US 4,877,161 AGranted

Telescoping device for unplugging a vessel discharge port

AssigneeVesuvius Crucible Company

InventorMichael F. Harasym

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Abstract

An apparatus for unplugging a vessel discharge port, for example, in a refractory lined ladle or tundish used in the casting of molten steel. The unplugging apparatus is adapted to be placed directly below the plugged discharge port within an axial bore of a refractory pouring tube such as a ladle shroud or like pouring nozzle. The apparatus includes a tubular housing having an axially displaceable tube disposed within the interior of the tube having an upper end disposed above the housing and an open lower end disposed within the housing. A conduit communicates with the interior of the tube at one end and is adapted to communicate with a source of pressurized gas, such as oxygen at the other end. In use, the pressurized gas raises the axially displaceable tube to emit the gas and cause burning in the vicinity of the plugged discharge port. A plurality of radially extending centering members are disposed on the tubular housing for axially aligning the housing relative to the bore of the refractory pouring tube and the discharge port.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An apparatus for unplugging a vessel discharge port, the vessel having refractory pouring means associated therewith positioned directly below the discharge port, the pouring means having an axial bore formed therein, said apparatus comprining:

an elongated tubular housing having a hollow interior chamber for coaxial placement within the bore of said refractory pouring means;
a condiut communicating with the interior chamber of the housing for introducing a pressurized gas into the housing;
an axialy displaceable tube at least partially disposed within said housing, said tube having an upper end disposed outside the housing and an open, flared lower end disposed within said housing, said tube adapted to be projected upwardly when said pressurized gas is introduced into the housing;
bushing means disposed within and secured to an upper end of said housing for axially guiding said axially diaplaceable tube and for forming a stop for said flared lower end thereof;
and
a plurality of radially and axially spaced-apart centering members disposed on said elongated tubular housing extending radially outwardly therefrom for axially aligning said housing relative to the bore of said refractory pouring means and to said discharge port whereby said displaceable tube is axially aligned within the bore of the refractory pouring means as it is projected upwardly therein.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.