US3556360A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas stopper for a ladle
Assignee: Nozzle Inc
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Filing: 1969-01-15
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Granted: 1971-01-19
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Expires: 1989-01-15
Abstract
Abstract A gas operated stopper for pouring molten metal from a ladle comprising a stationary nozzle seat having an opening therethrough, a movable nozzle positioned in the nozzle seat opening and having a cross section less than the cross section of the opening to form a gap therebetween and a gas operated piston assembly in which the cylinder is secured to the stationary nozzle seat and the piston is secured to the movable nozzle. Compressed air raises the piston and nozzle to remove an extended top section of the nozzle from a mating surface on the nozzle seat and thereby opening a series of inclined passageways leading to a vertically disposed passageway in the nozzle. An inert gas is introduced through the above-identified gap to lubricate the system and prevent molten metal from entering therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas E Stelson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 23:16
CPC Classifications
B; B22; B22D; B22D41/00; B22D41/14; F; F16; F16K; F16K31/00; F16K31/12; F16K31/122; F16K31/1226; F27; F27D; F27D3/00; F27D3/15; F27D3/1509; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/4238; Y10T137/4245; Y10T137/4259
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
A gas operated stopper for a pouring ladle comprising: A. A nozzle seat having a central opening and adapted to be secured in a nozzle well of the ladle; B. A nozzle assembly positioned within the opening in the nozzle seat and having a central opening therein, at least a portion of the nozzle assembly being movable into and out of contact with the nozzle seat; C. Said nozzle assembly and said nozzle seat being constructed and positioned to provide a passageway connecting the interior of the ladle and the central opening in the nozzle assembly when the movable portion of the nozzle assembly is out of contact with the nozzle seat to allow liquids to flow from the interior of the ladle, through the passageway and out the central opening in the nozzle assembly; D. A gas actuated piston member associated with the nozzle assembly, said piston forming the movable portion of the nozzle assembly into and out of contact with the nozzle seat to open and close the passageway between them whereby the flow of liquids is regulated; and E. A second passageway surrounding the movable portion of the nozzle assembly providing a channel for the flow of inert gas to lubricate said moving member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
A gas operated stopper for a pouring ladle comprising: A. A nozzle seat having a central opening and adapted to be secured in a nozzle well of the ladle; B. A nozzle assembly positioned within the opening in the nozzle seat and having a central opening therein, at least a portion of the nozzle assembly being movable into and out of contact with the nozzle seat; C. Said nozzle assembly and said nozzle seat being constructed and positioned to provide a passageway connecting the interior of the ladle and the central opening in the nozzle assembly when the movable portion of the nozzle assembly is out of contact with the nozzle seat to allow liquids to flow from the interior of the ladle, through the passageway and out the central opening in the nozzle assembly; D. A gas actuated piston member associated with the nozzle assembly, said piston forming the movable portion of the nozzle assembly into and out of contact with the nozzle seat to open and close the passageway between them whereby the flow of liquids is regulated; and E. A second passageway surrounding the movable portion of the nozzle assembly providing a channel for the flow of inert gas to lubricate said moving member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A gas operated stopper for a pouring ladle comprising: A. A nozzle seat adapted to be secured in a nozzle well of the ladle and having a central opening therethrough and a seating surface surrounding the central opening; B. A movable nozzle assembly having:
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A gas operated stopper for a pouring ladle comprising: A. A nozzle seat adapted to be secured in a nozzle well of the ladle and having a central opening therethrough and a seating surface surrounding the central opening; B. A movable nozzle assembly having:
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
a cap portion on top of the tubular body portion having a cross section larger than the cross section of the body portion and having a seating surface surrounding the body portion positioned to mate with the seating surface on the nozzle seat; and
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
a cap portion on top of the tubular body portion having a cross section larger than the cross section of the body portion and having a seating surface surrounding the body portion positioned to mate with the seating surface on the nozzle seat; and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
an annular chamber vertically disposed from the top surface of the nozzle into the tubular wall and about said centrally disposed opening; and
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
an annular chamber vertically disposed from the top surface of the nozzle into the tubular wall and about said centrally disposed opening; and
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
a piston mounted for movement within the cylinder and secured to the movable nozzle, fluid entering the cylinder through said fluid passageway raises the piston and nozzle, separating said seating surfaces and permitting liquid to flow from the ladle through the passageway in the tubular body portion of the nozzle and through the nozzle opening; and D. An inlet connecting with the gap for supplying inert gas thereto, said inert gas lubricating the system and preventing molten metal from entering therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
a piston mounted for movement within the cylinder and secured to the movable nozzle, fluid entering the cylinder through said fluid passageway raises the piston and nozzle, separating said seating surfaces and permitting liquid to flow from the ladle through the passageway in the tubular body portion of the nozzle and through the nozzle opening; and D. An inlet connecting with the gap for supplying inert gas thereto, said inert gas lubricating the system and preventing molten metal from entering therein.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The gas stopper of claim 2 wherein the cylinder has an outer surface parallel with the nozzle and axially aligned with a portion of the nozzle seat which defines the central opening to thereby longituDinally extend the gap between the body portion of the nozzle and the nozzle seat.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
