MOLTEN METAL SAMPLERS FOR HIGH AND LOW OXYGEN APPLICATIONS

Abstract

A sampler for taking samples from a molten metal bath includes a carrier tube having an immersion end; sample chamber assembly comprising a cover plate and a housing, wherein the housing comprises an immersion end having an opening; an inflow conduit having a first end for receiving molten metal and a second end, opposite the first end, wherein the second end is in communication with the opening, and the opening is configured to receive the molten metal from the inflow conduit; a measuring head, wherein the sample chamber and the second end of the inflow conduit are at least partly arranged in the measuring head; and a metal bushing, wherein the metal bushing coupling the inflow conduit to the sample chamber.

Claims

1. A sampler for taking samples from a molten metal bath, the sampler comprising: a carrier tube having an immersion end; sample chamber assembly comprising a cover plate and a housing, wherein the housing comprises an immersion end having an opening; an inflow conduit having a first end for receiving molten metal and a second end, opposite the first end, wherein the second end is in communication with the opening, and the opening is configured to receive the molten metal from the inflow conduit; a measuring head, wherein the sample chamber and the second end of the inflow conduit are at least partly arranged in the measuring head; and a metal bushing, wherein the metal bushing coupling the inflow conduit to the sample chamber.

2. The sampler of claim 1, wherein the molten metal bath is a molten steel bath.

3. The sampler of claim 1, wherein the metal bushing is adapted to reach from the sample chamber assembly to the first end of the inflow conduit.

4. The sampler of claim 3, wherein the metal bushing has at least two different wall thicknesses and/or diameters along its length.

5. The sampler of claim 1, wherein the metal bushing has at least two different wall thicknesses and/or diameters along its length.

6. The sampler of claim 1, wherein the metal bushing comprises an aluminum material.

7. The sampler of claim 6, wherein the inflow conduit comprises a quartz material.

8. The sampler of claim 7, wherein the quartz material is a fused quartz material.

9. The sampler of claim 1, wherein the inflow conduit comprises a quartz material.

10. The sampler of claim 9, wherein the quartz material is a fused quartz material.

11. The sampler of claim 1, wherein the metal bushing has a length of 10 to 40 mm, an inner diameter of 4 mm, and an outer diameter of 6 mm.

12. The sampler of claim 1, wherein the metal bushing is pressed into the sample chamber for coupling the inflow conduit to the sample chamber.

13. The sampler of claim 1, wherein the sampler comprises a protection cap attached to the first end of the inflow conduit.

14. The sampler of claim 1, wherein the bushing comprises grooves on an outer surface of the bushing to minimize heat transfer to the sample chamber assembly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0060] The following schematic drawings show aspects of the invention for improving the understanding of the invention in connection with some exemplary illustrations, wherein

[0061] FIGS. 1 and 2 show schematic sectional views of a sampler according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0062] FIGS. 3 and 4 show schematic sectional views of a sampler according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0063] FIG. 5 shows detail ‘A’ of FIG. 4;

[0064] FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the material of the inflow conduit and the de-oxidant material; and

[0065] FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration of another embodiment of the material of the inflow conduit and the de-oxidant material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0066] FIGS. 1 and 2 show schematic sectional views of a sampler 1 for taking samples from a molten metal bath according to a first embodiment of the invention. The sampler 1 is suitable for immersion in and sampling of molten steel. The shown sampler 1 comprises a measuring head 3 which can be made of resin bonded silica sand. The measuring head 3 is supported on a carrier tube 5, which can be a paper carrier tube. In use, a probe holder or lance (not shown) is preferably inserted into the interior volume of the carrier tube 5 to provide the mechanical action necessary to submerse the measuring head 3 below the surface of a bath of molten metal (not shown) in the immersion direction I.

[0067] The measuring head 3 comprises a sample chamber assembly 7 for collection and retrieval of a sample of molten metal. The sample chamber assembly 7 as shown is a two-part sample chamber composed of a housing 9 and cover plate 11. The housing 9 is preferably formed of one or more materials which are good thermal and electrical conductors, such as, but not limited to, aluminum, copper and other metals having similar thermal and electrical conductivity properties for being electrically coupled to the retrieved metal sample. The housing and the cover plate 9, 11 of the sample chamber assembly 7 can be held together by a clamp 13 with a compression force sufficient to resist a tendency of the two parts 9, 11 of the sample chamber 7 assembly to separate due to the force of molten metal flowing into and filling the sample chamber assembly 7. The clamp 13 can be a metal clamp.

[0068] FIGS. 1 and 2 also show the measuring head 3 having a first end and an opposing second end. The first end of the measuring head 5 corresponds to an immersion end 15 of the measuring head 5. The second end of the measuring head 3 is configured to face the lance or probe holder. Also, the sample chamber assembly 7 has a first end and an opposing second end. The first end of the sample chamber assembly 7 corresponds to an immersion end 17 of the sample chamber assembly 7. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the phrase “immersion end” means the end of the body which is first immersed into molten metal. The first end of the sample chamber assembly 7 is attached to an inflow conduit 19, where the inflow conduit is received at an opening in the housing 9. The inflow conduit 19 enables the flow of molten metal from the molten metal bath into the sample chamber assembly 7. Thus, molten metal is introduced into the sample chamber assembly 7 in the immersion direction I parallel to the central axis X of the sample cavity. The inflow conduit 7 can be made of a quartz material, more preferably a fused quartz material.

[0069] FIGS. 1 and 2 also show the de-oxidant material 21 which can be aluminum arranged along the central axis X of the inflow conduit 7. It can also be seen that a part of the de-oxidant material 21 is arranged near the second end of the inflow conduit 19 inside the measuring head 3.

[0070] Also shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are first coupling means 23 at the inflow conduit 19 which can be realized as recesses or protrusions in the material of the inflow conduit 19. The de-oxidant material 21 comprises second coupling means 25 which can be realized as protrusions that interact with the corresponding recesses of the first coupling means 23 or vice versa. Due to the shown coupling means 23, 25 in FIGS. 1 and 2, the de-oxidant material 21 can be reliably hold along the central axis X in the entry path of the sample chamber assembly 9 and is, thus, capable to withstand the force of the purging gas while purging, and the force of the liquid steel entering the unit during the filling.

[0071] Also, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a cap 27 arranged at the first end of the inflow conduit 19.

[0072] When the first end of the inflow conduit is submerged in molten metal, the cap 27 will melt, and molten metal can flow through the inflow conduit 19. Further shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a metal bushing 29 that couples the inflow conduit 19 to the housing 9 of sample chamber assembly 7. However, the metal bushing 29 is merely optional for this embodiment. The inflow conduit 19 can be also attached to the housing 9 by means of a glue or a cement.

[0073] FIGS. 3 and 4 show schematic sectional views of a sampler 1′ according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0074] The sampler 1′ is suitable for immersion in and sampling of molten steel. The shown sampler 1′ comprises a measuring head 3′ which can be made of resin bonded silica sand. The measuring head 3′ is supported on a carrier tube 5′, which can be a paper carrier tube. In use, a probe holder or lance (not shown) is preferably inserted into the interior volume of the carrier tube 5′ to provide the mechanical action necessary to submerse the measuring head 3′ below the surface of a bath of molten metal (not shown) in the immersion direction I.

[0075] The measuring head 3′ comprises a sample chamber assembly 7′ for collection and retrieval of a sample of molten metal. The sample chamber assembly 7′ as shown is a two-part sample chamber composed of a housing 9′ and cover plate 11′. The housing 9′ is preferably formed of one or more materials which are good thermal and electrical conductors, such as, but not limited to, aluminum, copper and other metals having similar thermal and electrical conductivity properties for being electrically coupled to the retrieved metal sample. The housing and the cover plate 9′, 11′ of the sample chamber assembly 7′ can be held together by a clamp 13′ with a compression force sufficient to resist a tendency of the two parts 9′, 11′ of the sample chamber 7′ assembly to separate due to the force of molten metal flowing into and filling the sample chamber assembly 7′. The clamp 13′ can be a metal clamp.

