Metallurgical apparatus – Means for melting or vaporizing metal or treating liquefied... – Bessemer-type treating vessel
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-16
2001-09-18
Kastler, Scott (Department: 1742)
Metallurgical apparatus
Means for melting or vaporizing metal or treating liquefied...
Bessemer-type treating vessel
C266S245000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290901
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a converter, in particular for refining pig iron and including a tiltable body, a mantle ring spaced from the converter body and supportable in support lugs, with the mantle ring having a rectangular cross-section with upper and lower flanges; the converter further including lamella suspensions and body guides for connecting the mantle ring with the converter body, with the lamella suspension including a lamella pair having one of it opposite ends secured to a first attachment bracket connected to the lower flange of the mantle ring, and having another of its opposite ends secured to the second attachment bracket connected with the converter body, and with the body guide including two guide walls secured to the mantle ring, and a guide element displaceable backlash-free between the two guide walls in a circumferential direction and connected to a third attachment bracket secured to the converter body.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A converter of the above-described type is disclosed in German Patent No. 1,903,685. The known converter proved itself as it permits radial and axial expansion of the converter body with respect to the mantle ring, and the body is reliably supported in the absence of a load.
Usually, the attachment brackets are welded to the mantle ring or the converter body, without a possibility of separation from the mantle ring or the converter body. In the known converter, the lamella suspensions can be damaged and even completely destroyed by spilled-over slag or, with a damaged jacket of the converter body, by spilled-over steel, or by caking falling out of the exhaust gas stack. The repair or restoration can be effected only upon the mechanical separation of the damaged units and replacing them with new ones.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a converter of the above-described type the separate parts of which can be replaced by simple means.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This and other objects of the present invention, which will become apparent hereinafter, are achieved by forming releasable connections between the lamella pairs and the first and second attachment brackets and between the guide elements and the third attachment brackets. This permits to replace the guide elements and the lamella pairs without undertaking an expensive mechanical separation. This substantially reduces the time needed for repair and substantially facilitates assembly of the converter body.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the releasable connection of the lamella pair with the first and second attachment brackets and of the guide element with the third attachment bracket is formed as force-and form locking clamp connection. The connection represents a flange-type connection between the brackets and the guide element or the lamella pair, with the load being transmitted by an intermediate conical clamp member which is secured by a screw. The deformation, which is caused by a thermal load, reinforces the clamping action of the flange portions.
Advantageously, the clamp connection includes a screw ferrule and a lock ring the associated clamping surfaces of which are connected by the conical clamp member secured with a tightening screw. Because the screw itself transmits only small clamping forces, a simple loosening of the clamp connection and, therefore, an easy replacement of damaged elements is possible, without the previously necessary expensive mechanical separation.
Because the second and third attachment brackets have a tubular shape and their diameter coincides with the diameter of the lock ring, the force transmission to the converter body or the mantle ring is improved. As a result stress concentration and, thereby, the danger of the formation of fissures, which were inevitably produced in comer regions of the previously used rectangular and box-shaped attachment brackets, is prevented to a most possible extent.
According to a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, at least the first attachment bracket is fixedly connected with either the lock ring or with the screw ferrule. In both cases, the fixing tightening screws are easily accessible which facilitate the replacement of the lamella pair.
A certain advantage is achieved when the clamp connection of the first attachment bracket extends parallel to the lamella pair or the lower flange of the mantle ring. The advantage of the arrangement of the clamp connection parallel to the lamella pair consists in that the inner diameter of the mantle ring for dismounting of the converter body is smaller than with the alternative arrangement of the clamp connection when it extends parallel to the lower flange of the mantle ring. The advantage of the arrangement of the clamp connection parallel to the lower flange of the mantle ring consists in that it provided favorable conditions for transmission of forces from the lamella pair to the mantle ring.
It is important for the ease of the disassembly of the converter body when its diameter, together with the size of the second attachment bracket and its lock ring, are within the inner diameter of the mantle ring.
The novel features of the present invention, which are considered as characteristic for the invention, are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional advantages and objects thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, when read with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4281823 (1981-08-01), Enker et al.
patent: 4700929 (1987-10-01), Langlitz et al.
patent: 4946141 (1990-08-01), Vatant
patent: 1903685 (1971-02-01), None
patent: 0040112 (1981-11-01), None
Kastler Scott
Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP
SMS Schloemann-Siemag AG
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