JPH03114640A - Flow control valve for molten bath - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To enable the quick inserting work between a top plate and a pouring tube supporting plate without any danger causing the damage by arranging a portion forming a cam surface projected as arc-state below a shoulder part along at least the side surface in the horizontal direction of a refractory in a metallic casing. CONSTITUTION: Since the metallic casing is seated and engaged on a contracting rail 84, and the fitting portion of a valve is slidingly engaged on a sliding rail and the discharging portion 62 thereof is slidingly engaged on the shoulder part 138, the shoulder part 186 is arranged at the intermediate part of the upper and the lower edges. The lower part 190 of the metallic casing is formed as large curvature radius, and at the time of shifting each sliding gate assembly within working portion of the valve with a pusher 74, the sliding gate assembly can be guided to the upper part in the upper edge of the pouring tube supporting assembly without breaking any member.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to a sliding gate valve for flow control.

There are two types of sliding gate valves that are attached to molten metal containers such as tundishes, one of which is a sequential movement type and the other is a reciprocating type. For example, the sequential movement type is
As shown in Publication No. 18137, a plurality of sliding gates are sequentially moved along a guide path relative to the pouring opening of a molten metal container such as a tundish, and the sliding gate with an orifice overlaps with the pouring opening. Sometimes the molten metal flows, and when a sliding gate without holes overlaps with the pouring opening, the molten metal flow is stopped.The reciprocating type has an orifice, as shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-41142, for example. A single sliding gate with a diameter is placed on a support frame and reciprocated to allow the molten metal to flow when the orifice matches the spouting opening, and to stop the flow when the orifice is removed from the spouting opening.

The former has the advantage of being able to quickly replace the sliding gate when it wears out, but the flow rate is changed by replacing the sliding gate with one with a different orifice diameter, so continuous flow control is not possible, and the orifice The problem is that a large number of sliding gates with different diameters must be prepared, and in the latter case, the flow rate can be adjusted by moving the sliding gates to change the overlap between the orifice and the pouring opening of the container and restrict the flow of the molten metal. However, when the sliding gate becomes worn out, in order to replace it, the valve mechanism must be opened, the sliding gate removed from the support frame, and replaced with a new one, which requires a long time. The disadvantage is that you have to stop driving.

For this reason, the successive movement type sliding gate valve has the advantage of being able to quickly replace the sliding gate when it wears out, and by giving the sliding gate valve the ability to infinitely adjust the flow rate from fully open to fully closed by throttling action, it is possible to increase the number of A sliding gate valve was proposed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-59071, which solved the drawback of the conventional method of requiring a sliding gate. This sliding gate valve, which basically belongs to the sliding gate valve of the sequential displacement type, has two independently actuable drives, one of which is a series of sliding gate valves supported on a support frame. operative to sequentially move the movable gate along the support frame to the operative position;
The other one is connected to the support frame and moves the support frame independently of the first drive device to provide a flow rate restricting effect, and this configuration allows the valve to be shut off immediately in the event of a danger. It has the ability to immediately return to the adjusted flow rate when the danger has passed and it is desired to restore the flow of molten metal.

However, the sliding gate valve described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-59071 still has some points to be improved when actually used in the field. One is that the sliding gate operating between the refractory top plate of the valve and the spout tube support plate damages these refractories.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a flow control valve with a sliding gate that can be quickly inserted and operated between the top plate and the spout tube support plate without the risk of causing such damage.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a guide structure having a longitudinally extending sliding gate with a hole for controlling the flow of molten metal between the spout of a spout and a spout tube support. a generally rectangular refractory with holes that define orifices through which the molten metal flows;
controlling the flow of molten metal having a metal casing surrounding the sides of the refractory and a shoulder formed on the surface of the metal casing to guide and move the sliding gate both longitudinally and laterally; In the flow control valve, the metal casing has a portion forming a cam surface projecting in an arc below the shoulder along at least a lateral side surface of the refractory. be done.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings together with a detailed description of the general structure of a sliding gate valve by way of example.

