GB1592360A

GB1592360A - Devices for the application of refractory materials to the walls of furnaces or the like

Info

Publication number: GB1592360A
Application number: GB5411076A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: MONO CONSTRUCTION Ltd
Current assignee: MONO CONSTRUCTION Ltd
Priority date: 1978-03-22
Filing date: 1978-03-22
Publication date: 1981-07-08

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO DEVICES FOR THE APPLICATION OF REFRACTORY MATERIALS TO THE WALLS OF FURNACES OR THE LIKE (71) We, MONO CONSTRUCTION LIMITED, a British Company of Moor Lane South, Ravenfield, Rotherham S65 4QR, (formerly of Bramley Brook Works, Ravenfield, Rotherham S65 4QR), do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to he particalarly described in and by the following statement : This invention relates to devices for the application of refractory materials to the walls of furnaces, hearths, and the like.

During, e.g., the operation of furnaces in the production of steel, of which electric arc furnaces are a typical example, it is frequently the case that part of the refractory lining of the wall of the furnace becomes damaged, but to an extent not to warrant the complete shutdown of the furnace and the relining thereof. It is therefore current practice to, so called, patch or otherwise repair that part of the lining that is damaged. It is therefore well established practice to utilise a refractory slurry (gunning refractory) and to spray it against that part of the furnace lining which requires repair. In the normal way, this is effected by introducing a lance or gun through the furnace door and introducing a refractory slurry or gunning mix through the lance or gun to be sprayed against the part of the furnace wall requiring repair.However, this has the disadvantage that only a limited wall area can be reached because of the limitation placed on the. movement of the lance by the size of the door opening, and because the lance or gun must be straight to allow the gunning mix to be fed through it (any bend in the lance would provide an obstruction to flow and the refractory mix would cause a blockage in the lance)l, even over that limited wall area, spraying is effected at other than 90" to the wall, which is inefficient. With an electric arc furnace, the alternative is to remove the furnace roof and to pass the lance into the furnace from above. This is very time consuming and is dangerous to the operative.By spraying from above with a straight lance or gun, it is inevitable that, again, much of the spraying is at other than 90" to the furnace wall.

According to the present invention, a device for the application of refractory materials to the wall of a furnace, hearth, or the like comprises a nozzle mounted for pivotal adjustment at the end of an elongate supporting means, means for supplying a suitable refractory material to the nozzle and means for supplying water to the nozzle at or beyond the pivot point of the nozzle in the direction of flow of the suitable refractory material.

According to a second aspect of the inventtion, a method of repairing the wall of a furnace, hearth or the like, comprises introducing through the charging door of the furnace a nozzle mounted for pivotal adjustment at the end of an elongate support, supplying refractory material to the nozzle, supplying water to the nozzle beyond its pivotal connection to the support, and intermittently or continuously adjusting the position of the nozzle in relation to the support during repair of the wall.

Thus, the elongate support for the nozzle can effectively be used as a lance to bring -the nozzle into close proximity to the wall of the furnace or the like to be sprayed with the suitable refractory material, and immediately tapping has been effected, an, e.g., electric arc furnace lining can be examined, and that the need for repair determined, following which the nozzle is introduced into the furnace and the predetermined area of furnace wall repaired by the refractory material sprayed from the nozzle.

The elongate support for the nozzle may be a hollow tube like member to serve additionally as the means for supplying the suitable refractory material to the nozzle, there being an appropriate connection means between the end of the tube like member and the nozzle to allow the nozzle to be angularly adjusted. Thus, a relatively simple T-shaped junction member can be provided at the end of the tubular member on which a suitable elbow joint may be adjustably mounted and to which the nozzle is secured. To introduce the water into the refractory material a water feed pipe may extend along the length of the tube like member and which is suitably connected to the opposite end of the nozzle to its Discharge opening.Thus the water feed pipe may be connected to the opposite side of the elbow joint to which the nozzle is secured or it may be connected to a water ring surrounding the nozzle, which water ring communicates with the interior of the nozzle.

