JPH01313139A - Device for conveying semi-solidified metal slurry - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To keep slurry to the desired temp. and to hold mixing ratio constant by arranging conveying tube communicating a manufacturing apparatus and a forming machine a temp. holding device for slurry and stirring means in conveying device for conveying semi-solidified metal slurry to the forming machine arranged apart from the manufacturing apparatus. CONSTITUTION:The semi-solidified metal slurry flowed out from a discharging hole 13 in the slurry manufacturing apparatus 2 is flowed in inner part of the conveying tube 15 with the dead wt. and pressure of the slurry in a vessel 4 and conveyed to the forming machine. During conveying, if necessary, heat medium is circulated in a heat medium supplying tube 18 and cooling medium is circulated in a cooling medium supplying tube 19 and the metal slurry is held to the solid-liquid coexisting temp. range. During conveying, rotating stirring blades 23 having square shaped cross section in a stirring device 17 are rotated to clockwise or counterclockwise to stir flow of the slurry and the fine spherical crystal grain is uniformly made existent as always mixing in the molten metal. By this method, while holding the semi-solidified metal slurry to the desired temp. and the mixing ratio of the fine spherical crystal grain to constant, the slurry can be conveyed to the optional place.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is directed to a molding machine which is provided at a distance from the semi-solid metal slurry manufacturing apparatus and which processes the semi-solid metal slurry manufactured by the semi-solid metal slurry manufacturing apparatus. This invention relates to a transfer device for semi-solid metal slurry.

[Prior art] In order to obtain a semi-solid metal slurry in which as many fine spherical crystal grains as possible are present in the molten metal in the solid-liquid coexistence temperature range in a metal alloy containing two or more metallic elements, it is necessary to start melting from the point of solidification. There is a method in which fine spherical crystal grains are uniformly mixed in the molten metal by applying stirring shear force to the metal while controlling the temperature to crush the growing dendrite crystal structure.

A device for carrying out such a method includes controlling the temperature of the molten metal supplied into the container from a supply port provided at the top of the container using a cooling device and a heating device provided on the outer periphery of the container. It is known that a molten metal is stirred by rotating a stirrer disposed in a container to form a semi-solid metal slurry. The semi-solid metal slurry produced by this type of semi-solid metal slurry manufacturing apparatus is discharged from the outlet at the bottom of the container, and then supplied to a molding machine that forms the semi-solid metal slurry into a desired shape. It has become so.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, when the semi-solid metal slurry produced by the semi-solid metal slurry manufacturing apparatus is supplied to the molding machine as described above, the temperature of the semi-solid metal slurry is within the solid-liquid coexistence temperature range. If the temperature decreases or the mixing ratio of fine spherical crystal grains mixed in the molten metal becomes uneven, various problems will occur in the forming process. It is important to transport while maintaining a constant mixing ratio while preventing this.

However, in the past, there was no suitable transfer device that met these conditions, so the only way to prevent the above problem was to shorten the transfer distance of the semi-solid metal slurry as much as possible. The semi-solid metal slurry is exclusively installed directly below the discharge port from which the semi-solid metal slurry is discharged, and it is virtually impossible to install it at an arbitrary position away from the semi-solid metal slurry manufacturing apparatus.

This invention was made against this background, and aims to maintain the temperature of semi-solid metal slurry manufactured by a semi-solid metal slurry manufacturing apparatus within a predetermined temperature range, and to control the mixing ratio of fine spherical crystal grains. It is an object of the present invention to provide a semi-solid metal slurry transfer device that can transfer semi-solid metal slurry while keeping it constant, so that a forming machine can be installed at an arbitrary location apart from a semi-solid metal slurry manufacturing device.

