Patent ID: 6045015
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: B22D

Abstract:
A sliding gate valve for a molten metal vessel, comprising:a slider housing:a slider valve unit slidably mounted in said slider housing for movement in a longitudinal direction, said slider unit having a push rod;a linear actuator mounting on said slider housing;a linear actuator that can be mounted in said linear actuator mounting on said slider housing and that can be removed from said linear actuator mounting on said slider housing, said linear actuator having a drive rod movable in the longitudinal direction when said linear actuator is mounted in said linear actuator mounting on said slider housing; anda coupling having a structure such that when said linear actuator is mounted in said linear actuator mounting and said drive rod is moved toward said slider valve unit said coupling automatically couples said drive rod with said push rod, and such that when said linear actuator is removed from said linear actuator mounting said coupling automatically uncouples said drive rod from said push rod;wherein said coupling comprises:a first coupling portion on and end of said push rod of said slider valve unit; anda second coupling portion on a front end of said drive rod of said linear actuator;wherein one of said first and second coupling portions comprises at least one pivotally mounted claw element; andwherein the other of said first and second coupling portions comprises a flanged coupling portion such that when said coupling is in a coupled state, said at least one pivotally mounted claw element engages said flanged coupling portion.