AU2015200292B2 - Sampler and sampling method - Google Patents

Abstract

SAMPLER AND SAMPLING METHOD According to a first aspect of the invention there is disclosed a sample holder for accommodating a sampler (1, la). The sample holder (21a. 21b, 21c) comprises a contact part (22) for accommodating the sampler (1, la), and at least one feed line (24a) for supplying gas via the contact part (22) into the sampler (21a, 21b, 21c). The sample holder comprises at least one discharge line (24b) for drawing off gas via the contact part (22) from the sampler (21a, 21b, 21c) and at least one gas line (24c), extending through the contact part (22) and connected to the sample chamber (2) arranged in the sample holder (21a, 21b, 21c). The sampler (21a, 21b, 21c) has a switch (26) arranged in the sampler that is connected to the feed line (24a) and the discharge line (24b) on one side and to the gas line (24c) on another side, and adapted to connect either the feed line (24a) or the discharge line (24b) to the gas line (24c).

Description

SAMPLER AND SAMPLING METHOD FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a sampler having a sample chamber for a sample forming from a melted material, preferably for a sample forming from a melted metal, in particular from melted crude iron or melted steel, comprising at least one lower cooling body, at least one upper cooling body, and at least one inner cooling body and at least one filling part, preferably one filling tube, whereby the sample chamber is surrounded jointly at least by the lower cooling body and the inner cooling body, preferably is surrounded directly jointly, such that at least the sample chamber can be cooled by means of at least the lower and inner cooling bodies, whereby the filling part connected to the sample chamber merges into the sample chamber by means of a filling opening, and whereby the cooling bodies each comprise an outer surface. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for sampling from a melted material having a melting temperature of more than 600 °C, in particular a melted metal, preferably melted crude iron or melted steel, whereby the sampler is positioned at one end of a lance and/or carrier part, preferably of a carrier tube, and is being immersed into the melted material, whereby the sample chamber of the sampler subsequently gets filled with melted material, and whereby then at least the sample is pulled out of the melted material by means of the sampler. The invention also relates to a sample holder for accommodating a sampler, whereby the sample holder comprises a contact part for accommodating the sampler, and whereby at least one feed line for supplying gas via the contact part into the sampler and at least one discharge line for drawing off gas via the contact part from the sampler, and at least one gas line that extends through the contact part and is connected to the sample chamber are arranged in the sample holder. The invention also relates to a device for implementing sampling processes in melted metals using a lance, in particular in melted steel using a sub-lance, whereby the lance comprises a lance body. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for sampling from a melted material having a melting temperature of more than 600°C, in particular a melted metal, preferably melted crude iron or melted steel, whereby the sampler is positioned at one end of a lance and/or carrier part, preferably of a carrier tube, and is being immersed into the melted material, whereby a sample holder is being positioned between sampler and lance and/or carrier part, whereby the sample chamber of the sampler subsequently gets filled with melted material, and whereby then at least the sample is pulled out of the melted material.

BACKGROUND

[0002] According to the prior art known to date, it is feasible to take samples out of a melted material, for example a melted metal.

[0003] For example a measuring probe for measuring and sampling in a melted metal having a measuring head arranged on a lance is known from EP 2 397 834 A2, whereby the measuring head bears at least one temperature sensor and a sample chamber, whereby the sample chamber is surrounded, at least in part, by the measuring head and comprises a filling channel that extends through the measuring head. The filling tube, for example, is a quartz glass tube.

[0004] A sampler, in which the sample is generated through immersion into a bath of melted material is known from US 3,646,816 A. In this context, sample chambers differing in shape are used to generate firstly a flat sample and secondly a needle-shaped sample, whereby an aluminium tube is used to prevent deoxidation in the entry region of the melted material entry tube. Openings are used to release the compressed air generated during taking the sample from the sampler. Metal discs are used in the region of the sample chambers to cool down the samples.

[0005] Moreover, DE 32 00 010 A1 discloses the use of a lance for removal of metallic immersed samples for spectral analysis, whereby the end section of the lance that is immersed into the melted metal comprises an immersion ingot mould having a closed entry channel, whereby the immersion ingot mould is arranged in a protective gas atmosphere and the quantity of sample ascending through the filling channel compresses and/or displaces the protective gas. In this context, the lance comprises, in one embodiment, an overpressure valve and, in one embodiment, a valve for rinsing the immersion ingot mould with inert gas and for closing it in a gas-tight manner.

[0006] Moreover, it is known from DE 10 2011 121 183 A1 to use, in a sampler, a cooling body made of copper that conducts heat well such that rapid dissipation of heat from the sample that flowed into the cooling chamber proceeds such that the same is therefore cooled down rapidly, whereby the cooling body consists of two bodies that form the inner wall of the sample chamber arrangement. Moreover, it is also known from said document that the sample is surrounded by an inert gas at the time it is being removed from the sample chamber.

[0007] One disadvantage of the prior art as known to date is that the melted material taken up into the sample chamber, which later forms the sample, cools down only very slowly in the sample chamber. Subsequent measurements on the cooled down sample can be made only after a long time interval to the true composition of the melted material, since the cool-down time is very long. Moreover, for example oxidation reactions occur on the not yet cooled down sample due to the presence of ambient air if the sample is removed from the sampler while it is still hot.

OBJECT

[0008] It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages or to provide a useful alternative.

SUMMARY

[0009] According to a first aspect there is disclosed herein a sample holder for accommodating a sampler, the sample holder comprising: a contact part for accommodating the sampler, at least one feed line for supplying gas via the contact part into the sampler, at least one discharge line for drawing off gas via the contact part from the sampler, and at least one gas line arranged in the sample holder, the at least one gas line extending through the contact part and being connected to a sample chamber of the sampler, wherein the sample holder includes a switch which switch is (i) connected to the feed line and the discharge line on one side and to the gas line on another side and (ii) adapted to connect either the feed line or the discharge line to the gas line; wherein at least one gas filter is arranged between the gas line connected to the sample chamber and the switch.

[0010] According to a second aspect there is disclosed herein a device for implementing sampling processes in melted metals using a lance, the lance comprising a lance body wherein one end of the lance body is adapted for attachment to a sample holder according to the first aspect, the device comprising at least one feed line for supplying gas through the contact part into the sampler, at least one discharge line for drawing off gas through the contact part out of the sampler, and at least one gas line that extends into the sampler and is connected to the sample chamber.

[0011] According to a third aspect there is disclosed herein a method for sampling from a melted material having a melting temperature of more than 600°C, wherein a sampler is positioned at one end of a lance and/or carrier part and is immersed into the melted material, wherein a sample holder according to the first aspect is positioned between the sampler and lance and/or carrier part, wherein a sample chamber of the sampler subsequently gets filled with melted material, and at least the sample is pulled out of the melted material by means of the sampler, wherein at least one gas is supplied into the sampler before immersing the sampler, the gas being supplied through at least one feed line and at least one gas line, whereby the gas flows out again from the sampler through at least one filling part, and the sampler being subsequently immersed into the melted material, the supply of gas being changed by switching a switch in the sample holder from a position A to a position B, followed by the sample chamber filling up with melted material, thereafter gas being supplied into the sampler again during or after the sample chamber fills with melted material by switching the switch from position B to a position C, and whereby at least the sample chamber is cooled by the supplied gas.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment the sampler comprises, between a region of the outer surface of the inner cooling body and the region of the outer surface of the upper cooling body that is opposite to said outer surface of the inner cooling body, at least one gap for conducting at least one gas, preferably one inert gas, in particular argon or nitrogen, and the volume of the respective cooling body is larger than the volume of the gap, preferably by a ratio of at least 3:1, in particular at least 5:1, preferably at least 10:1, in particular at least 20:1, such that the sampler has better cooling performance.

[0013] Preferably the sampler has a switch arranged in it that is connected to the feed line and the discharge line on the one hand and to the gas line on the other hand, and can be used to connect either the feed line or the discharge line to the gas line.

[0014] Preferably the method includes the feature that at least one gas, preferably an inert gas, in particular argon or nitrogen, is supplied into the sampler before immersing it, whereby the gas flows out again from the sampler through at least one filling part, preferably a filling tube, and the sampler is subsequently immersed into the melted material, then the supply of gas is changed, in particular is interrupted or reversed in the direction of flow, followed by the sample chamber filling up with melted material, then gas being supplied again during or after the sample chamber fills with melted material such that at least the sample chamber is being cooled by the supplied gas.

[0015] Preferably the method for sampling includes the feature that at least one gas, preferably an inert gas, in particular argon or nitrogen, is supplied into the sampler, before immersing it, through at least one feed line and at least one gas line, whereby the gas flows out again from the sampler through at least one filling part, preferably a filling tube, and the sampler is subsequently immersed into the melted material, then the supply of gas is changed, in particular is interrupted or reversed in the direction of flow, by switching a switch in the sample holder from a position A to a position B, followed by the sample chamber filling up with melted material, then gas being supplied into the sampler again during or after the sample chamber fills with melted material by switching the switch from position B to position C, and whereby at least the sample chamber is cooled by the supplied gas.

