US20050023737A1 - Ladle - Google Patents
Ladle Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20050023737A1 US20050023737A1 US10/913,274 US91327404A US2005023737A1 US 20050023737 A1 US20050023737 A1 US 20050023737A1 US 91327404 A US91327404 A US 91327404A US 2005023737 A1 US2005023737 A1 US 2005023737A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- molten material
- inert gas
- ladle
- gas supply
- nozzle
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 239000012768 molten material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 102
- 239000011261 inert gas Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 58
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000005266 casting Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrogen Chemical compound [H][H] UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 238000007872 degassing Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 3
- 229910000838 Al alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000000052 comparative effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010079 rubber tapping Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910000881 Cu alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910000861 Mg alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003542 behavioural effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007796 conventional method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011156 evaluation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
- B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
- B22D1/00—Treatment of fused masses in the ladle or the supply runners before casting
- B22D1/002—Treatment with gases
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
- C21C—PROCESSING OF PIG-IRON, e.g. REFINING, MANUFACTURE OF WROUGHT-IRON OR STEEL; TREATMENT IN MOLTEN STATE OF FERROUS ALLOYS
- C21C7/00—Treating molten ferrous alloys, e.g. steel, not covered by groups C21C1/00 - C21C5/00
- C21C7/0075—Treating in a ladle furnace, e.g. up-/reheating of molten steel within the ladle
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
- C21C—PROCESSING OF PIG-IRON, e.g. REFINING, MANUFACTURE OF WROUGHT-IRON OR STEEL; TREATMENT IN MOLTEN STATE OF FERROUS ALLOYS
- C21C7/00—Treating molten ferrous alloys, e.g. steel, not covered by groups C21C1/00 - C21C5/00
- C21C7/04—Removing impurities by adding a treating agent
- C21C7/072—Treatment with gases
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
- F27B—FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS
- F27B17/00—Furnaces of a kind not covered by any preceding group
- F27B17/0016—Chamber type furnaces
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
- F27D—DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
- F27D3/00—Charging; Discharging; Manipulation of charge
- F27D3/14—Charging or discharging liquid or molten material
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
- F27D—DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
- F27D3/00—Charging; Discharging; Manipulation of charge
- F27D3/15—Tapping equipment; Equipment for removing or retaining slag
- F27D3/1509—Tapping equipment
- F27D3/1518—Tapholes
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
- F27D—DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
- F27D3/00—Charging; Discharging; Manipulation of charge
- F27D3/16—Introducing a fluid jet or current into the charge
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to ladles for supplying (or resupplying) molten metal (hereinafter referred to as “molten material”), such as molten aluminum, from melting furnaces to molten material holding furnaces. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved ladle which allows inert gas to be emitted from a nozzle into molten material with enhanced efficiency.
- molten material molten metal
- the present invention relates to an improved ladle which allows inert gas to be emitted from a nozzle into molten material with enhanced efficiency.
- Japanese Patent No. 3194418 discloses a technique of performing not only such a degassing process within the molten material holding furnace, but also a degassing process prior to the molten material transfer to the holding furnace.
- FIG. 6 shows a funnel disclosed in the above-mentioned No. 3194418 Japanese patent, and the disclosed funnel 1 includes a molten material reservoir 4 having a bottom surface 4 a , a molten material delivery section 5 , an outlet or discharge opening 6 and an inert gas supply section 7 .
- the disclosed funnel 1 is a type of auxiliary device used to transfer molten material from a ladle into a molten material holding furnace, and, in the funnel 1 , the inert gas supply section 7 is disposed in the neighborhood of a boundary between the reservoir 4 and the delivery section 5 .
- the supply section 7 comprises a porous plug positioned in proximity to the bottom surface 4 a of the molten material reservoir 4 .
- an object of the present invention to provide an improved ladle which can contribute to improvement in the quality of cast products, by reliably preventing clogging of an inert gas supply section to thereby enhance an inert gas supply efficiency so as to prevent introduction, into a molten material holding furnace, of unwanted hydrogen gas.
