Overflow transfer furnace and control system for reduced oxide production in a casting furnace

• US 6,902,696 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2002
• Issued: 06/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shipston Aluminum Technologies (Indiana), Inc. (Shipston Aluminum Technologies International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alcoa Incorporated (Howmet Aerospace, Inc.)
• Inventors: Klingensmith, Marshall A., Borns, Rick A., Kinosz, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): KASTLER, SCOTT R
• Application Number:
  US10/133,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20030201583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 266/94, 266/236, 266/239, 222/590, 222/591, 222/595
• US Class Current: 266/94
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 21/0084 melting and handling molten aluminium C22B21/02, C22B21/04 and C22B21/06 take precedence

Abstract

An apparatus for transferring molten metal from a melting furnace to a casting furnace is provided. A sensing and control system for the transfer of molten metal from a transfer furnace to a casting furnace is also described. The combination of the transfer apparatus with the sensing and control system provides for the introduction of reduced oxide molten metal into a casting furnace.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supplying molten metal to a casting furnace, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a plurality of chambers;

(b) at least one connection between the chambers that allows for the transfer of molten metal between the chambers and is structured to provide a higher melt level in one of said chambers than in another of said chambers; and

(c) an outlet from one of the plurality of chambers, said outlet being connected to a casting furnace, arranged to accept an over-flow of molten metal from the chamber such that said over-flow of molten metal can be discharged into the casting furnace, and comprised of a trough and a downspout.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one connection between the chambers is structured to transfer molten aluminum.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the over-flow of molten metal that is discharged into the casting furnace is transferred substantially without contacting the atmosphere.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said downspout has a first end and a second end;

wherein said trough is connected to the first end of said downspout; and

wherein the second end of said downspout is disposed below a surface of molten metal previously discharged into the casting furnace.

4. An apparatus for supplying molten metal to a casting furnace, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a plurality of chambers;

(b) at least one connection between the chambers that allows for the transfer of molten metal between the chambers;

(c) an outlet from one of the plurality of chambers, said outlet being connected to a casting furnace, arranged to accept an over-flow of molten metal from the chamber such that said over-flow of molten metal can be discharged into the casting furnace, and comprised of a trough and a downspout; and

(d) a pump for the transfer of molten metal from an upstream chamber to a downstream chamber.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said pump is a variable speed centripetal pump.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a control arrangement, said control arrangement being functional to vary the rate of speed of said pump to thereby control the over-flow of molten metal to the casting furnace.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a sensing system to sense downstream parameters.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said sensing system comprises an outlet sensor adapted to detect the presence of molten metal in said outlet.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said outlet sensor is adapted to measure the level of molten metal present in said outlet.

10. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a recirculation conduit that allows molten metal to flow from the downstream chamber to the upstream chamber.

12. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said pump is responsive to a signal initiated by said sensing system.

13. An apparatus for the introduction of molten metal to a casting furnace comprising:

(a) an upstream chamber for holding molten metal;

(b) a downstream chamber for holding molten metal;

(c) a wall substantially separating the upstream chamber from the downstream chamber;

(d) a pump disposed within an opening in the wall, said pump adapted to raise the level of molten metal in the downstream chamber above the level of metal in the upstream chamber; and

(e) an outlet trough connected to the downstream chamber.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said pump is structured to raises the level of molten metal in the downstream chamber to a level wherein the molten metal over-flows the downstream chamber.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said pump operates to over-flow molten metal in the downstream chamber in response to a signal received from a level sensor located in a casting furnace.

16. An apparatus for the introduction of molten metal to a casting furnace comprising:

(a) an upstream chamber for holding molten metal;

(b) a downstream chamber for holding molten metal;

(c) a sensor adapted to measure the level of molten metal in a trough connecting the downstream chamber to the casting furnace, said sensor being capable of generating a prompt representing the level; and

(d) a pump adapted to transfer molten metal from the upstream chamber to the downstream chamber, wherein said pump is adapted to be responsive to said prompt.