Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a sliding nozzle
device that performs flow control for molten steel.
Background
[0002] As disclosed in Patent Document 1, a sliding
nozzle device is constituted of a sliding nozzle device
body and a drive device coupled to a slide metal frame of
the sliding nozzle device body. The sliding nozzle device
body includes a slide metal frame and a fixed metal frame
into which a plate is inserted. A flow channel for molten
steel is disposed on the plate, and opening and closing of
the flow channel disposed on the plate is controlled by
sliding the slide metal frame by the drive device.
[0003] A process of smelting the molten steel includes a
process of moving the molten steel from a converter to a
ladle, and further moving the molten steel to a tundish.
In such a case of moving the molten steel from the
converter to the ladle, it is required to close the flow
channel on the plate disposed inside the sliding nozzle
device body disposed on the ladle for safety.
Patent Document 1 describes stoppers that are
integrated with a fixed metal frame and configured to
prevent a drive device from being dismounted.
Citation List
Patent Literature
[0004] Patent Document 1: JP 2019-058930A
Summary

Technical Problem
[0005] If the sliding nozzle device is in a thermally
affected environment, such as at a position near the hot
liquid surface of a tundish, stoppers disposed in the drive
device may be deformed.
In the sliding nozzle device including stoppers
integrated with a fixed metal frame as in Patent Document
1, if the stoppers are deformed or molten steel adheres and
solidifies on the periphery of the stoppers, thus hampering
the mounting or dismounting of the drive device, the
sliding nozzle device needs to be disassembled for
replacement of the stoppers. This makes the process of
replacement of the stoppers complicated.
[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide
a sliding nozzle device that can enable easy replacement of
the stoppers for the drive device.
Solution to Problem
[0007] According to the present invention, a sliding
nozzle device as described below is provided.
(1) A sliding nozzle device including:
a fixed metal frame;
a slide metal frame that is disposed to be slidable
with respect to the fixed metal frame;
a drive device that causes the slide metal frame to
slide; and
a stopper that is disposed separately from the fixed
metal frame and in a detachable manner.
Each of the fixed metal frame and the slide metal
frame includes a plate therein.
Each of the plate disposed in the fixed metal frame
and the plate disposed in the slide metal frame has a plate
hole.

The stopper prevents the drive device from being
dismounted when the plate hole on the plate disposed in the
fixed metal frame communicates with the plate hole on the
plate disposed in the slide metal frame.
(2) The sliding nozzle device according to (1) described
above, in which the slide metal frame is coupled with the
drive device via a coupling part disposed at an end part of
the drive device, and
the stopper abuts on the coupling part to prevent the
drive device from being dismounted.
(3) The sliding nozzle device according to (2) described
above, in which the drive device includes a rod that is
able to expand and contract,
the stopper includes a first stopper and a second
stopper that are disposed to be opposed to each other, and
a gap is disposed between the first stopper and the second
stopper, and
a size of the gap is larger than a diameter of the rod
and smaller than a diameter of the coupling part.
(4) The sliding nozzle device according to any one of (1)
to (3) described above, in which the drive device is
dismounted by moving the drive device in a single
dismounting direction, and the stopper prevents the drive
device from moving in the single dismounting direction.
(5) The sliding nozzle device according to any one of (1)
to (4) described above, in which the stopper has a plate
surface that is perpendicular to a plate surface of the
fixed metal frame.
(6) The sliding nozzle device according to (2) or (3)
described above, further including: a cover that stores the
coupling part. The cover has an opening, and the stopper
is disposed on the cover to cover part of the opening.
(7) The sliding nozzle device according to (6) described

above, in which the opening faces in a direction that is
parallel with a plate surface of the fixed metal frame.
(8) The sliding nozzle device according to (6) or (7)
described above, in which the cover includes a pair of side
walls that are disposed to be opposed to each other,
the opening is disposed between the pair of side
walls,
the first stopper is disposed on one of the side
walls, and
the second stopper is disposed on the other one of the
side walls.
(9) The sliding nozzle device according to (8) described
above, in which fixed blocks are disposed to outer
peripheral side surfaces of the respective side walls, and
the first stopper and the second stopper are disposed
to the respective fixed blocks.
(10) The sliding nozzle device according to (8) or (9)
described above, in which end parts of inner peripheral
side surfaces of the pair of side walls are provided with
respective reinforcing blocks.
(11) The sliding nozzle device according to (8) described
above, in which the cover includes an upper wall that abuts
on the drive device, and a lower wall that has an outer
peripheral side surface opposed to the slide metal frame,
and
the stopper is disposed to be closer to the upper wall
than the lower wall in a longitudinal direction of the
cover.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0008] According to the present invention, the stopper
for the drive device can be easily replaced.

