JPH0219749B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improvement in a sliding gate valve used for injection of molten metal. Such valves are well established in the art and typically include a fireproof valve body with a pair of orifices held in face-to-face contact with each other. The face-to-face contact is assisted by a biasing effect created by a spring to force the orifice-equipped refractory valve body together. The valve bodies can be moved relative to each other to bring the orifices of each valve body into and out of mutual overlap in order to control the flow of molten metal through the valves. For the valve to function properly, it is necessary that the sealing pressure due to the spring biased contact between the plates be applied accurately and consistently.
If the spring force is too low, metal can enter between the contact surfaces of the valve body and cause leakage, which is not only detrimental to the integrity of the valve and the expensive fire-resistant valve body inside the valve, but also to the area within the valve body. This can also pose a significant risk to the safety of the workers involved. If the spring force is set to an excessive value, excessive stress will be applied to the spring, and the valve body may become distorted and deteriorate. In particular, in the case of small gate valves of the normally manually operated type for which the present invention has particular applicability, the accuracy of the actuation that applies sealing pressure between the refractory valve discs is such that foundry workers cannot Valve actuators, which may have levers, are adversely affected by the possibility that the foundry worker may improperly operate the valve actuator in such a way as to overcome, to some extent, the spring force pushing the valve plug into leak-tight contact. The accuracy of the actuation, which applies sealing pressure between the refractory valve discs, further increases the risk of wear and tear during its implementation, requiring great care when resetting the spring force when returning the valve to its operating condition. It is also adversely affected by the need for frequent disassembly of the valve for inspection and/or renewal of the valve body. It is therefore an object of the present invention to solve the aforementioned problems. Therefore, in a sliding gate valve used for pouring molten metal, which has a mounting plate, a support plate and a fireproof valve body having at least two orifices which are pressed by a spring and are in sealing surface contact with each other, the gate can be used as a gate. One of the useful valve bodies is a frame which is pivotally connected to the support plate and moves arcuately about an axis parallel to the flow opening through the valve to open and close the valve to the metal flow. A sliding gate valve for use in the injection of molten metal is obtained, which is mounted in the valve body, the support plate carrying a spring device for pushing the downstream one of the valve bodies against the other. According to one aspect of the invention, the mounting plate and the support plate are arranged to form a narrow slot through which the actuating lever portion of the frame extends, the slot allowing the lever portion to slide. and cooperates with the lever portion to resist inadvertent displacement of the valve body mounted on the frame. According to another aspect of the invention, the two plates are secured together by a releasable fixture arrangement that maintains a preset spacing between the plates, the fixtures serving as a hinge and a clamp, respectively. , the latter, when released, allows the plates to be pivoted apart for inspection or replacement of the valve body, while each fitting has an eye bolt pinned to it for passing through the other plate. It has a U-link on the board of
The U-link is such that when a nut on the eye bolt is tightened to pull the plates together, the preset spacing is achieved by the abutment of the U-link with the other plate; It is of predetermined dimensions such that the preset spring bias condition is again achieved after the valve returns to its working condition. The use of such fittings ensures that the slot width remains uniform, which is important to prevent inadvertent improper operation that could lead to leaks. be. The fixture is such that the fixture allows repeated disassembly and reassembly of the valve without losing a preset level of spring bias, for example to inspect wearable parts of the valve. In a sense, it is useful in other respects. The invention can be applied to valves with two or three valve bodies and to valves with linearly movable gates and rotationally movable gates. In the latter case, the movable valve body may be held in a frame located between said two plates, the frame being pivotally connected to the support plate so as to maintain an axis parallel to the flow groove passing through the valve. Rotate around the center. The valve may have two opposed stationary valve bodies with a slidingly movable valve body sandwiched between them, the frame for the slidably movable valve body comprising a mounting plate and a mounting plate. It is placed between the support plate. Advantageously, the valve has a plurality of said fittings spaced around the periphery of two plates, at least one of the fittings being such that when a fellow fitting is released the plate It serves as a hinge to connect. Each fixture has an eyebolt on one plate that passes through the other plate and is pinned to a clevis with a fastening element that engages the other plate threadedly mounted over the eyebolt. clevis, said other plate having a spacer thereon engaged by the clevis, the clevis and spacer having a preset distance between the plates when the fixture is secured. are of predetermined dimensions to determine the spacing. The spring arrangement for the valve includes one or more compressed spring units each acting between a support plate and a force transmitting rocker mounted on the support plate and abutting said one valve member. A plurality of spring devices may be provided. Conveniently, the force exerted by each spring device may be varied independently of the other spring devices by adjusting the fittings securing each spring device's rocker to the support plate. The present invention includes a metal injection container equipped with a valve according to the invention. The invention will now be explained in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. The illustrated valves described below are referred to for convenience as "rotary" valves, although the rotational movement is a limited arcuate pivot, which may be, for example, a swivel to and fro within a range of 45 degrees. The rotary valve 10 is for controlling the flow of melt from an intermediate vessel such as a bottom pouring ladle 11 or a tundish. The container 11 is