In one form of the invention, the pivotal adjustment of the position of the nozzle is predetermined and the spray nozzle secured in its adjusted position. Thus, e.g., following inspection of an arc furnace lining, adjustment of the spray nozzle can be effected to ensure that with the device inserted through, e.g., the furnace door, the spray nozzle can be brought into close proximity with the part of the furnace lining requiring repair, and when refractory material sprayed from the nozzle is directed at 90" to that part of the furnace requiring repair.Alternatively, the connection of the nozzle to the support is such that once inserted into, e.g., the furnace, the nozzle can be tapped against the furnace wall to effect pivotal adjustment with either construction, the nozzle and the support can if required be rotated through substantially 360". In a still further alternative construction according to the invention, the spray nozzle may be continuously or intermittently adjusted by providing drive means associated with the connection between the nozzle on the end of the support operable from outside the furnace so that the spray nozzle can be oscillated over a wide arc if necessary approaching 360" so that, e.g., if the slag line of an arc furnace has suffered damage over a substantial part of the circumference of the furnace, the device can be introduced again through the furnace door, held in one position and the nozzle oscillated to spray in arcuate manner the suitable refractory material. In this latter construction, it is preferred to provide a flexible connection between the end of the water feed tube and the nozzle and it is further preferred that a pivotal connection is provided between the flexible connection and the end of the feed tube so that the flexible connection can itself be rotated as the spray pipe is arcuately adjusted to prevent undue twisting of the flexible connection. It goes without saying that whilst such ta device provides for continuous pivotal adjustment of the nozzle it also allows the nozzle to be arcuately adjusted to a predetermined position to effect repair of a particular part of, e.g., the furnace lining.Alternatively, a part of the water feed pipe may lie within the nozzle and extend to a pivotal connection to the other part of the water feed pipe whereby that plart within the nozzle can pivot with the nozzle.

To enable intermittent or continuous arcuate adjustment to be effected, the device of the invention may be provided with a pulley secured to the means connecting the spray nozzle to the end of the elongate support, an actuating cable for the pulley extending along the length of the elongate - support to a similar pulley mounted on the support at a point that will inevitably lie outside the furnace (when a furnace is to be repaired)! It is further preferred that the actuating cable lies within suitable guide tubes which themselves may be mounted on the support. At the return pulley there may be preferred an operating handle to rotate that pulley and thus rotate the pulley associated with the nozzle. Alternatively, other drive means such as levers, rods, chains or the like may extend along the support means to the nozzle to provide for its arcuate adjustment.

To assist in the efficient usage of the device of the invention, it is preferred that the elongate support for the nozzle is itself provided with support means for ease of handling, and it is further preferred that the elongate support is adjustably mounted on its support so that in addition to the arcuate adjustment afforded at the nozzle an additional adjustment of the nozzle is afforded by the capability of the support itself to be adjusted.

Several embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of device according to the invention; Figure 2 corresponds to Figure 1, but shows an alternative embodiment; and Figures 3 and 4 correspond to Figure 1 but shows schematically still further alternative embodiments.

In Figure 1 a device for applying a refractory material to the wall of a container for molten metal has a nozzle 1 pivotally secured at 3 to a support in the form of a lance 2, whereby the nozzle 1 can be set at a required angular disposition to the axis of the lance 2.

The lance 2 is provided with a square sectioned water jacket 4, which water jacket is mounted for lengthwise move- ment through a drive tube 5, there being support rollers 6 for the water jacket mounted at each end of the drive tube. The support rollers 6 are surrounded by a roller support ring 7; for support rollers 8 to allow rotation of the drive tube 5. Part way along the drive tube is mounted a drive gear 9, engaging with a drive worm 10. At the opposite end of the water jacket 4 to the nozzle 1, two water pipes 11, 12 enter the jacket, the water pipe 11 extending out of the jacket at the nozzle end and extending to a water ring 13 on the nozzle, and the water pipe 12 extending along the water jacket and terminating within the jacket close to the nozzle end.

Thus, water admitted through the water pipe 12 back fills the jacket 4, and discharges through a discharge orifice 14 in a non-rotatable water discharge jacket 15.

With the assembly of drive tube 5, water jacket 4, lance 2 and nozzle 1 mounted on a transport bogie 16, the nozzle can be brought into close proximity to an opening in a container for molten metal, and with the nozzle set at the desired angular disposition determined by the repair to be effected, the water jacket, lance and nozzle can be introduced into the vessel and the assembly rotated by the drive worm to bring the nozzle to the required position.

Thus, with refractory material passed through the lance, and with water admitted to the nozzle beyond the pivot, a gunning mix is effected from the nozzle against the wall of the vessel. If the damaged area is extensive, the drive tube 5 can be rotated to rotate the nozzle during spraying to spray the gunning mix over an arcuate area of the vessel wall up to 360".

