Apparatus and method for fragmenting slag

Apparatus for fragmenting slag, comprising:

• cooling conveyor means for cooling molten slag to a substantially solidified condition, having an input end and an output end, with a receiving portion disposed toward said input end and a cooling portion disposed toward said output end, said receiving portion being sloped at a greater angle to the horizontal than the slope of said cooling portion;
• spout means for delivering a stream of molten slag in a substantially continuous, substantially sinusoidal pattern to said receiving portion of said cooling conveyor;
• and
• vibratory means for imparting vibration to said cooling conveyor means, thereby separating the molten stream of slag into pieces of slag and inducing said pieces of slag to move from said input end toward said output end.

Apparatus for fragmenting slag, comprising:

• reciprocating spout means, for delivering a substantially continuous stream of molten slag from a furnace in a substantially sinusoidal pattern, said spout means being mounted for reciprocating pivotal motion in a substantially horizontal plane;
• and
• conveyor means, having input and output ends and having side walls and a bottom surface sloped at an angle from the horizontal for inducing a gravitational acceleration from said input end toward said output end, and being disposed to receive slag from said spout means;
• said conveyor means including
• means for imparting vibration to said conveyor means, for separating the molten stream of slag into pieces of slag and for causing said slag to move from said input end to said output end;
• cooling means for extracting heat from the slag, so that the slag is substantially solidified before reaching said output end;
• and
• spray bar means, disposed above said conveyor, for providing a coolant spray to the surface of the slag.

Apparatus for fragmenting slag, comprising:

• a first conveyor means for conveying slag from an input end to an output end and cooling the slag to a substantially solidified condition, having side walls and a bottom surface, the bottom surface being sloped at an angle from the horizontal for inducing a gravitational acceleration from said input end toward said output end, including
• a receiving portion disposed toward said input end for receiving a stream of molten slag, and a cooling portion disposed toward said output end for providing substantially solidified slag, said receiving portion being sloped at a greater angle to the horizontal than the slope of said cooling portion;
• cooling means for extracting heat from the slag, so that the slag is substantially solidified before reaching said output end;
• and
• means for imparting vibration to said first conveyor, for separating the molten stream of slag into pieces of slag and for causing said slag to move from said input end to said output end;
• spout means, driven in reciprocating motion in a horizontal plane, for delivering a continuous stream of molten slag from a furnace to said receiving portion of said first conveyor in a substantially sinusoidal pattern;
• water bath means for cooling said pieces of slag to a temperature of about 200 degrees Centigrade, disposed to receive slag from said output end of said first conveyor;
• and
• second conveyor means, for removing pieces of slag from said water bath means and reducing the size of individual pieces of slag.

A method for cooling and handling molten slag, comprising the steps of:

• pouring a continuous stream of molten slag from a furnace to a cooling conveyor means in a substantially sinusoidal pattern;
• separating said stream of slag into discrete pieces of slag;
• and
• extracting sufficient heat from said pieces of slag substantially to solidify said pieces of slag.

A method for cooling and handling molten slag, comprising the steps of:

• pouring a stream of molten slag from a furnace to a cooling conveyor means in a substantially continuous, sinusoidal pattern;
• separating said stream of slag into discrete pieces of slag by a combination of vibratory motion and impact against a longitudinal divider means positioned in said cooling conveyor means;
• extracting sufficient heat from said pieces of slag substantially to solidify said pieces of slag
• further cooling said pieces of slag in a water bath means, to a temperature of about 200 degrees Centigrade;
• and reducing the size of said pieces of slag.