It has a steel casing 12 and an insulating lining 13 containing an outlet brick 14 with an orifice. The lining 13 and exit bricks 14 may be of any convenient form and material known in the art and will not be described in further detail. The rotary valve 10 has a top mounting plate 15, and is fixed to the bottom of the container casing 12 by means of the top mounting plate 15 with bolts (not shown). Top mounting plate 15
The structure described below is carried under a fire-resistant valve member 20, 21 with three orifices,
22 in operative engagement with each other. The valve members 20, 21 in this embodiment have a circular cross section and have similar external shapes. Each member 20, 21 is in the form of a nozzle and each is enlarged at one end or has a flange at one end. The valve member 20 constitutes an inlet nozzle which extends through an opening in the mounting plate 15 and into a recess 23 in the container outlet brick 14.
fits into. On the other hand, the valve member 21 serves as a discharge nozzle or collector. Valve member 20, 2
1 enlarged or flanged ends 25, 26
have exactly flat and parallel faces, said exactly flat and parallel faces being opposite but spaced apart from each other. The valve member 22 is connected to other valve members 20,
It is sandwiched between 21 opposing flat surfaces and its function is to control metal flow.
For this purpose, the valve member 22 is an elongated planar fireproof plate with an oblong outline. Please refer to Figure 2. The valve body 22 is configured to form a leaktight assembly with the valve members 20, 21 when all three valve members are urged into cooperating surface contact with each other by an upwardly biasing spring arrangement to be described later. , with parallel and exactly flat opposing surfaces. Valve member 22 has an orifice 27 near one end thereof. As shown in FIG. 1, when the valve member 22 is moved between the other two valve members 20, 21 to align its orifice 27 with the holes 28, 29 in the latter member, the rotary valve 10 , open to metal flow. Conversely, the orifice 27 is moved to open the holes 28 and 29.
The non-porous portion of the valve member 22 next to the orifice 27 is removed from the overlapping state with the holes 28 and 2.
9, the rotary valve 10 closes. When actuating rotary valve 10, only valve member 22 is moved. The other parts 20, 21 are fixedly mounted in the rotary valve 10. The valve members 20, 21 need not have exactly the same configuration as shown, nor do they need to be substantially identical to each other. However, the valve member 20,
If the valve members 20 and 21 have the same external form, the valve members 20 and 21 can be manufactured by press working or casting.
Simplified. As far as the present invention is concerned, the valve member 2
The exact form of 0,21 is generally not important. However, each of the valve members 20, 21 should have a substantial area of contact surface for engaging the movable valve member 22. Rotary valve 10 includes a support plate 30 suspended from mounting plate 15 by a plurality of mounts 31 . The support plate 30 carries the movable valve member 22 via an upright pivot 32 and also indirectly supports the lower valve member 21 via an upward biasing spring device 33. Valve member 22 is received within a correspondingly shaped seat 34 in intermediate plate 35 . One end of the intermediate plate 35 terminates in a bearing bush 36 surrounding the pivot 32. Thanks to the pivoting devices 32, 36, the intermediate plate 35 can be pivoted to and fro in a plane perpendicular to the aligned axes of the holes 28, 29. Thus, a suitable pivoting movement of the plate 35 may displace the valve member 22 relative to the other valve members 20, 21 to open or close the rotary valve 10. The plate 35 projects outwardly beyond the mounting plate 15 and the support plate 30 so that actuating forces can be applied to said plate 35 from the outside. The plate 35 thus has an outwardly extending lever portion 38 opposite the pivot devices 32,36. This lever portion 38 is
A socket is formed at 39 to receive a lever by which the rotary valve 10 can be opened and closed. The length of the lever is such that it achieves any mechanical advantage that may be necessary for the operator to comfortably displace the valve member 32 against the frictional resistance between the valve members present. obtain. Two stops 37 that can be engaged by lever parts 38
limits the pivoting movement of the plate 35 and the valve member 22 to, for example, 45 degrees of arc. The stop 37 may project downwardly from the mounting plate 15 or upwardly from the support plate 30. The rotary valve 10 is manually operated and its primary purpose is to control flow from a small ladle. However, this design can be scaled up. In that case, a hydraulic drive, or a pneumatic drive, or an electric drive, or a mechanical drive may be suitably coupled to the lever portion 38. During use, pivot devices 32, 36 may experience wear. A worn pivot device 32, 36 can become loose. Wear can also occur on the sliding contact surfaces between the three valve members. Any such wear may cause the planar valve member 22 to move toward the pivot axis 40.