1 and 2, a tundish or the like for pouring molten metal into a mold of a continuous casting apparatus (not shown) is installed in operative relation with a spout 12 in a lining 14 of a pouring tank 16. A sliding gate valve structure 10 is shown.

For pouring, use a perforated refractory sliding gate as shown at 17 in Figures 2, 6 and 7, or a non-perforated refractory sliding gate as shown at 17' in Figure 1 using a refractory top plate. 18. The sliding gate valve structure 10 also includes a replaceable spout tube assembly 19 that forms an extension of the valve for directing the flow of poured molten metal to the mold of the casting apparatus. The sliding gate valve structure 10 has a hole 21 in the frame 22.
It is adapted to be attached to the reservoir 16 by a threaded connection 20 extending therethrough. That is, a threaded connection 20 attaches the frame 22 to a mounting plate 23, which in turn is attached to the tank by bolts (not shown) that connect to nut plates 24 below the lining 14 of the tank.

It is preferable to insert a thermally insulating pad 26 made of asbestos or the like between the mounting plate 23 and the tank 16.

As shown in FIG. 4, the mounting plate 23 is a generally small metal plate having a central opening 28 for receiving the lower end 30 of the refractory material forming the tank spout 12. The upper surface of the mounting plate 23 has a recess 31 along its side edge, and the recess has a bolt hole 32 for receiving a nut 34 that cooperates with the screw connection 20.
Communicate with.

Mounting plate 23 is provided with a plurality of internal fluid passages for conducting cooling air and inert gas during valve operation. A first passageway 36 concentric with the central opening 28 is defined by a recess formed in the wall of the opening and covered by a ring 38 which is welded to the mounting plate to seal the passageway. Furthermore,
The mounting plate is formed with a pair of oppositely extending elongated passages 40, 42 which extend around three of the mounting plates and terminate in downwardly directed outlets 44 for supplying cooling air to the valve springs as will be described in more detail below. supply. The air population 46 is connected to the fluid passage 36,
40 and 42 are provided on one side of the mounting plate for conveying cooling air, these passages being connected in series as shown by arrow 48;
The cooling air is thereby first directed around the annular passage 36 and then through the passage 40.4 before being discharged via the outlet 44.
2, it will lead you in both directions.

Also provided in the mounting plate 23 is an elongated passageway 50 which communicates at one end with an opening 52 on one side of the mounting plate for coupling to a source of inert gas and at the other end with an opening 52 in the top plate 18 of the valve to be described below. a downwardly directed discharge opening 5 adapted to communicate with a gas supply device within the
Connects with 4.

Valve frame 22, which is formed from a machined metal casting reinforced with members 56, is particularly shown in FIGS. This frame 22 houses the actuating parts of the valve structure and is adapted to be attached to and removed from the mounting plate 23 as an assembled unit by screw connections 20. Frame 22 has three major sections, shown in FIG. 3 as plate mounting section 58, actuation section 60, and temporary ejection section 62. Near the plate mounting portion 58, the frame 22 mounts a bracket arrangement 66 for mounting a feed drive 68 with a coupling (not shown) engageable in a threaded hole 64 (FIG. 8). The feed drive 68 is a fluid actuated cylinder 70 having a reciprocatable piston attaching a piston rod 72 and a pusher 74.
has. A second set of drivers, referred to as "paper diaphragm drives", are mounted on the frame 22 near its working part 60. These drives 76 operate oppositely and are separate from the feed drive 68. Operate.

Each of these has an actuating cylinder 78 mounted to the frame by a bracket 80, which has a hole 82 (
(FIG. 9) is attached to the frame side wall with an engageable coupling. Each of the cylinders 78 houses a reciprocatable piston, the rod 83 of which is fitted with a laterally elongated coupling catch 86 that engages a sliding pin 88, which slide pin 88 is inserted into an opening 90 (Fig. J9) in the side wall of the frame. Attaching is an aperture rail 84,84' which is received and guided by and is operative to operate a sliding gate located within the working part 60 of the frame. Rail 84' is shorter than rail 84 to allow the gate to pass through mounting portion 58 of the frame.

