Molten metal sampling device

Claim 2

A molten metal sampling device adapted to be immersed into direct contact with a heat of molten cast iron treated to form nodular iron on solidification to obtain a sample of said iron upon withdrawal from said heat to generate a cooling curve of said sample, comprising a totally metal cartridge having vertical walls and a base formed of a material having a melting point in excess of 2,300*F, the exterior of said cartridge being bare and adapted to be immersed in direct contact with said heat, said vertical walls having a molten metal inlet opening intermediate said base and the top of said cartridge defining a sampling portion extending from said base to said opening adapted to be filled with said molten metal through said inlet opening upon immersion to obtain said sample, the walls of said sampling portion and said base having a thickness in the range of about one thirty-second to three-sixteenths inch; and a thermocouple associated with said cartridge extending into said sampling portion and having its thermal junction located at the approximate geometric center of said sampling portion, the ratio of the volume of said sample to the volume of material forming said sampling portion being in the range of about 1.5 to 4.5 and the ratio of the external surface area of said sampling portion to the sum of the volume of said sample and the volume of material forming said sampling portion being in the range of about 3.5 (in. 1) to 6 (in. 1).

Claim 3

A molten metal sampling device adapted to be immersed into direct contact with a heat of molten cast iron treated to form nodular iron on solidification to obtain a sample of said iron upon withdrawal from said heat to generate a cooling curve of said sample, comprising a totally metal cartridge having vertical walls and a base formed of a material having a melting point in excess of 2,300*F, the exterior of said cartridge being bare and adapted to be immersed in direct contact with said heat, said vertical walls having a molten metal inlet opening intermediate said base and the top of said cartridge defining a sampling portion extending from said base to said opening adapted to be filled with said molten metal through said inlet opening upon immersion to obtain said sample, said sample having a thermal mass such as to cool from about 2,300*to 1,850*F in less than two minutes, the walls of said sampling portion and said base having a thickness in the range of about one thirty-second to three-sixteenths inch; and a thermocouple associated with said cartridge extending into said sampling portion and having its thermal junction located at the approximate geometric center of said sampling portion, the ratio of the volume of said sample to the volume of material forming said sampling portion being in the range of about 1.5 to 4.5 and the ratio of the external surface area of said sampling portion to the sum of the volume of said sample and the volume of material forming said sampling portion being in the range of about 3.5 (in. 1) to 6 (in. 1).

Claim 4

A molten metal sampling device adapted to be immersed into direct contact with a heat of molten cast iron treated to form nodular iron on solidification to obtain a sample of said iron upon withdrawal from said heat to generate a cooling curve of said sample, comprising a totally metal cartridge having vertical walls and a base formed of a material having a melting point in excess of 2,300*F, the exterior of said cartridge being bare and adapted to be immersed in direct contact with said heat, said vertical walls having a molten metal inlet opening intermediate said base and the top of said cartridge defining a sampling portion extending from said base to said opening adapted to be filled with said molten metal through said inlet opening upon immersion to obtain said sample, said sample having a thermal mass such as to cool from about 2,300*to 1,850*F in less than two minutes, the walls of said sampling portion and said base having a thickness in the range of about one thirty-second to three-sixteenths inch; and a thermocouple associated with said cartridge extending into said sampling portion and having its thermal junction located at the approximate geometric center of said sampling portion, the ratio of the volume of said sample to the volume of material forming said sampling portion being in the range of about 1.5 to 4.5 and the ratio of the external surface area of said sampling portion to the sum of the volume of said sample and the volume of material forming said sampling portion being in the range of about 3.5 (in. 1) to 6 (in. 1).

Claim 5

A molten metal sampling device adapted to be immersed into direct contact with a heat of molten cast iron treated to form nodular iron on solidification to obtain a sample of said iron upon withdrawal from said heat to generate a cooling curve of said sample, comprising a totally metal cartridge having vertical walls and a base formed of a material having a melting point in excess of 2,300*F, the exterior of said cartridge being bare and adapted to be immersed in direct contact with said heat, said vertical walls having a pair of opposed molten metal inlet openings intermediate said base and the top of said cartridge defining a sampling portion extending from said base to said openings adapted to be filled with said molten metal through said inlet openings upon immersion to obtain said sample, the walls of said samPling portion and said base having a thickness in the range of about one thirty-second to three-sixteenths inch; a thermocouple extending into said sampling portion; and means associated with said cartridge for supportingly engaging said thermocouple and for locating its thermal junction at the approximate geometric center of said sampling portion, the ratio of the volume of said sample to the volume of material forming said sampling portion being in the range of about 1.5 to 4.5 and the ratio of the external surface area of said sampling portion to the sum of the volume of said sample and the volume of material forming said sampling portion being in the range of about 3.5 (in. 1) to 6 (in. 1).

Claim 6

A molten metal sampling device adapted to be immersed into direct contact with a heat of molten cast iron treated to form nodular iron on solidification to obtain a sample of said iron upon withdrawal from said heat to generate a cooling curve of said sample, comprising a totally metal cartridge having vertical walls and a base formed of a material having a melting point in excess of 2,300*F, the exterior of said cartridge being bare and adapted to be immersed in direct contact with said heat, said vertical walls having a pair of opposed molten metal inlet openings intermediate said base and the top of said cartridge defining a sampling portion extending from said base to said openings adapted to be filled with said molten metal through said inlet openings upon immersion to obtain said sample, the walls of said samPling portion and said base having a thickness in the range of about one thirty-second to three-sixteenths inch; a thermocouple extending into said sampling portion; and means associated with said cartridge for supportingly engaging said thermocouple and for locating its thermal junction at the approximate geometric center of said sampling portion, the ratio of the volume of said sample to the volume of material forming said sampling portion being in the range of about 1.5 to 4.5 and the ratio of the external surface area of said sampling portion to the sum of the volume of said sample and the volume of material forming said sampling portion being in the range of about 3.5 (in. 1) to 6 (in. 1).

Claim 7

A molten metal sampling device adapted to be immersed into direct contact with a heat of molten cast iron treated to form nodular iron on solidification to obtain a sample of said iron upon withdrawal from said heat to generate a cooling curve of said sample, comprising a totally metal cartridge having vertical walls and a base formed of a material having a melting point in excess of 2,300*F, the exterior of said cartridge being bare and adapted to be immersed in direct contact with said heat, said vertical walls having a pair of opposed molten metal inlet openings intermediate said base and the top of said cartridge defining a sampling portion extending from said base to said openings adapted to be filled with said molten metal through said inlet openings upon immersion to obtain said sample, the walls of said sampling portion and said base having a thickness in the range of about one thirty-second to three-sixteenths inch; a thermocouple axially mounted in a cylindrical ceramic sleeve adapted for insertion into said cartridge comprising a pair of spaced, electrically insulated thermocouple wires sheathed in a temperature resistant glass tube and joined at one end to form a thermal junction, the respective opposite ends of said wires extending through said sleeve forming terminal leads; means associated with said cartridge for supportingly engaging said sleeve with said thermocouple extending into said sampling portion and for locating said thermal junction at the approximate geometric center of said sampling portion; and clip means for holding said sleeve with said thermocouple mounted therein in said cartridge and in engagement with said means for supporting said sleeve; the ratio of the volume of said sample to the volume of material forming said sampling portion being in the range of about 1.5 to 4.5 and the ratio of the external surface area of said sampling portion to the sum of the volume of said sample and the volume of material forming said sampling portion being in the range of about 3.5 (in. 1) to 6 (in. 1).

Claim 8

A molten metal sampling device adapted to be immersed into direct contact with a heat of molten cast iron treated to form nodular iron on solidification to obtain a sample of said iron upon withdrawal from said heat to generate a cooling curve of said sample, comprising a totally metal cartridge having vertical walls and a base formed of a material having a melting point in excess of 2,300*F, the exterior of said cartridge being bare and adapted to be immersed in direct contact with said heat, said vertical walls having a pair of opposed molten metal inlet openings intermediate said base and the top of said cartridge defining a sampling portion extending from said base to said openings adapted to be filled with said molten metal through said inlet openings upon immersion to obtain said sample, the walls of said sampling portion and said base having a thickness in the range of about one thirty-second to three-sixteenths inch; a thermocouple axially mounted in a cylindrical ceramic sleeve adapted for insertion into said cartridge comprising a pair of spaced, electrically insulated thermocouple wires sheathed in a temperature resistant glass tube and joined at one end to form a thermal junction, the respective opposite ends of said wires extending through said sleeve forming terminal leads; means associated with said cartridge for supportingly engaging said sleeve with said thermocouple extending into said sampling portion and for locating said thermal junction at the approximate geometric center of said sampling portion; and clip means for holding said sleeve with said thermocouple mounted therein in said cartridge and in engagement with said means for supporting said sleeve; the ratio of the volume of said sample to the volume of material forming said sampling portion being in the range of about 1.5 to 4.5 and the ratio of the external surface area of said sampling portion to the sum of the volume of said sample and the volume of material forming said sampling portion being in the range of about 3.5 (in. 1) to 6 (in. 1).

