US2671658A

US2671658A - Metal lined cupola

Info

Publication number: US2671658A
Application number: US210831A
Authority: US
Inventors: Moore William Henry
Original assignee: Meehanite Metal Corp
Current assignee: Meehanite Metal Corp
Priority date: 1951-02-14
Filing date: 1951-02-14
Publication date: 1954-03-09
Anticipated expiration: 1971-03-09

Description

March 9, 1954 w. H. MOORE 2,671,658

METAL LINED CUROLA Filed Feb. 14, 1951 5 Sheeis-Sheet l F PIPE I 5 F/g/ t coounr INLET PIPE INVENTOR.

WILL/AM HENRY MOORE March 9, 1954 w. H. MOORE 2,671,658

METAL LINED CUPOLA Filed Feb. 14, 1951 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

WILL/AM HENRY MOORE March 9, 1954 w. H. MOORE METAL LINED CUPOLA 5 Sheets-Sheet ;5

Filed Feb. 14, 1951 IN VEN TOR.

WILL/AM HENRY MORE "Fig.7

GOOLANT INLET INVENTOR.

WILL/AM HENRY MOORE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Qmmww lilli W. H. MOORE METAL LINED CUPOLA LEM/29 March 9, 1954 Filed Feb. 14, 1951 Patented Mar. 9, 1954 METAL LINED CUPOLA William Henry Moore, Larchmont, N. Y., assignor to Meehanite Metal Corporation, a corporation of Tennessee Application February 14, 1951, Serial No. 210,831

1 Claim. 1

The invention relates in general to cupolas and more particularly to cupolas for melting cast iron.

An object of the invention is the provision of a cupola having an inner shellor lining above the tuyres which avoids the use of refractory materials.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cupola having an inner shell or lining above the tuyeres constructed of metals having a high melting point, such as iron, steel, or other ferrous metals or alloys, as well as non-ferrous metals which are commonly used in water or other coolant Jackets, such as copper or aluminum and their alloys. This class of materials will hereinafter be referred to as heat dissipating metals and may comprise metallic sections or blocks, either cast or fabricated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cupola having the inner shell or lining for the melting zone, as well as for the charging zone,

constructed of heat dissipating metals in sections or in blocks directly exposed to the melting charge without any refractory lining protecting same.

Another object of the invention is the provision e of cooling the metallic sections or blocks.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an inner shell or lining for the melting zone constructed of a plurality of arcuate metallic sections in which each section is provided with fluid passageways whereby a coolant may be passed therethrough to remove heat therefrom.

Another object of the invention is the provision controlling the flow of a coolant through the fluid passageways by thermostatic means.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an inner shell or lining for the melting zone which has a greater diameter at the bottom near the tuyeres than at the top.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cupola having a charging zone with an inner shell or lining constructed of heat dissipating metallic sections or blocks wherein the sections or blocks may be cooled, by presenting a cooling surface to atmosphere, by presenting a cooling surface to an incoming air blast used for cupola combustion, or by presenting a cooling surface to water spray with a trough to collect the water and remove it continuously.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claim taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a cupola embodying the invention, the major part being shown in section to particularly illustrate the arrangement of the internal construction, the external piping arrangement for the coolant being omitted;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the metallic sections or blocks constituting the ininner shell or lining for the charging zone;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 33 of Figure 1, showing principally the external piping arrangement for the flow of the coolant through the arcuate sections constituting the inner shell or lining for the melting zone;

Figure 4 is a plan or top view of one of the arcuate sections of the melting zone of the cupola;

Figure 5 is a view of the back side of the arcuate section shown in Figure 4 with a portion of the back side removed to illustrate the circuitous coolant passageways provided therein;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 66 of Figure 1, showing principally the cooling vanes for the metallic sections or'blocks constituting the inner shell or lining for the charging zone;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 1, but shows the external cooling surface of the metallic sections or blocks of the charging zone exposed for atmospheric cooling.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 1, but shows the external cooling surface of the metallic sections or blocks of the charging zone exposed for water spray cooling;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of the inner shell or lining for the melting zone, the Figure 9 being taken along the line 99 of Figure 10 and also showing the external pipe arrangement.

