JPS6345333A - Apparatus for producing consumable electrode for smelting active metal - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To produce a briquette which is the base material for a consumable electrode with high quality at a low cost by providing an inclined chute provided successively to a charge material hopper in such a manner that the chute can freely advance to and retreat from a press die and positioning said chute in such a manner that the bottom end thereof faces the inside of the die. CONSTITUTION:A base metal (granular active metal such as Ti) is charged into the hopper 8-1 and the amt. necessary for one time of press molding is weighed by a weighing meter 7 and is stagnated in a weighing hopper 6. Additive raw materials are adequately charged into hoppers 8-1, 8-2, 8-3 and the required amts. are respectively weighed by a weighing meter 10 and are transferred through a weighing hopper 9 into the weighing hopper 6. The weighing hopper 6 is then opened to drop the raw materials from the inclined chute 4. Both raw materials are thoroughly mixed in the state of falling and are charged into the press die 1. After the inclined chute 4 is retracted by a cylinder 5, the chute is turned and retreated and in turn, a pressurizing die 3 is lowered into the die 1 to form the briquette. The briquette for the consumable electrode to be used for smelting of the active metal is thereby easily produced.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Industrial application field) Active metals such as Ti, Zrs Nb, Ta, etc. are generally
It is produced by reducing and refining the chlorides of these metals. According to this manufacturing method, each active metal is obtained as a so-called sponge metal, so in order to make an ingot, a consumable bridge made by compacting granular sponge metal is used.
The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing briquettes that serve as a base material for consumable electrodes made of the above-mentioned active metals or alloys based on the active metals.

(Prior Art) The consumable electrodes for vacuum arc melting of each of the active metals are basically compression molded as described above, and usually first, small pieces called briquettes are manufactured by pressing, and then the briquettes shown in FIG.
As shown in a), this briquette (31) is welded to form one electrode. 4 ``:), 1 shows a cylindrical consumable briquette made by welding semicircular briquettes (31), but there are also other briquettes, such as quarter-circle fan-shaped briquettes, etc. They may be combined in some cases, and their sizes and shapes vary.

Traditionally, this briquette was made by mixing oxide powder or Fe pieces with the granular base metal in a press mold because it was necessary to add oxygen and Fe to the base metal in order to adjust the material quality in the case of commercial pure metals. It was manufactured using the 02 method, in which press molding is performed afterward, and (2) both are mixed in advance in a mixer and then press molding is performed. However, both methods have many problems as described below.

On the other hand, in the case of alloys based on active metals, some alloy components may inhibit weldability during briquetting,
There is a risk that the electrode may break or fall during melting due to cracking of the weld bead, and dissipation of alloy components may cause the components to come off.To avoid this, the number of weld beads may be increased or In addition to the cooling method, as shown in Fig. 4 (b), a briquette/briquette (31) in which the base metal (32) is placed on the outside and the mixture (33) of the base metal and alloy component metal is placed on the inside is used. A method is adopted in which the fabric is made, and then the fabric shaft (31) is assembled and integrated by fitting.

In this case, the Brigette manufacturing method is as follows: 1.Pour the mixture of the base metal and the alloy component metal into a mold into which the base metal has been charged in advance, and then press-form it; 2.Press the pre-press-formed mixture to The following three methods are commonly used: charging the mixture sealed in a can into a mold containing the base metal and then performing press forming. has been done. However, both methods have the problems described below.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The problem in producing commercial pure metal briquettes is that the base metal and additives are mixed in a mold and then press-formed (■). Not only is it inefficient because it is mixed manually, but it may also lead to insufficient stirring. On the other hand, after mixing the two in a mixer, the mixture is put into a mold and press-molded (■)
Although the stirring itself is sufficient, there is a risk that the mixture will separate again during the stage of moving the mixture from the mixing yard to the molding yard, and the cost of the mixing equipment is high, making it uneconomical.

