Patent US3610601A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3610601A
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US
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Apparatus for positioning a consumable lance
Assignee: Allegheny Ludlum Corp
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Filing: 1969-10-01
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Granted: 1971-10-05
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Expires: 1989-10-01
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of parallel conductive loops extending longitudinally substantially the length of a consumable lance utilized to supply oxygen to a bath of metal within a vessel for steelmaking. Each conductive loop extends a predetermined distance on said lance and is connected to monitoring means including electric power source and metering means to indicate electrical current flow through the conductive loop. In preferred embodiments, the consumable lance may be positioned by control equipment responsive to signals generated within the monitoring means responsive to changes in current flow or interruptions therein precipitated by physical conditions within the vessel.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry L Bishop Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 14:23
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01K; G01K1/00; G01K1/14; G01K1/146; C; C21; C21C; C21C5/00; C21C5/28; C21C5/42; C21C5/46; C21C5/4606; C21C5/4613
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
In apparatus for steelmaking including a vessel containing a bath of molten metal and a positionable consumable lance for introducing a gaseous refining agent into the bath, the combination of: a plurality of electrical conductors extending along the length of the lance and terminating at different points above the bottom of the lance; electrical conducting means extending along the length of the lance and electrically insulated from said plurality of electrical conductors except at the bottoms thereof where an electrical connection of solidified metal is made between the bottom of each conductor and said conducting means; means for establishing an electrical potential between each of the respective ones of said conductors and said electrical conducting means whereby current can flow between each conductor and said conducting means until the bottom electrical connection therebetween is severed due to erosion of the lance upwardly from the bottom thereof; and monitoring means arranged for connection between each electrical conductor and the conducting means whereby erosion of the lance to the bottoms of successive ones of said electrical conductors will be indicated by a break in the circuit between a conductor and the electrical conducting means and the absence of current flow through the monitoring means connected thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
In apparatus for steelmaking including a vessel containing a bath of molten metal and a positionable consumable lance for introducing a gaseous refining agent into the bath, the combination of: a plurality of electrical conductors extending along the length of the lance and terminating at different points above the bottom of the lance; electrical conducting means extending along the length of the lance and electrically insulated from said plurality of electrical conductors except at the bottoms thereof where an electrical connection of solidified metal is made between the bottom of each conductor and said conducting means; means for establishing an electrical potential between each of the respective ones of said conductors and said electrical conducting means whereby current can flow between each conductor and said conducting means until the bottom electrical connection therebetween is severed due to erosion of the lance upwardly from the bottom thereof; and monitoring means arranged for connection between each electrical conductor and the conducting means whereby erosion of the lance to the bottoms of successive ones of said electrical conductors will be indicated by a break in the circuit between a conductor and the electrical conducting means and the absence of current flow through the monitoring means connected thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the electrical conducting means comprises a second plurality of electrical conductors each connected at its bottom to a respective one of said first-mentioned electrical conductors and insulated from its associated one of the first-mentioned electrical conductors throughout the remainder of its length.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said lance includes a metallic tubular jacket, and said electrical conducting means comprises said jacket.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said monitoring means is responsive to the interruption of current through associated ones of said plurality of electrical conductors to indicate that the lance had eroded to the bottom of an electrical conductor and broken its connection at the bottom thereof to said electrical conducting means
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination of claim 1 including means operatively connected to said monitoring means for moving said lance downwardly when the connection between an electrical conductor and said electrical conducting means has been broken due to upward erosion of the lance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said means for establishing an electrical potential comprises thermocouples connected between the bottoms of respective ones of said electrical conductors and said electrical conducting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 6 including means for comparing the current generated by the respective thermocouples, and means for controlling the introduction of the gaseous refining agent into the molten bath in response to the comparison of currents by said comparing means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-04 | 1975-04-05 | 1975-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-04 | 1979-04-05 | 1979-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-04 | 1983-04-05 | 1983-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |