An Improved Form of Stopper or Valve for Controlling the Flow of Steel from the Ladle or Reservoir used in Steel Works.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 27th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 29th Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Form of Stopper or Valve for Controlling the Flow
of Steel from the Ladle or Reservoir used in Steel Works.
I AUGUSTUS HENRY HOLDIOH of No. 100 Wigan Lane, Wigan in the County of
Lancaster, Analytical Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
The method now in use of controlling the flow of metal from the ladle or reservoir
carrying the same from the furnace to the moulds is by using an iron or steel rod
with a seal or stopper of fireclay or other refractory material which is inserted
internally through the molten metal into the orifice or opening through which the
metal flows and this stopper is sometimes rendered inefficient by reason of the same
or the iron or steel rod to which it is attached being burnt away and thus the control
of the metal is lost.
Now to obviate this I form a valve or stopper of chromic iron oro line magnesia,
alumina or other suitable materials or mixtures of the same or any of them and place
this stopper or valve outside the ladle and work the same from the outside by suitable
mechanical means.
My improved stopper or valve may be used in conjunction with or independently
of the present internal form of stopper and can also be applied to existing ladles.
Dated this 29th day of January 1890.
A. H. HOLDICH.
By W. A. Byron,
His Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Form of Stopper or Valve for Controlling the Flow
of Steel from the Ladle or Reservoir used in Steel Works.
I AUGUSTUS HENRY HOLDICH late of No. 100 Wigan Lane Wigan in the County
of Lancaster but now of No. 4 Rowbottom Square in Wigan aforesaid Analytical
Chemist do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being also had to the accompanying sheet of drawings
in which:-
Figure 1 represents a ladle having my improved stopper or valve adapted thereto.
Figure 2 is an elevational view of the discharge nozzle and stopper or valve.
Figure 3 is a plan of the stopper or valve and
Figure 4 a plan of the discharge nozzle box, these last three figures being drawn to
an enlarged scale.
The method now in use for controlling the flow of metal from the ladle or reservoir,
carrying the same from the furnace to the moulds is by using an iron or steel rod
coated with fire brick and having a seal or stopper of fireclay or other refracting
material which is inserted internally through the molten metal into the orifice or
opening through which the metal flows the said stopper being sometimes rendered
inefficient by reason of the same or the iron or steel rod to which it is attached
burning away thus losing control of the flow of the metal.
To obviate the disadvantages above set forth I form a valve or stopper a of chromic
iron ore, lime, magnesia, alumina or other suitable materials or substances or mixtures
of the same or any of them and insert the same into an iron box, cup or receptacle b
formed upon a handle c.

page_text: The said handle c is pivoted at one end d to a plate e secured by any suitable means
to the base of the ladle or reservoir A aforesaid. The handle c may if desired be
lengthened by the employment of an extension piece g Figure 1 so as to ensure an
increase of leverage power and in order to maintain intimate contact between the
valve or stopper a and nozzle h I interpose between the boss f and end d of the
handle ca number of washers i the removal of which will compensate for the wearing
of the nozzle and valve or stopper. These washers however are employed more
particularly for the purpose of ensuring a perfectly free joint so that in the event of
the splashing of the fluid metal upon the joint during its discharge it shall not
necessarily fix the said joint. The joint may however be protected by means of a
shield of any desirable metal or material so arranged as to allow perfect freedom of
the lever whilst guarding the joint from the splashing above referred to.
When about to discharge the molten metal from the ladle the handle is moved
laterally and with it the valve or stopper.
From the foregoing it will be obvious that my improved valve or stopper may be
employed in conjunction with or independently of the present internal form of
stopper and can also be applied to existing ladles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is
The improved valve or stopper for externally controlling the flow of molten metal
from the ladle or reservoir ouployed in steel works substantially as herein described
and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Saten Guts 20th day of October 1890.
A. H. HOLDICH.
By W. A. Byron,
His Agent.
A. H. HOLDICH.
By W. A. Byron,
His Agent.