The interior of the frame 22 includes one frame portion 58,
A sliding gate 17 or 1 is inserted between the operating part 60 and the discharge part 62.
7' and the spout tube assembly 19 are shaped to define a passageway through which they can move. The mounting portions 58 of the frame 22 described herein are fitted with sliding gates 17, 17' respectively.
and the dispensing tube assembly 19 (FIG. 9).

The guide path 92 is connected to the guide path 9 by sliding rails 96 extending oppositely to each other.
4, a rail 96 serves to support a sliding gate mounted within the valve. The bottom of the guideway 94 is defined by a similar set of sliding rails 98 that support the dispensing tube 19 attached thereto. A contact rail 99 along the roof of the frame in this part is provided when the sliding gate 17 moves from the mounting part 58 of the valve to its operating part 60.
It acts to place 7 vertically.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the frame 22 allows insertion of a sliding gate or spout tube from either the right or left side by providing identical guideways 92', 94' on opposite sides of the frame. is being used. Guide route 92
．． 92' on the opposite side of the frame when 94 is selected for use.
.
and a guideway 92' vertically spaced apart from the guideway 92'.

94' and stop plates 106, 108 to effectively prevent the dispensing tube from moving beyond the desired position near the pusher 74. Obviously, installation from the opposite side of the frame simply involves moving the filler member 100 through the guideway 92'94'.
This is easily accomplished by moving the guideway 92,94 from the opposite side to fill the guideway 92,94 on the opposite side.

The working portion 60 of the frame 22 includes a square opening 110 in its upper surface for receiving the stationary refractory top plate 18, the central opening 112 of the refractory top plate aligning with the spout 12 from the vessel to define an inlet to the gate valve structure 10. do. Vertically spaced below the opening 110, the frame 22 is provided with opposing spaced bases 114 which cooperate with the earthen walls of the frame to define a cavity 115. base 114
are provided with laterally spaced threaded holes 116 which are connected to the spout tube assembly 19, sliding gate 17 or 1.
7', and receives a combination 118 mounting a series of spring-loaded levers 120 operative to hold the top plate 18 in face-to-face sealing relationship. Lever 120 swings on a rocker 122 held by coupling body 118 and includes a headed push pin 124 movably mounted within a hole 126 in the frame.
The spring is suppressed. Hole 126 is counterbored at its upper end to provide a seat for a push pin head 128 and a spring 130, which is inserted between the push pin head and the opposing surface of mounting plate 23.

As shown in FIG. 2, the holes 126 in the frame 22 communicate with the outlets 44 in the mounting plate 23, whereby cooling air is supplied to prevent the springs 130 from overheating. Exhaust ports 44 preferably include exhaust holes 132 to effectively distribute cooling air to the respective spring assemblies.

1 on each side wall of the valve frame 22 near the actuating part 600.
A pair of vertically spaced alignment holes shown at 96.198 are provided. Each pair of alignment holes is adapted to receive a selectively positionable stop pin 200 that traverses the respective path of movement of the sliding gate or spout tube assembly and that, during the gate replacement process, stops the sliding gate. 17 or spout tube assembly 19 to prevent movement of either when it is desired to replace the sliding gate or spout tube assembly with another sliding gate or spout tube assembly.

Similar holes 196' are provided in rails 84, 84' (FIG. 1) to allow stop pins 200 to pass through these members. When it is desired to replace both the sliding gate 17 and the spout tube assembly 19 at the same time, the stop pin 200 is fully withdrawn from the frame, leaving both paths of motion unobstructed. Under normal operating conditions, the stop pin 200 is inserted into the lower pair of holes 19 to free the path of movement of the sliding gate so that the flow of molten metal can be quickly stopped, as will be described later.
It is held at 8.

