Slide gate valve having a cementless joint between the valve and the metallurgical vessel

Abstract

A slide gate valve having a cementless joint between the valve and a metallurgical vessel containing molten metal is provided for facilitating the replacement of worn refractory components in the valve. The slide gate valve generally comprises a fixed refractory plate having a flow opening disposed generally in alignment with a tap opening of the metallurgical vessel, a movable refractory plate having at least one flow opening, an air cylinder for reciprocally moving the movable plate with respect to the fixed plate to control the overlap of the flow openings in order to modulate a flow of molten metal through the valve, a spring assembly for pressing the movable plate against the fixed plate to provide both static and dynamic seals between the plate, and a cementless joint between the flow tap of the metallurgical vessel and the fixed refractory plate formed by joint surfaces on the flow tap and the fixed plate which are compressively engageable to form a molten metal tight joint therebetween and compression means, which may be a spring arrangement, for sealingly compressing the mutually-engageable joint surfaces to create a joint without the need for extraneous adhesives or cement. In the method of the invention, the compression means of the joint preferably acts on the fixed plate when the plate is laterally slid away from the flow tap incident to a replacement operation to wipingly clean the joint surface of the flow tap of the metallurgical vessel.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A slide gate valve for regulating a flow of molten metal from a metallurgical vessel having a discharge tap with a protruding end that includes an opening, comprising: at least one fixed refractory plate having a flow opening disposed generally in alignment with the tap opening of the vessel,   at least one movable refractory plate having at least one flow opening;   a means for displacing the movable plate with respect to the fixed plate in order to control the overlap of the openings of the fixed plate and the movable plate to control a flow of molten meal,   means for compressing the movable plate against the fixed plate to provide a seal therebetween, and   a single, liquid-metal tight joint between said discharge tap and said fixed plate consisting of (i) a joint surface on the protruding end of the vessel discharge tap that circumscribes the tap opening, and a joint surface around the flow opening of the fixed plate, said joint surfaces being mutually compressively engageable to form a molten metal tight joint between said discharge tap and said fixed plate without the use of adhesive, and   (ii) compression means for generating a compressive force to sealingly compress said mutually engageable joint surfaces together to form a liquid metal tight seal without adhesives.     
     
     
       2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the joint surface of the discharge tap and the joint surface of the fixed plate are planar. 
     
     
       3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the joint surface of the tap comprises a refractory plate. 
     
     
       4. A device according to claim 2, further comprising means for facilitating the installation and removal of at least the fixed plate by sliding said fixed plate over said planar joint surface of the discharge tap, wherein said means are comprised of at least one lateral guide plate disposed on a side from which the fixed plate is introduced, which guide plate has a surface that leads into the joint surface of the tap in order to provide preguiding of the fixed plate with respect to the joint surface of the tap. 
     
     
       5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the level of the lead in surface of the guide plate is recessed with respect to the level of the tap, and a bevel is provided on said lead in surface to facilitate the installation of the fixed plate onto the joint surface of the tap. 
     
     
       6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the compression means for pressing the joint surface of the fixed plate against the joint surface of the tap to provide a seal actively press said joint surfaces during a sliding installation and removal of at least the fixed plate so as to remove any debris which may be present on said joint surfaces. 
     
     
       7. A device accordingly to claim 6, wherein the means for displacing the movable plate with respect to the fixed plate to control the overlap of the flow openings in each also functions to slidably install and remove at least said fixed plate. 
     
     
       8. A device accordingly to claim 1, further comprising: a housing;   a carrying frame for the fixed plate;   a carrying frame for the movable plate, and   means of mutually interconnecting the carrying frame of the fixed plate and either the housing or the carrying frame of the movable plate wherein said displacing means displaces the carrying frame of the movable plate relative to the carrying frame of the fixed plate.   
     
     
       9. A device accordingly to claim 8, wherein the means of mutually interconnecting the carrying frame of the fixed plate to either the housing or the carrying frame of the movable plate comprises a two-position lock mounted on the carrying frame of the fixed plate, wherein in a first position of said lock said lock immobilizes the carrying frame of the fixed plate with respect to the housing, and in a second position said lock immobilizes said frame with respect to the carrying frame of the movable plate and wherein the extent that said means for displacing the carrying frame of the movable plate is sufficient to free the fixed plate from the region of influence of the compression means which presses the fixed plate against the joint surface of the tap opening. 
     
