LUMPPIO, Juha (Viherlaaksonranta 10 B 25, Espoo, FI-02710, FI)
| Claims
1. An arrangement for casting metal anodes in an anode casting plant, comprising:
- an anode furnace (2) that can be tilted in a tilting motion with respect to a tilting axis (1) for melting metal, said anode furnace (2) comprising a casting hole (3) for feeding molten metal (27) from the anode furnace (2),
- an anode casting mold (4) for casting a metal anode, and
- a conducting system (6) for conducting molten metal (27) from the anode furnace (2) to the anode casting mold (4), in which case the conducting system (6) comprises
- a chute (7) for conducting molten metal (27) from the casting hole (3) of the anode furnace (2) to a trough (8; 8a; 8b) belonging to the conducting system (6), in which case the chute (7) comprises an upstream end (29) for receiving molten metal (27) from the casting hole (3) of the anode furnace (2), and a downstream end (30) for feeding molten metal (27) from the chute (7) to the trough (8; 8a; 8b), c h a r a cte rized in that
- the arrangement includes a chute support frame (9) for supporting the chute (7), and a support structure (10) for supporting the chute support frame (9),
- the chute (7) is fitted in the chute support frame (9), - the chute support frame (9) is movably connected to the support structure (10) by a first lever arm (11), which is arranged to support the chute support frame (9) so that the upstream end (29) of the chute (7), at least for the part of the tilting motion of the anode furnace (2), is placed at the casting hole (3) of the anode furnace (2), during which tilting motion molten metal (27) can be fed from the casting hole (3) of the anode furnace (2) to the chute (7),
- the chute support frame (9) is movably connected to the support structure (10) by a suspension element (12; 12a; 12b), which is arranged to support the chute support frame (9), so that the downstream end (30) of the chute (7) is, at least for the part covering the tilting motion of the anode furnace (2), placed at the trough (8; 8a; 8b), during which motion molten metal (27) can be fed from the chute (7) to the trough (8),
- the first lever arm (1 1) is fitted in between the chute support frame (9) and the support structure (10), so that the first lever arm (1 1) is turnably connected to the support structure (10) at a first pivot joint (13), and so that the chute support frame (9) is turnably connected to the first lever arm (1 1) at a second pivot joint (14), which is placed at a distance from the first pivot joint ( 13), - the suspension element (12; 12a; 12b) is fitted in between the chute support frame (9) and the support structure (10), and
- the arrangement includes a tracking arrangement (15) for guiding the chute support frame (9) during the tilting motion of the anode furnace (2) with respect to the support structure (10), so that the upstream end (29) of the chute (7) is, at least for the part of the tilting motion of the anode furnace (2), placed at the casting hole (3) of the anode furnace (2), and so that the downstream end (30) of the chute (7) is, at least for the part covering the tilting motion of the anode furnace (2), placed at the trough (8; 8a; 8b).
2. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the suspension element is a second lever arm (12a), which is fitted in between the chute support frame (9) and the support structure (10), so that the second lever arm (12a) is turnably connected to the support structure (10) at a third pivot joint (16), and so that the chute support frame (9) is turnably connected to the second lever arm (12a) at a fourth pivot joint (17), which is placed at a distance from the third pivot joint (16).
3. An arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that:
- the chute support frame (9) comprises a cradle (21), in which the chute (7) is fitted, and that - the cradle (21) is by means of a first suspension element (22) and a second suspension element (23) suspended from the chute support frame (9) at two locations.
4. An arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that:
- the first suspension element (22) comprises a ball-and-socket joint (24), and that - the second suspension element (23) comprises a ball-and-socket joint (24).
5. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the suspension element is a chain or a corresponding ductile suspension element, by which the chute support frame (9) is suspended from the support structure (10).
6. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the suspension element is an elongate bar element, by which the chute support frame (9) is by means of at least one ball-and-socket joint (24) or a corresponding articulated element movably connected to the support structure (10).
7. An arrangement according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the chute support frame (9) comprises a cradle (21), in which the chute (7) is fitted.
8. An arrangement according to any of the claims 1 — 7, characterized in that: - the tracking arrangement (15) comprises a roller (18) that is fitted in the chute
(7) or in the chute support frame (9), and a guide element (19) fitted in the anode furnace (2) for the roller (18), and that
- the tracking arrangement (15) comprises a spring element (20) for holding the roller (18) against the guide element (19) fitted in the anode furnace (2), so that when the anode furnace (2) is tilted with respect to its tilting axis (1), the upstream end (29) of the chute (7) is arranged to follow the casting hole (3) of the anode furnace (2), at least for the part covering the tilting motion of the anode furnace (2).