The evacuation portion 62 of the frame 22 is formed with vertically spaced guideways 134, 136 that open at the ends of the frame (FIG. 9). Guideways 134, 136 are formed in the longitudinal extension of the base 114 to guide the sliding gate 17 or 17' and the spout tube assembly 19, respectively, from a location within the actuating portion 60 of the valve to a discharge point described below. It is defined by stepped shoulders 138.degree. 140 which act as slide-guiding rails.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the aperture rails 84, 84' are located within the frame 22 at approximately the same height as the sliding gate mounting guideway 92. Rail 84 is longer than rail 84' and extends substantially the entire length inside the frame. The other rail 84'
The sliding gate 17 is guided through the guide passage 92 when the sliding gate is installed.
It is shorter than the rail 84 so that it can be connected to the position associated with the pusher 74. rail 84
further includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced magnets 142 along the length facing guideway 92 (FIG. 1), where the magnets include six quadrupolar permanent magnets. has been done. Its function, as will be described later, is that the sliding gate 17 or 17' in the installation preparation position closes the rail 8 while the rail is moving to release the throttle function of the valve.
This is to prevent them from falling out of number 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sliding gate 17 of the valve structure 10
', top plate 18 and spout tube assembly 19 each consist of substantially refractory material encased within a metal frame.

The spout tube assembly 19 intended for use in the valve structure described above is of conventional construction consisting of an elongated cylindrical tube 144 having an axial opening 145. The tube 144 is long enough to allow its lower end to extend into a casting machine mold or the like (not shown). The upper end of the tube 144 is adapted to be received within a recess 146 in the underside of a generally flat rectangular refractory plate called a tube retaining plate 148 . The tube holding plate 148 has a through opening 149 coaxial with the tube opening 145, and is surrounded by a metal casing 150 around the exposed bottom portion and around the circumferential side thereof.

As shown, mortar cement is used to seal the seam between the upper end of tube 144 and retainer plate 148 and to mount the retainer in a metal casing. The metal casing protects the mortar interface. The downward skirt 152 works to strengthen the bottom surface of the casing.
It is good to have a Fill the gap 153 between the skirt and the tube with a heat resistant material such as asbestos rope (not shown).
It can be used to satisfy The secondary attachment between the tube 144 and the retaining plate includes a shoulder 1 near the top of the tube.
This is accomplished by providing a collar 154 defining a collar 56 and engaging a retaining ring 158 to the shoulder 156 that is removably attached to the metal casing 150, such as by screw fasteners (not shown). Opening 145 of spout tube 144
The opening 149 in the holding plate 148 is preferably formed to have a slightly larger diameter than the opening in the sliding gate to allow metal to be discharged from the passage when the valve is fully closed.

The top plate assembly 18 of the present valve structure is shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5. The top plate assembly 18 has a rectangular refractory 160 mortared into a metal casing 162 of generally square cross-section around the periphery. Top surface 164 of refractory 160
extends above the upper edge of the metal casing and so as to provide smooth face-to-face contact between the underside of the mounting plate 23 and the refractory lining 14 of the vessel when the top plate assembly is within its working portion of the valve structure. A polished finish is provided. The refractory 160 is provided with a centrally stepped through opening 166 for receiving a permeable refractory insert 168 in the form of a porous plug with an axial opening defining a melt flow opening 112 through the refractory. The insert 168 has a stepped outer surface 172 to complement the refractory opening 166, and the outermost step is adapted to be cemented with the mating step of the opening. The middle step is significantly smaller in diameter than the middle step of the aperture. In this way, the inert gas is passed through the insert into the molten metal opening 112.
An annular passageway 174 is defined around the insert 168 for supplying the same. The refractory is provided with an inclined passageway 176 which opens at 178 at the top of the refractory and is positioned to communicate with the opening 54 in the underside of the mounting plate 23 when the valve is assembled. Thus, the inclined passage 176 allows the molten metal flow path 112 to flow while the valve is closed.
A convenient device is provided for supplying an inert gas within the molten metal flow path, thereby agitating the metal within the molten metal flow path and preventing its solidification. By forming the annular ring in this way, the top plate assembly 1
8 can be made using conventional refractory forming methods without the need for expensive machining with breakable or multi-part processing tools.

