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US 6,868,896 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for melting titanium using a combination of plasma torches and direct arc electrodes
OwnerEdward Scott Jackson, David O. Warreninventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for optimizing melting of titanium for processing into ingots or end products. The apparatus provides a main hearth, a plurality of optional refining hearths, and a plurality of casting molds or direct molds whereby direct arc electrodes melt the titanium in the main hearth while plasma torches melt the titanium in the refining chambers and/or adjacent the molds. Each of the direct arc electrodes and plasma torches is extendable and retractable into the melting environment and moveable in a circular pivoting or side to side linear motion.
Claims50
An apparatus for optimally melting metal and metal alloys, the apparatus comprising:
- a main hearth defining a melting cavity therein with at least one overflow;
- at least one mold aligned respectively with the overflow to be in fluid communication therewith;
- at least one non-consumable direct arc electrode for selective heating;
- at least one plasma torch for selective heating;
- and
- the at least one direct arc electrode and the at least one plasma torch being disposed for heating within a single chamber;
- and the hearth and at least one mold being disposed within the chamber during heating.
4 more elements
An apparatus for optimally melting metal and metal alloys, the apparatus comprising:
- a main hearth defining a melting cavity therein with at least one overflow;
- a first mold adjacent a first end of the main hearth and aligned with a first overflow so as to be in fluid communication therewith, and a second mold adjacent a second end of the main hearth and aligned with a second overflow so as to be in fluid communication therewith;
- a first and a second direct arc electrode overhead of the main hearth for selective heating of the contents of the main hearth;
- a first plasma torch overhead of the first mold for selective heating of the contents of the first mold, and a second plasma torch overhead of the second mold for selective heating of the contents of the second mold;
- at least one of the direct arc electrodes being pivotable in a circular manner such that an ignition end thereof moves in a circle during ignition.
2 more elements
An apparatus for optimally melting metal and metal alloys, the apparatus comprising:
- a main hearth defining a melting cavity therein with at least one overflow;
- a first mold adjacent a first end of the main hearth and aligned with a first overflow so as to be in fluid communication therewith, and a second mold adjacent a second end of the main hearth and aligned with a second overflow so as to be in fluid communication therewith;
- a first and a second direct arc electrode overhead of the main hearth for selective heating of the contents of the main hearth;
- a first plasma torch overhead of the first mold for selective heating of the contents of the first mold, and a second plasma torch overhead of the second mold for selective heating of the contents of the second mold;
- at least one of the direct arc electrodes and plasma torches being moveable side to side such that an ignition end thereof moves linearly back and forth during ignition.
2 more elements
An apparatus for optimally melting metal and metal alloys, the apparatus comprising:
- a main hearth defining a melting cavity therein with a first and second overflow;
- a first refining hearth having a first refining overflow and a second refining hearth having a second refining overflow, the first refining hearth aligned respectively with the first main overflow to be in fluid communication therewith and the second refining hearth aligned respectively with the second main overflow to be in fluid communication therewith;
- a first mold and a second mold, the first mold aligned respectively with the first refining overflow to be in fluid communication therewith and the second mold aligned respectively with the second refining overflow to be in fluid communication therewith;
- at least one heating source adjacent each of the main hearth, refining hearths, and molds for selective heating of the contents of the main hearth, refining hearths and molds respectively;
- at least one non-consumable direct arc electrode adjacent the main hearth for selective heating of the contents of the main hearth;
- and
- at least one plasma torch adjacent each of the refining hearths and each of the molds for selective heating of the contents thereof.
4 more elements
An apparatus for optimally melting metal and metal alloys, the apparatus comprising:
- a main hearth defining a melting cavity therein with a first and second overflow;
- a first refining hearth having a first refining overflow and a second refining hearth having a second refining overflow, the first refining hearth aligned respectively with the first main overflow to be in fluid communication therewith and the second refining hearth aligned respectively with the second main overflow to be in fluid communication therewith;
- a first mold and a second mold, the first mold aligned respectively with the first refining overflow to be in fluid communication therewith and the second mold aligned respectively with the second refining overflow to be in fluid communication therewith;
- at least one direct arc electrode adjacent the main hearth for selective heating of the contents of the main hearth;
- at least one of the direct arc electrodes being pivotable in a circular manner such that an ignition end thereof moves in a circle during ignition;
- and
- at least one plasma torch adjacent each of the refining hearths and each of the molds for selective heating of the contents thereof.
4 more elements
An apparatus for optimally melting metal and metal alloys, the apparatus comprising:
- a main hearth defining a melting cavity therein with a first and second overflow;
- a first refining hearth having a first refining overflow and a second refining hearth having a second refining overflow, the first refining hearth aligned respectively with the first main overflow to be in fluid communication therewith and the second refining hearth aligned respectively with the second main overflow to be in fluid communication therewith;
- a first mold and a second mold, the first mold aligned respectively with the first refining overflow to be in fluid communication therewith and the second mold aligned respectively with the second refining overflow to be in fluid communication therewith;
- at least one direct arc electrode adjacent the main hearth for selective heating of the contents of the main hearth;
- and
- at least one plasma torch adjacent each of the refining hearths and each of the molds for selective heating of the contents thereof;
- at least one of the direct arc electrodes and plasma torches being moveable side to side such that an ignition end thereof moves linearly back and forth during ignition.
4 more elements
An apparatus for optimally melting metal and metal alloys, the apparatus comprising:
- a main hearth defining a melting cavity therein with a first and second overflow;
- a first refining hearth having a first refining overflow and a second refining hearth having a second refining overflow, the first refining hearth aligned respectively with the first main overflow to be in fluid communication therewith and the second refining hearth aligned respectively with the second main overflow to be in fluid communication therewith;
- a first mold and a second mold, the first mold aligned respectively with the first refining overflow to be in fluid communication therewith and the second mold aligned respectively with the second refining overflow to be in fluid communication therewith;
- at least one heating source adjacent each of the main hearth, refining hearths, and molds for selective heating of the contents of the main hearth, refining hearths and molds respectively;
- at least one direct arc electrode adjacent each of the main hearth and refining hearths for selective heating of the contents of the main hearth and refining hearths;
- and
- at least one plasma torch adjacent each of the molds for selective heating of the contents thereof.
4 more elements
An apparatus for optimally melting metal and metal alloys, the apparatus comprising:
- a main hearth defining a melting cavity therein with a first and second overflow;
- a first refining hearth having a first refining overflow and a second refining hearth having a second refining overflow, the first refining hearth aligned respectively with the first main overflow to be in fluid communication therewith and the second refining hearth aligned respectively with the second main overflow to be in fluid communication therewith;
- a first mold and a second mold, the first mold aligned respectively with the first refining overflow to be in fluid communication therewith and the second mold aligned respectively with the second refining overflow to be in fluid communication therewith;
- at least one heating source adjacent each of the main hearth, refining hearths, and molds for selective heating of the contents of the main hearth, refining hearths and molds respectively;
- at least one direct arc electrode adjacent each of the main hearth and the molds for selective heating of the contents of the main hearth and the molds, respectively;
- and
- at least one plasma torch adjacent each of the refining hearths for selective heating of the contents thereof.
4 more elements
An apparatus for optimally melting metal and metal alloys, the apparatus comprising:
- a main hearth defining a melting cavity therein with a first and second overflow;
- a first refining hearth having a first refining overflow and a second refining hearth having a second refining overflow, the first refining hearth aligned respectively with the first main overflow to be in fluid communication therewith and the second refining hearth aligned respectively with the second main overflow to be in fluid communication therewith;
- a first mold and a second mold, the first mold aligned respectively with the first refining overflow to be in fluid communication therewith and the second mold aligned respectively with the second refining overflow to be in fluid communication therewith;
- at least one heating source adjacent each of the main hearth, refining hearths, and molds for selective heating of the contents of the main hearth, refining hearths and molds respectively;
- and
- a feed chute disposed above the main hearth for adding material to the main hearth melting cavity;
- the feed chute being movable from side to side between a position distal the first overflow and a position distal the second overflow.
4 more elements
An apparatus for optimally melting metal and metal alloys, the apparatus comprising:
- a main hearth defining a melting cavity therein with a first and second overflow;
- the main hearth being tiltable in a first direction to allow pouring from the first overflow and tiltable in a second direction to allow pouring from the second overflow;
- a first refining hearth having a first refining overflow and a second refining hearth having a second refining overflow, the first refining hearth aligned respectively with the first main overflow to be in fluid communication therewith and the second refining hearth aligned respectively with the second main overflow to be in fluid communication therewith;
- a first mold and a second mold, the first mold aligned respectively with the first refining overflow to be in fluid communication therewith and the second mold aligned respectively with the second refining overflow to be in fluid communication therewith;
- and
- at least one heating source adjacent each of the main hearth, refining hearths, and molds for selective heating of the contents of the main hearth, refining hearths and molds respectively.
3 more elements
An apparatus for optimally melting metal and metal alloys, the apparatus comprising:
- a main hearth defining a melting cavity therein with at least one overflow;
- at least one mold aligned respectively with the overflow to be in fluid communication therewith;
- at least one non-consumable direct arc electrode for selective heating;
- at least one plasma torch for selective heating;
- and
- the apparatus being free of electron beam heat sources.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.