Sliding gate for the spout of metallurgical vessels

摘要

A sliding closure unit for controlling the discharge of molten metal from a metallurgical vessel includes a stationary refractory plate, a stationary housing assembly for mounting the stationary refractory plate on the metallurgical vessel, a movable refractory plate, the stationary and movable refractory plates having complementary, abutting relative sliding surfaces, and a movable frame mounting the movable refractory plate for movement with respect to the stationary refractory plate. The movable frame and movable refractory plate are urged toward the stationary refractory plate by levers mounted in the housing assembly for pivotal movement about axles fixed to the housing assembly and extending transverse to the direction of movement of the movable frame and movable refractory plate. Springs are mounted in the housing assembly to urge the levers to pivot about the respective axles toward the movable frame to thereby urge the movable frame and movable refractory plate toward the stationary refractory plate. Each lever and the respective spring are arranged in an elongated configuration extending in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement.