US3724529A - Plant for continuous vacuum casting of metals or other materials - Google Patents

Plant for continuous vacuum casting of metals or other materials Download PDF

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Publication number
US3724529A
US3724529A US00865719A US3724529DA US3724529A US 3724529 A US3724529 A US 3724529A US 00865719 A US00865719 A US 00865719A US 3724529D A US3724529D A US 3724529DA US 3724529 A US3724529 A US 3724529A
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Prior art keywords
ingot
mould
vacuum
core
dynamic
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US00865719A
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English (en)
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R Chaulet
C Guichard
P Menissier
J Soret
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COMBUSTIBLE NUCLEAIRE
S A Ind Combustible Nucleaire fr
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COMBUSTIBLE NUCLEAIRE
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D11/00—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths
    • B22D11/10—Supplying or treating molten metal
    • B22D11/11—Treating the molten metal
    • B22D11/113—Treating the molten metal by vacuum treating
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D11/00—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D11/00—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths
    • B22D11/14—Plants for continuous casting
    • B22D11/141—Plants for continuous casting for vertical casting

Definitions

  • the method applicable to plants comprising a spray means in the open air and a dynamic lock for emergence into air,comprised of chambers which are maintained under decreasing pressures by pumping devices of known types and are separated from each other by diaphragms, consists, on the one hand, in holding the static pressure of the metal on the shape or tube being formed at a constant value, for a given size with respect to the liquid meniscus size, so as to render the permissible difference between the cross-section of said shape or tube, when reaching the dynamic lock, and the cross-section of said diaphragms low enough for the rate of air admission to remain in all cases lower than the urn in rates of said m in devices, and, on the 08181 arid, in so selecgl ng th cooling
  • the invention is especially applicable to the obtention of uranium shapes or tubes.
  • the present invention relates to a plant for performing a method for continuous vacuum casting of metals, metal alloys or other materials which require good degassing and/or are liable to readily react at high temperature under normal atmospheric conditions, said method being especially suitable for the manufacture of uranium shapes and tubes.
  • the present invention is directed to improve the aforesaid methods and devices so as to provide a method and plant whereby the steps of vacuum degassing, continuous vacuum casting and controlled cooling of metals, metal alloys or other materials, especially those liable to readily react at high temperature under normal atmosphere, can be effected simultaneously.
  • the method according to the invention is especially applicable to plants comprising a ladle containing molten metal held at constant temperature, or any other isothermal source of molten metal; a cooled ingotmould, also adapted to serve sometimes as a ladle; a vacuum cooling device and, between said vacuum cooling device and a spray means in the open air, a dynamic lock for emergence into air, comprised of chambers which are maintained under decreasing pressures by pumping devices of known types and are separated from each other by diaphragms.
  • the aforesaid method consists, on the one hand, in holding the static pressure of the metal on the shape or tube being formed at a constant value, for a given size with respect to the liquid meniscus size, so as to render the permissible difference between the cross-section of said shape or tube, when reaching the dynamic lock, and the cross-section of said diaphragms low enough for the rate of air admission to remain in all cases lower than the pumping rates of said pumping devices, and,
  • cooling zone length as a function of the suitably set rate of withdrawal of the moulded shape, that said shape will enter the spray means, when leaving the lock, at a constant, controlled temperature.
  • the plant for operating to perform said method comprises in combination a vacuum chamber, a ladle located within said vacuum chamber; a flow-rate control system associated with the ladle, such as an electromagnetic pump or a plunger in the lower part of said ladle; a distributor provided with a nozzle and fed with the liquid metal released by the plunger; a replaceable ingot-mould with a water-cooling system; a level-detector arranged within the mould and adapted to control a servo-mechanism acting to adjust the flow-rate controlling means, eg the plunger position; a cooling jacket; a dynamic lock comprising several suction chambers, each connected to a pump of a type depending on the pressure in the respective chamber, said chambers being separated from each other by diaphragms and the last of them being followed by a pneumatic seal consisting of a neutral gas blast which acts moreover as a cooling device; a cooling spray device located outside the vacuum chamber at the outlet of said dynamic lock; withdrawal and guiding rollers rotating at
  • the plant For the manufacture of tubes with a core, the plant comprises moreover a dynamic lock for inserting the core into the vacuum chamber; a guiding unit adapted to feed said core in true axial alignment with the mould and formed of roller sets arranged on each side of the dynamic lock and, if required, a core-heating device, either in front of the dynamic lock or under vacuum between said lock and the mould.
