Sliding Closure for Metallurgical Casting Vessel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slide closures for metallurgical pouring vessels are structurally complex and difficult to access, leading to challenges in sealing and maintaining an inert gas environment, which can result in ambient air being sucked into the pouring channel and mixing with molten metal.
Innovation Solution
A simplified slide closure design where all plates are housed within an openable and closable slider housing, allowing for the creation of a gas-tight environment using inert gas, with adjustable pressure to prevent air or gas from entering the pouring channel, and enabling easy access and replacement of plates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a gas-tight box with inert gas atmosphere is built around the slide closure, then ambient air is prevented from entering the pouring channel, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slide closure is divided into multiple plates (head plate, spout plate, slide plate) that can be separately replaced, and the sealing function is segmented into a circumferential seal between the mounting plate and box-like frame, allowing maintenance without complete disassembly
Solution Approach 2:
The inert gas atmosphere function is extracted from a separate box structure and integrated directly into the slide housing space, eliminating the need for an additional gas-tight box while maintaining the protective atmosphere
2Reliability
If the slide housing is made gas-tight and sealed, then inert gas environment is maintained, but access to plates becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The box-like frame is designed to pivot between open and closed positions about a first axis, transforming the static sealed housing into a dynamic structure that allows plate access while maintaining sealing when closed
Solution Approach 2:
The circumferential seal is positioned specifically at the interface between the mounting plate and box-like frame, providing localized sealing that maintains inert atmosphere while allowing the rest of the structure to be opened for plate replacement
3Ease of operation
If the slide housing is made openable for plate replacement, then ease of operation is improved, but gas-tight sealing becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
A circumferential seal (sealing cord) is used between the mounting plate and box-like frame, providing a simple flexible sealing solution that accommodates the pivoting motion while maintaining gas-tight closure
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures that ambient air is not sucked into the pouring channel, maintaining a controlled inert gas environment around the slide plate, preventing contamination of molten metal and allowing for efficient operation with reduced risk of chemical reactions.
Implementation Method 1
a box-like frame pivotably mounted thereon about a first axis
Implementation Method 2
the slider plate frame together with the slider plate is held on the box-like frame of the slider housing so that it can pivot about a second axis
Implementation Method 3
A circumferential seal, in particular a sealing cord, is also arranged between the side of the slider housing that includes the mounting plate and the box-like frame
Implementation Method 4
either a negative pressure atmosphere or an inert gas overpressure atmosphere can be created within the slide housing
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a sliding closure for a metallurgical casting vessel, in particular a casting lade, comprising a slide plate (3) movably supported between a head plate (5) and a pouring plate (6), wherein all three plates (3, 5, 6) are arranged within a slide housing (1) that can be opened if necessary, and wherein the slide housing (1) can be sealed off from the outside in a substantially gas-tight manner (circumferential seals 15, 22, 33).