Bottom pour tiles with self sealing joint for pouring liquid steel

A bottom pour system for conveying molten metal, said system comprising a plurality of hollow, low tolerance, refractory bricks, each of said bricks having first and second ends and a central passage extending therethrough;

• the first end of each of said plurality of bricks being connected to the second end of an adjacent brick through a low tolerance, mortar-less joint, and with the central passages of said plurality of bricks being aligned along a central axis for receiving and directing molten metal therethrough, said first end of each of said plurality of bricks which is to be connected to a second end of an adjacent brick including an annular flange extending about said central axis and a shoulder extending about said annular flange, said annular flange having a top face spaced outwardly of said shoulder and a side face between said shoulder and top face, said side face being flared, said second end of an adjacent brick including a circular recess extending about said central axis and a shoulder extending about said recess, said recess having a bottom face, and a side face between said shoulder and bottom face, said side face being flared, said low tolerance joint comprising the interface between the flared side faces of said annular flange and said recess when said annular flange is located within said recess, whereupon said bottom face of said recess and said top face of said annular flange of adjacent, connected bricks are located immediately adjacent each other and said shoulders of said adjacent, connected bricks are located immediately adjacent each other, said interface being an elongated annular space into which said molten metal can flow, said elongated annular space being of a sufficient length for permitting said molten metal to freeze therein before passing completely through the connection between said adjacent bricks, to thereby form a self-sealing joint with the flared side faces of the flange and recess to preclude the egress of molten metal from said passageway to the ambient surroundings, said elongated annular space including frozen metal therein.