A refractory impact pad includes a bottom wall, a side wall, and a top wall. The bottom wall has a basal surface. The side wall extends from a periphery of the bottom wall. The side wall has an inner surface that at least partially encircles the basal surface of the bottom wall. The inner surface of the side wall has inner surface teeth distributed thereon and protruding inwardly from the inner surface of the side wall. The top wall is joined to the side wall and separated from the bottom wall by the side wall. The top wall extends over the inner surface of the side wall and the inner surface teeth of the side wall. The top wall has a bottom surface facing the bottom wall. The bottom surface of the top wall has bottom surface teeth distributed thereon and protruding toward the bottom wall.

In a metallurgical vessel used for handling molten metal, a preformed refractory component forms part of a refractory structure that covers the bottom wall and side wall of the metallurgical vessel. The preformed refractory component is generally cup-shaped and formed of high-temperature refractory materials.

The invention relates to a refractory (fireproof) impact pad (also called impact pot).

Apparatus and method are provided for life cycle wear monitoring of a consumable refractory in an electric induction furnace used for heating and melting materials by accumulating laser imaging data of the refractory's inner surface periodically over the refractory's life cycle while the furnace is utilized in a foundry environment and processing the accumulated imaging data for comparative analysis with previous laser imaging data of the refractory's inner surface.

A refractory lining structure for a metallurgical vessel is characterized by at least one elongated expansion joint formed in and extending through the surface of the working lining in a substantially vertical direction. The elongated expansion joint accommodates thermal expansion of the working lining in a metallurgical vessel such as, for example, a tundish during preheating for a continuous casting operation. The elongated expansion joint decreases crack formation, delamination, and spalling of the working lining from underlying back-up linings and/or safety linings in metallurgical vessels during preheating and use, while still facilitating metal skull removal after the completion of metallurgical operations.

A method is provided for life cycle wear monitoring of a consumable refractory in an electric induction furnace used for heating and melting materials by accumulating laser imaging data of the refractory's inner surface periodically over the refractory's life cycle while the furnace is utilized in a foundry environment and processing the accumulated imaging data for comparative analysis with previous laser imaging data of the refractory's inner surface.

A method of molten metal continuous casting utilizing an impact pad having a non-wavy spherical top in the tundish that is impacted by the stream of molten metal entering into the tundish wherein the flow of molten metal within the tundish is optimized to improve flow patterns, reduce dead zone areas, prevent splashing while filling the empty tundish, and eliminating the open “red” eye forming in the molten metal surface layer.

An impact pad for metallurgical processes is formed from refractory material, and contains a base having an impact surface facing upwardly against a stream of molten metal entering a vessel containing the impact pad. A wall having a plurality of adjacent wall portions extends upwardly from the base. The impact surface contains at least one nonhorizontal facet extending inwardly from a wall portion; all lines in the facet extending perpendicularly to the wall portion have an inclination or declination with respect to the horizontal plane.

Apparatus and method are provided for life cycle wear monitoring of a consumable refractory in an electric induction furnace used for heating and melting materials by accumulating laser imaging data of the refractory's inner surface periodically over the refractory's life cycle while the furnace is utilized in a foundry environment and processing the accumulated imaging data for comparative analysis with previous laser imaging data of the refractory's inner surface.

A refractory lining structure for a metallurgical vessel is characterized by at least one elongated expansion joint formed in and extending through the surface of the working lining in a substantially vertical direction. The elongated expansion joint accommodates thermal expansion of the working lining in a metallurgical vessel such as, for example, a tundish during preheating for a continuous casting operation. The elongated expansion joint decreases crack formation, delamination, and spalling of the working lining from underlying back-up linings and/or safety linings in metallurgical vessels during preheating and use, while still facilitating metal skull removal after the completion of metallurgical operations.