Claims
- 1. A method of cooling a component formed from cast refractory material having two faces that, during use, is subjected to high heat on one face thereof, comprising the steps of:a) providing at least one passage through the interior of the cast refractory material component that extends continuously between spaced openings located near opposite ends of the passage and which are on the other face of the component; and, b) positioning the cast refractory material component so that, when the component is subjected to heat on the one face thereof during use, the spaced openings are at differing vertical levels and communicate with a body of relatively cooler ambient air at the other face, with at least one of the openings defining an inlet to the passage that is located below at least another of the openings defining an outlet to the passage, so that ambient air may enter the passage inlet, may become convectively heated and rise upwardly through the said at least one passage in the absence of any mechanical inducement to air flow, and may discharge from the passage outlet, thereby to establish a flow of ambient air through the passage to cool the component as it is heated on the one face thereof.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing at least one passage includes the steps of forming a metal conduit to define the at least one passage, and installing the metal conduit to extend through the interior of the component.
- 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of forming a metal conduit includes the step of configuring the conduit to define the at least one passage in a U-shaped configuration.
- 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of configuring the conduit includes the steps of providing two generally L-shaped conduit portions that each have a pair of legs extending substantially at right angles that are connected by right-angle bends, aligning one leg of each of the conduit L-shaped conduit portions, and forming a connection between the aligned one legs to communicate the interior of one of the L-shaped conduit portions with the interior of the other of the L-shaped conduit portions.
- 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of forming a connection includes the step of positioning end regions of each of the aligned one legs to extend into opposite ends of a coupling, and welding the end regions, so positioned, to the coupling.
- 6. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of installing the metal conduit includes the steps of:a) providing a mold that defines the exterior shape of the component; b) positioning the metal conduit so that a central region of the metal conduit extends through a central region of a mold; and, c) pouring castable refractory material into the mold to form the component with the central region of the metal conduit embedded in and extending through the interior of the component.
- 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of positioning the component includes the step of connecting the component to a supporting frame to hold the component in position with the inlet located below the outlet.
- 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of connecting the component to a supporting frame includes the step of connecting at least one end region of the metal conduit to the supporting frame.
- 9. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of forming a metal conduit includes the step of providing the outlet with a larger cross-sectional area than the inlet.
- 10. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of positioning the component includes the step of connecting the component to a supporting frame to hold the component in position with the inlet located below the outlet.
- 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of providing at least one passage includes the steps of forming a metal conduit to define the at least one passage, and installing the metal conduit to extend through the interior of the component, and wherein the step of connecting the component to a supporting frame includes the step of connecting at least one end region of the metal conduit to the supporting frame.
- 12. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of providing at least one passage includes the steps of forming a plurality of metal conduits to define a plurality of passages, and installing the metal conduits to extend in spaced relationship through the interior of the component, and wherein the step of connecting the component to a supporting frame includes the step of connecting at least one end region of at least one of the metal conduits to the supporting frame.
- 13. A method of cooling a component formed from cast refractory material having two faces that becomes heated to temperatures well above ambient temperature during use with a self-cooling capability that occurs when the component is subjected to heat on one face thereof, and that provides additional cooling as the component becomes hotter, comprising the steps ofa) providing at least one passage through the interior of the cast refractory material component that extends continuously between spaced inlet and outlet openings located near opposite ends of the passage and which are on the other face of the component; and, b) positioning the cast refractory material component with the outlet opening located above the inlet opening so that, when the component is subjected to heat on the one face thereof during use, the spaced openings communicate with a body of relatively cooler ambient air at the other face of the component to permit ambient air to enter the inlet opening, to become convectively heated and rise upwardly through the said at least one passage in the absence of any mechanical inducement to air flow, and to discharge from the passage outlet opening, thereby to establish a flow of cooler ambient air through the passage to cool the component as it is heated on the one face thereof, with the rate of said flow increasing as the temperature of the component increases while being subjected to heat on one face thereof during use.
- 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of providing at least one passage includes the steps of forming a metal conduit to define the at least one passage, and installing the metal conduit to extend through the interior of the component.
- 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of forming a metal conduit includes the step of configuring the conduit to define the at least one passage in a U-shaped configuration.
- 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of configuring the conduit includes the steps of providing two generally L-shaped conduit portions that each have a pair of legs extending substantially at right angles that are connected by right-angle bends, aligning one leg of each of the conduit L-shaped conduit portions, and forming a connection between the aligned one legs to communicate the interior of one of the L-shaped conduit portions with the interior of the other of the L-shaped conduit portions.
- 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of forming a connection includes the step of positioning end regions of each of the aligned one legs to extend into opposite ends of a coupling, and welding the end regions, so positioned, to the coupling.
- 18. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of installing the metal conduit includes the steps of:a) providing a mold that defines the exterior shape of the component; b) positioning the metal conduit so that a central region of the metal conduit extends through a central region of a mold; and, c) pouring castable refractory material into the mold to form the component with the central region of the metal conduit embedded in and extending through the interior of the component.
