WO1998033612A1

WO1998033612A1 - Apparatus for supplying molten metal at predetermined rate

Info

Publication number: WO1998033612A1
Application number: PCT/JP1998/000416
Authority: WO
Inventors: Syunji Mochizuki
Original assignee: Tounetsu Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 1997-02-04
Filing date: 1998-01-30
Publication date: 1998-08-06
Also published as: EP0901854A1; EP0901854A4; DE69833306T2; EP0901854B1; DE69833306D1

Abstract

A molten metal supply apparatus provided with a sealed pot (1) having a molten metal supplying port (2) and a molten metal discharging port (3) and disposed in a molten metal retaining furnace (5), a molten metal discharging pipe (7) connected to the molten metal discharging port (3), a pair of valves (8, 38) adapted to be moved vertically in the pot (1) and open and close the molten metal supplying port (2) and a molten metal discharging port (3), a level detecting means (10) for detecting upper and lower limit levels (L1, L2) of a molten metal (6) in the pot (1), and a pressurization and depressurization means (20) for pressurizing the interior of the pot (1) by supplying an inert gas to the interior thereof, or depressurizing the interior of the pot (1) by discharging the inert gas to the atmospheric air or forcibly sucking the inert gas from the pot (1), the molten metal (6) flowing from the molten metal supplying port (2) into the pot (1) being pressurized from the upper limit level (L1) to the lower limit level (L2), whereby the molten metal (6) in the pot (1) being discharged from the molten metal discharging port (3) through the molten metal discharge pipe (7).

Description

Description Molten metal feeder Technical field

The present invention relates to an apparatus for quantitatively supplying a molten metal of an aluminum alloy and other various metals that has been melted in a melting furnace and stored in a molten metal holding furnace to a machine such as a die-cast machine. . Background art

As a conventional molten metal supply device, a hot water supply pipe that can be connected to a machine is extended from a molten metal holding furnace, and an electromagnetic pump is interposed in the middle of the hot water supply pipe. In some cases, the molten metal in the holding furnace is pumped through a hot water supply pipe to a machine.

According to the electromagnetic pump type supply device as described above, when the molten metal is a non-ferrous metal such as an aluminum alloy, and the magnetic metal component such as iron is mixed in the molten metal, the magnetic metal component is removed. Electromagnetic pumps are attracted and clogged inside, making it easy to break down.In addition, even if the pump is stopped, the flow of molten metal in the hot water supply pipe cannot be stopped immediately. In addition, there is a problem that the electromagnetic pump is expensive and the cost of the device is very high.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a molten metal quantitative supply apparatus which can perform reliable quantitative supply with less failures and can be manufactured relatively inexpensively. Disclosure of the invention

The molten metal fixed-quantity supply device of the invention according to claim 1 has a hot water supply port 2 and a drainage port at a bottom side. A closed port 1 having a spout 3 and arranged at a predetermined height in a molten metal holding furnace 5, and a tapping pipe 7 connected to the spout 3 and connectable to the machine M, An on-off valve 8 that moves up and down in the pot 1 by opening and closing drive means to open and close the hot water supply port 2 and a level for detecting the upper limit level L 1 and the lower limit level L 2 of the molten metal 6 in the pot 1 The detection means 10 and a gas (hereinafter, referred to as an “inert gas”) that does not easily react with the molten metal such as nitrogen gas or dry air are supplied into the pot 1 to pressurize the inside of the pot 1, A pressurizing and depressurizing means 20 for discharging the inert gas supplied to the atmosphere and depressurizing the inside of the pot 1 is provided, and the molten metal 6 flowing into the pot 1 from the hot water supply port 2 is maintained at the upper limit level. By applying pressure from L 1 to the lower limit level L 2, the molten metal 6 in the pot 1 is discharged from the drain port 3 through the tapping pipe 7. It is made in the Let 's that.

According to the molten metal quantitative supply device of the invention according to claim 1, a pot having a hot water supply port and a hot water discharge port on the bottom side is arranged at a predetermined height position in the molten metal holding furnace, and the hot water supply port is disposed from the hot water supply port. The molten metal in the pot is pressurized from the upper limit level to the lower limit level with an inert gas so that the molten metal in the pot is discharged from the discharge port through a tapping pipe. In addition, the molten metal in the molten metal holding furnace can be reliably and quantitatively supplied to the machine, and the molten metal is supplied and discharged by pressurizing and depressurizing means using inert gas. In the case of a non-ferrous metal such as an alloy, even if a magnetic metal component is mixed in the molten metal, the magnetic metal component does not adhere to the inside of the apparatus and is clogged. It can be manufactured inexpensively and the cost can be reduced.

