US3730401A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for supporting and operating a slidable gate and extended tube nozzle on a bottom-pour vessel
Assignee: United States Steel Corp
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Filing: 1972-03-22
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Granted: 1973-05-01
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Expires: 1992-03-22
Abstract
Abstract A bottom-pour teeming vessel for pouring molten metal into a mold is provided with a slidable gate for controlling the flow of metal and a nozzle extension tube fixed below the gate. A nozzle plate is secured to the vessel bottom and the gate is urged thereagainst by spaced rails mounted on spring-loaded rocker arms on opposite sides of the nozzle. The tube is ruged against the underside of the gate by a separate set of spaced rails mounted on spring-loaded rocker arms. The gate and tube are free to slide relative to each other. Means are provided for changing the gate and tube simultaneously or either one separately without disturbing the other.
Inventors
- 👤 C Bode
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:51
CPC Classifications
B; B22; B22D; B22D41/00; B22D41/14; B22D41/22; B22D41/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
In combination, a bottom-pour vessel having a nozzle in its bottom wall, a slidable gate for selectively closing said nozzle, an extended pouring tube, and an apparatus for supporting and operating said gate and said tube, said apparatus comprising: a base affixed to the bottom of said vessel; a plurality of compression springs housed in said base; sets of rocker arms pivotally attached to said base, said sets being equally and oppositely disposed, the outboard ends of said rocker arms being urged downwardly, a number of said arms being relatively long, the remainder of said arms being relatively short; a first pair of spaced rails fixed to said long arms, whereby said first rails support said tube; a second pair of spaced rails fixed to said short arms, whereby said second rails support said gate; and means supported by said vessel for moving said gate and said tube into and out of vertical alignment with said vessel nozzle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
In combination, a bottom-pour vessel having a nozzle in its bottom wall, a slidable gate for selectively closing said nozzle, an extended pouring tube, and an apparatus for supporting and operating said gate and said tube, said apparatus comprising: a base affixed to the bottom of said vessel; a plurality of compression springs housed in said base; sets of rocker arms pivotally attached to said base, said sets being equally and oppositely disposed, the outboard ends of said rocker arms being urged downwardly, a number of said arms being relatively long, the remainder of said arms being relatively short; a first pair of spaced rails fixed to said long arms, whereby said first rails support said tube; a second pair of spaced rails fixed to said short arms, whereby said second rails support said gate; and means supported by said vessel for moving said gate and said tube into and out of vertical alignment with said vessel nozzle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said means comprises: a hydraulic cylinder connected to said vessel, a clevis against which the piston rod of said hydraulic cylinder bears, an adjustAble pusher assembly, and an open frame connecting said clevis to said assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
120 words
A combination as defined in claim 2 in which said pusher assembly comprises: a housing open at its top and end, and having a threaded hole in its closed end, a removable cover fixed to the top of said housing, a pusher block positioned in said housing having an arm extending downwardly exterior to said housing, said pusher block having a recess therein and a hold through the end of the block opposite to the downwardly extending arm, an adjusting bolt passing thrOugh the threaded hole in said housing and the hole in said pusher block, a retaining nut in said recess of said pusher block engaging said bolt, and a jam nut locking said bolt exterior to said housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A combination as defined in claim 2 in which said piston rod carries a threaded projection, a jam nut threadedly engages said projection, and said clevis is internally threaded and receives said projection.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A combination as defined in claim 2 in which said clevis and said frame each have a vertical hole substantially in alignment and a pin inserted in said hole connects said clevis to said frame.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
85 words
A combination as defined in claim 5 in which said pin has an ear at one end substantially at a right angle to the body of said pin and a handle at its opposite end, and said clevis has a recess to accommodate said ear, whereby said pin can be quickly and easily removed from said holes by rotating the pin until the ear is aligned with the hole, then pulling the pin axially, removing it from the hole, disengaging the clevis from the stirrup.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A combination as defined in claim 1 further comprising means connected to said vessel for supporting said gate in a position adjacent the position of alignment with said vessel nozzle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A combination as defined in claim 1 further comprising means connected to said vessel for supporting said tube in a position adjacent the position of alignment with said vessel nozzle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A combination as defined in claim 1 further comprising a deflector shield connected to said vessel in the horizontal path of ejectment of a slidable gate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A combination as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for air cooling said rocker arms.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
A combination as defined in claim 1 in which a base plate is fixed to said vessel and has a plurality of slotted pins depending therefrom, said base has a hole to receive each pin which protrudes through said hole, and said base is connected to said base plate by a tapered wedge inserted in the slot of each of said pins.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
A combination as defined in claim 1 in which each spring chamber is provided with a shoulder at one end, and a spring guide is positioned in each spring which is adapted to contact said shoulder when said rocker arm is not supporting a gate, whereby the spring pressure is relieved from each of said rocker arms to facilitate removal and replacement of said rocker arms.
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) | 1976-04-30 | 1976-10-30 | 1977-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-30 | 1980-10-30 | 1981-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-30 | 1984-10-30 | 1985-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |