A metallurgic casting installation comprises a robot. The robot comprises a handling tool coupled to an arm of the robot by a coupling element. The coupling element comprises a tool interface rigidly coupled to the handling tool, and a robot interface rigidly coupled to the arm of the robot. The compliance of the coupling element can be controlled such that upon application of a load onto the tool interface, the tool interface can be moved relative to the robot interface, by translation along and/or rotation about one or more of a first, second and third orthogonal spatial axes X1, X2, X3. The coupling element is resilient in that upon release of the load, the tool interface returns to a reset position relative to the robot interface corresponding to a reset distance Dr separating the tool interface and the robot interface.

A metallurgic casting installation comprises a robot. The robot comprises a handling tool coupled to an arm of the robot by a coupling element. The coupling element comprises a tool interface rigidly coupled to the handling tool, and a robot interface rigidly coupled to the arm of the robot. The compliance of the coupling element can be controlled such that upon application of a load onto the tool interface, the tool interface can be moved relative to the robot interface, by translation along and/or rotation about one or more of a first, second and third orthogonal spatial axes X1, X2, X3. The coupling element is resilient in that upon release of the load, the tool interface returns to a reset position relative to the robot interface corresponding to a reset distance Dr separating the tool interface and the robot interface.

A melting apparatus for steel production includes a support structure to support a shell for the production and tapping of steel, and a source or zone for the emission of fumes resulting from the tapping of the steel from the shell. The melting apparatus also includes a tapping hood integrated into the support structure and provided with a suction mouth positioned directly above the zone for the emission of fumes, the shell is provided with a bottom wall in which an E.B.T. is provided for tapping the steel.

The device according to any of the preceding claims 13 to 19, characterized in that the device is further configured to carry out a method comprising the step of positioning the green sand mold (3), wherein the device is provided with levelling means configured to hold an upper side of the green sand mold (3) during step c in a parallel position in relation to a gravitationally horizontal plane.

The device according to any of the preceding claims 13 to 19, characterized in that the device is further configured to carry out a method comprising the step of positioning the green sand mold (3), wherein the device is provided with levelling means configured to hold an upper side of the green sand mold (3) during step c in a parallel position in relation to a gravitationally horizontal plane.

The present invention relates to a microwave melting apparatus and system for investment casting the metals obtained therefrom. In addition to enhanced production capacity, the system allows for the use of both a broad range of metal alloys and a variety of forms including ingot, scrap, granulated and powdered metals not possible with induction systems generally.

Plate condition tool for the measurement of condition data of slide gate valve plates coupled to the slide gate valve of a metallurgic vessel, said slide gate valve comprising a collector nozzle, said plate condition tool comprising: a) a main body comprising an obturator for obturating at least partially the collector nozzle; b) a gas injecting device comprising a pressure regulator for injecting a gas in the collector nozzle through the obturator; c) a gas flow measuring device for measuring the flow of the gas injected by the gas injecting device d) a controller being communicatively connected to the gas flow measuring device and being configured to receive input data relating to the relative position of the slide gate valve plates; and wherein the obturator comprises a seal holder for holding a collector nozzle seal.

System for tracking and assessing the condition of replaceable refractory elements in a metallurgic facility comprising: a) a plurality of identifiable metallurgical vessels, such as ladles, wherein each one of said identifiable metallurgical vessels comprises removable refractory elements, such as slide gate valve plates; b) a plurality of replacement refractory elements, wherein each replacement refractory element comprises a machine-readable identification tag comprising refractory element identification data; c) a reading station, such as an RFID workbench, for reading the machine-readable identification tags of a replacement refractory element positioned in a reading zone of the reading station; d) a refractory condition tool for assessing the condition of refractory elements coupled to anyone of said metallurgical vessels; e) a monitoring unit connectable to the reading station and the refractory condition tool.

System for tracking and assessing the condition of replaceable refractory elements in a metallurgic facility comprising: a) a plurality of identifiable metallurgical vessels, such as ladles, wherein each one of said identifiable metallurgical vessels comprises removable refractory elements, such as slide gate valve plates; b) a plurality of replacement refractory elements, wherein each replacement refractory element comprises a machine-readable identification tag comprising refractory element identification data; c) a reading station, such as an RFID workbench, for reading the machine-readable identification tags of a replacement refractory element positioned in a reading zone of the reading station; d) a refractory condition tool for assessing the condition of refractory elements coupled to anyone of said metallurgical vessels; e) a monitoring unit connectable to the reading station and the refractory condition tool.

Plate condition tool for the measurement of condition data of slide gate valve plates coupled to the slide gate valve of a metallurgic vessel, said slide gate valve comprising a collector nozzle, said plate condition tool comprising: a) a main body comprising an obturator for obturating at least partially the collector nozzle; b) a gas injecting device comprising a pressure regulator for injecting a gas in the collector nozzle through the obturator; c) a gas flow measuring device for measuring the flow of the gas injected by the gas injecting device d) a controller being communicatively connected to the gas flow measuring device and being configured to receive input data relating to the relative position of the slide gate valve plates; and wherein the obturator comprises a seal holder for holding a collector nozzle seal.