The molten metal fixed-quantity supply device of the invention according to claim 2 has a closed port 1 having a hot water supply port 2 and a discharge port 3 on the bottom side, and disposed at a predetermined height position in the molten metal holding furnace 5; A tapping pipe 7 connected to the drainage port 3 and connectable to the machine M, and an opening / closing valve 8 for moving the inside of the pot 1 up and down by the opening / closing drive means to open / close the hot water port 2 and the taphole 3 respectively. , 3 8 and above molten metal 6 in pot 1 Level detecting means 10 for detecting the lower limit level L 1 and the lower limit level L 2, and supplying an inert gas into the pot 1 to pressurize the inside of the pot 1 and to remove the inert gas in the pot 1. A pressurizing and depressurizing means 40 for releasing the pressure inside the pot 1 by releasing it to the atmosphere is provided, and pressurizes the molten metal 6 flowing into the pot 1 from the hot water supply port 2 from its upper limit level L1 to its lower limit level L2. Thus, the molten metal 6 in the pot 1 is discharged from the discharge port 3 through a tapping pipe.

According to claim 2, an on-off valve for opening and closing the hot water supply port and an on-off valve for opening and closing the hot water outlet are provided side by side, and the inert gas pressurized and supplied into the pot is released to the atmospheric pressure and discharged to the inside of the pot. Opening and closing of the discharge port when the pressure in the molten metal holding furnace is switched from the pressure side to the pressure reduction side to flow the molten metal into the pot. Since the molten metal flows into the pot from the hot water supply port when the valve is activated and the drain is closed, the amount of molten metal flowing into the pot can be regulated accurately. This makes it possible to repeatedly and accurately maintain the amount of hot water per unit from the pot.

The molten metal fixed-quantity supply device of the invention according to claim 3 has a closed port 1 having a hot water supply port 2 and a discharge port 3 on the bottom side, and arranged at a predetermined height position in the molten metal holding furnace 5; A tapping pipe 7 connected to the drain port 3 and connectable to the machine M; an opening / closing valve 8 for moving up and down in the pot 1 by opening / closing drive means to open / close the hot water port 2 and the drain port 3 respectively; 3 8, level detection means 10 for detecting the upper limit level L 1 and the lower limit level L 2 of the molten metal 6 in the pot 1, and supplying an inert gas into the pot 1 to make the inside of the pot 1 Pressurizing and depressurizing means 40 for depressurizing the inside of the pot 1 by pressurizing and forcibly sucking the inert gas in the pot 1, and dissolving the molten metal 6 flowing into the pot 1 from the hot water supply port 2. By increasing the pressure from the upper level L1 to the lower level L2, According to claim 3, the hot water 6 is discharged from the hot water outlet 3 through the hot water pipe, and the open / close valve for opening and closing the hot water supply port and the open / close valve for opening and closing the hot water outlet are provided in parallel. At the same time, the system is provided with a pressurizing and depressurizing means for forcibly sucking the inert gas supplied under pressure into the pot to depressurize the inside of the pot. Even when the molten metal is discharged by pressurizing the inside of the pot and the level of the molten metal stored in the molten metal holding furnace drops, the upper limit level in the pot can always be kept at a fixed position. As a result, it is not necessary to frequently replenish the molten metal into the molten metal holding furnace, so that the operation of supplying the molten metal becomes easy and more accurate quantitative supply can be performed.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is the molten metal fixed-quantity supply device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the opening and closing drive means includes fluid pressure cylinders 9 and 39 erected at the upper end of the pot 1. In addition, rod-shaped on-off valves 8 and 38 are connected to piston rods 9 a and 39 a of the fluid pressure cylinders 9 and 39.

According to the fourth aspect, a fluid pressure cylinder erected at the upper end of the port is used as a drive means of the on-off valve, and the rod-shaped on-off valve is connected to this cylinder. Claim 5 which can simplify the structure of the opening / closing drive means and make it compact can provide the molten metal fixed-quantity supply device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, Valves 8, 38 and tapping pipe 7 are each formed by ceramic.

