# Patent

## Title
Closure plate, and a slide closure on the spout of a container containing molten metal

## Abstract

In a closure plate for a slide closure on the spout of a container containing molten metal, two outer longitudinal sides, a flow-through opening disposed on a central longitudinal axis of the closure plate and a closing surface passing from the latter are provided. There are formed on each of these two outer longitudinal sides, at least two shoulder surfaces serving as clamping surfaces or as centring surfaces of the closure plate which are at an angle to the longitudinal axis and tapering inward. At least on the shoulder surfaces on the side of the closing surface, adjoining outer sides are provided which are respectively at a smaller angle to the longitudinal axis than those of the shoulder surfaces.

## Background
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/976,506 filed Jun. 27, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,266,169, which is a National Stage application of PCT/EP2012/000306 filed Jan. 24, 2012.


FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a closure plate for a slide closure on the spout of a container containing molten metal in which two outer longitudinal sides, a flow-through opening disposed on a central longitudinal axis of the closure plate and a closing surface passing from the latter are provided; and a slide closure for the latter.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Generic closure plates in a slide closure are used for opening and closing the passage of molten metal. The closure plates respectively provided with a flow-through opening are therefore pressed against one another such as to form a seal, and by means of a drive the one closure plate can be moved over a defined distance from the open into a closed position and vice versa. Thus, both on the upper fixed and on the moveable closure plate closing surfaces are formed, the length of which corresponds to the adjustment distance. The closure plates are either clamped into the mechanism of the slide closure, as provided in a slide closure according to publication DE-A-35 22 134, or else are inserted in the mechanism with practically no play, as displayed by the plates disclosed in publication EP-A-1 064 155.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object underlying the present invention is to provide a closure plate of the type mentioned at the start which, in particular with clamping on the outside, is provided with minimum dimensions and optimal clamping so that the closure plate offers a high level of reliability during operation when the closure is closed, and the outer plate dimensions are thereby, however, kept to a minimum in relation to the diameter of the flow-through opening.
According to the invention, the object is achieved by a closure plate for a slide closure on the spout of a container containing molten metal in which two outer longitudinal sides, a flow-through opening arranged on a central longitudinal axis of the closure plate and a closing surface passing from the closure plate are provided. On each of these two outer longitudinal sides, at least two shoulder surfaces are formed, serving as clamping surfaces or as centering surfaces of the closure plate which are at an angle to the longitudinal axis forming tapering of the plate. At least on the shoulder surfaces on the side of the closing surface, adjoining outer sides are provided which are respectively at a smaller angle to the longitudinal axis than those of the shoulder surfaces, or are arranged approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis.
In its embodiment according to the invention, this closure plate can have minimal dimensions because by means of these at least two shoulder surfaces in the form of clamping surfaces on each of the two outer longitudinal sides, optimal clamping of the closure plate can be achieved. Since these shoulder surfaces form tapering of the plate, the closure plate can have minimal dimensions. That these outer sides adjoining the side of the closing surface at the clamping surfaces and forming the plate end respectively have a smaller angle than that of the shoulder surfaces, sufficient reliability is guaranteed, even with repeated use of the closure plates.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Exemplary embodiments and further advantages of the invention are described in more detail using the drawings. These show as follows:
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of a diagrammatically illustrated slide closure and the closure plates fastened in the latter,
FIG. 2 is a top view of a closure plate according to the invention,
FIG. 3 is a top view of a variant of a closure plate,
FIG. 4 is a top view of a further variant of a closure plate, and
FIG. 5 is a top view of a fourth variant of a closure plate.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a section of a slide closure 10 mounted on a container, only the outer steel jacket 11 with a centring ring 14, a fire-proof inlet sleeve 13 forming the container outlet and a fire-proof lining 12 of the container being indicated. A pan of a continuous casting plant that can be filled with molten steel is normally provided as the container. Needless to say, however, this can be a container holding any molten metal.
