Patent US3780581A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3780581A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for determining the depth of submerged lances and the like
Assignee: Allegheny Ludlum Corp
•
Filing: 1971-08-18
•
Granted: 1973-12-25
•
Expires: 1991-08-18
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for determining the depth of a submerged article with the use of a pressure probe, and in particular the depth of a submerged lance used to deliver a gaseous reaction agent to a metallic bath. The probe is adjacent or within a conduit delivering the gaseous reaction agent to the bath. The pressure at the probe is compared with that above the bath, the difference between the two pressures being proportional to depth. The system can be used in installations where the pressure at the surface of the bath is atmospheric pressure or in cases where the space above the surface is evacuated as in vacuum decarburization of stainless steels and the like. In the former case, the probe is usually pressurized to prevent clogging of the tip. In the latter case, the ambient pressure at the tip of the probe is compared with that above the surface of the bath and the probe pulse-pressurized periodically to prevent clogging.
Inventors
- 👤 T Acre
- 👤 F Gimbel
- 👤 S Ramacheandran
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 16:11
CPC Classifications
F; F27; F27D; F27D19/00; C; C21; C21C; C21C5/00; C21C5/28; C21C5/42; C21C5/46; C21C5/4606; C21C5/4613; C21C5/462; C21C5/4673; F27B; F27B3/00; F27B3/10; F27B3/22; F27B3/225; F27D1/00; F27D1/18; F27D21/00; G; G01; G01C; G01C13/00; G01C13/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
In combination, a gas-issuing lance immersed in a molten metal bath, means for forcing a gas through said lance and into the molten metal bath, a conduit having a lower tip essentially coincident with the bottom of said lance when immersed in a molten metal bath and subjected to the pressure of the gas passing through the lance at the tip of the lance when it is so immersed, a source of gas under pressure, means for intermittently connecting said source of gas under pressure to said conduit whereby the conduit is continually pulsepressurized, and manometer means for comparing the pressure in said conduit with the pressure of gas above the surface of said bath while said conduit is continually pulse-pressurized whereby the depth of said lower tip and the bottom of said lance can be determined from a consideration of the difference in pressures in the conduit and above the surface of the bath.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
In combination, a gas-issuing lance immersed in a molten metal bath, means for forcing a gas through said lance and into the molten metal bath, a conduit having a lower tip essentially coincident with the bottom of said lance when immersed in a molten metal bath and subjected to the pressure of the gas passing through the lance at the tip of the lance when it is so immersed, a source of gas under pressure, means for intermittently connecting said source of gas under pressure to said conduit whereby the conduit is continually pulsepressurized, and manometer means for comparing the pressure in said conduit with the pressure of gas above the surface of said bath while said conduit is continually pulse-pressurized whereby the depth of said lower tip and the bottom of said lance can be determined from a consideration of the difference in pressures in the conduit and above the surface of the bath.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
177 words
In combination, a gas-issuing lance immersed in a molten metal bath, means for forcing a gas through said lance and into the molten metal bath, a conduit having a lower tip essentially coincident with the bottom of said lance when immersed in a molten metal bath and subjected to the pressure of the gas passing through the lance at the tip of the lance when it is so immersed, manometer means for comparing the pressure in said conduit with the pressure of gas above the surface of said bath whereby the depth of said lower tip and the bottom of said lance can be determined from a consideration of the difference in pressures in the conduit and above the surface of the bath, said manometer means including a differential pressure cell for producing an electrical output signal proportional to the difference in pressure between that in said conduit and the pressure above said surface of the bath, means for integrating said electrical signal, and meter means connected to said integrating means for indicating said difference in pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
177 words
In combination, a gas-issuing lance immersed in a molten metal bath, means for forcing a gas through said lance and into the molten metal bath, a conduit having a lower tip essentially coincident with the bottom of said lance when immersed in a molten metal bath and subjected to the pressure of the gas passing through the lance at the tip of the lance when it is so immersed, manometer means for comparing the pressure in said conduit with the pressure of gas above the surface of said bath whereby the depth of said lower tip and the bottom of said lance can be determined from a consideration of the difference in pressures in the conduit and above the surface of the bath, said manometer means including a differential pressure cell for producing an electrical output signal proportional to the difference in pressure between that in said conduit and the pressure above said surface of the bath, means for integrating said electrical signal, and meter means connected to said integrating means for indicating said difference in pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
170 words
In combination, a gas-issuing lance immersed in a molten metal bath, means for forcing a gas through said lance and into the molten metal bath, a conduit having a lower tip essentially coincident with the bottom of said lance when immersed in a molten metal bath and subjected to the pressure of the gas passing through the lance at the tip of the lance when it is so immersed, said lance and said conduit both being consumable in the molten metal bath, the conduit being positioned adjacent and in abutment with the inside wall of said lance whereby the conduit and lance will be consumed in the molten metal bath at substantially the same rate, and manometer means for comparing the pressure in said conduit with the pressure of gas above the surface of said bath whereby the depth of said lower tip and the bottom of said lance can be determined from a consideration of the difference in pressures in the conduit and above the surface of the bath.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
170 words
In combination, a gas-issuing lance immersed in a molten metal bath, means for forcing a gas through said lance and into the molten metal bath, a conduit having a lower tip essentially coincident with the bottom of said lance when immersed in a molten metal bath and subjected to the pressure of the gas passing through the lance at the tip of the lance when it is so immersed, said lance and said conduit both being consumable in the molten metal bath, the conduit being positioned adjacent and in abutment with the inside wall of said lance whereby the conduit and lance will be consumed in the molten metal bath at substantially the same rate, and manometer means for comparing the pressure in said conduit with the pressure of gas above the surface of said bath whereby the depth of said lower tip and the bottom of said lance can be determined from a consideration of the difference in pressures in the conduit and above the surface of the bath.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-24 | 1977-06-25 | 1977-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-24 | 1981-06-25 | 1981-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-24 | 1985-06-25 | 1985-12-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |