A slide closure (10) for a container containing molten metal is provided with a housing part (1) that can be fastened to the latter and a slider unit (2) that can be displaced longitudinally relative to it, into which a fireproof plate (4 or 5) can respectively be inserted. The slider unit (2) is held by a number of holding means (6a, 6b; 7a, 7b) fastened to the housing part (1) perpendicular to the slider unit such that it can be displaced longitudinally. The holding means (6a, 6b; 7a, 7b) are individually fastened releasably to the housing part (1) such that in the braced state of the slide closure (10) they can be released from the housing part (1) in almost every position of the slider unit (2). In the event of a breakdown opening of the latter is thus made possible without the holding means and/or other parts having to be destroyed. In addition, the housing part (1) has walls (8, 9) running close to the plate (4, 5) in the longitudinal direction and with projections (10a, 10b or 11a, 11b) that protrude to the side, in which walls bearings (12) of the individual holding means (6a, 6b; 7a, 7b) can be accommodated.

A slide closure (10) for a container containing molten metal is provided with a housing part (1) that can be fastened to the latter and a slider unit (2) that can be displaced longitudinally relative to it, into which a fireproof plate (4 or 5) can respectively be inserted. The slider unit (2) is held by a number of holding means (6a, 6b; 7a, 7b) fastened to the housing part (1) perpendicular to the slider unit such that it can be displaced longitudinally. The holding means (6a, 6b; 7a, 7b) are individually fastened releasably to the housing part (1) such that in the braced state of the slide closure (10) they can be released from the housing part (1) in almost every position of the slider unit (2). In the event of a breakdown opening of the latter is thus made possible without the holding means and/or other parts having to be destroyed. In addition, the housing part (1) has walls (8, 9) running close to the plate (4, 5) in the longitudinal direction and with projections (10a, 10b or 11a, 11b) that protrude to the side, in which walls bearings (12) of the individual holding means (6a, 6b; 7a, 7b) can be accommodated.

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.

This connection device (D) comprises a shaft (17) which is mobile in translation, a piston (19) integral with the shaft (17), a sleeve (35) which extends around the shaft (17), this sleeve being movable between a rear position and a forward position, and locking members housed in the sleeve (35), each locking member being movable relative to the sleeve between a locking configuration and a release configuration. The shaft (17) is movable between a disconnected position in which the shaft (17) does not oppose movement of the locking members to their release configuration, and the sleeve (35) is in the forward position, and a connected position in which the shaft (17) opposes movement of the locking members into their release configuration and the sleeve (35) is in the rear position, through an intermediate position, in which the shaft (17) opposes movement of the locking members into their release configuration and the sleeve (35) is in the forward position.

This connection device (D) comprises a shaft (17) which is mobile in translation, a piston (19) integral with the shaft (17), a sleeve (35) which extends around the shaft (17), this sleeve being movable between a rear position and a forward position, and locking members housed in the sleeve (35), each locking member being movable relative to the sleeve between a locking configuration and a release configuration. The shaft (17) is movable between a disconnected position in which the shaft (17) does not oppose movement of the locking members to their release configuration, and the sleeve (35) is in the forward position, and a connected position in which the shaft (17) opposes movement of the locking members into their release configuration and the sleeve (35) is in the rear position, through an intermediate position, in which the shaft (17) opposes movement of the locking members into their release configuration and the sleeve (35) is in the forward position.

Slide closure for a metallurgical vessel, with two compensation units I and II for equalizing overloads, which may result from the thermal extension and spreading of the fire-proof closure plate thicknesses conditional on manufacturing, and/or from the upper inner shell, wherein the inner shell can also be reduced during operation. The compensation unit I consists of a spring arrangement with fastening screws which can be moved away between the housing and a cover of the housing. The compensation unit II consists, for its part, of a spring arrangement with an insertion frame pressing against the lower closure plate, which insertion frame is fixed to the bottom of the housing with fastening screws.

Slide closure for a metallurgical vessel, with two compensation units I and II for equalizing overloads, which may result from the thermal extension and spreading of the fire-proof closure plate thicknesses conditional on manufacturing, and/or from the upper inner shell, wherein the inner shell can also be reduced during operation. The compensation unit I consists of a spring arrangement with fastening screws which can be moved away between the housing and a cover of the housing. The compensation unit II consists, for its part, of a spring arrangement with an insertion frame pressing against the lower closure plate, which insertion frame is fixed to the bottom of the housing with fastening screws.

A tube exchange device for holding and replacing refractory nozzle comprises a frame with a casting opening. The frame is configured to be fixed to the lower side of a metal casting vessel. The frame is has an upper portion and a lower portion joining at a middle section plane in which an inner nozzle and an exchangeable pouring nozzle form a sliding contact. The lower portion of the frame contains a displacing element and a guiding element disposed for displacing and guiding the nozzle from a standby position to a casting position, and a pressing element pressing the nozzle at the casting position towards the upper portion of the frame. In a combination of the tube exchange device and a nozzle, the nozzle comprises bearing elements mating with the clamping elements of the tube exchange device.

A tube exchange device for holding and replacing refractory nozzle comprises a frame with a casting opening. The frame is configured to be fixed to the lower side of a metal casting vessel. The frame is has an upper portion and a lower portion joining at a middle section plane in which an inner nozzle and an exchangeable pouring nozzle form a sliding contact. The lower portion of the frame contains a displacing element and a guiding element disposed for displacing and guiding the nozzle from a standby position to a casting position, and a pressing element pressing the nozzle at the casting position towards the upper portion of the frame. In a combination of the tube exchange device and a nozzle, the nozzle comprises bearing elements mating with the clamping elements of the tube exchange device.