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US 3,996,412 AGranted
Aluminum melting furnace
AssigneeFrank W. Schaefer, Inc.
InventorsCarl W. D. Schaefer, Richard L. Schaefer, Gordon F. Kennedy
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AssigneeFrank W. Schaefer, Inc.
InventorsCarl W. D. Schaefer, Richard L. Schaefer, Gordon F. Kennedy
Estimating the term…
An electrically energized aluminum melting furnace comprises a vessel for supporting molten aluminum and a roof and upper wall structure cooperating with side walls of the vessel to define a heating chamber above the molten aluminum. A plurality of unshielded resistance heating elements are supported by the roof and upper wall structure above the molten aluminum. The molten aluminum has access through a submerged opening to a charging well to which unmelted aluminum is periodically charged without danger that molten aluminum will splash upon the heating elements. Heat conducted from the heating chamber through the body of molten aluminum residing in the vessel is utilized to melt in the charging well the aluminum charged thereto. The melted aluminum in the charging well is permitted to flow through the heating chamber and through a submerged opening to a hot metal well from which hot metal may be withdrawn by any of numerous techniques. The heating chamber is so arranged that an oxide skin is preserved at the surface of the molten aluminum residing within the heating chamber, the oxide skin effecting an efficient transfer of radiant energy received from the resistance heating elements to the molten aluminum. The aforementioned roof and upper wall structure is rested upon furnace walls so as to allow a vertical growth of the furnace walls.
In an aluminum melting furnace, a vessel having a floor and side walls for accumulating molten aluminum, arch means traversing said vessel, said arch means having a lower portion spaced above said floor and adapted for submersion in molten aluminum accumulated in said vessel, said arch means by submersion in accumulated molten aluminum dividing said vessel into at least first and second wells interconnected by molten aluminum underflowing said arch means, means cooperating with said vessel, said arch means and the molten aluminum within said first well defining a closed heating chamber above and in communication with said first well, said second well disposed outside said heating chamber, and silicon carbide electrical resistance means supported in said heating chamber above the level to which molten aluminum accumulates in said vessel for radiating sufficient thermal energy directly to the surface of the molten aluminum accumulated in said first well that unmelted aluminum charged to said second well may be melted in said second well by thermal energy conducted from said first to said second well through molten aluminum underlying said arch means.
An aluminum melting furnace comprising:
The method of melting aluminum in a furnace of the type having a vessel containing molten aluminum, having an arch submerged in said molten aluminum and partitioning said vessel into first and second wells interconnected by molten aluminum passing under said arch, and having housing means essentially enclosing a chamber above and in communication with the first of said wells;
The method of melting aluminum in a furnace of the type having a vessel containing molten aluminum, having an arch submerged in said molten aluminum and partitioning said vessel into first and second wells interconnected by molten aluminum passing under said arch, and having housing means essentially enclosing a heating chamber above and in communication with the first of said wells;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.