# US 8,740,024 B2 · Closing plate and sliding closure on the spout of a receptacle for molten metal > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,740,024 B2 - Document ID: US8740024B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/988,065 - Filed: 2009-04-17 - Published: 2011-06-02 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2008-04-17 - Assignees: Stopinc Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Benno Steiner; Werner Keller; Urs Truttmann - Inventors: Benno Steiner; Werner Keller; Urs Truttmann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8740024B2 ## CPC - B22D 41/24: characterised by a rectilinearly movable plate (B22D41/38 - B22D41/42 take precedence) - B22D 41/28: Plates therefor (B22D41/38 - B22D41/42 take precedence) - B22D: CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES (shaping of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29C; metallurgical processing, selection of substances to be added to metal C21, C22) ## Abstract A closing plate for a sliding closure on the spout of a receptacle for molten metal, especially of a converter, includes an elongate refractory plate and a sheet metal jacket surrounding the same. The refractory plate has a sliding surface which can be braced with a sliding surface of a refractory closure plate interacting therewith or with a sliding surface of a refractory head part. The refractory plate has at least one tapering section which forms an angle with the sliding surface on at least one side delimiting the sliding surface, each tapering section being associated with a section of the refractory plate that projects beyond the sheet metal jacket. The closing plate reduces the risk of damage to the front faces of the refractory parts reduced during bracing of the parts with each other and/or during a relative adjustment of the refractory parts that are braced with each other. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A closing plate for a sliding closure on a spout of a receptacle for molten metal, comprising: an elongate refractory plate having first and second opposed sliding surfaces and lateral sides that delimit said first and second sliding surfaces, said refractory plate including at least one tapering section along at least one of said lateral sides that forms an angle (α) with said first sliding surface; and a jacket surrounding said lateral sides of said refractory plate and extending up to but not around said at least one tapering section such that said at least one tapering section projects beyond said jacket in a direction toward said first sliding surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The closing plate of claim 1, wherein said angle (α) of each of said at least one tapering section is between 10° and 15°. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The closing plate of claim 1, wherein said lateral sides of said refractory plate include two opposed longitudinally extending sides generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said refractory plate and two opposed narrow sides generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said refractory plate, said at least one tapering section comprising a single tapering section associated with one of said narrow sides of said refractory plate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The closing plate of claim 1, wherein said lateral sides of said refractory plate include two opposed longitudinally extending sides generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said refractory plate and two opposed narrow sides generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said refractory plate, said at least one tapering section comprising three tapering sections, one of which is associated with one of said narrow sides of said refractory plate and two of which are associated with said longitudinally extending sides of said refractory plate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The closing plate of claim 1, wherein said lateral sides of said refractory plate include two opposed longitudinally extending sides generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said refractory plate and two opposed narrow sides generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said refractory plate, said at least one tapering section comprising a single tapering section associated with one of said longitudinally extending sides of said refractory plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The closing plate of claim 1, wherein said lateral sides of said refractory plate include two opposed longitudinally extending sides generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said refractory plate and two opposed narrow sides generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said refractory plate, said at least one tapering section comprising two tapering sections, each associated with a respective one of said longitudinally extending sides of said refractory plate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The closing plate of claim 1, wherein said refractory plate has an octagonal outer contour. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The closing plate of claim 1, wherein said refractory plate is a multi-part refractory plate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The closing plate of claim 1, wherein said jacket is a sheet metal jacket. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The closing plate of claim 1, wherein said refractory plate includes a spout opening. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The closing plate of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of said at least one tapering section is contiguous with said first sliding surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A sliding closure on a spout of a receptacle for molten metal, comprising: a base plate adapted to be fixed to the receptacle; a refractory spout head part arranged in connection with said base plate; a housing frame; said closing plate of claim 1 accommodated as a stationary base plate in said housing frame; and a sliding unit arranged in said housing frame and including a sliding plate, said sliding unit being displaceable relative to said closing plate, said closing plate being arranged relative to said sliding unit such that the longitudinal axis of said closing plate extends in a direction of displacement of said sliding unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The sliding closure of claim 12, wherein said first sliding surface is braceable against said sliding plate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The sliding closure of claim 12, wherein said lateral sides of said refractory plate of said closing plate include two opposed longitudinally extending sides generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said refractory plate and two opposed narrow sides generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said refractory plate, said housing frame is pivotable about a pivot axis relative to said base plate and releasably attached to said base plate, the pivot axis extending at a right angle to the direction of displacement of said sliding unit, said at least one tapering section comprising a single tapering section situated along one of said narrow sides of said refractory plate lying closer to the pivot axis. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The sliding closure of claim 12, further comprising a case arranged in said housing frame, said case containing two of said closing plates and being displaceable to enable removal of one of said closing plates from an operating position and insertion of another of said closing plates into the operating position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The sliding closure of claim 15, wherein said case is configured such that a direction of displacement of said case extends at a right angle to the direction of displacement of said sliding unit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The sliding closure of claim 16, wherein said lateral sides of said refractory plate of said closing plate include two opposed longitudinally extending sides generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said refractory plate and two opposed narrow sides generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said refractory plate, said at least one tapering section of said refractory plate of each of said two closing plates comprising two tapering sections each situated along a respective one of said longitudinally extending sides of said refractory plate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The sliding closure of claim 15, wherein said case is displaceable to and fro between an initial position and a final position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The sliding closure of claim 18, wherein said lateral sides of said refractory plate of said closing plate include two opposed longitudinally extending sides generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said refractory plate and two opposed narrow sides generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said refractory plate, said at least one tapering section of said refractory plate of said closing plate comprising two tapering sections each situated along a respective one of said longitudinally extending sides of said refractory plate. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The sliding closure of claim 12, wherein said closing plate is braceable with said second sliding surface against a sliding surface of said refractory spout head part.