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 9 taken along the line llll 8 thereof and shows the external arrangement of the pipes encompassing the cupola for the coolant; and

Figure 11 is a perspective view of one of the arcuate sections which define the inner shell or lining for the melting zone in Figure 9, the Figure 9 showing a melting zone two sections high.

With reference to Figure 1, I show a cupola which comprises an inner coolant shell or lining for the melting zone. The cupola comprises in general an outer metal Wall 26 supported on suitable legs 2I. The outer metal wall 20 surrounds the melting zone l8 and the well it. The cupola may be charged through a door 22 in the side wall of the upper portion thereof. The enlarged intermediate portion 23 comprises a wind box having tuyeres 24 through which air may be introduced into the melting zone which is immediately above the tuyeres and which is the hotthe ireferencercharacter 161 I .1, .the circuitous coolant passage ,means .is "illustest part of the cupola. Below the melting zone l8 and the tuyeres 24 is the well [9 into which the molten metal drops and collects before being tapped off through a tap hole into a cupola spout 26. On the side opposite from the cupola spout 26 is a slag spout 21 which is located a short distance below the tuyeres. The bottom of well His-supported byran outer supportring 2 8 in the middleuofiwhichare the conventional drop doors supported by a support member or prop 29. The inner casing of the well is lined with refractory material 30 which retains the molten metal after it drops from the melting-zone.

In the construction of the :cupola, .thejnner shell or lining for the melting zone lB-comprises tions .are preferably made of cast iron or steel .butsmay-be made ,of .any other .heat dissipatin metal having a sufficiently high melting ,point. The ,arcuatesection 3,8. is shown "in. Figures Aand -.of..the ,drawingatheilligure 4 being -a top plan viewand the Figure 5being ,a viewofitheback of .the section with .a portion .of the ,back being :broken .away to illustrate .the circuitous coolant passage means therethrough. The individual arcuate sections are identical and the section .33.,as..shown in =Figures ,i-and 5 .comprises ,pref- .erably a cast .metal leasing having inner wall 52 provided with vertically extending sides .53 and 54 and atop 55 and a bottom56. .Secured to .the back Lof -the arouate section visa boiler plate .59 which maybe WGIdBd.QlHOllhGlWlSfiSG- cured .thereto to provide a leakeproof assembly. In order to .provide :aeircuitous coolant passage .means.ineachsection, there ,are a plurality of .Webs .51 extending ,from the side. 53 and .a plurality of webs .58 extending from the side .54.

The ,webs .are preferably .cast' integrally .with the arcuate wall 52 and laterally extend.to..a.point short ofreaching-the opposite side wall. .As il- .lustrated in .Figure 5, EthiS -stagger,e d :web .ar- ,rangement .provides :a circuitous .passage means for the coolant to keep-the temperature below =the melting-zpoint of ithe :cast metal sections. The ,inlet 2for-each section .is located at the bottom and is "indicated by the reference character-16.0, and the outlet is at the top and indicated by As shown-:imFigure :trated byrthe reference .characterrSZ. -Preferably,

stheecross-sectional areas of :the circuitous coolant passage means 62 becomes largerrasrthe .cool- .a-nt approaches:the'topsoxthat the :flow of the :coclant-::therethrough is reduced'as it approaches thertop. .-As shown in .Figure l, the flow. of the coolant through the circuitous-passage means .62 is regulated by a thermostatic .valve which is mounted in the pipe connected to the outlet -6| 'atithe top o'f each arcuate section. --Also, it is to beobserved inFigure 1 that the inner wall of tile-plurality of'c-astmetal arcuate sections slopes slightly outwardly as the melting charge ap- =-proaches the tuyres with the result that the diameter of the melting zone immediately above -the tuyresis greater than that of the "top of the-melting zone. The height of the arcuatesections -may range from three to six feet above'the tuyres. After the plurality of cast metal ar- -cuate "sections -33 to '43 are installed forming -a complete circle-for the melting zone, I preferably 40k ,a suitable :refractory meter *4] "between .vided with cooling .vanes .49 which-extend there- .around to present alargecooling area. .The air 4 the plurality of arcuate sections and the outer metal wall 20.

