Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for removing inclusions and inclusion clusters from a molten metal or alloy stream prior to casting. In the process, the molten metal is passed through a flotation box having a primary chamber and a secondary chamber located within the primary chamber. The primary chamber is provided with entry and exit portions, one on each side of the secondary chamber so that the stream of molten metal or alloy is directed to flow into the primary chamber, flowing beneath the secondary chamber and out the exit portion. Inclusions and inclusion clusters float to the surface of the molten metal or alloy in the secondary chamber prior to the exiting of the molten metal or alloy stream from the primary chamber through the exit portion for supply to a casting station.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for separating slag and pouring molten steel out of a container such as a converter or the like, which makes use of a gas jet member for jetting an inert gas into the flow of the molten steel in a descending portion of a U-shaped passage communicated with a molten steel outlet opening of the converter, whereby the gas jet causes the flow speed of the molten steel to retard so as to eliminate the influence of inertia force of the flow of the molten steel exerted to a balance between the static pressure of the residual molten steel and the static pressure of the residual slag in the U-shaped passage.

Abstract: A mounting chassis, fixed by locking pivots to the base plate of a tundish in a continuous casting plant, supports an upper nozzle seated in a refractory brick. A replaceable lower nozzle coaxial with the upper nozzle is held in contact with the upper nozzle by a quick-release ring.

Abstract: An immersion nozzle for continuous casting resistant to the corrosive action of the melt and the covering material in a mold is made of a refractory material comprising a mixture of electrically conductive graphite and/or silicon carbide, at least one member selected from the group consisting of alumina, zircon, zirconia, fused silica and a metallic silicon, and a binder. The nozzle is covered with a thermal insulating cover having a thickness of approximately 60 mm and made of fused silica containing fibers. The nozzle is preheated without moving it from its operating position by connecting a pair of electrical terminals to opposite ends thereof and passing electric current through the nozzle between the terminals for a period of time sufficient to raise the temperature of the nozzle sufficiently to prevent cracking, spalling, etc. during casting operation. After the preheating is completed the terminals may be removed from the nozzle.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for suppressing formation of pollutants in a blast furnace casting system by occluding oxidizing gases, including ambient air, from the molten iron and slag discharged from the furnace.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining when the cast of a blast furnace is substantially completed in a blast furnace cast system wherein direct viewing of the taphole is obstructed during the cast. In a system wherein viewing of the taphole is obstructed by hood means covering the iron trough, substantial completion of the cast may be determined by sensing changes in ambient conditions, e.g., a change in temperature within the hood means, vibration of the hood, and/or a change in the color of the flame generated at the discharge end of a slag runner.

Abstract: A rotary valve for teeming fluid metal is disclosed having a frame for securing the same beneath a metal vessel which has a working nozzle at its lower portion. A rotary gate carrier is provided within the frame, and a rotary gate is secured thereatop with one or more depending nozzles. The top plate is substantially coplanar with the rotary gate. The metallic case holding the rotary gate has one or more depending nozzle cases with inwardly extending locks. Nozzle extensions with recessed portions proportioned to permit insertion in concert with the locks in a bayonet fastener type relationship are provided whereby the lower nozzle extensions can be replaced. Desirably the nozzles in the rotary gate have different diameter bores thereby permitting different flow rates in accordance with erosion and clogging.

Abstract: Automatic ladle systems adapted for use in metal die casting operations are disclosed herein. In a preferred form the invention comprises a rigid, supporting base on which a control platform is rotatably mounted for radially moving a ladle between a metal filling and metal pouring positions. The ladle is coupled to the platform by support arm structure extending from the platform which may be raised or lowered with a hydraulic cylinder. A parallelogram linkage system couples the ladle to the end of the support arm structure. Reach extension apparatus extending between the linkage and the platform moves the ladle outwardly with respect to the base during movement to a filling position. The reach extension apparatus and the parallelogram linkage allow the horizontal position of the ladle pour spout to remain substantially constant during raising and lowering of the ladle to prevent spillage. A tilting system interconnected with the linkage facilitates ladle draining.

