Knuckle-jointed lance segments with an exterior protective system
AssigneeThomas Engineering Solutions & Consulting, LLC
InventorsWilliam C. Thomas, William J. Thomas, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A knuckle jointed lance (KJL) segment with an exterior protective system (EPS), comprising an elongated hollow body and at least one protective rod. The body has a generally trapezoidal profile, when viewed in elevation, and is open at both ends. At least one elongate recess is provided in the exterior surface of the body. Each recess follows a predetermined pathway within the exterior surface. At least one consumable protective rod is received into each elongate recess.
Claims20
A knuckle jointed lance (KJL) segment with an exterior protective system (EPS), comprising:
- an elongated hollow body with a longitudinal axis and first and second ends, the body having an exterior surface, the body further having a generally trapezoidal profile when viewed in elevation from a perspective generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
- the trapezoidal profile having a top side and a base side separated by first and second leg sides, the base side longer than the top side, the first and second leg sides corresponding to the first and second ends of the body respectively;
- the body open at both of first and second ends;
- at least one elongate recess provided in the exterior surface, each elongate recess following a predetermined pathway within the exterior surface;
- at least one protective rod received into each elongate recess such that each rod, when operationally received into its elongate recess, protrudes from the exterior surface while being securely retained in the recess, and;
- at least one lug pin on one of the first and second ends of the body, at least one lug hole on the other of the first and second ends of the body;
- wherein, when a plurality of bodies are concatenated together to form a string, each lug pin on a first neighboring body is configured to mate with a corresponding lug hole on a second neighboring body.
A knuckle jointed lance (KJL) segment with an exterior protective system (EPS), comprising:
- an elongated hollow body with a longitudinal axis and first and second ends, the body having an exterior surface, the body further having a generally trapezoidal profile when viewed in elevation from a perspective generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
- the trapezoidal profile having a top side and a base side separated by first and second leg sides, the base side longer than the top side, the first and second leg sides corresponding to the first and second ends of the body respectively;
- the body open at both of first and second ends;
- four elongate recesses provided in the exterior surface of the body, the four elongate recesses spaced equally about the exterior surface, each elongate recess extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and extending at least partially between the first and second ends;
- at least one protective rod received into each elongate recess such that each rod, when operationally received into its elongate recess, protrudes from the exterior surface while being securely retained in the recess, and;
- at least one lug pin on one of the first and second ends of the body, at least one lug hole on the other of the first and second ends of the body;
- wherein, when a plurality of bodies are concatenated together to form a string, each lug pin on a first neighboring body is configured to mate with a corresponding lug hole on a second neighboring body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.