US3879022A - Method and apparatus for melting, purifying and alloying metals - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for melting, purifying and alloying metals Download PDF

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Publication number
US3879022A
US3879022A US369434A US36943473A US3879022A US 3879022 A US3879022 A US 3879022A US 369434 A US369434 A US 369434A US 36943473 A US36943473 A US 36943473A US 3879022 A US3879022 A US 3879022A
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United States
Prior art keywords
support
metallic substance
metallic
pivot axis
arrangement
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Expired - Lifetime
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US369434A
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English (en)
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Hans Aichert
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Individual
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Individual
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    • 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
    • C22B9/22—Remelting metals with heating by wave energy or particle radiation
    • C22B9/228—Remelting metals with heating by wave energy or particle radiation by particle radiation, e.g. electron beams
    • 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
    • C22B9/04—Refining by applying a vacuum

Definitions

  • Padlon ABSTRACT An arrangement in which metallic particles lie on a movable support. The particles have directed onto them an electron beam. While the support executes oscillating motion, the metallic particles retain their position in space at a stationary location. The motion of the support results in rolling of the metal particles. The particles are in molten state and retain their shape through their surface tension characteristics.
  • the present invention relates to an arrangement for melting, purifying, as well as alloying metallic elements which are in molten state and retain their shape through their surface tension.
  • the metallic elements are present in a vacuum on a support which has applied to it a source of energy for the purpose of displacing the support.
  • crucible-shaped container means is used for retaining the molten material.
  • This molten material or metallic elements roll into balls or droplets as a result of their surface tension.
  • the support for the metallic molten balls or droplets is movable. At the same time, however, there is no relative motion between the metallic elements and the support when the latter is displaced. The molten material or elements retain essentially their position relative to the support.
  • a conventional process also known in the art uses a support in the form of symmetrical rotational crucible which is driven at uniform rotational velocity about an inclined axis.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide the aforementioned arrangement in which the metals remain continuously under the influence of a source of energy for melting the metals while undergoing purifcation or alloying.
  • a still further object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement, as described, in which quanti ties of molten metals are purified and/or alloyed while they are not moved out of the path of a source of energy used for melting the materials.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement which is simple in design and may be readily constructed in an economical manner.
  • the objects of the present invention are achieved by providing an arrangement in which the support for the molten metallic materials is moved or displaced so that the metallic elements in molten state roll on the support while the latter is displaced.
  • Such rolling action executed by the metallic elements causes them to retain their positions in space.
  • the metallic elements are held together or retain their shape as a result of their surface tension characteristics.
  • the rolling action of the droplets or metallic balls produces simultaneously a mixing process through which the individual metallic components or elements are thoroughly intermixed.
  • new volume elements are continuously brought from the region at the surface of the droplets or metallic balls and moved towards the interior thereof.
  • the necessary length of the diffusion path is, hereby, strongly reduced, so that the gas interchange or purification time is significantly shortened.
  • the temperature distribution within the metallic elements is made more optimum as a result of the intermixing processes, so that local overheating is avoided with the accompanying vaporization of alloying elements having low boiling points. Since the metallic elements retain their positions in space, it is not necessary to provide complex regulating and control mechanisms which are usually required for moving the source of energy for heating the metallic elements so that the energy source may follow along with the motion of the metallic elements.
  • the process in accordance with the present invention may be carried out either in vacuum or in the environment of a protective gas.
  • a protective gas For reinforcing the purification effects, it is desirable to carry out the process under vacuum.
  • Sources of energy used for melting the metallic elements may be in the form of electric arcs plasma beams or similar such means.
  • Electron beams have been found to be particularly advantageous. When using electron beams, it is essential to carry out the process under vacuum, since widening of the electron beams within substantially dense gases results in process difficulties which may even make it impossible to carry out the process.
  • Electron beams, furthermore, possess the characteristic of high energy density, and the electron beams may be easily deflected or controlled so as to be directed onto a predetermined or desired target point or impact point.
  • the rolling motion of the metallic elements on the support may take place in any desired manner. However, it is particularly advantageous when the support executes a periodic oscillation.
  • An arrangement for carrying out the process in accordance with the present invention has a vacuum chamber, a source of energy and a support for treating or processing the metallic elements.
  • the support is rotatably suspended and possesses a circularshaped surface on which the metallic elements may roll. The place through the circle of the rolling surface is vertical, and the point of rotation for the displace ment or motion coincides with the center point of the rolling surface.
  • the support furthermore, can also be in the form of a ring-shaped closed groove having a horizontal axis.
  • the molten metallic elements Upon rotation of the support about this axis, the molten metallic elements retain their position at the lowest point or location on the groove which is also below the axis of rotation.
  • the support is advantageously secured to a rocker arm having a horizontal axis of rotation which passes through the center point of the circular plane of the rolling surface.
  • anelectron beam generator 1 emits a high energy electron beam 3 in fully accelerated form through a pres-' sure step path 2.
  • the electron beam is directed along a slightly curved path, and terminates at the end of the path on a metallic element 4.
  • this metallic element 4 is in the molten state and is held together to retain its shape by its surface tension. The surface tension causes the element 4 to assume the shape of a droplet, for example.
  • the point of impact of the electron beam 3 may also be denoted as the focussed spot 5.
  • the metallic element 4 rests on a support 6 which is in the form of an arc-shaped groove 7.
  • the groove 7 has a circular shape, and the plane of the cir- 'cle lies in the plane of the drawing which, at the same time is vertical in practice.
  • the arc-shaped groove 7 is a segmentof a circular-shaped ring crucible having a hollow chamber 8 for retaining a cooling medium as,
  • the support is, furthermore, bent ing, so that a hammock-shaped trough or tub results.
  • This trough or tub encloses the molten metallic element 4 under maintenance of a stable balanced state.
  • the center point of the circle is denoted by 9.
  • This center point 9 serves simultaneously as the axis of rotation or oscillation of the support 6 and a rocker arm10 is pivoted about this axis 9.
  • the support 6 is to be periodically oscillated or displaced so 'that end positions 6a and 6b shown in dotted form result.
  • the frequency of oscillation for displacing the support lies preferably within the range of 0.1 and 1 Hz.
  • the amplitude of oscillation in this embodiment is substantially 60.
  • the metallic element 4 Since the lowest point of the support 6 remains at the same position as a result of the geometrical design, the metallic element 4 is forced to remain also in the position shown in the drawing, which is below the axis of rotation 9. With this arrangement the electron beam 3 will continuously be directed onto the metallic element 4.
  • the entire arrangement furthermore, is surrounded by a vacuum chamber la, which is evacuated by means of vacuum pumps, also not shown in the conventional manner.
  • FIG. 2 parts which are identical to those used in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
  • an electric arc electrode 12 is provided in place of the electron beam generator 1, however, an electric arc electrode 12 is provided.
  • an are 13 may be generated between the electrode and the metallic element 4. This electric are 13 may be used for melting and further heating of the metallic element 4.
  • the remaining functions of the arrangement of FIG. 2 are similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1.
  • the oscillating motion or displacement is carried out perpendicular to the plane of the drawing.
  • An arrangement for processing metallic materials under vacuum comprising, in combination, a movable support; a metallic substance on said support; means for applying heat to said metallic substance on said support for maintaining said metallic substance in molten state, said metallic substance assuming a shape determined by the surface tension characteristics of said metallic substance; means for rotatably suspending said support about a predetermined pivot axis, said support 2.
  • said means for rotatably suspending said support com prises a rocker arm suspended from said pivot axis, said pivot axis being horizontal and passing through the center point of said rolling surface.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)
US369434A 1972-06-29 1973-06-13 Method and apparatus for melting, purifying and alloying metals Expired - Lifetime US3879022A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE2231770A DE2231770C3 (de) 1972-06-29 1972-06-29 Vorrichtung zum Schmelzen, Reinigen und gegebenenfalls Legieren von Metallportionen

