US 11,724,308 B2
Refractory ring and refractory ring system and methods for assembling the same
G. Michael Friebel, Knoxville, TN (US); and Pavan Shivaram, Towson, MD (US)
Assigned to Refractory Intellectual Property GMBH & Co. KG
Filed by Refractory Intellectual Property GMBH & Co. KG, Vienna (AT)
Filed on Nov. 24, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/534,708.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/121,582, filed on Dec. 4, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0176445 A1, Jun. 9, 2022
Int. Cl. B22D 41/02 (2006.01); F27D 1/00 (2006.01); F27D 1/16 (2006.01)
CPC B22D 41/02 (2013.01) [F27D 1/0006 (2013.01); F27D 1/1621 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A unitary refractory ring comprising:
a sidewall forming a continuous closed loop about a center axis extending in an axial direction, the sidewall being spaced from the center axis in a radial direction that is perpendicular to the axial direction, and having an inner face facing towards the center axis, and an outer face facing away from the center axis, the inner face and the outer face extending in the axial direction between a lower axial face at a bottom of the sidewall, and an upper axial face at a top of the sidewall wherein the sidewall is configured to prevent passage of molten material through the inner face to the outer face between the lower axial face and the upper axial face, and wherein the lower axial face faces downward when the center axis is oriented vertically; and
one or more lifting lugs distributed around the center axis and extending from the inner face towards the center axis at respective locations along the axial direction between the lower axial face and the upper axial face, each of the one or more lifting lugs comprising a lower lug face extending radially towards the center axis from the inner face and facing downward when the center axis is oriented vertically, and a backing structure extending upwards along the axial direction from the lower lug face towards the upper axial face;
wherein the one or more lifting lugs are configured to support the weight of the unitary refractory ring when the center axis is oriented vertically, by contact with the respective lower lug face of each of the one or more lifting lugs.