US 6,779,585 B2Granted

Method for controlling ladle motion to reduce aluminum oxide formation

AssigneeHonda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

InventorsMark Zumberger, Steve Pape, John David Pinkerton, Jr., Josh Edwards, Keith Bergman, Yukio Kawai

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Abstract

A method for filling a ladle cup of a ladle assembly with molten aluminum to reduce formation of aluminum oxides. The ladle cup is rotated into alignment with an axis of a ladle arm, which carries the ladle cup, such that a plane defined by the ladle cup rim is generally parallel to the ladle arm axis and the opening of the ladle cup faces parallel to a surface of the molten aluminum. The ladle cup is inserted into the bath of molten aluminum while maintained in alignment with the ladle arm axis. When the ladle cup reaches its final position within the bath of molten aluminum, the ladle cup is rotated to a desired angular orientation, which corresponds to a desired shot weight, and then is raised out of the molten aluminum while being retained in the desired angular orientation.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method for filling a ladle cup of a ladle assembly, said ladle assembly comprising a ladle arm and the ladle cup, said ladle arm defining an axis and said ladle cup defining an opening, the method comprising the steps of:

a) moving the ladle arm and ladle cup over a furnace dipwell containing a bath of molten metal, said ladle cup being disposed relative to the ladle arm such that said ladle cup opening is aligned with the ladle arm axis;
b) lowering the ladle arm and the ladle cup relative to the bath of molten metal so as to insert the ladle cup into the molten metal;
c) further lowering the ladle arm and the ladle cup until said ladle cup is filled with molten metal a desired amount;
d) rotating said ladle cup out of alignment with said ladle arm axis;
and,
e) raising said ladle arm and said ladle cup relative to the bath of molten metal so as to remove said ladle cup from said bath of molten metal.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.