Furthermore, among the methods for manufacturing briggett for alloys, a method in which a γn compound of a base metal and an alloy component metal is placed in advance into a mold and then put into the base metal prior to press molding (
■) Not only is it inefficient because it is done manually, but also the two components mix in the mold and the alloy component metal comes out on the outside of the compact, causing cracks in the weld bead and the alloy component dissipating. There is also a method that uses a pre-press-molded mixture (■) and a method that encloses the mixture in a can (■), although there is no risk of the two mixing together, both are time-consuming and have the problem of increasing costs. .

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides a consumable electrode manufacturing apparatus that can solve all of the above-mentioned problems by skillfully utilizing a chute. 1 invention and
This invention consists of a second invention for producing briquettes for alloys.

The first invention aimed at commercial pure metals is, as shown in FIG.
The gist of the manufacturing apparatus is that a material hopper (8) is connected to the upper end of an inclined chute (4) whose tip faces the inside of a press mold (1) in an advanced state.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the manufacturing apparatus of the second invention, which is intended for alloy briquettes, has a method in which the material input system in the first invention is independently used for the outer part and the inner part of the briquette. The press mold (1) is equipped with a partition plate (24) that provides two paths and partitions the outside and inside parts of the press mold (1).
1) so that it can move forward and backward.

(Function) In the manufacturing apparatus of the first invention, the input material hopper (8
) for base metals (8-1) and for additives (8-1).
-2 to 4), and by simultaneously charging the necessary amounts of both materials into the inclined chute (4), both materials are naturally agitated in the process of falling within the inclined chute (4). Both naturally stirred materials are put into a press mold fil and press-molded.
Since the inclined chute f4+ can be retracted with respect to l),
The inclined chute (4) does not become an obstacle to press forming.

Moreover, in the manufacturing apparatus of the second invention, the partition plate (24)
In the outer part of the inside of the press mold (1) partitioned into
The base metal is introduced into the press mold (1) using the first input system whose main component is the inclined chute (4-1).
A mixture of the base metal and the alloy component metal is charged into the inner part of the interior using a second input system having a second inclined chute (4-2) as a main component. press mold tl)
Both materials put into the press mold fil are press-formed, but since the inside of the press mold fil is partitioned into an outer part and an inner part by a partition plate (24), both materials are pressed into the press mold fil.
Not only do they not mix at the 1st position, but also when press forming, the partition plate (24) is tilted to the slanted unit (4-1).
Since these members can be retracted from the press mold (1) together with (4-2), these members do not interfere with press molding.

(Example) Hereinafter, the example shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 will be described in detail.

In the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the press die fi+
A press body (2) is installed so as to straddle the press die fil, and its press die (3) is located directly above the press die fil.

The press die (1) and pressure die (3) are semicircular, depending on the shape of the briquettes to be press-molded. Various cross-sectional shapes such as /4 circular shape are selected as appropriate.

The inclined chute (4), which is mounted on a suitable frame (not shown) adjacent to the press body (2), is of telescopic construction, has a cylinder (5) for the telescopic movement and is completely In the extended state, the tip faces the inside of the press mold il+ from above. This inclined shoe) +41 is also
It is designed to be able to pivot around its base, and in combination with the above-mentioned telescopic movement, the tip can be completely retracted from the press mold fil during press molding. (6) is a weighing hopper attached to the upper end of the inclined chute (4), and (7) is a weighing device.

The inclined chute (4) should be 2m or more in order to improve the efficiency of the material at the stage when the material falls inside (to create natural agitation, the angle of inclination is 45° or more, and the length in the stretched state) is 2 m or more. This is desirable.

The material input hopper (8) provided on the frame above the inclined chute (4) is one for base metal (
8-1) and those for additives (8-2) (8-3) (8
hopper (8-1) for base metal, consisting of -4) and
) has its input port directly facing the weighing hopper (6) at the upper end of the inclined chute (4), and the additive hopper (8-2) (8-
3) (8-4) is connected to the weighing hopper (6) via another weighing hopper (9), and Ol is a measuring instrument attached to the weighing hopper.