  • the dynamic lock may be simplified and include from outside to inside the vacuum chamber a sliding, preferably double-walled seal surrounding the core and made of elastomer, a suction chamber connected to a high discharge pump and a threaded dynamic seal.
  • the apparatus comprises means for vibrating the mould according to a definite mode and for controlling with high precision the level reached in the mould by said liquid materials, and said means will be described in details in the following.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatical lay-out of a plant for the continuous vacuum casting of a bar.
  • FIG. 2 is a detailed enlarged view of the dynamic lock.
  • FIG. 3 shows a dynamic seal
  • FIG. 4 shows the pneumatic seal and the associated spray means.
  • FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic lay-out of a plant for the continuous vacuum casting of tubes including a core.
  • FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the setting of an external ladle for make-up metal.
  • FIG. 7 shows the mounting of an ingot-mould which is caused to vibrate and of a system for controlling the level of the liquid materials in said ingot-mould, according to the invention
  • FIG. 8 is a reduced scale, schematic perspective view of a cam mechanism for vibrating an ingot mould vertically.
  • the plant comprises a vacuum chamber 1, having located therein a ladle 2 acting as a reservoir for the liquid material used, in the example illustrated, for the manufacture of bars.
  • the ladle 2 is surrounded by an induction heating electric coil 3.
  • a plunger or stopper 4 which controls the exit of liquid material from said ladle and has its opening movement controlled in very precise manner from a mechanical device 5 under the control of a servo-mechanism 6.
  • a funnel-shaped distributor 7 which receives the liquid material descending past the plunger 4 and pours the same into a nozzle 8 ensuring uniform flow of the liquid material from the distributor 7 into an ingot-mould 9 adapted to shape the liquid flowing therethrough.
  • the ingot-mould 9 is replaceable and of known type; its internal portion is cylindrical and has a cross-section substantially equal to that of the bars to be produced, taking into account the shrinkage of the solidifying and cooling metal.
  • the internal portion of the ingot-mould may also be slightly tapering off downwards, at an angle of l2, so as to partly compensate shrinkage and thus prevent too rapid impairment of the thermal contact between the ingot and the mould.
  • the ingot-mould 9 is provided within its wall with a hydraulic cooling circuit supplied by ducts 10 at an adjustable flow-rate.
  • a vibrating device of known type described hereinafter, is adapted to reciprocate the ingot-mould along its axis.
  • Two level-sensing cells 11 and 12 are located one above the other in recesses provided in the cylindrical portion of the mould and provide a level detector connected to the servo-mechanism 6 which operates the mechanical device 5.
  • the level of liquid metal in the ingot-mould 9 may be observed through an inspectionhole 13.
  • Beneath the ingot-mould is a cooling jacket 14 through which the bar passes as it emerges from the ingot-mould.
  • Beneath the cooling jacket 14 is a dynamic vacuum lock 15 fed with nitrogen by a source 16, under a pressure controlled by a servo-mechanism l7 operated by a temperature-detector 18 at the lower part of the lock.
  • the bar is driven through a spray means 19 whereby it is cooled and hardened if required, then it is gripped by the roller sets 20, 20 act ing to guide it and to withdraw it from the lock.
  • the rollers 20, 20 are driven by a motor 21 which is operated by a servo-mechanism 22 under the control of a temperature-detector 23 located at the exit of the cooling jacket 14.
  • a follower cutter 24 of known type can be arranged beyond rollers 20, 20 to saw the ingot at a given length, normally to its axis.
  • a withdrawal means 25 is used to grip the bar an pull it from the ingot-mould 9.
