Dross compression apparatus

Abstract

A dross compression apparatus utilizes a substantially hemispheric shaped receptacle in a dross collector and a complementing compression head which is provided with ribs to form grooves in the material formed between the head and the receptacle. The material formed between the head and the receptacle is substantially a shell comprised of an inner layer of aluminum oxide and outer layers of aluminum. The grooves in the shell enable the material to be more easily processed as the shell is readily broken for crushing. The compression head may be applied more than once to the aluminum dross and may be rotated between applications causing multiple grooves and increased decanting of aluminum. The compression head is provided with a water cooling system which more rapidly cools the aluminum dross and reduces the thermite reaction. The cast steel compression head reduces the air flow to the cooling dross thereby reducing the amount of oxygen available, oxidation and the thermite reaction. The reduction of the thermite reaction in this manner maximizes the amount of aluminum recovered.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.