Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1064459
The present invention ~elates to a sliding qate valve
for pourLng molten metal, as for example, from the bottom of a
receiving vessel such as a ladle or tundish. The valve of the
invention includes a slide plate having at least one outlet port
and being contained in a movable frame. The slide plate is
;spring-biased upwardly against a head plate located above the
slide plate. The head plate contains an opening that communicates
with the vessel interior and cooperates with that in the slide
plate to pass molten metal from the receiving vessel when the
openings are vertically aligned. The head plate is held by a
mounting member connected to the bottom of the receiving vessel
and the slide gate frame is held by a support device equipped
with tensioning means for pressing the frame and its contained
slide plate agal;nst the head plate.
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In known sliding gate valves of the described type, the
1~ frame slides inside a housing forming part of the support device.
¦~ Usually the housing is hinged to the mounting plate, and can be
` !- pressed against the mounting plate by means of suitable tensioning
apparatus, including springs that are compressed between the
!, 20 frame and the slide plate, and thus force the slide plate up
against the head plate. A pressure cylinder, operative to move
~, the frame and slide plate relative to the head plate, laterally
penetrates the housing to connect with the frame.
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The use of an essentially closed housing as a support
device has several disadvantages. A serious drawback is that
even minor-quantities of escaped liquid metal or other contami-
nants, for example, tar or sand, can obstruct the free motion of
the relatively movable parts, so that the frame and the slide
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10644S~
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plate contained within it cannot be moved satisfactorily. The
resultant operational disruptions can have far-reaching conse-
quences. Furthermore, the fabrication and installation of the
housing, the sliding members within it, and the pressure cylinder
require considerable constructional effort and expense.
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- Therefore, it is the aim of the invention to further
develop the above-described type of sliding gate valve in such a
manner that the troublesome and structurally cumbersome houslng
is eliminated, and the drive for moving the frame is improved and
10 simplified.
~j To achieve this aim ehe invention proposes to modify
¦ the above-described type of sliding gate valve so that the support
for the slide plate is derived from the motor means that are also
¦~ used for moving the slide plate relative to the head plate.
- ~ Desirab}y, two motor units are located at opposite sides of the
frame containlng the slide plate and disposed parallel to its
long dimension, with the components of these units, that are
movable with respect to the vessel in the longitudinal direction
~-' of the frame, being connected with the frame.
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1 20 In the sliding gate valve of this invention, the
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supporting housing and the glide arrangements contained within it
are replaced by the motor units located on both sides of the
frame, whereby these units also serve as supporting members as
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iO64459
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well a~ dr~ves for imparting mot~on to the frame. ~he eliminat$on
; of the bous~ng regult~ ~n a structure that ~- open on ~ iae~
o th~t $t cannot be ~mmed by liquid metal or other contaminants
and thereby operate~ trouble-free. Furthermore, the tot~l con-
truction effort ~nd expense i- obviously reduced by a considerable
umount. ~he motor apparatus proposed by th- invention as~ume the
function of the housing and its sliding support for the frame, a~
well as the function of driving the frame.
An especially advantageous further development of the
sliding gate valve according to the invention provides for the
upport device to have addition~l motor me~ns for impartinq
transverse motion to the frame. These additional motors ~re
desirably located on opposite sides of the frame parallel to its
transver~e dimension. The stationary components of the units are
rigidly conne~ted with respect to the vessel, and the components
that are moYable in the transverse direction of the frame support
1,~
the~stationary components of the motor means used for the longi-
-~ ~ tudinal motion of the fr~me, thereby the frame can be moved
l ~ ~ selectively not only $n its longitudinal direction, but also
k ~ :
transver eIy to it. This ~rrangement is especially ~dvantaqeous
.,
in that several pouriDg port~ can be incorporated in the slide
plate by arranqing the ports, for example, in two rows staggered
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ln the longitodinal direction.
~h- advantage- arising from such an arrangement are
- obvious. ~he variou~ port~ may have different di~meters, so that
the metal pouring rate can be varied without changing the ~lide
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~064459
plates. Also, an increase in the number of ports increases
c~rrespondingly the expected service life of each slide plate.