[0016] Moreover, the invention in a preferred aspect relates to a device for implementing sampling processes in melted metals using a lance, in particular in melted steels using a sublance, whereby the lance comprises a lance body, wherein a sample holder according to an embodiment of the invention can be arranged on one end of the lance body by means of a contact part for accommodating a sampler according to an embodiment of the invention, whereby the device comprises at least one feed line for supplying gas through the contact part into the sampler and at least one discharge line for drawing off gas through the contact part out of the sampler, and at least one gas line that extends through the contact part and is connected to the sample chamber, whereby the switch is arranged in the lance body rather than in the sample holder.

[0017] And lastly, the invention in a preferred aspect relates to a device for producing a sample holder according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein the device comprises suitable means for producing the sample holder.

[0018] Moreover, the invention in a preferred embodiment relates to a method for producing a sample holder according to an embodiment of the invention by means of a device according to the preceding embodiment.

[0019] According to aspects of the invention, a change comprises the reduction, the switching off or the reversal. Reversal of the supply, i.e. reversing the direction of flow, generates a negative pressure in the sampler and thus in the sample chamber as well. Said three states of change can just as well occur consecutively in combination.

[0020] It is feasible by means of the sampler according to a preferred aspect of the invention to cool down a sample formed from a melted material by means of the cooling bodies in a technologically easy and rapid manner to a temperature at which the sample can be removed from the sample chamber or, alternatively, can be used further in said sampler. Taking it out in terms of removing it can proceed through dropping or manipulating the sampler appropriately such that the sample is released upon destruction of the sampler. Moreover, the sampler enables cost-efficient cooling of the sample forming from the melted material. The method according to preferred embodiments of the invention for sampling from a melted material can also be used to easily, inexpensively and rapidly cool a sample by means of the gas being re-supplied to the sampler. A cooled sample does no longer react, for example, with ambient air or, alternatively, any reaction or change of the sample that does proceed is reduced through the cooling. Moreover, it is feasible, preferably, that the sampler does not need any preparation for analysis of the solidified sample due to its dimension and the use of an inert gas, for example argon, in the sampler. Accordingly, no additional production machinery, such as, for example a milling machine or polishing machine is required at the factory building for processing of the removed sample. This has to be considered to be a preferred feature. Moreover, it is feasible according to embodiments of the invention to reduce or minimise the expenditure of time. There is neither a separate laboratory required, in which the sample is analysed with possible prioritisation issues, nor the use of a pneumatic shipping system or a conveyor belt with attendant restrictions related to the use of said submission, since the sample can be analysed directly on site using an analytical unit, for example next to the converter and the unit of the lance used in the factory building. This also has to be considered to be another preferred feature. The sample holder according to embodiments of the invention can also render it feasible to fill the sample chamber of the sampler with melted material in easy, inexpensive and rapid manner. Moreover, it is feasible, preferably, that the sampler according to an embodiment of the invention has a simple and inexpensive design. Moreover, the sampler according to embodiments of the invention can be integrated easily into existing devices for sampling.

[0021] The filling part connected to the sample chamber through which the melted material flows from the bath of melted material into the sample chamber is provided, for example, from a quartz glass, a ceramic material or the like.

[0022] The lower, upper and/or inner cooling body is preferably designed to be of metal or a metal alloy, for example a steel alloy, which preferably has a higher melting point than the melted material forming the later sample in the sample chamber.

[0023] Moreover, alternatively or in addition, the cooling body can be coated. This allows, for example, an oxidation and/or a micro-structural change of the sample while the sample is cooling to be prevented, whereby the respective outside of the sample preferably is situated adjacent to the corresponding coated cooling body.

[0024] According to another preferred refinement of the sampler, at least the lower cooling body and the inner cooling body form a wall of the sample chamber, whereby the wall is formed by a region of the respective outer surface of the lower cooling body and of the inner cooling body such that a sample chamber having a hollow space is formed between lower cooling body and inner cooling body.

[0025] Since the sample is situated between the lower cooling body and the inner cooling body while it is cooling down, it is feasible according to an aspect of the invention to cool the sample in a manner that is particularly easy and rapid. This is the case, since the corresponding surface of the lower cooling body and of the inner cooling body preferably borders directly on the sample such that heat can be dissipated directly by means of the respective cooling body and is then conducted out of the sampler by the flowing gas.

[0026] Another preferred refinement of the sampler has the sampler comprise at least one connector for supplying gas, preferably of an inert gas, in particular argon or nitrogen. The connector is also referred to as hybrid connector. The connector can be used to dissipate the heat transferred from the sample to the corresponding cooling body, in particular the lower and the inner cooling bodies, by means of a gas that is supplied through the connector. It is feasible in this context to adjust the quantity of supplied gas to the cooling effect desired in the individual case. It is preferred to use an inert gas, in particular argon or nitrogen, such that no reaction of the sample and the supplied gas proceeds. Another preferred object of the gas supplied through the connector is to keep the sample chamber free from melted material until the melted material is taken up into the same by having gas flow out of the filling part of the sampler into the melted material such that no melted material can initially ingress into the sampler.

[0027] According to another preferred refinement of the sampler, at least the lower and the inner cooling bodies can be detached from each other. Due to this arrangement, the sample is easy to remove from the sample chamber, which preferably is formed between the lower cooling body and the inner cooling body. According to an embodiment of the invention, the cooled down sample and the lower cooling body cannot be detached from each other in this context while the cooled down sample is being removed.

[0028] Having said gap, it is feasible, on the one hand, to let a certain amount of gas flow into the sampler. On the other hand, it is thus feasible to dissipate a major amount of heat that is generated in the sampler, for example after the melted material is taken up into the sample chamber. The shape of the gap in this context can be any three-dimensional geometrical shape, for example spherical, ellipsoidal, conical, trapezoidal and/or any combination thereof. Alternatively or in addition, a free-form surface comprising different shapes in the gap is feasible just as well.

[0029] According to another preferred refinement of the sampler, the sampler comprises at least one gas exit opening for discharge of the supplied gas. According to the explanation provided above, it is feasible that supplied gas flows out of the filling part into the melted material before the melted material is taken up into the sample chamber. After melted material flowed through the filling part into the sample chamber, said path is at least impaired or obstructed such that gas supplied in the same quantities as before filling the melted material into the sampler in order to cool it needs to be discharged by other routes in order to prevent the pressure from increasing. This purpose is served by a gas exit opening, which enables a continued supply of gas for cooling, in particular after the melted material is taken up, for example through the gap between the cooling bodies, and then guides said gas to exit from the sampler without having to flow through the sample chamber.

[0030] According to another preferred refinement of the sampler, at least one of the cooling bodies, preferably the upper cooling body, comprises at least one ventilation opening. Having the ventilation opening in the region of the cooling body is preferable in that the amount of gas that is supplied to the sampler and is used for cooling can be guided through the ventilation opening to the gas exit opening after sampling.

[0031] According to another preferred refinement, the ventilation opening can be closed through at least one closure, which can be opened, preferably a membrane, which can be opened, whereby the closure opens while or after the sample chamber is getting filled with the melted material. According to the explanation provided above, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides for conducting gas first through the cooling bodies, then through the sample chamber, and lastly out of the filling part until the melted material is taken up into the sample chamber. After filling the sample chamber with melted material, the path of flow of the gas is obstructed by the filling part either in part or, in particular, completely, such that gas required for cooling can then be conducted as before, through a closure, which can be opened, to exit from the sampler. In this context, the closure opens while or after the sample chamber is getting filled with the melted material. In this context, the opening can be generated through a pressure increase in that the closure opens only from a certain pressure. Alternatively or in addition, it is feasible that the closure is influenced by the amount of heat of the melted material surrounding the sampler after the sampler is immersed into the warm liquid melted material to effect a switch from the state of the closure being closed to the closure being open.

[0032] The ventilation opening can, for example, have a round or angular shape or any combination of both, for example a round shape with straight fractions, an ellipsoidal shape with angular fractions or the like.

[0033] According to a further preferred refinement, the diameter of the ventilation opening is approx. 0.7 mm to approx. 1.3 mm’ preferably 1.0 mm.

[0034] According to another preferred refinement of the sampler, the closure, preferably the membrane, comprises at least one plastic connection, preferably an adhesive tape, a hot melt adhesive, a PVC plastic stopper, a closure valve having a hot melt connector made of plastic material or the like. It is feasible that the heat of the melted material in the sample chamber melts the closure consisting of plastic material and thus deforms or dissolves it such that the closure opens partly or completely. For this purpose, supplied gas can continue to flow through the sampler according to the explanations provided above in a predetermined and/or required quantity for cooling. Alternatively or in addition, it is feasible to open the closure consisting of a plastic connection through the influence of pressure generated through the quantity of supplied gas, for example through deformation of the closure.

[0035] After change of the properties of the closure, the supplied gas will then, for example, flow out of the ventilation opening or then out of the gas exit opening.

[0036] According to another preferred refinement of the sampler, the closure, preferably the membrane, has a pressure resistance of approx. 0.5 bar to approx. 4 bar, in particular between 1.7 bar and approx. 2.3 bar, preferably approx. 2.0 bar. Accordingly, it is feasible to have the closure open only from a certain pressure. A high pressure in the region of the closure can be generated by supplying a large amount of gas, for example at the point in time, in which particularly strong cooling is required.

