Abstract: A rocker arm/spring assembly which can be readily removed without the use of any tools whenever the refractory is removed from the valve is disclosed. Since the refractory is regularly removed from the valve, the rocker arm and spring assembly can be removed, and the springs replaced and tested readily. The rocker arm is provided with a keyhole mount including a bolt shank slot, a seat bore, a bolt head port, and a bolt spherical head seat. The rocker bolt is secured to the frame and has a spherical head which is slightly smaller than the bolt head port which permits the rocker arm to be passed over the fixed head of the rocker bolt, and then shifted laterally until the shank of the rocker bolt is nested within the bolt shank slot of the rocker arm, and the spherical head of the bolt engages the spherical head seat in the underportion of the rocker arm.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sliding gate valve employed on the side of a furnace as a furnace valve, in which the mechanism is so structured that the shut off occurs by directing the slide gate to the up position rather than the down position. In addition, to facilitate a reduction in space at the slide gate, the slide gate is desirably configured to be asymmetrical, with the short end extending upwardly from the pour opening in the nozzle. A refractory lined heat shield protects the sliding gate carrier and also serves to mount a collector extension when used. More specifically, the slide gate is provided with a metallic frame which retains a monolithic refractory into which errosion resistant refractory inserts or preformed members are cast. Means are desirably provided to remove the spent refractory for remanufacture thereby reclaiming the casting.

Abstract: A top plate and collector nozzle for use with a sliding gate valve, comprising, in combination, a frame retaining a refractory and having a central ring like portion defining an opening with a well nozzle seat thereabout, a well nozzle having one end proportioned to engage the well nozzle seat, a plurality of lock receiving recesses in the periphery of the well nozzle and in spaced relationship with the seat engaging end of the well nozzle, and a plurality of lock elements secured to the frame and proportioned to engage the lock receiving recesses in the well nozzle, whereby the nozzle can be secured to the top plate for combined insertion in a sliding gate valve.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sliding gate valve and clamp mechanism which permits the utilization of bandless refractory for the top plate, sliding gate, and the attachment of a replaceable collector to the sliding gate. The refractory is formed with curvilinear side edges tapered centrally toward the inter face portion between the top plate and sliding gate plate. Curvilinear edges are employed on both the stationary plate and the sliding gate, and desirably both have an identical exterior configuration, but optionally differ in the central portion where the well block nozzle is engaged by the stationary plate and where the collector is engaged by the sliding gate plate. Optionally a secondary sealing ring is employed to form a seal between the lower well nozzle and the top plate in a zero clearance environment. Also desirably the top plate and sliding gate plate may both be ground on both faces to provide parallelism and planarity of the refractory faces.

Abstract: Disclosed is a valve and refractory construction in which the stationary plate and the sliding gate are of a bandless refractory. Similarly the lower nozzle, and collector nozzle are also bandless, along with the optional collector tip. Various refractory shapes are contemplated, but primarily a shape with a tapered face on the edge of the refractories, and which are engaged by clamps having a mating tapered face. The refractory can also be made in a single form for both the stationary plate and the sliding gate. All of the refractories are clamped in place by clamping members having tapered faces which engage the tapered faces or edges of the refractory. The nozzles are similarly engaged, but by an encircling support and clamp.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sliding gate valve employed on the side of a furnace as a furnace valve, in which the mechanism is so structured that the shut off occurs by directing the slide gate to the up position rather than the down position. In addition, to facilitate a reduction in space at the slide gate, the slide gate is desirably configured to be asymmetrical, with the short end extending upwardly from the pour opening in the nozzle. A refractory lined heat shield protects the sliding gate carrier and also serves to mount a collector extension when used. More specifically, the slide gate is provided with a metallic frame which retains a monolithic refractory into which errosion resistant refractory inserts or preformed members are cast. Means are desirably provided to remove the spent refractory for remanufacture thereby reclaiming the casting.

Abstract: Replaceable collector nozzle for a sliding gate. A pressure plate is provided with a collar or ring or other engaging element with interior securing connectors, and positioned beneath the sliding plate. The collector nozzle at its upper portion is provided with threads or other engaging connectors to engage the pressure plate connectors. Alternatively an interlock comprising cammed members interior of the ring or collar mate with corresponding members at the upper end of the replaceable collector nozzle when it rotatably engages the interior of the collar or ring. The collector nozzle can then be replaced during temporary shut off by twisting with a typical chain wrench and a new collector nozzle inserted without disturbing the mounted relationship of the remainder of the sliding gate and the top plate interiorly of the valve. In a further embodiment the coupling of the collector nozzle is a thrust-type which does not require rotation.

Abstract: Refractory plate valves are shown for controlling flow of molten material with structure providing a uniform controllable variable sealing pressure over the entire area of the sliding plate surface which surrounds the depending nozzle sufficient to deflect the refractory plates into a sealing relationship to prevent the intrusion of the molten material between the plates. The uniform pressure is applied to the sliding plate by pressurizing a fluid within a chamber in the sliding gate carrier that is immediately below a flexible diaphragm supporting the sliding plate. This pressure is applied from an external or internal source and may be controlled during the tapping and teeming phases of the use cycle and additionally may be completely relieved for ease of opening and closing of the device during the service phase of the cycle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for indicating the position of a hydraulically actuated device by measuring the volume of hydraulic fluid flow in and out of the hydraulic actuator together with separate measurement corrections to compensate for the hydraulic system elasticity and transient flows and for the mechanical clearance or slop in the linkage between the actuator and the device. In a preferred embodiment of the method, the compensation for hydraulic system elasticity and transient flows is preferably made by measuring the relaxation reverse flow when the actuator is depressurized and using this measurement to offset an equal amount of the measured forward flow when the actuator is repressurized in the same direction. Further, the compensation for mechanical clearance in the linkage between the actuator and the device is applied only when the actuator direction is reversed; the amount of such compensation is empirically determined and may increase with wear and tear on the linkage.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sliding gate valve employed on the side of a furnace as a furnace valve, in which the mechanism is so structured that the shut off occurs by directing the slide gate to the up position rather than the down position. In addition, to facilitate a reduction in space at the slide gate, the slide gate is desirably configured to be asymmetrical, with the short end extending upwardly from the pour opening in the nozzle. A refractory lined heat shield protects the sliding gate carrier and also serves to mount a collector extension when used. More specifically, the slide gate is provided with a metallic frame which retains a monolithic refractory into which errosion resistant refractory inserts or preformed members are cast. Means are desirably provided to remove the spent refractory for remanufacture thereby reclaiming the casting.

Abstract: Shown is a method for preventing or reducing cracking in collector nozzles in teeming vessels by securing the shroud underneath the nozzle with a predetermined load, sufficient to cause fluid tight connection between the shroud and the collector nozzle, and yet not enough to crack the collector nozzle. The shroud is urged against the nozzle and supported there by a boom which is free to move with the nozzle and thus becomes slaved to the movement of the nozzle and not its support. In addition, the desirability of removing the shroud from the pouring vessel by tilting it is preserved, and at the same time locking the shroud against pivotal motion is provided which reduces, if not eliminates, the excessive loads that can be caused when the shroud or the valve move, and the lower end is restricted for such movement by the poured fluid, thereby resulting in excessively multiplied loads on the collector nozzle.

Abstract: A rotary valve for teeming fluid metal is disclosed having a frame for securing the same beneath a metal vessel which has a working nozzle at its lower portion. A rotary gate carrier is provided within the frame, and a rotary gate is secured thereatop with one or more depending nozzles. The top plate is substantially coplanar with the rotary gate. The metallic case holding the rotary gate has one or more depending nozzle cases with inwardly extending locks. Nozzle extensions with recessed portions proportioned to permit insertion in concert with the locks in a bayonet fastener type relationship are provided whereby the lower nozzle extensions can be replaced. Desirably the nozzles in the rotary gate have different diameter bores thereby permitting different flow rates in accordance with erosion and clogging.

Abstract: A shroud support or tube holder is disclosed for use with a teeming vessel having a gate valve. In the instance disclosed, the gate valve is a sliding valve, and the shroud is positioned by means of a boom in pour tube relationship with the nozzle of the valve. The boom is pivotally mounted for rotation in a horizontal plane, and axially slidable for elevation and lowering. The boom is urged upwardly by means of a dead weight system which, when translated to the length of the boom to a shroud holder, permits the shroud to be engaged with the pour tube portion of the vessel at a predetermined load. The means for pivoting the shroud or tube for removal from the vessel which is being filled has a locked position to lock the shroud against lateral movement which can multiply the internal forces and crack the internal nozzle, and yet can be pivoted at an angle for easy removal from the vessel.

Abstract: A clamp-on tube holder for use in teeming metal is disclosed having a slotted tube holder band and a toggle assembly which biases the slot for clamping the tube holder onto the nozzle of a ladle. Independently, a yoke is engaged with the tube holder, and a handle engaged with a socket on the toggle for remotely clamping the same. The method contemplates providing a toggle mechanism and clamp and a support yoke, with the support yoke pivotally secured to a fulcrum for manipulating the clamping mechanism and holding the same in place while the toggle is activated to clamp.