US3679105A

US3679105A - Nozzle arrangement for molten metal container vessel

Info

Publication number: US3679105A
Application number: US16839A
Authority: US
Inventors: Temple W Ratcliffe
Original assignee: Babcock and Wilcox Co
Current assignee: Babcock and Wilcox Co
Priority date: 1970-03-05
Filing date: 1970-03-05
Publication date: 1972-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 1989-07-25
Also published as: CA958185A

Abstract

An improved nozzle arrangement for a molten metal container vessel in which the nozzle block passage and nozzle received therein have matching surfaces inclined with respect to the nozzle pouring axis, these matching surfaces being disposed to define a sealable joint between the nozzle and nozzle block and allow installation of the nozzle in the block by insertion into the passage from outside the vessel.

Description

United States Patent Ratcliffe 1 July 25, 1972 541 NOZZLE ARRANGEMENT FOR 2,961,122 11/1960 Lilljekvist et al. ..266/38 MOLTEN METAL CONTAINER VESSEL 3,206,301 9/1965 Daubersy 164/337 3,504,899 4/1970 Breuer et a1. ..266/38 [72] Beaver 3,145,095 8/1964 Franzen ....266/34 v [73] Assignee: The Badcock & Wilcox Company, Ne 3,292,915 12/1966 Finkl ..266/34V Y rk, NY.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [22] Filed: March 5, 1970 1,281,701 12/1961 France ..164/281 [21] Appl. No.: 16,839

Primary Examiner-Gerald A. Dost 52 us. c1 ..222/567, 266/38, 164/337 Magulre [51] ..B22d 37/00 [58] FieldofSearch ..266/38;164/136,281,335, ABSTRACT I 164/337; 222/502 567 An improved nozzle arrangement for a molten metal con- 56 tainer vessel in which the nozzle block passage and nozzle Relerencgs Cmd received therein have matching surfaces inclined with respect UNITED STATES PATENTS to the nozzle pouring axis, these matching surfaces being disposed to define a scalable joint between the nozzle and noz- 3,51 1,261 /1970 Blck et a1 ..137/315 Z1e block and allow installation f the "02216 in the Mock by l Calderon insertion in the passage from utside the essel 2,654,185 /1953 Honiss ..266/38 2,784,961 3/1957 Coupette et al. 164/335 '2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED L 25 \972 3.679.105

Z ATTZRNEY NOZZLE ARRANGEMENT FOR MOLTEN METAL CONTAINER VESSEL I This invention relates in general to the casting of molten materials and more particularly to an improved nozzle arrangement for a molten metal container vessel.

At present in the various processes for utilizing molten materials, and in particular steel, molten metal is charged into a refractory lined vessel, such as a ladle or tundish, and is dispensed therefrom through a nozzle that is received in a nozzle block located at the bottom of the vessel. From time to time it becomes necessary to replace the nozzle by reason of the erosive action of the hot metal that flows through it. Heretofore, the nozzles used in the art have been of such configuration that they necessarily must be installed from inside the vessel.

When a bottom pouring nozzle is installed in the ladle from the inside thereof it is necessary to cool the refractory lining of the ladle from a temperature substantially that of molten steel down to approximately room temperature, or at least to a temperature which will permit working inside the ladle to set the new nozzle in its proper position and ram the refractory clay seal between the outside surface of the nozzle and the surrounding nozzle block passage.

After the nozzle has been-set, it is necessary to reheat the ladle to dry the 'clay packing and eliminate moisture. Before recharging the ladle, the ladle and its refractory lining must be preheated to avoid excessive chilling of the metal tapped from the melting furnace. The cooling for nozzle repair and subsequent reheating of the ladle normally consumes more time than is required to make the next heat of steel. Consequently, for uninterrupted operation, a minimum of three ladles per melting furnace is required. If such cooling and reheat steps involved with nozzle replacement could be eliminated, it would be possible to have continuous operation with two ladles per furnace, since replacement of the nozzle in the empty ladle could be accomplished before the charged ladle was emptied.

The invention provides an improved nozzle arrangement that is applicable generally to any vessel, such as a ladle or tundish, for containing molten material and having a nozzle block that receives a nozzle through which the molten material is dispensed. While the improvement of the invention is particularly suited to molten steel container vessels, it is not intended herein that the scope of the invention be limited to use only with molten steel, and it will be evident that the advantages of the invention have broad application to many other molten material handling processes.

Basically, the improvement of the instant invention comprises means defining a passage in the nozzle block for receiving a nozzle and a nozzle received in such passage, with the nozzle and passage having matching surfaces inclined with respect to a given reference axis and defining a scalable joint between the nozzle and nozzle block. This reference axis is the central or pouring axis of the installed nozzle. In addition, these matching surfaces are disposed to allow installation of the nozzle in the block by insertion into the block passage from outside the vessel. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention these matching surfaces are tapered, flairing toward the outside of the vessel.

