EP0302215B1 - Rotary valve for a metallurgical vessel, and rotor and stator therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

A rotary valve for controlling the discharge of molten metal in a substantially downward direction from a metallurgical vessel includes a refractory rotor rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis. The rotor has an outer peripheral surface, either conical or cylindrical, arranged symmetrically about the axis, and the rotor has therethrough a flow channel having inlet and outlet ports, at least the outlet port opening onto the outer surface. A refractory stator has therein a recess defined by an inner surface, either conical or cylindrical, complementary to the outer surface of the rotor, the stator having therethrough a discharge channel. The rotor fits within the recess in the stator, with the outer and inner surfaces thereof being complementarily positioned symmetrically about the axis. The stator and rotor are arranged in the region of the metal melt in the interior of a metallurgical vessel in and/or on the refractory lining of a side wall of the vessel and/or the refractory lining of the bottom of the vessel.

Description

The invention relates to a rotary closure for a substantially vertical tapping of molten metal from a metallurgical vessel with a rotationally symmetrical, serving as a closure body refractory rotor which is rotatable about an essentially horizontal axis in a refractory stator having an outflow channel, the rotor being one by rotating the rotor with respect to the stator opening and closing flow channel, the outlet opening is arranged in the outer surface of the rotor.

Such a twist lock is known for example from Fig. 1 of DE-PS 33 42 836. The known twist lock is partially installed in a cavity of the refractory lining of the container bottom. This cavity is lined with a refractory housing formed from refractory shaped stones and a perforated plate, into which the twist lock is inserted and thus partially mortared. In addition to the fact that this refractory housing also has to be laboriously repaired when the screw cap is repaired, the housing forms a heat-insulating shield against molten metal on the one hand, and on the other hand the screw cap is exposed to a certain amount of air cooling, which increases the risk of the screw cap freezing. This risk of freezing is even greater in the rotary lock according to FIG. 3 of DE-PS 33 42 836, since there the rotary lock serves to close off a pipeline. Furthermore, the rotor cannot be replaced without the stator.

In the rotary closure known from DE-PS 33 06 670, the tapping takes place horizontally, so that the rotor must be designed as a relatively long closure body which projects laterally horizontally from the bottom of the vessel and is provided with a through-hole with a front outlet opening.

Therefore short pouring distances cannot be achieved. Since the closure body with the axial through hole must also be made of refractory material, the transmission of torques is possible with a sufficiently tight fit and different thermal expansions of the parts in the seat of the stator kaim. The thin-walledness of the rotor required by the flow channel guide of the rotor also leads to rapid wear.

In the rotary closure known from DE-OS 26 08 472, there is the problem that the conical surfaces of the rotor and stator facing each other must have high fitting accuracies, so that on the one hand good rotatability of the rotor on the stator and on the other hand good joint sealing between the rotor and stator is guaranteed. The rotor is also disadvantageously stressed in train. In addition, the rotor cannot be replaced through the bottom or wall of the vessel without the stator. However, the rotor is usually subject to greater wear than the stator during operation, so that it has to be replaced more often than the stator. The geometry of the stator and rotor also presupposes an arrangement of the screw cap and thus its actuation in the immediate vicinity of the pouring jet, that is to say in a region of very high temperatures. The fact that the inlet opening of the flow channel is arranged in the end face of the conical rotor leads to rapid wear of the rotor, especially in one corner area in the immediate vicinity of the flow channel.

The twist lock according to AT-PS 357 283 is arranged in the bottom of the vessel in such a way that the rotor cannot be replaced by the bottom of the vessel without the stator. Here, too, the rotor is disadvantageously subjected to tension and, if it is arranged with a vertical axis of rotation, can only be driven from the floor in the immediate vicinity of the pouring spout, which is disadvantageous both for reasons of space and because of the temperature conditions there for driving the rotor . The known rotary closure can also be arranged with a horizontal spout on the side wall of the vessel, with the horizontal axis of rotation of the rotor. This also has the same disadvantages as with the arrangement with a vertical rotor axis.

The twist lock according to AT-PS 165 292 is for the most part outside the inside of the vessel, namely below the bottom of the vessel. As a result, the risk of freezing is relatively great and the actuating unit is in relatively close proximity to the pouring stream. Due to the design, the rotor can only be replaced together with the stator and can only be operated from below, since the axis of rotation is vertical.

In the outlet valve according to GB-OS 2 174 069, a stator sits in the lining of the container bottom, while the upper section of the valve body extends through the entire molten metal bath up to a holding arm above the metallurgical vessel. This requires considerable design effort. In addition, the rotor and stator must be lapped onto one another. The contact pressure for the support arm must also be set. Apart from these disadvantages, the rotor and stator only adjoin one another with end faces, which can lead to guidance and sealing problems.

The twist lock according to GB-PS 1 177 262 is not in or on the vessel wall lining, but rather is actuated from below below the vessel bottom. The rotor, the flow channel of which is designed as a bare channel, has a relatively complicated shape, which leads to rapid wear. In addition, the rotor cannot be exchanged through the bottom of the container without the stator, but both only from the inside of the container.

The twist lock according to US-PS 36 51 998 consists essentially of two cylindrical, mating tubular bodies with a vertical axis, which penetrate the bottom of the vessel. The tubular body is provided with a special sealing arrangement. The actuation must also take place from the immediate vicinity of the pouring stream. Training as Tubular body with a relatively thin wall leads to rapid wear.

