US3310851A

US3310851A - Ladle valve arrangement with stationary plug and slidable nozzle

Info

Publication number: US3310851A
Application number: US392181A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ellwood C Stiteler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-08-26
Filing date: 1964-08-26
Publication date: 1967-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 1984-03-28

Description

March 28, 1967 E. c. STITELER 3,319,851

LADLE VALVE ARRANGEMENT WITH STATIONARY PLUG AND SLIDABLE NOZZLE Filed Aug. 26, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 EZZWOOLJ c". 5777a 5/? BY fi/wm,

AWTOR/VEVS.

March 28, 1967 E; c. STITELI-IIR LADLE VALVE ARRANGEMENT WITH STATIONARY PLUG AND SLIDABLE NOZZLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 26, 1964 INVENTOR. flirt 17006252775154 Arrow 5Y5.

United States Patent 3,310,851 LADLE VALVE ARRANGEMENT WITH STATIQN- ARY PLUG AND SLIDABLE N GZZLE Ellwood C. Stiteler, 2 44 Cascade Road, Pittsburgh, Pa. 16101 Filed Aug. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 392,181 Claims. ((11. 22-85} This invention relates to ladies for molten metal, such as used in steel mills, and more particularly to the closures for bottom pouring openings.

A ladle for molten steel generally is provided in its bottom with an outlet opening, which normally is closed by a refractory stopper seated in the upper end of the opening. The stopper is raised and lowered by a refractory-protected shaft that extends up through the ladle and above its top, where it is supported and operated by cumbersome apparatus. Such a stopper and the refractory around the shaft generally have to be replaced after each pour. Also, the upper end of the outlet nozzle has to be replaced after each heat from the inside of the hot ladle. This adds considerably to the cost of steel making. It has been proposed to operate the stopper from below the ladle by extending an extension of the stopper down through the outlet opening and connecting it with means for raising and lowering the stopper. This is some improvement, but if the metal in the ladle freezes around the stopper, there is no way to insert an oxygen lance from the bottom to free the stopper. Also, the outlet still has to be repaired inside the ladle.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a ladle outlet opening with a closure which eifectively closes the outlet opening, which can be operated from below the ladle, which can last for several heats without replacement, which is inexpensive to replace, which can be replaced from beneath the ladle, and which permits the use of an oxygen lance to melt any metal that may have frozen around the upper end of the pouring outlet.

In accordance with this invention, a ladle for molten metal is provided in its bottom with an outlet opening. Slidably mounted in this opening is a refractory nozzle that is provided with a vertical passage through it. The upper end of the passage is encircled by a valve seat formed by the upper end of the nozzle. Above the nozzle passage there is a stationary refractory valve plug that is supported in fixed position by rigid means. The nozzle is supported from below by means normally holding it in its upper position with its seat engaging the plug, whereby to close the passage through the nozzle. Means are connected with the supporting means for lowering the nozzle away from the plug in order to open the passage so that molten metal in the ladle can flow down through the nozzle.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary horizontal section of a ladle showing my invention in plan;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section of the ladle showing the invention from one side;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line III-III of FIG. 2, by showing the nozzle valve open;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line IV-IV of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line V-V of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings, a ladle 1 of any suitable construction is provided in its bottom with an outlet opening 2. The bottom of the ladle is lined with a refractory floor 3 that has an opening 4 in line with the ladle opening. Fitting in the outlet opening is a vertical tube 6, preferably formed from molded graphite. The

tube may be supported by a metal ring 7 held in opening 2 by studs 8 extending down through a portion of the ring underlying the ladle. The studs may be threaded and provided with nuts, or be slotted to receive wedges 9. Preferably, the length of the tube is equivalent to the thickness of the floor of the ladle.

