Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     This invention relates to a method and device used for repairing the refractory lining wall of a furnace vessel. More specifically, to repair an internal degradation of refractory brick which typically lines the interior of blast furnaces and the like. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Prior art devices of this type have been used to pump refractory repair material into the inner surface wall of a furnace while the furnace is still “in heat”, see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,931,959, 4,065,059, 2,253,646, 4,465,648, and 5,833,811. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 3,931,959 a gun for applying refractory repair material can be seen in which moistened refractory material is injected through an elongated tube inserted through an opening in a furnace wall and repair material is ejected from an end nozzle tip. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,065,059 is directed to a repair gun for coke ovens having an air cooled pressurized insulated tube with an internal pipe through which repair material is transported and expelled from the carrying tip at 90 degree angle to its longitudinal axis. 
     A hot blast furnace lining repair apparatus can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,465,648 having a vertically descending support and transfer tube into the furnace which has a collapsible arm with a nozzle end for repairing the liner from inside the furnace when it is shut down. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,465,648 discloses a method for repairing a refractory wall of a furnace from the outside in which an injection nozzle is inserted having multiple refractory studs which are incorporated into the repair material as it is being made. Multiple discharge outlets open laterally from the nozzle near its conical head and in perpendicular direction to the horizontal axis of the nozzle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A method and apparatus for repairing a refractory wall of a blast furnace or the like during use. The apparatus for carrying out the repair is inserted through an opening of minimal size in the outer steel shell adjacent the area to be repaired on the inside. The apparatus has a plurality of angularly disposed outlet nozzles that dispense refractory repair material under pressure back against the insertion wall creating a self-sealing repair as the apparatus is slowly withdrawn at the completion of the repair. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of the repair device of the invention with portions broken away; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the multiple nozzle distribution orientation within the repair device; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged end plan view on lines  3 — 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial graphic illustration of the repair apparatus of the invention inserted into a vessel for repair; and 
         FIG. 5  is a partial graphic illustration of the completed repair as the apparatus of the invention is sealingly removed from the vessel. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4  of the drawings, a refractory repair dispenser device  10  of the invention can be seen used to repair the interior refractory lining wall surface W within a furnace F while in operation. The repair device  10  is more specifically adapted to be used in conjunction with a source S of refractory patch material M. Such refractory patch material M source S is well established and known within the art in which an acquiesce granular mix of refractory material is supplied under pressure to an outlet. Accordingly, no further description is required under the enabling disclosure requirement that has been well established in which apparatus or processes that are common and well understood within the art need not be described in detail, only referred thereto. 
     The dispensing device  10  of the invention has a main elongated cylindrical body  11  having a threaded end cap  12  or equivalent registerably positioned within the perimeter of its dispensing end at  13 . The end cap  12  is preferably of the same outer diameter as that of the cylindrical body  11  for smooth withdrawal during the repair process which will be described in greater detail hereinafter. 
     The cylinder body member  11  is adapted to be removably secured to the source S of refractory patch material M by a connecting couple  14  which may be of any corresponding configuration to match the respective source S of refractory patch material M, as noted. 
     A plurality of injection nozzle assemblies  15  are positioned within and dispensing end portion  16  in cylinder  13  in longitudinally and radially spaced relation to one another as best seen in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. Each of the nozzle assemblies  15  are formed from a short open ended tubular element  17  that extends angularly through an opening in the cylindrical wall  18 , as best seen in  FIG. 2  of the drawings. The tubular elements  17  are correspondingly flush with the outer cylindrical surface  19  of the cylindrical wall  18  and extend inwardly midway into the cylindrical body member  11 &#39;s interior at  20 . 
     The length and angular orientation of each of the tubular elements  17  imparts a reverse directional outlet stream of refractory patch material M therefrom as illustrated by multiple flow arrows  21 . The reverse directional outlet stream flows  21  are critical to the success of the repair illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5  of the drawings as follows. 
     Once an area for repair at  22  has been identified by detecting a “hot spot” HS on the outside surface  23  of an outer steel furnace wall  24 , a small access opening is cut at  25  therein. The repair device  10  interconnected to the source S of refractory patch material M is inserted through the cut-out at  24  into the furnace F to a distance equal to that of the existing refractory wall W. The refractory patch material M is then supplied under pressure through the interior  20  of the cylindrical body member  11  and into the respective open ends at  25  of the tubular elements  17 . The nozzles  15  so formed direct the outlet flows  21  back towards the interior surface of the furnace wall  23  filling in the area for repair  22  in the refractory lining wall W. This undirectional concentration of directed refractory patch material M assures that a proper repair is being made with little waste and undirected material being dispensed and lost within the confines of the furnace F. 
     As the nozzle  15 &#39;s directs the flow of the refractory patch material M back towards the refractory wall W, the repair material M is deposited within the repair area building up thereagainst as seen in  FIG. 4  of the drawings. The repair device  10  of the invention is then slowly pulled out of the furnace F through the opening at  24  continuing to dispense refractory patch material M imparting a self-sealing action is achieved assuring that the access opening at  24  is effectively sealed with refractory patch material M in one simple repair action. 
     By the positioning of the multiple nozzles  15  and the angular inclination of their tube elements  17 , a conical spray pattern is achieved about the cylindrical body member  11  assuring a complete accurate patch to the interior refractory wall surface W. The refractory patch material M will dry and harden forming a heat resistance liner patch equal to that of the original refractory brick lining wall W typically used in such installations. 
     It will thus be seen that a new and novel refractory furnace repair device has been illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore I claim:

Technology Category: f