The sliding gate assembly used in the valve structure is shown at 17' in Figure 1.
It may have no holes, as shown in FIG. 2, or it may have an opening 180, as shown at 17 in FIGS. 2, 6, and 7. The imperforate gate 17' is used to prevent the flow of molten metal through the valve, as shown in FIG. sometimes used Both gates 17.17', 6th
It is made in the same manner to have a generally rectangular refractory plate 182 in which the feed direction shown at (F)7 in FIG. 7 is slightly longer than the drawing direction shown at (T). The refractory board 182 is cemented into a metal casing 184 surrounding the perimeter of the refractory board. The metal casing 184 seats and engages the throttle rails 84, 84' and slide rails 96 at the mounting portion 58 of the valve.
a shoulder 186 (FIG. 1) between its upper and lower edges for sliding engagement on the shoulder 138 in the discharge portion 62;
can be established. The refractory plate 182 is formed with a shoulder 188 (FIG. 2) that complements the shoulder of the metal casing.

The lower portion of the metal casing, indicated at 190, is formed with a large radius of curvature to provide a guiding cam surface, so that neither member breaks when the respective sliding gate assembly is moved into the working portion of the valve by the pusher 74. The sliding gate assembly can be guided over the upper edge of the spout tube retaining assembly without any interference.

Fireproof plate 18 near the lower part 190 of large curvature of the metal casing
The lower part of 2 is sloped as shown and provides an enlarged mortar receptacle 1928 between the fireproof plate and the metal casing. The large mortar bed in this area of the sliding gate assembly cushions the sliding gate as it moves across the tube holding assembly 19 and when the sliding gate is operated by the movable rail 84, 84' during throttling. I will work to do so.

Sliding gate assembly 17 differs from assembly 17' in that the former has melt flow openings 180 while the latter is imperforate. The location of the aperture 180 in the refractory plate is precisely placed along the longitudinal centerline of the refractory plate, but in FIG.
offset by an amount equal to
When contacting wall 194 of 15, aperture 180 is vertically aligned with aperture 112 in the top plate to permit full flow of molten metal through the spout passage.

Gate 17 makes a full stroke to the left and rail 84 touches wall 1
Upon contact with 94, aperture 180 is completely disengaged from aperture 112, thereby stopping the flow of molten metal through the valve. By actuating the throttle drive 76, the position of the aperture 180 in the gate 17 can be adjusted to any desired position intermediate these full stroke positions with respect to the top plate aperture 112, thereby reducing the flow of molten metal through the valve. The effective dimensions of the channel can be varied to control the flow rate of molten metal therethrough.

A typical commercial embodiment of the sliding gate assembly 17 is approximately 277 mm (10,9 inches) along the feed direction (F).
, 328 mm (12,9 inches) along the aperture direction (T) and 76 mm (3 inches) diameter aperture 1
The center of 80 is approximately 44 mm (1,
75 inches) offset, thereby leaving approximately 13 mm (13 mm) between time openings 112 and 180 when gate 17 is in the shutoff position.
/2 inches) of refractory material.

The operation of the valve structure 10 described herein is as follows.

The valve frame 22 is constructed by pre-assembling the top plate 18, solid sliding gate 17' and spout tube assembly 19 within the working portion 60 of the valve frame as shown in FIG. It is attached to 23. Channel opening 112 through top plate 18 is then vertically aligned with spout 12 through tank lining 14. When the molten metal is introduced into the tank, the flow of the molten metal through the valve is blocked due to the flow path obstruction by the flow-impermeable sliding gate 17'. During this metal retention period, an inert gas such as argon or nitrogen permeates the porous walls of the insert via passages 50 in mounting plate 23 and passages 176 in the top plate leading to annular passages 174 around insert 168. and enters the spout hole 112 in the top plate. The introduction of inert gas in this manner serves to agitate the molten metal within the blocked flow path, thereby preventing it from solidifying therein. Cooling air is also admitted to the valve via the inlet 46 in the mounting plate 23, from where it flows sequentially through the annular passage 36 around the lower area of the tank lining 14, cooling the refractory material in this area and then through the passage. 40.42 (FIG. 4) and cools the spring 130 (FIG. 2).

Once the throttle device has placed the rail 84,84' in the position shown in FIG. 2 where the rail 84 contacts the cavity wall 194, the perforated sliding gate 17 is manually inserted into the mounting portion 58 of the valve.