According to the fifth aspect, the pot, the opening / closing valve and the tapping pipe can be obtained at low cost by forming the pot, the opening / closing valve and the tapping pipe by using ceramics. It can be.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is the molten metal fixed-quantity supply device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the hot water supply port 2 of the pot 1 has a ceramic filter at an inlet side thereof. 26 is attached.

According to the sixth aspect, by attaching a ceramic filter to the inlet side of the hot water supply port of the pot, oxides, dust, and other impurities mixed in the molten metal in the molten metal holding furnace can be obtained. And high quality molten metal can be supplied to the machine. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view showing a molten metal quantitative supply device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the molten metal feeder shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the molten metal fixed-rate supply device shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal side view showing a molten metal supply device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the apparatus for quantitatively supplying molten metal shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal side view showing a molten metal supply device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing one embodiment of the level detecting means. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a molten metal constant feeder according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged sectional view. The first embodiment shows a specific example in a case where a molten metal mainly composed of an aluminum alloy is supplied to a machine. In these figures, reference numeral 1 denotes a bottomed cylindrical pot provided with a hot water supply port 2 and a hot water discharge port 3 on the bottom side, which is formed by ceramics, and which has a required upper end 1a. It is penetrated and supported by the support 4 made of a heat-resistant material in a sealed state and hangs downward from the lower surface of the support 4 to form an open-type It is inserted into the hot water holding furnace 5 at a predetermined height. In the molten metal holding furnace 5, for example, a molten metal 6 of an aluminum alloy melted in the metal melting furnace is almost fully stored, and the pot 1 is immersed in the molten metal 6 as shown in Fig. 1. It will be in a state where it has been set.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a tapping pipe connected to the discharge port 3 of the pot 1 and connectable to a pouring port (not shown) of a machine (for example, a die caster machine) M. A vertical pipe section 7a formed of ceramic and extending upward from the outer end of the drain port 3 along the outer surface of the pot 1, and connected to the upper end of the vertical pipe section 7a. And a horizontal pipe section 7c connected to the bend section 7b and extending horizontally to the machine M side. The tip 7d of c is pressed against the pouring port of the machine M. Although not shown, a heater 1 is attached to the tapping pipe 7 so that the molten metal 6 from the pot 1 can be supplied at an appropriate temperature.

Reference numeral 8 denotes an opening / closing valve for opening and closing the hot water supply port 2 of the pot 1 by moving up and down a predetermined stroke in the pot 1 by a fluid pressure cylinder 9 as opening / closing drive means. As shown in Fig. 3, a hollow valve stem 8b made of ceramics having a valve body 8a having an arc-shaped cross section at the lower end is provided. The fluid pressure cylinder 9 is erected on the support 4, and its piston rod 9 a penetrates the support 4 in a sealed state so as to be slidable, and has a valve stem in the support 4. Connected to 8b. However, the lowering of the valve rod 8b due to the extension operation of the cylinder 9 causes the valve element 8a to closely engage with the lined gate 2, closing the water supply port 2 and causing the cylinder 2 to close. When the valve rod 8b is moved upward by the contraction operation of 9, the valve body 8a is detached from the hot water supply port 2, and the hot water supply port 2 is opened.

Reference numeral 10 denotes level detection means for detecting the upper limit level L 1 and the lower limit level L 2 of the molten metal 6 in the pot 1. The upper limit level of molten metal 6 in pot 1 End

L 1 is the level of the molten metal surface when the molten metal starts to flow into the machine, and may be the same as the molten metal surface level Lo of the molten metal 6 (the molten metal 6 outside the pot 1) stored in the molten metal holding furnace 5. Many. The lower limit level L 2 is the level of the molten metal surface in Pot 1 at the time when the tapping into the machine has been completed. One embodiment of the level detecting means 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. A flange body 12 is attached via a base plate 11 to the center of the upper surface of a support 4 located directly above the pot 1. The float shaft 14 is slidably passed through a guide sleeve 13 in which the flange body 12, the base plate 11 and the support body 4 are vertically penetrated and fixed. The float 15 is attached to the lower end of the float shaft 14 located in the pot 1, and the object 16 to be detected is attached to the upper end. A transparent cylindrical cover 17 having a closed upper end is provided on the flange 12 so as to cover the float shaft 14 and the object 16 to be detected. 7, two upper and lower photoelectric switches 18, 19 each comprising a projector 18 a, 19 a and a receiver 18 b, 19 b are respectively attached to the object 16. The upper photoelectric switch 18 detects the upper limit level L 1 via the object 16 to be detected, and the lower photoelectric switch 19 Detects the lower limit level L 2 via the subject 16.

