Rotary outlet valve for metallurgical ladles

Claim 2

Outlet valve for bottom-pour ladles comprising a stationary valve part (4) and a rotary, movable valve part (28) each containing an outlet channel (6; 7, 9), said movable valve part (28) being rotatable by moving means (44, 45 46) between an open and closed position, prestressed resilient supporting means (12) for thrusting said rotary valve part (28) against said stationary valve part (4) in upward direction, said prestressed resilient means comprising a plate spring ring (12), the inner edge of said plate spring ring engaging a shoulder (30) of said rotary valve part (28) and being movable together with it, bearing means (32) comprising roller means (21, 37) and a stationary bearing ring (16, 35) surrounding said movable valve part (28), means (22, 40) for fixing said stationary bearing ring (16, 35) to a stationary bottom part (17) of the ladle, said roller means (21, 37) transmitting the reaction thrust of said prestressed resilient means (12) to said stationary bearing ring (16, 35).

Claim 3

Outlet valve according to claim 1, wherein said roller means are combined axial-radial thrust anti-friction bearing means (32) arranged coaxially to the axis of rotation of the rotary valve part (28).

Claim 4

Outlet valve according to claim 1, wherein the contact surfaces (34) between said rotary valve part (28) and said stationary valve part (4) are spherical calotte surfaces, the rotating axis (29) of said rotary valve part (28) being at least approximatley vertical.

Claim 5

Outlet valve according to claim 3, wherein the spherical calotte surfaces (34) are upwardly convex so that the center of the calotte will be below said contact surfaces (34).

Claim 6

Outlet valve according to claim 3, wherein the outlet channel (9) in the rotary valve part (28) is slightly curved, the tangent to the longitudinal middle axis (24) of saiD outlet channel (9) near the contact surface (34) being directed approximately radially with respect to said calotte, and the lower end of said outlet channel (9) being off centre with respect to the axis (29) of said rotary valve part (28) and the axis (24) forming an angle of 1* to 5* between them.

Claim 7

Outlet valve according to claim 3, wherein the radius of the spherical calotte (5) at the sliding surface (34) is three to five times greater than the diameter of the outlet channel (9) in said rotary valve part (28) and the smallest radius of curvature of said outlet channel (9) is more than eight times greater than the diameter of the outlet channel (9) in said rotary valve part (28).

Claim 8

Outlet valve according to claim 1, wherein said roller means are a plurality of conical rollers (37), said stationary bearing ring (35) having a sloping annular shoulder forming a track (36) for said conical rollers, said conical rollers (37) being rotatably supported by the rotary ring (38), said ring (38) being in driving connection with a plate spring (12) forming said resilient supporting means and said driving means (44, 45, 46) cooperating with said ring (38).

Claim 9

Outlet valve according to claim 1, wherein said prestressed resilient means is at least one cup spring (12), said bearing means (32) comprising further a rotary bearing ring (19), said cup spring (12) being axially spaced from said rotary bearing ring (19) and secured by a plurality of screws (14) distributed around its periphery to said rotary bearing ring (19), the securing means (15) allowing limited play in all directions between the rotary bearing ring (19) and the cup spring (12).

Claim 10

Outlet valve according to claim 1, wherein said moving means comprises a chain sprocket wheel (20), said metallic ring (12) being secured to said chain sprocket (19, 20) wheel by a plurality of screws (14) distributed around its periphery.

Claim 11

Outlet valve for bottom-pour ladles comprising a stationary part (4) and a rotary valve part (28), each formed with an outlet channel (6; 7, 9), the contact surfaces (34) between said stationary valve part (4) and said rotary valve part (28) being spherical calotte surfaces, with the axis of rotation (29) of the rotary valve part being approximately vertical; resilient supporting means (12) in engagement with said rotary valve part (28) and thrusting said rotary valve part against said stationary valve part (4) in upward direction; a chain sprocket wheel (20) drivingly connected to said movable part at the circumference of the calotte forming the movable part (28); axial-radial thrust anti-friction bearing means (32) arranged co-axially to the axis of rotation of the rotary valve part (28) to form roller bearing means therefore; a stationary bearing ring (16, 35) surrounding said movable valve part (28); a bottom part (17) of the ladle being stationary, and means (22, 40) for securing said stationary bearing ring (16, 35) to said stationary bottom part (17), the roller means (21, 37) of the bearing means transmitting the reaction thrust of said resilient supporting means (12) to said stationary bearing ring (16, 35).

Claim 12

Outlet valve for bottom-pour ladles comprising a stationary part (4) and a rotary valve part (28), each formed with an outlet channel (6; 7, 9), the contact surfaces (34) between said stationary valve part (4) and said rotary valve part (28) being spherical calotte surfaces, with the axis of rotation (29) of the rotary valve part being approximately vertical; resilient supporting means (12) in engagement with said rotary valve part (28) and thrusting said rotary valve part against said stationary valve part (4) in upward direction; a chain sprocket wheel (20) drivingly connected to said movable part at the circumference of the calotte forming the movable part (28); axial-radial thrust anti-friction bearing means (32) arranged co-axially to the axis of rotation of the rotary valve part (28) to form roller bearing means therefore; a stationary bearing ring (16, 35) surrounding said movable valve part (28); a bottom part (17) of the ladle being stationary, and means (22, 40) for securing said stationary bearing ring (16, 35) to said stationary bottom part (17), the roller means (21, 37) of the bearing means transmitting the reaction thrust of said resilient supporting means (12) to said stationary bearing ring (16, 35).

Claim 13

Outlet valve according to claim 10, wherein the resilient supporting means comprises an annular-shaped spring means secured to the rotary valve part (28), and said sprocket chain wheel (20) is secured to the annular spring means (12) around the periphery thereof.