Metal making lance with disposable sensors

Abstract

An assembly wherein inexpensive and essentially maintenance-free sensor means may be used in conjunction with conventional a metal making lance with minimal adaptation of the lance's structure. The assembly contemplates the use of consumable sensors that may be dispensed through a sensor feed tube disposed interiorly or exteriorly of a conventional metal making lance. The sensors may be selected to detect one or more characteristics of the metal being treated and/or operating conditions of the furnace vessel.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A metal making lance assembly comprising: 
 a barrel;    a tip attached to said barrel for discharging at least one of gaseous and particulate material into a metal making vessel;    consumable sensor means for sensing at least one characteristic of metal treated by the lance assembly and an operating condition of a metal making vessel; and    a sensor feed tube affixed to said barrel and adapted to accommodate passage of said sensor means therethrough.    
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said at least one characteristic is temperature.  
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said at least one characteristic is the presence of at least one chemical constituent in a metal bath, in slag material above a metal bath or in a metal making vessel.  
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising means for loading said sensor means into said feed tube.  
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said feed tube is disposed exteriorly of said barrel.  
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said feed tube is disposed interiorly of said barrel.