US3711077A

US3711077A - Stabilized mounting for molten metal vessels

Info

Publication number: US3711077A
Application number: US00067480A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Nagati
Original assignee: Pennsylvania Engineering Corp
Current assignee: Pennsylvania Engineering Corp
Priority date: 1970-08-27
Filing date: 1970-08-27
Publication date: 1973-01-16
Anticipated expiration: 1990-01-16
Also published as: FR2108208B1; DE2142218A1; FR2108208A1; GB1310775A; AU458538B2; CA983709A; JPS5248086B1; AU3235771A

Abstract

The shell of a vessel which may become red hot when it is occupied by molten metal is supported inside of a concentric trunnion ring. A plurality of tangs have their corresponding ends anchored at circumferentially spaced points around the top of the trunnion ring. The opposite corresponding ends of the tangs extend tangentially of the outer periphery of the shell to which they are fastened. Another aligned set of tang members is spaced around the bottom of the trunnion ring. In the bottom set, the tangs make a yielding connection with their anchoring elements on the bottom of the trunnion ring so that the bottom set carries no load until the trunnion ring and shell are tilted.

Description

United States Patent 1 Nagati Jan, 16,1973

[54] STABILIZED MOUNTING FOR MOLTEN METAL VESSELS [75] Inventor: Rashed Naim Nagatl, New Castle,

[73] Assignee: Pennsylvania Engineering Corporation [22] Filed: Aug. 27, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 67,480

[52] U.S. Cl ..266/36 P [51] Int. Cl ..C2lc 5/50 [58] Field of Search ..266/35, 36 P [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,575,402 4/1971 .Mahringer ..266/35 3,182,979 5/1965 Krause ..266/35 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,355,699 2/l964 France ..266/36 P Primary Examiner-Gerald A. Dost Att0rney-Fred Wiviott and Ralph G. Hohenfeldt [57] ABSTRACT The shell of a vessel which may become red hot when it is occupied by molten metal is supported inside of a concentric trunnion ring. A plurality of tangs have their corresponding ends anchored at circumfereritially spaced points around the top of the trunnion ring. The opposite corresponding ends of the tangs extend tangentially of the outer periphery of the shell to which they are fastened. Another aligned set of tang members is spaced around the bottom of the trunnion ring. In the bottom set, the tangs make a yielding connection with their anchoring elements on the bottom of the trunnion ring so that the bottom set carries noload until the trunnion ring and shell are tilted.

11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures INVENTOR,

RASHED N. NAGATI Attorney STABILIZED MOUNTING FOR MOLTEN METAL VESSELS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Molten metal processing and handling vessels usually comprise a metal shell which is lined internally with a refractory material. Vessels of this type often have a capacity of three hundred and fifty tons or more of molten metal. The temperature of the metal is in the neighborhood of 3,500F. in which case the metal shell of the vessel may become red hot. These high and unevenly distributed temperature conditions cause all dimensions of the shell to undergo unpredictable ther-- mal distortions which result in distance changes between the shell and the trunnion ring. Such distortions must be accommodated by the members which support the shell from the ring. The metal shell is also characterized by creeping which means that even though the shell has been cooled, it will not return to its original shape but will remain plastically deformed permanently. Because of the above described plastic deformation and other deteriorating factors, the vessel is replaced periodically while the life of the ring may exceed that of several vessels.

Several methods have been devised in the past for supporting the vessel from the trunnion ring in a manner that is intended to compensate for deformation of the vessel without imposing undue stresses on the trunnion ring. Most of the methods involve use of inclined planes and the like which are adapted to effect a yielding or sliding connection between the vessel shell and the trunnion ring. Such yieldable supporting connections obviously offer a site for frictional wear and thus require periodic inspection and maintenance lest their multiplicy of relatively movable parts deteriorate and jeopardize proper support of the vessel. Moreover, prior art vessel supports having movable parts require frequent inspection and cleaning as a result of being contaminated with slag and other foreign substances which inevitably occur around vessels of this type. Hence, it has been customary to cover the supporting members with a protective shroud which only adds to the difficulty of performing inspection and maintenance.