Above the melting zone which terminates at the top of the plurality of cast metal sections is the charging zone which extends up into the charging door 22. In constructing the charging zone, I preferably employ several layers, four beingashcwnzinsthe drawings although any number maybe used, of arcuate sections-.or-iblocks 48.

These blocks extend up to the charging door and .are preferably made of cast iron or any other suitable ferrous material. Therefore, it is to be notedthat the entire inner shell surface of the .char ingzone and :the melting zone comprises i heat dissipating metal without any refractory lining iprotectingsame. The arcuate sections or blocks 48 are preferably made of four segments to'makethe complete circle, although any number of segments may be used and they may be mounted and held together in any suitable man- The outside of the .arcuate sections .is .pro-

blast entering sthe windbox 23 through duct 5,0 circulates past ..these cooling vanes to keep the arcuate sections cool. Thus, the ,seg-

.ments are air cooled .,and,. of .course, .the :blast itself becomes heated, which offers very distinct advantages in ,the operation .of the .cupola. .By

utilizing .this heat taken fromthe upper region of .the.cupola,.I .am able, not onl -.to.maintain the thermal efiiciencyrof .thercupola, but also-to increase the thermalefliciency. Thus,.it is-.,to be observed that the :construction of the changing ,zone, is ,such that .I am .able .to-eliminateirb fractory materials as ;-a,lining,.as well as .toiutilize .of brevity, .thepipesforthesection. 38ionlyxwill be described since ;the pipes "for therother :sections are substantially'the :same. with reference to the arcuate -seetion.'3'8,the coolantiis delivered from a coolant feed manifold-5 through as. feed pipe :64 that leads-to theinletefio at @,the bottom of .the arcuate section =38. .Armainfeed uvalve 63 controls :the coolant feedrmanifold 1&5. =T-he flow. of fluid through 1the inlet pipe 284 :may be controlled by a valve .66. i

The coolant upon leaving 5 the :3 section ".38 v. flows .out of :the :outlet 16! "through anoutlet .pipe 68 which is -:,connected to a coolant outlet :manifold :61. 'I 'hequantity or:rate ofxflow of the coolant through the outlet pipe :68 is controlled by =a :thermostatic valve indicated by *the reference character I69 whichdetermines the temperature at which the :coolant "leavesthe top of the arouate section 38. It is to be'obser'ved that-cachet the other cast metal arcuate sections-namely,

35, 40, 4 I, 42 and 43, have thermostatic valves that theheat removed from the metallic j arcuate sections maintains the temperature of the metallic sections at a point below the melting point thereof SO" th&t atno time duriustheoperation of the cupola is there any damagejdone to the inner shell ,or wall of the plurality .of m tal sections o ".the melting zone:

In Figure 7 I show a modified form of the cupola, in that the cooling vanes 49 present a cooling surface to atmosphere instead of being cooled by an incoming blast of air through the wind box, which in Figure 7 encompasses only the metallic arcuate sections comprising the melting zone. Otherwise, the operation of the furnace in Figure 7 is substantially the same as that shown in Figure 1. In Figure 8 I show a second modified form of the cupola, in that the cooling vanes 49 present cooling surfaces which are adapted to be cooled by a water spray 75 emanating from a circular pipe 76 connected to a suitable water supply source through a pipe 77. The sprayed water upon striking the cooling vanes 49 eventually collects in a circular basin 18 from which the collected water flows therefrom through a discharge pipe 79. The temperature of the charging zone may be regulated by varying the amount of the spray in order to keep the cupola operating at its highest point of efliciency.

