US3897048A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Metallurgical vessel and method of operating same
Assignee: Pennsylvania Engineering Corp
•
Filing: 1973-06-15
•
Granted: 1975-07-29
•
Expires: 1993-06-15
Abstract
Abstract A vessel for treating molten ferrous metal includes at least one tuyere for injecting process gases below the level of molten metal. The tuyere includes three pipes arranged in a concentric relation to define a first passage between the outer and intermediate pipes, a second passage between the intermediate and inner pipes and a third passage within the inner pipe. The pipes are sized to permit the volumetric percentage of gas delivered from the first passage to be about 2-10% of that delivered from the second and third passages and to permit the gas delivered from two of the passages to be about 15-60% of that delivered from the other passage. A quantity of metal is charged into the vessel for being preheated by the combustion of fuel delivered through a pair of passages and oxygen delivered through the remaining passage to provide an oxygen-to-fuel ratio which exceeds that required for stoichiometric combustion. After preheat and in preparation of the main blow, a shielding gas is delivered to the first passage and oxygen delivered through the inner two passages or the inner pipe is removed and oxygen provided through the interior of the intermediate pipe.
Inventors
- 👤 Jai K Pearce
- 👤 Eberhard G Schempp
- 👤 Walter Sieckman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:32
CPC Classifications
C; C21; C21C; C21C5/00; C21C5/28; C21C5/42; C21C5/46; C21C5/48
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
A metallurgical vessel constructed and arranged to receive a metallic charge, a tuyere assembly including first means defining a first tuyere passage for delivering oxygen to the interior of said vessel and beneath the level of said charge, second means for defining a second tuyere passage in surrounding relation to the first tuyere passage for providing a hydrocarbon shielding fluid around the oxygen, third means for subdividing the first tuyere passage into a pair of tuyere passages to permit an increase in the quantity of shielding gas provided to the tuyere for preheating a metal charge in the vessel, a source of hydrocarbon fluid and a source of oxygen, first valve means for selectively coupling said oxygen source to one of said pair of tuyere passages and said hydRocarbon fluid source to said second tuyere passage and second valve means for selectively coupling one of said sources to the other of said pair of tuyere passages.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
A metallurgical vessel constructed and arranged to receive a metallic charge, a tuyere assembly including first means defining a first tuyere passage for delivering oxygen to the interior of said vessel and beneath the level of said charge, second means for defining a second tuyere passage in surrounding relation to the first tuyere passage for providing a hydrocarbon shielding fluid around the oxygen, third means for subdividing the first tuyere passage into a pair of tuyere passages to permit an increase in the quantity of shielding gas provided to the tuyere for preheating a metal charge in the vessel, a source of hydrocarbon fluid and a source of oxygen, first valve means for selectively coupling said oxygen source to one of said pair of tuyere passages and said hydRocarbon fluid source to said second tuyere passage and second valve means for selectively coupling one of said sources to the other of said pair of tuyere passages.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
The vessel set forth in claim 1 and including a source of an inert gas, third valve means operative to selectively couple said inert gas source to the other of said pair of tuyere passages prior to the operation of said second valve means to purge said other one of said pair of tuyere passages before the same is coupled to the other one of said sources.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
The vessel set forth in claim 2 wherein said second tuyere passage is sized to provide a fuel volume which is about 2% to 10% of the volume of oxygen provided through said pair of tuyere passages, said pair of tuyere passages being sized to provide a total fuel volume substantially greater than 10% of said oxygen volume when said second valve means couples the other one of said tuyere passages to said source of hydrocarbon fluid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The vessel set forth in claim 3 wherein said third means is removably disposed in said first tuyere means, and tuyere body means for mounting said tuyere assembly to said vessel, said tuyere body means having an opening formed therein for receiving said third means therethrough, and closure means for said opening after removal of said third means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
121 words
The vessel set forth in claim 1 wherein said first means comprises a first tuyere pipe defining said first tuyere passage and said second means comprises a second tuyere pipe disposed in closely surrounding relation and spaced from said first tuyere pipe to define said second tuyere passage, said third means comprising a third tuyere pipe insertable into said first tuyere pipe and having an outer surface spaced from the inner surface of said first tuyere pipe when mounted therein to define therewith one of said pair of tuyere passages, the inner surface of said third tuyere pipe defining the other of said pair of tuyere passages, securing means for removably securing said third tuyere pipe in said first tuyere pipe.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The vessel set forth in claim 5 wherein said first tuyere pipe has an open end external of said vessel said securing means being operable to secure said third pipe means in said open end for sealing the same, and cover means for closing said open end after removal of said third pipe means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US985394A
Cited
US1958581A
Cited
US2676012A
Cited
US3209810A
Cited
US3330645A
Cited
US3547624A
Cited
US3706549A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-28 | 1979-01-27 | 1979-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-28 | 1983-01-27 | 1983-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-28 | 1987-01-27 | 1987-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |