AU2007316871A1

AU2007316871A1 - Device for a container for nonferrous molten metal, having a locking unit and a protective cap

Info

Publication number: AU2007316871A1
Application number: AU2007316871A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Harry Amsler; Benno Steiner
Original assignee: Stopinc AG
Current assignee: Stopinc AG
Priority date: 2006-11-08
Filing date: 2007-11-07
Publication date: 2008-05-15
Also published as: CA2668758A1; EP2091679A1; EP2091679B1; ATE509719T1; ZA200903062B; KR20090077943A; WO2008055662A1; JP2010509069A

Abstract

A device for a container for molten metal, particularly nonferrous molten metal, is equipped with at least one locking unit for closing and opening a pouring canal (4), wherein the locking unit can be mounted on at least one outlet (2) of the container (1). A protective cap (10) is provided, which covers the outlet (2) in an enclosing manner and which can be attached to the container (1). The protective cap (10) is configured in the shape of a lid and encompasses both the outlet (2) and the locking unit closing this outlet. In this manner, such a container can be safely transported, even on an ordinary road.

Description

WO 2008/055662 1 PCT/EP2007/009628 DEVICE FOR A CONTAINER FOR NON-FERROUS MOLTEN METALS WITH LOCKING UNIT AND PROTECTIVE CAP The invention concerns a device for a container for molten metal, in particular non-ferrous molten metal, according to the preamble of claim 1. For casting non-ferrous metals, in particular aluminium, it is known in the art to use containers such as e.g. crucibles, which as a rule have a horizontal spout, while a sliding closure 'serving to close or open a pouring canal is arranged on the container spout. A container filled, for example, with molten aluminium is transported with a closed sliding closure to a casting plant, where the sliding closure is opened and the casting process is carried out. The present invention is based on the problem of creating a device for a container which increases safety for the transport of a molten metal-filled container, so that a container holding such molten metal can be transported on a normal street. This problem is solved according to the invention by a device with the features of claim 1. Further preferred embodiments of the container according to the invention form the subject matter of the dependent claims. In the device according to the invention, this outlet on the container and the closure unit in the position closing off the pouring canal can be lastingly covered with a protective cap which surrounds it. In this way the sliding closure is mechanically protected during container transport, which is important, for example in case of any kind of collision.

WO 2008/055662 2 PCTIEP2007/009628 Secondly, the protective cap can catch any molten metal which might escape if there were leaks or a rupture. The lid-shaped protective cap surrounds both the outlet and the sliding closure when it is in the mounted condition on the container. The protective cap also has a locking element which additionally closes off the outlet opening of the outlet on the container. The invention will next be explained in more detail with the aid of the drawings, which show: Fig. 1 a longitudinal section of a device according to the invention on a partly shown container with a sliding closure; and Fig. 2 a perspectival top view of the sliding closure according to Fig. 1 with the protective cap swung open. Fig 1 shows a lower part of a container 1, in particular of a crucible for non ferrous molten metals, in particular for molten aluminium, which has an essentially horizontally-running outlet 2. A sliding closure 3 provided as locking unit is arranged on the outlet 2, which serves to open and close the outlet. A sliding closure 3 of this type is known in the art and is therefore not explained in further detail here. This contains an adjustable slider unit 15 with a fireproof closing plate 5 and a fireproof casting sleeve 18, which forms an outlet opening 4. The closing plate 5 is displaceable in relation to a stationary fireproof closing plate 16 and the outlet 2 can be closed, throttled or opened by it. According to the invention, a protective cap 10 is provided, which covers the outlet 2 so as to enclose it, and can be fixed onto the container 1. This protective cap 10 is advantageously in the form of a lid and encloses the outlet 2 as well as the sliding closure 3, as shown in Fig 1.

