Changing system for a tundish unit, tundish unit for a changing system, atomization installation and method for atomizing metal melt

Abstract

A changing system for a tundish unit of an atomization installation for atomizing metal melts including at least one chamber for accommodating at least one first tundish unit in a working position. The chamber has at least one connection to a charging device and at least one connection to an atomization tower or an atomization shaft, a mechanism for providing at least one second tundish unit in a readiness position within the changing system furthermore including at least one changing station designed as a locked chamber for accommodating and/or introducing and/or removing at least one third tundish unit, and including a displacement system, which is designed so that the introduction and/or removal of at least one tundish unit can take place while one tundish unit is located in the working position.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A changing system for a tundish unit of an atomization installation for atomizing metal melts, which comprises a tundish container, which receives a sprue and a casting nozzle, and means for heating and/or cooling the sprue and/or the casting nozzle and at least one docking station, which is designed complementary to at least one media coupling of the changing system, in particular for powder-metallurgy purposes, comprising at least one chamber for accommodating at least one first tundish unit in a working position, wherein the chamber has at least one connection to a charging device and at least one connection to an atomization tower or an atomization shaft, means for providing at least one second tundish unit in a readiness position within the changing system furthermore comprising at least one changing station designed as a lock chamber for accommodating and/or introducing and/or removing at least one third tundish unit, and comprising a displacement system, which is designed so that the introduction and/or removal of at least one tundish unit can take place while one tundish unit is located in the working position. 
     
     
         28 . The changing system as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the displacement system is designed so that the introduction and/or removal of at least one tundish unit can take place while a second and/or further tundish unit is located in a readiness position. 
     
     
         29 . The changing system as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein at least one changing station is connected via a lateral opening to the chamber. 
     
     
         30 . The changing system as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein a plurality of changing stations is provided, each of which is laterally connected to the chamber and of which at least one, preferably all are designed as block chambers. 
     
     
         31 . The changing system as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein a turntable, which is arranged in the chamber and accommodates a plurality of tundish units. 
     
     
         32 . The changing system as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein tundish units arranged on the turntable are rotatable from a working position into multiple readiness positions. 
     
     
         33 . The changing system as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein at least one docking station is assigned to each position of a tundish unit, which is connectable to a docking station designed complementary of a tundish unit. 
     
     
         34 . The changing system as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein at least one changing station has at least one docking station, which is connected to a docking station designed complementary of a tundish unit. 
     
     
         35 . The changing system as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein at least one changing station is designed so it can be evacuated. 
     
     
         36 . The changing system as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein at least one changing station is connectable via a vacuum gate valve to the chamber. 
     
     
         37 . The changing system as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the connections to the charging device and to the atomization tower or the atomization shaft are designed as vacuum gate valves. 
     
     
         38 . The changing system as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein at least one changing station is designed as a heating station for preheating at least one tundish unit. 
     
     
         39 . The changing system as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the displacement system comprises linear guides, on or at which the tundish units are movably arranged. 
     
     
         40 . A tundish unit for use with a changing system as claimed in  claim 27 , comprising a tundish container, which accommodates a sprue and a casting nozzle, having means for heating and/or cooling the sprue and/or the casting nozzle and having at least one docking station, which is designed complementary to at least one media coupling of the changing system. 
     
     
         41 . The tundish unit as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein a movable undercarriage, which is designed complementary to the displacement system of the changing system. 
     
     
         42 . The tundish unit as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the tundish container is vertically movable relative to the undercarriage. 
     
     
         43 . The tundish unit as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein the tundish container is spring mounted on an undercarriage and interacts with a hold-down device of the changing system in the working position. 
     
     
         44 . The tundish unit as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein at least one sliding guide, which interacts with corresponding guide means of the displacement system. 
     
     
         45 . The tundish unit as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein at least one sealing means on the lower side of a nozzle plate of the casting nozzle, which interacts with a sealing surface on a vacuum slide in the area of the lower connection of the chamber. 
     
     
         46 . An atomization installation having a changing system and multiple tundish units as claimed in  claim 27 . 
     
     
         47 . The atomization installation as claimed in  claim 46  having at least one first atomization tower, which is connectable in a gas-tight manner to a connection of the chamber of the changing system. 
     
     
         48 . The atomization installation as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein at least one second atomization tower, wherein the changing system is alternately connectable to the first or second atomization tower. 
     
     
         49 . A method for atomizing metal melt to form a metal powder in an atomization installation having a changing system for multiple tundish units, wherein the method comprises a supply of molten metal from a casting device as a charging device into a first tundish unit in a working position within the changing system and atomizing of the melt through a casting nozzle of the tundish unit into an atomization tower or atomization shaft arranged underneath, while at least one second tundish unit is preheated in a readiness position and at least one third tundish unit is removed from the changing system or is introduced therein characterized by the use of a changing system as claimed in  claim 27 . 
     
     
         50 . The method as claimed in  claim 49 , wherein the use of at least one tundish unit comprising a tundish container, which accommodates a sprue and a casting nozzle, having means for heating and/or cooling the sprue and/or the casting nozzle and having at least one docking station, which is designed complementary to at least one media coupling of the changing system. 
     
     
         51 . The method as claimed in  claim 49 , wherein the supply of the molten metal is controlled as a function of the metal level in the tundish unit located in the working position.