CA1208904A - Valve suitable for controlling teeming from furnace tapholes - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT
VALVE SUITABLE FOR CONTROLLING TEEMING
FROM FURNACE TAPHOLES

Metal flow from furnace taphole to a pouring trough is controlled by a valve interposed therebetween, the valve having a stationary orificed valve plate and a companion slide plate for closing or opening the orifice to flow. An actuating beam member forming part of a parallel motion linkage extends upwardly and obliquely from the slide plate, the actuating member being thrust against the slide plate by a swinging spring strut of the linkage. A ram connected to the linkage via a crank, a shaft and a pivoted lever displaces the linkage when extended or contracted and this moves the actuating member along a predetermined path, its oblique attitude being preserved, to open or shut the valve.

Description

VALVE SUITABLE FOR CONTROLLING TEEMING
FROM FURNACE TAPHO~ES

The present invention relates to a ~alve suit-able for controlling teeming from a ve~sel outlet such as a furnace taphole.
When an arc furnace is t;~pped conventionally, molten metal and slag flow over the furnace pouring lip as the furnace is tilted. The metal and slag then run down a trough~ where such is provided, and gather in a ladle~ The presence of slag i5 a considerable inconven-ience, Thus, it would be advantageous to be able to empty the furnace of its molten metal and to leave the slag behind.
By providing the furnace with a taphole located well below the top thereof, it is possible to pour off the molten metal alone when the furnace is tilted. Some form of stopper is needed to close the taphole until pouring lS to take place. Better still would be a valve openable and closable at will, for this would facilitate ., 9~

the filling of several ladles from one furnace charge, and the furnace would only need tilting once, at the start of the emptying operation.
In principle a sliding gate valve might appear suitable for controlling flow out of the taphol~.
~owever, no known sliding ga~e valve is sui~a~le. The known valve mechanism occupy considerable space ~o either side thereof i.e. along the direction of movement of the sliding valve plate. Ade~uate space is absent in the region of a furnace taphole, however, in part due to the presence of the pouring trough.
An object of the presen~ invention has been to adapt the sliding gate valve concept to suit a furnace taphole arrangement, and a mechanism has been devised in which the sliding valve plate is biased towards the taphole and is moved to and fro fxom above the trough.
Accordin~ to the present invention, there is provided a valve mechanism for controllin~ metal flow from a vessel outlet, comprising an orificed stationary valve plate, a companion slidable valve plate for covering or exposing the orifice of the former to close or open the valve to flow, extending obliquely to the slidable plate for an actuating member moving the slid-able plate, spring means acting to bias the actuating member against the sli~able plate to press the slidable ~z~

plate to the stationary plate, and mean~ guiding the actuating member for displacement along a predetermined path wherein a portion of the actuating member engaging the slidable plate moves in a plane parallel to the s contac~ing faces of the valve plates.
Although the present valve has been devised particularly with furnaces in mind, it has application to other vessels~ Thus, the compact form of the valve and ~he locati~n, to one side of a vessel teeming opening, of its structure for biassing and for moving the slide plate to and fro may be found of significant convenience for some ladles, tundishes and other vessels from which molten metal is to be teemed.
The invention will now be described in more detail by way o~ example with reerence to the accompany~
ing drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an arc furnace fitted with a taphole valve mechanism according to the invention;
~o Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the equipment shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the valve arrangement and ducting leading thereto from the taphole; and ~2~

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic geometrical analysis of the valve mechanism.
Referring first to ~ig. 3, a taphole insert 10 is positioned in a furnace taphol~, the inser~ 10 having a flow passage of o~al cross-sectionO Abuttingly sealed to the taphole insert 10 is an intermediate duct 11 having a flow passage which changes from oval to circular cross section. A nozzle piece 1~ is cemented into the duct 11 and a valve generally designated 14 is disposed at the end of the nozzle piece 12 remote from the taphole, and is sealed thereto.
In essence, the valve 14 comprise~ a s~ationary apertured valve plate 15 of ring form and a slide plate 16 of disc form biased thereagainst. Clamps 17 IFig. 1) secuxe the plate 15 in abutment with noæzle piece 12.
The slide plate 16 is movable in an upward direction, to uncover the opening 18 in the stationary plate 15 and thus open the tapping channel, by an actuating member 20 which i5 also arranged to thrust the plate 16 against the plate 15. When the tapping channel is opened by raising the slide plate 16~ metal flows from the furnace thxough the taphole insert 10, the intermediate duct and the stationary plate 15, issuing from the latter into pouring trough 21. Metal flows then down thQ trough into the receiving vessel or ladle.

When the slide plate lS is shifted upwardly to open the ~alve 14 completely it travels a distance almost equal ~o its diameter. The width of the ring-shaped plate 15, that is the difference between its inner and outer radii, is substantially smaller than the aforesaid distance. Means is therefore provided to support the slide plate 16 as it is moved upwardly. The said means i5 a thrust plate 22 mounted adjacent the plate 15 on a frame member 23 of the valve. The thrust plate 22 and stationary plate 15 have coplanar slide plate con~
tact surfaces 24, 2$.
~ he valve mechanism will now be described with particular re~erence to Figs. 2 and 3~
The actuating mem~er 20 for the slide plate 16 lS pexforms two functions. First, it blases the slide plate 16 again~t~the stationary plate 15, thanks to spring means 25 acting on the actuating member. Secondly, it operates to displace the slide pla~e 16 when an actuator 26 is suitably energis2d. The actuator member 20 is a beam forming part of a linkage 28 so designed that the lower end of the actuator member moves in a vertical path as the actuator 26 is operated.
As illustrated, the actuator m~mher 20 is inclined ~o the vertical~ and to frame member 23, and has its ~ower end copuled to the slide plate. The coupling comprises a pin 30 which is received in a yoke 31 forming part of a shoe 32 mounted in a recess 33 in the slide plate 16, see ~ig. 3.
At an intermediate point along its length, the actuator member 20 is pivotally secured to a lever 34 fast with a pivot shaft 35 journalled to a second frame member 36 ~f the mechanism.
~he actuating member 20 extends beyond lever 34 and has its upper end 38 coupled to the frame member 23. The sprins means 25, which constitutes a spring link~ couples the beam to the frame member 23 by way of a lever 39 and toggle arrangement ~0, to be descri~ed.
The spring means is pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the lever 39 and end 38, respectively.
The spring means 25 is a de~ice comprising a multiplicity of compression springs, e.g. ten or twelve, which are threaded on a corresponding plurality of bolts holding a paix of thrust plates 42 together. The thrust plates 42 each have a projecting eye or clevis 43 by whi~h the ~pring means i5 secured to lever 39 and the en~ 38, In the operative condition shown in Fig. 2, the spring means is in a state of compression, and tends to rotate the activating member 20 anticlockwise about its pivotal connection with lever 34. Thu~, the lower - 25 end of the actuating member 20 is biased towards the ~aphole, and the slide plate 16 is thrust into firm, sealing contact with the s~ationary plate 15.
The spring means 25 could include a set of Bellville washers instead of coil springs if desired.
For displacing the slide plate between its open (raised) and clo~ed (lowered) positions, the actuator 26 is link~d via a crank 46 to the linkage 28.
The crank 46 is fast at one end with the shaft 35 on whlch the lever 34 is also fast. ~he actuator 26 is pi~oted to the opposite end of the crank 46 and when this end is disp1aced upwardly, the shaft 35 is rotated clockwise and with it lever 34. This action serves to displace the actuator member 20 and the slide plate 16 upwardly~ to open the valve.
As shown in the drawings, the actuator 26 is an hydraulic or pneumatic ram. This has its piston rod 47 pivoted to the crank 46 and its body 48 remote from the piston rod pivot~d to a lug 49 on the frame member 23.
~se of such an actuator is conYentional in the sliding gate art, but other actuators could be substi-tuted. For instance, the crank 46 could be actuated by, or even replaced by, an appropriate manual control lever.
The linkage 28, comprising actuating member 20, lever 34 and spring means 25, acts approximately as a parallel motion devicel The geometry:of lever 34 and spring means 25 is such as to constr~in the actuating member 20 ~o move substantially parallel to itself. By this means, the lower end o the actuator moves vertically with the slide plate and changes in thrust which it exerts upon the slide plate 16 are kept within safe bounds as the latter is moved vertically by the actuating member 20.
The spring means 25 acts as a swing link in thP
linkage 28. It swin~s, in the same direction as the lever 34, about an anchorage 51 at the free end of lever 39 whi~h is pivoted at 52 to the frame member 23. In normal use, however/ the lever 39 is barred from pivoting about the pivot at 52 by the toggle arrangement 50. The effort developed by the spring means 25 tends to rotate lever 39 anticlockwise about 52. Such rotation is prevented, however, by the toggle 50 acting as a rigid brace between the lever 39 and rame member 23, thanks to the toggle bearing against a stop 53. Overcentering of the toggle would be necessary if the lever 39 were ~o move in the opposite direction abou~ ~2, so this movement is resisted and moreover is positively prevented by a removabIe safety pin 54. In normal usage the parts retain the configuration æhown in Fig. 2, when the anchorage 51 is fixed.