     
       10. A device accordingly to claim 9, further comprising a detent which is fixed with respect to the housing, wherein a fixed plate abuts said detent, and the lock has means for taking up play between said detent and said fixed plate by holding the fixed plate against said detent by the intermediary of the carrying frame of the fixed plate, such that the fixed plate and the carrying frame of the fixed plate are together immobilized with respect to the housing. 
     
     
       11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the means of compressing the fixed plate against the joint surface of the tap opening to provide a seal there between is the same as the compression means for pressing the movable plate against the fixed plate to provide a seal therebetween. 
     
     
       12. A device accordingly to claim 3, wherein the plate forming the joint surface of the tap opening comprises a refractory plate surrounding said opening and mounted on a metal support which enables said plate to be rigidly fixed to the metallurgical vessel. 
     
     
       13. A device accordingly to claim 12, wherein at least part of the surface of the metal support is disposed co-planar with the joint surface of the refractory plate, so as to effectively widen the surface area of support of the fixed plate against the joint surface of the tap. 
     
     
       14. A device according to claim 12, wherein blocks having a machining compatibility with the refractory plate are rigidly fixed to the metal support, said blocks being machined to be co-planar with the refractory plate so as to effectively widen the surface area of support of the fixed plate against said joint surface. 
     
     
       15. A valve plate replacement method for a slide gate valve installed on a metallurgical vessel provided with a discharge tap with a protruding end having an opening, wherein said gate valve is of the type having at least one fixed refractory plate having a flow opening disposed generally in alignment with the tap opening, at least one movable refractory plate having at least one flow opening, means for displacing the movable plate with respect to the fixed plate in order to control an overlap of the opening of the fixed and movable plate to control a flow of molten metal from said vessel, and a means of compression which presses the movable plate against the fixed plate to provide a seal, comprising the steps of forming joint surfaces on said protruding end of said discharge tap around said opening and around said flow opening of said fixed refractory plate that form a single, liquid molten metal-tight joint when forcefully engaged together, and   compressing said joint surface together with a compression means to form a single, liquid metal-tight seal consisting of only said compressed joint surfaces without the need for adhesives or cement.   
     
     
       16. A method according to claim 15, further including the step of laterally installing or removing said fixed plate from said position with respect to the tap opening by sliding said fixed plate under said compression means to a position where it is compressed by said means against said discharge tap before the flow opening of said fixed plate begins to come into alignment with the tap of the vessel. .Iadd. 
     
     
       17.  A slide gate valve for regulating a flow of molten metal from a metallurgical vessel having a discharge tap with a protruding end that includes an opening, comprising: at least one fixed refractory plate having a flow opening disposed generally in alignment with the tap opening of the vessel,   a means for continuously securing said fixed refractory plate against lateral movement relative to said metallurgical vessel during a casting operation;   at least one laterally movable refractory plate having at least one flow opening;   a means for displacing the movable plate with respect to the fixed plate in order to control the overlap of the openings of the fixed plate and the movable plate to control a flow of molten meal,   means for compressing the movable plate against the fixed plate to provide a seal therebetween, and   a single, liquid-metal tight joint between said discharge tap and said fixed plate consisting of (i) a joint surface on the protruding end of the vessel discharge tap that circumscribes the tap opening, and a joint surface around the flow opening of the fixed plate, said joint surfaces being mutually compressively engageable to form a molten metal tight joint between said discharge tap and said fixed plate without the use of adhesive, and   (ii) compression means for generating a compressive force to sealingly compress said mutually engageable joint surfaces together to form a liquid metal tight seal without adhesives..Iaddend..Iadd.     
     
     
       18.  A device according to claim 17, wherein the joint surface of the discharge tap and the joint surface of the fixed plate are planar..Iaddend..Iadd. 
     
