Refractory component and assembly with improved sealing fo injection of an inert gas

Abstract

The invention describes a refractory component ( 1, 4 ) provided with means of injecting or conveying ( 5, 16 ) gas and means of delivering said gas from an external wall of the component to said means of injection ( 5, 16 ), the means of delivery of the gas comprising a part of enlarged cross-section ( 7, 17 ) extending from an external wall of the component and a part of reduced cross-section ( 8, 18 ) communicating, at one end, with the inner end of the part of enlarged cross-section ( 7, 17 ) and, at the other end, with the means of injecting or conveying gas ( 5, 16 ), the said component also comprising a seal ( 12, 22 ) fitted against the inner end of the part of enlarged cross-section, said seal ( 12, 22 ), comprising an orifice at least partially in register with the communicating orifice ( 11, 21 ) between the parts of enlarged and reduced cross-section, which is characterised in that the seal ( 12, 22 ) presents a cross-section substantially similar to the cross-section of the enlarged part ( 7, 17 ). According to another of its aspects, the present invention relates to an assembly including a refractory component as described above and a gas delivery line ( 9, 19 ), wherein one end of the gas delivery line is engaged in the part of enlarged cross-section which holds a seal ( 12, 22 ) in compression against the side walls of the part of enlarged cross-section.

1 . Refractory component ( 1 ,  14 ) provided with means of injecting or conveying ( 5 ,  16 ) gas and means of delivering said gas from an external wall of the component to said means of injection ( 5 ,  16 ), the means of delivery of the gas comprising a part of enlarged cross-section ( 7 ,  17 ) extending from an external wall of the component and a part of reduced cross-section ( 8 ,  18 ) communicating, at one end, with the inner end of the part of enlarged cross-section ( 7 ,  17 ) and, at the other end, with the means of injecting or conveying gas ( 5 ,  16 ), the said component also comprising a seal ( 12 ,  22 ) fitted against the inner end of the part of enlarged cross-section, said seal ( 12 ,  22 ), comprising an orifice at least partially in register with the communicating orifice ( 11 ,  21 ) between the parts of enlarged and reduced cross-section, the thickness of the seal ( 12 ,  22 ) exceeding not the depth of the part of enlarged cross-section ( 7 ,  17 ), characterised in that the seal ( 12 ,  22 ) presents a cross-section substantially to the cross-section of the enlarged part ( 7 ,  17 ).  
     
     
         2 . Refractory component according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the inner end of the part of enlarged cross-section ( 7 ,  17 ) forms a surface presenting an orifice ( 11 ,  21 ), the said parts of enlarged ( 7 ,  17 ) and reduced ( 8 ,  18 ),cross-section communicating via this orifice ( 11 ,  21 ).  
     
     
         3 . Refractory component according to  claim 1  or  2 , characterised in that part of enlarged cross-section ( 7 ,  17 ) consists of a bore of substantially circular cross-section.  
     
     
         4 . Refractory component according to  claim 3 , characterised in that the surface forming the inner end of the part of enlarged cross-section ( 7 ,  17 ) is flat and essentially orthogonal to the axis of the bore.  
     
     
         5 . Refractory component according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the seal ( 12 ,  22 ) is constituted of one or more washer(s) in a plastic material.  
     
     
         6 . Assembly including a refractory component ( 1 ,  14 ) according to any of  claims 1  to  5  and a gas delivery line ( 9 ,  19 ), wherein one end of the gas delivery line holds the seal ( 12 ,  22 ) in compression against the side walls of the part of enlarged cross-section ( 7 ,  17 ).  
     
     
         7 . Assembly according to  claim 6 , characterised in that the refractory component is provided with a metal casing ( 10 ) or band ( 20 ), in that the gas delivery line ( 9 ,  19 ) passes through or is contiguous with said casing or band, and in that a solid connection is made between the line and the casing or band.  
     
     
         8 . Assembly according to one of claims  6  or  7 , characterised in that the end of the gas delivery line ( 9 ,  19 ) engaged in the refractory component is configured so as to form a tight joint with the seal ( 12 ,  22 ).  
     
     
         9 . Assembly according to  claim 8 , characterised in that the end of the gas delivery line ( 9 ,  19 ) engaged in the refractory component comprises a thread which engages in the seal.  
     
     
         10 . Assembly according to  claim 8 , characterised in that the end of the gas delivery line ( 9 ,  19 ) engaged in the refractory component is shaped as a cone or truncated cone which engages in the seal ( 12 ,  22 ).  
     
     
         11 . Assembly according to any of  claims 6  to  10 , characterised in that the part of enlarged cross-section ( 7 ,  17 ) is sufficiently deep so that, under the effect of expansion of the part of the gas delivery line ( 9 ,  19 ) engaged in said part of enlarged cross-section, the seal ( 12 ,  22 ) is compressed against the inner end and against the side walls of the part of enlarged cross-section ( 7 ,  17 ).