APPARATUS FOR CLOSING AND/OR REGULATING THE DISCHARGE OR TAPPING OF MOLTEN METAL

• Main Author: HINTZEN; ULLRICH
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 04.02.1992
• Subjects: CASTING; CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; POWDER METALLURGY; TRANSPORTING

An apparatus for closing and/or regulating the discharge or tapping of molten metal from a metallurgical vessel includes a ceramic stator member to be fixed to a metallurgical vessel and having a pipe-shaped portion having extending therethrough at least one lateral opening, and a ceramic rotor member having a pipe-shaped portion having extending therethrough at least one lateral opening. The stator and rotor members are coaxially assembled with the pipe-shaped portion of one member fitted over and surrounding the pipe-shaped portion of the other member. The pipe-shaped portions have radially confronting respective cylindrical inner and outer sealing surfaces onto which open the lateral openings, such inner and outer sealing surfaces sealingly engaging to define a primary seal to prevent leakage of molten metal. The stator and rotor members have respective axially confronting end sealing surfaces. The rotor member is axially movable, i.e. loadable, to press the end sealing surface of the rotor member against the end sealing surface of the stator member at a compaction pressure sufficient to form a secondary seal for preventing leakage of molten metal.