Abstract: A method for automatic pouring of molten metal from a ladle into a tundish through the use of a rotary nozzle, wherein the pouring operation between a ladle and a tundish in continuous casting of metal is effected by a rotary nozzle, and a plurality of pouring nozzles having different diameters are mounted on the rotary nozzle, whereby the pouring nozzles are used alternately by 100% fully opening and closing the same. The plurality of pouring nozzles with different diameters include at least a pouring nozzle whose pouring rate for wide open pouring is greater than that required to maintain the level of the molten metal in the tundish at a predetermined reference level and another pouring nozzle whose pouring rate for wide open pouring is less than that required to maintain the predetermined reference level.

Abstract: A clamp-on tube holder for use in teeming metal is disclosed having a slotted tube holder band and a toggle assembly which biases the slot for clamping the tube holder onto the nozzle of a ladle. Independently, a yoke is engaged with the tube holder, and a handle engaged with a socket on the toggle for remotely clamping the same. The method contemplates providing a toggle mechanism and clamp and a support yoke, with the support yoke pivotally secured to a fulcrum for manipulating the clamping mechanism and holding the same in place while the toggle is activated to clamp.

Abstract: This disclosure involves a dry heat setting refractory and method of using same in the securing of nozzles to nozzle blocks in steel pour ladles. The refractory is sized so that it can be placed between the nozzle and nozzle block in a dry condition, and then forms an adhesive bond in situ, when molten steel is poured into the ladle and onto the refractory. The composition comprises a sized refractory material, preferably having MgO in the fines fraction, and includes the addition of about 2 to about 6% hydrated alkali silicate, preferably sodium silicate, which forms a refractory bond when engaged by the hot metal.

Abstract: A tundish has a metal casing, an inner permanent lining, e.g. of refractory brick, an inner expendable lining within the permanent lining and formed of slabs of refractory heat-insulating material, and lining at the impact area of erosion resistant or sacrificial material.

Abstract: A device for metering and transferring liquid metals. It includes a supporting structure and a hollow sleeve open at both ends on the supporting structure. A pouring spout is on one end of the sleeve and has a passageway therethrough communicating with the hollow interior of sleeve. A stopper rod extends into the hollow sleeve from the other end thereof to be shiftable between a position seating on the pouring spout and sealing the passageway therethrough and a position removed from the pouring spout to permit liquid metal to flow into and out of the sleeve. The stopper rod is shiftable between positions and the pouring spout includes a bushing mounted in the passageway and having a threaded opening therethrough and a threaded plug interengaged with the threaded bushing and having an orifice therein to provide for communication between the interior and the exterior of the sleeve through the pouring spout.

Abstract: This invention relates to improvements in a liquid transferring device, in particular for molten metals, of the type comprising an inverted U-shaped siphon connected with a crucible to form a hydraulic circuit having one or more liquid inlet openings and connectable to at least one source of vacuum and at least one source of pneumatic pressure in order to suck the liquid into the crucible and then push the same through the hydraulic circuit and prime the siphon. The improvement comprises a degassing chamber located at the siphon bight and maintained under a pre-established negative pressure during the transferring operation.

Abstract: A vessel for liquid, especially a ladle for molten metal, is constructed and arranged to facilitate pouring of the contents in a uniform stream along a predetermined path under a uniform pressure head, while facilitating starting and stopping of the stream. To this end, the vessel is supported for rotation about first and second generally horizontal, transverse, axes. The liquid is discharged from an outlet in the vessel located on the first axis when the vessel is rotated about the first axis. By controlling rotation, a constant head of liquid and uniform discharge trajectory is established. Flow is conveniently interrupted by rotation of the vessel about the second axis to tilt the first axis and raise the discharge outlet by an amount equal to the liquid head. Flow is restarted by lowering the discharge outlet to its original position. Preferably, the first axis is horizontal during discharge.

Abstract: A stream of molten metal is monitored as to emitted radiation to detect the onset of inclusion of slag for stopping the stream.

