Device for closing the pouring hole of a receptacle for liquid metal

In a device for closing the pouring hole of a steel-making or metallurgical receptacle, said device comprising a fixed plate member mounted under the pouring hole of a receptacle and a movable plate member mounted against the fixed plate member so that the movable plate member can be displaced relative to the fixed plate member, thereby presenting a rubbing surface of the movable plate member against a rubbing surface of the fixed plate member, the improvement wherein:

• the fixed plate member comprises a fixed metal support plate (11) having a plane outer metal surface (10A) and a cutout (13) in which is accommodated a wear part (14) made of refractory material which is pierced with at least one pouring orifice (15);
• a lower refractory surface (10B) of the refractory wear part (14) is flush with the plane outer metal surface (10A) of the fixed metal support plate (11);
• a major portion of said rubbing surfaces of the fixed plate member in contact with the movable plate member consists of the plane outer metal surface (10A), and only a remaining minor portion consists of the refractory surface (10B);
• the fixed metal support plate (11) has on an inner face thereof a cooling chamber (30) which is adapted to hold cooling fluid and which communicates with the plane outer metal surface (10A) of the fixed metal support plate (11) via an orifice (19) formed in the fixed metal support plate (11);
• and
• the fixed metal support plate (11) has a groove (31) communicating with said cooling chamber (30) and running along a circumference of the cutout (13) in order to circulate a cooling fluid for cooling the wear part (14).