164 words
a first and second gas passageway through the wall of the nozzle, said first passageway communicating substantially at the bottom of said chamber and said second passageway communicating with said chamber between the ends thereof; and C. An annular refractory piston loosely positioned in said chamber to form a gap therebetween, said piston having an upper surface adapted to mate with an inner surface of the cap and a first and second recess, the first recess communicating with the first gas passageway and the second recess communicating with the second gas passageway, whereby gas entering the first passageway forces the piston upward to mate the piston top surface and the inner cap surface to close the passageway through the nozzle seat from the centrally disposed nozzle opening and gas entering the second passageway forces the piston downward opening said passageway through the nozzle seat, the gas from both of said passageways also exiting upwardly through the gap to prevent molten metal from entering therein.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
164 words
a first and second gas passageway through the wall of the nozzle, said first passageway communicating substantially at the bottom of said chamber and said second passageway communicating with said chamber between the ends thereof; and C. An annular refractory piston loosely positioned in said chamber to form a gap therebetween, said piston having an upper surface adapted to mate with an inner surface of the cap and a first and second recess, the first recess communicating with the first gas passageway and the second recess communicating with the second gas passageway, whereby gas entering the first passageway forces the piston upward to mate the piston top surface and the inner cap surface to close the passageway through the nozzle seat from the centrally disposed nozzle opening and gas entering the second passageway forces the piston downward opening said passageway through the nozzle seat, the gas from both of said passageways also exiting upwardly through the gap to prevent molten metal from entering therein.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
at least one passageway extending through the wall of the tubular body portion below the seating surface of the cap portion into the vertically disposed opening; C. A piston assembly having:
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
at least one passageway extending through the wall of the tubular body portion below the seating surface of the cap portion into the vertically disposed opening; C. A piston assembly having:
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The gas stopper of claim 2 wherein the seating surface of the nozzle seat has a raised lip extending upwardly therefrom to cooperate with the seating surface of the cap portion of the nozzle assembly.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The gas stopper of claim 2 wherein the cap portion is a separate refractory cap secured to the upper section of the nozzle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
The gas stopper of claim 2 wherein a second fluid passageway communicates with the cylinder at substantially the top thereof, whereby fluid forces the piston and connected nozzle downwardly so that the seating surface of the cap portion of the nozzle assembly mates with the seating surface of the nozzle seat.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
68 words
The gas stopper of claim 2 wherein the cylinder has an upper threaded end which cooperates with threads in a recessed area in the bottom of the nozzle seat, said recessed area communicating with said gap, whereby gas enters said recessed area when the seating surfaces are mated to define a closed position to exert a pressure on the top of the piston to maintain said closed position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The gas stopper of claim 2 wherein the passageway extending through the wall of the tubular body portion is inclined to the vertically disposed opening in the tubular body portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The gas stopper of claim 2 wherein the cylinder is annularly disposed about the tubular body portion of the nozzle and the piston is annularly shaped for movement within the cylinder.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The gas stopper of claim 3 wherein a piston shaft of the piston forms the outer surface of the cylinder which parallels the nozzle and is axially aligned with that portion of the nozzle seat defining the nozzle seat central opening.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The gas stopper of claim 10 wherein a lock bolt extends through a lower section of the cylinder and is adaptable to contacting the piston shaft to prevent movement of the piston in the cylinder.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The gas stopper of claim 10 wherein said gap connecting inlet extends through the shaft of the piston.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
81 words
A gas stopper for a ladle comprising: A. A nozzle seat having a central opening therethrough and stationarily secured in the ladle, said vertical opening axially aligned with an opening through the bottom of the ladle, said nozzle seat having a refractory cap positioned above the central opening and at least one passageway extending through said nozzle seat and communicating with said central opening; B. A tubular nozzle stationarily secured within the vertical opening in the nozzle seat, said nozzle having:
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
81 words
A gas stopper for a ladle comprising: A. A nozzle seat having a central opening therethrough and stationarily secured in the ladle, said vertical opening axially aligned with an opening through the bottom of the ladle, said nozzle seat having a refractory cap positioned above the central opening and at least one passageway extending through said nozzle seat and communicating with said central opening; B. A tubular nozzle stationarily secured within the vertical opening in the nozzle seat, said nozzle having:
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The gas stopper of claim 13 wherein the inner surface of the cap is convexly shaped to mate with the upper surface of the piston.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-18 | 1974-07-20 | 1975-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-18 | 1978-07-20 | 1979-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-18 | 1982-07-20 | 1983-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |