Abstract: A metal casting installation is provided that includes a loading platform, a tundish, a first ladle and a second ladle, each of the first and second ladle has a floor provided with an opening, a collector nozzle and a ladle shroud. The installation also includes a ladle sliding gate configured for moving the collector nozzle and the ladle shroud between a sealed position, a casting position, and an unclogging position. A turret is provided for holding the first and second ladles, configured for moving and holding in place the first and second ladles between a loading station and a casting station over the tundish. A robot is also provided and configured for loading a new ladle shroud onto the ladle slide gate, and coupling a driving device to the ladle slide gate.

Abstract: A metal casting installation is provided that includes a robot configured for carrying out the operations of handing a new ladle shroud to a manipulator of the ladle located at the loading station, and coupling a driving device to the ladle slide gate each manipulator is fixed relative to the corresponding first or second ladle such as to move together with the corresponding first or second ladle between the loading station and the casting station.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a metal casting installation comprising, (a) a loading platform (20), (b) a tundish (1), (c) a first ladle (11) and a second ladle (12), each of the first and second ladle comprising, a floor provided with an opening (11o, 12o), a collector nozzle (14) and a ladle shroud (13a-13c), a ladle sliding gate (15) configured for moving the collector nozzle and the ladle shroud between a sealed position wherein the opening is sealed, a casting position wherein the opening faces the ladle shroud (13a-13c), and an unclogging position wherein the opening faces the collector nozzle (14), (d) a turret (30) for holding the first and second ladles, configured for moving and holding in place the first and second ladles (11,12) between a loading station and a casting station, over the tundish (1), Characterized in that, the metal casting installation comprises a robot (21) configured for carrying out the following operations on the first or second ladle which is held in the loading station, load

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 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 shop gate and a nozzle are suitable for being coupled with the bottom floor of a tundish, said nozzle comprising a hollow tube with an axial bore extending from an inlet opening at a first end of the nozzle to an opposite outlet opening at or adjacent the second, opposite end, and comprising a flange extending substantially normal to the axis of the tube and located between said first and second ends, characterized in that the flange comprises a lower, guiding surface facing towards the second end of the tube, said guiding surface being flat and substantially normal to the tube.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a clamping device including at least two assemblies each composed of a clamp (10) pivoting about a horizontal axis (11) and fitted with a groove (12) receiving a shoe (13) generally cylindrical in shape incorporating a flat surface (14) parallel to the axis of said cylinder, said shoe being capable of pivoting in the groove. The present invention also relates to a one-piece inner nozzle (2) particularly adapted for use with this clamping device. The one-piece inner nozzle according to the invention is thus composed of a tubular part (6) defining a pouring channel (4) and a flat part or plate (7) providing contact with the downstream component (8) of the pouring channel.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is a refractory pouring tube including a contact face (15) capable of bearing against a contact face (11) of another refractory component (9), the said pouring tube being arranged to be displaced. The said pouring tube is characterised by the fact that its contact face (15) incorporates a cleaning groove (26, 27) delineated notably by a wall presenting an edge capable of exerting a scraping action, as the said pouring tube is displaced, at least partially on the determinate part of the contact face of the other refractory component. The cleaning groove makes it possible to preserve the integrity of the contact surface of the other refractory component and, consequently, the joint surface formed between the two components.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a grooved refractory pouring tube for pouring a molten metal between an upper metallurgical vessel and a lower metallurgical vessel, a refractory assembly incorporating such a pouring tube, and a casting installation incorporating such an assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a clamping device including at least two assemblies each composed of a clamp (10) pivoting about a horizontal axis (11) and fitted with a groove (12) receiving a shoe (13) generally cylindrical in shape incorporating a flat surface (14) parallel to the axis of said cylinder, said shoe being capable of pivoting in the groove.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is a refractory pouring tube including a contact face (15) capable of bearing against a contact face (11) of another refractory component (9), the said pouring tube being arranged to be displaced. The said pouring tube is characterised by the fact that its contact face (15) incorporates a cleaning groove (26, 27) delineated notably by a wall presenting an edge capable of exerting a scraping action, as the said pouring tube is displaced, at least partially on the determinate part of the contact face of the other refractory component. The cleaning groove makes it possible to preserve the integrity of the contact surface of the other refractory component and, consequently, the joint surface formed between the two components.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a grooved refractory pouring tube for pouring a molten metal between an upper metallurgical vessel and a lower metallurgical vessel, a refractory assembly incorporating such a pouring tube, and a casting installation incorporating such an assembly.