9. An arrangement according to claim 8, characterized in that the spring element (20) is fitted in between the chute support frame (9) and the support structure (10).
10. An arrangement according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the spring element (20) is a compression air cylinder.
1 1. An arrangement according to any of the claims 8 - 10, characterized in that the roller (18) is arranged to touch the guide element (19), except for at least the second extreme position of the furnace tilting motion, where the roller (18) is arranged to be released from the control of the guide element (19), and a spring element (20) is arranged to lift the upstream end (29) of the chute (7) to its extreme position for emptying the chute (7) of molten metal (27) possibly contained therein.
12. An arrangement according to any of the claims 1 - 1 1 , characterized in that the upstream end (29) of the chute (7) comprises a chute cup (26) for receiving molten metal (27) from the anode furnace (2).
13. An arrangement according to any of the claims 1 - 12, characterized in that the trough is a collecting tank (8b), from which molten metal is fed to an intermediate trough (8a), from which molten metal is further fed to a casting trough (28), from which molten metal is further fed to an anode casting mold (4) for casting a metal anode.
14. An arrangement according to any of the claims 1 - 12, characterized in that the trough is an intermediate trough (8a), from which molten metal is further fed to a casting trough (28), from which molten metal (27) is further fed to an anode casting mold (4) for casting a metal anode.
15. An arrangement according to any of the claims 1 - 14, ch a ra cte riz ed in that the arrangement is an arrangement for casting copper anodes in an anode casting plant, wherein the metal is copper and the molten metal is molten copper.
16. An arrangement according to any of the claims 1 - 14, ch a ra cte rized in that the arrangement is an arrangement for casting zinc anodes in an anode casting plant, wherein the metal is zinc and the molten metal is molten zinc. |
ARRANGEMENT FOR CASTING METAL ANODES IN AN ANODE CASTING PLANT
Background of the invention
The invention relates to an arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1 for casting metal anodes in an anode casting plant.
More precisely, the invention relates to a conducting system for conducting molten metal from an anode furnace to an anode casting mold, where a metal anode to be further processed in an electrolytic refining process is casted.
The invention relates especially to casing copper anodes in an anode casing plant to be further processed in an electrolytic refining process, but the invention can also be used for casing metal anodes of other metals such as zinc anodes of zinc.
The copper process includes a step where blister copper is cast in a casting device into copper anodes for the electrolytic purification of copper. From a smelting furnace, copper is conducted and dosed to an anode casting mold by means of a system comprising chutes and troughs. The chutes, the exterior shells of which are made of steel, are lined with a fire-resistant material, and they are either open or provided with lids. The chutes are installed with a suitable inclination, in order to allow the flowing of molten copper by gravity. For transferring and dosing molten copper, there also are needed troughs, for example a settling trough, in which the molten copper is poured from the smelting furnace, and where the motion of the molten copper is calmed down before conducting it to the chutes. There also is needed a dosing trough, the task of which is to dose molten copper into an anode casting mold, as well as an intermediate trough for feeding molten copper into the dosing trough.
A conventional arrangement for conducting molten copper from an anode furnace to an anode casting mold is operated as follows: molten copper is first poured through the anode furnace casting hole to a settling trough, from where the molten copper is conducted along chutes to an intermediate trough. From the intermediate trough, the molten copper is poured to a dosing trough. From the dosing trough, molten copper is dosed to a casting trough, from which molten copper is cast in an anode casting mold. In the conducting system currently used in many casting plants, the combination of settling trough and chute, arranged in between the anode furnace and the intermediate trough, results in that the casting process cannot be interrupted for any length of time without the copper in the settling trough "being stuck", in which case the build ups must
first be removed from the settling troughs, whereafter a new lining surface must be made and dried, which takes time.
Nowadays the copper in many casting plants is dropped from a reasonable height through the anode furnace casting hole to the settling trough, and at the same time the molten copper is oxidized and effectively cooled during the whole casting process, which is harmful. With current technology, at the point where the molten copper hits when dropping from the anode furnace casting hole, there must be provided a copper layer with a thickness of roughly 200 - 400 mm, in order to prevent the copper from splashing in the surroundings and from being bored through the lining. This is realized by arranging a dam, i.e. said "settling trough", underneath the anode furnace casting hole. Typically said dam cannot be emptied in the prior art arrangements.
