Thermal measuring and testing – Temperature measurement – Of molten metal
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-27
2001-10-09
Gutierrez, Diego (Department: 2859)
Thermal measuring and testing
Temperature measurement
Of molten metal
C374S179000, C374S208000, C266S087000, C266S088000, C136S226000, C136S230000, C136S232000, C136S234000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299348
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an immersion measuring probe for measurement in liquids, in particular in molten metals, the probe having a carrier tube, a measuring head mounted on one end of the carrier tube, and measuring elements as well as signal lines for the measuring signals generated by the measuring elements arranged on the measuring head, wherein the signal lines are longer than the carrier tube and run from the end of the measuring head facing the inside of the carrier tube, and wherein the signal lines run through the inside of the carrier tube and are wound up inside of the carrier tube around its longitudinal axis.
Measuring probes of this type are known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,505,871. They are used for measuring in steel-converter furnaces (converters). For measurements in converters the measuring probe is dropped into the converter from a relatively large height. The signal lines are wound up on the inner surface of the carrier tube, and they automatically unwind themselves during the free fall of the measuring probes, wherein one end of the signal line is connected to the measuring head, while the other end of the signal line is either connected via a contact piece by extension lines or compensation lines or directly to a measuring and evaluation device. In this manner, several measuring probes can be stored in a magazine at a great height above the converter, wherein for the measurements one measuring probe at a time is released from the magazine and falls in free fall into the molten metal located in the converter.
Similar devices are known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,578, wherein the signal lines are wound up on the outer surface of the carrier tube.
Similar devices are also known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,168,764 or from I&AM, September 1993. The measuring probes disclosed by these sources are suspended in magazines, wherein it is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,168,764 to wind the signal lines not directly around the carrier tube of the measuring probe, but instead to wind them in a separate container. This has the effect that in the magazines, along with the respective measuring probe, the supply container for the signal lines must also be mounted, so that the magazines must be designed to be suitably large.
From European published patent application EP 0 375 109 A2 a similar measuring probe is known. The measuring probe disclosed therein has a sample chamber arranged outside of the measuring head, which is mounted on a steel cable guided through a tube parallel to the carrier tube. The steel cable is wound up on a spool and can be unwound when the measuring head is lowered.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Starting from this known prior art, an object of the present invention is to create an improved measuring probe, which can be handled very simply and safely, and whose handling can be automated easily.
This object is achieved according to the invention in that the signal lines are wound in multiple layers against the inside wall of the carrier tube and that in the longitudinal direction of the carrier tube, directly in front of the winding of the signal lines, a fixing stopper with at least one passage for the signal lines is arranged to rest against the windings. Very long signal lines can thereby be housed in a very space-saving manner in a small space, so that an impairment of or damage to the windings is nearly ruled out, due to the protected position inside the carrier tube, so that a safe handling is ensured. Due to the stable outer surface, a plurality of measuring probes of this type can be arranged in stacked magazines in a space-saving manner. A suspended arrangement, wherein each one is spaced from the other, is not necessary. As soon as the probe is dropped from a magazine into the depth of the converter, the signal line unwinds itself from and out of the carrier tube due to its connection to a measurement or evaluation device. By the unwinding from the tube, expensive precautions to prevent rolling motions of the measuring head or the carrier tube on the way to the bottom are superfluous. A stable and space-saving mounting of the windings is thereby achieved.
Expediently, the signal lines are arranged in a signal cable, wherein a plurality of different signal lines are combined into a single strand. The signal lines can be connected by a contact piece at the end of the carrier tube facing away from the measuring head and/or can be constructed to run through this end of the carrier tube.
Advantageously, fixing stoppers are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the carrier tube directly in front of and behind the winding of the signal lines and lying against the windings, with respectively at least one passage for the signal lines. By these fixing stoppers the position of the windings is secured, so that they do not become disordered during transport or during handling, and thus do not impede the free fall of the measuring probe. The passages in the fixing stoppers make possible a free sliding through of the signal lines when the windings are unwound in free fall. Corresponding to the lengths of the signal lines, i.e. corresponding to the height of the total winding, the fixing stoppers can be arranged at different positions within the carrier tube.
Expediently, the measuring head is releasably mounted in the carrier tube, preferably with catch elements, so that after its release from the carrier tube the measuring head pulls the signal line behind it out of the carrier tube. For measurements in molten metals it has proven to be expedient that the catch elements release the measuring head upon a force of approximately 300N to 600N directed in the axial direction of the carrier tube. Furthermore, it is expedient that the catch elements of the measuring head engage on catch elements of a fixing stopper.
The measuring head can have at least one thermocouple and/or at least one electrochemical measuring element, especially for measuring oxygen, so that combined measurements of several parameters are possible.
In order to ensure an unhindered immersion and retention of the measuring head in the liquid, the measuring head preferably has a density greater than or equal to the pre-determined density of the liquid to be measured.
The signal lines are generally approximately 10-50 times, in many cases especially 25-45 times, as long as the length of the measuring probe.
To protect the measuring elements during the handling of the measuring probe and during the immersion of the measuring head, the measuring head has a protective cap, which encloses at least the measuring elements, and which is formed from a material that dissolves or melts in the liquid.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3505871 (1970-04-01), Kern
patent: 3716417 (1973-02-01), Evans
patent: 5043560 (1991-08-01), Masreliez
patent: 5168764 (1992-12-01), Falk
patent: 5584578 (1996-12-01), Clauss, Jr.
patent: 5999081 (1999-12-01), Hannigan et al.
patent: 0 375 109 A2 (1990-06-01), None
patent: 1 095 106 (1967-12-01), None
patent: 2 176611A (1986-12-01), None
E. Halvachs, et al., Improvement of Turndown Performance Using Bomb Thermocouples at Granite City'BOF Shop,Iron&Steelmaker, Sep. 1993.
Drawing of Midwest Instrument Company, Inc. of “Internal Wound Bomb Layout”, dated Jul. 18, 2000, allegedly depicting design of Minco bomb sold to LTV Steel on Jan. 24, 1997.
Drawing of Minkon Sampler Technik GmbH dated Dec. 18, 1997 of MINCO-Wurfsonde Type: BTT-18-75-26 (Article No. 132/0100), allegedly publicly used in Germany prior to Oct. 27, 1998.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld L.L.P.
Gutierrez Diego
Hereaus Electro-Nite International N.V.
Verbitsky Gail
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