Tuyere stock for furnaces

Claim 2

Apparatus for the transmission of heated fluid comprising: first fluid conduit defining means, said first conduit defining means being adapted for coupling at a first end to a fluid utilizing device; second fluid conduit defining means, said second conduit defining means being adapted for coupling at a first end to a source of fluid, said second fluid conduit defining means including: a rectilinear conduit member, said rectilinear member being tubular and having a first end adapted to be coupled to said first fluid conduit defining means; a tubular conduit member, said tubular member being coupled at its first end to a source of fluid; and first connecting means interconnecting the second ends of said rectilinear and tubular members, said connecting means permitting universal angular motion between said members, said first connecting means including: means positioned externally of and extending between said members to provide an expandable hermetic fluid coupling therebetween; and means positioned externally of said hermetic coupling means for providing a movable mechanical supporting connection between said members, said supporting connection including pivotal articulation arms connected to each of said members; and second connecting means connecting the second end of said first conduit defining means to the second end of said second conduit defining means, said second connecting means pErmitting universal angular motion between said conduit means, said second connecting means including: means positioned externally of and extending between said conduit defining means to provide an expandable hermetic fluid coupling therebetween; and means positioned externally of said hermetic coupling means for providing a movable mechanical supporting connection between said conduit defining means, said supporting connection including pivotal articulation arms connected to each of said conduit defining means.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said supporting connection of said second connecting means comprises: flange means affixed to one of said conduit defining means adjacent the joint between said conduit defining means, said flange means having a portion which extends radially outward; and ring means attached to said flange means, said ring means being coaxial with said hermetic coupling, said articulation arms extending between said ring means and each of said conduit defining means, said arms being rotatably connected to said ring means.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one of said conduit defining means includes a sleeve extension, said sleeve extension being coaxial with said hermetic coupling and being positioned radially inward with respect to said coupling to provide thermal shielding therefore.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the other of said conduit defining means is provided with a socket at the end facing said sleeve extension, said socket and sleeve extension cooperating to define a joint.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said supporting connection of said second connecting means comprises: flange means affixed to one of said conduit defining means adjacent the joint between said conduit defining means, said flange means having a portion which extends radially outward; and ring means attached to said flange means, said ring means being coaxial with said hermetic coupling, said articulation arms extending between said ring means and each of said conduit defining means, said arms being rotatably connected to said ring means.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said second conduit defining means is lined internally with a refractory material.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said second conduit defining means is rectilinear and is longer in the axial direction than said first conduit defining means.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first conduit defining means comprises: a first portion which defines an obtuse angle; means for coupling the first end of said first portion to the second end of said second conduit defining means; and a straight portion for coupling the second end of said first portion to a fluid utilizing device.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first portion further comprises an inspection port positioned outside of the axis of said obtuse angle and wherein said coupling means comprises: a second straight portion for coupling the first end of said first portion to the second end of said second conduit defining means; and flange means which defines a disconnectable horizontal connection between said second straight portion and said first end of said first portion.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first conduit defining means comprises: a first portion which defines an obtuse angle; means for coupling the first end of said first portion to the second end of said second conduit defining means; and a straight portion for coupling the second end of said first portion to a fluid utilizing device.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said first portion further comprises an inspection port positioned outside of the axis of said obtuse angle and wherein said coupling means comprises: a second straight portion for coupling the first end of said first portion to the second end of said second conduit defining means; and flange means which defines a disconnectable horizontal connection between said sEcond straight portion and said first end of said first portion.

Claim 13

Apparatus for the transmission of heated fluid comprising: first fluid conduit defining means, said first conduit defining means being adapted for coupling at a first end to a fluid utilizing device; second fluid conduit defining means, said second conduit defining means being adapted for coupling at a first end to a source of fluid; and third fluid conduit defining means connecting the second end of said first fluid conduit defining means to the second end of said second fluid conduit defining means, said third conduit defining means cooperating with said first and second conduit defining means to define a three-hinged arch construction, said third conduit defining means including: a rectilinear tubular member; means positioned externally of and extending between a first end of said rectilinear member and said first fluid conduit defining means to provide a first expandable hermetic fluid coupling therebetween; means positioned externally of said first hermetic coupling means for providing a first movable mechanical supporting connection between said members and first conduit defining means, said first supporting connection including pivotal articulation arms connected to each of said rectilinear member and first fluid conduit defining means; means positioned externally of and extending between said second fluid conduit defining means and the second end of said rectilinear member to provide a second expandable hermetic fluid coupling therebetween; and means positioned externally of said second hermetic coupling means for providing a second movable mechanical supporting connection between said second conduit defining means and said rectilinear member, said second supporting connection including pivotal articulation arms connected to each of said second conduit defining means and rectilinear member.