Brief Description of Drawings
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sliding nozzle
device according to an embodiment of the present invention
(in a state in which a slide metal frame is closed).
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sliding nozzle
device according to the embodiment of the present invention
(in a state in which the slide metal frame is opened).
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sliding nozzle
device according to the embodiment of the present invention
(in a state in which the slide metal frame is opened, and a
plate, an upper nozzle, and a lower nozzle are dismounted).
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a principal part of
the sliding nozzle device according to the embodiment of
the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a principal part
illustrating a use state of the sliding nozzle device
according to the embodiment of the present invention (in a
state in which a flow channel on a plate disposed inside a
sliding nozzle device body is opened).
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a principal part
illustrating a use state of the sliding nozzle device
according to the embodiment of the present invention (in a
state in which the flow channel on the plate disposed
inside the sliding nozzle device body is closed).
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a cover used for the
sliding nozzle device according to the embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a principal part
illustrating a state in which a drive device is dismounted
from the sliding nozzle device body in the sliding nozzle
device according to the embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a principal part of

the cover in FIG. 7.
FIG. 10 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a
principal part of the cover in FIG. 7.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state
in which the flow channel on the plate disposed inside the
sliding nozzle device body is opened in the sliding nozzle
device according to the embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state
in which the flow channel on the plate disposed inside the
sliding nozzle device body is closed in the sliding nozzle
device according to the embodiment of the present
invention.
Description of Embodiments
[0010] The following describes an embodiment of the
present invention in detail based on the drawings.
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrate a sliding nozzle device 1
according to the embodiment of the present invention.
Specifically, FIG. 1 illustrates a state in which a slide
metal frame is closed, and FIG. 2 illustrates a state in
which the slide metal frame is opened. FIG. 3 illustrates
a state in which the slide metal frame is opened, and a
plate, an upper nozzle, and a lower nozzle are dismounted.
A step of removing coupling between a sliding nozzle device
body and a drive device according to the present embodiment
is performed in a state of putting the sliding nozzle
device 1 in a vertically standing state, so that FIGS. 1 to
3, and FIGS. 4 and 7 to 9 (described later) illustrate the
sliding nozzle device 1 in the vertically standing state.
In the present specification, a vertical positional
relation is based on this vertically standing state.
The step of removing coupling between the sliding

nozzle device body and the drive device may be performed in
a state in which the sliding nozzle device 1 is laid.
[0011] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the sliding nozzle
device 1 includes a sliding nozzle device body 2, a drive
device 3, and a cover 4 arranged between the sliding nozzle
device body 2 and the drive device 3.
[0012] As illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the sliding
nozzle device body 2 includes a fixed metal frame 21, an
openable metal frame 22, and a slide metal frame 23. The
openable metal frame 22 is disposed on the fixed metal
frame 21 in an openable manner. The slide metal frame 23
is disposed on the openable metal frame 22. The fixed
metal frame 21 includes a lock mechanism 211 for
maintaining a state in which the slide metal frame 23 is
closed.
[0013] Each of the fixed metal frame 21 and the slide
metal frame 23 is a plate-shaped member having a
substantially rectangular shape. Storage parts 5a and 5b
for storing therein plates 51a and 51b are formed in the
fixed metal frame 21 and the slide metal frame 23,
respectively. Through holes 6a and 6b are disposed on the
storage parts 5a and 5b, respectively. The fixed metal
frame 21 is fixed to a bottom of a ladle with a bolt (not
illustrated).
Plate holes 52a and 52b are disposed on the plates 51a
and 51b, respectively. When the plates 51a and 51b are
stored in the storage parts 5a and 5b, the through hole 6a
communicates with the plate hole 52a, and the through hole
6b communicates with the plate hole 52b.
At this point, the plate holes 52a and 52b become a
flow channel for molten steel.
[0014] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the drive device 3
includes a rod 31 and a rod head 32. As the drive device

