Vesuvius Crucible Company

Psc Technologies, Inc.

Premier Refractories & Chemicals Inc.

Vesuvius USA Corporation

Premier Services Corporation

Apa Systems

Lawrence John Heaslip

James Derek Dorricott

Dong Xu

Johan Richaud

Quentin K Robinson

Johan Richard

Johan L Richaud

The present invention relates to a ladle block for use in a bottom of a molten metal ladle. The ladle block reduces the amount of contaminants, particularly slag, exiting the ladle during casting operations. The ladle block includes a floor defining an outlet and sidewalls substantially orthogonal to the floor. The floor and sidewalls define a channel having dimensions of length, width and height. Channel dimensions are determined from the Froude number, which is based at least partially on the casting flow rate.

Ladle bottom

The present invention concerns a submerged entry nozzle for use in the continuous casting of liquid metal. The nozzle comprises a central bore and a plurality of pairs of discharge outlets. The cross-sectional area of the central bore decreases between pairs of discharge outlets, such that ratio of height to width of any outlet is one or less.

Multi-outlet casting nozzle

The present invention concerns stopper rod system for use in a metallurgical vessel, comprising a stopper rod and a nozzle. At least one of the stopper rod nose and the internal surface of the nozzle bore comprise a plurality of ripples that are arranged such that the size of a flow channel between the stopper rod nose and the internal stopper rod when the stopper rod system is in an open position discontinuously increases in size as a function of the distance downstream from the point of contact between the stopper rod and the nozzle.

Rippled surface stopper rod system

The present invention relates to a metallurgical ladle and more particularly to the bottom of the ladle having an outlet through which the molten metal can drain. An object of the present invention is to increase the efficiency of a ladle draining operation, including reducing the amount of discarded metal, avoiding the premature flow of slag through the outlet, and reducing the contamination of slag in the molten metal effluent. The ladle bottom comprises a plurality of terraces and flow channels, ultimately directing the stream of molten metal to an outlet of the ladle. The terraces are described as capturing slag and the channels permit molten metal to flow preferentially through the outlet.

A tundish impact pad for use in the continuous casting of molten metal is described that includes a base plate having an upper impact surface surrounded, at least in part, by a sidewall defining passageways. The impact pad is adapted to receive and deflect an incoming stream of molten metal, and permit outflow of the deflected stream through the passageways and the open top surface of the pad. Vaulted-stepped features surrounding the passageways and/or weir-like walls assist in directing the outflow. The division and distribution of the outflow facilitates the development of plug flow in the molten metal between the impact pad and the tundish outlet.

Impact pad for dividing and distributing liquid metal flow

A metering gate for liquid metal flow control with reduced clogging with a top plate, having a first flow channel bore with an inlet having an inlet axis and an outlet having an outlet axis. The inlet axis and the outlet axis are offset. A throttle plate slidably mounted on the top plate selectably receives flow from the top plate. The metering gate provides a less tortuous and more symmetrical flow path when the gate is partially open, but provides a relatively straight downward flow channel allowing full flow when the gate is fully open.

Sliding gate for liquid metal flow control

A nozzle for transferring a flow of liquid metal between metallurgical vessels or molds comprising an entry portion for receiving the liquid metal. A flow regulator, such as a stopper rod, is movable from an open position to a closed position with respect to the entry portion for respectively permitting and prohibiting flow through the nozzle. The entry portion and the flow regulator define a control zone therebetween. A pressure modulator, downstream of the control zone, is adapted to minimize a pressure differential across the control zone. The pressure modulator constricts flow downstream of the control zone.

