Method of sizing a hot top liner and assembling a hot top
AssigneesRe-Top USA, Inc., Re-Top International Limited
InventorsCharles B. Childs, Jr., Enn Vallak, Hannes Vallak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The free energy of a metal which will fill the sinkhead of an ingot mold is calculated by assuming the dimensions of a liner sized to achieve the selected sinkhead volume and calculating the maximum temperature which the liner would achieve upon filling the sinkhead with a molten metal. The free energy is maximized until the mass of the liner is minimized at a calculated temperature less than the melting temperature of the liner. A liner is formed having dimensions corresponding to those of the calculated minimum mass liner. The liner is inserted into a support structure which will rest on the ingot mold.
Claims19
The method of assembling a hot top, comprising the steps of:
- (a) selecting the volume of a sinkhead of an ingot mold;
- (b) determining the mass, specific heat, and pouring and solidification temperatures of a metal which will fill the mold and the sinkhead;
- (c) calculating the free energy of the metal which will fill the sinkhead by assuming the dimensions of a liner sized to achieve the selected sinkhead volume and calculating the maximum temperature which the liner would achieve upon the sinkhead being filled with the molten metal and determining whether the calculated temperture exceeds the melting point of the liner;
- (d) maximizing the free energy by repeating step c until the mass of the liner is minimized at a calculated temperature less than the melting point of the liner;
- (e) forming a liner having dimensions corresponding to those of the calculated minimum mass liner;
- and,
- (f) inserting the liner into a surrounding support structure which will rest on the mold in order to position the liner.
The method of controlling the chilling of a sinkhead, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an ingot mold having an upper rest surface;
- (b) determining the volume of a sinkhead sufficient to prevent the formation of voids in a metal solidified in the ingot mold;
- (c) determining the mass, specific heat, and pouring and solidification temperatures of the metal which will fill the mold and the sinkhead;
- (d) calculating the free energy of the metal which will fill the sinkhead by sizing a liner to achieve the selected sinkhead volume and calculating the maximum temperature which the liner would achieve upon the sinkhead being filled with molten metal and determining whether the calculated temperature exceeds the melting point of the liner;
- (e) maximizing the free energy by repeating step d until the mass of the liner is minimized at a calculated temperature less than the melting point of the liner,
- (f) forming a liner having dimensions corresponding to those of the calculated minimum mass liner;
- (g) inserting the liner into a support structure;
- (h) positioning the support structure and the liner on the rest surface;
- (i) filling the mold and sinkhead with the molten metal;
- and,
- (j) covering the support structure and allowing the metal to chill.
The method of sizing a hot top liner, comprising the steps of:
- (a) selecting the volume of a sinkhead of an ingot mold;
- (b) determining the mass, specific heat, and pouring and solidification temperatures of a metal which will fill the mold and the sinkhead;
- (c) calculating the free energy of the metal which will fill the sinkhead by sizing a liner to achieve the selected sinkhead volume and calculating the maximum temperature which the liner would achieve upon the sinkhead being filled with molten metal and determining whether the calculated temperature exceeds the melting point of the liner;
- and
- (d) maximizing the free energy by repeating step c until the mass of the liner is minimized at a calculated temperature less than the melting point of the liner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.