The old settling trough system absorbs a large amount of heat from copper at the beginning of the casting process. The settling trough has a large surface area, and it cannot be covered by an insulating lid in order to prevent heat losses. The removal of copper build ups from the settling trough after each casting operation is hard and dangerous work. Valuable refractory mortar is consumed in the repairs. The repair mortar is water-mixed, wherefore the lining must be cooled for example by water to below 100 degrees before the repairs (in order to prevent the lining from boiling). This situation is utterly contradictory with the requirement that when beginning a new casting operation, the settling trough should be as dry and hot as possible. Generally a separate drying operation is not carried out in the settling trough, i.e. the repair lining is allowed to be dried by itself, by the residual heat from the basic lining work. Drying takes up a lot of time and consumes the thermal energy of the settling trough, which results in that in the beginning, the heat contained in the copper is absorbed in the lining.
Brief description of the invention
The object of the invention is to solve the above mentioned problems. The object of the invention is achieved by an arrangement according to the independent claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.
An arrangement according to the invention is provided with a chute, the upstream end of which is arranged to follow the casting hole of the anode furnace to be tilted in a tilting motion around an axis, at least for the part of the tilting motion of the anode furnace, said downstream end being arranged to be placed at a trough belonging to the conducting system. Here the chute upstream end means that end of the chute, to which
molten metal is poured through the anode furnace casting hole, and from which molten metal flows in the chute. The chute downstream end means that end of the chute to which molten metal flows from the chute upstream end, and through which molten metal is removed from the chute. The arrangement includes a chute support frame for supporting the chute, and a support structure for supporting the chute support frame. The chute is fitted in the chute support frame. The chute support frame is movably connected to the support structure.
In the arrangement, the chute support frame is movably connected to the support structure by a first lever arm, which is arranged to support the chute support frame so that the chute upstream end, at least the portion covering the tilting motion of the anode furnace, is placed at the anode furnace casting hole, during which tilting motion molten metal can be fed through the anode furnace casting hole to the chute. The first lever arm is fitted in between the chute support frame and the support structure, so that the first lever arm is turnably connected to the support structure at a first pivot joint, and so that the chute support frame is turnably connected to the first lever arm at a second pivot joint, which is located at a distance from the first pivot joint.
Moreover, in the arrangement the chute support frame also is movably connected to the support structure by a suspension element, which is arranged to support the chute support frame, so that the chute downstream end, at least the portion covering the tilting motion of the anode furnace, is placed at a trough belonging to the molten metal conducting system, during which tilting motion, molten metal can be fed from the chute to the trough. Another suspension element is fitted in between the chute support frame and the support structure.
The arrangement also includes a tracking arrangement for guiding the chute support frame during the tilting motion of the anode furnace with respect to the support structure, so that the upstream end of the chute fitted in the chute support frame, at least for the portion covering the tilting motion of the anode furnace, is placed at the anode furnace casting hole, and so that so that the downstream end of the chute, fitted in the chute support frame, at least for the portion covering the tilting motion of the anode furnace, is placed at the trough.
Because the chute support frame and the support structure are in the way described in the arrangement interconnected by a first lever arm and a suspension element, the chute upstream end can, owing to the tracking arrangement, at least for the portion covering the tilting motion of the anode furnace, follow the anode furnace casting hole both in the vertical and horizontal directions, at the same time as the chute downstream end can simultaneously be located at the trough.
By saying that the chute upstream end is fitted to follow the anode furnace casting hole, at least for the portion covering the tilting motion of the anode furnace, and that the chute downstream end is fitted to follow the trough, at least for the portion covering the tilting motion of the anode furnace, we mean either the whole tilting motion of the anode furnace or part of the tilting motion of the anode furnace. It is for instance possible that the chute upstream end is fitted to follow the anode furnace casting hole during the whole tilting motion of the anode furnace, except for the tilting motion of the other extreme end of the anode furnace, where the chute upstream end is arranged to be lifted up to so-called extreme top position, and the chute downstream end is arranged to be lowered down, which results in that the chute is emptied of molten metal possibly contained in the chute.
