Ridged tundish stopper
AssigneeVesuvius Group, S.A.
InventorsMartin Kreierhoff, Johan Richaud, Marcel Rave
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A stopper (1) is provided that includes ridges (12) in contact with the slag in a tundish (60). Each ridge (12) has a radial extension (21) that is less than half a radius (20) of the stopper (1) measured at the ridge (12). The ridges (12) decrease the creation of vortices by the stopper (1) and increase thus its lifetime. The ridges (12) are disposed in quincunx along the lateral wall (10).
Claims15
A stopper (1) for controlling the flow of liquid metal (65) out of a tundish (60), the stopper extending in an axial direction (101) between an upper end (91) and a lower end (92) and being radially limited by a lateral wall (10) comprising a plurality of ridges (12),
- wherein the ridges (12) extend at least partially along a circumferential direction (103) on the lateral wall (10),
- wherein each ridge (12) has a radial extension (21) being at least 0.01 times the radius (20) of the stopper (1) taken at said ridge (12),
- characterized in that
- each ridge (12) has a radial extension (21) that is less than half a radius (20) of the stopper (1) taken at said ridge (12),
- the ridges (12) have an angular extension (β), in a plan perpendicular to the axial direction (101), lower than 180°,
- the ridges (12) are disposed in quincunx along the lateral wall (10).
A method for controlling a stopper (1) in a system comprising:
- a mould (64) or casting tool below the tundish (60) configured to receive liquid metal flowing through the exit hole (61);
- a sensor (67) for sensing the liquid metal in the mould (64) or casting tool;
- and
- a data processing unit (68) connected to the sensor (67) and to the support (69) and configured for controlling the support (69) as function of information received from the sensor (67),
- wherein the support (69) moves the stopper (1) vertically.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.