JPS6346134B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to vessels for holding molten metal, such as melting vessels or holding vessels (or chute) for the transport of liquid metal.

Various designs of such containers are found in the art. Such vessels include crucibles or chute made from a piece of graphite or ceramic material, and a metal shell lined with a heat-resistant block or brick, such as a ceramic material, i.e. a hardened material.
Conventional manufacturing of such containers requires complex auxiliary equipment, such as mold structures when solidifying and casting or processing equipment when manufacturing the metallic shell. In order for containers to be manufactured at a reasonable cost, large numbers of relatively small containers had to be manufactured. Another drawback with such conventional containers is the risk of breakage when drying or heating to the desired operating temperature. Such damage must be avoided during manufacturing, and especially at the beginning of work.
This includes the risk of accidents on site.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and useful container structure in which the aforementioned disadvantages are at least substantially eliminated.

It has been found in practice that the reliability of this container of the invention is extremely high and only relatively simple equipment is required to manufacture this container. The container is practically 1 in the desired size and shape.
They can be manufactured economically in single pieces or in series on a single and identical manufacturing device, thus almost completely avoiding changing the optimum arrangement in the field. The container of the present invention is primarily intended for use when casting non-ferrous metals, such as casting zinc- or aluminum-based alloys. Easily processed ceramic plates are available on the market, can be cut and drilled much like wood and can withstand temperatures of 700 to 800°C. The manufacture of ceramic plates that can withstand higher temperatures and at competitive prices is within the scope of this invention. Preferably, the plates are formed such that they are not wetted, impregnated or corroded by the molten metal with which they are used. There is virtually no risk that the containers of the invention will break during normal handling. The reason is that the plates that come into contact with molten metal are not burnt out after assembly and the labyrinthine bond, which is leak-proof, allows thermally induced movement.

From a leakage point of view, a particularly reliable and easily manufactured container is one in which the walls of the container consist of double plates placed against each other and the peripheral edge of one plate covers the edge of the associated other plate. obtained when protruding beyond to form a binding surface.

The ceramic seal material used as an interlayer between the surfaces forming the bond may be in paste form, but it has been found that an interlayer of felt ceramic material, optionally in combination with a pasty seal mass, is most reliable. has been discovered so far.

Preferably, the mutually cooperating connecting surfaces of the container are pressed against each other by means of a screw connection, the screw being screwed directly into the material of the ceramic plate. However, other arrangements may be used to press the binding surface.

From the point of view of thermal economy, working environment and useful working life of the container, it is advantageous if the walls of the container are covered by a layer of insulating material and a shell surrounding said layer. Both the insulating layer and the outer shell can be constructed from sheets or plates of ceramic material, but the material forming the insulating material is porous, while the outer shell cannot be melted for some time in the event of a breach in the wall of the container. It is like being able to hold metal.

The insulating layers exhibit angular or labyrinthine bonding surfaces along the edges where they are bonded to each other, which are of approximately the same shape as the ceramic plates forming the vessel wall and coming into contact with the molten metal; Gases that may circulate in the insulating layer can thus be avoided as much as possible. Preferably, the insulating layers are bonded to each other via a material that seals the bond.

The present invention relates to a holding container for molten metal, wherein the walls of the container containing the molten metal are made of ceramic plates, and the walls of the container are sealingly connected to each other along the wall edges, the container having a plate-like shape. Divided by an internal wall into a supply chamber, a discharge chamber, and a holding chamber for the molten metal, the prefill holding chamber communicating with the supply chamber and the discharge chamber at a position below the level of the free surface of the molten metal. The heating device is provided to supply heat to the molten metal contained in the holding chamber, and the lid member is provided to cover the supply chamber, the discharge chamber, and the holding chamber. The purpose of this invention is to provide a holding container for storing This arrangement results in a particularly economical vessel or furnace from a thermal point of view. That is, uniform temperature throughout the entire melt and minimal turbulence at the surface of the bath, thereby ensuring minimal oxidation of the heated molten metal. If the furnace of the present invention is maintained in a manner suitable to those skilled in the art, there is virtually no limit to the useful life of the furnace. The amount of energy consumed by the furnace is negligible when compared to the amount of energy consumed by a conventional furnace of the same size, making an economical furnace even more desirable.

Preferably, a device for supplying heat to the melt is arranged in the space in the holding chamber above the surface of the melt, the device consisting of a suitable electric heating element. This space is separate from the surroundings and from the supply and discharge chambers, so that no exchange of air or gas takes place.

Preferably, the supply chamber and the discharge chamber are provided with individual lids, so that the holding chamber is always kept isolated from the surrounding atmosphere, so that when filling or discharging molten metal into the container, the surface of the metal bath is not exposed. Only the smallest part is exposed.

In order not to affect the molten metal contained in the discharge chamber in a harmful way when refilling the furnace, the feed chamber and the discharge chamber are preferably arranged at respective corners of the vessel and free surfaces of the molten metal. the openings are arranged to communicate with the holding chamber through openings below the level of ing. In this way, the risk of slag associated with molten metal re-interacting with the discharge chamber is substantially eliminated.

Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. First, the connection state of the wall edges of the holding container of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. The container shown in FIG. , the lid abuts the upper edge of the wall 11 via a seal 13. The molten metal contained in the vessel is indicated at 14. To ensure a good seal, the lower part of the wall 11 is grooved in a way so as to obtain an L-shaped joint when the wall 11 and the bottom 10 are joined. Placed at the joint is a piece of felt-like ceramic material 1
5, 16, and the joining surfaces are pressed together by screws 17. The vertical corners where the walls 11 of the container meet are formed in a manner corresponding to the illustrated horizontal corners in the transition region between the wall and the bottom, so that an angled corner connection is formed.