The base plate 11, flange body 12, guide sleeve 13, float shaft 14, float 15, object to be detected 16 and cylindrical cover 17 are each made of ceramic. Formed by The detection means of the detection target 16 is not limited to the photoelectric switches 18 and 19, and a proximity switch or the like can be applied. Incidentally, the above-mentioned level detecting means 10 employs a float type detecting means. In addition to this, a means for directly measuring the level of the molten metal 6 in the pot 1 by a laser or an electrostatic type A variable capacity type may be adopted. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 denotes an inert gas (a gas that is difficult to react with a molten metal such as nitrogen gas or dry air) supplied to the inside of the pot 1 to pressurize the inside of the pot 1. This is a pressurizing and depressurizing means for discharging the supplied inert gas to the atmosphere to depressurize the inside of the pot 1. The pressurizing / depressurizing means 20 is provided in gas supply / discharge holes 21 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) provided so as to penetrate the support 4 from the base plate 11 and communicate with the inside of the port 1. For example, a pressurizing source 22 composed of a tank containing an inert gas and a pump for pumping the gas is connected by a gas line 23 and a pressure regulating valve 24 is connected to the line 23. And an electromagnetic switching valve 25. Although not shown, the electromagnetic switching valve 25 has a control unit of the fluid pressure cylinder 9 and photoelectric switches 18 and 19 of the level detecting means 10. Are electrically connected to each other. It should be noted that the pressure in the pot 1 may be arbitrarily changed by using an electrically controllable pressure control valve as the pressure regulating valve 24.

Therefore, when the inert gas is supplied into the port 1 and pressurized, the switching valve 25 is operated so as to open the flow path from the pressurizing source 22 to the gas supply / discharge hole 21. When the pressure inside the port 1 is reduced, the flow from the pressurizing source 22 is cut off and the gas lined exhaust hole 21 is switched to the atmosphere open flow path. All that is required is to operate the valve. The pressure in the pot 1 can be adjusted by the pressure adjusting valve 24. The pressure source 22 may be a high-pressure cylinder filled with an inert gas under pressure.

A ceramic filter for removing oxides, dust and other impurities mixed in the molten metal 6 in the molten metal holding furnace 5 is provided at the inlet side of the hot water supply port 2 of the pot 1. Filter 26 is installed. As shown in FIG. 3, the filter 26 is formed by a ceramic into a box, hemisphere, or other desired shape in which each wall has a porous shape. The porous state is about 10 to 60 mesh. When installing the filter 26, a locking portion 27 is provided on the lower surface of the port 1, and the flange 26a at the upper end of the filter 26 is locked to this. And good. Note that this filter 26 is required. It may be attached as needed.

The tapping pipe 7 can be horizontally moved integrally with the pot 1 by horizontal moving means 28 of a hydraulic cylinder type. That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the horizontal moving means 28 moves the support frame 30 from the upper end of the base frame 29 provided adjacent to the molten metal holding furnace 5 above the molten metal holding furnace 5. And a plurality of wheels attached to the support 4 via brackets 31 on guide rails 30a and 30a formed on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the support frame 30. 32 is rotatably engaged, and the support 4 is connected to the piston rod 33 a of the hydraulic cylinder 33 installed on the base frame 29 via the connecting rod 33 b. The support body 4 and the pot 1 and the tapping pipe 7 integrally provided with the support body 4 can be horizontally moved in the longitudinal direction of the support frame 30 by the expansion and contraction operation of the cylinder 33. it can. Accordingly, by appropriately expanding and contracting the fluid pressure cylinder 33, the distal end 7d of the tapping pipe 7 is pressed against the pouring port (not shown) of the machine M to be surely brought into contact. It can be done.

Next, the operation of the molten metal fixed-quantity supply device configured as described above will be described.

