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AssigneePremelt Systems, Inc.
InventorLarry D. Areaux
Estimating the term…
Mass flow gravity feed furnace charger apparatus includes (1) a charge-well cover having an aperture and (2) an essentially vertical conduit for forming a substantially vertically-oriented column of metal chips or scrap within and above the aperture, and (3) structure for bringing both (1) and (2) into position above a charge well. The conduit is rapidly moveable up and down to force the metal chips or scrap into molten metal in the charge well even when the dross level at the surface of the molten metal is considerable, so that the apparatus and corresponding method permit charging when gravity feed alone is not sufficient or sufficiently rapid. In a preferred embodiment, the conduit has an interior surface provided with gripping means to assist with the downward movement of metal chips or scrap into the molten metal in the charge well when the up and down motion of the conduit is in effect.
Mass flow gravity feed furnace charger apparatus for use in conjunction with the charge well of a metal-melting furnace and comprising
In a method of feeding metal chips or scrap into a mass of molten metal in the charge well of a metal melting furnace by bringing charge-well cover means having an aperture therein into place atop said molten metal mass in said charge well, bringing conduit means into place above said aperture and within said aperture, and providing a column of metal chips or scrap within said conduit means for feeding downwardly into said molten metal mass, the improvement comprising moving said conduit means vertically upwardly and downwardly within said aperture for shaking down metal chips or scrap from said column into said charge well.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.