US3588303A

US3588303A - Apparatus for holding thermal lances

Info

Publication number: US3588303A
Application number: US803277*A
Authority: US
Inventors: August Karrer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-03-01
Filing date: 1969-02-28
Publication date: 1971-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 1988-06-28
Also published as: AT295828B; DE1908909A1; SE336081B; CH511668A; GB1247488A; FR2003035A1

Abstract

DISCLOSED HEREIN IS AN APPARATUS FOR HOLDING A PLURALITY OF SELF-CONSUMING THERMAL LANCES FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY BURNING OPENINGS IN BUIDLING WALLS OR THE LIKE. FURTHER A METHOD IS DISCLOSED ACCORDING TO WHICH THE SET OF CONSUMED THERMAL LANCES IS REMOVED AND THE FRESH SET OF LANCES IS IGNITED DIRECTLY AT THE HOT MATERIAL IN WHICH AN OPENING IS TO BURN.

Description

w m w iiiie tee Inventor August liinrrer Wetailiton, Switzerland App]. No. $03,277 Filed Feb. 2%, 1969 Patented June 20, 1971 Priority Mair. I, 1960 Swimerlluud 3076/60 APPARATUS FOR MOLDING THERMAL LANClES 9 Ciiiims, 3 Drawing li i gs.

US. Cl Bi/3A3,

266/23, 431/99 Hut. 1121 F23d 13/241 Field! 011 Search 1 10/22;

431/99, 343; 266/23; 248/(lnquired) [1 1 A 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,309,096 1/1943 Buckham et all. 1 10/22 3,260,076 7/1912 Humberg 431/99 Primary Exam iner- Edward G. Favors Attorney-Flynn and Frishauf ABSTRACT: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for holding a plurality of self-consuming thermal lances for simultaneously burning openings in building walls or the like. Further a method is disclosed according to which the set of consumed thermal lances is removed and the fresh set of lances is ignited directly at the hot material in which an opening is to burn.

PATENTED JUN28 m A MM W- INVH-l H m.

APPARATUS IFOR HOLDING TlllllElllMAlL LANCIES The invention relates to an apparatus for holding thermal lances.

It is conventional practice, when forming openings in building walls or the like by means of self-consuming thermal lances, to form one hole after the other by means of a thermal lance which is guided manually by the user. This manner of procedure is quite wasteful in time. Furthermore, it is in practice impossible to simultaneously guide more than one thermal lance by hand, so as to ensure that it will be applied at the correct places, and at the same time to attend to the forward feeding movement of the thermal lance.

It is an object of the invention to carry out the combustion process in such a manner that a plurality of thermal lances can be simultaneously used.

It is a further object of the invention not only to substantially reduce the time needed for forming a given 'slot length but also to effect appreciable reductions, with regard to consumption of the self-consuming tubes of the thermal lances, in comparison with the consumption which takes place when one hole is formed after the other.

Another, more specific object of the present invention relates to an improved frame which serves for the production of wall openings or the like and which can be caused to assume at least one position of utilization this frame being arranged to receive a plurality of thermal lances which can burn simultaneously and which lie side by side either in a rectilinear or in a ring-shaped formation; and the mutual spacing between these thermal lances is selected such that the slot or hole formed by burning the material of the wall or the like will be substantially without residual, intermediate or bridge portions.

The invention will be better understood, and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent, when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective, diagrammatic view of the apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken through the rear and of the thermal lances, and also shows the rear slotted plate;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through a joint of the frame.

