Crucible for producing vanadium-nitrogen alloy
By designing a crucible with a larger upper cavity and a smaller lower cavity, along with a venting layout, the problems of difficult unloading and sidewall cracking were solved, improving the success rate of unloading, extending the crucible's service life, and enhancing production efficiency.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-04-08
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-10
AI Technical Summary
Existing graphite crucibles suffer from problems such as low utilization of the crucible loading chamber, difficulty in unloading, and easy cracking at the nitriding pores on the sidewalls during the unloading process, which affect production efficiency and service life.
A crucible for producing vanadium-nitrogen alloys is designed, featuring a cavity structure that is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom, with vent holes located in the lower middle part of the side wall. Combined with an integrally formed base and side wall structure, this increases the crucible cavity volume and improves the success rate of unloading by the robotic arm and the crucible's lifespan.
It improved the success rate of one-time unloading by the robotic arm, extended the service life of the crucible, increased the loading capacity and production efficiency, and avoided side wall cracking and damage.
Smart Images
Figure CN223985557U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of crucible technology, and in particular to a crucible for producing vanadium-nitrogen alloys. Background Technology
[0002] Replacing low-strength steel with high-strength steel in engineering projects can save 10% to 15% of steel consumption. This is an urgent requirement for building a resource-saving and environmentally friendly society in my country, and also an important path to achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. Vanadium-nitrogen alloys, as essential additives in the production of high-strength steel, can replace ferrovanadium in the production of microalloyed steel. Adding them to steel can improve its overall mechanical properties, such as strength, ductility, and resistance to thermal fatigue. Their production and sales have been steadily increasing in recent years.
[0003] In the formation of vanadium-nitrogen alloys, raw materials are placed in a graphite crucible to prepare vanadium-nitrogen alloy pellets. After the pellets are prepared, a robotic arm is used for automatic unloading. During the automatic unloading process, there are problems such as low utilization of the crucible loading chamber, difficulty in unloading, and easy cracking at the nitriding pores on the crucible sidewall. Utility Model Content
[0004] In view of this, this utility model proposes a crucible for producing vanadium-nitrogen alloys, which solves the problems of low utilization rate of crucible loading chamber, difficulty in unloading, and easy cracking at the nitriding hole position on the crucible side wall during the automatic unloading process of producing vanadium-nitrogen alloys using a robotic arm.
[0005] On one hand, this utility model embodiment provides a crucible for producing vanadium-nitrogen alloys, the crucible comprising:
[0006] Base;
[0007] The sidewall connected to the base;
[0008] A cavity extending from the side of the sidewall away from the base toward the sidewall closer to the base, wherein the first side length of the cavity on the side closer to the base is less than the second side length of the cavity on the side of the cavity away from the base.
[0009] In some implementations, the ratio of the second side length to the first side length is ≥1.06:1.
[0010] In some embodiments, the sidewall has a plurality of vent holes.
[0011] In some embodiments, the height of the cavity is H3, and the farthest distance of any of the plurality of vent holes from the first side length is ≤1 / 2*H3.
[0012] In some embodiments, the plurality of vent holes are arranged in a row and column manner, and the orthographic projections of the vent holes in each row on the base do not overlap.
[0013] In some embodiments, the diameter of the vent hole is in the range of 10 mm to 12 mm.
[0014] In some embodiments, the height of the outer wall of the sidewall is less than the height of the inner wall of the sidewall.
[0015] In some embodiments, the ratio of the difference between the inner wall height and the outer wall height to the height of the base is ≤1:3.
[0016] In some embodiments, the outer diameter of the base is larger than the outer diameter of the sidewall.
[0017] In some embodiments, the base and the sidewall are integrally formed.
[0018] This utility model provides a crucible for producing vanadium-nitrogen alloys. The crucible includes a base; a side wall connected to the base; and a cavity extending from the side wall away from the base toward the base, wherein the first side length of the cavity on the side closer to the base is smaller than the second side length of the cavity on the side away from the base.
[0019] The crucible for producing vanadium-nitrogen alloys provided by this utility model has at least the following advantages:
[0020] 1) The vanadium-nitrogen alloy production crucible provided by this utility model has a structure with a larger upper part and a smaller lower part on the vertical side of the cavity, which makes it easier to pour out the alloy balls in the crucible cavity and improves the success rate of the one-time tilting crucible unloading operation of the robotic arm.
