US3190949A - Vacuum arc melting furnace with crucible changing apparatus - Google Patents

Vacuum arc melting furnace with crucible changing apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US3190949A
US3190949A US77388A US7738860A US3190949A US 3190949 A US3190949 A US 3190949A US 77388 A US77388 A US 77388A US 7738860 A US7738860 A US 7738860A US 3190949 A US3190949 A US 3190949A
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United States
Prior art keywords
crucibles
crucible
furnace
electrode
chambers
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US77388A
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English (en)
Inventor
Gruber Helmut
Scheidig Helmut
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
WC Heraus GmbH and Co KG
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WC Heraus GmbH and Co KG
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Filing date
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    • 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
    • F27D3/18—Charging particulate material using a fluid carrier
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D27/00—Treating the metal in the mould while it is molten or ductile ; Pressure or vacuum casting
    • B22D27/15—Treating the metal in the mould while it is molten or ductile ; Pressure or vacuum casting by using vacuum
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
    • C22B4/00—Electrothermal treatment of ores or metallurgical products for obtaining metals or alloys
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
    • C22B9/00—General processes of refining or remelting of metals; Apparatus for electroslag or arc remelting of metals
    • C22B9/16—Remelting metals
    • C22B9/20—Arc remelting
    • 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
    • F27B14/00—Crucible or pot furnaces
    • F27B14/04—Crucible or pot furnaces adapted for treating the charge in vacuum or special atmosphere
    • 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
    • F27B5/00—Muffle furnaces; Retort furnaces; Other furnaces in which the charge is held completely isolated
    • F27B5/04—Muffle furnaces; Retort furnaces; Other furnaces in which the charge is held completely isolated adapted for treating the charge in vacuum or special atmosphere
    • 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
    • F27D11/00—Arrangement of elements for electric heating in or on furnaces
    • F27D11/08—Heating by electric discharge, e.g. arc discharge
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B7/00—Heating by electric discharge
    • H05B7/18—Heating by arc discharge