First, the interior of the pot 1 is opened to the atmosphere, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the on-off valve 8 moves upward (opens) to open the hot water supply □ 2, and then the molten metal 6 in the molten metal holding furnace 5 is opened. When the molten metal 6 flows into the pot 1 from the hot water supply port 2 and rises to the upper limit level L 1 in the pot 1, this is detected by the level detecting means 10. That is, when the float 15 rises with the rise of the molten metal level in the pot 1 and the object 16 moves up to the position corresponding to the upper limit level L 1 via the float shaft 14, The object 16 is detected by the photoelectric switch 18. In response to this detection signal, the fluid pressure cylinder 9 is extended, the opening / closing valve 8 is moved down to close the hot water supply port 2, and at the same time, the pressurizing side of the pressurizing and depressurizing means 20 is operated, and 1 O

An inert gas is supplied to the upper part of the pot 1 from the supply / discharge hole 21. The supply of this gas pressurizes the molten metal 6 in the pot 1, and the molten metal 6 is discharged from the discharge port 3 to the tapping pipe 7. Thus, when the molten metal 6 in the pot 1 drops to the lower limit level L2, the photoelectric switch 19 detects the object 16 that has dropped to the corresponding position. In response to this detection signal, the electromagnetic switching valve 25 is operated, the pressurizing and depressurizing means 20 is operated on the depressurizing side, and the inert gas supplied into the port 1 is discharged from the electromagnetic switching valve 25. The fluid is discharged to the atmosphere through the open passage, and at the same time, the fluid pressure cylinder 9 contracts and moves the opening / closing valve 8 upward to open the hot water supply port 2, whereby the molten metal 6 in the molten metal holding furnace 5 is discharged. After that, the above operation is repeated.

As described above, the molten metal 6 in the pot 1 is pressurized and lowered from the upper limit level L1 to the lower limit level L2 by the inert gas supplied into the pot 1. As a result, a constant amount corresponding to the product of the interval length between the two levels L 1 and L 2 and the cross-sectional area inside the pot 1 is discharged from the tapping pipe 7. Therefore, if the length of the interval between the two levels L 1 and L 2 is kept constant, the above series of operations are repeated a plurality of times to supply the molten metal 6 in an amount equivalent to the plurality of times. be able to. The discharge amount of the molten metal 6 can be freely changed by changing the position of the lower photoelectric switch 19 (detection means) of the level detection means 10 in the vertical direction.

In addition, in the use of the molten metal constant supply device, the molten metal 6 in the molten metal holding furnace 5 is reduced by the amount of the molten metal 6 in the pot 1 being discharged through the tapping pipe 7, and the molten metal holding furnace 5 The surface level Lo of the molten metal 6 in 5 will gradually decrease. Accordingly, in order to keep the distance between the upper limit level L1 and the lower limit level L2 constant, the internal volume of the molten metal holding furnace 5 should be as large as possible, and the level of the molten metal in the molten metal holding furnace 5 should be lowered. It is necessary to replenish the molten metal 6 in the molten metal holding furnace 5 while detecting the molten metal surface level Lo sequentially. You.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a molten metal quantitative supply device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. This device is different from the first embodiment in the configuration of the device. Another feature is that an opening / closing valve 38 that operates up and down by a fluid pressure cylinder 39 (opening / closing drive means) is provided so as to open and close the discharge port 3 of the pot 1. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and therefore, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted. That is, the opening / closing valve 38 for the hot water outlet 3 is almost the same as the opening / closing valve 8 for the hot water inlet 2, and as shown in FIG. The hydraulic cylinder 39 is provided upright in parallel with the hydraulic cylinder 9 of the on-off valve 8 for the gate gate lined on the support 4, and the piston rod 39 a is provided on the support 4. 4 is slidably penetrated in a sealed state, and is connected to the valve rod 38 b in the support 4. When the valve stem 38b is moved downward by the extension operation of the cylinder 39, the valve element 38a is closely engaged with the drain port 3 to close the drain port 3, and the cylinder 39 is closed. When the valve rod 38 b is moved upward by the contraction operation of the valve 39, the valve element 38 a is detached from the drain port 3, and the drain port 3 is opened. The on-off valve 38 is also formed of ceramic.

As in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the pressurizing and depressurizing means 20 is connected to a gas pressure source 22 composed of a tank containing an inert gas and a pump for pumping the gas, for example. The valve 23 is provided with a pressure regulating valve 24 and an electromagnetic switching valve 25, and the electromagnetic switching valve 25 is a control unit and a level detecting means of the fluid pressure cylinder 9. They are electrically connected to 10 photoelectric switches 18 and 19, respectively. When supplying an inert gas into the port 1 and pressurizing the same, the switching valve 25 may be operated so as to open a flow path from the pressurizing source 22 to the gas filling drain 21. When depressurizing the inside of Pot 1, shut off the flow path from pressurizing source 22. In addition, the switching valve may be operated so that the gas supply / discharge hole 21 communicates with the air release passage. The pressure in the pot 1 can be adjusted by the pressure adjusting valve 24. Note that, as in the first embodiment, the pressure in the pot 1 may be arbitrarily changed by using a pressure control valve that can be electrically controlled as the pressure adjusting valve 24. The pressurizing source 22 may be a high-pressure cylinder filled with an inert gas under pressure. The above operation is the same as in the first embodiment.

