US3271827A - Stopper rod actuating device - Google Patents

Stopper rod actuating device Download PDF

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Publication number
US3271827A
US3271827A US361673A US36167364A US3271827A US 3271827 A US3271827 A US 3271827A US 361673 A US361673 A US 361673A US 36167364 A US36167364 A US 36167364A US 3271827 A US3271827 A US 3271827A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
stopper rod
ladle
stopper
rod
rim
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US361673A
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English (en)
Inventor
Richard S Crowell
Thomas A Cuscino
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
United States Steel Corp
Original Assignee
United States Steel Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to DENDAT1250066D priority Critical patent/DE1250066B/de
Application filed by United States Steel Corp filed Critical United States Steel Corp
Priority to US361673A priority patent/US3271827A/en
Priority to GB16098/65A priority patent/GB1066653A/en
Priority to ES0312095A priority patent/ES312095A1/es
Priority to FR14139A priority patent/FR1430035A/fr
Priority to AT369165A priority patent/AT250596B/de
Priority to BE662904A priority patent/BE662904A/xx
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3271827A publication Critical patent/US3271827A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D11/00—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths
    • B22D11/10—Supplying or treating molten metal
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D41/00—Casting melt-holding vessels, e.g. ladles, tundishes, cups or the like
    • B22D41/14—Closures
    • B22D41/16—Closures stopper-rod type, i.e. a stopper-rod being positioned downwardly through the vessel and the metal therein, for selective registry with the pouring opening
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D41/00—Casting melt-holding vessels, e.g. ladles, tundishes, cups or the like
    • B22D41/14—Closures
    • B22D41/16—Closures stopper-rod type, i.e. a stopper-rod being positioned downwardly through the vessel and the metal therein, for selective registry with the pouring opening
    • B22D41/20—Stopper-rod operating equipment

