# US 10,501,837 B2 · Method and apparatus for real time video imaging of the snout interior on a hot dip coating line > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,501,837 B2 - Document ID: US10501837B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/407,375 - Filed: 2012-02-28 - Published: 2012-09-06 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-02-28 - Assignees: ArcelorMittal - Applicants: John Anthony Rotole; Charles Krcmaric - Inventors: John Anthony Rotole; Charles Krcmaric - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501837B2 ## CPC - C23C 2/003: {Apparatus} - H04N 3/09: for electromagnetic radiation in the invisible region, e.g. infrared - H04N 7/183: {for receiving images from a single remote source} - H04N 23/20: for generating image signals from infrared radiation only - H04N 21/42221: {Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]} - H04N 23/555: {for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes} - C23C: COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL (making metal-coated products by extrusion B21C23/22; covering with metal by connecting pre-existing layers to articles, see the relevant places, e.g. B21D39/00, B23K; metallising of glass C03C; metallising mortars, concrete, artificial stone, ceramics or natural stone C04B41/00; enamelling of, or applying a vitreous layer to, metals C23D; treating metal surfaces or coating of metals by electrolysis or electrophoresis C25D; single-crystal film growth C30B; by metallising textiles D06M11/83; decorating textiles by locally metallising D06Q1/04) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An apparatus and method for imaging the interior of a hot dip melt pot snout of a hot dip steel coating apparatus through the snout thereof. The system provided for high visual contrast and high resolution imaging, without the need for external illumination. The inventive apparatus and method image the interior of the hot dip melt pot snout at infrared wavelengths, and preferably in a wavelength range of 0.7 to 3 microns. The inventive apparatus and method provide valuable information about the condition of the hot dip melt pot snout and steel coating process which may be used to improve the quality of the produced coated steel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus including: a hot dip steel coating line melt pot; a melt pot snout; and an imaging system for imaging the interior of said melt pot snout, said imaging system comprising: an infrared camera which detects images within at least 0.7 to 3 microns infrared wavelengths; a view port transparent at least to said infrared wavelengths; said view port positioned to allow view of the interior of said melt pot snout; said infrared camera positioned relative to said view port and to said melt pot snout such that said infrared camera can image the interior of said melt pot snout at said 0.7 to 3 microns infrared wavelengths without external illumination; and a monitoring device upon which the detected infrared images from said infrared camera may be projected. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said infrared camera further includes a protective housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said protective housing protects said infrared camera from the local thermal and physical environment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said protective housing protects said infrared camera from the local thermal environment by passage of coolant between said infrared camera and said protective housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said coolant is nitrogen or air. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said view port comprises port sight glass which is transparent to the infrared wavelengths range of 0.7 to 3 microns. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said view port includes a surface adjacent to said infrared camera and a surface that is remote from said infrared camera, and said apparatus includes purge rings to purge debris from the surfaces of said view port. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said purge rings include blowers to blow air or nitrogen across said adjacent surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said purge rings include blowers to blow nitrogen, process gas, or an inert gas across said remote surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said monitor further includes a protective housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said protective housing protects the electronics of said monitor from the local thermal and physical environment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said protective housing protects the electronics of said monitor from the local thermal environment by passage of coolant through said protective housing of said monitor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said protective housing for said monitor further includes an air curtain in front of the viewing surface of said monitor to protect said viewing surface from debris in the local environment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus further includes a data recording device for recording at least one of data and images captured by said infrared camera. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said data recording device records at least one of still images and motion video images. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said data recording device includes one or more devices selected from the group consisting of DVDs, CDs, magnetic disks, magnetic tape, or hard drives. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus further includes one or more spectral filters. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said one or more spectral filters includes one or more physical optical filters. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said one or more spectral filters includes one or more electronic spectral filters. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said one or more spectral filters are designed to filter one or more of: a) one or more specific ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum, and b) one or more individual frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said infrared camera is affixed to a moveable mount for adjustment of at least one of the position of said infrared camera and the view angle of said infrared camera. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus further includes one or more selected from the group consisting of gas lines, liquid lines, electrical lines or data lines. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said data lines are one or more of coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, ethernet, twisted pair, or wireless RF. ### Claim 24 A method for imaging the interior of the melt pot snout of a hot dip steel coating line comprising the steps of: providing a hot dip steel coating line melt pot; providing a melt pot snout; providing an infrared camera which detects images within 0.7 to 3 microns infrared wavelengths; providing a view port which is transparent at least to said infrared wavelengths; positioning said view port to allow view of the interior of said melt pot snout; positioning said infrared camera relative to said view port and to said melt pot snout such that said infrared camera can image said interior of said melt pot snout at said 0.7 to 3 microns infrared wavelengths without external illumination; providing a monitoring device upon which the captured infrared images from said infrared camera may be projected; capturing images of said interior of said melt pot snout at said infrared wavelengths; and displaying said captured images in a visible form on said monitoring device. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein method further includes the step of protecting said infrared camera from the local thermal and physical environment of by placing said infrared camera in a protective housing. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein said step of protecting said infrared camera from said local thermal environment includes passing coolant between said infrared camera and said protective housing. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, wherein said coolant is nitrogen or air. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein said view port comprises port sight glass which is transparent to the infrared wavelengths range of 0.7 to 3 microns. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein said view port includes a surface adjacent to said infrared camera and a surface that is remote from said infrared camera, and said method includes the steps of providing purge rings to purge and purging debris from the surfaces of said view port. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein said step of purging debris includes blowing air or nitrogen across said adjacent surface. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein said step of purging debris includes blowing nitrogen, process gas, or an inert gas across said remote surface. ### Claim 32 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein said method further includes the step of protecting the electronics of said monitor from the local thermal and physical environment by placing said electronics of said monitor in a protective housing. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, wherein said step of protecting said electronics of said monitor from said local thermal environment includes the step of passing of coolant through said protective housing of said monitor. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, wherein said method includes the step of producing an air curtain in front of the viewing surface of said monitor to protect said viewing surface from debris in the local environment. ### Claim 35 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein said method further includes the step of recording at least one of data and images captured by said infrared camera on a data recording device. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35, wherein said step of recording at least one of data and images captured by said infrared camera includes recording at least one of still images and motion video images. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35, wherein said data recording device includes one or more devices selected from the group consisting of DVDs, CDs, magnetic disks, magnetic tape, or hard drives. ### Claim 38 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein said method further includes the step of filtering by at least one of electronic and optical filtering said image of said interior of said melt pot snout. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The method of claim 38, wherein said step of filtering by at least one of electronic and optical filtering said image includes filtering one or more of: a) one or more specific ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum, and b) one or more individual frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum. ### Claim 40 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein said step of providing said infrared camera includes the step of affixing said infrared camera to a moveable mount for adjustment of at least one of the position of said infrared camera and the view angle of said infrared camera. ### Claim 41 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein said method further includes the step of providing one or more selected from the group consisting of gas lines, liquid lines, electrical lines or data lines. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41, wherein said data lines are one or more of coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, ethernet, twisted pair, or wireless RF. ### Claim 43 An apparatus including: a hot dip steel coating line melt pot; a melt pot snout; and an imaging system for imaging the interior of said melt pot snout, said imaging system comprising: an infrared camera which detects images within a range of infrared wavelengths within an electromagnetic spectrum; a view port transparent at least to said range of infrared wavelengths; said view port positioned to allow view of a region within the interior of said melt pot snout; said infrared camera positioned relative to said view port and to said melt pot snout such that said infrared camera can image the interior of said melt pot snout at said range of infrared wavelengths without external illumination; and a monitoring device upon which the detected infrared images from said infrared camera may be projected. ### Claim 44 A method for imaging the interior of the melt pot snout of a hot dip steel coating line comprising the steps of: providing a hot dip steel coating line melt pot; providing a melt pot snout; providing an infrared camera; providing a view port which is transparent to infrared wavelengths of the images detected by the infrared camera; positioning said view port to allow view interior of said melt pot snout; positioning said infrared camera relative to said view port and to said melt pot snout such that said infrared camera can image said interior of said melt pot snout; providing a monitoring device upon which the captured infrared images from said infrared camera may be projected; capturing images of said interior of said melt pot snout without external illumination; and displaying said captured images in a visible form on said monitoring device. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The method of claim 44, wherein said infrared camera captures images at 0.7 to 3 microns infrared wavelengths. ### Claim 46 (depends on 44) The method of claim 44, wherein said infrared camera produces high contrast images of said interior of said melt pot snout.