This invention relates to apparatus for reducing the width of a hot metal slab.

For the manufacture of metal strip, such as strip steel, it is becoming increasingly common to continuously cast a workpiece in the form of a slab, to cut the slab into lengths and to roll each length into strip. Because strips of different width are required, it is desirable that slabs of different width should be available. If these slabs are to be cast in a continuous casting machine, it is not convenient to have a number of moulds, each representing a slab of different width. It is desirable, therefore, to cast slabs of a limited number of widths and, where necessary, to reduce the width of the slab to a predetermined value and to subsequently roll the slab into strip.

In a method of reducing the width of a hot metal slab, which initially has a width dimension greater than its thickness dimension, the hot slab moving in the direction of its length is presented to a pressing machine by which forces are applied to the opposite edges of the slab to reduce the width dimension of the slab along its length. It is convenient for the width dimension of the slab to be vertical when it is presented to the pressing machine so that a vertically acting pressing machine can be

employed to apply forces to the top and bottom edges of the slab in order to reduce the width dimension of the slab. Alternatively, the width dimension may be horizontal and for a horizontally acting pressing machine to be employed.

Normally the slab will be of a much greater length than the region over which the forces are applied by the platens. For this reason, the slab is incremented through the pressing machine so that its width dimension is reduced stepwise along its length by repeated application of the forces. Thickening of the slab which accompanies each width reduction by the forces can produce a non-uniform cross-section- if the increment is too long. This is undesirable and can be alleviated by reducing the increment to less than the length of the slab regions affected by each application of the forces. After the reduction in the width dimension of the slab, it is convenient to roll the slab between a pair of horizontal rolls of a rolling mill.

One of the disadvantages with this method of reducing the width dimension of a slab is that, if the width to thickness ratio of the slab is greater than about 3 : 1, the slab will tend to buckle rather than to deform when the pressure is applied to the opposite edges of the slab.

It is an object of the present invention to provide pressing apparatus in which this difficulty can

be overcome.

According to the present invention, a pressing machine for reducing the width of a hot metal slab comprises first and second platens engageable with respective opposite edges of a slab to apply forces thereto to reduce the width dimension of the slab and a restraint which, in use, is adjacent a face of the slab engaged by the platens to control the buckling of the slab in the direction towards the restraint.

Particularly when the slab is arranged with its width dimension vertical and the first and second platens engage top and bottom edges of the slab, the slab may buckle sideways in one or other or both horizontal directions when the pressing forces are applied to the opposite edges. Steps are taken to either try to prevent buckling of the slab in both sideways directions, in which case a restraint is positionable adjacent each of the faces of the slab, or steps can be taken to encourage the slab to buckle in one sideways direction only and, in this case, a restraint is required adjacent that face of the slab which is facing the direction in which buckling is encouraged to take place. The restraint serves to control the amount of buckling.

In use, the or each restraint is of sufficiently rigid construction and is held in position adjacent the face of the slab so that, when buckling

commences, the slab engages against the restraint and is prevented by the restraint from moving outwardly any further.

The or each restraint preferably extends substantially for the entire length of the platens so as to restrain that portion of the slab which is acted upon at any time by the platens. In one embodiment of the invention, the or each restraint is in two parts which are connected to respective platens and, in an alternative embodiment of the invention, the or each restraint comprises two or more beams arranged side-by-side between the platens and each beam has a separately operated ram associated with it which serves to displace the beam to a desired position adjacent the face of the slab and to retain it in that position.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, it will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the platens of a pressing machine;

Figure 2 is a side elevation, similar to Figure 1, but with the platens displaced relative to each other to apply a pressing force to a slab;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the platens;

Figure 4 is an exaggerated enlarged end elevation of the platens;

Figure 5 is an exaggerated enlarged end

elevation of the platens and a pressure plate;

Figure 6 is an end elevation of a pressing machine in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 is a plan on the line 6-6 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a side elevation, similar to Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic end elevation showing an alternative to the arrangement shown in Figure 6;

Figure 10 is an end elevation showing a further alternative to the arrangement shown in Figure 6; and

Figure 11 shows diagrammatically an end view of a slab passing through a pressing machine.