Adjoining this inlet sleeve 13, forming a seal, is an upper fire-proof closure plate 20 fastened in the housing 18 of the slide closure 10 and which is in sliding contact with a moveable fire-proof closure plate 22 in a slider unit (not detailed), the slider unit being moveable to and fro by a drive, and moreover being fastenable on the housing 18 by clamping components (not shown). Furthermore, there is adjoining the moveable closure plate 22 another fire-proof spout sleeve 16.
FIG. 2 shows the closure plate 20 which consists of a sheet metal jacket 23 and a fire-proof plate 20′ mortared in the latter. It has two outer longitudinal sides, a flow-through opening 21 disposed on a central longitudinal axis A and a closing surface S passing from the latter. This closing surface S is defined by the diameter of the flow-through opening of the opposite closure plate and by the adjustment distance of the slider unit. In FIG. 1, the slide closure 10 is in the closed position in which the end of the closing surface of the lower moveable closure plate 22 covers, i.e., aligns with, the flow-through opening 21 of the upper closure plate 20.
According to the invention there are formed on each of these two outer longitudinal sides of the closure plate 20 two shoulder surfaces 20a, 20b serving as clamping surfaces or as centring surfaces which are at an angle α, β to the longitudinal axis A and thereby form tapering of the plate. By virtue of the metal jacket 23 being around the fire-proof plate 20′, some of the shoulder surfaces 20a, 20b are defined on the metal jacket 23. Moreover, the outer sides 20c, which adjoin the shoulder surfaces 20a located on the side of the closing surface S, are respectively at a smaller angle γ to the longitudinal axis than those of the shoulder surfaces 20a. 
In the present exemplary embodiment, these angles α, β on the longitudinal sides of the closure plate 20 have the same dimensions, namely approx. 20°. However, the angle γ of the respective outer side 20c is preferably between 0 and 20°, in this case approx. 5°. In relation to the longitudinal axis A the closure plate 20 is, furthermore, symmetrical in form, whereby there are the same angles and the same dimensions on both longitudinal sides.
These shoulder surfaces 20a, 20b of the closure plate 20 provided at an angle α, 13 to the longitudinal axis A are positioned a distance 27a, 27b away from the transverse axis of the flow-through opening 21. The clamping elements 17a, 17b acting on the shoulder surfaces 20a, 20b in the operating state, and which form part of the slide closure 10, and so are indicated by dots and dashes, generate a resulting clamping force line 25a, 25b extending perpendicular to the respective shoulder surface 20a, 20b towards the centre of the plate and which intersects the longitudinal axis A at the intersection point 26a, 26b. 
Advantageously, within the framework of the invention the intersection point 26a, 26b formed by this respective clamping force line 25a, 25b and longitudinal axis A lies a specific distance 27a, 27b away from the outer diameter of the flow-through opening 21, i.e., a distance from a line transverse to the longitudinal axis A and passing through the center of the flow-through opening 21 as shown in FIG. 2. This distance generally corresponds to maximum twice the diameter of the flow-through opening 21 and is larger on the side of the closing surface S than on the opposite side. In FIG. 2 this distance is illustrated as smaller than this diameter of the flow-through opening.
This distance 27a, 27b between the shoulder surfaces 20a, 20b and the transverse axis of the flow-through opening 21 gives a considerable advantage in that the clamping forces acting in the region around the flow-through opening and the cracks occurring in the fire-proof material around the flow-through opening due to the thermal load do not lead to breakage of the fire-proof material. This crack formation in the fire-proof plate 20′ can, however, be specifically influenced by this clamping according to the invention so that the durability of the plate is critically improved.
Furthermore, the ends of the closure plate 20 are respectively formed in the conventional manner by two radii which respectively pass from the outer side 20c or from the shoulder surface 20b. Moreover, the outer longitudinal sides in the region 28 between the shoulder surfaces are arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis. In principle the latter could also be oval or similar in shape.