Continuous casting nozzle with pressure modulator for improved liquid metal flow regulation

An apparatus and method for detecting the condition of the flow of liquid metal in or from a teeming vessel includes one or more sensors for detecting vibration caused by a flow of liquid metal in or from the teeming vessel and for outputting a sensor signal corresponding to mechanical and acoustic vibrations detected by the sensor. A signal processor receives the sensor signal and compares the sensor signal to a reference calibration signal and outputs a comparison signal. A logic unit receives the comparison signal and outputs a status signal indicative of the condition of the flow of the liquid metal in or from the teeming vessel which can be used to stop the flow of metal. The calibration signal can be static or may be dynamically updated.

Liquid metal flow condition detection

A method and apparatus for flowing liquid metal through a casting nozzle includes an elongated bore having at least one entry port, at least one upper exit port, and at least one lower exit port. A baffle is positioned proximate to the upper exit port to divide the flow of liquid metal through the bore into at least one outer stream and a central stream, the outer stream flowing through the upper exit port and the central stream flowing past the baffle and toward the lower exit port. The baffle is adapted to allocate the proportion of liquid metal divided between the outer stream and the central stream so that the effective discharge angle of the outer stream exiting through the upper exit port varies based on the flow throughput of liquid metal through the casting nozzle.

Casting nozzle with diamond-back internal geometry and multi-part casting nozzle with varying effective discharge angles and method for flowing liquid metal through same

A pour tube for use in the continuous casting of a stream of molten metal has a bore comprising a plurality of fluidly connected sections that improve the flow of molten metal through the bore. The sections reduce asymmetric flow of the molten metal stream and the likelihood of precipitates clogging the bore. Each section comprises a converging portion and a diverging portion. The converging portion deflects the stream toward the center of the bore, while the diverging portion diffuses the stream. The sections may comprise a plurality of frusto-conical sections. The cross-sectional areas of the sections may increase, decrease, or remain the same size from an upstream to a downstream position.

Pour tube with improved flow characteristics

A chamber for receiving a downward flow of liquid metal includes a generally horizontal base having a generally planar impact surface. A first faceted sidewall having a plurality of facets formed therein, generally extends upwardly from and encompasses the planar surface to define an interior space. The interior space has an upper opening for receiving the downward flow of liquid metal. A second wall extends inwardly and upwardly from the first faceted wall toward the upper opening. A plurality of buttresses are spaced along the first faceted wall. Each of the buttresses extends between the impact surface and the second faceted wall. The buttresses form a plurality of discrete pockets including at least one facet. The pockets are defined by the buttresses, the impact surface, the first faceted wall and the second wall. The buttresses laterally deflect and divide the radial outward flow into a plurality of discrete flow patterns associated with the plurality of pockets.

Chamber for reception, lateral division and redirection of liquid metal

A chamber for receiving a downward flow of liquid metal includes a generally horizontal base having a generally planar impact surface. A first faceted sidewall having a plurality of facets formed therein, generally extends upwardly from and encompasses the planar surface to define an interior space. The interior space has an upper opening for receiving the downward flow of liquid metal. A second wall extends inwardly and downwardly from the first faceted wall toward the upper opening. A plurality of buttresses are spaced along the first faceted wall. Each of the buttresses extends between the impact surface and the second faceted wall. The buttresses form a plurality of discrete pockets including at least one facet. The pockets are defined by the buttresses, the impact surface, the first faceted wall and the second wall. The buttresses laterally deflect and divide the radial outward flow into a plurality of discrete flow patterns associated with the plurality of pockets.

Impact pad

Casting nozzle with diamond-back internal geometry and multi-part

A method and apparatus for flowing liquid metal through a casting nozzle includes an elongated bore having an entry port and at least two exit ports. A first baffle is positioned proximate to one exit port and a second baffle is positioned proximate to the other exit port. The baffles divide the flow of liquid metal into two outer streams and a central stream, and deflect the two outer streams in substantially opposite directions. A flow divider positioned downstream of the baffles divides the central stream into two inner streams, and cooperates with the baffles to deflect the two inner streams in the same or different direction in which the two outer streams are deflected.

Growing community of inventors

Burlington, Canada

Lawrence John Heaslip