Abstract: A metal casting installation is provided that includes a loading platform, a tundish, a first ladle and a second ladle, each of the first and second ladle has a floor provided with an opening, a collector nozzle and a ladle shroud. The installation also includes a ladle sliding gate configured for moving the collector nozzle and the ladle shroud between a sealed position, a casting position, and an unclogging position. A turret is provided for holding the first and second ladles, configured for moving and holding in place the first and second ladles between a loading station and a casting station over the tundish. A robot is also provided and configured for loading a new ladle shroud onto the ladle slide gate, and coupling a driving device to the ladle slide gate.

Abstract: A metal casting installation is provided that includes a robot configured for carrying out the operations of handing a new ladle shroud to a manipulator of the ladle located at the loading station, and coupling a driving device to the ladle slide gate each manipulator is fixed relative to the corresponding first or second ladle such as to move together with the corresponding first or second ladle between the loading station and the casting station.

Abstract: A sliding gate valve of a metallurgic vessel comprises a carriage. The carriage comprises a plate frame for supporting a first refractory plate and the plate frame is slideably mounted on a carriage support structure for sliding along a first axis. The carriage comprises a selecting device for selecting between a first stroke ?X1 and a second stroke ?X2 by moving a blocking member between a blocking and a non-blocking position. When the blocking member is located in the blocking position a first bumper portion of the plate frame is bumping into the blocking member if the plate frame is to slide beyond a nominal end-position. When the blocking member is located in the non-blocking position the first bumper portion is not bumping into the blocking member if the plate frame is to slide beyond a nominal end-position, thereby allowing the plate frame to slide beyond the nominal end-position to a service end-position.

Abstract: A device and a process for the continuous application of a refractory slurry to a surface incorporate a batch reactor (10) for the controlled mixing of the slurry, a product vessel (60) in communication with the batch reactor (10) to contain the mixed slurry, and a variable-rate spraying applicator or nozzle in communication with the product vessel and with an air supply. A controller (100) controls input to, output from, and the operation of, the batch mixer (10), and monitors batch production. The controller (100) monitors the amount of slurry contained in the product vessel (60). If the level of slurry in the product hopper is such that the product hopper cannot accommodate an additional batch of slurry, the controller interrupts batch production and resumes production when the product hopper can accept the contents of the batch reactor (10).

Abstract: A refractory composition for forming a working lining in a metallurgical vessel contains a coarse-grain refractory particle fraction and a fine-grain refractory particle fraction, or at least 0.25% additive calcium oxide, or at least 0.25% titanium dioxide. The coarse-grain refractory particles can include alumina particles, magnesia particles, magnesium aluminate spinel particles, zirconia particles, or doloma particles, or a combination of any of these particles. The fine-grain refractory particles can be comprised of any low-magnesia refractory oxide. The refractory composition can be applied to a metallurgical vessel by spraying, gunning, shotcreting, vibrating, casting, troweling, or positioning preformed refractory shapes, or a combination of any of these techniques.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a lance composed of a top lance (1t) and of a sublance (2) coupled to the top lance (1t), which forms a shoulder (1s) between the top lance and the sublance. The sublance (2) of the present invention is provided with a protective device (3) comprising a coupling end (2c) opening to the cavity (2v), wherein, when at rest, the protective device (3) is in an initial configuration characterized by an outer maximum diameter (D3o) which is not more than 10% larger than the diameter (D2) of sublance (2) (D3o?1.1 D2), when the sublance (2) is coupled to the lance the protective device (3) contacts the shoulder (1s) and is deformed into a deformed configuration, forming a surface impervious to molten metal and slag, which spans over a whole area of the shoulder (1s).

Abstract: An immersion sensor is configured to determine the content of a chemical element in molten metal. The immersion sensor has an auxiliary electrochemical cell extending from an interior surface into the internal volume of a sampling chamber. The sampling chamber can be integrally-formed in a sensor head or in a separate refractory structure. The immersion sensor may be configured for the flow of molten metal into the internal volume of the sampling chamber and into contact with the auxiliary electrochemical cell.

Abstract: System for tracking and assessing the condition of replaceable refractory elements in a metallurgic facility comprising: a) a plurality of identifiable metallurgical vessels, such as ladles, wherein each one of said identifiable metallurgical vessels comprises removable refractory elements, such as slide gate valve plates; b) a plurality of replacement refractory elements, wherein each replacement refractory element comprises a machine-readable identification tag comprising refractory element identification data; c) a reading station, such as an RFID workbench, for reading the machine-readable identification tags of a replacement refractory element positioned in a reading zone of the reading station; d) a refractory condition tool for assessing the condition of refractory elements coupled to anyone of said metallurgical vessels; e) a monitoring unit connectable to the reading station and the refractory condition tool.

Abstract: Plate condition tool for the measurement of condition data of slide gate valve plates coupled to the slide gate valve of a metallurgic vessel, said slide gate valve comprising a collector nozzle, said plate condition tool comprising: a) a main body comprising an obturator for obturating at least partially the collector nozzle; b) a gas injecting device comprising a pressure regulator for injecting a gas in the collector nozzle through the obturator; c) a gas flow measuring device for measuring the flow of the gas injected by the gas injecting device d) a controller being communicatively connected to the gas flow measuring device and being configured to receive input data relating to the relative position of the slide gate valve plates; and wherein the obturator comprises a seal holder for holding a collector nozzle seal.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a metal casting installation comprising, (a) a loading platform (20), (b) a tundish (1), (c) a first ladle (11) and a second ladle (12), each of the first and second ladle comprising, a floor provided with an opening (11o, 12o), a collector nozzle (14) and a ladle shroud (13a-13c), a ladle sliding gate (15) configured for moving the collector nozzle and the ladle shroud between a sealed position wherein the opening is sealed, a casting position wherein the opening faces the ladle shroud (13a-13c), and an unclogging position wherein the opening faces the collector nozzle (14), (d) a turret (30) for holding the first and second ladles, configured for moving and holding in place the first and second ladles (11,12) between a loading station and a casting station, over the tundish (1), Characterized in that, the metal casting installation comprises a robot (21) configured for carrying out the following operations on the first or second ladle which is held in the loading station, load

Abstract: A gate for metallurgic vessels is provided with a collector nozzle coupled to a bottom plate assembly of the gate. The bottom plate assembly allows a collector nozzle to be coupled to a bottom gate plate without need of a separate bayonet ring. A bayonet ring is integrated to the bottom plate assembly, allowing a collector nozzle to be mounted by a single robot, or by a single operator more easily than existing systems.

Abstract: A porous refractory cast material contains a closed refractory aggregate fraction having a minimum particle size and a maximum particle size; the ratio of maximum particle size to minimum particle size is 10:1 or less. This closed refractory aggregate fraction comprises all of the porous refractory cast material having a particle diameter greater than 0.1 mm. The porous refractory cast material also contains a binder phase containing refractory selected from calcium aluminate cement, alumina phosphate, hydratable alumina, colloidal silica and combinations thereof. Also disclosed is a metallurgical vessel with an interior lining incorporating the porous refractory cast material.

Abstract: A refractory sliding gate valve plate has a planar upper surface and a planar lower surface parallel to the planar upper surface. A connecting outer surface connects the upper surface to the lower surface, and a pouring channel fluidly connects the upper surface to the lower surface. Specified ratios of length between (a) specified longitudinal segments extending from the axis of symmetry of the pouring channel to the perimeter on the upper surface and the lower surface of the plate, respectively, and also between (b) specified latitudinal segments extending from the axis of symmetry of the pouring channel to the perimeter on the upper surface and the lower surface of the plate, respectively, increase the uniformity of thrust force applied to the plates and the contact area between the upper surfaces of two such plates within a valve.