3, for example, a hydraulic cylinder can be used.
The rod 31 is disposed on an end face of the drive
device 3. The rod 31 expands or contracts when a pressure
of the drive device 3 is adjusted. The rod head 32 is
disposed on a distal end of the rod 31. A diameter of the
rod head 32 is larger than a diameter of the rod 31. The
rod head 32 includes a rod groove 33. One of end parts of
a coupling rod 7 that is coupled with the slide metal frame
23 is inserted into the rod groove 33.
In this way, the rod head 32 functions as a coupling
part that couples the slide metal frame 23 with the drive
device 3.
[0015] A coupling groove 231 is disposed at one end in a
longitudinal direction of the slide metal frame 23. The
other one of the end parts of the coupling rod 7 is
inserted into the coupling groove 231. In this way, the
slide metal frame 23 is coupled with the coupling rod 7 via
the coupling groove 231.
[0016] The slide metal frame 23 is disposed to be
slidable with respect to the fixed metal frame 21. The
slide metal frame 23 slides along the longitudinal
direction of the slide metal frame 23 when the rod 31 of
the drive device 3 expands or contracts.
An outflow of the molten steel that flows out from the
ladle via the plate holes 52a and 52b can be adjusted by
sliding the slide metal frame 23 to adjust positions of the
fixed metal frame 21 and the slide metal frame 23. That
is, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the flow channel is opened
when the plate holes 52a and 52b on the plates 51a and 51b
that are respectively stored in the fixed metal frame 21
and the slide metal frame 23 communicate with each other,
so that the molten steel flows out. As illustrated in FIG.
6, the flow channel is closed when the plate holes 52a and

52b do not communicate with each other, so that the molten
steel does not flow out.
In the present specification, the state in which the
flow channel on the plate disposed inside the sliding
nozzle device body 2 is opened indicates a state in which
the plate holes 52a and 52b communicate with each other.
The state in which the flow channel on the plate disposed
inside the sliding nozzle device body 2 is closed indicates
a state in which the plate holes 52a and 52b do not
communicate with each other.
In FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, reference numeral 13 denotes the
bottom surface of the ladle, reference numeral 14 denotes
the upper nozzle, and reference numeral 15 denotes the
lower nozzle.
[0017] As illustrated in FIG. 7, the cover 4 includes a
right wall 41, a left wall 42, a rear wall 43, an upper
wall 44, and a lower wall 45. On the other hand, the front
surface of the cover 4 is opened.
The upper wall 44 and the lower wall 45 are positioned
to be opposed to each other. The right wall 41 and the
left wall 42 are positioned to be opposed to each other.
An end part of the rear wall 43 is coupled to the upper
wall 44, the lower wall 45, the right wall 41, and the left
wall 42. That is, the cover 4 is a box-shaped member
having an opening at the front surface thereof.
[0018] An internal space 8 surrounded by the right wall
41, the left wall 42, the rear wall 43, the upper wall 44,
and the lower wall 45 is formed in the cover 4. In the
specification of the present application, a side of the
internal space 8 is assumed to be an inner peripheral side.
A side of a space external to the cover 4 is assumed to be
an outer peripheral side.
[0019] An outer peripheral side surface of the lower

wall 45 is opposed to the slide metal frame 23 (refer to
FIG. 4). An outer peripheral side surface of the upper
wall 44 abuts on the drive device 3 (refer to FIG. 1 to
FIG. 3).
A guide hole 451 into which the coupling rod 7 is
inserted is disposed on the lower wall 45. A rod guide 441
through which the rod 31 of the drive device 3 is inserted
is disposed in the upper wall 44. The rod guide 441 is a
U-shaped groove that opens on the front surface side.
Thus, the drive device 3 can be dismounted in a front
direction of the cover 4 through the rod guide 441.
[0020] A reinforcing block 9 that reinforces an end part
on the front surface side of the right wall 41 is disposed
on an inner peripheral side surface of the right wall 41
along the longitudinal direction of the right wall 41. The
reinforcing block 9 is also disposed on an inner peripheral
side surface of the left wall 42 similarly to the right
wall 41.
[0021] If the sliding nozzle device 1 is in a thermally
affected harsh environment, such as at a position near the
hot liquid surface of a tundish, the rod 31 or the rod head
32 and the coupling rod 7 may be deformed.
To address this, in the present embodiment, the right
wall 41 is disposed close to the bottom surface 13 of the
ladle, whereas the left wall 42 is disposed close to the
tundish configured to receive molten steel flowing out of
the ladle. If the opening in the cover 4 faces toward the
tundish, the rod head 32 and the coupling rod 7 are likely
to receive heat. Furthermore, the opening in the cover 4,
which may receive molten steel bounced back from the
tundish, preferably faces in a direction that is parallel
with the plate surface of the fixed metal frame 21 and the
bottom surface 13 of the ladle. The side surface of the