[0076] FIGS. 3 and 4 also show the measuring head 3′ having a first end and an opposing second end. The first end of the measuring head 5′ corresponds to an immersion end 15′.

[0077] The second end of the measuring head 3′ is configured to face the lance or probe holder. Also, the sample chamber assembly 7′ has a first end and an opposing second end. The first end of the sample chamber assembly 7′ corresponds to an immersion end 17′. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the phrase “immersion end” means the end of the body which is first immersed into molten metal. The first end of the sample chamber assembly 7′ is attached to an inflow conduit 19′, where the inflow conduit is received at an opening in the housing 9. The inflow conduit 19′ enables the flow of molten metal from the molten metal bath into the sample chamber assembly 7. Thus, molten metal is introduced into the sample chamber assembly 7′ against the immersion direction I parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the sample cavity. The inflow conduit 7′ can be made of a quartz material, more preferably a fused quartz material.

[0078] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the sampler 1′ also comprises a metal bushing 29′ which can comprise an aluminum material. The metal bushing 29′ can have a length of 10 to 40 mm, an inner diameter of 4 mm, and an outer diameter of 6 mm. In the shown embodiment, the metal bushing 29′ is pressed into the housing 9′ of the sample chamber assembly 7′ for coupling the inflow conduit 19′ to the sample chamber assembly 7′.

[0079] FIG. 5 shows detail ‘A’ of FIG. 4. As shown, the metal bushing 29′ reaches from the sample chamber assembly 7′ all the way down to the first end of the inflow conduit 19′, and thereby surrounding the inflow conduit 19′. Also, it can be seen that the metal bushing 29′ has at least two different wall thicknesses and/or diameters along its length.

[0080] In yet another embodiment, the first coupling means is realized by at least one recess, preferably two recesses, in the material of the inflow conduit, arranged towards the second end of the inflow conduit, and wherein the second coupling means is realized by at least one projection, preferably two projections, to interact with the first coupling means on the inflow conduit to anchor the de-oxidant material in the position along the central axis of the inflow conduit. FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of such an embodiment. As illustrated, the material 6190 of the inflow conduit 619 includes recess 6192 and de-oxidant material 621 includes projection 6210.

[0081] In an alternative embodiment, the first coupling means is realized by at least one projection, preferably two projections, in the material of the inflow conduit, arranged towards the second end of the inflow conduit, and wherein the second coupling means is realized at least one recess, preferably two recesses, to interact with the first coupling means on the inflow conduit to anchor the de-oxidant material in the position along the central axis of the inflow conduit. FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of such an embodiment. As illustrated, the material 7190 of the inflow conduit 719 includes protrusion 7192 and de-oxidant material 721 includes recess 7210.

[0082] The features disclosed in the claims, the specification, and the drawings maybe essential for different embodiments of the claimed invention, both separately or in any combination with each other.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0083] 1, 1′ Sampler

[0084] 3, 3′ Measuring Head

[0085] 5, 5′ Carrier Tube

[0086] 7, 7′ Sample Chamber Assembly

[0087] 9, 9′ Housing

[0088] 11, 11′ Cover Plate

[0089] 13, 13′ Clamp

[0090] 15, 15′ Immersion End of Measuring Head

[0091] 17, 17′ Immersion End of Sample Chamber

[0092] 19, 19′ Inflow Conduit

[0093] 21 De-Oxidant Material

[0094] 23 First Coupling Means

[0095] 25 Second Coupling Means

[0096] 27, 27′ Cap

[0097] 29, 29′ Metal Bushing

[0098] A Detail

[0099] I Immersion Direction

[0100] X Central Axis