Alzetta, Franco (Via Carsia 31, Opicina, I-34016, IT)
Tomat, Ferrucico (Via Colugna, 135/1, Udine, I-33100, IT)
| 1. | Method to achieve industrial plants comprising a plurality of machines (11. 15) associated with each other according to a pre. ordained arrangement, the method being characterised in that each of the machines (11. 15) is made previously in the production plant, provided with the relative base (lla. 15a) and the relative electric and/or fluid. dynamic circuits (llb. 15b) to define a module in itself, each module having maximum dimensions such that it can be loaded into a container (16) of a standard type, and each module being suitable to be transported to the place of destination to be installed there and associated with the other modules, according to the pre. ordained arrangement. |
| 2. | Method as in Claim 1, characterised in that each of the machines (11. 15) is also previously tested in the production plant before being transported to the place of destination. |
| 3. | Method as in Claim 1, characterised in that the modules are transported by means of containers (16) of standard sizes. |
| 4. | Method as in Claim 1, characterised in that the plant comprises a station to count bars (10) for a rolling mill. |
| 5. | Method as in Claim 1, characterised in that the modules comprise a bar transfer device (11), a bar separator device (12), a vertical roll table (13), a device to form bundles of bars (14) and a device to tie the bars with metal wire (15). |
The method provides that every single machine or device should have dimensions such as to be individually contained in a standard container, should be produced provided with its own base and the relative electric and/or fluid-dynamic circuits, and should be tested and approved possibly in advance in the plant where it is produced.
Every individual machine or device is then packed into a container and transported to its place of destination where the plant is achieved simply by arranging the machines and the devices according to a particular lay-out and by connecting the various circuits.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Normally industrial plants, especially medium and large scale ones, that is to say, those which range from a few metres to many hundreds of metres long, are achieved, that is, assembled and inspected, at their place of destination, on bases proved for the purpose.
The Company which supplies or provides the plants usually has to transport the individual machines, or parts thereof, which are needed to achieve the plant to the place of destination, to prepare the bases according to a certain lay-out, to attach the machines to the bases and to provide, in situ, to achieve all the plant installations and accessory circuits, both electric and fluid-dynamic.
This entails long times for packing and unpacking the
METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING INDUSTRIAL PLANTS * * * * * FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention refers to a method to achieve large scale industrial plants, from a few to several hundred metres, and consisting of a plurality of machines and devices, such as a rolling mill, a casting line, a store house to assemble and collect finished products and similar.
The method provides that every single machine or device should have dimensions such as to be individually contained in a standard container, should be produced provided with its own base and the relative electric and/or fluid-dynamic circuits, and should be tested and approved possibly in advance in the plant where it is produced.
Every individual machine or device is then packed into a container and transported to its place of destination where the plant is achieved simply by arranging the machines and the devices according to a particular lay-out and by connecting the various circuits.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Normally industrial plants, especially medium and large scale ones, that is to say, those which range from a few metres to many hundreds of metres long, are achieved, that is, assembled and inspected, at their place of destination, on bases proved for the purpose.
The Company which supplies or provides the plants usually has to transport the individual machines, or parts thereof, which are needed to achieve the plant to the place of destination, to prepare the bases according to a certain lay-out, to attach the machines to the bases and to provide, in situ, to achieve all the plant installations and accessory circuits, both electric and fluid-dynamic.
This entails long times for packing and unpacking the
individual machines which sometimes, as they themselves are of considerable size, require the use of wide/long load transportation.
Preparing the bases and the circuits on the machines at the place of destination is another considerable disadvantage which increases the times and therefore the costs of installation and achievement of the plant.
The same can be said of any possible interventions of maintenance and replacement which may become necessary when any one of the machines or devices has to be removed from the plant for exceptional maintenance or total replacement.
The present Applicant has devised, planned and perfected this method to achieve industrial plants according to the invention to overcome these shortcomings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The method to achieve industrial plants according to the invention is set forth and characterised in the main claim, while the dependent claims describe other innovative characteristics of the invention.
One purpose of the invention is to perfect a method to achieve industrial plants comprising a plurality of machines associated with each other according to a pre-ordained arrangement or lay-out, which will allow to drastically reduce the costs of installation of the plant and the costs relating to the removal, and possible replacement, of every individual machine or device which constitutes said plant.
In accordance with this purpose, the method to achieve industrial plants according to the invention provides that each of the machines is made in advance in the production plant, provided with the relative base and the relative electric and fluid-dynamic circuitry, to define a module in itself, that each module should have maximum dimensions such that it can be loaded into a container of a standard type
and that each module should be transported to the place of destination to be installed there and associated with the other modules, according to the pre-ordained arrangement.
