Dec. 28, 1965 C. N.

GRAHN 3,226,036
NOZZLE FOR GUNNING REFRACTORY MATERIAL
Filed Feb. 5, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1

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CHESTER IV. GRAHN

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Dec. 28, 1965 c. N. GRAHN ‘ 3,226,036
NOZZLE FOR GUNNING REFRACTORY MATERIAL

Filed Feb. 5, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

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INVENTOR
CHESTER N. GRAHN

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United States Patent 0 lCe 3,226,036
Patented Dec. 28, 1965

2
bodiment of the turbulence or cyclonic mixing zone as
3,226,036 included in the nozzle device;
NOZZLE FOR GUNNING REFRACTORY FIGURE 3 is an end view of one embodiment of the
MATERIAL turbulence ?tting of a nozzle device, according to the
Chester N. Grahn, Concord, Cali?, assignor to Kaiser present invention;
Aluminum & Chemical Corporation, Oakland, Calif, FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the device of FIG
a corporation of Delaware URE 3 taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;
Filed Feb. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 256,414 FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of an assembled de
4 Claims. (Cl. 239-400) vice.
10 In FIGURES 1 and 2 there is shown a device, indi
This invention relates to a device for use in the placing cated generally at 10, which includes a sleeve 11 adapted
of ?owing refractory materials and the repair of fur to receive and hold a feed conduit or tube 12 for the
naces, boilers, cupolas and the like by means of a gun introduction of ?uent granular refractory material to
ning apparatus. and through the nozzle. Preferably, tube 12 is more
It has long been known to apply granular refractory tightly al?xed to sleeve 11 by means of any desired
materials to furnace linings and the like, either hot or number of screws 65. A ?tting or housing 13 is thread
cold, by means of gun devices. One such device in edly connected to the outlet of sleeve 11 and is provided
cludes means for supplying a flow of such granular ma at its inner face with an annular channel 14 which con
terial under pressure and in a current of air to a nozzle tains annular partition wall 15, serving to subdivide chan
device where the refractory material is mixed with water nel 14 into two smaller channels 16 and 17, the purposes
and air, and then the mixture ?ows forwardly through of which will be later described. Threadedly connected
the nozzle and is projected therefrom onto the desired to the forward end of housing 13 is turbulence ?tting 18,
location. One of the problems involved in the use of which is of short length and is coaxial with ?tting 13 and
devices for applying air~emplaced materials, such as re tube 12. A second housing 19 is threadedly connected
fractory gunning and castable mixes, is the so-called to the forward end of turbulence ?tting 18 and likewise
“fogging.” Use of the conventional prior art nozzle de contains an annular channel 20, subdivided by radially
vices wherein the dry refractory materials are admixed disposed partition wall 21 into two smaller channels or
with air and water just prior to ejection from a nozzle, subchannels 22 and 23. An outlet tube 24 is suitably,
to cause these materials to have the desirable plastic e.g. threadedly, connected to the forward end of ?tting 19.
consistency whereby they will stick to the surfaces which 30 As noted above, annular channels 14 and 20 are re
are to be covered or coated, has resulted in this “fogging” spectively subdivided into smaller channels 16, 17 and
disadvantage. Fogging results from improper or insuf 22, 23, and into subchannels 16 and 22 water is intro
?cient mixing of the water and air with the dry ma duced, while air is introduced into :subchannels 23 and 17.
terial, so that as the refractory or other similar material For instance, water is introduced through inlet pipe
is ejected from the nozzle device, portions of such ma 25, the ?ow thereof to channel 16 being taken off through
terial are ejected in a substantially dry state, whereby pipe 26 and passage 47; and the ?ow to channel 22 being
there results a dust-like cloud, known as fogging; and effected through connecting pipe 27 and passage 49.
another disadvantage is the high amount of rebound of Flow of water is further controlled by suitable valves 28
the material from the surface being treated, with con and 29, which are preferably ball valves.
sequent loss thereof. The result, among other disadvan Air is introduced to the device through an air pipe 30
