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US 6,585,797 B2Granted
Recirculating molten metal supply system and method
AssigneeAlcoa Inc.
InventorsMichael J. Kinosz, Thomas N. Meyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The melter furnace includes a heating chamber (16), a pump chamber (18), a degassing chamber (20), and a filter chamber (22). The pump chamber (18) is located adjacent the heating chamber (16) and houses a molten metal pump (30). The degassing chamber (20) is located adjacent and in fluid communication with the pump chamber (18), and houses a degassing mechanism (36). The filter chamber (22) is located adjacent and in fluid communication with the degassing chamber (20). The filter chamber (22) includes a molten metal filter (38). The melter furnace (12) is used to supply molten metal to an externally located holder furnace (14), which then recirculates molten metal back to the melter furnace (12).
Claims20
A molten metal supply system for supplying molten metal to a casting machine, comprising:
- a holder furnace defining a molten metal receiving chamber;
- a casting mold located above the holder furnace and defining a mold cavity for casting metal components;
- at least one molten metal injector supported from a bottom side of the casting mold and extending downward into the molten metal receiving chamber, with the injector providing fluid communication between the molten metal receiving chamber and the mold cavity, and with the injector configured to inject molten metal received into the molten metal receiving chamber into the mold cavity, and
- a melter furnace located externally adjacent the holder furnace and in fluid communication with the bolder furnace through a first conduit for supplying molten metal to the molten metal receiving chamber, and through a second conduit for recirculating molten metal from the molten metal receiving chamber to to melter furnace, with the melter furnace further comprising:
- a heating chamber in fluid communication with the molten metal receiving chamber through the second conduit for receiving molten metal recirculating back trough the second conduit from the holder furnace;
- a pump chamber located adjacent the heating chamber and housing a molten metal pump, with the pump having an inlet in fluid communication with the heating chamber and having an outlet, and with the pump configured to circulate molten metal through the molten metal supply system during operation;
- a degassing chamber located adjacent the pump chamber and housing a degassing mechanism, with the outlet of the pump in fluid communication with the degassing chamber and providing molten metal to the degassing chamber during operation of the molten metal supply system;
- and
- a filter chamber located adjacent and in fluid communication with the degassing chamber, with the filter chamber in fluid communication with the molten metal receiving chamber through the first conduit for supplying degassed and filtered molten metal to the molten metal receiving chamber during operation of the molten metal supply system,
- wherein a common wall separates the heating chamber from the pump, degassing, and filter chambers.
7 more elements
A melter furnace, comprising:
- a heating chamber configured to contain molten metal and including a heating device for heating the molten metal received in the heating chamber;
- a pump chamber located adjacent the healing chamber and housing a molten metal pump, with the pump having an inlet in fluid communication with the heating chamber and having an outlet;
- a degassing chamber located adjacent the pump chamber and housing a degassing mechanism, with the outlet of the pump in fluid communication with the degassing chamber for providing molten metal to the degassing chamber;
- and
- a filter chamber located adjacent and in fluid communication with the degassing chamber, with the filter chamber including a molten metal filter for filtering molten metal flowing through the filter chamber,
- wherein the pump is configured to circulate molten metal through the degassing chamber and filter chamber during operation of the pump, and wherein a common wall separates the heating chamber from the pump, degassing, and filter chambers.
3 more elements
A method of supplying molten metal to a casting machine, comprising:
- a casting mold defining a mold cavity for casting metal components, a holder furnace located beneath the casting mold for supplying molten metal to the mold cavity, and a melter furnace externally positioned adjacent the holder furnace for supplying molten metal to the holder furnace, the melter furnace in fluid communication with the holder furnace through a first conduit for supplying molten metal to the holder furnace, and through a second conduit for recirculating molten metal from the holder furnace to the melter furnace, with the melter furnace further comprising:
- a heating chamber configured to contain molten metal and including a heating device for heating the molten metal received in the heating chamber;
- a pump chamber located adjacent the heating chamber and housing a molten metal pump, with the pump having an inlet in fluid communication with the heating chamber and having an outlet;
- a degassing chamber located adjacent the pump chamber and housing a degassing mechanism, with the outlet of the pump in fluid communication with the degassing chamber for providing molten metal to the degassing chamber;
- and
- a filter chamber located adjacent and in fluid communication with the degassing chamber, with the filter chamber including a molten metal filter for filtering molten metal flowing through the filter chamber,
- wherein the pump is configured to circulate molten metal through the degassing chamber and filter chamber during operation, and wherein a common wall separates the heating chamber from the pump, degassing, and filter chambers;
- the method comprising steps of:
- filling the melter furnace with molten metal;
- heating molten metal in the heating chamber;
- pumping molten metal from the heating chamber to the degassing chamber and the filter chamber with the pump;
- degassing die molten metal in the degassing chamber;
- filtering the molten metal in the filter chamber;
- supplying degassed and filtered molten metal to the holder furnace through the first conduit;
- and
- continuously recirculating molten metal from the holder furnace to the heating chamber through the second conduit.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.