In Figures 9, and 11 I show a modified construction of the acuate sections which define the melting zone, in that I employ cast metal arcuate sections 80 having the circuitous fluid passage means cast directly in the sections to provide fluid passageways 8| therein. In Figures 9, 10 and 11, I illustrate three arcuate sections, although it is to be understood that any number may be employed. As shown in Figure 9, the acuate sections are two courses high, and after they are installed to form a complete circle defining the melting zone, a packing mortar 81 is filled in between the arcuate sections and the outside metal wall 20. The bottom of each section is provided with a feed pipe 85 and the top of each section is provided with an outlet pipe 86. The feed pipes 85 for each section communicate with an inlet manifold 84 and the outlet pipes 86 communicate with an outlet manifold 81. The pipe arrangement as shown in Figure 9 is such that the coolant through the two courses may be in parallel or in series. When the two courses of the cast metal arcuate sections are connected in series, the valves 9| and 92 are closed and the valve 90 is open. Incoming fluid or coolant flows through the lower feed pipe 83, the manifold pipe 84, the passageways 8| of the cast metal sections of the lower course, the outlet pipes 86, the outlet manifold pipe 87, the valve 88, and back into the inlet manifold 84 of the top course. The coolant, after flowing through the top course, is discharged from the outlet manifold 87 into a discharge pipe 88. When the coolant pipes are arranged in parallel for the two courses of the arcuate sections, the valves 9| and 92 are opened and the valve 99 is closed. In this event, the coolant enters the two feed supply pipes 83, and after flowing through the respective sections, leaves through the two discharge conduits 88. The outlets for the two courses may be provided with thermostatic valves 93 and 9 to control the temperature in which the fluid leaves each course. The operation of the cupola shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11 is substantially the same as that shown and described in preferred figures and the object is to provide a heat dissipating naked metal shell or lining for the melting zone whereby heat may be removed from the shell by a coolant.

The embodiment of the cast iron section 80 as shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11 for the melting zone may be provided either with the charging zone having Cooling vanes presenting a cooling surface for an incoming air blast as shown in Figure 1, or a cooling surface to atmosphere as shown in Figure 7, or a cooling surface to a water spray as shown in Figure 8.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim as my invention:

In a shaft furnace cupola for melting cast iron, said cupola including a charge receiving chamber to receive charging material, a melting chamber supporting the same and having tuyres, a wind box for said tuyeres enclosing said two chambers, said charge receiving chamber comprising an inner metallic shell directly contactable by said charging materials and having external radiating vanes disposed in said wind box, said melting chamber comprising an inner metallic shell directly contactable by a meltable charge and composed of a plurality of individual fluid conducting wall segments, a fluid inlet conduit communicating with the bottom of each segment, a fluid outlet conduit communicating with the top of each segment, thermostatic valve means associated with said outlet conduit of each segment and located in close proximity to said segments to control the flow of fluid from the segment into said outlet conduit depending upon the fluid temperature and the heat dissipating requirements of the individual segment as responded to by said thermostatic valve means. each segment thereby operating independently of all others in control and extraction of heat from the particular portion of the melting cham ber defined by said segment to maintain the particular segment at a temperature level substantially equal to all other segments.

WILLIAM HENRY MOORE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 205,274 Jones June 25, 1878 320,586 Probert June 23, 1885 452,607 Hunt May 19, 1891 499,188 Giroux June 6, 1893 651,703 Eadie June 12, 1900 1,629,045 Parker May 17, 1927 1,740,886 Barr et a1 Dec. 24, 1929 1,828,293 Powell Oct. 20, 1931 2,225,373 Goss Dec. 17, 1940 2,238,036 Glutts Apr. 15, 1941 OTHER REFERENCES Foundry Trade Journal, vol. 87, October 13, 1949, pages 449-456.