[0037] According to another preferred refinement of the sampler, the temperature resistance of the closure, preferably of the membrane, is approx. 50 °C to approx. 90 °C, preferably approx. 70 °C. This ensures that the closure does not open yet during the passage through the slag, which usually is situated on the melted material when the sampler is being immersed. Temperature resistance being evident also leads to the closure not opening when it is exposed to ambient air, etc. (et cetera). When the sampler is being immersed into the melted material, there is a time-delayed increase of the temperature in the region of the closure such that a temperature of approx. 70 °C is established with a slight delay at the same, for example when the sampler has already been removed from the melted material.

[0038] According to a preferred refinement, the closure is designed as a membrane that allows only a certain amount of gas to pass. In this context, the amount can be a function, for example, of pressure and/or ambient temperature about the membrane, in particular with a focus on the quantity of heat and amount of gas supplied to the sampler.

[0039] According to another preferred refinement of the invention, the sampler comprises at least one measuring system, preferably a temperature sensor, in particular a thermocouple, for determining the position of the sampler in the melted material. By this means, the supply of gas into the sampler can be controlled in each individual case. Alternatively or in addition, this enables optimal determination of the point in time of entry of the melted material through, for example, the filling tube into the sample chamber. A slag cap melts a certain temperature (e.g. at 1,000°C) and a gas flow in the sampler can be switched appropriately such that melted material flows into the sample chamber and a sample is taken.

[0040] Alternatively, it is feasible that a lance according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a measuring system, preferably an inductive measuring system, whereby the sampler is positioned on the lance, preferably is affixed to the lance. A sample holder acting as a connection element can be arranged between the lance and the sampler. It is feasible to determine the position of the sampler in the melted material by means of the inductive measuring system. It is thus feasible to detect and at least measure the transition from slag to melted material such that the gas supply can be changed during or after detection of the transition. Accordingly, it is also feasible to change the supply of gas into the sampler once the sampler has been immersed from the slag into the melted material. The inductive measuring system preferably comprises a wire coil, preferably for measuring the induction occurring upon the transition from slag to melted material.

[0041] According to another preferred refinement, the gap and the supply of gas allow the sample formed from the melted material to be cooled down in the sample chamber to a temperature of approx. 90 °C to approx. 200 °C, preferably approx. 150 °C. According to explanations provided above, it is preferred to conduct the gas through a gap between the corresponding cooling bodies, which enables rapid and easy cooling from the melting temperature to desired temperatures, for example 150°C or less.

[0042] According to another preferred refinement, the filling part can be covered, at least through a protective cap, preferably through a protective cap made of metal. This enables particularly easy and gentle introduction of the sampler into the melted material, since the same is covered through the protective cap which melts only after entry, for example through the slag and then into the melted material. Accordingly, the filling part for taking up the melted material into the sample chamber is exposed in the melted material only after the protective cap melts. However, according to an aspect of the invention, gas is still being conducted out of the filling part within the melted material before the melted material enters into the sample chamber.

[0043] According to another preferred refinement, the sampler can be positioned on a lance and/or on a carrier part, preferably on a carrier tube, in particular on a sample holder and a carrier tube, in particular a carrier tube made of cardboard. This enables the sampler to be introduced into the melted material both manually and automatically. It is thus feasible, in particular, to position the sampler anywhere in the melted material. It is also feasible by this means to reuse the lance by using a carrier tube, which is damaged to the extent that it can no longer be used after uptake of the melted material and cooling down of the melted material in the sample chamber to form a sample. In this context, the sample holder is protected by the carrier tube. Accordingly, the carrier tube is a disposable article that is used just once, in particular in order to protect the multiple-use lance. It is feasible, for example, to position a carrier tube of a certain length on a lance or a sample holder and to thus generate a certain distance between lance and sampler when the carrier tube takes up the sampler on its end opposite from the lance. The sample holder, which preferably connects the sampler and the lance, is preferably situated within the carrier tube. The carrier tube and the sampler are introduced appropriately into the melted material such that they are contacting the melted material directly. In this context, the sample holder is protected by the carrier tube. The lance is also protected from the melted material.

[0044] In this context, it is feasible according to an aspect of the invention to design the corresponding cooling body to have any of various geometries. It is feasible, for example, to design the inner cooling body to be of rectangular shape, square shape, disc shape, triangular shape, pyramidal shape, conical shape, spherical shape, circular shape or the like, for example a combination of the aforementioned. Referring, in particular, to the two-dimensional geometrical shapes, such as triangle, rectangle, circle, square or the like, the inner cooling body also comprises a certain thickness such that this results in a three-dimensional design of the cooling body. According to an aspect of the invention, it is particularly preferred in this context for the shapes of the lower cooling body and of the upper cooling body to be adapted to the shape of the inner cooling body such that this results in optimal cooling by gaps forming in the region of the sample chamber and sampler. Alternatively or in addition, it is also feasible that the shape of the lower or upper cooling body has an influence on the shaping of the inner cooling body.

[0045] The shape of the cooling body can be used to influence the shape of the gap (or vice versa).

[0046] The invention in an aspect further provides for adapting the diameter or the dimensions of the gap according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, which is particularly preferred to extend between the upper cooling body and the inner cooling body, to the amounts of gas needed. A gap shall be understood in this context to be a two-dimensional design, for example a conical gap that surrounds the surface of a corresponding conical inner cooling body. Optimal cooling of the cooling bodies and thus of the sample chamber and ultimately of the sampler is thus made feasible.

[0047] In the method according to an aspect of the invention, it is preferred to supply the gas through the connector for the supply of gas to the sampler. Preferably, the connector is situated within the sample holder. As a result, gas can be supplied into the sampler in an easy and inexpensive manner. It is thus feasible, in particular, to connect various gases, which each are adapted to the melted material, to a connector of said type. It is feasible, for example, to connect gas A to the connector for melted material A and to connect gas B or the gas mixture B' for melted material B to the same connector.

[0048] Preferably, the gas flows through at least one gap between at least the inner cooling body and upper cooling body. According to explanations provided above, this facilitates optimal and rapid cooling of the initially liquid melted material in the sample chamber in order to generate a useful sample. Accordingly, the rapidly cooled sample can be removed from the sample chamber without any external influences, such as oxidation reactions, acting on the sample after removal of the sample from the sampler.

[0049] Preferably, the gas flows out only out of the filling part, before the melted material is filled in, and flows out through at least one ventilation opening while or after the melted material is being filled into the sample chamber. According to explanations provided above, it is feasible in this context to prevent parts of melted material or slag from entering into the sample chamber before the melted material is actually desired to flow into the sample chamber. Moreover, the presence of the ventilation opening prevents an overpressure from being built-up in the sampler, which would have an influence on the formation of the liquid or partly solidified sample, since any critical pressure that is generated is released by the gas flowing out of the ventilation opening.

[0050] Preferably, the gas flowing out of the ventilation opening is discharged through at least one gas exit opening for discharging the supplied gas from the sampler. The gas flowing out of the ventilation opening is discharged through the gas exit opening that is situated, for example, in the direction of the lance. Accordingly, it can be discharged from the sampler against the inflow direction of the gas.

[0051] Preferably, the closure, preferably the membrane, becomes permeable to gas or is destroyed while or after the melted material is being filled into the sample chamber, due to the effect of the temperature of the melted material and/or the pressure of the supplied gas. It is thus feasible to regulate the gas flow flowing into the sampler appropriately such that a certain amount of gas can be supplied.

[0052] Preferably, the gas flows out of the filling part after the protective cap, preferably the protective cap made of metal, has melted. According to explanations provided above, it is thus feasible to influence the time at which the melted material enters into the sample chamber.

[0053] Preferably, after filling the melted material into the sample chamber, the newly supplied gas flows through the gap and then the gas preferably flows through the ventilation opening out of the sampler, whereby this cools down the temperature of the sample, preferably to a temperature of approx. 90 °C to approx. 200°C, in particular approx. 150°C. By this means, and referring to the explanations provided above, rapid and simple cooling of the sample chamber and thus of the melted material or already solidified sample present therein is made feasible. At a temperature of approx. 150 °C, for example subsequent analysis or mechanical, chemical and/or electrical processing of the sample is made feasible, either after the sample has been removed from the sample chamber or while it is still present in the sample chamber. At 150 °C, the sample can be removed easily, for example, by destroying the sampler without having to expect further critical reactions due to, for example, ambient air to occur.

[0054] Preferably, the sample is held by means of the lower cooling body. Moreover, alternatively or in addition, it is preferred that the inner cooling body is held by means of the upper cooling body.

[0055] It is preferable to use a measuring system, preferably a temperature measuring system, preferably a temperature sensor, in particular a thermocouple, or an inductive measuring system to regulate the supply of gas into the sampler, in particular it is preferred to change the supply of gas for filling the melted material into the sample chamber. Using the measuring system, it is therefore feasible to regulate the point in time at which the melted material flows into the sampler and thus into the sample chamber for the individual application on hand by using the measuring system to detect a condition at which an inflow of the melted material is desired to proceed. Moreover, negative influences such as penetration through the slag in the direction of the melted material to be measured, can be reduced by means of the measuring system or, preferably, can even be eliminated according to the invention.