Abstract: A porous refractory cast material contains a closed refractory aggregate fraction having a minimum particle size and a maximum particle size; the ratio of maximum particle size to minimum particle size is 10:1 or less. This closed refractory aggregate fraction comprises all of the porous refractory cast material having a particle diameter greater than 0.1 mm. The porous refractory cast material also contains a binder phase containing refractory selected from calcium aluminate cement, alumina phosphate, hydratable alumina, colloidal silica and combinations thereof. Also disclosed is a metallurgical vessel with an interior lining incorporating the porous refractory cast material.

Abstract: A device and a process for the continuous application of a refractory slurry to a surface incorporate a batch reactor (10) for the controlled mixing of the slurry, a product vessel (60) in communication with the batch reactor (10) to contain the mixed slurry, and a variable-rate spraying applicator or nozzle in communication with the product vessel and with an air supply. A controller (100) controls input to, output from, and the operation of, the batch mixer (10), and monitors batch production. The controller (100) monitors the amount of slurry contained in the product vessel (60). If the level of slurry in the product hopper is such that the product hopper cannot accommodate an additional batch of slurry, the controller interrupts batch production and resumes production when the product hopper can accept the contents of the batch reactor (10).

Abstract: The present invention concerns a lance composed of a top lance (1t) and of a sublance (2) coupled to the top lance (1t), which forms a shoulder (1s) between the top lance and the sublance. The sublance (2) of the present invention is provided with a protective device (3) comprising a coupling end (2c) opening to the cavity (2v), wherein, when at rest, the protective device (3) is in an initial configuration characterized by an outer maximum diameter (D3o) which is not more than 10% larger than the diameter (D2) of sublance (2) (D3o?1.1 D2), when the sublance (2) is coupled to the lance the protective device (3) contacts the shoulder (1s) and is deformed into a deformed configuration, forming a surface impervious to molten metal and slag, which spans over a whole area of the shoulder (1s).

Abstract: Slide closure for a vessel that operatively contains molten metal, comprising: a slide housing including a recess receiving a first refractory closure plate; a slide unit including an opening receiving a second refractory closure plate; wherein at least one clamping mechanism is arranged to start the clamping of the corresponding refractory closure plate via an actuation of the at least one clamping mechanism when the slide unit is displaced relative to the slide housing and the first and the second refractory closure plates are distant apart from each other, essentially before the first and the second faces of the respective first and the second refractory closure plates are in contact under pressure.

Abstract: A casting nozzle for use in the casting of molten metal produces a stable flow pattern having an elongated section in the horizontal plane. The bore cross-sectional area contains, from entry to exit, at least two significant section area reductions to reduce turbulence, realign streamlines and affect flow distribution inside the nozzle. The bore cross-section has a local minimum value in a contraction section located between the entry section and an expansion section. Bore cross-sectional area decreases from the expansion section to the lower end of the nozzle. The two significant cross-sectional area reductions cooperate with other structures within the bore to stabilize flow.

Abstract: A refractory lining structure for a metallurgical vessel is characterized by at least one elongated expansion joint formed in and extending through the surface of the working lining in a substantially vertical direction. The elongated expansion joint accommodates thermal expansion of the working lining in a metallurgical vessel such as, for example, a tundish during preheating for a continuous casting operation. The elongated expansion joint decreases crack formation, delamination, and spalling of the working lining from underlying back-up linings and/or safety linings in metallurgical vessels during preheating and use, while still facilitating metal skull removal after the completion of metallurgical operations.

Abstract: Plate condition tool for the measurement of condition data of slide gate valve plates coupled to the slide gate valve of a metallurgic vessel, said slide gate valve comprising a collector nozzle, said plate condition tool comprising: a) a main body comprising an obturator for obturating at least partially the collector nozzle; b) a gas injecting device comprising a pressure regulator for injecting a gas in the collector nozzle through the obturator; c) a gas flow measuring device for measuring the flow of the gas injected by the gas injecting device d) a controller being communicatively connected to the gas flow measuring device and being configured to receive input data relating to the relative position of the slide gate valve plates; and wherein the obturator comprises a seal holder for holding a collector nozzle seal.