Weld splatter containment device for use in rolling mills

1. A weld splatter containment device for use in rolling mills, comprising:

a lower cover and an upper cover, each movably mounted and controlled for approaching towards and moving away from a welding zone; and

first and second actuators disposed to move said lower and upper covers respectively, and wherein at least one of said first and second actuators includes an adjustable end stop configured for setting a maximum closed position of said lower cover or said upper cover;

wherein said lower cover and said upper cover surround the welding zone when said lower cover and said upper cover are disposed in a position close to the welding zone;

wherein said lower cover and said upper cover are each configured to at least partially cover each one of two billets to be welded together in the welding zone when said lower cover and said upper cover are disposed in the position close to the welding zone; and

wherein said lower cover is controlled to approach towards and move away from the welding zone along a first circular trajectory portion and said upper cover is controlled to approach towards and move away from the welding zone along a second circular trajectory portion.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said upper cover is shaped to only come into contact with a first element to be welded, leaving a clearance with a second element to be welded, when arranged in the position close to the welding zone.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said lower cover is shaped to only come into contact with a first element to be welded, leaving a clearance with a second element to be welded, when arranged in the position close to the welding zone.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said lower cover is controlled in movement by means of said first actuator.

5. The device according to claim 4 , wherein said first actuator is a lever system.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said upper cover is controlled in movement by means of said second actuator.

7. The device according to claim 6 , wherein said second actuator is a lever system.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said upper cover is shaped to have a uniform section along an entire main extent thereof.

9. The device according to claim 8 , wherein said upper cover is hollow and internally comprises a buffer controlled by way of a third actuator, said buffer having complementary dimensions to said section of said upper cover and being slidable inside said upper cover along a main extent of said upper cover between a first rest position, distal from the welding zone, and a second position at an end of said upper cover close to the welding zone.

10. The device according to claim 9 , wherein said upper cover comprises a guillotine shear controlled by means of a fourth actuator, said guillotine shear being slidable through an opening of said upper cover along a direction transverse to a main extension direction of said upper cover, to assume a first operating position completely inside said upper cover and a second cleaning position completely outside said upper cover.

11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein said guillotine shear, in the first operating position inside said upper cover, is placed at a position that is closer to said end of said upper cover than said first rest position which said buffer can assume.

12. A welding machine for use in a rolling mill, comprising:

a fixed structure having a first pair of electrode holders adapted to clasp a first element;

a moveable structure having a second pair of electrode holders adapted to clasp a second element to be welded to the first element; and

a weld splatter containment device according to claim 1 disposed relative to said fixed and movable structures.

13. The welding machine according to claim 12 , which comprises at least one protection mounted on at least one electrode holder selected from the group consisting of said first pair of electrode holders and said second pair of electrode holders.

14. The welding machine according to claim 13 , wherein said at least one protection comprises at least one upper protection portion and at least one lower protection portion, said upper and lower protection portions being shaped to be partially superimposed when said first pair of electrode holders and said second pair of electrode holders are in a clasping configuration.