cover 4 close to the tundish more preferably has no
opening. This can prevent the rod head 32 and the coupling
rod 7 from being deformed.
The reinforcing blocks 9 and 9 can prevent end parts
of the inner peripheral side surfaces of the right wall 41
and the left wall 42 from receiving heat and being
deformed.
[0022] In the present embodiment, when the slide metal
frame 23 is coupled with the drive device 3 via the
coupling rod 7, the rod head 32 is arranged in the internal
space 8 of the cover 4. The rod head 32 is disposed to be
able to move in a sliding direction of the slide metal
frame 23 within the internal space 8.
[0023] In the sliding nozzle device 1 according to the
present embodiment, the drive device 3 can be dismounted
from the sliding nozzle device body 2 by moving the drive
device 3 toward the front surface side of the cover 4.
More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 8, when the drive
device 3 is moved toward the front surface side of the
cover 4 from the rod guide 441 (refer to FIG. 7), the rod
head 32 is dismounted from the coupling rod 7, so that the
drive device 3 can be dismounted from the sliding nozzle
device body 2. That is, in the present embodiment, the
front surface side of the cover 4 is a single dismounting
direction for dismounting the drive device 3.
[0024] Fixed blocks 10a and 10a are disposed on end
parts on the front surface side of outer peripheral side
surfaces of the right wall 41 and the left wall 42,
respectively. Stoppers 11 and 12 are respectively mounted
on the fixed blocks 10a and 10a in a detachable manner.
That is, the stoppers 11 and 12 are disposed on the right
wall 41 and the left wall 42 in a detachable manner via the
fixed blocks 10a and 10a. The stoppers 11 and 12 are

rectangular plate materials. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the
stoppers 11 and 12 are fixed to the fixed blocks 10a and
10a with bolts 101 and nuts 102 disposed on front surfaces
of the fixed blocks 10a and 10a. Screw receivers into
which the bolt 101 is screwed are embedded in the fixed
blocks 10a and 10a.
[0025] The fixed blocks 10a and 10a prevent the right
wall 41 and the left wall 42 from receiving heat and being
deformed, and in particular, prevent the end parts on the
front surface side of the outer peripheral side surfaces of
the right wall 41 and the left wall 42 from warping due to
received heat.
In addition, the fixed blocks 10a and 10a the
reinforcing blocks 9 sandwich the end parts on the front
surface side of the outer peripheral side surfaces of the
right wall 41 and the left wall 42, thereby preventing the
end parts on the front surface side of the outer peripheral
side surfaces of the right wall 41 and the left wall 42
from warping.
End parts on the rear wall side of the outer
peripheral side surfaces of the right wall 41 and the left
wall 42 are provided with respective side blocks 10b and
10b. The side blocks 10b and 10b prevent the right wall 41
and the left wall 42 from receiving heat and being
deformed, and in particular, prevent the end parts on the
rear wall side of the outer peripheral side surfaces of the
right wall 41 and the left wall 42 from warping due to
received heat.
[0026] On the front surface side of the cover 4, the
stoppers 11 and 12 are disposed on an outer peripheral side
as compared with an end face of the right wall 41 and an
end face of the left wall 42.
As illustrated in FIG. 10, the stoppers 11 and 12