WO 2008/055662 3 PCT/EP2007/009628 Within the scope of the invention, this protective cap 10 additionally contains a locking element 20 which closes off the outlet opening 4 of the casting sleeve 18. This locking element 20 has a stopper 21 which is advantageously adjustable in the protective cap 10, with a fireproof plate 22 thrusting against the front side of the casting sleeve 18. The stopper could also be pressable elastically on the casting sleeve 18. In this case, it is tightly pressed flat on the casting sleeve 18, but it could also be in the form of a plug, penetrating into the latter. This achieves an additional safeguard against any escape of molten metal from the container 1, if, despite the sliding closure 3 itself being locked, molten metal should escape from this. The protective cap 10 according to the invention brings with it a number of substantial advantages. Firstly, the disc closure 3 is mechanically protected during container transport, which is important, for example in the event of an unintentional collision. Also, the protective cap 10 can catch any molten metal escaping from leaks or ruptures. It is therefore advantageous if the protective cap 10 encloses the sliding closure 3 to form a seal. According to Fig. 2, both this protective cap 10 and the sliding closure 3 can be fixed onto a base plate 25 which can be mounted at the outlet 2 on the container 1. The protective cap 10 is pivotably held by hinges 26 on the base plate 25 and can be pressed on the base plate 25 by bracing means 27, 28. Furthermore, the protective cap 10, on its area abutting on the base plate 25, has an all-round sealing contact and is advantageously provided with a seal, for example a sealing cord 11. A drive 30 is assigned to the sliding closure 3 for opening and closing the closing plates 5, 16; in the present example this is a manual drive, but this could also be machine-driven. This drive 30 can be coupled with a connecting rod 6 linked with the slider unit 15 and the associated closing plate 5, in such a way that this can only occur when the protective cap 10 is swung open, as can be seen from Fig. 2. This drive 30 has an angle element 31 pivotable about an axle 32 fixed onto the base plate 25, to which sleeves 33, in each of which an actuation rod is insertable, are assigned. This angle element 31 is WO 2008/055662 4 PCTIEP2007/009628 couplable to a junction point 34 hinged to the connecting rod 6 of the sliding closure. In the mounted condition, for transporting the container, the protective cap 10, as shown in Fig. 1, is arranged such that it simultaneously serves as a lock for the connecting rod 6. Any displacement of this connecting rod 6 and hence any opening of the sliding closure 3, which is in the closed condition, is thereby prevented, because the wall of the protective cap 10 acts as a stop. The drive, unlike the sliding closure 3, is not an integral part of the container 1, so while an emptied container 1 with a closed sliding closure 3, decoupled from the drive, is transported, for example to a filling station, the drive remains at the casting plant, or possibly on the container, until in turn a refilled container 1 is delivered and its sliding closure is coupled to the drive, in order to be opened. Furthermore, Fig. 2 shows pivotable fixing screws 8 for fixing the sliding closure 3 onto the base plate 25. Further, there is also a heat shield 9 covering the sliding closure removably screwed onto the slider unit 15. In principle the protective cap could be equipped on the inside with a fireproof lining and/or thermal insulation. It could obviously also be directly hinged onto the container instead of to this base plate. As locking unit, basically, an ordinary plug, which can be pressed onto the outlet from the outside, could be provided.

Claims

1. Device for a container for molten metal, in particular non-ferrous molten metals, with at least one locking unit mountable on at least one outlet (2) of the container (1) for closing and opening a pouring canal (4), characterised in that a protective cap (10) is provided, which covers the outlet (2) in an enclosing manner and can be attached to the container (1).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the protective cap (10) is in the form of a lid and encompasses both the outlet (2) and the locking unit closing this outlet in the mounted condition on the container (1).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a locking element (20) is contained in the protective cap (10) additionally locking the outlet opening (4) of the outlet (2).

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the protective cap (10) is attachable to a base plate (25) which is mountable at the outlet (2) on the container (1).

5. Device according to claim 4, characterised in that the protective cap (10) is pivotably held on the base plate (25) by at least one hinge (26) and can be pressed by bracing means (27, 28) onto the base plate, while the protective cap (10) on its area abutting on the base plate (25) is in all round sealing contact and for this purpose is provided with a seal, for example a sealing cord (11).

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterised in that a sliding closure (3) is provided as locking unit, to which a drive (30) for opening and closing its closing plates (5, 16) is assigned, while this drive (30) is couplable with a connecting rod (6) connected with the WO 2008/055662 6 PCT/EP2007/009628 slidable closing plate (5) in such a way that this can only occur when the protective cap (10) is removed.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the protective cap (10) in mounted condition is arranged in such a way that it serves simultaneously as lock for the connecting rod (6) and prevents any displacement thereof and hence any opening of the closed sliding closure (3).

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the sliding closure and its drive are also fastenable onto the base plate (25).

9. Protective cap for a device for a container according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the protective cap (10) is in the form of a lid and has means for fastening onto the container.

10. Protective cap according to claim 9, characterised in that it contains a locking element (20) additionally closing the outlet opening (4) of the outlet (2).

11. Protective cap according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that it is equipped on the inside with a fireproof lining and/or a thermal insulation.