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus for ex changing melting crucibles in a vacuum arc furnace.
  • the cooling period of the molten ingot must always be shorter or at least amount to no more than the period which is required for filling the next crucible with molten metal by melting the consumable electrode. If the cooling period is longer than the melting period, such crucible changing mechanisms require the melting process to be interrupted until the first molten ingot has cooled oil and can be removed from the Until such time, this crucible can therefore not be used again for the further melting operation.
  • a further disadvantage of these known crucible changing mechanisms consists in the fact that they require two positions at opposite sides of the furnace for removing the 'cooled ingot from the crucible and for inserting a new consumable electrode into this crucible. Apart from the great expense for the apparatus required for this purpose, these two necessary removal and insertion positions involve considerable difiiculties in tightly sealing the furnace if such a crucible changing mechanism is, for example, to be built into a chamber which is to be kept under reduced pressure.
  • the crucibles are, for example, mounted on a suitable support which may be raised or lowered hydraulically and BJdQfi i-ii Patented June 22, 1965 be rotated by conventional means.
  • the supporting means of the crucibles are turned horizontally about an angle of 180, 120, or a smaller angle, whereby a crucible which is filled with molten metal will be exchanged for another crucible which may either be empty or may contain a new consumable electrode.
  • the advantages of the crucible changing mechanism according to the invention consist primarily in the fact that it permits the use of more than two crucibles which are enclosed by cooling jackets and that it only requires a single position in which the cooled ingot may be removed from the furnace and in which a new consumable electrode may also be inserted into the furnace.
  • the inventive feature that more than two, for example, four crucibles may be used results in the further advantage that the cooling period of the molten ingot may be increase to twice or even to nearly three tmes the length of the melting period which is required for filling one crucible with molten metal.
  • the crucible which has been filled with molten metal is then at first moved by a horizontal rotation of the crucible support about an angle of 90 from the position undrneath the furnace to a first cooling position from which, at the following exchange of crucibles, it passes to a second cooling position where it will remain before passing to the removal position until the next exchange of crucibles is taking place.
  • the ingot has during this time been cooled considerably, it may, if necessary, cool in this removal position for a certain additional length of time before it will be removed from the jacket-enclosed crucible.
  • a new consumable electrode may then be inserted into this empty crucible and will at the next changing movement be placed into the position underneath the furnace.
  • FIGURE 1 shows a diagrammatic over-all side view, partly in section, of a vacuum arc furnace according to the invention
  • FIGURE 2 shows a diagrammatic side view of the driving mechanism, as seen from one side of FIGURE 1;
  • FIGURE 3 shows a cross section taken along line A-A of FIGURE 1; while FIGURE 4 shows a cross section similar to FIGURE 2, but of a modification in which the crucible changing mechanism is provided with four crucibles.
  • FIGURE 1 of the drawings shows an over-all view of a vacuum arc furnace according to the invention, in which the entire furnace is built into and supported by a frame 1.
  • An electrode supporting rod 2 is inserted through a cover 4 into the furnace chamber 5, and the part of supporting rod 2 within chamber 5 is sealed therein vacuumtight by suitable sealing means 3, for example, by one or more pressure-reducing stages, while the lower end of rod 2 is secured to a consumable electrode 6 which consists of the metal to be melted.
  • the vertical movement of the electrode 6 together with supporting rod 2 is effected, for example, through a chain 7 by means of a gear 8.
  • Furnace chamber 5 is connected by a pipe 9 to a vacuum pump unit 10.
  • the present invention primarily concerns the mechanism for exchanging one crucible after it has been filled with molten metal for an empty crucible, for cooling the metal in the first crucible while the melting operation is carried out to fill the next crucible, and for inserting a new consumable electrode into the furnace chamber and secun ing it to the electrode supporting rod 2 after the previous electrode has been consumed.
  • This mechanism which may be of different designs may consist, for example, of a sta tionary supporting or guide rod E7 on which a cylinder 18 may be raised and lowered hydraulically in a conventional manner by the operation of suitable control means in control room 15.
  • Cylinder 18 serves as a support of two or more crucibles 12 and 12', each of which is enclosed in a cooling jacket 11 which is secured to cylinder 18 by a suitable bracket 15, as shown in the drawings.
  • crucibles 12 in their cooling jackets 1]; to cylinder 13 by means of such brackets 19, they may also be mounted on a common supporting plate which, in turn, is secured to cylinder 18 and may be raised and lowered thereby.
  • an electric motor 2% is secured to the outside of cylinder 18.
  • the shaft of motor 20 carries a pinion 21 which is in mesh with a gear 22 which is slidable along guide rod 17 and prevented from rotating thereon by a key which is slidable within a groove 23 in rod 17.
  • Gear 22 is supported on the lower end of cylinder ltd by brackets 24 which engage into an annular recess 25 in cylinder 18 and rest on the lower shoulder as formed by this recess by means of rollers or balls 27.
  • the entire change unit is again lowered and then turned by means of motor 29 so as to move the next crucible directly underneath furnace chamber 5, while the filled crucible is moved at the same time to a cooling position. If electrode 6 is of a size so as to last for filling several crucibles, the change unit only needs to be lowered sufficiently to permit the filled and empty crucibles to be moved past the lower end of the remainder of the electrode. After electrode 6 has been consumed completely, a new electrode is inserted in the manner as previously described.
  • the number of crucibles to be used in a change mechanism according to the invention depends primarily upon the length of time which is required for cooling the ingots until they can be removed from their respective crucibles.
  • FIGURES 1 and 3 the change mechanism is only provided with two crucibles 12 and 12'
  • FIGURE 4 shows a similar mechanism which is provided with four crucibles.