tages, is a wastage of the material being applied; and which is connected to a suitable source of compressed
a serious disadvantage of fogging is the prevention of air, or air under pressure, and ?ows through connecting
visual inspection of the areas or surfaces to which the pipe 31 and passage 48 to air channel 17; and through
material is being applied by means of the nozzle device. connecting pipe 32 and passage 50 to air channel 23.
According to the present invention it has been found 45 Flow of air is suitably controlled by valves 33 and 34
that by use of the device to be described herein the fog which are preferably needle valves. As air ?ows into
ging noted above is substantially eliminated, and rebound channels 17 and 23, respectively, it is forced upwardly
is substantially reduced or minimized. The elimination past the interior faces or ends of radially disposed parti
of this fogging is attained by use of a means for conduct tion walls 15 and 21 respectively into water channels
ing ?uent granular refractory material in a restricted 50 16 and 22 where it is admixed with the water coming
path and especially as having a ?tting incorporated in a in from water pipes 26 and 27, respectively.
nozzle device which has also two water-and-air injection Water rings 35 and 36 are longitudinally disposed
means spaced from each other, in such a manner that a annular walls and are disposed over the inner faces of
turbulent 0r cyclonic mixing zone is provided between annular channels 14 and 20, respectively. The rear face
such injection means, to thereby admix the dry materials of water ring 35, which is an annulus or ring tapering in
and the water prior to discharge thereof in a wet state longitudinal section inwardly toward the axis of the device
from the nozzle. This turbulence zone, or cyclonic in the direction of flow of the material, is seated against
mixing zone, insures a substantially complete wetting of a gasket 37 which in turn rests agaist the forward end of
the material with the water or tempering liquid. It can hose sleeve 11 and the ring is thereby sealed to hose ring
also eliminate upstream premixing or wetting of the 60 11. The forward end of water ring 35 seats against a
materials as well as the clogging problems which have gasket or sealing ring 43 which rests against shoulder 38
hitherto occurred in the hoses employed in this opera in the forward end of housing 13. Ring 35 is provided
tion. The use of the instant device also eliminates hap with a number of holes or passageways 39 which are di
hazard application of the material and wastage of the rected inwardly and are inclined in the direction of ?ow of
material, and insures better consistency of the refractory 65 material through the device. These passageways open at
mix as it is applied. their outer ends into water channel 16 and at their inner
The device according to the present invention is il ends into the interior of the nozzle device, whereby the
lustrated in the annexed ?gures as follows: mixture of water and air described hereinabove issues into
FIGURE 1 shows an axial sectional view of the nozzle intimate contact with the ?uent granular refractory mate
and the cyclonic mixing zone or turbulence zone thereof; 70 rial passing through the device. Any suitable or desired
FIGURE 2 is an axial sectional view of another em number of passages 39 are provided in water ring 35.
 3,226,036
3 [31.
At the forward end of the nozzle device there is pro towards the axis of ?tting 53 and suitably integral with the
vided a secondary water ring 36 which is like water ring interior wall thereof. This provides a zone of restricted
35. Water ring 36 seats at its inner end against a gasket cross-section R, annular projection 54 having a generally
40 which rests against the forward end of turbulence rounded con?guration, and the zone of restricted cross
?tting 18 and is thereby sealed to said ?tting. At its section provides accelerated flow of the ?uent granular
outer end or outlet end water ring 36 seats against a material therethrough, with some change of direction of
second gasket or sealing ring 44 which rests against such ?ow, particularly adjacent the interior surfaces of
shoulder 41 provided in housing 19 and is thereby sealed the turbulence chamber as at C. The remaining areas
thereto. Water ring 36 is likewise tapered in longitudinal of the internal surface 55 of turbulence ?tting 53 can be
section inwardly toward the axis of the device in the a plain cylindrical surface or, if desired, this surface can
direction of ?ow of the material; and it is provided with also be provided with ri?ing or grooving to provide further
