and tilt the
vessel for pouring hot metal to deliver into two shorter capacity charging
ladle and finally to transporting to LD converter via
desulphurisation/deslagging station.
2. A high capacity ladle car as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vessel (V)
consists of one central cylindrical part (CP), two identical conical parts
(CP1) attached to both sides of the cylindrical part (CP) by one end and
the other end of it being attached to one end side of cylindrical end parts
(11) and the car being provided with two coupling means on both sides of
the car to be joined with locomotives or other rolling stocks.
3. A high capacity ladle car as claimed in Claim-l, wherein the vessel (V) has
a pouring spout for unloading the liquid metal into charging ladles, an
opening (40) at the centre of top of the vessel for delivering hot liquid
metal from Blast Furnace into the vessel, closing covers (41) provided
with castable refractory at the ends for protecting the vessel from hot
metal splashing, the end parts (11) being removable type and are
fastened to the vessel near the conical section (CP1) by T bolts (45).
4. A high capacity ladle car as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vessel is
rotatable on either side about an axis (X) through roller supports (7) via
four sets of roller assemblies and the spherical seat (3) prevents edge
pressure and ensure constant linear contact between rollers and races and
over full roller width.
5. A high capacity ladle car as claimed in the preceeding claims, wherein for
driving the girth gear electric power is fed to the motors through cable
terminated at plugs (20) on both side of the drive end of the car.
6. A high capacity Torpedo Ladle car as claimed in the preceeding claims,
wherein the rollers (44) and the two tilting drives are properly protected
by protection hoods (11) of welded steel plate construction and steel
straps (SS) are mounted pair wise on the roller support (7) frames
arranged over vessel races to safely hold the vessel on the car and act as
lift-off preventers.
7. A high capacity Torpedo Ladle car as claimed in the preceeding claims
wherein the load of the upper car is transferred from the roller support (7)
to the upper bolsters (8 & 12).
8. A high capacity Torpedo ladle car as claimed in claim 1, wherein either
side of bolsters (9) on drive side at extreme end bogie assembly (1) are
provided with manually operated parking brake (27).
9. A high capacity Torpedo ladle car as claimed in the preceding claims,
wherein each bogie consists of a bogie frame (91), a spherical seat (92),
two wheels (W) on both sides, axle sets (93) fitted with spherical rolling
bearing boxes (94) and plurality of helical springs (95).

This invention relates to a high capacity Torpedo Ladle car for transportation of hot
metal from blast furnace to LD furnace floor comprising of a torpedo shaped vessel (V)
of a upper car and an undercarriage, the upper car consisting of a rotatable and tiltable
torpedo shaped vessel (V) with pouring spout (39) and closing covers (41), two
hardened races (42) provided at both the ends of the vessel, four sets of roller
assemblies consisting of plurality of rollers (44) with cage and girth gear (59), two
driving pinion shafts (55) driven by motor (M), gear boxes (46) and protection covers
(11) for the races and drives, the vessel being supported pair wise on a roller support
(7) with spherical seat (3) underneath; the undercarriage consisting of upper bolster
fitted with the centre buffer coupler (48) being supported on two lower bolsters (9)
through spherical seats (2, 3, 4), each lower bolster being supported on two bogies
assemblies (1), each bogie consisting of bogie frame (91), one spherical seat (92), two
wheels (W) on both sides, axle sets (93) and plurality of springs (95); and a tilting drive
assembly mounted on the roller support consisting of two each of motors, brake drum
(47), flexible coupling, electro hydraulic thruster brake (96) planetary gear box (46) with
toothed coupling and pinion mounted on pinion shaft driving the girth gear to rotate and
tilt the vessel for pouring out hot metal to deliver into two shorter capacity charging
ladle and finally to transporting to LD converter via desulphurisation/deslagging station.