Abstract: A device for connecting a fluid circulating line to a refractory element having a wall provided with a cylindrical bore comprises a gasket intended to be located into the bore and a first supporting element compressing the gasket from the outside of the bore. A second supporting element which can be introduced into the bore sandwiches the gasket together with the first Supporting element and a rod brings the two supporting elements closer so as to compress the gasket. Also, a refractory element, notably a nozzle or pouring shroud, is provided with a cylindrical bore size to receive two supporting elements and a tightening gasket sandwiched by these supporting elements.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a mono-block stopper adapted to deliver gas during pouring of molten metal comprising a stopper body having an internal chamber (1) and a gas discharge port (2), a bore (3) connecting the internal chamber (1) to the gas discharge port (2), calibrating means (4) being provided in the bore (3) to provide a restricted path. This stopper is characterised by the fact that the calibrating means comprise a rod (4) having at least one axially-extending gas passages therealong, the gas passage(s) having a section such as to offer a predetermined resistance to flow. The stopper of the invention is far more reliable and can be easily adapted to various operational parameters.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for connecting a fluid circulating line (6) to a refractory element (1) having a wall provided with a cylindrical bore (5a, 5b), comprising a gasket (14) intended to be located into the bore and a first supporting element(13) compressing the gasket from the outside of the bore. A second supporting element (9b) which can be introduced into the bore sandwiches the gasket (14) together with the first supporting element (13) and a rod (9a) brings the two supporting elements closer so as to compress the gasket. The invention also relates to a refractory element (1), notably a nozzle or a pouring shroud, provided with a cylindrical bore (5) sized to receive two supporting elements (9b, 13) and a tightening gasket (14) sandwiched by these supporting elements.

Abstract: There is provided a refractory mono-block stopper of substantially cylindrical configuration having an upper end, a lower end and an axial bore extending downwardly from the upper end, means being provided in the axial bore at a distance d from the upper end for attachment of the stopper to a lifting mechanism, the stopper being divided into three portions (A,B,C); a first portion (A) extending from the upper end towards the lower end until a distance greater than d, a second portion (B) extending from the first portion (A) towards the lower end and a third portion (C) extending from the second portion (B) and comprising a stopper nose ending at the lower end of the stopper. The stopper of the invention is characterized in that the average section of the second portion (B) is lower than the section of the first portion (A) and the highest section of the third portion (C) is higher than the lowest section of the second portion (B).

Abstract: The present invention concerns a mono-block stopper adapted to deliver gas during pouring of molten metal comprising a stopper body having an internal chamber (1) and a gas discharge port (2), a bore (3) connecting the internal chamber (1) to the gas discharge port (2), calibrating means (4) being provided in the bore (3) to provide a restricted path. This stopper is characterised by the fact that the calibrating means comprise a rod (4) having at least one axially-extending gas passages therealong, the gas passage(s) having a section such as to offer a predetermined resistance to flow. The stopper of the invention is far more reliable and can be easily adapted to various operational parameters.

Abstract: There is provided a refractory mono-block stopper of substantially cylindrical configuration having an upper end, a lower end and an axial bore extending downwardly from the upper end, means being provided in the axial bore at a distance d from the upper end for attachment of the stopper to a lifting mechanism, the stopper being divided into three portions (A,B,C); a first portion (A) extending from the upper end towards the lower end until a distance greater than d, a second portion (B) extending from the first portion (A) towards the lower end and a third portion (C) extending from the second portion (B) and comprising a stopper nose ending at the lower end of the stopper. The stopper of the invention is characterized in that the average section of the second portion (B) is lower than the section of the first portion (A) and the highest section of the third portion (C) is higher than the lowest section of the second portion (B).

