# US 9,039,959 B2 · Cooling plate arrangement and method for installing cooling plates in a metallurgical furnace > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,959 B2 - Document ID: US9039959B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/996,514 - Filed: 2009-06-05 - Published: 2011-03-31 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2008-06-06 - Assignees: Paul Wurth S.A. - Applicants: Nicolas Maggioli; Paul Tockert; Nicolas Mousel; Claude Pleimelding - Inventors: Nicolas Maggioli; Paul Tockert; Nicolas Mousel; Claude Pleimelding - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039959B2 ## CPC - F27D 1/12: incorporating cooling arrangements - F27D 1/145: {Assembling elements} - F27D 1/1678: {Increasing the durability of linings; Means for protecting} - F27D: DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE ## Abstract The present invention proposes a gap-filler insert (20) for use with cooling plates (12, 12′) for a metallurgical furnace, the cooling plates (12, 12′) having a front face (14, 14′) directed towards the interior of the furnace, an opposite rear face (16, 16′) directed towards a furnace wall (10) of the furnace and four edge faces (18, 18′). In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the gap-filler insert (20) comprises a metal front plate (24) with a front side (24) facing the interior of the furnace and anchoring means (28, 28′, 30, 30′, 32, 34) for mounting the front plate (24) between two neighboring cooling plates (12, 12′) in such a way that the front plate (24) extends between the edge faces (18, 18′) of both cooling plates (12, 12′), and that the front side (26) of the front plate (24) is flush with the front faces (14, 14′) of both cooling plates (12, 12′). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cooling plate arrangement mounted on a furnace wall of a metallurgical furnace, said arrangement comprising: a first cooling plate and a neighboring second cooling plate, each cooling plate having a front face directed towards an interior of said furnace, an opposite rear face directed towards said furnace wall and four edge faces; a gap-filler insert arranged between two neighboring cooling plates, said gap-filler insert comprising a metal front plate with a front side facing the interior of said furnace and anchoring means for mounting the front plate between two neighboring cooling plates; said gap-filler insert being arranged in such a way that said front plate extends between the edge faces of both cooling plates, and that said front side of said front plate is co-linear with said front faces of both cooling plates. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cooling plate arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said front plate of said gap-filler insert is made from steel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cooling plate arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein said front plate of said gap-filler insert is made from high wear resistant steel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cooling plate arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said anchoring means comprises two lateral legs, each lateral leg being connected to one edge of said front plate, which is in abutment with one edge face of one cooling plate, said lateral legs being in arranged alongside a respective edge face of said cooling plates. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cooling plate arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein said lateral legs each comprise an extension shaped so as to be in abutment with said rear faces of said cooling plates. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The cooling plate arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein said front plate of said gap-filler insert and said lateral legs are made from sheet metal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The cooling plate arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein said gap-filler insert is formed in one piece. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The cooling plate arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein said lateral legs are welded to said front plate of said gap-filler insert. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The cooling plate arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein a gap between two neighboring cooling plates is wedge shaped and wherein said lateral legs of said gap-filler insert are arranged at an angle so as to snuggly fit into said wedge shaped gap. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The cooling plate arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said anchoring means comprises at least one connecting arm connected to said front plate and to a rear plate, said rear plate being in abutment with said rear faces of said cooling plates. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The cooling plate arrangement as claimed in claim 10, wherein said front plate and said rear plate of said gap-filler insert are made from sheet metal and wherein said connecting arm is welded to both said front and rear plates. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The cooling plate arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gap-filler insert is connected to said cooling plates through form-fit and/or by mechanical means such as bolts or screws. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The cooling plate arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gap-filler insert is connected to said cooling plates by bolts or screws. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The cooling plate arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gap-filler insert is connected to said cooling plates by filling a space between cooling plates and furnace wall with backfilling material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The cooling plate arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gap-filler insert is arranged between vertical edges and/or horizontal edges of neighboring cooling plates. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The cooling plate arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gap-filler insert is arranged between horizontal edges of neighboring cooling plates. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The cooling plate arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein said cooling plates are arranged in a staggered configuration wherein a vertical gap between two neighboring cooling plates of an upper row is arranged in alignment of a central portion of a cooling plate of a lower row, and wherein said gap-filler insert arranged between horizontal edges of said cooling plates extends between two edges of said cooling plate of a lower row. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The cooling plate arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said front plate extends over the whole length of a gap between two neighboring cooling plates. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The cooling plate arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cooling plate is made of at least one of the following materials: copper, a copper alloy or steel.