Vesuvius Crucible Company

Flo-con Systems, Inc.

Bruce Winter

Patrick D King

Dominique Janssen

Dave Moore

Jon Bell

George Sundy

Leo T Olsen

Alan J Engel, Sr

A unitized nozzle and top plate assembly for use in a slide gate valve is disclosed which comprises a nozzle having porous, gas permeable walls, a top plate having an opening through its thickness for regulating a flow of molten metal, such as steel, and a recess circumscribing the opening for receiving and securing the discharge end of the nozzle to the top plate. The depth of the recess is at least 50%, and preferably 70-80% of the thickness of the top plate in order to minimize the contact between molten metal and the surface of the top plate opening, which in turn reduces the amount of flow-obstructing alumina deposits which accumulate in this area of the slide gate valve. To prevent leaks from occurring in the system supplying pressurized argon through the porous nozzle walls, the gas coupling that is normally welded directly to the steel can surrounding the nozzle is instead mounted on the end of a steel pipe connected to the can. The thermal resistance of the steel pipe substantially reduces the temperature that the coupling is exposed to. The invention also encompasses a method for facilitating the assembly and maintenance of the slide gate valve by the use of the unitized nozzle and top plate in lieu of the in situ mounting of such a nozzle on a top plate already installed in such a valve.

Nozzle and base plate apparatus and method for use in a tundish slide

The configuration of a thickened tube holder which flares outwardly at its downstream portion leaving an undercut which is engaged by a rocker arm spring loaded assembly. The pour tube is provided with a collar at its upstream portion, and an undercut mount immediately beneath the collar. Means are provided to induce a vertical force component on the undercut mount in the form of a clamping member which secures the pour tube holder to a depending pour tube mount. In all of the embodiments, compression is induced in the pour tube holder and at the interface between the pour tube and the pour tube holder to inhibit aspiration. Quick disconnect is also provided, and quick makeup for changing pour tubes and pour tube holders. The method of the invention contemplates securing a pour tube holder in a compressive state and to a pour tube in a compressive relationship in which the forces induced to cause the compressive relationship do not act upon the flat plate portion of the tube holder, but rather within the body of the pour tube holder and upon the depending portion of the pour tube holder collector nozzle and the upstream collar portion of the pour tube.

Tube holder and method

Growing community of inventors

Mahomet, IL, United States of America

Bruce Winter