Nozzle arrangement for molten metal container vessel

Claim 1

In a vessel for containing molten material and having a nozzle block receiving a nozzle through which the molten material is dispersed, the improvement which comprises means defining a passage in said nozzle block for receiving a nozzle, and a nozzle received in said passage, said nozzle and passage having matching surfaces inclined downwardly and outwardly from the upper ends thereof with respect to the axis of flow through the nozzle, the matching surfaces including a pair of surfaces one on the nozzle block, the other on the nozzle and both inclined at substantially right angles to the axis of flow through the nozzle and extending outwardly from the downward end of the nozzle inclined surface, said nozzle block passage having a lower boundary surface disposed in laterally surrounding spaced-apart relation to the lower exterior surface of the nozzle to define a clearance space thereabout, said matching surfaces defining a sealable joint between the nozzle and nozzle block, a ringplate supported by the vessel, a compressible insulation pad supported by said ringplate and engaging the end of the nozzle to secure the tapered surface of said nozzle in a seating relation to the matching tapered surface of the nozzle block passage, said matching surfaces being disposed to allow installation of the nozzle in said block by insertion into said passage from outside the vessel.