Crack resistant valve plate assembly for a molten metal slide gate valve

摘要

A crack resistant valve plate assembly is provided for use in a slide gate valve. The valve plate assembly includes a refractory valve plate having an orifice (19) positioned along its longitudinal centre line (70), and truncated corners (54a, b, c, d) for focusing a clamping force toward the centre line in the vicinity of the orifice to prevent the formation and spreading of cracks. The angular orientation of each of the truncated corners varies with respect to the position of the orifice along the longitudinal centre line.