US3727805A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mechanism for supporting a submerged pouring tube on a bottom-pour vessel and method of replacing tubes
Assignee: United States Steel Corp
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Filing: 1972-01-24
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Granted: 1973-04-17
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Expires: 1992-01-24
Abstract
Abstract A mechanism for supporting a submerged pouring tube on a bottompour vessel which has a slidable gate closure, and a method of replacing such tubes. The pouring tube is removably suspended from a holder. The holder is removable and replaceable independently of the gate without disturbing other parts. The replacement holder can be inserted into the mechanism from underneath, where it is temporarily supported in horizontal alignment with the old holder. The same mechanism used to move the gates then is operated to move the replacement holder into the position originally occupied by the old holder.
Inventors
- 👤 J Shapland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:47
CPC Classifications
B; B22; B22D; B22D41/00; B22D41/14; B22D41/22; B22D41/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
In a slidable gate-pouring tube assembly for use on a vessel which has an outlet in its bottom wall, which assembly comprises: a frame adapted to be mounted on the bottom wall of the vessel; supporting and operating mechanisms for a slidable gate carried by said frame; and a holder for mounting a pouring tube beneath the gate; the combination therewith of an improved supporting mechanism for said holder comprising: yieldable support means carried by said frame independently of said gate-supporting mechanism and having holder-engaging faces underlying opposite side edges of said holder; and spring means acting against said yieldable means for pressing said holder against the gate; said holder being removable from the assembly and replaceable while said gate remains thereon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
In a slidable gate-pouring tube assembly for use on a vessel which has an outlet in its bottom wall, which assembly comprises: a frame adapted to be mounted on the bottom wall of the vessel; supporting and operating mechanisms for a slidable gate carried by said frame; and a holder for mounting a pouring tube beneath the gate; the combination therewith of an improved supporting mechanism for said holder comprising: yieldable support means carried by said frame independently of said gate-supporting mechanism and having holder-engaging faces underlying opposite side edges of said holder; and spring means acting against said yieldable means for pressing said holder against the gate; said holder being removable from the assembly and replaceable while said gate remains thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
A combination as defined in claim 1 comprising in addition means located below said gate-supporting mechanism and substantially coplanar with said holder-engaging faces for providing temporary support for a replacement holder in horizontal alignment with said first-named holder, said replacement holder being insertable from underneath into its temporarily supported position and movable therefrom into the position originally occupied by said first-named holder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
81 words
A combination as defined in claim 1 comprising in addition means located below said gate-supporting mechanism and substantially coplanar with said holder-engaging faces for providing temporary support for a replacement holder in horizontal alignment with said first-named holder, and means carried by said gate-operating mechanism and engageable with said replacement holder for moving said replacement holder from its temporarily supported position into the position originally occupied by said first-named holder and simultaneously displacing said first-named holder from said yieldable support means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
A combination as defined in claim 3 in which the means providing temporary support for said replacement holder is carried in part by said yieldable support means, and includes cooperating additional means spaced from said yieldable support means, said replacement holder being insertable from underneath into its temporarily supported position independently of the gate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A combination as defined in claim 4 in which said cooperating additional means is mounted on said gate-operating mechanism.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A combination as defined in claim 4 in which said cooperating additional means includes a dog pivoted to said gate-operating mechanism for movement upwardly from its normal position but prevented from movement downwardly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
82 words
A combination as defined in claim 4 in which said gate-operating mechanism is of the pull-through type and includes a puller block adapted to contact a new gate and pull it into the position originally occupied by said first-named gate, and in which said cooperating additional means includes a flanged member fixed to said block and depending therebelow, and a dog pivoted to said flanged member for movement upwardly from its normal position but prevented by the flange from swinging downwardly therefrom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A combination as defined in claim 4 in which said cooperating additional means includes rail sections pivoted to said frame at opposite sides thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A combination as defined in claim 3 in which the means providing temporary support for said replacement holder includes rails carried by said yieldable support means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
A combination as defined in claim 3 in which the means providing temporary support for said replacement holder includes rails carried by said yieldable support means, and in which said gate operating mechanism is of the pull-through type and includes a puller block and vertically movable means carried by said puller block engageable with said replacement holder while supported on said rails.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said yieldable support means includes a pair of grids pivotally related to said frame and extending the length of said holder at opposite sides thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said yieldable support means includes a pair of grids having lips at their inboard edges engaging said holder, and rounded buttons at their outboard edges engaging said frame to act as pivots, and in which said spring means includes compression springs acting upwardly on said grids intermediate said lips and said buttons.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
A combination as defined in claim 12 in which said frame has spring housings receiving said springs, and including vertically movable plungers in said housings and means connecting said plungers to said grids, said springs acting upwardly against said plungers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
A combination as defined in claim 13 in which said gate-supporting mechanism also includes compression springs, the springs at each side of said holder for the gate-supporting mechanism and the holder-supporting mechanism lying in common vertical plAnes, whereby common air ducts can supply cooling air thereto.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
A combination as defined in claim 1 in which the supporting mechanism for said holder comprises in addition a stop abutting the edge of said holder, and means accessible from the opposite edge of said holder for moving the stop out of the path of said holder when a replacement holder is to be installed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A combination as defined in claim 1 comprising in addition a submerged pouring tube carried by said holder and depending therefrom, and being removable from said holder when said holder is beneath said gate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination, with a vessel which has an outlet in its bottom wall, of a slidable gate-pouring tube assembly mounted on the underside of the bottom wall of the vessel, said assembly being constructed as defined in claim 1.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of replacing a holder for a submerged pouring tube used on a bottom-pour vessel which has a slidable gate closure, said method comprising inserting a replacement holder from beneath into a position between the gate-operating mechanism and the old holder in horizontal alignment with the old holder, temporarily supporting the replacement holder in said position, and operating the gate-operating mechanism to move the replacement holder into the position originally occupied by the old holder.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of replacing a holder for a submerged pouring tube used on a bottom-pour vessel which has a slidable gate closure, said method comprising inserting a replacement holder from beneath into a position between the gate-operating mechanism and the old holder in horizontal alignment with the old holder, temporarily supporting the replacement holder in said position, and operating the gate-operating mechanism to move the replacement holder into the position originally occupied by the old holder.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in claim 18 in which the gate-operating mechanism provides temporary support for one edge of the replacement holder.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as defined in claim 19 in which the holder-supporting mechanism provides temporary support for the opposite edge of the replacement holder.
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) | 1976-04-16 | 1976-10-16 | 1977-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-16 | 1980-10-16 | 1981-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-16 | 1984-10-16 | 1985-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |