The invention relates to a method and to a device for repairing the spout sleeve (6) of a metallurgical vessel which is fitted securely within the refractory lining (4, 5) of the vessel (1). According to the invention the sleeve is repaired by applying mortar to the casting channel (7) of the sleeve (6) with a mortar dispenser (9) that can be inserted into the casting channel (7), which upon removing the mortar dispenser from the casting channel calibrates the latter over the entire length of the channel. The mortar dispenser (9) is driven rotating coaxially to the casting channel (7) during the mortar application and, after a defined time, is removed from the casting channel (7), still rotating. The method is particularly suitable for repairing the inner sleeve of a casting ladle with a slide closure adjoining the ladle spout, maintenance of which is automatically carried out in a maintenance station of the casting facility. In this case the invention makes provision such that the repair of the inner sleeve is also carried out automatically here during the maintenance of the slide closure.

An apparatus (2) for determining thickness of refractory material (4) lining a metal vessel (6) is disclosed. The apparatus includes a radiation source (16) for emitting radiation through a metal wall of the vessel and into the refractory material, wherein some of the radiation is scattered by the refractory material, and a radiation detector (20) for detecting radiation scattered by the refractory material through the wall of the vessel. A converter provides an output signal dependent on the quantity of radiation scattered by the refractory material through the wall of the vessel and detected by the radiation detector.