A sampler for taking samples from a molten metal bath, particularly a molten steel bath, includes a sample chamber assembly having a cover plate and a housing. The housing has first and second openings for an inflow conduit and a gas coupler, respectively. The first face of the housing includes a distribution zone, an analysis zone and a ventilation zone. A depth of the analysis zone is greater than 1.5 mm and less than 3 mm. The cover plate and the housing assemble together to form a sample cavity. An analysis surface of a solidified steel sample formed within the sample cavity lies in a first plane. In a flow direction of the molten steel, there are no increases in a width dimension of the sample cavity and a ratio of the length to depth of the sample cavity increases.

An immersion probe with a variable connection length is configured to compensate for longitudinal and/or radial length variations in an immersion sublance connected to the immersion probe. The immersion probe is characterized by an adjustable portion that changes length upon engagement with a coupling end of an immersion sublance. The immersion probe can have a sensor head. An immersion assembly of the immersion probe connected to an immersion sublance can be used to take measurements or samples of molten metal in a converter furnace.

An immersion probe with a variable connection length is configured to compensate for longitudinal and/or radial length variations in an immersion sublance connected to the immersion probe. The immersion probe is characterized by an adjustable portion that changes length upon engagement with a coupling end of an immersion sublance. The immersion probe can have a sensor head. An immersion assembly of the immersion probe connected to an immersion sublance can be used to take measurements or samples of molten metal in a converter furnace.

Methods and apparatus for measuring the cleanliness of molten metal. Direct current is passed through molten metal advancing through a passage. A voltage signal is analyzed for the presence of solid generally non-metallic inclusions in the metal. A method includes sampling digital data of the voltage signal to generate data samples; updating a delayed running average of the data samples to establish a baseline for identifying sudden changes in amplitude of the data samples; determining a threshold by adding a prescribed value to the baseline; identifying a possible inclusion when a significant number of data samples exceeds the threshold; storing a maximum count as the data samples using peak detection until a prescribed number of the data samples fall below the threshold; and comparing a parameter of the possible inclusion with a lookup table to categorize the possible inclusion as either (i) an actual inclusion or (ii) noise.

Methods and apparatus for measuring the cleanliness of molten metal. Direct current is passed through molten metal advancing through a passage. A voltage signal is analyzed for the presence of solid generally non-metallic inclusions in the metal. A method includes sampling digital data of the voltage signal to generate data samples; updating a delayed running average of the data samples to establish a baseline for identifying sudden changes in amplitude of the data samples; determining a threshold by adding a prescribed value to the baseline; identifying a possible inclusion when a significant number of data samples exceeds the threshold; storing a maximum count as the data samples using peak detection until a prescribed number of the data samples fall below the threshold; and comparing a parameter of the possible inclusion with a lookup table to categorize the possible inclusion as either (i) an actual inclusion or (ii) noise.

A consumable cored wire for measuring a temperature of a molten steel bath includes an optical fiber and a cover laterally surrounding the optical fiber in a plurality of layers. One layer is a metal pipe, also called metal jacket or metal tube. An intermediate layer, also called filler, is arranged beneath the metal tube. The intermediate layer is a rope.

A consumable cored wire for measuring a temperature of a molten steel bath includes an optical fiber and a cover laterally surrounding the optical fiber in a plurality of layers. One layer is a metal pipe, also called metal jacket or metal tube. An intermediate layer, also called filler, is arranged beneath the metal tube. The intermediate layer is a rope.

An immersion device for collecting a slag sample and measuring a molten metal parameter is provided. The immersion device includes an inflow conduit for directing the molten slag to a slag sample chamber and a measuring element for measuring the parameter of the molten metal. The inflow conduit and the measuring element are arranged in the top area of an immersion end of the immersion device and/or are facing towards an immersion direction. During immersion in the immersion direction into the molten slag and then the molten metal, the molten slag enters an external portion of the inflow conduit and is directed through an inner portion of the inflow conduit to the slag sample chamber. Reliable slag collection and molten metal measurement also in a converter can thereby be achieved. A method of collecting a slag sample and measuring a molten metal parameter is also provided.

An immersion device for collecting a slag sample and measuring a molten metal parameter is provided. The immersion device includes an inflow conduit for directing the molten slag to a slag sample chamber and a measuring element for measuring the parameter of the molten metal. The inflow conduit and the measuring element are arranged in the top area of an immersion end of the immersion device and/or are facing towards an immersion direction. During immersion in the immersion direction into the molten slag and then the molten metal, the molten slag enters an external portion of the inflow conduit and is directed through an inner portion of the inflow conduit to the slag sample chamber. Reliable slag collection and molten metal measurement also in a converter can thereby be achieved. A method of collecting a slag sample and measuring a molten metal parameter is also provided.

A sampler for taking samples from a molten metal bath, particularly a molten steel bath, includes a sample chamber assembly having a cover plate and a housing. The housing has an immersion end provided with an inflow conduit and including a sample cavity including a distribution zone, an analysis zone, and a ventilation zone. The sample cavity is dimensioned into four contiguous segments each of which has a respective length and depth. The four contiguous segments satisfy the formula: (L.sub.1/D.sub.1)+(L.sub.2/D.sub.2)+(L.sub.3/D.sub.3)+(L.sub.4/D.sub.4)>25.