Claim 14

Apparatus for the transmission of heated fluid comprising: first fluid conduit defining means, said first conduit defining means being adapted for coupling at a first end to a fluid utilizing device; second fluid conduit defining means, said second conduit defining means being adapted for coupling at a first end to a source of fluid; and third fluid conduit defining means connecting the second end of said first fluid conduit defining means to the second end of said second fluid conduit defining means, said third conduit defining means cooperating with said first and second conduit defining means to define a three-hinged arch construction, said third conduit defining means including: a rectilinear tubular member; means positioned externally of and extending between a first end of said rectilinear member and said first fluid conduit defining means to provide a first expandable hermetic fluid coupling therebetween; means positioned externally of said first hermetic coupling means for providing a first movable mechanical supporting connection between said members and first conduit defining means, said first supporting connection including pivotal articulation arms connected to each of said rectilinear member and first fluid conduit defining means; means positioned externally of and extending between said second fluid conduit defining means and the second end of said rectilinear member to provide a second expandable hermetic fluid coupling therebetween; and means positioned externally of said second hermetic coupling means for providing a second movable mechanical supporting connection between said second conduit defining means and said rectilinear member, said second supporting connection including pivotal articulation arms connected to each of said second conduit defining means and rectilinear member.

Claim 15

Apparatus for the transmission of heated fluid from a supply to a furnace comprising: first fluid conduit means having first and second ends, said first conduit means being adapted for fluid coupling to a furnace at a first end thereof; a spherical joint element for mechanically connecting said first fluid conduit means to said furnace; second fluid conduit means having first and second ends, said second conduit means being adapted for coupling at the first end thereof to a supply of heated fluid; third fluid conduit means between and connected to the second end of said first fluid conduit means and the second end of said second fluid conduit means, said third conduit means cooperating with said first and second conduit means to define a feed line from said supply to said furnace; a first universal joint means connecting one end of said third fluid conduit means to said second end of said first fluid conduit means, said first universal joint means including: flexible hermetic coupling means externally of and extending from said third fluid conduit means to said first fluid conduit means to provide a flexible hermetic coupling therebetween; and connection means for providing an articulated mechanical connection between said third fluid conduit means and said first fluid conduit means, said connection means being external of said hermetic coupling means; and a second universal joint means connecting the other end of said third fluid conduit means to said second end of said second fluid conduit means, said second universal joint means including: flexible hermetic coupling means externally of and extending from said third fluid conduit means to said second fluid conduit means to provide a flexible hermetic coupling therebetween; and connection means for providing an articulated mechanical connection between said third fluid conduit means and said second fluid conduit means, said connection means being external of said hermetic coupling means.

Claim 16

Apparatus for the transmission of heated fluid from a supply to a furnace comprising: first fluid conduit means having first and second ends, said first conduit means being adapted for fluid coupling to a furnace at a first end thereof; a spherical joint element for mechanically connecting said first fluid conduit means to said furnace; second fluid conduit means having first and second ends, said second conduit means being adapted for coupling at the first end thereof to a supply of heated fluid; third fluid conduit means between and connected to the second end of said first fluid conduit means and the second end of said second fluid conduit means, said third conduit means cooperating with said first and second conduit means to define a feed line from said supply to said furnace; a first universal joint means connecting one end of said third fluid conduit means to said second end of said first fluid conduit means, said first universal joint means including: flexible hermetic coupling means externally of and extending from said third fluid conduit means to said first fluid conduit means to provide a flexible hermetic coupling therebetween; and connection means for providing an articulated mechanical connection between said third fluid conduit means and said first fluid conduit means, said connection means being external of said hermetic coupling means; and a second universal joint means connecting the other end of said third fluid conduit means to said second end of said second fluid conduit means, said second universal joint means including: flexible hermetic coupling means externally of and extending from said third fluid conduit means to said second fluid conduit means to provide a flexible hermetic coupling therebetween; and connection means for providing an articulated mechanical connection between said third fluid conduit means and said second fluid conduit means, said connection means being external of said hermetic coupling means.

Claim 17

Apparatus for the transmission of heated fluids as in clAim 13 wherein: each of said first, second and third conduit means is lined internally with a refractory material.

Claim 18

Apparatus for the transmission of heated fluid as in claim 13 wherein: said articulated mechanical connection of said first universal joint includes: a first connecting ring; a first set of arms extending from said first fluid conduit means and being pivotably connected to said first connecting ring; and a second set of arms extending from said third fluid conduit means and being pivotally connected to said first connecting ring; and wherein said second articulated mechanical connection of said second universal joint includes: a second connecting ring; a first set of arms extending from said third fluid conduit means and being pivotally connected to said second connecting ring; and a second set of arms extending from said second fluid conduit means and being pivotally connected to said second connecting ring.

Claim 19

Apparatus for the transmission of heated fluid as in claim 13 wherein: said hermetic coupling of each of said first and second universal joints is a bellows.

Claim 20

Apparatus for the transmission of heated fluid as in claim 13 wherein: at least one of said first conduit means includes a sleeve extension, said sleeve extension extending from an end of that fluid conduit toward an adjacent fluid conduit in the vicinity of the hermetic coupling therebetween, said sleeve extension being coaxial with said hermetic coupling and being positioned inwardly with respect to said coupling to provide thermal shielding therefor.

Claim 21

Apparatus for the transmission of heated fluid as in claim 13 wherein: one of said fluid conduit means includes a first sleeve extension, said first sleeve extension extending from an end of said fluid conduit toward an adjacent fluid conduit in the vicinity of the hermetic coupling therebetween, said first sleeve extension being coaxial with said hermetic coupling and being positioned inwardly with respect to said hermetic coupling to provide thermal shielding therefor; and a second of said fluid conduit means includes a second sleeve extension, said second sleeve extension extending from an end of said second fluid conduit toward an adjacent fluid conduit in the vicinity of the hermetic coupling therebetween, said second sleeve extension being coaxial with said hermetic coupling and being positioned inwardly with respect to said hermetic coupling to provide thermal shielding therefor.

Claim 22

Apparatus for the transmission of heated fluid as in claim 18 wherein: said first sleeve extension extends from said third fluid conduit toward said first fluid conduit; and said second sleeve extension extends from said second fluid conduit toward said third fluid conduit.

Claim 23

Apparatus for the transmission of heated fluid as in claim 13 including: spring means connected to said first fluid conduit means, said spring means loading said first fluid conduit means toward the furnace.

Claim 24

Apparatus for the transmission of heated fluid as in claim 13 wherein: said second end of said first fluid conduit is detachably connected to the rest of said first fluid conduit; and wherein said first fluid conduit defines an obtuse angle.

Claim 25

Apparatus for the transmission of heated fluid as in claim 21 including: an inspection port in said first fluid conduit, said port being positioned outside of the axis of said obtuse angle.

Claim 26

A tuyere stock for shaft furnaces comprising at least three serially coupled conduit means lined with refractory material, the intermediate of said conduit means being connected at both ends to adjacent conduit means by means of universal coupling means and flexible hermetic coupling means, said universal couplings including an articulated mechanical connection comprising a connecting ring, a first set of arms extending from said intermediary conduit means and being pivotably connected to said connecting ring and a second set of arms offset by 90* from said first set of arms extending from one of said adjacent conduit means and being pivotably connected to said connecting ring.

Claim 27

A tuyere stock for shaft furnaces comprising at least three serially coupled conduit means lined with refractory material, the intermediate of said conduit means being connected at both ends to adjacent conduit means by means of universal coupling means and flexible hermetic coupling means, said universal couplings including an articulated mechanical connection comprising a connecting ring, a first set of arms extending from said intermediary conduit means and being pivotably connected to said connecting ring and a second set of arms offset by 90* from said first set of arms extending from one of said adjacent conduit means and being pivotably connected to said connecting ring.