System and method for porous plug removal and installation

A method of installing or removing a porous plug to or from a port of a metallurgic ladle, the method comprising:

• rotating an extendable boom about a vertical axis and rotating a mast relative to the extendable boom, wherein the mast is rotatably connected to an end of the extendable boom;
• tilting the boom up and/or down relative to a base that is remote from the ladle and raising or lowering the boom;
• rotatably adjusting the mast relative to the boom in response to raising or lowering the boom, and orienting the mast horizontally;
• rotatably adjusting the mast relative to the boom in response to rotating the boom about the vertical axis and thereby aligning an insertion/removal axis of the mast with the port of the ladle;
• securing a porous plug to a slider mast;
• and
• translating the slider mast having the porous plug secured thereto along the insertion/removal axis.

A method of installing a porous plug in a port of a metallurgic ladle, the method comprising:

• connecting a mast with a porous plug in a container;
• using the mast to rotate the porous plug relative to the mast;
• applying a coating to the porous plug during rotation;
• and
• advancing the plug via the mast into the port of the metallurgic ladle.

A method of installing a porous plug in a port of a metallurgic ladle, the method comprising:

• connecting a mast with a porous plug in a container;
• rotating the mast about multiple axes relative to an extendable boom coupled to the mast, wherein the mast is rotated to corresponding to the rotation of the boom about a vertical axis and/or pivoting of the boom up and/or down to maintain the mast in a given orientation;
• and
• advancing the plug via the mast into the port of the metallurgic ladle.