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: 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 metallurgic casting installation comprises a robot. The robot comprises a handling tool coupled to an arm of the robot by a coupling element. The coupling element comprises a tool interface rigidly coupled to the handling tool, and a robot interface rigidly coupled to the arm of the robot. The compliance of the coupling element can be controlled such that upon application of a load onto the tool interface, the tool interface can be moved relative to the robot interface, by translation along and/or rotation about one or more of a first, second and third orthogonal spatial axes X1, X2, X3. The coupling element is resilient in that upon release of the load, the tool interface returns to a reset position relative to the robot interface corresponding to a reset distance Dr separating the tool interface and the robot interface.

Abstract: A tube for pouring liquid metal has a pouring channel with a pouring axis. The tube has a downstream part with a pouring channel with an outlet diameter, and a flared upstream part with a length known as the threshold distance. The threshold distance is greater than four times the outlet diameter. The upstream part is flared and configured so that its upper end has a convex overall shape in the axial direction. The upstream part is included within a first volume corresponding to the complementary part of an axisymmetric frustoconical volume having as its axis the pouring axis. The generatrix of the volume forms an angle greater than 5 degrees with the pouring axis. The upstream part is included within a second volume, delimited by a surface of revolution generated by an isosceles trapezium revolving about the pouring axis.

Abstract: A support head capable of supporting a ladle shroud for casting liquid metal comprises a canal along which the metal can pass, extending essentially along an axis, the support head being designed for a tube handling device. Such a head comprises control means for controlling the angular orientation of the shroud with respect to the head, about an axis corresponding to the axis of the canal. A ladle shroud having defined control means is capable of collaborating with the support head.

Abstract: A tube for pouring liquid metal has a pouring channel with a pouring axis. The tube has a downstream part with a pouring channel with an outlet diameter, and a flared upstream part with a length known as the threshold distance. The threshold distance is greater than four times the outlet diameter. The upstream part is flared and configured so that its upper end has a convex overall shape in the axial direction. The upstream part is included within a first volume corresponding to the complementary part of an axisymmetric frustoconical volume having as its axis the pouring axis. The generatrix of the volume forms an angle greater than 5 degrees with the pouring axis. The upstream part is included within a second volume, delimited by a surface of revolution generated by an isosceles trapezium revolving about the pouring axis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a support head (20) capable of supporting a ladle shroud (12) for casting liquid metal, comprising a canal (40) along which the metal can pass, extending essentially along an axis, the support head (20) being designed for a tube handling device (10). Such a head (20) comprises control means (36a, 36b) for controlling the angular orientation of the shroud with respect to the head, about an axis corresponding to the axis of the canal. The invention also relates to a ladle shroud capable of collaborating with such a support head.