Patent ID: 6422435
Filing Date: 2002-07-23
Classification: B22D

Abstract:
A sliding gate valve to be mounted to a container for containing molten metal, comprising:a housing portion to be secured to the container; a slider unit mounted to said housing portion and having guide tracks; a first refractory valve plate and a second refractory valve plate inserted between said housing portion and said slider unit and operable to open and close the sliding gate valve; and a plurality of mounting components aligned perpendicular to said slider unit so as to mount said slider unit to said housing portion such that said slider unit is slidable with respect to said housing portion, each of said mounting components having: a first end secured to said housing portion; a spring element for pressing said first refractory valve plate and said second refractory valve plate against each other; a second end opposite said first end; and a guide element on said second end for riding on a respective one of said guide tracks of said slider unit, said mounting components being arranged such that two guide elements are positioned on each of two opposite sides of said refractory valve plates; wherein said slider unit is operable to be moved so as to position said guide elements at a location whereat a height of said guide tracks is lower than a height of a remaining portion of said guide tracks so as to relax said spring elements to allow release of said slider unit from said housing portion.