US3501962A - Dip-sampler for use in steel-making vessel - Google Patents

Description

March 24, 1970 E. v. ABAROTIN ET AL 3,501,962

DIP-SAMPLER FOR USE IN STEEL-MAKING VESSEL Filed April 29, 1968 &

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INVENTORS EUGENE M ABARO T/N AND 7/ CHUNG CHANG United States Patent 3,501,962 DIP-SAMPLER FOR USE IN STEEL- MAKING VESSEL Eugene V. Abarotin and Yi-Chung Chang, Franklin Township, Westmoreland County, Pa., assignors to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 29, 1968, Ser. No. 724,921 Int. Cl. G01n 1/10 US. Cl. 73-4254 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A cage composed of a yoke and basket is rigidly and coaxially carried on the lower end of a reach rod mounted to be lowered into a tiltable steel-making vessel. A crucible is removably positioned in the basket and, when the latter is immersed in the vessel contents, collects a sample therefrom. Cooperating means on the yoke and crucible limit flotation uplift of the latter in the former. On partial rotation of the crucible in the basket, disengagement of such means permits removal and replacement of the crucible. The reach rod is suspended from a jab crane for convenient manipulation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus for taking samples from a tiltable steel-making vessel. More particularly, it concerns a sampling cup or crucible removably carried in a cage fixed to a reach rod for lowering into the vessel.

The most pertinent prior art known to us is the Long et al. Patent No. 2,598,183.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a preferred embodiment, we attach a cage to the lower end of a reach rod arranged to be lowered into the top of a steel-making vessel, and provide a crucible removably disposed in the cage for holding a sample. The rod is guided by a sleeve on a jib crane which suspends the rod. The cage is adapted to enter a port in the inclined fume-exhaust duct extending upwardly from the vessel, before it enters the latter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in detail to the drawings and, for the present, to FIGURE I particularly, a conventional steelmaking vessel is tiltably mounted in suitable supports (not shown) and has an open top. An inclined fumeexhaust duct 11 is positioned to register with the top of the vessel when it is erect. A port 12 is formed in the duct.

On a floor or deck 13 above vessel 10, a jib crane 14 is mounted for angular movement from a position over duct 11 to a position laterally thereof. Crane 14 has a guide sleeve 15 fixed thereto through which a reach rod 16 reciprocates, as controlled by the hoist rope of the crane. Sample collecting means 17 is mounted on the lower end of rod 16.

Turning now to FIGURES 2-4, sampling means 17 includes an elongated cage 18 and a cup or crucible 19 removably positioned therein. Cage 18 is of heavy heatresistant metal construction, either cast or fabricated, and has a lower basket portion 20 from which a yoke 21 extends upwardly. The yoke is welded or otherwise secured to rod 16. Basket portion 20 preferably comprises a ring 22 and four circumferentially spaced arms 23 which extend downwardly and inwardly therefrom, uniting at a central point. Crucible 19 of suitable refractory material is received and loosely confined in basket portion 20.

Yoke 21 extends upwardly from ring 22 a distance sufficient to accommodate the height of crucible 19 when the latter is moved from a lateral position into axial alinement with cage 18. Each limb of yoke 21 has an inwardly extending abutment 24. Crucible 19 has diametrically opposed laterally projecting cars 25. When the crucible is positioned so that a line through the ears is normal to the plane of yoke 21, the crucible may be lowered to rest in basket 20, the ears passing between the abutments. If the crucible be then rotated one quarter of a turn, ears 25 will engage abutments 24 when uplifted by flotation, on immersion of the cage in the contents of vessel 10. Reversing this procedure on lifting the cage from the vessel permits easy removal of the crucible and sample.

The several advantages of my invention should be readily apparent. The structure is simple yet sturdy and well adapted to the extreme service conditions for which it is intended and its operation requires no skill nor does it necessitate stopping the steel-making process. It is rapid in operation, furthermore, which is very important in making steel by modern methods, such as oxygen blowing, where the composition of the heat varies at a high rate, particularly toward the end of the blow.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for sampling molten metal comprising a reach rod, an elongated cage rigidly mounted on the end of said rod coaxially therewith, a crucible removably dispososed in said cage, laterally extending ears on said crucible, and spaced abutments on said cage engageable by said ears to limit flotation uplift of the crucible on immersion of the basket.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, characterized by said ears and abutments being spaced about the common axis of said crucible and cage, respectively, so that in one position of the crucible in the cage, said ears clear said abutments, on relative axial movement of the cage and crucible for insertion and removal of the latter into and from the former.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,327,531 6/1967 Fradeneck 136-234 3,367,189 2/1968 Curry 73-425.4

FOREIGN PATENTS 596,600 1/ 1948 Great Britain.

S. CLEMENT SWISHER, Primary Examiner

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