- the present invention provides a ladle for transferring molten material from a melting furnace (e.g., aluminum melting furnace) to a molten material holding furnace attached to a casting machine, which comprises: a ladle body having a molten material discharge opening and a molten material passageway portion leading to the molten material discharge opening; and an inert gas supply nozzle mounted on the ladle body adjacent the molten material discharge opening for emitting inert gas into the molten material.
- a melting furnace e.g., aluminum melting furnace
- a molten material holding furnace attached to a casting machine which comprises: a ladle body having a molten material discharge opening and a molten material passageway portion leading to the molten material discharge opening; and an inert gas supply nozzle mounted on the ladle body adjacent the molten material discharge opening for emitting inert gas into the molten material.
- the inert gas supply nozzle has a distal or output-side end surface located in the molten material passageway portion and inclined upward, relative to the bottom surface of the molten material passageway portion, in a direction toward the molten material discharge opening.
- the ladle is a device for taking a necessary amount of the molten material from the melting furnace and transferring the taken molten material to the molten material holding furnace.
- the inert gas supply nozzle mounted on the ladle body emits the inert gas into the molten material, so as to appropriately deal with unwanted hydrogen gas produced from vapor in the air.
- the inert gas supply nozzle of the ladle has its output-side end surface located in the molten material passageway portion and inclined upward, relative to the bottom surface of the molten material passageway portion, in a direction toward the molten material discharge opening.
- the output-side end surface of the nozzle is oriented toward the molten material discharge opening, the molten material flowing along the molten material passageway portion can be prevented from directly impinging on the nozzle's output-side end surface.
- the present invention can effectively eliminate the possibility of the output-side end portion of the nozzle being clogged with the molten material.
- the inert gas emitted from the nozzle can function to push the molten material along the passageway portion to the molten material discharge opening.
- the emitted inert gas can effectively push the molten material, remaining at and around the discharge opening, into the holding furnace, so that the molten material can be drained off the nozzle with significantly enhanced efficiency.
- FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an example manner in which is used a ladle constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the ladle of the present invention
- FIG. 3 is a front view of the ladle of the present invention.
- FIGS. 4A and 4B are views explanatory of behavioral differences between a conventional inert gas supply nozzle and an inert gas supply nozzle employed in the ladle of the present invention
- FIGS. 5A and 5B are views showing modified examples of the inert gas supply nozzle employed in the ladle of the present invention.
- FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a conventional technique relevant to the present invention.
- FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the example use of the ladle of the present invention.
- the ladle 30 is required because a casting machine 20 is installed a certain appropriate distance from an aluminum melting furnace 10 .
- the ladle 30 is initially positioned to front a tapping hole 11 of the aluminum melting furnace 10 in proximity thereto, so as to receive molten material (in this case, molten aluminum) from the tapping hole 11 .
- the ladle 30 is movable as depicted by arrow ⁇ circle over ( 1 ) ⁇ and arrow ⁇ circle over ( 2 ) ⁇ , through operation of a robot arm 25 , so as to front a molten material holding furnace 40 in proximity thereto; the holding furnace 40 is attached to the casting machine 20 .
- a lid 41 of the holding furnace 40 is opened and the ladle 30 is tilted to a suitable pouring position by means of the robot arm 25 .
- Pressurized inert gas is blown into the molten material holding furnace 40 via a pressurizing hole 42 , so as to lower the bath level of the molten material in the holding furnace 40 .
- the molten material held in the holding furnace 40 is supplied to a mold 44 via a stalk 43 .
- the molten material in the holding furnace 40 decreases, so that there arises a need to resupply, as appropriate, the molten material from the melting furnace 10 to the holding furnace 40 using the ladle 30 .
- FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the ladle 30 of the present invention.
