FORM 2
THE PATENT ACT 1970
(39 OF 1970)
&
The Patent Rules, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and Rule 13)
1 TITLE OF THE INVENTION :
A METALLURGICAL MATERIAL HANDLING VESSEL/SLAG VESSEL ADAPTED TO BE RESISTANT TO LOCALIZED HEAT ZONE BASED THERMAL STRESSES AND EQUIPMENT FAILURE.
2 APPLICANT (S)
Name : JSW STEEL LIMITED.
Nationality : An Indian Company incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956.
Address : JSW CENTRE,
BANDRA KURLA COMPLEX,
BANDRA(EAST),
MUMBAI-400051
MAHARASHTRA
3 PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
COMPLETE
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention broadly relates to art of material handling for collecting and dumping contents such as the slag vessel and the like used for material handling in metallurgical handling. In particular the present advancement related to a reinforcing and pouring facilitating system involving an advanced protective lip ring for metallurgical material handling vessels favouring required resistance to localized heat zone based thermal stresses and equipment failure during material handling such as experienced in slag vessels handling molten slag, and also to a metallurgical material handling vessel such as a slag vessel equipped with said reinforcing and pouring facilitating system.
Although the invention is applicable to all types of metallurgical installations, it will be described below, mainly in relation to installations in the steel industry, namely in particular relation to a Slag vessel used in the manufacture of steel, and other likes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the field of metallurgy and processing industry and among others, one of the metallurgical material handling vessels used for collecting and pouring therefrom content at high temperature include slag vessels. It is a common practice to transport this high temperature molten Slag in slag pot or slag vessel to pour slag in slag pit. In steel plants and to a lesser extent in other metallurgical plants, the disposal of the slag produced in the refining operation need to be prompt and accurate as slag must be disposed or utilized before it solidifies. For the aforementioned reason the Slag vessel need to be robust and must also serve for long life at least up to 100 cycles of transport. The availability of Slag vessel is of extreme importance for continuous and smooth operation of Steel making shop.
Further these Slag vessels must be adapted to serve at high temperature during there service period, this high temperature service period causes stresses in the structure but the initial and primary thermal shock is received by the upper end of the Slag vessel, hence it weakens faster than the other structural areas of the Slag vessel and deteriorates at rapid pace leading to the failure of Slag vessel. The problem of weakening happens to the upper part of Slag vessel results in equipment failure increase in process time and above it may be hazardous for operating human beings.

Further these Slag vessels are employed to pour slag at disposal area, wherein the Slag vessels are used unidirectionally by a crane for pouring the Slag at the designated place. This unidirectional pouring from one end results in localized heating of a specific sector of the slag pot. This localized heat zone appends to thermal stresses and leads to equipment failure like puncture and cracking.
By the term "Slag vessel" as herein mentioned in this document, the term means and encompasses a large vessel of iron or steel or any other natural or man-made material capable of carrying molten slag which is used to receive and convey slag and cinder from furnaces, convertors or likes which are used or employed in processes that involve production of slag or cinder, such as metal producing furnace of blast, open hearth or smelting type, Basic oxygen furnace, or any other equipment capable of producing slag, hence the term Slag vessel hereinafter used generically as a word of definition including different containers for the contemplated purpose, irrespective of the particular shape or construction thereof.
The term "Slag" for the purpose of this document encompasses product or products of furnaces employed in smelting ores, refining of Iron, and by the term "slag" it is intended to cover any substance of similar characteristics produced artificially or found in nature.
Hence there still lies a need for an improved and efficient reinforcing and pouring facilitating system for metallurgical material handling vessels used for collecting and pouring therefrom content such as slag vessel handling molten slag.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is thus the basic object of the present invention to provide for reinforcing and pouring facilitating system for metallurgical material handling vessels such as slag vessel handling molten slag which would on one hand provide for the required care to the handling vessel especially to prevent against the initial and primary thermal shock received by the upper end of the vessel, whereby it weakens faster and deteriorates at rapid pace leading to the failure of vessel and on the other hand also facilitate the controlled pouring from the vessel to add to the benefits of efficient material handling.

