Camera module for a burner

Abstract

A camera module ( 10 ) for use with a burner ( 1 ) for a shaft melting furnace, in particular a copper shaft melting furnace, is arranged on the burner ( 1 ) or on an observation device ( 9 ) of the burner ( 1 ). The camera module ( 10 ) includes a housing ( 101 ) having a first opening ( 104 ) and a second opening ( 105 ), which is arranged axially opposite the first opening ( 104 ) and is closed off by an inspection glass ( 106 ) a beam splitter ( 108 ) arranged in an optical viewing axis ( 109 ) extending axially through the housing ( 101 ) between the two openings ( 104, 105 ); and a camera ( 112 ), the lens ( 113 ) of which is arranged perpendicularly to the viewing axis ( 109 ) and is aligned with the beam splitter ( 108 ), and a burner ( 1 ).

1 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A camera module ( 10 ) for use with a burner ( 1 ) for a shaft melting furnace, comprising:
 a housing ( 101 ) having
 a first opening ( 104 ), and 
 a second opening ( 105 ), the second opening ( 105 ) being arranged axially opposite the first opening ( 104 ) and closed off by an inspection glass ( 106 ); 
   a beam splitter ( 108 ) arranged in a viewing axis ( 109 ) extending axially through the housing ( 101 ) between the first opening ( 104 ) and the second opening ( 105 ); and   a camera ( 112 ), the camera ( 112 ) having a lens ( 113 ) arranged perpendicularly to the viewing axis ( 109 ) and is aligned with the beam splitter ( 108 ),   wherein the camera module ( 10 ) is configured to be arranged on the burner ( 1 ) or on an observation device ( 9 ) of the burner ( 1 ).   
     
     
         16 . A burner ( 1 ) for a shaft melting furnace, comprising:
 an observation device ( 9 ) with a viewing axis ( 109 ) extending through
 a first chamber ( 4 ), 
 a burner nozzle ( 7 ), and 
 a radiant tube ( 8 ) of the burner ( 1 ), 
 wherein a flame chamber of the shaft melting furnace can be monitored via the viewing axis ( 109 ); and 
   the camera module ( 10 ) according to claim  15  arranged on the observation device ( 9 ).   
     
     
         17 . The burner ( 1 ) according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the observation device ( 9 ) comprises a tube ( 22 ) that extends axially through the first chamber ( 4 ),   wherein a first end ( 24 ) of the tube ( 22 ) is arranged outside the burner ( 1 ) and is connected to the camera module ( 10 ), and   wherein a second end ( 26 ) of the tube ( 22 ) is arranged in a central opening ( 27 ) of a mixing nozzle ( 19 ), the mixing nozzle ( 19 ) being positioned in an outlet opening ( 16 ) of the first chamber ( 4 ).   
     
     
         18 . The burner ( 1 ) according to  claim 17 ,
 wherein the first chamber ( 4 ) comprises an inlet opening ( 14 ) and a fuel gas line ( 21 ) opening into the first chamber ( 4 ), and   wherein the outlet opening ( 16 ) is arranged at a distal end of a conically tapering partial section ( 5 ) of the first chamber ( 4 ).   
     
     
         19 . The burner ( 1 ) according to  claim 18 ,
 wherein the fuel gas line ( 21 ) is arranged coaxially around the tube ( 22 ) of the observation device ( 9 ) and comprises at its end oriented towards the mixing nozzle ( 19 ) a plurality of circumferentially distributed nozzle openings ( 23 ).   
     
     
         20 . The burner ( 1 ) according to  claim 17 ,
 wherein the mixing nozzle ( 19 ) comprises an annular mixing chamber ( 20 ) having a plurality of blades ( 32 ,  34 ).   
     
     
         21 . The burner ( 1 ) according to  claim 20 ,
 wherein the annular mixing chamber ( 20 ) comprises
 a first set of radially outwardly arranged blades ( 32 ) and 
 a second set of radially inwardly arranged blades ( 34 ), 
   wherein the blades ( 32 ,  34 ) of both sets are arranged counterrotatingly to one another.   
     
     
         22 . The burner ( 1 ) according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the burner nozzle ( 7 ) comprises a plurality of guide blades ( 36 ) arranged in a front region of the burner nozzle ( 7 ).   
     
     
         23 . The burner ( 1 ) according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the burner nozzle ( 7 ) comprises a conically tapering outlet opening ( 38 ), arranged in a rear region of the burner nozzle ( 7 ).   
     
     
         24 . The burner ( 1 ) according to  claim 23 ,
 wherein the conically tapering outlet opening ( 38 ) has an edge ( 39 ) having a serrated structure with recesses ( 40 ).   
     
     
         25 . A method, comprising:
 providing the burner as in  claim 16 ;   continuously monitoring a tube inner surface ( ) of the radiant tube ( 8 ) by the camera module ( 1 ) by
 comparing detected individual images with a reference image; and 
   outputting an automatic acoustic and/or visual warning message if an actual value exceeds a target value.   
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , further comprising:
 activating an automatic control system and throttling a burner output of the burner ( 1 ) if the actual value exceeds the target value.   
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 25 , further comprising:
 using the camera module ( 10 ) to continuously monitor a level of melting material by comparing the detected individual images with the reference image or a further reference image, and   outputting a further automatic acoustic and/or visual warning message if an actual further value exceeds a further target value.   
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 25 , further comprising:
 monitoring a brightness of the flame chamber of the shaft melting furnace by the camera module ( 10 ) by comparing the detected individual images with the reference image or a further reference image or with at least one individual image of another burner ( 1 ) arranged in the shaft melting furnace, and   outputting a further automatic acoustic and/or visual warning message if an actual further value exceeds and/or falls below a further target value.