US2791814A - Ladle nozzle and stopper construction - Google Patents

Description

o. VILLELA 2,791,814

LADLE NOZZLE AND STOPPER CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 14, 1957 Filed April 20, 1954 v E\ k IIIIII/IIIIIIIIIIII 1N VEN TOR.

Osbar ville/a I y 4 1 5 o. VILLELA 2,791,814

LADLE NOZZLE AND STOPPER CONSTRUCTION Filed April 20, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oscar Ville la INVENTOR.

Maui-5am WMW m LADLE NOZZLE AND STOPPER CONSTRUCTION Oscar Villela, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 20, 1954, Serial No. 424,413

4 Claims. (Cl. 22-84) The present invention relates to a ladle construction for the pouring of molten metal and more particularly relates to a bottom tap ladle and a novel nozzle and nozzle stopper construction for the ladle. I The primary object of the invention is to provide a nozzle construction for a bottom tap ladle whereby the nozzle may be replaced and removed through the bottom of the ladle.

A highly important object of the invention, ancillary to the primary object, is the provision of a novel nozzle stopper means which is disposed entirely exteriorly of the ladle.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel mounting structure for retaining the nozzle in position within the ladle opening, which includes detachable means for permitting withdrawal of the nozzle through the bottom of the ladle.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of a-novel nozzle sealing arrangement within the ladle which permits the nozzle taper to be reversed from the conventional practice.

The last object of the invention to be mentioned specifically is the provision of a nozzle stopper means including a stopper valve element which presents a smooth seating surface through the nozzle for each closing movement of the valve.

In the conventional ladle nozzle and stopper constructions, the ladle nozzle and a nozzle sleeve within the ladle are provided with corresponding upwardly angled tapers so that the wide or large end of the nozzle is disposed in a plane substantially with the lining surface of the ladle and the small end of the nozzle abuts the ladle shell adjacent the pouring hole in the shell whereby the downward pressure exerted by the molten metal within the ladle wedgingly seats the nozzle due to the weight of the molten metal. This provides refined means for sealing the nozzle but necessitates removal of the nozzle through the top of the ladle which, in turn, necessitates cooling the ladle before removal or replacement of the nozzle. Further, in the conventional practice, the nozzle stopper is mounted on a refractory coated rod which extends downwardly within the interior of the ladle closing the mouth f the nozzle within the ladle. These plugs, however, possess disadvantages in the fact that they do not always present a smooth seating surface in their closing action, become quickly worn by the molten metal within which they are immersed at practically all times, and necessitate continued and fairly rapid replacement.

Basically, the present invention provides a novel construction for avoiding the aforementioned disadvantages of the conventional systems, being comparable to and less expensive in their installation than conventional systems:

The foregoing objects and features, together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described ,and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings formnited Smtes Patent ing a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a cross sectional view through the bottom of the ladle disclosing the nozzle and stopper construction of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the bottom of the ladle disclosing more clearly the stopper means and its actuation with the stopper nozzle in closing position;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the stopper construction disclosing the nozzle closing stopper in open position;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a refractory block for sealingly retaining the nozzle in place in the ladle;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the nozzle block within which the nozzle wedgingly seats;

Figure 6 .is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the plane of section line 66 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the plane of section line 77 of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view taken along the plane of section line 8-8 of Figure 3, disclosing means for holding the nozzle in place;

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the nozzle per se; and

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a portion of the nozzle stopper assembly.

In the drawings, a conventional ladle construction is illustrated by the numeral 10 including an outer metallic shell 12 with a bottom 14 and an inner refractory liner 16. The refractory liner to is provided with a rectangular opening 18 in the bottom thereof and the bottom 14 of the shell 12 of the ladle is provided with a hole or opening 20 opening centrally of the refractory opening 18.

Within the lining opening 18 is disposed a square, hardened, refractory block 22 having a downwardly inwardly tapered frusto-conical bore 24 through the center thereof, the wide mouth of the bore opening into the top of the block and the small mouth of the bore opening into the bottom of the block. A sleeve 26 is wedgingly disposed within the bore 24 of the block 22 and is provided with an upwardly, inwardly tapering, central frusto-conical bore 28 with the large mouth of the bore being at the bottom of the sleeve and the small mouthof the bore opening into the top of the sleeve. The large mouth of the bore of the liner 26 is in registry with the hole 20 of the ladle shell bottom 14 and the lining sleeve 26 is preferably graphite.

A nozzle 30 has an elongated, upwardly inwardly tapered wall which wedges into the bore 28 of the sleeve 26, the nozzle 30 also being of graphite. The nozzle 30 is provided with an elongated, axial bore therethrough permitting the flow of molten metal through the bottom of the ladle. The lower portion 34 of the nozzle projects below the bottom 14 of the ladle with a portion of the nozzle bottom being upwardly inclined, or angularly related to the bottom 14 of the ladle. The inclined portion of the nozzle bottom is cylindrically concave as at 38 for a purpose that will later become apparent, while mounting means 36 secured to the bottom 14 of the shell of the ladle contacts the bottom of the nozzle with the exception of the cylindrically concave portion 38 to retain the nozzle in place within the ladle.

With this construction, as the weight of the molten metal within the ladle presses downwardly on the block 22, sleeve 26 and the top of the nozzle 30, because of the greater weight on the top of the sleeve 26 than on the top of the nozzle 30, the sleeve 26 is driven into wedging engagement with the nozzle 30 sealingly engag-.

ing the upper portion of the nozzle 30 with the sleeve 26, downward movement of the nozzle 30- being prevented by the mounting structure 36. Thus, although Patented May 14, 1957 the nozzle taper is the reverse of that utilized conventional systems, an effective nozzle seal is still obtained within the ladle while permitting removal and replacement of the nozzle through the bottom of the ladle.

Noting particularly Figure 9, the bottom of the nozzle 30 projecting below the ladle shell is generally circular in cross section with a fiat portion 40 leading to an upwardly inclined concave section 38 with an annularly undercut section 42 providing an annular segmental bearing shoulder 44 therearound.

The mounting structure 36 for holding the nozzle 39 Within the sleeve 26 comprises a plate 46 conforming to the curve of the cylindrical portion 34 of the nozzle 30 projecting below the shell bottom 14, being suitably welded to the bottom and reinforced in its mounting thereon by the gusset plate 47. The bottom edge of the plate 46 terminates in registry with flat bottom portion 40 of the nozzle 30 as will be best apparent from an examination of Figure 3.

Detachably secured to the bottom edge of the plate 46 and conforming to the curvature of this bottom edge is a circular plate 48. The plate 48 is flat on a segmental portion thereof to test against the fiat bottom portion 40 of the nozzle with the remaining portion of the plate being areuately curved to follow the contour and bear against the annular bearing shoulder 44 formed on the bottom of the nozzle 30. At its contacting portion with the segmental plate 46, the circular ring or plate 48 is provided with a pair of apertures through which fasteners 50 projecting from the plate 34 project. At its upwardly, arcuately inclined portion, the plate 48 is provided with a pair of apertures through which extend further fasteners 50 from the bottom shell 14 of the ladle. Transverse slots are provided in the portions of the fasteners 50 projecting through the ring 48 and wedges 52 draw the plate 48 into engagement with the bottom edge of the segmental plate 46 and the bottom 14 of the shell. The circular plate 48 is provided with a central aperture 56 through which the concave bottom portion 38 of the nozzle 30 projects.

Thus, to remove the nozzle 39 for replacement, the pins 52 are simply removed from the fasteners and the plate or washer 48 removed allowing withdrawal of the nozzle from or through the bottom of the ladle. The new nozzle is then inserted, the plate 48 replaced and the pins 52 driven into place.

To close the nozzle orifice opening into the bottom of the nozzle from the bore 32, stopper means 54 is provided. This stopper means includes horizontal guide tracks 56 disposed on opposite sides of the nozzle 39 and suspended from the bottom shell 14 of the ladle by means of braces 58. An axle 60 extends between the guide tracks 56 and is slidably and rotatably supported for horizontal forward and rearward movement within the guide tracks. Mounted on the axle is a cylindrical member 62 having a graphite coating 64 on the cylindrical wall thereof. The axle is so disposed that the cylinder 62 in its forward and rearward movement along the guide track 56 will abut the concave surface 38 and be released from such abutment thereby closing or opening the nozzle orifice depending upon its direction of movement.

