Abstract: The invention concerns an electro-metal smelting furnace with at least one taphole located at the bottom with which hole is associated a closure equipped with a drive.

Abstract: The subject invention or inventions involves providing a device which serves to substantially retard or prevent the flow of slag through a taphole of a furnace or other vessel containing molten steel, thereby improving the quality or grade of the metal. The device comprises a plug which is of such a character that when inserted in a taphole and the furnace is tilted the taphole will move to a position below the level of the layer of slag until the plug is disintegrated or destroyed by the metal to automatically allow substantially only the latter to enter and flow through the taphole or passage.

Abstract: A ladle car opening is closed during the period between pouring and subsequent refilling of the car with molten metal by a closure plug comprised of an open wire mesh support and a lining of fibrous insulating material attached thereto. The plug has a tapered configuration providing for the outer end thereof to be larger than the opening into the ladle car, and the wire mesh support and lining provides for the plug to be flexible so as to conform to the peripheral contour of the opening and to engage a peripheral outer edge of the opening to close the opening and retain the plug therein.

Abstract: An air blast type slag cut-off device for steel converter, adapted for jetting compressed air or gas from a nozzle toward the tap hole of the steel converter to force the slag coming out of the tap hole back into the steel converter. The device has a shut-off valve disposed at a portion of the high-pressure gas pipe just upstream from and in the close proximity of the nozzle. The high-pressure gas pipe and an operating fluid supply pipe for operating the shut-off valve are connected to respective sources through a common rotary joint or through independent flexible hoses, so that the steel converter can be tilted smoothly while maintaining the fluid communication between the pipes and respective sources. The time lag of jetting of the air or gas from the nozzle is minimized thanks to the reduced length of the passage between the shut-off valve and the nozzle.

Abstract: The operator of a taphole drilling apparatus for blast furnaces performs manual changes on the apparatus in its safe position of rest and operation by remote control and automatic latching in hazardous taphole work including drilling and subsequent driving, release, and extraction of a tap bar. The usual guide rail (22) carrying reciprocably a hammer drill (30) thereon incorporates a remotely openable automatically latching centralizer (42) at its forward end and an extraction carriage (29) on which, after removal of the drill steel (43), an impact sleeve (50) can be manually mounted for being impacted by the hammer drill (30). In one mounting position (FIG. 5) of the impact sleeve (50), a latch (57) therein is biased to automatically latch the shank of a tap bar (53) thereto for extraction by impacts. In a 180.degree. counter-turned position the latch (57) will fall aside and the mounted sleeve (50) is used to drive the tap bar while guided by the centralizer (42).

Abstract: A slide closure for the pouring nozzle of a molten metal vessel of the type comprising a fixed plate attached to the bottom portion of the vessel and a sliding plate pressed against the lower surface of the fixed plate brick, whereby the sliding plate is rotated to open and close the vessel pouring nozzle, and further comprising a supporting member or rotor adapted to be rotated with the sliding plate brick as a unit by a driving source and supporting means for slidably supporting the rotor and pressing the sliding plate brick against the fixed plate brick with a vessel bed plate serving as a supporting point, characterized in that said supporting means comprises a first supporter for surrounding and slidably supporting the rotor and a second supporter fastened to the vessel bed plate by means of pins with a dish spring interposed between the second supporter and the lower side of the annular projection of the first supporter to enclose the latter whereby the second supporter urges the first supporter upwardl

Abstract: An arrangement for closing the tap hole of a metallurgical vessel designed for separating metal and slag, includes a closure body which is insertable into the tap hole so as to leave free an annular gap relative to the tap hole wall. The closure body contains a compressed-gas conduit and has an outer jacket tapering towards the mouth of the compressed-gas conduit. In order to ensure the maintenance of an annular gap of constant size, and thus the original diameter of the tap hole, the tap hole is set off in step-like manner by two parts so as to widen outwardly. The outer tap hole part has a larger diameter than that the inner part, which is delimited by the lining of the metallurgical vessel. The outer part is formed by a hollow body whose inner ring wall surrounds the outer jacket of the closure body peripherally at a radial distance. The hollow body also has a cavity into which at least one supply and one discharge conduit for a coolant enter.

Abstract: The present invention has for its object a discharge gate for a container holding liquid metal, comprising two refractory members which are in face-to-face contact and are slidable one with respect to the other to open and close the gate, each of the members having a central aperture, which apertures are in register when the gate is open, and the gate being arranged such that the members can be moved with respect to one another in two, opposite directions away from the open position, for closing the gate, the gate thereby having two, different closed positions.

