TRANSFERRING MOLTEN METAL FROM ONE STRUCTURE TO ANOTHER

• US 20080314548A1
• Filed: 06/21/2007
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Molten Metal Equipment Innovations Incorporated (Molten)
• Original Assignee: Molten Metal Equipment Innovations Incorporated (Molten)
• Inventors: Cooper, Paul V.
• Granted Patent: US 8,337,746 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 164/136
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 37/00 Controlling or regulating the pouring of molten metal from a casting melt-holding vessel B22D11/18, B22D39/00, B22D41/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 39/00 Equipment for supplying molten metal in rations
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 41/00 Casting melt-holding vessels, e.g. ladles, tundishes, cups or the like B22D39/00, B22D43/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 7/00 Casting ingots, e.g. from ferrous metalsequipment for conveying molten metal B22D35/00
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 21/0084 melting and handling molten aluminium C22B21/02, C22B21/04 and C22B21/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 21/064 using inert or reactive gases C22B21/066 and C22B21/068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 27/005 Pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 3/0024 of metallic workpieces
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 3/14 Charging or discharging liquid or molten material

Abstract

A system for transferring molten metal from a vessel and into one or more of a ladle, ingot mold, launder, feed die cast machine or other structure is disclosed. The system includes at least a vessel for containing molten metal, an overflow (or dividing) wall, and a device or structure, such as a molten metal pump, for generating a stream of molten metal. The dividing wall divides the vessel into a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein part of the second chamber has a height H2. The device for generating a stream of molten metal, which is preferably a molten metal pump, is preferably positioned in the first chamber. When the device operates, it generates a stream of molten metal from the first chamber and into the second chamber. When the level of molten metal in the second chamber exceeds H2, molten metal flows out of the vessel and into another structure, such as into one or more ladles and/or one or more launders.

Claims

1. A system for transferring molten metal out of a vessel, the system comprising:

(a) a vessel;

(b) a dividing wall in the vessel for dividing the vessel into a first chamber and a second chamber, the dividing wall having a height H1; and

(c) a molten metal pump positioned in the first chamber, the pump for generating a flow of molten metal from the first chamber into the second chamber, wherein part of the second chamber has a height H2, and wherein H2 is less than H1;

wherein when the pump is activated molten metal is pumped from the first chamber into the second chamber until the level of molten metal in the second chamber exceeds H2 and moves past the opening and out of the second chamber.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the vessel is a reverbatory furnace.

3. The system of claim 1 that further includes a ladle, wherein when molten metal moves out of the second chamber it moves into the ladle.

4. The system of claim 1 that further includes an ingot mold, wherein when molten metal moves out of the second chamber, it moves into the ingot mold.

5. The system of claim 3 that further includes a launder, wherein when molten metal moves out of the second chamber it moves into the launder, and through the launder into the ladle.

6. The system of claim 1 that includes a plurality of ladles, wherein when molten metal moves out of the second chamber, it moves into each of the plurality of ladles.

7. The system of claim 1 that includes one or more ladles and one or more ingot molds, wherein when molten metal moves out of the second chamber it moves into at least one ladle and at least one ingot mold.

8. The system of claim 1 that further includes one or more launders, wherein when molten metal moves out of the second chamber it moves into at least one of the one or more launders.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein each of the one or more launders into which molten metal flows when it moves out of the second chamber feeds either an ingot mold, a ladle or a feed die cast machine.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the pump is a transfer pump and transfers molten metal over the dividing wall and into the second chamber.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein there is an opening in the dividing wall.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the pump is a circulation pump that generates a flow of molten metal through the opening in the dividing wall and into the second chamber.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the pump is a gas-release pump that generates a flow of molten metal through the opening and into the second chamber.

14. The system of claim 1 that further comprises a rotary degasser in the second chamber.

15. The system of claim 1 that further comprises a launder into which molten metal moves when it moves out of the second chamber, the launder having a first end juxtaposed the second chamber, a second end opposite the first end, and a dam, wherein the dam can be opened to allow molten metal to flow past the second end and closed to prevent molten metal from flowing past the second end.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the dam is juxtaposed the second end.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein only part of the dividing wall has a height H1 and part of the dividing wall has a height greater than H1.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the molten metal is molten aluminum.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein the dividing wall has an opening positioned beneath H1, the pump is either a circulation pump or gas-release pump and has a pump base configured to be partially received in the opening.

20. The system of claim 18 that further includes sealant to seal between the pump base and the opening.

23. The system of claim 20 that further includes a ladle, wherein the speed of the pump is varied based upon the amount of molten metal in the launder.

24. The system of claim 1 wherein the dividing wall has an opening and the opening has an area of between 6 inches² to 24 inches².

25. The system of claim 12 further comprising a control system operative to increase or decrease the speed of the circulation pump.

26. The system of claim 13 further comprising a control system operative to increase or decrease the speed of the gas-release pump.

27. The system of claim 1 that further includes a control system for a molten metal pump, the control system operative to measure an amount of molten metal within at least one structure and to adjust the speed of the molten metal pump in response to the measurement of the amount of molten metal.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the property is at least one of a level of molten metal and a weight.

29. The system of claim 27 wherein the control system includes:

an emitter operative to provide a pulse of energy to the molten metal; and

a sensor operative to detect a reflection of the pulse of energy.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the emitter is a laser device.

31. The system of claim 27 wherein the structure is one or more of the first chamber, the second chamber, a ladle, and a launder.

32. The system of claim 27 wherein the speed of the pump is controlled by measuring the respective amounts of molten metal in numerous vessels.

33. The system of claim 27 wherein the speed of the pump is controlled by measuring the weight of molten metal in a launder.

34. The system of claim 27 that further comprises a control panel, the control panel including:

(a) a control operative to choose between automatic and manual control of the molten metal pump; and

(b) a control operative to turn a sensor on and off.

45. The system of claim 1 wherein when metal moves out of the second chamber it moves into a feed die cast machine.

21. The system of claim 21 wherein the pump has a variable speed.

22. The system of claim 21 that further includes a launder, wherein the speed of the pump is varied based upon the amount of molten metal in the launder.

35. A method for transferring molten metal from a vessel, the vessel comprising at least a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber and second chamber being separated by a dividing wall, the method comprising:

pumping molten metal from the first chamber through the dividing wall into the second chamber raising the level of molten metal in the second chamber until it flows out of the second chamber and into one or more of a launder, a ladle, an ingot mold and a feed die cast machine.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the pumping is not continuous.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein the pumping is performed by a transfer pump.

38. The method of claim 35 wherein the dividing wall includes an opening positioned below H1.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the pumping is performed by a circulation pump.

40. The method of claim 38 wherein the pumping is performed by a gas-release pump.

41. The method of claim 37 further comprising the step of measuring an amount of molten metal within one or more of the launder, ladle, and ingot mold.

42. The method of claim 41 further comprising the step of adjusting the speed of the molten metal pump in response to the measured amount.

43. A molten metal pump having a base configured to be received partially in an opening of a dividing wall, the dividing wall for separating a vessel into a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein at least part of the dividing wall has a height H1 and the opening is positioned entirely below height H1, the pump being one of either a circulation pump and a gas-release pump.

44. A dividing wall for use in a vessel for retaining molten metal, the dividing wall for dividing the vessel into a first chamber and second chamber, at least part of the dividing wall having a height of H1 and the dividing wall having an opening positioned in its lower half, the opening being configured to at lest partially receive a pump discharge.