US 9,803,922 B2Granted

System and method for melting light gauge scrap

AssigneesAltek Corporation, Altek Europe Limited

InventorRichard C Chandler

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Abstract

An exemplary furnace system for melting stock metal includes a main hearth and a side well subsystem, which includes a melting well disposed downstream of the main hearth for receiving flow from the main hearth, an input flow inducer disposed upstream of the melting well and downstream of the main hearth, and an output flow inducer disposed downstream of the melting well and upstream of the main hearth. The input flow inducer drives molten metal into the melting well, thereby forming a differential metal head in the melting well. The output flow inducer evacuates molten metal from an output conduit, thereby reducing counter-pressure at an output port of the melting well communicating with the output conduit. This allows atmospheric pressure to add to the differential metal head in the melting well, resulting in an increase in productivity of the side well subsystem and of the furnace system as a whole.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A furnace system for melting metal, comprising:

a reservoir for a molten metal bath;
an input flow inducer;
a melting well configured to receive molten metal from the reservoir at an input port of the melting well under motive force applied to the molten metal by the input flow inducer, the melting well further configured to receive solid metal pieces, the solid metal pieces at least partially melting in the molten metal in the melting well, the melting well having an output port through which molten metal exits the melting well;
an output flow conduit having a first end opening to and fluidly coupled to the melting well at the output port of the melting well and the output flow conduit having a second end terminating at a discharge opening of the output flow conduit through which molten metal is discharged from the output flow conduit into the molten metal bath, the discharge opening of the output flow conduit upstream of a point in the furnace system from which molten metal is tapped or recovered, and the output flow conduit establishing an enclosed passage between the output port of the melting well and discharge opening of the output flow conduit;
and
an output flow inducer configured to act on and apply motive force to molten metal located in the output flow conduit between the output port of the melting well and the discharge opening of the output flow conduit, the motive force resulting from an evacuating action in the output flow conduit established by the output flow inducer.

3 more elements

A furnace system for melting metal, comprising:

a reservoir for a molten metal bath;
a side well configured to receive molten metal from the reservoir at an input port of the side well, the side well further configured to receive solid metal pieces, the solid metal pieces at least partially melting in the molten metal in the side well, the side well having an output port through which molten metal exits the side well and flows toward the reservoir;
an output flow conduit having a first end opening to and fluidly coupled to the side well at the output port of the side well and the output flow conduit having a second end terminating at a discharge opening of the output flow conduit through which molten metal is discharged from the output flow conduit into the molten metal bath, the discharge opening of the output flow conduit upstream of a point in the furnace system from which molten metal is tapped or recovered, and the output flow conduit establishing an enclosed passage between the output port of the side well and discharge opening of the output flow conduit;
and
an output flow inducer configured to reduce counter-pressure at the output port of the side well by evacuation of molten metal from the output flow conduit allowing atmospheric pressure to drive a molten metal flow from the side well via the output flow conduit, the output flow inducer acting on molten metal in the output flow conduit between the output port of the side well and the discharge opening of the output flow conduit.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/273,717Filed 9 May 2014
Published: US 2015/0323255 A112 Nov 2015
Granted: 31 Oct 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

F27B 3/19
Details, accessories or equipment, e.g. dust-collectors, specially adapted for hearth-type furnaces: arrangements of devices for discharging
C22B 7/003
Dry processes: only remelting, e.g. of chips, borings, turnings; apparatus used therefor
C22B 9/16
General processes of refining or remelting of metals; Apparatus for electroslag or arc remelting of metals: remelting metals
C22B 21/0092
Melting and handling molten aluminium: remelting scrap, skimmings or any secondary source aluminium