Apparatus and method for molten metal depth detection
AssigneeMidwest Instrument Co., Inc.
InventorsJames A. Behring, William Falk
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and method for determining when the depth of molten (18) poured into a vessel (12) has reached a selected level. A conduit (22) connected to a source of pressurized gas and having an orifice (43) at its distal end (38) restricts the flow of gas out of the conduit which is positioned at a selected level in the vessel. A drop in pressure in the conduit (22) resulting from escape of compressed gas when the distal end (38) is melted by the rising molten metal is detected and signalled to a visible, audible indicator or directly to an electronic controller to discontinue pouring of metal (18) into the vessel (12).
Claims17
A method of determining when the depth of metal poured into a vessel has reached a selected level comprising:
- providing a gas flow conduit having an orifice at the distal end thereof, to restrict the flow of gas through said conduit, positioned so that the distal end of said conduit is at said selected level, said conduit being provided with means to measure and indicate the changes in pressure within said conduit,
- pouring molten metal into said vessel until, upon reaching said selected level, a portion of said conduit is melted,
- detecting a change in pressure within said conduit resulting from opening of the conduit to the atmosphere, and
- discontinuing the pouring of molten metal into said vessel upon detection of such pressure change.
Apparatus for determining when the depth of metal poured into a vessel has reached a selected level comprising:
- a source of pressurized gas,
- an gas flow conduit having its proximal end connected to said source and having an orifice at the distal end thereof to restrict the flow of gas out of said conduit, said conduit being positioned so that the distal end of said conduit at said selected level,
- means for detecting and signalling a drop in pressure within said conduit resulting from escape of compressed gas therefrom when a portion of said conduit is melted, and,
- an indicator responsive to a signal from said detecting and signalling means to indicate that the molten metal has reached said selected level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.