On/off valve apparatus for use in conjunction with electromagnetic flow control device controlling the flow of liquid metal through an orifice

A valve combination for controlling the flow of liquid metal through an orifice, comprising:

• a nozzle constructed of non-conductive material and having a first generally longitudinal opening therethrough defining an orifice for the flow of liquid metal therethrough, an upstream end of said nozzle being in communication with a source of liquid metal;
• an electromagnetic flow control device adjacent to and surrounding said nozzle for controlling the flow of said liquid metal through said nozzle, said electromagnetic flow control device including an alternating current electromagnetic coil disposed adjacent to said nozzle and surrounding said orifice therein, said coil being operable to produce a magnetic field within said orifice of said nozzle and the liquid metal flowing therethrough and a non-conductive structure disposed along a portion of said coil and occupying an axial portion of said nozzle orifice and leaving an adjacent portion of said nozzle orifice unoccupied by said structure, said structure defining axially extending flow regions and axially extending non-flow regions through said occupied portion of said orifice, said non-flow regions of said structure being positioned circumferentially adjacent to said flow regions, such that said electromagnetic field produces a substantially axially directed pumping force in said nozzle which controls the flow of liquid metal therethrough;
• an on/off valve connected to a downstream end of said nozzle;
• and
• said on/off valve including a second generally longitudinal opening therethrough in communication with said first generally longitudinal opening, a slider plate in communication with said second generally longitudinal opening and having at least one opening therethrough, and slide means for moving said slider plate in a plane generally perpendicular to said generally longitudinal openings so as to selectively align said opening through said slider plate with said second generally longitudinal opening, whereby said liquid metal may freely flow through said second generally longitudinal opening when said opening in said slider plate is aligned therewith and flow of said liquid metal is blocked substantially completely when said opening in said slider plate is not aligned with said second generally longitudinal opening.