Another problem in prior methods of supporting a hot vessel from a trunnion ring involves getting proper andsecure support when the vessel is either upright or tilted. Very complex supporting schemes have been developed to account for the different stresses which are developed when the vessel is upright as opposed to it being tilted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A general object of this invention is to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages by providing a hot vessel suspension system which is simple but secure, economical to manufacture, minimize inspection and maintenance, is unimpaired by slag or other contaminants, and is reusable and has long life compared to the vessel.

A further object is to provide a suspension system which allows the vessel to assume a state which results in the least internal stress being developed in the vessel.

A still further object is to provide a suspension system which minimizes and equalizes interacting forces or stresses between the vessel and its supporting trunnion ring.

Briefly stated, the new vessel suspension system involves anchoring corresponding ends of several elongated tang members at judiciously chosen points about the upper surface of a concentric trunnion ring. The tangs all extend in the same direction tangentially to the vessel shell to which their other corresponding ends connect.

Another set of tangs are anchored at the bottom of the trunnion ring at circumferentially spaced intervals which may correspond with the members of the upper set. The lower tangs are connected with their anchor members by means ofa vertically yielding coupling.

How the aforementioned and other more specific objects of the invention are achieved will appear from time to time throughout the course of the ensuing description of an illustrated embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the type of molten metal containing vessel 10 to which the instant invention is applicable. The vessel 10 may include a shell 10 of relatively thick steel which is lined with refractory material 11. There is an opening 12 at the top of the vessel for introducing metallic charge which may consist of molten metal and/or scrap metal and for pouring metal and/or slag out when the vessel is tilted on its transverse axis.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vessel shell 10 has its longitudinal axis upright and it is surrounded by a concentric trunnion ring 13. The trunnion ring 13 may be a circular box girder which is suitably reinforced inside by means which are not visible in the drawing. Trunnion ring 13 is equipped with laterally extending

trunnion shafts

14 and 15 which are normally journaled in bearings supported in posts or other suitable means, bearings and posts being omitted from the drawing. When vessel shell 10 is new and unused, there is a uniform concentric gap 17 between shell 10 and the internal periphery of trunnion ring 13. While the invention is illustrated with respect to a vessel 10 and a trunnion ring 13 have a circular configuration in horizontal cross-section, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention is applicable where these structures have other configurations as well.

Shell 10 is supported inside of trunnion ring 13 by a plurality of uniformly circumferentially spaced upper suspension members which are generally designated by the numerals l8, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23. The upper suspension members 18-23 are anchored on the top surface 25 of trunnion ring 13.

Anchored to the bottom surface 26 of trunnion ring 13 are a plurality of lower suspension members which are generally designated by the numeral 27. In this embodiment, the lower members 27 are equal in number to upper members 18-23 and they are again equiangularly circumferentially spaced around the trunnion ring and may be in vertical alignment with the various upper members 18-23 as illustrated in FIG. 1 or they may be located in nonaligned positions.

A typical upper suspension member is arbitrarily marked 18in FIG. 3 which shows the member in detail. It is seen to comprise an anchor plate 28 whose corner is cut off for better conformity with the peripheral shape of the trunnion ring on which it is mounted.

Anchor plate 28 hasseveral holes 29 for permitting it to be bolted onto top 25 of the trunnion ring 13 by means of the several bolts which are marked 30 in FIG. 1.

The upper suspension member in FIG. 3 includes a tang 32 which is rectangular in cross section and stands edgewise on anchor plate 28 to which it may be welded. Tang 32 may be further supported by web plates such as 33.

