GB1224616A - Valve closure for ladles and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

1,224,616. Foundry ladle valves. DIDIERWERKE A.G. 16 Dec., 1968 [30 Dec., 1967], No. 59289/67. Heading F4B. [Also in Division F2] A valve for controlling the discharge of molten metal from a ladle comprises a head 1, a support member 3 for the head, a body 4b having an internal flow passage 15 and means 13 to support the member 3 at a plurality of circumferentially-spaced locations from the body whereby the downward flow is divided into a plurality of streams 14 where it passes the support member, the head having a cup 1a to receive some of the molten metal or containing a metal core to counteract the effect of buoyancy. The seat 2 and its supporting blocks 5 form part of the refractory lining of the ladle while the valve body 4b may be moved axially in a cylindrical collar 10 by a mechanical or hydraulic actuator to which it is connected by bosses 12. The head, support member and body may be formed integrally with each other or as two in three separate members, the parts exposed to high temperature being made from a refractory containing 80% Al 2 O 3 , 15% S 1 O 2 , 3% ZrO 2 , 0-5% Fe 2 O 3 and about 0-8% alkali oxides or from one containing 90% tabular alumina and 9% S 1 O 2 mainly present as mullite. The upper surface of the valve head has a wetted surface which is large in relation to that on the underside so that under normal conditions the forces imposed by the melt nullify the buoyancy of the head and there is no need to anchor the latter to its support member. The parts below the valve head may be lowered as a complete sub-assembly to facilitate inspection and replacement.