- the ladle 30 generally comprises a ladle body 31 , a molten material discharge opening 32 formed in the ladle body 31 , an inert gas supply nozzle 33 disposed adjacent the discharge opening 32 , and a refractory lining (not shown).
- the inert gas supply nozzle 33 has a distal or output-side end surface 36 located in a molten material passageway portion 34 leading to the discharge opening 32 and inclined upward, relative to a bottom surface 35 of the passageway portion 34 in a direction toward the discharge opening 32 .
- an angle ⁇ between the nozzle's output-side end surface 36 and the bottom surface 35 of the passageway portion 34 is set to 10° or over, preferably to a range of 30° to 60°.
- the angle ⁇ between the nozzle end surface 36 and the bottom surface 35 is preferably set to the range of 30° to 60°.
- FIG. 3 is a front view of the ladle 30 of the present invention.
- the ladle body 31 is connected to a lower robot arm section 22 via a connection shaft 21 supported by bearings 26 and 27 , and the connection shaft 21 can be rotated by a motor 28 so that the ladle 30 is allowed to vertically pivot or tilt via the connection shaft 21 .
- FIG. 4 is explanatory of the inert gas supply nozzle 33 employed in the ladle 30 of the present invention; more specifically, FIG. 4A is a view showing an example of a conventional inert gas supply nozzle employed in conventional ladles (hereinafter called “comparative example”), while FIG. 4B is a view showing the inert gas supply nozzle 33 employed in the ladle 30 of the present invention (hereinafter called “inventive example”).
- the inert gas supply nozzle 101 is mounted vertically at right angles to the bottom surface 103 of the molten material passageway portion 102 .
- the molten material generally flows in a direction of arrow ⁇ circle over ( 3 ) ⁇
- a portion of the molten material enters an output-side end portion of the nozzle 101 as depicted by arrow ⁇ circle over ( 4 ) ⁇ and may sometimes clog the end portion of the nozzle 101 .
- the inert gas supply nozzle 33 is mounted obliquely in such a manner that the output-side end surface 36 is inclined upward, relative to the bottom surface 35 of the molten material passageway portion 34 , in a direction toward the discharge opening 32 and thus oriented toward the discharge opening 32 .
- the molten material flows in a direction of arrow ⁇ circle over ( 5 ) ⁇ , and, even when a portion of the molten material flows upward as depicted by arrow ⁇ circle over ( 6 ) ⁇ , that portion can be reliably prevented from entering the output-side end portion of the nozzle 36 , by virtue of the inclined end surface 36 .
- the inert gas supply nozzle 33 can function to supply the inert gas into the molten material in a stable manner over a long period of time.
- FIG. 5A shows a modified example of the inert gas supply nozzle 33 , which is mounted vertically downward toward and at right angles to the bottom surface 35 of the molten material passageway portion 34 .
- the nozzle 33 has its output-side end surface 36 obliquely cut so as to be oriented toward the discharge opening 32 .
- the end surface 36 is inclined upward, relative to the bottom surface 35 , in a direction toward the discharge opening 32 .
- the inert gas supply nozzle 33 has to be mounted obliquely on the ladle body 31 ; therefore, excessive care is required in positioning and fixing the nozzle 33 in an appropriate tilted posture.
- the inert gas supply nozzle 33 of FIG. 5A can be mounted to the ladle body 31 with increased ease as compared to the example of FIG. 2 , because it only has to be positioned at right angles to the bottom surface 35 . As a consequence, the necessary manufacturing costs of the ladle 30 can be lowered effectively.
- FIG. 5B shows still another modified example of the inert gas supply nozzle 33 , which has a curved output-side end portion with its end surface 36 inclined upward, relative to the bottom surface 35 of the molten material passageway portion 34 , in a direction toward the discharge opening 32 and thus oriented toward the discharge opening 32 .
- the inert gas supply nozzle 33 of FIG. 5B can be mounted to the ladle body 31 with increased ease as compared to the example of FIG. 2 , because it only has to be mounted at right angles to the bottom surface 35 . As a consequence, the necessary manufacturing costs of the ladle 30 can-be lowered effectively.
