# US 10,441,999 B2 · Ultrasonic grain refining > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,999 B2 - Document ID: US10441999B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/289,735 - Filed: 2016-10-10 - Published: 2017-01-26 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-09 - Assignees: Hans Tech, LLC - Applicants: Hans Tech, LLC - Inventors: Qingyou Han; Lu Shao; Clause Xu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441999B2 ## CPC - B22D 27/08: Shaking, vibrating, or turning of moulds - B22D 1/007: {Treatment of the fused masses in the supply runners (B22D1/002, B22D1/005 take precedence)} - B22D 11/003: {Aluminium alloys} - B22D 11/103: Distributing the molten metal, e.g. using runners, floats, distributors - B22D 11/114: by using agitating or vibrating means (B22D11/117 takes precedence) - B22D 11/117: by treating with gases (B22D11/118, B22D11/119 take precedence) - B22D 11/141: {for vertical casting} - B22D 11/144: {with a rotating mould} - B22D 11/22: for cooling cast stock or mould - B22D 21/007: {with low melting point, e.g. Al 659 degrees C, Mg 650 degrees C} - B22D 30/00: Cooling castings, not restricted to casting processes covered by a single main group (accessories for cooling cast stock in continuous casting of metals B22D11/124; controlling or regulating processes or operations for cooling cast stock or mould in continuous casting of metals B22D11/22; chill casting B22D15/00) - B22D 35/04: into moulds, e.g. base plates, runners - B22D 35/06: Heating or cooling equipment - B22D 37/00: Controlling or regulating the pouring of molten metal from a casting melt-holding vessel ({B22D11/18,} B22D39/00, B22D41/00 take precedence) - B22D: CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES (shaping of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29C; metallurgical processing, selection of substances to be added to metal C21, C22) ## Abstract A molten metal processing device including a molten metal containment structure for reception and transport of molten metal along a longitudinal length thereof. The device further includes a cooling unit for the containment structure including a cooling channel for passage of a liquid medium therein, and an ultrasonic probe disposed in relation to the cooling channel such that ultrasonic waves are coupled through the liquid medium in the cooling channel and through the molten metal containment structure into the molten metal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A molten metal processing device comprising: a molten metal containment structure for reception and transport of molten metal along a direction of transport; a cooling unit for cooling the containment structure, the cooling unit including 1) a cooling channel for passage of a liquid cooling medium therein and 2) a refractory member disposed between the molten metal and the liquid cooling medium; an ultrasonic probe attached to a wall defining the cooling channel and coupling ultrasonic waves through the liquid cooling medium and through the refractory member into the molten metal, and wherein the ultrasonic probe is disposed in the cooling channel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the cooling channel provides cooling to the molten metal so that the molten metal adjacent to the cooling channel reaches sub-liquidus temperature. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the containment structure comprises side walls containing the molten metal and a bottom plate including the refractory member contacting the molten metal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the refractory member comprises at least one of niobium, or an alloy of niobium. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the refractory member comprises a ceramic. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the ceramic comprises a silicon nitride ceramic. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein the silicon nitride ceramic comprises a silica alumina nitride. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the side walls and the bottom plate comprise different plates of different materials. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the containment structure comprises a niobium structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the containment structure comprises a copper structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the containment structure comprises a steel structure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the containment structure comprises a ceramic. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the ceramic, comprises a silicon nitride ceramic. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13, wherein the silicon nitride ceramic comprises a silica alumina nitride. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the containment structure comprises a material having a melting point greater than that of the molten metal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the containment structure comprises a different material than that of the cooling channel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the containment structure includes a downstream end having a configuration to deliver said molten metal into a mold. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the mold comprises a casting-wheel mold. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the mold comprises a vertical casting mold. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the mold comprises a stationary mold. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the containment structure comprises a refractory material. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The device of claim 21, wherein the refractory material comprises at least one of copper, niobium, niobium and molybdenum, tantalum, tungsten, and rhenium, and alloys thereof. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The device of claim 22, wherein the refractory material comprises one or more of silicon, oxygen, or nitrogen. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The device of claim 23, wherein the refractory material comprises a steel alloy. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic probe has an operational frequency between 5 and 40 kHz. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the wall defining the cooling channel forms a bottom of the cooling channel, and the cooling channel is located beneath an underside of the containment structure. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) A system for forming a metal product, comprising: the molten metal processing device of claim 1; and a controller including data inputs and control outputs, and programmed with one or more control algorithms which control at least one of transporting the molten metal, cooling the molten metal, and coupling the ultrasonic waves into the molten metal. ### Claim 28 A system for forming a metal product, comprising: means for transporting molten metal along a direction of transport; means for cooling the molten metal by contact of a liquid cooling medium with a refractory member in contact with the molten metal; and means for coupling ultrasonic waves first through the liquid cooling medium and then through the refractory member into the molten metal; and a controller including data inputs and control outputs, and programmed with one or more control algorithms which control at least one of transporting the molten metal, cooling the molten metal, and coupling the ultrasonic waves into the molten metal. ### Claim 29 A molten metal processing device comprising: a molten metal containment structure for reception and transport of molten metal along a direction of transport; a cooling unit for cooling the containment structure, the cooling unit including 1) a cooling channel for passage of a liquid cooling medium therein and 2) a refractory member disposed between the molten metal and the liquid cooling medium; an ultrasonic probe attached to a wall defining the cooling channel and coupling ultrasonic waves through the liquid cooling medium and through the refractory member into the molten metal, and wherein the wall defining the cooling channel forms a bottom of the cooling channel, and the cooling channel is located beneath an underside of the containment structure.