- 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of positioning the component includes the step of connecting the component to a supporting frame to hold the component in position with the inlet located below the outlet.
- 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of connecting the component to a supporting frame includes the step of connecting at least one end region of the metal conduit to the supporting frame.
- 21. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of forming a metal conduit includes the step of providing the outlet with a larger cross-sectional area than the inlet.
- 22. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of positioning the component includes the step of connecting the component to a supporting frame to hold the component in position with the inlet located below the outlet.
- 23. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of providing at least one passage includes the steps of forming a metal conduit to define the at least one passage, and installing the metal conduit to extend through the interior of the component, and wherein the step of connecting the component to a supporting frame includes the step of connecting at least one end region of the metal conduit to the supporting frame.
- 24. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of providing at least one passage includes the steps of forming a plurality of metal conduits to define a plurality of passages, and installing the metal conduits to extend in spaced relationship through the interior of the component, and wherein the step of connecting the component to a supporting frame includes the step of connecting at least one end region of at least one of the metal conduits to the supporting frame.
- 25. A method of providing a self-cooling mount for a cast refractory component of an industrial furnace, comprising the steps of:a) providing a mold having an interior that defines the desired exterior configuration of at least a portion of the component; b) positioning a metal conduit so that a central region of the conduit extends through a central region of the mold, and so that opposite ends of the metal conduit, which respectively define an inlet and an outlet, extend beyond the desired exterior configuration defined by the mold: c) pouring castable refractory material into the mold to form the component with the central region of the conduit establishing a gaseous coolant flow passage that extends interiorly through the component; and, d) positioning the component with the metal conduit therein so that, when the component is subjected to significant heat during use, the outlet is positioned to communicate with a body of ambient air at a location above where the inlet communicates with the body of ambient air so that as ambient air is heated in the conduit central region and rises, ambient air may enter the lower-positioned inlet may become heated and rise through the central region, in the absence of any mechanical inducement to air flow and may discharge from the outlet, thereby to establish a flow of coolant ambient air through the flow passage to cool the component as it is heated during use.
- 26. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of positioning a metal conduit includes the steps of configuring the metal conduit to define the coolant flow passage to include a U-shaped configuration.
- 27. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of configuring the conduit includes the steps of providing two generally L-shaped conduit portions that each have a pair of legs extending substantially at right angles that are connected by right-angle bends, aligning one leg of each of the conduit L-shaped conduit portions, and forming a connection between the aligned one legs to communicate the interior of one of the L-shaped conduit portions with the interior of the other of the L-shaped conduit portions.
- 28. The method of claim 27 wherein the step of forming a connection includes the step of positioning end regions of each of the aligned one legs to extend into opposite ends of a coupling, and welding the end regions, so positioned, to the coupling.
- 29. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of positioning the component includes the step of connecting the component to a supporting frame to hold the component in position with the inlet located below the outlet.
- 30. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of connecting the component to a supporting frame includes the step of connecting at least one end region of the metal conduit to the supporting frame.
- 31. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of configuring the metal conduit includes the step of providing the outlet with a larger cross-sectional area than the inlet.
- 32. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of positioning the component includes the step of connecting the component to a supporting frame to hold the component in position with the inlet located below the outlet.
- 33. The method of claim 32 wherein the step of connecting the component to a supporting frame includes the step of connecting at least one end region of the metal conduit to the supporting frame.
- 34. A self-cooling component for installation in a highly heated environment including a body formed from cast refractory material and having two sides and having a passage formed interiorly therethrough that extends continuously from an inlet to an outlet that is located above the inlet when the component is installed for use in the highly heated environment, wherein one side of the component is proximate the highly heated environment and the inlet and the outlet are on another side of the component and opening to a body of the ambient air that many enter the inlet, which air may become heated by the highly heated environment on the one side of the component and convectively rise through said passage in the complete absence of any mechanical inducement to air flow, and may discharge from the outlet, thereby to establish a continuous flow of relatively cooler ambient air through the passage to cool the component when the component becomes heated.
- 35. The self-cooling component of claim 34 wherein the outlet has a larger cross-sectional area than the inlet.
- 36. The self-cooling component of claim 34 wherein the passage is defined, at least in part, by a metal conduit.
- 37. The self-cooling component of claim 36 wherein the conduit has at least one end region that extends from the body and can be connected to a supporting framework to at least assist in mounting the body on the supporting framework.
- 38. The self-cooling component of claim 36 wherein the conduit defines the entire passage and extends continuously between the inlet to the outlet.
- 39. The self-cooling component of claim 38 wherein the conduit ha s opposed end regions that extend from the body at s paced locations that can be connected to a supporting framework to at least assist in mounting the body on the supporting framework.
- 40. The self-cooling component of claim 38 wherein the conduit defines a generally U-shaped passage.
