Inductotherm Corp.

John P Burk

Oleg S Fishman

Satyen N Prabhu

Emad Tabatabaei

The instant invention is directed to a stopper rod spatial control mechanism for use in combination with a bottom discharge holding reservoir for molten metal having a nozzle. The mechanism comprises a base, an outer tube and an inner tube. The outer tube has a longitudinal axis which is perpendicular to the base. The outer tube is swingably mounted about an axis parallel to and spaced away from the longitudinal axis. The inner tube is telescopically mounted within the outer tube. The inner tube is reciprocally movable along the longitudinal axis and is rotatable about the longitudinal axis. A servomotor is mounted at a lower end of the outer tube. A ball screw is connected to and rotated by the motor. A ball nut is affixed to the inner tube and cooperates with the ball screw. A boom having a first end and a second end is affixed to the inner tube adjacent its first end and rotates with the inner tube about the longitudinal axis. A stopper rod depends from the second end of the boom. A brake is affixed to the base and cooperates with the boom. The stopper rod is aligned with the nozzle by the combined movements of rotating the inner tube about the longitudinal axis and swinging the outer tube about the axis parallel to said longitudinal axis. Once the stopper rod is aligned, the position of the stopper rod is fixed by the brake. Thereafter, reciprocal movement of the stopper rod above the nozzle is controlled by the actuation of the servomotor.

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Mt. Holly, NJ, United States of America

John P Burk