Abstract: A pour passage of particular configuration for controlling the flow of aluminum-killed steels, or the like, is described which is effective for preventing the accumulation of oxide inclusions in an orifice opening disposed in the pour passage. The described pour passage configuration may be formed in a replaceable nozzle insert that is mountable in the pour opening of a molten metal teeming vessel or in the slidable panel of a sliding gate valve operably associated with the vessel. A method of preventing inclusion accumulation in a control orifice opening when pouring aluminum-killed steels or the like is also described.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for pouring molten metal from a ladle to a mold. The ladle is titled about an axis of rotation extending through a point proximate the outlet of the ladle, whereby the relative positions of the point where molten metal from the ladle begins to fall and the pouring cup of the mold are kept constant and the molten metal is poured into the mold without varying the path of the streamline between the ladle outlet and the pouring cup of the mold. The vertical sectional contour of the ladle including the outlet is segmental.

Abstract: A temporary sealant of a nozzle opening of sliding nozzle, which is in the form of either coarse particle or molding and which consists of 92.0 to 98.8% by weight of a non-porous refractory material having a particle size distribution of more than 95% of approximately particle diameter 2.0 - 0.8 mm, 1 to 5% by weight of a carbonaceous material having particle size of less than 0.15 mm, and 0.2 to 3.0% by weight of an organic tackifier.

Abstract: The weight of material in a pivotable casting ladle is continuously measu and the pivoting of the casting ladle is controlled in dependence thereon to maintain a constant head of material above the casting ladle output. The casting operation is terminated in dependence on a parameter such as time or weight associated with the casting being made.The invention also includes a device suitable for carrying out this method.

Abstract: This specification discloses a molten steel level determining device in which the electrode senses the interface between the molten steel and the slag on the molten steel at a predetermined level within the deeming ladle whereby the amount of steel remaining in the ladle may be more accurately determined than by prior art methods. With the aid of this information, the standard pourdown practice is modified to ensure that unrollable ingot butts are not poured. The level indicator may also be used to determine the level of other liquids in environments where known methods are not practicable.

Abstract: Apparatus for batching a metal melt such as steel from a pressure tapping furnace in which a level measuring device is provided for measuring the melt level in the tapping spout and using that level to calculate a signal for terminating the batching which is dependent on the integral of melt flow, and the rate of change of melt flow so as to take in to account the double draining which occurs after the termination of batching is initiated.

Abstract: A refractory element of a slide closure includes a metal support element and a refractory plate mounted therein by a solidifiable refractory mass. The plate is first positioned at a desired location within the support element, without refractory mass, by an auxiliary device including spacers. The auxiliary device is then released, the plate is removed, and the refractory mass is added. The plate is then again added and placed in the previously determined location by the auxiliary device, and held thereat until the mass solidifies.

Abstract: Molten metal is poured, in at least two successive operations, from a container having an interior closed off substantially gas-tightly and provided with a pour-out conduit which has an inlet communicating with the interior of the container and which has an outlet pouring opening located outside the container above the highest level to which molten metal in the container interior is permitted to rise. The metal in the conduit is established at a predetermined starting level prior to the start of the first pouring operation by feeding pressurized gas into the space above the molten metal in the container interior. Thereafter, each pouring operation is effected by boosting the gas pressure in such space by an amount requisite to effect pouring out through the pouring opening of the quantity of molten metal to be dispensed.

Abstract: A device for forming a mortar joint between a closure member and the outlet spout for a vessel which is used for handling molten material; the closure element has a bore which is alignable with the spout of the vessel and a cylindrical sheath constructed from combustible material is disposed concentrically with the bore of the closure element with the mortar material disposed on the face of the closure element that is to be placed in contact with the surface area surrounding the spout of the vessel; cooperating guide means are provided on the vessel or on the closure member for properly aligning the cylindrical sheath with the spout of the vessel so that, when the closure member is placed in abutting relationship with the spout of the vessel, the mortar material will form a sealing joint packing between the face of the spout and the face of the closure member while the cylindrical sheath will prevent ingress of mortar material into the bore of the closure member.

Abstract: A pour passage of particular configuration for controlling the flow of aluminum-killed steels, or the like, is described which is effective for preventing the accumulation of oxide inclusions in an orifice opening disposed in the pour passage. The described pour passage configuration may be formed in a replaceable nozzle insert that is mountable in the pour opening of a molten metal teeming vessel or in the slidable panel of a sliding gate valve operably associated with the vessel. A method of preventing inclusion accumulation in a control orifice opening when pouring aluminum-killed steels or the like is also described.