In the inflow actuator for a mold level control of a continuous casting plant according to DE-PS 35 40 202, in order to avoid clogging of an outflow opening of the melting supply vessel, at least two concentrically arranged, vertically arranged, projecting and mutually movable tubes with openings for the melt passage are used . By adjusting at least one tube from above the molten metal, the breakthroughs are more or less aligned, which results in a more or less large outflow opening for the melt. One tube is arranged vertically fixed in the container bottom, while the other tube is rotatable and axially adjustable. Here too, a relatively complex actuation arrangement is required, which has to act from above the molten metal. Furthermore, the replacement of the parts is cumbersome, which is disadvantageous given the high wear to which such wear parts are subject.

From JP-OS 61-182 857 a device for controlling the flow rate of a tundish for continuous casting is known which, for the purpose of reducing the oxidation of the molten steel and improving the steel quality, the stator fixed in the tank bottom has a vertical outflow channel in which lateral outflow openings open at a short distance above the tank bottom. The outflow rate is carried out with the aid of a plunger which is guided vertically in the outflow duct of the stator and which can be actuated from above the molten metal for vertical adjustment. Instead of the plunger, a tubular closure body similar to the solution according to DE-PS 35 40 202 can also be used.

This closure device therefore cannot do without actuation from above the molten metal in the vessel. The wear parts rotor and stator can also only be replaced from above the metal melting vessel.

In the device for controlling the outflow of a molten metal from a container according to CH-PS 571 373, a closure body which can be actuated from below the container base is guided in a vertically adjustable manner in a stator of the container base. The closure body has a vertical flow channel, which is divided up into two transverse bores. In the open position, the inlet openings of these transverse bores are located above the surface of the container bottom in the molten metal, in the closed position of the closure body, however, inside the rotor. It must be operated from below the bottom of the container, i.e. in the immediate vicinity of the pouring jet.

In the twist lock according to GB-PS 183 241, the stator and rotor are arranged largely below the bottom of the container, so that there is a considerable risk of the metal melt freezing. The actuation of the rotor, the axis of rotation of which is perpendicular to the vertical outflow channel of the stator and the flow channel of which is perpendicular to this axis of rotation, must also take place below the bottom of the container in the immediate vicinity of the pouring jet.

Proceeding from this, it is an object of the present invention to avoid the disadvantages of the prior art and to propose a twist lock of the generic type, in which on the one hand good accessibility of the twist lock ensures simple actuation and easy repair and easy repair, with little design effort and on the other hand the problem of freezing is reduced.

This object is essentially achieved with the invention in that the stator and the rotor are arranged in the interior of the vessel in and / or on the refractory lining of the vessel wall and, if appropriate, the lining of the vessel bottom in the area of the molten metal.

With the twist lock according to the invention, the molten metal can be removed vertically downwards from the inside of the vessel after a very short flow path with the aid of the stator. The rotor itself can be relatively compact, so that its flow channel is also correspondingly short. Since the functional parts of the screw cap guiding the molten metal are all arranged in the interior of the vessel in the molten metal or in the immediate vicinity of the molten metal, these are kept at the required high temperature by the molten metal, so that the risk of freezing is reduced. Air access is excluded. Since the vessel lining can be replaced in some areas by the functional parts of the twist lock itself, the construction effort is reduced compared to known metallurgical vessels with twist lock. Due to the arrangement of the stator and rotor in and / or on the refractory liner wall lining and possibly the liner bottom lining, the twist lock can be actuated from the side, so that the vertical pouring is not hindered. For the same reason, the path for the introduction of force and the effort required to actuate the rotor are relatively small, so that the operating units can be designed to be correspondingly weak and compact. This promotes the economical and reliable operation of the twist lock according to the invention. The exchange of rotor and stator is also easily possible due to the special arrangement of these parts to the side.

If, according to a particular embodiment of the invention, the rotor is pressed from the outside with a conical section into a correspondingly conical seat of the stator, the rotor can be exchanged quickly with the possibility of achieving the tightness between the stator and the rotor by forces applied from the outside .

If, according to another embodiment of the invention, the outer surface of the rotor is circular-cylindrical and is accommodated in a correspondingly circular-cylindrical seat of the stator, such pressing forces are not necessary, but the desired low design effort and the good accessibility of the wearing parts of the twist lock are retained.

With a corresponding fit of the outer surface of the rotor in the seat of the stator, the latter development has the advantage that the rotor in the stator - in addition to the rotatability - can also be axially displaceable. This makes it possible to achieve the opening and closing function or control function of the rotary lock either by rotating or axially displacing the rotor or both movements. If both movement options exist, the pouring jet will preferably be controlled by rotating the rotor and the complete closing and opening by axially displacing the rotor. Different wear edges are stressed, so that the rotor has a longer service life than if it were only rotatable or only axially displaceable.

According to a further feature of the invention, in addition to the outlet opening, the inlet opening of the flow channel of the rotor is also arranged in its conical or cylindrical outer surface. The flow channel of the rotor preferably runs essentially perpendicular to the axis of rotation, whereby easy manufacture of the rotor is guaranteed. In the case of special spatial or casting conditions, it can also be expedient to have the flow channel of the rotor run at an angle.

In a further embodiment of this, it can be provided that the inlet opening of the flow channel of the rotor is arranged in an end face of the rotor facing the interior of the vessel. It is hereby achieved that the major part of the rotor, namely that part which has the horizontal section of the flow channel, above the top of the vessel bottom lining, i.e. be arranged thermally favorable in relation to the molten metal and yet the entire molten metal can flow out of the interior of the vessel practically without restriction.