The ends of the axle 60 project beyond the guide tracks 56 and are secured to the free ends of legs 63 of a U-shaped yoke 65. The bight portion 66 of the yoke is rigidly secured centrally thereof to the end of a plunger 68 reciprocally disposed within the fluid operated cylinder and piston assembly 70. The plunger 68 is, of course, extended and retracted by the incidence of fluid pressure on opposite sides of the piston (not shown) attached to the plunger 68 and disposed within the cylinder 79, this pressure being applied through fluid lines 72. The cylin- 4 pended from the bottom 14 of the ladle by suitable braces 74.

In order to present a different portion of the cylindrical surface 64 of the drum or cylindrical member 62 to the concave face 38 of the nozzle upon each closing movement of the drum, ratchet wheels 76 are provided on the axle 60 at opposite ends of the drum 62. Spring pawls 78 suspended from arms 80 secured to the bottom of the ladle 14 normally engage the teeth of the ratchets 76 when the drum 62 is in its rearwardmost position in the guide tracks 56. As the drum 62 is moved forwardly upon extension of the plunger 68 from the cylinder 70, the pawls 78 catching the teeth of the ratchets 76 spin the drum 62 a portion of a revolution. In order to prevent the drum from rotating at the end of its forward movement through the guide tracks 56, the ratchets 76 are provided with circumferentially spaced recesses 82 which engage spring pressed locking detents 84 mounted on the guide tracks 56 at the foremost movement of the drum 62. Thus, each time the drum is moved forwardly into nozzle closing position seating against the concave surface 38 of the nozzle, a clean graphite surface of the drum is exposed. As the drum is retracted, the friction of the axle sliding in the guide tracks 56 is sufficient to cam the resilient pawl 78 into position against the teeth without rotating the drum in the reverse direction. Of course, when the drum has made a complete revolu tion or several complete revolutions it will be necessary to knock off the now hardened metal which may have accumulated thereon.

The invention provides a novel arrangement whereby the heaviest wearing parts of the ladle nozzle and stopper assembly may either be removed through the bottom of the ladle or serviced completely exteriorly of the ladle consequently effecting savings in both labor and material over conventional systems.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a ladle construction having a bottom opening, a nozzle having a bore therethrough, means for mounting .said nozzle in said opening for removal and insertion through the bottom of the ladle, said means including a member communicating with said opening and forming an upwardly tapered, frustoconical passage into the ladle interior, said nozzle having an upwardly tapered per-tion conforming to and wedgingly seating in said passage, said nozzle having a portion thereof projecting below the bottom of the ladle, detachable means on the ladle bottom retaining said nozzle in position in said passage, stopper means for said nozzle carried by the liadle for straight line movement generally parallel to the bottom thereof and engageable with the projecting portion of said nozzle to close the nozzle bore, said nozzle having an upwardly angled cone-ave bottom portion, said stopper means including a valve element conforming to and seating in the nozzle bottom concavity, said valve element comprising a cylinder, said upwardly angled nozzle bottom portion being cylindrically concave.

2. In a ladle having a bottom opening, a nozzle disposed in said opening, the bottom of said nozzle being disposed below the ladle bottom and having a portion thereof incline-d to the ladle bottom, said nozzle having a bore therethrough opening into the inclined bottom portion thereof, stopper means for seating against said inclined portion, means carrying said stopper means mounted on said ladle for linearly moving said stopper means into and out of seating engagement with said nozzle, said inclined bottom 2,791,814 5 6 portion being concavely arcuated, said stopper means References Cited in the file of this patent comprising a cylindrical member, and means for rotating UNITED STATES PATENTS said stopper means a portion of a revolution each time the l 7 311,902 Lewis Feb, 10, 1885 3x 2222111? mdmed 5 329,491 Schulze-Berge Nov, 3, 1885 3. The ladle of claim 2 wherein there are a pair of 1 9 Merv/mar 16, guide tracks beneath the bottom of the ladle, an axle 4 500138 MOYIIS 189:! carried by said guide tracks, said cylindrical member be- 1,207,251 Wettengel 1915 ing carried by saidaxle, 2,252,635 Karl Aug. 12, 1941 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said means for 10 2,268,482 Harvey 941 rotating said stopper means a portion of a revolution each FOR G PATENTS time the same is moved into seated relation with said in- 171 189 Austria y 10 1952 dined bottom portion comprises :a ratchet and pawl op- 1832 41 Great B July 1922 eratively connected to said cylindrical member at one end thereof. 15 547,568 Germany Apr. 8, 1932

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