[0056] Preferably, the sample is supplied to an analytical facility while it is in the sampler. It is particularly preferred to remove the sample from the sampler in this context, i.e. (id est) from the sample chamber formed between the inner cooling body and the lower cooling body, and to then analyse it in a suitable device, for example in an optical emission spectrometer. In this context, the lower cooling body remains attached to the sample during removal of the sample in a preferred refinement.

[0057] In a preferred refinement of the sample holder according to an aspect of the invention, the sample holder comprises at least one gas exit opening, whereby the discharge line ends in the gas exit opening.

[0058] In another preferred refinement, the sample holder comprises at least one intermediate filter between switch and gas exit opening in the discharge line. Preferably, the intermediate filter is designed in the form of a gas filter.

[0059] In an alternative, preferred refinement of the sample holder, the feed line comprises at least one feed valve and/or the discharge line comprises at least one venturi nozzle.

[0060] In another preferred refinement, the discharge line comprises at least one opening, preferably one opening in the region of the venturi nozzle.

[0061] In an alternative, preferred refinement of the sample holder, a part of the discharge line connected to the switch that is arranged in said sample holder has a larger diameter than the other parts of the discharge line, forming at least one vacuum chamber that comprises at least one gas suction line for connection to at least one vacuum pump.

[0062] In an alternative, preferred refinement of the sample holder, a part of the discharge line connected to the switch that is arranged in said sample holder merges into a hollow internal space of the sample holder, whereby the internal space comprises a gas-tight wall with at least one gas suction line for connection to at least one vacuum pump.

[0063] In another preferred refinement, the vacuum chamber has a volume from 0.1 1 to approx. 0.5 1, preferably of approx. 0.3 1.

[0064] In another preferred refinement, the sample holder and the contact part each have a cross-section with an axially symmetrical circumference, in particular a circular circumference.

[0065] In a preferred embodiment of the sample holders according to an aspect of the invention, at least one gas filter is arranged between the gas line connected to the sample chamber and the switch.

[0066] In a preferred refinement of the sample holders according to an aspect of the invention, the sample holder comprises at least one hybrid contact part and the sampler comprises at least one hybrid connector. The contact part is also referred to as contact block.

[0067] Preferably, the hybrid contact part is made of a metallic material and the hybrid connector is preferably made of plastic material. Due to the properties of the hybrid contact part and the, preferably corresponding, hybrid connector, electrical signals as well as pneumatic signals can be conducted simultaneously or with a time delay through the respective hybrid component, i.e. a dual, i.e. a hybrid, function is feasible. The hybrid contact part can comprise, in addition, a hybrid unit through which the at least one gas line and at least one cable are guided.

[0068] In the device for implementing sampling processes, a preferred embodiment of the sample holder has a length measured in axial direction, from the end of the contact part to the opposite side of the sample holder and the switch is arranged at a distance of at most 0.3 x length, in particular 0.1 x length, from the end of the contact part.

[0069] In the corresponding device according to an aspect of the invention for implementing sampling processes, in a preferred refinement, sampler and sample holder can be connected by means of a carrier part, preferably a carrier tube, in particular a carrier tube made of cardboard. In this context, the sampler itself can just as well be connected to the sample holder.

[0070] In a variant of the method according to an aspect the invention for sampling from a melted material, with the switch being in position B, at least an amount of gas that is present at least in the sample chamber and the filling part flows by means of the sample holder according to the invention in the direction of the sample holder due to the supply of gas in the feed line being interrupted by means of the switch.

[0071] In a further, alternative refinement of the method, with the switch being in position B, it is preferred that at least an amount of gas that is present at least in the sample chamber and the filling part is drawn in by means of the sample holder according to an embodiment of the invention in the direction of the sample holder due to the gas already supplied being reversed in direction by means of the venturi nozzle such that the supplied gas is being drawn off.

[0072] In a further, alternative refinement of the method, with the switch being in position B, at least an amount of gas that is present at least in the sample chamber and the filling part is drawn in by means of the sample holder according to an aspect of the invention in the direction of the sample holder by the gas already supplied being reversed in direction by means of the negative pressure in the vacuum chamber such that the supplied gas is being drawn off.

[0073] In a further, alternative refinement of the method, with the switch being in position B, it is preferred that at least an amount of gas that is present at least in the sample chamber and the filling part is drawn in by means of the sample holder according to the invention in the direction of the sample holder by the gas already supplied being reversed in direction by means of the negative pressure in the vacuum chamber such that the supplied gas is being drawn off.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0073a] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings: [0074] The figures illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention in more detail.

[0075] In the figures: [0076] Figure 1 shows a particularly preferred embodiment of a sampler; [0077] Figure 2 shows an alternative refinement of a sampler; [0078] Figure 3 shows a particularly preferred embodiment of a sample holder; [0079] Figure 4 shows an alternative refinement of a sample holder; and [0080] Figure 5 shows another alternative refinement of a sample holder.

[0081] Figure 1 (Fig. 1) shows a sampler 1 that had been immersed into a liquid and warm bath of melted material for the purpose of sampling.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

[0082] The sampler 1 comprises a sample chamber 2. A sample 3 is shown in exemplary manner in the sample chamber 2 shown in Figure 1 and has been formed from a melted material in the present exemplary embodiment, from melted steel 4 in the present exemplary embodiment. The melted steel 4 has a temperature of above 600 °C and is shown as a detail in exemplary manner in Figure 1.

[0083] The sampler 1 further comprises a filling tube 5 that comprises a filling opening 5a and a through-going hole. The filling tube 5 consists of quartz glass in the present exemplary embodiment. At the end facing the sampler, the filling tube 5 merges into the sample chamber 2 and is connected to the sample chamber 2.

[0084] According to Figure 1, the sampler 1 comprises three cooling bodies in the present exemplary embodiment, namely a lower cooling body 6, an upper cooling body 8, and an inner cooling body 7. According to the present exemplary embodiment, the sample chamber 2 is surrounded directly by the lower cooling body 6 and the inner cooling body 7. The lower cooling body 6 and the inner cooling body 7 thus surround the sample chamber 2 directly and form the inner wall of the sample chamber 2. Accordingly, the inner wall is formed by the two cooling bodies 6, 7, since their outer surfaces form a wall of the sample chamber 2. Said wall is referred to as inner wall according to the invention. Accordingly, by means of the inner wall, the sample chamber is considered to be a closed space into which melted material can flow. According to the invention, the sample chamber 2 can be cooled by means of the cooling bodies 6, 7, 8.

[0085] According to Figure 1, the sampler 1 comprises at least one connector 9 for the supply of gas or a gas mixture into the sampler 1. The connector 9 is also referred to as hybrid connector.

An inert gas, for example argon, is supplied through the connector 9 into the sampler 1 in the present exemplary embodiment.

[0086] According to Figure 1, the inner cooling body 7 is shaped like a cone, whereby the outer surfaces of the inner cooling body 7 form trapezoidal surfaces. The upper cooling body 8 is adapted to the shape of the inner cooling body such that it forms a corresponding negative shape according to Figure 1. The inner cooling body 7 is held by means of the upper cooling body 8 in the context of the present exemplary embodiment. The lower cooling body is adapted to the shape of the upper cooling body 8 and of the inner cooling body 7 in appropriate manner such that the upper cooling body and the lower cooling body 6 form a tight connection at their contact surfaces. Said contact surfaces of the lower cooling body 6 and upper cooling body 8 have a circumferential O-ring 10 situated in a groove of the lower cooling body 6 in the present exemplary embodiment to provide for tightness, in particular pressure- and gas-tightness. According to explanations provided above, the sample 3 is situated in the sample chamber 2 between the inner cooling body 7 and the lower cooling body 6. According to preferred embodiments of the invention, the sample 3 is held in place by means of the lower cooling body 6.

[0087] According to Figure 1, at least the lower cooling body 6 and the inner cooling body 7 can be detached from each other such that the sample 3 can be removed from the sampler 1. According to the present exemplary embodiment, the cooled down sample 3 remains firmly connected to the lower cooling body 6 in this context, while the sample 3 is being removed.

[0088] According to Figure 1, the sampler 1 comprises, between an outer wall 7a of the inner cooling body 7 and the outer wall 8a of the upper cooling body 8 that is situated opposite from the outer wall 7a of the inner cooling body 7, at least one gap 11 for the supply of the inert gas used in the present exemplary embodiment. Accordingly, a three-dimensional gap 11 is present between the two corresponding cooling bodies 7, 8.

[0089] In this context, the gap 11 extends between the two outer walls 7a, 8a such that a conical gap 11 is formed in the sampler 1. By means of the gap 11 shown in Fig. 1 and by means of the supply of inert gas, the sample 3 formed from the melted steel 4 in the sample chamber 2 in the present exemplary embodiment can be cooled to a temperature of approx. 150 °C both rapidly and easily.

[0090] The volume of the corresponding cooling bodies 6, 7, 8 is larger than the volume of the gap 11 (according to Figure 1), preferable the ratio of the volume of the corresponding cooling body 6, 7, 8 and the volume of the gap 11 is at least 20:1. This provides for better cooling performance of the sampler 1 according to Figure 1.