The end face of the rotor having the inlet opening of the flow channel of the rotor is preferably essentially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotor, so that the position of the inlet opening does not change when the pouring jet is controlled by rotating the outlet opening of the flow channel of the rotor relative to the outlet opening of the outlet channel of the stator .

Assembly and Demomtage the rotor, which is exposed to special stresses and which are therefore subject to the most wear and tear, is guaranteed with the invented twist lock that the rotor can be moved independently of the stator through a recess in the vessel wall and is therefore interchangeable.

Likewise, it can be provided that the stator as a whole or at least part of it can be moved through a recess in the bottom of the vessel and / or through the recess in the wall of the vessel and can therefore be replaced.

It is particularly expedient if the stator together with the rotor can be displaced through the recess in the bottom of the vessel and / or the recess in the wall of the vessel and can therefore be exchanged, so that when these two parts fit into one another when worn, they quickly move against a new stator / rotor -Unit can be replaced.

Since, for reasons of space-saving construction, it is particularly advantageous in the rotary closure according to the invention if the stator is arranged in the transition region between the vessel wall lining and the vessel bottom lining and the recess in the vessel bottom for the vertical tapping of the molten metal and the recess in the side vessel wall for actuation of the rotor are as close as possible to one another, the rotor can be driven in a simple construction from the vessel wall by a drive rod which is guided through the recess in the vessel wall.

A structurally simple actuation of the rotor is possible if it is held in the seat of the stator by means of an actuating head, the actuating head interacting positively from the outside with the drive-side end of the rotor in order to also serve as a driving device. Furthermore, the rotor should only be rotated, but not axially displaced, the actuating head preferably engages only loosely on the drive side in the rotor, so that it can also be easily and axially removed again to ensure good accessibility of the rotor.

In order to avoid tolerances during assembly and due to thermal shifts, the rotor is preferably connected to the drive of the rotor via a universal joint according to a further feature of the invention.

Instead or in addition, the rotor can be connected to the drive via an elastic coupling in order to compensate for existing axis displacements or offsets.

If the drive and the drive transmission means acting on the rotor are held on a support device which can be swiveled away from the vessel wall, particularly easy accessibility of the rotor and possibly also of the stator is ensured. Since in particular the rotor, which is also used for throttling the pouring jet, is subject to wear, the easy interchangeability is particularly advantageous despite the lateral drive of the rotor.

The invented twist lock can be further improved in terms of reliable function and a simple and quick replacement of the wearing parts in that the stator with its two ends is passed through two opposite side walls of the vessel and the rotor can be exchanged in the push-through. The outer surface of the rotor interacts with the circular cylindrical inner surface of the stator serving as a sealing seat. The rotor is therefore both rotatable and axially displaceable in the stator. The rotary movement is used to open and close the rotor's flow channel, the axial displacement primarily to replace the rotor in the push-through from the stator ends. The flow channel of the rotor can also be opened and closed by means of axial displacement. No contact forces are required for the seal between the rotor and stator.

The rotor can be moved from a lateral end of the stator, which is located in a vessel side wall and is therefore easily accessible, into its position, in which the flow channel and the outlet channel can be made more or less coincident by rotation, but also by axial displacement.

The drive for rotation and / or axial displacement starts at one end of the rotor, which for this purpose can also protrude laterally from the stator. The entire closure arrangement of the stator and rotor also lies directly in the molten metal or in the immediate vicinity thereof, so that the risk of freezing is low.

Within the framework of the inventive concept, it is of particular advantage to achieve the object if the rotor or parts of the rotor, if it is of multi-part design, can be replaced or replaced with a new rotor or new parts of the rotor even when the vessel is filled . are.

It is also particularly advantageous if the stator is cylindrical in shape, since then uniform thermal conditions are established in the rotary closure due to the uniform wall thickness of the stator, which leads to the least possible stress on the refractory wear parts of the rotary closure with a further reduced risk of freezing.

While normally the outflow channel and the flow channel just cross the stator or the rotor, in the context of the invention the two channels can also be developed in special cases, e.g. if the molten metal is to be drained from the transition area between the vessel bottom and the vessel side wall.

Both for the production and for the exchange of parts it may be expedient if a plurality of rotor parts which are adjacent to one another on the end faces, for example with a tongue and groove arrangement, are interlockingly interlocking, each having at least one flow channel. The rotor parts can be relatively short in relation to the overall rotor and therefore easy to manufacture, transport, assemble and replace. Due to the interlocking on the end face by means of tongue and groove arrangements, only the respective axially outermost rotor part needs to be driven from one end of the stator on the side wall of the vessel, so that the other rotor elements rotate or move synchronously. The tongue and groove arrangements also ensure the correct rotational position of the rotor elements relative to one another.

The advantage of smaller units can also be realized with the stator in that it consists of a plurality of adjoining ends, e.g. is assembled with tongue-and-groove arrangements with interlocking interlocking stator parts. Here, the tongue and groove arrangements serve to mutually lock the stator parts.

According to a further feature of the invention, the stator or a part or an extension thereof can be designed as an immersion nozzle with a nozzle tube.

Since at least the rotor can be easily replaced, a good seal of the rotor with respect to the stator can be achieved in that the rotor is made of relatively soft, wear-resistant material and the stator is made of relatively hard, wear-resistant refractory material. In particular, if the stator can also be exchanged through the lateral vessel wall or the lower vessel bottom, the situation can also be reversed.