- 41. A self-cooled component formed from cast refractory material that, during use, is subjected to significant heat, having at least one passage through the interior of the component that extends continuously between spaced openings located near opposite ends of the passage, and that is mountable on a supporting framework so that, when the component is subjected to significant heat during use, the spaced openings communicate with a body of ambient air not subjected to the significant heat, with at least one of the openings defining an inlet that is located below at least another of the openings defining an outlet so that ambient air may enter the inlet, may become heated in the said at least one passage, and rise by convection and without mechanical inducement through said at least one passage, and may discharge from the outlet, thereby establishing a continuous flow of ambient air through the passage to cool the component and extend the life thereof.
- 42. The self-cooled component of claim 41 wherein the outlet is of greater cross-sectional area than the inlet.
- 43. The self-cooled component of claim 41 wherein the passage is defined along its full length by a metal conduit.
- 44. The self-cooled component of claim 43 wherein the passage defined by the conduit is of generally U-shaped configuration.
- 45. The self-cooled component of claim 44 wherein the conduit is formed from two generally L-shaped conduit portions that each have a pair of legs extending substantially at right angles that are connected by right-angle bends, with one leg of each of the L-shaped conduit portions extending in alignment and being connected to communicate the interior of one of the L-shaped conduit portions with the interior of the other of the L-shaped conduit portions.
- 46. The self-cooled component of claim 45 wherein one of the L-shaped conduit portions defines the outlet, the other of the L-shaped conduit portions defines the inlet, the outlet is of larger cross-sectional area than the inlet.
- 47. An element of an industrial furnace formed from a plurality of components supported by a frame, wherein at least one of the components is formed from cast refractory material, said component having a relatively cold face and a relatively hot face when in use, and the component further having a central region of a metal conduit embedded therein, wherein the conduit has opposed inlet and outlet end regions that open through the cold face of the component to a body of ambient air, wherein the component is positioned during use with the outlet end region located above the inlet end region to permit ambient air to enter the inlet end region, to become heated and convectively rise through the central region, and to discharge from the outlet end region in the absence of any mechanical inducement to air flow, thereby to establish a flow of relatively cooler ambient air through the conduit to cool the component, with the rate of air flow increasing as the temperature of the component increases while being subjected to heat during the use at the relatively hot face.
- 48. The element of claim 47 wherein the outlet is of greater cross-sectional area than the inlet.
- 49. The element of claim 47 wherein the passage is defined along its full length by a metal conduit.
- 50. The element of claim 49 wherein the passage defined by the conduit is of generally U-shaped configuration.
- 51. The element of claim 50 wherein the conduit is formed from two generally L-shaped conduit portions that each have a pair of legs extending substantially at right angles that are connected by right-angle bends, with one leg of each of the L-shaped conduit portions extending in alignment and being connected to communicate the interior of one of the L-shaped conduit portions with the interior of the other of the L-shaped conduit portions.
- 52. The element of claim 51 wherein one of the L-shaped conduit portions defines the outlet, the other of the L-shaped conduit portions defines the inlet, the outlet is of larger cross-sectional area than the inlet.
- 53. A structure that is exposed to a heated environment and has an interior face that becomes significantly heated during use and an opposite relatively cold face exposed to ambient air, wherein the structure is formed from a plurality of components, with at least one of the components including a body formed from cast refractory material having a passage formed interiorly therethrough that extends continuously from an inlet of the passage to an outlet of the passage that is located above the inlet when the component is installed for use in the heated environment, and,with another component including metallic structures embedded within the cast refractory component, wherein the inlet and the outlet both opening through the cold face and communicating with the body of ambient air so that ambient air may center the inlet, may become heated and rise convectively through said passage, and may discharge from the outlet in the absence of any mechanical inducement to air flow to thereby establish a flow of ambient air through the passage to cool the refractory and metallic components when the components becomes heated, thereby significantly extending the useful lives of the components in a significantly heated environment.
- 54. The structure of claim 53 wherein the outlet has a larger cross-sectional area than the inlet.
- 55. The structure of claim 53 wherein the passage is defined, at least in part, by a metal conduit.
- 56. The structure of claim 55 wherein the conduit has at least one end region that extends from the body and can be connected to a supporting framework to at least assist in mounting the body on the supporting framework.
- 57. The structure of claim 55 wherein the conduit defines the entire passage and extends continuously between the inlet to the outlet.
- 58. The structure of claim 57 wherein the conduit has opposed end regions that extend from the body at spaced locations that can be connected to a supporting framework to at least assist in mounting the body on the supporting framework.
- 59. The structure of claim 57 wherein the conduit is of generally U-shape and defines the passage as being of generally U-shape.
- 60. The structure of claim 59 wherein the outlet is of greater cross-sectional area than the inlet.
REFERENCE TO PROVISIONAL APPLICATION
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/114,603 entitled THERMAL INDUCED COOLING OF INDUSTRIAL FURNACE COMPONENTS filed Jan. 4, 1999 by Gary L. Coble, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
US Referenced Citations (34)
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/114603 |
Jan 1999 |
US |