Apparatus for producing metal shot

Claim 2

In an apparatus of the character described for producing shot by discharging droplets of melted metal into a quenching bath, the combination of: a receptacle containing a body of the melted metal and being apertured for gravitational flow of the melted metal therefrom; a stack of sheets of metal in close face-to-face relationship cooperative with the receptacle to receive the molten metal therefrom and to form therewith a feeder assembly, said plurality of sheets being perforated to provide a plurality of discharge orifices to release droplets of the melted metal for gravitation to the quenching bath; and clamping means straddling the stack of sheets together with a portion of the receptacle, said clamping means clamping the sheets to the receptacle and clamping the sheets together under sufficient pressure to prevent lateral leakage of the melted metal from the stack at the interfaces of the sheets with freedom for slippage of the sheets relative to each other and relative to the receptacle in response to thermal expansion and contraction of the sheets to prevent thermal warpage of the stack.

Claim 3

A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said receptacle is provided with upwardly facing external shoulders and said clamping means clamps the stack of sheets to the shoulders.

Claim 4

A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said clamping means is made of metal that is work hardened to be immune to annealing by heat transferred thereto from the receptacle and from the melted metal.

Claim 5

A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said clamping means is resilient U-shaped means for exerting clamping pressure but has a sufficiently low elastic limit to permit adjustment of the clamping pressure by manually flexing the clamping means slightly beyond its elastic limit.

Claim 6

A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said clamping means is made of work hardened stainless steel.

Claim 7

A combination as set forth in claim 5 in which said stainless steel is approximately quarter hard.

Claim 8

A combination as set forth in claim 6 in which the clamping means is made of type 301 stainless steel.

Claim 9

A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said plurality of discharge orifices are arranged in two substantially parallel rows longitudinally of the receptacle.

Claim 10

A combination as set forth in claim 8 which includes a set of a larger number of perforated sheets than the number of sheets in the stack to be used interchangeably for assembling different combinations of stacked plates to produce shot of different sizes.

Claim 11

A combination as set forth in claim 9 which includes interrupter means submerged in the quenching bath to intercept the droplets from the two rows of orifices respectively and to cause The droplets to develop spin before falling further through the quenching liquid, said interrupter means being removable; and which includes a plurality of the interrupter means each to be used interchangeably for producing shot of different sizes.

Claim 12

A combination as set forth in claim 8 in which the bottom wall of the receptacle is apertured for gravitational flow of the melted metal therethrough; and in which the stack of sheets defines a horizontal space below said bottom wall for lateral paths of flow of the melted metal for distribution of the melted metal to said two rows of orifices.

Claim 13

A combination as set forth in claim 8 which includes means to heat the receptacle substantially equally along its opposite sides to prevent lateral thermal distortion of the feeder assembly.

Claim 14

A combination as set forth in claim 12 in which the heating means comprises two separate heating means at the two longitudinal sides respectively of the receptacle.

Claim 15

In an apparatus of the character described for producing shot by discharging droplets of melted metal into a quenching bath, the combination of: a receptacle containing a body of the melted metal and being apertured for gravitational flow of the melted metal therefrom; a stack of sheets of metal in close face-to-face relationship cooperative with the receptacle to receive the molten metal therefrom and to form therewith a feeder assembly, said plurality of sheets being perforated to provide a plurality of discharge orifices to release droplets of the melted metal for gravitation to the quenching bath, said discharge orifices being arranged in two substantially parallel rows longitudinally of the receptacle; two heat generating means along the opposite longitudinal sides respectively of the receptacle to heat the opposite sides substantially equally to prevent lateral thermal distortion of the feeder assembly; said feeder assembly being mounted to oscillate about the central longitudinal axis, a bar rigidly connected to the feed unit; elongated resiliently flexible means mounted on the bar and extending laterally therefrom; and means to strike said flexible means periodically to cause the flexible means to vibrate and thus cause the feeder assembly to vibrate.

Claim 16

In an apparatus of the character described for producing shot by discharging droplets of melted metal into a quenching bath, the combination of: a receptacle containing a body of the melted metal and being apertured for gravitational flow of the melted metal therefrom; a stack of sheets of metal in close face-to-face relationship cooperative with the receptacle to receive the molten metal therefrom and to form therewith a feeder assembly, said plurality of sheets being perforated to provide a plurality of discharge orifices to release droplets of the melted metal for gravitation to the quenching bath, said discharge orifices being arranged in two substantially parallel rows longitudinally of the receptacle; two heat generating means along the opposite longitudinal sides respectively of the receptacle to heat the opposite sides substantially equally to prevent lateral thermal distortion of the feeder assembly; said feeder assembly being mounted to oscillate about the central longitudinal axis, a bar rigidly connected to the feed unit; elongated resiliently flexible means mounted on the bar and extending laterally therefrom; and means to strike said flexible means periodically to cause the flexible means to vibrate and thus cause the feeder assembly to vibrate.

