Refractory piece permeable to gases

Abstract

The refractory piece permeable to gases according to the invention is designed to be incorporated in the inner refractory lining of a metallurgical container so that one of its surfaces will be in contact with the molten metal bath in said container, the opposite surface being equipped with means for introducing a gas under pressure. This piece, whose shape is generally hexahedral, consists essentially of a mass of nonporous refractory material that has a number of local discontinuities 8 extending throughout the piece along its height h between the surface in contact with the molten metal and the opposite surface. In an advantageous method of embodiment, the local discontinuities 8 are obtained by an assembly 1, in a metal casing, of nonporous refractory elements 2, in the form of plates and which are placed side by side along their large lateral surfaces, without any material gaskets or seals between them. The piece according to the invention is easy to make. In addition, it has all of the required qualities of selectivity or orientation so that its life will be about as long as the life of the surrounding refractory lining of the metallurgical container in which it is designed to go, while allowing the desired amounts of gas to be blown into the metal bath.

We are claiming: 
     
       1. For use in a metallurgical container having an inner refractory lining and containing a bath of molten metal, a composite refractory member permeable to gas adapted to be incorporated in the refractory lining of the container below the surface of the bath so that one of the faces of the composite member is in contact with the molten metal, said composite refractory member consisting essentially of an assembly of non-porous refractory elements juxtaposed without seals between the same in order to provide a plurality of discontinuities extending throughout the height of the composite member between the face in contact with the molten metal and an opposite face; and means for feeding a gas under pressure against said opposite face. 
     
     
       2. A composite member as defined in claim 1, wherein said composite member has a generally hexahedral shape. 
     
     
       3. A composite member as defined in claim 1, wherein said non-porous refractory elements are plate-shaped and are juxtaposed at their main lateral faces. 
     
     
       4. A composite member as defined in claim 1, wherein said non-porous refractory elements are of elongated shape and are juxtaposed parallel to each other with said discontinuities extending transverse to each other. 
     
     
       5. A composite member as defined in claim 3, wherein said juxtaposed non-porous refractory elements are in contact with each other along their main lateral faces. 
     
     
       6. A composite member as defined in claim 1, and including separating means inserted between said juxtaposed non-porous refractory elements to keep the same a short distance from each other. 
     
     
       7. A composite member as defined in claim 6, wherein said separating means consists of calibrated spacing blocks. 
     
     
       8. A composite member as defined in claim 7, wherein said spacing blocks are wires extending spaced from each other and being oriented in the direction of the height of the composite member. 
     
     
       9. A composite refractory member as defined in claim 7, wherein said spacing blocks are inserts of refractory concrete, and wherein said non-porous refractory elements are respectively provided with opposite longitudinal notches in which said inserts are respectively lodged. 
     
     
       10. A composite refractory member as defined in claim 6, wherein said separating means consist of joint partitions inserted without play between the juxtaposed nonporous refractory elements. 
     
     
       11. A composite refractory member as defined in claim 10, wherein said partitions are porous refractory plates. 
     
     
       12. A composite refractory member as defined in claim 10, wherein said partitions are thin metal sheets. 
     
     
       13. A composite refractory member as defined in claim 3, wherein said plate-shaped non-porous refractory elements are provided at least at one of the faces thereof facing an adjacent plate-shaped element with a plurality of transversely spaced grooves extending between the face of said composite refractory member in contact with the metal and its opposite face. 
     
     
       14. A composite refractory member as defined in claim 1, wherein said non-porous elements are blocks shaped and arranged with respect to each other to form together a composite member of generally hexahedral shape, each of said blocks having at least two faces directed against faces of adjacent blocks and including metal spacer elements between said faces of said blocks. 
     
     
       15. A composite refractory member as defined in claim 2, and including a metallic casing having a peripheral wall tightly enclosing said composite refractory member and a bottom wall, said casing having an open end at the face of the composite member in contact with the molten material, said means for feeding gas under pressure against the opposite face of said composite member being provided at said bottom wall. 
     