- each of the examples of the inert gas supply nozzles 33 is constructed in such a manner that its distal or output-side end surface is inclined upward in a direction toward the molten material discharge opening 32 , the molten material can be reliably prevented from entering the output-side end portion of the nozzle 33 .
- the inert gas supply nozzle 33 can function to supply the inert gas into the molten material in a stable manner over a long period of time.
- the inert gas emitted from the nozzle 33 can function to push the molten material along the passageway portion 34 to the discharge opening 32 .
- the emitted inert gas can effectively push the molten material, remaining at and around the discharge opening 32 , into the holding furnace 40 , so that the molten material can be drained off with significantly enhanced efficiency.
- the ladle 30 of the present invention allows the inert gas to be ejected from the nozzle 33 with enhanced efficiency and can thereby sufficiently degas the molten material.
- the ladle 30 of the present invention can minimize the unwanted cavities in cast products and thus permits product quality improvement.
- the distal or output-side end surface of the inert gas supply nozzle 33 may be shaped in any desired shape as long as it is inclined upward, relative to the bottom surface 35 of the molten material passageway portion 34 , in a direction toward the molten material discharge opening 32 .
- the ladle 30 of the present invention has been described as employing just one inert gas supply nozzle 33 , any other desired number of the nozzles 33 may be employed.
- the ladle 30 of the present invention has been described above as handling molten aluminum alloy, the ladle 30 may be applied to cases where any other desired molten material, such as molten magnesium alloy, copper alloy, casting iron, etc., are handled.
- the present invention is characterized in that the inert gas supply nozzle mounted on the ladle body has its distal or output-side end surface located in the molten material passageway portion and inclined upward, relative to the bottom surface of the molten material passageway portion, in a direction toward the molten material discharge opening.
- the ladle of the present invention can contribute to improvement in the quality of cast products by reliably preventing clogging of the inert gas supply nozzle to thereby enhance the inert gas emission efficiency.
Abstract
Inert gas supply nozzle is mounted on a ladle body in such a manner its output-side end surface is inclined upward, relative to the bottom surface of a molten material passageway portion, in a direction toward a molten material discharge opening formed in the ladle body. Even when a portion of the molten material flows upward toward the nozzle's output-side end, that portion can be reliably prevented from entering the output-side end portion of the nozzle, by virtue of the inclined end surface. Thus, the inert gas supply nozzle can function to supply the inert gas into the molten material in a stable manner over a long period of time.
Description
- The present invention relates generally to ladles for supplying (or resupplying) molten metal (hereinafter referred to as “molten material”), such as molten aluminum, from melting furnaces to molten material holding furnaces. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved ladle which allows inert gas to be emitted from a nozzle into molten material with enhanced efficiency.
- Heretofore, during transfer of molten material from a melting surface to a molten material holding furnace, the molten material would produce hydrogen gas by drawing in vapor present in the air, and the thus produced hydrogen gas would then produce undesired cavities in workpieces cast by a casting process, therefore often resulting in unsatisfactory product quality.
- In order to avoid the inconvenience, it has been generally conventional to perform a degassing process within the molten material holding furnace. Japanese Patent No. 3194418, for example, discloses a technique of performing not only such a degassing process within the molten material holding furnace, but also a degassing process prior to the molten material transfer to the holding furnace.
