Patent Description:
In a steel making process, various efforts are being made to improve the quality of the steel. Accordingly, a molten metal sample is collected and analyzed in order to monitor and control physical properties of the molten metal that affect the purity of the molten steel.

Recently, efforts have been made to collect molten metal samples using various devices. Further, temperature measurement and molten steel sample collection functions are combined to reduce the working time to convert the device into a complex probe.

In general, the probe is used to collect and analyze a certain amount of the molten metal in the steel making process. In a prior art, the molten metal sample is collected by inserting the probe equipped with a disc-shaped sample chamber into an electric furnace.

In general, the disc-shaped sample chamber in the prior art is assembled using a clip for fixating the sample chamber. These clips are generally configured as preloaded springs. When the sample chamber is filled, the expanding gas generates an overpressure which the clip needs to withstand. In cases where the fixation is not strong enough or the sample chambers are not perfectly connected, burrs may form on the sample which are problematic in the further processing and analysis of the resulting samples.

Additionally, a coupling structure using a clip for fixating the sample chamber causes an increase in the costs of the assembled parts of the sample chamber and an additional production time due to the clip coupling. Furthermore, the clip needs to be removed prior to the analysis following taking the sample, which is mostly done manually in combination with special tooling. The additional process step also adds to the cost of this sample closure technique.

A related prior art document includes <CIT>) describing a probe for collecting and measuring a molten metal sample.

<CIT> discloses a disc-shaped sample chamber comprising two sample bodies which are welded together. The welded portion is not positioned on a welding line between the two bodies, but on protrusions from the chamber body.

<CIT> discloses a disc-shaped sample chamber comprising two sample bodies which are held together with a tab, which can be welded to the sample body.

This Summary is not intended to identify all key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used alone as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

A purpose of the present invention is to provide a disc-shaped sample chamber, wherein the chamber bodies are bonded to each other on at least one lateral face thereof using a laser based spot welding scheme, in order to facilitate assembly work and separation of the sample chamber and to reduce production time and cost thereof. Furthermore, a probe including the disc-shaped sample chamber is provided.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a disc-shaped sample chamber according to claim <NUM>.

The following embodiments further define the invention as specified in claim <NUM>.

In one embodiment of the chamber, the disc-shaped sample chamber has a vertical dimension higher than or equal to <NUM> and smaller than <NUM>.

Preferably, the vertical dimension is defined along the axis of the sample inlet to the opposite end of the sample chamber.

In one embodiment of the chamber, the chamber body is vertically divided into two portions, and the welded bonding portion is formed on each of both opposing lateral faces of a lower portion among the two portions.

In one embodiment of the chamber, the welded bonding portion is formed on a curved portion of each of both opposing lateral faces of the lower portion.

In one embodiment of the chamber, the chamber body is vertically divided into two portions, and the welded bonding portion is formed on each of both opposing lateral faces of each of lower and middles portions among the three portions.

In one embodiment of the chamber, the welded bonding portion is formed on a curved portion of each of both opposing lateral faces of each of the lower and middle portions.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a probe for collecting molten metal, the probe comprising: a paper tube having a hollow structure having an open front end; a disc-shaped sample chamber according to the claim <NUM> fixedly mounted inside a front end portion of the paper tube; a head member mounted into the front end of the paper tube to close the open top of the paper tube; and a sensor member mounted on the head member.

The following embodiments further define the inventive probe as specified in claim <NUM>.

In one embodiment of the probe, the disc-shaped sample chamber has a vertical dimension higher than or equal to <NUM> and smaller than <NUM>, wherein the chamber body is vertically divided into two portions, and the welded bonding portion is formed on each of both opposing lateral faces of a lower portion among the two portions.

In one embodiment of the probe, the disc-shaped sample chamber has a vertical dimension higher than or equal to <NUM> and smaller than <NUM>, wherein the chamber body is vertically divided into two portions, and the welded bonding portion is formed on each of both opposing lateral faces of each of lower and middles portions among the three portions.

Effects in accordance with the present invention may be as follows but may not be limited thereto.

As described above, according to the present invention, only a portion of the bonding line between the left body and the right body is selectively welded to each other in a laser spot welding scheme, which significantly reduces the assembly time and cost of the sample chamber compared to those when a clip fixing scheme is used.