With a vertically acting pressing machine, it is possible for the pressing machine to have a fixed lower platen which engages with the lower edge of the slab and for the vertically reciprocating upper platen to engage with the upper edge of the slab. Such a pressing machine is simpler in construction than any pressing machine which is required to act on the edges of the slab when it is arranged with its width dimension horizontal.

For a broad understanding of the invention, reference is first made to Figure 11.

Platens 1, 2 of a pressing machine are shown

one above the other. Conveniently, the lower platen 2 is fixed and the upper platen 1 is movable towards and away from platen 2 but, alternatively, both platens may be movable towards and away from each other.

An elongate hot metal slab 8 is arranged with its widthwise dimension vertical and platens 1, 2 are arranged to engage its opposite edges to apply forces to reduce the width of the slab. The upper platen 1 has a slot formed in its lower face so that the upper edge of the slab enters into the slot. The bottom working surface 9 of the slot is inclined and, similarly, the bottom working surface 10 of a slot in the platen 2 is inclined but in the opposite direction to the surface 9.

An anti-buckling restraint R is positioned adjacent that side of the slab 8 from which the surfaces 9, 10 converge.

In use, the inclination of the working surfaces 9 , 10 ensure that buckling of the slab 8 will tend to take place but it is in the predetermined direction, as shown in broken lines. This direction is towards the restraint R which then engages the face of the slab and prevents further buckling from taking place.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 5, a pressing machine has a pair of platens 1, 2 arranged one above the other. The platen 2 is fixed on a foundation and platen 1 is raised and lowered with respect to the

platen 2 by means (not shown).

As shown in Figure 2, a slab 8 having its width dimension vertical is incremented in the direction of its length between the two platens so as to have forces applied by the platens to its respective opposite edges. The forces reduce the width dimension of the slab. r

On each of the opposite sides of the platens 1, 2 there is provided a restraint which serves to prevent or, at least, limit the sideways buckling of the slab 8 when the pressing forces are applied to it. The restraint on each side of the platens is in two parts which are connected to respective platens. A plate 3 of substantially the same length as the platen 1 is secured to the platen and the lower edge of the plate 3 is constituted by a number of vertically extending spaced apart fingers 7. In similar manner, a plate 5 of substantially the same length as the lower platen 2 is connected to it and the upper edge of the plate 5 is constituted by a number of spaced apart fingers 7. The plates are aligned so that the fingers 7 on one plate just enter the spaces between the fingers 7 on the other plate. When the- upper platen is lowered towards the fixed lower platen, the fingers extend further into the spaces. The plates 3, 5 with their fingers 7 constitute a restraint which severely limits buckling of the slab 8 in one sideways direction. In a similar manner, plates 4, 6 with

fingers 7 are fitted on the opposite sides of the platens 1, 2 to serve as a restraint to severely limit buckling of the slab in that sideways direction.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, the platens 1, 2 have inclined or shaped working surfaces 9, 10, respectively, against which the opposite edges of the slab engage. Plates 11, 12 with overlapping fingers 13, 14 are secured to the platens 1, 2 on one side of the line of action of the platens. When the slab 8 is introduced between the platens, and forces are applied to the slab by the action of the platens, the inclined surfaces 9, 10 cause the forces to be applied to the slab such that it is encouraged to buckle sideways towards the plates 11, 12. The inner faces 15, 16 of the vertical fingers are shaped or angled to the vertical so that, as the slab is deformed and buckled by the platens, the slab contacts these inner faces of the fingers and the degree of buckling is limited. As shown in Figure 5, a pressure may be applied to the slab on that face which is opposite to the plates 11, 12 by means of a hydraulic ram 17 and pressure plate 18 in order to provide further encouragement to the slab to buckle in the direction towards the restraint.