In the alternative embodiment shown in Figure 2, a support in the form of a lance 17 has a nozzle 18 mounted at one end on a T-joint 19. The T-joint 19 is mounted on the lance with provision for rotation and is provided with a drive pulley 20 the drive cable for which passes along two guide tubes 21 secured to the lance 17 to a second drive pulley 22 mounted on the lance.Also secured to the lance is a water feed tube 23 extending to a swivel joint 24 from where a flexible pipe 25 extends to a water jet 26 in the T-joint 19. Thus, with the lance introduced into a vessel on, e.g., a wheeled bogie, not shown, refractory material is introduced through the lance to mix with water introduced into the nozzle beyond the pivot axis of the T-joint, to spray a gunning mix from the nozzle, and the nozzle is adjustable about its pivot axis to either assume a required angular disposition or to continuously spray over an arc bys rotating the pulley 22 to drive the pulley 20 intermittently or continuously.

In Figures 3 land 4, two further embodiments are schematically shown. In Figure 3, a device suited for the repair of, e.g., ladles, has a lance 27 with a pivotal joint 28, and to which a nozzle 29 is pivotally secured at 30. Thus, by bending the lance, and adjusting the angle of the nozzle, the nozzle can be correctly presented at the wall of the ladle at any point. A water pipe 31 is secured to the lance with a flexible section 32 bridging the pivotal joint 28, and a flexible section 33 connected to a water ring 34 on the nozzle. Again therefore, admixing of refractory material passed along the lance with water takes place beyond the last pivot point and when a gunning mix is correctly sprayed from the nozzle.

Figure 4 shows an embodiment suitable for a tiltable steel making vessel, having a lance 35 and water pipe 36, a nozzle 37 being mounted on the lance at 90" thereto, and rotatable about the axis of the lance, a flexible connection 38 being provided between the water pipe and a water ring 39 on the nozzle. Thus, the device can be introduced through the open top of the vessel when tilted, and the nozzle tapped on the wall to rotate it to its required angular disposition. Again, refractory material passed along the lance is admixed with water in the nozzle beyond the pivotal connection of the nozzle to the lance, to allow the correct spraying of a gunning mix against the wall of the vessel.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A device for the application of refractory materials to the wall of a furnace, hearth, or the like comprising a nozzle mounted for pivotal adjustment at the end of an elongate supporting means, means for supplying a suitable refractory material to the nozzle and means for supplying water to the nozzle at or beyond the pivot point of the nozzle in the direction of flow of the suitable refractory material.

2. A metliod of repairing the wall of a furnace, hearth, or the like comprising introducing through the charging door of the furnace a nozzle mounted for pivotal adjustment at the end of an elongate support, supplying refractory material to the nozzle, supplying water to the nozzle beyond its pivotal connection to the support, and intermittently or continuously adjusting the position of the nozzle in relation to the support during repair of the wall.

3. A device as in Claim 1, wherein the elongate support for the nozzle is a hollow tube like member to serve additionally as the means for supplying the suitable refractory material to the nozzle, there being an appropriate connection means between the end of the tube like member and the nozzle to allow the nozzle to be angularly adjusted.

4. A device as in Claim 3, wherein a T-shaped junction member is provided at the end of the tubular member on which a suitable elbow joint is adjustably