A plurality of tubular thermal or thermic lances 1 lie parallel to one another, their rear ends all being connected to an oxygen feed pipe or hose 2 which serves to supply the equipment with pure oxygen. These thermal lances 1 are used for burning a slot 4 or a ring-shaped opening in a wall 3 ofa build ing, or in some other structure or surface. Each thermal lance 1 consists of a commercially available iron tube, such as gaspipes, whose inner diameter is filled to the fullest possible extent with a number of iron wires. These wires define, between each other and the tube, intermediate spaces which extend approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube and are intended for the passage of the oxygen. Prior to the commencement of the combustion process the thermal lances are ignited at their front tips by preheating from an outer heat source. The oxygen which issues from the front ends of the lances causing the material of the tube and of the wires to burn slowly with strong accompanying evolution of heat, so that the lances are gradually consumed. The heat evolved during this combustion process is so great that stone or rock, reinforced concrete, and the like become liquefied, and an opening is thus formed in these materials.

It has been found that, when a plurality of these thermal lances are simultaneously arranged side by side in this manner. notable advantages accrue in comparison with the conventional manner of procedure according to which only one thermal lance is used at any given time.

The thermal lances 1 which are arranged in side by side relationship, are supported by a front slotted plate 5 and by a rear slotted plate 6. The front slotted plate 5 is supported by a shear-legs or a strut 9, which can be adjusted into two mutually perpendicular planes by means of articulated joints b. The strut 9, which is adjustable by telescopic action in height,

can also be laterally shifted by means ofa tube llll which slides on or along a rod 10. An example ofsuch an articulated joint 8 is shown in FIG. 3 in greater detail. The lower part of the strut 9 engages in a fork 2i. A pin 22 passes through both these parts 9 and 21. One side of this pin 22 is provided with a head 23 and the other side with a screw threaded portion 25, on which is mounted a knob 24 which can be rotated by hand. When the rotary knob 24 is tightened the articulated joint can be locked in any desired position of adjustment, as both shanks of the fork 21 will then press against the portion of the strut 9 lying between them and firmly clamp the strut in position by frictional engagement. An elongate supporting bar or rod 13 is connected to the tube I1 through the intermediary of an articulated joint 8 and is extending substantially parallel to the lances l. The whole assembly is so constructed and arranged that the frame carrying the thermal lances 1 can be shifted in the horizontal direction, or is constructed in the form ofa car which can run on rails.

In operation the thermal lances l, which are disposed side by side and are slowly consumed, are fed forwards in the longitudinal direction of the tubes, the thermal lances sliding in the slots 15 of the front slotted plate .5. Both plates 5 are provided with oblique slots 15 which open in the upwards direction, so that inclined or vertical slots 4 can also be formed in the walls or the like by means of the same apparatus.

The lateral spacing between the thermal lances l is so selected that no substantial residual intermediate bridge or web portions will remain behind when the combustion process has been completed; in this way it is ensured that the slot or ring-shaped opening formed in the wall or other structure will be entirely free of such residual bridge or web portions. This lateral spacing between the tubes will depend on the tube diameter and also partially on the nature of the material of the structure in which an opening is to be burned. In the case of an outer diameter of the thermal lance of the distance from tube center to tube center may be selected as about 2%.

A tube or rod 14 is rigidly connected to the front, slotted plate 5 and extends parallel to the thermal lances 1. As is clearly shown in FIG. 2, the rear slotted plate 6 comprises a hub or boss 20 in which the rod 14 slidingly engages. In this way it is possible to arrange the rear portion of the thermal lances l in a freely suspended or overhung manner. The thermal lances l are placed in position in the slots 15 of the two slotted plates 5, 6. During the combustion process the thermal lances, which are freely movable in the slots 15 of the front slotted plate 5, slide in the forwards direction, while they are either rigidly secured in position by clamping screws (FIG. I) on the rear slotted plate 6 or are subject to the tensioning action of springs 17, which compensate for any disproportionate burning-out of the individual thermal lances 1. One end of each of these springs 17 is attached to the slotted plate 6, while its other end is attached to the retaining sleeve 18 which is mounted on the rear end of each thermal lance I. All lances l are advanced together by moving the rear slotted plate 6 in direction of the burning place.

