US3888062A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Work tower for relining metallurgical vessels
Assignee: UMEC Corp
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Filing: 1974-02-14
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Granted: 1975-06-10
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Expires: 1994-02-14
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for lining the walls of a metallurgical vessel with refractory bricks including support means over the top opening of the vessel, elongated tower means suspended within the vessel from the support means and rotatably movable thereon, and first conveyor means, in the tower and rotatably movable therewith, for conveying bricks vertically within the vessel. The first conveyor means has a charging end, and a discharge point which is vertically variable. A second conveyor means is provided which is vertically movable on the tower means and has a discharge end laterally adjustable with respect to the tower means. The second conveyor means receives bricks from the first conveyor means and transports them to the walls of the vessel at variable heights and distances from the tower means. By reason of the vertically variable discharge point, the first conveyor means delivers bricks to the second conveyor means at any position of the second conveyor means.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas Gregord
- 👤 Bernard Filipich
- 👤 William Jancosko
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 04:10
CPC Classifications
C; C21; C21C; C21C5/00; C21C5/28; C21C5/42; C21C5/44; C21C5/441
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
429 words
In an apparatus for lining the walls of a metallurgical vessel with refractory bricks which apparatus includes support means over the top opening of the vessel, elongated tower means suspended within the vessel from the support means and rotatably movable thereon, and first conveyor means, in the tower and rotatably movable therewith, for conveying bricks vertically within the vessel, the improvement comprising: a second conveyor means having a laterally extending brick conveying upper surface of adjustable length yertically movable on the tower means for transporting bricks between the tower means and the walls of the vessel at variable heights and distances from the tower means; and wherein said first conveyor means comprises: a plurality of sprockets; two pairs of endless chains traveling in the same direction on a path defined by the sprockets, which path has two vertical runs between upper and lower sprockets rotatably mounted at fixed positions on the tower, one said vertical run having a first portion in which one pair of chains travels in a plane parallel to, and laterally disposed from, the plane of travel of the other pair, and a second vertical portion in which the pairs of chains travel in the same plane, the other vertical run having the pairs of chains travel in the same plane throughout the run; a plurality of foldable pallets each of which is connected to both pairs of chains at spaced intervals along the chains, which pallets are horizontally suspended between the chains during the first portion of said one vertical run, and are disposed in the same plane as the pairs of chains during the second portion of said one vertical run and throughout the second vertical run; and a frame having a plurality of sprockets rotatably mounted and arranged thereon to guide one of said pairs of chains along a substantially horizontal path between the two laterally displaced planes of the first portion and the common plane of the second portion of said one vertical run which imparts substantial horizontal movemenT to the foldable pallets as they pass from said first to second portion of said one vertical run, said frame being vertically movable on the tower to vary the respective lengths of said first and second portions of said one run and to align the horizontally moving foldable pallets between said first and second portions in brick transferring relationship with the second conveyor whereby bricks are conveyed between the exterior of the metallurgical vessel and the interior walls thereof through vertical movement by said first conveyor and lateral movement by said second conveyor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
429 words
In an apparatus for lining the walls of a metallurgical vessel with refractory bricks which apparatus includes support means over the top opening of the vessel, elongated tower means suspended within the vessel from the support means and rotatably movable thereon, and first conveyor means, in the tower and rotatably movable therewith, for conveying bricks vertically within the vessel, the improvement comprising: a second conveyor means having a laterally extending brick conveying upper surface of adjustable length yertically movable on the tower means for transporting bricks between the tower means and the walls of the vessel at variable heights and distances from the tower means; and wherein said first conveyor means comprises: a plurality of sprockets; two pairs of endless chains traveling in the same direction on a path defined by the sprockets, which path has two vertical runs between upper and lower sprockets rotatably mounted at fixed positions on the tower, one said vertical run having a first portion in which one pair of chains travels in a plane parallel to, and laterally disposed from, the plane of travel of the other pair, and a second vertical portion in which the pairs of chains travel in the same plane, the other vertical run having the pairs of chains travel in the same plane throughout the run; a plurality of foldable pallets each of which is connected to both pairs of chains at spaced intervals along the chains, which pallets are horizontally suspended between the chains during the first portion of said one vertical run, and are disposed in the same plane as the pairs of chains during the second portion of said one vertical run and throughout the second vertical run; and a frame having a plurality of sprockets rotatably mounted and arranged thereon to guide one of said pairs of chains along a substantially horizontal path between the two laterally displaced planes of the first portion and the common plane of the second portion of said one vertical run which imparts substantial horizontal movemenT to the foldable pallets as they pass from said first to second portion of said one vertical run, said frame being vertically movable on the tower to vary the respective lengths of said first and second portions of said one run and to align the horizontally moving foldable pallets between said first and second portions in brick transferring relationship with the second conveyor whereby bricks are conveyed between the exterior of the metallurgical vessel and the interior walls thereof through vertical movement by said first conveyor and lateral movement by said second conveyor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus defined by claim 1 wherein said second conveyor extends from and is carried by said frame whereby the first and second conveyors remain in brick transferring relationship.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