In a first preferred embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, the chute upstream end is fitted to follow the casting hole provided at the side of the anode furnace. In this preferred embodiment, the chute support frame is movably connected to the support structure by a first lever arm and by a suspension element in the form of a second lever arm. The first lever arm is arranged to support the chute support frame, so that during the tilting motion of the anode furnace, except for the second extreme position of the furnace tilting motion, the chute upstream end is placed at the casting hole of the anode furnace, during which tilting motion molten metal can be fed from the anode furnace casting hole to the chute. The first lever arm is fitted in between the chute support frame and the support structure, so that the first lever arm is turnably connected to the support structure at a first pivot joint, and so that the chute support frame is turnably connected to the first lever arm at a second pivot joint that is placed at a distance from the first pivot joint. The second lever arm is arranged to support the chute support frame, so that the chute downstream end is during the tilting motion of the anode furnace placed at the trough, for example above the trough, so that molten metal can be fed from the chute to the trough. The second lever arm is fitted in between the chute support frame and the support structure, so that the second lever arm is turnably connected to the support structure at a third pivot joint, and so that the chute support frame is turnably connected to the second lever arm at a fourth pivot joint, which is placed at a distance from the third pivot joint. In this preferred embodiment, the chute support frame comprises a cradle, in which the chute is fitted. The cradle is suspended, by means of a first suspension element and a second suspension element, from the chute support frame, so that the chute hangs directly vertically with respect to the ground surface, so that the symmetry level of the chute is always at right angles to the horizontal ground surface, with the melt flowing always in the same proportion to the chute profile, thus preventing the metal from being solidified on the cold chute wall. The chute must, however, be inclined in the flowing
direction of the molten metal, so that the chute upstream end is placed higher than the chute downstream end, in order to allow the molten metal flow from the chute upstream end to the chute downstream end. In this embodiment, the tracking arrangement comprises a roller that is fitted in the chute support frame. In this embodiment, the tracking arrangement also comprises a guide element to be fitted in the anode furnace for the roller arranged in the chute support frame. The tracking arrangement also comprises a spring element for holding the roller fitted in the chute support frame against the guide element arranged in the anode furnace, so that when the anode furnace is tilted with respect to its tilting axis, the chute upstream end is arranged to follow the anode furnace casting hole, except for the tilting motion of the anode furnace to its second extreme position, where the roller is arranged to be released from the guidance of the guide element, and the spring element is arranged to lift the chute upstream end to the extreme position for emptying the chute of molten metal possibly contained in the chute to a trough located at the chute downstream end. In an preferred embodiment of the invention, the chute upstream end is fitted to follow the casting hole provided at the end of the anode furnace. In this preferred embodiment, the chute support frame is movably connected to the support structure by a first lever arm, and the chute support frame also is suspended from the support structure by a suspension element in the form of an elongate bar. In this embodiment, the chute support frame comprises a cradle, in which the chute is fitted. The first lever arm is arranged to support the chute support frame, so that the chute upstream end, at least for the part covering the tilting motion of the anode furnace, is placed at the casting hole of the anode furnace, during which tilting motion molten metal can be fed from the anode furnace casting hole to the chute. The first lever arm is fitted in between the chute support frame and the support structure, so that the first lever arm is turnably connected to the support structure at a first pivot joint, and so that the chute support frame is turnably connected to the first lever arm at a second pivot joint, which is placed at a distance from the first pivot joint. In this embodiment, the suspension element is an elongate bar element, the other end of which is by a ball-and-socket joint movably connected to the chute support frame, and the opposite end whereof is by a ball-and-socket joint movably connected to the support structure. In this preferred embodiment, the arrangement also comprises a guide element that restricts and guides possible harmful movements of the elongate bar element in special cases, while gravity and supporting geometry normally secure the motion and thereby participate in realizing the motion of the chute downstream end with respect to the trough.
Several advantages are achieved by the arrangement.
Because the chute upstream end can, owing to an arrangement according to the invention, follow the anode furnace casting hole in both the vertical and horizontal directions, a conventional settling trough, to which molten metal is poured from the anode furnace casting hole, is not needed in an arrangement according to the invention. This is due to the fact that in an arrangement according to the invention, the distance between the casting hole and the chute is small in comparison with conventional arrangements.
Because the arrangement according to the invention makes the settling trough unnecessary, the arrangement makes it possible to start and finish anode casting so that the currently normal removal of build ups from the settling trough is left out. This solution is based on the fact that old metal can, owing to a movable chute, be flown away from the chute and from a possible chute cup that replaces the settling trough and is extremely small. In that case, an extra metal temperature is not needed for starting the casting operation, because the chute is hot and dry after the previous casting. Relinings need not be done. The possible chute cap of a movable chute can be extremely small in comparison with the settling troughs of prior art arrangements. The profit from the lids is obtained through production security and energy savings, when the operational temperature of the anode furnace can be reduced.