Definitions

  • a further object of this invention is to provide a cross beam situated above the ladle for rigidly supporting the stopper rod or rods.
  • a still further object of this invention is to incorporate in a bottom pour ladle a rigid overhead mounting for stopper rods including hydraulic control cylinders, means for cooling the hydraulic cylinders, and a locking mechanism to maintain the stopper rods in closed position when it is not desired to pour metal.
  • FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a bottom pour lad'le of the present invention, with parts broken away.
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view with parts in elevation taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the yoke and hydraulic actuating cylinders according to this invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a section-a1 view taken along line 44 of FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 5 is a detailed perspective view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a ladle and stopper rod rigging therefore according to a modified form of the invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 6.
  • FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view along line 8-8 of FIG. 6.
  • 10 indicates a bottom pour ladle having a circular side wall 12 which terminates at its upper end in rim 14.
  • Ladle 10 has a pair of discharge nozzles 15 and 15a in the bottom.
  • a pair of stopper rod assemblies 16 and 16a control the discharge of molten metal through these nozzles.
  • the ladle may have one discharge nozzle, or more than two discharge nozzles if desired.
  • a ladle having two discharge nozzles is shown herein merely for purposes of illustration. Each discharge nozzle is controlled by its own stopper rod, regardless of the number of nozzles provided. Only minor modifications which can be made by those skilled in the art are required to adapt the mechanism herein described to suit one or more stopper rods for bottom pour ladles.
  • a plurality of upstanding lugs 18 are provided at spaced points on rim 14. These are preferably located as shown in two pairs, the two lugs in each pair being close together and the two pairs being located at predetermined points on the ladle rim. Each of the lugs has an 7 upstanding slotted portion 20 of diameter less than that of the lug.
  • a hollow cross beam 22 extends across the open top of the ladle between two predetermined positions of rim 14.
  • This cross beam 22 constitutes the supporting structure for stopper rod assemblies 16 and 16a.
  • This hollow cross beam has a horizontal bottom wall 24, a pair of vertical side walls 26, a pair of end walls 28, upper Walls 30 adjacent the end walls 28 of the cross beam 22, horizontal plate 31, and a head structure 32 which is supported on plate 31.
  • Plate 31 is welded to side walls 26 and upper walls 30.
  • Head structure 32 which is in the central portion of cross beam 22, lies above the ladle discharge openings.
  • side walls 33 which are continuations of side walls 26, a vertical edge wall 34 which rests on plate 31 at its lower end, a second edge wall 35 having a vertical portion and below that a sloping portion terminating above the wall 30 so as to leave an opening to the interior beneath head structure 32.
  • Latera-lly projecting ears 38 are provided on side walls 26 adjacent to end walls 28 for securing cross beams 22 to the ladle. These ears rest on lugs 18, and have holes to receive slotted portion 20 of lug 18. Wedges 40 secure cross beams 22 to the lugs 18.
  • Cooling air is admitted to the interior of hollow cross beam 22 by means of an air inlet opening 42 in one end wall 28. Opening 44 in wall 26 permits access to the interior for adjusting nut 75. Part of the cooling air admitted through air inlet 42 travels upwardly through openings (best seen in FIG. 2) in plate 31 to the space heneath head structure 32. Edge wall 34 and cover 36 are spaced apart (as best seen in FIG. 2) to provide a second air exit opening 52. A third air exit 53 is provided by the gap between walls 30 and 35. Air also passes out through the circular flanges 79.
  • stopper rod assemblies 16 and 16a are controlled by identical hydraulic cylinders 54 and 54a, which are fixedly mounted on plate 31. These cylinders are axially aligned with stopper rods 16 and 16a respectively. A detailed cross-sectional view of one of these cylinders is shown in FIG. 2.
  • Cylinder 54 has a piston 56 attached to an annular piston rod 58 which extends beyond both the upper and lower ends of cylinder 54. End flanges 59 at both ends of piston rod 58 enclose the space within the piston rod.
  • Conventional packaging rings 60 are provided on piston 56 and cylinder 54 for making a fluid tight seal.
  • Piston 56 divides cylinder 54 into an upper chamber 62 and lower chamber 64. Fluid pressure to these chambers is provided through tubing 66 and 68 respectively.
  • tubing 66a and 68a supplies fluid pressure to the upper and lower chambers respectively of cylinder 54a.
  • the tubing 66, 66a, 68 and 68a extends through gap 53 and terminates in manifolds 70, 70a, 72 and 72a respectively located on cover wall 30.
  • manifolds 70, 70a, 72 and 72a permit rapid connection and disconnection of flexible hoses for supplying hydraulic fluid from an external source not shown.
  • stopper rod assembly 16 is supported for vertical movement by cross beam 22 through plate 31 and cylinder 54 which are fixedly mounted with respect to cross beam 22, and piston rod 58 and stopper rod assembly 16 are mounted for reciprocation in cylinder 54.
  • Stopper rod assembly 16a is similarly mounted.
  • the top portions 74 and 74a extend through openings 78 in bottom wall 24, and upstanding circular flanges 79 surround the circumference of these openings.
  • Stopper rod assemblies 16 and 16a are actuated by O hydraulic cylinders 54 and 54a when molten metal is poured in the normal course of operations. As piston 56 travels upwardly in cylinder 54 the nozzle in the bottom of the ladle is opened wider to permit more rapid egress of metal. Conversely, when piston 56 is lowered, stopper rod assembly 16 is lowered so as to reduce the pouring rate or close the nozzle entirely.
  • the rigid mounting base afforded by beam 22 makes it possible to position the stopper rods 16 and 16a accurately in any position from fully closed to wide open, and thereby makes accurate control of the pouring rate possible.
  • the admission of fluid to cylinders 54 and 54a may be controlled remotely by known manual means. If desired, movements of the piston may be controlled automatically in response to the level of liquid in the mold into which metal is being poured.
  • Conventional hydraulic fluids may be used in cylinders 54 and 54a. While a non-inflammable hydraulic fluid may be used if desired, other hydraulic fluids may also be used safely.
  • the cross beam construction of this invention provides for circulation of air close to cylinders 54 and 54a so as to prevent heat accumulation and the consequent danger when inflammable hydraulic fluid is used.
  • stopper rod assemblies 16 and 16a are mechanically locked in closed position as hereinafter described. After the ladle 10 has been placed in position over the mold, the stopper rods are unlocked and thereafter the pouring is controlled by the hydraulic cylinders 54 and 54a.
  • the locking mechanism includes a vertical hold-down rod 80 which is pivotally secured by pin 81 to yoke 82 at the midpoint thereof. Yoke 82 terminates in bifurcated ends 84 and 84a, which bear against the stopper rod top portions 74 and 74a respectively. When hold-down rod 80 is in its lowermost position, as shown in FIG. 2, stopper rod assemblies 16 and 16a are held in closed position.