Claim 9

A molten metal sampling device adapted to be immersed into direct contact with a heat of molten cast iron treated to form nodular iron on solidification to obtain a sample of said iron upon withdrawal from said heat to generate a cooling curve of said sample, comprising a cylindrical totally steel cartridge having vertical walls and a base and an internal diameter of about 1 inch, the exterior of said cartridge being bare and adapted to be immersed in direct contact with said heat, said vertical walls having a pair of opposed molten metal inlet openings intermediate said base and the top of said cartridge defining a cylindrical sampling portion about 1 3/4 inch in height extending from said base to said openings adapted to be filled with said molten metal through said inlet openings upon immersion to obtain said sample, the walls of said sampling portion and said base having a thickness of about one-sixteenth inch; and a thermocouple associated with said cartridge extending into said sampling portion and having its thermal junction located at the approximate geometric center of said sampling portion.

Claim 10

A molten metal sampling device adapted to be immersed into direct contact with a heat of molten cast iron treated to form nodular iron on solidification to obtain a sample of said iron upon withdrawal from said heat to generate a cooling curve of said sample, comprising a cylindrical totally steel cartridge having vertical walls and a base and an internal diameter of about 1 inch, the exterior of said cartridge being bare and adapted to be immersed in direct contact with said heat, said vertical walls having a pair of opposed molten metal inlet openings intermediate said base and the top of said cartridge defining a cylindrical sampling portion about 1 3/4 inch in height extending from said base to said openings adapted to be filled with said molten metal through said inlet openings upon immersion to obtain said sample, the walls of said sampling portion and said base having a thickness of about one-sixteenth inch; and a thermocouple associated with said cartridge extending into said sampling portion and having its thermal junction located at the approximate geometric center of said sampling portion.

Claim 11

A molten metal sampling device adapted to Be immersed into direct contact with a heat of molten cast iron treated to form nodular iron on solidification to obtain a sample of said iron upon withdrawal from said heat to generate a cooling curve of said sample, comprising a cylindrical totally steel cartridge having vertical walls and a base and an internal diameter of about 1 inch, the exterior of said cartridge being bare and adapted to be immersed in direct contact with said heat, said vertical walls having a pair of opposed molten metal inlet openings intermediate said base and the top of said cartridge defining a cylindrical sampling portion about 1 3/4 inch in height extending from said base to said openings adapted to be filled with said molten metal through said inlet openings upon immersion to obtain said sample, the walls of said sampling portion and said base having a thickness of about one-sixteenth inch; a thermocouple axially mounted in a cylindrical ceramic sleeve adapted for insertion into said cartridge comprising a pair of spaced, electrically insulated thermocouple wires sheathed in a temperature resistant glass tube and joined at one end to form a thermal junction, the respective opposite ends of said wires extending through said sleeve forming terminal leads; means associated with said cartridge for supportingly engaging said sleeve with said thermocouple extending into said sampling portion and for locating said thermal junction at the approximate geometric center of said sampling portion; and clip means for holding said sleeve with said thermocouple mounted therein in said cartridge and in engagement with said means for supporting said sleeve.

Claim 12

A molten metal sampling device adapted to Be immersed into direct contact with a heat of molten cast iron treated to form nodular iron on solidification to obtain a sample of said iron upon withdrawal from said heat to generate a cooling curve of said sample, comprising a cylindrical totally steel cartridge having vertical walls and a base and an internal diameter of about 1 inch, the exterior of said cartridge being bare and adapted to be immersed in direct contact with said heat, said vertical walls having a pair of opposed molten metal inlet openings intermediate said base and the top of said cartridge defining a cylindrical sampling portion about 1 3/4 inch in height extending from said base to said openings adapted to be filled with said molten metal through said inlet openings upon immersion to obtain said sample, the walls of said sampling portion and said base having a thickness of about one-sixteenth inch; a thermocouple axially mounted in a cylindrical ceramic sleeve adapted for insertion into said cartridge comprising a pair of spaced, electrically insulated thermocouple wires sheathed in a temperature resistant glass tube and joined at one end to form a thermal junction, the respective opposite ends of said wires extending through said sleeve forming terminal leads; means associated with said cartridge for supportingly engaging said sleeve with said thermocouple extending into said sampling portion and for locating said thermal junction at the approximate geometric center of said sampling portion; and clip means for holding said sleeve with said thermocouple mounted therein in said cartridge and in engagement with said means for supporting said sleeve.