Another object of the present invention is directed to provide for slag vessels and the like equipped with an advanced protective lip ring for metallurgical material handling vessels favouring required resistance to localized heat zone based thermal stresses and equipment failure during material handling for metallurgical material handling which would on one hand provide for the required care to the handling vessel especially to prevent against the initial and primary thermal shock received by the upper end of the vessel, whereby it weakens faster and deteriorates at rapid pace leading to the failure of vessel and on the other hand also facilitate the controlled pouring from the vessel to add to the benefits of efficient material handling.
Another object of the present invention is directed to providing a Slag vessel equipped with means such that failures which causes the Slag vessel to deteriorate rapidly, and cracking are eliminated.
A further object of the present invention is directed to avoid and overcome the foregoing and other difficulties of prior art practices by advancement in slag vessel, which would improve material handling and retaining mechanism by accurately controlling the material flow during the molten slag handling operations; provide uniform volume of material flow into a material-processing apparatus during the material handling operation and also provides a low trajectory of material flow during material processing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The basic aspect of the present invention is directed to a metallurgical material handling vessel adapted to be resistant to localized heat zone based thermal stresses and equipment failure comprising:
a metal shell vessel having a closed bottom and an open upper end;
a protective lip ring completely surrounding the peripheral top of said vessel comprising of an exterior ring type fixture and adapted for cooperative fixing to said metallurgical vessel/slag vessel upper peripheral end region and an interior completely surrounding contour engulfing atleast one pouring configuration and providing for structural support to the pouring configuration and enabling control over the evacuation of contents from the vessel.

A further aspect of the present invention is directed to a metallurgical material handling vessel/slag vessel wherein said interior contour engulfs the said pouring configuration thereby allows the lesser denser content to evacuate first from the vessel during pouring the contents therefrom.
A still further aspect of the present invention is directed to a metallurgical material handling vessel adapted to be resistant to localized heat zone based thermal stresses and equipment failure comprising:
a metal shell vessel having a closed bottom and an open upper end;
a protective lip ring completely surrounding the peripheral top of said vessel comprising of an exterior annular ring adapted for cooperative fixing to said metallurgical vessel/slag vessel upper open end and an interior annular contour engulfing atleast one pouring configuration and providing for structural support to the pouring configuration and enabling control over the evacuation of contents from the vessel.
A still further aspect of the present invention a metallurgical material handling vessel wherein said interior contour comprises plurality of pouring configurations positioned diametrically opposite to one another on said structurally supportive interior annular contour which can be selectively used for pouring thereby enhancing the life span of the vessel. Also in said metallurgical material handling vessel ,said interior contour comprises two pouring configurations positioned diametrically opposite to one another on said structurally supportive interior annular contour which can be alternatively used for pouring thereby enhancing the life span of the vessel.
A still further aspect of the present invention is directed to a metallurgical material handling vessel which is a slag vessel wherein said lip ring is immovably fixed to said slag vessel upper open end through plurality of reinforcing lip flanges and said metal shell is provided with pair of trunnion near the upper end and positioned diametrically opposite to each other and having provision of releasable connection to crane hook for lifting said vessel; said interior contour engulfs the said pouring configuration thereby allows the lesser denser