any desired number of openings 42 which are similar to projections therein with increased turbulence resulting in
openings or passageways 39 in water ring 35, these the ?ow of the ?uent granular material therethrough.
passages 42 opening into water channel 21 at one end and Preferably the interior surface 56 of housing 13 suitably
into the interior of the nozzle device at the other end and 15 diverges outwardly likewise to form a generally continu
being inclined inwardly and at a suitable angle to the ous diverging interior surface with the diverging interior
direction of the ?ow of the material to provide a ?ow of surface of turbulence ?tting 53.
water and air mixture into intimate contact with the In the turbulence ?tting of the present invention, the
granular material ?owing through the device. In the interior surface is in some embodiments as described
secondary water ring assembly, air is fed into annular 20 above grooved or ri?ed, or otherwise provided with pro
passage 23 and passes upwardly around the inner sur jections or ba?iles or baffle-like elements to cause change
face or end of annular wall 21 into contact and admixture of direction of the ?ow of ?uent granular material passing
with the water in channel 22 from which it ?ows through therethrough, and effect turbulence or cyclonic flow of
apertures 42 into the interior of the device. In both the such material. It will be understood that the ?ttings can
primary and secondary water rings, it is preferred that 25 alternatively be tubular metal elements, suitably threaded
there be a plurality of apertures, such as 42, uniformly for assembly into the nozzle arrangement, and there can
arranged around the circumference of the ring. be separately provided an interior ?tting for turbulence
Turbulent or turbulence ?tting 18 has a suitable inte ?ttings 18 and 53, for example, a removable lining prefer
rior surface provided with protuberances to effect tur ably of hard rubber, which has a suitable interior surface
bulent ?ow or cyclonic mixing of the admixture of granu con?guration as described above with resepct to the turbu
lar refractory material, air and water which is passing lence ?tting, and which is replaceable when the protub
therethrough. This ?tting is of short length so that the erances or other turbulence-imparting elements have be
device can be conveniently held by the workmen. In one come worn or eroded away. An end view of such an
embodiment, the interior surface 45 of ?tting 18 and, if arrangement is shown, for example, in FIGURE 3, and
desired, the interior surface 46 of housing 13, which can 35 FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal cross-section of 59, the ?tting
be of the same interior diameter as the interior of 18, are of this embodiment. In the ?tting shown in these ?g
suitably ri?ed or provided with a helical projection, or a ures, a metal tubular element 60 is provided at one end
helical groove, which imparts cyclonic or turbulent flow with an interiorly threaded annular shoulder 64 of en
to the material passing therethrough, which material is larged diameter to enable attachment to an element such
?owing at high speeds. Preferably, the projections, such 40 as housing 13 when assembled into a nozzle device ac
as a helical projection or, alternatively, discontinuous cording to this invention. The element 60 is provided with
protuberances, extend over the entire length of the inte a tight-?tting interior lining of hard rubber 58 which is
rior surface of the turbulence-inducing means or conduit. provided with helical grooves 61 and projections 62 to
Suitably, the interior surface is ri?ed to provide the projec effect turbulence or cyclonic ?ow in an admixture of
tion; but other projecting means can be employed, if ?uent granular refractory material, water and air, pass
desired. This is illustrated in FIGURE 1, for instance, ing therethrough at high speed when the nozzle device,
where the interior surface 45 of ?tting 18 is shown to into which the element 59 is incorporated, is being used
comprise a series of grooves 51 which result in projections for placement of such refractory material. When the pro
52, which disturb the ?ow of ?uent granular material jections 62 become worn and less ef?cient after use, the
therethrough and produce turbulent or cyclonic movement separate lining 58 is removed and another lining, e.g. of
in such ?ow. The interior surface 46 of housing 13 can the same type, is ?tted into tube 60. It will be under
likewise be grooved or ri?ed or, if desired, it can be a stood that the turbulence element shown in FIGURES 3
plain cylindrical surface, i.e., without projections. and 4 is suitable for use in an assembly such as shown
‘It will be understood that the elements 11, 12, 13, 18, in FIGURE 1, being incorporated therein instead of ?tting
19 and 24 are all disposed coaxially with respect to each 18. Alternatively the turbulence ?tting itself can be made
other, to provide a continuous passageway for the ?uent of hard rubber or other plastic material which is inex
granular material which is ejected from the exit end of pensive and is replaceable in the assembled device after
pipe 24 onto the surface to be patched or ?lled. wear or erosion has occurred.
Another embodiment of the present invention is shown The nozzle assembly and its parts are preferably of
in FIGURE 2 wherein all the elements of the device are generally circular transverse cross-section but tubular ele
the same except for the turbulence chamber. Therefore, ments of other interior cross-sectional con?guration can
it will be understood that an alternative embodiment 53 be employed if desired.
of the turbulence ?tting is placed in the line, coaxially The device is useful for emplacement of various ?uent
with the other elements such as 11, 13, 1‘) and 24, like refractory materials, for example, chrome gunning mix,
numbers being used for like elements in these ?gures. 65 magnesia gunning mix or clay or plastic gunning mixes
In the present embodiment turbulence ?tting 53 is pro which are all known to the art and need not be described
vided with inclined internal surfaces which diverge gen— here. The nozzle device of this invention is useful for
erally outwardly in the direction of ?ow of the ?uent gunning such refractory mixes in combination or as at
granular material which is fed therethrough when tached to a gun device as well known in this art. These
installed. In other words, the interior cross-section of 70 products and devices are useful in lining or repairing the
turbulence-inducing conduit 53 is of constantly increasing linings of furnaces, for example, high temperature metal~
diameter in the direction of ?ow of material therethrough. lurgical furnaces, soaking pits, cupolas, boilers and other
In this embodiment there is provided a baffle-like element furnaces. It is preferred to inject the larger proportion
54 adjacent the outlet of ?tting 53, baffle-like element 54 of the total added water by means of the secondary in
being an annular projection or wall extending inwardly jection ring, in operating this device.
 3,226,036
5 6
It will be understood that the above speci?c description turbulence-inducing means comprises a tubular metal
and drawings have been given for purposes of illustra shell and a removable liner disposed within said shell.
tion only and that variations and modi?cations can be 3. A device as in claim 2 wherein said removable liner
made therein Without departing from the spirit and scope is composed of hard rubber.
of the claims. 4. A device as in claim 1 wherein said baffle element
Having now described the invention, what is claimed is of rounded surface con?guration.
is:
1. In a nozzle device for gunning ?uent, cementitious References Cited by the Examiner
refractory material to a furnace lining: a tubular means UNITED STATES PATENTS
for conducting a rapid ?ow of said refractory material 10
998,762 7/1911 Faller ____________ __. 259—151
to said device; a primary water and air injection means;
1,427,910 9/1922 Quinn ____________ __ 23 9--—427
a secondary water and air injection means; a turbulence
2,025,974 12/1935 Fritz ____________ __ 239-432
inducing means disposed between said primary and said
2,075,867 4/1937 Sampel __________ __ 239-——432
secondary injection means, said turbulence-inducing 2,577,664 12/1951 Pro ______________ __ 239—43l
means comprising a tubular device having an interior 15
2,392,408 1/1946 Radonich ________ __ 239—431
cross-section tapering outwardly in the direction of ?ow
2,419,410 4/ 1947 Maurer __________ __ 239-336
of the material and having a continuous spiral projection
2,516,684 7/1950 Doull et a1. ______ __ 259—151
on its inner surface, and an annular ba?le element dis
2,661,194 12/1953 Katovsich ________ __ 259-»151
posed adjacent the outlet of said tubular device and in
2,671,692 3/1954 Matirko __________ __ 239-432
tegral with the internal surface thereof to provide a zone 20
of restricted ?ow at the outlet and of said tube and to 2,690,901 10/ 1954 McCormack ______ __ 239—432
induce turbulent flow therethrough; and an outlet means
for said device; all of said means being coaxially arranged EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner.
in series with each other. M. HENSON WOOD, IR, Examiner.
2. A nozzle device according to claim 1 wherein said