Moreover, the ability to move the frame sideways permits adjustment
of the location of the ports in the pouring stream so that the
very intensive wear at the edges can be distributed uniformly
around the perimeter of each port. A transverse motion of the
frame, while maintaining exact guides in the longitudinal as well
as in the transverse direction, is not possible with the closed
housing constructed in accordance with the known state of tech
10 nology. Only the open construction using motor apparatus as
supporting, guiding and motion imparting drive means proposed by
the invention offers this opportunity.
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; To achieve favorable load relationships and a compact
construction, it is further proposed that each motor unit utilized
to impart longitudinal motion to the frame according to a preferred
form of the invention, shall comprise a centrally located pressure-
active cylinder and the connecting rods attached to a piston
.,
' within the cylinder extending from both ends thereof, whereby the
respective cylinders are connected with the frame and the free
~ 20 ends of the connecting rods are connected with the vessel mounting
J plate or with the components of the valve that are movable trans-
versely of the frame, these components being part of the piston-
cylinder units supported by the mounting plate and serving for
~ ~ transverse movement of the frame.
'';
Similarly, each piston-cylinder unit for transverse
motion of the frame may comprise a centrally located cylinder and
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~O~i4455~
connectinq rods extending from both ends of the cylinder, whereby
the cylinders are attached to the mounting plate and the free
ends of the connecting rods are connected with the componentS
i that are movable in the longitudinal direction of the frame,
; these components being part of the piston-cylinder units for the
longitudinal movement of the frame.
Various forms of tensioning apparatus can be employed
in the operation of the gate valve of the present invention. In
~ ; one form the tensioning apparatus can be located between the,! 10 cylinder components for the longitudinal motion and the frame in
a manner well known in the art. In this form the apparatus, on
one side, includes a tensionable hinge joint and on the other
` side a tensionable releasable latch joint. Manually operated
tensioning rods, such as those commonly used with gate valves
having housings, may be employed in the present gate valve arrange-
ment.
In another form, the tensioning device is located at
the junctures between the motor units for the longitudinal motion
of the frame and mounting plate, or between the motor units for
the transverse motion of the frame. The tensioning device contains
eccentric bushings that are rotated by an appropriate lever
system to increase or decrease the tension. The lever system is
moved in one or another direction by the longitudinal motion of
*he frame, as required.
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~or a better understanding of the invention, its
operating advantages and the specific objectives obtained by its
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10644S9
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use, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and
.
description which relate to a preferred embodiment thereof.
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; The invention is further described, by way of example,
. with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
. FIGURE 1 is a vertical section taken along line 1-1 of
Figure 3 illustrating a first embodiment of thé sliding gate
! ' valve of the present invention;
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FIGURE 2 is a schematic plan view of the slide plate
. ~: used in the sliding gate-valve shown in Figure l;
¦ 10 FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of the sliding gate valve
shown in Figure 1:
. FIGURE 4 is a schematic representation of the hydraulic
system employed in the operation of the sliding gate valve of
! ~ Figure 3;
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FIGURE S is a vertical sectional representation taken
along line 5-5 of:Figure 3;
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~ : FIGURE 6 is a sectional view illustrating the sliding
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:: gate valve in its unlatched position;
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FIGURE 7 is an isometric view illustrating a simplified
embodiment of the sliding gate valve in which transverse mobility
of the frame is omitted;
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`,~ FIGURE 8 is an isometric view, similar to Flgure 7,
illustrating the sliding gate valve with an alternative form of
tensioning means;
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FIGURES 9 and 10 are illustrations of eccentric bushings
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utilized in the embodiment of Figure 8;
FIGURE 11 is an isometric view, similar to Figure 7
illustrating the sliding gaee valve having an alternative form of
motor means;
FIGURE 12 is a partial sectional view of the motor means
10' of Figure 11; and
FIGURE 13 is a plan view of the sliding gate valve
equipped with~yet another alternative form of motor means.
In Fi~gure 1,~ the boteom of a receiving vessel such as
a ladle ls indicatéd by the reference numeral 11. A mounting
,plate 12 is attached to the ladle bottom 11. Below the mounting
plate lies a refractory head plate 13, secured by bolts 14 against
' horizontal motion. The ladle bottom 11, the mounting plate 12,
, :
and the~head plate 13 are penetrated by a pouring port 15, which
is lined inside witb appropriate inserts 16. Adjacent to the
lower surface of the head plate 13 is located a slide plate 17,
which is also made of a refractory material.