Since the rotary lock according to the invention is surrounded by molten metal during operation, ie has no oxygen access, the refractory material of the rotor and / or the stator can at least on the stator and / or the rotor facing surface (s) carbon, graphite or the like. Permanent lubricant contain. Instead of or in addition, a sliding sleeve arranged between these two rotary closure parts can also consist of such material which ensures permanent lubrication.

It is also possible that the refractory material of the rotor and / or the stator contains ceramic fibers or ceramic fibers and fibers made of carbon or graphite.

The invention also relates to a refractory rotor for a rotary closure of the type explained in more detail above. It is essentially distinguished according to the invention in that it has a e.g. has a recess formed as a transverse slot for the positive engagement of an actuating head which can be actuated by a drive. This allows the drive connection to be established quickly when the rotor and / or the stator are replaced.

It is particularly advantageous if the rotor has at least one flow channel, the inlet opening and outlet opening of which lie in a conical or circular-cylindrical outer surface.

However, the inlet opening of the at least one flow channel can also be arranged in an end face which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

The invention also relates to a refractory stator for a twist lock of the type previously discussed. According to the invention, this stator is essentially characterized in that it has at least one outflow channel which passes through a circular cylindrical recess for receiving a rotor.

The rotor and / or stator can consist of carbon or graphite or of carbon-containing refractory concrete.

Further objectives, features, advantages and possible uses of the present invention result from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing.

Fig. 1

teilweise im Vertikalschnitt eine Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Drehverschlusses,

Fig. 1a

in gleicher Darstellung wie in Fig. 1 den antriebsseitigen Abschnitt des Rotors mit Betätigungskopf, um 90° gegenüber der Stellung von Fig. 1 gedreht,

Fig. 2

im Vertikalschnitt eine andere Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Drehverschlusses,

Fig. 3

eine noch weitere Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Drehverschlusses,

Fig. 4

eine noch weitere Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Drehverschlusses,

Fig. 5

teilweise im Vertikalschnitt eine noch weitere Ausführungsform eines die Erfindung aufweisenden Drehverschlusses,

Fig. 6

eine noch weitere Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Drehverschlusses in gleicher Darstellung wie in Fig. 5,

Fig. 7a

im Vertikalschnitt eine noch weitere Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Drehverschlusses,

Fig. 7b

einen Schnitt durch den Drehverschluß nach Fig. 7a entlang der Linie Ib-Ib von Fig. 7a,

Fig. 8

eine Schnittdarstellung einer anderen Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Drehverschlusses, welcher im Übergangsbereich zwischen Gefäßseitenwandung und Gefäßboden angeordnet ist,

Fig. 9a

schematisch in Schrägansicht einen rohrförmigen Stator gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung für einen Drehverschluß nach den Fig. 7a und 7b oder 8,

Fig. 9b

schematisch in Schrägansicht einen zu dem in Fig. 9a dargestellten Stator passenden Rotor nach einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung und

Fig. 10

schematisch einen Gesamtschnitt durch ein metallurgisches Gefäß mit einem die Erfindung aufweisenden Drehverschluß besonderer Ausgestaltung.

Show it:

Fig. 1

partially in vertical section an embodiment of a twist lock according to the invention,

Fig. 1a

in the same representation as in FIG. 1, the drive-side section of the rotor with the actuating head, rotated by 90 ° with respect to the position of FIG. 1,

Fig. 2

another embodiment of a twist lock according to the invention, in vertical section,

Fig. 3

another embodiment of a twist lock according to the invention,

Fig. 4

another embodiment of a twist lock according to the invention,

Fig. 5

partly in vertical section, yet another embodiment of a twist lock having the invention,

Fig. 6

another embodiment of a screw cap according to the invention in the same representation as in Fig. 5,

Fig. 7a

in vertical section a still further embodiment of a twist lock according to the invention,

Fig. 7b

7a shows a section through the rotary closure according to FIG. 7a along the line Ib-Ib from FIG. 7a,

Fig. 8

a sectional view of another embodiment of a screw cap according to the invention, which in the transition region between the vessel side wall and the vessel bottom is arranged,

Fig. 9a

schematically in oblique view a tubular stator according to an embodiment of the invention for a rotary lock according to FIGS. 7a and 7b or 8,

Fig. 9b

schematically in oblique view a rotor matching the stator shown in FIG. 9a according to an embodiment of the invention and

Fig. 10

schematically shows an overall section through a metallurgical vessel with a twist lock having the invention having a special embodiment.