FIG. 3 shows a closure plate 30 consisting of a plate and a sheet metal jacket which is similar in form to that of FIG. 2, and so in the following only the differences will be described. Two shoulder surfaces 30a, 30b are in turn respectively assigned to both outer longitudinal sides, symmetrically to the longitudinal axis A. Adjoining the two shoulder surfaces 30b on the side facing away from the closing surface S, outer sides 30d are provided which are respectively at a smaller angle to the longitudinal axis A than those of the shoulder surfaces 30b. These outer sides 30d extend, like the opposite outer sides 30c adjoining the shoulder surfaces 30a, approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis A. These outer sides 30c, 30d to both sides of the shoulder surfaces form a level plate width. The two ends on the closure plate are respectively semi-circular in shape.
The closure plate 40 according to FIG. 4 is in turn similar in form to that according to FIG. 2, and the differences are displayed below. The shoulder surfaces 40a are not formed as straight surfaces, but as round surfaces. The radius 40r (from a center of the flow-through opening 21) is chosen here such that it practically forms the radius of the plate end 40e (from the center of the flow-through opening 21). The closure plate 40 could thus be inserted into a circular recess in the mechanism of the slide closure without clamping taking place. Also, as in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the shoulder surfaces 40b extend from a part parallel to the longitudinal axis to the plate end 40e. 
FIG. 5 shows a closure plate 50 in which, as a special feature, the shoulder surfaces 50a, 50b are arranged on the outer longitudinal sides at right angles to the longitudinal axis A so that these angles α, β are 90°. These shoulder surfaces 50a, 50b are preferably dimensioned with a short length of just a few millimeters, whereas in the above variants the shoulder surfaces respectively have a length of preferably 30 to 100 mm. This closure plate 50 is especially suitable for being inserted, with practically no play and without clamping, into the mechanism of the slide closure. In the mechanism corresponding recesses would have to be provided in which these centring shoulders 51 with the shoulder surfaces 50a, 50b formed on the latter would be accommodated with practically no play. The centring shoulders 51 with their shoulder surfaces 50a, 50b are formed by the sheet metal jacket 52 surrounding the fire-proof plate 50′.
These shoulder surfaces 50a, 50b, preferably dimensioned with a short length of just a few millimeters, could, however, also be formed at less than 90° to the longitudinal axis A.
The invention is sufficiently demonstrated by the above exemplary embodiments. Further variants could also be provided, however. Thus, for example, instead of a sheet metal jacket, just a sheet metal collar surrounding the plate could be inserted, or the plate could also be inserted directly into the mechanism of the slide closure and, if appropriate, be clamped within the latter.
Theoretically, at least one of the shoulder surfaces on the one longitudinal side could be of a different length to the corresponding one on the other longitudinal side or could be provided at a different angle. This could offer the advantage that when the closure plates are turned after the container has been emptied a specific number of times, and so the rear side becomes the sliding side, the latter can first of all be used as the slider plate, and after turning only as the base plate.
In view of the foregoing, a slide closure 10 in accordance with the invention includes a closure plate 20 defining a flow-through opening 21 on a longitudinal axis A through which molten metal operatively flows and having a closing surface S on one side of the flow-through opening 21. The closure plate 20 includes a first outer longitudinal side 20c on one side of the flow-through opening 21 and a second outer longitudinal side 20c on an opposite side of the flow-through opening 21 from the first longitudinal side. The closure plate 20 also includes a first shoulder surface 20a on the first longitudinal side, a second shoulder surface 20b on the first longitudinal side spaced apart from the first shoulder surface 20a, the first and second shoulder surfaces each being entirely distanced from a transverse axis passing through a center of the flow-through opening 21, a third shoulder surface 20a on the second longitudinal side, and a fourth shoulder surface 20b on the second longitudinal side spaced apart from the third shoulder surface 20a, the third and fourth shoulder surfaces each being entirely distanced from the transverse axis passing through the center of the flow-through opening 21. The first, second, third and fourth shoulder surfaces 20a, 20b are each preferably at a respective angle to the longitudinal axis which is greater than 0° and inwardly oriented such that each shoulder surface 20a, 20b has an inward taper toward the longitudinal axis. A housing 18 accommodate the closure plate 20, and clamping elements 17a, 17b clamp the closure plate 20 in the housing 18 by pressing the first, second, third and fourth shoulder surfaces 20a, 20b, see FIG. 2. The clamping elements 17a, 17b generate inward oriented clamping force lines 25a, 25b which intersect the longitudinal axis A, see FIG. 2.

