# US 5,861,121 A · Chamber for reception, Lateral division and redirection of liquid metal flow > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,861,121 A - Document ID: US5861121A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/839,038 - Filed: 1997-04-23 - Granted: 1999-01-19 - Earliest claimed: 1997-04-23 - Assignees: PSC Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Lawrence J. Heaslip; James D. Dorricott - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5861121A ## CPC - B22D 41/003: {with impact pads} - B22D: CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES (shaping of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29C; metallurgical processing, selection of substances to be added to metal C21, C22) ## Abstract A chamber for receiving a downward flow of liquid metal includes a generally horizontal base having a generally planar impact surface. A first faceted sidewall having a plurality of facets formed therein, generally extends upwardly from and encompasses the planar surface to define an interior space. The interior space has an upper opening for receiving the downward flow of liquid metal. A second wall extends inwardly and upwardly from the first faceted wall toward the upper opening. A plurality of buttresses are spaced along the first faceted wall. Each of the buttresses extends between the impact surface and the second faceted wall. The buttresses form a plurality of discrete pockets including at least one facet. The pockets are defined by the buttresses, the impact surface, the first faceted wall and the second wall. The buttresses laterally deflect and divide the radial outward flow into a plurality of discrete flow patterns associated with the plurality of pockets. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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 facet, the pockets being defined by the buttresses, the impact surface, the first faceted wall and the second wall. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The chamber of claim 1, whereby the chamber is constructed and arranged so that 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 a plurality of discrete flow patterns associated with the plurality of pockets. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The chamber of claim 1, wherein the buttresses laterally deflect the discrete flow patterns towards the facets. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The chamber of claim 2, wherein the discrete flow patterns are directed out of the interior space in an upwardly and outwardly direction away from the downward flow of liquid metal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The chamber of claim 1, including a third wall defining the upper opening of the interior space, the third wall extending generally upwardly from the second wall. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The chamber of claim 1, wherein the first faceted wall is outwardly and upwardly angled at an angle greater than about 90.degree. from the planar impact surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The chamber of claim 6, wherein the first faceted wall is angled at an angle between about 90.degree. and 120.degree. from the planar impact surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The chamber of claim 1, wherein the second wall extends from the first faceted wall at an angle of about 45.degree. to 135.degree.. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The chamber of claim 8, wherein the second wall extends from the first faceted wall at an angle of about 90.degree.. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The chamber of claim 1, wherein the third wall extends from the second wall at an angle of about 45.degree. to 150.degree.. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The chamber of claim 10, wherein the third wall extends from the second wall at an angle of about 125.degree.. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The chamber of claim 1, wherein the first faceted wall includes about 4-10 facets. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The chamber of claim 12, wherein the first faceted wall includes about eight facets. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The chamber of claim 1, wherein the interior space includes about 4-10 pockets. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The chamber of claim 14, wherein the interior space includes about eight pockets. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The chamber of claim 1, wherein the first faceted wall includes about 4-10 buttresses. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The chamber of claim 16, wherein the first faceted wall includes about eight buttresses. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The chamber of claim 13, wherein the first faceted wall includes about eight buttresses forming about eight discrete pockets, each of the pockets including at least one facet. ### Claim 19 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. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of redirecting the flow patterns out of the upper opening in an upwardly and outwardly direction away from the incoming flow of liquid metal. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of laterally deflecting and dividing the radial outward flow into a plurality of discrete pockets. ### Claim 22 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. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The chamber of claim 22, whereby the chamber is constructed and arranged so that 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 a plurality of discrete flow patterns associated with the plurality of pockets. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The chamber of claim 22, whereby the buttresses laterally deflect the flow patterns towards the facets. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The chamber of claim 22, wherein the first faceted wall is outwardly and upwardly angled at an angle greater than about 90.degree. from the planar impact surface. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The chamber of claim 25, wherein the first faceted wall is angled at an angle between about 90.degree. and 120.degree. from the planar impact surface. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The chamber of claim 22, wherein the second wall extends from the first faceted wall at an angle of about 45.degree. to 135.degree.. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The chamber of claim 27, wherein the second wall extends from the first faceted wall at an angle of about 90.degree.. ### Claim 29 (depends on 22) The chamber of claim 22, wherein the third wall extends from the second wall at an angle of about 45.degree. to 150.degree.. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The chamber of claim 29, wherein the third wall extends from the second wall at an angle of about 125.degree.. ### Claim 31 (depends on 22) The chamber of claim 22, wherein the first faceted wall includes about 4-10 facets. ### Claim 32 (depends on 22) The chamber of claim 22, wherein the first faceted wall includes about 4-10 sides. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The chamber of claim 31, wherein the first faceted wall includes about eight facets. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) The chamber of claim 32, wherein the first faceted wall includes about eight sides. ### Claim 35 (depends on 22) The chamber of claim 22, wherein the interior space includes about 4-10 pockets. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The chamber of claim 35, wherein the interior space includes about eight pockets. ### Claim 37 (depends on 22) The chamber of claim 22, wherein the first faceted wall includes about 4-10 buttresses. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The chamber of claim 37, wherein the first faceted wall includes about eight buttresses. ### Claim 39 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. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The chamber of claim 39, whereby the chamber is constructed and arranged so that 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 one flow pattern associated with each of the eight pockets. ### Claim 41 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. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The vessel of claim 41, whereby the impact pad is constructed and arranged so that 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 a plurality of discrete flow patterns associated with the plurality of pockets. ### Claim 43 (depends on 41) The vessel of claim 41, whereby the buttresses laterally deflect the flow patterns towards the facets. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The vessel of claim 43, wherein the flow patterns are directed out of the interior space in an upwardly and outwardly direction away from the downward flow of liquid metal. ### Claim 45 (depends on 42) The vessel of claim 42, including a third wall defining the upper opening of the interior space, the third wall extending generally upwardly from the second wall. ### Claim 46 (depends on 42) The vessel of claim 42, wherein the vessel is a tundish. ### Claim 47 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. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The chamber of claim 47, further comprising means for redirecting the flow patterns out of the upper opening in an upwardly and outwardly direction away from the downward flow of liquid metal. ### Claim 49 (depends on 47) The chamber of claim 47, further comprising means for laterally deflecting and dividing the radial outward flow into a plurality of discrete pockets. ### Claim 50 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. ### Claim 51 (depends on 50) The chamber of claim 50, wherein the first faceted sidewall includes at least two facets. ### Claim 52 (depends on 50) The chamber of claim 50, wherein there are at least two buttresses spaced along the first faceted sidewall.