Molten material sampler

The invention involves providing an elongated structure or unit for obtaining a sample of molten material from a supply thereof and in which its rear extremity is designed and constructed to provide an elongated tapered formation for slidably accommodating a lance whereby to facilitate manipulation of the unit for entry into the supply of molten material.

OBJECTIVES 
One of the important objects of the invention is to provide an elongated 
structure or unit which comprises an outer housing, an inner elongated 
casing having a front extremity for supporting a device for receiving a 
sample of molten material and a rear extremity which is disposed in a 
complementary relationship to the housing to provide an elongated tapered 
formation for slidably accommodating a lance. 
More particularly, the object is to locate the elongated casing, above 
referred to, so that its longitudinal axis is disposed at an acute angle 
with reference to the longitudinal axis of the outer housing, whereby 
portions of the casing in combination with portions of the housing define 
a tapered formation so that an end of a lance can be forcibly entered into 
the formation to obtain a relatively firm connection sufficient to 
manipulate the unit without accidentally releasing the latter. Due to this 
taper, lances having variable cross-sectional dimensions, within practical 
limits, can be readily cammed into the formation to establish a firm but 
detachable connection therebetween. 
A significant objective of the invention is to provide a structure which 
can be readily utilized to obtain a sample of molten material from a 
supply thereof whether the latter is contained in a vessel or is 
substantially a flowing horizontal or vertical stream. 
Another object is to provide a unit of the character described above in 
which an entrance tube for initially receiving a sample of molten material 
from a supply thereof, and which constitutes a component of the device, is 
so inclined or angularly disposed that a sample may more readily be 
obtained from a falling or running supply of molten material, as compared 
to a setup in which such a tube is located on the longitudinal axis of 
such an outer housing. 
Also, an object is to so shape the pairs of portions so that they 
preferably form a housing and a casing which are multi-sided or 
substantially rectangular in cross-section so as to promote assembly of 
the members and minimize the profile of the unit whereby to facilitate 
safe penetration of the unit into the molten material. 
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent 
after the description hereinafter set forth is considered in conjunction 
with drawings annexed hereto.

DESCRIPTION 
The structure of the subject invention is adapted for use in obtaining a 
sample of molten metal from a molten mass 1 or from a downstream 3 as 
respectively illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, or from a horizontal stream. 
FIGS. 3, 5, 6 and 7 disclose details of structure which comprises, among 
other things, an elongated outer housing 4, an inner casing 5, a pair of 
mating sections 6, at least partially held together by a band of tape T, 
to form a mold having a chamber or cavity 7 for receiving a sample of 
molten material through a tubular means 8 which has an inner extremity 
secured in a tubular formation 9 formed by the sections and an outer 
extremity which initially receives the sample for flow into the chamber 7 
for solidification therein. 
The structure also includes a partition or wall 10, preferably constructed 
of a fibrous material, such as pasteboard, which preferably abuts the fore 
end of the casing 5 and a mass of refractory or high density insulating 
material 11 which is molded into the housing 4 and against the partition 
10 and about that portion of the tubular means 8 which extends forwardly 
of this partition. It will be noted that a cap 12 is press-fitted or 
otherwise secured about the fore end of the means 8 for protective 
purposes, when for example, the structure is utilized as depicted in FIG. 
1. The cap is not used when the structure is employed as depicted in FIG. 
2. 
Attention is directed to the fact that the casing 5 is elongated, 
preferably disposed in the housing throughout the length of the area in 
back of the partition 10, and that it is arranged in an inclined or 
angular position with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing so 
that lower portions of the casing and housing, in combination, provide an 
elongated tapered formation or area 13 for slidably accommodating a fore 
end of a lance 14. This taper offers a snug and firm fit for the lance and 
allows for the reception of lances which may have variable cross-sectional 
dimensions. 
Attention is also directed to the fact, that the housing, casing and 
partition are multi-sided and preferably constructed of a suitable 
non-metallic material, such as pasteboard or equivalent, and that side 
walls of the casing 5 are preferably respectively provided with abutment 
means in the form of staples 15 (one shown), whereby to afford stop means 
for limiting inward movement of the mold; and that the partition 10 and 
mass 11 limit forward movement of the casing and mold, the latter two of 
which constitute a unit or subassembly of the structure. 
It is to be understood, that, if found desirable, the thickness of the 
partition 10 may be modified to a reduced thickness as shown in FIG. 4 or 
it can be omitted, in which event, certain of the spaces or voids about 
the mold may be filled with a mass of refractory material. 
Also, it is to be understood that the casing 5 has cross-dimensions which 
are less than the internal cross-dimensions of the outer housing so that 
the casing may be readily manually inserted into the housing to obtain a 
relatively snug frictional fit therebetween and that, if so desired, the 
casing may be located so that its upper portions and upper portions of the 
housing in combination, form an upper tapered formation for accommodating 
a lance, in lieu of the lower one shown. 
The housing and casing, as set forth above, are preferably of a multi-sided 
character but if so desired they may, for example, be round or oval in 
cross section. Further, if found desirable, the formation for 
accommodating a lance may be fashioned in any suitable way so long as the 
fit is sufficient to provide a firm but detachable connection between the 
structure and lance. Obviously, the cross-sectional dimensions and/or 
configurations of a lance may be modified and a lance may be made straight 
as shown in FIG. 1 or angled as depicted in FIG. 2. 
The casing 5, as alluded to above, is of appreciable length and it serves 
as a vent or flue for the escape of air from the mold when it is receiving 
a sample from a mass of molten metal. This casing may be secured in place 
and to the housing by any means suitable for the purpose such as by 
staples 16 and the partition 10 and mass 11 through the agency of the 
tubular means 8 but, if so desired, a cement may be used. 
FIG. 7 depicts a partial section of a structure having a housing 17 in 
which a partition is omitted and a mass 18 preformed refractory material 
has been press fitted into the housing, in which event, the mass is 
provided with an axial opening 19 for slidably receiving a tubular means 
20. 
FIG. 8 is a partial section of structure showing an outer housing 20, an 
inner casing 21 containing a device 22 having a chamber for receiving a 
sample of molten material through a tubular means 23 connected thereto 
which extends forwardly for initially receiving the molten material for 
flow into the chamber. The improvement comprises filling the force 
extremity of the casing with a mass of refractory material 24 so that it 
surrounds at least frontal portions of the device whereby to at least 
partially hold or stabilize the position of the device. The housing has 
forwardly extending portions 25 which more or less substantially straddle 
a portion of the tubular means 23 and a cap 26 carried thereby for 
protective purposes. 
SUMMARY 
In view of the foregoing it should be manifest that the improvement 
constituting the subject invention primarily resides in providing wall 
structure which forms an outer housing having a front area which is 
adapted to receive a device for obtaining a sample of molten material, and 
that means is disposed in a rear area of the housing which forms in 
combination therewith an elongated formation for slidably accommodating a 
fore end of a lance whereby to facilitate manipulation of the structure 
into a supply of molten material for obtaining a sample thereform. 
Having thus described my invention or inventions, it is obvious that 
various modifications or additions to those described may be made in the 
same without departing from the spirit of the invention and, therefore, I 
do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact forms, 
constructions, arrangements, and combinations of the components herein 
shown and described.