1 is arranged in the angular range between a refractory vessel bottom lining 2 and a refractory vessel wall lining 3 as a component of the refractory lining of a metallurgical vessel in the area of the molten metal. The vessel bottom lining 2 protects a metal vessel bottom 33 and the vessel wall lining 3 protects a vessel wall 34. The vessel bottom 33 has a recess 20 for tapping the molten metal downward, while the metal lateral vessel wall 34 has a recess 25 for the lateral accessibility and drive capability of the screw cap 1 . The refractory bottom and side wall lining 2, 3 is therefore replaced in the area of the twist lock 1 by its parts. In this exemplary embodiment, the rotary lock 1 has a rotor 4, which is equipped with a conical section and serves as a locking body, with which it is pressed into a correspondingly conical seat 17 of a stator 6. The stator 6 consists of two parts, one part of the stator 6 has a substantially vertical outflow channel 5; its downward extension is passed in one piece through the metal vessel bottom 2 as pouring spout 10. The stator 6 thus simultaneously forms an immersion nozzle. A laterally arranged part 6 'of the stator 6 is hollow cone for receiving the drive end of the rotor 4. The rotor 4 has 1 shows a straight flow channel 7, which is aligned with the outflow channel 5 of the stator 6 in the rotational position (open position) shown in FIG. 1. This shows the full open position of the rotor 4. Inlet opening 14 and outlet opening 15 of the flow channel 7 of the rotor 4 lie in the lateral surface of the rotor 4. Outlet opening 13 and inlet opening 16 of the stator 6 lie essentially vertically one above the other in this exemplary embodiment, so that in the open position the rotor 4 a continuous, essentially vertical and straight molten metal flow is guaranteed for a vertical tapping.

On the drive side, an actuating head 18 engages the rotor 4 for its rotary drive about an essentially horizontal axis A, which engages with a strip-shaped projection 23 in a recess of the closure body 4 designed as a transverse slot 24. This enables torque transmission. On the outer edge, the actuating head 18 overlaps the drive-side end of the rotor 4 with an annular flange 25. The drive shaft 11 of a drive 20 connects to the actuating head 18 via a universal joint 19. The actuating head 18 is pressed in the direction of the stator 6 and thus the rotor 4 with its conical section into the corresponding conical seat 17 of the stator 6 by means of a spring assembly 12 and via an axial bearing acting on the drive shaft 11. Between the axial bearing and the drive 20 there is still an elastic coupling 21 in the drive shaft 11. The drive shaft 11, spring assembly 12, actuating head 18, universal joint 19, elastic coupling 21 and drive 20 are held together on a carrier device 22, which is connected to the Hinge 26 attached to the outside of the metallurgical vessel can be pivoted downward after a quick-release fastener 27 has been released. This makes the rotor 4 quick and easy to replace accessible. After folding away the carrier device 22, one part 6 'of the stator 6 can be pulled out laterally from the lining 2, 3. The other part of the stator 6 with the pouring tube 10 can be removed from the interior 8 of the vessel after the rotor 4 has been removed.

While in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the stator 6 with the one-piece pouring tube 10 from the interior 8 of the vessel intended for receiving the molten metal into the vessel bottom lining 2 and the lateral part 6 'of the stator 6 through the vessel wall 34 into the vessel wall lining 3 2, the stator 6 in the embodiment according to FIG. 2 consists of a block that can be inserted overall through the vessel wall 34 with a recess for receiving the drive-side end of the rotor 4, the actuating head 18, the universal joint 19 and the first part of the drive shaft 11 The pouring spout 10, which can be formed in two parts from the two parts 10a and 10b, for example, is attached from below through a recess in the metal vessel base 2 to the outlet opening 13 of the outflow channel 5 of the stator 6 and held there by means of a tensioning device 28. The joint 29 between the stator 6 and the independent pouring pipe 10 is sealed by pressing in a sealing compound via a connecting line 30 in a space surrounding the joint 29, in which the conical head part of the pouring pipe 10 lies. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the stator 6 is also slightly wedge-shaped in order to facilitate replacement through the lateral vessel wall 34.

The embodiment of the twist lock 1 according to FIG. 3 differs from that according to FIG. 2 essentially in that the flow channel 7 of the rotor 4 does not run straight but in a corner, so that the inlet opening 14 'of the rotor 4 in the molten metal end face of the rotor 4 lies, while the outlet opening 15 of the rotor 4 is still in its outer surface. As a result, the outflow channel 5 of the stator 6 is practically formed only by a section which opens into the outlet opening 13. Furthermore, a sliding or wear sleeve 9 is inserted between the tapered section of the rotor 4 and the corresponding tapered seat 17 of the stator 6. The stator 6 also has an outer flange portion 32 which bears on the outside of the metal vessel wall 34 and on which the plate-shaped part of the carrier device 22 acts from the outside in the closed position in order to hold the stator 6 securely in place.

4, the rotor 4 is spherical at its end remote from the drive 20 and the seat 17 of the stator 6 is adapted accordingly. The inlet opening 14 and outlet opening 15 of the rotor 4 are arranged in the outer surface of the rotor 4. The flow channel 7 of the rotor 4 is, however, slightly angled in this case, so that the outlet opening 13 of the outlet channel 5 of the stator 6 is essentially downward, but the inlet opening 16 of the outlet channel 5 of the stator 6 is almost horizontally to the side. Stator 6 and pouring tube 10 are separate parts here as well. The stator 6 is again slightly wedge-shaped and has a flange section 32 at its outer end as in the embodiment according to FIG. 3

Obviously, individual features with which the embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 4 differ from one another can also be combined with one another.

