TRANSFERRING MOLTEN METAL FROM ONE STRUCTURE TO ANOTHER

• US 20150285558A1
• Filed: 06/22/2015
• Published: 10/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Molten Metal Equipment Innovations Incorporated (Molten)
• Original Assignee: Molten Metal Equipment Innovations Incorporated (Molten)
• Inventors: Cooper, Paul V.
• Application Number:
  US14/746,593
• Publication Number:
  US 20150285558A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 and method 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 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 to raise the level of molten metal in the second chamber until it flows out of the second chamber.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the molten metal 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.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the pumping is not continuous.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of measuring an amount of molten metal within one or more of the launder, ladle, and ingot mold.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the dividing wall includes an opening positioned below H1.

9. The method of claim 1 that includes the steps of measuring the amount of molten metal in the second chamber and adjusting the speed of the molten metal pump in response to the measured amount.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein molten metal that flows out of the second chamber enters the launder and that includes the steps of measuring the amount of molten metal in the launder and adjusting the speed of the molten metal pump in response to the measured amount.

11. The method of claim 1 that includes the steps of measuring the amount of molten metal in the second chamber and turning on or turning off the molten metal pump in response to the measured amount.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein molten metal that flows out of the second chamber enters the launder and that includes the steps of measuring the amount of molten metal in the launder and turning off or turning on the molten metal pump in response to the measured amount.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein at least part of the dividing wall has a height of H1 and the second chamber has a wall with an outlet through which molten metal flows out of the second chamber, and the outlet has a height of H2, wherein H1 is greater than H2.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the opening in the dividing wall is in the lower half of the dividing wall.

16. The method of claim 1 that includes a molten metal pump, wherein the pump has a housing with a pump outlet through which molten metal exits, and the pump is positioned in the first chamber so the pump outlet aligns with the opening in the dividing wall in order to pump molten metal from the first chamber through pump outlet and the opening, and into the second chamber.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the molten metal pump housing is in contact with the opening.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the molten metal pump housing is in contact with the dividing wall.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the molten metal pump is mounted on the vessel.

4. The method of claim 4 wherein the pumping is performed by a circulation pump.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the pumping is performed by a gas-release pump.

7. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of adjusting the speed of the molten metal pump in response to the measured amount.

14. The method of claim 14 wherein the entire dividing wall has a height of H1.