Stopper rod spatial control mechanism

A stopper rod spatial control mechanism for use with a bottom discharge reservoir for molten metal having a nozzle, comprising:

• a base;
• an outer tube having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to said base;
• said outer tube being swingably mounted about an axis parallel to and spaced away from said longitudinal axis;
• an inner tube telescopically mounted within said outer tube, being reciprocally movable along said longitudinal axis, and being rotatable about said longitudinal axis;
• a boom having a first end and a second end, said boom being affixed to said inner tube adjacent said first end and being rotatable with said inner tube about said longitudinal axis;
• a stopper rod depending from said second end of said boom;
• and
• means for braking affixed to a member connected to said base and cooperating with said boom;
• whereby said stopper rod is aligned with the nozzle by the combined movements of rotating said inner tube about said longitudinal axis and swinging said outer tube about said axis parallel to said longitudinal axis, and then fixing said alignment via said braking means.

A stopper rod spatial control mechanism for use with a bottom discharge reservoir for molten metal having a nozzle comprising:

• a base;
• a stationary axis perpendicular to said base;
• a mobile axis parallel to and spaced away from said stationary axis;
• first means for reciprocal rotation about said stationary axis;
• second means for rotation about said mobile axis and for reciprocal motion along said mobile axis, said second means being connected to said first means;
• a boom affixed to said second means;
• a stopper rod attached to said boom remotely from said mobile axis and being parallel to said stationary axis;
• whereby said stopper rod is aligned over the nozzle by the combined rotations of said first and second means and thereafter controlling the flow of molten metal through the nozzle by said reciprocal motion of said second means.