[Means for Solving the Problems] This invention for solving the above problems is such that the semi-solid metal slurry produced and discharged by the semi-solid metal slurry manufacturing apparatus is separated from the semi-solid metal slurry manufacturing apparatus. A semi-solid metal slurry transfer device for transferring a semi-solid metal slurry to a molding machine provided therein, the device including a transfer pipe that communicates the semi-solid metal slurry manufacturing device and the molding machine, and a semi-solid metal slurry transfer device arranged around the transfer pipe to communicate the semi-solid metal slurry manufacturing device with the molding machine. a temperature holding device that maintains the temperature of the semi-solid metal slurry at a predetermined temperature; and a disturbance means that is attached to the transfer pipe and disturbs the flow of the semi-solid metal slurry in the four multi-transfer pipes. That is.

[Function] According to the above configuration, the semi-solid metal slurry produced by the semi-solid metal slurry manufacturing apparatus passes through the inside of the transfer pipe while being maintained at a desired temperature by the temperature holding device disposed around the transfer pipe. and then transported to the molding machine. In this case, since the flow of the semi-solid metal slurry being transferred is always disturbed by the disturbance means, the mixing ratio of the fine spherical crystal grains mixed in the molten metal is always kept constant.

[Example] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a semi-solid metal slurry transfer device (hereinafter abbreviated as slurry transfer device) according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, this slurry transfer device l has one end connected to a semi-solid metal slurry manufacturing device (hereinafter abbreviated as slurry manufacturing device) 2 for manufacturing semi-solid metal slurry.
The slurry manufacturing apparatus 2 is used in conjunction with the slurry manufacturing apparatus 2, and prior to its detailed description, the slurry manufacturing apparatus 2 will first be briefly described.

The slurry manufacturing apparatus 2 includes a hollow cylindrical container 4 that is integrally provided with a cylindrical casing 3, and a stirrer 5 that is disposed inside the container 4 and whose lower part is formed in a tapered shape with a polygonal cross section. and heat medium supply pipes 6 and cooling medium supply pipes 7 which are alternately buried under t in the peripheral wall 4a of the container 4. When producing semi-solid metal slurry,
The molten metal 10 supplied into the container 4 from the supply port 8.9 provided at the upper part of the container 4 is transferred to the heating medium circulating inside the heating medium supply pipe 6 or the inside of the cooling medium supply pipe 7. The stirrer 5 is rotated by rotating the vertical shaft 11 connected to the upper part of the stirrer 5 while keeping the temperature in the solid-liquid coexistence temperature range by heating and cooling as appropriate with the circulating cooling medium and stirring the molten metal 10. Applying shearing force, this crushes the growing dendrite crystal structure and melts the molten metal.
Uniform fine spherical crystal grains are mixed in O, and when discharging the manufactured semi-solid metal slurry, the piston rod 12a of the fluid pressure cylinder 12
The stirrer 5 is moved upward by operating the
The discharge port 13 at the lower end of the stirrer 5 is opened to discharge the semi-solid metal slurry along the spiral groove 14i of the guide member 14 at the lower end of the stirrer 5.

The slurry transfer device l is provided in connection with the discharge port 13, and includes a transfer pipe 15 and a transfer pipe 15.
It is equipped with a temperature holding device 16 provided to cover the entire length of the transfer pipe 15, and a disturbance device (disturbance means) 17 provided at an arbitrary interval in the axial direction of the transfer pipe 15. be.

The transfer pipe 15 is made by bending a pipe material with a circular cross section into a predetermined shape, and one end thereof is fitted and fixed in the discharge port 13, and the other end (not shown) is used to transfer, for example, semi-solid metal slurry. Twin-roll continuous casting machines that form into plate shapes, etc.
It is connected to a well-known molding machine.

Further, the temperature holding device 16 includes an outer tube 16 having a circular cross section.
A heat medium supply pipe 18 for circulating a heat medium for heating the semi-solid metal slurry and a cooling medium supply pipe 19 for circulating a cooling medium for cooling the semi-solid metal slurry are installed inside the outer pipe +6a in the axial direction of the outer pipe +6a. The outer tube 16 is buried alternately in
The inner diameter of a is the same as that of the inner circumferential surface 16b and the outer circumferential surface 1 of the transfer pipe 15.
5a so that there is a slight gap between them.