Claim 17

A combination as set forth in claim 14 which includes stop means adjacent one side of the bar and spring means biasing the bar against the stop means to modify the vibration of the resiliently flexible means.

Claim 18

A combination as set forth in claim 1 which includes means to supply the receptacle continuously with melted metal, said supply means being manually adjustable to balance the inflow into the receptacle with the outflow through the stack of sheets to maintain a substantially constant depth of melted metal in the receptacle.

Claim 19

A combination as set forth in claim 16, in which said adjustable supply means includes a valve body and a valve member, said valve body having a first passage therethrough formed with a valve seat having an inner circumferential edge, said valve body further having a second passage in communication with the first passage downstream from the valve seat, said valve member being in the form of a screw positioned coaxially of the first passage in screw-threaded engagement therewith, the inner end of said screw being tapered to cooperate with said inner circumferential edge of the valve seat for controlling the rate of flow to the second passage, said valve further including spring means acting between the valve body and the screw to urge the screw in one axial direction to maintain the screw in whatever rotary position it may be adjusted.

Claim 20

A combination as set forth in claim 17 which includes passage means adjoining the valve body to deliver flow from said second passage to the receptacle, the valve body and the passage means being releasably interconnected for separation to permit access to the interiors of the valVe body and the passage means.

Claim 21

A combination as set forth in claim 18 which includes screw means to releasably clamp the valve body against the passage means.

Claim 22

A combination as set forth in claim 18 in which the valve body is bodily removable from the passage means.

Claim 23

A combination as set forth in claim 16 in which said supply means includes a nozzle to discharge the melted metal into the receptacle, said nozzle being submerged in the melted metal in the receptacle to minimize oxidation of the melted metal.

Claim 24

A combination as set forth in claim 21 which includes baffle means in the receptacle confronting the end of the nozzle to divert a portion of the inflowing stream of melted metal rearwardly of the nozzle towards one end of the receptacle, the baffle being positioned and dimensioned to permit the remaining portion of the stream of melted metal to pass beyond the baffle towards the opposite end of the receptacle.

Claim 25

A combination as set forth in claim 22 in which said nozzle is adjustable in elevation relative to the baffle to vary the proportions of the stream of melted metal that flow towards the two opposite ends of the receptacle.

Claim 26

A combination as set forth in claim 23 in which the nozzle is made of relatively soft metal for pliability to permit the elevation of the nozzle to be adjusted by flexure of the nozzle.

Claim 27

In an apparatus of the character described for producing shot by discharging droplets of melted metal into a quenching bath, the combination of: a receptacle containing a body of the melted metal and being apertured for gravitational flow of the melted metal therefrom; a stack of sheets of metal in close face-to-face relationship cooperative with the receptacle to receive the molten metal therefrom and to form therewith a feeder assembly, said plurality of sheets being perforated to provide a plurality of discharge orifices to release droplets of the melted metal for gravitation to the quenching bath; and clamping means to clamp the sheets together under sufficient pressure to prevent lateral leakage of the melted metal from the stack at the interfaces of the sheets with freedom for slippage of the sheets in response to thermal expansion and contraction of the sheets, said stack including; a first sheet with primary orifices therein; a second lower sheet with secondary orifices therein offset horizontally relative to said primary orifices, and an intervening spacer sheet with orifices therein, the orifices of the spacer sheet being substantially larger than the primary and secondary orifices to provide communication between the primary and secondary orifices throughout the range of relative slippage of the three sheets.

Claim 28

In an apparatus of the character described for producing shot by discharging droplets of melted metal into a quenching bath, the combination of: a receptacle containing a body of the melted metal and being apertured for gravitational flow of the melted metal therefrom; a stack of sheets of metal in close face-to-face relationship cooperative with the receptacle to receive the molten metal therefrom and to form therewith a feeder assembly, said plurality of sheets being perforated to provide a plurality of discharge orifices to release droplets of the melted metal for gravitation to the quenching bath; and clamping means to clamp the sheets together under sufficient pressure to prevent lateral leakage of the melted metal from the stack at the interfaces of the sheets with freedom for slippage of the sheets in response to thermal expansion and contraction of the sheets, said stack including; a first sheet with primary orifices therein; a second lower sheet with secondary orifices therein offset horizontally relative to said primary orifices, and an intervening spacer sheet with orifices therein, the orifices of the spacer sheet being substantially larger than the primary and secondary orifices to provide communication between the primary and secondary orifices throughout the range of relative slippage of the three sheets.