  • Said withdrawal means 25 consist of a rod having exactly the same cross-sectional area as the uranium or other bar to be produced and is equipped with a simple, easy to disconnect lug device 26 of the dovetail lug type, such as found in the conventional known continuous casting plants.
  • the dynamic lock 15 includes five suction chambers 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 and a pneumatic seal 32.
  • the suction chambers are separated from each other by dynamic seals 33, 34, 35, 36 and 37.
  • the dynamic seals 33, 34 consist of borings in inserted metal cylinders, adapted to receive the bar with a clearance of some tenths of a millimeter, e.g. of 0.8 mm, and which may be knurled or threaded to a depth of some tenths of a millimeter.
  • a seal may also be formed, as shown in FIG. 3, of a flat ring 38 beating on its upper and lower faces respective funnel-shaped diaphragms 39, 40.
  • Said diaphragms comprise annular plates 41, 42 supported respectively on the upper and lower faces of ring 38, and, frusto-conical portions 43, 44, each of which is in fluid-tight connection with one annular plate 41, 42 and terminates in a cylinder 45, 46.
  • Diaphragms 39 are slit along a generatrix, so that the diameters of their cylindrical portions can vary by some tenths of a millimeter.
  • the diaphragms are secured to ring 38 in such manner that the slits are in opposite directions with respect to the axis of the dynamic seal.
  • the internal diameter of cylinder 45 is substantially equal to the diameter of the bars to be produced and the inner diameter of cylinder 46 is equal to the outer diameter of cylinder 45, the whole length of the cylinder 46 engages cylinder 45 along its whole length.
  • suction chamber 27 is connected to a low pressure, mean delivery pump (not shown). Chambers 28, 29, 30,31 are connected through passages 27a, 28a, 29a, 30a and 31a to pumps (not shown) of successively increasing delivery ratings. Chamber 31 is connected to a liquid ring vacuum pump. Pumps of this type are well known, for example as shown in United States Pat. Nos. 1,849,929 to Hayton and 2,136,508 to Stelzer. Chamber 27 is equipped with a vacuum gauge 47. Chamber 28 is connected to a pressure-gauge 48. Pneumatic seal 32 (FIG. 4) consists of two moulded parts of revolution 49, 50. The upper face 51 of part 49 is flat so as to be connectable with chamber 31.
  • part 49 includes a frustum of revolution 52 having its axis along the axis of the bar being cast.
  • Part 49 is provided along its axis with a bore of a diameter equal, but for the clearance of 0.8 mm, to the diameter of the bars to be produced.
  • the interior of part has the shape of a nozzle neck of which portion 53 forms the converging section and portion 54 of the diverging section.
  • a static seal 55 is located between the upper edge of part 50 and the lower edge of part 49.
  • the space between parts 49 and 50 forms the pressure chamber PC which is connected by means of a pipe 56 to the source 16 of neutral gas, preferably nitrogen, under pressure.
  • the frustum 52 and portions 53, 54 of part 50 define a crown-shaped nozzle from which the neutral gas from pressure source 16 is released around and over the cooling bar.
  • the temperature detector 18, lodged in a recess provided in the cylindrical hole of part 49, is connected to servomechanism 17.
  • the spray means 19 consists of a water chamber 58 the walls of which are made of two metal bells, 59, 60 having the same axis of revolution. Each bell is formed in its upper portion with an aperture having substantially the same cross-section as the bar to be produced.Small orifices are unifonnly distributed across bell 60. A metal pipe 61 having its end welded onto bell 59 feeds water under pressure to water chamber 58.
  • FIG. 5 shows a modified embodiment of said plant, wherein the latter is adapted to produce uranium tubes with a graphite core.
  • the various units are substantially similar to those of the continuous vacuum casting plant for bars, but some of them are located differently and arranged to receive a graphite core.
  • the graphite core 62 has the shape of a bar and is held in a vertical position by two sets of silicon carbide rollers 63, 63'.
  • the graphite core 62 enters vacuum chamber 1 through a dynamic lock 64 which may be identical to the afore-described dynamic lock for the exit of the moulded shape.
  • a lock of this type must be provided whenever the core is to be heated before entering the vacuum chamber.
  • dynamic lock 64 is of simplified construction since it comprises from outside to inside, a double-walled circular sliding seal 65, a suction chamber 66 with its high delivery pump and a threaded dynamic seal 67, similar to the above-described seals 33, 34, 35.
  • Core 62 will then advance through means comprising a set of guiding rollers 68 located above the inlet of ingot-mould 9 and through an electrical induction heating coil 69 before entering the ingot-mould.
  • Rollers 68 may to advantage be replaced by three friction pads immediately above the connection of spout 8 with the ingot-mould.
  • the ingot-mould 9, cooling jacket 14 and vacuum lock 15 are intended to receive the bar to be vacuum cast and are to this end arranged in vertical alignment.
  • the common vertical axis of the ingot-mould, cooling jacket and vacuum lock coincides with the graphite core axis and is therefore offset with respect to the ladle 2 containing a reserve of molten metal.
  • Spout 8 is not vertical, but oblique for feeding the molten metal from plunger 4 to ingot-mould 9. From the latter, the graphite core 62 with the surrounding cast ingot metal is driven through the same units as was the bar in the continuous casting plant for bars while being kept in precise axial alignment by the successive sets of silicon carbide rollers 63, 63'.
  • FIG. 6 there is shown the setting of a ladle 70 containing make-up liquid metal, which has its bottom removably connected in fluid-tight manner with vacuum chamber 1, by means known per se.
  • Plunger 71 can be operated from outside to pour the content of ladle 70, through the wall of vacuum chamber 1, into ladle 2, at the desired rate.
  • ladle 2 When casting a metal such as uranium, the latter is poured in the liquid state in ladle 2, e.g. from ladle 70 which is brought on site. Ladle 2 is held at a constant temperature by the induction heating coil 3. Once the ladle has reached the desired temperature, then liquid uranium may be released by plunger 4.
  • Liquid uranium is poured in ingot-mould 9 across plunger 4 and through spout 8.
  • Both level-detectors 1 1 and 12 act in known manner on servo-mechanism 6 which, through mechanical device 5, will so control the opening movement of plunger 4 as to keep the surface of the liquid uranium in the ingot-mould between the two levels defined by said level-detectors.
  • the metal solidifies to form a solid skull or skin surrounding the liquid; as heat is extracted from the ingotmould, the thickness of said skull will increase until the bar is formed during its descent, the bar has the same cross-section as the ingot-mould until the shrinkage caused by peripheral solidification and cooling will apply to the thickening skull a pressure exceeding the static pressure of the metal, at which time the crosssection of the bar is then slightly smaller than that of the ingot-mould.
  • the ingot-mould is replaceable to allow changeover to another ingot size or replacement in case of wear.
  • the solidifying wall has acquired enough strength to retain the metal remaining liquid in the central portion of the bar before leaving the ingot-mould.
  • the ingot-mould should not be too long, to avoid undue friction against the ingot being withdrawn.
  • the device for vibrating the ingot-mould serves to limit the prejudicial effects caused by said friction along the ingot surface.
  • the withdrawal means 25 is introduced into vacuum chamber 1, through dynamic lock 15, its rod having the same diameter as the bar to be produced, then the lock is closed.
  • the lug 26 at the end of the withdrawal means is arranged within the cylindrical portion of the ingot-mould so that liquid uranium will solidify around said lug. Then, a mere traction on the rod 25 will sulfice to tug along the bar being formed in the ingot-mould.
  • the withdrawing process is initiated by the withdrawal rollers 20, 20 drawing the withdrawal device 25.
  • the graphite core 62 goes through the dynamic seal 64 to enter the vacuum chamber.
  • Said core is then subjected by coil 69 to an induction pre-heating step which causes simultaneous degassing, whereafier it is driven through ingot-mould 9, being kept precisely centered on the axis thereof by rollers 63, 63' and by rollers or skids 68.
  • Uranium will solidify around the graphite bar and thus a cored tube will exit from the ingot-mould.
  • the cored bar or tube is then driven through cooling jacket 14.