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10644S9
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~: The slide plate 17 contains ~ever~l apertures 18, which
~re extended downward by tubes 19. The slide plate 17 is biased ~.
upwardly against the head plate 13 ~y means of springs 20. The
~prings 20 are supported by the frame 21, which is movable in the
horizontal direction together with slide plate 17 contained within
$t.
, .
The frame 21 is supported by a support device, which is
lndicated generally by the reference numeral 22. The support
device also serves to move the frame 21 in the horizontal direc
o tion. Figure 3 shows the construction and attachment of the
support device 22 at the mounting plate 12, which, in Fiqure 3,
is shown detached from the ladle bottom 11.
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~ The support device 22 contains two piston-cylinder
.
units 23 located parallel to the long.dimension.of the frame 21
t opposlte sides of it, only one unit beinq visible in Figure .3...
Each piston-cylinder unit 23, for the longitudinal motion of the
frame 21 comprises a centrally~located cylinder 24, which iS
connected~ with the frame 21 as hown in Fiqure 5. Connectinq
rods 25 extend from opposite ends of a pi&ton 2S'(Figure 4)
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~ 20~ enclosed within the cylinder and are operatively connected to
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.~ ; the mounting plate 12. Toward this end, thc free ends of
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connecti~g rods 25 are joined with the free ends of two further
connecting rods 26 of the pi~ton-cylinder units 27 located
parallel to the lateral dimension of the frame 21 ~nd operative
to move the frame 21 in the transverse direction as hereinafter
described by connector ~locks 2~ disposed at the four corners of
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~Q64gS9
the support device 22. The piston-cylinder unit 27 for the
transverse motion of the frame 21 is constructed similarly to
the piston-cylinder unit 23, for the longitudinal motion of the
frame 21, but its cylinder 29 is rigidly connected with the
mounting plate 12 by means of upright supports 30. Thus, the -~
piston-cylinder units 23 and the piston-cylinder units 27, serve
to jointly support the frame 21. The piston-cylinder units 23
and 27 can be supplied with a pressurizing agent in a known
; manner, and therefore can move the frame 21 in its longitudinal
.0 and/or transverse directions as described in more detail herein-
after.
.
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To move the frame 21 in the direction of the head plate
13 and to force the frame against the head plate, with consequent
compres-ion of the springs 20, the embodiment according to Figure
3 provides for a tensioning device locatDd between the cylinder
23~and the frame 21 and indicated in its entirety by the reference
numeral 31. This tensioning device 31 is constructed as a known
latch joint. _ ~
._ ........... . __ .. __. . . _ . _ _ . . . . .
20, As shown in Figures 3, 5 and 6, it comprises an
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rticulated lever 32, one member 32a of which is connected with
the cylinder 24 and a notch 32b' in the other member 32b engages
a horizontal bar 33, whereby the articulated joint 32c i5 movable
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; beyond the dead-center as is indicated in Figure 5 by the arrow
34. The a~ticulated joint 32c is moved by a locking bar (not
shown), which is inserted into ~ 60cket opening 35' in boss 35
on the lever 32b. In a similar manner, the hinge, located on the
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` ~ 10644S9
opposite side of the frame 21 between the frame and the cylinder
'24, can be~tensioned. This hinge connection, on the opposite
ide of the~frame 21, is of identical construction except that
the lever~member 32b ic permanently pivotably fixed by pins 32d
to the~frame. In principle, this mechanism is constructed
similarly:to the hinged joint used in conjunction with a slide
gate~housing. This~construction permits the housing to swing
away from the ladle:bottom as shown in Figure 6, after unlocking
tbe latcb, for example, to insert a new slide plate 17.
~ ~ 10~ :The~fluid System employed to effect movement of the ~`
frame 21 with respeot:to the mounting plate 12 is as~shown in.
