Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
A metallurgical furnace, such as an electrical arc furnace, of the type having a water cooling system, the improvement comprising a membrane cooling panel construction made from a plurality of individual cooling panel sections, said panel sections being disposed in end-to-end relationship and oriented circumferentially to define an innner exposed hot wall surface, each panel section comprising a plurality of generally cylindrical cooling tubes disposed in substantially parallel, juxtaposed relation and being spaced laterally apart a distance sufficient to define a lateral spacement area therebetween, said cooling tubes being oriented circumferentially to define said hot wall surface, spacer bar means disposed in generally centered relation in the spacement area between adjacent of said cooling tubes, said spacer bar means having a widthwise dimension sufficient to provide a trough-like recess therebetween, said spacer bar means acting to hold the individual cooling tubes out of contacting relationship with one another, weldments joining the associated spacer bar means with the adjacent surfaces of the respective cooling tubes to provide a substantially continuous, undulating membrane surface exposed to the furnace melt, and a source of cooling fluid for delivering a cooling fluid to said cooling tubes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
A metallurgical furnace, such as an electrical arc furnace, of the type having a water cooling system, the improvement comprising a membrane cooling panel construction made from a plurality of individual cooling panel sections, said panel sections being disposed in end-to-end relationship and oriented circumferentially to define an innner exposed hot wall surface, each panel section comprising a plurality of generally cylindrical cooling tubes disposed in substantially parallel, juxtaposed relation and being spaced laterally apart a distance sufficient to define a lateral spacement area therebetween, said cooling tubes being oriented circumferentially to define said hot wall surface, spacer bar means disposed in generally centered relation in the spacement area between adjacent of said cooling tubes, said spacer bar means having a widthwise dimension sufficient to provide a trough-like recess therebetween, said spacer bar means acting to hold the individual cooling tubes out of contacting relationship with one another, weldments joining the associated spacer bar means with the adjacent surfaces of the respective cooling tubes to provide a substantially continuous, undulating membrane surface exposed to the furnace melt, and a source of cooling fluid for delivering a cooling fluid to said cooling tubes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
A metallurgical furnace in accordance with claim 1, including retainer elements affixed to and extending outwardly from said cooling tubes, said retainer elements including elongated elements welded to the outer confronting surfaces of the respective cooling tubes and extending longitudinally thereof, said retainer elements being disposed close to the surface of the cooling tubes and adapted to retain slag or the like to form a refractory build-up on said membrane surface
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
In a metallurgical furnace in accordance with claim 1, wherein said cooling tubes and spacer bar means are arcuate, and said spacer bar means lie in the general medial plane which extends through the central axis of adjacent said cooling tubes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
In a metallurgical furnace in accordance with claim 1, wherein said cooling tubes and spacer bar means are linear, and said spacer bar means lie in the general medial plane which extends through the central axis of adjacent said cooling tubes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
In a metallurgical furnace in accordance with claim 1, wherein said cooling tubes are disposed in juxtaposed parallel relation and extend in a horizontal direction and generally normal to the central vertical axis of said furnace.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
In a metallurgical furnace in accordance with claim 1, wherein said cooling tubes are disposed in side-by-side vertical relation and extend in a vertical direction and generally parallel to the central vertical axis of said furnace.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
In a metallurgical furnace in accordance with claim 1, wherein said cooling tubes are disposed at an angle with respect to one another and to the central vertical axis of said furnace.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
In a metallurgical furnace in accordance with claim 1, wherein each panel section is substantially linear and is bent adjacent its midpoint.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
In a metallurgical furnace in accordance with claim 1, wherein the individual cooling tubes and spacer bar means of each section are symmetrically curved in a circumferential direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
In a metallurgical furnace in accordance with claim 1, wherein said cooling tubes communicate with header members, and said header members communicate with inlet and outlet means for transmitting cooling fluid through said cooling tubes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
In a metallurgical furnace in accordance with claim 10, wherein spaced support plates are affixed to the cold face of said cooling tubes to provide lateral support therefore.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
In a metallurgical furnace in accordance claim 1, including retainer elements affixed to and extending outwardly from said cooling tubes in a direction away from the furnace hot face.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
In a metallurgical furnace in accordance with claim 12, wherein said retainer elements comprise solid bar elements affixed to and extending parallel to said cooling tubes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
In a metallurgical furnace in accordance with claim 12, wherein said retainer elements comprise axially spaced, oppositely disposed pairs of angularly outwardly extending stud-like elements.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
In a metallurgical furnace in accordance with claim 12, wherein said retainer elements are selected from the group consisting of circular and non-circular polygonal cross-sectional shapes.