Fluid injection lance and nozzle means therefor

Claim 2

Nozzle means particularly suitable for use as the tip of an oxygen injection lance, said injection lance being of the type having a shank comprising three concentrically arranged pipes forming an internal passageway of circular cross section for oxygen flow, and two annular passageways for the respective inflow and outflow of a liquid coolant for said nozzle means, said nozzle means being of generally bell-like shape and having top and bottom surfaces of circular periphery; said nozzle means having a plurality of generally sectorial passageways running therethrough between openings in its top and bottom surfaces; and having, additionally, a central hollow, enclosed at the top and bottom, running coaxially therethrough; said generally sectorial passageways being separated by webs which extend radially outwardly from a hub-like central portion of said nozzle means; said webs having slotted hollows, enclosed at the top and bottom, which run from openings around the sides of the nozzle means to the central hollow therein; said nozzle means being adapted for permanent attachment to said shank, with the inner pipe of the latter secured to the top of the nozzle means and the outer pipe of said shank fixedly secured to the nozzle means in such fashion as to form at least the major portion of a cylindrical wall which merges with said nozzle means around the outer periphery of its lower end; whereby the oxygen injection lance can be employed above the melt in a steelmaking furnace to permit the feeding of oxygen through said shank and into the generally sectorial passageways through said nozzle means for distribution of the oxygen onto the surface of the melt in a widespread pattern, and coolant can be fed downwardly, through the annular passageway between the inner and middle pipes of said shank, from whence it circulates into and through the slotted hollows in the webs of said nozzle means, and then upwardly, away from the nozzle means, through the annular passageway between the middle and outer pipes of said shank.

Claim 3

Nozzle means in accordance with claim 1 having seat means for the lower end of the middle pipe of said shank positioned to assure sub-stantially concentric relationship between the middle and inner pipes of the shank and to provide support for the lower end of said middle pipe at a predetermined level between the tops and bottoms of the slotted hollows in said webs.

Claim 4

Nozzle means in accordance with claim 1 adapted to impart swirling flow patterns to the streams of oxygen directed onto the surface of said melt during usage of said oxygen injection lance.

Claim 5

Nozzle means in accordance with claim 3 in which said swirling flow patterns include both clockwise and counterclockwise currents.

Claim 6

Injection lance means including, as tip means therefor, nozzle means in accordance with claim 1.

Claim 7

Nozzle means particularly suitable for use as the tip of an oxygen injection lance, said injection lance being of the type having a shank comprising three concentrically arranged pipes forming an internal passageway of circular cross section for oxygen flow, and two annular passsageways for the respective inflow and outflow of a liquid coolant for said nozzle means, said nozzle means being of generally bell-like chape and having top and bottom surfaces of circular periphery; said nozzle means having a plurality of generally sectorial passageways running therethrough between openings in its top and bottom surfaces; and having, additionally, a central hollow, enclosed at the top and bottom running coaxially therethrough; said generally sectorial passageways being separated by webs which extend radially outwardly from a hub-like central portion of said nozzle means; said webs having slotted hollows, enclosed at the top and bottom, which run from openings around the sides of the nozzle means to the central hollow therein; said nozzle means being adapted for permanent attachment to said shank, with the inner pipe of the latter secured to the top of the nozzle means and the outer pipe of said shank fixedly secured to the nozzle means in such fashion as to form at least the major portion of a cylindrical wall which merges with said nozzle means around the outer periphery of its lower end; and said nozzle means having seat means for the lower end of the middle pipe of said shank positioned to assure substantially concentric relationship between the middle and inner pipes of the shank and to provide support for the lower end of said middle pipe at a predetermined level between the tops and bottoms of the slotted hollows in said webs; whereby the oxygen injection lance can be employed above the melT in a steelmaking furnace to permit the feeding of oxygen through said shank and into the generally sectorial passageways through said nozzle means for distribution of the oxygen onto the surface of the melt in a widespread pattern, and coolant can be fed downwardly, through the annular apassageways between the inner and middle pipes of said shank, from whence it circulates into and through the slotted hollows in the webs of said nozzle means, and then upwardly, away from said nozzle means, through the annular passageway between middle and upper pipes of said shank; said generally sectorial passageways being of uniform cross-sectional size and configuration for a fixed distance from their top openings, and of radially outwardly flaring character therebelow, whereby a velocity gradient is imparted to the oxygen streams passing through the passageways so that the radially inwardly disposed portions of the streams impact the surface of the melt at higher velocity than the radially outwardly disposed portions thereof and penetrate said melt to a greater depth than the latter.