     
       16. A composite refractory member as defined in claim 15, and including a gas distribution chamber between said bottom wall and said composite member, said gas distribution chamber communicating with said discontinuities. 
     
     
       17. A composite refractory member as defined in claim 15, wherein said peripheral wall consists of two U-shaped shells joined at facing edges thereof. 
     
     
       18. A composite refractory member as defined in claim 15, and including a peripheral layer of non-porous refractory concrete sandwiched between said composite member and said lateral wall of said casing. 
     
     
       19. A method of producing a composite refractory member consisting essentially of an assembly of non-porous refractory elements juxtaposed without any seals between the same in order to provide a plurality of discontinuities extending through the height of the composite member and a metal casing having a pheripheral wall tightly surrounding said composite elements, said casing having an open end and being closed at the opposite end by a bottom wall provided with means for feeding a gas under pressure against a face of said composite member abutting against said bottom wall, said method comprising the steps of cutting a non-porous refractory brick, available on the market and normally used to form part of the refractory lining of a metallurgical container, longitudinally in direction of its height into a plurality of non-porous refractory elements; juxtaposing the elements without any seal between the same; holding said juxtaposed elements together by a peripheral wall of a metallic casing; and closing the metallic casing at one end thereof by a bottom wall equipped with means for introducing a gas under pressure. 
     
     
       20. A method as defined in claim 19, wherein the cross section of said peripheral wall of said metallic casing is greater than the cross section of said composite member, and including the step of pouring a layer of non-porous refractory concrete between said composite member and said peripheral wall of said casing. 
     
     
       21. A method as defined in claim 19, and including the step of inserting separating means between the refractory elements and holding said refractory juxtaposed elements and said separating means therebetween together by said peripheral wall of said casing. 
     
     
       22. A method as defined in claim 21, wherein said separating means consists of spaced calibrated spacing blocks. 
     
     
       23. A method as defined in claim 21, wherein said separating means consists of porous refractory plates. 
     
     
       24. A method as defined in claim 21, wherein said separating means consists of metal sheets. 
     
     
       25. A method as defined in claim 19, and including the step of forming at least on one lateral face of each of said elements a plurality of spaced grooves extending in the direction of the height of each element before these elements are juxtaposed upon each other. 
     
     
       26. A method as defined in claim 19, wherein said peripheral wall of said metal casing consists of two U-shaped half shells, and including the step of applying said two U-shaped half shells under pressure against the outermost of said juxtaposed refractory elements, and subsequently joining the half shells at facing edges thereof. 
     
     
       27. A method as defined in claim 19, wherein the initial non-porous brick which is cut into a plurality of non-porous refractory elements is of tar-impregnated refractory material, and including the step of subjecting the elements obtained by cutting the brick before assembly to a tempered heating to eliminate the most volatile elements. .Iadd. 
     
     
       28.  For use in a metallurgical container having an inner refractory lining and containing a bath of molten metal, a composite refractory member permeable to gas adapted to be incorporated in the refractory lining of the container below the surface of the bath so that one of the faces of the composite member is in contact with the molten metal, said composite refractory member including an assembly of non-porous refractory elements juxtaposed without seals between the same in order to provide a plurality of discontinuities extending throughout the height of the composite member between the face in contact with the molten metal and an opposite face; and means for feeding a gas under pressure against said opposite face. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. A composite member as defined in claim 28, wherein said composite member has a generally hexahedral shape. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. A composite member as defined in claim 28, wherein said non-porous refractory elements are plate-shaped and are juxtaposed at their main lateral faces. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31. A composite member as defined in claim 28, wherein said non-porous refractory elements are of elongated shape and are juxtaposed parallel to each other with said discontinuities extending transverse to each other. .Iaddend. .Iadd.32. A composite member as defined in claim 30, wherein said juxtaposed non-porous refractory elements are in contact with each other along their 
     
     
        main lateral faces. .Iaddend. .Iadd.33.  A composite member as defined in claim 28, and including separating means inserted between said juxtaposed non-porous refractory elements to keep the same a short distance from each other. .Iaddend. .Iadd.34. A composite member as defined in claim 33, wherein said separating means consists of calibrated spacing blocks. .Iaddend. .Iadd.35. A composite member as defined in claim 34, wherein said spacing blocks are wires extending spaced from each other and being oriented in the direction of the height of the composite member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.36. A composite refractory member as defined in claim 34, wherein said spacing blocks are inserts of refractory concrete, and wherein said non-porous refractory elements are respectively provided with opposite longitudinal notches in which said inserts are respectively lodged. .Iaddend. .Iadd.37. A composite refractory member as defined in claim 33, wherein said separating means consist of joint partitions inserted without play between the juxtaposed nonporous refractory elements. .Iadd.38. A composite refractory member as defined in claim 37, wherein said partitions are porous refractory plates. .Iaddend. .Iadd.39. A composite refractory member as defined in claim 37, wherein said partitions are thin 
     
     
        metal sheets. .Iaddend. .Iadd.40.  A composite refractory member as defined in claim 30, wherein said plate-shaped non-porous refractory elements are provided at least at one of the faces thereof facing an adjacent plate-shaped element with a plurality of transversely spaced grooves extending between the face of said composite refractory member in contact with the metal and its opposite face. .Iaddend. .Iadd.41. A composite refractory member as defined in claim 28, wherein said non-porous elements are blocks shaped and arranged with respect to each other to form together a composite member of generally hexahedral shape, each of said blocks having at least two faces directed against faces of adjacent blocks and including metal spacer elements between said faces of said blocks. .Iaddend. .Iadd.42. A composite refractory member as defined in claim 29, and including a metallic casing having a peripheral wall tightly enclosing said composite refractory member and a bottom wall, said casing having an open end at the face of the composite member in contact with the molten material, said means for feeding gas under pressure against the opposite face of said composite member being provided at said bottom wall. .Iaddend. .Iadd.43. A composite refractory member as defined in claim 42, and including a gas distribution chamber between said bottom wall and said composite member, said gas distribution chamber 
     
     
        communicating with said discontinuities. .Iaddend. .Iadd.44.  A composite refractory member as defined in claim 42, wherein said peripheral wall consists of two U-shaped shells joined at facing edges thereof. .Iaddend. .Iadd.45. A composite refractory member as defined in claim 42, and including a peripheral layer of non-porous refractory concrete sandwiched between said composite member and said lateral wall of said casing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.46. A method of producing a composite refractory member including an assembly of non-porous refractory elements juxtaposed without any seals between the same in order to provide a plurality of discontinuities extending through the height of the composite member and a metal casing having a peripheral wall tightly surrounding said refractory elements, said casing having an open end and being closed at the opposite end by a bottom wall provided with means for feeding a gas under pressure against a face of said composite member abutting against said bottom wall, said method comprising the steps of cutting a non-porous refractory brick, available on the market and normally used to form part of the refractory lining of a metallurgical container, longitudinally in direction of its height into a plurality of non-porous refractory elements; juxtaposing the elements without any seal between the same; holding said juxtaposed elements together by a peripheral wall of a metallic casing; and closing the metallic casing at one end thereof by a bottom wall equipped with 
     