Claim 29

In an apparatus of the character described for producing shot by discharging droplets of melted metal into a quenching bath, the combination of: a receptacle containing a body of the melted metal and being apertured for gravitational flow of the melted metal therefrom; a stack of sheets of metal in close face-to-face relationship cooperative with the receptacle to receive the molten metal therefrom and to form therewith a feeder assembly, said plurality of sheets being perforated to provide a plurality of discharge orifices to release droplets of the melted metal for gravitation to the quenching bath, said plurality of discharge orifices being arranged in two substantially parallel rows longitudinally of the receptacle; clamping means to clamp the sheets together under sufficient pressure to prevent lateral leakage of the melted metal from the stack at the interfaces of the sheets with freedom for slippage of the sheets in response to thermal expansion and contraction of the sheets; means to support the feed assembly for oscillation about a longitudinal axis that lies in a vertical plane between the two rows of discharge orifices, said support means forming seats with spaced sidewalls adjacent the opposite ends respectively of the feedeR assembly, the feeder assembly having two opposite end extensions resting in corresponding seats, the seats being slightly wider than the end extensions to provide limited freedom for vibratory oscillation of the feeder assembly about a longitudinal axis defined by the two end extensions.

Claim 30

In an apparatus of the character described for producing shot by discharging droplets of melted metal into a quenching bath, the combination of: a receptacle containing a body of the melted metal and being apertured for gravitational flow of the melted metal therefrom; a stack of sheets of metal in close face-to-face relationship cooperative with the receptacle to receive the molten metal therefrom and to form therewith a feeder assembly, said plurality of sheets being perforated to provide a plurality of discharge orifices to release droplets of the melted metal for gravitation to the quenching bath, said plurality of discharge orifices being arranged in two substantially parallel rows longitudinally of the receptacle; clamping means to clamp the sheets together under sufficient pressure to prevent lateral leakage of the melted metal from the stack at the interfaces of the sheets with freedom for slippage of the sheets in response to thermal expansion and contraction of the sheets; means to support the feed assembly for oscillation about a longitudinal axis that lies in a vertical plane between the two rows of discharge orifices, said support means forming seats with spaced sidewalls adjacent the opposite ends respectively of the feedeR assembly, the feeder assembly having two opposite end extensions resting in corresponding seats, the seats being slightly wider than the end extensions to provide limited freedom for vibratory oscillation of the feeder assembly about a longitudinal axis defined by the two end extensions.

Claim 31

In an apparatus of the character described for producing shot by discharging droplets of melted metal into a quenching bath, the combination of: a receptacle containing a body of the melted metal and being apertured for gravitational flow of the melted metal therefrom; a stack of sheets of metal in close face-to-face relationship cooperative with the receptacle to receive the molten metal therefrom and to form therewith a feeder assembly, said plurality of sheets being perforated to provide a plurality of discharge orifices to release droplets of the melted metal for gravitation to the quenching bath; said discharge orifices being arranged in two substantially parallel rows longitudinally of the receptacle, heat generating means along the opposite longitudinal sides respectively of the receptacle to heat the opposite sides substantially equally to prevent lateral thermal distortion of the feeder assembly; said feeder assembly being mounted to oscillate about a central longitudinal axis; a resiliently flexible rod extending laterally from the feeder assembly; means to strike the rod periodically to cause the rod to vibrate and thus cause the feeder assembly to vibrate; and a weight on the rod adjustable longitudinally of the rod to modify the vibration of the rod.

Claim 32

In an apparatus of the character described for producing shot by discharging droplets of melted metal into a quenching bath, the combination of: a receptacle containing a body of the melted metal and being apertured for gravitational flow of the melted metal therefrom; a stack of sheets of metal in close face-to-face relationship cooperative with the receptacle to receive the molten metal therefrom and to form therewith a feeder assembly, said plurality of sheets being perforated to provide a plurality of discharge orifices to release droplets of the melted metal for gravitation to the quenching bath; said discharge orifices being arranged in two substantially parallel rows longitudinally of the receptacle, heat generating means along the opposite longitudinal sides respectively of the receptacle to heat the opposite sides substantially equally to prevent lateral thermal distortion of the feeder assembly; said feeder assembly being mounted to oscillate about a central longitudinal axis; a resiliently flexible rod extending laterally from the feeder assembly; means to strike the rod periodically to cause the rod to vibrate and thus cause the feeder assembly to vibrate; and a weight on the rod adjustable longitudinally of the rod to modify the vibration of the rod.

Claim 33

In an apparatus of the character described for producing shot by discharging droplets of melted metal into a quenching bath, the combination of: a receptacle containing a body of the melted metal and being apertured for gravitational flow of the melted metal therefrom; a stack of sheets of metal in close face-to-face relationship cooperative with the receptacle to receive the molten metal therefrom and to form therewith a feeder assembly, said plurality of sheets being perforated to provide a plurality of discharge orifices to release droplets of the melted metal for gravitation to the quenching bath; said discharge orifices being arranged in two substantially parallel rows longitudinally of the receptacle; heat generating means along the opposite longitudinal sides respectively of the receptacle to heat the opposite sides substantially equally to prevent lateral thermal distortion of the feeder assembly; said feeder assembly being mounted to oscillate about a central longitudinal axis, elongated resiliently flexible means rigidly attached to the feeder assembly with freedom to vibrate relative to the feeder assembly; means to strike said flexible means periodically to cause the flexible means to vibrate and thus cause the feeder assembly to vibrate; and means to hinder the vibration of the resiliently flexible means in one direction to modify the character of the vibration imparted to the feeder assembly.

Claim 34

In an apparatus of the character described for producing shot by discharging droplets of melted metal into a quenching bath, the combination of: a receptacle containing a body of the melted metal and being apertured for gravitational flow of the melted metal therefrom; a stack of sheets of metal in close face-to-face relationship cooperative with the receptacle to receive the molten metal therefrom and to form therewith a feeder assembly, said plurality of sheets being perforated to provide a plurality of discharge orifices to release droplets of the melted metal for gravitation to the quenching bath; said discharge orifices being arranged in two substantially parallel rows longitudinally of the receptacle; heat generating means along the opposite longitudinal sides respectively of the receptacle to heat the opposite sides substantially equally to prevent lateral thermal distortion of the feeder assembly; said feeder assembly being mounted to oscillate about a central longitudinal axis, elongated resiliently flexible means rigidly attached to the feeder assembly with freedom to vibrate relative to the feeder assembly; means to strike said flexible means periodically to cause the flexible means to vibrate and thus cause the feeder assembly to vibrate; and means to hinder the vibration of the resiliently flexible means in one direction to modify the character of the vibration imparted to the feeder assembly.

Claim 35

In an apparatus of the character described for producing shot by discharging droplets of melted metal into a quenching bath, the combination of: a receptacle containing a body of the melted metal and being apertured for gravitational flow of the melted metal therefrom; a stack of sheets of metal in close face-to-face relationship cooperative with the receptacle to receive the molten metal therefrom and to form therewith a feeder assembly, said plurality of sheets being perforated to provide a plurality of discharge orifices to release droplets of the melted metal for gravitation to the quenching bath, said discharge orifices being arranged in two substantially parallel rows longitudinally of the receptacle; heat generating means along the opposite longitudinal sides respectively of the receptacle to heat the opposite sides substantially equally to prevent lateral thermal distortion of the feeder assembly; said feeder assembly being mounted to oscillate about a central longitudinal axis, elongated resiliently flexible means rigidly attached to the feeder assembly with freedom to vibrate relative to the feeder assembly; means to strike said flexible means periodically to cause the flexible means to vibrate and thus cause the feeder assembly to vibrate; stop means; and spring means connected with the resiliently flexible means to urge the resiliently flexible means towards the stop means to modify the vibration of the resiliently flexible means.

Claim 36

In an apparatus of the character described for producing shot by discharging droplets of melted metal into a quenching bath, the combination of: a receptacle containing a body of the melted metal and being apertured for gravitational flow of the melted metal therefrom; a stack of sheets of metal in close face-to-face relationship cooperative with the receptacle to receive the molten metal therefrom and to form therewith a feeder assembly, said plurality of sheets being perforated to provide a plurality of discharge orifices to release droplets of the melted metal for gravitation to the quenching bath, said discharge orifices being arranged in two substantially parallel rows longitudinally of the receptacle; heat generating means along the opposite longitudinal sides respectively of the receptacle to heat the opposite sides substantially equally to prevent lateral thermal distortion of the feeder assembly; said feeder assembly being mounted to oscillate about a central longitudinal axis, elongated resiliently flexible means rigidly attached to the feeder assembly with freedom to vibrate relative to the feeder assembly; means to strike said flexible means periodically to cause the flexible means to vibrate and thus cause the feeder assembly to vibrate; stop means; and spring means connected with the resiliently flexible means to urge the resiliently flexible means towards the stop means to modify the vibration of the resiliently flexible means.