Patent ID: 7959853
Filing Date: 2011-06-14
Classification: B22D

Abstract:
1. A stopper rod comprising: an elongated body of refractory material, a passageway extending longitudinally in the body from an end thereof which is uppermost, in use, a carrier rod having a part fixedly received in said passageway and a further part outside of the passageway for attachment, in use, to a lifting device for the stopper rod, the passageway having an enlarged part which defines a sealing surface spaced from said end of the body, an insert around the carrier rod having at least a part thereof received in said enlarged part, a retention element on the carrier rod, an expandable element being disposed between the insert and said retention element, the material of the insert having a co-efficient of thermal expansion no greater than that of the carrier rod, and expansion of said expandable element, in use, being greater than that of the carrier rod.