Elements

33, 32 and 28 are all joined in any suitable manner, such as by welding, where they engage one another, although tang 32 and web plates 33 may be joined directly to the trunnion ring 13 in any suitable manner, such as by welding, and the anchor plate 28 eliminated. The free end 34 which extends from tang 32 beyond anchor plate 28 is slightly curved to permit it to make tentantial contact with the outer periphery of vessel shell 10 and to bridge gap 17 between the shell and the interior of ring 13. The end 34 of the tang may have several holes to facilitate fastening the tang to shell 10 by means of bolts 36 or rivets as can be seen in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the tang end 34 could be welded to shell 10. Since the tang is loaded as an cantilever lever where it bridges gap 17 between ring 13 and shell 10, the tang is desirably reinforced by a pair of ribs 37. The ribs 37 may also serve to prevent buckling of tang 32 under compressive axial loads, if necessary.

The dimensions of the tang 32 are so chosen that its strength and rigidity in the vertical direction is very high compared to the same properties in the lateral direction. It is also necessary to select the dimensions of the tang 32 so as to provide adequate strength in tension and compression along its longitudinal axis.

Since the tangs 32 stand edgewise and vertical and the longitudinal axis of vessel shell 10 is vertical, the tangs offer high resistance to transverse bending when the shell is vertical. In this design, the upper suspension members 18-23 support the whole weight of the shell l and its contents but the lower suspension members 27 need not and do not support any of the shells weight when the latter is upright. However, the tangs are sufficiently flexible and yielding in a horizontal plane to adjust for deformation of shell 10 relative to the interior of trunnion ring 13.

Attention is now invited to FIG. 4 which shows the preferred embodiment of lower suspension member 27 isolated from the suspension system. The lower member has an anchor or base plate 40 which has several holes 41 for facilitating bolting it to the bottom 26 oftrunnion ring 13. Fastened to an end of anchor plate 40 is a socket 42 which has a vertical T-shaped 43 extending through it. Within hole 43 is a cross head 44 which is integral with the end of a tang 45. It should be evident that tang 45 is adapted to yield vertically in the T-socket 43 under certain conditions. Tang 45 is reinforced with some ribs 46 and it also has some holes 47 for fastening tangentially to the periphery of shell 10 by means of bolts 50 or rivets which can be seen in FIG. 1. Socket 42 is rigidly supported by some

web plates

48 and 49 which are welded thereto and to anchor plate 40.

Cross head 44 of tang 45 in FIG. 4 may have a shape other than the T-shape in which it is exemplified. For instance, the cross head could be a cylinder welded or forged onto tang 45 and adapted for free vertical movement in a cylindrical hole in socket 42 as opposed to T- shaped hole 43. In addition to the illustrated embodiment, any type of hinged or flexible coupling that prevents 45 from separating from the trunnion ring 13 under axial loads and which permits the tang to move vertically with respect to the anchor plate 40 when the vessel shell is in upright position as in FIG. 1, will constitute a satisfactory connection.

Note that allof the tangs 32 of the suspension members 18-23 are oriented in the same direction tangentially to vessel shell 10. One advantage of this construction is that if there is localized radial expansion, bulging or other distortion of shell 10, the tang nearest to the region of high stress so created will yield radially and relieve the stress. Accompanying reactive forces cause the other tangs to accept some of the stress and they will yield until the entire system is in equilibrium and least stressed. Thus, high localized stresses which were evident in prior art systems are avoided in the new suspension system.

When the vessel 10 is mostly filled with molten metal and in an upright position as it is in FIG. 1, all of the weight of the vessel and its contents is supported by upper suspension members 18-23. No vertical load is sustained by the lower suspension member 27 because of the vertically yielding connection between head 44 of tang 45 and socket 42.

FIG. 2 may be viewed as a cross section of the vessel when it is upright as in FIG. 1 or it may be looked upon as being a cross section taken when the longitudinal axis of the vessel is tilted to a horizontal position. Assuming the latter condition, it will be noted that the tangs of

suspension members

18 and 21 will be loaded as cantilevers and would normally undergo considerable deflection. However, at this time the tangs of

suspension members

22 and 23 are under tension and the tangs of

members

19 and 20 are under compression in which case the tangs of these four members carry the principal part of the load. When the vessel is tilted horizontally it is stressed substantially uniformly because of the manner in which the tangs yield until they equalize the stresses between them.