  • crucible 12 in position I at the right side of FIGURE 4 has just been filled with molten metal and been lowered from the furnace, it is then turned to the first cooling position 11, while a new crucible containing a new electrode 29, if required, is moved at the same time from the previous position IV to position I directly underneath the furnace, in which position it is then raised hydraulically until it can be clamped to the bottom of the furnace.
  • the crucibles are again lowered and turned, whereby the first-mentioned crucible is moved from the first cooling position II to the second cooling position III and, after the next melting operation, to the third cooling position IV.
  • the ingot contained in this crucible may further cool and may then be removed from the crucible, whereupon a new consumable electrode, if required, may then be inserted therein. If the ingot has cooled sufficiently already in a position earlier than position IV, that is, either in position II or III, it may, of course, be removed in such earlier position. The new electrode may then be inserted into the empty crucible either in such earlier position or in the following position preceding the filling or melting position.
  • the elevating mechanism may also be modified so that the crucibles which are located in the actual cooling stages, for example, in stages II and III, do not need to be raised or lowered, but only the empty or filled crucible directly underneath the furnace and possibly also the crucible from which the cooled ingot is to be removed and into which a new electrode is to be inserted.
  • the crucibles may then be intermittently rotated on a turntable and the crucible to be filled and possibly also the crucible to be emptied may be raised and subsequently lowered hydraulically, for exam- P e, by a plunger passing from below through an aperture in the turntable underneath the respective crucible, or by designing bracket 19 so as to clamp and release each individual crucible, for example, by magnetic means, so that only one or two crucibles are raised and lowered, while the other brackets are released so as to slide loosely along the cooling crucibles in the lowered position.
  • the change mechanism according to the invention may also be used so as to operate two adjacent furnaces simultaneously. This is indicated diagrammatically in FIGURE 1, in which the second furnace is shown in dotted lines at the left side above electrode 28 which, of course, is in this case inserted in a rotary position of the change mechanism intermediate the two furnaces.
  • the change mechanism may then be mounted between the two furnaces which are disposed, for example, diametrically opposite to each other from the axis of rotation of the change mechanism.
  • stages I and HI according to FIGURE 4 may then, for example, be those stages in each of which a crucible is disposed underneath one of the furnaces, while stages II and IV and possible additional stages would serve as cooling, ingot-removal, and electrode-inserting stages.
  • a vacuum arc melting furnace comprising at least two furnace chambers laterally spaced from each other, at least four crucibles, support means for supporting said crucibles and arranged below said chambers, said crucibles being arranged in radially uniform positions about and at equal distances from a vertical axis which in turn is spaced at equal distances from the axes of said chambers, means for intermittently rotating said support means in one direction about said vertical axis, control means f r controlling rotation of said support means about said vertical axis for successively moving each of said crucibles from a position underneath and laterally of one of said furnace chambers to a filling position vertically underneath said one chamber, then to at least one position intermediate said chambers and laterally of said filling position, in which intermediate position the metal in the crucible thereat is cooled and adapted for removal, then to the next filling position vertically underneath the other of said two furnace chambers, and then to the next intermediate position, a cooling jacket for said crucibles arranged below said chambers,
  • said rotating means comprise driving means for intermittently rotating said crucibles in one direction from one position to the other, said means for raising and lowering said crucibles comprising hydraulic means.
  • said raising and lowering means comprise hydraulic means, means for securing said crucibles at equal distances from each other to said hydraulic means, and means for connecting said rotating means to said hydraulic means for intermittently rotating said hydraulic means and said crucibles.
  • said raising and lowering means comprise hydraulic means, means for supporting all of said crucibles in uniform radial positions relative to and at equal distances from each other, means for securing said supporting means to said hydraulic means, means for connecting said rotating means to said hydraulic means for intermittently rotating said hydraulic means and all of said crucibles on said supporting means, and means for rigidly securing at least the crucible in said filling position to said supporting means so that, when said hydraulic means are operated, they will elevate at least said crucible in said filling position.
  • said furnace further comprises an electrode supporting rod extending into said furnace chamber, and means for raising and lowering said rod, each of said crucibles when empty being also adapted when in one of said lateral positions to permit a consumable electrode to be inserted from above into said crucible, so that when said crucible containing said electrode is then turned to said filling position and is then elevated, said electrode will be inserted into said furnace chamber to permit it to be secured to said supporting rod.
  • a vacuum arc melting furnace comprising a furnace chamber, a consumable electrode movable within said chamber, means within said chamber for supporting and moving said electrode vertically within said chamber during melting thereof, means for reducing the pressure Within said chamber during arc melting of said electrode, a plurality of crucibles each of which is adapted to be clamped to the lower end of the chamber when used to receive the molten metal from the consumable electrode, a cooling jacket for said crucibles arranged below said chamber, support means for supporting said crucibles and arranged below said chamber, means for rotating said support means about a vertical axis for successively positioning each of said crucibles below and in alignment with said chamber and another of said crucibles in a position lateral of said chamber, means for raising and lowering said support means for moving each of said crucibles into and out of communication with said chamber, respectively, and means for securing each of said crucibles relative to said chamber after said support means has been raised to position one of said crucibles below and in engagement with said chamber,

