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 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: 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: 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 self-locking inner nozzle system locks an inner nozzle in operating position at an outlet of a metallurgic vessel for a time sufficient for a sealing material to set, said self-locking inner nozzle system comprising: (A) an inner nozzle, provided with N?2 protrusions, distributed around a perimeter of the lateral surface, (B) an upper frame rigidly fixed to a bottom surface of a metallurgic vessel, (C) a locking ring, rigidly fixed to the upper frame wherein, an inner surface of the locking ring is provided with N L-shaped channels, such that the inner nozzle can be inserted along a longitudinal axis, Z, through an opening of the locking ring, with the N protrusions being engaged in corresponding first channel portion until they abut against corresponding first channel ends, at which point the inner nozzle can be rotated about the longitudinal axis to engage the protrusions along corresponding second channel portions to self-lock the inner nozzle in its operating position.

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 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 metal casting installation comprises a ladle comprising an inner nozzle in fluid communication with the through-opening of a top gate plate. The installation contains a ladle shroud coupling assembly comprising a support frame comprising a bottom gate plate and a passage. The support frame is slidingly coupled to a planar bottom surface of a top gate plate of the inner nozzle of the ladle, such that the opening of the bottom gate plate can be brought in or out of registry with the through-opening of the top gate plate. A drawer frame can be can be moved through the passage of the support frame. The bore of a specifically designed ladle shroud capable of being reversibly coupled to latches can be brought into or out of registry with the opening of the bottom gate plate.

Abstract: A tube exchange device for holding and replacing refractory nozzle comprises a frame with a casting opening. The frame is configured to be fixed to the lower side of a metal casting vessel. The frame is has an upper portion and a lower portion joining at a middle section plane in which an inner nozzle and an exchangeable pouring nozzle form a sliding contact. The lower portion of the frame contains a displacing element and a guiding element disposed for displacing and guiding the nozzle from a standby position to a casting position, and a pressing element pressing the nozzle at the casting position towards the upper portion of the frame. In a combination of the tube exchange device and a nozzle, the nozzle comprises bearing elements mating with the clamping elements of the tube exchange device.

Abstract: A metal casting installation comprises a ladle comprising an inner nozzle in fluid communication with the through-opening of a top gate plate. The installation contains a ladle shroud coupling assembly comprising a support frame comprising a bottom gate plate and a passage. The support frame is slidingly coupled to a planar bottom surface of a top gate plate of the inner nozzle of the ladle, such that the opening of the bottom gate plate can be brought in or out of registry with the through-opening of the top gate plate. A drawer frame can be can be moved through the passage of the support frame. The bore of a specifically designed ladle shroud capable of being reversibly coupled to latches can be brought into or out of registry with the opening of the bottom gate plate.

Abstract: A tube exchange device for holding and replacing refractory nozzle comprises a frame with a casting opening. The frame is configured to be fixed to the lower side of a metal casting vessel. The frame is has an upper portion and a lower portion joining at a middle section plane in which an inner nozzle and an exchangeable pouring nozzle form a sliding contact. The lower portion of the frame contains a displacing element and a guiding element disposed for displacing and guiding the nozzle from a standby position to a casting position, and a pressing element pressing the nozzle at the casting position towards the upper portion of the frame. In a combination of the tube exchange device and a nozzle, the nozzle comprises bearing elements mating with the clamping elements of the tube exchange device.

Abstract: A refractory nozzle comprises a substantially tubular portion with an axial through bore and a plate comprising a first, contact surface normal to the axial through bore and comprising the outlet opening, and a second surface opposite to the first contact surface joining the wall of the tubular portion to the side edges defining the perimeter and thickness of the plate. All but the first contact surface of the inner nozzle plate are at least partially clad with a metal casing having side edges. The inner nozzle plate metal casing comprises three separate bearing elements jutting out of the side edges. Each bearing element comprises a bearing ledge facing in the direction of the contact surface and distributed around the perimeter of the plate. The centroids of the orthogonal projections onto a plane parallel to the contact surface of the bearing ledges form the vertices of a triangle.