project toward the inner peripheral side of the right wall
41 and the inner peripheral side of the left wall 42,
respectively. That is, at least part of the stoppers 11
and 12 is at a position for covering part of the opening at
the front surface of the cover 4.
[0027] In the present embodiment, the plate surfaces of
the stoppers 11 and 12 are perpendicular to the bottom
surface 13 of the ladle and the plate surface of the fixed
metal frame 21. This structure can prevent the stoppers 11
and 12 from being hit by molten steel bounced back from the
tundish and being damaged due to heat received from the
tundish during the process of moving the molten steel from
the ladle to the tundish.
[0028] The stopper 11 disposed on the right wall 41 and
the stopper 12 disposed on the left wall 42 are
symmetrically arranged. An end face of the stopper 11
disposed on the right wall 41 is opposed to an end face of
the stopper 12 disposed on the left wall 42.
The stoppers 11 and 12 are disposed at positions to
cover the rod head 32 of the drive device 3 in a state in
which the flow channel on the plate disposed inside the
sliding nozzle device body is opened, and not to cover the
rod head 32 of the drive device 3 in a state in which the
flow channel on the plate disposed inside the sliding
nozzle device body is closed.
Specifically, in the present embodiment, the rod head
32 is at a position closer to the upper wall 44 than the
lower wall 45 within the internal space 8 of the cover 4 in
a state in which the flow channel on the plate disposed
inside the sliding nozzle device body 2 is opened. Thus,
in the present embodiment, the stoppers 11 and 12 are
disposed at positions closer to the upper wall 44 than the
lower wall 45 in the longitudinal direction of the right

wall 41 or the left wall 42. The stoppers 11 and 12 are
not disposed in the vicinity of the lower wall 45 in the
longitudinal direction of the right wall 41 or the left
wall 42.
[0029] A gap is disposed between the end face of the
stopper 11 disposed on the right wall 41 and the end face
of the stopper 12 disposed on the left wall 42. A size of
the gap is larger than a diameter of the rod 31 of the
drive device 3, and smaller than a diameter of the rod head
32. Thus, the rod 31 of the drive device 3 can pass
through the gap between the stopper 11 disposed on the
right wall 41 and the stopper 12 disposed on the left wall
42. On the other hand, the rod head 32 of the drive device
3 cannot pass through the gap between the stopper 11
disposed on the right wall 41 and the stopper 12 disposed
on the left wall 42.
Due to this, the rod 31 is prevented from interfering
with the stoppers 11 and 12 at the time of mounting or
dismounting the drive device 3. Thus, the stoppers 11 and
12 prevent the drive device 3 from being dismounted when
the rod head 32 is at a position covered by the stoppers 11
and 12, that is, in a state in which the flow channel on
the plate inside the sliding nozzle device body 2 is
opened.
[0030] As illustrated in FIG. 11, the stoppers 11 and 12
cover the rod head 32 in a state in which the flow channel
on the plate inside the sliding nozzle device body 2 is
opened. At this point, in a case of trying to dismount the
drive device 3 toward the front surface side of the cover
4, the rod head 32 is brought into contact with either one
of or both of the stoppers 11 and 12. Thus, the drive
device 3 cannot be dismounted from the cover 4.
Thus, the drive device 3 cannot be dismounted from the

sliding nozzle device 1 in a state in which the flow
channel on the plate disposed inside the sliding nozzle
device body 2 is opened.
[0031] On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the
stoppers 11 and 12 do not cover the rod head 32 in a state
in which the flow channel on the plate disposed inside the
sliding nozzle device body 2 is closed. At this point, the
rod head 32 is not brought into contact with the stoppers
11 and 12 even if the drive device 3 is moved toward the
front surface side. The rod 31 can pass through the gap
between the stoppers 11 and 12. Thus, the drive device 3
can be dismounted from the cover 4 (refer to FIG. 8).
Thus, the drive device 3 can be dismounted from the
sliding nozzle device 1 in a state in which the flow
channel on the plate disposed inside the sliding nozzle
device body 2 is closed.
[0032] By disposing the stoppers 11 and 12 on the cover
4 as in the present embodiment, the drive device 3 is
enabled to be dismounted from the sliding nozzle device 1
only in a state in which the flow channel on the plate
disposed inside the sliding nozzle device body 2 is closed.
Due to this, the drive device 3 can be prevented from being
erroneously dismounted from the sliding nozzle device 1 in
a state in which the flow channel on the plate disposed
inside the sliding nozzle device body 2 is opened.
[0033] The present embodiment discloses the sliding
nozzle device body 2 including the fixed metal frame 21,
the openable metal frame 22, and the slide metal frame 23,
but various structures can be applied to other portions of
the sliding nozzle device body 2 so long as the slide metal
frame 23 is caused to slide by the drive device 3 in the
sliding nozzle device 1.
[0034] In the present embodiment, the coupling rod 7 is

