Sliding gate device

A sliding gate device comprising:

• a fixed plate having a fixed-side through hole communicating with a nozzle hole of an insert nozzle through which molten steel in a molten steel container is poured, the fixed plate fixed to the molten steel container;
• a sliding plate having a sliding-side through hole that is allowed to communicate with the fixed-side through hole, the sliding plate configured to slidably move relative to the fixed plate in a predetermined direction, and open and close the nozzle hole by switching between communication and non-communication of the sliding-side through hole with the fixed-side through hole through sliding relative to the fixed plate;
• a sliding device configured to slide, in the predetermined direction, a slider case by which the sliding plate is detachably held;
• and
• a contact pressure control mechanism configured to switch between a contact pressure applied state in which a contact pressure is applied between the fixed plate and the sliding plate, and a no-contact-pressure applied state in which a contact pressure is not applied between the fixed plate and the sliding plate, wherein
• the contact pressure control mechanism includes
• a support bar member supported so as to move relative to the fixed plate in the predetermined direction,
• a joining block tool detachably mounted between the support bar member and the slider case, the joining block tool configured to switch between a joined state in which the support bar member and the slider case cooperate with each other, and a joining-released state in which the support bar member and the slider case do not cooperate with each other, and
• a spring member configured to generate a force for applying a contact pressure between the fixed plate and the sliding plate in a case where the support bar member has been moved relative to the fixed plate in conjunction with the slider case so as to satisfy a predetermined relative-position relationship,
• the fixed plate is held by a mounting plate mounted and fixed to the molten steel container,
• the support bar member is movably supported by a bottom plate that is pivotally supported by the mounting plate,
• the support bar member includes
• a cam bar disposed so as to correspond to each of both side surfaces extending at the bottom plate in the predetermined direction, the cam bar extending along each of the side surfaces, and
• a direct bar extending in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction, the direct bar joining two of the cam bars to each other, the direct bar having a fit-insertion hole in which the joining block tool is fit-inserted,
• the slider case or a cylinder joint for joining the slider case and a drive source of the sliding device has a recessed groove in which a leading end of the joining block tool fits,
• the recessed groove extends in the predetermined direction so as to have a groove length greater than a width of the leading end of the joining block tool in the predetermined direction,
• in a case where the joining block tool is mounted between the support bar member and the slider case, when the slider case is moved in the predetermined direction, the joining block tool enters one of a joined state where the joining block tool is brought into contact with a peripheral edge portion of the recessed groove and is pressed thereby in the predetermined direction, or a joining-released state where the joining block tool is not brought into contact with the peripheral edge portion of the recessed groove and is not pressed thereby in the predetermined direction, and
• in the joined state where the joining block tool is pressed by the peripheral portion of the recessed groove in the predetermined direction, the support bar member and the slider case integrally slide in conjunction with each other and in the joining-released state where the joining block tool is not pressed by the peripheral edge portion of the recessed groove, the support bar member and the slider case do not cooperate with each other, and an integral sliding of the support bar member and the slider case is prevented.