A sliding closure (10) at the outlet of a metallurgic container is provided with a housing (12), at least one closing plate arranged therein, a longitudinally displaceable closing plate and a cover (15), fastened to the housing (12) by means of a bracing mechanism (20). The closing plates can be pressed against one another by the bracing mechanism (20) via the cover (15). The bracing mechanism (20) having at least one spring member (33) is provided with clamping levers (21, 22) pivotably housed on either side at the housing (12) and supports (23, 24) which cooperate with same, with the result that, by pivoting these clamping levers (21, 22), the cover (15) can be fastened to, or released from, the housing. In this way, the closing plates, which often need to be exchanged, can also be braced, always uniformly and optimally, against one another, even after many operational uses.

A sliding closure (10) at the outlet of a metallurgic container is provided with a housing (12), at least one closing plate arranged therein, a longitudinally displaceable closing plate and a cover (15), fastened to the housing (12) by means of a bracing mechanism (20). The closing plates can be pressed against one another by the bracing mechanism (20) via the cover (15). The bracing mechanism (20) having at least one spring member (33) is provided with clamping levers (21, 22) pivotably housed on either side at the housing (12) and supports (23, 24) which cooperate with same, with the result that, by pivoting these clamping levers (21, 22), the cover (15) can be fastened to, or released from, the housing. In this way, the closing plates, which often need to be exchanged, can also be braced, always uniformly and optimally, against one another, even after many operational uses.

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 metal casting installation comprises a ladle comprising an inner nozzle in fluid communication with the through-opening of a top gate plate. The installation contains a ladle shroud coupling assembly comprising a support frame comprising a bottom gate plate and a passage. The support frame is slidingly coupled to a planar bottom surface of a top gate plate of the inner nozzle of the ladle, such that the opening of the bottom gate plate can be brought in or out of registry with the through-opening of the top gate plate. A drawer frame can be can be moved through the passage of the support frame. The bore of a specifically designed ladle shroud capable of being reversibly coupled to latches can be brought into or out of registry with the opening of the bottom gate plate.

A metal casting installation comprises a ladle comprising an inner nozzle in fluid communication with the through-opening of a top gate plate. The installation contains a ladle shroud coupling assembly comprising a support frame comprising a bottom gate plate and a passage. The support frame is slidingly coupled to a planar bottom surface of a top gate plate of the inner nozzle of the ladle, such that the opening of the bottom gate plate can be brought in or out of registry with the through-opening of the top gate plate. A drawer frame can be can be moved through the passage of the support frame. The bore of a specifically designed ladle shroud capable of being reversibly coupled to latches can be brought into or out of registry with the opening of the bottom gate 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.

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.

In a device for fastening a perforated block to a metal melt container, the perforated block can be fastened by at least one clamping wedge which can be inserted transversely with respect to its through opening and which has a clamping jaw coupled thereto, wherein this clamping jaw acts on a clamping surface formed on the circumferential surface of the perforated block. The respective clamping wedge is guided in a carrier plate so as to be displaceable in its longitudinal extent or extension and transversely with respect thereto, while the clamping jaw coupled thereto can be moved in this transverse direction. Consequently, the perforated block can be fastened with precise positioning in the carrier plate in a simple manner.

In a device for fastening a perforated block to a metal melt container, the perforated block can be fastened by at least one clamping wedge which can be inserted transversely with respect to its through opening and which has a clamping jaw coupled thereto, wherein this clamping jaw acts on a clamping surface formed on the circumferential surface of the perforated block. The respective clamping wedge is guided in a carrier plate so as to be displaceable in its longitudinal extent or extension and transversely with respect thereto, while the clamping jaw coupled thereto can be moved in this transverse direction. Consequently, the perforated block can be fastened with precise positioning in the carrier plate in a simple manner.

In a closure plate for a slide closure on the spout of a container containing molten metal, two outer longitudinal sides, a flow-through opening disposed on a central longitudinal axis of the closure plate and a closing surface passing from the latter are provided. There are formed on each of these two outer longitudinal sides, at least two shoulder surfaces serving as clamping surfaces or as centring surfaces of the closure plate which are at an angle to the longitudinal axis and tapering inward. At least on the shoulder surfaces on the side of the closing surface, adjoining outer sides are provided which are respectively at a smaller angle to the longitudinal axis than those of the shoulder surfaces.