Elongated stopper device

An elongated stopper device for flow-control of molten metal from a vessel, containing molten metal, said device comprising:

• a) a body (10) made of a refractory ceramic material,
• b) a bore hole (12), having a longitudinal axis (A) and extending from an upper surface (10u) of said body downwardly,
• c) a rod (14), penetrating with one end (14l) into said bore hole (12) and being fixedly secured within said body (10),
• d) a sealing member (18), being arranged within a space adjacent to or being part of said bore hole (12),
• e) said space being defined at least partly by at least three unlike opposing surface sections (12a, 12i, 14s) of said body (10) and said rod (14) respectively, with at least one of said surface sections (14s) of the rod (14) or the body (10) respectively extending at an angle α>0 and <90° to the longitudinal axis (A) of said bore hole (12) or provides an appropriate curved surface, so that sealing member (18) varies its shape to fill the space when said rod (14) is introduced into said bore hole (12), while at the same time flowing into voids between said rod (14) and bore hole (12) adjacent to said space,
• f) said rod (14) has a smaller width at its part (14s, 14l) adjacent to said space than at its part on top (14u) and said part (14l) adjacent said space extends below said space,
• g) fixing means (16, 16t, 14t) are arranged below said sealing member to receive and fasten the rod (14) within the body (10).