Ladle heating system
AssigneeThe Cadre Corporation
InventorDonald D. Battles
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Prior to the receipt of a charge of molten metal, a ladle is heated by a direct flame, by applying a seal to the rim of the ladle and directing air through a heat exchanger and to the ladle, mixing fuel with the air and igniting the mixture and directing the flame in to the ladle chamber, and exhausting the gases of combustion from the ladle chamber back through the heat exchanger. The seal applied to the rim of the ladle comprises a network of refractory fiber modules mounted in a common plane. Each module comprises a rectangular block formed of a web of refractory fibers in an accordion folded arrangement, and the modules are mounted with their folded edges exposed, and with the folds of each module extending at right angles with respect to the folds of the adjacent modules.
Claims22
Apparatus for heating a ladle or the like which includes a chamber with an opening and a rim about the opening, said apparatus comprising a seal assembly for sealing engagement with the rim of the ladle, said seal assembly comprising a support frame of greater breadth than the rim of the ladle, a plurality of refractory fiber modules mounted on said support frame approximately in a common plane, each said module being compressible and held in lateral compression by said frame and by lateral engagement with one another and said plurality of modules positioned on said support frame to sealingly engage the rim of the ladle, a heat exchanger mounted adjacent said seal assembly, air conduit means extending through said heat exchanger and through said seal assembly for directing air through the heat exchanger, through said seal assembly and into the ladle in sealing engagement with the seal assembly, an exhaust gas conduit means extending through said seal assembly and through said heat exchanger for directing exhaust gases from the ladle in sealing engagement with said seal assembly through said seal assembly and through said heat exchanger, blower means for inducing a stream of air through said air conduit means and a stream of exhaust gases through said exhaust gas conduit means, burner means for supplying fuel to said air conduit means and for directing a flame into the ladle in sealing engagement with said seal assembly.
A method of heating ladles or the like comprising engaging the rim of the ladle with a seal of refractory fiber modules positioned substantially in a common plane with sufficient force to cause the rim of the ladle to be pressed into the seal and compress the fibers of the modules it enages, directing air through a heat exchanger and through the seal into the ladle, mixing fuel with the air and igniting the mixture as the mixture passes through the seal and into the ladle, and exhausting the gases from the ladle through the seal and through the heat exchanger.
In combination with apparatus for heating ladles or the like, a seal assembly for sealing abutment with the rim of a ladle, said seal assembly comprising a support frame, a network of refractory fiber modules supported by said support frame in a common plane, each of said modules being held by the others of the modules and by said support frame in compression across the common plane.
In combination with apparatus for heating ladles or the like, a seal assembly for movement into sealing abutment with the rim of the ladle, said seal assembly comprising a support frame and a layer of compressible refractory fiber material supported by said support frame and arranged in a configuration to engage the rim of the ladle and form a seal about the rim of the ladle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.