-
FIG. 6 shows a funnel disclosed in the above-mentioned No. 3194418 Japanese patent, and the disclosedfunnel 1 includes amolten material reservoir 4 having abottom surface 4 a, a moltenmaterial delivery section 5, an outlet ordischarge opening 6 and an inertgas supply section 7. The disclosedfunnel 1 is a type of auxiliary device used to transfer molten material from a ladle into a molten material holding furnace, and, in thefunnel 1, the inertgas supply section 7 is disposed in the neighborhood of a boundary between thereservoir 4 and thedelivery section 5. Thesupply section 7 comprises a porous plug positioned in proximity to thebottom surface 4 a of themolten material reservoir 4. - However, with the technique of the Japanese patent, a great amount of air would be unavoidably drawn in as the molten material is relocated from the ladle to the
funnel 1 that is interposed between the ladle and the molten material holding furnace. Further, because the inertgas supply section 7 is positioned near thedischarge opening 6, thesupply section 7 would be undesirably clogged with the molten material unless the molten material is sufficiently drained off thesupply section 7 after completion of the discharge, from the funnel, of a given amount of the molten material. For avoiding the clogging problem, there might be employed an approach of causing thesupply section 7 to always emit inert gas; however, in this case, the production costs would increase considerably due to wasteful use of the inert gas. - In view of the foregoing prior art problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved ladle which can contribute to improvement in the quality of cast products, by reliably preventing clogging of an inert gas supply section to thereby enhance an inert gas supply efficiency so as to prevent introduction, into a molten material holding furnace, of unwanted hydrogen gas.
- In order to accomplish the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a ladle for transferring molten material from a melting furnace (e.g., aluminum melting furnace) to a molten material holding furnace attached to a casting machine, which comprises: a ladle body having a molten material discharge opening and a molten material passageway portion leading to the molten material discharge opening; and an inert gas supply nozzle mounted on the ladle body adjacent the molten material discharge opening for emitting inert gas into the molten material. In the ladle of the present invention, the inert gas supply nozzle has a distal or output-side end surface located in the molten material passageway portion and inclined upward, relative to the bottom surface of the molten material passageway portion, in a direction toward the molten material discharge opening.
- The ladle is a device for taking a necessary amount of the molten material from the melting furnace and transferring the taken molten material to the molten material holding furnace. When the molten material is poured from the ladle into the molten material holding furnace, the inert gas supply nozzle mounted on the ladle body emits the inert gas into the molten material, so as to appropriately deal with unwanted hydrogen gas produced from vapor in the air.
- As the most important feature of the present invention, the inert gas supply nozzle of the ladle has its output-side end surface located in the molten material passageway portion and inclined upward, relative to the bottom surface of the molten material passageway portion, in a direction toward the molten material discharge opening. Thus, the output-side end surface of the nozzle is oriented toward the molten material discharge opening, the molten material flowing along the molten material passageway portion can be prevented from directly impinging on the nozzle's output-side end surface. As a result, the present invention can effectively eliminate the possibility of the output-side end portion of the nozzle being clogged with the molten material.
- Further, with the output-side end surface of the nozzle, oriented toward the molten material discharge opening, the inert gas emitted from the nozzle can function to push the molten material along the passageway portion to the molten material discharge opening. Thus, at the last phase of the molten material pouring from the ladle into the holding furnace, in particular, the emitted inert gas can effectively push the molten material, remaining at and around the discharge opening, into the holding furnace, so that the molten material can be drained off the nozzle with significantly enhanced efficiency.
- Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an example manner in which is used a ladle constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the ladle of the present invention; -
FIG. 3 is a front view of the ladle of the present invention; -
FIGS. 4A and 4B are views explanatory of behavioral differences between a conventional inert gas supply nozzle and an inert gas supply nozzle employed in the ladle of the present invention; -
FIGS. 5A and 5B are views showing modified examples of the inert gas supply nozzle employed in the ladle of the present invention; and -
FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a conventional technique relevant to the present invention. - Example manner in which a ladle of the present invention is used will be explained first, prior to a detailed description about structural features of the ladle.
