Abstract: A device for slag-free discharge into a continuous casting machine has a conventional starting pipe on an inlet of a discharge orifice of a tundish. A separate starting member blocks discharge through the starting pipe and floats upon a melt reaching a desired level. The device has improved features to ensure automatically the timely outflow of slag-free melt to the starting pipe.

Abstract: An assembly of refractory plates for a three-plate sliding closure unit includes an inlet stationary refractory plate having therethrough an outlet opening, an outlet stationary refractory plate having therethrough an outlet opening, and a movable refractory plate mounted between the inlet and outlet stationary plates and having an outlet opening. The movable plate is slidable relative to the stationary plates between closed, open and throttled positions. The axis of the outlet opening in the outlet stationary plate is offset in a closing direction of movement of the movable plate from the axis of the outlet opening in the inlet stationary plate. The inlet end of the outlet opening in the outlet stationary plate is widened.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for starting a continuous casting plant, which involves the filling of the empty area over the dummy bar of an ingot mold to the desired filling level, is simplified while achieving improved operating safety. To this end, a controllable spout closure, which is completely open during the starting of the casting of the molten metal into a tundish, is brought into a predetermined throttle position by the actual filling level rising in the ingot mold to a first signal level and thereafter the further rise of the actual filling level is monitored and controlled, if necessary, in accordance with a second signal level of a predetermined characteristic time curve by logically changing the throttle position of the spout closure. It is thereby possible to control the actual filling level rising in the ingot mold so as to reach its desired filling level without undue risk.

Abstract: For a slide closure 10 attached to a pouring vessel 2 which has a movable slide part 14 disposed between a bottom plate 12 and a discharge part 16, there is, in addition to a cylinder piston unit 24 acting on the slide part, which unit is dominant by way of a servocontrol block 26 by regulating arrangement 32, a vibrator 36 which is controlled by an oscillator 34. The vibrator 36 is switched into the connection between the cylinder-piston unit 24 and the movable slide part 14, and is in a position to oscillatingly drive the latter both in its closing position as well as in other positions and, indeed, in the same direction as the cylinder piston unit. A position generator 44 starts the oscillator 34 forcibly in the closed position.

Abstract: A pair of refractory plates includes a stationary bottom plate having a discharge opening and a movable plate having two discharge openings. The movable plate is mounted for sliding movement with respect to the bottom plate about a center of rotation between a center closed position and opposite open positions. The discharge openings of the movable and bottom plates are centered on a common circular arc centered about the center of rotation, and the discharge openings of the movable plate are positioned symmetrically on opposite sides of the discharge opening of the bottom plate in the closed position. The bottom plate has a second discharge opening at a position between the circular arc and the center of rotation. The discharge openings of the bottom plate are centered on a radial line extending from the center of rotation and intersecting the circular arc, such radial line corresponding to a radial center line between the discharge openings of the movable plate in the closed position.

Abstract: The casting of several strands with a common puller unit is effected by a process which allows a high degree of operational reliability in its initial start-up phase. To accomplish this, slide gates or valves are throttled at a predetermined level provided in the lower area of a measuring section monitoring the levels in a group of molds and the strand-pulling drive is switched on and the slide gates of molds that have remained in the level below the level are closed no later than at a point when at least one of the actual levels in the molds is at another predetermined level which is below the optimum level. The rising of the levels in the molds may be controlled in accordance with preset rising curves.

Abstract: During continuous casting, in order to avoid a cessation of the casting operation which is caused by a narrowing of the flow channel of a tundish equipped with a sliding gate, two processes are utilized. A first process enables an automatic rinsing so as to flush away any obstructions causing the narrowing, and, if the rinsing process is unsuccessful, a second process is effected in which the obstructions are manually removed by an operator.

Abstract: A swivelling sliding closure unit includes a stationary refractory plate having a discharge opening and supported by a stationary housing. A swivel pin is fixed to the stationary housing, and a swivel lever having first and second ends is mounted on the swivel pin by a gimbal bearing. A movable refractory plate has therethrough a discharge opening and is supported at the first end of the swivel lever by a movable housing to enable pivoting of the movable refractory plate with respect to the swivel lever. The swivel lever is rotated about the swivel pin to move the movable refractory plate between positions enabling and blocking discharge of molten metal from a metallurgical vessel and also to a replacement position. A rolling element is mounted on the stationary housing, and a raceway formed on the second end of the swivel lever abuts the rolling element.