The container shown in FIG. 2 differs from the container shown in FIG. 1 mainly in the following points. That is, the bottom and walls are formed from double ceramic plates 19, 20 and 21, 22. The edges of the outer plates 20, 22 are connected to the associated inner plate 19, so as to form a generally conical connection.
It protrudes beyond the edge of 21. Their joining surfaces are held pressed together by screws 17 via an intermediate layer of felt-like ceramic material, ie inserts 15, 16, 23, for example. Inserts 16 and 23 extend beyond the bonding area and, as shown, connect outer plates 20, 22.
has the same extension length. Other screws may be arranged to tighten the outer and inner plates together through the inserts 16, 23, as shown at 24.

The container shown in FIG. 3 is a development of the container shown in FIG. This container differs from the container shown in FIG. 2 primarily in that the container is provided with an insulating structure comprising an insulating layer consisting of internal and external porous plates 25, 26, for example of heat-resistant ceramic material.
It's different. As shown, plates 25, 26
are joined at the corners in much the same manner as described in connection with plates 19-22 above. Also,
The plates 25, 26 of the insulating layers may be interposed with a felt-like ceramic material to seal the bond between the insulating layers. This insulating structure is surrounded by a shell structure consisting of ceramic plates 27 held together by screws 28.

Next, to explain the holding container of the present invention, the container shown in FIG.
It consists of a furnace equipped with 1. With thin plate-like interior walls 32-35, as shown in FIG. It is divided into a discharge chamber, which is removed accordingly, and a holding chamber, which is covered with a lid 29 and is relatively larger than the supply chamber and the discharge chamber.
A lid 29 covering the holding chamber supports an electric heating element (not shown) underneath to maintain the molten metal at the desired temperature. The supply and discharge chambers are located at respective corners of the vessel 10 and are arranged to communicate only with the holding chamber at a significant distance from the desired level of their upper surface of molten metal. For this purpose, openings 36 and 37 are arranged in walls 32 and 35 adjacent to the bottom of the furnace. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the openings are oriented in such a direction that the molten metal filling the supply chamber has approximately the maximum flow path through the holding chamber and into the discharge chamber.
Lid 30 and 3 of the supply chamber and discharge chamber respectively
1 is suitably provided with a handle (not shown) so that the lid can be easily removed and replaced.

When a container that can withstand temperatures up to approximately 800°C is required, plates 10, 11, 12, 1 are used.
9-22 and 27 are manufactured by Johns-Manville, Colorado, USA under the trade name "Marinite-XL".
Conveniently, it is made of ceramic sheet material sold by . Insulating plates 25, 26
And the seal 13 is, for example, the product name "Thermo-"
Inserts 15, 16, and 23 are made of ``Fumibar Flux Ceramic Fiber'' and ``Cerafelt CB-1000'' sold by the above-mentioned Georges-Manville, respectively.
Paper 970J (Fiberfrax Ceramic Fiber
It is made of a felt-like ceramic material sold by Carborundum Co., New York, USA, with a thickness of preferably approximately 3 mm.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the container of the present invention.
2 and 3 are vertical cross-sectional views of portions of a second and third embodiment of the container of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the holding container. 10...bottom, 11...wall, 12...lid, 13...
... Seal, 14... Molten metal, 15, 16...
Piece, 17... Screw, 19, 20, 22... Ceramic plate, 15, 16, 23... Insert, 25, 26... Plate, 27... Ceramic plate, 28... Screw, 29, 30, 31...
...Lid, 32-35...Wall, 36, 37...Opening.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A holding container for molten metal, in which the walls of the container containing the molten metal are made of ceramic plates, and the walls of the container are hermetically connected to each other along the wall edges, The vessel is divided by a plate-shaped internal wall into a feed chamber, a discharge chamber and a holding chamber for the molten metal, said holding chamber being connected to the supply chamber and the discharge chamber at a position below the level of the free surface of the molten metal. A heating device is provided to supply heat to the molten metal contained in the holding chamber, and a lid member is provided to cover the supply chamber, the discharge chamber, and the holding chamber. A holding container featuring: 2. A container according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating device is arranged in a space above the molten metal in the holding chamber. 3. Container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the discharge chamber is provided with a separate lid. 4. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a supply chamber and a discharge chamber are each arranged at a corner of the container and communicate with the holding chamber through an opening, the opening being A container characterized in that it faces in such a direction that the molten metal passed through the chamber obtains a substantially maximum flow path through the holding chamber and into the discharge chamber. 5. The walls of the container containing the molten metal are composed of hard ceramic plates, the edges of the walls being bonded to each other, the walls of the container having at least two bonding surfaces angled with respect to each other, e.g. , the mutually cooperating bonding surfaces are pressed against each other through an intermediate layer of ceramic sealing material by fasteners such as screws passing through the respective bonding surfaces and the intermediate layer of ceramic sealing material and through the ceramic plate. A container for molten metal according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: 6. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which at least one of the walls of the container consists of double plates placed adjacent to each other, the peripheral edges of one plate being related. Second to do
A container, characterized in that it projects beyond the edge portion of the plate to form said bonding surface. 7. A container according to claim 1 or 6, characterized in that the intermediate layer consists of a felt-like ceramic material. 8. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the wall of the container is surrounded by an insulating layer and an outer shell surrounding the insulating layer. 9. A container according to claim 8, characterized in that the insulating layer consists of a sheet of porous ceramic material. 10. A container according to claim 9, in which the insulating layers are bonded to each other along an edge, said edge having at least two bonding surfaces that are angled with respect to each other, such as a lattice bond or a lattice bond. A container characterized by indicating. 11. A container according to claim 10, characterized in that the insulating layers are bonded to each other via a felt-like ceramic material sealing the bond between the insulating layers. 12. A container according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the outer shell is made of a hard ceramic plate.