[0021] 2) The vanadium-nitrogen alloy production crucible provided by this utility model has its cavity sunk into the crucible base, which can ensure that the mechanical arm gripper applies uniform force to the crucible base without damaging the crucible, and can also increase the volume of the crucible cavity, increase the amount of material loaded, and improve production efficiency.
[0022] 3) The vanadium-nitrogen alloy production crucible provided by this utility model has several nitriding vent holes on its side wall, which are located in the lower middle part of the crucible side wall. This can prevent the crucible side wall from cracking and being damaged through the vent holes during the unloading process when the robotic arm tilts the crucible, thereby improving the service life of the crucible. Attached Figure Description
[0023] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other embodiments can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.
[0024] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a crucible for producing vanadium-nitrogen alloys provided in this embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] Figure 2a A schematic diagram of a vent hole located on the side wall of a crucible, provided for an embodiment of this utility model;
[0026] Figure 2b A schematic diagram of a vent hole located on the side wall of a crucible, provided for an embodiment of this utility model;
[0027] Figure 2c A schematic diagram of a vent hole located on the side wall of a crucible, provided for an embodiment of this utility model.
[0028] [Explanation of Labels in the Attached Image]
[0029] 10: Crucible; 11: Base; 12: Side wall; 13: Cavity; 14: Vent hole; 121: Outer wall;
[0030] 122: Inner wall. Detailed Implementation
[0031] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this utility model clearer, the embodiments of this utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to specific examples and accompanying drawings.
[0032] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains; the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. For example, terms such as “length,” “width,” “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “right,” “front,” “rear,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” and “outer” indicate orientations or positions based on the orientations or positions shown in the accompanying drawings and are merely for ease of description and should not be construed as limiting the invention.
[0033] The terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this utility model are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion; the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this utility model are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order. "A plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.
[0034] In the description, claims, and accompanying drawings of this utility model, when an element is referred to as "fixed to," "mounted to," "set on," or "connected to" another element, it can be directly or indirectly located on that other element. For example, when an element is referred to as "connected to" another element, it can be directly or indirectly connected to that other element.
[0035] In the production process of vanadium-nitrogen alloys, raw materials need to be placed in graphite crucibles to prepare vanadium-nitrogen alloy pellets. After the pellets are prepared, an automated robotic arm is required for unloading. During the automated unloading operation, the following problems arise when unloading vanadium-nitrogen alloy pellets from the graphite crucibles provided by relevant technologies: First, after calcination and cooling, the pellets are prone to jamming inside the rectangular crucible, making it difficult for the robotic arm to tilt the crucible for unloading in one go, requiring multiple tilts to remove all the pellets. Second, the graphite crucibles are subjected to high temperatures and wear in the pusher kiln for a long time, resulting in thinner crucible sidewalls. During the unloading process, the sidewalls are easily damaged by impacts from the pellets, causing cracks at the nitriding pores and reducing the crucible's lifespan. Third, the utilization efficiency of the bottom space of the crucible loading chamber is not high enough, and the single crucible capacity needs to be further increased.
[0036] In view of this, in order to solve at least one of the above technical problems, this utility model provides a crucible for producing vanadium-nitrogen alloys, which can improve the success rate of unloading by the robotic arm in one go, the service life of the crucible and the production efficiency, and has strong promotion and application value for the construction of automated and intelligent vanadium-nitrogen alloy production lines.
[0037] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the embodiments and accompanying drawings.
[0038] The first aspect of this utility model embodiment provides a crucible 10 for producing vanadium-nitrogen alloys, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the crucible 10 includes: a base 11; a side wall 12 connected to the base 11; and a cavity 13 extending from the side wall 12 away from the base 11 toward the base 11, wherein the first side length L1 of the cavity 13 on the side closer to the base 11 is smaller than the second side length L2 of the cavity on the side away from the base.
[0039] In this embodiment of the invention, the crucible can be made of materials such as graphite or ceramic. The base and sidewalls can be integrally molded, thereby improving the reliability and service life of the crucible.
[0040] In this embodiment of the invention, the crucible cavity is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. This makes it easier to pour out the alloy balls inside the crucible cavity during the unloading process using a robotic arm, thereby improving the success rate of the robotic arm's one-time crucible tilting unloading operation.
[0041] In some embodiments of this utility model, such as Figure 1 As shown, the ratio of the second side length L2 to the first side length L1 of the cavity 13 of the crucible 10 is L2:L1 ≥ 1.06:1. For example, L2:L1 can be 1.08:1, 1.09:1, 1.1:1, 1.2:1, 1.3:1, 1.4:1, 1.45:1, or 1.5:1, etc. Therefore, during the unloading process using a robotic arm, the alloy balls inside the crucible cavity are easily poured out, thereby improving the success rate of the robotic arm's one-time crucible tilting unloading operation.
[0042] In some embodiments of this utility model, such as Figure 1 As shown, the side wall 12 of the crucible 10 has several vent holes 14. These vent holes 14 are used to allow nitrogen gas to permeate into the crucible 10 during the preparation of the vanadium-nitrogen alloy. The vent holes 14 can be located in the lower middle part of the side wall 12 of the crucible. Therefore, during the unloading process using a robotic arm, cracking and damage to the side wall of the crucible through the vent holes can be avoided, thus improving the service life of the crucible.
[0043] In some embodiments of this utility model, such as Figure 1 As shown, the cavity height of the crucible 10 is H3, and the farthest distance of any of the vent holes 14 on the side wall 12 of the crucible 10 from the first side length is ≤1 / 2*H3. Therefore, during the unloading process using a robotic arm, cracking and damage to the crucible side wall through the vent holes can be avoided, thus improving the service life of the crucible.
[0044] In some embodiments of this utility model, such as Figure 1 As shown, several vent holes 14 located on the side wall 12 of the crucible 10 can be arranged in multiple rows.
[0045] The number and arrangement of the vent holes 14 on the side wall 12 of the crucible 10 are varied. Figure 1 Only the arrangement of five vent holes on the side wall 12 of the crucible 10 is shown, but it is not limited to this. Figures 2a-2c The arrangement of different numbers of vent holes on the side wall 12 of the crucible 10 is also shown. This prevents the crucible side wall from cracking and being damaged through the vent holes during unloading using a robotic arm, thus improving the crucible's strength and service life.
[0046] In some embodiments of this utility model, such as Figure 1 As shown, the vent holes 14 located on the side wall 12 of the crucible 10 can be arranged in multiple rows, and the orthographic projections of the vent holes 14 in each row on the base do not overlap. Therefore, during the unloading process using a robotic arm, the strength and service life of the crucible can be further improved.
[0047] In some embodiments of this utility model, such as Figure 1 As shown, the diameter of the vent hole 14 on the side wall 12 of the crucible 10 is in the range of 10 mm to 12 mm.
[0048] In this utility model, such as Figure 1 In the example shown, the side wall 12 of the crucible 10 has five vent holes 14 for nitrogen permeation. The diameter R of the vent holes 14 is 10mm to 12mm, and the vent holes 14 are arranged in two rows, upper and lower. The upper row of three vent holes is evenly distributed at five equal points along the vertical mid-section of the crucible cavity, and the distance H4 from the upper row of three vent holes to the cavity 13 is H3 = 1 / 2 * H3. The lower row of two vent holes is evenly distributed at three equal points along the vertical mid-section of the crucible cavity, and the distance H5 from the lower row of two vent holes to the cavity 13 is H3 = 1 / 4 * H3.
[0049] In some examples, the second side length L2 of the cavity 13 of the crucible 10 can be in the range of 320mm to 330mm, and the cavity height H3 of the crucible 10 can be in the range of 235mm to 245mm.
[0050] In this embodiment of the invention, the nitriding vent holes are designed in the lower part of the crucible cavity and the hole diameter is determined. This ensures that all alloy balls in the crucible cavity undergo a displacement reaction to convert vanadium carbide into vanadium nitride in the pusher kiln. It also prevents the crucible sidewall from cracking and being damaged through the vent holes in the lower part during the unloading process by the robotic arm tilting the crucible, thereby improving the service life of the crucible.
