CLOSURE DEVICES FOR METALLURGICAL AND LIKE VESSELS

摘要

A vessel for containing and discharging molten material is provided with a gas-tight annex chamber offset from but communicating with the interior of the vessel, the bottom of which chamber is not substantially above the bottom of the vessel interior and is provided with a discharge orifice for the downward discharge of the molten material, said orifice being opened and closed by a vertically-movable stopper rod which extends down through the roof of the chamber. The roof of the chamber is formed with a pocket through which the rod extends and in which gas is trapped and pressurized as the level of the molten material in the chamber rises as the latter fills from the vessel. The gas pressure in the pocket may be transmitted to a gauge or may be used for automatic adjustment of the height of the rod to obtain a constant discharge rate through the discharge orifice.