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Crucibles And Fluidized-Bed Furnaces (AREA)
  • Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)
US77388A 1959-12-24 1960-12-21 Vacuum arc melting furnace with crucible changing apparatus Expired - Lifetime US3190949A (en)

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DEH0038250 1959-12-24

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CH (1) CH382379A (de)
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Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3393266A (en) * 1966-06-20 1968-07-16 Mc Graw Edison Co Electric arc furnace
US3459868A (en) * 1967-06-27 1969-08-05 Max P Schlienger Arc furnace with adjustable electrode suspension
US3510562A (en) * 1968-09-17 1970-05-05 Qualitats Und Edelstahl Kom Ve Equipment for electroslag remelting of metals
US3732915A (en) * 1971-10-07 1973-05-15 A Lugovoi Vacuum arc furnace
US3770870A (en) * 1971-12-23 1973-11-06 Thomson Csf Turret device for positioning crucibles in ion sources
US3821979A (en) * 1970-12-07 1974-07-02 B Paton Electron-beam furnace for remelting electrodes
DE3925686A1 (de) * 1988-08-25 1990-03-08 Hydraulik Ring Gmbh Einrichtung zur stetigen beeinflussung eines fluidstromes, insbesondere in einem ventil
US4951298A (en) * 1989-06-02 1990-08-21 Leybold Aktiengesellschaft Closed remelting furnace having several horizontally movable furnace lower portions
CN104457239A (zh) * 2013-09-17 2015-03-25 宁夏鹏程致远自动化技术有限公司 一种金属镁还原罐换罐方法和装置

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1608011B1 (de) * 1967-02-20 1971-06-24 Consarc Corp Abschmelzelektrodenofen

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1504088A (en) * 1923-05-31 1924-08-05 H V Brandenstein Process for sealing containers in vacuum
US1556078A (en) * 1921-05-23 1925-10-06 Charles L Clymer Can-loading machine
US2038519A (en) * 1934-12-31 1936-04-28 Owens Illinois Glass Co Machine for forming glass articles
US2651668A (en) * 1952-06-20 1953-09-08 Allegheny Ludlum Steel Crucible interchanging mechanism for arc melting furnaces
US2726278A (en) * 1954-08-27 1955-12-06 Titanium Metals Corp Arc melting furnace
US2848524A (en) * 1956-10-15 1958-08-19 Titanium Metals Corp Arc melting apparatus
US2971996A (en) * 1958-05-31 1961-02-14 Heraeus Gmbh W C Vacuum arc furnace with consumable electrode
US2976339A (en) * 1956-12-03 1961-03-21 Heraeus Gmbh W C Vacuum smelting furnace and method of operation

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1556078A (en) * 1921-05-23 1925-10-06 Charles L Clymer Can-loading machine
US1504088A (en) * 1923-05-31 1924-08-05 H V Brandenstein Process for sealing containers in vacuum
US2038519A (en) * 1934-12-31 1936-04-28 Owens Illinois Glass Co Machine for forming glass articles
US2651668A (en) * 1952-06-20 1953-09-08 Allegheny Ludlum Steel Crucible interchanging mechanism for arc melting furnaces
US2726278A (en) * 1954-08-27 1955-12-06 Titanium Metals Corp Arc melting furnace
US2848524A (en) * 1956-10-15 1958-08-19 Titanium Metals Corp Arc melting apparatus
US2976339A (en) * 1956-12-03 1961-03-21 Heraeus Gmbh W C Vacuum smelting furnace and method of operation
US2971996A (en) * 1958-05-31 1961-02-14 Heraeus Gmbh W C Vacuum arc furnace with consumable electrode

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3393266A (en) * 1966-06-20 1968-07-16 Mc Graw Edison Co Electric arc furnace
US3459868A (en) * 1967-06-27 1969-08-05 Max P Schlienger Arc furnace with adjustable electrode suspension
US3510562A (en) * 1968-09-17 1970-05-05 Qualitats Und Edelstahl Kom Ve Equipment for electroslag remelting of metals
US3821979A (en) * 1970-12-07 1974-07-02 B Paton Electron-beam furnace for remelting electrodes
US3732915A (en) * 1971-10-07 1973-05-15 A Lugovoi Vacuum arc furnace
US3770870A (en) * 1971-12-23 1973-11-06 Thomson Csf Turret device for positioning crucibles in ion sources
DE3925686A1 (de) * 1988-08-25 1990-03-08 Hydraulik Ring Gmbh Einrichtung zur stetigen beeinflussung eines fluidstromes, insbesondere in einem ventil
US4951298A (en) * 1989-06-02 1990-08-21 Leybold Aktiengesellschaft Closed remelting furnace having several horizontally movable furnace lower portions
DE3917998A1 (de) * 1989-06-02 1990-12-06 Leybold Ag Geschlossener umschmelzofen mit mehreren horizontal beweglichen ofenunterteilen
WO1990015163A1 (de) * 1989-06-02 1990-12-13 Leybold Aktiengesellschaft Geschlossener umschmelzofen mit mehreren horizontal beweglichen ofenunterteilen
CN104457239A (zh) * 2013-09-17 2015-03-25 宁夏鹏程致远自动化技术有限公司 一种金属镁还原罐换罐方法和装置

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Publication number Publication date
GB960826A (en) 1964-06-17
CH382379A (de) 1964-09-30

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