Vessel 10 may be tilted by changing the plane of trunnion ring 13 by means of applying a torsional force to either or both of the trunnion shafts 14 and 1S. During tilting the location of the suspension members 18-23 assumes greater importance. Assume, for instance, that in FIG. 2 trunnion ring 13 is in a horizontal plane, and that the longitudinal axis of the vessel shell 10 is vertical and is to be tilted. It will be evident that the least force for tilting will be required if the force is applied to vessel 10 at a point 90 from and normal to the trunnion axis. This corresponds with applying a tilting force to the vessel where the tangs of diametrically

opposite suspension members

18 and 21 engage vessel A s 10. Now if the anchor plates 28 of

suspension members

18 and 21 were in direct radial alignment with the point at which their tangs engage the vessel 10, ring stress analysis would dictate that maximum stress would be imposed on the trunnion ring 13 near the trunnion axis. In other words, the minimum force required to tilt the vessel at 90 from the trunnion shaft axis is the force that results in the maximum bending moment at thev trunnion ring 13, if applied to the trunnion ring 13 at the same point, i.e., at 90 from the axis of shafts l4 and 15. This is one of the prior art problems which has been overcome by the present invention by having ends 34 of the tangs engage the vessel shell 10 at one angular position with respect to the tilting axis and having the other ends of the tangs supported from the trunnion ring at a lesser angle from the tilting axis. Therefore, the moment arms between the anchor plates and the tilting axis are shortened and the moment arms between where the tangs are fastened to the vessel and the axis are lengthened so there is reduced stress on both the vessel and the ring during tilting of the vessel. What has been said with respect to suspension members l8 and 21 applies equally well to

suspension members

19 and 23.

Note also in FIGS. 1 and 2 that

suspension members

20 and 23 are anchored on trunnion ring 13 substantially in alignment with the lateral tilting axis of trunnion ring 13. This point of support imposes the least stress on the trunnion ring and yet the tangs of

suspension members

20 and 23 have a considerable moment arm for tilting the vessel because they extend away from the tilting axis. Another advantage of locating the tang anchors over the trunnions is that the tangs remain cooler because their heat is conducted away more effectively by the massive and cooler trunnion supports.

As the longitudinal axis of the vessel is tilted from vertical to a horizontal inclination, more and more load is imposed on lower suspension members 27 and eventually they are fully loaded axially. They accept some of the load as soon as the longitudinal axis of the vessel is tilted somewhat and they accept a larger part of the load when the vessel is tilted about 60 at which time greatest torque is required as a result of the manner in which the molten metal shifts inside of the vessel as it is being tilted. Finally, the tangs of the lower suspension members are variously in tension, and compression loading so they they share the load with the upper suspension members and maintain the gap between vessel shell 10 and the inside of trunnion ring 13.

The described embodiment of the invention uses six upper and six lower suspension members, but it will be evident to those versed in the art that more or fewer members may be used depending on the design characteristics of the suspension members and the mass of the vessel which is to be supported.

In summary, a new molten metal suspension system has been described which is substantially free of moving parts, requires little maintenance andinspection and assumes a state of least stress on the vessel regardless of the distortion which it undergoes. The tang members are easy to remove for the purpose of replacing the vessel and the same tangs can be reused with the substitute vessel.