It is possible to oscillate about an axis that is perpendicular to the The initial rocking can cause molten metal to enter between the sliding contact surfaces and solidify there. Once this occurs, another entry can occur. This has two consequences. First, the expensive fireproof valve components can be damaged. Second, and more important than the first result, dangerous hot water leaks can occur. More importantly, foundry workers can very easily cause rocking and leaks by operating the valves carelessly. The length of the operating lever may be approximately 2 m (6 ft). With such a long lever arm, an operator who inadvertently leans against the lever arm and pushes the lever arm down will cause the intermediate plate 35 and valve members 22, 21 to resist the upward biasing action of the spring mounting 33. There is a possibility that the intermediate plate 35 and the valve members 22 and 21 may be pushed downwardly and separated from the valve member 20. If proper precautions are not taken, such actions can lead to water leaks. In the illustrated embodiment, no rocking about an axis in the plane of the valve member 22 and passing through the pivot devices 32, 36 occurs. Valve member 20, 2
The diameter of the flanged end of valve member 1 and the length of valve member 22 are typically sufficient to prevent this rocking action. Oscillations about an axis perpendicular to the aforementioned axis, which could be caused by an operator leaning on the lever, are reliably prevented in the illustrated embodiment. For this purpose, intermediate plate 35
The lever portion 38 moves within a narrow vertical slot 41 formed between the periphery of the mounting plate 15 and the periphery of the support plate 30. These plates 15, 30
at least one of which has a jyo member 42 welded thereto, said jyo member 42 being connected to the slot 41.
to be partially defined. The second jaw may be welded to another plate. However, as shown, the perimeter of plate 30 itself forms the second slot-defining section. The packing piece 43 is welded to the lever portion 38. The thickness of the slot 41 and the total thickness of the lever portion 38 and the packing piece 43 are the same as those of the intermediate plate 35 when the rotary member 10 is in its operating state as shown in FIG.
such that a small gap is left for easy movement. Spring device 33 serves to apply an upward biasing force to the lowermost valve member 21 . This biases the valve members 20, 21, 22 into close surface contact to prevent leakage. A force is applied by several spring devices 33 against a substantial portion of the circumference of the shoulder 45 forming the underside of the flange of the valve member 21 . As shown, there are three spring devices 33 attached to the support plate 30. Each spring device 33 has one or more springs 46 , and each spring device 33 has one or more springs 46 .
One end of each 6 seats in a pocket 47 on the underside of the support plate 30 adjacent the periphery of the support plate 30. The lower end of each spring 46 rests downwardly on a seat 48 for said lower end in rocker plate 50. The rocker plate 50 is attached to a stud 51 depending from the support plate 30 and is held in place by a chrysanthemum nut 52. The locking plate 50 has a hollow retracting portion 53 that communicates with the opening of the locking plate 50 through which the stud 51 passes.
and chrysanthemum nut 52 cooperate to form a support on which the plate 50 can swing. The rocker plate 50 has an upright lip at its end inboard of the stud 51 opposite the seat 48, said upright lip abutting the shoulder 45 of the valve member 21. Upright lip 54 has a substantial arcuate length for engaging a substantial portion of the circumferential length of shoulder 45.