     
        means for introducing a gas under pressure. .Iaddend. .Iadd.47.  A method as defined in claim 46, wherein said cross section of said peripheral wall of said metallic casing is greater than the cross section of said composite member, and including the step of pouring a layer of non-porous refractory concrete between said composite member and said peripheral wall of said casing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.48. A method as defined in claim 46, and including the step of inserting separating means between the refractory elements and holding said refractory juxtaposed elements and said separating means therebetween together by said peripheral wall of said casing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.49. A method as defined in claim 48, wherein said separating means consists of spaced calibrated spacing blocks. .Iaddend. .Iadd.50. A method as defined in claim 48, wherein said separating means consists of porous refractory plates. .Iaddend. .Iadd.51. A method as defined in claim 48, wherein said separating means consists of metal sheets. .Iaddend. .Iadd.52. A method as defined in claim 46, and including the step of forming at least on one lateral face of each of said elements a plurality of spaced grooves extending in the direction of the height of each element before these elements are juxtaposed upon each other. 
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.53.  A method as defined in claim 46, wherein said peripheral wall of said metal casing consists of two U-shaped half shells, and including the step of applying said two U-shaped half shells under pressure against the outermost of said juxtaposed refractory elements, and subsequently joining the half shells at facing edges thereof. .Iaddend. .Iadd.54. A method as defined in claim 46, wherein the initial non-porous brick which is cut into a plurality of non-porous refractory elements is of tar-impregnated refractory material, and including the step of subjecting the elements obtained by cutting the brick before assembly to a tempered heating to eliminate the most volatile elements. .Iaddend. .Iadd.55. For use in a metallurgical container having an inner refractory lining and containing a bath of molten metal, a refractory member permeable to gas adapted to be incorporated in the refractory lining of the container below the surface of the bath so that one of the faces of the refractory member will be in contact with the molten metal, said refractory member including an assembly of at least two non-porous refractory elements juxtaposed in order to provide at least one discontinuity extending throughout the height of the member between the face in contact with the molten metal and an opposite face; and means for feeding a gas under pressure against said opposite face. .Iaddend. .Iadd.56. A refractory member as defined in claim 55, wherein said 
     
     
        refractory member has a generally hexahedral shape. .Iaddend. .Iadd.57.  A refractory member as defined in claim 55 or 56, wherein said non-porous refractory elements are plate-shaped and are juxtaposed at their main lateral faces. .Iaddend. .Iadd.58. A refractory member as defined in claim 57, wherein said juxtaposed non-porous refractory elements are in contact with each other along their main lateral faces. .Iaddend. .Iadd.59. A refractory member as defined in claim 55 or 56, and including separating means inserted between said juxtaposed non-porous refractory elements to keep the same a short distance from each other. .Iaddend. .Iadd.60. A refractory member as defined in claim 59, wherein said separating means consists of calibrated spacing blocks. .Iaddend. .Iadd.61. A refractory member as defined in claim 60, wherein said spacing blocks are wires extending spaced from each other and oriented in the direction of the height of the refractory member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.62. A refractory member as defined in claim 60, wherein said spacing blocks are inserts of refractory concrete, and wherein said non-porous refractory elements are respectively provided with opposite longitudinal notches in which said 
     
     
        inserts are respectively lodged. .Iaddend. .Iadd.63.  A refractory member as defined in claim 59, wherein said separating means consist of joint partitions inserted without play between the juxtaposed non-porous refractory elements. .Iaddend. .Iadd.64. A refractory member as defined in claim 63, wherein said partitions are porous refractory plates. .Iaddend. .Iadd.65. A refractory member as defined in claim 63, wherein said partitions are thin metal sheets. .Iaddend. .Iadd.66. A refractory member as defined in claim 59, wherein said separating means are thin metallic sheets. .Iaddend. .Iadd.67. A refractory member as defined in claim 57, wherein said plate-shaped non-porous refractory elements are provided at least at one of the faces thereof facing an adjacent plate-shaped element with a plurality of transversely spaced grooves extending between the face of said refractory member in contact with the metal and its opposite face. .Iaddend. .Iadd.68. A refractory member as defined in claim 55, wherein said non-porous elements are blocks shaped and arranged with respect to each other to form together a refractory member of generally hexahedral shape, each of said blocks having at least one face directed against a face of an adjacent block and including metal spacer elements between said 
     