Although a preferred embodiment of the new suspension system has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended to be illustrative rather than limiting, for the inventionmay be variously embodied and is to be limited only by construing the claims which follow.

lclaim: 1 a

1. The combination comprising:

a. a molten metal processing vessel having an opening for introducing metal to and pouring it from the vessel,

. trunnion ring means surrounding the vessel with a gap between the vessel and ring means, said trunnion ring means having a tilting axis which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vessel, the trunnion ring means and vessel being adapted for tiltingjointly,

. a plurality of vessel suspension means including an upper group of suspension means fixed at the nominal top of the trunnion ring means and a lower group of suspension means fixed at the bottom of said trunnion ring means,

said upper group of suspension means being respectively attached to the vessel and trunnion ring means and bridging the gap therebetween, said upper group of suspension means being spaced apart from each other around the vessel and including a plurality of elongated tang members each of which extends in a similar direction and has one end fastened to said trunnion ring means and another end extending substantially tangentially to and fastened to the vessel,

e. said lower suspension means individually including:

i. an anchor member fastened at the bottom of the trunnion ring means and having an open ended socket,

ii. a tang member having one end fastened to the vessel and another end shaped to fit in and conform with the socket so as to form a yielding connection therewith whereupon it carries no substantial load when the trunnion ring is substantially horizontal but does carry load when the vessel is tilted on the axis of the trunnion ring.

. The invention set forth in claim 1, wherein:

. said upper suspension means individually comprising:

i. an anchor plate member which is fastened rigidly to the trunnion ring means,

said tang member being substantially rectangular in cross section and standing edgewise on said anchor plate member whereby to present a rigid support for loads that are transverse to the plane of the trunnion ring means and to adapt said tang member for yielding within limits radially with respect to said trunnion ring means in response to dimensional and position changes of said other end of the tang member has a T-shaped configuration and said open ended socket has a complementary T-shaped configuration.

The combination comprising: a molten metal processing vessel 'havingan opening for introducing metal to and pouring it from the vessel,

. trunnion ring means surrounding the vessel with a gap between the vessel and ring means, said ring means having a tilting axis which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vessel, the ring means and vessel being adapted for tilting jointly,

. a plurality of vessel suspension means respectively attached rigidly to the vessel and ring means and bridging the gap therebetween, said suspension means being spaced apart from each other around the vessel,

. said suspension means comprising a plurality of elongated tang members each of which extends in a similar direction and has one end fastened rigidly to said trunnion ring means and another end extending substantially tangentially to and fastened rigidly to the vessel,

. the individual suspension means comprising an anchor member rigidly fastened on the trunnion ring means, said anchor member being rigidly fastened to and supporting one end of an associated tang member, the said tang member having its other end rigidly fastened to said vessel in a region that is angularly displaced around said ring means from the anchor member,

. a certain pair of said suspension means having the The invention set forth in claim 5, wherein: a different pair of said suspension means are constructed as in claim and having their anchor members rigidly fastened on said trunnion ring means in substantial angular coincidence with its transverse tilting axis,

. one end of each of said tang members being supported from their associated anchor members and their other ends being fastened rigidly to said vessel in a region that is substantially angularly intermediate their own anchor members and the anchor members of aforesaid certain pair of suspension means.

. A molten metal vessel suspension system comprisa trunnion ring having a transverse tilting axis, a substantially circular open ended vessel located inside the ring with a substantially concentric gap between the vessel and the ring,

. suspension means supporting the vessel from the ring, said suspension means comprising:

i. a plurality of anchor memberssubstantially equiangularly spaced around the ring and rigidly fastened thereto,

ii. tang members each having one end rigidly fastened to each anchor member and each tang member extending across the gap at an angle in a common direction with the other tang members, the corresponding other ends of the tang members being rigidly attached to the vessel for supporting it in a region that is angularly displaced from the anchor member that is associated with the tang member,

iii. one pair of said anchor members being located substantially in vertical alignment with the transverse tilting axis of the trunnion ring means, and

iv. a pair of the said one ends of said tang members being fastened rigidly to diametrically opposite sides of said vessel on a line that is angularly equally spaced from and normal to the transverse tilting axis.