[0091] In the present exemplary embodiment, the sampler 1 further comprises a measuring system, a thermocouple 12 in the present exemplary embodiment, by means of which the temperature and thus the position of the sampler 1 in the warm melted steel 4 can be determined.

[0092] According to explanations provided above, the sampler 1 in the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 1 has already been dipped into the melted steel 4 in order to generate a sample 3 and has been removed from same after generating the sample 3 in the sample chamber 2. In this context, the sample 3 is surrounded in the sample chamber 2 by the inner walls thereof. Accordingly, the cover 13 is shown by dashed lines in the region of the filling opening 5a of the filling tube 5, since it has melted in the melted steel 4. Moreover, the protective cap 14 used in the present exemplary embodiment is shown by dashed lines for the same reason. Both the cover 13 and the protective cap 14 have melted after the sampler 1 was immersed into the melted steel 4. Accordingly, the sampler 1 comprises a cover 13 and a protective cap 14 before it is immersed into the melted steel 4.

[0093] The sampler 1 further comprises a sand body 15 through which extends the filling tube 5 and in which the thermocouple 12 is situated. In this context, the sand body 15 has a closed shape like a block of sand. In this context, the filling tube 5 projects from the sand body 15 at a certain distance according to Figure 1. The thermocouple 12 is in direct contact with the melted steel 4. The temperature measurement proceeds by means of the thermocouple 12 that is situated in the melted steel 4.

[0094] The upper cooling body 8 comprises a ventilation opening 16 in the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 1. The ventilation opening 16 is closed through a membrane 17, which can be opened, in the present exemplary embodiment. According to Figure 1, the membrane 17 is open for gas after the melted steel 4 flows into the sample chamber 2, whereby the membrane opened up at least upon the sample chamber 2 being filled with melted steel 4 in the present exemplary embodiment. The membrane 17 according to the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 1 is, for example, a hot-melt adhesive that is influenced by the heat of the melted material such that the membrane 17 opens up. In the present exemplary embodiment, the ventilation opening 16 has a diameter of 1 mm, whereby the ventilation opening 16 takes the shape of a round hole. In the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 1, the pressure resistance of the closed membrane 17 is approx. 2 bar and the temperature resistance of the membrane 17 is approx. 70 °C in the present exemplary embodiment.

[0095] Moreover, the sampler 1 in the present exemplary embodiment comprises a gas exit opening 18 for discharge of the supplied gas. With membrane 17 being open, the gas supplied to the sampler 1 flows out of the sampler 1 again through the gas exit opening 18.

[0096] Moreover, Figure 1 shows a carrier tube 19 made of cardboard. The sampler 1 is connected firmly to said carrier tube 19. The other region of the carrier tube 19 is affixed to a sample holder (not shown in Figure 1) that is shown in exemplary manner in Figures 3 to 5 and is described in more detail in the following and is thus positioned for sampling from the melted steel 4. Said sample holder according to a refinement according to Figures 3 to 5 is therefore surrounded by the carrier tube 19 made of cardboard. The sampler 1 is therefore connected to the sample holder on one side of the corresponding sample holder.

[0097] According to Figure 1, the three cooling bodies 6, 7, 8 are situated in the region of the carrier tube 19 in this context. In the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 1, the sampler 1 is designed in particular for a subdance (German: Sublanze) such that the sampler 1 is used for a sub-lance and a corresponding device. In this context, it is preferable that the sub-lance in the form of a lance is affixed in the region of the connection of carrier tube 19 and sample holder.

[0098] A process of sampling according to the invention from the melted steel 4 by means of the sampler 1 according to Figure 1 is described in exemplary manner in the following.

[0099] According to explanations provided above, the carrier tube 19 made of cardboard situated at the end of a lance not shown here positions the sampler 1 according to Figure 1 also by means of a sample holder that is not shown in Figures 3 to 5. The inert gas is supplied through the connector 9 into the sampler 1 before immersing the sampler 1 into the melted steel 4. The gas supplied through the connector 9 flows through the three-dimensional gap 11 along the outer walls 7a, 8a between inner cooling body 7 and upper cooling body 8, then through the empty sample chamber 2 into the filling tube 5, which is still closed through a cover 13 before immersion into the melted steel 4. Moreover, according to explanations provided above, the sampler 1 further comprises a protective cap 14 made of metal. Accordingly, the gas flows all the way into the filling tube 5. In this context, a pressure of maximally 2 bar is built-up in the sampler 1 in the present exemplary embodiment such that the membrane 17 remains closed. Accordingly, the gas cannot flow through the ventilation opening 16 since the membrane 17 is still closed.

[0100] Subsequently, the sampler 1 is immersed into the melted steel 4 in immersion direction E. In this context, the sampler 1 is initially guided through the slag of the melted steel 4 and then into the melted steel 4 itself in the present exemplary embodiment. The position of the sampler 1 in the melted steel 4 is not shown in Figure 1.

[0101] Due to the heat of the melted steel 4, the protective cap 14 and also the cover 13 melt subsequently. Protective cap 14 and cover 13 are made of metal. The gas supplied through the connector 9 thus flows out of the filling tube 5 out of the sampler 1 into the melted steel 4 in the direction of immersion direction E, upon which no melted steel 4 can ingress into the filling tube 5 though. The three cooling bodies 6, 7, 8 and the sample chamber 2 are situated above the sand body 15, i.e. these are arranged in the direction opposite from the immersion direction E. Accordingly, these are protected through the carrier tube 19 inside the bath of melted material even after immersion into the melted steel 4.

[0102] The supply of gas into the sampler 1 is regulated by means of the temperature sensor in the form of the thermocouple 12 in that the temperature is measured by means of the thermocouple 12 in accordance with the explanations provided above. According to the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 1, the supply of gas in this context for subsequently filling melted steel 4 into the sample chamber 2 is interrupted by effecting a change while the sampler 1 is in a certain position in the melted steel 4, since the temperature of the melted steel 4 indicates the position of the sampler 1 in the melted steel 4. In the process, the sand body 15 heats up as well. Once said position in the melted steel 4 is reached, the supply of gas is therefore changed briefly in the present exemplary embodiment such that the sample chamber 2 can then fill up with melted steel 4. In the present exemplary embodiment, the supply of gas is changed in that the supply of gas is being switched off. In this context, the melted steel 4 flows through the hole of the filling tube into the sample chamber 2, whereby the melted steel enters into the hole at the filling opening 5a.

[0103] Alternatively, it is feasible to generate a negative pressure inside the sample chamber 2 instead of switching off the supply of gas, such that the sample chamber 2 can fill up with melted steel 4 even more rapidly. A negative pressure can be generated, for example, by generating a negative pressure on the connector 9. Based on the design of the sampler 1 described above, the melted steel will then flow into the sample chamber 2 due to the suction effect of the negative pressure.

[0104] After the sample chamber 2 fills with melted steel, the sampler 1 is pulled out of the melted steel 4 using the lance and the carrier tube 19 such that the sampler 1 according to Figure 1 is present with a filled sample chamber 2.

[0105] Due to the temperature of the melted steel 4, the membrane 17 becomes gas-permeable in the present exemplary embodiment while the melted steel 4 is being filled into the sample chamber 2, since the heat radiation at the temperature of the melted steel 4 has an influence on the membrane 17 or heats the cooling bodies 6, 7, 8 to the extent that the membrane 17 is destroyed in the process. The membrane 17, which was closed before, has now opened up for gas.

[0106] Accordingly, it is feasible in the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 1 to again supply gas into the sampler 1 after filling the sample chamber 2 with melted material 4 and after pulling the sample chamber 1 out of the melted steel 4 such that the sample 3 is cooled by the inert gas supplied. Accordingly, the supply of gas into the sampler 1 is switched on again afterwards in the present exemplary embodiment.

[0107] Since the sample 3 is still present in the sampler 1 and fills the sample chamber 2 and thus closes it, the inert gas flows through the connector 9 and then through the conical gap 11 about the inner cooling body 7 that borders on the sample 3 on one wall side. In this context, according to Figure 1, the gas also flows about the lower cooling body 6 and the upper cooling body 8 due to the geometrical design of the gap 11 such that the same is also cooled in the process. Finally, the gas then flows out of the ventilation opening 16 such that the gas flowing out of the ventilation opening 16 is discharged through the gas exit opening 18 out of the sampler 1. It also flows through the gas-permeable membrane 17 in the region of the ventilation opening 16 in this context.

[0108] The newly supplied gas that takes up the heat of the sampler 1 and flows through the gap 11 leads to the temperature of the sample 3 being cooled down rapidly and easily, in the present exemplary embodiment to a temperature of approx. 150 °C. Moreover, the dimensions of the respective cooling bodies 6, 7, 8 and the respective size ratio of cooling bodies 6, 7, 8 to the gap 11 lead to rapid dissipation of the heat.

[0109] At a temperature of approx. 150°C, it is easily feasible to remove the sample 3 from the sampler 1 and to pass it on, for example, to an analytical facility in the present exemplary embodiment. The analytical facility is not shown in Figure 1.

[0110] Figure 2 (Fig. 2) shows another, alternative exemplary embodiment of a sampler la. In particular, only the differences as compared to the sampler 1 shown in Figure 1 are described.

[0111] Identical technical components are provided with the same reference numbers, whereas new components are provided with new reference numbers, whereby the geometrical shape of corresponding components might differ between Figure 1 and Figure 2.

[0112] Figure 2 shows a sampler la having a sample chamber 2 and a sample 3 formed in the sample chamber 2 from a melted metal 4a that is shown in exemplary manner and as a detail.

[0113] Moreover, Figure 2 shows the lower cooling body 6, the inner cooling body 7, and the upper cooling body 8 which the sampler la comprises. Moreover, according to Figure 2, the sampler la comprises a connector 9 for the supply of inert gas as used in the present exemplary embodiment, in particular argon or nitrogen.

[0114] Moreover, the sampler la is firmly positioned on a carrier tube 19. Moreover, the sampler la has a sample holder (not shown in Figure 2) positioned on it in a refinement according to Figures 3 to 5, whereby the carrier tube 19 surrounds said sample holder.

Moreover, the sampler la comprises a filling tube 5 which has a hole and consists of quartz glass or ceramic material. However, according to Fig. 2, the filling tube 5 does not comprise a cover.

[0115] The cooling bodies 6, 7, 8 and the sample chamber 2 and the sample 3 all are situated in a hollow sand body 15 of a different shape than in the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 1. That is, the sand body 15 according to Figure 2 surrounds the cooling bodies 6, 7, 8 in the form of a housing.

[0116] In this context, the filling tube 5 projects from the sand body 15 and is affixed partly with cement 20 in the region of the lead-through. The filling tube 5 projects somewhat from the hollow sand body 15 according to Figure 2 in this context.

[0117] According to explanations provided above, the three cooling bodies 6, 7, 8 are situated inside the sand body 15. The lower cooling body 6 is designed to be larger in volume as compared to the inner cooling body 7 and the upper cooling body 8. The volume of the corresponding cooling body 6, 7, 8 relative to the volume of the gap 11 is at least larger than the volume of the gap 11, preferable the ratio formed is at least 20:1.

[0118] The inner cooling body 7 comprises a thick, circular disc shape and is enveloped in three dimensions of space by the upper cooling body 8. The geometrical design allows the upper cooling body 8 to additionally engage the lower cooling body 6 resulting in a closed connection between upper cooling body 8 and lower cooling body 6, in which the inner cooling body 7 itself is arranged.

[0119] For sealing the upper cooling body 8 to the lower cooling body 6, an O-ring 10 is arranged in the region of the contact surface in a groove of the lower cooling body 6. According to Figure 2, a three-dimensional gap 11 in the form of a three-dimensional cup is provided between the upper cooling body 8 and the inner cooling body 7. Due to the O-ring seal and the geometry of the cooling bodies 6, 7, 8, this leads to the formation of a gas- and pressure-tight arrangement.

[0120] In this context, the inner cooling body 7 comprises an outer wall 7a that corresponds to the outer wall 8a of the upper cooling body 8 such that the gap 11 is formed that surrounds the entire inner cooling body in three dimensions of space.

[0121] Moreover, the position of the sampler la shown in Figure 2 in the melted metal 4a is determined by means of a measuring system in the form of an inductive measuring system not shown here. Using the inductive measuring system, it is feasible to measure and thus determine the position of the sampler la in the melted metal 4a. For this purpose, the inductive measuring system is situated in the lance, not shown here, in the present exemplary embodiment, whereby the measuring system is used to determine the position of the sampler la in the melted metal 4a when same is immersed, for example fully, in the melted metal 4a.

[0122] As described above referring to Figure 1, Figure 2 shows the sampler la after being pulled out of the melted metal 4a, whereby the sample 3 formed from the melted metal 4a is present in the sample chamber 2. Accordingly, the protective cap 14, which the sampler la comprises, is also shown by dashed lines, since it had already melted in the melted metal 4a. However, the sampler la comprised a protective cap 14 before it was immersed.

[0123] It is possible that the sampler la comprises a ventilation opening 16 and a gas exit opening 18. Neither of these is shown in Fig. 2.

[0124] The sampler la according to Figure 2 is designed in the way of a sampler for melted crude iron (hot metal sampler).

[0125] To produce a sample 3 in the sample chamber 2 of the sampler la according to Figure 2, the lance on which the carrier tube, the sample holder, and the sampler la are positioned, is introduced into the melted metal 4a in the immersion direction E. Once they are immersed, the sample holder and carrier tube surrounding it and the sampler la are situated fully in the warm bath of melted material.

[0126] Before immersion, an inert gas is supplied through the connector 9 into the sampler la according to explanations provided above. In this context, the gas flows through the gap 11, then through the sample chamber 2, in which no sample 3 is present yet, and lastly through the filling tube 5 in the direction of protective cap 14.

[0127] Once the sampler la is immersed into the melted metal 4a, the protective cap 14 melts such that the supplied gas flows into the melted metal 4a. The position of the sampler la in the melted metal 4a is determined by means of the inductive measuring system such that, according to the invention, the supply of gas is stopped if the position is not the desired position.

[0128] It is also feasible, alternatively, to establish suction, due to a negative pressure, in reverse direction as compared to the flow direction of the inert gas described above such that a negative pressure is generated in the sample chamber 2 by means of which the melted metal 4a flows through the filling tube 5 into the sample chamber 2 and fills the same with melted metal 4a in particularly easy and rapid manner.

[0129] After filling the sample chamber 2 with melted metal 4a, the sampler la is guided out of the melted metal 4a against the direction of entry E using the lance.

[0130] In the present exemplary embodiment, after the sampler la has been guided out of the melted metal 4a into the position according to Figure 2, gas is supplied again through the connector 9 and the gap 11 such that the sampler la and the sample 3 are being cooled.

[0131] Subsequently, it is feasible to remove the solidified and cooled down sample 3 from the sampler la since the lower cooling body 6 and the inner cooling body 7 can be detached from each other. In this context, the lower cooling body 6 and the cooled down sample 3 cannot be detached from each other according to the present exemplary embodiment.

[0132] Three refinements of a sample holder are described in detail in the following. In this context, the sample holder is connected to a connector 9 of the corresponding sampler 1,1a. According to explanations provided above, said sample holder is then surrounded by the cardboard tube in the form of the carrier tube 19, and the sample holder is connected to the corresponding lance on the side opposite to the side of the sampler 1,1a. The cardboard tube therefore surrounds the sample holder and borders on the lance and on the sampler 1,1a.

[0133] The supply of gas can be changed in order to fill the melted material into the sample chamber 2 by means of the three exemplary sample holders according to Figures 3 to 5. These each utilise different technologies to first conduct gas through the connector 9 of the sampler before the filling process and to then change the supply of gas in order to fill the sample chamber 2. This is described in detail in the following.

[0134] Figure 3 (Fig. 3) shows a sample holder 21a for preferred accommodation of a sampler 1 that is shown in Figure 1. For details of the design of the sampler 1 according to Figure 1, please refer to the explanations provided above.

[0135] The sample holder 21a comprises a contact block 22 as hybrid component for accommodating the sampler 1. According to Figure 3, the contact block 22 is arranged on one end of the sample holder 21a. The contact block 22 corresponds to the hybrid connector, which is also referred to as connector 9 of the sampler 1, such that contact block 22 and hybrid connector can engage each other. An accommodation device 23 is arranged on the opposite side of the sample holder 21a and comprises a thread in the present exemplary embodiment. Moreover, multiple gas lines are arranged in the sample holder 21a. In the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 3, the sample holder 21a comprises a feed line 24a, a discharge line 24b, and a gas line 24c. In this context, the gas line 24c is also situated in contact block 22.

It is feasible to supply gas through the feed line 24a via the contact block 22 into the sampler 1 not shown in Figure 3. In this context, connector 9 is used for supplying the gas. According to Figure 3, the gas line 24c extends through the contact block 22 and is therefore connected to the sample chamber 2 not shown in Figure 3, when sampler 1 and sample holder 21a are connected to each other. Moreover, it is feasible, by means of discharge line 24b, to discharge gas via the contact block 22 out of the sampler 1 not shown here. Furthermore, there is a gas connection 25b connected to feed line 24a present in the region of the one end of the sample holder 21a, i.e., according to Figure 3, in the region of the accommodation device 23. According to Figure 3, the gas connection 25b is connected to a gas feed line 25a.

[0136] Moreover, according to Fig. 3, the sample holder 21a comprises a switch 26, which is arranged in the sample holder 21a and is connected, on one side, to the feed line 24a and the discharge line 24b and, on the other side, to the gas line 24c. The change of the state of the switch 26 is implemented by means of the switching cable 27a, whereby a switching cable connection 27b to which a cable for switching can be connected is arranged on the end of the switching cable 27a in the region of the accommodation device 23 of the sample holder 21a. Moreover, the sample holder 21a comprises, in the region of the contact block 22, measuring contacts 28 that are arranged in the region of the contact block 22.

[0137] The measuring contacts 28 are connected by means of a signal cable 29a whose end is situated in the region of the accommodation device 23 whose end has a signal cable connector 29b arranged on it. Six measuring contacts 28 are arranged in series in the present exemplary embodiment according to Figure 3.

