Launder assembly and launder section

Abstract

One aspect of the invention concerns a launder assembly ( 10 ) for conveying molten material from a metallurgical furnace, The assembly is made up of launder sections ( 12 ) arranged end to end with connections between adjacent ends of the launder sections. Each launder section includes a base ( 14 ) and spaced apart side walls ( 16, 18 ). At each connection between the adjacent ends of two launder sections, the bases of the launder sections are formed with recesses ( 28 ) which, in combination, form a cavity ( 32 ). A connector ( 34 ) is located in the cavity and in that the bases of the launder sections are connected to one another through the connector. In the preferred arrangement, the bases of the launder sections are connected to the connector by fasteners, typically bolts ( 38 ) which engage the bases and in threaded holes ( 42 ) in the connector.

1 . A launder assembly for conveying molten material, the assembly comprising a plurality of launder sections arranged end to end with connections between adjacent ends of the launder sections, each launder section including a base and spaced apart side walls, characterised in that, at each connection between the adjacent ends of two launder sections, the bases of the launder sections are formed with recesses which, in combination, form a cavity, in that a connector is located in the cavity and in that the bases of the launder sections are connected to one another through the connector. 
     
     
         2 . A launder assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the bases of the launder sections are connected to the connector. 
     
     
         3 . A launder assembly according to  claim 2  comprising fasteners which connect the bases of the launder sections to the connector. 
     
     
         4 . A launder assembly according to  claim 3  wherein the fasteners are bolts passing through passages in the bases of the launder sections and into threaded holes in the connector. 
     
     
         5 . A launder assembly according to  claim 4  wherein the bases of the launder sections have undersides and are formed with further recesses open to the undersides of the bases, and the bolts extend from the further recesses and through passages in end regions of the bases into the threaded holes in the connector. 
     
     
         6 . A launder assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the assembly defines a trough to convey a flow of the molten material and the connector has a length, measured transverse to such flow, at least equal to the width of the trough at a bottom of the trough. 
     
     
         7 . A launder assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the launder sections are made of metal and the connector is a billet made of metal which is harder than the metal of which the launder sections are made. 
     
     
         8 . A launder assembly according to  claim 7  wherein the launder sections are made of copper and the billet is made of steel. 
     
     
         9 . A launder assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the bases of the launder sections are formed with spaced apart rows of further recesses, such rows defining between them a reinforcing rib for the launder section. 
     
     
         10 . A launder section for connection end to end with another, similar launder section in order to form a launder assembly suitable for conveying molten material, the launder section including a base and spaced apart side walls, characterised in that the base of the launder section, at an end thereof which is to be connected to an end of the other launder section, is formed with a first recess arranged to form, in combination with a corresponding first recess in the base of the other launder section, a cavity to receive a connector, and in that the launder section has at least one passage therein, communicating with the first recess, to receive a fastener for connecting the base of the launder section to the connector. 
     
     
         11 . A launder section according to  claim 10  wherein the base has an underside and is formed with further, second recesses open to the underside, and each passage extends within an end region of the base from a second recess near to the end of the launder section to the first recess. 
     
     
         12 . A launder section according to  claim 11  wherein there are two passages each of which extends within an end region of the base from a second recess to the first recess. 
     
     
         13 . A launder section according to  claim 11  wherein the second recesses are arranged in spaced apart rows which define between them a reinforcing rib for the launder section. 
     
     
         14 . A launder section according to  claim 10  wherein the base and side walls define a trough to convey a flow of molten material and the first recess has a length, measured transverse to such flow, at least equal to the width of the trough at a bottom of the trough.