Slide closure for a vessel containing molten metal includes a slide housing and a slide unit that can be displaced longitudinally towards the slide housing, at least one refractory closure plate can respectively be inserted into the slide housing. The closure plates can be pressed against one another by the slide unit being braced against the slide housing. The closure plates can respectively be fixed or centered therein by a placement device having a displaceable positioning element. These placement devices are respectively designed such that upon bracing the slide unit against the slide housing, placing of the positioning element and clamping or centering of the respective closure plate is brought about therein. Therefore, despite easier operation, increased operating reliability is guaranteed because the closure plates are clamped and centered mechanically.

Slide closure for a vessel containing molten metal includes a slide housing and a slide unit that can be displaced longitudinally towards the slide housing, at least one refractory closure plate can respectively be inserted into the slide housing. The closure plates can be pressed against one another by the slide unit being braced against the slide housing. The closure plates can respectively be fixed or centered therein by a placement device having a displaceable positioning element. These placement devices are respectively designed such that upon bracing the slide unit against the slide housing, placing of the positioning element and clamping or centering of the respective closure plate is brought about therein. Therefore, despite easier operation, increased operating reliability is guaranteed because the closure plates are clamped and centered mechanically.

Slide gate for a metallurgical vessel, in particular a ladle, including a slide gate housing attachable to a metallurgical vessel, a head plate accommodated in the slide gate housing and having a passage opening for a metallic melt, a slide frame mounted in the slide gate housing so as to be displaceable in a direction relative to the head plate, and a slide plate accommodated in the slide frame and having a passage opening, characterized in that a device for compensating the contact pressure of the slide plate against the head plate is arranged between the slide gate housing and the slide frame, wherein the compensating device includes at least one carrier body mounted in the slide gate housing so as to be rotatable about at least one axis of rotation, and at least one spring element, via which the carrier body is coupled to the slide frame.

Slide gate for a metallurgical vessel, in particular a ladle, including a slide gate housing attachable to a metallurgical vessel, a head plate accommodated in the slide gate housing and having a passage opening for a metallic melt, a slide frame mounted in the slide gate housing so as to be displaceable in a direction relative to the head plate, and a slide plate accommodated in the slide frame and having a passage opening, characterized in that a device for compensating the contact pressure of the slide plate against the head plate is arranged between the slide gate housing and the slide frame, wherein the compensating device includes at least one carrier body mounted in the slide gate housing so as to be rotatable about at least one axis of rotation, and at least one spring element, via which the carrier body is coupled to the slide frame.

A sliding gate valve of a metallurgic vessel comprises a carriage. The carriage comprises a plate frame for supporting a first refractory plate and the plate frame is slideably mounted on a carriage support structure for sliding along a first axis. The carriage comprises a selecting device for selecting between a first stroke ΔX1 and a second stroke ΔX2 by moving a blocking member between a blocking and a non-blocking position. When the blocking member is located in the blocking position a first bumper portion of the plate frame is bumping into the blocking member if the plate frame is to slide beyond a nominal end-position. When the blocking member is located in the non-blocking position the first bumper portion is not bumping into the blocking member if the plate frame is to slide beyond a nominal end-position, thereby allowing the plate frame to slide beyond the nominal end-position to a service end-position.

A sliding gate valve of a metallurgic vessel comprises a carriage. The carriage comprises a plate frame for supporting a first refractory plate and the plate frame is slideably mounted on a carriage support structure for sliding along a first axis. The carriage comprises a selecting device for selecting between a first stroke ΔX1 and a second stroke ΔX2 by moving a blocking member between a blocking and a non-blocking position. When the blocking member is located in the blocking position a first bumper portion of the plate frame is bumping into the blocking member if the plate frame is to slide beyond a nominal end-position. When the blocking member is located in the non-blocking position the first bumper portion is not bumping into the blocking member if the plate frame is to slide beyond a nominal end-position, thereby allowing the plate frame to slide beyond the nominal end-position to a service end-position.

A sliding gate device includes a fixed plate fixed to a molten steel container, a sliding plate for opening/closing a nozzle hole, a sliding device moving a case holding the sliding plate, and a contact pressure control mechanism switching between a contact pressure applied state and a no-contact-pressure applied state for the fixed plate and the sliding plate. The contact pressure control mechanism has a support bar member moving relative to the fixed plate, a joining block tool switching between a joined state where the support bar member and the case cooperate with each other, and a joining-released state where the support bar member and the case do not cooperate with each other, and a spring member generating a force applying a contact pressure according to a position of the support bar member.

A sliding gate device includes a fixed plate fixed to a molten steel container, a sliding plate for opening/closing a nozzle hole, a sliding device moving a case holding the sliding plate, and a contact pressure control mechanism switching between a contact pressure applied state and a no-contact-pressure applied state for the fixed plate and the sliding plate. The contact pressure control mechanism has a support bar member moving relative to the fixed plate, a joining block tool switching between a joined state where the support bar member and the case cooperate with each other, and a joining-released state where the support bar member and the case do not cooperate with each other, and a spring member generating a force applying a contact pressure according to a position of the support bar member.

An opening-closing apparatus capable of, when using a robot arm to selectively open and close a component of a sliding nozzle device, reliably opening and closing the component to respective given positions. The apparatus comprises: a hand-like distal module engageable with an openable-closable component of a sliding nozzle device; a force sensor to detect a force received by the module; and a robot arm to which the module and the sensor are mounted. The robot arm is controllably operated to: move the module toward the component of the sliding nozzle device and engage the module with the component of the sliding nozzle device; then move the module to move the component, if the absolute value of the force detected by the sensor is equal to or less than a given threshold; and stop the movement of the module, when the absolute value of the force detected by the sensor reaches the threshold.

An opening-closing apparatus capable of, when using a robot arm to selectively open and close a component of a sliding nozzle device, reliably opening and closing the component to respective given positions. The apparatus comprises: a hand-like distal module engageable with an openable-closable component of a sliding nozzle device; a force sensor to detect a force received by the module; and a robot arm to which the module and the sensor are mounted. The robot arm is controllably operated to: move the module toward the component of the sliding nozzle device and engage the module with the component of the sliding nozzle device; then move the module to move the component, if the absolute value of the force detected by the sensor is equal to or less than a given threshold; and stop the movement of the module, when the absolute value of the force detected by the sensor reaches the threshold.