5 is arranged in the angular range between a refractory vessel bottom lining 2 and a refractory wall lining 3 as part of the vessel lining of a metallurgical vessel in the area of the molten metal. The vessel bottom lining 2 protects a metal vessel bottom 33 and the vessel bottom lining 3 protects one metal vessel wall 34. The refractory bottom and side wall linings 2, 3 are thus replaced in the area of the twist lock 1 by its parts. The lower vessel bottom 33 has a recess 50 for tapping the molten metal downwards, while the lateral vessel wall 34 has a recess 55 for the lateral accessibility and driveability of the screw cap 1. The rotary lock 1 has a rotor 4, which is equipped with a cylindrical outer surface 35 and serves as a locking body, with which it cooperates in a sealing manner with a corresponding cylindrical seat 17 of a stator 6. The stator 6 tapers towards the interior 8 of the vessel. It can be set into the working position shown in FIG. 1 both through the recess 50 in the vessel bottom 33 and through the recess 55 in the vessel wall 34. The stator 6 has an essentially vertical outflow channel 5 with an inlet opening 16 extending from the interior 8 of the vessel. The outlet opening 13 of the outflow channel 5 of the stator 6 is followed by a spout tube 10, which in this case is designed as a separate component, with an essentially vertical outflow channel 36. The pouring pipe 10 is thus in the upper region in the recess 50 of the vessel bottom 33. The pouring tube 10 is held on the vessel bottom 33 by means of clamping devices 28. The joint 29 between the stator 6 and the pouring pipe 10 takes place by pressing a sealing compound through a connecting line 30 into a space 31 surrounding the joint 29, in which the conical head part of the pouring pipe 10 lies.

To the recess 55 of the vessel wall 34, an essentially hollow cylindrical holding part 62 adjoins the stator 6, which can also consist of refractory material. It serves to accommodate drive elements 11, 18, 19 for the rotor 4 with the cylindrical lateral surface 35 accommodated in the cylindrical seat 17 of the stator 6. In this exemplary embodiment, the rotor 4 has a straight flow channel 7 running perpendicular to the axis of rotation A of the rotor 4 , whose inlet opening 14 and outlet opening 15 each in the cylindrical Shell surface 35 lie. The flow channel 7 is aligned in the rotational position shown in FIG. 1 (open position) with the outflow channel 5 of the stator 6. Since the outlet opening 13 and the inlet opening 16 of the stator 6 are essentially vertically one above the other in this exemplary embodiment, the rotor 4 becomes in the open position continuous, essentially vertical and straight molten metal flow for a vertical tapping guaranteed. The cylindrical rotor 4 can be seen, like the stator 6 and the at least slightly conical holding part 62, exchangeable through the recess 55 of the vessel wall 34, but also together with the stator 6 through the recess 50 of the vessel bottom 33.

On the drive side, an actuating head 18 engages the rotor 4 for its rotary drive about the essentially horizontal axis of rotation A, which engages with a strip-shaped projection 23 in a recess in the rotor 4 designed as a transverse slot 24. This enables torque transmission. If the rotor 4 is also to be moved axially back and forth, the projection 23 engages in a form-fitting manner in a manner not shown in the drive-side end of the rotor 4 or in a part which is connected to the latter in a non-positive or positive manner. The actuating head 18 lies in the working position of the rotor 4 with a shoulder 37 on the drive-side surface of the stator 6. The drive shaft 11 of a drive (not shown) adjoins the actuating head 18 to the outside via a universal joint 19. If the rotor 4 is also to be axially displaceable, a corresponding linear drive can be provided, for example the drive shaft 11 can be designed as a thrust piston motor. By means of a spring assembly 12 and an axial bearing acting on the drive shaft 11, the actuating head 18 is pressed in the direction of the stator 6 until the shoulder 37 abuts the stator 6 and thus the flow channel 7 of the rotor 4 is in the position in which it is located by rotating the rotor 4 to the full opening or full Locked position or intermediate positions can be rotated. Between the axial bearing and the drive there is an elastic coupling 21 in the drive shaft 11. Drive shaft 11, spring assembly 12, actuating head 18, universal joint 19, elastic coupling 21 and the drive (not shown) are held together on a carrier device 22, which via a hinge 26 attached to the outside of the metallurgical vessel can simply be swung downward after a quick-release fastener 27 has been released. This makes the rotor 4 and possibly the stator 6 easily and quickly accessible for replacement. Because after the carrier device 22 has been folded away, the holding part 62 can also be pulled out laterally from the vessel bottom and vessel wall lining 2, 3. As shown, the carrier device 22 rests on the outer surface of the holding part 62 and presses it against the outside of the stator 6. The universal joint 19 and the elastic coupling 21 serve to compensate for tolerances of the cooperating cylindrical surfaces of the rotor 4 and the stator 6.

The embodiment of the twist lock 1 according to FIG. 6 differs from that according to FIG. 1 essentially in that the flow channel 7 of the rotor 4 does not run straight but in a corner, so that the inlet opening 14 of the rotor 4 in the metal melt side end face 39 of the rotor 4 lies, while the outlet opening 15 of the rotor 4 continues into its outer surface 35. Accordingly, the outflow channel 5 of the stator 6 is practically formed only by a section which opens into the outlet opening 13, while the inlet opening 16 forms part of the cylindrical seat 17. The holding part 62 here has an outer flange section which bears on the outside of the metal vessel wall 34 and on which the plate-shaped part of the carrier device 22 in the closed position from the outside acts to keep the stator 6 secured in place due to its conical shape. It can be seen from the comparison of FIGS. 1 and 2 that the stator / rotor unit sits higher in the latter, so that the inlet opening 14 of the flow channel 7 of the rotor 4 is located directly above the top of the vessel bottom lining 2 in the vessel interior 8.

5 and 6, the stator / rotor unit are fully integrated into the vessel bottom and wall linings 2, 3, this unit can obviously also be shifted further into the vessel interior 8, that is to say initially in FIG. 5 above and then to the left, so that the stator / rotor unit is supported, for example, on the inner surface of the vessel bottom lining 2, or first in FIG. 6 to the left and then possibly upwards. As a result, the stator / rotor unit comes even more intimately into contact with the molten metal on all sides in order to avoid freezing and the ingress of oxygen.