content to evacuate first from the vessel during pouring of contents therefrom with said pouring configurations directing the flow of contents/slag while the contents are discharged.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is directed to a metallurgical material handling vessel wherein said slag vessel engulfs a slag reservoir which is adapted to receive and release slag as per the instruction received from the designated operational parameters, the said reservoir confined inside said metal shell and in amidst of the larger upper end and small bottom end with a small closed bottom end of thimble shape, said lip ring providing for a fangled reinforced top open end of said slag vessel.
A further aspect of the present invention is directed to a reinforcing and pouring facilitating system for metallurgical material handling vessels such as slag vessel handling molten slag favouring resistance to localized heat zone based thermal stresses and equipment failure during material handling comprising :
a protective lip ring completely surrounding the peripheral top of said vessel comprising of an exterior ring type fixture and adapted for cooperative fixing to said metallurgical vessel/slag vessel upper peripheral end region and an interior completely surrounding contour engulfing atleast one pouring configuration and providing for structural support to the pouring configuration and enabling control over the evacuation of contents from the vessel.
A further aspect of the present invention is directed to a reinforcing and pouring facilitating system for metallurgical material handling vessels used for collecting and pouring therefrom content such as slag vessel handling molten slag comprising :
a protective lip ring completely surrounding the peripheral top of said vessel comprising of an exterior annular ring adapted for cooperative fixing to said metallurgical vessel/slag vessel upper open end and an interior annular contour engulfing atleast one pouring configuration and providing for structural support to the pouring configuration and enabling control over the evacuation of contents from the vessel.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a reinforcing and pouring facilitating system comprises plurality of pouring configurations selectively disposed on said structurally supportive interior annular contour which can be selectively used for pouring thereby enhancing the life span of the vessel. Said reinforcing and pouring facilitating system further comprises two pouring configurations positioned diametrically opposite to one another on said structurally supportive interior annular contour which can be alternatively used for pouring thereby enhancing the life span of the vessel. Also in said reinforcing and pouring facilitating system, said interior annular contour engulfs the said pouring configuration such as to allow the lesser denser content to evacuate first from the vessel during pouring of contents therefrom.
The details of the invention its objects and advantages are explained hereunder in greater detail in relation to the following non-limiting exemplary illustrations as per the following accompanying figures:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING FIGURES
For a better understanding of the present invention an embodiment is preferred and is illustrated in the attached drawings, to which the reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, the following drawings illustrate examples of various components of the invention disclosed herein, and are for illustrative purpose only. Other embodiments that are substantially similar can use other components that have a different appearance wherein. Like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views and wherein:
Figure 1: is a side and top view of the prior art which depicts a slag pot as per the state of the art as used in integrated steel plants.
Figure 2: is constitutes of a pair of figures , wherein Figure 2(a) depicts the side view of the present invention whereas Figure 2(b) portray the top view of the present invention.
Figure 3: parades two figures demonstrating the side view and top view of Lip ring. Figure 3 is included in the specification for crystal clear demonstration of the present equipment.

Although the principles of the present invention are broadly applicable to the art of material handling especially to Slag vessel, the present invention is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with a slag transfer car and hence it has been so illustrated and will be so described without giving much emphasize on the said transfer car. The aforesaid objects of the present invention, and other objects which will become apparent and will be recognized by those skilled in the art as the description proceeds, are achieved by providing in a slag vessel for transport of molten slag. While in accordance with the patent statutes preferred embodiment of the present invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be particularly understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
For the purpose of promoting the thought thorough understanding of principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawing and hereinafter description further specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
Figure 1 relates to a prior art, the Figure 1 is engrossed in this specification for lucidly distinguishing and the thought though understanding of the present invention. Figure 1(a) is a vertical view through the prior art Slag pot(10) whereas the numeral 20 is designated to the Shell of the Slag vessel (10).The Shell (20) is being provided with the pair of trunnion (30) positioned at the upper end of the Shell (20), the said pair of trunnion(30) can be secured to the crane hook (not depicted in Figure 1(a)) to assist in transportation of Slag pot (10). Tri-limb Stand(40) are fixed on the bottom circumference ,of the Shell (20). In the Figure 1(b), depicts the top view of the slag pot (10) as per the prior art. Numeral 50 denotes the upper circular contour of the slag pot (10), and 60 shows the bottom of the pot which is preferably rounded or spheroidal in shape. In order to accommodate the hook of the crane (not shown in figure 1(b)) whereby the pot may be mounted on a slag car(not

shown in figurel(b), the Shell (20) is provided with a pair of trunnion (30) projecting outward from the upper circumference of the said Shell(20).
Figure 2 disport a pair of figures of the present contraption one demonstrate the side view and the other exhibits the top view. Figure 2(a) displays the Slag vessel (100) from the side view. The Slag vessel (100) includes a fixed lip ring (140) fitted to the metal shell (110) of the said Slag vessel (100). The said lip ring (140) is immovably fixed to the metal shell (110) at the larger upper end (130) through the plurality of reinforcing lip flange(s) (170). Metal shell (110) is further equipped with pair of trunnion (150), this pair of trunnion (150) is attached near the larger upper end (130) and positioned diametrically opposite to each other, further each single trunnion is indoctrinated with a crane hook seat (160) to engage with crane hook(not demonstrated in Figure) for enabling the transportation of Slag vessel (100) to the designated place or to position it precisely on Slag car (not shown and explained in the Specification as it had no functional nexus with the present invention.) . The Slag vessel (100) engulfs a Slag reservoir (190) (shown in figure 2(b)) which is schooled to receive and release slag as per the instruction received from the designated operational parameters, the said reservoir (190) is confined inside the metal shell (110) and in amidst of the larger upper end (130) and small bottom end(120). Further Slag vessel (100) also includes a small closed bottom end (120) of thimble shape. Figure 2(b) exhibits the top view of the new fangled Slag vessel(lOO). The figure displays a lip ring (140) attached to the larger upper end (130) of the said metal shell (HO)through the plurality of reinforced flanges (170). Lip ring (140) is configured with plurality of pouring configuration (180) wherein the said pouring configuration enables the Slag vessel (100) to control and direct the flow of slag while releasing so as to eliminate the lacuna of abrupt falling of Slag from the Slag pot (10) (shown in Figure 1) and further the said lip ring (140) plays a pivotal role in determining the trajectory of material flow by keeping the volume flow rate constant for majority of pouring time through its pouring configuration (180). Figure 2(b) also illustrates the pair of trunnion (150) which is attached near the larger upper end (130) and positioned diametrically opposite to each other, further each single trunnion is indoctrinated with a crane hook seat (160) to engage with crane hook(not demonstrated in Figure) for enabling the transportation of Slag vessel (100) to the designated place or to position it precisely on Slag car (not shown and explained in the Specification as it had no functional nexus with the present invention.).

Figure 3 exhibits a pair of figure of lip ring to lucidly demonstrate the functional and structural aspect of the lip ring (140), wherein the Figure 3(a) is a side view of the lip ring (140) and is included to exemplify the structural members of the said lip ring (140). Numeral 200 is designated to an annular ring (200) which form the exterior of the lip ring (140) and another interior contour (210)(shown in figure 3(b)) which engulfs the pouring configuration (180) of the said lip ring (140) forms the structure of lip ring (140). The annular ring (200) is habituated with the engagement means (175) for immovably attaching the lip ring(140) to the said metal shell (100) of the said Slag vessel(100) through plurality of reinforced lip flanges(s).
Figure 3(b) is incorporated to elucidate the functional aspects of the entailed lip ring (140). The figure 3(b) is a top view of the lip ring (140) which delineates the annular ring (200) and interior contour(210), whereas the annular ring (200) provides the reinforcement to the upper end(130) of the metal shell(11O) so to eradicate the problem due to thermal stresses and substantially refrains failures such as puncture, cracks and slow downs the pace of Slag vessel weakening significantly. The interior contour (210) engulfs the pouring configuration (180) essentially performs two function, the primary is to provide structural support to the pouring configuration and secondary is to allow the less denser slag to evacuate first from the Slag vessel. Another functionally pivotal member of lip ring (140) is pouring configuration(180) as the lip ring is equipped with twin pouring configuration(s) (180), the Slag vessel (100)(not shown in current figure) can be used to release the slag from the slag reservoir (190) (not shown in current figure)from both the pouring configuration(s) which enhance the life of Slag vessel (100) substantially as compared to Slag pot (10). Further these pouring configuration(180) directs the flow of slag while the slag is discharged which enhances the capability of the Slag vessel (100) in parlance of material handling accuracy and flow control.