  • the hold-down rod 80 is screw threaded at its lower end 85 to receive a nut 86 and a washer 88.
  • a pair of wedges 90 and 92 of bifurcated construction as most clearly seen in FIG. 5 surround the lower portion of holddown rod 80 above washer 88 but below plate 31. It will be noted that plate 31 has an opening therethrough permitting free passage of hold-down rod 80.
  • Wedges 90 and 92 have a common surface 94 which is inclined at a slight angle to the horizontal. When it is desired to hold stopper rod assemblies 16 and 16a in the closed position, Wedges 90 and 92 are placed in the solid line position of FIG. 4 and nut 86 is tightened until the wedges are firmly wedged between washer 88 and plate 31.
  • This mechanism includes a pair of links 96 which are pivotally secured to both wedges 90 and 92, a rod 98 which extends out of hollow cross beam 22, eyelet 180 which is secured to rod 98, and hook 102 which is adapted to be inserted into eyelet 180.
  • Rod 98 is screw threaded at each end, with one end extending into an internal screw threaded hole in wedge 90. The screw threads at the outer end of rod 98 receive eyelet 100 which has an integral nut 106.
  • a spring retaining plate 108 bears against nut 186 and this plate forms one abutment surface for spring 110.
  • the other abutment surface is constituted by the exterior wall of cross beam 22. This spring positions rod 98 outwardly when wedges 90 and 92 are released.
  • rod 98 When it is desired to unlock the locking mechanism, rod 98 is turned by means of hook 102. This exerts a separating force between the hold-down rod 88 and upper wedge 90 causing wedge 90 to move to the right when viewed as situated in FIG. 4. Links 96 pull lower wedge 92 laterally as upper wedge 98 is pulled, so that these two Wedges retain the same relative position. These two wedges are pulled to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 4, in which position hold-down rod 81) may move up and down freely and as a consequence the up and down movement of stopper rod assemblies 16 and 16a may be controlled by hydraulic cylinders 54 and 54a.
  • the stopper rod assemblies 16 and 16a, cross beam 22, and hydraulic cylinders 54 and 54a are located in place prior to the pouring of any molten metal into the ladle.
  • the stopper rod assemblies are set in locked position before metal is poured in.
  • the locking mechanism is unlocked by turning hook 102 as previously described. This places the mechanism under the control of the hydraulic cylinders 54 and 54a, which may be controlled either by an operator or automatically as previously indicated.
  • This invention has been described with particular reference to a bottom pour ladle, but it will be understood that the invention is equally applicable to any vessel for molten metal which contains one or more discharge openings in the bottom.
  • Metal which is poured from the discharge nozzles of the ladle herein may be introduced into any suitable receptacle.
  • This receptacle may be a conventional ingot mold, and when the ladle is used in continuous casting, the receptacle may be either a tundish or an open ended tubular continuous casting mold.
  • a bottom pour ladle having a pair of nozzles 122.
  • a hollow cross beam 124 extends above the ladle between two points on the rim so located that the beam 124 does not pass directly over nozzles 122 but instead is parallel to and displaced a short distance from the line connecting the centers of the nozzles.
  • Beam 124 has an air inlet 126 for admitting cooling air for cooling the parts located inside beam 124.
  • Beam 124 may be thermally insulated if desired.
  • the stopper rod assemblies include double acting hydraulic cylinders 128 mounted inside beam 124 and having exteriorly extending piston rods 130, short cross bars 132, and stopper rods 134.
  • a bifurcated guide 136 having a retainer 138 guides stopper rod 134 in correct vertical alignment.
  • Cylinders 128 are conventional double acting cylinders having a reciprocating piston therein with fluid inlets for admitting hydraulic fluid above or below the piston as desired. Since these details as well as the hydraulic systems for supplying hydraulic fluid to cylinders 128 are known in the art, they have been omitted.
  • Various stopper rod constructions comprising a metal rod clad with a refractory sleeve are known and may be used herein.
  • this embodiment of the invention provides a rigid stopper rod mounting which permits precise positioning of the stopper rod so as to permit close control over the pouring rate through nozzles 122.
  • a locking mechanism similar to that shown in FIGS. l-4 for locking the stopper rods in closed position can be provided if desired.
  • stopper rod means comprising one stopper rod assembly for each discharge nozzle depending from said supporting beam
  • hydraulic means comprising a fluid actuated cylinder operatively connected to each stopper rod assembly and supported by said supporting beam, means for circulating air through said hollow supporting beam to cool said hydraulic means and related mechanism, and means for manually locking said stopper rod means in closed position.
  • a bottom pour ladle having at least one discharge nozzle in the bottom, a hollow supporting beam extending over said ladle between two points on the rim thereof and secured to said rim, a stopper rod assembly controlling said discharge nozzle, a fluid actuated cylinder supported by said supporting beam for actuating said stopper rod assembly, said cylinder being axially aligned with said stopper rod assembly, said cylinder having a piston rod extending exteriorly of said cylinder in both directions, said piston rod being connected to the stopper rod in axial alignment therewith, a yoke adapted to bear against the upper end of said stopper rod assembly, a hold-down rod pivotally connected to said yoke, said hold-down rod being screw threaded at its lower end to receive a nut and washer, a pair of wedges having bifurcated portions surrounding said hold-down rod and located between said nut and washer and a fixed abutment surface, whereby tightening of said nut against said wedges holds said hold-down rod in a position
  • a bottom pour ladle containing molten metal having at least one discharge nozzle in the bottom, a hollow supporting beam extending over the ladle between two predetermined points on the rim thereof and secured to said rim, stopper rod means comprising one stopper rod assembly for each discharge nozzle depending from said supporting beam, hydraulic means comprising a fluid actuated cylinder operatively connected to each stopper rod assembly and supported by said supporting beam, and means for circulating air through said hollow supporting beam to cool said hydraulic means and related mechanism.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Casting Support Devices, Ladles, And Melt Control Thereby (AREA)
  • Refinement Of Pig-Iron, Manufacture Of Cast Iron, And Steel Manufacture Other Than In Revolving Furnaces (AREA)
US361673A 1964-04-22 1964-04-22 Stopper rod actuating device Expired - Lifetime US3271827A (en)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DENDAT1250066D DE1250066B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1964-04-22
US361673A US3271827A (en) 1964-04-22 1964-04-22 Stopper rod actuating device
GB16098/65A GB1066653A (en) 1964-04-22 1965-04-14 Stopper rod actuating device
ES0312095A ES312095A1 (es) 1964-04-22 1965-04-21 Dispositivo de accionamiento de barras obturadas de recipientes de colada.
FR14139A FR1430035A (fr) 1964-04-22 1965-04-22 Appareil pour la commande des quenouilles
AT369165A AT250596B (de) 1964-04-22 1965-04-22 Stopfenstangenantrieb und -tragwerk
BE662904A BE662904A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1964-04-22 1965-04-22

