Melting work device and melting work method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11473842-B2
Application number	US-201816764978-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 23, 2018
Priority date	Dec 12, 2017
Publication date	Oct 18, 2022
Grant date	Oct 18, 2022

Abstract

A melting work device and a melting work method by which work can be easily performed on a melting furnace without a worker approaching the melting furnace. A melting work device performs work on a melt obtained by melting a material in a melting furnace. The melting work device has a drive mechanism; and a plurality of work tools that are operated by the drive mechanism; wherein the drive mechanism is able to move the work tools in an arbitrary direction at an arbitrary location above the melting furnace.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A melting work device for performing work on a melt obtained by melting a material in a melting furnace, the melting work device comprising:
a drive mechanism; and
a plurality of work tools that are operated by the drive mechanism;
wherein the drive mechanism is able to move the work tools in an arbitrary direction at an arbitrary location above the melting furnace;
the plurality of work tools comprise a slag removal tool for removing slag floating on a melt surface of the melt;
the slag removal tool comprises a slag removal portion provided on a tip of a rod;
the slag removal portion has a prescribed length in an axial direction of the rod and comprises a slag adhesion portion around an axis of the rod;
the slag removal portion has a cylindrical shape; and
the slag removal portion comprises a plurality of recessed strips extending in a circumferential direction continuously around an outer surface of the cylindrical shape.

2. The melting work device as in claim 1 , wherein:
the slag removal tool comprises a drive portion that can rotate the rod about the axis; and
the drive portion can be fixed to the drive mechanism.

3. The melting work device as in claim 2 , wherein, when the slag removal tool causes the rod to be rotated by the drive portion, the drive mechanism makes the slag removal tool revolve about an imaginary axis extending in an up-down direction, in a rotation direction that is the same as the rotation direction of the rod, while maintaining a height position of the slag removal portion.

4. The melting work device as in claim 2 , wherein, when the slag removal tool causes the rod to be rotated by the drive portion, the drive mechanism makes the rod move in an up-down direction while maintaining a height position of the slag removal portion within a fixed range, in the up-down direction, for capturing the slag.

5. The melting work device as in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of work tools comprise a melt surface detection tool comprising a melt surface detection portion that is provided on a tip of a-another rod and that detects a height position of a melt surface of the melt.

6. The melting work device as in claim 5 , wherein:
the melt surface detection portion comprises rod-shaped first and second electrodes; and
the first electrode is provided so as to protrude further from the other rod than the second electrode does.

7. The melting work device as in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of work tools comprise a sampling tool comprising a sample-making portion that is provided on a tip of another rod and that scoops up the melt to make an ingot.

8. The melting work device as in claim 7 , wherein the sample-making portion comprises a recess, and the recess is formed in a tapered shape in which an opening is larger than a bottom surface.

9. The melting work device as in claim 7 , wherein the sample-making portion is made of carbon.

10. The melting work device as in claim 1 , wherein the melting furnace melts casting steel.

11. The melting work device as in claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism is a robot arm.

12. The melting work device as in claim 11 , wherein the robot arm is controlled by a program that has been prepared by teaching.

13. The melting work device as in claim 11 , further comprising:
an imaging device for capturing an image of the melting furnace;
wherein the robot arm removes slag based on the image captured by the imaging device.

14. The melting work device as in claim 1 , further comprising:
an input device provided at a distance from the drive mechanism;
wherein the drive mechanism is remotely operated by an input to the input device.

15. A melting work device for performing work on a melt obtained by melting a material in a melting furnace, the melting work device comprising:
a drive mechanism; and
a plurality of work tools that are operated by the drive mechanism;
wherein the drive mechanism is able to move the work tools in an arbitrary direction at an arbitrary location above the melting furnace;
the plurality of work tools comprise a slag removal tool for removing slag floating on a melt surface of the melt;
the slag removal tool comprises a slag removal portion provided on a tip of a rod;
the slag removal portion has a prescribed length in an axial direction of the rod and comprises a slag adhesion portion around an axis of the rod; and
the slag removal portion is formed by providing a plurality of discs that are spaced from each other in the axial direction of the rod.

16. The melting work device as in claim 15 , wherein:
the slag removal tool comprises a drive portion that can rotate the rod about the axis; and
the drive portion can be fixed to the drive mechanism.

17. The melting work device as in claim 16 , wherein, when the slag removal tool causes the rod to be rotated by the drive portion, the drive mechanism makes the slag removal tool revolve about an imaginary axis extending in an up-down direction, in a rotation direction that is the same as the rotation direction of the rod, while maintaining a height position of the slag removal portion.

18. The melting work device as in claim 16 , wherein, when the slag removal tool causes the rod to be rotated by the drive portion, the drive mechanism makes the rod move in an up-down direction while maintaining a height position of the slag removal portion within a fixed range, in the up-down direction, for capturing the slag.

19. The melting work device as in claim 15 , wherein the plurality of work tools comprise a melt surface detection tool comprising a melt surface detection portion that is provided on a tip of another rod and that detects a height position of a melt surface of the melt.

20. The melting work device as in claim 19 , wherein:
the melt surface detection portion comprises rod-shaped first and second electrodes; and
the first electrode is provided so as to protrude further from the other rod than the second electrode does.

21. The melting work device as in claim 15 , wherein the plurality of work tools comprise a sampling tool comprising a sample-making portion that is provided on a tip of another rod and that scoops up the melt to make an ingot.

22. The melting work device as in claim 21 , wherein the sample-making portion comprises a recess, and the recess is formed in a tapered shape in which an opening is larger than a bottom surface.

23. The melting work device as in claim 21 , wherein the sample-making portion is made of carbon.

24. The melting work device as in claim 15 , wherein the melting furnace melts casting steel.

25. The melting work device as in claim 15 , wherein the drive mechanism is a robot arm.

26. The melting work device as in claim 25 , wherein the robot arm is controlled by a program that has been prepared by teaching.

27. The melting work device as in claim 25 , further comprising:
an imaging device for capturing an image of the melting furnace;
wherein the robot arm removes slag based on the image captured by the imaging device.

28. The melting work device as in claim 15 , further comprising:
an input device provided at a distance from the drive mechanism;
wherein the drive mechanism is remotely operated by an input to the input device.

Assignees

• Sintokogio Ltd

Inventors

• Tamaki Kenji
• Yano Takahiro
• Ishikawa Masayuki

Classifications

• F27B14/08

  Details specially adapted for crucible or pot furnaces · CPC title

• F27D21/00

  Arrangement of monitoring devices; Arrangement of safety devices · CPC title

• F27B14/20

  Arrangement of controlling, monitoring, alarm or like devices · CPC title

• B25J13/08

  by means of sensing devices, e.g. viewing or touching devices · CPC title

• F27D3/1563 Primary

  by the use of scrapers · CPC title