Batch charge conveying systems for electric induction furnaces
AssigneeInductotherm Corp.
InventorsTED HAINES, SATYEN N. PRABHU, NIKITA SKORODINSKI
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A batch charge conveying system is provided for multiple electric induction furnaces where each one of the multiple furnaces has a separate charge conveying apparatus. An assembled batch charge is loaded on a single assembled batch charge transport apparatus that selectively delivers the assembled batch charge to a separate charge conveying apparatus associated with one of the multiple electric induction furnaces.
Claims6
A batch charge conveying system for two or more electric induction furnaces, the batch charge conveying system comprising:
- a separate charge conveying apparatus for conveying an assembled batch charge to each one of the two or more electric induction furnaces, the separate charge conveying apparatus having a conveying charge load end and a furnace charge load end;
- and
- a single assembled batch charge transport apparatus for receiving a selected charge materials forming the assembled batch charge on the single assembled batch charge transport apparatus, the single assembled batch charge transport apparatus having an assembled batch charge transport driver system arranged to move the single assembled batch charge transport apparatus with the assembled batch charge to a conveyor charge loading station adjacent to the conveying charge load end of one of the separate charge conveying apparatus for transfer of the assembled batch charge to the one of the separate charge conveying apparatus.
A method of conveying an assembled batch furnace charge to one of a separate charge conveying apparatus for each one of a plurality of electric induction furnaces, the method comprising sequentially performing the following steps:
- (a) loading an assembled batch charge onto a single assembled batch charge transport apparatus at a batch charge loading station;
- (b) moving the single assembled batch charge transport apparatus with the assembled batch charge to a selected one of a separate batch charge loading station associated with each of the separate charge conveying apparatus;
- (c) transferring the assembled batch charge on the single assembled batch charge transport apparatus input position to the separate charge conveying apparatus at the selected one of the separate batch charge loading station to form an unloaded single assembled batch charge transport apparatus;
- and
- (d) moving the unloaded single assembled batch charge transport apparatus to the batch charge loading station and sequentially repeating steps (a) through (c) at the remaining separate batch charge loading stations associated with each of the remaining separate charge conveying apparatus to optimize process time when repeatedly melting, melt heating, and melt drawing in each of the plurality of electric induction furnaces with charging each of the plurality of electric induction furnaces with a single assembled batch charge transport apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.