Abstract: A frame, for a device for holding and replacing plates for transferring molten metal contained in a metallurgical vessel having a casting channel, defines a housing for receiving and holding a plate, when the device is assembled, in the operating position in the vicinity of the casting channel of the metallurgical vessel. The frame is arranged to enable the introduction of the plate into the housing, and the extraction of the plate from the housing, by translation along a plate insertion direction. The housing is formed so as to have an overall planar symmetry in relation to a central longitudinal plane parallel with the plate insertion direction. The frame comprises slots for receiving thrusters intended, when the device is assembled, to apply a force, in the direction of the metallurgical vessel, on a plate inserted in the housing.

Abstract: An inner nozzle for casting molten metal from a metallurgical vessel incorporates a substantially tubular portion with an axial through bore, and an inner nozzle plate comprising a bottom flat contact surface and a second surface opposite the bottom contact surface and joining the wall of the tubular portion to the side edges of the plate. The inner nozzle incorporates a metallic casing cladding at least a portion of some or all of the side edges and second surface but not the sliding plane of the inner nozzle plate. The cladding is provided with a metallic bearing surface, facing towards and recessed with respect to the contact surface and extending from the cladded portion of the side edges beyond the perimeter of the contact surface. The bearing surface is defined by the ledges of at least two separate bearing elements distributed around the perimeter of the plate.

Abstract: A pouring nozzle includes a generally rectangular shaped plate and a tube extending from the bottom surface of the plate. The nozzle includes a pouring channel emerging close to the downstream end of the tube through outlets formed in the lateral walls of the tube. The outlets are disposed symmetrically on either side of the axis of the tube. The axis of the outlets is substantially parallel to a pair of sides of the plate. The orifice is oblong and has a major axis and a minor axis. The minor axis of the orifice is parallel to the axis of the outlets. The pouring nozzle may be assembled with an inner nozzle. This nozzle and its assembly with an inner nozzle may be used for the continuous casting of steel from a tundish towards a continuous casting mould.

Abstract: An inner nozzle is capable of being mounted onto a tube exchange device for holding and replacing an exchangeable pouring nozzle for casting molten metal out of a vessel. The tube exchange device is constructed of a frame with a casting opening. The frame is configured to be fixed to the lower side of a metal casting vessel and has a first, upper portion and a second, lower portion, joining at a middle section plane defining the plane where an inner nozzle and an exchangeable pouring nozzle form a sliding contact. The upper side portion of the frame receives and clamps in place a bearing surface of an inner nozzle at its pouring position. The lower portion comprises elements for loading and moving along a first direction (X) into casting position an exchangeable pouring nozzle. At least two clamping elements are arranged transverse to the first direction (X).

Abstract: An inner nozzle for casting molten metal from a metallurgical vessel incorporates a substantially tubular portion with an axial through bore, and an inner nozzle plate comprising a bottom flat contact surface and a second surface opposite the bottom contact surface and joining the wall of the tubular portion to the side edges of the plate. The inner nozzle incorporates a metallic casing cladding at least a portion of some or all of the side edges and second surface but not the sliding plane of the inner nozzle plate. The cladding is provided with a metallic bearing surface, facing towards and recessed with respect to the contact surface and extending from the cladded portion of the side edges beyond the perimeter of the contact surface. The bearing surface is defined by the ledges of at least two separate bearing elements distributed around the perimeter of the plate.

Abstract: A frame, for a device for holding and replacing plates for transferring molten metal contained in a metallurgical vessel having a casting channel, defines a housing for receiving and holding a plate, when the device is assembled, in the operating position in the vicinity of the casting channel of the metallurgical vessel. The frame is arranged to enable the introduction of the plate into the housing, and the extraction of the plate from the housing, by translation along a plate insertion direction. The housing is formed so as to have an overall planar symmetry in relation to a central longitudinal plane parallel with the plate insertion direction. The frame comprises slots for receiving thrusters intended, when the device is assembled, to apply a force, in the direction of the metallurgical vessel, on a plate inserted in the housing.

Abstract: A pouring nozzle includes a generally rectangular shaped plate and a tube extending from the bottom surface of the plate. The nozzle includes a pouring channel emerging close to the downstream end of the tube through outlets formed in the lateral walls of the tube. The outlets are disposed symmetrically on either side of the axis of the tube. The axis of the outlets is substantially parallel to a pair of sides of the plate. The orifice is oblong and has a major axis and a minor axis. The minor axis of the orifice is parallel to the axis of the outlets. The pouring nozzle may be assembled with an inner nozzle. This nozzle and its assembly with an inner nozzle may be used for the continuous casting of steel from a tundish towards a continuous casting mould.