Device for cleaning a snout in a hot-dip galvanization installation

A snout with cleaning device, for connecting a liquid metal bath in a main pot to an annealing furnace in a continuous industrial installation for hot-dip coating a metal strip, the snout comprising:

• a bottom section with a front side and a back side with respect to the metal strip in continuous movement entering into the liquid metal bath in use;
• and
• a cleaning device configured to differently clean a liquid metal surface located at the front side and the back side respectively, the cleaning device comprising a first dam located on the front side of the metal strip and a second dam located on the back side of the metal strip, the first dam and second dam being attached to the bottom section of the snout, a first dam top and a second dam top having respective positions which are fixed relative to each other,
• wherein the second dam top is located 5 to 50 mm above the first dam top,
• wherein mechanical means are provided to simultaneously adjust vertically the first dam top and the second dam top relative to a surface of the liquid metal by moving as a whole at least a part of the bottom section to which they are attached, respectively to a first position in which there is a continuous overflow on the first dam and no overflow on the second dam, and to a second position in which there is in addition an overflow on the second dam, the second position being below the first position, so as to allow cleaning differently of a front side liquid surface and a back side liquid surface, and
• wherein the snout comprises respective reservoirs configured to collect liquid flow passing over the first dam and the second dam, the respective reservoirs being attached on the front side and back side of the bottom section, the reservoirs being fluidly connected together, and having a common liquid surface level, except a difference due to loss of pressure caused by flowrate difference.