Abstract: A slag control shape is releasably mounted on a mounting member carried on a cover of a molten metal vessel. A movable member is carried on the cover and moved by an actuator into engagement with and moving the mounting member to move the mounting member to a position releasing the slag control shape for insertion into the molten metal vessel. The actuator is a fluid operated cylinder having an extensible piston rod which is engageable with the movable member to move the movable member into engagement with the mounting member. A valve actuated remotely from the cover supplies pressurized fluid to the cylinder to extend the piston rod. Alignment sensors are mounted on the cover and an actuator support to ensure that the cover is rotatably positioned on the molten metal vessel to align the actuator and movable members.

Abstract: A slag control shape is releasably mounted on a cover for a molten metal vessel. An actuator is connected to a slag control shape release member to retract the release member from a first position engaged with the slag control shape to a second position separated from the slag control shape to allow the slag control shape to freely drop into the molten metal receptacle. The actuating end of the actuator is located at an easily accessible operator position for remote actuation of the release member. In another embodiment, one end of a cable wound in a plurality of turns about a rotatable shaft mounted in a reel is attached to the slag control shape. A spring biasingly engages the shaft to control the rate of rotation of the shaft and thereby the rate of payout of the cable and the rate of descent of the slag control shape into the molten metal vessel.

Abstract: A slag control shape is releasably mounted on a cover for a molten metal vessel. An actuator is connected to a slag control shape release member to move the release member from a first position engaged with the slag control shape to a second position disengaged from the slag control shape to allow the slag control shape to descend into the molten metal vessel. Upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition, such as a predetermined weight of molten metal in the vessel or a predetermined total time of molten metal discharge from the vessel, a controller generates a signal to the actuator to automatically release the slag control shape into the vessel. The controller is located remote from the actuator and transmits the activation signal to the actuator by radio frequency signals, directly through an electrical conductor, or to a light emitter which transmits a light beam to a photodetector mounted on the cover.

Abstract: A slag control shape is releasably mounted on a cover for a molten metal vessel. An actuator is connected to a slag control shape release member to retract the release member from a first position engaged with the slag control shape to a second position separated from the slag control shape allowing the slag control shape to freely drop into the molten metal receptacle. The actuating end of the actuator is located at an easily accessible operator position for remote actuation of the release member. In one embodiment, the actuator is a flexible cable attached at one end to the release member mounted on the cover and having a second end located remote from the cover at an easily accessible operator position. In another embodiment, one end of a cable wound in a plurality of turns about a rotatable shaft mounted in a reel is attached to the slag control shape.

Abstract: A slag control shape is releasably mounted on a cover for a molten metal vessel. An actuator is connected to a slag control shape release member to retract the release member from a first position engaged with the slag control shape to a second position separated from the slag control shape allowing the slag control shape to freely drop into the molten metal receptacle. The actuating end of the actuator is located at an easily accessible operator position for remote actuation of the release member. In one embodiment, the actuator is a flexible cable attached at one end to the release member mounted on the cover and having a second end located remote from the cover at an easily accessible operator position. In another embodiment, a pair of eccentric cams are mounted on the cover and the molten metal receptacle and pivot into engagement upon a downward force exerted on the actuator cable to retract the release member from engagement with the slag control shape.

Abstract: A lip closure apparatus includes a plurality of arcuate lip closure segments interfitted into a continuous ring and disposed on the top end of a stack of refractory bricks mounted in a metallurgical vessel. At least one metal reinforcement grid is disposed within each lip closure segment at a predetermined angle with respect to the normal fracture planes of each closure segment to resist fracture of the lip closure segment. Preferably, the grid is oriented substantially perpendicular to the normal fracture planes of the lip closure segments. A quantity of crushable material is disposed between the outer side surface of each lip closure segment and a flange extending at an angle from the side wall over the open top end of the vessel to maintain the lip closure segments in a tight fit on top of the lining of refractory bricks.

Abstract: An anti-slag, anti-vortex tundish measurement apparatus for use in tundishes or other molten metal receptacles provides a measurement of the depth of the molten metal layer above the bottom of such receptacles. The apparatus includes a body mounted on a first end of an elongated rod. The body and the rod are formed of a suitable material and have a predetermined size such that the specific gravity of the body and the rod is less than the specific gravity of the molten metal in the receptacle; but greater than the specific gravity of the slag layer covering the top of the molten metal layer such that the body is buoyantly supported at the interface between the slag layer and the molten metal layer. Measurement indicia in the form of incrementally spaced, scale gradations is formed on the second end of the rod, which end extends externally from the interior of the molten metal receptacle.

Abstract: A retaining wall system is made up of standardized posts and face panels formed of a polymeric cementitious material which are reinforced by a lattice-like polymer grid embedded in the posts and panels during their formation. Similar lattice-like polymer grids are mechanically attached to the grids embedded in the panels to project horizontally from the panels and to be embedded in earth fill at one side of the wall to permanently anchor the wall in position.