Referring now to Figures 6 to 8 of the drawings, a vertically acting pressing machine has platens 1, 2 and, again, the lower platen 2 is fixed while the upper platen is movable vertically towards and away from the lower platen 2. A slab 8 is shown

with its width dimension vertical and with the platens 1, 2 engaging the opposite edges of the slab. Buckling of the slab as its width dimension is reduced is prevented by providing lateral support in the form of a stack of beams 19 - 23 on each side of the slab. Each beam can be displaced into and out of engagement with the slab by means of a hydraulic ram 24 having a fixed cylinder and its displaceable piston connected to the beam through a clevis joint 25. Each beam extends for substantially the length of the platens 1, 2 and has outwardly extending end portions so that each beam is of channel form in plan, as shown in Figure 7. The beams are arranged in a stack and are supported on a sub-base 26 which may be secured to the press posts 26' or some other part of the press or mounted separately on a foundation. To accommodate slabs of different thickness, the beams can be displaced sideways and they can also be retracted to a position from beneath the top platen, as indicated in Figure 8.

The operating sequence is as follows:- With the beams 19 - 23 in a retracted position, the slab 8 is fed with its width dimension vertical between the platens 1, 2. When the slab is in position, the beams 19 - 23 are moved to their working position where they are closely positioned to adjacent opposite faces of the slab. The slab is then pressed. The beams are then retracted sufficiently to allow the slab to be incremented forward to a new position in the

press and the process is repeated until the whole length of the slab had been pressed. When further reduction is required, it may be necessary to retract the beam 19, which is at the top of the stack, outwardly from beneath the platen so that further pressing can be applied to the slab.

Slabs which initially have different width dimensions can be accommodated in the press and the restraints can be adjusted by removing or adding one or more beams to the stack to accommodate the beam. It is convenient for the vertical dimension of the beams at the top of the stack to be less than those at the bottom of the stack so that small differences in the vertical dimension of the slab can be accommodated simply by adding or removing the minimum number of beams.

Allowance must be made for the slab to increase in thickness when its width is reduced during pressing. Large width reductions will cause increases in thickness which may be of the order of 10% and so a slab 250 mm thick will suffer a thickness change of the order of 25 mm. This change in thickness must be accommodated by the support beams.

One way to achieve this is as follows:- a) the support beams 19 - 23 on one side of the slab are moved to a datum position so that they are close to or in contact with the slab. The beams are held in this position by closing the valve which allows

oil to flow to or from the actuating jacks 24. Position control by hydraulic jacks is well known; b) the beams 19 - 23 on the other side of the slab are then moved into contact with the slab and the pressure inside the jacks is allowed to increase until a chosen preset pressure or load is developed and held. Pressure control of hydraulic jacks is well known. The fixed jacks react against this preset load. The preset load is chosen to be sufficient to prevent sideways deflection and buckling of the slab, but is well below a load which would prevent thickening of the slab during pressing; c) the slab is then pressed. One set of beams remains fixed, the other set under constant load are pushed back as the slab thickens. The slab cannot buckle; d) after pressing, the jacks are retracted clear of the slab by a small amount to permit the slab to be moved along ready for a repeat of the whole sequence and so on until the entire slab has been pressed.

Figure 9 shows an arrangement where each of the beams 19 - 23 in one stack are mounted on separate cranked levers 19*. Each lever is pivoted at one end about a common pivot 28 and the rams 24 are connected to the pivoted levers. In this way, the beams are held in their work position and can be swung out from beneath the platen 1 to a retracted position, shown in

broken lines in Figure 9. The beams of both stacks could be similarly mounted.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 9, the restraint on the left-hand side of the slab 8 is in the form of overlapping plates 3, 5, as shown in Figures 1 to 3.

Figure 10 shows an arrangement where the pressure plate 18 shown in Figure 5 is replaced by a stack of beams of the form shown in Figures 6 to 8.

A further feature of the invention is to provide pads on that face of each of the support beams which contacts the slab. These pads can be replaced when worn. The pads have low thermal conductivity and minimise heating and thermal distortion of the beams and minimise heat losses from the slab.