Abstract: In a slide valve closure for the casting of a metal melt a slider plate and a stationary closure part are braced against each other by means of spring units or by other means. There is provided a casing framework attachable to a mould or the like, in which is fixed a detachable casing part on which the spring units are held and in which the stationary closure part and the slider plate can be accommodated. This allows safe operation and simple and rapid mounting and dismounting of the slide valve closure.

Abstract: In a slide valve closure for the casting of a metal melt a slider plate and a stationary closure part are braced against each other by means of spring units or by other means. There is provided a casing framework attachable to a mould or the like, in which is fixed a detachable casing part on which the spring units are held and in which the stationary closure part and the slider plate can be accommodated. This allows safe operation and simple and rapid mounting and dismounting of the slide valve closure.

Abstract: A coupling is used to couple a linear actuator with a slider valve unit in a sliding gate valve for a molten metal vessel. The slider valve unit is slidably mounted in a slider housing for movement in a longitudinal direction, and has a push rod for this purpose. A linear actuator mounting is provided on the slider housing, and the linear actuator is mounted in the linear actuator mounting. The linear actuator has a drive rod movable in a longitudinal direction when the linear actuator is mounted in the linear actuator mounting. The coupling has a structure such that when the linear actuator is mounted in the linear actuator mounting, and the drive rod is moved toward the slider valve unit, the coupling automatically couples the drive rod with the push rod. Furthermore, when the linear actuator is removed from the linear actuator mounting, the coupling automatically uncouples the drive rod from the push rod.

Abstract: A sliding gate valve arrangement is provided with a molten metal vessel having an outlet and guide tracks secured to the vessel extending transverse to the outlet. The housing frame is slidably mountable on the guide tracks. The housing frame has a refractory base plate and a slider unit therein and a plurality of spring elements. The slider unit includes a refractory sliding plate that can be sealingly pressed into engagement with the refractory base plate with the spring elements. A drive element is connectable with the slider unit for moving the slider unit back and forth. The guide tracks are of a predetermined length such that the housing frame, when disposed on the guide tracks, is slidable over a predetermined distance between a first position in which the housing frame positions the refractory base plate and the slider unit below the outlet of the molten metal vessel and a second position in which the housing frame is released from the guide tracks and the molten metal vessel.

Abstract: A metallurgical vessel has a refractory head piece and a vessel outlet at the refractory head piece. A sliding gate valve for this metallurgical vessel includes a housing frame that is mounted to the vessel at the outlet so as to be removable therefrom. A slider unit is mounted in the housing frame having a sliding plate therein. A refractory base plate is also mounted in the housing frame, and has an upper side with a plane sliding surface that is engaged with the refractory head piece and a lower side having a lower sliding surface that is parallel to the plane sliding surface. The sliding plate is pressed against the lower sliding surface of the refractory base plate. The refractory base plate is fixed in the housing frame in a direction parallel to the sliding surfaces of the refractory base plate, but is movable in the housing frame in a direction perpendicular to the sliding surface of the refractory base plate.

Abstract: A slide gate nozzle for controlling the discharge of molten metal from a spout of a converter vessel includes a refractory bottom plate to be positioned stationarily with a discharge opening thereof aligned with an opening of the spout. A refractory slide valve plate is mounted for sliding movement relative to the bottom plate such that a discharge opening of the slide valve plate is brought into and out of alignment with the discharge opening of the bottom plate. A plurality of refractory shut-off plates are positioned sealingly between the bottom plate and the slide valve plate. A coupling mechanism is operably mounted to the shut-off plates to sequentially connect the shut-off plates rigidly either to the bottom plate or to the slide valve plate. As a result, the shut-off plates may be used sequentially to replace the slide valve plate.