The operating procedure of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will now be explained. Hopper (8-1
) includes base metals such as Ti, Zr, Nb,
Granular active metals such as Ta are charged, and the hopper (8-2) (
8-3) In (8-4), for example, an oxide (T
In the case of i: TiO□), Pe, and other additives are charged as appropriate. Of these materials, the hopper (
Regarding the base metal charged in 8-1), the amount required for one press forming is measured with a measuring device (7) and accumulated in the weighing hopper (6), and then transferred to the hopper (8-2). (8-3) (8
Regarding the additives charged in -4), after measuring the required amount using a measuring device α, the additives are transferred from the weighing hopper (9) to the weighing hopper (6). The reason why the base metal and the additive are weighed separately is because the additive increases very slightly compared to the base metal.

When the required amount of base metal and additives have accumulated in the weighing hopper (6), this hopper is opened. Although both exist separately in the weighing hopper (6), the inclined chute (4) is opened by opening the hopper. At the stage of falling, both are stirred and put into the press mold fil. When the mixture of both is put into the press mold il, the inclined chute (4) is retracted by the operation of the cylinder (5), and then the pressurized mold (3) is put into the press mold fil. lower it,
Get briquettes.

Table 1 shows the distribution of Fe and O in the ingot when a Ti ingot is manufactured using a consumable electrode made of commercially pure Ti briquettes of G'-2 and 3 obtained by the apparatus shown in Figure 1. Here is an example.

Table 1 r-2 p m r-3 p m Next, the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 2 will be explained. The press mechanism is the same as the device shown in Figure 1, so the press mold (1
) are omitted from illustration.

The frame αυ provided on one side of the press mechanism has a first
(4-1) is the motor (2), gear Ql
It is installed so that it can be rotated. This inclined chute (4-1) expands and contracts by the operation of the cylinder a, and its tip is in an extended state and the arc-shaped opening is the press mold fill.
The EAR is inserted into the outer part of the interior from above.

The frame αυ also has a hopper (
8-5> is installed at a position higher than the upper end of the inclined chute (4-1), and its input port is connected to the upper end of the inclined chute (4-1) via the weighing hopper (27). α
The container is the container that carries the base metal to the hopper (8-5).
It is designed to be raised and lowered by a lift (not shown).

A second inclined chute (4-2) is attached to the frame 1)Q provided on one side of the press ati. This inclined chute (4-2) is designed to be able to bend once in the middle, and its lower part is tilted in the direction of the arrow in the figure by the cylinder αη, and expands and contracts by the operation of the cylinder α barrel, and performs the work shown in the figure. At the position where the tip opening is in the press mold (
1) The inner part of the interior can be viewed from above.

The hopper (8-6) attached to the frame OI9 is for a mixture of base metal and alloy component metal, and its input port is connected to the upper end of the inclined chute (4-2). Like the hopper (8-5), this hopper (8-6) also includes a material field 2S01 that is raised and lowered by a lift (not shown).

Further, another frame (27) also has a vertical guide post (
(to) is provided with a horizontal arm (22) attached to be raised and lowered by a cylinder (21). This horizontal arm (
22) has a distal end that expands and contracts in a cylinder (23), and is provided with a partition plate (24) at the distal end for partitioning the outer and inner parts of the press mold il+.

FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) show that a corner plate (24) is inserted into the inside of the press mold fil, and the base metal However, the state in which the mixture of the base metal and the alloy component metal is charged into the inner portion (26) is shown in a cross-sectional plan view (a) and a longitudinal side view (b).

In this drawing, since semicircular briquettes are stored, the cross-sectional shape of the press mold fi + inner shell is semicircular, and the partition plate (2
4) is also curved in an arc shape, but these shapes are appropriately selected depending on the shape of the briquettes to be manufactured, and are not limited to the illustrated example.

Note that the lower end opening of the first inclined chute (4-1) mentioned above faces from above the outer part (25) of the partition plate (24) shown in FIGS. 3(a) and (b). The lower end opening of the second inclined chute (4-2) faces the inner part (26) of the partition plate (24) shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) from above. It has become.

Next, the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. ) is temporarily stored. At this stage, +! ! ! The diagonal chute (4-1) has its length reduced and is in the retracted position, and the diagonal chute (4-2) has also been retracted and is in the retracted position toward the front. On the other hand, the partition plate (24) is inserted into the press mold (1).

