# US 11,998,975 B2 · Grain refining with direct vibrational coupling > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,998,975 B2 - Document ID: US11998975B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/648,667 - Filed: 2022-01-22 - Published: 2022-08-11 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-08 - Assignees: Southwire Company - Applicants: Southwire Company, LLC - Inventors: Kevin Scott Gill; Michael Caleb Powell; Victor Frederic Rundquist; Venkata Kiran Manchiraju; Roland Earl Guffey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998975B2 ## CPC - B22D 11/115: by using magnetic fields - B22D 11/003: {Aluminium alloys} - B22D 11/10: Supplying or treating molten metal (B22D41/00 takes precedence) - B22D 11/114: by using agitating or vibrating means (B22D11/117 takes 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 conveyor having a receptor plate in contact with molten metal during transport of the molten metal. The receptor plate extends from an entrance where molten metal enters onto the receptor plate to an exit where molten metal exits the receptor plate. The molten metal conveyor has at least one vibrational energy source which supplies vibrational energy directly to the receptor plate in contact with molten metal. A corresponding method for forming a metal product includes providing molten metal onto a molten conveyor; cooling the molten metal by control of a cooling medium flowing through a cooling passage in the or attached to the conveyor; and coupling vibrational energy directly into a receptor plate in contact with the molten metal on the conveyor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A molten metal conveyor comprising: a receptor plate in contact with molten metal during transport of the molten metal; said receptor plate extending from an entrance where molten metal enters onto the receptor plate to an exit where molten metal exits the receptor plate; and at least one vibrational energy source which supplies vibrational energy directly to the receptor plate in contact with molten metal; wherein the at least one vibrational energy source comprises a plurality of transducers arranged in an ordered pattern on the receptor plate having a higher density of said transducers at an outlet of the receptor plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The conveyor of claim 1, wherein said receptor plate comprises a cooling channel for passage of a cooling medium. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The conveyor of claim 2, wherein said cooling medium comprises at least one of water, gas, liquid metal, liquid nitrogen, and engine oil. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The conveyor of claim 2, wherein said cooling channel is within the receptor plate or said cooling channel comprises a conduit attached to the receptor plate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The conveyor of claim 1, further comprising a blower providing gas flow to cool the receptor plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The conveyor of claim 1, further comprising an assembly which mounts said receptor plate in relationship to a casting wheel of a casting mill or to a tundish supplying molten metal to a mold. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The conveyor of claim 1, wherein at least one vibrational energy source comprises at least one of an ultrasonic transducer, a magnetostrictive transducer, and a mechanically driven vibrator providing vibrational energy directly to the receptor plate in contact with molten metal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The conveyor of claim 1, wherein the vibration energy provided to said receptor plate is in a range of frequencies up to 400 kHz. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The conveyor of claim 1, wherein the receptor plate comprises at least one or more of niobium, a niobium alloy, titanium, a titanium alloy, tantalum, a tantalum alloy, copper, a copper alloy, rhenium, a rhenium alloy, steel, molybdenum, a molybdenum alloy, stainless steel, a ceramic, a composite, or a metal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The conveyor of claim 1, wherein the at least one vibrational energy source comprises a piezoelectric transducer element attached to the receptor plate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The conveyor of claim 10, an ultrasonic booster coupled to the piezoelectric transducer element attached to the receptor plate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The conveyor of claim 1, wherein the at least one vibrational energy source comprises a magnetostrictive transducer element attached to the receptor plate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The conveyor of claim 1, further comprising an ultrasonic degasser inserted in a molten metal flow channel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The conveyor of claim 1, wherein the receptor plate has a thickness between 1.5 cm and 2 cm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The conveyor of claim 1, wherein the receptor plate is disposed above a casting wheel and provides the molten metal to a trough in the casting wheel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The conveyor of claim 1, wherein the receptor plate comprises a lateral width between 2.5 cm and 300 cm. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A casting mill comprising: a casting mold configured to cool molten metal, and the conveyor of claim 1.