[0138] Moreover, a seal 30 is arranged in the region of the contact block 22 such that a gas-tight connection between the sample holder 21a and the sampler 1 not shown here is feasible when the two components are connected. Accordingly, a gas-tight connection is established between connector 9 according to Figure 1 and the contact block 22. According to Figure 3, the contact block 22 further comprises a gas socket 31 through which the gas can flow in order to flow through the gas line 24c.

[0139] According to Figure 3, the discharge line 24b is guided through a gas exit opening 33 to exit from the sample holder 21a. A gas filter 32a is arranged between said gas exit opening 33 and the switch 26 in the present exemplary embodiment. Another gas filter 32b is arranged in the region of the gas line 24c.

[0140] Moreover, the sample holder 21a comprises a hybrid unit 34 that is arranged between switch 26 and gas socket 31, whereby the hybrid unit 34 allows the gas line 24c and the signal line 29a to be connected directly and fixedly to the sampler 1 not shown here. According to explanations provided above, the contact block 22 is plugged into the connector 9 in fitting and gas-tight manner for this purpose.

[0141] Accordingly, it is characteristic of the sample holder 21a shown in Figure 3 that the sample holder 21a comprises the gas exit opening 33, whereby the discharge line 24b of the sample holder 21a ends in the gas exit opening 33. In this context, the gas filter 32a, in the form of an intermediate filter, is arranged between switch 26 and gas exit opening 33 of the discharge line 24b. According to Figure 3, the sample holder 21a and the contact block 22 each have a cross-section with a circular circumference.

[0142] Figure 4 (Fig. 4) shows an alternative refinement of a sample holder 21b, whereby identical components are provided with the same reference numbers and new components are provided with new reference numbers in the following.

[0143] In the following, the description of Figure 4 first describes the changes as compared to the sample holder 21a shown in Figure 3. The sample holder 21b shown in Figure 4 comprises no gas exit opening 33 and no gas filter 32a in the form of an intermediate filter. However, the sample holder 21b comprises a feed line 24a and a discharge line 24b that are connected to a single gas feed line 25a in the region of the sample holder 21b. According to Fig. 4, the feed line 24a and the discharge line 24b each are separately connected to a switch 26. A feed valve 35 is arranged in the feed line 24a and a venturi nozzle 36 is arranged in the discharge line 24b according to Figure 4. An opening 37 is arranged within the venturi nozzle 36 in the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 4 such that the discharge line 24b comprises an opening 37 in the region of the venturi nozzle 36. In this context, the opening 37 is part of the venturi nozzle 36 and is a particular design of the venturi nozzle 36. The design of the other components of the sample holder 21b shown in Figure 4, such as, for example, the accommodation device 23, the hybrid unit 34, and the contact block 22, correspond to the design of the components described above with reference to the sample holder 21a according to Figure 3. Please refer to the explanations provided with reference to Figure 3 and apply these accordingly to the explanations provided with reference to Figure 4.

[0144] Figure 5 shows another alternative refinement of a sample holder 21c, whereby identical components are provided with the same reference numbers and new components are provided with new reference numbers.

[0145] The sample holder 21c shown in Figure 5 (Fig. 5) is described in the following in appropriate manner such that changes as compared to the sample holder 21a described in Figure 3 are described first. The sample holder 21c shown in Figure 5 comprises no gas filter 32b and no gas filter 32a in the form of an intermediate filter. Moreover, the sample holder 21c comprises no gas exit opening 33. Moreover, the sample holder 21c shown in Figure 5 comprises no connections in the form of a switching cable connection 27b, a gas connection 25b, and a signal cable connection 29b. Namely, the sample holder 21c shown in Figure 5 only comprises a signal cable 29a exiting from the sample holder 21c, a switching cable 27a, and a gas feed line 25a which each are guided out of the sample holder 21c in the region of the accommodation device 23. These extend, for example, directly into the adjacent lance.

However, it is feasible that these can be connected outside of the sample holder 21c, for example inside the lance, to other cables or lines by means of a plug connector or the like not shown here.

[0146] Moreover, a vacuum chamber 38 is arranged inside the sample holder 21c. The volume of the vacuum chamber 38 in the present exemplary embodiment is approx. 0.3 1. The vacuum chamber 38 is formed in the sample holder 21c in that a part, which is arranged in the sample holder 21c, of the discharge line 24b that is connected to the switch 26 has a larger diameter than the other parts of the discharge line 24b. Accordingly, the vacuum chamber 38 is formed at the location of the larger diameter. In this context, the vacuum chamber 38 is connected to a gas suction line 39 as a further line that is present, whereby the gas suction line 39 is connected to a vacuum pump not shown here.

[0147] The other components of the sample holder 21a described in Figure 3 are also present in the sample holder 21c and are not described again according to explanations provided above. These can be applied accordingly.

[0148] The sample holders 21a, 21b, 21c described in Figures 3 to 5 can be used, for example, in a device for implementing sampling processes in melted metals using a lance, in particular in melted steels using a sub-lance. A device of this type and a corresponding lance, in particular a sub-lance are not shown in Figures 3 to 5. However, it is sufficiently well-known that a lance comprises a lance body that is arranged in a device of this type.

[0149] According to the invention, a sample holder 21a, 21b, 21c according to any of the explanations with regard to Figures 3 to 5 can be connected to one end of the lance body and a sampler 1 according to Figure 1, in particular, for use in melted steel can be connected to it. In the present exemplary embodiment, the device comprises, by means of the corresponding sample holder 21a, 21b, 21c according to Figures 3 to 5, a feed line 24a for supplying gas via the contact block 22 into the sampler 1, and a discharge line 24b for drawing off gas via the contact block 22 from the sampler 1, and a gas line 24c that is connected to the sample chamber 2.

[0150] The sample holder 21a, 21b, 21c used in said device not shown in Figures 1 to 5, has a length L measured in axial direction from the contact block 22 to the opposite side of the sample holder 21a, 21b, 21c. The switch 26 in the corresponding sample holder 21a, 21b, 21c is therefore arranged at a distance of 0.1 x its length L from the end of the contact block 22 in the present exemplary embodiment.

[0151] According to the explanations provided above referring to Figures 3 to 5, the sampler 1 and the sample holder 21a, 21b, 21c can be connected by means of a carrier tube 19 made of cardboard, whereby the carrier tube 19, which touches against the sampler 1 in the region of the seal 30 on the contact block 22, is not shown in Figures 3 to 5 according to explanations provided above.

[0152] The method for removing a sample 3, formed from a melted steel 4, from a sampler 1 according to Figure 1 is described as in the following as a particularly preferred embodiment using a sample holder 21a according to Figure 3 and a sampler 1 according to Figure 1.

[0153] For this purpose, a subdance not shown in Figure 3 is connected to the sample holder 21a, whereby the connection is situated in the region of the accommodation device 23. The corresponding signal cable connection 29b, the switching cable connection 27b, and the gas connection 25b are each connected to corresponding connectors within the sub-lance. The sampler 1 according to Figure 1 is positioned in the region of the contact block 22 of the sample holder 21a, whereby the gas socket 31 is arranged in the connector 9 of the sampler 1 in appropriate manner such that a gas-tight connection between sample holder 21a and sampler 1 is generated. A carrier tube 19 made of cardboard is being positioned between sampler 1 and accommodation device 23 of the sample holder 21a as part of the sample holder 21a such that the sample holder 21a is situated between sampler 1 and the end of the carrier tube 19. The carrier tube 19 is firmly connected to the accommodation device 23, for example by means of an engagement connection of the type of a thread, whereby the accommodation device 23 then is pressed firmly into the carrier tube 19 by means of a corrugated surface.

[0154] The sampler 1 situated inside said device is then immersed into a melted steel indicated in Figure 1, whereby the inert gas is supplied, before immersion, through the feed line 24a, which is supplied with a flowing inert gas by means of the gas feed line 25a, which was supplied earlier by means of the sub-lance. The inert gas supplied through the feed line 24a is then conducted through the switch 26, which is in position A, and thus into the gas line 24c, whereby the hybrid unit 34 also is situated in the region of the gas line 24c according to explanations provided above. When the inert gas flows through the gas socket 31 into the sampler according to the explanations provided referring to Figure 1, the gas ultimately only enters into the filling tube 5 at first. After immersion of at least the sampler 1 into the melted steel 4 and melting of the protective cap 14 and cover 13 according to the explanations provided referring to Figure 1, gas exits from the filling tube 5 when the sampler 1 is situated in the melted steel 4. Concurrently, the signal cable 29, which also is routed through the hybrid unit 34 into the thermocouple 12 of the sampler 1, is used to measure and analyse the temperature of the melted steel and the position of the sampler 1 in the melted steel, whereby the analysis is done using an external unit not shown here that analyses the data transferred by means of the sample holder 21a and sub-lance not shown here by means of the signal cable 29.

[0155] After the sampler 1 reaches the appropriate position in the melted steel 4, the supply of gas through the feed line 24a is interrupted according to explanations provided above by switching switch 26 into position B. This interrupts the supply of gas through the feed line 24a. In the present exemplary embodiment, the switch 26 in the sample holder 21a is switched appropriately such that the sample chamber 2 of the sampler then fills with melted steel 4. Then the sampler 1 and the carrier tube 19 and the sample holder 21a are removed again from the melted steel using the mobile subdance in the device after the sample chamber 2 has completely filled-up with melted material. For cooling of the sampler 1 and sample chamber 2, the switch 26 is then switched or switched back from position B to position C, which corresponds to position A in the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 3. This allows the sample chamber 2 to be cooled by the supplied gas. The cooling process is described in detail in the exemplary embodiment of Figure 1. The switch 26 is switched by means of the switching cable 27a by means of which the switch 26 can be switched.