As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the disturbance device 17 is located on the outer tube 16a side of the hollow cylindrical conduit 2° that is liquid-tightly fitted from the outer tube 16a toward the inside of the transfer tube 15. While a motor 22 is attached to the end face via a heat insulating material 21, the inside of the transfer pipe 15 is inserted through a sealable insertion opening (path shown) formed on the circumference of the transfer pipe 15 at a position facing the conduit 20. Insert the rotary agitator 23 into the rotary agitator 2.
The shaft 23a of No. 3 is fitted onto the inner periphery of the conduit 20 liquid-tightly and rotatably via the annular sealing material 24, and the shaft 23a
and a motor shaft (not shown) of the motor 22, and as shown in FIG. (see Figure 2), the shaft 23
It can be rotated both clockwise and counterclockwise around b.

However, in the slurry transfer device l having the above configuration,
Therefore, the semi-solid metal slurry discharged from the discharge port 13 by raising the stirrer 5 of the slurry manufacturing device 2 is caused by its own weight and the pressure exerted by the semi-solid metal slurry remaining in the container 4 into the transfer pipe. 15 and is transferred to a molding machine (not shown). During this transfer, if necessary, the heat medium supply pipe 18 of the temperature holding device 16 is
By circulating a heat medium through the cooling medium supply pipe 19 and a cooling medium through the cooling medium supply pipe 19, the semi-solid metal slurry is heated or cooled and its temperature is maintained in the solid-liquid coexistence temperature range.

In addition, by appropriately rotating the rotary agitator 23 of each agitator 17 clockwise or counterclockwise during transfer,
The flow of the semi-solid metal slurry is disturbed, so that the fine spherical crystal grains in the semi-solid metal slurry being transferred are always uniformly mixed in the molten metal.

Therefore, according to the slurry transfer device 1 of this embodiment, the temperature of the semi-solid metal slurry produced by the slurry production device 2 is maintained within a desired temperature range, and the mixing ratio of fine spherical crystal grains is maintained constant. As a result, the molding machine can be installed at any location apart from the slurry manufacturing apparatus 2.

Note that in this embodiment, the transfer pipe 15 and the temperature holding device I6 are particularly
However, the semi-solid metal slurry transfer device of the present invention is not limited to this, and naturally includes a device in which the transfer pipe 15 and the temperature holding device 16 are integrated. Also,
The cross-sectional shape of the transfer tube 15 is not limited to a circular shape. For example, when forming semi-solid metal slurry into a plate shape using a molding machine, the tip of the transfer tube 15 is formed to have a rectangular cross-section to form the semi-solid metal slurry. Naturally, it is also conceivable to discharge the material in a state suitable for the shape of the molding.

The disturbance means and temperature maintenance device are not limited to those of this embodiment, and various other disturbance means and temperature maintenance devices can be considered. This modification will be explained step by step. In each figure, the same components as those in the above embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

The modification shown in FIG. 3 is an example in which the disturbance device is changed.
While the vibration exciter 26 is attached to the side end face via the heat insulating material 21, a plurality of circular shaped A vibration stirrer 27 formed by connecting a disturbance plate 27a with a shaft 27b is inserted, and the shaft portion 27b of the vibration stirrer 27 is connected to the conduit 2.
The vibration exciter 26 is connected to the vibration exciter 26 by fitting it liquid-tightly and movably in the axial direction onto the inner periphery of the vibration absorber 2 with a sealing material 24 interposed therebetween.

In such a modification, the vibration stirrer 27 is moved by the vibrator 26 into its sleeve 27 during the transfer of the semi-solid metal slurry.
By vibrating in the direction b, the disturbance plate 27? Since the flow of the semi-solid metal slurry is disturbed in step a, the same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained.