~2~8~

On occasion, it will ~e necessary to replace one Gr bo~h the plates 15, 16. The spring-developed thrust on plate 16 normally exceeds 5 tonsV in the valve-closed setting and must be released for servicing.
This is ac~omplishPd by freeing the anchorage 51 by manipulation of the toggle 50. ~irst, the safety pin 54 is removedO .Then, crowbars ~5 are l~cated in bosses 56 at the ends of a rod passing through the centre of the toggle 50, and forming the centxe pivot thereof.
Thereafter the crowhar~ are levered so as to overcentre the toggle 50 and allow the lever 39 to swing anticlock-wise about its pivot at 52. ~his movement is accompanied by relaxation of the spring means 25, which can then for convenience be discolmected from the anchorage 51.
Having xeleased the spring biasing in this way, the actuating memDer 20 can be swung away fxom the valv~
allowing clear access theretor Restoration of the spring biasing is in substance a reverse of the forPgoing steps, as will be recognised.
In the present embodiment, the linkage 28 only approximates to a parallel motion device. This is since the connect.ions between the actuating member 20, the lever 34 and spri~g means 25 do not move in arcs of equal radius a~out centres through the shaft 35 and anchorage 51. The geometry of the system, that is the _ g _ respective lengths of lever 34 and spri~g means 25 coupled with the positions of their swing centres through 35 and 51, act o mi n; m; se changes in the oblique attitude of the actuating member 20 as ~he actuator 26 is extended or contracted. As a result, the biasing thrust acting on the slide plate changes but only within safe limits and is at a m~ m when the valve 14 is closed~
Example lG A specific example of the geometry of a tap-hole valve system according to this invention is presented in Fig. 4 of the drawings.
In this example, the val~e slide plate has a diameter of the order of 335 mm and a throw, or travel o~ 320 mm between valve open and valve-closed settings~
The spring means 25 comprises twelve compre-ssion coil springs, is 385 mm long ~hen relaxed and 360 mm long when compressed. The load on ~ach spring is 9~0 lbs (431 kg) and the springs push the thrust plates 43 apart with an aggregate force of 5 tons (5080 kg)~
With the left hand face A of ~rame member 23 and the centreline B o the pouring passage as datums, the mechanism has the following dimensions:

~L2~

- The distance between the two pivot axes of lever 34 is 63~ mm and pivot axis through shaft 35 is centred 600 mm above R and 214 mm to the righ~ of A;
- in the normal operative condition, the pivot axis through the anchorage 51 is centred 1116 mm above ~ and is 332 mm to the left of A;
- pivot point 52 o lever 39 is situated 80 mm to the left of A and 1368 mm above B;
- the toggle 50 is connected by a pivot pin to a lug S8 fast with the frame member 23; the pin i5 cen~red 80 mm to the left of A and 1017 mm above ~ The connection between the toggle S0 and the lever 39 is 248 mm from pivot point 52, the distance between the latter and the centre of the fixed anchorage being 356 mm. The links of the toggle each have their two pivot apertures 125 mm apart; and - the a~tuator member 20 is 1100 mm long, the lever 34 being pivoted thereto at a centre 580 mm from the centre of the attachment of spring means 25 thereto and 520 mm from the pin 30 coupling the actuating member 20 to the slide plate 16; the pin 30 is centred 170 mm to the left of A.

. . .

~2~

In operation, when the lever 34 i5 swung clockwise or anticlockwise on the shaft 35, the actuating mem~er 20 is displaced substantially parallel to itself, the motion of its lower end being confined to a vertical 5 planeA The pivotal connection between the lever 34 and the actuating member moves along arcuate path C, while the pivotal con~ection between the spring means 25 and the actuator moves along the approximately parallel arcuate path D.
The force exerted by the spring means 25 on the actuating member 20 normal thereto is at a maximum in the valve-closed settiny. When the valve is opened, the normal resolved force falls~ owing to the swinging motion of the spring means 25 about anchorage Sl reducing the angle between the spring means and the lon~itudinal axis of the actua~ing member 20. I~
follows that the force applied in a direction normal to this axis by the actuating member 20 on the slide plate 16 similarly drops as the valve 14 is opened.
The following tabulation gives the forces applying as the slide plate is raised from its valve closed setting (1) to the limit of its travel (9), through e~Jenly-spaced intermediate positionsO

