Mechanical auger recirculation well
OwnerChris T. VILD, Jon TIPTONinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for use in conjunction with a charge well of a furnace containing a molten metal pool into which metal chips are introduced for melting. The apparatus includes a sidewell having a pump well and a charge well. The pump well houses a molten metal pump. The charge well houses a scrap submergence device. The pump well and the charge well are in fluid communication via a passage in a bridge wall that divides the pump well from the charge well. The bridge wall defines a semi-circular end wall of the charge well. The scrap submergence device is capable of clockwise and counterclockwise rotation at variable speed.
Claims20
A system for use in conjunction with a furnace having therein a molten metal pool into which metal chips are introduced for melting, the system comprising a sidewell including a pump well and a charge well, the pump well including a molten metal pump, the charge well including a scrap submergence device, said pump well and said charge well being in fluid communication via a passage in a bridge wall that divides the pump well from the charge well, said bridge wall defining a curved end wall of the charge well, and wherein said scrap submergence device is capable of clockwise and counterclockwise rotation at variable speed, and optionally at adjustable depth.
A method for melting metal chips comprising the introduction of metal chips into a molten metal pool in a charge well of a furnace for melting therein, and including the steps of:
- providing a sidewell of a furnace comprising a pump well and a charge well, the pump well housing a molten metal pump, the charge well housing a scrap submergence device, said pump well and said charge well being in fluid communication via a passage in a bridge wall that divides the pump well from the charge well;
- providing a molten metal pool in the charge well;
- introducing metal chips into said charge well;
- operating said pump;
- and
- operating said scrap submergence device in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions to optimize dross distribution on the molten metal suitable.
A system for automatically performing a scrap submergence operation, the system comprising a sidewell including a pump well and a charge well, the pump well including a molten metal pump, the charge well including a scrap submergence device, said pump well and said charge well being in fluid communication via a passage in a bridge wall that divides the pump well from the charge well, wherein said scrap submergence device is capable of clockwise and counterclockwise rotation at variable speed, at least one sensor configured for determining dross depth on a surface of a pool of molten metal within the charge well, and a controller receiving data from the sensor and adjusting the operation of at least one of the pump and scrap submergence device based on said data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.