In this way, the force applied to the valve member 21 by the spring device 33 is spread evenly around the valve member 21. It will be appreciated that the spring 46 forces the seat 48 downwardly and biases the upright lip 54 upwardly relative to the valve member 21. The upward force exerted on the valve member 21 by the spring device 33 can be finely adjusted and balanced by manipulating the chrysanthemum nut 52 using, for example, a torque wrench. Each spring device 33 may include one or more springs 46. Compression coil springs, or Belleville washers, or gas-filled spring devices may be used. Since the usage conditions are severe, the fireproof valve member 20,
21 and 22 deteriorate extremely quickly. As is well known, deterioration occurs when the metal flow is throttled. Therefore, it is necessary to frequently inspect and replace refractories. In the past, disassembly of the valve was often extremely cumbersome, and the spring biasing force had to be reset each time the valve was reassembled. This design aims to alleviate these operational difficulties. Therefore, the two plates 15, 30 are fixed together by a plurality of identical clamping devices 31a , 31b , 31c . Two of said plurality of identical clamping devices 31 a , 31 b , 31 c serve as hinge devices. Clamp device 31a , 31
b, 31c and the spacer 60 having a predetermined dimension cooperate to move the mounting plate 15 to the plate 30.
While always keeping the distance to the preset value,
The plate 30 is fixed to the mounting plate 15. The clamp devices 31 a , 31 b , and 31 c are the same, and each includes a downwardly open U link 61 welded to the mounting plate 15 , an eye bolt 62 , and a U link that pivotally attaches the eye bolt 62 to the U link 61 . It has a link pin 63. Clamp device 3
The eyebolts 62 of 1a , 31b , 31c are connected to the support plate 30 associated with the opening of the associated spacer 60.
through the opening. However, clamping device 3
1 c eyebolt 62 extends through an open end slot 64 that opens to the periphery of support plate 30 .
U-link pin 6 of clamping devices 31a , 31b
3 are aligned on a common axis 66 so that these devices form a hinge together. Thanks to this hinge, the clamping device 31
c (by loosening the nut 67)
Once released and pivoted out of its slot 64, the support plate 30 can be pivoted downwardly away from the mounting plate 15 to expose the valve member for inspection or replacement. Reassembly is the reverse of the opening operation just described. Spacer 60 is welded to support plate 30. The dimensions of the spacer 60 and the U link 61 are as follows:
0 is reassembled, the nut 67 is fully tightened and pulls the U-link 61.
1 are abutted against their spacers 60, the support plate 30 is sized such that it is located at a predetermined distance from the mounting plate 15. By virtue of this configuration, upon completion of reassembly, the springs 46 are all reloaded at or near the preset operating level. Final adjustment may be performed using the nut 52 of the spring device 33.
If inspection shows that the fireproof valve members 20, 21, 22 are still usable, no readjustment is necessary. Furthermore, thanks to the dimensioning described above, when the rotary valve 10 is reassembled, the correct gap between the opposing jaws forming the slot 41 for the lever part 38 can always be maintained. Thus, the ability of the rotary valve 10 to resist rocking due to the careless use of metal levers, for example, cannot be affected by disassembly and reassembly of the rotary valve 10. As shown, the plates 15, 30 are substantially triangular in shape and have three hinge and clamp devices 31. Other shapes are possible and more than three devices 31 may be arranged. In appropriate cases, the hinge device may include said device 31.
Get provided by one of the following.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a rotary valve according to the present invention, FIG.