Because the chute is movable, the chute can after casting be emptied for instance automatically, under the control of the tracking arrangement, and a separate removal of build ups is not needed. Thus, a movable chute can be made self-emptying, so that after finishing the casting, the chute is automatically emptied of old metal under the control of the tracking arrangement.
The amount of metal flowing in the chute is essentially reduced when there is no settling trough. In that case, all of the metal flowing simultaneously in the chute fits in the intermediate trough. This is advantageous, because if anything surprising occurs and the anode casting machine is stopped, the metal surface in the intermediate trough does not rise too high, and it need not be cast to waste for emptying the chutes.
A smaller quantity of molten metal flowing in the chute, in comparison with prior art arrangements, means that the automatization of the tilting of the anode furnace, so that the surface in the intermediate trough remains on a certain level, becomes essentially easier when the "intermediate storage" of current technology, i.e. the settling trough, is eliminated, and the molten metal flow reacts rapidly to the turning up of the casting hole of the anode furnace, for instance when finishing the casting or when adjusting the flow. Another essential feature for the invention is that by means of the above described supporting methods, it is possible to make the conducting routes between the anode
furnace and the intermediate trough as short as possible. This helps to reduce thermal losses occurring in the chute and to make the chute lowering angles steeper than in the prior art , which makes it easier to empty them for the next casting operation. In all currently known arrangements, the chute route is must be designed to be, at least for the length of about 2-3 meters at right angles to the anode turning axis, before the route towards the intermediate trough can be designed. By means of the solutions of the invention, this drawback is eliminated. When casting from the end, this is particularly useful in certain anode furnace layouts. There is no prior art solution for casting at the anode furnace end, and thus the solution described in the present invention brings forth a completely new possibility.
List of drawings
The invention and a few of its preferred embodiments are described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings, where Figure 1 illustrates part of an anode casting plant, where the casting hole is arranged at the side of the anode furnace, and where the chute is functionally connected to the casting hole provided at the side of the anode furnace,
Figure 2 is a top- view illustration of the arrangement illustrated in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a side-view illustration of the operation of the chute shown in Figures 1 and 2, in a state where the chute is in a position where it can receive molten copper from the anode furnace casting hole and feed molten copper to the intermediate trough,
Figure 4 is a side-view illustration of the operation of the chute shown in Figures 1 and 2, in a state where the chute is in its maximum low position,
Figure 5 is a side-view illustration of the operation of the chute shown in Figures 1 and 2, in a state where the roller fitted in the chute support frame is released from the control of the guide element fitted in the anode furnace, and the spring element has lifted the chute to its maximum top position, i.e. the emptying position,
Figure 6 illustrates part of an anode casting plant including two anode furnaces, where the anode furnace casting holes are arranged at the ends of the anode furnace, and where the chutes are functionally connected to the casting hole provided at the end of the anode furnace,
Figure 7 is a top-view illustration of the arrangement illustrated in Figure 6, Figure 8 illustrates details of the arrangement illustrated in Figure 6, and Figure 9 illustrates details of the arrangement illustrated in Figure 6.
Detailed description of the invention
The arrangement presented in the figures and next in greater detail is an arrangement for casting copper anodes in an anode casting plant, wherein the metal is copper and the molten metal is molten copper. Alternatively, the arrangement could be an arrangement for casting zinc anodes in an anode casting plant, wherein the metal is zinc and the molten metal is molten zinc.
The drawings show part of an anode casting plant for casting copper anodes (not illustrated).
The anode casting plant comprises an anode furnace 2, tiltable with respect to a tilting axis 1, for melting copper, the anode furnace 2 comprises a casting hole 3 for feeding molten copper 27 from the anode furnace 2.
The anode casting plant illustrated in Figures 1 — 5 comprises one anode furnace 2, and the anode casting plant illustrated in Figures 6 - 9 comprises two anode furnaces 2. In addition, the anode casting plant comprises anode casting molds 4 for casting copper anodes.
In Figures 1 and 2, the anode casting molds 4 are placed on one rotary casting table 5. In Figures 6 - 9, the anode casting molds 4 are placed on two rotary casting tables 5.
Moreover, the anode casting plant comprises a conducting system 6 for conducting molten copper 27 from the single anode furnace 2 illustrated in Figures 1 - 5 to anode casting molds 4, and from the two anode casting furnaces 2 illustrated in Figures 6 - 9 to anode casting molds 4.
The conducting system 6 comprises a chute 7 for conducting molten copper 27 through the casting hole 3 of the anode furnace 2 to a trough 8 belonging to the conducting system 6.
The chute 7 comprises an upstream end 29 for receiving molten copper 27 from the casting hole 3 of the anode furnace 2, and a downstream end 10 for feeding molten copper 27 from the chute 7 to the trough 8.
In the example illustrated in Figures 1 — 5, the trough is an intermediate trough 8a, from which molten copper 27 is fed further to a casting trough 28, from which molten copper 27 is fed further to an anode casting mold 4 for casting a copper anode.
In the example illustrated in Figures 6 - 9, the trough is a collecting tank 8b, from which molten copper 27 is fed further to an intermediate trough 8b, from which molten copper 27 is fed further to a casting trough 28, from which molten copper 27 is fed further to an anode casting mold 4 for casting a copper anode.
The arrangement includes a chute support frame 9 for supporting the chute 7, and a support structure 10 for supporting the chute support frame 9. The number of support structures 10 for supporting the chute support frame 9 can be one, as in the case of
Figures 1 - 5, or several, as in the example of Figures 6 - 9, where the number of the support structures 10 is two.
The chute 7 is fitted in the chute support frame 9.
The chute support frame 9 is movably connected to the support structure 10 by a first lever arm 1 1 , which is arranged to support the chute support frame 9, so that the upstream end 29 of the chute 7, at least for the portion covering the tilting motion of the anode furnace 2, is placed at the casting hole 3 of the anode furnace 2, during which tilting motion molten copper 27 can be fed from the casting hole 3 of the anode furnace 2 to the chute 7.
In addition, the chute support frame 9 is movably connected to the support structure 10 by a suspension element 12, which is arranged to support the chute support frame 9, so that the downstream end 30 of the chute 7, at least for the portion covering the tilting motion of the anode furnace 2, is placed at the trough 8, during which tilting motion molten copper can be fed from the chute 7 to the trough 8.
The first lever arm 1 1 is fitted in between the chute support frame 9 and the support structure 10, so that the first lever arm 11 is turnably connected to the support structure 10 at a first pivot joint 13, and so that the chute support frame 9 is turnably connected to the first lever arm 11 at a second pivot joint 14, which is placed at a distance from the first pivot joint 13.
The suspension element 12 is fitted in between the chute support frame 9 and the support structure 10. In addition, the arrangement includes a tracking arrangement 15 for guiding the chute support frame 9 during the tilting motion of the anode furnace 2 with respect to the support structure 10, so that the chute 7 upstream end 29, at least for the portion covering the tilting motion of the anode furnace 2, is placed at the casting hole 3 of the anode furnace 2, and so that the downstream end 30 of the chute 7, at least for the portion covering the tilting motion of the anode furnace 2, is placed at the trough 8.
By saying that the upstream end 29 of the chute 7 is fitted to follow the casting hole 3 of the anode furnace 2, at least for the portion covering the tilting motion of the anode furnace 2, and that the downstream end 30 of the chute 7 is fitted to follow the trough 8, at least for the portion covering the tilting motion of the anode furnace 2, we mean either the whole tilting motion of the anode furnace 2, or part of the tilting motion thereof. It is for instance possible that the upstream end 29 of the chute 7 is fitted to
follow the casting hole 3 of the anode furnace 2 during the whole tilting motion of the anode furnace 2, except for the tilting motion of the other extreme end of the anode furnace 2, where the upstream end 29 of the chute 7 is arranged to be lifted up to so- called extreme top position, and the downstream end 30 of the chute 7 is arranged to be lowered down in another extreme position of the tilting motion of the anode furnace 2, which results in that the chute 7 is emptied of molten copper 27 possibly contained in the chute 7, as is illustrated in Figure 5.
Figures 1 - 5 illustrate an arrangement where the chute 7 is arranged to receive molten copper 27 through a casting hole 3 provided at the side of the anode furnace 2. In Figures 1 - 5, the chute support frame 9 is movably connected to the support structure 10 by a first lever arm 11 and by a suspension element provided in the form of a second lever arm 12a.
In Figures 1 - 5, the first lever arm 11 is arranged to support the chute support frame 9, so that the upstream end 29 of the chute 7 is, during the tilting motion of the anode furnace 2, except for the second extreme position of the furnace tilting motion, shown in Figure 5, placed at the casting hole 3 of the anode furnace 2, during which tilting motion molten copper 27 can be fed through the casting hole 3 of the anode furnace 2 to the chute 7.
In Figures 1 - 5, the first lever arm 1 1 is fitted in between the chute support frame 9 and the support structure 10, so that the first lever arm 11 is turnably connected to the support structure 10 at a first pivot joint 13, and so that the chute support frame 9 is turnably connected to the first lever arm 11 at a second pivot joint 14, which is placed at a distance from the first pivot joint 13.
In Figures 1 - 5, the second lever arm 12a is arranged to support the chute support frame 9, so that the downstream end 30 of the chute 7 is, during the tilting motion of the anode furnace 2, placed at the trough 8, for instance above the trough 8, so that molten copper 27 can be fed from the chute 7 to the trough 8.
In Figures 1 - 5, the second lever arm 12a is fitted in between the chute support frame 9 and the support structure 10, so that the second lever arm 12a is turnably connected to the support structure 10 at a third pivot joint 16, and so that the chute support frame 9 is turnably connected to the second lever arm 12a at a fourth pivot joint
17, which is placed at a distance from the third pivot joint 16.
In Figures 1 - 5, the tracking arrangement 15 comprises a roller 18, which is fitted in the chute support frame 9. Moreover, the tracking arrangement 15 comprises a guide element 19 fitted in the anode furnace 2 for the roller 18 fitted in the chute support frame
9. In addition, the tracking arrangement 15 comprises a spring element 20 for holding the
roller 18 against the guide element 19 fitted in the anode furnace 2, so that when the anode furnace 2 is tilted with respect to the tilting axis 1, the upstream end 29 of the chute 7 is fitted to follow the casting hole 3 of the anode furnace 2, except for the second extreme position of the tilting motion of the anode furnace 2, where the roller 18 is arranged to be released from the control of the guide element 19, and the spring element 20 is arranged to lift the chute upstream end 29 to its extreme position for emptying the chute 7 of molten copper 27 possibly contained therein. In Figures 1 - 5, the spring element 20 is a compression air spring.
In Figures 1 - 5, the chute support frame 9 comprises a cradle 21, in which the chute 7 is fitted. The cradle 21 is suspended by means of a first suspension element 22 and a second suspension element 23 from the chute support frame 9, so that the chute 7 hangs vertically to the ground surface, so that the symmetry level of the chute 7 is always at right angles to the horizontal ground surface, while the molten copper 27 always flows in the same proportion to the chute profile, thus preventing the metal from being solidified on the cold chute wall. However, the chute 7 must be inclined in the flowing direction of the molten copper 27, so that the upstream end 29 of the chute 7 is placed higher than the downstream end 30 of the chute 7, in order to allow the molten copper 27 flow from the upstream end 29 of the chute 7 to the downstream end 30 thereof. Both the first suspension element 22 and the second suspension element 23 comprise preferably, but not necessarily, a ball-and-socket joint 24 provided in between the first suspension element 22 and the chute support frame 9 and respectively between the second suspension element 23 and the chute support frame.
As an exception to the cases illustrated in Figures 1 - 5, the chute 7 can be immovably fastened to the chute support frame 9. The chute 7 can be for example integrated in the chute support frame 9.
Figures 6 - 9 illustrate an arrangement where the chute 7 is arranged to receive molten copper 27 through a casting hole 3 provided at the end of the anode furnace 2.
In Figures 6 - 9, the chute support frame 9 is movably connected to the support structure 10 by a first lever arm 1 1 , and in addition to this, the chute support frame 9 is suspended from the support structure 10 by a suspension element provided in the form of an elongate bar 12b.
In Figures 6 and 7, the chute support frame 9 comprises a cradle 21 , in which the chute 7 is fitted.
In Figures 6 - 9, the first lever arm 1 1 is arranged to support the chute support frame 9, so that the upstream end 29 of the chute 7, at least for the portion covering the tilting motion of the anode furnace 2, is placed at the casting hole 3 of the anode furnace
2, during which tilting motion molten copper 27 can be fed through the casting hole 3 of the anode furnace 2 to the chute 7.
In Figures 6 - 9, the first lever arm 11 is fitted in between the chute support frame 9 and the support structure 10, so that the first lever arm 11 is turnably connected to the support structure 10 by a first pivot joint 13, and so that the chute support frame 9 is turnably connected to the first lever arm 11 by a second pivot joint 14, which is placed at a distance from the first pivot joint 13. The second pivot joint 14 arranged in between the first lever arm 11 and the chute support frame 9 is preferably, but not necessarily, provided with a ball-and-socket joint 24 or a corresponding articulation or joint that allows both turning and winding
In Figures 6 - 9, the suspension element of this embodiment is an elongate bar element 12b, the other end of which is by means of a ball-and-socket joint 24 movably connected to the chute support frame 9, and the opposite end of which is by the ball-and- socket joint 24 movably connected to the support structure 10. In Figures 6 - 9, the arrangement of this preferred embodiment also comprises a guide element 25 that guides and restricts the movements of the elongate bar element 12b and thereby the movements of the downstream end 30 of the chute 7 with respect to the trough 8, and prevents possible undesirable movements of the downstream end 30 of the chute 7 with respect to the trough 8. In Figures 6 - 9, the guide element 25 is a sheet element provided with an elongate aperture (not marked with a reference number), through which the elongate bar element 12b is inserted, and where the elongate bar element 12b is arranged to slide when the chute support frame 9 moves with respect to the support structure 10.
In Figures 6 - 9, the suspension element could alternatively be a chain (not illustrated) or a corresponding ductile suspension element, by which the chute support frame 9 is suspended from the support structure 10.
Figures 3 - 5 illustrates in more detail the operation of the tracking arrangement 15 shown in Figures 1 and 2.
In Figures 3 - 5, the tracking arrangement 15 comprises a roller 18 that is fitted in the chute support frame 9, and a guide element 19 for the roller 18, fitted in the anode furnace 2. As an alternative, the roller 18 can be fitted in the chute 7.
In Figures 3 - 5, the tracking arrangement 15 also comprises a spring element 20 for holding the roller 18 against the guide element 19 fitted in the anode furnace 2, so that when the anode furnace 2 is tilted in relation to the tilting axis 1 , the upstream end 29 of the chute 7 is fitted to follow the casting hole 3 of the anode furnace 2, at least for the portion covering the tilting motion of the anode furnace 2.
The roller 18 is preferably, but not necessarily, arranged to touch the guide element 19 fitted in the anode furnace 2, except for at least the second extreme position of the furnace tilting motion, where the roller 18 is arranged to be released from the control of the guide element 19, and the spring element 20 is arranged to lift the upstream end 29 of the chute to its extreme position for emptying the chute 7 of molten copper 27 possibly contained therein, as is illustrated in Figure 5.
In Figures 3 - 5, the spring element 20 of the tracking arrangement 15 is fitted in between the chute support frame 9 and the support structure 10. The spring element 20 is preferably, but not necessarily, a compression air cylinder. Figures 3 - 5 illustrate how the tracking arrangement 15 can guide the position of the chute support frame 9 and thus the position of the chute 7.
In Figure 3, the chute 7 is in a position where it can receive molten copper 27 through the casting hole 3 of the anode furnace 2, and feed molten copper 27 to the intermediate trough 8a. In Figure 4, the chute 7 is in its maximum low position.
In Figure 5, the roller 18 fitted in the chute support frame 9 is released from the control of the guide element arranged in the anode furnace 2, and the spring element 20 has lifted the chute 7 to its maximum top position, i.e. to the emptying position, where the chute 7 can be emptied of molten copper 27 possibly contained therein. As an exception to Figures 1 - 6, the tracking arrangement 15 can alternatively be for instance an electronic tracking arrangement that is arranged to guide the position of the chute support frame 9 in relation to the support structure 10.
In the drawings, the upstream end 29 of the chute 7 comprises a chute cup 26 for receiving molten copper 27 from the anode furnace 2, more precisely for receiving molten copper 27 from the casting hole 3 of the anode furnace 2. As the molten copper 27 flows from the upstream end 29 of the chute 7 to the downstream end 30 thereof, slight amounts of molten copper 27 are collected and remain in the chute cup 26. The molten copper 27 remaining in the chute cup 26 prevents the molten copper 27 flowing through the casting hole 3 of the anode furnace 2 from penetrating the chute lining. The chute 7 comprises preferably, but not necessarily, a heating system (not illustrated) for heating the chute 7.
For a man skilled in the art, it is obvious that along with the development of technology, the principal idea of the invention can be realized in many different ways. Hence the invention and its embodiments are not restricted to the above described examples, but they can vary within the scope of the appended claims.