Abstract: A tap-hole closing arrangement comprises a closure body which is insertable into the tap hole on leaving free an annular gap relative to the tap hole wall and includes a compressed-gas conduit and an outer jacket that tapers towards the mouth of the compressed-gas conduit. For applying this arrangement to big converters and improving its slag-retention effect, the outer jacket is formed by a spherical-calotte-shaped face passing over into a frustroconical face, the height of the truncated cone being at least 1 time and at most 2.5 times the diameter of the mouth-side outlet opening of the compressed-gas conduit, and the aperture angle of the truncated cone amounting to at least 15.degree. and at most 70.degree..

Abstract: A releasing agent of a refractory nozzle fitted to the outlet of a molten metal, comprising graphite powder in an amount sufficient for imparting lubricity to the releasing agent, water and certain kinds of polysaccharide soluble in water and capable of gelatinizing the releasing agent. The polysaccharide is dissolved in water in an amount sufficient for gelatinizing the releasing agent and imparting adhesiveness and coating capability to the releasing agent.

Abstract: A metallurgical vessel having a tap hole containing a plug comprised of a hardened composition comprising a granular inorganic oxidic material other than glass powder and 1 to 30 weight percent, based on the weight of said material, of glass powder, especially a composition additionally containing a hardenable thermo- or cold-setting phenolic resin, which composition does not disintegrate at high temperatures and retains compressive strength.

Abstract: A method of closing phosphorus furnace tapholes which comprises applying pneumatic pressure at the taphole opening to force molten material in the boretube back into the furnace and then introducing sand particles through the taphole to meet and effect solidification of incoming molten furnace material thereby sealing off the inner opening of the boretube and filling the remainder of the boretube with sand. Tapping is readily accomplished by blowing out the loose sand and breaking the inner seal of solidified furnace material.

Abstract: In a method of and apparatus for closing a tap hole of a metallurgical vessel for separating metal and slag compressed gas is introduced into the tap hole after the metal has been poured off, the gas being introduced in a direction contrary to the pouring-off direction of the metal. The gas is introduced in such a manner that air is sucked inwardly along the mouth of the tap hole to aid in the burning-off of deposits around such mouth.

Abstract: A taphole boring or plugging machine having a simple and compact design affording rotation of the tool arm in several planes is provided which comprises: a pivotably supported connection at the free end of the machine tool arm and with a universal joint supported therein, and support bracket which is pivotably supported by the horizontal axle of the universal joint.

Abstract: A method of plugging phosphorus tapholes with a plug of matted ceramic fibers such as alumina-silica fibers wherein closure is effected by placing the ceramic plug, in the shape of a hollow cone, over a backing plug which is then inserted into the furnace taphole by means of a long handle attached to the base of the backing plug. The backing plug is maintained in place until molten furnace material solidifies against the plug thereby sealing off the taphole. Before the furnace is ready to be tapped, the backing plug is removed and the ceramic plug burned out with an oxygen lance.

Abstract: New compositions for refractory plugs to plug the tapholes of blast furnaces which exhibit less tendency to stiffen and to burn with the emission of heavy black smoke in use are prepared by adding 5-30 parts by weight of a petroleum pitch which has a high softening point and 10-30 parts by weight of dihydric alcohol or its polymer to 100 parts by weight of a conventional refractory aggregate composition and mixing the thus combined constituents to form a mixture.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for stopping the flow of metal from the taphole of a furnace. The method comprises the step of blowing air into the taphole with sufficient pressure to reverse the flow of the molten metal, and then reducing the pressure to a value sufficient to hold the metal in the furnace. The apparatus comprises a pipe adapted to be inserted into the taphole and of sufficient dimension to seal the taphole, and means for blowing air into the pipe initially at a predetermined pressure so as to reverse the flow of the molten metal in the taphole and then at a reduced pressure sufficient to hold the metal in the furnace.

Abstract: A closure device for use in preventing leakage of molten steel or other metal from the nozzle of a metal ladle comprises a pair of generally vertical elongated jaw members spaced and hinged at their bottom ends to a base member, the jaws and the base member being sized to permit insertion of the assembly into the bore of the nozzle. Immediately below the base member, there is positioned a washer plate having a size sufficient to block the bore of the nozzle. Passing upwardly through the plate and extending into the space between the jaw members there is a threaded rod provided at its upper end with an enlarged head contacting the opposed inner faces of the jaw members. The lower end of the rod below the washer is threadedly engaged to a wing nut which is manually operated.