7a and 7b, the rotary closure 1 essentially has a refractory rotor 4 which serves as a closure body and which is rotatable about an essentially horizontal axis A and axially displaceable in a recess 55 with a circular cylindrical inner surface 58 of a tubular, essentially square outer cross-section , refractory stator 6 is arranged. The rotor 4 adjoins the circular cylindrical inner surface 58 of the stator 6 with a circular cylindrical outer surface 57. The rotor 4 has a flow channel 7, which is inserted by pushing the rotor 4 into the stator 6 and rotating about the axis A with the outlet channel 5 of the stator 6 can be more or less covered. Outflow channel 5 and flow channel 7 are located relatively close to the one container side wall 3, 34 consisting of the vessel wall lining according to the drawing 3 and metal vessel wall 34, but they can also be arranged in the middle of the vessel bottom 2, 33 consisting of vessel bottom lining 2 and metal vessel bottom 33. The screw cap 1 is arranged on the vessel bottom lining 2 in the container interior 8 and completely surrounded by the molten metal during operation. However, it can also be at least partially embedded in the vessel bottom lining 2. The outlet opening 13 of the outflow channel 5 opens into a pouring pipe 10 embedded in the vessel bottom lining 2. The stator 6 is with its two ends (only one end can be seen in FIG. 7a) as far as the opposite from each other which is formed from the vessel wall lining 3 and the vessel wall 34 Vessel side walls guided (see. Fig. 10), as well as the rotor 4 within the stator 6 at least at one stator end. In this way, the rotor 4 can be easily driven from the outside in the direction of rotation with a drive arrangement 59 which is only shown schematically in FIG. 4. For this purpose, the rotor 4 can also protrude from the stator 6 to the required extent. At the end of the stator opposite the drive arrangement 59 there is a closure arrangement 60, for example a flap. The rotary lock 1 according to the invention has the advantage that the rotor 4 and stator 6 can easily be replaced by the push-through method through the side wall 3, 34 after wear.

In the embodiments according to FIG. 8, the stator 6 is arranged in the transition region between the vessel bottom lining 2 and the vessel wall lining 3. The outflow channel 5 of the stator 6 and the flow channel 7 of the rotor 4 are angled so that the molten metal is first discharged obliquely and then vertically downwards. The outflow channel 5 is also flared on the inlet side.

9a and 9b on a stator-rotor combination is indicated by the broken line that rotor 4 and stator 6 can be composed of individual rotor parts 4 'or stator parts 6'. An exchange of the rotor 4 or of rotor parts 4 'can be accomplished simply by pushing new rotor parts 4' from one side into the cylindrical recess 55 of the stator 6. This can also be done during the casting process. Not shown frontal tongue and groove arrangements between the individual rotor parts 4 'ensure not only a common rotation from the outermost rotor element 4', but also the correct rotational orientation of the rotor parts 4 'with each other.

Each rotor part 4 'has a flow channel 7', which can be brought into congruence with an outflow channel 5 '. Of the stator parts 6 'in this case only one has an outflow channel 5'. However, the invention is not restricted to this.

Fig. 10 illustrates schematically in cross section a metallurgical vessel with a transversely through the interior of the vessel 8 above the vessel bottom liner 2 and 1 arranged in the middle of the vessel bottom 33 arranged outflow channel 5 'of a stator 6' and flow channel 7 'of a rotor part 4'. The rotor parts 4 'can be pushed from right to left even when the vessel is filled with molten metal. For this purpose, the drive arrangement 59 and the closure arrangement 60 can be pivoted away. In the drawing to the left of the spout 5 'and pouring pipe 10 determined pouring area are then the worn pipe parts 4', which are pushed one after the other when pushing new pipe parts 4 'of - in the drawing - right from the left end of the stator. As indicated in the drawing, the tubular parts 4 'and stator parts 6' are expediently arranged in the joint offset during operation in order to ensure a reliable seal.

Reference symbol list:

1

Twist lock

2nd

Vessel bottom lining

3rd

Vascular wall lining

4th

rotor

5

Outflow channel of the stator

6

stator

7

Flow channel of the rotor

8th

Vessel interior

9

Sliding sleeve

10th

Pouring spout

11

drive shaft

12

Spring pack

13

Outlet opening of the stator outflow channel

14

Inlet opening of the rotor flow channel

15

Outlet opening of the rotor flow channel

16

Inlet opening of the stator outflow channel

17th

Seat

18th

Actuating head

19th

universal joint

20th

drive

21

elastic coupling

22

Carrier device

23

head Start

24th

Cross slot

25th

Ring flange

26

joint

27th

Quick release

28

Jig

29

Gap

30th

Connecting cable

31

free space

32

Flange section

33

Vessel bottom

34

Vessel wall

35

Lateral surface

36

Outflow channel

37

shoulder

39

Face

50

Recess

55

Recess

57

circular cylindrical inner surface

58

circular cylindrical surface

59

Drive arrangement

60

Lock arrangement

62

Holding part

A

Axis of rotation

Claims (31)