Mounted in fixed position above tube 6 and in axial alignment with it is a stationary refractory valve plug 10, the major diameter of which is considerably less than the inner diameter of the tube. The lower portion of the plug tapers downwardly, most suitably being more or less spherical. Although the lower end of the plug could extend down a short distance into the tube, it isbetter that it be located a short distance above it. To hold the plug in place, it is supported in any one of several ways, one of which is now described. Thus, the plug may be secured to the bottom of the horizontally extending leg of a large inverted L-shape refractory block 11, the vertical portion of which is wedge-shape and rigidly mounted in the side wall of the ladle lining. The block therefore overhangs the graphite tube and the plug. To connect the plug and block together, a steel anchor 12 may be mounted in the block and project below it. The lower end of the anchor may be provided with lateral projections 13, and the plug provided with a downwardly extending axial bore terminating in lateral recesses 14 at its lower end receiving those projections. The side of the bore between the recesses is provided with vertical grooves 15 to permit the plug to be pushed up around the anchor and then turned to fit the recesses over projections 13 like a bayonet joint.

Slidably mounted inside the graphite tube is a combination nozzle and closure or valve member 17 made of a suitable refractory to withstand the intense heat and erosion of the molten metal. The nozzle is provided with a central vertical passage 18 through it of a size that will permit molten metal to pour out of the ladle. The upper end of the passage is flared to provide an inclined annular seat 19 adapted to engage the lower portion of the valve plug and thereby close the central passage.

The nozzle is supported by a cylindrical socket member 21 having downwardly extending legs 22. The upper portion of the nozzle is large enough to slide against the inside of tube 6 and to rest on top of the socket member, but the rest of the nozzle is reduced in diameter in order to extend down into the socket, which also may more or less engage the encircling tube. The bottom of the socket member is open. The nozzle and socket may be fastened together by radial screws 23. The side wall of the socket member preferably is hollow and provided with openings in its bottom as shown in FIG. 4, so that air can circuate in the socket wall in order to reduce its temperature and that of the nozzle seated in it. The legs 22 are bifurcated and the lower end of each one straddles one side of the rectangular frame-like central portion of a lever 24 below the ladle. The legs are connected to the lever by pivot pins 25 extending through slots 26 in the lever. The inner end of the lever is pivotally connected to a bracket 27 (FIG. 2) projecting from the bottom of the ladle, while the slotted outer end of the lever is pivotally connected to the lower end of a piston rod 28 projecting from a hydraulic cylinder 29 secured to the side of the ladle. Fluid under pressure normally is supplied to the lower end of the cylinder to hold the lever, and therefore the socket member and nozzle, in their upper positions, in which the nozzle seats against the valve plug to close the upper end of pouring passage 18. The lever also can be operated manually by extending it.

When it is time to pour metal from the ladle, the hydraulic cylinder is reversed so that the outer end of the lever will be forced down to pull the socket member and nozzle downward in tube 6. When the nozzle is in its lower position, its upper end is either on a level with the floor of the ladle or slightly below it, so that molten metal can flow freely between the plug and the upper end of the lowered nozzle and into its central passage. When lever 24 is swung upwardly again by cylinder 29, the nozzle will be raised into engagement with the valve plug to close the nozzle passage.

The nozzle not only serves to direct the metal flowing out of the ladle, but it also serves as a valve to close the ladle outlet when desired. The nozzle is easy to replace when necessary by simply disconnecting lever 24 from the piston rod and from the socket legs 22 so that the socket can be removed entirely from the ladle to expose the nozzle. The valve plug also can be replaced after the nozzle has been removed, by reaching up through the graphite tube and turning the plug to release it from its metal anchor.