In the use of the molten metal metering device configured as described above, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the hot water supply opening / closing valve 8 moves upward, the hot water supply opening 2 is opened, and the hot water supply opening / closing valve 3 is opened. 8 moves downward and the drain outlet 3 is closed, and the pressure reducing and depressurizing means 20 is operated to release the inside of the pot 1 to the atmospheric pressure by activating the pressure reducing side 20. When the molten metal 6 flows into the pot 1 from the hot water supply port 2 and rises to the upper limit level L 1 in the pot 1, the level detecting means 10 detects this. That is, when the float 15 rises with the rise of the molten metal 6 and the object 16 moves up to a position corresponding to the upper limit level L 1 via the float shaft 14, the object 16 Is detected by the photoelectric switch 18.

In response to this detection signal, the hydraulic cylinder 9 extends to move the on-off valve 8 downward, closing the hot water supply port 2 and at the same time, the hydraulic cylinder 39 contracts to move the on-off valve 38 upward. The outlet 3 is opened, and at the same time, the operation of the pressurizing and depressurizing means 20 is switched to the pressurizing side, so that the inert gas is supplied to the upper part of the pot 1 from the gas supply / discharge hole 21. As a result, the molten metal 6 in the pot 1 is pressurized and discharged from the outlet 3 to the tapping pipe 7, and the level of the molten metal 6 in the pot 1 reaches the predetermined lower limit level L2. When it descends, the photoelectric switch 19 detects the object 16 descending to the corresponding position. In response to this detection signal, the fluid pressure cylinder 9 contracts to move the on-off valve 8 upward, and the hot water inlet At the same time as opening 2, the fluid pressure cylinder 39 expands and moves the on-off valve 38 down to close the drain port 3, and at the same time, the pressure reducing side of the pressure reducing means 20 operates, and the pot The inert gas supplied into the furnace 1 is released from the gas supply / discharge port 21 to the atmosphere through the switching valve 25, and the molten metal 6 in the molten metal holding furnace 5 flows into the port 1. I do. Thereafter, the above operation is repeated.

According to the above-described molten metal constant supply apparatus, the molten metal 6 in the pot 1 is pressurized and lowered from the upper limit level L1 to the lower limit level L2 by the inert gas supplied into the pot 1, whereby A certain amount of water corresponding to the product of the interval length between the two levels L 1 and L 2 and the cross-sectional area inside the pot 1 will be discharged from the tapping pipe 7, and therefore the above series of operations must be repeated several times. Thus, the molten metal 6 in a quantity corresponding to the multiple times can be supplied quantitatively. The amount of the molten metal 6 can be freely changed by changing the positions of the upper and lower photoelectric switches 18 and 19 (detection means) of the level detection means 10 in the vertical direction. In this case, any of the upper and lower photoelectric switches 18 and 19 may be changed.

In this device, when the molten metal in the pot 1 is discharged to the lower limit level L 2, the switching valve 25 of the pressurizing and depressurizing means 20 is switched by a detection signal to operate on the pressure reducing side, and the molten metal holding furnace 5 is operated. When the molten metal 6 in the inside flows into the pot 1, the on-off valve 38 on the drain port 3 side is operated and the molten metal 6 flows into the pot 1 from the hot water supply port 2 with the drain port 3 closed. As a result, the amount of molten metal 6 flowing into the pot 1 can be accurately regulated, for example, a part of the molten metal 6 flowing into the pot 1 is discharged to the outside from the drain hole 3. There is no such thing.

