Chamber for reception, Lateral division and redirection of liquid metal flow

A method for receiving, laterally dividing and redirecting a flow of liquid metal comprising;

• receiving a downward flow of liquid metal in a chamber having a generally horizontal base including a generally planar impact surface, and a first faceted sidewall generally extending upwardly from the planar impact surface and encompassing the planar impact surface to define an interior space having an upper opening;
• radially spreading the flow outwardly towards the first faceted wall;
• laterally deflecting and dividing the radial outward flow into a plurality of discrete flow patterns;
• and
• directing the flow patterns towards the apices of the facets.

A chamber for receiving a downward flow of liquid metal comprising;

• a generally horizontal base having a generally planar impact surface;
• a first faceted sidewall having a plurality of facets formed therein, the sidewall generally extending upwardly from and encompassing the planar surface to define an interior space having an upper opening for receiving the downward flow of liquid metal;
• a second wall extending inwardly and upwardly from the first faceted wall toward the upper opening, the second wall including at least one exit port to cause the molten metal flow to exit the chamber in an upwardly and outwardly direction away from the interior space;
• and
• a plurality of buttresses spaced along the first faceted wall, each of the buttresses extending between the impact surface and the second faceted wall, the buttresses forming a plurality of discrete pockets including at least one facet, the pockets being defined by the buttresses, the impact surface, the first faceted wall and the second wall.

A chamber for receiving a downward flow of liquid metal comprising;

• a generally horizontal base having a generally planar impact surface;
• a first faceted sidewall including about eight facets formed therein, the sidewall generally extending upwardly from and encompassing the planar surface to define an interior space having an upper opening for receiving the downward flow of liquid metal;
• a second wall extending inwardly and upwardly from the first faceted wall toward the upper opening;
• and
• about eight buttresses spaced along the first faceted wall, each of the buttresses extending between the impact surface and the second faceted wall, the buttresses forming about eight discrete pockets with each pocket including at least one facet, each pocket being defined by the buttresses, the impact surface, the first faceted wall and the second wall, whereby when the downward flow of liquid metal impacts the impact surface, the flow is spread radially outwardly toward the buttresses, which laterally deflect and divide the radial outward flow into at least two discrete flow patterns associated with at least two of the pockets.

A vessel for holding a volume of molten metal and having a floor and sidewalls enclosing an impact region and a drain, the vessel comprising;

• an impact pad located in the impact region for receiving a downward flow of liquid metal, the impact pad including,
• a generally horizontal base having a generally planar impact surface;
• a first faceted sidewall having a plurality of facets formed therein, the sidewall generally extending upwardly from and encompassing the planar surface to define an interior space having an upper opening for receiving the downward flow of liquid metal;
• a second wall extending inwardly and upwardly from the first faceted wall toward the upper opening;
• and
• a plurality of buttresses spaced along the first faceted wall, each of the buttresses extending between the impact surface and the second faceted wall, the buttresses forming a plurality of discrete pockets including at least one facet, the pockets being defined by the buttresses, the impact surface, the first faceted wall and the second wall.

A chamber for receiving a downward flow of liquid metal comprising;

• means for receiving a downward flow of liquid metal in a chamber having a generally horizontal base including a generally planar impact surface, and a first faceted sidewall generally extending upwardly from the planar impact surface and encompassing the planar impact surface to define an interior space having an upper opening;
• means for radially spreading the flow outwardly towards the first faceted wall;
• means for laterally deflecting and dividing the radial outward flow into a plurality of discrete flow patterns to stabilize the flow;
• and
• means for directing the flow patterns towards the apices of the facets to further stabilize the flow.

A chamber for receiving a downward flow of liquid metal comprising;

• a generally horizontal base having a generally planar impact surface;
• a first faceted sidewall having a plurality of facets formed therein, the sidewall generally extending upwardly from and encompassing the planar surface to define an interior space having an upper opening for receiving the downward flow of liquid metal;
• a second wall extending inwardly and upwardly from the first faceted wall toward the upper opening;
• and
• a plurality of buttresses spaced along the first faceted wall, each of the buttresses extending between the impact surface and the second faceted wall, the buttresses forming a plurality of discrete pockets including at least one apex or corner, the pockets being defined by the buttresses, the impact surface, the first faceted wall and the second wall.