In view of the fact that metal may sometimes freeze around seat 19 and thereby prevent the nozzle from being lowered, it is highly desirable to make provision for melting that metal. That can be done with my construcion because an oxygen lance or the like can be inserted up through the nozzle passage 18 and an intense flame directed against the plug and nozzle where they meet. This will melt the hardened metal and permit the nozzle to be lowered away from the plug. Additional means for melting such metal can be provided by providing a passage 31 from the outside of the ladle inwardly through the plug-supporting block 11 and into the upper end of a passage 3-2 that extends down through metal anchor 12. The lower end of this passage connects with a vertical passage 33 through the lower portion of the plug. A suitable gas can be delivered to the outer end of passage 31 to produce an intense flame at the lower end of the plug for melting any metal around it.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, 1 have explained the principle of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. The combination with a ladle for molten metal having an outlet opening in its bottom and a refractory tube rigidly mounted in said opening, of a refractory nozzle slidably mounted in said tube in sealing engagement therewith and provided with an open-top vertical passage therethrough encircled at its upper end by a valve seat, a stationary refractory valve plug inside the ladle above the nozzle passage, means rigidly supporting said plug, means normally supporting the nozzle from below with its seat pressed up against the plug to close the upper end of said passage, said supporting means extending down below the ladle, and means outside of the ladle connected with the lower end of said supporting means for lowering the nozzle away from the plug to open said passage to flow of molten metal down through the nozzle.

2. The combination with a ladle for molten metal having an outlet opening in its bottom and a refractory tube rigidly mounted in said opening, of a refractory nozzle slidably mounted in said tube in sealing engagement therewith and provided with an open-top vertical passage therethrough encircled at its upper end by a valve seat, a stationary refractory valve plug inside the ladle above the nozzle passage, means rigidly but removably supporting said plug, means normally supporting the nozzle from below with its seat pressed up against the,

plug to close the upper end of said passage, said supporting means extending down below the ladle, and means outside of the ladle detachably connected with the lower end of said supporting means for lowering the nozzle away from the plug to open said passage to flow of molten metal down through the nozzle, the nozzle being removable from the lower end of said refractory tube when said lowering means is disconnected from said supporting means, and the diameter of said plug being smaller than the inside diameter of the tube to permit the plug to be removed through the tube.

3. The combination with a ladle for molten metal having an outlet opening in its bottom and a refractory tube rigidly mounted in said opening, of a tubular socket member slidably disposed in said tube, means outside of the ladle connected with the lower end of the socket member and normally holding said member in its upper position with its top below the upper end of said tube, a refractory nozzle provided with an open-top vertical passage therethrough encircled at its upper end by a valve seat, the upper portion of the nozzle being seated on said socket member in sliding sealing engagement with the inner surface of said tube, the rest of the nozzle being reduced in diameter and extending down through said socket member, a stationary refractory valve plug rigidly mounted inside the ladle above the nozzle passage and normally engaged by said valve seat to close the upper end of the passage, and means for lowering said socket member holding means to lower the nozzle away from the plug to open said passage to flow of molten metal down through the nozzle and socket member.

4. The combination recite-d in claim 3, in which the side walls of said socket member are hollow and open at the bottom.

5. The combination recited in claim 4, in which the side walls of said socket member are hollow and open at the bottom and are provided with legs extending downward and operatively connected to said socket member holding means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 117,918 8/ 1871 Ostrander 22-85 460,575 10/1891 Grace 22-84 3,034,689 5/1962 Stoughton et al. 222525 3,200,457 8/1965 Wagstatf 22209 FOREIGN PATENTS 357,912 4/ 1-921 Germanyv 18,628 3/ 1914 Great Britain.

I. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner,

D- BA Q Ass st nt Exam n r,

Claims

1. THE COMBINATION WITH A LADLE FOR MOLTEN METAL HAVING AN OUTLET OPENING IN ITS BOTTOM AND A REFRACTORY TUBE RIGIDLY MOUNTED IN SAID OPENING, OF A REFRACTORY NOZZLE SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID TUBE IN SEALING ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH AND PROVIDED WITH AN OPEN-TOP VERTICAL PASSAGE THERETHROUGH ENCIRCLED AT ITS UPPER END BY A VALVE SEAT, A STATIONARY REFRACTORY VALVE PLUG INSIDE THE LADLE ABOVE THE NOZZLE PASSAGE, MEANS RIGIDLY SUPPORTING SAID PLUG, MEANS