We claim:
1. A metallurgical material handling vessel/slag vessel adapted to be resistant to localized
heat zone based thermal stresses and equipment failure comprising:
a metal shell vessel having a closed bottom and an open upper end;
a protective lip ring completely surrounding the peripheral top of said vessel comprising of an exterior ring type fixture and adapted for cooperative fixing to said metallurgical vessel/slag vessel upper peripheral end region and an interior completely surrounding contour engulfing atleast one pouring configuration and providing for structural support to the pouring configuration and enabling control over the evacuation of contents from the vessel.
2. A slag vessel as claimed in claim 1 wherein said interior contour engulfs the said pouring configuration thereby allowing the lesser denser content to evacuate first from the vessel during pouring the contents therefrom.
3. A metallurgical material handling vessel/slag vessel adapted to be resistant to localized heat zone based thermal stresses and equipment failure as claimed in anyone of claims 1 or 2 comprising:
a metal shell vessel having a closed bottom and an open upper end;
a protective lip ring completely surrounding the peripheral top of said vessel comprising of an exterior annular ring adapted for cooperative fixing to said metallurgical vessel/slag vessel upper open end and an interior annular contour engulfing atleast one pouring configuration and providing for structural support to the pouring configuration and enabling control over the evacuation of contents from the vessel.
4. A metallurgical material handling vessel/slag vessel as claimed in anyone of claims 1
to 3 wherein said interior contour comprises plurality of pouring configurations
positioned diametrically opposite to one another on said structurally supportive interior

annular contour which can be selectively used for pouring thereby enhancing the life span of the vessel.
5. A metallurgical material handling vessel/slag vessel as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 4 wherein said interior contour comprises two pouring configurations positioned diametrically opposite to one another on said structurally supportive interior annular contour which can be alternatively used for pouring thereby enhancing the life span of the vessel.
6. A metallurgical material handling vessel/slag vessel as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 5 which is a slag vessel wherein said lip ring is immovably fixed to said stag vessel upper open end through plurality of reinforcing lip flanges and said metal shell is provided with pair of trunnion near the upper end and positioned diametrically opposite to each other and having provision of releasable connection to crane hook for lifting said vessel;
said interior contour engulfs the said pouring configuration thereby allows the lesser denser content to evacuate first from the vessel during pouring of contents therefrom with said pouring configurations directing the flow of contents/slag while the contents are discharged.
7. A metallurgical material handling vessel/slag vessel as claimed in claim 6 wherein said
slag vessel engulfs a slag reservoir which is adapted to receive and release slag as per the instruction received from the designated operational parameters, the said reservoir confined inside said metal shell and in amidst of the larger upper end and small bottom end with a small closed bottom end of thimble shape, said lip ring providing for a fangled reinforced top open end of said slag vessel.
8. A reinforcing and pouring facilitating system for metallurgical material handling vessels
such as slag vessel handling molten slag favouring resistance to localized heat zone based thermal stresses and equipment failure during material handling comprising:
a protective lip ring completely surrounding the peripheral top of said vessel comprising of an exterior ring type fixture and adapted for cooperative fixing to said metallurgical vessel/slag vessel upper peripheral end region and an interior completely

surrounding contour engulfing atleast one pouring configuration and providing for structural support to the pouring configuration and enabling control over the evacuation of contents from the vessel.
9. A reinforcing and pouring facilitating system for metallurgical material handling vessels used for collecting and pouring therefrom content such as slag vessel handling molten slag as claimed in claim 8 comprising :
a protective lip ring completely surrounding the peripheral top of said vessel comprising of an exterior annular ring adapted for cooperative fixing to said metallurgical vessel/slag vessel upper open end and an interior annular contour engulfing atleast one pouring configuration and providing for structural support to the pouring configuration and enabling control over the evacuation of contents from the vessel.
10. A reinforcing and pouring facilitating system as claimed in anyone of claims 8 or 9 comprises plurality of pouring configurations selectively disposed on said structurally supportive interior annular contour which can be selectively used for pouring thereby enhancing the life span of the vessel.
11. A reinforcing and pouring facilitating system as claimed in anyone of claims 8 to 10 comprises two pouring configurations positioned diametrically opposite to one another on said structurally supportive interior annular contour which can be alternatively used for pouring thereby enhancing the life span of the vessel.
12. A reinforcing and pouring facilitating system as claimed in anyone of claims 8 to 11
wherein said interior annular contour engulfs the said pouring configuration such as
to allow the lesser denser content to evacuate first from the vessel during pouring of
contents therefrom.