Abstract: The invention relates to a set of refractory assemblies, which is capable of being used between an upstream container and a downstream container of a plant for transferring liquid metal, in particular steel, comprising: a tapping spout via which the metal flows from the upstream container into the downstream container, each refracotry assembly of the tapping spout having at least one surface forming a mating surface with a corresponding surface of an adjacent refractory assembly; a flow regulator for regulating the flow of liquid metal through the tapping spout; a shroud channel placed around the tapping spout near at least one mating surface between refractory assemblies and having an inlet capable of allowing the intake of a fluid; in which the shroud channel has an outlet capable of allowing the fluid to escape to the outside of the plant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for transferring liquid metal, in particular steel, between an upstream container and a downstream container through a tapping spout of a set of refractory assemblies. The assemblies include at least one mating surface having a shroud channel surrounding the tapping spout. The process includes injecting inert gas and, when desired or necessary, a sealing agent into the shroud channel. The sealing agent is adapted to seal leaks in the shroud channel, thereby reducing aspiration of air into the liquid metal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plant for transferring liquid metal, in particular steel, between an upstream container (2) and a downstream container (10), comprising: an upstream container (2); a tapping spout (28); a downstream container (10), a flow regulator (26) for regulating the flow of liquid metal through the tapping spout (28); a set of refractory assemblies (8, 12, 30, 32, 64, 66, 74) which are placed between the upstream container and the downstream container, delimiting the tapping spout (28) via which the liquid metal flows from the upstream container (2) into the downstream container (10), each refractory assembly of the tapping spout (28) having at least one mating surface (22) forming a joint with a corresponding surface of an adjacent refractory assembly; a shroud channel (18; 40) placed around the tapping spout (28) near at least one mating surface (22) between refractory assemblies (8, 12, 30, 32, 64, 66, 74), this shroud channel having an inlet (44) capable of allowing the introduction of mat

Abstract: The invention concerns a tundish for continuous casting in a steel mill, equipped with at least one tube changer (18). The changer has a frame (20) mounted under the tundish (2), at least one fixed plate (8) and a tube (28), having a plate (30) at its upper part, means (36) for applying the plate (30) of the tube (28) against the fixed plate (8), their surface in contact forming a junction plane (34). The junction plane (34) is inclined at a nonzero angle &agr; with respect to the horizontal. The new tube (28) passes from the introduction position to the casting position and the worm tube from the casting position to the evacuation position by a sliding movement on the junction plane (34), following a trajectory at least partially nonrectilinear, the combination of the angle of inclination &agr; of the junction plane, dimensions of the tubes (30) and the trajectories of these latter being such that the tubes (30) avoid the casting mold (42) during a tube change.

Abstract: Plate change drawer for a metallurgical vessel such as a continuous casting distributor (2). The drawer has a chassis (12) mounted under the metallurgical vessel, at least one fixed upper plate (18) and at least one replaceable lower plate (22), means of applying pressure to force the lower plate (22) against the fixed plate, the chassis (12) having guide means for receiving a lower replacement plate (22) alongside the lower plate (22) during pouring, and actuation means for bringing the lower replacement plate (22) in place of the plate during pouring. The upper fixed plate (18) and the lower replaceable plate (22) have identical polygonal peripheries and are offset angularly so that they do not overlap completely. The polygonal periphery of the plate is a square or a square with rounded corners.

Abstract: A tube changing device is comprised of a chassis (16) mounted of the distributor (2), refractory pieces (10, 18, 22) that delimit a casting gutter, these refractory pieces being comprised of at least one fixed place (18) and a tube having a plate (24) in its upper part, means for generating pressure for applying the plate (24) of the tube (22) against the fixed plate (18), a position for introducing a new tube (22a), a casting position and a position for evacuating the worn tube (22b), guidance means (18, 48) that permit the new tube (22a) to pass from the introduction position to the casting position and the worn tube (22) to pass from the casting position to the evacuation position, actuation means (34, 36) for moving the new tube from the introduction position to the casting position and the worn tube from the casting position to the evacuation position.

Abstract: Process for reusing the plates of a slide gate for a metallurgical container. The gate has an upper indentation and a lower indentation for receiving a set of two refractory plates, each of these plates resting in an indentation by a face that becomes its support face and cooperating with the other plate by a face that becomes its characterized sliding face. A set of refractories comprised of a new plate associated with a plate that had been used once is used in the slide gate (2), and in that when the plates (12, 16) are changed the new plate is mounting in a lower or upper charging indentation (14, 18), this indentation remaining the same at the same at each plate change, the plate used once being mounted in the other indentation, which forms a recycling indentation.