In the big bar branch factory, during the rolling process of rectangular steel and large-sized steel, most workers use fire-cutting machines to perform head and tail-cutting operations. At this time, the material head falls from the 5-meter-high second-floor platform and enters the scrap steel hopper through the chute. "Due to the heavy weight of the material head, the potential energy accumulates when falling from a high place, which has a huge impact on the scrap steel bucket, causing problems such as bulging and desoldering, which seriously affects the service life." Operation Manager of the Machinery Equipment Operation Area of Dabang Branch Plant Wang Xiaojun said. Moreover, as the number of scrap heads in the scrap steel hopper increases, when the height of the scrap steel heads reaches more than half a bucket, affected by the strong potential energy, subsequent scrap heads often hit the scrap steel hopper and fly out of the scrap steel hopper, which poses certain safety risks.

In addition, the cutting process of the fire-cutting machine will produce a large amount of cutting slag and granulated water, both of which will enter the scrap hopper along the chute. There is a drainage hole at the bottom of the scrap steel bucket. Water flows to the ground with cutting slags, so the slags can easily block the ground drainage channel. Long-term accumulation of slags can cause hardening, which requires cleaning the ground during production shutdowns.

To reduce production costs, the Dabang branch factory gave full play to its technical advantages, solicited extensive opinions, and then carried out an innovative transformation of the existing chute. "First of all, we clarify the reform goals and focus on reducing the gravitational potential energy of the material head." Wang Xiaojun said. Therefore, the branch organized equipment technicians to form a task force, and after research and demonstration, the transformation plan was determined.

First, the improvement team installed the heavy-duty chain replaced by the driving suction cup on the upper part of the scrap steel chute ramp. One end was fixed on the steel bracket above the chute, and the other end formed a free end. When the material head drops down from the vertical section of the chute, it will bounce up on the slope and hit the heavy chain, and then effectively reduce the potential energy during the falling process.

Secondly, set up a flip device 50 cm below the chain, open an oblique hole on the bottom plate of the chute in front of the flip, and connect the water tank below the hole. Since the cutting slag and granulated water arrive at the flap before the material head, under the obstruction of the flap, the cutting slag and granulated water are smoothly introduced into the slag-flushing ditch through the inclined hole chute. After the material head passes through the chain to reduce the potential energy for the first time, it hits the flap again, and the potential energy is further reduced. When the material head falls into the scrap steel hopper, its impact on the scrap steel hopper is greatly reduced.

After equipment modification, the impact of the material head on the scrap steel hopper has been significantly reduced, thereby extending the service life of the scrap steel hopper. At the same time, it solves the problems of water accumulation inside the scrap steel bucket and accumulation of cutting slag on the ground, reduces the cost of manual maintenance and cleaning, and achieves the good goal of reducing costs and improving efficiency. Production safety is guaranteed, and the economic benefits of the enterprise are significantly improved. It is expected that it can save nearly 60,000 yuan per year.

In the next step, the Dabang Branch will continue to carry out in-depth optimization research on production equipment and processes and help reduce costs and increase efficiency through technological innovation and process improvement, laying a solid foundation for the sustainable development of the enterprise.