According to one characteristic of the invention, the method provides that each machine is also tested and approved in advance in the production plant before being transported to the place of destination.
According to another characteristic of the invention, the method provides that the modules are transported by means of containers of a standard size.
According to a particular application of the invention, in the case where the plant consists of a station to count bars in a rolling mill, the individual modules comprise a bar transfer device, a bar separator device, a vertical roll table, a device to form bundles of bars and a tying device with metal wire.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other characteristics of the invention will be evident from the following description of a preferred form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a lateral, schematic view of a plant achieved with the method according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a side view, scaled down and schematic, of the plant shown in Fig. 1 in the different modules of which it is composed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A method to achieve industrial plants according to the invention comprises a first assembly step, at the production plant, to assemble each of the machines and devices of which the plant is composed.
As an example, Fig. 1 shows a plant consisting of a station 10 to count metal bars arranged at outlet from a
and that each module should be transported to the place of destination to be installed there and associated with the other modules, according to the pre-ordained arrangement.
According to one characteristic of the invention, the method provides that each machine is also tested and approved in advance in the production plant before being transported to the place of destination.
According to another characteristic of the invention, the method provides that the modules are transported by means of containers of a standard size.
According to a particular application of the invention, in the case where the plant consists of a station to count bars in a rolling mill, the individual modules comprise a bar transfer device, a bar separator device, a vertical roll table, a device to form bundles of bars and a tying device with metal wire.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other characteristics of the invention will be evident from the following description of a preferred form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a lateral, schematic view of a plant achieved with the method according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a side view, scaled down and schematic, of the plant shown in Fig. 1 in the different modules of which it is composed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A method to achieve industrial plants according to the invention comprises a first assembly step, at the production plant, to assemble each of the machines and devices of which the plant is composed.
As an example, Fig. 1 shows a plant consisting of a station 10 to count metal bars arranged at outlet from a
conventional rolling mill which is not shown in the drawings.
The station 10 comprises in turn the following machines: a device 11 to transfer the bars, a device 12 to separate the bars, a table 13 with vertical rolls, a device 14 to form bundles of bars and a device 15 to tie the bars with metal wire.
Each machine or device 11-15 which makes up the plant 10 is therefore made in advance in the production plant, is provided with the relative base lla-15a and the relative electric and/or fluid-dynamic installations llb-15b to define a module in itself.
Each module is suitable to be possibly tested in the same plant where it is produced, so that it can leave the plant without any other further trials or adjustments having to be made.
According to a characteristic feature of the invention, each module has maximum dimensions such that it can be loaded into a container 16 of a standard type, so that each module can easily be packed, transported to the place of destination and unpacked so as to be installed there and associated with the other modules, according to the pre- ordained arrangement.
In the event that one of the machines or devices 11-15 which make up the plant 10 is of a size such that two or more of them can be contained in a single container 16, as for example the device 12, then in order to make the transport more economical, two of the devices 11-15 are loaded into a single container.
It is obvious that modifications or additions can be made to the method to achieve industrial plants as described heretofore, but these shall remain within the field and scope thereof.
conventional rolling mill which is not shown in the drawings.
The station 10 comprises in turn the following machines: a device 11 to transfer the bars, a device 12 to separate the bars, a table 13 with vertical rolls, a device 14 to form bundles of bars and a device 15 to tie the bars with metal wire.
Each machine or device 11-15 which makes up the plant 10 is therefore made in advance in the production plant, is provided with the relative base lla-15a and the relative electric and/or fluid-dynamic installations llb-15b to define a module in itself.
Each module is suitable to be possibly tested in the same plant where it is produced, so that it can leave the plant without any other further trials or adjustments having to be made.
According to a characteristic feature of the invention, each module has maximum dimensions such that it can be loaded into a container 16 of a standard type, so that each module can easily be packed, transported to the place of destination and unpacked so as to be installed there and associated with the other modules, according to the pre- ordained arrangement.
In the event that one of the machines or devices 11-15 which make up the plant 10 is of a size such that two or more of them can be contained in a single container 16, as for example the device 12, then in order to make the transport more economical, two of the devices 11-15 are loaded into a single container.
It is obvious that modifications or additions can be made to the method to achieve industrial plants as described heretofore, but these shall remain within the field and scope thereof.
It is also obvious that the station to count bars 10 described above has been described purely as an example, and that any other type of large scale industrial plant, such as a rolling mill, a casting line or otherwise, can be achieved with the method according to the invention.