Claim 13

A molten metal sampling device adapted to be immersed into direct contact with a heat of molten cast iron treated to form nodular iron on solidification to obtain a sample of said iron upon withdrawal from said heat for the generation of a cooling curve of said sample, comprising a totally metal cartridge having vertical walls and a base formed of a material having a melting point in excess of 2,300*F, the exterior of said cartridge being bare and adapted to be immersed in direct contact with said heat, said vertical walls having a molten metal inlet opening intermediate said base and the top of said cartridge defining a sampling portion extending from said base to said opening adapted to be filled with said molten metal through said inlet opening upon immersion to obtain said sample, the walls of said sampling portion and said base having a thickness in the range of about one thirty-second to three-sixteenths inch; said cartridge being adapted to receive a thermocouple and including means for supporting said thermocouple and locating its thermal junction at the approximate geometric center of said sampling portion, the ratio of the volume of said sample to the volume of material forming said sampling portion being in the range of about 1.5 to 4.5 and the ratio of the external surface area of said sampling portion to the sum of the volume of said sample and the volume of material forming said sampling portion being in the range of about 3.5 (in. 1) to 6 (in. 1).

Claim 14

A molten metal sampling device adapted to be immersed into direct contact with a heat of molten cast iron treated to form nodular iron on solidification to obtain a sample of said iron upon withdrawal from said heat for the generation of a cooling curve of said sample, comprising a totally metal cartridge having vertical walls and a base formed of a material having a melting point in excess of 2,300*F, the exterior of said cartridge being bare and adapted to be immersed in direct contact with said heat, said vertical walls having a molten metal inlet opening intermediate said base and the top of said cartridge defining a sampling portion extending from said base to said opening adapted to be filled with said molten metal through said inlet opening upon immersion to obtain said sample, the walls of said sampling portion and said base having a thickness in the range of about one thirty-second to three-sixteenths inch; said cartridge being adapted to receive a thermocouple and including means for supporting said thermocouple and locating its thermal junction at the approximate geometric center of said sampling portion, the ratio of the volume of said sample to the volume of material forming said sampling portion being in the range of about 1.5 to 4.5 and the ratio of the external surface area of said sampling portion to the sum of the volume of said sample and the volume of material forming said sampling portion being in the range of about 3.5 (in. 1) to 6 (in. 1).

Claim 15

A molten metal sampling device adapted to be immersed into direct contact with a heat of molten cast iron treated to form nodular iron on solidification to obtain a sample of said iron upon withdrawal from said heat for the generation of a cooling curve of said sample, comprising a cylindrical totally steel cartridge having vertical walls and a base and an internal diameter of about 1 inch, the exterior of said cartridge being bare and adapted to be immersed in direct contact with said heat, said vertical walls having a pair of opposed molten metal inlet openings intermediate said base and the top of said cartridge defining a cylindrical sampling portion about 1 3/4 inch in height extending from said base to said openings adapted to be filled with said molten metal through said inlet openings upon immersion To obtain said sample, the walls of said sampling portion and said base having a thickness of about one-sixteenth inch; said cartridge being adapted to receive a thermocouple and including means for supporting said thermocouple and locating its thermal junction at the approximate geometric center of said sampling portion.

Claim 16

A molten metal sampling device adapted to be immersed into direct contact with a heat of molten cast iron treated to form nodular iron on solidification to obtain a sample of said iron upon withdrawal from said heat for the generation of a cooling curve of said sample, comprising a cylindrical totally steel cartridge having vertical walls and a base and an internal diameter of about 1 inch, the exterior of said cartridge being bare and adapted to be immersed in direct contact with said heat, said vertical walls having a pair of opposed molten metal inlet openings intermediate said base and the top of said cartridge defining a cylindrical sampling portion about 1 3/4 inch in height extending from said base to said openings adapted to be filled with said molten metal through said inlet openings upon immersion To obtain said sample, the walls of said sampling portion and said base having a thickness of about one-sixteenth inch; said cartridge being adapted to receive a thermocouple and including means for supporting said thermocouple and locating its thermal junction at the approximate geometric center of said sampling portion.