-
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the example use of the ladle of the present invention. Generally, theladle 30 is required because acasting machine 20 is installed a certain appropriate distance from analuminum melting furnace 10. Namely, theladle 30 is initially positioned to front a tappinghole 11 of the aluminum meltingfurnace 10 in proximity thereto, so as to receive molten material (in this case, molten aluminum) from thetapping hole 11. Theladle 30 is movable as depicted by arrow {circle over (1)} and arrow {circle over (2)}, through operation of arobot arm 25, so as to front a moltenmaterial holding furnace 40 in proximity thereto; theholding furnace 40 is attached to thecasting machine 20. - When molten material is to be poured from the
ladle 30 into the moltenmaterial holding furnace 40, alid 41 of theholding furnace 40 is opened and theladle 30 is tilted to a suitable pouring position by means of therobot arm 25. - Pressurized inert gas is blown into the molten
material holding furnace 40 via a pressurizinghole 42, so as to lower the bath level of the molten material in theholding furnace 40. Through such operation, the molten material held in theholding furnace 40 is supplied to amold 44 via astalk 43. As predetermined casting operations are repeated, the molten material in theholding furnace 40 decreases, so that there arises a need to resupply, as appropriate, the molten material from themelting furnace 10 to theholding furnace 40 using theladle 30. -
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of theladle 30 of the present invention. Theladle 30 generally comprises aladle body 31, a moltenmaterial discharge opening 32 formed in theladle body 31, an inertgas supply nozzle 33 disposed adjacent thedischarge opening 32, and a refractory lining (not shown). - The inert
gas supply nozzle 33 has a distal or output-side end surface 36 located in a moltenmaterial passageway portion 34 leading to thedischarge opening 32 and inclined upward, relative to abottom surface 35 of thepassageway portion 34 in a direction toward thedischarge opening 32. Specifically, an angle θ between the nozzle's output-side end surface 36 and thebottom surface 35 of thepassageway portion 34 is set to 10° or over, preferably to a range of 30° to 60°. - If the angle θ between the
nozzle end surface 36 and thebottom surface 35 is below 10°, then the molten material would easily enter the output-side (i.e., lower) end portion of thenozzle 33. Thus, with a mounting error and tilting movement of theladle 30 taken into account and to assure proper operation of thenozzle 33, it is desirable that the angle θ be 30° or over. However, if the angle θ exceeds 600, the flow of the inert gas ejected or emitted from thesupply nozzle 33 would approximate the flow of the molten material, so that the emitted gas can not appropriately mix with the molten material. Therefore, the angle θ between thenozzle end surface 36 and thebottom surface 35 is preferably set to the range of 30° to 60°. -
FIG. 3 is a front view of theladle 30 of the present invention. Theladle body 31 is connected to a lowerrobot arm section 22 via aconnection shaft 21 supported bybearings connection shaft 21 can be rotated by amotor 28 so that theladle 30 is allowed to vertically pivot or tilt via theconnection shaft 21. - Next, a description will be given about behavior of the
ladle 30 constructed in the above-described manner. -
FIG. 4 is explanatory of the inertgas supply nozzle 33 employed in theladle 30 of the present invention; more specifically,FIG. 4A is a view showing an example of a conventional inert gas supply nozzle employed in conventional ladles (hereinafter called “comparative example”), whileFIG. 4B is a view showing the inertgas supply nozzle 33 employed in theladle 30 of the present invention (hereinafter called “inventive example”). - In the comparative example of
FIG. 4A , the inertgas supply nozzle 101 is mounted vertically at right angles to thebottom surface 103 of the moltenmaterial passageway portion 102. In this case, although the molten material generally flows in a direction of arrow {circle over (3)}, a portion of the molten material enters an output-side end portion of thenozzle 101 as depicted by arrow {circle over (4)} and may sometimes clog the end portion of thenozzle 101. - In the inventive example of