Further, the coupling scheme between the right and left bodies of the sample chamber is not a clip fixing scheme, but a spot welding scheme using a laser. Thus, assembly and separation of the two bodies of the sample chamber are easy, and the production time and cost for the sample chamber may be reduced.

Further, the welded bonding portion is not formed over the entire bonding line between the left body and the right body, but is selectively placed only at two points or four points respectively on both opposing lateral faces of the chamber body <NUM> depending the vertical dimension of the sample chamber, thereby allowing the right and left bodies of the chamber body of the sample chamber to be easily separated from each other.

Further, in accordance with the present invention, the size of the welded bonding portion and a contrast measurement value of the bonding line between the two bodies of the sample chamber are estimated using a vision inspection device, and a non-defective product is determined based on the estimation result, thereby improving the production yield.

In addition to the effects described above, specific effects in accordance with the present invention will be described together with the detailed description for carrying out the invention.

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. The same reference numbers in different figures represent the same or similar elements, and as such perform similar functionality. Further, descriptions and details of well-known steps and elements are omitted for simplicity of the description. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be understood that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present invention.

Examples of various embodiments are illustrated and described further below. It will be understood that the description herein is not intended to limit the claims to the specific embodiments described. On the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the present invention. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises", "comprising", "includes", and "including" when used in this specification, specify the presence of the stated features, integers, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, operations, elements, components, and/or portions thereof. Expression such as "at least one of' when preceding a list of elements may modify the entire list of elements and may not modify the individual elements of the list.

Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section described below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In addition, it will also be understood that when a first element or layer is referred to as being present "on" or "beneath" a second element or layer, the first element may be disposed directly on or beneath the second element or may be disposed indirectly on or beneath the second element with a third element or layer being disposed between the first and second elements or layers.

It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being "connected to", or "coupled to" another element or layer, it may be directly on, connected to, or coupled to the other element or layer, or one or more intervening elements or layers may be present. In addition, it will also be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being "between" two elements or layers, it may be the only element or layer between the two elements or layers, or one or more intervening elements or layers may also be present.

Further, as used herein, when a layer, film, region, plate, or the like is disposed "on" or "on a top" of another layer, film, region, plate, or the like, the former may directly contact the latter or still another layer, film, region, plate, or the like may be disposed between the former and the latter. As used herein, when a layer, film, region, plate, or the like is directly disposed "on" or "on a top" of another layer, film, region, plate, or the like, the former directly contacts the latter and still another layer, film, region, plate, or the like is not disposed between the former and the latter. Further, as used herein, when a layer, film, region, plate, or the like is disposed "below" or "under" another layer, film, region, plate, or the like, the former may directly contact the latter or still another layer, film, region, plate, or the like may be disposed between the former and the latter. As used herein, when a layer, film, region, plate, or the like is directly disposed "below" or "under" another layer, film, region, plate, or the like, the former directly contacts the latter and still another layer, film, region, plate, or the like is not disposed between the former and the latter.

Hereinafter, a disc-shaped sample chamber according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and a probe including the same will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a front perspective view showing an exploded state of a disc-shaped sample chamber according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a front perspective view showing an assembled state of the disc-shaped sample chamber according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a side cross-sectional view showing an assembled state of the disc-shaped sample chamber according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, a disc-shaped sample chamber <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a chamber body <NUM>, a sample inlet <NUM>, and a welded bonding portion <NUM>.

The chamber body <NUM> includes a left body <NUM> and a right body <NUM> which are coupled to each other to define a disc-shaped sample space S defined therebetween. As such, the chamber body <NUM> is divided into the left body <NUM> and the right body <NUM>. The left body <NUM> and the right body <NUM> are in contact with each other, thereby forming the disc-shaped sample space S defined therebetween.

Each of the left body <NUM> and the right body <NUM> has a disk-shaped semicircular structure. the left body <NUM> and the right body <NUM> are preferably designed to have a symmetrical structure relative to each other.

The sample inlet <NUM> extends upward from the chamber body <NUM> and is formed to communicate the sample space S with the outside. This sample inlet <NUM> may protrude from a top of the chamber body <NUM>. In this connection, when collecting a molten metal sample, the molten metal sample is introduced into the disc-shaped sample space S through the sample inlet <NUM>.

The welded bonding portion <NUM> is formed on at least one lateral face of the chamber body <NUM> to bond the left body <NUM> and the right body <NUM> to each other.

