Abstract: Apparatus and related method for taking a sample of molten metal from a vessel comprising a refractory block installed in a wall of the vessel before the vessel is filled with molten metal. The block is traversed by at least one passage having a closure element to initially block the passage. A rigid elongated pipe is movable lengthwise in the passage and a sample mould is operatively associated with the pipe. There is means activatable to advance the pipe forcibly in a forward direction to cause a forward end of the pipe to engage the closure element for unblocking the passage whereby molten metal gains access to the pipe and flows along the pipe to enter the mould.

Abstract: An injection nozzle for installation in the wall of a vessel for introducing gas into a liquid in the vessel. The nozzle comprises a body pierced by a passage which is terminated at the discharge end of the nozzle by a gas-porous or foraminous passage-closing means. Means is provided gas-tightly affixed to the closing means to feed gas thereto. The gas-feeding means includes a duct structure which extends along the passage between the closing means and the inlet end of the body. The duct structure provides a substantially leak-tight gas-feed path from an external gas delivery means to the passage-closing means. The duct structure can be adjustable or extensible in length.

Abstract: For injecting gas into a liquid, more particularly a molten metal, a nozzle body (24) is installed in the wall of a liquid containment vessel, the body (24) having a nozzle passage (25) therethrough. Liquid and gas tightly fitted in a downstream end of the passage is solid, gas porous plug (18) having capillary gas passage (20). Upstream of the plug (18) the passage has a gas-porous and liquid-impermeable cartridge (10) closely fitted therein which prevents liquid which may conceivably pass through the plug (18) from leaking out of the passage (25). The cartridge (10) has a gas impermeable metal sleeve (11) containing a particulate material (16) such as sand which is retained in the sleeve (11) by wads (14, 15) of fibrous material at the ends of the sleeve.

Abstract: Gates for sliding gate valves in which refractory elements are cemented within metal enclosure trays include an inner refractory member that contains the metal pour opening and an outer refractory member that surrounds the inner member. Only the inner member in each gate is designed to be contacted in service by molten metal and is replaceably secured in the tray which have apertures for access of tooling used to displace the inner member out of the tray when replacement of the member is required.

Abstract: In submerged teeming operations the extended pouring tube which receives molten metal from a vessel via a nozzle has gas admitted thereto for protecting it against molten metal attack. A union block is sandwiched between the nozzle and pouring tube, block being surrounded by a metal jacket spaced therefrom to form a gas manifold to be fed with gas via a gas supply pipe. Gas admitted to the manifold is ejected, around the lower end of the union block, by a surrounding annular orifice into the pouring tube and flows downwardly along the wall thereof as a protective gas film.

Abstract: A metal pouring ladle furnished with a sliding gate valve has a bottom pour opening fitted with a well block and a nozzle seated in the lower portion thereof, the well block and nozzle forming a flow passage leading to the valve. For introducing gas to the melt, a pipe is cast in the well block, the pipe opening to the bore of the well block above the nozzle or into an annular space encircling the top end of the nozzle component. This permits gassing before teeming commences without recourse to the flow passage through the nozzle, and so gassing is possible without disturbing any particulate silicious filler which may have been placed in the nozzle passage.

Abstract: Oxidation of a molten metal pour stream is prevented by enclosing the stream in a shroud formed by one or more jets of inert gas arranged to envelope the stream.