GB685338A - Method of and apparatus for adding material to molten metals - Google Patents

Abstract

685,338. Addition of materials to molten metals; mixing appliances. MEEHANITE METAL CORPORATION. Nov. 2, 1950. No. 26798/50. Classes 72, 82(i) and 86 Apparatus for introducing additives to molten metal after the metal is removed from a furnace comprises a longitudinal trough, means for providing introduction of metal into the trough, means for providing controlled continual escape of metal from the trough, thereby maintaining a constant predetermined depth of metal in the trough, means for adding material at a given station to a stream of molten metal passing through the trough and means for agitating the stream at a downstream point from the said station. As shown in Fig. 3, molten metal from the base of a cupola furnace 10 flows along a sloping trough 11 to trough 12 at the downstream end of which an adjustable plug valve 19 controls the rate of outflow of metal through outlet 28. Within a shield 13 is provided a funnel 25 which is fed with the additive material by pipe 26. Stirrer 17, preferably having opening 18 therethrough, is situated between the funnel and the plug valve. The stirrer is driven through a gearbox 24 and motor 23 mounted on platform 14 which also supports a pneumatic cylinder 20 by which the plug valve is operated. Figure 2 shows the discharge end of the trough 12 at which an overflow weir 29 is mounted, molten metal with any slag or dross passing over the weir to box 30 and outlet 31, the rate of discharge over the weir being controlled by the setting of plug valve 19. Use of the apparatus for adding refining materials such as magnesium to cast iron, particularly for the production of cast iron containing nodular graphite, is described.