In order to ensure the smoothest possible operation of the apparatus, a second pair of slotted plates is always provided, a number of previously prepared thermal lances 1 being placed in position in this second pair of slotted plates. As soon as the thermal lances l of the first slotted plate have been consumed to an extent such that their service life is almost at an end, the first pair of slotted plates is withdrawn to the side and the second pair of slotted plates together with its associated new thermal lances is introduced into the equipment. As this changeover can take place very rapidly, the front end of the tubes of the newly introduced thermal lances can be ignited by the brick, stone or other material which is still hot or by the stored heat present in the slot being formed in the wall or other structure.

This provision permits the formation of a slot whose shape, angle of inclination, and spatial position can be accurately predetermined.

It has been found that this apparatus is not only capable of achieving substantial saving in operating times but that it is also possible to realize savings in tube material of about I- 20 percent in comparison with the conventional mode of operation according to which one thermal lance after the other is separately burned for forming a slot or hole of comparable size and shape. The improved results are attributable to the fact that each of the mutually juxtaposed thermal lances reinforces or enhances the combustion of the lance lying adjacent to it.

In addition to the saving in time, savings in costs of up to 40 percent are also achieved.

Conveniently, a protective screen or shield or a smoke extraction hood (cowling) is disposed between the front slotted plate 5 and the wall'3, in which an opening is to be burned; it will then be possible both to dispense with additional means for providing protection against flying sparks and also to prevent any nuisancebeing caused by the presence of smoke or the like. It is also possible to make the slotted plate 5 so big that it becomes the function of a protective shield.

Instead of effecting the feed of the thermal lances l by hand it is also possible to secure a pull cable to the rear slotted plate 6; this cable passes, parallel to the lances I, to the frame and is there held down by a weight; in this way a substantially automatic feed of the thermal lances 1 can be effected. It would also be possible to use springs instead of the pull or draw cable. Instead ofthe'slotted plates shown in the drawing, it is also possible to use some other suitable, equivalent means for holding the thermal lances l.

Instead of disposing the juxtaposed tubes in a rectilinear formation, which they are given for the purpose of forming rectilinear horizontal, vertical or slanting slots in the wall or the like, the thermal lances may alternatively be arranged in an arcuate or ringed formation, so as to enable them to form arcuate or ring-shaped openings in the wall or like structure.

As should now be apparent, the objects initially set forth at the outset of this specification have been successfully achieved. ACCORDINGLY,

Iclaim:

1. Holding apparatus for thermal lances which form cavities, or openings in concrete, stone, building walls or like structures by gaseous combustion, said holding apparatus comprising a frame adapted to receive a plurality of longitudinal thermal lances to burn simultaneously, and arranged substantially parallel to each other, said frame including front support means and a rear support means for said lances; a rod interconnecting said front and said rear support means extending substantially parallel to the direction said lances are to assume when being held by the apparatus, the front support means being rigidly attached to the rod and the rear support means being shiftable on said rod;

spacer means formed in said frame adapted for holding said thermal lances, when being held by the apparatus, at a mutual spacing between each other so that, upon burning of the lances, substantially no intennediate bridgelike portions will remain in the cavity or opening being formed;

and articulated support means supporting said frame.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said articulated support means has at least two articulated joints, the pivotal axes of said joint being perpendicular to each other.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including connector means adapted for connection to each of said thermal lances;

and individual spring means interconnecting said connector means and said rear support means.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said front support means comprises a plate formed with upwardly open slits, said slits being adapted to receive and hold lances therein.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in combination with a plurality of longitudinal thermal lances arranged substantially parallel to each other and located in said front and rear su port means, spaced from each other by the distance defined y said spacer means.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame is movable in lateral direction and extendable in vertical direction.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame comprises an elongated bar supported by the ground and extending substantially parallel to the thermal lance, the length of said bar being at least half the length of said thermal lances prior to combustion of the latter, said frame being a tripod and being the only supporting means between the thermal lances and the ground.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim I, wherein at least four thermal lances are provided, the space between the axes thereof being greater than their diameter.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said thermal lances are arranged in a horizontal plane.