Wire injection lance nozzle assembly

Abstract

A lance nozzle tip for a refractory lance for feeding an additive wire into a quantity of molten metal below the surface of the molten metal surface has a refractory casing and a conduit located within the refractory casing. The refractory casing has a nozzle portion which has a lance nozzle insert. The conduit has a first portion in the nozzle portion and a main portion having a second portion of the conduit. The first portion of the conduit has a passage extending from an inlet end of the first portion of the conduit to an outlet end of the first portion of the conduit. The passage has a diameter for a substantial portion of the length of the first portion of the conduit and a funnel-shaped portion at the inlet end of the first portion of the conduit for guiding the additive wire conveyed through the passage and second portion of the conduit.

1 . A lance nozzle tip for a refractory lance for feeding an additive wire into a quantity of molten metal below the surface of the molten metal, the lance nozzle tip comprising:
 a refractory casing having an outlet;   a conduit located within the refractory casing providing a passage for conveying the wire to the outlet, the refractory casing having:
 a nozzle portion having a lance nozzle insert provided within the refractory casing forming the outlet; 
 a first portion of the conduit provided in the nozzle portion; 
 a main portion having a second portion of the conduit provided therein, wherein the first and second portions of the conduit engage to form the passage for conveying the wire to the outlet; 
 wherein the first portion of the conduit has a first passage extending from an inlet end of the first portion of the conduit to an outlet end of the first portion of the conduit, the first passage having a diameter for a substantial portion of the length of the first portion of the conduit and a funnel-shaped portion at the inlet end of the first portion of the conduit for guiding the additive wire conveyed through the first passage and second portion of the conduit. 
   
   
   
       2 . The lance nozzle tip of  claim 1 , wherein the main portion and the nozzle portion are adapted and configured to removably engage each other allowing the nozzle portion to be replaced. 
   
   
       3 . The lance nozzle tip of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second conduit portions are provided with mating threads and the main portion and the nozzle portion of the refractory casing threadably engage each other by operation of the mating threads. 
   
   
       4 . The lance nozzle tip of  claim 1 , wherein the lance nozzle insert has a second passage extending from an inlet end of the lance nozzle insert to an outlet end of the lance nozzle insert, the second passage having a diameter for a substantial portion of the length of the lance nozzle insert and a funnel-shaped portion at the inlet end of the lance nozzle insert for guiding the additive wire conveyed through the second passage and the first portion of the conduit. 
   
   
       5 . The lance nozzle tip of  claim 4  wherein the diameter of the first passage is substantially the same as the diameter of the second passage. 
   
   
       6 . The lance nozzle tip of  claim 1  wherein the diameter of the first passage is from about 0.3 to 0.36 inches. 
   
   
       7 . The lance nozzle tip of  claim 6  wherein the diameter of the inlet end of the funnel shaped portion of the first portion of the conduit is about one inch. 
   
   
       8 . The lance nozzle tip of  claim 1  wherein the funnel-shaped portion of the first portion of conduit has a flared portion inclined at an angle of about 20 degrees. 
   
   
       9 . The lance nozzle tip of  claim 1  wherein the lance nozzle insert is made by molding. 
   
   
       10 . The lance nozzle tip of  claim 1  wherein the lance nozzle insert is made by isostatic molding. 
   
   
       11 . The lance nozzle tip of  claim 1  wherein the first portion of the conduit is provided with one or more anchoring members on an outer surface of the first portion of the conduit for mechanical locking of the first portion of the conduit with the refractory casing. 
   
   
       12 . A lance for feeding an additive wire into a quantity of molten metal below the surface of the molten metal, the lance comprising a nozzle tip comprising:
 a refractory casing having an outlet;   a conduit located within the refractory casing providing a passage for conveying the wire to the outlet, the refractory casing having:
 a nozzle portion having a lance nozzle insert provided within the refractory casing forming the outlet; 
 a first portion of the conduit provided in the nozzle portion; 
 a main portion having a second portion of the conduit provided therein, wherein the first and second portions of the conduit engage to form the passage for conveying the wire to the outlet; 
 wherein the first portion of the conduit has a first passage extending from an inlet end of the first portion of the conduit to an outlet end of the first portion of the conduit, the first passage having a diameter for a substantial portion of the length of the first portion of the conduit and a funnel-shaped portion at the inlet end of the first portion of the conduit for guiding the additive wire conveyed through the first passage and second portion of the conduit. 
   
   
   
       13 . The lance of  claim 12 , wherein the main portion and the nozzle portion are adapted and configured to removably engage each other allowing the nozzle portion to be replaced. 
   
   
       14 . The lance of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second conduit portions are provided with mating threads and the main portion and the nozzle portion of the refractory casing threadably engage each other by operation of the mating threads. 
   
   
       15 . The lance of  claim 12 , wherein the lance nozzle insert has a second passage extending from an inlet end of the lance nozzle insert to an outlet end of the lance nozzle insert, the second passage having a diameter for a substantial portion of the length of the lance nozzle insert and a funnel-shaped portion at the inlet end of the lance nozzle insert for guiding the additive wire conveyed through the second passage and the first portion of the conduit. 
   
   
       16 . The lance of  claim 15  wherein the diameter of the first passage is substantially the same as the diameter of the second passage. 
   
   
       17 . The lance of  claim 12  wherein the diameter of the first passage is from about 0.3 to 0.36 inches. 
   
   
       18 . The lance of  claim 17  wherein the diameter of the inlet end of the funnel shaped portion of the first portion of the conduit is about one inch. 
   
   
       19 . The lance of  claim 12  wherein the funnel-shaped portion of the first portion of conduit has a flared portion inclined at an angle of about 20 degrees. 
   
   
       20 . The lance of  claim 12  wherein the lance nozzle insert is made by molding. 
   
   
       21 . The lance of  claim 12  wherein the lance nozzle insert is made by isostatic molding. 
   
   
       22 . The lance of  claim 12  wherein the first portion of the conduit is provided with one or more anchoring members on an outer surface of the first portion of the conduit for mechanical locking of the first portion of the conduit with the refractory casing.