  • the bar is drawn towards vacuum chamber (dynamic vacuum lock) 15, through withdrawal rollers 20, 20' driven by motor 21, at a given linear speed.
  • a bar of a 60 mm-diameter will be at a temperature of 950C.
  • the cored bar or tube then enters vacuum lock 15.
  • the threaded seals 33, 34, 35 (FIG. 2) are intended for the following pressure differences, in torts from 10' to ID"; from ID to l" from 10" to 1, respectively.
  • Funnel-shaped seals 36, 37 are intended for pressure ratios, in torrs, of l to 10 and 10 to 10'.
  • pneumatic seal 32 corresponds to the pressure difference, in tons, of from l0 to 10'
  • pneumatic seal 32 (FIG. 4) has three other functions. Namely, due to its location,the pneumatic seal serves to prevent ingress of water from spray means. 19.
  • nitrogen issuing from the pressure chamber is released downwards, at high speed, along bar B, through an exhaust channel EC, acting as a nozzle-neck, located between the bottom of frustum $2 and the restricted portion of part 50.
  • the nitrogen blast will drive back downwards the fine water droplets sprayed by means 19. Secondly, due to its accelerated outwards motion, the nitrogen jet prevents any ingress of oxygen from the ambient atmosphere into the pressure chamber.
  • temperature-detector 18 (FIG. I) actuates servo-mechanism 17 which, by regulating the pressure in the nitrogen source 16 and in pressure chamber 15, causes the gas to exit at a variable velocity and thus adjusts cooling so as to keep the bar issuing from the pneumatic seal at a fixed temperature, e.g. of about 700C.
  • the spray means 19 ensures rapid cooling of the bar, serving several purposes, viz. apart from thus permitting handling of the cut bars, the spray means prevents the bar from firing as a result of its rapid oxidation in the air and if the alloy is susceptible thereto, it may effect a hardening step which, in the present case, is from 700C.
  • at 1,400C and the temperatureand pressure-adjusting processes allow, on the one hand, obtention of uranium which is very pure since subjected to thorough vacuum degassing at high temperature and, on the other hand, continuous shaping of bars and withdrawal thereof from the vacuum chamber, at high speed, and if required, hardening of the bars under precise temperature conditions.
  • the insertion of pre-melted metal in the vacuum chamber is not a requisite step.
  • the metal may be melted directly within the ingot-mould, either under vacuum by electron bombardment or under a controlled atmosphere (e.g. argon atmosphere at tons) by are fu- SlOIl.
  • the pumps of the other suction chambers have sufficient delivery to maintain said chambers under the requisite low pressures.
  • FIG. I shows a modified embodiment according to which there are provided means to vibrate the ingotmould in a definite mode and means to control with great precision the level reached in the ingot-mould by the liquid materials.
  • FIG. 7 there is shown at 101 a circular plate serving as a base for the device and connected to the vacuum chamber 1.
  • the axis of this circular plate coincides with the ingot-mould axis.
  • a cylindrical passage having a diameter slightly greater than that of the bars to be cast is provided through the circular plate, in axial alignment with the ingot-mould.
  • a circular sleeve 102 is secured normally to plate 101 and has a through bore parallel to the ingot-mould axis- Two further sleeves one of which is shown at 103, are fixed onto the circular base.
  • the spacings of the axes of sleeves to the ingot-mould axis all are equal and planes passing through the ingot-mould axis and the axes of sleeves are spaced from each other at angles of 120 around the axis of the ingot mould.
  • Vertical pedestals, two, 105 and 106, being shown, and a third not being shown are slidable in the bores of the aforesaid sleeves respectively.
  • a circular plate 108 is secured to the three pedestals 105, etc. somewhat above sleeves I02, 103, 104.
  • a circular plate 109 is secured onto the tops of the pedestals.
  • a cylindrical copper lining 110 forming the main body of the ingotmould is secured to plates 108 and 109.
  • a hollow steel cylinder 111 which is coaxial to the ingot-mould and has a greater diameter than the copper lining 110, defines with liner 110 and plates 108, 109 a closed space which is filled with water. Said closed space is fed with running water from hoses I12, 113.