     
        faces of said blocks. .Iaddend. .Iadd.69.  A refractory member as defined in claim 55, 56 or 68, and including a metallic casing having a peripheral wall tightly enclosing said refractory elements and a bottom wall, said casing having an open end at the face of the refractory member intended to contact the molten material, said means for feeding gas under pressure against the opposite face of said refractory member being provided at said bottom wall. .Iaddend. .Iadd.70. A refractory member as defined in claim 69, and including a gas distribution chamber means between said bottom wall and said refractory elements, said gas distribution chamber means communicating with said discontinuity. .Iaddend. .Iadd.71. A refractory member as defined in claim 69, wherein said metallic casing consists of two U-shaped shells joined at facing edges thereof. .Iaddend. .Iadd.72. A refractory member as defined in claim 69, and including a peripheral layer of non-porous refractory concrete sandwiched between said refractory 
     
     
        elements and said lateral wall of said casing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.73.  A method of producing a refractory member including an assembly of at least two non-porous refractory elements juxtaposed in order to provide at least one discontinuity extending through the height of the refractory member and a metal casing having a peripheral wall tightly surrounding said refractory elements, said casing having an open end and being closed at the opposite end by a bottom wall provided with means for feeding a gas under pressure against a face of said refractory member abutting against said bottom wall, said method comprising the steps of forming at least two non-porous refractory elements; juxtaposing said two elements without any seal between the same; holding said juxtaposed elements together by a peripheral wall of a metallic casing; and closing the metallic casing at one end thereof by a bottom wall equipped with means for introducing a gas under pressure. .Iaddend. .Iadd.74. A method as defined in claim 73, wherein the cross section of said peripheral wall of said metallic casing is greater than the cross section of said refractory member, and including the step of pouring a layer of non-porous refractory concrete between said refractory elements and said peripheral wall of said casing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.75. A method as defined in claim 73 or 74, and including the step of inserting separating means between the refractory elements and holding said refractory elements and said separating means therebetween together 
     
     
        by said peripheral wall of said casing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.76.  A method as defined in claim 75, wherein said separating means consists of calibrated spacing blocks. .Iaddend. .Iadd.77. A method as defined in claim 75, wherein said separating means consists of porous refractory plates. .Iaddend. .Iadd.78. A method as defined in claim 75, wherein said separating means consists of metal sheets. .Iaddend. .Iadd.79. A method as defined in claim 75, and including the step of forming in at least one lateral face of at least one of said elements a plurality of spaced grooves extending in the direction of the height of said element before the elements are juxtaposed. .Iaddend. .Iadd.80. A method as defined in claim 75, wherein said peripheral wall of said metal casing consists of two U-shaped half shells, and including the step of applying said two U-shaped half shells under pressure against said juxtaposed refractory elements, and subsequently joining the half shells at facing edges thereof. .Iaddend. .Iadd.81. A method as defined in claim 75, wherein said at least two non-porous refractory elements are of tar-impregnated refractory material, and including the step of subjecting the elements before assembly to a tempered heating to eliminate the most volatile 
     
     
        elements. .Iaddend. .Iadd.82.  A refractory device for delivery of gas to a molten metal in a vessel, including: at least two adjacent refractory elements defining at least one gas passage therebetween;   said refractory elements being essentially non-porous; and   means for delivering gas under pressure to said gas passage in said refractory device. .Iaddend. .Iadd.83. A refractory device as defined in claim 82, wherein said refractory device has a generally hexahedral shape. .Iaddend. .Iadd.84. A refractory device as defined in claim 82 or 83, wherein said non-porous refractory elements are juxtaposed along main lateral faces thereof. .Iaddend. .Iadd.85. A refractory device as defined in claim 84, wherein said juxtaposed refractory elements are in contact with each other along their main lateral faces. .Iaddend. .Iadd.86. A refractory device as defined in claim 82 or 83, and including separating means inserted between said two refractory elements to keep the same a short distance from each other. .Iaddend. .Iadd.87. A refractory device as defined in claim 86, wherein said separating means consists of calibrated spacing blocks. .Iaddend. .Iadd.88. A refractory device as defined in claim 87, wherein said spacing blocks are wires extending spaced from each other and oriented in the direction of the height of the refractory   
     
