Process and apparatus for the assembly of sliding gate valve units for casting ladles

A process for assembling a sliding gate valve unit including a valve housing and slide part for a casting ladle, comprising:

• with the unit separated from the ladle and in a substantially disassembled condition,
• a. heating the valve housing and slide part to an elevated temperature approximately corresponding to the mean temperature of the unit when in use on a casting ladle, the heating step including applying radiant heat to the valve housing;
• b. mounting the slide part to the valve housing with a fastening means and
• c. tightening the fastening means to the extent needed to provide a predetermined degree of tightness between the slide part and the valve housing, all while these parts remain heated;
• the unit, when assembled, including a bed plate set in mortar, in the valve housing the process further including:
• applying mortar to the bed plate;
• setting the bed plate in the valve housing while the valve housing remains heated, before performing step (b) and permitting the mortar to set at elevated temperature;
• mounting the valve housing on edge so that it faces sideways for the performance of steps (a), (b) and (c), the mounting step further including:
• mounting the valve housing on a frame having an oven enclosure, with the ladle side of the valve housing facing into the oven and with the opposite side thereof accessible from exteriorly of the oven.