     
       19.  A device according to claim 17, wherein the joint surface of the tap comprises a refractory plate..Iaddend..Iadd.20. A device according to claim 18, further comprising means for facilitating the installation and removal of at least the fixed plate by sliding said fixed plate over said planar joint surface of the discharge tap such that said tap is completely unobstructed, wherein said means are comprised of at least one lateral guide plate disposed on a side from which the fixed plate is introduced, which guide plate has a surface that leads into the joint surface of the tap in order to provide preguiding of the fixed plate with respect to the joint surface of the tap..Iaddend..Iadd.21. A device according to claim 20, wherein the level of the lead in surface of the guide plate is recessed with respect to the level of the joint surface of the tap, and a bevel is provided on said lead in surface to facilitate the installation of the fixed plate onto the joint surface of the tap..Iaddend..Iadd.22. The device according to claim 17, wherein the compression means for pressing the joint surface of the fixed plate against the joint surface of the tap to provide a seal actively press said joint surfaces during a sliding installation and removal of at least the fixed plate so as to remove any debris which may be present on said joint surfaces..Iaddend..Iadd.23. A device accordingly to claim 22, wherein the means for displacing the movable plate with respect to the fixed plate to control the overlap of the flow openings in each also functions to slidably install and remove at least said fixed plate..Iaddend..Iadd.24. A device accordingly to claim 17, wherein said securing means includes: a housing;   a carrying frame for the fixed plate, and   means for mutually interconnecting the carrying frame of the fixed plate and the housing wherein said displacing means displaces the carrying frame of the movable plate relative to the carrying frame of the fixed plate during a casting operation..Iaddend..Iadd.25. A device according to claim 24, further comprising a carrying frame for the movable plate, and wherein said mutually interconnecting means also functions to interconnect the carrying of same of the fixed plate and the carrying frame of the movable plate so that said displacing means simultaneously displaces both of said plates away from the action of the compression means..Iaddend..Iadd.26. A device accordingly to claim 25, wherein the means of mutually interconnecting the carrying frame of the fixed plate to either the housing or the carrying frame of the movable plate comprises a two-position lock mounted on the carrying frame of the fixed plate, wherein in a first position of said lock said lock immobilizes the carrying frame of the fixed plate with respect to the housing, and in a second position said lock immobilizes said frame with respect to the carrying frame of the movable plate and wherein the extent that said means for displacing the carrying frame of the movable plate is sufficient to free the fixed plate from the region of influence of the compression means which presses the fixed plate against the joint surface of the tap opening..Iaddend..Iadd.27. A device accordingly to claim 26, further comprising a detent which is fixed with respect to the housing, wherein a fixed plate abuts said detent, and the lock has means for taking up play between said detent and said fixed plate by holding the fixed plate against said detent by the intermediary of the carrying frame of the fixed plate, such that the fixed plate and the carrying frame of the fixed plate are together immobilized with respect to the housing..Iaddend..Iadd.28. A device according to claim 17, wherein the means of compressing the fixed plate against the joint surface of the tap opening to provide a seal there between is the same as the compression means for pressing the movable plate against the fixed plate to provide a seal therebetween..Iaddend..Iadd.29. A device accordingly to claim 19, wherein the plate forming the joint surface of the tap opening comprises a refractory plate surrounding said opening and mounted on a metal support which enables said plate to be rigidly fixed to the metallurgical vessel..Iaddend..Iadd.30. A device accordingly to claim 29, wherein at least part of the surface of the metal support is disposed co-planar with the joint surface of the refractory plate, so as to effectively widen the surface area of support of the fixed plate against the joint surface of the tap..Iaddend..Iadd.31. A device according to claim 29, wherein blocks having a machining compatibility with the refractory plate are rigidly fixed to the metal support, said blocks being machined to be co-planar with the refractory plate so as to effectively widen the surface area of support of the fixed plate against said joint surface..Iaddend..Iadd.32. A valve plate replacement method for a slide gate valve installed on   a metallurgical vessel provided with a discharge tap with a protruding end having an opening, wherein said gate valve   includes at least one fixed refractory plate having a flow opening disposed generally in alignment with the tap opening, a means for securing said fixed refractory plate relative to said metallurgical vessel during a casting operation; at least one movable refractory plate having at least one flow opening, means for displacing the movable plate with respect to the fixed plate in order to control an overlap of the opening of the fixed and movable plate to control a flow of molten metal from said vessel, and a means of compression which presses the movable plate against the fixed plate to provide a seal, comprising the steps of forming joint surfaces on said protruding end of said discharge tap around said opening and around said flow opening of said fixed refractory plate that form a single, liquid molten metal-tight joint when forcefully engaged together,   compressing said joint surface together with a compression means to form a single, liquid metal-tight seal consisting of only said compressed joint surfaces without the need for adhesives or cement, and   maintaining said fixed refractory plate in a rigidly affixed position with respect to said metallurgical vessel continuously during a casting     
     
     
        operation..Iaddend..Iadd.33.  A method according to claim 32, further including the step of laterally installing or removing said fixed plate from said position with respect to the tap opening before or after a casting operation by sliding said fixed plate under said compression means to a position where it is compressed by said means against said discharge tap before the flow opening of said fixed plate begins to come into alignment with the tap of the vessel..Iaddend..Iadd.34. A slide gate valve for regulating a flow of molten metal from a metallurgical vessel having a discharge tap with a protruding end that includes an opening, comprising: at least one fixed refractory plate having a flow opening disposed generally in alignment with the tap opening of the vessel,   at least one movable refractory plate having at least one flow opening;   a support means disposed around a lower surface of said movable refractory plate;   a means for displacing the movable plate with respect to the fixed plate in order to control the overlap of the openings of the fixed plate and the movable plate to control a flow of molten meal,   means for compressing the movable plate against the fixed plate to provide a seal therebetween, and   a single, liquid-metal tight joint between said discharge tap and said fixed plate consisting of (i) a joint surface on the protruding end of the vessel discharge tap that circumscribes the tap opening, and a joint surface around the flow opening of the fixed plate, said joint surfaces being mutually compressively engageable to form a molten metal tight joint between said discharge tap and said fixed plate without the use of adhesive, and   (ii) compression means engaging said support means for generating a compressive force to sealingly compress said mutually engageable joint surfaces together to form a liquid metal tight seal without     
     
     
        adhesives..Iaddend..Iadd.35.  A valve plate replacement method for a slide gate valve installed on a metallurgical vessel provided with a discharge tap with a protruding end having an opening, wherein said gate valve   includes at least one fixed refractory plate having a flow opening disposed generally in alignment with the tap opening, at least one movable refractory plate having at least one flow opening, a support means disposed around a lower surface of said movable refractory plate, means for displacing the movable plate with respect to the fixed plate in order to control an overlap of the opening of the fixed and movable plate to control a flow of molten metal from said vessel, and a means of compression which presses the movable plate against the fixed plate to provide a seal, comprising the steps of forming joint surfaces on said protruding end of said discharge tap around said opening and around said flow opening of said fixed refractory plate that form a single, liquid molten metal-tight joint when forcefully engaged together, and   compressing said joint surface together with a compression means that engages said support means to form a single, liquid metal-tight seal consisting of only said compressed joint surfaces without the need for     
     
     
        adhesives or cement..Iaddend..Iadd.36.  A slide gate valve for regulating a flow of molten metal from a metallurgical vessel having a discharge tap with an annular, protruding end that includes an opening, comprising: at least one fixed refractory plate having a flow opening disposed generally in alignment with the tap opening of the vessel,   at least one movable refractory plate having at least one flow opening;   a means for displacing the movable plate with respect to the fixed plate in order to control the overlap of the openings of the fixed plate and the movable plate to control a flow of molten meal,   means for compressing the movable plate against the fixed plate to provide a seal therebetween, and   a single, liquid-metal tight joint between said discharge tap and said fixed plate consisting of (i) an annular joint surface that is co-extensive with the annular protruding end of the vessel discharge tap that circumscribes the tap opening, and a joint surface around the flow opening of the fixed plate, said joint surfaces being mutually compressively engageable to form a molten metal tight joint between said discharge tap and said fixed plate without the use of adhesive, and   (ii) compression means for generating a compressive force to sealingly compress said mutually engageable joint surfaces together to form a liquid metal tight seal without adhesives..Iaddend..Iadd.37. A valve plate replacement method for a slide gate valve installed on     a metallurgical vessel provided with a discharge tap with an annular protruding end having an opening, wherein said gate valve is of the type having at least one fixed refractory plate having a flow opening disposed generally in alignment with the tap opening, at least one movable refractory plate having at least one flow opening, means for displacing the movable plate with respect to the fixed plate in order to control an overlap of the opening of the fixed and movable plate to control a flow of molten metal from said vessel, and a means of compression which presses the movable plate against the fixed plate to provide a seal, comprising the steps of forming annular joint surfaces on said protruding end of said discharge tap around said opening and around said flow opening of said fixed refractory plate that form a single, annular liquid molten metal-tight joint that is coextensive with the annular end of the vessel discharge tap when forcefully engaged together, and   compressing said joint surface together with a compression means to form a single, annular liquid metal-tight seal consisting of only said compressed joint surfaces without the need for adhesives or cement..Iaddend.