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US 5,293,924 AGranted
Manufacture of copper rod
AssigneeASARCO Incorporated
InventorsJohn R. Hugens, Jr., Stephen L. Ferrel, Gary L. Spence
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method is disclosed for improving the continuous casting process for making copper by using a probe and analyzer which measures the gases present in the molten copper and controls the process based on the analyzer results.
Claims6
A method for making copper by continuous casting comprising:
- (a) melting copper in a furnace employing burners;
- (b) transferring the melted copper to a heated holding zone;
- (c) inserting into the molten copper a probe body comprising a gas-permeable, liquid-metal-impervious material of sufficient heat resistance to withstand immersion in the molten copper, said prove having a gas inlet to its interior and a gas outlet therefrom, the gas inlet and gas outlet being spaced from one another so that a nitrogen carrier gas passing from the inlet to the outlet traverses a substantial portion of the probe body interior for entrainment of gas diffusing to the interior of the body from the molten metal;
- (d) comparing with an analyzer instrument the entrained gas-nitrogen carrier gas mixture and the nitrogen carrier gas using electronic measuring means;
- (e) adjusting, if necessary, the fuel/air ratio of one or more of the burners based on the analyzer readings obtained when the readings reach substantial equilibrium;
- and
- (f) repeating steps (c)-(e) during the casting operation.
4 more elements
A method for making copper by continuous casting comprising:
- (a) melting copper in a shaft furnace using burners;
- (b) measuring gases in the molten copper using a probe immersed in the copper to entrain the gases therein, said probe having a gas inlet to its interior and a gas outlet therefrom, the gas inlet and gas outlet being spaced from one another so that a carrier gas passing from the inlet to the outlet entrains gas present in the molten copper;
- (c) comparing with an analyzer instrument the entrained gas-carrier gas mixture and the carrier gas using electronic measuring means;
- (d) adjusting, if necessary, the fuel/air ratio of one or more of the burners based on the equilibrium analyzer readings value;
- and
- (e) repeating steps (b)-(d) during the casting operation.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.