8. The combination comprising:

a. a molten metal processing vessel having an outer metallic shell and a refractory lining,

b. support means for the vessel in spaced relation with respect to the vessel, said support means being adapted to be urged to tilt said vessel,

0. said support means including a plurality of elongate, relatively flat suspension members each extending generally tangentially to said vessel and having a portion of one flat side engaging and being rigidly secured directly to the metallic shell of said vessel'and a second end having an edge rigidly secured to the support means, respectively, said members being adapted to yield primarily transversely of the vessel to accommodate changes in the relative spacing of the vessel and support means,

d. said members being the sole support for said vessel in its untilted position, all of said members extending between said vessel and the support means in the same direction relative to the periphery of the metallic shell whereby upon expansion of said vessel, the latter may rotate slightly in said direction to relieve stresses in said suspension members.

9. The combination comprising:

b. support means for the vessel in spaced relation with respect to the vessel, said support means being adapted to be urged to tilt the vessel,

0. a first plurality of members which are engaged with the vessel and the support means, respectively, said members being adapted to yield primarily transversely of the vessel to accommodate changes in the relative spacing of the vessel and support means,

d. and a second plurality of support members which are engaged with the support means and the vessel, said support means being adapted for flexing transversely of the vessel and for yielding longitudinally of the vessel.

10. The combination comprising:

the other longitudinally of the vessel. 1 l. The invention set forth in claim 9, wherein:

a. one part of said members is elongated and has an end attached to said vessel and another end having 7 a head means thereon,

b. the other part of said members being engaged with said support means and having a socket means which slidingly embraces said head means.

Claims

1. The combination comprising: a. a molten metal processing vessel having an opening for introducing metal to and pouring it from the vessel, b. trunnion ring means surrounding the vessel with a gap between the vessel and ring means, said trunnion ring means having a tilting axis which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vessel, the trunnion ring means and vessel being adapted for tilting jointly, c. a plurality of vessel suspension means including an upper group of suspension means fixed at the nominal top of the trunnion ring means and a lower group of suspension means fixed at the bottom of said trunnion ring means, d. said upper group of suspension means being respectively attached to the vessel and trunnion ring means and bridging the gap therebetween, said upper group of suspension means being spaced apart from each other around the vessel and including a plurality of elongated tang members each of which extends in a similar direction and has one end fastened to said trunnion ring means and another end extending substantially tangentially to and fastened to the vessel, e. said lower suspension means individually including: i. an anchor member fastened at the bottom of the trunnion ring means and having an open ended socket, ii. a tang member having one end fastened to the vessel and another end shaped to fit in and conform with the socket so as to form a yielding connection therewith whereupon it carries no substantial load when the trunnion ring is substantially horizontal but does carry load when the vessel is tilted on the axis of the trunnion ring.

2. The invention set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. said upper suspension means individually comprising: i. an anchor plate member which is fastened rigidly to the trunnion ring means, ii. said tang member being substantially rectangular in cross sectIon and standing edgewise on said anchor plate member whereby to present a rigid support for loads that are transverse to the plane of the trunnion ring means and to adapt said tang member for yielding within limits radially with respect to said trunnion ring means in response to dimensional and position changes of the vessel, iii. one end of said tang member being secured rigidly to the anchor plate member.

3. The invention set forth in claim 2, including: a. a rib means extending lengthwise of the tang member and integrally joined thereto substantially in the region where the tang member bridges the gap between the trunnion ring means and the vessel.

4. The invention set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. said other end of the tang member has a T-shaped configuration and said open ended socket has a complementary T-shaped configuration.

5. The combination comprising: a. a molten metal processing vessel having an opening for introducing metal to and pouring it from the vessel, b. trunnion ring means surrounding the vessel with a gap between the vessel and ring means, said ring means having a tilting axis which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vessel, the ring means and vessel being adapted for tilting jointly, c. a plurality of vessel suspension means respectively attached rigidly to the vessel and ring means and bridging the gap therebetween, said suspension means being spaced apart from each other around the vessel, d. said suspension means comprising a plurality of elongated tang members each of which extends in a similar direction and has one end fastened rigidly to said trunnion ring means and another end extending substantially tangentially to and fastened rigidly to the vessel, e. the individual suspension means comprising an anchor member rigidly fastened on the trunnion ring means, said anchor member being rigidly fastened to and supporting one end of an associated tang member, the said tang member having its other end rigidly fastened to said vessel in a region that is angularly displaced around said ring means from the anchor member, f. a certain pair of said suspension means having the said other ends of their tang members rigidly fastened to said vessel substantially midway between opposite trunnion means to thereby establish the longest moment arm between the axis of the trunnions and the vessel, whereby minimum stress is developed on the vessel when it is caused to tilt by a force transmitted for the trunnion ring means through the tang members.