inserted into the coupling groove 231 of the slide metal
frame 23. Alternatively, for example, the coupling rod 7
may be fixed to the slide metal frame 23, and the slide
metal frame 23 and the coupling rod 7 may be integrated
with each other.
[0035] The present embodiment discloses the structure of
inserting the coupling rod 7 into the rod groove 33 in
coupling the slide metal frame 23 with the drive device 3
as a structure of the coupling part. Alternatively, a
groove may be disposed on the coupling rod 7, and the rod
head 32 of the drive device 3 may be inserted into this
groove. Additionally, the coupling part may be disposed
separately from the slide metal frame 23 and the drive
device 3.
[0036] The stoppers 11 and 12 are fixed to the cover 4
according to the present embodiment via the fixed blocks
10a and 10a, but the stoppers 11 and 12 may be directly
fixed to the cover 4 without using the fixed block 10a or
10a. Alternatively, the stoppers 11 and 12 may be fixed to
the reinforcing blocks 9 and 9.
[0037] The stoppers 11 and 12 are preferably mounted on
the fixed blocks 10a and 10a in a detachable manner as in
the present embodiment. Alternatively, the stoppers 11 and
12 may be mounted on the cover 4 or the reinforcing blocks
9 and 9 in a detachable manner. With such a structure, for
example, in a case in which the drive device 3 breaks down
and the rod head 32 stops at a position covered with the
stoppers 11 and 12, the drive device 3 can be maintained by
dismounting the stoppers 11 and 12. Additionally, the
stoppers 11 and 12 can be replaced if they are deformed due
to received heat or molten steel adheres and solidifies on
the periphery of the stoppers 11 and 12, thus hampering the
mounting or dismounting of the drive device.

[0038] The stoppers 11 and 12 are disposed on both of
the right wall 41 and the left wall 42, but the stoppers 11
and 12 may be disposed on either one of the right wall 41
and the left wall 42. In a case of disposing the stoppers
11 and 12 on either one of the right wall 41 and the left
wall 42, the stoppers 11 and 12 are required to project to
a position not to interfere with the rod 31 while
preventing the rod head 32 from being dismounted when the
rod head 32 is present on the upper wall 44 side.
[0039] In the present embodiment, the stopper 11
disposed on the right wall 41 and the stopper 12 disposed
on the left wall 42 are symmetrically arranged. However,
the positions of the stoppers 11 and 12 are not necessarily
symmetrical so long as at least part of the end face of the
stopper 11 disposed on the right wall 41 is opposed to at
least part of the end face of the stopper 12 disposed on
the left wall 42.
[0040] The stoppers 11 and 12 according to the present
embodiment are rectangular plate materials, but the
stoppers 11 and 12 may have various shapes that can cover
part of the opening of the cover 4. For example, the shape
may be a square or a triangle. Alternatively, the stoppers
11 and 12 may be mesh-like members such as wire netting, or
frame members framed in a quadrangular shape or a
triangular shape.
[0041] In the present embodiment, the stoppers 11 and 12
are disposed to cover part of the opening at the front
surface of the cover 4, but the cover 4 is not essential.
If the cover 4 is not disposed, the stopper can be disposed
by disposing a portion corresponding to the right wall 41
or the upper wall 44. In this case, the portion
corresponding to the right wall 41 may be disposed by
extending the fixed metal frame 21. The portion

corresponding to the upper wall 44 may be disposed as a
portion that abuts on the drive device 3.
In a case of disposing the stopper on the portion
corresponding to the right wall 41, portions corresponding
to the rear wall and the left wall can be made, and the
stoppers can be disposed on both portions, or the stopper
can be disposed on one of the portions.
In a case of disposing the stopper on the portion
corresponding to the upper wall 44, the stopper can be
extended to cover the front surface side of the coupling
part.
[0042] In the present embodiment, the stoppers 11 and 12
are positioned to be closer to the upper wall 44 than the
lower wall 45 in the longitudinal direction of the right
wall 41 or the left wall 42, but the arrangement of the
stoppers 11 and 12 can be variously changed depending on a
distance by which the rod 31 of the drive device 3 expands
or contracts. That is, it is sufficient that the stoppers
11 and 12 are disposed at positions to cover the rod head
32 of the drive device 3 in a state in which the flow
channel on the plate disposed inside the sliding nozzle
device body 2 is opened, and disposed at positions not to
cover the rod head 32 of the drive device 3 in a state in
which the flow channel on the plate disposed inside the
sliding nozzle device body 2 is closed.
Reference Signs List
[0043] 1 SLIDING NOZZLE DEVICE
2 SLIDING NOZZLE DEVICE BODY
21 FIXED METAL FRAME
211 LOCK MECHANISM
22 OPENABLE METAL FRAME
23 SLIDE METAL FRAME

231 COUPLING GROOVE
3 DRIVE DEVICE
31 ROD
32 ROD HEAD (COUPLING PART)
33 ROD GROOVE
4 COVER
41 RIGHT WALL
42 LEFT WALL
43 REAR WALL
44 UPPER WALL
441 ROD GUIDE
45 LOWER WALL
451 GUIDE HOLE

5 STORAGE PART
51a, 51b PLATE
52a, 52b PLATE HOLE
6 THROUGH HOLE
7 COUPLING ROD
8 INTERNAL SPACE
9 REINFORCING BLOCK
10a FIXED BLOCK
10b SIDE BLOCK

101 BOLT
102 NUT
11, 12 STOPPER
13 BOTTOM SURFACE OF LADLE
14 UPPER NOZZLE
15 LOWER NOZZLE

We Claim :
1. A sliding nozzle device comprising:
a fixed metal frame;
a slide metal frame that is disposed to be slidable
with respect to the fixed metal frame;
a drive device that causes the slide metal frame to
slide; and
a stopper that is disposed separately from the fixed
metal frame and in a detachable manner, wherein
each of the fixed metal frame and the slide metal
frame includes a plate therein,
each of the plate disposed in the fixed metal frame
and the plate disposed in the slide metal frame has a plate
hole, and
the stopper prevents the drive device from being
dismounted when the plate hole on the plate disposed in the
fixed metal frame communicates with the plate hole on the
plate disposed in the slide metal frame.
2. The sliding nozzle device according to claim 1,
wherein
the slide metal frame is coupled with the drive device
via a coupling part disposed at an end part of the drive
device, and
the stopper abuts on the coupling part to prevent the
drive device from being dismounted.
3. The sliding nozzle device according to claim 2,
wherein
the drive device includes a rod that is able to expand
and contract,
the stopper includes a first stopper and a second
stopper that are disposed to be opposed to each other, and

a gap is disposed between the first stopper and the second
stopper, and
a size of the gap is larger than a diameter of the rod
and smaller than a diameter of the coupling part.
4. The sliding nozzle device according to any one of
claims 1 to 3, wherein the drive device is dismounted by
moving the drive device in a single dismounting direction,
and the stopper prevents the drive device from moving in
the single dismounting direction.
5. The sliding nozzle device according to any one of
claims 1 to 4, wherein the stopper has a plate surface that
is perpendicular to a plate surface of the fixed metal
frame.
6. The sliding nozzle device according to claim 2 or 3,
further comprising:
a cover that stores the coupling part, wherein
the cover has an opening, and the stopper is disposed
on the cover to cover part of the opening.
7. The sliding nozzle device according to claim 6,
wherein the opening faces in a direction that is parallel
with a plate surface of the fixed metal frame.
8. The sliding nozzle device according to claim 5,
wherein
the cover includes a pair of side walls that are
disposed to be opposed to each other,
the opening is disposed between the pair of side
walls,
the first stopper is disposed on one of the side

walls, and
the second stopper is disposed on the other one of the
side walls.
9. The sliding nozzle device according to claim 8,
wherein
fixed blocks are disposed to outer peripheral side
surfaces of the respective side walls, and
the first stopper and the second stopper are disposed
to the respective fixed blocks.
10. The sliding nozzle device according to claim 8 or 9,
wherein end parts of inner peripheral side surfaces of the
pair of side walls are provided with respective reinforcing
blocks.
11. The sliding nozzle device according to claim 8,
wherein
the cover includes an upper wall that abuts on the
drive device, and a lower wall that has an outer peripheral
side surface opposed to the slide metal frame, and
the stopper is disposed to be closer to the upper wall
than the lower wall in a longitudinal direction of the
cover.