Figore~4,: That portion of:the~system wbich is operative in
conjunction~with the motor unitJ 23 to move :the frame 21 longi-
tudinally~of the mounting~plate;l2, shown:in:phantom:in the
drawing, compris-J'oppositély actlng pairs of parallely-connected
eJ SOa~,;SOb,~and~Sla,~Slb.that~connect between a~fluld source
'(not~:~shown)~:~and~the~inter:ior of~the:~cylinders 24. As shown in
th-~figure~the lines are conveniently formed~;through the
connecting:rodJ :25~:~and~ 26 'and eonnecto'r~blocks 28. Lines 50a~
and~50b~are~:~caused~:to~communicate:~at~one end with fluid port 52
.and extend:~each to~one~of::the respective cylinders 24, communi-
cating therewith~adjacent carr-sponding~-ides of the respective
piston- 25':. ~Lines Sla~:a~nd;Slb, on~the other hand, are similarly
e~onstructed -nd extènd~between port 53 and the cylinders 24,
communicating therewith on the~`other corresponding sides of the
piston:s 25'. It will be appreciated that witb the pistons 25',
being effectively fixed with respect to the mounting plate 12,
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10644S9
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in order to move the frame 21 with respect thereto in the upward
direction as it appears in the drawing figure, ~perating fluid is
admitted by means of appropriate valving apparatus (not shown)
through port 52 and lines 50a and 50b to the interior of the
cylinders 24 on the upper sides of the respective pistons 25'.
Simultaneously therewith, fluid from the lower sides of the
pistons is released from the cylinders through lines 51a and 51b
and port 53 to be returned to the source. The effect is to pro-
!~ ~duce a resultant movement of the cylinders 24 and of the attached
frame 21 longitudinally with respect to the mounting plate 12 in
the upward direction as it is viewed in Figure 4. When it is
desired to move the frame 21 in the opposite direction, the
described procedure is reversed.
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That portion of the fluid system that is operative to
move the frame laterally with respect to the mounting plate 12
:
comprises oppositely acting lines indicated as 56 and 57 formed
;interiorly of the thickness of the mounting plate 12. The lines
56 and 57 each connect at one end with the ports 58 and 59
`~ ~ respectively, that are attached to the mounting plate and which
20 communicate with a source of operating fluid that is independent
of the previously described source. The lines 56 and 57 have
feeders offset therefrom, indicated by the subscripts a and b
:."
which communicate with oppositely spaced cylinders 29 of the
motor units 27. In construction these offsets extend interiorly
of the upright supports 30 which attach the cylinders 29 to the
mounting plate 12. Feeders 56a and 56b communicate with the
cylinders 29 on corresponding sides of the pistons 26', here
.
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;44sg
.... ... . .. . . .... .. ... .. ...
~ shown as being the:l-ft side ther-of, which feeders S7a and 57b
~. . ~
communicate with the cylinders 29 on the opposite sides of the
! ~ respective pistons. ~Thus,~since the cylinders 29 are effectively
fix-d with~respece to~the~mountlng p;l-t-, ~to move the frame 21
from~left:to right as v~iewed~ln the drawing figure, operating ~:
:fluid is admitted~to line 56 through the port 58 from whence it
f;lows~ through the~l;ine offsets~56a~and 56b~to the lnterior of the
re~sp-ot~ive cyllnderJ 2~9 on~the l-ft side~:of the plstons 26'. At
1 ~ t~he~-ame~time,~fluid i~s:released~from th- oylinder~ on the opposite .
. ~ IO:~ ; : sides:of:the respective~:pistons~through~offsets 57a.and 57b and.. ~ port~5:9 thereby producing~a movement of the pistons.26' to the
.. ~ left.: Since:~the:entire~support~structure 22 and, thereby the
~. ~ frame~:l2, is:~peratively~fixed~:to the:pistons 26' movement of the
.- ~ pistOns~26~ to~ehe~left produc-s move~ènt of the fra.me coincident
~ ~ -therewith.~ ~ en:movement:of::the:~frame in the oppo~ite Iateraltl ~ h ~.direction:~;is desired,~;this~procedure is reversed. . ~:.
h- e~d nt of~ehe uppo-t~device 22' hown in
`:Figure :7:does~:not~provide~for::transverse;motion of the frame 2I.