Position ~orce of sprin~ ~orcc no~mal Thrust on sl ~.de means on to actuatine pla~e resolved actu~tin~ mem~er eY.ert- normal thc~ctc.
member norm~l ed on slide thereto plat~
Tons kg T~ns Icg Tons kg 9 2 o ~9263~1. 2 . ~2936 ~ . 6~26~2 8 3~153200 3.51 ~5~;~ 3.15 32~,~
7 30603657 4.û2 4084 3055 3607 6 3. 984043 ~.44 4511 3090 3952 4~3~4409 4o~4 1l0~7 J~.25 4-~ 8 4 4. 604674 5.13 ~i'12 4 o 504~72 3 4.744E~16 5.2~ 5375 4.5~ 473~

2 4.854g28 5~41 54g7 4.80 4~77 4.~ 5019 ~51 5598 4095 4~63 In this example, the mechanical advantage of the actuating member 20 is 580/520 of 1.115.
From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the means for biasing the slide plate 16 into sealed contact with the stationary plate 15 and the means for drawing the slide plate 16 aside to open the valve 14 are disposed to one side of the mechanism, and to one side o the pouring passage. The valve arrangement commends itself for any situation where space to one side of a pouring passage is limited. Thus, use of the - 13 ~

arrangement is not confined to furnace taphole control.
Various modifications will be apparent to the addressee. For example, the actuator could act other-wise than through lever ~6 and ghaft 35 for displacing the linkage 28. Thus, as one possibility the actuat3r could be coupled to the pin 30. In principle, the spring means 25 could act on the actuating member 20 at any poi~t thereon between lever 34 and the slide plate 16, the spxing means then functioning in tension. The positions of the lever 34 and the spring means could ~hen be interchanged.
: In the specific embodiment the linkage is 50 designed that the bottom end of the actuating member 20 travels vertically. In a modification, the linkage lS 28 could be replaced by a v~rtically-extending guide in which the bottom end o~ the actuating m~mber 20 ~oves.
The urnace/valve arrangement has the ~alve 14 and its mechanism located between the ~urnace wall 70 and the trough 21, the valve being connected by suitable ducting to the furnace taphole. Attachment of the valve mechanism to the furnace wall can be accomplished in various ways and no description of the attachment appears warranted here.
~ 14 -

Claims (11)

The Embodiments of the Invention In Which An Exclusive Property or Privilege is Claimed Are As Follows:-

1. A valve mechanism for controlling metal flow from a vessel outlet, comprising an orificed stationary valve plate, a companion slidable valve plate for covering or exposing the orifice of the former to close or open the valve to flow, an actuating member extending obliquely to the slidable plate for moving the slidable plate, spring means acting to bias the actuat-ing member against the slidable plate to press the slidable plate to the stationary plate, and means guid-ing the actuating member for displacement along a predetermined path wherein a portion of the actuating member engaging the slidable plate moves in a plane parallel to the contacting faces of the valve plates.

2. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the guide means for the actuating member is a parallel motion device, whereby the oblique attitude of the actuating member is preserved during displacement thereof for opening and closing the valve.

3. A mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the guide means for the actuating member is a linkage of which the actuating member is part, the linkage compris-ing a pair of oscillatingly movable levers each pivotally connected to the actuating member and to a support structure of the mechanism.

4. A mechanism according to claim 3, wherein one of the levers is a spring strut and constitutes the spring means which biases the actuating member against the slidable plate.

5. A mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the spring strut is pivoted to an anchorage carried by the support structure and braced thereto by a toggle linkage, the latter being operable to release the anchorage and thereby relieve the biasing of the spring strut on the actuating member.

6. A mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the anchorage is on a lever pivoted to the support struc-ture but normally barred from pivoting by the toggle linkage.

7. A mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the spring strut acting on the actuating member is in a state of compression and is located further from the slidable plate than the other lever of the linkage.

8. A mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the pair of levers have such lengths, and their pivotal connections with the support structure are so located relative to the plane of the contacting faces of the valve plates, that the oblique attitude of the actuating member is preserved when displaced to open or close the valve.

9. A mechanism according to claim 1, includ-ing an actuator for displacing the actuating member.

10. A mechanism according to claim 9, wherein the actuator is an hydraulic or pneumatic ram.

11. A mechanism according to claim 3, includ-ing an actuator for displacing the actuating member and wherein the actuator acts on a crank fast with a shaft on which one of the levers pivotally connected to the actuating member is also fast, said shaft being journalled to the support structure.