More specifically, the welded bonding portion <NUM> is positioned on a portion of a bonding line between the left body <NUM> and the right body <NUM> to bond the left body <NUM> and the right body <NUM> to each other, wherein the portion <NUM> is formed in a spot welding manner using a laser.

The laser based spot welding scheme performs welding by irradiating a laser beam oscillated from a laser oscillator onto welding target points using a laser head. In this connection, the laser head is preferably a scan head capable of irradiating a laser beam to a predetermined scan region, but is not limited thereto.

In this way, only portions of the bonding lines of the left body <NUM> and the right body <NUM> are selectively welded to each other in a laser spot welding scheme, thereby significantly reducing the assembly time and cost for the sample chamber compared to those when a clip fixing scheme is used.

The disc-shaped sample chamber <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention has a vertical dimension smaller than <NUM>, and more preferably, the vertical dimension is in a range from <NUM> to <NUM>.

In this case, when the chamber body <NUM> is divided into an upper portion and a lower portion, the welded bonding portion <NUM> is preferably formed on each of both opposing lateral faces of the lower portion. In this connection, the welded bonding portion <NUM> is more preferably formed on a curved portion of each of both opposing lateral faces of the lower portion of the chamber body <NUM>.

Preferably, the welded bonding portion <NUM> is selectively formed only at each of <NUM> points A and B on both opposing lateral faces of the lower portion of the chamber body <NUM>, thereby to securely bond the left body <NUM> and the right body <NUM> to each other while saving welding time and cost.

In a further embodiment, the welded bonding portion <NUM> is not formed over the entire bonding line between the left body <NUM> and the right body <NUM>, but is selectively placed only at each of the <NUM> points A and B on both opposing lateral faces of the chamber body <NUM>, thereby allowing the right and left bodies of the chamber body of the sample chamber <NUM> to be easily separated from each other.

In a further embodiment, the diameter of the welded bonding portion <NUM> is not larger than <NUM> % of the height of the lateral face of the chamber body thereby allowing the right and left bodies of the chamber body of the sample chamber <NUM> to be easily separated from each other, preferably not larger than <NUM> %, most preferably not larger than <NUM> %.

As described above, according to the present invention, the coupling scheme between the right and left bodies of the sample chamber <NUM> is not a clip fixing scheme but a spot welding scheme using a laser. Thus, the assembly and separation of the two bodies of the sample chamber <NUM> may be easy, and production time and cost thereof may be reduced.

<FIG> is a front perspective view showing an assembled state of a disc-shaped sample chamber according to another embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a side cross-sectional view showing an assembled state of the disc-shaped sample chamber according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this connection, <FIG> shows a left lateral face of the disc-shaped sample chamber.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a disc-shaped sample chamber <NUM> according to another embodiment of the present invention has substantially the same configuration as that of the disc-shaped sample chamber <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. However, the former has a larger vertical dimension than that of the latter. Thus, duplicate descriptions thereof are omitted, and following descriptions will focus on differences therebetween.

That is, the disc-shaped sample chamber <NUM> according to another embodiment of the present invention may have a vertical dimension of at least <NUM>, and more preferably, may be in a range of <NUM> to <NUM>. In this connection, when the chamber body <NUM> is divided into an upper portion, a middle portion and a lower portion, the welded bonding portion <NUM> may formed on points on both opposing lateral faces of the middle portion and on two points on both opposing lateral faces of the lower portion. In this connection, the welded bonding portion <NUM> is more preferably formed on a curved portion of each of both opposing lateral faces of the middle portion of the chamber body <NUM> and a curved portion of each of both opposing lateral faces of the lower portion thereof.

Preferably, the welded bonding portion <NUM> is selectively formed only at <NUM> points A and B on both opposing lateral faces of the middle portion of the chamber body <NUM> and <NUM> points C and D on both opposing lateral faces of the lower portion thereof, thereby securely bonding the left body <NUM> and the right body <NUM> to each other while saving welding time and cost thereof.

Further, the welded bonding portion <NUM> is not formed over the entire bonding line between the left body <NUM> and the right body <NUM>, but is selectively placed only at <NUM> points A and B on both opposing lateral faces of the middle portion of the chamber body <NUM> and <NUM> points C and D on both opposing lateral faces of the lower portion thereof, thereby allowing the right and left bodies of the chamber body of the sample chamber <NUM> to be easily separated from each other.