`ln this embodiment of the invéntion~the:free ends of the connecting
.~ rods 25~of the~piston- y inder~units 23;ar rigldly~connected
with~the~head;plate~l2~at~po-t-~;36. ~oeherwise ehe construction
sho~in~Figure~7~corresponds with.~ehose~shown in Figures I and
3,~and ehe~corresponding:~componenes~are ldentlfied wieh the same
reference~numeralS-
~
Th-~embodiment shown in Figure 8 also does~not provide
for transverse vement of the frame 21, and to this extent it
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~Q644S9
corresponas with that shown in Figure 7. It differs fr~m the
embodiment shown in Figure 7 by the construction of the tensioning
device 31. The tensioning device 31' shown in Figure 8 contains
four eccentric bushings 37, which can be rotated in the bearings
38 located on the underside of the mounting plate 12. Support
rods 39 extend through each pair of eccentric bushings 37, and
the free ends of the support rods are connected through connectors
40 with the free ends of the connecting rods 25 of the piston-
cylinder units 23, for the longitudinal movemeht of the frame 21
The cylinders 24 of the piston-cylinder units 23, are rigidly
connected with the frame 21. By rotating the eccentric bushings
;,. .
37 in the bearings 38 the support rods 39, the piston-cylinder
units 23, and the frame 21 can be raised and tensioned (see
~ Figures 9 and 10). The eccentric bus,hings are equipped with up-
,~ ward pointing levers 41. The upper ends of two levers 41 on the
.~ :
~ same side of the frame are joined by a connecting rod 42, which
','~ can be~moved by the frame 21 in one or the other d',rection as
. ~ .
~-~ desired. For this purpose, the connecting rod 42 contains on its
"~ underside projections 43, which can be connected with the frame
~20 21 or can be disengaged from it. In this manner the frame 21 can
' move the connecting rod 42, the levers 41, and the eccentric
. :, :: :
'` bushings 37 in the direction of increasing or decreasing tension.
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1064459
Figures 11 and 13 illustrate a`lternative forms of motor
means for the gate valve herein. In the embodiment of Figure 11
the sliding gate valve and support~structure are in all substantial
effects the same as those shown in Figure 7 and as described in
connection therewith. In this embodiment, however, the hydraulic
motor units 23 of Figure 7 are replaced by electrical linear
induction motors indicated generally as 60. The linear induction
; motors 60 on the opposite sides of the frame 21 each comprise a
moving inductor member 61 that is fixedly mounted on a sleeve 62
that attaches one end of the frame 21 and that surrounds an
elongated rod 63 forming the secondary or reaction axis of the
motor. As shown, the rods 63 are caused to extend between and
are fixedly attached to oppositely spaced posts 64, the latter
being disposed at the four corners of the mounting plate 12. In
this embodiment of the invention, movement of the frame 12 is
effected by imposing an electric ~urrent through the coils of the
inductor members 61 to produce an axial movement thereof along
the rods 63 thereby moving the frame 21 longitudinally of the
mounting plate 12.
.
~-~ 20 In the embodiment of Figure 13, ~he frame 21 is driven
by a reversible electric motor 70 through appropriate worm gearing
and drive screws. As shown in the drawing figure the frame 21 is
attached at its opposite ends to movable nut members 71. The nut
members 71 are operated by drive screws 72 that extend along
opposite sides of the mounting plate 12 between corner posts 73
and 74. Posts 73 contain appropriate bearings to permit rotation
of the respective drive screws while posts 74 contain, in addition
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10644S9
to the bearings, worm gear means to effect rotation of the drive
screws, all as is well known in the art. The worm gears are in
turn driven by a reversible electric motor 75 suspended from the
mounting plate 12. The motor 75 connects with the respective
worm gear apparatus through oppositely extending drive shafts 76
each of which contains clutch apparatus 77.
While the motor 75 has been described as being a
reversible electric mo~or, this motor may, in some applications,
preferably be a pressure-activated motor, su~h as, for example,
a compressed air motor.
It will be understood that various changes in the details,
materials and arrangements of parts'which have been herein
described and illustrated, in order to explain the nature of the
invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the
principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended
claims.
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