Ceramic refractory stopper

Abstract

A ceramic refractory stopper, shaped as a rod with a total axial length LS, comprising a) a stopper body (12) of an axial length LB, a first end section (12U) of which being equipped with means to fasten the stopper body (12) to a raise and lowering device, and a second end section (12L) of which being followed by b) a dome-like stopper head (14) of an axial length LH, wherein c) the stopper body (12) features at least one outer planar surface section (P1, P2, P3), which extends along at least 50% of the axial length LB of the stopper body (12).

Claims

1. Ceramic refractory stopper, shaped as a rod with a total axial length LS, comprising a) a stopper body (12) of an axial length LB, a first end section (12U) of which being equipped with means to fasten the stopper body (12) to a raise and lowering device, and a second end section (12L) of which being followed by b) a dome-like stopper head (14) of an axial length LH, wherein c) the stopper body (12) features multiple outer planar surface sections (P1, P2, P3), which extends along at least 50% of the axial length LB of the stopper body (12).

2. Ceramic refractory stopper according to claim 1, the stopper body (12) of which features a polygonal outer cross section along at least 50% of its axial length LB.

3. Ceramic refractory stopper according to claim 1, the stopper body (12) of which features a square, hexagonal or octagonal outer cross section along at least 50% of its axial length LB.

4. Ceramic refractory stopper according to claim 1, the dome-like stopper-head (14) of which features a circular outer cross section at least at its end section adjacent to the second end section (12L) of the stopper body (12).

5. Ceramic refractory stopper according to claim 1, with a transition area (16) at the lower end (12L) of the stopper body (12) and adjacent to the stopper head (14), wherein a lower end (RP) of the at least one outer planar surface section (P1, P2, P3) of the stopper body (12) merges smoothly into the dome-like stopper head (14).

6. Ceramic refractory stopper according to claim 1, wherein stopper body (12) and stopper head (14) provide a one piece stopper.

7. Ceramic refractory stopper according to claim 1, wherein stopper body (12) and stopper head (14) are discrete parts, which are fastened to each other by at least one means of a group comprising: glue, mortar, tongue and groove, thread and screw.

8. Ceramic refractory stopper according to claim 1, with a channel (18), extending from a top surface (12T) of the stopper body (12) into the stopper body (12) or through the stopper body (12) and into the stopper head (14), or through the stopper body (12) and through the stopper head (14).

9. Ceramic refractory stopper according to claim 8, wherein the channel (18) has a smaller cross-section along its section (18R) within the stopper head (14) and a larger cross-section along its section extending through the stopper body (12).

10. Ceramic refractory stopper according to claim 8, wherein the channel (18) has one or more planar surface sections, extending parallel to the outer planar surface sections (P1, P2, P3) of the stopper body (12).

11. Ceramic refractory stopper according to claim 8, wherein said channel (18) has the same number of planar surface sections compared with the outer planar surface sections (P1, P2, P3) of the refractory body (12).

12. Ceramic refractory stopper according to claim 1 with a maximum number of outer planar surface sections of 8 or 10.

13. Ceramic refractory stopper according to claim 1, which is rotationally symmetrical.

Description

(1) The attached drawings displays—in a schematic way—in

(2) FIG. 1: a first embodiment of a stopper rod with a hexagonal profile of the stopper body

(3) FIG. 2: the stopper of FIG. 1 with associated fixing means

(4) FIG. 3: a second embodiment of a stopper rod with a square profile of the stopper body

(5) FIG. 4: a third embodiment of a stopper rod with a pentagonal profile of the stopper body

(6) FIG. 5: cross-sections of stopper bodies in accordance with the table disclosed above.

(7) wherein FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 each displays the stopper in a use position. In the Figures identical or functionally equivalent features are displayed by the same numerals.

(8) FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of a refractory ceramic stopper shaped as a rod with a total axial length LS, comprising a stopper body 12 of an axial length LB, which is followed at a second end section 12L (including a so-called transition region 16) by a dome-like stopper head 14 of an axial length LH. The stopper body 12 features six planar surface sections, three of which (P1, P2, P3) may be seen in FIG. 1, in an rotationally symmetrical arrangement.

(9) These planar (flat) surface sections P1, P2, P3 each extend from an upper top surface 12T of the stopper body 12 along the axial length LB of the stopper body 12, wherein the lower part of the end section 12L defines the transition region 16.

(10) This transition region 16 provides a smooth surface transition between the hexagonal profile (cross-section) of the stopper body 12 and the dome-like stopper head 14. The design displayed in FIG. 1 is similar to that of a pencil.

(11) It may be seen from FIG. 1 that the planar surfaces P1, P2, P3 end with rounded profiles RP (convex shape, seen in an axial direction of the stopper) in said transition zone 16. Accordingly a wave-like pattern is achieved with A-shaped zones VZ between said rounded profiles RP. The axial length of the transition region 16 corresponds to about 5% of the total length LS, while generally 1-10% of the total length LS seem proper.

(12) The stopper head 14 is dome shaped and characterizes that part of the stopper featuring a substantially ideal circular cross-section below the second end section 12L or transition region 16 respectively.

(13) The overall shape of this stopper type resembles that of a pencil.

(14) An upper, first end section 12U of the stopper body 12 is equipped with a circular bore hole 18, which extends along a length L from the upper top surface 12T into the stopper body 12 and serves to receive a metallic or ceramic screw nut (non displayed) as means to fasten the stopper to a (non displayed) raise and lowering device.

(15) FIG. 2 shows an adapter A of such a handling device which is fixedly secured at the said screw nut.

(16) The stopper of FIG. 3 is similar to that of FIG. 1,2 with the proviso that the stopper body 12 has a square cross section over its length, thus providing four outer planar surface sections, two of which (P1, P2) may be seen in said Figure.

(17) This stopper is further characterized by a gas channel 18, which extends from top surface 12T through stopper body 12 and stopper head 14 and ends at the lowermost point LP of said stopper head 14 in a corresponding opening.

(18) The cross section of this gas channel 18 is square as far as it extends along the stopper body and then changes, via a transition area, into a circular profile of reduced cross area, displayed by 18R.

(19) Means for fixing this stopper to a lifting devices as well as means to connect the gas channel to a gas supply unit are not displayed as being prior art and known to the skilled person.

(20) A third embodiment of a stopper rod with a pentagonal profile of the stopper body is disclosed in FIG. 4, again in a front view, so that only three flat surface sections P1, P2 and P3 can be seen.

(21) FIG. 5 displays five cross-sections of stopper bodies in accordance with the table disclosed above, namely—from left to right—: a conventional circular cross section the square profile according to FIG. 3 the pentagonal profile according to FIG. 4 the hexagonal cross-section of FIG. 1,2 an octagonal cross-section