1. Rotary valve for substantially vertically tapping liquid metal melt from a metallurgical vessel with a rotationally symmetrical refractory rotor (4) serving as a valve body which is arranged to be rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis (A) in a refractory stator (6) having an outlet passage (5), the rotor (4) having a flow passage (7) which is opened and closed by rotation of the rotor (4) with respect to the stator (6), the outlet opening (15) of which is arranged in the peripheral surface of the rotor (4), characterised in that the stator (6) and the rotor (4) are arranged in the interior of the vessel in and/or on the refractory vessel wall lining (3) and optionally the vessel base lining (2) in the region of the metal melt.
2. Rotary valve as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the rotor is pressed from the exterior with a conical section (3) into a correspondingly conical seat (17) on the stator (6).
3. Rotary valve as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the peripheral surface of the rotor is circular cylindrical and is received in a corresponding circular cylindrical seat (17) on the stator (16).
4. Rotary valve as claimed in Claim 3, characterised in that the rotor (4) is axially slidable in the stator (6).
5. Rotary valve as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the inlet opening (14) of the flow passage (7) in the rotor (4) is arranged in its conical or cylindrical outer surface.
6. Rotary valve as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the inlet opening (14) of the flow passage (7) in the rotor (4) is arranged in an end surface (9) of the rotor (4) directed towards the vessel interior (8).
7. Rotary valve as claimed in Claim 6, characterised in that the end surface (9) of the rotor (4) which has the inlet opening (14) of the flow passage (7) in the rotor (4) is substantially perpendicular to the rotary axis (A) of the rotor (4).
8. Rotary valve as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the rotor (4) is slidable and thus replaceable independently from the stator (6) through an opening (55) in the vessel wall (34).
9. Rotary valve as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the stator (6) is slidable and thus replaceable as a whole, or at least a part of it, through an opening (50) in the vessel floor (33) and/or through the opening (55) in the vessel wall (34).
10. Rotary valve as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the stator (6) is slidable and thus replaceable together with the rotor (4) through the opening (50) in the vessel floor (33) and/or through the opening (55) in the vessel wall (34).
11. Rotary valve as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the rotor (4) may be actuated from the vessel wall (34) by a drive rod (11) which passes through the opening (55) in the vessel wall (34).
12. Rotary valve as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the rotor (4) is held in the seat (17) on the stator (6) by means of an actuating head (18), the actuating head (18) cooperating from the exterior in a form-locking manner with the drive end of the rotor (4).
13. Rotary valve as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the rotor (4) is connected to the drive (20) of the rotor (4) via a universal joint (19).
14. Rotary valve as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the rotor (4) is connected to the drive (20) via an elastic coupling (21).
15. Rotary valve as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the drive (20) and the drive transmission means (18, 19, 21) acting on the rotor (4) are mounted on a carrier device (22) which may be pivoted away from the vessel wall (34).
16. Rotary valve as claimed in one of Claims 3 to 15, characterised in that the two ends of the stator (6) pass through opposing vessel side walls (3, 34) and the rotor (4) may thus be replaced by pushing through.
17. Rotary valve as claimed in Claim 16, characterised in that the rotor (4) or parts (4') of the rotor (4) is or are replaceable by a new rotor (4) or new parts (4') by pushing through even when the vessel is full.
18. Rotary valve as claimed in one of Claims 3 to 17, characterised in that the stator (6) is of cylindrical tubular construction.
19. Rotary valve as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 18, characterised in that the outlet passage (7) and flow passage (5) are angled.
20. Rotary valve as claimed in one of Claims 17 to 19, characterised in that a plurality of rotor portions (4') with abutting ends, e.g. engaging in one another with a tongue and groove arrangement, and with at least one respective flow passage (7') are arranged in the stator (6).
21. Rotary valve as claimed in one of Claims 17 to 20, characterised in that the stator (6) is composed of a plurality of stator portions (6') with abutting ends, e.g. engaging in one another with a tongue and groove arrangement.
22. Rotary valve as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 21, characterised in that the stator (6) or a portion or an extension thereof is constructed as an immersion nozzle with a nozzle tube (10).
23. Rotary valve as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 22, characterised in that the rotor (4) comprises relatively soft refractory material susceptible to wear and the rotor (6) comprises relatively hard, wear-resistant, refractory material.
24. Rotary valve as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 23, characterised in that the refractory material, of the rotor (4) and/or the stator (6) contains carbon, graphite or the like permanent lubricant at least on its surface(s) directed towards the stator (6) and/or the rotor (4).
25. Rotary valve as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 24, characterised in that the refractory material of the rotor (4) and/or the stator (6) contains ceramic fibres or ceramic fibres and fibres of carbon or graphite.
26. Refractory rotor for a rotary valve as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 25, characterised in that at its outer drive end it has an opening, e.g. constructed as a transverse slot (24), for the form-locking engagement of an actuating head (18) which may be actuated by a drive (20).
27. Rotor as claimed in Claim 26, characterised in that it has at least one flow passage (7) whose inlet opening (14) and outlet opening (15) lie in a conical or circular cylindrical outer surface (37).
28. Rotor as claimed in Claim 26, characterised in that it has at least one flow passage (7) whose inlet opening (14) is arranged in an end face (9) extending substantially perpendicular to the rotary axis.
29. Refractory stator for a rotary valve as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 25, characterised in that it has at least one outlet passage (5) which passes through a circular cylindrical opening (35) for the reception of a rotor (4).
30. Rotor or stator as claimed in one of Claims 26 to 29, characterised in that it comprises carbon or graphite.
31. Rotor or stator as claimed in one of Claims 26 to 29, characterised in that it comprises refractory concrete containing carbon.

Images