REINFORCED COMPOSITE ALLOYS, PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF

• US 3,858,640 A
• Filed: 06/08/1973
• Issued: 01/07/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Raymond Henri Sifferlen
• Original Assignee: Raymond Henri Sifferlen
• Inventors: Sifferlen, Raymond Henri
• Primary Examiner(s): Dost, Gerald A.
• Application Number:
  US05/368,434
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 164/48,51,61,66,68,97,250,251,256,258,259,266 266/34A,34T,34V 148/2 75/135,138
• US Class Current: 164/513
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 2202/01 Use of vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 2999/00 Aspects linked to processes or compositions used in powder metallurgy
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 1/02 by melting C22C1/1036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 1/1036 starting from a melt
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 47/00 Making alloys containing metallic or non-metallic fibres or filaments

Abstract

This invention relates to improved process and apparatus for producing reinforced composite light alloys. The improved apparatus comprises means for feeding a fluidized mixture of particulate additions, carried by a neutral gas, to a crucible in which a basic metal consisting preferably of nearly pure aluminium ingots is molten. Means are provided for stirring the contents of the crucible during the feeding of said mixture thereto, in order to prevent the sedimentation or decantation of the dispersion formed therein. Means are further provided for transferring the mixture of basic metal and additions into another receptacle in which the desorption and degasing of said mixture take place.

Claims

1. APPARATUS FOR PREPARING A REINFORCED COMPOSITE ALLOY, WHICH COMPRISES A CRUCIBLE, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING LIQUID BASIC METAL TO SAID CRUCIBLE AT A CONSTANT TEMPERATURE AND AT A SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT LEVEL, MEANS FOR CAUSING RAPID CIRCULATION OF A GAS, MEANS FOR INTRODUCING PARTICULATE ADDITIONS INTO SAID GAS, MEANS FOR IMPARTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS TO SAID INTRODUCING MEANS, MEANS FOR ENSURING THE RAPID DISPLACEMENT OF SAID ADDITIONS AND SAID GAS, MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY STIRRING SAID METAL AND INTRODUCING SAID ADDITIONS INTO SAID METAL DURING STIRRING, SAID LAST-NAMED MEANS BEING CONNECTED TO SAID MEANS FOR RAPID DISPLACEMENT OF SAID ADDITIONS AND SAID GAS, MEANS FOR STIRRING THE DISPERSION THUS OBTAINED AND PREVENTING ITS SEDIMENTATION OR DECANTATION, AND MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING THE STIRRED MIXTURE OF BASIC METAL AND ADDITIONS TO ANOTHER RECEPTACLE, SAID LAST-NAMED MEANS DESORBING AND DEGASING SAID MIXTURE.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a container having a funnel-shaped bottom, a vibrating table supporting said container, means for feeding said particulate additions to said container, a duct for directing said gas into said container, a plug valve body mounted in said container to be vertically movable substantially at the level of the tapered portion of said funnel-shaped bottom, means for adjusting the vertical position of said plug valve body, and a conduit comprising a first vertical section projecting in said container and opening below said plug valve body, and a second section emerging from said container, for transferring the additions and gas into said crucible.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first conduit section is an integral part of said plug valve body, so as to open from its lower end.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a hopper having a bottom discharge pipe, a vibrating table supporting said hopper, means for introducing particulate additions into said hopper, means for controlling the cross-sectional passage area of the bottom discharge pipe of said hopper, a chamber disposed beneath said bottom discharge pipe of said hopper, so that said discharge pipe opens into said chamber, a first conduiT for feeding said gas into said chamber, a second conduit opening at one end into said chamber for transferring said additions and gas from said chamber into said crucible.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a crucible having a vertical axis of symmetry, a screw-like stirring member disposed within said crucible with its axis being in a substantially parallel and spaced relationship to said crucible axis, and means for rotatably driving said stirring member to create eddies in the liquid metal contained in said crucible.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising means for vertically moving said stirring member in said crucible between an upper position, in which said crucible can be loaded with ingots of solid metal, and a lower position, in which said stirring member is restored when said solid ingots are melted.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an induction heating coil disposed externally of, and surrounding, said crucible, and means for energizing said coil with high-frequency electric current, whereby a high-frequency field is generated in the liquid metal contained in said crucible and said field generate eddies in said liquid metal.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an ultrasonic generator is immersed in the liquid metal contained in said crucible.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for ensuring the rapid displacement of said additions and gas comprises at least one electrode disposed upstream of said crucible so as to be swept by said gas and said additions, further means being also provided for applying a high potential difference between said electrode and the metal contained in said crucible.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said means for causing the rapid displacement of said additions and gas comprises a vertical duct opening into said crucible and having at least one portion disposed above the free surface of the liquid metal contained in said crucible, said electrode consisting of a metal wire mounted in said portion of said vertical duct with its end being located at a predetermined height above said free surface of said liquid metal.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said crucible has its bottom provided with a runner, said apparatus further comprising means for normally plugging said runner and a fluid-tight chamber in which said crucible is enclosed together with an ingot-mould having an open upper portion disposed within said chamber, below the runner of said crucible, and an open lower portion disposed externally of said chamber.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising at least one vacuum pump and conduit means for connecting said vacuum pump to said fluid-tight chamber.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising means for filling said fluid-tight chamber with at least one inert gas under a predetermined pressure.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for casting the mixture contained in said crucible under a vacuumized atmosphere.

15. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for casting the mixture contained in said crucible under an inert gas atmosphere.