One of the advantages resulting from the use of inclined matching surfaces that are outwardly tapered at any angle up to a right angle with respect to the intended pouring axis, apart from the fact that such configuration permits installation of the nozzle from outside the vessel, is that a sealant material can be compressed between such matching surfaces simply by pushing the nozzle inward along the pouring axis. Since with such inward noule ramming the outwardly tapered matching surfaces are brought closer together to minimize the width of the joint which they define, leakage of molten metalthrough the nozzle-nozzle block joint is effectively prevented.

With a joint formed by concentric cylindrical surfaces on the block and nozzle, as in prior art designs, the sealant compressibility feature of this invention cannot be obtained.

Another advantage of using tapered surfaces is that they afford positive alignment of the nozzle with respect to the nozzle block.

For a better understanding of the invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawing.

in the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a sectional elevation view of a bottom-pouring ladle equipped with a nozzle arrangement according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. 7

FIG. 2 is a detail view of a portion of the ladle illustrated in FIG. 1 showing the nozzle block and noule to a larger scale.

FIG. 3 is a detail view of a ladle portion similar to that shown in FIG. 2 but illustrating a nozzle arrangement according to another embodiment of the invention.

in FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown a bottom-pouring ladle 10 adapted to contain molten steel and having an outer casing 1 1, an inside refractory lining 12, and a refractory nozzle block 13 installed through lining 12 at the bottom of ladle 10 and positioned in overlying registry with an opening 14 in casing 11.

Extending through nozzle block 13 is a passage 15 for receiving a refractory nozzle 16 through which the molten metal contents of ladle 10 is dispensed.

Because of the erosive action of the molten metal, nozzle 16 requires frequent replacement. To facilitate replacement without waiting for an emptied ladle 10 to cool down to a temperature that would permit working from inside ladle 10. the nozzle block 13 has a tapered conical surface 17 defining a portion of passage 15, which surface 17 matches a tapered conical surface 18, on nozzle 16. As better noted from FIG. 2, the

surfaces

17 and 18 are tapered outwardly, i.e. progressively increase in diameter toward the outside ladle l0, and extend over a predetermined fraction of the total length of nozzle 16 as measured along its central or pouring axis X.

The

matching surfaces

17 and 18 serve to establish and maintain alignment of the nozzle 16 axis X with respect to block 13, to assure that the molten metal delivered through nozzle 16 will issue as vertical stream with ladle 10 in its normal pouring attitude.

To permit installation of nozzle 16 in block 13 by insertion into passage 15 from the outside of ladle 10, the passage 15 has a boundary surface which is disposed in laterally surrounding, spaced-apart relation to the exterior surface of nozzle 16 so as to define a clearance space thereabout. This boundary surface of passage 15 includes in sequence the conical surface 17, a radially extending shoulder surface 19, a cylindrical surface 20, a radially extending transition surface 21 and lastly another cylindrical surface 22. The surfaces l7, I9, 20, 21, and 22 are so dimensioned in relation to the exterior surface portions of nozzle 16 which they confront that nozzle 16 can be set into a ringplate 23 resting upon a resilient insulating pad 24 which is retained by an extended rim 25 of plate 23, and then the assembled nozzle 16, plate 23 and pad 24 inserted through opening 14 into passage 15 until surface 18 and shoulder 26 on nozzle 16 contact surface 17 and shoulder 19 respectively on block 13. This positive seating of the nozzle 16 into block 13 compresses a sealant material 27 in the joint associated with the clearance between

surfaces

17 and 18 and surfaces 19 and 26 so that it fills and seals such joint.

The sealant material 27 is ordinarily a refractory mortar and can be applied either to surface 17 of block 13, or to surface 18 of nozzle 16, as desired, prior to insertion of the nozzle 16. Because of the tapered configuration of

surfaces

17 and 18, advancement of nozzle 16 inwardly will minimize the width of the joint between the nozzle 16 and block 13 and thus tend to spread the sealant 27 so that it will completely fill the joint. The excess sealant 27 will be extended into the annular clearance space between the shoulders 19 and 26 and the surface 20 and surface 28 respectively. The advantage of having these controlled clearances and completely mortared joint is that leakage of molten metal therethrough is prevented.

