Electromagnetic continuous casting apparatus for materials possessing high melting temperature and low electric conductance

• US 7,000,678 B1
• Filed: 04/11/2005
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: KCC Corporation
• Original Assignee: korea institute of industrial technology
• Inventors: Lee, Sang Mok, Shin, Je Sik, Mon, Byoung Moon
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin, Kuang Y.
• Application Number:
  US11/103,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20060037733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 316 Days
• Field of Search: 164/471, 164/493, 164/507, 164/513, 164/122.1, 164/122.2, 164/338.1, 373/138, 373/163
• US Class Current: 164/507
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 11/0401 Moulds provided with a feed head
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 11/115 by using magnetic fields
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 11/001 Continuous growth
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 11/002 Crucibles or containers for supporting the melt
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 11/003 Heating or cooling of the melt or the crystallised material
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 29/06 Silicon

Abstract

Disclosed is an electromagnetic continuous casting apparatus for a material having a low electric conductivity. The casting apparatus includes a crucible having a vertical axis. The crucible comprises an upper hot crucible and a lower cold crucible. The crucible is surrounded with an induction coil. The hot crucible is formed of a non-metallic material having a high electric conductivity and is not water-cooled. The cold crucible has a cooling structure and is formed of a metallic material having a high thermal conductivity and a high electric conductivity.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic continuous casting apparatus for a low electric-conductive material, the casting apparatus including a crucible having a vertical axis, wherein the crucible comprises an upper hot crucible and a lower cold crucible, the crucible is surrounded with an induction coil, the hot crucible is formed of a non-metallic material having a high electric conductivity and is not water-cooled, and the cold crucible has an internal cooling structure and is formed of a metallic material having a high thermal conductivity and a high electric conductivity.

2. The casting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hot crucible is structured in such a manner that the upper end portion thereof is integrally formed along the circumference and at least part of the lower end portion thereof along the circumference is divided into segments by vertical slits, and the cold crucible is structured in such a manner that at least part thereof along the circumference is divided into segments by means of vertical slits formed from the top to the bottom thereof.

3. The casting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least part of the vertical slits is extended in straight line throughout the hot crucible and the cold crucible.

4. The casting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the low electric-conductive material includes a semiconductor material having a high melting point.

5. The casting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the semiconductor material having a high melting point includes silicon.

6. The casting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the low electric-conductive material includes a metallic material having a high melting point.

7. The casting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the non-metallic material includes graphite.

8. The casting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hot crucible is surrounded with an insulation material, through which an electromagnetic field can permeate.