[0051] In some embodiments of this utility model, the height H6 of the outer wall 121 of the side wall 12 of the crucible 10 is less than the height H3 of the inner wall 122 of the side wall 12.
[0052] In some embodiments of this utility model, the ratio of the height difference H2 between the inner wall 122 and the outer wall of the side wall 12 of the crucible 10 to the height H1 of the base is ≤1:3.
[0053] In some examples, H2:H1 can be 1:3.2, 1:3.5, 1:3.8, 1:4, 1:4.2, 1:4.5, 1:5, 1:6, 1:7, or 1:8, etc.
[0054] In some embodiments of this utility model, the ratio of the height difference H2 between the inner wall 122 and the outer wall of the crucible 10 to the height H3 of the inner wall 122 of the side wall 12 is ≤1:5.
[0055] In some examples, H2:H3 can be 1:5.2, 1:5.5, 1:5.8, 1:6, 1:6.2, 1:6.5, 1:7, 1:8, 1:9, or 1:10, etc.
[0056] In this embodiment of the invention, by lowering the cavity of the crucible into the crucible base, it is possible to ensure that the mechanical arm gripper applies uniform force to the crucible base without damaging the crucible, and also to increase the volume of the crucible cavity, increase the amount of material loaded, and improve production efficiency.
[0057] In some embodiments of this utility model, the outer diameter L3 of the base of the crucible 10 is greater than the outer diameter L4 of the side wall of the crucible 10.
[0058] In some examples, the difference between the outer diameter L3 of the base of crucible 10 and the outer diameter L4 of the side wall of crucible 10 is in the range of 10 to 30 mm. In this embodiment, by designing this part as a stepped type, the crucibles can be prevented from contacting each other tightly in the pusher kiln. On the one hand, this improves the permeability of the vent holes, allowing the alloy balls to react fully with nitrogen. On the other hand, it avoids damage caused by collisions between crucibles.
[0059] In this embodiment of the invention, by setting the cavity of the crucible to be larger at the top and smaller at the bottom in the vertical direction, the alloy balls inside the crucible cavity are easier to pour out, thereby improving the success rate of the robotic arm's one-time crucible tilting and unloading operation.
[0060] In this embodiment of the invention, by sinking the crucible into the crucible base, it is possible to ensure that the mechanical arm gripper applies uniform force to the crucible base without damaging the crucible, and also to increase the volume of the crucible cavity, increase the amount of material loaded, and improve production efficiency.
[0061] In this embodiment of the invention, by providing several nitriding vent holes on the side wall of the crucible and placing them in the lower middle part of the side wall, it is possible to prevent the side wall of the crucible from cracking and being damaged through the vent holes during the process of the robotic arm tilting the crucible to unload the material, thereby improving the service life of the crucible.
[0062] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.
[0063] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the utility model patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent application should be determined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A crucible for producing a vanadium-nitrogen alloy, characterized by, The utility model relates to a kind of air filter, including: Base; Side wall connected with the base; Cavity extended by side wall from the side away from the base to the direction close to the base, wherein the first side length of the cavity close to the base side is less than the second side length of the cavity away from the base side.
2. The crucible of claim 1, wherein The ratio of the second side length and the first side length is greater than or equal to 1.06:
1.
3. The crucible of claim 1, wherein The side wall has a plurality of air holes.
4. The crucible of claim 3, wherein The height of the cavity is H3, and the distance of any air hole in the plurality of air holes from the farthest distance of the first side length is less than or equal to 1 / 2*H3.
5. The crucible of claim 3, wherein The plurality of air holes are arranged in a matrix, and the orthogonal projection of each row of air holes on the base does not overlap.
6. The crucible of claim 3, wherein The diameter of the air hole is in the range of 10mm to 12mm.
7. The crucible of claim 1, wherein The outer wall height of the side wall is less than the inner wall height of the side wall.
8. The crucible of claim 7, wherein The ratio of the difference between the inner wall height and the outer wall height and the height of the base is less than or equal to 1:
3.
9. The crucible of claim 1, wherein The outer diameter of the base is greater than the outer diameter of the side wall.
10. The crucible of claim 1, wherein The base and the side wall are integrally formed.