In accordance with the invention, positive retaining means also are provided to maintain nozzle 16 in its intended seating engagement with block 13. This retainer means includes a plurality of lugs 31 each supported from casing 11 by a bolt 32 and nut 33. Each bolt 32 is received within a fitted slot 34 ad jacent the opening 14 in casing 11, the fit of slot 34 being such that the head 35 of bolt 32 is constrained against turning. Lugs 31 bear against the outside face of ringplate 23 and when nuts 33 are tightened, the lugs 31 draw the plate 23, pad 24 and nozzle 16 assembly inwardly with respect to block 13. Thus, the lugs 31 in combination with the plate 23 and pad 24 provide an effective retainer means that engages the outside end of nozzle 16 to secure the surface 18 thereof in a firmly seated relation to the block surface 17. Adjustability of the lugs 31 also permits varying the clearance space between

such surfaces

17 and 18 to effect the desired degree of compression of sealant 27.

vln the embodiment of the invention exemplified by F168. 1 and 2, nozzle 16 has a tapered surface 18 that extends over a portion of the overall length of the nozzle, and the compressible insulation pad 24 is retained in alignment with respect to nozzle 16 by the extended rim 25 that encompasses pad 24 and the adjacent end portion of nozzle 16.

FIG. 3 exemplifies another embodiment of the invention wherein the nozzle 16' has tapered surface 18' that extends over substantially the entire nozzle length, the nozzle in this case resting upon an insulation pad 24' which is supported by a rimless ringplate 23.

From the foregoing it can be appreciated by the artisan that the basic concept of the invention as shown in the figures is to provide on the nozzle (16, 16') and the nozzle block (13, 13) respective matching tapered surfaces (17, l7, 18, 18) to establish alignment of the nozzle with respect to the block, and to provide in the nozzle block (l3, 13'), a passage (15, 15') that is contoured in relation to the nozzle (16, 16'), to allow placement of the nozzles into such position of alignment from outside of the ladle or similar vessel. In any particular case, the details of the block, nozzle, and accessories can be varied as desired within the framework of this basic concept.

It should be noted that the

matching surfaces

17 and 18, 19 and 26 define a sealablejoint between the nozzle block 13 and nozzle 16 that is constituted by one pair of surfaces, namely surface 17 on block 13 and surface 18 on nozzle 16 that are inclined at an angle less than 90 with respect to axis X, and

another pair of surfaces, namely surface 19 on block 13 and surface 26 on noule 16. that are inclined at substantially right angles to the reference axis X. While the tapered pair of

surfaces

17 and 18 are useful and serve to establish the alignment of nozzle 16 with respect to block 13, it is entirely possible within the scope of the invention to achieve a suitable'sealant joint between nozzle 16 and block 13 relying only upon the flange and shoulder surfaces 26 and 19 that are purpendicular to axis X.- For example, an equally effective sealable nozzle joint can be achieved by dimensioning the radial extent ot'surfaces 19 and 26 to give a joint of any desired leakage resistance length.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vessel for containing molten material and having a nozzle block receiving a nozzle through which the molten material is dispersed, the improvement which comprises means defining a passage in said nozzle block for receiving a nozzle, and anozzle received in said passage, said nozzle and passage having matching surfaces inclined downwardly and outwardly from the upper ends thereof with respect to the axis of flow through the nozzle, the matching surfaces including a pair of surfaces one on the nozzle block, the other on the nozzle and both inclined at substantially right angles to the axis of flow through the nozzle and extending outwardly from the downward end of the nozzle inclined surface, said nozzle block passage having a lower boundary surface disposed in laterally surrounding spaced-apart relation to the lower exterior surface of the nozzle to define a clearance space thereabout, said matching surfaces defining a sealable joint between the nozzle and nozzle block, a ringplate supported by the vessel, a compressible insulation pad supported by said ringplate and engaging the end of the nozzle to secure the tapered surface of said nozzle in a seating relation to the matching tapered surface of the nozzle block passage. said matching surfaces being disposed to allow installation of the nozzle in said block by insertion into said passage from outside the vessel.

2. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein said ringplate has an extended rim encompassing said insulation pad and the adjacent end portion of said nozzle to retain said pad in alignment with respect to the nozzle.

Claims

1. In a vessel for containing molten material and having a nozzle block receiving a nozzle through which the molten material is dispersed, the improvement which comprises means defining a passage in said nozzle block for receiving a nozzle, and a nozzle received in said passage, said nozzle and passage having matching surfaces inclined downwardly and outwardly from the upper ends thereof with respect to the axis of flow through the nozzle, the matching surfaces including a pair of surfaces one on the nozzle block, the other on the nozzle and both inclined at substantially right angles to the axis of flow through the nozzle and extending outwardly from the downward end of the nozzle inclined surface, said nozzle block passage having a lower boundary surface disposed in laterally surrounding spaced-apart relation to the lower exterior surface of the nozzle to define a clearance space thereabout, said matching surfaces defining a sealable joint between the nozzle and nozzle block, a ringplate supported by the vessel, a compressible insulation pad supported by said ringplate and engaging the end of the nozzle to secure the tapered surface of said nozzle in a seating relation to the matching tapered surface of the nozzle block passage, said matching surfaces being disposed to allow installation of the nozzle in said block by insertion into said passage from outside the vessel.