## Claims

1. A slide closure, comprising:
a closure plate defining a flow-through opening on a longitudinal axis through which molten metal operatively flows and having a closing surface on one side of the flow-through opening, the closure plate including
a first outer longitudinal side on one side of the flow-through opening;
a second outer longitudinal side on an opposite side of the flow-through opening from the first longitudinal side,
a first shoulder surface on the first longitudinal side,
a second shoulder surface on the first longitudinal side spaced apart from the first shoulder surface, the first and second shoulder surfaces each being entirely distanced from a line passing through a center of the flow-through opening and which is transverse to the longitudinal axis,
a third shoulder surface on the second longitudinal side,
a fourth shoulder surface on the second longitudinal side spaced apart from the third shoulder surface, the third and fourth shoulder surfaces each being entirely distanced from the transverse line,
the first, second, third and fourth shoulder surfaces each being at a respective angle to the longitudinal axis which is greater than 0° and inwardly oriented such that each shoulder surface has an inward taper toward the longitudinal axis, and
a pair of outer sides each adjoining a respective one of the second and fourth shoulder surfaces, the second and fourth shoulder surfaces being on a side of the flow-through opening opposite the side on which the closing surface is situated, each of the outer sides being approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis or at an angle that is greater than 0° relative to the longitudinal axis and smaller than the angle of the adjoining one of the second and fourth shoulder surfaces relative to the longitudinal axis and which angle of the outer side is inwardly oriented such that the outer sides have an inward taper toward the longitudinal axis,

a housing for accommodating the closure plate; and
clamping elements that clamp the closure plate in the housing by pressing the first, second, third and fourth shoulder surfaces,
whereby the clamping elements generate inward oriented clamping force lines which intersect the longitudinal axis.

2. The slide closure of claim 1, wherein the closure plate includes a fire-proof plate and a metal jacket arranged around the fire-proof plate, the first, second, third and fourth shoulder surfaces being defined on the metal jacket.

3. The slide closure of claim 1, wherein the first longitudinal side includes a centering portion between the first and second shoulder surfaces and the second longitudinal side includes a centering portion between the third and fourth shoulder surfaces.

4. The slide closure of claim 3, wherein the centering portion between the first and second shoulder surfaces is parallel to the longitudinal axis and connected to the first and second shoulder surfaces and the centering portion between the third and fourth shoulder surfaces is parallel to the longitudinal axis and connected to the third and fourth shoulder surfaces.

5. The slide closure of claim 1, wherein the first and second shoulder surfaces are on opposite sides of the transverse line, and the third and fourth shoulder surfaces are on opposite sides of the transverse line, an intersection point formed by each clamping force line and the longitudinal axis lying a distance away from the transverse line.

6. The slide closure of claim 5, wherein the distance between each intersection point and the transverse line is equal to or less than twice a diameter of the flow-through opening.

7. The slide closure of claim 5, wherein the distance between each intersection point and the transverse line is smaller than the diameter of the flow-through opening, and the distance between the intersection point on the side of the closing surface and the transverse line is greater than the distance between the intersection point on the side of the flow-through opening opposite the side on which the closing surface is situated and the transverse line.

8. The slide closure of claim 1, further comprising a plate end on a side of the flow-through opening opposite the side to which the closing surface is situated, the second and fourth shoulder surfaces having round surfaces having a radius from a center of the flow-through opening that is the same as the radius of the plate end from the center of the flow-through opening.

9. The slide closure of claim 8, wherein each of the second and fourth shoulder surfaces extends from a part of the closure plate that is parallel to the longitudinal axis to the plate end.

10. The slide closure of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises at least one metal frame including the clamping elements.

11. The slide closure of claim 1, further comprising an inlet sleeve defining a conduit for molten metal which aligns with the flow-through opening of the closure plate such that the molten metal comes into contact with the closure plate.

12. The slide closure of claim 1, further comprising:
a fire-proof inlet sleeve forming a container outlet, the closure plate adjoining and being situated below the fire-proof inlet sleeve; and
a movable closure plate below the closure plate, the closure plate being in slide contact with the movable closure plate.

13. The slide closure of claim 1, wherein the closure plate further includes a pair of additional outer sides each adjoining a respective one of the first and third shoulder surfaces, each of the additional outer sides being approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis or at an angle that is greater than 0° relative to the longitudinal axis and smaller than the angle of the adjoining one of the first or third shoulder surfaces relative to the longitudinal axis and which angle of the additional outer side is inwardly oriented such that the additional outer sides have an inward taper toward the longitudinal axis.

14. The slide closure of claim 1, wherein at least one of the additional outer sides is at an angle that is greater than 0° relative to the longitudinal axis and smaller than the angle of the adjoining one of the second and fourth shoulder surfaces relative to the longitudinal axis and which angle of the outer side is inwardly oriented such that the outer side has an inward taper toward the longitudinal axis.

15. The slide closure of claim 1, wherein the angle between each of the first, second, third and fourth shoulder surfaces and the longitudinal axis is the same.