6. The invention set forth in claim 5, wherein: a. a different pair of said suspension means are constructed as in claim 5 and having their anchor members rigidly fastened on said trunnion ring means in substantial angular coincidence with its transverse tilting axis, b. one end of each of said tang members being supported from their associated anchor members and their other ends being fastened rigidly to said vessel in a region that is substantially angularly intermediate their own anchor members and the anchor members of aforesaid certain pair of suspension means.

7. A molten metal vessel suspension system comprising: a. a trunnion ring having a transverse tilting axis, b. a substantially circular open ended vessel located inside the ring with a substantially concentric gap between the vessel and the ring, c. suspension means supporting the vessel from the ring, said suspension means comprising: i. a plurality of anchor members substantially equiangularly spaced around the ring and rigidly fastened thereto, ii. tang members each having one end rigidly fastened to each anchor member and each tang member extending across the gap at an angle in a common direction with the other tang members, the corresponding other ends of the tang members being rigidly attached to the vessel for supporting it in a region that is angularly displaced from the anchor member that is associated with the tang member, iii. one pair of said anchor members being located substantially in vertical alignment with the transverse tilting axis of the trunnion ring means, and iv. a pair of the said one ends of said tang members being fastened rigidly to diametrically opposite sides of said vessel on a line that is angularly equally spaced from and normal to the transverse tilting axis.

8. The combination comprising: a. a molten metal processing vessel having an outer metallic shell and a refractory lining, b. support means for the vessel in spaced relation with respect to the vessel, said support means being adapted to be urged to tilt said vessel, c. said support means including a plurality of elongate, relatively flat suspension members each extending generally tangentially to said vessel and having a portion of one flat side engaging and being rigidly secured directly to the metallic shell of said vessel and a second end having an edge rigidly secured to the support means, respectively, said members being adapted to yield primarily transversely of the vessel to accommodate changes in the relative spacing of the vessel and support means, d. said members being the sole support for said vessel in its untilted position, all of said members extending between said vessel and the support means in the same direction relative to the periphery of the metallic shell whereby upon expansion of said vessel, the latter may rotate slightly in said direction to relieve stresses in said suspension members.

9. The combination comprising: a. a molten metal processing vessel having an opening for introducing metal to and pouring it from the vessel, b. support means for the vessel in spaced relation with respect to the vessel, said support means being adapted to be urged to tilt the vessel, c. a first plurality of members which are engaged with the vessel and the support means, respectively, said members being adapted to yield primarily transversely of the vessel to accommodate changes in the relative spacing of the vessel and support means, d. and a second plurality of support members which are engaged with the support means and the vessel, said support means being adapted for flexing transversely of the vessel and for yielding longitudinally of the vessel.

10. The combination comprising: a. a molten metal processing vessel having an opening for introducing metal to and pouring it from the vessel, b. support means for the vessel in spaced relation with respect to the vessel, said support means being adapted to be urged to tilt the vessel, c. a first plurality of members which are engaged with vessel and the support means, respectively, said members being adapted to yield primarily transversely of the vessel to accommodate changes in the relative spacing of the vessel and supporting means, d. a second plurality of plural part members which are engaged with the support means and the vessel, one part of said members being adapted for flexing transversely of the vessel and for sliding relative to the other longitudinally of the vessel.

11. The invention set forth in claim 9, wherein: a. one part of said members is elongated and has an end attached to said vessel and another end having a head means thereon, b. the other part of said members being engaged with said support means and having a socket means which slidingly embraces said head means.