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. to allow rotation of the drive tube 5. Part way along the drive tube is mounted a drive gear 9, engaging with a drive worm 10. At the opposite end of the water jacket 4 to the nozzle 1, two water pipes 11, 12 enter the jacket, the water pipe 11 extending out of the jacket at the nozzle end and extending to a water ring 13 on the nozzle, and the water pipe 12 extending along the water jacket and terminating within the jacket close to the nozzle end. Thus, water admitted through the water pipe 12 back fills the jacket 4, and discharges through a discharge orifice 14 in a non-rotatable water discharge jacket 15. With the assembly of drive tube 5, water jacket 4, lance 2 and nozzle 1 mounted on a transport bogie 16, the nozzle can be brought into close proximity to an opening in a container for molten metal, and with the nozzle set at the desired angular disposition determined by the repair to be effected, the water jacket, lance and nozzle can be introduced into the vessel and the assembly rotated by the drive worm to bring the nozzle to the required position. Thus, with refractory material passed through the lance, and with water admitted to the nozzle beyond the pivot, a gunning mix is effected from the nozzle against the wall of the vessel. If the damaged area is extensive, the drive tube 5 can be rotated to rotate the nozzle during spraying to spray the gunning mix over an arcuate area of the vessel wall up to 360". In the alternative embodiment shown in Figure 2, a support in the form of a lance 17 has a nozzle 18 mounted at one end on a T-joint 19. The T-joint 19 is mounted on the lance with provision for rotation and is provided with a drive pulley 20 the drive cable for which passes along two guide tubes 21 secured to the lance 17 to a second drive pulley 22 mounted on the lance.Also secured to the lance is a water feed tube 23 extending to a swivel joint 24 from where a flexible pipe 25 extends to a water jet 26 in the T-joint 19. Thus, with the lance introduced into a vessel on, e.g., a wheeled bogie, not shown, refractory material is introduced through the lance to mix with water introduced into the nozzle beyond the pivot axis of the T-joint, to spray a gunning mix from the nozzle, and the nozzle is adjustable about its pivot axis to either assume a required angular disposition or to continuously spray over an arc bys rotating the pulley 22 to drive the pulley 20 intermittently or continuously. In Figures 3 land 4, two further embodiments are schematically shown. In Figure 3, a device suited for the repair of, e.g., ladles, has a lance 27 with a pivotal joint 28, and to which a nozzle 29 is pivotally secured at 30. Thus, by bending the lance, and adjusting the angle of the nozzle, the nozzle can be correctly presented at the wall of the ladle at any point. A water pipe 31 is secured to the lance with a flexible section 32 bridging the pivotal joint 28, and a flexible section 33 connected to a water ring 34 on the nozzle. Again therefore, admixing of refractory material passed along the lance with water takes place beyond the last pivot point and when a gunning mix is correctly sprayed from the nozzle. Figure 4 shows an embodiment suitable for a tiltable steel making vessel, having a lance 35 and water pipe 36, a nozzle 37 being mounted on the lance at 90" thereto, and rotatable about the axis of the lance, a flexible connection 38 being provided between the water pipe and a water ring 39 on the nozzle. Thus, the device can be introduced through the open top of the vessel when tilted, and the nozzle tapped on the wall to rotate it to its required angular disposition. Again, refractory material passed along the lance is admixed with water in the nozzle beyond the pivotal connection of the nozzle to the lance, to allow the correct spraying of a gunning mix against the wall of the vessel. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A device for the application of refractory materials to the wall of a furnace, hearth, or the like comprising a nozzle mounted for pivotal adjustment at the end of an elongate supporting means, means for supplying a suitable refractory material to the nozzle and means for supplying water to the nozzle at or beyond the pivot point of the nozzle in the direction of flow of the suitable refractory material.

mounted and to which the nozzle is secured.

5. A device as in Claim 1, or Claims 3 and 4, wherein to introduce the water into the refractory material a water feed pipe extends along the length of the tube like member and which is suitably connected to the opposite end of the nozzle to its discharge opening.

6. A device as in Claim 5, wherein the water feed pipe is connected to the opposite side of the joint to which the nozzle is secured or is connected to a water ring surrounding the nozzle which water ring communicates with the interior of the nozzle.

7. A device as in Claim 1 or Claims 3 to 6, wherein the angular adjustment of the position of the nozzle is predetermined and the spray nozzle secured in its adjusted position.

8. A device as in Claim 1 or Claims 3 to 6, wherein the connection of the nozzle to the support is such that once in close proximity to the wall of the furnace, hearth or the like, the nozzle can be tapped against the wall Ito effect pivotal adjustment.

9. A device as in Claim 1 or Claims 3 to 6, wherein the spray nozzle is continuously or intermittently adjusted by providing drive means associated with the connection between the nozzle on the end of the support operable from outside the furnace so that the spray nozzle can be pivoted to any degree up to 3600.

10. A device as in Claim 1 or Claims 3 to 9, wherein the water connection to the nozzle is flexible.

11. A device as in Claim 1 or Claims 2 to 10, wherein the nozzle is rotatable about the axis of the support.

12. A device as in Claim 11, wherein the support is itself rotatable about its own axis to rotate the nozzle.

13. A device as in Claim 11, wherein the nozzle is mounted on the support for rotation about the axis of the support.

14. A device as in any of Claims 1 and Claims 3 to 13, wherein a water cooling jacket is provided around the support.

15. A device as in any of Claims 1 or 3 to 14, wherein the nozzle support is itself supported on means capable of bringing the elongate support into close proximity with the furnace, hearth, bank or the like to be sprayed.

16. A device for the application of refractory materials to the wall of a furnace, hearth, bank or the like substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A method of repairing, e.g., the wall of a furnace, hearth, bank or the like substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.