The apparatus for continuous slab casting having a nozzle exchanging-holding mechanism capable of moving a submerged nozzle at the exchange of the nozzle through a moving-connecting space D of a base under a slide valve mechanism and keeping the connection between the submerged nozzle and the slide valve mechanism during the operation, and a rotation mechanism to rotate the base of the nozzle exchanging-holding mechanism, which is characterized by a fixing mechanism that fixes the submerged nozzle in the nozzle exchanging-holding mechanism by pressing the submerged nozzle toward one or both inner sides of the moving-connecting space D of the base in one or both directions perpendicular to the moving direction of the submerged nozzle during the nozzle exchange.

A robotized system for fixing a sliding gate valve plate to a sliding gate valve or removing a sliding gate valve plate from a sliding gate valve comprises a sliding gate valve plate, a metallurgic vessel provided with a sliding gate valve comprising a plate support frame comprising a receiving cradle suitable for receiving and locking the sliding gate valve plate, and a robot comprising a handling interface provided with gripping clamps for gripping the sliding gate valve plate. The sliding gate valve plate comprises gripping holds mating the gripping clamps of the robot, such that the robot can securely hold and handle the sliding gate valve plate.

A robotized system for fixing a sliding gate valve plate to a sliding gate valve or removing a sliding gate valve plate from a sliding gate valve comprises a sliding gate valve plate, a metallurgic vessel provided with a sliding gate valve comprising a plate support frame comprising a receiving cradle suitable for receiving and locking the sliding gate valve plate, and a robot comprising a handling interface provided with gripping clamps for gripping the sliding gate valve plate. The sliding gate valve plate comprises gripping holds mating the gripping clamps of the robot, such that the robot can securely hold and handle the sliding gate valve plate.

Method for servicing or maintenance of a sliding closure on an outlet of a metallurgical vessel includes controlling, using a robot for automated maintenance, a drive on the sliding closure to selectively enable release of the sliding closure or drive, and enable unfolding of the sliding closure. When the sliding closure is unfolded, a first refractory closure plate is, together with a first cassette, insertable into or removable from a housing of the sliding closure and a second refractory closure plate is, together with a second cassette, insertable into or removable from a slider unit coupled to the housing. In an available manual maintenance stage at the same location, the cassettes are fixed in the housing and slider unit and the closure plates are insertable manually directly into the respective cassette to be centered and fastened therein, or the closure plates are releasable from the respective cassette.

A sliding nozzle apparatus includes a fixed metal frame, and a sliding metal frame which is provided openable-closable and slidable with respect to the fixed metal frame. When the sliding metal frame is opened, the sliding nozzle apparatus is erected such that a sliding direction of the sliding metal frame is oriented in a vertical direction. The fixed metal frame is provided with a fall prevention member, and the sliding metal frame is provided with an engagement member. The fall prevention member has a catching surface for catching the engagement member when the sliding metal frame is opened, in the uppermost position where the sliding metal frame is moved to the uppermost side in a state in which the sliding nozzle apparatus is erected such that the sliding direction of the sliding metal frame is oriented in the vertical direction.

A sliding nozzle apparatus includes a fixed metal frame, and a sliding metal frame which is provided openable-closable and slidable with respect to the fixed metal frame. When the sliding metal frame is opened, the sliding nozzle apparatus is erected such that a sliding direction of the sliding metal frame is oriented in a vertical direction. The fixed metal frame is provided with a fall prevention member, and the sliding metal frame is provided with an engagement member. The fall prevention member has a catching surface for catching the engagement member when the sliding metal frame is opened, in the uppermost position where the sliding metal frame is moved to the uppermost side in a state in which the sliding nozzle apparatus is erected such that the sliding direction of the sliding metal frame is oriented in the vertical direction.

A sliding nozzle apparatus in which components constituting the sliding nozzle apparatus are less likely to be damaged even when a surface pressure is loaded with no refractory plate mounted. The sliding nozzle apparatus comprises a fixed metal frame and a sliding metal frame which is slidably provided with respect to the fixed metal frame. The sliding metal frame is movable between a first position where, in a state where two refractory plates are mounted, respectively, in a plate-receiving recess of the fixed metal frame and a plate-receiving recess of the sliding metal frame, a surface pressure can be loaded between the two refractory plates, and a second position where, in a state where no refractory plate is mounted to either plate-receiving recess, a surface pressure can be loaded between the fixed metal frame and the sliding metal frame.

A sliding nozzle apparatus in which components constituting the sliding nozzle apparatus are less likely to be damaged even when a surface pressure is loaded with no refractory plate mounted. The sliding nozzle apparatus comprises a fixed metal frame and a sliding metal frame which is slidably provided with respect to the fixed metal frame. The sliding metal frame is movable between a first position where, in a state where two refractory plates are mounted, respectively, in a plate-receiving recess of the fixed metal frame and a plate-receiving recess of the sliding metal frame, a surface pressure can be loaded between the two refractory plates, and a second position where, in a state where no refractory plate is mounted to either plate-receiving recess, a surface pressure can be loaded between the fixed metal frame and the sliding metal frame.

A slide closure for a vessel containing molten metal has a slider housing (12), a slide unit guided longitudinally therein, with a slide rod (13), a holder (15) on the slider housing (12) as well as a linear actuator (20) which can be fastened in this holder (15) with a drive rod (20) which can be coupled to the slide rod (13). The linear actuator (20) can be slid into the holder (15) on the slider housing (12), preferably transverse to its direction of adjustment, and can be removed from same and can be locked in the holder (15). At least one locking means (25, 30) is fastened to each of the linear actuator (20) and the holder (15), which locking means are developed to interact such that the linear actuator (20) locks automatically after or during being pushed into the holder (15). A permanently secure fastening of the linear actuator in the holder thus results.

A slide closure for a vessel containing molten metal has a slider housing (12), a slide unit guided longitudinally therein, with a slide rod (13), a holder (15) on the slider housing (12) as well as a linear actuator (20) which can be fastened in this holder (15) with a drive rod (20) which can be coupled to the slide rod (13). The linear actuator (20) can be slid into the holder (15) on the slider housing (12), preferably transverse to its direction of adjustment, and can be removed from same and can be locked in the holder (15). At least one locking means (25, 30) is fastened to each of the linear actuator (20) and the holder (15), which locking means are developed to interact such that the linear actuator (20) locks automatically after or during being pushed into the holder (15). A permanently secure fastening of the linear actuator in the holder thus results.