FIG. 6 shows a molten metal quantitative supply device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. This device is different from the second embodiment in that the inert gas supplied into the pot 1 is forcibly supplied. Suction to the outside so that the pressure inside the pot 1 is reduced. This is the point that the pressure / decompression means 40 is provided. The other configuration is the same as that of the second embodiment, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the pressurizing and depressurizing means 40 includes an inert gas tank 34 storing an inert gas in a gas supply / discharge hole 21 communicating with the inside of the port 1, and the tank 3. A gas line 36 is connected to an inert gas pumping pump 35 for pumping the inert gas in 4, and a pressure regulating valve 37 and an electromagnetic switching valve 41 are provided on this line 36. Further, the electromagnetic switching valve 41 and the inert gas tank 34 are connected by a bypass line 42, and a suction pump 43 and a pressure regulating valve 44 are interposed in the bypass line 42. . Although not shown, the electromagnetic switching valve 41 is electrically connected to the control unit of the fluid pressure cylinders 9 and 39 and the photoelectric switches 18 and 19 of the level detecting means 10 respectively. I have.

When the inert gas is supplied into the port 1 and pressurized, the bypass line 42 is shut off and the flow path from the inert gas pressure pump 35 to the gas supply / discharge hole 21 is opened. When the pressure inside the port 1 is reduced, the flow path from the pressure pump 35 to the gas supply / discharge hole 21 is cut off and the bypass line 42 is closed. The switching valve 41 may be operated to open. The pressure adjustment and the pressure reduction in the pot 1 can be performed by the pressure adjusting valves 37 and 44.

In the use of the molten metal constant-quantity supply device configured as described above, the hot-water opening / closing valve 8 moves upward, the hot-water opening 2 opens, and the hot-water opening / closing valve 38 moves downward, so that the hot-water opening 3 is closed. From the closed state, the depressurizing side of the pressurizing and depressurizing means 40 is operated to suck the inside of the pot 1 toward the outside, so that the molten metal 6 in the molten metal holding furnace 5 enters the pot 1 from the hot water supply port 2. When the molten metal 6 flows in and rises to the upper limit level L1 in the pot 1, this is detected by the level detecting means 10 I do. That is, when the float 15 rises with the rise of the molten metal 6 and the object 16 moves up to the position corresponding to the upper limit level L 1 via the float shaft 14, this detected The body 16 is detected by the photoelectric switch 18.

In response to this detection signal, the hydraulic cylinder 9 extends to move the on-off valve 8 downward, closing the hot water supply port 2 and at the same time, the hydraulic cylinder 39 contracts to move the on-off valve 38 upward. The discharge port 3 is opened, and at the same time, the operation of the pressurizing and depressurizing means 40 is switched to the pressurizing side, so that the inert gas is supplied from the gas supply and discharge holes 21 to the upper portion of the pot 1. As a result, the molten metal 6 in the pot 1 is pressurized and discharged from the outlet 3 to the tapping pipe 7, and the level of the molten metal 6 in the pot 1 reaches the predetermined lower limit level L2. When descending, the photoelectric switch 19 detects the object 16 descending to the corresponding position. In response to this detection signal, the hydraulic cylinder 9 contracts to move the on-off valve 8 upward to open the hot water supply port 2, and at the same time, the hydraulic cylinder 39 extends to move the on-off valve 38 downward. The drain port 3 is closed, and at the same time, the depressurizing side of the pressurizing and depressurizing means 40 is operated, so that the inert gas supplied into the port 1 is discharged from the gas supply / discharge hole 21 through the switching valve 41. The gas is returned to the inert gas tank 34 through the bypass line 42, whereby the molten metal 6 in the molten metal holding furnace 5 flows into the pot 1. Thereafter, the above operation is repeated.

According to the above-described molten metal quantitative supply apparatus, the molten metal 6 inside the pot 1 is pressurized and lowered from the upper limit level L1 to the lower limit level L2 by the inert gas supplied into the pot 1, A certain amount of water corresponding to the product of the interval length between the two levels L 1 and L 2 and the cross-sectional area inside the pot 1 will be discharged from the tapping pipe 7, and therefore the above series of operations must be repeated several times. Thus, the quantity of the molten metal 6 corresponding to the plural times can be supplied quantitatively. The discharge amount of the molten metal 6 can be freely set by changing the position of the upper and lower photoelectric switches 18 and 19 (detection means) of the level detection means 10 in the vertical direction. The point that can be changed is the same as in the first and second embodiments. In this case, any of the upper and lower photoelectric switches 18 and 19 may be changed as in the above-described embodiment.

