Abstract: The heat insulating lining of the metallurgical vessel includes a permanent layer in a refractory material and a consumable layer arranged in the interior of the vessel and intended to be in direct contact with the liquid metal. This layer consists of a mixture of inorganic particles and of mineral and/or organic fibers embedded in an organic and/or inorganic binder. Between the permanent layer and the consumable layer is fitted a relatively compressible layer of an inorganic and/or organic fibre base resistant to the temperature pertaining at the contact of the consumable layer, these fibres being partially embedded in an organic and/or inorganic binder.

Abstract: The lining for a metallurgical container comprises a series of removable plates of heat insulating material designed to be applied to the inside of the metallurgical container against the lateral walls and the bottom of the latter, at least a part of these plates being quadrangular and identical. The quadrangular and identical plates include on their two opposite edges a rib extending over a major fraction of the length of the corresponding edge, this rib defining a support surface designed to receive an identical rib formed along the adjacent edge of another plate. Each plate includes also, on the remaining fraction of the length of said edge, a protuberance defining a support surface oriented in the opposite direction with respect to that of the rib, the support surface of this protuberance being designed to receive an identical protuberance formed on the adjacent edge of another plate. The invention is particularly useful for the internal coating of casting distributors or tundishes.

Abstract: A blanket powder for covering a molten metal bath in order to prevent oxidation and to provide heat insulation contains, in addition to the ash of cereal hulls, approximately 5 to 50% by weight of non-calcined cereal hulls. The powder can thus be transported and handled without any attendant danger of contaminating dust formation and has enhanced heat-insulating power.

Abstract: A casting tube or nozzle is placed beneath the casting outlet of an upper vessel such as a casting ladle and immersed in the molten metal which is teemed into a lower vessel such as a casting tundish or directly into ingot-molds. A mechanism is provided for displacing the casting tube in pivotal motion between a vertical position in which it is applied against the casting outlet and a horizontal position of withdrawal in which it can also be displaced in a horizontal plane by means of a translational displacement mechanism.

Abstract: In order to unchoke the casting outlet of a vessel such as a casting ladle fitted with a casting tube for transferring molten metal to a tundish, a feed pipe is engaged in a lateral opening formed in the upper portion of the casting tube and guided within the tube until the end of the feed pipe opens in the vicinity of the casting outlet. The feed pipe is then connected to a supply of oxygen or similar oxidizing gas which is discharged in a jet onto the mass of solidified metal which obstructs the outlet. After the outlet has been cleared by melting of the mass of metal, the feed pipe is withdrawn and the lateral opening of the casting tube is sealed-off.