A coupling position switching mechanism capable of improving efficiency of a coupling position switching operation, while realizing structural simplification, and reductions in size and cost. A first coupling portion consisting of one of a slide metal frame-side coupling portion and a drive unit-side coupling portion is formed with a groove-shaped recess and a through-hole in this order from the side of a distal end of the first coupling portion, and a second coupling portion consisting of the remaining one of the slide metal frame-side coupling portion and the drive unit-side coupling portion is formed with the through-hole. The first and second coupling portions are configured such that, during a casting operation, they are coupled together by a coupling pin inserted into the through-hole of the first coupling portion and the through-hole of the second coupling portion, and during surface pressure-applying/releasing operation, they are coupled together by a second coupling pin inserted into the groove-shaped recess of the first coupling portion and the through-hole of the second coupling portion.

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.

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 method is provided, in particular for maintaining a slide gate (10) of a vessel containing metal melts. The slide gate (10) comprises a housing (11), a slide unit guided longitudinally in this, a holding element (15), a linear drive (12) which can be located in this for adjusting the slide unit, at least one electrical line and/or a connection line (16, 17, 18) for a medium, such as gas or air. The connecting of the at least one electrical line and/or the connection line (16, 17, 18) for the medium takes place in this situation by means of a plugging action. This plugging action of the at least one connection line (16, 17, 18) takes place automatically with the moving of the linear drive (12) into the holding element (15), and/or the detachment takes place automatically when it is moved out of the holding element (15). As a result, handling is more easily achieved in particular at the maintaining of the slide gate by means of a robot, and, at the same time, the process stability and the operational safety are increased during the casting.

A method is provided, in particular for maintaining a slide gate (10) of a vessel containing metal melts. The slide gate (10) comprises a housing (11), a slide unit guided longitudinally in this, a holding element (15), a linear drive (12) which can be located in this for adjusting the slide unit, at least one electrical line and/or a connection line (16, 17, 18) for a medium, such as gas or air. The connecting of the at least one electrical line and/or the connection line (16, 17, 18) for the medium takes place in this situation by means of a plugging action. This plugging action of the at least one connection line (16, 17, 18) takes place automatically with the moving of the linear drive (12) into the holding element (15), and/or the detachment takes place automatically when it is moved out of the holding element (15). As a result, handling is more easily achieved in particular at the maintaining of the slide gate by means of a robot, and, at the same time, the process stability and the operational safety are increased during the casting.

A refractory sliding gate valve plate has a planar upper surface and a planar lower surface parallel to the planar upper surface. A connecting outer surface connects the upper surface to the lower surface, and a pouring channel fluidly connects the upper surface to the lower surface. Specified ratios of length between (a) specified longitudinal segments extending from the axis of symmetry of the pouring channel to the perimeter on the upper surface and the lower surface of the plate, respectively, and also between (b) specified latitudinal segments extending from the axis of symmetry of the pouring channel to the perimeter on the upper surface and the lower surface of the plate, respectively, increase the uniformity of thrust force applied to the plates and the contact area between the upper surfaces of two such plates within a valve.

A refractory sliding gate valve plate has a planar upper surface and a planar lower surface parallel to the planar upper surface. A connecting outer surface connects the upper surface to the lower surface, and a pouring channel fluidly connects the upper surface to the lower surface. Specified ratios of length between (a) specified longitudinal segments extending from the axis of symmetry of the pouring channel to the perimeter on the upper surface and the lower surface of the plate, respectively, and also between (b) specified latitudinal segments extending from the axis of symmetry of the pouring channel to the perimeter on the upper surface and the lower surface of the plate, respectively, increase the uniformity of thrust force applied to the plates and the contact area between the upper surfaces of two such plates within a valve.

Sliding closure at an outlet of a metallurgical vessel includes a housing fastened to the vessel, a slider unit coupled and longitudinally displaceable relative to the housing, and a respective cassette arranged in the housing and/or slider unit and which operatively retains a refractory closure plate having an opening for passage of medium from the vessel. The closure plate is fixable in and releasable from the cassette by interaction of structure on the cassette and housing or slider unit. This structure includes a retaining element and an elbow lever mechanism on opposite end sides of the cassette, and a corresponding receiver element and snap-in element on opposite sides of the housing or slider unit such that the cassette can be pushed into the housing or slider unit at an angle and fixed therein by pressure through engagement of the elbow lever mechanism with the snap-in element.

Sliding closure at an outlet of a metallurgical vessel includes a housing fastened to the vessel, a slider unit coupled and longitudinally displaceable relative to the housing, and a respective cassette arranged in the housing and/or slider unit and which operatively retains a refractory closure plate having an opening for passage of medium from the vessel. The closure plate is fixable in and releasable from the cassette by interaction of structure on the cassette and housing or slider unit. This structure includes a retaining element and an elbow lever mechanism on opposite end sides of the cassette, and a corresponding receiver element and snap-in element on opposite sides of the housing or slider unit such that the cassette can be pushed into the housing or slider unit at an angle and fixed therein by pressure through engagement of the elbow lever mechanism with the snap-in element.

A coupling position switching mechanism capable of improving efficiency of a coupling position switching operation, while realizing structural simplification, and reductions in size and cost. A first coupling portion consisting of one of a slide metal frame-side coupling portion and a drive unit-side coupling portion is formed with a groove-shaped recess and a through-hole in this order from the side of a distal end of the first coupling portion, and a second coupling portion consisting of the remaining one of the slide metal frame-side coupling portion and the drive unit-side coupling portion is formed with the through-hole. The first and second coupling portions are configured such that, during a casting operation, they are coupled together by a coupling pin inserted into the through-hole of the first coupling potion and the through-hole of the second coupling portion, and during surface pressure-applying/releasing operation, they are coupled together by a second coupling pin inserted into the groove-shaped recess of the first coupling portion and the through-hole of the second coupling portion.