FIG. 4B , the inertgas supply nozzle 33 is mounted obliquely in such a manner that the output-side end surface 36 is inclined upward, relative to thebottom surface 35 of the moltenmaterial passageway portion 34, in a direction toward thedischarge opening 32 and thus oriented toward thedischarge opening 32. The molten material flows in a direction of arrow {circle over (5)}, and, even when a portion of the molten material flows upward as depicted by arrow {circle over (6)}, that portion can be reliably prevented from entering the output-side end portion of thenozzle 36, by virtue of theinclined end surface 36. As a consequence, the inertgas supply nozzle 33 can function to supply the inert gas into the molten material in a stable manner over a long period of time. -
FIG. 5A shows a modified example of the inertgas supply nozzle 33, which is mounted vertically downward toward and at right angles to thebottom surface 35 of the moltenmaterial passageway portion 34. Thenozzle 33 has its output-side end surface 36 obliquely cut so as to be oriented toward thedischarge opening 32. Thus, in this example too, theend surface 36 is inclined upward, relative to thebottom surface 35, in a direction toward thedischarge opening 32. - In the illustrated example of
FIG. 2 described above, the inertgas supply nozzle 33 has to be mounted obliquely on theladle body 31; therefore, excessive care is required in positioning and fixing thenozzle 33 in an appropriate tilted posture. The inertgas supply nozzle 33 ofFIG. 5A can be mounted to theladle body 31 with increased ease as compared to the example ofFIG. 2 , because it only has to be positioned at right angles to thebottom surface 35. As a consequence, the necessary manufacturing costs of theladle 30 can be lowered effectively. -
FIG. 5B shows still another modified example of the inertgas supply nozzle 33, which has a curved output-side end portion with itsend surface 36 inclined upward, relative to thebottom surface 35 of the moltenmaterial passageway portion 34, in a direction toward thedischarge opening 32 and thus oriented toward thedischarge opening 32. In this case, there is no need to obliquely cut the output-side (i.e., lower) end of the inertgas supply nozzle 33 and it suffices to merely curve the output-side end portion of thenozzle 33, unlike the inertgas supply nozzle 33 ofFIG. 5A . Further, the inertgas supply nozzle 33 ofFIG. 5B can be mounted to theladle body 31 with increased ease as compared to the example ofFIG. 2 , because it only has to be mounted at right angles to thebottom surface 35. As a consequence, the necessary manufacturing costs of theladle 30 can-be lowered effectively. - Because each of the examples of the inert
gas supply nozzles 33, shown inFIGS. 4B, 5A and 5B, is constructed in such a manner that its distal or output-side end surface is inclined upward in a direction toward the moltenmaterial discharge opening 32, the molten material can be reliably prevented from entering the output-side end portion of thenozzle 33. Thus, the inertgas supply nozzle 33 can function to supply the inert gas into the molten material in a stable manner over a long period of time. - Further, with the output-side end surface of the
nozzle 33, oriented toward the moltenmaterial discharge opening 32, the inert gas emitted from thenozzle 33 can function to push the molten material along thepassageway portion 34 to thedischarge opening 32. Thus, at the last phase of the molten material pouring from theladle 30 into the holdingfurnace 40, in particular, the emitted inert gas can effectively push the molten material, remaining at and around thedischarge opening 32, into the holdingfurnace 40, so that the molten material can be drained off with significantly enhanced efficiency. - In the above-described manner, the
ladle 30 of the present invention allows the inert gas to be ejected from thenozzle 33 with enhanced efficiency and can thereby sufficiently degas the molten material. As a result, theladle 30 of the present invention can minimize the unwanted cavities in cast products and thus permits product quality improvement. - Test was conducted on the
lade 30 of the present invention in the following manner. - Casting Conditions:
-
- Type of the inert gas supply nozzle used: type of
FIG. 2 ; - Length of the inert gas supply time: 10 seconds;
- Inert gas supply timing: from a start to end of the tilting movement of the ladle;
- Amount of the inert gas supplied: 800 cm3;
- Amount of the molten material within the ladle: 22 kg; and
- Type of the molten material used: aluminum alloy (JIS AC4C).
