Patent ID: 8216507

Claim:
An internal support assembly for supporting a body of a post-combustion lance extending between an upstream end in an upper portion and a downstream end in a lower portion, the lance being adapted to direct a gas at least partially therethrough, the lance comprising a primary tip at the downstream end from which a first part of the gas exits and a post-combustion distributor mounted between the upper and lower portions comprising a plurality of ports from which a second part of the gas exits, an upper inner tube positioned inside the body and at least partially upstream from the distributor, and a lower inner tube positioned inside the body and at least partially downstream from the distributor, the internal support assembly comprising: an internal tube positionable inside the body and at least partially upstream relative to the lower inner tube; the internal tube being engageable with the lower inner tube; at least one collar securable to the internal tube and positionable between the upper inner tube and the internal tube, to maintain the internal tube in a predetermined position coaxial with the body such that the internal tube resists deflection of the body; said at least one collar being securable to an outer wall of the internal tube and attachable to an inner wall of the upper inner tube, to position the internal tube substantially coaxially with the upper and lower inner tubes; and said at least one collar comprising at least one aperture therein to permit said second part of the gas to flow therethrough.