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3879022A true US3879022A (en) 1975-04-22

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US369434A Expired - Lifetime US3879022A (en) 1972-06-29 1973-06-13 Method and apparatus for melting, purifying and alloying metals

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US (1) US3879022A (US20090163788A1-20090625-C00002.png)
JP (1) JPS5230124B2 (US20090163788A1-20090625-C00002.png)
DE (1) DE2231770C3 (US20090163788A1-20090625-C00002.png)
FR (1) FR2190938B1 (US20090163788A1-20090625-C00002.png)
GB (1) GB1417089A (US20090163788A1-20090625-C00002.png)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5878074A (en) * 1997-07-31 1999-03-02 Lucent Technologies Inc. Evaporator crucible and improved method for performing electron-beam evaporation

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0017472A1 (en) * 1979-04-06 1980-10-15 Lintott Engineering Limited Evacuable equipment containing a device for heat transfer and process for the manufacture of semi-conductor components using this equipment
JPH0189021U (US20090163788A1-20090625-C00002.png) * 1987-12-04 1989-06-12

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1497696A (en) * 1922-02-03 1924-06-17 Hibbard Process Corp Metal-working furnace
US3489841A (en) * 1968-02-26 1970-01-13 Dow Chemical Co Arc melting furnace and method of melting
US3562002A (en) * 1968-04-24 1971-02-09 Air Reduction Method and apparatus for vapor deposition

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1497696A (en) * 1922-02-03 1924-06-17 Hibbard Process Corp Metal-working furnace
US3489841A (en) * 1968-02-26 1970-01-13 Dow Chemical Co Arc melting furnace and method of melting
US3562002A (en) * 1968-04-24 1971-02-09 Air Reduction Method and apparatus for vapor deposition

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5878074A (en) * 1997-07-31 1999-03-02 Lucent Technologies Inc. Evaporator crucible and improved method for performing electron-beam evaporation

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1417089A (en) 1975-12-10
DE2231770C3 (de) 1975-07-03
FR2190938A1 (US20090163788A1-20090625-C00002.png) 1974-02-01
FR2190938B1 (US20090163788A1-20090625-C00002.png) 1976-06-18
DE2231770B2 (US20090163788A1-20090625-C00002.png) 1974-11-21
JPS4943806A (US20090163788A1-20090625-C00002.png) 1974-04-25
DE2231770A1 (de) 1974-01-10
JPS5230124B2 (US20090163788A1-20090625-C00002.png) 1977-08-05

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