- Type of the inert gas supply nozzle used: type of
- Evaluation:
-
- Each cast product produced under the above-mentioned conditions showed a dramatic reduction in the number of the unwanted cavities.
- Note that the distal or output-side end surface of the inert
gas supply nozzle 33 may be shaped in any desired shape as long as it is inclined upward, relative to thebottom surface 35 of the moltenmaterial passageway portion 34, in a direction toward the moltenmaterial discharge opening 32. Further, whereas theladle 30 of the present invention has been described as employing just one inertgas supply nozzle 33, any other desired number of thenozzles 33 may be employed. - Further, it should be appreciated that, whereas the
ladle 30 of the present invention has been described above as handling molten aluminum alloy, theladle 30 may be applied to cases where any other desired molten material, such as molten magnesium alloy, copper alloy, casting iron, etc., are handled. - In summary, the present invention is characterized in that the inert gas supply nozzle mounted on the ladle body has its distal or output-side end surface located in the molten material passageway portion and inclined upward, relative to the bottom surface of the molten material passageway portion, in a direction toward the molten material discharge opening. With such arrangements, the ladle of the present invention can contribute to improvement in the quality of cast products by reliably preventing clogging of the inert gas supply nozzle to thereby enhance the inert gas emission efficiency.
- Obviously, various minor changes and modifications of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teaching. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
Claims (1)
1. A ladle for transferring molten material from a melting furnace to a molten material holding furnace attached to a casting machine, said ladle comprising:
a ladle body having a molten material discharge opening and a molten material passageway portion leading to said molten material discharge opening; and
an inert gas supply nozzle mounted on said ladle body adjacent said molten material discharge opening for emitting inert gas into the molten material,
wherein said inert gas supply nozzle has an output-side end surface inclined upward, relative to a bottom surface of said molten material passageway portion, in a direction toward said molten material discharge opening.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2003102189A JP4294996B2 (en) | 2003-04-04 | 2003-04-04 | Ladle |
JP2003-102189 | 2003-04-04 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20050023737A1 true US20050023737A1 (en) | 2005-02-03 |
Family
ID=33465747
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/913,274 Abandoned US20050023737A1 (en) | 2003-04-04 | 2004-08-06 | Ladle |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20050023737A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4294996B2 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8522857B2 (en) * | 2011-06-09 | 2013-09-03 | GM Global Technology Operations LLC | Ladle for molten metal |
US20160101467A1 (en) * | 2013-05-27 | 2016-04-14 | Fill Gesellschaft M.B.H. | Method and device for casting a cast part |
US11027333B2 (en) * | 2019-03-22 | 2021-06-08 | Sukhjinder Kullar | Liquid-resistant direct-drive robotic ladler |
Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2431288A (en) * | 1942-10-28 | 1947-11-18 | Mathieson Alkali Works Inc | Metal skimming ladle |
-
2003
- 2003-04-04 JP JP2003102189A patent/JP4294996B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2004
- 2004-08-06 US US10/913,274 patent/US20050023737A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2431288A (en) * | 1942-10-28 | 1947-11-18 | Mathieson Alkali Works Inc | Metal skimming ladle |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8522857B2 (en) * | 2011-06-09 | 2013-09-03 | GM Global Technology Operations LLC | Ladle for molten metal |
US20160101467A1 (en) * | 2013-05-27 | 2016-04-14 | Fill Gesellschaft M.B.H. | Method and device for casting a cast part |
US9895743B2 (en) * | 2013-05-27 | 2018-02-20 | Fill Gesellschaft M.B.H. | Method and device for casting a cast part |
US11027333B2 (en) * | 2019-03-22 | 2021-06-08 | Sukhjinder Kullar | Liquid-resistant direct-drive robotic ladler |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP4294996B2 (en) | 2009-07-15 |
JP2004306074A (en) | 2004-11-04 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:TAKAHASHI, KIYOMI;YAMAMOTO, TAKESHI;REEL/FRAME:015677/0678 Effective date: 20040803 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |