Method and apparatus for inspecting refractory lining in coke oven chambers and the like

Claim 1

An inspection apparatus for inspecting the refractory lining in a high temperature chamber of a coke oven, a pneumatic steel treatment vessel, a reheat furnace for metallic workpieces and the like before and/or after treating the burden therein, said apparatus including the combination of: a movable member to advance within said chamber in a direction along the refractory lining thereof, support means externally of said chamber to carry said movable member, an enclosure including side walls normally forming a substantially closed compartment, said enclosure being supported by said movable member for movement within said chamber, said enclosure including means for maintaining a thermally-protective environment within the compartment thereof, drive means coupled to said movable member to displace said enclosure along the refractory lining of said chamber, means carried within the compartment of said enclosure for producing a video signal corresponding to at least a portion of said refractory lining, said means including an optical lens exposed to the refractory lining through an opening in the side wall of said enclosure, means for cooling said optical lens, means supported by said movable member to adjustably position said means for producing a video signal, and receiver means for displaying the video signal produced by the first said means and corresponding to at least a portion of said refractory lining.

Claim 20

A method for inspecting the refractory lining of a high temperature chamber in a coke oven, a pneumatic steel treatment vessel, a reheat furnace for metallic workpieces and the like before and/or after treating the burden therein, said method including the steps of: producing a thermally-protective environment for a television camera which includes cooling the optical lens of the camera, supporting the thermally-protected television camera externally of said high temperature chamber for adjustable movement of the camera within the chamber, displacing the thermally-protected television camera in a spaced-apart location along the refractory lining within the high temperature chamber only when the chamber is void of a burden, transmitting a video signal corresponding to a first side wall portion of the refractory lining to a location external of the high temperature chamber by directing the lens for the camera toward the refractory lining, displaying the said video signal on a television receiver means, repositioning the thermally-protected camera and thereafter transmitting a video signal from within the high temperature chamber corresponding to a second side wall portion of the refractory lining to a location external of the high temperature chamber, and displaying the video signal corresponding to the second side wall portion of the refractory lining on a television receiver means.

Claim 21

A method for inspecting the refractory lining of a high temperature chamber in a coke oven, a pneumatic steel treatment vessel, a reheat furnace for metallic workpieces and the like before and/or after treating the burden therein, said method including the steps of: producing a thermally-protective environment for a television camera which includes cooling the optical lens of the camera, supporting the thermally-protected television camera externally of said high temperature chamber for adjustable movement of the camera within the chamber, displacing the thermally-protected television camera in a spaced-apart location along the refractory lining within the high temperature chamber only when the chamber is void of a burden, transmitting a video signal corresponding to a first side wall portion of the refractory lining to a location external of the high temperature chamber by directing the lens for the camera toward the refractory lining, displaying the said video signal on a television receiver means, repositioning the thermally-protected camera and thereafter transmitting a video signal from within the high temperature chamber corresponding to a second side wall portion of the refractory lining to a location external of the high temperature chamber, and displaying the video signal corresponding to the second side wall portion of the refractory lining on a television receiver means.