In the modified example shown in FIG.
5a, the transfer pipe 15 is also connected to an appropriate structure 31 via a damper 29 and a spring 30, and an annular vibration-proofing material is provided at the connection part between the transfer pipe 15 and the discharge port 13 of the slurry manufacturing device 2. 32 is interposed. In addition, structure 3! is a member having sufficient strength to support the transfer pipe 15 disposed around the slurry manufacturing apparatus 2.

In such a modification, the entire transfer tube 15 is vibrated by the vibrator 28 during transfer of the semi-solid metal slurry, thereby causing vibrations in the semi-solid metal slurry flowing inside the transfer tube 15. Since the flow is continuously disturbed, the same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained.

In the modification shown in FIG. 5, the transfer pipe 15 is divided into a plurality of parts in the axial direction, and a disturbance plate 33 is interposed in a fluid-tight manner at the joint of each transfer pipe 15. A plurality of disturbance protrusions (disturbance means) 34 protrude toward the radial center of the transfer tube 15 at positions on the upper side of the transfer tube 15 at appropriate intervals in the circumferential direction of the transfer tube 15 . They are formed with different inclination angles toward the flow direction of the metal slurry (direction of arrow B in the figure).

In such a modification, each disturbance protrusion 34 of the disturbance plate 33 is a transfer pipe! Furthermore, since each of the disturbance protrusions 34 has a different inclination angle, the flow of the semi-solid metal slurry becomes vortex-like at the position where the disturbance plate 33 is interposed. As a result, the flow of the semi-solid metal slurry is sufficiently disturbed and the same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained. Furthermore, an excellent effect is achieved in that the same amount of power is not required to disturb the flow of the semi-solid metal slurry.

In this case, when providing the disturbance protrusion 34, it is not necessarily necessary to divide the transfer pipe 15 in the axial direction and interpose the disturbance plate 33, but instead to make the disturbance protrusion 34 directly protrude from the outer circumferential surface +5a of the transfer pipe 15 inward. Also good. In addition, transfer pipe 1
A similar effect is expected even if a spiral IIη is formed on the inner circumferential surface of 5.

In the modification shown in FIG. 6, the transfer pipe 15 is
A cylinder chamber 35 is provided that protrudes outward in the radial direction of the cylinder chamber 35, and a cylindrical piston (disturbance means) 36 is fitted inside the cylinder chamber 35 so as to be movable in the axial direction. 35a is the fluid pressure nolinder 37
and the piston rod 37 of the fluid pressure cylinder 37
2L and the piston 36 are connected.

In such a modification, the piston rod 372L of the fluid pressure cylinder 37 is expanded and contracted during the transfer of the semi-solid metal slurry to cause the piston 36 to reciprocate within the cylinder chamber 35, and the semi-solid metal slurry is transferred to the cylinder chamber. 35 aspirated and discharged again. This generates pulsations and disturbs the flow of the semi-solid metal slurry, resulting in the same effect as in the above embodiment.

Further, the modification shown in FIG. 7 is an example in which the temperature holding device 38 is changed, and an arbitrary number of temperature holding devices 38 are provided in series in the axial direction of the transfer pipe 15, and around the transfer pipe 15. A heat medium is applied to two wall plates 39 and 41 facing each other among four wall plates 39 to 42 having an arcuate cross section and arranged so as to equally divide the circumferential direction of the transfer pipe 15. A cooling medium supply pipe 43 for circulating the cooling medium is buried in the remaining wall plates 40, 42, and a cooling medium supply pipe 44 for circulating the cooling medium is buried in the remaining wall plates 40, 42, and each wall plate 39-42 is connected to four fluid pressure cylinders 45-48. The piston rods 45a to 48a are connected to each other so as to be movable in the radial direction of the transfer pipe 15.

