GB2155601A

GB2155601A - Container for transporting molten metal

Info

Publication number: GB2155601A
Application number: GB08500721A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Erich Stuzik; Hans Josten
Original assignee: Plibrico Co GmbH
Current assignee: Plibrico Co GmbH
Priority date: 1984-01-28
Filing date: 1985-01-11
Publication date: 1985-09-25
Also published as: ATA394084A; FR2559137A1; FR2559137B3; GB8500721D0; SE452652B; DE3403035A1; DE3403035C2; SE8500304D0; SE8500304L; NL8500198A; DK14185A; ES284179U; AT387533B; DK14185D0; GB2155601B; ES284179Y

Abstract

A container (1) suitable for the transportation by a vehicle of a heated liquid metal comprises an outer wall (8) and, inwardly thereof, a heat resistant, insulating lining (18) formed of a plurality of layers, wherein there is incorporated within an intermediate insulating layer (10) an electric heating element (11), which in use of the container, maintains the temperature of the contents of the container (1). The container is particularly suitable for transporting non-ferrous metals, such as aluminium, by lorry, with several containers being mounted one behind the other on the lorry and having electricity supplied thereto by a generator driven by the lorry. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An insulated container This invention relates to a container which has a multi-layer, insulating, heat-resistant lining and which is suitable for the transportation, by a vehicle, of a heated, liquid metal.

with insulating containers of the prior art, liquid metal is transported by means of a lorry from the place where the metal is liquefied to the place where the metal is used. During transportation, a lowering of temperature of the liquid metal resulting from heat loss occurs; however, the liquid metal must arrive at the place of use at a specific temperature. In order to achieve the desired specific temperature at the place of use, the filling temperature is increased. Thus, in the case of liquid aluminium, where a temperature of 700"C is required at the place of use, so that this temperature is always guaranteed, the metal is poured into the container at a considerably higher temperature, for example 900"C, at the place of liquefication in order to compensate the natural heat loss during transportation.

Nevertheless, prolonged lorry transportation is sometimes unavoidable. This may be due to traffic jams, road accidents, the transport vehicle having a puncture, weather conditions, or other circumstances which the lorry driver is unable to influence. Therefore, sometimes it is not possible to prevent the liquid metal from cooling to such a degree that, on arrival at the place of use, it is below the desired temperature.

The present invention provides an insulated container which, in use, maintains the temperature of the liquid metal at the temperature which is desired at the place of use.

According to the present invention there is provided a container suitable for the transportation, by a vehicle, of a heated liquid metal, the container comprising an outer wall and, inwardly thereof, a heat resistant, insulating lining formed of a plurality of layers, wherein there is incorporated within an insulating layer which constitutes an intermediate layer of the lining an electrically conductive heating element, which element, in use of the container, may be heated electrically to maintain the temperature of the contents of the container.

A closure means may be provided for closing the container during transportation.

In preferred embodiments, the insulating layer is provided substantially centrally within the lining. The insulating layer may comprise an insulating refractory concrete or lightweight refractory bricks.

In preferred embodiments, the insulating layer is enclosed, on each side, by a further thin insulating layer and, to the further thin insulating layer which faces the interior of the container, there may be applied a substantially abrasion-proof refractory concrete layer.

The element is preferably in the form of a mat, which may may conveniently extend over at least a majority of the container.

The element may have supply lines which are connected to a generator and, in one embodiment of the present invention, the generator is capable of being driven by the vehicle.

The container may be carried by a vehicle, which vehicle may be a lorry although the container is also suitable for transporting liquid metal by, for example, a train.

The container of the present invention is particularly useful for transporting non-ferrous metals such as aluminium, although it is to be appreciated that the container is suitable for transporting other metals.

In use, several containers may be arranged, one behind the other in the direction of travel, on a platform of a lorry. Preferably, the containers are arranged on the platform of a lowloader and are heated by the engine of the lorry.

In use, the lining layer of the container is heated by the element, which may be in the form of a mat acting as a heating means, to such a degree that the natural heat losses are almost completely countered; thus a lowering of the temperature of the liquid metal being transported may be avoided.

The advantage of the present invention lies in the fact that liquid metal can be transported over relatively long distances and, hence, for a relatively long period of time. This is advantageous, in particular, because transport vehicles of this kind are allowed to travel only at very low speeds.

Reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a cross-section through a container mounted on a lorry; and Figure 2 shows an enlarged portion cut out of the side wall of the container shown in Fig.

1.

A container 1 having a cover 2 with a cover lining 3 is arranged, by means of a mounting bracket 4, on a platform 6 of a low-loader 5 having moving means 7. the motor vehicle of the low-loader 5 is not shown.

As shown in Fig. 2, the container 1 is constructed from an outer container wall 8 with an inner, multilayer, heat-resistant lining 18.

The lining 1 8 consists of an inner, insulating, refractory concrete layer 10 which is lined on each side with a further thin insulating layer 9, 1 6. An abrasion-proof, refractory concrete layer 1 7 is applied to the inner insulating layer 1 6.

A heating means comprising an electrically conducting element 11 in the form of a mat is provided in the refractory concrete layer 1 0.

Electrically conductive supply lines 12, 14 leading from a generator 1 3 are connected to the electrically conductive element 11. The generator 1 3 is driven by means of a drive 1 5 by the engine of the lorry (not shown). The electricity generated by the generator 1 3 heats the lining 18.

1 9 Denotes the road surface of a roadway.

Claims

1. A container suitable for the transportation, by a vehicle, of a heated liquid metal, the container comprising an outer wall and, inwardly thereof, a heat resistant, insulating lining formed of a plurality of layers, wherein there is incorporated within an insulating layer which constitutes an intermediate layer of the lining an electrically conductive heating element, which element, in use of the container, may be heated electrically to maintain the temperature of the contents of the container.

2. A container accdording to claim 1, wherein the container is provided with a closure means for closing the container during transportation.

3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the insulating layer is provided substantially centrally within the lining.

4. A container according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the element is in the form of a mat.

5. A container according to claim 4, wherein the mat extends over at least a majority of the container.

6. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the element has supply lines which are connected to a generator.

7. A container according to claim 6, wherein the generator is capable of being driven by a vehicle on which the container is to be transported.

8. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the insulating layer comprises an insulating refractory concrete.

9. A container according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the insulating layer comprises light-weight refractory bricks.

10. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the insulating layer is enclosed on each side by a thin further insulating layer.

11. A container according to claim 10, wherein a substantially abrasion-proof refractory concrete layer is applied to the thin further insulating layer which faces the interior of the container.

1 2. A container according to any preceding claim, carried by a vehicle, the vehicle being a lorry.

1 3. In combination, a lorry and several containers as claimed in claim 1 2 arranged, one behind the other in the direction of travel, on a platform of the lorry.

14. A combination according to claim 13, wherein the containers are arranged on the platform of a low-loader and are heated by the engine of the lorry.

1 5. A container accdording to claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.