  • Said hoses are capable of withstanding, when under vacuum, an internalpressurebysto'ltimeshigherthanatmospherie pressure, without any leakage towards vacuum.
  • Two links one being shown at 114, which are symmetrically arranged about the ingot-mould axis are journalled about respective horizontal pins, one being shown at 116, mounted in bearings, one being shown at 118, which are attached to plate 108.
  • Said links are operatively connected to the ends ofcrank arms, one beingshownatl20,bypins,oneheingshownat 122.
  • Thecrankarms aresecuredtoashaftlflwhichis parallel with plate 101 and held in this position by bearings (not shown) attached to plate 101.
  • the crank arms rotate with the shaft 124 when the shaft is operated by a cam.
  • a previously known and suitable cam and cam drive arrangement are shown schematically in FIG. 8.
  • the cam is shown at 150 formed with a cam track 151.
  • a lever 152 pivoted on a bearing 153 fixed with respect to the plate 101 and parts secured thereto has a follower roller 154 engaging the cam track 151.
  • a link 155 is pivoted at 156 to the lever 152 and is pivoted at 157 to an arm 158 secured to the shaft 124.
  • the cam 150 is mounted on a shaft 159 driven in the direction of the arrow a by an electric motor 160. Said cam drives the shaft 124 at a rotational speed which is low in the direction corresponding to the descending movement of crank arm pivot 157 and high in the opposite direction, corresponding to the ascending movement thereof.
  • Probe 125 There is shown at 125 the probe of a Geiger counter which extends vertically besides cylindrical tube 111. Probe 125 is connected to the electronic circuit of the Geiger counter through a flexible tube 126.
  • the outlet of the electronic circuit is connected to the servomechanism 6 controlling the rate of admission by the plunger 4.
  • a source of radioactive radiation 127 is so arranged before the ingot-mould that the axis of the ingot-mould and the axis of probe 125 are within the radiation field.
  • the upper horizontal boundary plane of the radioactive radiation is at a level slightly above the permissible level of the liquid materials in the ingot-mould.
  • the jerky ingotmould movement is generated in the following manner
  • the afore-mentioned cam 150 driven by the electric motor 160 causes the shaft 124 cam driven by an electric motor causes shaft to rotate slowly by a few degrees in one direction, then to rotate rapidly by the same number of degrees in the opposite direction.
  • the bar being formed is prevented frombeing lifted, especially by means of the withdrawal rollers such as 20, 20'; however, the friction and surface tension forces might drive along a metal ring of small height, located near the meniscus.
  • the ingot-mould is driven downwards at a speed slightly exceeding that of the bar, said ring will be pressed onto the bar and thus again joined therewith.
  • the radioactive source provided has the advantage of producing radiation which is bounded by two vertical planes in close parallel relationship, by a horizontal plane and by a plane which is normal to both vertical planes and at a definite angle to the horizontal plane; therefore, by precisely adjusting the position of the radioactive radiation source along two horizontal, mutually perpendicular axes and by suitably controlling the direction of said source, both the ingot-mould axis and the Geiger probe axis canbe brought within the two radiation-bounding vertical planes. By adjusting the height of the radiation source, the horizontal boundary plane of the radiation can be caused to lie above the liquid material level.
  • Such provisions allow the operating staff to handle safely a rather strong radioactive flux, since the radiation flux area is defined by precise geometrical surfaces.
  • the major advantage of such a device is to allow simultaneously the obtention of a constant withdrawal rate and very precise adjustment of the liquid material level.
  • a plant for continuously casting metal or metal alloy material comprising the combination of a vacuum chamber; a ladle located within said vacuum chamber; a flow-rate control system associated with the ladle; a distributor provided with a nozzle receiving the liquid material released by the flow-rate control system; an ingot mould having a liquid material receiving end and an ingot egress end and a water circulating system; a level detector in said vacuum chamber for controlling said first servo-mechanism, said level detector comprising a Geiger tube parallel with the ingot mould axis, and a radioactive source having its radiation bounded by two vertical planes in close parallel relationship lying on opposite sides of the ingot mould axis, by a horizontal plane and by an oblique plane which is normal to said vertical planes and at an angle of 20-40 to said horizontal plane; a vacuum cooling jacket adjacent said ingot mould ingot egress end; a dynamic lock comprising a plurality of suction chambers aligned in the direction of ingot travel therethrough and being connected respectively to vacuum passages of
  • a plant for continuously casting metal or metal alloy material comprising the combination of a vacuum chamber; a ladle located within said vacuum chamber; a flow-rate control system associated with the ladle; a distributor provided with a nozzle receiving the liquid material released by the flow-rate control system; a verseal adjacent that suction chamber which is downstream in the direction of ingot travel through said dynamic lock, said pneumatic seal delivering a neutral gas blast acting simultaneously to seal and as a cooling medium; cooling spray means arranged outside the vacuum chamber at the outlet of said dynamic lock; variable speed ingot withdrawal and guiding means; a second servo-mechanism for varying the speed of said ingot withdrawal and guiding means; a temperature detector at the outlet of the vacuum cooling jacket for controlling the operation of said second servomechanism; the power operated means for reciprocating said ingot mould vertically.
  • a plant according to claim 3 in which said cam is contoured to impart a relatively slow downward movement to said ingot mould and a relatively rapid upward movement to said ingot mould.
  • a plant according to claim 2 in which said level detector is stationary with respect to said ingot mould and is under vacuum.
  • a plant according to claim 2 including, for the production of cored tubes, a second dynamic lock for introducing the core into said vacuum chamber; guiding means for aligning said core with the axis of the ingot mould; and a core heating device for heating said core upstream of said ingot mould.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)
  • Crucibles And Fluidized-Bed Furnaces (AREA)
  • Molds, Cores, And Manufacturing Methods Thereof (AREA)
  • Continuous Casting (AREA)
US00865719A 1968-10-18 1969-10-13 Plant for continuous vacuum casting of metals or other materials Expired - Lifetime US3724529A (en)

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FR170599 1968-10-18
FR6931355A FR2063100A2 (en) 1969-09-15 1969-09-15 Continuous vacuum casting process

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Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3834445A (en) * 1971-09-20 1974-09-10 Voest Ag Continuous casting mold having a breakout sensing and control device
US3888300A (en) * 1970-06-15 1975-06-10 Combustible Nucleaire Sa Soc I Apparatus for the continuous casting of metals and the like under vacuum
US4184532A (en) * 1976-05-04 1980-01-22 Allied Chemical Corporation Chill roll casting of continuous filament
US4301854A (en) * 1977-10-05 1981-11-24 Allied Corporation Chill roll casting of continuous filament
US4478270A (en) * 1981-04-01 1984-10-23 Interlake, Inc. Apparatus for casting low-density alloys
US4531569A (en) * 1982-03-04 1985-07-30 Deutsche Forschungs-Und Versuchsantalt Fur Luft- Und Raumfahrt E.V. Process and apparatus for producing tubes of reactive metals
US4559992A (en) * 1983-01-17 1985-12-24 Allied Corporation Continuous vacuum casting and extraction device
US5219029A (en) * 1992-03-09 1993-06-15 Gunther Behrends Oscillator for continuous casting mold
US6575224B1 (en) * 1998-07-17 2003-06-10 Vai Industries (Uk) Limited Apparatus and method for controlling the flow of molten metal
US20030159795A1 (en) * 2000-10-31 2003-08-28 Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute Method and apparatus for producing uranium foil and uranium foil produced thereby
CN101898427A (zh) * 2010-07-13 2010-12-01 昆山诚业德精密模具有限公司 冲压模具内部结构组合工艺
CN104308107A (zh) * 2014-10-10 2015-01-28 河南理工大学 一种竖引式真空熔炼惰性气体保护连续加料连铸机
WO2018082241A1 (zh) * 2016-11-01 2018-05-11 东莞市逸昊金属材料科技有限公司 一种新型非晶母合金锭连铸系统及其使用方法

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JPS6055708U (ja) * 1983-09-26 1985-04-18 エヌオーケー株式会社 バルブステムシ−ル
JPS63164664U (enExample) * 1987-04-16 1988-10-26
JPH023001U (enExample) * 1988-06-20 1990-01-10
FR2659580B1 (fr) * 1990-03-13 1992-05-22 Vallourec Ind Procede de coulee continue rotative et dispositif pour sa mise en óoeuvre.
