Back to results
US 6,904,955 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for alternating pouring from common hearth in plasma furnace
AssigneeLectrotherm, Inc.
InventorsEdward Scott Jackson, David O. Warren
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for alternating pouring into molds, casts or refining hearths from a common hearth in a furnace. The apparatus provides a main hearth, a plurality of optional refining hearths, and a plurality of casting molds or direct molds whereby the refining hearths and molds define at least two separate ingot making lines. The main hearth alternatively pours into a first ingot making line while the other line is prepared, and vice versa allowing for continuous melting.
Claims21
An apparatus for alternate pouring of ingots, the apparatus comprising:
- a main hearth defining a melting cavity therein with first and second opposed overflows;
- the main hearth tilting to pour molten contents selectively through one of the opposed overflows;
- the hearth being incapable of pouring through both overflows simultaneously;
- first and second molds aligned respectively with the first and second overflows to be in fluid communication therewith;
- at least one torch overhead of the main hearth for selective heating of the contents of the main hearth;
- and
- at least one supplemental torch overhead of each of the molds for selective heating of the contents of the molds.
4 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a main hearth defining a melting cavity therein with first and second opposed overflows;
- first and second molds aligned respectively with the first and second overflows to be in fluid communication therewith;
- at least one torch overhead of the main hearth for selective heating of the contents of the main hearth;
- and
- the main hearth for pouring molten contents from the melting cavity in an alternating manner through the first and second opposed overflows to produce a first molded product via the first mold and subsequently a second molded product via the second mold.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a main hearth defining a melting cavity therein with first and second opposed overflows;
- at least one torch above the main hearth for selectively heating contents of the main hearth;
- first and second molds aligned respectively with the first and second overflows to be in fluid communication therewith;
- first and second lifts for respectively lowering molded product assoicated respectively with the first and second molds;
- the main hearth pouring molten contents alternately through the opposed overflows whereby when the hearth is pouring through the first overflow the second lift is lowering the molded product associated with the second mold for removal of the second-mold product from the second lift and when the hearth is pouring through the second overflow the first lift is lowering the molded product associated with the first mold for removal of the first-mold product from the first lift.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.