System and method to feed mold with molten metal
AssigneeMolten Metal Equipment Innovations, LLC
InventorPaul V. Cooper
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for filling a mold with molten aluminum includes a molten metal pump, a vessel configured to contain molten metal, a mold for receiving molten metal, and a conduit between the vessel and the mold. Molten metal is pumped in the vessel until it reaches a level at which it flows through the conduit and into the mold. The flow of molten metal into the mold is stabilized to maintain a level of molten metal in the mold. A skin of solid metal forms between the mold and the conduit, at which time the pumping of molten metal can cease. The mold with solid metal in it can be moved.
Claims25
A system for placing molten aluminum into a mold, the system comprising:
- (a) a vessel having a first chamber and a second chamber;
- a dividing wall separating the first chamber and the second chamber, the dividing wall having a first height H1 and a first opening below the first height H1;
- wherein the second chamber has a second wall with a height H2, wherein the second wall comprises a second opening having a second height H3 that is greater than the height of the first opening, lower than height H2, and lower than the height H1;
- (b) a molten metal pump in the first chamber;
- (c) a mold outside of the vessel and above the second height H3, the mold having a cavity, a bottom surface at a fourth height H4 that is greater than height H3 and greater than height H2, a top surface having a fifth height H5, and a mold opening at height H4;
- and
- (d) a conduit having a first end connected to the second opening and a second end connected to the mold opening, wherein the conduit extends horizontally from the second opening and extends upwards to connect to the mold opening and there is no structure other than the conduit between the first end of the conduit and the second end of the conduit;
- wherein when the pump is operated it is configured to move molten metal from the first chamber through the first opening and into the second chamber, through the second opening, and through the conduit and into the mold cavity.
A system for transferring molten metal to a mold, the system comprising:
- (a) a vessel configured to hold molten metal, wherein the vessel comprises a vessel wall having a height H2 that has an opening formed therein, wherein the opening has a height H3 that is less than height H2;
- (b) a conduit having (i) a first end connected to the opening, extending horizontally from the opening and in fluid communication with the vessel, and (ii) a second end connected to a mold having a bottom with a height H4 and a top with a height H5, wherein H3 is less than height H4 and height H5, and height H4 is less than height H5, wherein there is no structure other than the conduit between the first end of the conduit and the second end of the conduit;
- and
- (c) a molten metal pump in the vessel, wherein the molten metal pump comprises an outlet that is in fluid communication with the opening in the vessel wall and that is configured to pump molten metal through the opening, through the opening with a height H3, through the conduit, and into the mold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.