Dross cooling system and cooling method
AssigneeAltek Corporation
InventorsJames Herbert, Jorge Fernandez, Andy Gibbs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of an aluminum dross cooling head are disclosed. The cooling cooperates with a material container encapsulate dross and reduce thermiting of the dross. In one embodiment, the cooling head also serves as a compression head when forced into the dross by a cooperating dross press assembly.
Claims25
An aluminum dross cooling head for cooling aluminum dross that is placed in a material container, the material container having an upper rim, comprising:
- a plate-like upper portion;
- a protrusion extending downward from the upper portion, the protrusion configured to make physical and thermal contact with the dross;
- and
- a channel circumferentially formed with a perimeter of the upper portion and surrounding the protrusion, the channel configured to receive the upper rim of the material container during cooling of the dross with the cooling head so that the cooling head and material container encapsulates the dross and reduces thermiting of the dross by extinguishment;
- and
- wherein the channel is formed outside the upper rim of the material container by downwardly projecting portions of the head that overhang the material container.
An aluminum dross cooling head for cooling aluminum dross that is placed in a material container, comprising:
- a body that covers and at least partially contacts the dross during cooling of the dross;
- and
- at least one hole in the body through which inert gas is injected into spaces between the dross and the dross cooling head during the cooling of the dross.
An aluminum dross cooling head for cooling aluminum dross that is placed in a material container, the material container having an upper rim, comprising:
- a plate-like upper portion;
- a protrusion extending downward from the upper portion, the protrusion configured to make physical and thermal contact with the dross;
- and
- a channel circumferentially formed with a perimeter of the upper portion and surrounding the protrusion, the channel configured to receive the upper rim of the material container during cooling of the dross with the cooling head so that the cooling head and material container encapsulates the dross and reduces thermiting of the dross by extinguishment;
- and
- wherein the channel is formed inside the upper rim of the material container by a rib that projects downward from the upper portion of the cooling head.
An aluminum dross cooling head for cooling aluminum dross that is placed in a material container, the material container having an upper rim, comprising:
- a plate-like upper portion;
- a protrusion extending downward from the upper portion, the protrusion configured to make physical and thermal contact with the dross;
- and
- a channel circumferentially formed with a perimeter of the upper portion and surrounding the protrusion, the channel configured to receive the upper rim of the material container during cooling of the dross with the cooling head so that the cooling head and material container encapsulates the dross and reduces thermiting of the dross by extinguishment;
- and
- wherein the channel is formed inside the upper rim of the material container by a portion of the upper portion that is thicker than a portion of the upper portion that is configured to contact the upper rim.
An aluminum dross cooling head for cooling aluminum dross that is placed in a material container, the material container having an upper rim, comprising:
- a plate-like upper portion;
- a protrusion extending downward from the upper portion, the protrusion configured to make physical and thermal contact with the dross;
- a channel circumferentially formed with a perimeter of the upper portion and surrounding the protrusion, the channel configured to receive the upper rim of the material container during cooling of the dross with the cooling head so that the cooling head and material container encapsulates the dross and reduces thermiting of the dross by extinguishment;
- and
- a sealing member disposed in the channel and against which the material container engages.
An aluminum dross cooling head for cooling aluminum dross that is placed in a material container, the material container having an upper rim, comprising:
- a plate-like upper portion;
- a protrusion extending downward from the upper portion, the protrusion configured to make physical and thermal contact with the dross;
- a channel circumferentially formed with a perimeter of the upper portion and surrounding the protrusion, the channel configured to receive the upper rim of the material container during cooling of the dross with the cooling head so that the cooling head and material container encapsulates the dross and reduces thermiting of the dross by extinguishment;
- and
- holes in the cooling head, the holes configured for injection of inert gas between the cooling head and the dross during cooling of the dross.
An aluminum dross cooling head for cooling aluminum dross that is placed in a material container, the material container having an upper rim, comprising:
- a plate-like upper portion;
- a protrusion extending downward from the upper portion, the protrusion configured to make physical and thermal contact with the dross;
- a channel circumferentially formed with a perimeter of the upper portion and surrounding the protrusion, the channel configured to receive the upper rim of the material container during cooling of the dross with the cooling head so that the cooling head and material container encapsulates the dross and reduces thermiting of the dross by extinguishment;
- and
- a plurality of heat radiating ribs located on top of the cooling head.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.