Induction heated sliding gate valve for vacuum melting furnace

摘要

An apparatus for melting and pouring metal alloys includes a vacuum melt furnace having a melt chamber to receive and melt metal in a vacuum. A valve cooperates with a pour opening located at the bottom of the furnace. The valve includes an upper stationary nozzle portion formed substantially from refractory material and having an orifice aligned with the pour opening. A lower nozzle portion having an orifice therethrough is mounted adjacent and below the upper nozzle portion for slidable movement along a lower face of the upper stationary nozzle portion. The valve is opened and closed by slidably moving the lower nozzle orifice in and out of alignment with the upper nozzle orifice. An induction heating coil substantially surrounds the upper stationary nozzle portion.