Claim 8

Nozzle means particularly suitable for use as the tip of an oxygen injection lance, said injection lance being of the type having a shank comprising three concentrically arranged pipes forming an internal passageway of circular cross section for oxygen flow, and two annular passsageways for the respective inflow and outflow of a liquid coolant for said nozzle means, said nozzle means being of generally bell-like chape and having top and bottom surfaces of circular periphery; said nozzle means having a plurality of generally sectorial passageways running therethrough between openings in its top and bottom surfaces; and having, additionally, a central hollow, enclosed at the top and bottom running coaxially therethrough; said generally sectorial passageways being separated by webs which extend radially outwardly from a hub-like central portion of said nozzle means; said webs having slotted hollows, enclosed at the top and bottom, which run from openings around the sides of the nozzle means to the central hollow therein; said nozzle means being adapted for permanent attachment to said shank, with the inner pipe of the latter secured to the top of the nozzle means and the outer pipe of said shank fixedly secured to the nozzle means in such fashion as to form at least the major portion of a cylindrical wall which merges with said nozzle means around the outer periphery of its lower end; and said nozzle means having seat means for the lower end of the middle pipe of said shank positioned to assure substantially concentric relationship between the middle and inner pipes of the shank and to provide support for the lower end of said middle pipe at a predetermined level between the tops and bottoms of the slotted hollows in said webs; whereby the oxygen injection lance can be employed above the melT in a steelmaking furnace to permit the feeding of oxygen through said shank and into the generally sectorial passageways through said nozzle means for distribution of the oxygen onto the surface of the melt in a widespread pattern, and coolant can be fed downwardly, through the annular apassageways between the inner and middle pipes of said shank, from whence it circulates into and through the slotted hollows in the webs of said nozzle means, and then upwardly, away from said nozzle means, through the annular passageway between middle and upper pipes of said shank; said generally sectorial passageways being of uniform cross-sectional size and configuration for a fixed distance from their top openings, and of radially outwardly flaring character therebelow, whereby a velocity gradient is imparted to the oxygen streams passing through the passageways so that the radially inwardly disposed portions of the streams impact the surface of the melt at higher velocity than the radially outwardly disposed portions thereof and penetrate said melt to a greater depth than the latter.

Claim 9

Nozzle means in accordance with claim 6 having cylindrical collar means integral with, and upstanding from, the peripheral edge of its lower end, the upper edge of said collar means being sized and shaped to receive the lower end of the outer pipe of said shank and permit its permanent attachment thereto for formation of said cylindrical wall.

Claim 10

Nozzle means in accordance with claim 7 in which said seat means for the lower end of the middle pipe of said shank comprises a plurality of ribs positioned in spaced apart relationship around the outer wall of the nozzle means and notched so as to receive the lower end of said middle pipe and serve as said seat means therefor.

Claim 11

Nozzle means in accordance with claim 8 in which said top and bottom surfaces are substantially flat and planarly parallel; said top surface is encircled by a depressed shoulder sized to serve as a seat for the lower end of the inner pipe of said shank; and the upper rim of said collar means is characterized by the presence of a thin, annular, upstanding flange around its inner periphery at the base of which is a narrow annular shoulder sized to serve as a seat for the lower end of the outer pipe of said shank.

Claim 12

Nozzle means in accordance with claim 9 having angular, downwardly sloping chamfers around said depressed shoulder encircling said top surface and said narrow annular shoulder at the base of the upstanding flange at the top of said collar means, to provide space for filler metals and thereby permit strong, permanent attachment of the nozzle means to said shank.