Monolithic Floor for Hot Slag Bucket

Abstract

The disclosure provides a monolithic floor for use with a hot slag bucket. The monolithic floor improves the lifespan of the bucket when used with hot slag by reducing warpage caused by heating and cooling and thus significantly reduces the cost of owning and operating the hot slag bucket.

1 . A prime mover bucket for use with extreme materials such as hot slag; the bucket comprising:
 a flat monolithic floor fabricated from a substantially uniform piece of steel; the flat monolithic floor defining a pair of side edges and a rear edge;   the flat monolithic floor having a substantially uniform thickness;   the flat monolithic floor being free of welds disposed between the side edges;   a pair of side plates connected to the side edges of the floor; and   a wrapper extending between the side plates and at least partially disposed above the flat monolithic floor.   
     
     
         2 . The bucket of  claim 1 , wherein the flat monolithic floor has a thickness of at least one and a half inches. 
     
     
         3 . An improved prime mover bucket for use with extreme materials such as hot slag; the prime mover bucket having sides and a wrapper extending between the sides; the improvement comprising:
 a flat monolithic floor fabricated from a substantially uniform piece of material; the flat monolithic floor defining a pair of side edges and a rear edge; and   the flat monolithic floor having a substantially uniform thickness.   
     
     
         4 . The improvement of  claim 3 , wherein the monolithic floor has a thickness of at least one and a half inches. 
     
     
         5 . A method of retrofitting a used bucket having a bucket core and a warped floor wherein the retrofit bucket will be used with extreme materials such as hot slag; the method comprising the steps of:
 fabricating a monolithic floor from a substantially uniform piece of steel that has a substantially uniform thickness wherein the monolithic floor has a floor portion and a base edge;   removing the warped floor from the used bucket core; and   welding the monolithic floor to the bucket core.   
     
     
         6 . A method of supplying a hot slag bucket to a steel mill; the method comprising the steps of:
 fabricating a first hot slag bucket having a monolithic floor; and   leasing the first hot slag bucket having the monolithic floor to a user who uses the hot slag bucket to move hot slag.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of including maintenance of the bucket in the lease. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of providing a replacement hot slag bucket having a monolithic floor when the first hot slag bucket is to be retrofit so that the user minimizes downtime. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of tracking the use of the first hot slag bucket having the monolithic floor.