Foolproof nozzle exchange device and nozzle unit

Abstract

The present invention concerns a nozzle unit for use in a nozzle exchange device in a continuous metal casting apparatus, said nozzle exchange device being of the type comprising a loading opening and guiding means for sliding the nozzle unit through said opening into casting position with respect to the nozzle exchange device, wherein said nozzle unit comprises a nozzle plate made of a refractory material clad in a metal can. In order to prevent said plate from being presented to the loading opening with the wrong orientation, i.e., with the trailing edge first, said plate is provided with at least one lug at or adjacent the trailing edge, said at least one lug being transverse to said first major axis (X1) and extending substantially beyond the perimeter defining the base of the prism such that the loading opening allows engagement of the base of the nozzle plate but not of the at least one lug. The flexural yield point or ultimate flexural force of said at least one lug is comprised between 10 and 2000 kgf (100 N and 20 kN), which is too high for an operator to reach by hand, but which can be handled very easily by a hydraulic, mechanical, or pneumatic arm which can thus bend or break said at least one lug to push the plate into its casting position, only if loaded with its leading edge first.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates generally to metal continuous casting lines. In particular, the invention relates to a nozzle unit suitable for use with a nozzle changing device and provided with means for preventing said nozzle unit from being loaded in said nozzle changing device in a wrong orientation. Background technique [0002] The tundish container (10) is used to hold a certain amount or full container of molten metal such as molten iron or steel conveyed from the ladle (11) through the ladle shroud (12) (cf. figure 1 ). The ladle (11) is positioned a few meters above the tundish (10) and the molten metal is conveyed to the tundish ( 10). The tundish (10) is set between the ladle (11) and the casting equipment or mold (mould, or crystallizer) (13), and the molten metal from the tundish (10) is supplied to the casting through the upper nozzle (18) Apparatus or mold (13), the upper nozzle (18) located in the tundish is in fluid communication w...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, these solutions do not solve the problem satisfactorily for the following reasons

Firstly, such systems are not compatible with existing nozzle changers (100) already installed in the industry and require the installation of special nozzle changers, which represents a significant investment by the customer

Secondly, unless there is considerable asymmetry between the starboard and leeward plate sides (2e), there is the danger that the operator may make a drastic movement when changing the tubes and insert the plate incorrectly into the opening (16) of the nozzle changer and damage the system

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