GB2169589A

GB2169589A - Filling the 'well' of ladles with sand

Info

Publication number: GB2169589A
Application number: GB08500351A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Dennis Benson; Kenneth Burridge
Original assignee: Davy McKee AG
Current assignee: Davy McKee AG
Priority date: 1985-01-07
Filing date: 1985-01-07
Publication date: 1986-07-16
Also published as: GB8500351D0

Abstract

Ladles for molten metal often have a sliding gate discharge valve 3 connected to the container through a "well" 5. This well has to be filled with sand before the container can be filled with molten metal. Apparatus for filling the well consists of a vertical tube 18 mounted on a frame structure 11, 15 which permits the tube to be swung between positions in which it is away from the container and in which it has its lower end above the well, respectively. In the latter position, the sand is delivered through the tube to the well. The frame structure includes a rotatable column 11 supporting a counter balanced parallelogram linkage. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Servicing apparatus for containers for molten metal Containers for molten metal conventionally have an open top through which the molten metal is introduced into the container. Sometimes the container is pivoted so that the molten metal can be poured out through the top of the container. On the other hand, it is well known for a container to be tapped or emptied from below through a slide gate valve provided on the underside of the bottom of the container. The walls and the bottom of the container have a lining of refractory material and an opening is formed through the lining above the slide gate valve. This opening is known as a "well" and the molten metal passes through this well and the metal flow is controlled by means of the slide gate valve.

Containers of the type to which the present invention relate consists of a refractory lining with a well in the lining leading to a slide gate valve on the underside of the container. Prior to molten metal being introduced into the container, the well must be filled with refractory particulate material, such as sand, so that it cannot be filled with molten metal. In the absence of the particulate refractory material, molten metal would flow into the well and immediately freeze thereby preventing the slide gate valve from operating.

The refractory particulate material is introduced into the well of the container at a container servicing station.

According to the present invention, appartus for use at a servicing station for a container of the type set forth comprises a frame structure, arranged to be located at the service station, and a feed tube having upper and lower ends and supported on the frame structure such that the feed tube can be moved between a first position, in which the tube is outside a container positioned at the servicing station, and a second position, in which the lower end of the tube is at or above the well of said container, in which second position a quantity of refractory particulate material supplied to the upper end of the tube is delivered to the well.

After the well has been filled with the quantity of refractory particulate material, the feed tube is moved to its first position and molten metal can then be poured into the container.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, it will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic cross-section through a ladle showing the well; Figures 2 and 3 are side elevations of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention in use at a servicing station; and Figure 4 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Referring to Figure 1, a ladle for molten metal consists of a metal casing 1 having a lining 2 of refractory material. On the underside of the ladle there is a slide gate valve 3 and this gate valve is in communication with the interior of the ladle by way of an opening 5 through the refractory lining.

This opening is referred to as a well.

Prior to molten metal being charged into the ladle, it is necessary to fill the well with refractory particulate material, such as sand, to prevent the molten metal from entering into, and freezing in, the well.

The refractory particulate material is introduced into the well at a servicing station for the ladle.

The servicing station consists essentially of a support 9 for a ladle 10 where the ladle is supported with its open mouth uppermost. At the side of the ladle support, there is apparatus for introducing the sand into the well. This apparatus, indicated generally by reference 11, consists of a post 13 arranged substantially vertical and rotatable about its vertical axis. The post carries a frame structure 15, which may be of parallelogram form, with one end of the frame attached to the post and the other end of the frame supporting a vertical feed tube 17 which has a lower end 18.

The frame structure conveniently carries a counterweight 19, which counterbalances at least a part of the weight of the structure 15 and the tube 17, such that the frame structure and tube can readily be moved between first and second positions. The first position is shown in Figure 3, where the entire tube and the frame structure are outside the ladle 10 located at the servicing station. The structure on the rotatable post permits the feed tube 17 to be lifted up, swung over the side wall of the ladle and lowered to the second position, shown in Figure 4, where the lower end 18 of the tube is at, or a short distance above, the well in the ladle.

To move the feed tube between the first and second positions, the tube is lifted from the position shown in Figure 3 to raise the lower end of the tube to a height which enables it to pass over the top of the side walls of the ladle. The feed tube is then lowered into the ladle and, at the same time, the frame structure is moved about the rotatable post so that the lower end of the tube is positioned just above the well in the ladle. In this position, a quantity of refractory particulate material, such as sand, is delivered from the upper end of the tube down to the lower end thereof and into the well.

The refractory material may be positioned in a hopper 21 at the upper end of the tube when the tube is outside the container and then a valve, located between the hopper and the upper end of the tube, can be operated when the lower end of the tube is above the well to enable the sand in the hopper to flow down through the tube into the well.

Alternatively, when the tube is positioned in the container with the lower end above the well, refractory particulate material may then be poured into an enlarged upper end of the tube from where it is delivered to the well.

Clearly, the lower end of the tube does not have to enter into the well, it being sufficient for it to be positioned a short distance above the well so that the sand falling from the lower end of the tube falls into the well.

The tube, particularly the lower end thereof, will become damaged in time where it is used to supply sand to the well of a hot container. An advantage of the invention is that the tube is a relatively cheap article which can readily be replaced.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use at a servicing station for containers of the type set forth comprising a frame structure arranged to be located at the servicing station and a feed tube having upper and lower ends and supported by the frame structure such that the feed tube can be moved between a first position, in which the tube is outside a container positioned at the servicing station, and a second position, in which the lower end of the tube is at or above the well of said container, in which second position a quantity of refractory particulate material can be delivered through the tube to the well.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tube is arranged substantially vertical and the frame structure permits the tube to be raised and lowered sufficiently for it to pass over the side wall of the container as the tube is moved between the first and second positions.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the frame structure includes a vertical post rotatable about its vertical axis and a linkage mounted on the post and carrying the tube in such a manner as to permit the tube to be raised and lowered relative to the post.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the frame structure includes a counter weight on the opposite side of the post to said tube.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the upper end of the tube is enlarged to receive the refractory particulate material.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the enlarged upper end of the tube constitutes a hopper and a valve is located between the hopper and the bore of the tube.

7. Apparatus for use at a servicing station for containers of the type set forth substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.