Particularly, in this device, an on-off valve 8 for opening and closing the hot water supply port 2 and an on-off valve 38 for opening and closing the hot water outlet 3 are provided side by side, and the inert gas pressurized and supplied into the pot 1 is forcibly externally supplied. Is provided with a pressure reducing means 40 for reducing the pressure inside the pot 1 by suction to the inside of the pot 1. Even if the surface level L 0 of the molten metal 6 drops, the upper limit level L 1 in the pot 1 can always be kept at a fixed position, and therefore the molten metal 6 must be replenished frequently in the molten metal holding furnace 5. As a result, the supply operation of the molten metal 6 becomes easy, and more accurate quantitative supply can be performed.

Although the embodiment has mainly described the specific example in the case of supplying the molten metal of the aluminum alloy, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the apparatus is a device for supplying a molten metal such as a magnesium molten metal. Needless to say, it can be used. In the case of molten magnesium, the pot, opening / closing valve or tapping pipe can be made of iron.

Industrial applicability

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the molten metal in the molten metal holding furnace can be automatically and reliably supplied to the machine in a constant quantity, and the molten metal is pressurized and depressurized by using an inert gas. When the molten metal is a non-ferrous metal such as aluminum alloy, even if the molten metal contains a magnetic metal component, the magnetic metal component can be supplied to the inside of the device as in the case of using a magnetic pump. It does not become clogged by suction, has few failures, and can be manufactured relatively inexpensively and at low cost. In addition, the use of inert gas oxidizes the metal surface. 1 τ

Nothing is generated. Furthermore, since the tapping can be performed without lowering the temperature of the molten metal, the temperature of the melting furnace and the holding furnace can be lowered, which contributes to energy saving and enables a high-quality structure.

Claims

The scope of the claims

(1) A closed port that has a hot water supply port and a discharge port on the bottom side and is placed at a predetermined height in the molten metal holding furnace, and a tapping pipe that is connected to the drainage port and that can be connected to the machine. An opening / closing valve that opens and closes a hot water supply port by moving the inside of the pot up and down by opening and closing drive means, a level detection means for detecting an upper limit level and a lower limit level of molten metal in the pot, and a nitrogen gas or The inside of the pot is pressurized by supplying a gas (hereinafter referred to as “inert gas”) that is difficult to react with the molten metal, such as dry air, and the inside of the pot is released by releasing the inert gas in the pot to the atmosphere. A depressurizing means for depressurizing, and pressurizing the molten metal which has flowed into the pot from the lining gate through the upper limit level to the lower limit level, so that the molten metal in the pot is discharged from the drain port through the tapping pipe. A molten metal metering and feeding device that discharges molten metal.

(2) A closed port that has a hot water inlet and a hot water outlet on the bottom side and is located at a predetermined height in the molten metal holding furnace, and a hot water pipe that is connected to the hot water outlet and that can be connected to the machine. An opening / closing valve that moves up and down in the pot by opening / closing drive means to open and close a hot water outlet and a hot water outlet respectively; a level detecting means for detecting an upper limit level and a lower limit level of molten metal in the pot; Pressurizing and depressurizing means for supplying inert gas to the inside of the pot to pressurize the inside of the pot, and releasing the inert gas in the pot to the atmosphere to depressurize the inside of the pot. A fixed-quantity molten metal supply device that pressurizes the molten metal that has flowed into the port from its upper limit level to its lower limit level so that the molten metal in the pot flows out of the drain port through a tapping pipe.

(3) A closed port that has a hot water inlet and a hot water outlet on the bottom side and is located at a predetermined height in the molten metal holding furnace, and a tapping pipe that is connected to the hot water outlet and can be connected to a machine. An on-off valve for opening and closing the hot water outlet and the hot water outlet by moving the inside of the pot up and down by opening and closing drive means, a level detecting means for detecting an upper limit level and a lower limit level of the molten metal in the pot, Inert gas Pressurizing and depressurizing means for supplying pressure to the inside of the pot by supplying air and forcibly sucking the inert gas in the pot to reduce the inside of the pot. A fixed-quantity molten metal supply device that pressurizes molten metal from its upper limit level to its lower limit level so that the molten metal in the pot is discharged from a drain outlet through a tapping pipe.

(4) The opening / closing drive means comprises a hydraulic cylinder erected at the upper end of the pot, and a rod-like opening / closing valve is connected to the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder. The molten metal quantitative supply device according to any one of the above.

4. The molten metal fixed-quantity supply device according to claim 1, wherein the five ports, the on-off valve, and the tapping pipe are each formed of a ceramic.

The molten metal metering and feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a ceramic filter is attached to the inlet of the 6-point hot water supply port.