3 is a schematic plan view of the valve shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line - of FIG. 2; and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line - of FIG. and,
FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the valve. 10...Valve, 15...Mounting plate, 20, 21, 2
2... Valve member, 30... Support plate, 31... Mounting tool, 32... Pivot, 33... Spring device, 35
... Frame, 38 ... Lever part, 41 ... Slot, 4
6... Spring, 50... Rocker plate, 52... Nut, 60... Spacer, 61... U link, 62
...Eye bolt, 63...U link pin, 66
...Common axis line, 67...Natsuto.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A sliding gate valve used for pouring molten metal, which has a mounting plate, a support plate, and a fireproof valve body equipped with two orifices that are pressed by a spring and are in sealing surface contact with each other. , one valve body serves as a gate and is movable relative to the other to open and close said valve, and said support plate carries a spring device that pushes a downstream one of said valve bodies against the other. death,
Said two plates are secured together by a releasable fitting arrangement which maintains a preset spacing between the plates, said fittings serving respectively as a hinge and a clamp, the latter of which, when released, clamps said valve body. each fixture having a clevis on one plate to which an eye bolt for passing through the other plate is pinned, allowing said plates to be pivoted apart for inspection or replacement; The U-link is such that when a nut on the eyebolt is tightened to pull the plates together, the preset spacing is achieved by abutment between the U-link and the other plate; A sliding gate valve for use in the injection of molten metal, characterized in that it is of such predetermined dimensions that after the return of said valve to its operating state, the preset spring-biased state is again achieved. . 2. In the valve according to claim 1,
Two of the fixture devices have their eyebolt locking clevis pins aligned on a common axis so that the devices together serve as a hinge and the valve is connected to at least one other A valve characterized in that it has a fitting device. 3. The movable valve body or gate has two opposed fixed valve bodies sandwiched between them;
The valve according to claim 2. 4. In the valve according to claim 3,
The movable valve body is held in a frame located between the two plates, the frame being pivotally connected to the support plate for pivoting movement about an axis parallel to a flow channel passing through the valve. A valve characterized by: 5. In the valve according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the spring device for biasing the valve body is carried by the support plate and is mounted on the downstream valve body of the valve body. A valve characterized by applying a biasing force to the valve. 6 In the valve according to claim 5,
A valve characterized in that said spring device applies said force uniformly around a peripheral portion of said one valve body. 7 In the valve according to claim 6,
The spring device includes a plurality of compressed spring units each having one or more compressed spring units acting between the support plate and a force transmitting rocker mounted on the support plate and abutting the one valve member. A valve characterized in that it has a spring device. 8. In the valve according to claim 7,
Valve characterized in that the force exerted by each spring device can be varied independently of the other spring devices by adjusting the fitting securing the rocker of each spring device to the support plate. 9. In a sliding gate valve providing a flow groove for use in the injection of molten metal, having a mounting plate, a support plate and a refractory valve body having at least two orifices pressed by a spring into sealing surface contact with each other. ,
One of said valve bodies serving as a gate is mounted in a frame which is pivotally connected to said support plate and moves to and fro about an axis parallel to the groove to open and close the valve to the metal flow. and the two plates define a narrow slot through which an actuating lever portion of the frame extends, the slot slidingly receiving and cooperating with the lever portion. the support plate is preset between the support plate and the mounting plate to resist inadvertent changes in the valve body mounted on the frame which could result in leakage of molten metal between the valve bodies; a molten metal injector secured to said mounting plate by a releasable fixture that maintains the spacing and maintains the width of said slot substantially constant during repeated disassembly and reassembly of the valve; A sliding gate valve that provides a flow groove for use. 10. The slidingly movable valve body has two opposed fixed valve bodies sandwiched therebetween;
10. A valve according to claim 9, wherein the frame for a slidingly movable valve body is arranged between the mounting plate and the support plate. 11. The valve of claim 10, wherein there is a plurality of said fittings spaced around the periphery of the two said plates, at least one of said fittings being a companion fitting. Valve characterized in that it serves as a hinge connecting said plates when the tool is released. 12. The valve of claim 11, wherein each fitting includes a clevis on one plate;
The clevis has an eye bolt pinned thereto and having a fastener passing through the other plate and threadably attached to engage the other plate, said other plate being engaged by said clevis. a spacer thereon, wherein the clevis and the spacer are of predetermined dimensions for determining a preset spacing between the plates when the fixture is secured. Valve to do. 13. A valve according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the lever portion of the frame is located on one side of the slidingly movable valve member, and 2. A valve according to claim 1, wherein the pivot for the valve is on the opposite side of said valve member. 14. The valve according to claim 13, wherein the spring device for biasing the valve body is carried by the support plate to apply a biasing force to a downstream one of the valve members. Features a valve. 15. The valve of claim 14, wherein said spring device applies said force uniformly around a peripheral portion of said one valve member. 16. A valve according to claim 15, wherein the spring device acts between the support plate and a force transmitting rocker mounted on the support plate and abutting the one valve member. A valve characterized in that it has a plurality of spring devices each having three or more compressed spring units. 17. In the valve according to claim 16, the force exerted by each spring device can be made independent of the other spring devices by adjusting the fittings securing the rocker of each spring device to the support plate. A valve characterized in that it can be changed.