Abstract: For preventing break-out in a continuous casting plant in which the quantity of molten material being supplied to a mold is controlled to a predetermined level, changes in the quantity of molten material being supplied to the mold is constantly monitored. The time behavior of quantity increases of molten material being supplied to the mold is determined and a break-out signal is produced when the quantity of molten material increases at more than a predetermined rate. The break-out signal may be produced only when the rate of change of molten material in the mold and the rate of change of the speed of a casting leaving the mold are less than predetermined values.

Abstract: A slide closure for the tapping channel of a molten metal container such as a furnace or vessel has a slide housing with a refractory bottom plate and a movable slide with a refractory slide plate. A lifting drive is detachably connected to the slide by way of a coupling while a flexible supporting member connects the lifting drive to the container. A detachable connecting member extends between the slide housing and a housing for the drive, and this member acts on the slide housing in a plane containing the axis of the lifting member and symmetrically with respect to that axis.

Abstract: A metallurgical furnace with a discharge chute has a slide closure between the outlet of the furnace and the chute. The chute is preferably detachably secured to the slide closure, on movable parts thereof and can be pivotally supported thereon.

Abstract: Casting ladle gate valves of the type which are designed to be installed and removed from the ladle as a unit, are rebuilt in a work area which includes a disassembly station, a first assembly line including a revolving table for renewing the movable slide parts and a second assembly line including a revolving table for renewing the slide housings, and reassembling the slide parts, slide housings and clamping lids into renewed gate valve units. By preference, the disassembly station, both revolving tables and a conveyor for carrying the units to the work area from the foundry or steel work, and back are served by a slewing crane.

Abstract: A shaped refractory body having an elongated passage for the feeding of molten metal. At least one conduit is provided extending from the exterior of said body into communication with the passage for the introduction of a gas thereto. The conduit is reduced in diameter at least at its inner end adjacent the passage to the size of a capillary.

Abstract: The disclosure embraces a structure for plates provided on a sliding closure of an outlet or spout of a container for liquid metal, one side of each plate serving as a sealing surface which cooperates with the other, relatively movable plate of the closure; the plates have a passage running approximately perpendicularly relative to the sealing surface or surfaces with the other sides of the plate facing away from the sealing surfaces having annular grooves or keys for cooperating with complimentary shaped portions of either an outlet casing or a stone casing of the container.

Abstract: The disclosure embraces a sealing member for the joint between an outlet of a casting ladle and a closure member for the outlet and includes a rigid core member having an opening in which is located a tubular casing which fits into the aperture of the outlet of the casting ladle and a closable bore of the closure member; the rigid core member is coated with mortar material in a paste or semi-fluid form; the sealing member is encased in an air-tight package so as to prevent the mortar material from solidifying prior to its incorporation into the joint between the outlet of the casting ladle and the closure member.

Abstract: For a foundry ladle provided with a sliding gate valve to be removed from the ladle as a unit to permit replacement of worn-out refractory material, there is provided a process and apparatus for assembly of the sliding gate valve unit in upright position, while the parts of the sliding gate valve unit are subjected to heating.

Abstract: A device for forming a mortar joint between a closure member and the outlet spout for a vessel which is used for handling molten material; the closure element has a bore which is alignable with the spout of the vessel and a cylindrical sheath constructed from combustible material is disposed concentrically with the bore of the closure element with the mortar material disposed on the face of the closure element that is to be placed in contact with the surface area surrounding the spout of the vessel; cooperating guide means are provided on the vessel or on the closure member for properly aligning the cylindrical sheath with the spout of the vessel so that, when the closure member is placed in abutting relationship with the spout of the vessel, the mortar material will form a sealing joint packing between the face of the spout and the face of the closure member while the cylindrical sheath will prevent ingress of mortar material into the bore of the closure member.