Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
A device for checking the state of a lining of a melting unit, comprising: a power source having a first terminal connected to the metal in said melting unit and a second terminal; electrodes uniformly spaced on said lining along the perimeter of said melting unit; a maximum value unit, for determining the maximum value of a parameter being measured, having a group of inputs connected to respective electrodes and first and second outputs; a mean determining unit, for determining the arithmetic mean of the parameter being measured, having an input connected to the first output of said maximum value unit, and an output; an information unit, providing information on the state of said lining and having a group of inputs connected to respective electrodes, a first additional input connected to said first output of said maximum value unit, and a second additional input connected to the output of said mean determining unit and to the second terminal of said power source; a comparison unit, for comparing the maximum value and the arithmetic mean of the parameter being measured, having a first input connected to said second output of said maximum value unit, a second input connected to the output of said mean determining unit, and an output; an amplification unit having an input connected to the output of said comparison unit and an output; and a signalling unit having an input connected to the output of said amplification unit.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
240 words
A device for checking the state of a lining of a melting unit, comprising: a power source having a first terminal connected to the metal in said melting unit and a second terminal; electrodes uniformly spaced on said lining along the perimeter of said melting unit; a maximum value unit, for determining the maximum value of a parameter being measured, having a group of inputs connected to respective electrodes and first and second outputs; a mean determining unit, for determining the arithmetic mean of the parameter being measured, having an input connected to the first output of said maximum value unit, and an output; an information unit, providing information on the state of said lining and having a group of inputs connected to respective electrodes, a first additional input connected to said first output of said maximum value unit, and a second additional input connected to the output of said mean determining unit and to the second terminal of said power source; a comparison unit, for comparing the maximum value and the arithmetic mean of the parameter being measured, having a first input connected to said second output of said maximum value unit, a second input connected to the output of said mean determining unit, and an output; an amplification unit having an input connected to the output of said comparison unit and an output; and a signalling unit having an input connected to the output of said amplification unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
144 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said maximum value unit comprises: resistors having equal resistances, a first lead of each of said resistors being connected to a respective electrode, a second lead of each of said resistors being combined and connected to said first output of said maximum value unit; and diodes having a cathode connected to a respective electrode and an anode connected to said second output of said maximum value unit; and wherein said mean determining unit includes a resistor which has a resistance less than that of said resistors of said maximum value unit by a number of times equal to the number of said electrodes, a first lead of said resistor being connected to said input of said mean determining unit, and a second lead of said resistor being connected to said output of said mean determining unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said comparison unit comprises a magnetic amplifier having control windings; and wherein said amplification unit comprises a magnetic amplifier with a working winding.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said comparison unit comprises two zero-crossing detectors and a threshold element operatively associated together; and wherein said amplification unit comprises two semiconductor amplifiers connected to respective zero-crossing detectors and a third semiconductor amplifier connected to said threshold element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrodes are divided into groups of equal number of electrodes, the electrodes in each group being interconnected and connected to a respective input of the information unit and of the maximum value unit.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of checking the state of a lining of a melting unit, comprising the steps of: positioning a plurality of electrodes on the lining along the periphery of the melting unit; determining the maximum value of an electrical parameter of said lining by measuring the voltages of the electrodes; determining the arithmetic mean of said electrical parameter of said lining by measuring the voltages of the electrodes; and determining the state of said lining by comparing the maximum value and the arithmetic mean, a large difference between said maximum value and said mean indicating damage to said lining.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of checking the state of a lining of a melting unit, comprising the steps of: positioning a plurality of electrodes on the lining along the periphery of the melting unit; determining the maximum value of an electrical parameter of said lining by measuring the voltages of the electrodes; determining the arithmetic mean of said electrical parameter of said lining by measuring the voltages of the electrodes; and determining the state of said lining by comparing the maximum value and the arithmetic mean, a large difference between said maximum value and said mean indicating damage to said lining.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of checking the state of a lining of a melting unit according to claim 6, further comprising the step of: generating an alarm when the lining is damaged.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method of checking the state of a lining of a melting unit according to claim 6, further comprising the step of: determining the damaged portion of the lining by separately measuring the voltage of each electrode, the electrode having the maximum value being connected to the damaged portion of the lining.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of checking the state of a lining of a melting unit according to claim 8, further comprising the step of: generating an alarm when the lining is damaged.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of checking the state of a lining of a melting unit according to claim 6, wherein the electrodes are positioned uniformly on the lining along the periphery of the melting unit.