US 4,345,743 A · Means and method for containing flowing or standing molten metal

Abstract

Molten metal, such as aluminum, is held within rigid refractory lining means beneath, above and alongside the metal while heaters keep the outside of the lining means at a predetermined temperature desired for the metal, the heaters being surrounded by thermal insulation and the whole being surrounded by a fluid-cooled support. An unusually effective embodiment is pipe, with a tubular refractory liner to carry flowing metal, surrounded by sheathed heating elements controlled to keep the exterior of the tube at least at about the predetermined temperature, with the thermal insulation wrapped around the heaters and the enclosing support being a water-jacketed steel pipe. The operation is essentially adiabatic with respect to the refractory liner, delivering the molten metal essentially at its original temperature, with unusual saving of heat energy. When the heated pipeline has been drained, only easily removed, paper-thin skulls of solid metal remain.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method of containing molten metal, comprising:

a. disposing the molten metal, at a predetermined temperature value, in a predetermined space while
b. maintaining refractory lining material beneath, above and alongside the metal, in defining relation to said space, to surround the molten metal, and while
c. supplying heat to substantially all exterior surfaces of said lining material, and
d. controlling said supply of heat to maintain the temperature of said exterior surfaces at least at about said predetermined value;
the aforesaid method being one in which:
e. at a later time molten metal is drained from said space, to empty the space, and in which
f. during said later drainage of metal from the space, said supply of heat to the exterior surfaces of the lining material is maintained to keep said exterior surfaces at said predetermined temperature value until said metal has substantially all been drained away, whereby metal thereafter remaining and solidifying on the refractory lining material is at most a paper-thin layer.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Means and method for containing flowing or standing molten metal

Life of this patent

Means and method for containing flowing or standing molten metal

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10