Lid and containment vessel for refining molten metal

• US 5,718,416 A
• Filed: 01/30/1996
• Issued: 02/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pyrotek Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Pyrotek Incorporated
• Inventors: Griffith, David C., Flisakowski, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): KASTLER, SCOTT R
• Application Number:
  US08/594,727
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 266/216, 266/217, 266/242, 266/275, 266/287, 266/225, 432/250, 432/248
• US Class Current: 266/217
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 21/064 using inert or reactive gases C22B21/066 and C22B21/068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 9/05 Refining by treating with gases, e.g. gas flushing also refining by means of a material generating gas in situ
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 1/1808 Removable covers
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 2027/002 Gas stirring
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 27/00 Stirring devices for molten material F27D3/14 takes precedence

Abstract

Disclosed is a dome lid and a containment vessel for use in combination with a molten metal refinement system for the refinement and purification of molten metal by degassification. Further disclosed is an apparatus for refining molten metal, which includes a molten metal refinement system in combination with a containment vessel having a molten metal inlet, a molten metal outlet, a lower section which includes one or more metal refinement compartments and an upper section which includes an elevated ceiling, inwardly sloped outer walls and access ports in the sloped outer walls. The molten metal particularly includes aluminum.

Claims

1. A dome lid assembly for use in combination with a molten metal refinement tub to form a containment vessel, the containment vessel being for use in combination with one or more rotary gas dispersion device to refine molten metal, the dome lid assembly comprising:

a. a lid body, comprised of;

i. four outer lid walls which form a lower outer surface which corresponds and attaches to an upper outer surface of a tub assembly;

ii. a roof which is integral with the four outer lid walls and which together form an interior cavity, the roof being elevated from lower ends of the four outer lid walls, and the roof including openings for receiving one or more rotary gas dispersion devices;

wherein the interior volume of the four outer lid walls and the roof is four cubic feet or more;

b. an access door to the interior cavity through two or more of the four outer walls;

c. a gas inlet port through the lid body; and

d. a gas outlet port through the lid body.

2. A dome lid assembly as recited in claim 1, and which further comprises at least one access door to the interior cavity through at least three of the four outer walls.

3. A dome lid assembly as recited in claim 1, and in which three of the four outer walls of the lid body are inwardly sloping.

4. A dome lid assembly as recited in claim 1, and in which at least two of the four outer lid walls are inwardly sloping.

5. A molten metal containment vessel for use in combination with a rotary gas dispersion device to refine molten metal, and which comprises:

a. a containment vessel tub assembly;

b. a lid body, comprised of;

i. four outer lid walls which form a lower outer surface which corresponds and attaches to an upper outer surface of the tub assembly;

ii. a roof which is integral with the four outer lid walls and which together form an interior cavity, the roof being elevated from lower ends of the four outer lid walls, and the roof including openings for receiving two or more rotary gas dispersion devices;

wherein the interior volume of the four outer lid walls and the roof is four cubic feet or more;

c. an access door to the interior cavity through at least two of the four outer walls;

c. a gas inlet port through the lid body; and

d. a gas outlet port through the lid body.

6. A molten metal containment vessel as recited in claim 5, and in which the containment vessel tub assembly further comprises:

a. a vessel having an inlet port and an outlet port;

at least two refining compartments in between, connected in series, separated by a baffle, and positioned such that the first refining compartment is operatively connected to the metal inlet and the second refining compartment is operatively connected to the metal outlet.

7. A molten metal containment vessel as recited in claim 5, and in which at least two of the four outer lid walls are inwardly sloping.

8. A molten metal refinement vessel for refining molten metal, and which comprises:

a. a tub assembly;

b. a lid body, comprised of;

i. four outer lid walls which form a lower outer surface which corresponds and attaches to an upper outer surface of the tub assembly;

ii. a roof which is integral with the four outer lid walls and which together form an interior cavity, the roof being elevated from lower ends of the four outer lid walls, and the roof including openings for receiving two rotary gas dispersion devices;

wherein the interior volume of the four outer lid walls and the roof is four cubic feet or more;

c. an access door to the interior cavity through at least two of the four outer walls;

d. a first and a second rotary gas dispersion device mounted on the lid body, the first rotary gas dispersion device mounted above the first refining compartment and the second rotary gas dispersion device mounted above the second refining compartment;

e. a gas inlet port through the lid body; and

f. a gas outlet port through the lid body.

9. A molten metal refinement vessel for refining molten metal as recited in claim 8, and which further comprises:

a. an exhaust gas control system operatively connected to the lid assembly at one or more gas exhaust ports.

10. A molten metal containment vessel as recited in claim 8, and in which at least two of the four outer lid walls are inwardly sloping.

11. An apparatus for refining molten aluminum, comprised of:

a. a two-stage refining vessel having an insulated shell with bottom and side walls impervious to molten aluminum, and which comprises;

i. a separating baffle member positioned so as to separate the space within said refining vessel into a first refining compartment and a second refining compartment;

ii. a first refining compartment within said refining vessel and having a front end, a back end and an outer side wall, said central baffle member comprising the inner side wall of said first refining compartment, which is capable of receiving a rotary gas dispersion device for the injection of sparging gas into molten aluminum during aluminum refining operation;

iii. an aluminum inlet in the first refining compartment for introducing molten aluminum thereto;

iv. a second refining compartment within said refining vessel and having a front end, a back end and an outer side wall;

v. an aluminum outlet in the second refining compartment for withdrawing molten aluminum therefrom;

vi. a cross-over opening in said separating baffle member through the first refining compartment to the second refining compartment during continuous aluminum refining operations within said second refining operations;

b. a lid body, comprised of;

i. four outer lid walls which form a lower outer surface which corresponds and attaches to an upper outer surface of the tub assembly;

ii. a roof which is integral with the four outer lid walls and which together form an interior cavity, the roof being elevated from lower ends of the four outer lid walls, and the roof including openings for receiving two rotary gas dispersion devices;

wherein the interior volume of the lid body is four cubic feet or more;

c. an access door to the interior cavity through at least two of the four outer walls;

d. a rotary gas dispensing device for treatment of a bath of molten aluminum in the first refining compartment and a rotary gas dispensing device for treatment of a bath of molten aluminum in a second refining compartments;

e. a gas inlet port through the lid body; and

f. a gas outlet port through the lid body.

12. A molten metal containment vessel as recited in claim 11, and in which at least two of the four outer lid walls are inwardly sloping.