DE10217907A1 (de) * 2002-04-23 2003-11-06 Sms Demag Ag Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Absaugen von Ablaufwasser im Innenbogen von Trägervorprofil-Gießmaschinen
JP3665051B2 (ja) * 2002-06-24 2005-06-29 コリア アトミック エナジー リサーチ インスティテュート ウラニウム棒の連続鋳造方法及び装置
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US10155263B2 (en) 2012-09-28 2018-12-18 Ati Properties Llc Continuous casting of materials using pressure differential
CN103231032A (zh) * 2013-05-28 2013-08-07 辽宁恒大重工有限公司 合金坯料的真空连续铸造装置及其铸造方法
WO2016135690A1 (en) * 2015-02-27 2016-09-01 Milorad Pavlicevic Mold for continuous casting
GB2583098B (en) * 2019-04-15 2021-07-21 Lead Tech Limited Apparatus and method
WO2022029298A1 (de) 2020-08-06 2022-02-10 Sms Group Gmbh GIEßDÜSE ODER GIEßVERTEILER, ANORDNUNG UND VERFAHREN ZUR BEHEIZUNG UND/ODER VORWÄRMUNG EINER GIEßDÜSE

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US3888300A (en) * 1970-06-15 1975-06-10 Combustible Nucleaire Sa Soc I Apparatus for the continuous casting of metals and the like under vacuum
US3834445A (en) * 1971-09-20 1974-09-10 Voest Ag Continuous casting mold having a breakout sensing and control device
US4184532A (en) * 1976-05-04 1980-01-22 Allied Chemical Corporation Chill roll casting of continuous filament
US4301854A (en) * 1977-10-05 1981-11-24 Allied Corporation Chill roll casting of continuous filament
US4478270A (en) * 1981-04-01 1984-10-23 Interlake, Inc. Apparatus for casting low-density alloys
US4531569A (en) * 1982-03-04 1985-07-30 Deutsche Forschungs-Und Versuchsantalt Fur Luft- Und Raumfahrt E.V. Process and apparatus for producing tubes of reactive metals
US4559992A (en) * 1983-01-17 1985-12-24 Allied Corporation Continuous vacuum casting and extraction device
US5219029A (en) * 1992-03-09 1993-06-15 Gunther Behrends Oscillator for continuous casting mold
US6575224B1 (en) * 1998-07-17 2003-06-10 Vai Industries (Uk) Limited Apparatus and method for controlling the flow of molten metal
US20030159795A1 (en) * 2000-10-31 2003-08-28 Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute Method and apparatus for producing uranium foil and uranium foil produced thereby
US6860317B2 (en) * 2000-10-31 2005-03-01 Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute Method and apparatus for producing uranium foil and uranium foil produced thereby
CN101898427A (zh) * 2010-07-13 2010-12-01 昆山诚业德精密模具有限公司 冲压模具内部结构组合工艺
CN104308107A (zh) * 2014-10-10 2015-01-28 河南理工大学 一种竖引式真空熔炼惰性气体保护连续加料连铸机
WO2018082241A1 (zh) * 2016-11-01 2018-05-11 东莞市逸昊金属材料科技有限公司 一种新型非晶母合金锭连铸系统及其使用方法

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AT310368B (de) 1973-09-25
CH514378A (fr) 1971-10-31
US3800848A (en) 1974-04-02
NL6915832A (enExample) 1970-04-21
JPS499937B1 (enExample) 1974-03-07
CA939483A (en) 1974-01-08
DE1952083A1 (de) 1970-11-12
BE740337A (enExample) 1970-03-16
GB1293939A (en) 1972-10-25
SE360584B (enExample) 1973-10-01

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