<FIG> is a photograph to explain a process of evaluating the welded bonding portion and the bonding line between the left and right bodies of the sample chamber with a vision inspection device.

In accordance with the present invention, <FIG> shows the size of the welded bonding portion and the contrast of the bonding line between the two bodies using a vision inspection device. Only when the measured values satisfy a predefined range, the assembled sample chamber is determined as a non-defective product.

Preferably, when the size of the welded bonding portion measured using the vision inspection device and the contrast of the bonding line between the two bodies of the sample chamber are within a preset range, the assembled sample chamber is determined as a non-defective product.

On the contrary, when the size of the welded bonding portion measured using the vision inspection device and the contrast measurement value of the bonding line between the two bodies of the sample chamber are out of the preset range, the assembled sample chamber is determined as a defective product.

Preferably, in accordance with the present invention, the size of the welded bonding portion and the contrast measurement value of the bonding line between the two bodies of the sample chamber are estimated using a vision inspection device, and the non-defective product is determined based on the estimation result, thereby improving the production yield.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view showing a probe including the disc-shaped sample chamber according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, the probe <NUM> including the disc-shaped sample chamber <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a paper tube <NUM>, the disc-shaped sample chamber <NUM>, a head member <NUM> and a sensor member <NUM>.

The paper tube <NUM> has a hollow structure with an open front end.

The disc-shaped sample chamber <NUM> is fixedly mounted inside a front end portion of the paper tube <NUM>. The disc-shaped sample chamber <NUM> includes the chamber body having a left body and a right body which are bonded to each other to define the disc-shaped sample space therebetween, the sample inlet extending upward from the chamber body and connecting the sample space with the outside, and the welded bonding portion disposed on at least one lateral face of the chamber body for bonding the left body and the right body to each other.

In this connection, the disc-shaped sample chamber <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention has a vertical dimension smaller than <NUM>, and more preferably, the vertical dimension is in a range from <NUM> to <NUM>.

In the case when the chamber body <NUM> is divided into an upper portion and a lower portion, the welded bonding portion <NUM> is preferably formed on each of both opposing lateral faces of the lower portion. In this connection, the welded bonding portion <NUM> is more preferably formed on a curved portion of each of both opposing lateral faces of the lower portion of the chamber body <NUM>.

Preferably, the welded bonding portion <NUM> is selectively formed only at each of <NUM> points A and B respectively on both opposing lateral faces of the lower portion of the chamber body <NUM>, thereby to securely bond the left body <NUM> and the right body <NUM> to each other while saving the welding time and cost.

Further, the welded bonding portion <NUM> is not formed over an entirety of the bonding line between the left body <NUM> and the right body <NUM>, but is selectively placed only at each of the <NUM> points A and B respectively on both opposing lateral faces of the chamber body <NUM>, thereby to allow the right and left bodies of the chamber body of the sample chamber <NUM> to be easily separated from each other.

As described above, according to the present invention, the coupling scheme between the right and left bodies of the sample chamber <NUM> is not the clip fixing scheme but the spot welding scheme using a laser. Thus, the assembly and separation of the two bodies of the sample chamber <NUM> may be easy, and the production time and cost thereof may be reduced.

Alternatively, the disc-shaped sample chamber <NUM> according to another embodiment of the present invention may have a vertical dimension of at least <NUM>, and more preferably, may be in a range of <NUM> to <NUM>. In this connection, when the chamber body <NUM> are divided into an upper portion, a middle portion and a lower portion, the welded bonding portion <NUM> may formed on points respectively on both opposing lateral faces of the middle portion and on two points respectively on both opposing lateral faces of the lower portion. In this connection, the welded bonding portion <NUM> is more preferably formed on a curved portion of each of both opposing lateral faces of the middle portion of the chamber body <NUM> and a curved portion of each of both opposing lateral faces of the lower portion thereof.

Preferably, the welded bonding portion <NUM> is selectively formed only at <NUM> points A and B on both opposing lateral faces of the middle portion of the chamber body <NUM> and <NUM> points C and D on both opposing lateral faces of the lower portion thereof, thereby securely bonding the left body <NUM> and the right body <NUM> to each other while saving welding time and cost.