     
        member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.89.  A refractory device as defined in claim 87, wherein said spacing blocks are inserts of refractory concrete, and wherein said non-porous refractory elements are respectively provided with opposite longitudinal notches in which said inserts are respectively lodged. .Iaddend. .Iadd.90. A refractory device as defined in claim 86, wherein said separating means consist of joint partitions inserted without play between the two adjacent non-porous refractory elements. .Iadd.91. A refractory device as defined in claim 90, wherein said partitions are porous refractory plates. .Iaddend. .Iadd.92. A refractory device as defined in claim 90, wherein said partitions are thin metal sheets. .Iaddend. .Iadd.93. A refractory device as defined in claim 86, wherein said separating means are thin metallic sheets. .Iaddend. .Iadd.94. A method for producing a refractory device of at least two adjacent non-porous refractory elements having at least one gas passage therebetween, comprising the steps of: placing at least two essentially non-porous refractory elements in adjacent relationship;   encasing said refractory elements in a metallic casing, said casing having one open end and one closed end; and   defining in said closed end means for introducing gas under pressure.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.95.  A method as defined in claim 94, wherein the cross section of said peripheral wall of said metallic casing is greater than the cross section of said refractory device, and including the step of pouring a layer of non-porous refractory concrete between said refractory elements and said peripheral wall of said casing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.96. A method as defined in claim 94 or 95, and including the step of inserting separating means between the refractory elements and holding said refractory elements and said separating means therebetween together by said peripheral wall of said casing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.97. A method as defined in claim 96, wherein said separating means consists of calibrated spacing blocks. .Iaddend. .Iadd.98. A method as defined in claim 96, wherein said separating means consists of porous refractory plates. .Iaddend. .Iadd.99. A method as defined in claim 96, wherein said separating means consists of metal sheets. .Iaddend. .Iadd.100. A method as defined in claim 96, and including the step of forming in at least one lateral face of at least one of said elements a plurality of spaced grooves extending in the direction of the height of said element before 
     
     
        the elements are placed adjacent to each other. .Iaddend. .Iadd.101.  A method as defined in claim 96, wherein said peripheral wall of said metal casing consists of two U-shaped half shells, and including the step of applying said two U-shaped half shells under pressure against said refractory elements, and subsequently joining the half shells at facing edges thereof. .Iaddend. .Iadd.102. A method as defined in claim 96, wherein said at least two non-porous refractory elements are of tar-impregnated refractory material, and including the step of subjecting the elements before assembly to a tempered heating to eliminate the most volatile elements. .Iaddend. .Iadd.103. A refractory gas-permeable structural unit for blowing a gas into a metal treatment vessel and through its casing, characterized by a passageway formed by faces of at least two elongated refractory elements, said elements being separated from one another by a thin metal layer so that gas passage takes place between said elements along said metallic layer, said elements each having first and second longitudinal faces and hot and cold end faces, said metallic layer being arranged on the first longitudinal face of at least one of said elements; a metal housing surrounding said elements to connect them with one another and sealingly abutting against said elements; and means for supplying gas and including a gas distribution chamber formed at said cold end faces of said elements and a conduit communicating with said 
     
     
        distribution chamber. .Iaddend. .Iadd.104.  A structural unit as defined in claim 103, and further comprising a mortar layer provided between said elements and said metal housing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.105. A structural unit as defined in claim 103, wherein said metal layer lies on the refractory material at said one first longitudinal face of each of said elements. .Iaddend. .Iadd.106. A structural unit as defined in claim 103, wherein said metal layer also has longitudinal faces, said longitudinal faces of said elements and of said metal layer being smooth. .Iaddend. .Iadd.107. A structural unit as defined in claim 103, wherein said metal layer is corrugated. .Iaddend. .Iadd.108. A structural unit as defined in claim 103, wherein said metal layer is composed of a steel sheet. .Iaddend. .Iadd.109. A structural unit as defined in claim 103, wherein the structural unit has a plurality of passageways arranged for gas passage and each provided with a metal layer. .Iaddend.