Metallurgical vessel

Claim 2

A vessel for holding molten iron and the like, the vessel comprising, a. an external hollow substantially cylindrical support member; and b. a refractory lining disposed against the inner surface of the support member comprising at least one course of refractory bricks, the bricks having a head portion and a base portion arranged in a T-shaped configuration and the bricks being disposed in the course on their face surfaces in an intermeshing relationship where each brick is separated from, and bonded to, each adjacent brick by a layer of refractory mortar having a relatively uniform thickness and where adjacent bricks are oppositely oriented in the radial direction to define circumferentially oriented, registered and joining under surfaces between the head portions of adjacent bricks, the relationship also providing the course with a uniform radial thickness.

Claim 3

A vessel for holding molten metal and the like, the vessel comprising, a. an external substantially cylindrical supporting shell; and b. a refractory lining disposed against the inner surface of the shell wherein the molten metal exerts a static pressure on the inner surface of the lining which is countered by pressure exerted by the external shell thereby creating relatively uniform pressures from point to point on both the inner and external surfaces of the lining, the lining comprising at least one course of refractory bricks, each brick having a uniform thickness and a head portion and a base portion arranged in a T-shaped configuration, wherein the course adjacent bricks are separated and bonded together by a layer of refractory mortar of substantially uniform thickness which mortar is inherently weaker than the bricks, the bricks being disposed in the course on their face surfaces in an intermeshing relationship wherein adjacent bricks are oppositely oriented in the radial direction to define circumferentially oriented registered joining under surfaces between the head portions of adjacent bricks, the T-shape configuration and the intermeshing relationship providing the course with a uniform radial thickness and substantially smooth internal and external surfaces and where in the refractory lining the total static force on the inner surface of a specific brick does not equal the total force on the external surface of that specific brick because of the difference in surface area presented to the internal and external surfaces of the lining by that specific brick and where in said intermeshing relationship the joining side surfaces between the head of one brick and the base portion of the adjacent bricks are coincident with a radius of the vessel thereby allowing, as the weaker mortar fails, radially oriented compressive forces on the joining under surfaces of the head portions of adjacent bricks to offset the difference in the forces acting on the internal and external surfaces of the bricks and thereby sealing a potential leakage path for the molten metal and thus delaying leaks in the lining once the mortar has failed.

Claim 4

A vessel for holding molten metal and the like, the vessel comprising, a. an external substantially cylindrical supporting shell; and b. a refractory lining disposed against the inner surface of the shell wherein the molten metal exerts a static pressure on the inner surface of the lining which is countered by pressure exerted by the external shell thereby creating relatively uniform pressures from point to point on both the inner and external surfaces of the lining, the lining comprising at least one course of refractory bricks, each brick having a uniform thickness and a head portion and a base portion arranged in a T-shaped configuration, wherein the course adjacent bricks are separated and bonded together by a layer of refractory mortar of substantially uniform thickness which mortar is inherently weaker than the bricks, the bricks being disposed in the course on their face surfaces in an intermeshing relationship wherein adjacent bricks are oppositely oriented in the radial direction to define circumferentially oriented registered joining under surfaces between the head portions of adjacent bricks, the T-shape configuration and the intermeshing relationship providing the course with a uniform radial thickness and substantially smooth internal and external surfaces and where in the refractory lining the total static force on the inner surface of a specific brick does not equal the total force on the external surface of that specific brick because of the difference in surface area presented to the internal and external surfaces of the lining by that specific brick and where in said intermeshing relationship the joining side surfaces between the head of one brick and the base portion of the adjacent bricks are coincident with a radius of the vessel thereby allowing, as the weaker mortar fails, radially oriented compressive forces on the joining under surfaces of the head portions of adjacent bricks to offset the difference in the forces acting on the internal and external surfaces of the bricks and thereby sealing a potential leakage path for the molten metal and thus delaying leaks in the lining once the mortar has failed.

Claim 5

A metallurgical vessel comprising: a. an external substantially cylindrical support layer; and b. a refractory lining disposed against the inner surface of the support layer, said lining being formed from at least one course of mortared refractory bricks, each of said bricks having a base portion and a head portion arranged in a T-shaped configuration, the bricks being disposed on their face surfaces in an intermeshing relationship in which adjacent bricks are oppositely oriented in the radial direction so that as one brick presents its head portion to the center of the vessel, both adjacent bricks within the course present their base portions to the center of the vessel, which intermeshing relationship provides said lining with a relatively uniform radial thickness, all side surfaces of each brick being substantially perpendicular to its face surfaces, and the radial width of the base portion being substantially equal to the radial width of the head portion, and where in each brick the side surfaces of the base portion which in a course of the refractory lining would abut the side surfaces of the head portion of the adjacent bricks are radially oriented, and where in each brick the side surfaces of the head portion, which in a course of the refractory lining would abut the side surfaces of the base portion of the adjacent bricks are radially oriented and where in each brick the outer side surfaces of the head portion and the bottom portion which do not abut adjacent bricks are circumferentially oriented and where in each brick each surface of the head portion which abuts a surface of the head portion of the adjacent brick is circumferentially oriented.

Claim 6

A metallurgical vessel comprising: a. an external substantially cylindrical support layer; and b. a refractory lining disposed against the inner surface of the support layer, said lining being formed from at least one course of mortared refractory bricks, each of said bricks having a base portion and a head portion arranged in a T-shaped configuration, the bricks being disposed on their face surfaces in an intermeshing relationship in which adjacent bricks are oppositely oriented in the radial direction so that as one brick presents its head portion to the center of the vessel, both adjacent bricks within the course present their base portions to the center of the vessel, which intermeshing relationship provides said lining with a relatively uniform radial thickness, all side surfaces of each brick being substantially perpendicular to its face surfaces, and the radial width of the base portion being substantially equal to the radial width of the head portion, and where in each brick the side surfaces of the base portion which in a course of the refractory lining would abut the side surfaces of the head portion of the adjacent bricks are radially oriented, and where in each brick the side surfaces of the head portion, which in a course of the refractory lining would abut the side surfaces of the base portion of the adjacent bricks are radially oriented and where in each brick the outer side surfaces of the head portion and the bottom portion which do not abut adjacent bricks are circumferentially oriented and where in each brick each surface of the head portion which abuts a surface of the head portion of the adjacent brick is circumferentially oriented.