As described above, according to the present invention, the coupling scheme between the right and left bodies of the sample chamber <NUM> is not a clip fixing scheme but a spot welding scheme using a laser. Thus, the assembly and separation of the two bodies of the sample chamber <NUM> may be easy, and the production time and cost thereof may be reduced.

The head member <NUM> is mounted at the front end of the paper tube <NUM> to close the open end of the paper tube <NUM>. The head member <NUM> may further include a protective cap <NUM> that is positioned at the front end thereof to protect the sample chamber <NUM> and the sensor member <NUM> from the outside. In this connection, the sample chamber <NUM> may be fixed to the head member <NUM> via a connector member <NUM>. The connector member <NUM> may be inserted into the sample inlet of the sample chamber <NUM> and an opening of the head member <NUM>.

The sensor member <NUM> is mounted on the head member <NUM>. The sensor member <NUM> may be fixedly installed on the head member <NUM> to measure a temperature and an oxygen content of the molten metal.

The probe <NUM> including the disc-shaped sample chamber according to an embodiment of the present invention described above may be used for collecting various types of molten metals. In particular, the probe may be mainly used for the collection of molten metal from an electric furnace in an immersed manner.

As described above, according to the present invention, only a portion of the bonding line between the left body and the right body is selectively welded to each other in a laser spot welding scheme, thereby significantly reducing the assembly time and cost of the sample chamber compared to those when a clip fixing scheme is used.

The coupling scheme between the right and left bodies of the sample chamber is not a clip fixing scheme but a spot welding scheme using a laser. Thus, the assembly and separation of the two bodies of the sample chamber are easy, and production time and cost thereof may be reduced.

Further, the welded bonding portion is not formed over the entire bonding line between the left body and the right body, but is selectively placed only at each of the two points or four points respectively on both opposing lateral faces of the chamber body <NUM> depending the vertical dimension of the sample chamber, thereby allowing the right and left bodies of the chamber body of the sample chamber to be easily separated from each other.

Preferably, in accordance with the present invention, the size of the welded bonding portion and the contrast measurement value of the bonding line between the two bodies of the sample chamber are estimated using a vision inspection device, and a non-defective product is determined based on the estimation result, thereby improving the production yield.

As described above, the present invention is described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and drawings disclosed in the present specification. It will be apparent that various modifications may be made thereto by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, although the effect resulting from the features of the present invention has not been explicitly described in the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it is obvious that a predictable effect resulting from the features of the present invention should be recognized.

In the following, exemplary conditions according to the invention will be given.

A sample chamber comprising two sample chamber body halves made from steel according to <FIG> with a length of <NUM>, a width of <NUM> and a height of <NUM> were welded together at two points. The welding points had a diameter of <NUM>,<NUM>.

Test and evaluation of bonding strength of welded joints.

The strength of the welded connection was evaluated in a shear test. The assembled sample chamber was placed in a tensile testing machine (type Tinius Olsen H10KT) at a constant cross head speed of <NUM>/min parallel to the joining line between the sample chamber body halves. The maximum force to disconnect the welded seam was determined.

The shear force was in the range of <NUM> - <NUM> N for sample chambers according to the invention.

In an alternative method to test the strength of the welded connection, the minimum fall height to break the weld connection of a sample chamber was determined. An unfilled welded sample chamber was placed in a certain height above a concrete surface and dropped on the surface. The minimum fall height needed to break a connection of the sample after the fall is a representative measure for the strength of the connection. The higher this minimum fall height, the stronger the connection.

For the exemplary sample chamber, this height was <NUM>. In comparison, a traditional sample chamber with a clip will not open in such a test.

Claim 1:
A disc-shaped sample chamber (<NUM>) for collecting molten metal, the chamber comprising
a chamber body (<NUM>) having a left body (<NUM>) and a right body (<NUM>) bonded to each other to define a disc-shaped sample space (S) therebetween;
a sample inlet (<NUM>) extending upward from the chamber body (<NUM>) and connecting the sample space (S) with the outside; and
a welded bonding portion (<NUM>) disposed on at least one lateral face of the chamber body (<NUM>) for bonding the left body (<NUM>) and the right body (<NUM>) to each other, wherein a welded bonding portion (<NUM>) is disposed at a portion of a bonding line between the left body (<NUM>) and the right body (<NUM>), thereby bonding the left body (<NUM>) and the right body (<NUM>) to each other, wherein the welded bonding portion (<NUM>) is formed in a spot welding manner using a laser.