Abstract: An immersion probe includes an elongated probe body having an axis, an external surface and a first end for immersion into a bath of molten metal, the molten metal bath having a slag layer on the upper surface thereof. The first end of the probe body includes a device for detecting a characteristic of the molten metal. The immersion probe further includes a chill member movably supported by and at least partially surrounding a portion of the external surface of the probe body. The chill member is freely axially movable with respect to the probe body. A buoyancy member engages the chill member. The buoyancy member has a density such that upon immersion of the first end of the probe into the molten metal bath the chill member moves axially with respect to the probe body so that the chill member is positioned within the slag layer for chilling and collecting a slag sample. One or more stop members may be provided on the probe body for limiting movement of the chill member.

Abstract: Immersion samplers for the molten metals have a tubular sample chamber made of quartz glass or another refractory material with an inlet opening on the one end and an end, lying opposite to the inlet opening, which is mounted in a cardboard tube. An immersion sampler with a simple construction which makes possible sampling at low metal inlet velocity while preventing the formation of pinholes and pores in the sample, comprises an inlet opening for filling the sample chamber exclusively by ferrostatic pressure, the inlet having an open cross-sectional area compared to the cross-sectional area of the sample chamber directly behind the inlet opening, looking counter to the immersion direction, which is so sized that the filling velocity of the sample chamber based on ferrostatic pressure is at a maximum one fifth of the filling velocity at an inlet opening corresponding to the cross sectional area of the sample chamber directly behind the inlet opening.

Abstract: A sampler for molten metal has a carrier body, in which a sample chamber and a prechamber, connected to the latter in a sealed manner via an inflow opening, are arranged one behind the other along the axis of the carrier body, the prechamber having an inlet duct passing through the carrier body. In order to provide a sampler that can be assembled easily and reliably, even with larger manufacturing tolerances, and that allows easy removal of the sample after sampling, the sample chamber is held axially against the prechamber by means of a spring element.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring temperatures in molten metals are known with a thermocouple arranged in a closed-end ceramic tube, wherein the junction of the thermocouple is located near the closed end of the tube, and with an outer protective casing which surrounds the closed-end tube and forms an annulus between the closed-end tube and the inner surface of the protective casing, the protective casing being substantially refractory metal oxide and graphite. To create a temperature measuring apparatus in which the thermocouple is protected by simple means from chemical destruction and thereby increases the life expectancy of the thermocouple, the annulus is substantially filled with a metal oxide powder and an oxygen-reducing means, the proportion of the oxygen-reducing means being approximately 5% by volume to approximately 95% by volume.

Abstract: An immersion sensor for molten metals has an electrically conducting support pin, whose one end is mounted in a refractory mounting material, and whose other free end has a first coating of a reference material and on top of this a second coating of a solid electrolyte material. The support pin has a third coating of a refractory material in the area of its mounted end, and this third coating on the one side extends into the mounting material, and on the other side extends into the solid electrolyte material. In order to obtain a quick reading and a stable EMF-value, the solid electrolyte material covers at least the end area of refractory coating nearest the free end of the support pin. A process for the manufacture of an intermediate for the immersion sensor applies the various coating materials of the immersion sensor in the order given above.

Abstract: The present invention is a device for measuring the temperature of a molten metal. The device includes a thermocouple element, a housing consisting of a heat-resistant material and a retainer member for receiving the thermocouple element. The retainer member has an open end and a closed end. The thermocouple element has a hot junction located proximate the closed end of the retainer member. The retainer member is positioned within the housing and is smaller in size than the housing to define a cavity therebetween. The cavity is substantially filled by a protective material which includes a metal oxide component and an oxygen reducing component.