16. A closure plate defining a flow-through opening on a longitudinal axis through which molten metal operatively flows and having a closing surface on one side of the flow-through opening, the closure plate comprising:
a fire-proof plate; and
a metal jacket arranged around the fire-proof plate;
the closure plate including:
a first outer longitudinal side on one side of the flow-through opening;
a second outer longitudinal side on an opposite side of the flow-through opening from the first longitudinal side,
a first shoulder surface on the first longitudinal side,
a second shoulder surface on the first longitudinal side spaced apart from the first shoulder surface, the first and second shoulder surfaces each being entirely distanced from a transverse line passing through a center of the flow-through opening and which is transverse to the longitudinal axis,
a third shoulder surface on the second longitudinal side,
a fourth shoulder surface on the second longitudinal side spaced apart from the third shoulder surface, the third and fourth shoulder surfaces each being entirely distanced from the transverse line,
the second and fourth shoulder surfaces each being at a respective angle to the longitudinal axis which is greater than 0° and inwardly oriented such that each of the second and fourth shoulder surfaces has an inward taper toward the longitudinal axis, and
a pair of outer sides each adjoining a respective one of the second and fourth shoulder surfaces, the second and fourth shoulder surfaces being on a side of the flow-through opening opposite the side on which the closing surface is situated, each of the outer sides being approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis or at an angle that is greater than 0° relative to the longitudinal axis and smaller than the angle of the adjoining one of the second and fourth shoulder surfaces relative to the longitudinal axis and which angle of the outer side is inwardly oriented such that the outer sides have an inward taper toward the longitudinal axis,
the metal jacket defining an exterior surface around the fire-proof plate such that the first, second, third and fourth shoulder surfaces are defined on the metal jacket.

17. The closure plate of claim 16, wherein the first and third shoulder surfaces are each at a respective angle to the longitudinal axis which is greater than 0° and inwardly oriented such that each of the first and third shoulder surfaces has an inward taper toward the longitudinal axis.

18. The closure plate of claim 16, wherein the first longitudinal side includes a centering portion between the first and second shoulder surfaces and the second longitudinal side includes a centering portion between the third and fourth shoulder surfaces, the centering portion between the first and second shoulder surfaces being parallel to the longitudinal axis and connected to the first and second shoulder surfaces and the centering portion between the third and fourth shoulder surfaces being parallel to the longitudinal axis and connected to the third and fourth shoulder surfaces.

19. The closure plate of claim 16, wherein the first and second shoulder surfaces are on opposite sides of the transverse line, and the third and fourth shoulder surfaces are on opposite sides of the transverse line, an intersection point formed by each clamping force line and the longitudinal axis lying a distance away from the transverse line.

20. A closure plate defining a flow-through opening on a longitudinal axis through which molten metal operatively flows and having a closing surface on one side of the flow-through opening, the closure plate consisting of:
a fire-proof plate; and
a metal jacket arranged around the fire-proof plate and defining a laterally exterior surface of the closure plate;
the closure plate including:
a first outer longitudinal side on one side of the flow-through opening;
a second outer longitudinal side on an opposite side of the flow-through opening from the first longitudinal side,
a first shoulder surface on the first longitudinal side,
a second shoulder surface on the first longitudinal side spaced apart from the first shoulder surface, the first and second shoulder surfaces each being entirely distanced from a transverse line passing through a center of the flow-through opening and which is transverse to the longitudinal axis,
a third shoulder surface on the second longitudinal side,
a fourth shoulder surface on the second longitudinal side spaced apart from the third shoulder surface, the third and fourth shoulder surfaces each being entirely distanced from the transverse line,
the second and fourth shoulder surfaces each being at a respective angle to the longitudinal axis which is greater than 0° and inwardly oriented such that each of the second and fourth shoulder surfaces has an inward taper toward the longitudinal axis, and
a pair of outer sides each adjoining a respective one of the second and fourth shoulder surfaces, the second and fourth shoulder surfaces being on a side of the flow-through opening opposite the side on which the closing surface is situated, each of the outer sides being approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis or at an angle that is greater than 0° relative to the longitudinal axis and smaller than the angle of the adjoining one of the second and fourth shoulder surfaces relative to the longitudinal axis and which angle of the outer side is inwardly oriented such that the outer sides have an inward taper toward the longitudinal axis,
the metal jacket defining an exterior surface around the fire-proof plate such that the first, second, third and fourth shoulder surfaces are defined on the metal jacket.