The sliding gate 17 is inserted into the guideway 92 with the sliding gate shoulder 186 slidingly engaged on the sliding rail 96. The sliding gate 17 is moved until its leading edge abuts the rail 84 and is held against the rail 84 by the magnet 142, thus moving the sliding gate 17 against the feeding driver 6.
8 in its ready position near pusher 74. The feed drive 68 is then actuated, the pusher 74 moves the sliding gate 17 from its ready position to the actuating portion 60 of the valve frame 22 between the top plate 18 and the spout tube assembly 19, and the imperforate gate 17' Exhaust portion 6 along shoulder 138
2, where it is removed from the frame. An effective face-to-face seal between each fireproof plate is provided by a spring-loaded lever 120.
, the lever pushes the tube retaining plate 148 upwardly towards the sliding gate 17 and then pushes the sliding gate 17 upwardly towards the top plate 18 . sliding gate 1
Because of the large radius lower portion 190 in the metal casing 184 of 7, the sliding gate is guided across the opposite edge of the spring-loaded spout tube retaining plate 148 without damaging the spout tube retaining plate. The feed drive 68 is then actuated in the opposite direction, retracting the pusher 74 to the position of FIG.
For safety reasons, as shown in FIG. is inserted in a similar manner.

When it is desired to begin flowing molten metal through the valve, the flow of inert gas to the opening 112 is stopped and the throttle drive 76, operating in unison, connects the rails 84, 84' and the sliding gate 17 held in the rails. is actuated to move laterally within the cavity 115. Normally, the aperture driver 76 is connected to the rail 84.
. This defines the fully open position of the valve. Alternatively, when the flow rate of the molten metal is desired to be smaller than the full flow rate, the throttle drive body can be controlled so that the sliding gate 17 is placed at any intermediate position between fully open and fully closed, and the desired intermediate position can be achieved. It is possible to create a flow rate. Furthermore, during the pouring process, the position of the sliding gate is changed by controlling the operation of the aperture driver 76 that applies a restricting movement of the sliding gate 17 and its opening 180 relative to the top plate pouring opening 112, thereby controlling the valve as desired. It is possible to increase or decrease the flow rate of the molten metal passing through it.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a sliding gate valve to which the present invention is applied, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 1. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the mounting plate of a sliding gate valve to which the present invention is applied, showing the flow paths for cooling air and inert gas, and FIG. 6 is a plan view of a sliding gate constructed according to the present invention; FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the sliding gate of FIG. 6; and FIG. 8 is a valve frame before assembly. 9 is a perspective view from below of the valve frame structure of FIG. 8; FIG. 10... Sliding gate valve structure, 12... Outlet, 14
... Lining, 16... Pouring tank, 17... Perforated gate, 17'... Non-perforated gate, 18... Top plate, 1
9... Output tube assembly, 22... Frame, 2
3... Mounting plate, 58... Mounting part, 60... Operating part, 62... Discharge part, 68... Supply drive body, 7
4...Pusher, 76...Aperture drive body, 84°4 84'...Rail, 112...Aperture, 142...
Magnet, 144... Tube, 145... Opening, 146... Recess, 148... Holding plate, 149...
・Opening, 196.198...hole, 200...pin.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A perforated sliding gate is sequentially transferred along a longitudinally extending guide structure to control the flow of molten metal between the spout of the spout and the spout tube support, and the non-porous or a generally rectangular refractory having a hole defining an orifice through which the molten metal flows, and a metal casing surrounding the sides of said refractory, and for guiding movement of said sliding gate both longitudinally and laterally. A flow control valve for controlling the flow of molten metal having a shoulder formed on a surface of the metal casing, wherein the metal casing is formed below the shoulder (186) along at least a lateral side of the refractory. A flow control valve characterized by having a portion forming a cam surface (190) projecting in an arc shape. (2) In the flow control valve according to claim 1, the arcuate cam surface (190) of the metal casing is separated from the refractory, and the space therebetween is filled with a cushion of mortar. A flow control valve featuring: