US2969568A

US2969568A - Stopper rod assemblies

Info

Publication number: US2969568A
Application number: US846691A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sherwood B Seeley
Original assignee: Joseph Dixon Crucible Co
Current assignee: Joseph Dixon Crucible Co
Priority date: 1959-10-15
Filing date: 1959-10-15
Publication date: 1961-01-31
Anticipated expiration: 1978-01-31

Description

"Jan. 31, 1961 SIBLSEELEY STOPFfER ROD ASSEMBLIES Filed Oct. 15. 1959 I INVENTOR. JY/f/PWM b. 5221f) w w" H STOPPER ROD ASSEMBLIES Sherwood B. Seeley, Staten Island, N.Y., assignor to The Joseph Dixon Crucible Company, Jersey City, N..l., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Oct. 15, 1959, Ser. No. 846,691

2 Claims. (Cl. 2285) This invention relates to stoppers and stopper rod assemblies.

In the steel industry, the increased steel tonnages require a longer pouring time and higher pouring temperatures and have given rise to a real problem in stopper rod assemblies.

In some stopper rod assemblies a stopper bolt is inserted through a bore in the bottom of the stopper, the bore being plugged after the bolt is in place. The bolt extends upwardly and is connected to the rod. The increased pouring temperature and increased tonnages causes accelerated erosion at the bottom or nose portion of the stopper, particularly in the case of stoppers having plugged bottoms.

This invention has for its salient object to provide a stopper having a solid nose.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stopper rod assembly that is simple and practical in construction and is so constructed and arranged that the stopper rod can be easily and quickly assembled in the stopper and can be securely connected thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stopper rod assembly so worked out as to partially thermally insulate the rod or the bolt from the stopper.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following specification taken in connection with the drawings which form a part of this application, and in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of the stopper rod assembly constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation of the stopper and rod illustrating the manner in which the rod securing means is inserted in the stopper cavity or recess;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional elevation showing the stopper, the rod or rod bolt being illustrated above the stopper bore; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the use of a coarse grain refractory instead of the strong refractory balls as shown in Fig. 1.

In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated, there is shown a stopper having a solid nose 11 and having a downwardly extending bore 12 which merges with an undercut, tapered recess 13.

The stopper rod by means of which the stopper is lifted is usually connected to a stopper bolt 15, and the bolt 15 has a flange or washer 16 at its lower end. In the present embodiment of the invention either the flanged stopper rod or the flanged bolt 15 is inserted and Sttes Patent 0 2,969,568 Patented Jan. 31, 1961 moved downwardly through the bore 12 into the recess 13 and, if desired, the recess may have an extension 17 dimensioned to receive the flange or washer 16. This, however, is not necessary to the operation of the invention.

Fig. 2 illustrates the manner in which the stopper rod bolt 15 is secured to the stopper. The bolt or rod 15 is tilted as shown so that the bolt rests against one side of the bore 12. Then a plurality of strong refractory balls 29 are dropped into the undercut recess 13 so that they will surround the lower end of the rod or bolt 15 and will be disposed above the flange or washer 16 in the manner shown in Fig. 1. The bolt is then tilted back to vertical position, as shown in Fig. 1, and the balls 20 will be wedged tightly in the undercut, tapered recess 13, firmly and securely holding the stopper rod bolt 15 in the stopper. If desired, a refractory grain may be inserted in the recess 13 through the bore 12 and cement may be applied, and also, the space around the bolt in the bore 12 may be filled with cement.

If desired, instead of using the balls 20, a strong coarse refractory grain may be used, the grain being of a size to pass between the rod bolt and through the bore 12 when the bolt is actually alined. Fine grain refractory may then be added to fill the voids. Thereafter a refractory cement will be applied to the opening in the bore around the rod bolt.

Although one specific embodiment of the invention has been particularly shown and described, it will be understood that the invention is capable of modification and that changes in the construction and in the arrangement of the various cooperating parts may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A stopper rod assembly comprising a stopper having portions forming an undercut recess communicating with a bore of reduced cross-section and opening into the upper surface of said stopper, stopper rod means including a lower flange portion receivable axially through said stopper bore and recess and positionable in angular relation therein, a plurality of individual locking means independently receivable longitudinally through said stopper bore and disposed in said recess laterally of said bore in overlying relationship to said flange portion and. forming voids therebetween, said locking means combining to prevent withdrawal of said rod means flange through said stopper recess and bore, and retaining means in said bore and circumposed about said rod means for retaining said assembly integral, said locking means comprising individual substantially spherical ball elements.

2. The structure of claim 1; said ball elements comprising a refractory material.

References Cited in the file of this patent Bidner Apr. 28, 1959