Method and apparatus for holding molten metal
AssigneesMitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Kawasaki Steel Corporation
InventorsKenichi Unoki, Ritsuo Hashimoto, Noriyuki Kawata, Yasuo Hukada, Chiaki Kato, Toshitane Matsukawa
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for holding molten metal in a container having an opening at the bottom thereof comprising an electromagnet for generating a horizontal magnetic field in a lower part of the molten metal in the container and a conductive block for guiding part of eddy currents induced in the molten metal by the generation of the horizontal magnetic field, to flow outside the molten metal.
Claims9
An apparatus for holding molten metal, comprising:
- magnetic field generating means for generating a horizontal magnetic field in a lower part of molten metal accommodated in a container to hold the molten metal in the container by an electromagnetic force;
- and
- a conductive block consisting of block portions provided at sites where the horizontal magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating means abruptly changes, and a connecting portion for connecting together the block portions outside the molten metal;
- wherein
- eddy currents induced in the molten metal flow outside the molten metal by passing through the block portions and connecting portion of the conductive block.
An apparatus for holding molten metal, comprising:
- a container for accommodating molten metal, said container having an opening for passage of a material at the bottom thereof;
- an electromagnet disposed at a lower part of the container to generate a horizontal magnetic field in a lower part of the molten metal;
- a conductive block comprising block portions provided in the container and close to the ends of cores of the electromagnet, and a connecting portion for connecting together the block portions outside the molten metal;
- and
- a pressure chamber connected to said opening at the bottom of the container to accommodate a gas for imparting pressure to the bottom surface of the molten metal.
An apparatus for holding molten metal, comprising:
- a container for storing molten metal, said container having an opening at the bottom thereof;
- magnetic field generating means for generating a horizontal magnetic field in a lower part of the molten metal to exert an electromagnetic force on the molten metal in the container, thereby holding the molten metal;
- a conductive block having block portions at those sites in the container where the horizontal magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating means abruptly changes, such that eddy currents are guided while flowing outside the molten metal;
- and
- an inlet portion and an outlet portion for the molten metal, said inlet and outlet portions being provided in the container outwardly of the opening and inwardly of the block portions of the conductive block.
A molten zinc plating apparatus, comprising:
- a container for storing molten zinc as molten metal, and for allowing a steel strip to be continuously passed upward through a slit provided at the bottom thereof;
- magnetic field generating means for generating a horizontal magnetic field in a lower part of the molten zinc to hold the molten zinc in the container by an electromagnetic force;
- and a conductive block consisting of block portions provided at sites where the horizontal magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating means abruptly changes, and a connecting portion for connecting together the block portions outside the molten metal;
- wherein
- eddy currents induced in the molten zinc flow outside the molten zinc by passing through the conductive block.
Continuous zinc plating facilities, comprising:
- a heat treating device for applying heat treatment to a steel strip;
- a plating apparatus for applying molten zinc plating to the strip after treatment by the heat treating device;
- and
- an alloying device for applying alloying treatment to the strip plated by the plating apparatus;
- wherein
- said plating apparatus includes:
- a container for storing molten zinc, and for allowing the strip to be continuously passed upward through an opening provided at the bottom thereof;
- magnetic field generating means for generating a horizontal magnetic field in a lower part of the molten zinc in the container;
- and
- a conductive block constructed such that eddy currents induced in the molten zinc flow outside the molten zinc.
A method for holding molten metal in a container having an opening at the bottom thereof, said method involving generating a horizontal magnetic field in a lower part of the molten metal to exert an electromagnetic force on the molten metal, thereby holding the molten metal in an aerial state;
- and guiding part of eddy currents induced in the molten metal so as to flow outside the molten metal by passing through block portions, which are provided at sites where the horizontal magnetic field abruptly changes, and which are connected together outside the molten metal, such that a downward force acting on the molten metal is diminished and the generation of Joule heat is suppressed.
A molten zinc plating apparatus for generating a horizontal magnetic field in a lower part of molten zinc in a container having an opening at the bottom thereof, such that the molten zinc is hold without its leakage from the opening of the container;
- and allowing a strip to be passed continuously from below to above through the opening;
- said apparatus including
- a core wrapped with a coil connected to an alternating current source for generating the horizontal magnetic field in the lower part of the molten metal,
- said container having a widthwise central part across the length of the container having a protrusion that protrudes downward, said protrusion having a slit-like opening at a lengthwise central part thereof for allowing the strip to pass therethrough,
- a conductive block consisting of block portions provided by being fitted into both ends of the protrusion of the container corresponding to the ends of the core where the horizontal magnetic field generated by the cores abruptly changes, and a connecting portion for connecting together the block portions outside the molten zinc, and
- a device for circulating the molten zinc in the container to the outside of the container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.