In such a modification, if it is necessary to heat the semi-solid metal slurry during the transfer of the semi-solid metal slurry, each of the fluid pressure cylinders 45 to 48 is operated to heat the wall plate 3.
9.4I is brought close to the outer circumferential surface 15a of the transfer pipe 15, the wall plate 40.42 is separated from the outer circumferential surface 15a, and a predetermined flow rate of the heat medium is circulated within the heat medium supply pipe 43. This allows the transfer tube! 5 is heated to raise the temperature of the semi-solid metal slurry. When cooling the semi-solid metal slurry, each of the fluid pressure cylinders 45 to 48 is operated to separate the wall plate 39.41 from the transfer pipe 15 and to bring the wall plate 40.42 close to the transfer pipe 15. , and further circulates the cooling medium through the cooling medium supply pipe 44 . This cools the transfer pipe 15 and lowers the temperature of the semi-solid metal slurry.

In this modification, the heat medium supply pipe 43 and the cooling medium supply pipe 44 are sufficiently spaced apart both during heating and cooling, so that their respective heats do not affect each other, and as a result, In particular, improvements in temperature controllability and thermal efficiency can be expected when switching heating and cooling in a complicated manner.

Note that when the heating and cooling capacity of the heat medium supply pipe 43 and the cooling medium supply pipe 44 is low and it is necessary to completely cover the outer peripheral surface 15a of the transfer pipe I5 during both heating and cooling, the transfer pipe 15 The outer circumferential surface of! A wall plate in which a heat medium supply pipe 43 and a cooling medium supply pipe 44 similar to the wall plates 39 to 42 are buried can be placed in a place separated from the wall plate 5a and can be moved close to or separated from the outer circumferential surface 15a of the transfer pipe 15. By replacing the wall plate 40.42 or wall plate 39.41 which is provided and separated from the outer peripheral surface of the transfer pipe 15 during heating and cooling, the transfer pipe 15 can be replaced with a heat medium supply pipe 43 or a cooling medium supply pipe 44.
It is best to cover it almost completely with the embedded wall plate.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the semi-solid metal slurry manufacturing device of the present invention includes a transfer pipe that communicates the semi-solid metal slurry manufacturing device and the molding machine, and a transfer pipe arranged around the transfer pipe to transfer the slurry. The semi-solid metal slurry is equipped with a temperature holding device that maintains the temperature of the semi-solid metal slurry in the pipe at a predetermined temperature, and a disturbance means that is attached to the transfer pipe and disturbs the flow of the semi-solid metal slurry in the transfer pipe. The semi-solid metal slurry produced by the solidified metal slurry manufacturing equipment can be transferred while keeping its temperature at a desired temperature and the mixing ratio of fine spherical crystal grains constant1. It has the excellent effect of being able to be freely placed at any location apart from the solidified metal slurry manufacturing device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1, and FIGS. 3 to 7 all show modified examples of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a sectional view perpendicular to the axis of the transfer pipe showing a modification of the disturbance device, Fig. 4 is a side sectional view showing a modification in which the entire transfer pipe is vibrated, and Fig. 5 is a sectional view at right angles to the axis of the transfer pipe showing a modification of the disturbance device. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the axial direction of the transfer pipe in a modified example in which projections are provided; FIG. FIG. 7 is an axis-perpendicular cross-sectional view of a transfer tube showing a modification of the temperature holding device. !・・・・・・Semi-solid metal slurry transfer device, 2...
...Semi-solid metal slurry manufacturing equipment, 15...
Transfer pipe, 16.38... Temperature holding device, 17.
25... Disturbing device (disturbing means), 28...
... Vibrator (disturbing means), 34... Disturbing protrusion (
Disturbing means), 36... Piston (disturbing means). Applicant Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A semi-solid metal slurry transfer device for transferring semi-solid metal slurry produced and discharged from a semi-solid metal slurry manufacturing device to a molding machine provided apart from the semi-solid metal slurry manufacturing device, a transfer pipe that communicates the solidified metal slurry production device with the molding machine; a temperature holding device disposed around the transfer pipe to maintain the temperature of the semi-solid metal slurry in the transfer pipe at a predetermined temperature; A semi-solid metal slurry transfer device comprising: a disturbance means attached to a pipe to disturb the flow of the semi-solid metal slurry within the transfer pipe.