[0156] Switching the switch 26 from position A to position B, gas exits through the sampler 1 into the sample holder 21a, whereby the gas then flows through the gas line 24c and the hybrid unit 34, then through the gas filter 32b and is finally conducted through the switch 26. With the switch being in position B, the gas then flows out through the additional gas filter 32a in the form of an intermediate filter and through the discharge line 24b through the gas exit opening 39. Due to said exiting of the gas, the sample chamber 2 can fill-up with melted material. This is described in detail in the exemplary embodiment of Figure 1. No vacuum or negative pressure according to the previous refinements is generated in this context. Accordingly, at least the amount of gas that is present in the sample chamber 2 and the filling part 5 exits from the gas exit opening 39.

[0157] The switch 26 is switched from position A to position B when a temperature of, for example 1,100 °C is measured by the thermocouple 12. Alternatively or in addition, the lance position can be measured by electrical means or by means of the pressure in the melted steel using the position of the sampler 1.

[0158] The process of sampling from a melted steel 4 described above can also be implemented by means of a sample holder 21b according to Figure 4.

[0159] According to the embodiment of Figure 3 according to explanations provided above, the sample holder 21a is replaced by the sample holder 21b in a further refinement. In the following, the flow of the gas through the sample holder 21b is described with a focus on the differences as compared to the previous embodiment with sample holder 21a.

[0160] Once the connectors according to Figure 4 fitting the sub-lance or the sampler according to Figure 1 have been connected, the inert gas flows through the gas feed line 24d into the feed line 24a and the discharge line 24b. The gas flowing through gas feed line 25a then flows, on the one hand, through the feed valve 35 into the switch 26 which is in position A. The gas flowing in can therefore flow through the switch 26 and the gas filter 32b through the hybrid unit 34 into the sampler 1. On the other hand, gas supplied from gas feed line 25a flows through the discharge line 24b through the venturi nozzle 36 concurrently, such that a negative pressure is generated between venturi nozzle 36 and switch 26 due to the special embodiment of the venturi nozzle 36. The gas supplied through the discharge line 24b is made to exit out of opening 37 in this context.

[0161] In order to fill the sample chamber 2, the switch 26 is switched from position A to position B such that the gas flowing through the feed line 24a can no longer flow into the gas feed line 24c due to the switch being in position B. Only the gas flowing through the gas feed line 25a can exit through the discharge line 24b and the venturi nozzle 36 through the opening 37, whereby a negative pressure continues to be generated between venturi nozzle 36 and switch 26 and is transferred to gas line 24c. As a result, a negative pressure is generated in the sample chamber 2 and is used to aspirate melted material into the sample chamber 2 by means of the venturi nozzle 36. After the sample chamber 2 is filled with melted material, the switch 26 is switched back into position A such that the sample chamber 2 can be cooled by means of the gas supplied through feed line 24a.

[0162] The removal of the sample chamber and/or sampler 1 from the melted material has been described in detail above.

[0163] The sampling from a melted steel 4 by means of a sample holder 21a described above can also be implemented by means of a sample holder 21c according to Figure 5. In the following, just the sample holder 21c in a special refinement situated between sampler 1 and sub-lance in said device is described in detail with changes or other technical implementations being emphasised in detail.

[0164] According to Figure 5, an inert gas flows through the feed line out of the sub-lance through the switch 26 and into the gas line 24c into the sampler 1 according to Figure 1. In order to fill the sample chamber 2, the switch 26 is switched from position A to position B such that the inert gas, which previously was guided through the feed line 24 exclusively, is blocked due to the switch 26 having been switched to position B. Accordingly, gas can flow through the gas line 24c through the switch 26 into the vacuum chamber 38, in which a negative pressure has been generated. The negative pressure in the vacuum chamber 38 was generated earlier, for example, via the gas suction line 39 and by means of a vacuum pump. Accordingly, the melted material 4 is aspirated into the sample chamber 2 by means of the negative pressure from the vacuum chamber 38 once the switch 26 is switched from position A to position B. For cooling, the switch 26 is switched back into position A such that inert gas can flow again through the feed line 24a and then through the gas line 24c into the sampler 1 such that the sample chamber 2 is being cooled.

[0165] The immersion of the corresponding devices, in particular with reference to the sample holder 21b and 21c, has been described in detail for sample holder 21a and is applicable accordingly to the sample holders according to 21b, 21c. Moreover, the process of pulling the sampler 1 according to Figure 1 out of the melted material 4 has been described in detail such that this can also be applied to the sample holders 21b and 21c.

Claims (15)

1. Sample holder for accommodating a sampler, the sample holder comprising: a contact part for accommodating the sampler, at least one feed line for supplying gas via the contact part into the sampler, at least one discharge line for drawing off gas via the contact part from the sampler, and at least one gas line arranged in the sample holder, the at least one gas line extending through the contact part and being connected to a sample chamber of the sampler, wherein the sample holder includes a switch which switch is (i) connected to the feed line and the discharge line on one side and to the gas line on another side and (ii) adapted to connect either the feed line or the discharge line to the gas line; wherein at least one gas filter is arranged between the gas line connected to the sample chamber and the switch.

2. Sample holder according to claim 1, wherein the sample holder comprises at least one gas exit opening, the discharge line ending in the gas exit opening.

3. Sample holder according to claim 2, wherein the sample holder comprises at least one intermediate filter in the discharge line between the switch and gas exit opening.

4. Sample holder according to claim 1, wherein the feed line comprises at least one feed valve and/or the discharge line comprises at least one venturi nozzle.

5. Sample holder according to claim 1, wherein a part of the discharge line connected to the switch arranged in said sample holder has a larger diameter than other parts of the discharge line, to form at least one vacuum chamber that comprises at least one gas suction line for connection to at least one vacuum pump.

6. Sample holder according to claim 1, wherein part of the discharge line connected to the switch arranged in said sample holder merges into a hollow internal space of the sample holder, the internal space comprising a gas-tight wall with at least one gas suction line for connection to at least one vacuum pump.

7. Sample holder according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the vacuum chamber has a volume of between 0.1 litres and 0.5 litres.

8. Sample holder according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the sample holder comprises at least one hybrid contact part as contact part and the sampler comprises at least one hybrid connector.

9. Device for implementing sampling processes in melted metals using a lance, the lance comprising a lance body wherein one end of the lance body is adapted for attachment to a sample holder according to any one of the claims 1 to 8, the device comprising at least one feed line for supplying gas through the contact part into the sampler, at least one discharge line for drawing off gas through the contact part out of the sampler, and at least one gas line that extends into the sampler and is connected to the sample chamber.

10. Device according to claim 9, wherein the sample holder has a length measured in axial direction, from the end of the contact part to the opposite side of the sample holder and the switch is arranged at a distance of at most 0.3 x length (L) from the end of the contact part.

11. Method for sampling from a melted material having a melting temperature of more than 600°C, wherein a sampler is positioned at one end of a lance and/or carrier part and is immersed into the melted material, wherein a sample holder according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is positioned between the sampler and lance and/or carrier part, wherein a sample chamber of the sampler subsequently gets filled with melted material, and at least the sample is pulled out of the melted material by means of the sampler, wherein at least one gas is supplied into the sampler before immersing the sampler, the gas being supplied through at least one feed line and at least one gas line, whereby the gas flows out again from the sampler through at least one filling part, and the sampler being subsequently immersed into the melted material, the supply of gas being changed by switching a switch in the sample holder from a position A to a position B, followed by the sample chamber filling up with melted material, thereafter gas being supplied into the sampler again during or after the sample chamber fills with melted material by switching the switch from position B to a position C, and whereby at least the sample chamber is cooled by the supplied gas.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein with the switch in position B, at least an amount of gas that is present at least in the sample chamber and the filling part flows by means of the sample holder according to any one of the claims 1, 2, 3 or 8 in the direction of the sample holder due to the supply of gas in the feed line being interrupted by means of the switch.

13. Method according to claim 11, wherein with the switch in position B, at least an amount of gas that is present at least in the sample chamber and the filling part flows by means of the sample holder according to any one of the claims 1, 2 or 8 in the direction of the sample holder due to the gas already supplied being reversed in direction by means of the venturi nozzle such that the supplied gas is drawn off.

14. Method according to claim 11, wherein with the switch in position B, at least an amount of gas that is present at least in the sample chamber and the filling part flows by means of the sample holder according to claim 1, 5, 7 or 8 in the direction of the sample holder by the gas already supplied being reversed in direction by means of the negative pressure in the vacuum chamber, such that the supplied gas is drawn off.

15. Method according to claim 11, wherein with the switch in position B, at least an amount of gas that is present at least in the sample chamber and the filling part flows by means of the sample holder according to claim 1, 2, 7 or 8 in the direction of the sample holder by the gas already supplied being reversed in direction by means of the negative pressure in the vacuum chamber, such that the supplied gas is drawn off.