From this state, first drive the motor to rotate the first inclined chute (4-1) to the press die il+, then drive the cylinder (2) to extend the lower part of the chute and open the lower end opening. (on the outside part of the inside of the press mold (1)). Thereafter, the weighing hopper (27) is opened and the base metal stored therein is thrown into the outer part. (4-1)
returns to its original evacuation position.

When the first inclined chute (4-1) is retracted, the cylinder α7+01 is then driven and the second inclined chute (4-1) is moved.
-2) is tilted toward the press mold fi+,
Its lower part extends and the lower end opening faces the inner part of the press mold (1).Then, the mixture for one briquette (briquette) charged into the hopper (8-6) is poured into the inclined chute (4-6).
2) into the inner part. When the charging of the mixture is finished, the second inclined chute (4-2) is retracted to its original position.

When the second inclined shoe) (4-1) is retracted, the horizontal arm (22) is then raised by the operation of the cylinder (21), extracts the partition plate (24) upward from inside the press mold, and then After that, the horizontal arm (22) retracts and the partition plate (2
4) Evacuate.

The corner plate (24) is i! Once avoided, the press mechanism is activated to compress the charge material in the press mold (1) to obtain briquettes/briquettes.

The above operations may be performed by a worker remotely, or may be performed automatically and continuously using a predetermined program.

A semicircular alloy briquette of Ti-6AI-4V and Zircaloy-2 was manufactured using the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, and vacuum arc double melting was performed using a consumable electrode made of the briquettes.
Top (T) of the surface layer of a 5φ, 4.5T ingot,
Table 2 shows the chemical analysis results of the middle (M) and bottom (B) three-point bones.

Table 2 (Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, when producing commercial pure metal briquettes, the base metal and additives are naturally stirred in the inclined chute during the process of being introduced into the press mold. Is it similar to when stirring manually? This not only prevents insufficient mixing and increased man-hours, but also eliminates the need for high-cost equipment such as mixers, and since the stirred material is directly put into the press mold, the material can be re-separated during transportation after stirring. This makes it possible to produce high-quality ingots extremely simply and at low cost.

In addition, when producing briquettes for alloys, the base metal and the mixture are automatically fed into two inclined chutes, which not only simplifies the feeding process, but also makes it possible to
Different types of materials are completely separated by partition plates in the press mold, preventing them from mixing with each other, improving the quality of the ingot, and allowing both materials to be pressed at once while being placed in the press mold. Since the molding process is completed, there is no need for double work such as pressing the mixture in advance or sealing it in a can, making the process more efficient and significantly advantageous in terms of manufacturing costs.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1 and 2 are front views illustrating a briquette manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS.
Figure 4 (A) A cross-sectional plan view (A) and a vertical side view (A) of the press die of the device, showing an enlarged view of the press mold part of the device.
(b) is a perspective view schematically showing the shapes of consumable electrodes for commercial pure metals (a) and alloys (b). In the figure, 1 nibbles mold, 4: inclined chute, 8: material input hopper, 24: partition plate. Figure 30 Figure 4

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) Provided so that it can move forward and backward with respect to the press mold (1),
Manufacturing of a consumable electrode for active metal melting, characterized in that an input material hopper (8) is connected to the upper end of an inclined chute (4) whose lower end faces the inside of a press die (1) in an advanced state. Device. (2) The input material hopper (8) is connected to the base metal hopper (8-
The apparatus for manufacturing a consumable electrode for active metal melting according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two types: 1) and additive hoppers (8-2 to 4). (3) Provided so that it can move forward and backward with respect to the press mold (1),
The first inclined chute (4-1
) and the second inclined chute (4-2), a hopper for the base metal (8-5) and a hopper for the mixture (8-6) are connected to each other, and the inside of the press mold (1) A manufacturing apparatus for a consumable electrode for active metal melting, characterized in that a partition plate (24) that partitions an outer part and an inner part is provided so as to be movable relative to a press mold (1).