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US361673A US3271827A (en) 1964-04-22 1964-04-22 Stopper rod actuating device

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3271827A true US3271827A (en) 1966-09-13

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US361673A Expired - Lifetime US3271827A (en) 1964-04-22 1964-04-22 Stopper rod actuating device

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3271827A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AT (1) AT250596B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE662904A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE1250066B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
ES (1) ES312095A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1066653A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3373910A (en) * 1965-10-20 1968-03-19 Crawford B. Murton Stopper rod with temperature responsive cooling means

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2113894A (en) * 1935-11-01 1938-04-12 Theopheiles D Lucier Foundry ladle
US2336518A (en) * 1943-12-14 Hot metal ladle
US2753605A (en) * 1952-11-29 1956-07-10 Republic Steel Corp Apparatus for metering of molten metal by weight
US3028642A (en) * 1958-08-28 1962-04-10 Kaiser Aluminium Chem Corp Apparatus for transfer of molten metal
US3063109A (en) * 1960-03-03 1962-11-13 Herman I Rapaport Electrically operated toy casting machine
US3091824A (en) * 1961-02-28 1963-06-04 Jack C Manshel Metal casting means
US3162909A (en) * 1961-10-25 1964-12-29 Griffin Wheel Co Apparatus for pressure pouring articles

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2336518A (en) * 1943-12-14 Hot metal ladle
US2113894A (en) * 1935-11-01 1938-04-12 Theopheiles D Lucier Foundry ladle
US2753605A (en) * 1952-11-29 1956-07-10 Republic Steel Corp Apparatus for metering of molten metal by weight
US3028642A (en) * 1958-08-28 1962-04-10 Kaiser Aluminium Chem Corp Apparatus for transfer of molten metal
US3063109A (en) * 1960-03-03 1962-11-13 Herman I Rapaport Electrically operated toy casting machine
US3091824A (en) * 1961-02-28 1963-06-04 Jack C Manshel Metal casting means
US3162909A (en) * 1961-10-25 1964-12-29 Griffin Wheel Co Apparatus for pressure pouring articles

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3373910A (en) * 1965-10-20 1968-03-19 Crawford B. Murton Stopper rod with temperature responsive cooling means

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE662904A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1965-10-22
ES312095A1 (es) 1966-01-01
DE1250066B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB1066653A (en) 1967-04-26
AT250596B (de) 1966-11-25

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