162 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the sprockets mounted on said movable frame include first and second pairs of sprockets for guiding the first and second pairs of chains respectively from the spaced vertical planes of said one portion of the first vertical run to a common horizontal plane, additional pairs of sprockets around which the respective chains pass all rotatable about a common horizontal axis laterally spaced from said spaced vertical planes to define the lateral extent of the horizontal travel of said pairs of chains in said common horizontal plane, and further sprockets rotatable-about a common axis for guiding said endless chains laterally from said additional sprockets to a common vertical plane in the other portion of said first vertical run whereby the foldable pallets are carried in a horizontal plane between said first and second portions of said one vertical run and discharge bricks onto the second conveyor as they pass around said additional pairs of sprockets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 including platform means extending horizontally from and selectively vertically movable on the elongated tower means independently of and conjointly with the second conveyor means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein the platform means comprises a series of horizontal, radially extending support members having a circular array of gratings thereon, the radially extending members having a telescoping function for forming a circular grating surface of variable diameter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said second conveyor means is vertically movable on said elongated tower means below said platform means for relining the bottom of the vessel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the second conveyor comprises: an endless belt of fixed length; fixed roller means which define a loading point on the belt; and movable roller means which are movable laterally to adjust the length of an upper brick conveying surface of the belt and to prevent slack in the belt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1, including a rotating feed table for feeding bricks to the charging end of the first conveyor means, adapted to rotate about the tower at a speed of rotation greater than the speed of rotation of the tower.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus defined in claim 9 including: speed-adjustable motor means for operating the first conveyor, second conveyor and rotating feed table; and means for transmitting motion from the motor means to the first conveyor, second conveyor and rotating feed table so as to cause the first conveyor, second conveyor and rotating feed table to move co-operatively at speeds proportionate to any selected speed of the motor means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein the rotating feed table comprises a series of radial trays disposed at an angle above the horizontal, interconnected in ring form, and having rollers therein whereby bricks on the trays are urged in a direction generally toward the first conveyor means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
91 words
The apparatus defined in claim 10 including: a feed conveyor positioned so as to feed bricks toward the rotating feed table; a control conveyor for controlling the transfer of bricks frOm the feed conveyor to the rotating feed table; and sensing means associated with the rotating feed table, which sensing means detect the presence of a brick on each radial tray when the tray is proximate the control coveyor, and prevent the transfer of a brick from the feed conveyor to the tray if a brick is present on the tray.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
231 words
In an apparatus for lining the walls of a metallurgical vessel with refractory bricks, which apparatus includes support means over the top opening of the vessel, elongated tower means suspended within the vessel from the suport means and rotatably movable thereon, conveyor means supported by the tower and rotatably movable therewith for conveying bricks vertically into the vessel and then horizontally toward the walls of the vessel at variable heights and angular positions, a feed table rotatable about the charging end of the conveyor means in the same direction and at a proportionally faster rate than the rate of rotation of the tower and comprising a ring of trays each having a downwardly and radially inwardly inclined roller surface which urges bricks placed thereon toward the conveyor means, and a feed conveyor for charging bricks on said rotating feed table, the improvement comprising: control conveyor means between said feed conveyor and said rotating feed table for controlling the transfer of bricks from the feed conveyor to the rotating table, said control conveyor means including; control means for selectively retaining a brick on the control conveyor and for urging a brick from the control conveyor onto one of the feed table trays; and sensing means responsive to the alignment of an empty feed table tray with said control conveyor for operating the control conveyor to urge a brick onto the empty tray.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
231 words
In an apparatus for lining the walls of a metallurgical vessel with refractory bricks, which apparatus includes support means over the top opening of the vessel, elongated tower means suspended within the vessel from the suport means and rotatably movable thereon, conveyor means supported by the tower and rotatably movable therewith for conveying bricks vertically into the vessel and then horizontally toward the walls of the vessel at variable heights and angular positions, a feed table rotatable about the charging end of the conveyor means in the same direction and at a proportionally faster rate than the rate of rotation of the tower and comprising a ring of trays each having a downwardly and radially inwardly inclined roller surface which urges bricks placed thereon toward the conveyor means, and a feed conveyor for charging bricks on said rotating feed table, the improvement comprising: control conveyor means between said feed conveyor and said rotating feed table for controlling the transfer of bricks from the feed conveyor to the rotating table, said control conveyor means including; control means for selectively retaining a brick on the control conveyor and for urging a brick from the control conveyor onto one of the feed table trays; and sensing means responsive to the alignment of an empty feed table tray with said control conveyor for operating the control conveyor to urge a brick onto the empty tray.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
104 words
The apparatus defined in claim 12 wherein said control means includes drive roller means, a pair of undriven rollers and actuating means for raising and lowering the undriven rollers between a lowered position in which a brick on the control conveyor is engaged by the drive roller means and urged onto a feed table tray and a raised position in which a brick is supported above and out of engagement with the drive roller means, said actuating means being responsive to the first sensing means to move said undriven rollers to said lowered positions when an empty tray is aligned with the control conveyor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus defined in claim 13 wherein a brick is gravity fed from the feed conveyor onto the control conveyor when said undriven rollers are moved to their lowered position and including second sensing means responsive to the transfer of a brick from the feed conveyor to the control conveyor for operating the actuating means to move the undriven rollers to their raised position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus defined in claim 12 wherein each feed table tray includes gate means at the radially inward edge thereof to retain a brick thereon and means for displacing said gate when the associated tray is aligned with the tower supported conveyor means such that the brick is urged onto the tower supported conveyor means by the downwardly and radially inwardly inclined roller surface of the tray.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
84 words
The apparatus defined in claim 15 wherein said gate means includes means operative to render the sensing means inoperative to sense the absence of a brick on the associated feed table tray when the gate has been displaced to allow a brick to pass from the tray to the tower supported conveyor means thereby preventing the control conveyor from transferring a brick to the tray at the same time that a brick is being transferred from the tray to the tower supported conveyor means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3285390A
Cited
US3365052A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-09 | 1978-12-09 | 1979-06-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-09 | 1982-12-09 | 1983-06-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-09 | 1986-12-09 | 1987-06-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |